By Mehdi Sanjari, PhD, PEng CEO at Ai-Innovate | mehdi@ai-innovate.com   The software-as-a-service (SaaS) industry is undergoing a seismic shift driven by the growing sophistication and accessibility of artificial intelligence (AI). This revolution transforms SaaS from a broad, horizontal market to a more focused, vertical approach—where startups are uniquely positioned to create highly specialized solutions that address deep industry-specific problems. By leveraging AI, startups can break into niche sectors and solve real-world issues long overlooked by traditional horizontal SaaS providers. The Vertical SaaS Revolution: A Game-Changer for Startups The 'verticalization of everything' is not just a passing trend—it's a profound shift in how software is developed, marketed, and delivered. This trend refers to the increasing focus on developing industry-specific solutions..