The AI Value Chain Is Shifting for the Mid-Market
AI is creating new demand, new pressure, and new productivity opportunities. The strategic question is where the value is actually flowing.
Welcome back.
I hope everyone had a good Fourth of July and is getting a little time to step back before the second half of the year gets fully underway.
As we move into July, one of the things I’ve been watching is how the AI conversation is starting to broaden.
It is still partly about internal productivity and adoption, but there is also a bigger question around where AI is changing demand, cost structure, and profit pools.
Some of that is obvious: data centers, power, infrastructure, software, and related services are seeing real activity. Some of it is quieter: customer expectations, vendor behavior, pricing pressure, or competitors finding ways to move faster with smaller teams.
There is also a practical mid-market angle that interests me. Smaller internal tools, dashboards, workflow improvements, and software fixes are getting easier to build without waiting on a SaaS vendor, an IT queue, or a major custom development project.
We included a quick reader poll below because I’m curious how others are thinking about this heading into the second half of the year.
Quick Reader Poll
AI is showing up differently across the mid-market. Some companies are using it to improve productivity. Others are watching how it may affect customers, suppliers, competitors, costs, or demand.
Maven Update
On the Maven front, I recently kicked off a client strategy project with Rand Stagen and Wes Blair.
It has been great catching up with both of them. I have known Rand, Wes, and the Stagen team for a long time, and I have a lot of respect for the work they do. I spent part of my career at Stagen and also went through the program myself, so it is always nice to reconnect with that circle.
One of the best parts of building Maven has been the chance to work with smart people I have known and respected across different chapters of my career.
Field Notes: Level Access
This month’s Field Notes comes from Maven’s work with Level Access.
The project is a good example of the kind of planning and facilitation work Maven often supports, especially when a leadership team is trying to step back, revisit priorities, and get aligned around the next phase of growth.
Read the Level Access case study here:
https://maven-associates.com/project/level-access/
Consultant Spotlight: Gautham Iyer
I also wanted to highlight Gautham Iyer this month.
Gautham brings experience across strategy, pricing, analytics, and operational transformation. That combination is valuable in projects where the team needs to understand what is changing in the business, what is affecting performance, and where better analysis can lead to better decisions.
Read more about Gautham’s here:
https://maven-associates.com/2025/02/21/consultant-spotlight-gautham-iyer/
Video Spotlight: Annual Planning and Strategy Facilitation
For anyone thinking about planning for the second half of the year, this short video may be useful.
I talk through how Maven approaches annual planning and strategy facilitation, including why the process often works better with an outside perspective and a clear structure for the conversation.
How Maven Helps
If your team is revisiting priorities for the second half of the year, Maven can help facilitate the conversation and bring outside perspective to the planning process.
Contact Maven here:
https://maven-associates.com/contact-us/
Thanks for reading.
If there is an assumption in your 2026 plan that deserves another look before year-end, I would be interested to hear what you are seeing.
Onward,
Mark Hess
Founder, Maven Associates
What assumption in your 2026 plan deserves another look before year-end?
If you have seen AI, customer demand, pricing, cost structure, or competitive dynamics change the logic behind a plan, I would be interested to hear where that showed up first.
Share This Issue
If this note brought someone to mind, feel free to share it with them.
For Consultants
Know someone who thrives in mid-market strategy work?
Maven is always interested in connecting with experienced independent consultants, especially former Bain, McKinsey, and BCG consultants interested in focused work with mid-market companies.
Learn more or refer a colleague below.