About this episode
I walk through a complete 30-step playbook for building a modern SaaS company using AI agents, media, and sub-niche positioning. The core argument is that SaaS is evolving rather than dying, and the builders who win are the ones who combine a focused workflow product with a media flywheel and agent-powered execution. Drawing on my experience advising TikTok, Reddit, and building three venture-backed companies, I lay out a step-by-step framework any solo builder or small team can follow from niche selection through to becoming the default execution layer in their market.I'm hosting a free workshop so you can build your business in the age of AI. Sign up here: https://startup-ideas-pod.link/build-with-ai-2026Timestamps00:00 – Intro01:18 – Step 1: Start with a sub-niche inside a big market02:21 – Step 2-5: Map Workflow end to end06:37 – Step 6-7: Create scroll-stopping content10:15 – Steps 8–9: Double down on organic and run paid ads on winners11:11 – Step 10: Capture emails from day one11:47 – Steps 11–13: Manually perform the workflow and document every step13:40 – Steps 14–16: Turn mechanical tasks into agent workflows and connect to real tools14:47 – Step 17: Add orchestration, retries, and verifications16:32 – Steps 18–19: Store user preferences and launch with high-touch onboarding18:20 – Steps 20–21: Publish measurable proof and move to per-task pricing21:21 – Steps 22–23: Outcome pricing and compounding value22:07 – Steps 24–27: Expand workflows, build switching costs, create case studies23:25 – Steps 28–30: Hire from the niche, reinvest profits, become the default layer24:08 – Closing thoughtsKey PointsStart in a specific sub-niche, not a broad market — that is where sustainable cash flow lives, not VC competition.The future of SaaS starts as a service business: manually performing the workflow is how I learn what to automate.Media is a core business function, not an afterthought — content creation runs in parallel with product development from day one.Mechanical tasks are AI's strongest suit; separating judgment tasks from mechanical tasks is the key architectural decision.Per-task a
