The hottest SaaS Metrics Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

Clouded Judgement 2.13.26 - Build vs Buy

Clouded Judgement • 12 implied HN points • 13 Feb 26
💰 Finance SaaS Metrics
  1. AI is lowering the cost and speed of building software, but the classic reasons to buy vendor products—total cost of ownership, speed to market, focus, ongoing maintenance, and compliance—still matter.
  2. With engineering velocity becoming less of a constraint, the market will likely be flooded with new software, driving commoditization; companies that don’t capture the next wave risk slower growth and lower valuations.
  3. Short-term earnings and retention can look healthy even as disruption looms, because markets often discount disruptive threats early; companies need a clear path to durable, predictable growth to avoid a slow decline.

Your guide to SaaS metrics 2.0

Kyle Poyar’s Growth Unhinged • 567 implied HN points • 07 Jun 23
💼 Business SaaS Metrics
  1. Traditional SaaS metrics are not always reliable for product-led growth businesses.
  2. Modern software businesses should focus on the user's journey and product usage as key indicators of success.
  3. Executive and investor KPIs should consider factors like growth efficiency and revenue generation per employee.

Clouded Judgement 12.26.25 - Exuberance Returning

Clouded Judgement • 7 implied HN points • 26 Dec 25
💰 Finance SaaS Metrics
  1. A broad wave of exuberance looks likely in 2026 as improving macro conditions and AI-driven IPOs and M&A restore liquidity, driving faster fundraising and rising valuations across stages.
  2. AI is moving from experiment to scale, with more application companies showing measurable revenue growth and real ROI across verticals rather than just infrastructure wins.
  3. The comeback will feel frothy and sometimes irrational, but those periods also create rare long-term investment opportunities, so investors need to separate short-term momentum from structurally important businesses.

Clouded Judgement 5.16.25 - Net New ARR Trends

Clouded Judgement • 5 implied HN points • 16 May 25
💰 Finance SaaS Metrics
  1. Net new ARR, which shows the growth in quarterly revenue from cloud software companies, has decreased in the latest reports. This is concerning since a drop can suggest financial struggles.
  2. Valuation for SaaS companies is often based on revenue multiples, giving a quick way to compare their worth. The current median multiple is 5.5x, but top companies can reach much higher valuations.
  3. Companies with higher growth rates tend to have larger valuation multiples. It's essential for investors to watch these trends to better understand the market landscape.
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A Guide to Pricing Research, Part II

Good Better Best • 2 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
💼 Business SaaS Metrics
  1. Internal data is crucial for successful pricing research, focusing on areas like SaaS metrics, product usage data, sales data, and customer interviews.
  2. Key internal data categories include SaaS metrics like LTV:CAC, ACV, and NDR.
  3. Using product usage data, sales data, and customer interviews can provide valuable insights for pricing strategy.