The flywheel library
Teardowns
Deep dives on AI-native SaaS growth, researched, not auto-generated. Each one ships with the numbers, named tools, and a decision framework.
9 published · 7 spokes · refreshed quarterly
- Case studiesGrowth
AI-Native SaaS Flywheel Teardowns (2026): How Real Teams Build Compounding Growth Loops
Teardowns of real AI-native SaaS growth loops: the 4-part flywheel anatomy, documented data-flywheel mechanics, and a framework to audit your own moat.
Read the teardown11 min - AutomationFounder
Best AI Customer Support Tools for Solo SaaS Founders (2026): Picked by Time-to-Value and Price Floor
The best AI customer support tools for solo SaaS founders in 2026, compared by time-to-first-value and price floor, with a clear pick for each situation.
Read the teardown10 min - AcquisitionHead of Growth
AI-Powered SaaS Customer Acquisition: The Channel Stack and What Actually Works in 2026
The AI-powered SaaS acquisition channel stack for 2026: which channels to fund, how AI shifts each, how to allocate spend, and when to build vs buy tooling.
Read the teardown11 min - MetricsGrowth
SaaS Metrics That Matter in the AI Era: What Changed, What Is New, and the Benchmarks Worth Tracking in 2026
Which SaaS metrics still matter in the AI era, which broke, and the new ones. Inference cost, contribution margin, and ACV-segmented 2026 benchmarks.
Read the teardown12 min - PlaybooksFounder
The AI SaaS Growth Playbook for Solo Founders (2026): What to Ship First, by Stage
A stage-by-stage AI growth playbook for solo SaaS founders: what to ship first at $0-1K, $1-10K, $10-50K MRR, named tools, and what to ignore now.
Read the teardown11 min - RetentionGrowth
SaaS Churn Prediction With AI in 2026: Which Approach Fits You, and Should You Build or Buy
Three approaches to AI churn prediction, a build-vs-buy decision, and where AI fails. A growth marketer’s orienting guide with named tools and ACV caveats.
Read the teardown11 min - AutomationHead of Growth
AI Marketing Automation for SaaS 2026: The Four-Layer Stack and What to Automate First
A four-layer stack model for AI marketing automation in SaaS 2026, with decision framework, ROI attribution, and where automation breaks at scale.
Read the teardown10 min - AcquisitionGrowth
SaaS Customer Acquisition Cost Benchmarks 2026: Segmented by ACV Tier, GTM Motion, and Channel
2026 SaaS CAC benchmarks segmented by ACV tier, GTM motion, and channel, with payback ladder, decision framework, and AI-era cost distortions.
Read the teardown11 min - PricingFounder
AI-Native SaaS Pricing Models 2026: Per-Token, Per-Agent, Hybrid, and Which Fits Your Cost Basis
Per-token, per-agent, or hybrid? A founder-shipping breakdown of AI SaaS pricing in 2026, with margin math, named examples, and a decision framework.
Read the teardown11 min