FounderMail 12th Edition: Agentic AI And The Massive Leap Forward
đ Hey there! Iâm Ilan. This is FounderMail, your monthly dose of startup insights that helps founders hire top talent, raise capital, and stay informed. From words to action, meet Agentic AI. Ready? Letâs go!
First time? Let us introduce ourselvesâŚ
Unstacked Startups is building a community of tech founders, early employees, leaders, and VCs uncovering the 'secret sauce' to startup growth. We want to share the insights with you through real conversations on our podcast (subscribe on YouTube or Spotify) live events, and our newsletter FounderMail.
In This Edition:
Shower Thoughts: AI Hype or Revolution?
Whatâs Got Our Attention
Unstacked Podcast: Daniel Saks, Co-Founder of AppDirect, Co-Founder of Landbase
The MVP Play with Paul Lambert, Founder & CEO of Quilt
Shower Thoughts
Soak up insights from our networkâs top investors, founders and tech influencers.
"AI is effectively âuselessâ and has created a 'fake it till you make it' bubble that could end in disasterâ veteran market watcher warns.
Havenât we seen this cycle before? A new technology is introduced â panic ensues but we adapt â entire industries are revolutionized, along with the way we live â repeat cycle. See:
The steam engine revolutionized productivity, sparking the Industrial Revolution.
The dot-com bubble burst, yet within a decade, the internet transformed life, work, and commerce.
Today, it's Agentic AIâs turn. Already a complementary evolution in the AI space, it's quickly transforming workflows and reshaping roles. Its potential is hard to deny and we canât imagine going back.
While we may not have a crystal ball, consider us all in!
TL;DR: Like the steam engine and the internet before it, history proves that transformative technologies can be more than just hypeâthey change the world in ways we never imagined.
Whatâs Got Our Attention
The latest startup news and research you canât afford to miss.
Let's Think Together! Assessing Shared Mental Models, Performance, and Trust in Human-Agent Teams
AI Is Definitely Changing (But Not Destroying) Hollywood (Yet)
Unstacked Startups Podcast Recap
Check out our favorite insights from a recent episode of the Unstacked Startups Podcast. Every episode, Unstacked host, Ilan Saks, chats with startup founders, early employees, leaders, and VCs to uncover the 'secret sauce' of startup growth.
Daniel Saks
Daniel Saks, Co-Founder & CEO of Landbase, and Co-Founder of AppDirect, has built the worldâs first AI action model for Go-To-Market.
The proliferation of software over the past decade has led to a paradox where individuals find themselves overwhelmed by screens and digital tools. People are "working for their software," spending excessive amounts of time navigating complex platforms designed to engage users rather than empower them.
Instead, embrace the notion that "AI should work for you," to reclaim our time and focus on what truly mattersâbuilding relationships and enriching our lives.
Daniel believes that the next significant evolution in AI will be Agentic AI, which not only generates content but also takes action based on learned behaviours. This shift emphasizes the need for trust in automated systemsâbusinesses must feel confident that these technologies will act in their best interests and align with their goals.
The MVP Play
Unlocking the playbooks of startup MVPs, one question at a time.
Checking into the game? For this edition, we chatted with the CEO & Co-Founder of Quilt, Paul Lambert.
MOTIVATION
Why are you building Quilt and whatâs the driving force behind your willingness to endure the challenges of founding a startup?Â
I'm building Quilt because I want to leave a better future for the next generation.
When I became a parent, I began to think more about my son's future and the challenges he would face with our warming climate. I wanted my career to serve his generation and build a better path for my children.
Climate change is the most pressing issue of our generation, and I see the energy transition as our greatest chance to innovate and bring us into the electrified future.
VENTURE
What advice do you have for founders to ensure a good fit between them and potential VC partners?Â
Look for:
1) Shared Motivation for a Better Future - At Quilt, all employees, partners, customers and investors have a shared motivation to accelerate the energy transition by moving homes off fossil fuels. This unites us all.
2) Alignment on Exit Expectation - I'm in this for the long run, and I believe companies that take time to build offer the biggest returns. We look for VCs who are compatible with our long-term vision.
3) Chemistry - VCs will be part of your company for a long time, so ensure you want to work with them. Spend time with their teams, see if you're inspired by them, if they ask good questions, treat you with respect, and if you learn from each other.
PEOPLE
How do you identify truly bar-raising talent?
I look for:
1) Common Motivation - We hire people that genuinely care about decarbonization, are thoughtful, and customer/user-centric.
2) Fit - There might be world-class talent, but if the motivation, timescale, or seniority isnât right, we might not hire them. It's about hiring the right person for the job at the right time.
3) Team Players - I look for people who appreciate their teammates and recognize that their success is enabled by those around them, and they canât do it alone.
The PLAY
Unstackedâs cheat code for early stage founders.
Build autonomous AI with clear purpose designed to drive your desired business outcomes.
Like Quilt, hire self-driven talent that is aligned with its mission, sync AI with your companyâs goals.
Similar to how you nurture your team, continuously train your AI to improve + learn, and watch it become a strategic partner, not just a vehicle to improve efficiencies.
How We Can Help You Grow Your Startup
Need help hiring elite talent? Weâve built the talent firm for startups.
Raising Capital? Drop us a line, weâd love to discuss what youâre building and how we can help.
Are you an engineer considering your next gig? Check the open startup roles in our network!