The Full Ratchet (TFR): Venture Capital and Startup Investing Demystified
471. How AI Transforms Services into Software and Revolutionizes Enterprise SaaS (Shashank Saxena)
Feb 24, 2025
Shashank Saxena, Managing Partner at Sierra Ventures and former co-founder of Vinly, dives into the transformation of services into software driven by AI. He discusses how AI influences job dynamics and the agile shift from corporates to startups. The talk covers the evolving role of consultants in enterprise settings and regulatory challenges in AI adoption. Saxena also highlights the essential traits of successful founders, such as grit and resilience, and shares insights on sectors like cybersecurity within enterprise software.
30:33
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Quick takeaways
- Shashank Saxena highlights the transformative impact of AI on workforce dynamics, particularly the shift towards non-employee labor in enterprises.
- Saxena emphasizes the investment potential in the AI application layer, poised to drive innovation in enterprise software solutions.
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Path to Venture Capital
Shashank Saxena's career progression from a corporate environment to a startup and eventually to venture capital provides valuable insights into his investment philosophy. He started at Citibank, where he gained experience in online banking and mobile app development, before moving on to Kroger, where he led digital transformation projects. His journey into entrepreneurship began with the founding of Vinly, a vendor management startup, which was later acquired by Workday for $510 million. These diverse experiences allow him to leverage corporate scaling strategies while fostering the agility of startups in his role as a managing partner at Sierra Ventures.
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