Startups Add Chatbots To Undercut Vendors

SaaStr founder Jason Lemkin added an AI chatbot to his company's AI VP of Marketing on March 17, 2026, using Replit in about 25 seconds for $0.20. He says the feature outperforms most vendor products and contrasts the $0.20 cost with typical vendor prices of $500–$5,000 per month. Lemkin argues this exemplifies real-time software deflation and threatens traditional B2B sales motions.
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