From Services to SaaS: Reinventing a Business in the Age of AI with Erica Olsen

🧠 Growth Capital Podcast — Episode 71 🧠 In this episode of the Growth Capital Podcast, Justin Dixon sits down with Erica Olsen, Co-founder & CEO of Madison AI, to unpack what it really takes to reinvent a business from consulting to SaaS at exactly the right moment. Erica shares how a simple shift, listening to what customers actually wanted, led to a completely new company, a $1M ARR milestone, and a fast-growing GovTech platform serving cities and counties across the U.S. This isn’t theory. It’s a real-time case study in adapting to AI, finding product-market fit, and building with focus in a market most founders avoid. 🔍 What you’ll learn: • Why customers should define your product • The realities of selling AI into government (and why most fail) • How to transition from services to scalable SaaS • Why niche focus beats broad ambition in early-stage growth • How AI is changing how executives work, not just what they do 🚀 Whether you're a PE-backed operator, startup founder, or investor, this episode offers a practical look at building and scaling in the age of AI. 🔗 Connect with Erica on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericajolsen/ 🌐 Learn more: https://madisonai.com/ 👉 Subscribe for more insights from founders, investors, and operators 👍 Like the video and share your thoughts in the comments: What would you rebuild differently in an AI-first world?