Apps Are Obsolete: How Startups Can Leverage the New Era of AI Agents (Spotlight)

What if your next startup competitor doesn’t have a single employee?

AI agents aren’t just another software trend — they’re redefining the interface between humans, data, and execution, yet many founders still confuse basic chatbots with the true potential of these agents.

In this episode, Chris and Yaniv are joined by Jeremiah Owyang, General Partner at Blitzscaling Ventures and host of Silicon Valley’s top AI startup event, Llama Lounge. Together, they unpack Jeremiah’s insider thesis on the AI Agent era — and what it means for the future of software, user experience, and startups.

They explore why AI agents are replacing SaaS apps, what defines a “true agent,” and how startups should position themselves in the face of big tech platform risk.

In this episode, you will:

• Understand the difference between LLM tools and autonomous AI agents
• Discover how Crew AI scaled to 60% of the Fortune 500 using 150 agents and minimal staff
• Learn why traditional apps and websites may become obsolete in the agentic future
• Explore new go-to-market strategies and startup models for agent-driven businesses
• Evaluate how agents will access private and public data — and what that means for APIs
• Hear how to pitch agent startups to VCs looking for viral and network-effect plays

Whether you’re building in the agent ecosystem or preparing for it, this conversation will reshape how you think about the future of digital interfaces and startup opportunities.

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Key links

This episode is brought to you by Warp Development.  Are you ready to build something that matters? Visit https://warpdevelopment.com and mention The Startup Podcast for a free consultation.

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The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/

Learn more about Chris and Yaniv

Work 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/

Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/

Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/

Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthur

Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/