The Metrics Brothers (fka SaaS Talk)

Dive into the fascinating world of ROI as it relates to AI software investments! The hosts break down ROI's definition and its importance in the current tech landscape. Discover how to distinguish between soft and hard benefits and why focusing on productivity is crucial. They also tackle the age-old build versus buy dilemma, highlighting hidden costs in both options. Multi-year ROI models and the value of look-back reviews are discussed, emphasizing why these practices can enhance decision-making. Perfect for anyone exploring AI investments!

Explore the intriguing culture of 9-9-6, defined as working from 9 AM to 9 PM six days a week, especially in AI software. Delve into its origins and current discussions among tech leaders and media. Discover whether this grind is driven by founder pressure or genuine culture and why it resurfaces during major industry shifts. Hear personal anecdotes from the dot-com era, and learn why winning matters more than the grind itself, alongside insights on market leadership and strategic growth opportunities.

Explore the innovative role of Forward-Deployed Engineers, who tackle complex customer issues while embedded in companies. Discover how their military origins shape this position and set them apart from traditional consultants. Dive into the impact of classifying FDE expenses on key financial metrics like gross margin. With rising demand in AI-driven environments, these engineers are becoming crucial for building application logic tailored to customer needs. Tune in for valuable insights into the future of engineering in tech!

Explore the future of software with key insights from the latest industry benchmark report. Dive into AI segmentation, revealing over half of companies aren't utilizing AI. Discover how revenue multiples and growth trends vary by company size, plus the significance of the Rule of 40 in predicting success. Hear about trends in net revenue retention, CAC payback periods, and the importance of adopting new AI-focused metrics. Finally, get a glimpse into companies experiencing remarkable growth, while considering the evolving role of engineers.

Discover the insights from the 2025 Cloud 100 Benchmarks Report, revealing a remarkable $1.12 trillion valuation of top private SaaS and AI companies. OpenAI leads the pack at an astounding $300 billion, reshaping industry standards. The average time to reach $100 million in annual recurring revenue is now just 5.7 years for AI firms. With valuation multiples dropping while growth rates soar, the discussion uncovers the evolving landscape of technology and finance, spotlighting key newcomers and trends in the sector.

Positive Business Outlook or Work-Life Balance - which is more important? The "Grindscore" metric combines the two to determine the attractiveness of a company for employees. Dave "CAC" Kellogg and Ray "Growth" Rike discuss the metric from many different angles including:The origin of the Grindscore metricPositive Business Outlook (PBO) + Work-Life Balance (WLB)Sample of Private and Public Company GrindscoresWhy a high PBO and high WLB scores the same as a low PBO and an average WLB (flaws of the metric)This episode covers a metric that most software companies are not using - and the conversation may put a light on some of the reasons why?!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dive into the fascinating insights from Bessemer's State of AI 2025 Report! Discover the key differences between AI Supernovas and Shooting Stars, and why Vertical AI companies could outshine their horizontal counterparts. The discussion emphasizes the need for structured Proof of Concept programs in customer acquisition. Get ready for 2026 predictions: a new dominant browser interface, generative video breakthroughs, and the rise of an AI-native social media giant. Plus, learn about the crucial role of evaluations and data lineage in product development!

Aventis Advisors recently published a report on AI Valuations which covered the number of investments, size of those investments, median valuations and multiples on AI investments over a 15 year period from 2010 through first half of 2025!Dave "CAC" Kellogg and Ray "Growth" Rike discuss some of the highlights including:AI industry categories includedNumber of financing rounds (2010 - 1H2025)Total Capital Raised (2010 - 1H2025)Median sizes by round (2010 - 1H2025)Valuations (2010 - 1H2025)Valuation multiples (2010 - 1H2025)Large Language Model valuations vs AI Coding Assistant ValuationsSummary of the AI funding environmentYou can follow along to Dave and Ray's conversation by clicking the below link to the reportAventis AI Valuation Multiples ReportSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Explore the distinct financial characteristics of AI products versus traditional SaaS and how they impact gross margins. Discover the nuances of Cost of Goods Sold for both AI and SaaS, and learn about the classification of expenses in this evolving landscape. The discussion delves into the crucial role of operational expenses and the significant investments required to develop competitive AI products. Gain insights on adjusting pricing strategies and the venture capital dynamics shaping the future of AI in SaaS.

AI is driving an unprecedented demand for data centers, and the Metrics Brothers break down essential metrics for understanding this need. They explore FLOPS, power consumption, and how the first multi-GW data center, Prometheus, is setting new standards. Comparisons to Manhattan reveal the immense scale of these facilities. Discussions on energy requirements highlight the staggering projections for future demands and operational efficiency. Tune in as they navigate the implications of these trends on AI infrastructure!