Foundry Revenue

The AI Foundry

AI in the sale. What owner-led companies are doing with it, and what it's worth.3 issues

Three in four owners in a large survey use AI. One in seven has built it into how the business runs.

Every week I pull together what owner-led companies are actually doing with AI at each stage of the sale: who did it, what changed, and how solid the evidence is. Search the issues, or pick the stage where your own sale gets stuck.

SourceGoldman Sachs, 10,000 Small Businesses survey of 1,256 owners · Mar 17, 2026

Using AI 18.9%
Not using AI 11.6%

Share of U.S. firms reporting rising sales

1.6x

Businesses using AI were 1.6x as likely to report rising sales.

Directional U.S. Census Bureau survey of U.S. firms, Nov 2025 to Feb 2026. Sales over the prior two weeks, and an association, not proof that AI caused it.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, The Microstructure of AI Diffusion (CES 26-25), Table 8 · Apr 2026

Every issue

  1. Issue 003 · September 29, 2026 · 8 min read AI multiplies whatever's already there A property manager caught its AI agent sharing wrong information. Plus a 90-day revenue stall, speed to lead and what bad CRM data does to AI. Read the issue
  2. Issue 002 · September 28, 2026 · 6 min read AI wins where the buyer is already leaning in SaaStr's AI agents have closed millions, all from buyers who'd raised a hand. Plus a CPA firm, a freight broker, a harness maker and more. Read the issue
  3. Issue 001 · September 28, 2026 · 5 min read Where the saved hours go AI is saving sellers almost five hours a week. Most companies are losing them anyway. Plus seven other things worth knowing this week. Read the issue