Most startups build tools for old industries. Fewer build the new industries themselves. But that’s changing.
Jared Friedman, Managing Partner at Y Combinator, recently issued a challenge:
Don’t just sell AI to the dinosaurs. Outrun them.
What Is a Full-Stack AI Company?
In short, it’s a company that doesn’t just create AI tools—it delivers the entire service or experience powered by AI. Think of it this way:
- Traditional AI startup: Builds software for law firms.
- Full-stack AI startup: Becomes the law firm—using AI to run operations faster, better, and cheaper.
The same applies across other industries: healthcare, accounting, logistics, customer service. Anywhere legacy systems and slow adoption hold back progress.
Why This Matters for the Future of Work
At Visio, we believe the future of work isn’t just about digitizing processes—it’s about redesigning work itself. Full-stack AI companies represent a clean slate. They’re not stuck retrofitting new tech into broken models. They create the model.
And they align with three trends we care deeply about:
- Talent as Strategy – Hiring fewer people, but empowering them with intelligent systems.
- Tech as Infrastructure – Not just tools, but the backbone of operations.
- Transformation as a Business Model – Not incremental change, but total reinvention.
From Enabling to Competing
Friedman’s call to action is bold: if you believe AI can disrupt an industry, don’t just help the incumbents adapt. Compete directly. Build the business from the ground up, AI-first.
This isn’t just a technical play—it’s a mindset shift.
Who Should Pay Attention?
- Founders frustrated by the limits of SaaS.
- Operators who know an industry inside out and see how it could run differently.
- Vision-builders ready to lead, not follow.
If that’s you, you’re not alone. The next era of industry leadership will come from people like you—those willing to reimagine, not just optimize.
At Visio, we back bold builders and vision-driven operators shaping the future of work. If you’re building a full-stack AI company—or want to—let’s connect.
