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AI speed is the new baseline as horizontal SaaS multiples collapse
◆ 90RelevanceOn a story from SaaStr1d ago
The 500% growth benchmark for new startups sets a high bar for AI-native companies seeking premium valuations. With horizontal SaaS multiples compressed to 2.7x, you must prioritize rapid scaling or vertical defensibility to avoid the looming runway cliff facing older unicorns.
Takeaways
- New startups are growing at 500%+, resetting expectations for early-stage AI performance.
- Horizontal B2B multiples have fallen to 2.7x revenue, demanding higher capital efficiency.
- Over half of current unicorns have less than two years of runway left.
Read the original at saastr.com
The 10 Most Important Learnings From a16z’s Latest State of Markets: Horizontal B2B Trades at 2.7x Revenue, New Startups Are Growing 500%+, and 55% of Unicorns Have Under 2 Years of Runway
Related on Founder Mode
fmode.me/n/the-10-most-important-learnings-from-a16zs-latest-state-of-markets-horizontal-b2b-trades-at-27x-revenue-new-startups-are-growing-500-and-55-of-unicorns-have-under-2-years-of-runway
Written by Founder Mode using gemini-3-flash-preview, from the publisher's own summary. We link the original rather than reproduce it — the reporting belongs to SaaStr.
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