# Top 10 in Tech - What to know for Week ending August 1, 2025

Published: 31 July 2025
Canonical: https://www.top10in.tech/posts/week-ending-august-1-2025

## 1. SaaS METRIC OF THE WEEK: CLTV vs CAC

An essential SaaS ratio. [This post breaks down the Customer Lifetime Value to CAC ratio](https://www.thevccorner.com/p/cltv-vs-cac-ratio-guide): why 3:1 is the rule of thumb, when to ignore it, and what your ratio says about growth vs. efficiency - a classic metric read for everyone.

Link: https://www.thevccorner.com/p/cltv-vs-cac-ratio-guide

## 2. LAW-ISMS

From CBInsights is a [67-page report covering the 11 laws driving success in tech](https://www.dropbox.com/s/urw27exp9y9ub5e/CB-Insights_Laws-Driving-Success-In-Tech.pdf?dl=0). These law-isms cover concepts such as Amazon's 2-pizza rule, the 80/20 principle, and more.

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/urw27exp9y9ub5e/CB-Insights_Laws-Driving-Success-In-Tech.pdf?dl=0

## 3. DE-SKILLING

A must-read [research paper on how AI tools are flattening skill hierarchies in the knowledge economy](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/bhyru6y4psdv14m3x5bek/De-Skilling-the-Knowledge-Economy.pdf?rlkey=6hit4har48w5sqad1ne0z3ugj&dl=0). From law to marketing, it's not just junior jobs or the big-4 at risk — it's entire workflows. Is "Judgment-as-a-Service" the new job title?

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/bhyru6y4psdv14m3x5bek/De-Skilling-the-Knowledge-Economy.pdf?rlkey=6hit4har48w5sqad1ne0z3ugj&dl=0

## 4. AI CAPEX

Companies are increasing AI-related capex, [especially in infrastructure, signaling long-term commitments](https://moneyinsideout.substack.com/p/ai-adoption-is-accelerating-in-2025). This surge is also sector-agnostic and showing up in \[laces like healthcare, manufacturing, and finance. This capex is from a few companies (think Nvidia-fueled data centers), which is inflating industrial investment metrics and masking broader economic softness. [This article](https://paulkedrosky.com/honey-ai-capex-ate-the-economy/) argues we're mistaking this AI boom for general economic health—when really, it's a narrow, GPU-fueled anomaly. I also did some math - the new [Meta Data Center](https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/14/mark-zuckerberg-says-meta-is-building-a-5gw-ai-data-center/) is rocking in at about 5GW of power needed (and check it [overlayed over Manhattan](https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2300161320399228&rdid=y6pWLiLeN4tqhs6l) for size), OpenAI's behemoth is [planned for 10GW](https://openai.com/index/stargate-advances-with-partnership-with-oracle/). That's larger than many mid-sized nations. New Zealand, for example, clocks in at about 4.5 GW.

Link: https://moneyinsideout.substack.com/p/ai-adoption-is-accelerating-in-2025

## 5. TAM

Total Addressable Market slides are not realistic, according to the [Clouded Judgement blog this week](https://cloudedjudgement.substack.com/p/clouded-judgement-72525-tams-lie). The comparison here is that early AI markets are being misjudged, just like early cloud; static TAM maths misses dynamic shifts and new market creation. Cursor and Claude Code are great examples: starting small, unlocking new users and workflows, and turning wedges into reinvention.

Link: https://cloudedjudgement.substack.com/p/clouded-judgement-72525-tams-lie

## 6. VENTURE

The [CB Insights Q2'25 Venture Report](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/nlkoz7ar7u38t909htepw/CB-Insights_Venture-Report-Q2-2025.pdf?rlkey=oucaqix9thykxw5e5exn3pqgz&dl=0) is out: $94.6B invested this quarter, which is the third straight >$90B quarter. But deal count hits a 9-year low. AI dominated 50%+ of all funding, but defense tech and hard tech are surging. Nuclear, quantum, and stablecoins are also heating up.

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/nlkoz7ar7u38t909htepw/CB-Insights_Venture-Report-Q2-2025.pdf?rlkey=oucaqix9thykxw5e5exn3pqgz&dl=0

## 7. CAP TABLE

I don't have the paid version of this newsletter - so no template available - but here is a handy resource for founders: [this Series A/B cap table article](https://www.thevccorner.com/p/series-a-b-cap-table-template) from VC Corner helps visualize dilution, ownership, and round dynamics. Whether you're raising or just planning ahead, bookmark this to model out your future (paid sub optional).

Link: https://www.thevccorner.com/p/series-a-b-cap-table-template

## 8. GTM (Modernize time!)

Your 2025 GTM playbook probably needs a refresh. From transactional sales to consultative, from outbound to dark social, and from tools to ecosystems - [this post outlines nine key GTM shifts](https://gtmonday.substack.com/p/9-gtm-shifts-youll-need-to-make-by) shaping how SaaS is sold today.

Link: https://gtmonday.substack.com/p/9-gtm-shifts-youll-need-to-make-by

## 9. DELEGATE

One of the biggest bottlenecks in startup land IMO is often founders. Those who can't master delegation become their own bottlenecks. [This guide](https://www.the-founders-corner.com/p/how-to-delegate-like-a-founder-ceo) breaks down what to keep, what to hand off, and how to do it without losing control, patience, or your goddam mind. (none of this is abdication).

Link: https://www.the-founders-corner.com/p/how-to-delegate-like-a-founder-ceo

## 10. CASE STUDY: LOOPS

Top startups don't grow by accident; they figure out how to run growth loops that compound effects. [This playbook](https://www.thevccorner.com/p/growth-loop-playbook-top-startups?utm_source=substack&publication_id=2125183&post_id=165263304&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&utm_campaign=email-share&triggerShare=true&isFreemail=true&r=2l6zh&triedRedirect=true) breaks down tactics from the likes of OpenAI and Pinterest.

Link: https://www.thevccorner.com/p/growth-loop-playbook-top-startups?utm_source=substack&publication_id=2125183&post_id=165263304&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&utm_campaign=email-share&triggerShare=true&isFreemail=true&r=2l6zh&triedRedirect=true

## POD OF THE WEEK

Thinking of launching a second product? [Check this podcast from ChartMogul](https://chartmogul.com/webinar/going-multi-product/): Going multi-product: what SaaS founders wish they knew before expanding**.**

Link: https://chartmogul.com/webinar/going-multi-product/