AI Agents are the new SaaS
Greg Isenberg · 2026-07-01
💡 Quick Take
1. Building agents is the new SAS, with a total addressable market of multi-trillion dollars.
2. The product is the job, where agents sell work, not software.
3. Identify a workflow with a paycheck attached, with five key traits: it happens all the time, has a clear finish line, touches software, has annoying edge cases, and the buyer can feel the loss.
4. Start by shadowing a human who does the job to gain insight into building a high-quality agent.
5. Build the smallest useful agent, with seven key parts: what wakes the agent up, context, tools, allowed actions, approval, escalation, and success metrics.
6. Create an eval set to test the agent, with 50 real examples of the job.
7. Sell the pilot like labor, and then productize it with outcome pricing.
8. Use workflow tearowns to show the old way and the new way, and create content around it.
9. Focus on one platform to start, and use paid ads to acquire customers.
10. Follow a 0-to-100 plan, with a week-by-week plan to build an agent business in 30 days.
11. Build an audience throughout the process, and double down on what's working.
12. Understand the channels that are working and double down on them to increase LTV.
📊 Detailed Explanation
Building agents is the new SAS because software is moving from helping humans do work to doing the work with humans. This shift is driven by the increasing complexity of workflows and the need for automation. The total addressable market for agents is multi-trillion dollars, making it a lucrative opportunity for entrepreneurs.
The product is the job, where agents sell work, not software. This means that instead of selling a tool or a software, entrepreneurs should focus on selling a service that automates a specific task or workflow. The key traits of a workflow with a paycheck attached include: it happens all the time, has a clear finish line, touches software, has annoying edge cases, and the buyer can feel the loss. By identifying these traits, entrepreneurs can create a high-quality agent that solves a specific pain point for customers.
Shadowing a human who does the job is crucial to gaining insight into building a high-quality agent. This involves observing the human's workflow, asking questions, and understanding the nuances of the job. By doing so, entrepreneurs can create an agent that is tailored to the specific needs of the customer.
The smallest useful agent should have seven key parts: what wakes the agent up, context, tools, allowed actions, approval, escalation, and success metrics. By focusing on these key parts, entrepreneurs can create an agent that is efficient, effective, and scalable.
Creating an eval set is essential to testing the agent and ensuring that it is working correctly. This involves collecting 50 real examples of the job and marking the right answers. By doing so, entrepreneurs can evaluate the agent's performance and make adjustments as needed.
Selling the pilot like labor and then productizing it with outcome pricing is a key step in building a successful agent business. This involves manually doing the work with AI and then productizing the repeated parts. By doing so, entrepreneurs can create a scalable and profitable business model.
Using workflow tearowns to show the old way and the new way is a powerful way to create content and attract customers. This involves creating a visual representation of the old workflow and then showing how the new agent can automate it. By doing so, entrepreneurs can create a compelling narrative that resonates with customers.
Focusing on one platform to start and using paid ads to acquire customers is a key strategy for building a successful agent business. This involves creating a content strategy that resonates with customers and then using paid ads to reach a wider audience.
Following a 0-to-100 plan with a week-by-week plan to build an agent business in 30 days is a key step in ensuring success. This involves breaking down the process into manageable tasks and then focusing on one task at a time. By doing so, entrepreneurs can create a clear roadmap for success and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Building an audience throughout the process is essential to creating a successful agent business. This involves creating content that resonates with customers and then engaging with them on social media. By doing so, entrepreneurs can create a loyal following and build a successful business.
Understanding the channels that are working and doubling down on them is a key strategy for increasing LTV. This involves analyzing customer data and then focusing on the channels that are driving the most revenue. By doing so, entrepreneurs can create a scalable and profitable business model.
🎯 Expert Opinion
As an expert in the field of AI and entrepreneurship, I believe that building agents is a lucrative opportunity for entrepreneurs. The total addressable market for agents is multi-trillion dollars, making it a significant opportunity for growth.
The key to building a successful agent business is to focus on solving a specific pain point for customers. This involves identifying a workflow with a paycheck attached and then creating an agent that automates that workflow. By doing so, entrepreneurs can create a high-quality agent that solves a specific problem for customers.
Shadowing a human who does the job is crucial to gaining insight into building a high-quality agent. This involves observing the human's workflow, asking questions, and understanding the nuances of the job. By doing so, entrepreneurs can create an agent that is tailored to the specific needs of the customer.
The smallest useful agent should have seven key parts: what wakes the agent up, context, tools, allowed actions, approval, escalation, and success metrics. By focusing on these key parts, entrepreneurs can create an agent that is efficient, effective, and scalable.
Creating an eval set is essential to testing the agent and ensuring that it is working correctly. This involves collecting 50 real examples of the job and marking the right answers. By doing so, entrepreneurs can evaluate the agent's performance and make adjustments as needed.
Selling the pilot like labor and then productizing it with outcome pricing is a key step in building a successful agent business. This involves manually doing the work with AI and then productizing the repeated parts. By doing so, entrepreneurs can create a scalable and profitable business model.
Using workflow tearowns to show the old way and the new way is a powerful way to create content and attract customers. This involves creating a visual representation of the old workflow and then showing how the new agent can automate it. By doing so, entrepreneurs can create a compelling narrative that resonates with customers.
Focusing on one platform to start and using paid ads to acquire customers is a key strategy for building a successful agent business. This involves creating a content strategy that resonates with customers and then using paid ads to reach a wider audience.
Following a 0-to-100 plan with a week-by-week plan to build an agent business in 30 days is a key step in ensuring success. This involves breaking down the process into manageable tasks and then focusing on one task at a time. By doing so, entrepreneurs can create a clear roadmap for success and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Building an audience throughout the process is essential to creating a successful agent business. This involves creating content that resonates with customers and then engaging with them on social media. By doing so, entrepreneurs can create a loyal following and build a successful business.
Understanding the channels that are working and doubling down on them is a key strategy for increasing LTV. This involves analyzing customer data and then focusing on the channels that are driving the most revenue. By doing so, entrepreneurs can create a scalable and profitable business model.
Kanal: Greg Isenberg