Services beat pure SaaS long-term

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Neil and Eric break down the surge of AI GEO startups, why funding far outpaces ARR, and how services still outperform SaaS. They compare Profound, AirOps, Peak AI, BrightEdge, Moz, and SEMrush while revealing why compounding, ownership, and real relationships matter more than hype. They also discuss bootstrapped billionaires, declining businesses, and the difference between real friends and transactional ones.

Key takeaways:

• AI GEO funding is outpacing proven revenue

• Services outperform pure SaaS long term

• Real relationships drive business success

Chapters:

(00:00) AI GEO startups funding

(02:30) Services vs SaaS scaling

(05:40) Bootstrapped billionaire examples

(14:20) Compounding wealth mindset

(17:30) Real vs transactional friends

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Welcome to Marketing School, one of the top business podcasts with over 61 million downloads. Each episode delivers actionable marketing tips and strategies from two entrepreneurs who truly practice what they preach. The show is hosted by Eric Siu, founder of Leveling Up and Single Grain, and Neil Patel, co-founder of Neil Patel Digital and recognized by Forbes as a Top 10 Marketer.

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Eric Siu – Leveling Up: https://www.youtube.com/@LevelingUpOfficial

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