Dear Euclid Friends,
Vertex is a network and center of excellence for vertical software operators. Founded and led by the team here at Euclid—the first-check VC for vSaaS—Vertex began as 10 founder friends with a shared passion for the theme. Since then, the group has grown to 64 members nationwide, with vertical leaders from breakout startup CEOs to post-IPO founders. Having seen Vertex in action for 12 months now, we're doubling down.
The Vertex vision is big but simple: to connect and bring value to the best in vertical SaaS. Whether your interest is thought leadership, angel collaboration, mentorship, or just peer networking, Vertex aims is to unite A-players—like you—across the vSaaS ecosystem. While most of you are already members, others receiving this email are leaders in the vertical world we respect highly. We hope you'll be interested in following Vertex's progress and perhaps engaging down the road.
As vertical SaaS enters a golden age, there is no better time to unite the community. An essay Omar and I wrote last year, “An Era for Vertical Software,” speaks to the opportunity. The TLDR is that vertical SaaS is a distinct, enduring discipline that we believe is poised to dominate the software landscape over the next decade. Accordingly, its luminaries and best practices deserve a dedicated platform—a void we hope Vertex can fill.
We see [the recent] reversion of the venture ecosystem to its mean as a strong tailwind for Euclid–not only because of our experience and high-conviction fund model but also because of our thesis. As a category, Vertical SaaS is uniquely well suited to thrive in volatile market conditions and produce fund-returning outcomes. The sections below aim to answer the question: why is vertical software different? Our answer discusses the factors driving the natural market resilience we see in vertical software as a category–resilience that will help them thrive in 2024 and beyond. [Continue reading here]
If you'd like to learn more about Vertex, let us know! Programming for members will ramp up in 2H 2024, including virtual roundtables, dinners, and regular content drawn from our collective of operators.