Vertex: The Vertical Software Conference

Arrival & Breakfast

From Niche to Icon: Chat with a vSaas Legend

A candid conversation with a marquee founder who helped define the vertical SaaS category. We’ll cover early inflection points, moments of scale, and the frameworks they still use to guide growth and strategy today.

systems of record vs systems of engagement

Vertical platforms are increasingly caught between being the indispensable backbone or the front-end that drives outcomes. This panel will explore how founders are choosing their lane, where AI fits, and whether the next wave of winners will be systems of record, engagement, or intelligent hybrids.

What's going on in vertical AI?

Everyone’s adding AI — but how many are doing it well? You may be asking yourself, "should I buy or build?" Hear raw stories of what worked, what broke, and the risks no one talks about when deploying AI in deeply vertical workflows.

Sit down Lunch

Navigating the private equity Landscape

More platforms are finding themselves owned by — or selling into — PE-backed rollups. We’ll unpack how to thrive in that environment, from navigating procurement to aligning with fund incentives.

Building embedded fintech beyond Payments

If you’re building in vertical software, you’ve probably already thought about payments — but what comes next? This panel will explore how to thoughtfully approach and implement additional financial products within your platform, unlocking the massive revenue potential that embedded fintech offers.

Tactical Playbooks for the <$10M Club

Not every vertical SaaS playbook comes from giants. In this session, founders who have successfully scaled over $10M ARR mark share the specific, replicable tactics that helped them get them there.

GTM secrets: Strategies for building In and owning a market

You've got burning questions, we've got answers. What AI frameworks are working? How can I grow my community? How do I build a moat that will last? This panel will dive into real tactics that are working right now in vertical software.

Scaling Payments: $10M to $100M to $1B to $10B and Beyond

As vertical SaaS platforms grow, so does the complexity — and upside — of embedded payments. This session looks at how payment strategy evolves at each inflection point: from monetization experiments at $10M ARR to optimizing margin and product depth at $1B+. Learn what to build, when to partner, and how the smartest platforms are scaling payments into a true second business line.

Coffee & Networking Break

New vsaas Playbooks: Rollups, Bundles, and Vertically Integrated Everything

What does the future of vertical SaaS look like? Founders at the edge of the category are experimenting with business-in-a-box models, multi-product rollups, and new bundling mechanics that could shape the next decade.

Closing Remarks & Happy Hour