SaaStock shuts down after a decade as founder Alexander Theuma pivots to Shift AI, reflecting major AI-driven changes in B2B SaaS.
SaaStock, once a cornerstone of Europe’s B2B SaaS ecosystem, is officially shutting down after ten years. Founder Alexander Theuma is replacing it with a new conference brand, Shift AI, signaling a broader shift in how the software industry is evolving.
The final SaaStock event will be held in Austin on April 15–16. Shift AI will take its place, launching its first European edition in Barcelona on October 13–14, 2026.
SaaStock wasn’t just another conference-it helped define the SaaS playbook. From per-seat pricing to product-led growth, it gave founders a framework to scale and meet investor expectations.
But that model is under pressure.
Theuma highlights a $2 trillion drop in SaaS market cap in Q1 2026 as a key signal. More importantly, AI agents are beginning to replace the workflows SaaS tools once monetized, weakening the foundation of seat-based pricing.
Since launching in Dublin in 2016 with 700 attendees, SaaStock grew into a global platform with over 4,000 participants. It became a go-to destination for SaaS founders looking to scale.
Ending it now reflects a larger reality: “SaaS” is no longer the defining category it once was.
Shift AI represents a move toward what comes next-AI-native businesses, automation-led value delivery, and new monetization models beyond per-seat pricing.
The decision isn’t about ending a successful brand. It’s about aligning with a new market reality where the next generation of B2B companies will be built around AI, not traditional SaaS frameworks.
