INBOUND25 in San Francisco: AI, Networking, and a City in Transition
The GTM Firm does Inbound 25
Inbound25 landed in San Francisco this week—HubSpot’s annual gathering for CRM and GTM pros. And what a setting: right in Salesforce’s backyard, just as Salesforce announced a major round of layoffs. The timing couldn’t have been more symbolic.
So how was the show? Well, the The GTM Firm was impressed.
Almost as impressive as the weather and San Francisco’s surprisingly fresh look. Startups, scale-ups, and growth-stage companies were out in full force. The energy was undeniable. Old-guard companies mingled with ambitious newcomers, all eager to slap “AI” on their products, brands, and stories.
But the real winner? HubSpot itself.
HubSpot came across like a reborn AI-native company. Every announcement, every demo, every phrase was AI-enabled, AI-driven, AI-something. They’re a high-performance machine firing on seven out of eight cylinders—and pushing hard toward the eighth. With more than 205,000 customers in 135+ countries, HubSpot is no longer a scrappy SaaS challenger. They’re betting their next decade of growth on AI.
What Stood Out
AI-Powered Agents
The headline was HubSpot’s new suite of AI-powered agents—Data, Customer, and Prospecting—designed to take CRM beyond its traditional boundaries. These agents promise to automate data hygiene, streamline customer interactions, and help sales teams prospect smarter.
As Anthropic CEO
put it on the main stage: “AI isn’t replacing marketers — it’s becoming their co-pilot. The companies that win will be the ones who integrate agents into workflows, not bolt them on as features.” That line could have been the unofficial motto of the entire event.AI Strategy & Workshops
The event wasn’t just product demos. Workshops focused on practical integration: how to build workflows, embed agents, and rethink marketing and CX with AI at the core. Attendees seemed genuinely excited about real-world applications, not just hype. It fits a larger trend: according to McKinsey, 75% of marketing leaders already report using some form of generative AI in their campaigns. That sense of inevitability pulsed through the sessions.
Networking That Mattered
If you’ve ever been to Inbound, you know the hallway track is where the magic happens. This year was no different. Industry peers, partners, and HubSpot execs created a buzz that rivaled the official sessions. For many, those connections were the ROI.
Voices from the Main Stage
The lineup blended inspiration and insight:
Amy Poehler brought her signature wit to leadership and creativity (though I’ll admit, I missed her “AI insights”).
Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) reflected on the content economy. One line stuck with me: “The biggest challenge with AI-generated content isn’t making it — it’s making it meaningful.”
Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, gave a candid look at where AI is headed.
The mix was eclectic but fitting—leadership, content, and AI shaping the future of business.
Side Notes from San Francisco
The Money: SignalFire Ventures reported that the Bay Area attracts more venture funding than any other region in the world combined. In fact, Bay Area startups raised nearly $70 billion in 2024 alone—more than the next three regions combined. Add to that the culture of angels—founders and early employees backing their friends—and you’ve got a startup ecosystem that continues to defy gravity.
The Streets: San Francisco looked… cleaner. Noticeably so. Why? I’m not sure, but the difference stood out.
What I’m Still Wondering
The SaaS Shift: Will this wave of AI application leaders disrupt today’s SaaS incumbents? Pricing models, M&A, and scaling strategies are looming questions.
The Enterprise Gap: Who’s training Fortune 5000 companies to build and integrate AI agents? HR? IT? Feels like a massive void—and an even bigger opportunity. SMBs and channel partners could be the key.
Inbound vs. Dreamforce: Could Inbound become the “must-attend” event for CMOs and GTM execs, edging out Dreamforce?
San Francisco’s Path: The city feels better—cleaner, friendlier, alive. But it’s fragile. The progress is real, but unfinished.
Final Take
INBOUND25 wasn’t just a product showcase. It was a statement: HubSpot is all-in on AI, and they’re bringing their community with them. Every keynote and every hallway conversation reinforced it.
Whether HubSpot can sustain the momentum—and whether San Francisco can sustain its recovery—are questions worth tracking.
But for now, both HubSpot and the city feel like they’re on the upswing. And that’s something worth celebrating.
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https://keithnewman.substack.com/p/inbound25-in-san-francisco-ai-networking