Episode
EP 15: The Future of SaaS, AI, and Online Marketplaces with Roby Sharon-Zipser (Hipages)
- Podcast
- CEO Whisperer by Saurabh
- Published
- May 13, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 5108
- Processing state
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Summary
In this highly strategic and future-focused episode, Saurabh Jain sits down with Roby Sharon-Zipser , CEO and Managing Director of Hipages Group , to explore one of the biggest questions facing technology businesses today: how do marketplaces and SaaS platforms remain relevant in an AI-driven world? Roby shares the remarkable journey of building Hipages from a small online directory startup into Australia and New Zealand’s leading marketplace for trades and home improvement services. Over two decades, the company has navigated multiple waves of disruption—from directories to marketplaces, subscriptions, SaaS platforms, and now AI-powered systems. The conversation dives deep into platform evolution, founder adaptability, systems of record, and the growing threat of “zero-click” AI experiences where users no longer visit websites directly. Roby explains why trust, proprietary data, platform ecosystems, and embedded workflows may become the defining competitive advantages in the post-SaaS era. Together, they unpack how AI agents, automation, and large language models are changing customer behavior, software products, and business models at unprecedented speed. They also explore the tension between moving quickly versus making the right strategic bets, and why CEOs must balance experimentation with disciplined execution. What You’ll Learn in This Episode How Hipages evolved from a directory business into a SaaS-enabled platform Why marketplaces constantly face the risk of disintermediation What the “zero-click” AI environment means for online businesses How AI agents are changing customer behavior and search experiences Why trust, licensing, and verification still matter in AI-powered systems The importance of systems of record in building sticky SaaS products How subscrip…