A while back, I met a founder who proudly described his product as a SaaS. When I asked what problem it solved, he hesitated. The truth is, SaaS is not a business model-it’s a delivery model. Just like a physical store is a way to sell goods, SaaS is a way to provide access. But if the underlying business doesn’t solve a painful problem, the delivery doesn’t matter.

Many of the so-called SaaS projects we see today-especially those wrapping basic AI features-are closer to hobby projects with payment buttons than real businesses. They may attract curiosity, but they rarely stick because users don’t see lasting value. In a noisy market, it’s easy for even decent ideas to get lost if they look like just another wrapper.

The market doesn’t reward uniqueness for its own sake. What it does reward is usefulness. People adopt and stick with tools that save them time, make them money, or remove recurring headaches. Everything else fades into the background.

As a founder or designer, your focus should be on proving value and positioning that value where it matters most to your audience.

Focus first on a real business problem-something that either helps save costs or drives revenue. Only after you’re clear on the problem and solution should you decide whether SaaS, an app, or another format is the right delivery method.

Don’t chase trends for the sake of it; instead, prioritize creating measurable outcomes for your users. Stand out through thoughtful execution and clarity, rather than just claiming to be unique. Remember, positioning your product and getting it in front of the right audience is just as important as building it well.

The next time you describe your project, try leaving the word SaaS out of it. Instead, explain the problem it solves and why users would pay for it. If you can do that clearly, the delivery model becomes secondary. That clarity is what turns a wrapper into a real product.