Sumeet Singh: Two Paths to Win in the Post-Software Era

Sumeet Singh on the Post-Software Era

Sumeet Singh has articulated one of the clearest frameworks for understanding which companies will thrive as AI reshapes the technology landscape. His thesis identifies two durable paths for building venture-scale companies in what he calls the post-software era.

Path One: Infrastructure for Model Improvement

The first winning strategy is to build infrastructure that makes AI models better. This includes data pipelines, evaluation frameworks, fine-tuning platforms, and deployment tools. These companies benefit from a structural tailwind: as AI models proliferate across every industry, the infrastructure that supports them becomes more valuable with each new deployment. Companies on this path build compounding network effects and become deeply embedded in their customers' AI workflows.

Path Two: Inventing New Product Categories

The second path is more ambitious: creating entirely new product categories that were not possible before large language models and generative AI. These companies do not simply automate existing workflows. They reimagine what is possible when AI capabilities are the foundation rather than an add-on. The opportunity is larger but the execution risk is higher, requiring founders who can educate markets while building products simultaneously.