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Why AI Agents Can Beat the Incumbents

Technology
United States
Started October 03, 2026

a16z’s Seema Amble and Elena Burger sit down with Lio co-founder and CEO Vladimir Keil to ask where AI-native startups have an advantage when incumbent software companies already own the customer, the data, and the system of record. Their answer comes down to the work that happens outside those systems. In procurement, a final price in an ERP can hide hundreds of emails, spreadsheets, supplier conversations, engineering analyses, and decisions across legal, finance, and operations. Vlad expla...

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CLAIM Posted by admin • Oct 03, 2026
AI-native startups can outperform incumbents by leveraging advanced data analytics that traditional systems cannot match.
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CLAIM Posted by admin • Oct 03, 2026
AI-native startups will dominate because they have no legacy incentive to protect expensive on-premise or subscription licensing revenue streams.
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CLAIM Posted by admin • Oct 03, 2026
Whether a company is startup or incumbent, the company that best reduces time and cost in procurement, finance, and operations workflows will win that customer segment.
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CLAIM Posted by admin • Oct 03, 2026
The competitive advantage of incumbents lies in their vast datasets and historical context that AI agents cannot easily access.
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CLAIM Posted by admin • Oct 03, 2026
Investment in AI technology should be balanced with the need for responsible oversight to protect consumer interests.
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CLAIM Posted by admin • Oct 03, 2026
AI agents designed for processes hidden inside email and spreadsheets will fragment the market into dozens of niche tools rather than create platform winners.
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CLAIM Posted by admin • Oct 03, 2026
The rise of AI agents will ultimately force incumbents to innovate or risk obsolescence in their respective markets.
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CLAIM Posted by admin • Oct 03, 2026
Collaboration between AI startups and incumbents can lead to innovative solutions that benefit both parties.
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CLAIM Posted by admin • Oct 03, 2026
The competitive battle in AI agents will be won by whoever best understands and automates the actual decisions and conversations that drive business outcomes, regardless of their founding date.
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CLAIM Posted by admin • Oct 03, 2026
Incumbents will adapt their strategies to counter AI competition, maintaining their market dominance.
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