The criticism was that anyone could rebuild them in a weekend. Several of these companies are now two years in with low churn and rising prices. Their edge is not the model but workflow integration, domain data and the trust of a specific profession.
What the surviving ones share
Deep focus on one job, a feedback loop that improves output for that job, and a distribution channel that competitors cannot easily copy. The model underneath is swappable, and the customers do not care which one it is.
Key takeaways
- Retention rivals traditional vertical software
- Model choice is invisible to customers
- Distribution is the real moat
This story is part of our ongoing coverage of startups. We will update it as more details emerge.
