Avsnitt
-
Exploring the Intersection of AI and Creation with Jay Singh of Casper Studios In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs sits down with Jay Singh, co-founder and CEO of Casper Studios, a New York-based AI product studio. Jay shares his journey from working at LinkedIn to founding Casper Studios, which focuses on designing and developing custom AI solutions for startups and creators. They discuss the compelling need for AI tools in product development, the creative processes behind building AI solutions, and the importance of understanding one's target audience. Jay elaborates on his strategic focus on creators with large followings, his excitement about new AI functionalities like multimodal models, and how he plans to balance product development with running an agency. This conversation dives deep into how AI is redefining the agency world and the creative economy.
00:00 Introduction to Jay Singh and Casper Studios
00:50 Founding Story and Early Days of Casper Studios
03:58 Jay's Background and Journey to AI
05:47 First AI Product and Transition to Full-Time
06:26 Casper Studios' Business Model and Client Focus
14:35 Building AI Products for Creators
21:51 AI Tools and Team Dynamics
26:36 Common Pitfalls for Creators
26:53 Understanding Your Audience
28:19 AI's Impact on Creativity and Critical Thinking
32:24 The Future of Agencies in the AI Era
34:05 Balancing Product Development and Agency Work
39:22 Leveraging AI for Business Growth
44:03 Exploring Funding and Business Models
48:14 Final Thoughts and Farewell
-
From Startup Struggles to AI-Driven Success: Uday Chandra & Singular's Adaptive Business Engine In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs interviews Uday Chandra, co-founder of Singular, an innovative startup focused on building an adaptive business operating engine using AI. Introduced by Mady Mantha from Happypillar, Chandra shares his journey from a failed fintech startup to successfully bootstrapping Singular with his co-founder. Singular aims to consolidate various SaaS tools into a single unified system, leveraging open-source technologies and AI-driven agents for coding and business rule integration. Despite being only three months old, Singular has achieved $45,000 in monthly recurring revenue (MRR) from five customers, with a vision of scaling further without outside funding. The episode delves into the challenges of integrating AI, customer acquisition strategies, and future ambitions for the company.
00:00 Introduction to Uday Chandra and Singular
00:31 Uday's Journey: From Traditional Startup to AI-Driven Success
01:13 Singular's Innovative Approach and Early Success
02:09 The Vision Behind Singular: Consolidating SaaS Tools
02:41 Meet the Host: Jason Jacobs and The Next Next
03:28 Uday's Background and the Birth of Singular
04:02 Challenges and Learnings from UKey
08:38 Identifying the Problem: SaaS Fatigue
10:10 Building Singular: Customer Development and Market Research
15:01 Targeting the Right Market Segments
16:42 Developing Singular's Features and Functionality
19:53 Leveraging AI for Software Development
24:24 Pricing Model and Customization
27:38 The Future of SaaS and AI Integration
36:53 Opinionated Approach to Software Development
38:49 Initial Customer Acquisition Strategies
39:54 Pitching to Mid Enterprises
40:24 Overcoming Customer Skepticism
41:41 Navigating Tool Integration Challenges
45:25 Leveraging AI for Business Optimization
50:19 Scaling with a Small Team
01:00:31 Open Source and AI Innovations
01:08:07 Building a Collaborative Community
01:11:46 Final Thoughts and Future Outlook
-
Saknas det avsnitt?
-
Harnessing AI to Revolutionize Lending: A Conversation with Scott Weller of EnFi In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs sits down with Scott Weller, co-founder and CTO of EnFi, an AI-powered platform aimed at enhancing the lending process. Scott shares insights into how EnFi emerged amid the financial crises of Silicon Valley Bank and First Republic Bank, revealing the fragility of the financial system. The discussion delves into Scott's journey as a serial entrepreneur, the role of AI in building EnFi, and the innovative way EnFi collaborates with design partners instead of traditional customers. Scott highlights the challenges and opportunities of integrating AI in lending, the process of prototyping, and the importance of staying on the cutting edge of technology. They also explore the future of AI in various sectors, the implications for venture funding, and the potential for community-driven knowledge sharing to accelerate AI development. This episode is packed with insights on how emerging AI tools can aid in building ambitious companies while maintaining a balance with personal life.
00:00 Introduction to Scott Weller and EnFi
00:13 The Genesis of EnFi
00:56 Scott Weller's Entrepreneurial Journey
01:13 AI's Role in EnFi's Development
01:30 Challenges and Innovations in Lending
02:18 The Next Next: A Learning Journey
02:58 Catching Up with Scott Weller
04:38 Scott's Background and Early Influences
06:35 The Birth of EnFi
10:04 Prototyping and AI Integration
16:53 Design Partners and Market Fit
29:51 Building the Team and Scaling
40:02 Fundraising and Future Prospects
44:39 The Impact of Raising Capital on Business Trajectory
44:59 Navigating Capital Light vs. Capital Heavy Strategies
46:09 Understanding Market Demand and User Access
47:03 Challenges in Different AI Application Markets
48:01 Balancing R&D and Market Entry
49:57 Personal Reflections on Entrepreneurship
56:39 The Role of Agents in Software Development
59:31 Implications of AI on Hiring and Industry
01:01:48 The Future of Venture Capital in a Changing Market
01:07:11 Building a Collaborative Community for AI Development
01:22:20 Final Thoughts and Reflections
-
Building AI-Powered 3D Creativity Tools with Bharat Vasan In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs welcomes Bharat Vasan, co-founder of Intangible, to discuss their development of a no-code 3D creation tool targeting filmmakers, game designers, and creative professionals. Intangible recently raised a $4 million seed round to simplify 3D content creation using AI. Bharat talks about his journey, including co-founding Basis Technologies and working with notable names like Charles Migos from Apple and Unity. They explore the challenges and opportunities in the film and games industries, the potential of AI, building a startup team, and maintaining work-life balance as an entrepreneur. Bharat and Jason also reminisce about their long history and shared experiences in the startup world.
00:00 Introduction to Bharat Vasan and Intangible
00:52 Bharat's Entrepreneurial Journey
00:58 Discussion on Founding Companies
01:26 State of the Film and Games Industries
01:57 Introduction to The Next Next
02:37 Reconnecting with Bharat
03:34 Bharat's Background and Journey to the US
05:11 Cultural Shocks and Career Beginnings
05:38 Bharat's Experience in Silicon Valley
08:54 The Importance of Co-founders
12:40 Key Factors in Starting a Company
17:15 Meeting Co-founder Charles Migos
19:48 Challenges in the Film and Games Industries
23:14 The Vision for Intangible
28:47 AI Transforms Creative Processes
29:35 The Role of Agents in AI
31:17 Simplifying 3D Creative Tools
33:48 AI's Impact on Production and Creativity
37:40 The Future of AI in Creative Industries
43:52 Building Intangible AI
53:22 The Startup Grind and Co-Founder Dynamics
57:37 Closing Thoughts and Future Outlook
-
Building HYBRD: Leveraging AI in Fitness App Development In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs chats with Matthew Ruiters and Ben Katz, co-founders of HYBRD, an innovative fitness tracking app for hybrid athletes. They discuss the unique approach of using AI for coding and development, their journey through Y Combinator, and the challenges and successes faced along the way. Topics include utilizing AI tools to empower non-technical founders, transitioning from a side project to a full-fledged company, and the future of fitness app development and marketing with AI. The conversation also touches on the implications of evolving AI tools for startup efficiency, competition, and employment.
00:00 Introduction to The Next Next
02:11 Meet the Guests: Ruiters and Ben
03:03 What is HYBRD?
04:10 The Origin Story of HYBRD
09:37 Building the Prototype and Joining YC
15:36 Leveraging AI for Development
19:33 The Role of AI in Team Efficiency
23:11 AI-Driven Workflow Enhancements
24:04 The Role of Technical Founders
25:13 Balancing Hustler and Hacker Dynamics
25:46 Drawbacks and Challenges of AI Tools
27:02 AI's Impact on Hiring and Competition
29:29 Diving into AI Tools: Tips and Experiences
35:47 Application-Only Launch Strategy
37:24 Future Plans and Funding
40:13 Marketing and Distribution Strategies
43:28 Final Thoughts and Parting Words
-
Fostering AI Adoption: A Deep Dive with Melodi's Sara Remsen In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs talks with Sara Remsen, CEO and co-founder of Melodi, a startup helping AI companies improve their models with human feedback. They discuss Melodi's journey, AI's current transformative state, and its potential opportunities and hype. The conversation covers the rise of AI agents, the tools available for building them, the pros and cons of those tools, and the challenges companies face in developing in-house agents. Sara explains Melodi's role in measuring digital resolution rates for AI-powered chatbots, detailing their approach to improving customer interaction insights. The discussion also touches on Melodi's origin story and developmental journey, the impact of generative AI on traditional product feedback methods, and the future of AI integration in businesses. Towards the end, Sara shares practical advice for founders and established companies on incorporating AI thoughtfully and strategically.
00:00 Introduction to Sara Remsen and Melodi
00:20 Overview of the Episode's Topics
01:24 Introduction to The Next Next Show
02:03 Sara Remsen Joins the Conversation
02:09 Challenges in Podcast Recording
02:29 Sara's Background and Connection with Jason
03:31 Founding Melodi and Its Mission
03:40 Understanding Melodi's Functionality
04:38 The Origin Story of Melodi
08:05 Exploring RAG Systems
14:52 Challenges and Opportunities with AI Agents
24:53 The Future of AI and Digital Workforces
27:07 Prioritizing Tool Sets and Tasks
27:23 Melodi's Integration and Functionality
28:22 Task Agnosticism and Monitoring
28:46 Criteria for Melodi's Market Fit
29:12 AI Maturity and Company Size
29:31 Melodi's Ideal Customer Profile
36:31 Challenges in the AI Market
37:52 Future of Software and AI
43:56 Melodi's Sales and Customer Acquisition
45:42 Incorporating AI in Operations
49:16 Advice for Founders and Companies
52:56 Melodi's Future Plans
54:23 Creative Uses of AI in Daily Life
55:09 Conclusion and Farewell
-
Shawn Harris on Revolutionizing Project Management with AI In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs interviews Shawn Harris, co-founder and CEO of Coworked. Shawn shares how Coworked is transforming project management by leveraging AI, specifically with their flagship product, Harmony. The discussion delves into Coworked's journey from initial concept to their pivot based on market needs, leading to the development of an extensive agent-driven AI system. Shawn provides insights on the challenges and decisions involved in building their own agentic framework, the role of project managers, and the future landscape of AI in project management. The episode also touches on Shawn's perspective on the evolving role of founders and invites listeners, especially PMO leaders, to engage with Coworked's innovative solutions.
00:00 Introduction to The Next Next
00:29 The Birth of Coworked and Harmony
01:47 Challenges in Project Management
03:04 Meet Shawn Harris
04:45 Understanding Harmony's Capabilities
06:11 The Founding Story of Coworked
12:38 Building the Agentic Framework
16:07 Optimizing Project Management
17:50 Technical Challenges and Solutions
19:59 DIY vs. Off-the-Shelf Solutions
23:26 Ensuring Reliability and Accuracy
28:56 Overcoming Challenges in AI Development
30:43 The Role of AI in Development and Resources
31:41 Team Structure and AI Integration
33:58 Human Involvement in AI Projects
40:25 Market Penetration and Customer Engagement
42:20 AI's Impact on Project Management
48:33 Defensibility and Competition in AI
56:16 Future of AI in Business and Entrepreneurship
57:14 Final Thoughts and Contact Information
-
Exploring AI Integration in Product Management with Paul Heayn In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs welcomes Paul Heayn, a product manager at Peapod Digital Labs, who has been integrating AI into his work. The conversation covers Paul's professional background, his journey with AI, and his hands-on experience with tools like ChatGPT and N8N. They discuss the challenges and potential of automating workflows, the future impact of AI on roles within startups, and how to effectively integrate AI into existing processes. The episode serves as a practical guide for anyone looking to incorporate AI tools into their professional workflows.
00:00 Introduction to Today's Episode
02:22 Paul Heayn's Background and AI Journey
03:32 Exploring AI Tools and Applications
07:48 Challenges and Learnings in AI Implementation
08:38 Future Prospects and Personal Reflections
17:18 Navigating AI Tools and Resources
21:02 Debating the Best Approach to Learning AI
27:16 The Programming Genie Concept
27:44 Challenges in Character Development
28:22 Automation in Various Professions
28:52 Building Personal Software Solutions
30:19 Future of Vendor-Sold Software
31:24 AI's Impact on Job Roles
34:56 Choosing the Right AI Tools
42:16 Practical Coding Tools and Automation
46:11 Final Thoughts and Future Plans
-
Navigating Ambition, Family, and AI with Brian Balfour of Reforge In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs speaks with Brian Balfour, founder and CEO of Reforge. The episode covers Brian’s entrepreneurial journey, including his time at Viximo and HubSpot, and the challenges and strategies he employed in building Reforge since 2016. Brian shares insights on balancing being a venture-backed founder and a dad, embracing and managing ambition healthily, and the transformative impact of AI on product teams. The conversation delves into Reforge’s pivot to incorporating AI, its acquisition of Monterey.ai, and the future implications of AI on startup building and venture capital. Jason and Brian also discuss the evolving landscape of AI tools and the importance of being on the front lines of technology adoption.
00:00 Introduction to Brian Balfour
00:31 Brian's Early Ventures and Reforge
00:46 Balancing Ambition and Family
00:56 The Role of AI in Reforge
02:03 The Next Next: A Learning Journey
02:44 Brian's Entrepreneurial Journey
05:29 The Impact of Family on Ambition
06:48 Navigating Challenges and Opportunities
22:59 AI's Disruption in Education and Product Teams
32:08 Transitioning to AI Native Product Teams
32:42 Building vs. Acquiring AI Products
33:24 Utilizing AI in Training and Content Creation
38:31 Impact of AI on Team Structure and Efficiency
41:24 Future of Startups and AI
47:53 Venture Capital and Startup Culture
50:17 Navigating AI Tools and Automation
52:03 Advice and Future Plans
01:02:27 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
-
AI and Parenting: Revolutionizing Child Behavioral Therapy with Mady Mantha In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs interviews Mady Mantha, co-founder and CTO of Happypillar, a digital therapeutic application that delivers evidence-based behavioral interventions to families using AI. Mady shares her extensive background in product and machine learning engineering and details her journey from developing conversational AI at Sirius and Walmart to building Happypillar. They discuss how Happypillar uses AI to make parenting easier by providing scaled therapeutic support, the roles of human expertise in AI development, the evolving AI landscape, and the intersection of AI with startup building, funding, and human roles. The conversation also explores the implications of AI on team structures in engineering, marketing, and competitive dynamics. Mady highlights the importance of domain expertise and distribution as moats and provides insight into future expansions for Happypillar.
00:00 Introduction to Mady Mantha and Happypillar
02:41 The Role of AI in Modern Startups
04:45 Building Happypillar: The Journey and Challenges
07:35 AI's Impact on Behavioral Interventions
12:23 Iterative Development and AI Integration
21:14 AI Native Startups vs Traditional Startups
25:39 Therapist Integration in AI
26:51 Scaling Therapy Services with AI
27:32 Personalization in Therapy
29:17 AI's Impact on Internal Processes
31:39 AI in Coding and Team Dynamics
34:23 Future of Junior Engineers
36:45 Fundraising and Bootstrapping
38:34 Marketing and AI Tools
40:01 Human vs. AI in Sensitive Areas
43:04 Competitive Landscape and Moats
45:28 Open Source and Innovation
46:20 Future Plans for Happy Pillar
47:37 Call to Action and Conclusion
-
Building a Balanced Business: Mike Salguero on Scaling ButcherBox Thoughtfully
In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs interviews Mike Salguero, founder and CEO of ButcherBox. They discuss Mike's journey from the failure of his first startup, CustomMade, to the success of ButcherBox, a direct-to-consumer meat delivery service that now boasts over $500 million in revenue without raising outside capital. The conversation explores the importance of maintaining a work-life balance, the challenges of scaling a business independently, and the role of AI in enhancing customer experience. Mike shares insights on how to build a company that aligns with one's lifestyle goals while addressing broader industry challenges, such as worker welfare and sustainable meat production.
00:00 Introduction to Mike Salguero and ButcherBox
01:15 Mike's Journey from CustomMade to ButcherBox
03:01 Balancing Family and Business
03:33 The Role of AI in ButcherBox
05:35 Building ButcherBox: Philosophy and Growth
07:46 Lessons from CustomMade
11:14 Launching ButcherBox
20:33 The Growth and Challenges of ButcherBox
27:38 The Power of Saying No 28:18 Balancing Personal and Professional Life
29:43 The Importance of CEO Forums
31:34 The Plate-Spinning Analogy
33:06 Golden Plates: Health, Relationships, and Kids
34:41 Navigating Financial Independence
37:24 Reviving the Founder Mindset
40:04 Empowering Your Executive Team
45:20 Challenges in the Meat Industry
50:51 The Future Vision for ButcherBox
54:07 Final Thoughts and Reflections
-
This episode of 'The Next Next' features Chris Savage, co-founder and CEO of Wistia, a video marketing and analytics platform. Host Jason Jacobs explores Chris's journey in establishing Wistia in 2006 with Brendan Schwartz, navigating its growth into a multi-million dollar business, and making the critical decision to maintain company independence by taking on debt to buy back equity. Chris shares insights on running a profitable business, handling external growth advice, and staying focused. Post-pandemic transitions to remote work, the reintroduction of equity, and the integration of AI into Wistia are also discussed. Additionally, Jason shares his idea for a potential series called 'Fogey Founders,' and Chris offers valuable advice on leveraging video content for podcasts.
00:00 Introduction to Chris Savage and Wistia
00:44 The Journey of Wistia: Early Challenges and Decisions
01:27 Personal Insights and AI Integration
01:56 Host's Personal Journey and Goals
02:32 Chris Savage Joins the Conversation
03:14 Balancing Family and Ambitious Goals
05:05 Wistia's Growth and Key Insights
07:15 Navigating Financial Decisions and Market Challenges
24:05 Reflecting on Stress and Family Dynamics
29:41 Balancing Remote Work and Team Dynamics
30:08 Navigating Remote Hiring Challenges
30:47 Adapting to Remote Work Systems
31:14 In-Person Collaboration and Planning
34:05 The Impact of AI on Business Operations
35:13 AI-Driven Product Enhancements
39:58 AI in Internal Operations
43:41 Future of Work and AI Integration
50:13 Exploring New Content Creation Strategies
55:35 Final Thoughts and Call to Action
-
In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs interviews Sahil Lavingia, founder and CEO of Gumroad and the newly established company, Antiwork. They discuss Sahil's journey from being employee #2 at Pinterest to founding Gumroad, and now venturing into promoting flexible work arrangements and leveraging AI to automate business processes. Sahil shares his insights on the transformative impact of AI in the software industry, his approach to building and scaling companies, and his vision for the future of work. The conversation also delves into how AI is altering traditional employment structures and what this means for venture capital, enterprise software, and individual productivity. Tune in for an enriching discussion on embracing change, optimizing for efficiency, and staying adaptable in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.
00:00 Introduction to Sahil Lavingia
00:31 Sahil's Early Career and Gumroad's Evolution
00:59 The Shift to AI and New Business Models
03:58 Personal Reflections and Work-Life Balance
10:00 The Impact of AI on Software Development
21:04 Future of Work and AI Integration
36:48 Project-Based Work and AI Efficiency
40:22 AI's Superiority in Software Engineering
40:59 The Efficiency of AI in Learning and Documentation
42:17 Understanding Tokens and AI Context Windows
44:09 The Future of AI in Software Development
44:25 AI's Impact on Different Professions
47:38 The Role of AI in Sales and Marketing
53:37 The Evolution of Software and Open Source
55:05 The Future of Venture Capital and Software
01:00:01 Building Efficient Workflows with AI
01:14:29 Concluding Thoughts and Future Directions
-
In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs interviews Kayla Comalli, co-founder and CEO of Lovelace Studio. The studio is pioneering the creation of 3D worlds using their generative AI platform, Nyric, which allows users to build and explore interactive realms. The conversation delves into Kayla's diverse background in biology, marketing, and systems engineering, leading to her current venture.
They discuss the challenges Lovelace Studio faces in the market, their strategies for scaling, and the transformative role of AI in game development and beyond. Kayla also shares insights on her personal journey, and how the confluence of gaming and AI is shaping the future of digital experiences. Jason reflects on how AI tools are enabling more efficient development processes, and explores how this could impact the gaming industry and beyond.
00:00 Introduction to The Next Next
00:07 Meet Kayla Comalli and Lovelace Studio
00:55 Jason Jacobs' Learning Journey
01:40 Kayla's Background and Career Shift
02:19 The Vision and Gameplay of Lovelace Studio
04:42 Kayla's Coding Journey and Robotics Experience
08:59 Combining Gaming and Coding 11:15 Building Lovelace Studio
24:32 The Future of AI in Gaming
30:16 Going to Market and Business Strategy
32:49 Leveraging AI in Development
39:15 Final Thoughts and Farewell
-
Navigating Transitions with Steve Schlafman
Hosted by Jason Jacobs, this episode of The Next Next features Steve Schlafman, founder of Downshift, a professional transition coach. The discussion delves into Steve's shift from venture capital to coaching, the philosophy behind Downshift which aids executives and founders transitioning out of demanding careers, and recovering from burnout. Steve discusses the common struggles of highly ambitious professionals, the process of reconnecting with personal values, and the importance of intentional transitions. The conversation also covers the evolving nature of work, the potential of AI, and achieving a balanced life while maintaining professional excellence.
00:00 Introduction to Steve Schlafman
00:26 Steve's Journey from VC to Coach
00:43 The Concept of Downshift
01:15 Discussion on Life Transitions
01:46 Jason's Introduction and Show Purpose
03:43 Steve's Work and Personal Evolution
05:03 The Birth of Downshift
07:13 Navigating Transitions and Coaching
14:27 The Importance of Slowing Down
15:00 Client Experiences and Success Stories
18:17 Changing Work Dynamics and AI
27:46 Balancing Ambition and Happiness
31:21 Balancing Ambition and Family Life
33:20 Navigating Resentment and Creative Juices
34:25 Exploring Ambition in Personal and Professional Life
36:48 Advice for Those in Transition
40:33 Downshift Program Overview
45:36 Future Plans and Personal Values
48:49 Innovative Ideas and Closing Thoughts
-
AI Frontiers: Leveraging Technology for Founders with Rob May
In the inaugural episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs speaks with Rob May, a seasoned entrepreneur and AI investor with four startups and over a hundred AI investments. The discussion covers Rob's journey into AI, the evolution of AI, the implications of AI on various industries, and the challenges and opportunities it presents for startups. Rob also shares his insights on the future of expertise, the changing landscape of business funding, and the shifting paradigms in technology development.
Jason grapples with how these advancements might impact his journey as a founder aiming for ambitious goals while maintaining personal and family balance.
00:00 Introduction to Rob May and the Episode
01:01 Jason Jacobs' New Show and Its Purpose
01:46 Rob May's Background and Career Journey
04:38 Rob's AI Journey and Early Ventures
07:44 Challenges and Insights in AI Development
10:52 The Future of AI and Human Expertise
12:10 Navigating the Rapidly Evolving AI Landscape
22:36 The Role of AI in Creative Fields
23:34 The Future of Creativity in the Age of AI
23:57 The Rise of Virtual Influencers
24:21 Branding in the AI Era
25:02 The Impact of AI on Media and Culture
26:16 Automation and Intimacy in Social Media
29:34 The Evolution of Talent and Earnings
31:12 Challenges for Investors in the AI Landscape
31:48 The Future of Business Moats and Defensibility
37:30 Starting Companies in the AI Age
41:21 The Role of Judgment and Experience in an AI-Driven World
44:52 Closing Thoughts and Future Outlook
-
An overview of why I started this crazy new journey, what I am hoping to achieve, the role that this show plays, and what to expect from it each week. LFG!
