
SaaS Backwards - Reverse Engineering SaaS Success Ep. 183 - What $100M SaaS Companies Do Differently
Dec 19, 2025
David Karandish, Founder and CEO of Capacity, shares insights from his journey in scaling an AI-powered support automation platform to over 20,000 customers. He discusses why many AI products stumble and the crucial need for integration to drive SaaS success. David contrasts 'salad' vs. 'brownie' AI projects, emphasizing the importance of real solutions. He also explains his compound startup strategy and how aligning teams behind a vision was key to overcoming initial resistance. His insights offer valuable lessons for SaaS founders navigating growth challenges.
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Founding Driven By An Existential Bet
- David Karandish built Capacity after exiting Answers.com because he feared missing the AI wave.
- He started in 2017 aiming to use AI to automate internal and customer support tasks.
Initial Market Fit Found In Mortgage
- Early product targeted internal HR/IT Q&A but found limited willingness to pay in mid-market.
- The team discovered product-market fit first in mortgage firms with both internal and borrower-facing needs.
Build By Bundling And Integrating
- Adopt a compound-startup approach: combine point solutions into a bundled platform and own integration.
- Use acquisitions and partnerships to integrate best-in-class pieces and make integration the product.
