cloudedjudgement.substack.com · 2025-10-03 · 244d

Clouded Judgement: AI Training Environments as Infrastructure

The article argues that the next wave of AI infrastructure will center on building dynamic training environments and middleware that allow agents to learn from real-world enterprise workflows, rather than static datasets. It includes a comprehensive analysis of SaaS company valuations, showing that the median cloud software company trades at 5.1x NTM revenue with significant variance based on growth rates, and provides operating metrics benchmarks for the sector.

14 metrics· Cited 0× in the knowledge base ·Open source ↗

Metrics in this report

CAC Payback Period

32months

median

Overall SaaS sector

EV / NTM Revenue Multiple

5.1multiple

median

Overall SaaS/cloud software sector

EV / NTM Revenue Multiple

27.0multiple

median

High-growth SaaS (>25% NTM growth)

EV / NTM Revenue Multiple

7.8multiple

median

Mid-growth SaaS (15-25% NTM growth)

EV / NTM Revenue Multiple

3.9multiple

median

Low-growth SaaS (<15% NTM growth)

FCF Margin

18percent

median

Overall SaaS sector

G&A Spend as % of Revenue

15percent

median

Overall SaaS sector

Gross Margin

76percent

median

Overall SaaS sector

LTM Revenue Growth Rate

14percent

median

Overall SaaS sector

NTM Revenue Growth Rate

12percent

median

Overall SaaS sector

Net Retention Rate

108percent

median

Overall SaaS sector

Operating Margin

-2percent

median

Overall SaaS sector

R&D Spend as % of Revenue

24percent

median

Overall SaaS sector

S&M Spend as % of Revenue

37percent

median

Overall SaaS sector