SaaStr 2025 recap — Lessons learned and conversations that stuck

It’s been a few weeks since SaaStr 2025 wrapped up, and the takeaways are still sinking in.

Not because of flashy booths or swag (though we do love those too), but because of the conversations. The kind where founders opened up about what’s really going on behind the scenes: scattered tools, financial blind spots, and the pressure to scale without losing control.

Here’s what we got up to, what we learned, and what’s still resonating.

Dinner at Fogbird with our friends at Younium

Before SaaStr officially kicked off, we teamed up with our friends at Younium to host a SaaStr Supper — an evening of live music, great cocktails, custom luggage tags, and even better conversations.

The topic? What it really feels like when your finances aren’t working.

We heard about lost hours, missed revenue, forecasting headaches, and subscription chaos. And across the board, the message was clear:

👉 Founders are tired of piecing together their finances across too many tools

👉 They’re looking for clarity they can act on — not just dashboards full of noise

👉 Bookkeeping has to scale with the business, not slow it down

AI was everywhere. But founders want proof. 

If there was one thing you couldn’t miss at SaaStr 2025, it was the AI buzz. Every booth had a demo. Every panel had a take. And every founder had questions.

But here’s what stood out: founders aren’t looking for another AI pitch. They want to see how it works. They want proof it actually solves real problems, not just adds to the noise.

Here's what they want to know when it comes to AI:

🔹 Show me how this saves me time

🔹 Show me how this improves accuracy

🔹 Show me how this scales with me

At Zeni, we leaned into those questions — not just by showing AI in action, but by highlighting what it can enable when paired with real financial expertise. Because at the end of the day, founders don’t just want automation. They want clarity, confidence, and control.

Founders want focus. Not fluff.

The energy at SaaStr 2025 was undeniable. Global, fast-paced, and grounded in reality.

Everywhere you turned, people were building — but with more clarity and less noise. Hallway conversations were just as impactful as keynote talks, and the recurring theme was clear: simplicity wins.

From late-night chats about bootstrapping beyond borders to deep dives into GTM as a mindset, the message was this:

✅ Data quality is non-negotiable

✅ AI is a tool — not a replacement

✅ Great ideas mean nothing without execution

This wasn’t a year of buzzwords. It was a call to focus  and move with purpose.

Until the next event!

SaaStr 2025 reminded us why we keep showing up: to connect with founders deep in the build, to have honest conversations about what’s working (and what’s not), and to show how stronger financial systems can smooth out the journey.

Shoutout to the Zeni crew — Malorie Pennie , Michael Wadsworth, Lauren Taylor Hammond, Aidan Lilani, Megan Prince , Swapnil Shinde , Snehal Shinde , Leena Swar— for being on the ground and in the conversations that mattered. And thank you to everyone who stopped by the booth to chat.

Here’s to building smarter, with fewer financial headaches.

P.S. Curious how Zeni can improve your bookkeeping? Let's talk.