How AI businesses can avoid the “leaky bucket” (plus startups on CNBC's Disruptor 50 and how Intercom CEO plans to be the fastest-growing large SaaS)

How B2B AI builders can build stickier products

In late 2022, ChatGPT skyrocketed to viral status overnight—and brought a surge of new AI apps in its wake. But while the top of the funnel has exploded, many apps are struggling to keep users coming back. We’re now seeing early signs of a problem in consumer AI that’s likely to translate to B2B: sky-high acquisition, but troubling retention.

So, how do B2B AI companies hold onto customers? 

1️⃣ Embed into incumbent platforms through integrations and partnerships. Sixfold, a leader in generative AI for insurance underwriters, is cleverly embedded as an API or plug-in into an underwriter’s existing policy administration system (PAS). This way, insurers don’t need to overhaul legacy systems to interact with Sixfold’s co-pilot.

2️⃣ Meet users where they are. Databook customers can access their personal AI sales advisor using Slack and Microsoft’s Copilot for Sales so that reps don't need to toggle between platforms.

3️⃣ Generate a tangible work product offering. Bessemer portfolio company EvenUp exemplifies this strategy because it automates the creation of demand letters for personal injury lawyers.

Read Seven product strategies to prevent churn for B2B AI app leaders to explore these (plus four more) strategies in depth, with examples from inside and outside the Bessemer portfolio. 

In case you missed it

🚀 Bessemer Partner Talia Goldberg at SaaStr. Watch Talia and Google Cloud's COO, Francis deSouza, discuss investment trends, the importance of execution speed, and the impact of AI on various sectors. Watch here.

📈 An inspiring story from Intercom's Eoghan McCabe. Founder and CEO Eoghan McCabe plans on making Intercom one of the fastest-growing SaaS businesses in the world. But this wouldn't be possible if Eoghan hadn’t rebooted a 15-year-old decelerating business. Read more.

🥂 Bessemer COO Sandy Grippo joins NVCA Board of Directors. Sandy, along with seven other formidable VC leaders, will serve a four-year term helping advance the venture capital industry forward. Read more.

🎉 CNBC announces 2025 Disruptor 50. Among the companies recognized for leading a new era of AI breakthroughs were four Bessemer portfolio companies—Anthropic, Perplexity, Canva, and Abridge. Read more.

This was a preview of ICYMI, our biweekly newsletter of the latest news in tech and AI for early stage founders.

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