Category Guides

Astroturfing: Manufacturing Fake Grassroots Support

1. TL;DR & Definition Astroturfing is the deceptive practice of masking the sponsors of a message or organization to make it appear as though it originates from and is supported by grassroots participants. In B2B SaaS, this typically involves manufacturing…

Proxy Wars in SaaS: Competing Through Third-Party Shells

TL;DR & Definition Proxy wars in SaaS occur when a company funds, supports, or strategically elevates a third-party project, standard, or open-source tool to weaken a primary competitor, without engaging in direct head-to-head combat. It’s the business equivalent of arming…

Market Manipulation: Bending Market Perception

TL;DR & Definition In B2B SaaS, market manipulation isn't about illegal trading; it's about systematically distorting the perception of a category to make your specific solution appear inevitable. It involves funding proprietary research, creating artificial scarcity, establishing zero-sum analyst narratives,…

Controlled Opposition: Funding Your Own Competitor

TL;DR & Definition Controlled opposition in the SaaS ecosystem is the practice of a dominant company quietly building, acquiring, or funding a seemingly independent competitor that targets a different market segment or addresses specific grievances of churning customers. The goal…