B to B companies

6 statements across 6 episodes · 1 bullish · 2 bearish · 3 people on the record · first statement May 6, 2022 by Jason Lemkin · across every show →

Everything said about B to B companies, oldest first

May 6, 2022

Assertion Not checkable as stated

Lemkin: Most successful B2B founders serve as first head of sales

“I would say the majority of B to B companies That are successful that you and I have worked with, Harry, the majority, but not all. The founder has been the first head of sales.”

Jason Lemkin May 6, 2022 ▶ 10:41 20VC: Why the Traditional Seed Fund Model No Longer Works, Why Multi-Stage Funds Investing at Seed Bring Signaling Risk but also Less Pressure, The One Criteria All Potential Sales Hires Need to Have and The Clear Signs of 10x Sales Hires with Jason Lemki

Dec 6, 2023

Insight

Company Stage Experience Matters Far More Than Category Experience for PMs

“I think the category Is not that relevant. You know, I come from more consumer than B to B. And I think that's actually an advantage because you're focusing on metrics. You're focusing on conversion. You're focusing on models like lead scoring and lead routing…”

Geoff Charles Dec 6, 2023 ▶ 6:51 Geoff Charles: How To Hire Product Teams & Increase Product Velocity | E1091 · 20VC with Harry Stebbings

May 1, 2025

Assertion Partly supported

Lemkin: 90% of B2B companies have a founder CEO at IPO

“90% of B to B companies at IPO have a founder CEO at the top. 90%.”

Jason Lemkin May 1, 2025 ▶ 32:07 What Does it Take to Be Good at Series A and B Today? · 20VC with Harry Stebbings

Jun 5, 2025 bearish

Insight

Lemkin: The 'AI slow roll' is the biggest threat to B2B SaaS

“I call it the AI slow roll, and I think it's the number one thing killing B to B companies is the AI slow roll.”

Jason Lemkin Jun 5, 2025 ▶ 52:26 Is DPI The Only Thing That Matters? with Sam Lessin, Jason Lemkin & Rory O’Driscoll · 20VC with Harry Stebbings

Feb 12, 2026 bearish

Opinion

Lemkin: Customer success is dead as SaaS companies fail to convert teams

“This is why customer success is dead because all these B to B companies are trying to convert their CS teams to FDs. And I don't think even 10% of them can do it.”

Jason Lemkin Feb 12, 2026 ▶ 9:18 Anthropic's Super Bowl Ad: Who Won & Lost? | Sierra Hits $150M ARR: Is Customer Support Too Crowded? · 20VC with Harry Stebbings

Mar 12, 2026 bullish

Prediction Not checkable as stated

O'Driscoll: B2B Software Will Fully Automate Tasks Within 12 Months

“We might be at the start of some of this agentification, and the next 12 months will be B to B companies saying, now I finally can automate this task entirely.”

Rory O'Driscoll Mar 12, 2026 ▶ 43:38 Anthropic vs The Pentagon: Who Wins? | The Data Center Arms Race | The Ultimate Stock Picks · 20VC with Harry Stebbings

B to B companies

Everything said about B to B companies, oldest first

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