Specificity isn’t just a design choice. It’s the differentiator when inches matter. Nick Tippmann, founding partner of TipTop VC, explains how vertical AI is rewriting the software industry by going deeper, not wider. From the transition beyond SaaS to the gray zone between foundational models and high-stakes applications, we explore how vertical AI can transform laggard industries and why Austin might lead the race.

Episode Highlights

What Vertical AI Really Means
Specificity as the New Moat
Founders, Not Just Models
When General AI Fails
Seed-Strapping Real or Not
Rewriting Pricing Logic
Vertical AI Talent Mix
Redefining TAM in Niche Markets
Scaling without Overspending
What’s Next Austin?
- "Austin becomes a global hub for vertical AI winners with the rich combo of the enterprise SaaS lineage, the critical industries that are based here, the talent from the previous winners, the emerging talent from the universities, and more and more experienced operators and founders moving here for their second act"

Nick Tippmann
TipTop VC

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