Top 10 in Tech - What to know for 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: 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.


2. LAW-ISMS: From CBInsights is a 67-page report covering the 11 laws driving success in tech. These law-isms cover concepts such as Amazon's 2-pizza rule, the 80/20 principle, and more.


3. DE-SKILLING: A must-read research paper on how AI tools are flattening skill hierarchies in the knowledge economy. 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?


4. AI CAPEX: Companies are increasing AI-related capex, especially in infrastructure, signaling long-term commitments. 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 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 is rocking in at about 5GW of power needed (and check it overlayed over Manhattan for size), OpenAI's behemoth is planned for 10GW. That's larger than many mid-sized nations. New Zealand, for example, clocks in at about 4.5 GW.


5. TAM: Total Addressable Market slides are not realistic, according to the Clouded Judgement blog this week. 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.


6. VENTURE: The CB Insights Q2'25 Venture Report 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.


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 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).


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 shaping how SaaS is sold today.


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 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).


10. CASE STUDY: LOOPS: Top startups don't grow by accident; they figure out how to run growth loops that compound effects. This playbook breaks down tactics from the likes of OpenAI and Pinterest.


POD OF THE WEEK: Thinking of launching a second product? Check this podcast from ChartMogul: Going multi-product: what SaaS founders wish they knew before expanding.