Blog – Shelley Perry

A futuristic silver scale in a corporate boardroom balancing a pile of gold coins against a glowing blue AI motherboard brain, symbolizing how AI defensibility outweighs raw revenue in company valuations.

In 2026, AI-Native Alternatives Reprice Categories First — Your Job Is to Become AI-Defensible

January 13, 2026 No Comments

Let’s say this plainly: If you’re not AI-native, AI-native alternatives in your space are already pressuring your valuation. Not because customers have all moved.Because investors are pricing the risk now. In ScaleUp and Growth Equity underwriting, this is showing up as: And in some categories, it shows up as no interest at all—because the risk

Futuristic silver balance scale in a dark boardroom showing a small glowing AI motherboard weighing more than a large pile of gold coins, representing AI-defensible enterprise value vs raw revenue.

ScaleUp Stage M&A in 2026: When More Revenue Makes You Worth Less

January 13, 2026 No Comments

If you’re a first-time ScaleUp CEO—or it’s been a while since you’ve looked at M&A—here’s the 2026 update: If you’re not AI-native, AI-native alternatives in your space are already pressuring your valuation multiple.And that changes how you should think about M&A. Because in 2026, you can buy revenue and still end up worth less. I

Hero or Villain? The Role of Fractional Executives in ScaleUps

August 30, 2024 No Comments

Productivity counts in the fast-paced world of SaaS ScaleUps. As a CEO, you are always looking for ways to maximize your team’s impact while aiding this evolution without overburdening them and supporting career growth. How do you do it? Fractional Executives. This is the supposed magic bullet for all your leadership woes. But, are they

What do Superheroes, Villains, and ScaleUp Fractional Executives have in common?

August 30, 2024 No Comments

Unique Superpowers. Strengthening the C-Suite as you scale is crucial to driving sustainable growth during the ScaleUp stage. While hiring or promoting full-time executives is often the best approach, there are specific situations when an interim or fractional leader is a valuable tool in your C-Suite development strategy. This series is part of the broader

Shelley Perry's Blog

In 2026, AI-Native Alternatives Reprice Categories First — Your Job Is to Become AI-Defensible

ScaleUp Stage M&A in 2026: When More Revenue Makes You Worth Less

Hero or Villain? The Role of Fractional Executives in ScaleUps

What do Superheroes, Villains, and ScaleUp Fractional Executives have in common?