Your Business Isn't 'AI-Powered.' It's AI-Adjacent, and AI Due Diligence Will Expose It

Many European SaaS businesses call themselves AI-powered, but few can show the EBITDA impact of their AI investment or explain why their capability is defensible. This post explains why AI due diligence and technology stack diligence will become a standard exit risk for PE-backed software companies, what buyers such as strategic acquirers and growth equity firms are already asking, and what a genuine AI readiness assessment covers: data infrastructure, operating processes, change management and the commercial model. It draws on Grant Thornton, Mayer Brown, Gartner, McKinsey and MIT NANDA research, sets out five AI use cases tied to net revenue retention and cost lines, and explains how the EU AI Act timeline and AI governance affect deal readiness. Written for founders, PE operating partners and growth leaders preparing for exit.