I interviewed n8n CEO Jan Oberhauser on October 5, 2026 about how n8n survived multiple “deaths” caused by emerging AI workflow tools.
- The first AI‑driven challenger was ChatGPT. - The second was AgentKit. - The third was Claude Code.
I adopted AI connectors in 2023 to leverage emerging AI capabilities rather than compete directly.
I hardened the product for enterprise in 2024‑2025 to differentiate on reliability, security, and compliance for larger customers.
I built the “team system” in 2026 to focus on collaborative, repeatable workflows that AI tools like Claude Code cannot fully deliver.
n8n’s valuation was raised to $5.2 B in May 2026, more than double the valuation held in October 2025.
Jan’s strategic mantra was: “run to the new technology, not pretend like it doesn't exist.”