Challenges and opportunities shaping Namespace – Exlusive conversation with Macsen Galvin

At this year’s industry gathering in sunny Ibiza, Konrad Keck sat down with Macsen Galvin from Namespace for a candid conversation about the challenges and opportunities facing the domain and hosting industry. From regulatory headaches to the promise of AI-driven innovation, Galvin offered thoughtful insights into where the market is headed and how Namespace is evolving to meet the moment.

Balancing growth across borders

In today’s interconnected digital economy, companies that operate internationally must constantly balance growth with regulatory complexity. For Namespace, the challenge is amplified by the fact that, despite being a relatively small player, they’re present in multiple European markets. Each of these markets interprets and implements shared EU laws differently – creating operational friction that can’t be ignored.

Macsen Galvin was honest about the difficulties this creates for their team. Even well-established regulatory frameworks like the GDPR or the upcoming NIS2 directive can lead to inconsistent requirements across borders.

“We’re not a very big company, relatively speaking, but we’re in lots of different countries… within the EU, you have to deal simultaneously with the same law implemented in many different ways.”

This inconsistency forces companies like Namespace to develop country-specific processes, which increases overhead and slows innovation. Galvin made it clear that while they’re fortunate to have competent local teams, managing fragmented compliance is an ongoing burden.

“It’s a lot of work for no real [benefit], basically helping us damage our own business.”

It’s a striking statement that reflects the sentiment of many mid-sized tech firms in Europe: innovation is often stalled not by competition, but by regulation.

The SaaS second wave and AI integration

Yet, amid the operational challenges, there’s also a sense of momentum and transformation in the air. Galvin pointed to what he sees as a “second wave” of SaaS products – smarter, more focused, and driven by real user needs. AI is the engine behind much of this transformation.

“AI is obviously the buzzword for the moment, but it has a lot of extra functionality and help for customers. The biggest issue has always been the same one: getting people to use the things they buy from you.”

It’s a familiar challenge for anyone in SaaS or hosting: customers sign up for a product, but then fail to extract its full value. Galvin’s take is both refreshing and realistic – tools should work for the user, not the other way around. AI presents a genuine opportunity to bridge this usage gap.

In our view, this isn’t just a technical evolution – it’s a philosophical one. The new generation of SaaS platforms is about empowerment: simplifying onboarding, automating workflows, offering contextual guidance, and ensuring that users not only adopt tools but benefit from them meaningfully.

“The more we can make it easy for people to use things, the better… [It] will hopefully then lead to less churn, more revenue, and happier people.”

Namespace’s approach highlights an important shift in the industry: from simply delivering functionality to delivering outcomes.

Reclaiming real conversations

Tech events are often fast-paced and transactional, overloaded with meetings. But Galvin praised the Ibiza setting for providing a more human, more relaxed backdrop to reconnect with peers and partners.

“CloudFest is a little bit like speed dating… It’s nice to be able to spend some time talking to people and actually building those relationships again.”

This sentiment struck a chord. In an industry that moves at lightning speed, genuine connections are often sacrificed for efficiency. But ultimately, it’s relationships – not just deals – that drive long-term success.

Looking ahead

For Namespace, the path forward won’t be without its hurdles. Regulatory challenges will continue, and customer expectations will keep evolving. But with a clear-eyed view of these realities – and a willingness to adapt and innovate – Macsen Galvin and his team seem well-positioned to navigate the storm.

As SaaS products become more intuitive and AI begins to play a practical role in user enablement, companies like Namespace are poised not just to survive but to thrive – offering tools that are truly usable, compliance that’s thoughtfully localized, and customer experiences that feel effortless.