Dharmesh Shah

Founder and CTO at HubSpot. Helping millions grow better.

Career startup guy.

Author of the book &quot;Inbound Marketing&quot; (http://InboundBook.com)

Specialties: Entrepreneurship, Software Development, internet marketing,SEO

Founder and CTO

Founder of HubSpot, a venture-backed software startup.  HubSpot offers the industry's first inbound marketing system for small businesses.  The software is available as a hosted service (SaaS).

"Why should companies pay for SaaS (HR/CRM/ERP/etc.) when they could just vibe code them?"

I get variations of this question or comment with some regularity (granted, it's sometimes just me talking to myself). 

Here are some biased (but hopefully, well-considered) thoughts:

1) I am a big proponent and user of vibe coding (what I call "agentic coding"). I do it every day, 7 days a week, including Sundays. It's amazing.

2) My company, HubSpot is a software company. We have hundreds of professional engineers -- just about all of them use AI for product development too. They are brilliant and know how to build production-grade products.

3) Even with this powerful army of talent, the number of internal, core SaaS applications that we have replaced with a vibe-coded variant is exactly ZERO. The number of applications we plan to replace is also exactly ZERO. 

4) It's not the absence of talent that keeps us from rolling our own SaaS apps, it's the presence of focus. It would be silly to try and replace our HR, team collaboration, expense tracking and 100+ other SaaS apps we use when we can just buy them. Just doesn't make sense.

5) That's us -- as a software company at some scale. If you're a non-software company it makes even less sense for you. Doesn't matter how good the AI coding tools get. Let's say you *could* vibe code a replacement for that SaaS app you're using, who's going to maintain it? Who's going to keep up with industry trends? What are you going to do when the 20-something genius that vibe coded it over a weekend leaves the company?  Who do you call when there's a major bug? 

6) If you're a Fortune 500 company at some scale, perhaps you could pull this off for some discrete use cases and the tradeoffs are worth it. You have an IT/Engineering department that is larger than the population of some countries.  You can take on the pain in return for the positives.

For the millions of others, my advice is:

Spend every calorie possible on creating value for your customers.

Never spend more time debating the priority of a product improvement than it would take to actually go ahead and do it. 

Small improvements add-up and they're morale boosters for both customers and the team.

In the early times at HubSpot we had something called "daily delights". Basically, every day, the product team would *ship* at least ONE small improvement to the product that was noticeable by customers (and hopefully delight a few of them).

We're bringing a variation of that idea back whereby we find and fix those minor annoyances in the HubSpot product and drive some customer delight. I'm thrilled. 

Sometimes companies have a tendency to overthink things and undervalue the compounding value of seemingly inconsequential improvements.

BREAKING:  OpenAI launches GPT 5.2 and boy is it smart.

I got immediate value out of it.

I was struggling with getting Codex CLI to work through a tricky coding (actually deployment) issue I was running into.  I was going back and forth with the coding agent for almost a dozen rounds -- to no avail.

Was even desperate enough to try Claude Code with Opus 4.5.  No luck.

Then, saw the news about GPT 5.2.  Switched to it.  It took a couple of more rounds of prompting -- but it solved the issue.

Look forward to digging in more tonight with a late-night coding session for a major overhaul of one of my popular agents. 

Thank you OpenAI!

I build a lot of AI agents for myself, which I increasingly also share with others. 

I don't build AI agents to make people unnecessary.

I build them to make people unstoppable.

The latest McKinsey State of AI 2025 report just dropped and I'll cautiously say it's pretty good. (Cautiously, because I'm a bit leery of reports from big management consulting companies -- they're often very mega-enterprise focused and I'm a startup/SMB guy.)

Some quick takes and insights:

1. Most companies are still “AI-curious,” not “AI-capable.”

Eighty-eight percent are using AI somewhere, but two-thirds are still stuck in pilot mode. Translation: lots of glitter, not much gold.

2. AI agents are the new interns.

Sixty-two percent of organizations are experimenting with agents, but only 10 percent have them doing real work at scale. Early days—but the ones that figure it out first will have an army of tireless digital doers.

3. High performers think beyond cost-cutting.

The top six percent of companies don’t just use AI to save money—they use it to reinvent workflows and drive innovation. They’re not trimming fat; they’re growing new muscle.

My advice:
Experiment and play with AI. That's how you learn.
But don't stop there.
Lean in and truly leverage it.
Even if it's for small, discrete tasks.

The next frontier isn’t “using AI.”
 It’s working with AI.

At HubSpot we're investing in helping millions of SMBs make this transition -- just like we've done in the past. Everything from our featured agents like Customer Agent and Prospecting Agent all the way down to simple, task-oriented agents on Agent.ai.  

We're not interested in high-falutin', performative AI.  We focus on the practical: What can AI actually *do* for you?

What's the difference between a company's mission and vision?

Here's how I think about it...

A mission states who the company is, what it is pursuing and why.  It's describes what is (hopefully) happening *today*.

A vision describes where the company is going, what direction it's moving and where it aspires to be in the *future*.

For example, HubSpot's mission is to "help millions grow better". So, everything we do can be connected back to that mission. The products we build, the underlying platform it uses, our partner ecosystem, HubSpot Academy, our free tools, Agent.ai, our INBOUND conference...everything. It's all in service of that core mission of helping millions grow better. 

So, what's our VISION? Candidly, we're currently iterating on it. With the advent of AI, we think we can be more aspirational and set a higher bar in terms of what we can accomplish.

GalaxE.Solutions

Manager IT

Managerial Profile:
IT service management using ITIL & SCRUM frameworks
Team & task Management to ensure the productivity of team
Ensure all SLA’s & OLA’s are achieved – 100%
Implementation, Management and Improvement of organization IT System at the Physical/structural, Logical & functional level
Implementation & Management of multi-site company’s IT Infrastructure and Information System (System, Network & Security - Physical, Cloud & Virtual) as well as Management of Data centers
Management of IS Projects & technology Ownership
Monitoring and Administration the company's IS systems
Managing, coaching, mentoring & KT IS Team
Procurement Management
IS system automation
Onsite/Global Projects/Assignments management (Design/Develop/Test/Demo/Implementation/ Maintenance)
Management & Reporting of  MIS data (IS/IT)
Implementation & Management of IS Security - GRC & Audits - External & Internal
Analyze Information & System requirements, recommend and Implement viable technology Solutions.  
Recommendations of Best practices & viable solutions for the organization
•Site: 5 (Global)
•User Strength: 1500+ 
•Team Strength: 5

Technical Profile:
•Planning, Installation, configuration, optimization, troubleshooting & maintenance of servers i.e. Windows Servers (2008, 2012, & 2016) & Linux Servers (CentOS, Ubuntu, Kali) i.e. DCs, Print servers, File Server, Web Server, Certificate servers, Federation servers, Database servers (MS SQL, MySQL & Oracle), SharePoint servers, IIS server, Apache/Tomcat servers as well Windows 2012 Domain (AD) Forest Infrastructure (Multi Domain) i.e. AD, DNS, DHCP, AD CS (Certificate Services), GPO, AD FS (Federation Services), WDS
•Workstation Management 
•Systems management & Automation using latest set of tools
•Collaboration with NOC team for Network Management
•Collaboration with SOC team for Security Management•Remote environment management

Associate IS Manager

Managerial Profile :
• Implementation of company’s IT Infrastructure and Information system (System, 
Network & Security) as well as Management of Data Centers.
• Manage the Infrastructure and IT Team in its overall responsibilities.
• Complete IT Management using Nagios (IT infrastructure monitoring tool) & Solar winds Orion 
(Enterprise NPM tool), Manage Engine Service Desktop Central (Integrated desktop and mobile device management software), Manage Engine Service Desk Plus (Ticketing System & Help Desk Management tool), and Lansweeper (Automated network inventory, discovery and asset management tool).
• Analyse Information & System requirements, recommend and Implement viable technology 
solutions.  	
• Establishment, maintenance and continuous update of ISMS (ISO/IEC 27001:2013)
• Provide IT related training to IT team and end users.
• User Strength : 225+ 
• Team Strength : 5

Technical Profile :
• Installation, configuration, optimization, troubleshooting & maintenance of Windows Server 2008 R2 & Windows Server 2012 Network & Devices (Multi Domain, LAN & WAN, Dell & Hp servers, File Server, Print server, ADC, SQL DB Server, IIS Server, Workstations, Juniper UTM, Secnap, Barracuda, CISCO Routers, Switches, Internet Lease Lines, Mail clients - MS Outlook, MS Lync).
• Planning & Implementation of Windows Server 2008 ADC Infrastructure for Noida site as well as maintaining the integrity, AD Replication, DHCP, DNS, GPO, User Profiles.
• Configuration, troubleshooting & maintenance of Android & Blackberry mobile devices for e-
mail services.
• Providing support for Citrix, IBM AS/400, VMWare, Java, .NET, QA environments.
• Maximum Server & Network availability to the clients/Users.
• Analysis & Implementation of service packs & patches, Antimalware (Symantec Endpoint Protection).
• Develop processes to increase efficiency, Automate regular maintenance & support actions.
• Remote environment management through MS RDP.
• Data Backup.

Team Leader (IT - Infrastructure & Support)

Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010

Managerial Profile :
•Planning and implementation of company’s IT Infrastructure and Information system.
•Manage the Infrastructure and IT Team in its overall responsibility of providing application and technical support for different sites for CWG/OC.
•Provide IT related training to IT team and end users.
•User Strength : 200+ with roaming profile across the globe.

Technical Profile :
•Installation, configuration, optimization, troubleshooting & maintenance of Windows 2003 Server Network (LAN & WAN, File Server, Print server, DC).
•Planning & Implementation of Windows Server 2003 AD Infrastructure for India as well as maintaining the integrity, AD Replication, GPO, User Profiles with enterprise 
Domain (Located at France – centralized domain structure for global access).
•Configuration, troubleshooting & maintenance of Blackberry devices as well as Blackberry mail &  Blackberry Enterprise Mail.
•Installation, configuration, optimization, troubleshooting & maintenance of Workstation PCs, Laptops, Wi-Fi network, Fortinet UTMs, EPBAX System, Key Phones, CCTV 
setup, Biometric Access Control system (i.e. Thumbprint reader), all type of Hardware devices, software (OS i.e. Windows 2003/Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Notes, AutoCAD, Acrobat Pro, Tally 9 ERP & different type of application software) and Networking devices (i.e. Cables, NIC, Routers, Access Points, Switches), Internet lease lines (Cabled & RF), DSL broadband connections.
•Installation, configuration, optimization, troubleshooting & maintenance of Large multifunctional printers & plotters with print server.
•Maximum Server & Network availability to the clients/Users.
•Analysis & Implementation of service packs & patches, Antimalware.
•Develop processes to increase efficiency, Automate regular maintenance & support actions.
•Remote environment management through Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Support, 
Team viewer.
•Daily Data Backup.

IT Manager/System Admin

Celebrity Fitness

Managerial Profile :
•Plan and manage the company’s IT Infrastructure and Information system.
•Continuously monitor the efficiency of Information Systems i.e. Aphelion – SQL Server based ERP System, DPR  - Citrix based Virtual ERP and Reporting application running from International Head Office, Indonesia.
•Manage the IT Team in Its overall responsibility of providing application and technical support for the Club and Home office.
•Plan, Organize and Implement all IT related projects.
•Analyze Information requirements of the company, recommend and Implement viable technology solutions. 
•Provide  IT related training to end users.

Technical Profile :
•Installation, configuration, optimization, troubleshooting & maintenance of Windows 2003 Server Network (LAN & WAN, File Server, Print server, Database Server, DC).
•Installation, configuration, optimization, troubleshooting & maintenance of Workstation PCs, Laptops, Wi-Fi network, Watchguard Firebox  hardware Firewall X550e series, 
EPBAX System, Key Phones, CCTV setup, Biometric Access Control system (i.e. Thumbprint reader), all type of Hardware devices, software (OS i.e. Windows 2003/Windows XP, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft SQL Server & different type of application software) and Networking devices (i.e. Cables, NIC, Routers, Access Points, Switches, Intelligent Hubs), Internet lease lines, DSL broadband connections.
•Configuration, optimization, troubleshooting & maintenance of Company’s  website and Cooperate E-mail A/C management through Cpanel.
•Maximum Server & Network availability to the clients/Users.
Analysis & Implementation of service packs & patches, Antimalware.
•Develop processes to increase efficiency, Automate regular maintenance & support actions.
•Remote environment management through Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Support, Team viewer.
•Daily Data Backup.
•Basic Beta Testing of new software.

IT Associate/Manager

Softeksolutions Pvt. Ltd. (A subsidiary of DIPS Pvt. Ltd.)

•Installation, configuration, optimization, troubleshooting & maintenance of Windows 2003 Server Network (LAN & WAN, File Server, Print server, Database Server, DC).
•Installation, configuration, optimization, troubleshooting & maintenance of Workstation PCs, Laptops all type of Hardware devices, softwares (Windows 2000/Windows server 2003/Windows XP, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft SQL Server & different type of application software) and Networking devices (i.e. Cables, NIC, Routers, Access Points, Switches, Intelligent Hubs).
•Responsible for complete Network Management.
•Maximum Server & Network availability to the end users.
•Analysis & Implementation of service packs Antivirus & Firewall for Network & Desktop PC security.
•Troubleshooting of Hardware/Software/LAN/Broadband problems of the end users.
•Daily Data Backup.

System Engineer (IT & Web)

Superfast Network Access Pvt. Ltd (Broadband ISP of Sify Limited)

•Installation, configuration, optimization, troubleshooting &amp; maintenance of Sify Broadband Internet and LAN over an area of 1Km radius.
•Installation, configuration, optimization, troubleshooting &amp; maintenance of Desktop PCs, all type of Hardware devices, softwares (Window 98/ Windows 2000/Windows server 2003/ Windows XP, Microsoft SQL Server &amp; different type of software) and
Networking devices (i.e. Cables, NIC, Routers, Access Points, Switches, Intelligent Hubs). 
•Maintaining Broadband user Internet Usage Account. 
•Responsible for complete Network Management.
•Analysis &amp; Implementation of Antivirus &amp; Firewall for Network &amp; Desktop PC security.
•Troubleshooting of Hardware/Software/LAN/Broadband problems of the end users.
•Provide on line technical support to end- users.
•Remote environment management through Microsoft remote desktop, Team viewer.

Technical Engineer

Professional Experience :
• About 17+ years of experience in Planning, Designing, Implementing, Maintaining, and Supporting ‘Systems, Cloud, Networks & Security’ in diverse IT environments especially in Windows 11, Windows Server 2016, 2019 & 2022.
• Proficient in dealing with IT Hardware Devices.
• Establishment, maintenance, and continuous update of  IT Security: ISMS (ISO/IEC 27001:2022, 9001:2015), Soc-I & II.
•Strong Analytically, Troubleshooting, and Technical acumen with the ability to surmount daunting situations.
• MCTIP (Server Administrator, Enterprise Administrator – Windows Server 2008)
• MCSE (Server Administrator – Windows Server 2012)
• ITIL v2011 Foundation certified.

Goal :
• To be an IT Expert - EA.
• Improve my learning skills.

Specialties: Windows Server Infrastructure (On-Prem & Cloud) Administration & IT Infrastructure Management

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