Will AI be the End of SaaS? with Rob Woollen & Marwan Mattar of Sigma - Modern CTO Recap

Podcast: Modern CTO

Published: 2026-02-02

Duration: 41 minutes

Guests: Rob Woollen, Marwan Mattar

Summary

AI is poised to disrupt the SaaS industry by enabling users to create custom applications instantly. This could reduce reliance on traditional SaaS models and democratize software development.

What Happened

Rob Woollen and Marwan Mattar from Sigma Computing explore how AI might disrupt the traditional SaaS model by enabling users to create custom applications tailored to their needs. Woollen points out that starting a SaaS application has traditionally been easy, but AI's ability to build applications almost instantly could be transformative.

Marwan Mattar shares his experience transitioning from academia and gaming to enterprise, noting AI's potential to synthesize multiple applications into a single workflow. Sigma's platform supports AI application development and analytics, integrating with large data sources like Snowflake, BigQuery, and Databricks.

A significant challenge discussed is the demo-to-production gap in AI. While demos can be quickly assembled, they often fail to address real-world complexities and operational challenges faced in production environments.

Woollen shares Sigma's journey, emphasizing the persistence required to achieve product-market fit, including multiple product rebuilds. He uses an intern analogy to describe AI agents, suggesting they are directive but not fully autonomous.

Sigma is gearing up to host its first conference focused on AI workflows, aiming to showcase the potential applications of their platform. Their product, Ask Sigma, allows users to query their data in natural language, providing insights based on structured data.

The conversation also touches on leadership, with Woollen and Mattar discussing the importance of hiring the right people. Woollen manages only senior, independent individuals, reflecting his passion for product development over people management.

Mattar looks for team members who are strong in one-on-one interactions but may be quieter in group settings, aiming to foster a collaborative environment. Woollen predicts significant changes in software development due to AI, advising CTOs to pragmatically plan for these changes.

Key Insights

• AI's capability to instantly build custom applications could disrupt the traditional SaaS model, which traditionally required significant time and resources to develop tailored solutions.
• Sigma Computing's platform integrates with large data sources like Snowflake, BigQuery, and Databricks, supporting AI application development and analytics.
• The demo-to-production gap in AI presents a challenge, as quickly assembled demos often fail to address real-world complexities and operational challenges in production environments.
• Sigma's product, Ask Sigma, allows users to query their data in natural language, providing insights based on structured data, and they are planning their first conference focused on AI workflows.