# Top 10 in Tech - What to know for Week ending November 14, 2025

Published: 13 November 2025
Canonical: https://www.top10in.tech/posts/week-ending-november-14-2025

## 1. SaaS METRIC OF THE WEEK

[**CAC**](https://www.paddle.com/resources/customer-acquisition-cost) **-** In a modern SaaS world that has maturing companies using both Sales Led Growth (SLG) and Product Led Growth (PLG) motions and teams, how do you [calculate CAC](https://openviewpartners.com/blog/cac-payback-basics-what-it-is-how-to-calculate-it-and-why-it-matters/)? The answer is really[that they should be kept separate](https://medium.com/@JamesColgan/unlocking-efficient-growth-collaborative-strategies-for-a-hybrid-plg-slg-approach-to-transform-8b60aa4c423).

Link: https://www.paddle.com/resources/customer-acquisition-cost

## 2. MULTIPLIER EFFECT

Not all startups create equal impact. [Some become engines](https://endeavor.org/stories/what-is-the-multiplier-effect/). Endeavor's data shows that when a founder builds a breakout company, it often leads to dozens of new startups, hundreds of hires, and a cycle of reinvestment.

Link: https://endeavor.org/stories/what-is-the-multiplier-effect/

## 3. WEB ANALYTICS

Traffic is no longer a reliable metric. With [60%+ of Google searches now ending in zero clicks](https://www.seo.com/blog/zero-click-searches/#:~:text=How%20common%20are%20zero%2Dclick,decline%20by%2025%25%20in%202026.), and LLMs answering questions directly, your beautifully optimized landing page may never get seen. [Growth Unhinged dives into why old-school analytics tools are failing](https://www.growthunhinged.com/p/traffic-is-no-longer-reliable) and what teams are tracking now. How the hell will attribution even work anymore???

Link: https://www.seo.com/blog/zero-click-searches/#:~:text=How%20common%20are%20zero%2Dclick,decline%20by%2025%25%20in%202026.

## 4. AI PRODUCT STRATEGY

Everyone's layering/wrapping/whatevering AI onto their products - but [OpenAI shows how to build product with AI at the core](https://www.thevccorner.com/p/ai-product-strategy-openai-guide). This teardown outlines their real strategy: multi-modal UX, agent interfaces, and ecosystem dominance. Key takeaway? AI-native ain't necessarily AI-featured.

Link: https://www.thevccorner.com/p/ai-product-strategy-openai-guide

## 5. LAYOFFS

It's been a [shitty start to Q4](https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/10/20/zabr-o20.html) if you work in one of the big tech companies. The AI wave isn't just triggering layoffs — it's redefining how those roles are backfilled. [Saastr unpacks why many tech jobs aren't returning](https://www.saastr.com/ai-in-tech-isnt-so-much-about-laying-off-humans-its-about-ai-backfills/) (well, at least not in human form). AI is stepping in, quietly reshaping org charts and headcount plans.

Link: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/10/20/zabr-o20.html

## 6. AI & JOBS

Fast follow from #5 above. Don't panic, not all jobs are being eaten by AI.......yet. [Bloomberry crunched 180M listings](https://bloomberry.com/blog/i-analyzed-180m-jobs-to-see-what-jobs-ai-is-actually-replacing-today/) and found the real risk is clustered: entry-level admin, data entry, and some basic CS roles. For now, the creative, strategic, and cross-functional skills still have some air cover.

Link: https://bloomberry.com/blog/i-analyzed-180m-jobs-to-see-what-jobs-ai-is-actually-replacing-today/

## 7. MULTIPLES

Tomasz Tunguz has been pretty off-task lately, but he's back with [a great post that dives into public SaaS comps](https://tomtunguz.com/2025-10-27-growth-premium-multiples) and shows the growth premium is still alive - just narrower. In 2021, fast growers earned a 5x multiple bump. Today it's closer to 1.5x. Growth still matters, but efficiency is what gets you paid.

Link: https://tomtunguz.com/2025-10-27-growth-premium-multiples

## 8. DELIVERY

A project isn't just a pile of tasks. [Second Thoughts argues that viewing projects as task bundles kills real outcomes.](https://secondthoughts.ai/p/a-project-is-not-a-bundle-of-tasks) Instead: start with the outcome, then shape your workstreams backward.

Link: https://secondthoughts.ai/p/a-project-is-not-a-bundle-of-tasks

## 9. GTM

ICONIQ loves a good report, and their latest, the [2025 GTM report](https://www.iconiqcapital.com/growth/reports/state-of-go-to-market-2025)([PDF here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/fxhcwp5mm77q6yjicsdkn/685c2138c9c86b5662e523f3_ICONIQ-Analytics_Insights-_The_State_of_GTM_in_2025.pdf?rlkey=f8jzwalf42g7ab8lci299tyv1&dl=0)), shows that the early-stage pipeline is slowing, while top performers are building multi-threaded motion: PLG signals, outbound rigor, and deep post-sale expansion loops. CAC payback medians jumped to 24 months, but NRR is still holding strong above 120% for best-in-class.

Link: https://www.iconiqcapital.com/growth/reports/state-of-go-to-market-2025

## 10. CASE STUDY

CHAT GPT - If you're wondering how AI tools like ChatGPT are really used day-to-day, check [these 15 charts that explain how tech and venture are evolving](https://www.thevccorner.com/p/15-charts-that-explain-how-tech-and) from when access to money was cheap/free. From shrinking median round sizes to late-stage volume collapsing, this is a pretty great visual cheat sheet for understanding where we are at. ChatGPT retention/reach, and check chart 7, which matches 5, 6, and 7 above all in one chart.

Link: https://www.thevccorner.com/p/15-charts-that-explain-how-tech-and

## POD OF THE WEEK

Being an advocate for people's happiness is part of my day job and mentoring mindset set, so it's nice when McKinsey comes out with a podcast on [why it's cool to be kind](https://omny.fm/shows/mckinsey-talks-talent/it-s-cool-to-be-kind-the-value-of-empathy-at-work).

Link: https://omny.fm/shows/mckinsey-talks-talent/it-s-cool-to-be-kind-the-value-of-empathy-at-work