Vertical software companies should pick a large industry like retail or healthcare, develop expertise in that domain, and start by solving a major problem faced by customers in that industry. They should make their software the system of record for key customer information and eventually expand it to become the system that customers use for everything. Following this playbook of focusing deeply on a vertical market allows companies to deliver an Amazon-like customer experience tailored to that industry and become the leading software in that category.

1. Ashot Iskandarian
Founder & CEO
Shopmonkey
@aiskandarian
Michael Guirguis
Co-founder & CEO
Seso
@mguirg
The Vertical Software Playbook
Nina Achadjian
Partner
Index Ventures
1
@ninaachadjian

2. The 6 steps to becoming a
category leader

3. Why has vertical software taken off?
3
Everyone wants to give
an Amazon-like
experience to their
customer
1 2 3
Business owners want a
product built by people
like them, for people like
them
Advancements in fintech
have made processing
payments possible

4. What is the vertical software playbook?
4
Pick a massive industry
ripe for disruption
Develop
domain expertise
Start with solving one
very large pain point
Be the system of record Become the system
of everything
Expand to new verticals

5. THANK YOU