Shows
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesAre you building a team of AI passengers coasting toward irrelevance?"Stop hiring AI passengers, they're dead weight. If your team says 'this is what AI thinks,' fire them. Here's why..."Two billion people use AI every day, but they won't pay a dime for it. That means enterprise has to foot the entire bill, and right now, they're hemorrhaging cash on $30/month seats that nobody's actually using. The brutal truth? CEOs spend a year bragging about being "AI-first" while only 10% of employees touch the tools. The rest are paralyzed, terrified they're automating themselves into unemployment.But the smartest founders aren't just deploying AI. They're building companies where 32 people...
2026-02-0749 min
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesEveryone is building AI wrongThe best AI companies won't use LLMs. Here's why most founders are building the wrong thing...Everyone's chasing ChatGPT wrappers while the real money is buried inside boring businesses making $100M a year. Cabinet factories. Paint mixers. Ball-bearing manufacturers. They're sitting on decades of proprietary data, proprietary SOPs, chemical formulas, machine configurations, and nobody's talking to them because software engineers and cattle ranchers don't hang out at the same bars.The kids at Stanford and MIT are building for space and quantum computing while ignoring AI for actual industries. There's a class divide keeping founders...
2026-02-0654 min
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesAI music to heal relationshipsHot take: AI isn’t killing creativity, it’s exposing how emotionally lazy founders have become.Because most people use AI to move faster, not to feel deeper. AI can either make you more human… or quietly turn you into a productivity zombie who panics when the tools shut off.Then I met Ziah Orion from Deep Gem Interactive.And instead of talking dashboards and prompts, we went somewhere unexpected.He uses generative music to help people process grief, identity, love, even their inner archetypes.Think songs for your dad, your partner, your f...
2026-02-051h 11
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesHe built a $1M SaaS aloneCollege didn’t get expensive. It got unnecessary for anyone who wants to make real money in the next 10 years.Because the future isn’t “learn more.” It’s learn fast, get licensed, get paid.America has about 700,000 registered apprentices. That’s roughly 0.4% of the workforce. Basically… nobody.Meanwhile we’ve got over a million electrician jobs open, licensed workers retiring, and data centers sucking power like a black hole.So the government did what it always does.It didn’t “incentivize” apprenticeships. It basically said:“If you want the juicy tax credits on big renew...
2026-01-271h 11
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesI already know you hate taxesBusiness owners, I already know you hate taxes.Not the “ugh, paperwork” kind of hate. I mean the kind of hate where you’d rather get dental work at a gas station than explain your P&L.And here’s the part that should scare you a little: taxes aren’t just expensive. They’re sneaky. Most founders don’t overpay on purpose.They overpay because they’re too busy.And even worse, half of you are sitting there thinking, “I hope my tax person is doing it right.” Hope is not a strategy when...
2026-01-241h 23
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesDoctors aren’t the problemHot take: Healthcare doesn’t have a diagnosis problem. It has a time problem. And that time problem is quietly ruining lives.Most patients get 13 minutes with a doctor. That’s barely enough time to describe symptoms, let alone find the real cause. So you get pills, not answers. Not because doctors don’t care, but because the system doesn’t allow them to.Haresh Patel learned this the hard way. He spent 12 years building a company, burned about $30 million, and still only won after years of pivots. His takeaway is painful and useful: building the tech...
2026-01-2256 min
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesWhy your ‘Great Idea’ Is quietly killing your startupYou know that moment when your “vibe coded MVP” finally gets users… and then it starts breaking in ways you can’t even explain?That’s where Mike Vitez shows up.Mike’s a computer scientist who was doing machine learning and building his own big data and clustering algorithms before AI was cool. Then he launched a software company straight out of school, watched the industry evolve from “just ship code” to “ship business outcomes” and built Saturnia Design for founders who realize: building is easy now. Building the right thing is the hard part.Here’s t...
2026-01-211h 01
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesBuilt a $2M SaaS for contractors from his Mom's roomYou ever watch a “non-tech” industry get quietly eaten alive by a kid with a phone and zero patience?Kai Stone went from post-college degenerate mode to building Stone Systems. A $297/month “copy-paste” software stack that helps contractors run their whole business from their PHONE. Because most contractors aren’t at a laptop. Some don’t even own one.Here’s the tension: marketing agencies lose either way.If they don’t get contractors leads, they get fired.If they get them too many leads, they STILL get fired because the calendar explodes.Kai flipped...
2026-01-1058 min
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesHours are worthless. Replace them with this.You raised a seed round. You sold the dream to investors. You sold the dream to your team.And now comes the part nobody budgets for… the dream might be wrong.Ali from Wednesday has seen this movie a thousand times. Founders obsess over signups, views, downloads… and then wonder why revenue is allergic to them.His move is brutal and simple: Sprint Zero.Audit the “pirate metrics” that actually matter: retention, referral, revenue.Then force a 30–45 day roadmap tied to real outcomes.Not vibes. Not vanity. Data. Customer pull.Here’s t...
2026-01-0958 min
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesStop designing screens. Start designing patterns.Most startups don’t break because they lack talent.They break because the product quietly splits into parallel universes.One team ships a feature.Another ships the same feature… differently.Both are “right.”Everyone’s moving fast.No one’s moving together.Chris Strahl saw this up close and decided chaos was not a growth strategy.Before co-founding Knapsack, he watched high-performing teams drown in edge cases, forks, and silent product drift.Same company.Same roadmap.Multiple realities.The fix wasn’t more syncs.
2026-01-0559 min
AI for Founders with Ryan Estes“Just Use AI” Is the most dangerous advice in techWhat if the biggest AI risk in your company isn’t hallucinations… it’s that you’re quietly turning your team into button clickers.Because right now, everyone’s “doing AI,” but most companies are just buying the same tools as their competitors and calling it strategy.Geoff Gibbins from Human Machines is obsessed with the real advantage. Not better prompts. Better collaboration between humans and AI.And here’s a novel founder use case you can steal today: an AI “collaboration coach” that watches how your team uses ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude, then flags when you’...
2026-01-0342 min
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesReality check every founder needs in 2026It’s late December energy. The year’s basically over. The cookies are gone, the group chats are quiet, and this is the one moment where you’re allowed to stop shipping long enough to look back.Because 2025 was insane for AI. Every week felt like a new launch, a new model, a new panic, a new promise that this one would change everything. Faster code. Cheaper labor. Smarter agents. Louder fear. And somewhere in the middle of all that noise, a lot of founders quietly fell behind without realizing it.That’s why this moment m...
2025-12-3155 min
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesMost AI prototypes die before launchIf you have an app idea and it is still living in Notes, you are not “early.” You are stuck.Because the new founder trap is not lack of code. It is fake momentum.Vibe coding gets you a pretty prototype fast, then the last 30% hits like a brick wall. Architecture, requirements, integrations, security, the stuff that makes you want to delete the repo and move to a cabin.Ehsan Mirdamadi built Codalio to be the “between a CTO and a tech lead” layer.You prompt in plain English, Codalio interviews you back, pulls the idea...
2025-12-2956 min
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesNever lose flow againWelcome to AI for Founders, I'm Ryan Estes.Founders, you’re not stuck because your idea is bad. You’re stuck because your AI won’t do the last 10%… and you’re about to rage quit in slow motion.You know the moment.You’ve prompted it 47 different ways.Perplexity, ChatGPT, YouTube tutorials.Your energy leaves your body.The project dies right there on your laptop like a Victorian child.Danny Newman is building a simple fix: OnDemandHuman.com.It’s a “tap a button, get a real expert” marketplace for when vibe coding hits the wall.You’re mid-bu...
2025-12-2353 min
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesThe Hidden Leadership GapWelcome to AI for Founders, I'm Ryan Estes.Every founder I know is sprinting to keep up with AI.New tools. New models. New expectations.But here’s the uncomfortable truth:AI is making technical skill cheaper by the day — and exposing something most leaders never developed.Their human edge.Today’s guest, Uma, spent 20 years inside Microsoft, climbed the ladder, played the game, and then hit a breaking point that forced a hard question:If everyone has access to the same technology, what actually makes a leader...
2025-12-1653 min
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesAI That Turns Ideas Into Real CompaniesWelcome to AI for Founders, I'm Ryan Estes.Every non-technical founder hits the same wall.You’ve got the idea. You’ve got the market. You’ve even got early traction.But then comes the question that kills momentum:“Who’s going to build this?”Technical cofounder? Impossible to find.Dev agency? Expensive and slow.No-code tools? Great… until you need something real.Today’s guests are here to blow that bottleneck up.Ben and Brad are the co-founders of Woz, an AI platform designed to act...
2025-12-1555 min
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesAI Can Predict Disease Years EarlyWhat happens when you build an AI that can spot disease years before symptoms, cut diabetes related complications by 20 percent, and slash healthcare costs, and the market still shrugs. That is the problem my guest today ran straight into.On this episode of AI for Founders, I am talking with Mariano García Valiño, four-time healthcare entrepreneur and CEO of Axenya. Axenya is an AI-powered operating system for corporate health that monitors over one hundred thousand people, runs around ninety-five million clinical inferences a month, and can intelligently route people to care across more than forty co...
2025-12-1449 min
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesWorld’s Smartest Podcast AppWelcome to AI for Founders, I'm Ryan Estes.Today’s episode starts with a simple question:What happens when the world’s smartest podcast app is built in a country obsessed with precision, craftsmanship, and self-responsibility… and then shipped to founders who desperately need to learn faster?Because here’s the tension: podcasts have become the biggest knowledge library on Earth, yet most people forget everything they hear.Our guest today — Kevin Smith, founder of Snipd — decided that was unacceptable. So he built the world’s greatest AI-powered podcast app, from Zurich, one of the top AI...
2025-12-1253 min
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesVibe Coders RejoiceToday’s episode starts with a simple but brutal truth:Vibe coding breaks the moment your idea gets bigger than “make the button blue.”Every founder knows this moment — when you’ve stretched Lovable, Cursor, or Claude Code as far as your vibes can take you… and suddenly the whole thing collapses under unclear prompts, messy code, and your total inability to explain what you want in the first place.Well, today’s guest built the fix.I’m talking with Tyler Wells, co-founder of BrainGrid.ai, the platform powering over 2,000 AI builders and 10...
2025-12-1156 min
AI for Founders with Ryan Estes10 Million Americans’ Healthcare Behind the ScenesToday’s episode starts with a problem almost every founder fears…What happens when the system you're trying to disrupt is so big, so regulated, and so politically volatile… that one election can flip your entire business model overnight?That’s the world my guest lives in — and somehow thrives in.I’m talking to Eugene Sayan, founder and CEO of Softheon, a 25-year-old startup that processes $20 billion in premiums, powers 30 million enrollments, and delivers affordable healthcare access to 10 million Americans — all while building his own AI infrastructure using agentic systems with zero hallucination...
2025-12-1056 min
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesYour Onboarding Is BrokenWelcome to AI for Founders, I'm Ryan Estes.Today’s episode starts with a problem every founder knows too well:You finally get a user into your product… and then watch them get completely lost.They bounce. They churn. Or they email support with the dreaded:“Hey uh… how do I actually use this?”That onboarding black hole costs SaaS companies billions — and Alex and Andy from Quarterzip.ai say it’s time to kill “activation debt” forever.These two founders sold their last AI company, immediately spun into their next one, and crea...
2025-12-0957 min
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesMillennials Will Inherit TrillionsWelcome to AI for Founders, I'm Ryan Estes.Most of us were never really taught how money works—we were taught how to earn it, maybe how to spend it, but never how to build it. Now imagine the largest wealth transfer in human history—somewhere between $60 trillion and $90 trillion—is happening right now… and most of the inheritors don’t know what a limited partnership is. That’s the problem my guest today, CJ Follini, is trying to solve.CJ is the founder of NOYACK, a “learn-plan-invest” ecosystem using AI agents to teach financial literacy and dem...
2025-12-0855 min
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesAI That Predicts the FutureWelcome to AI for Founders, I'm Ryan Estes.Today’s episode starts with a problem every founder secretly wrestles with: the future is moving faster than your product roadmap. Models change monthly, competitors ship weekly, and half the AI space seems to be guessing their strategy on the fly. But what if prediction wasn’t a parlor trick… but a real capability? And what if the companies who master it don’t just survive the AI boom — they run the table?That’s exactly where we’re going today with Ben Turtel, founder of Lightning Rod AI, a comp...
2025-12-0755 min
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesHow Do I Protect My Idea?Welcome to AI for Founders, I'm Ryan Estes.If you’re building something in AI and you haven’t checked the patent landscape, there’s a non-zero chance someone you’ve never met already owns the rights to your “million dollar” idea.And one day, right when you hit real traction, they show up with a lawsuit instead of a term sheet.On today’s episode of AI for Founders, I’m talking with Ophir Kra-Oz, co-founder of SenseIP, an AI-powered patent and IP platform that turns the slow, expensive, attorney-only patent process into a fast, founder...
2025-12-0656 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesThe $40,000 Desk: Why Offices Will Never Be the Same AgainWelcome to AI for Founders I am Ryan Estes.You are probably feeling the whiplash right now. Your office lease was signed in 2018 for 10 years, your team is half remote, your desks cost $15–40k a year, and your people are either lonely at home or resentful about being dragged back to the office.Today I am talking with someone who went through the fire on this. Dan Bladen is the founder of Kadence, that is Kadence with a K, the workplace operations platform behind hundreds of companies, Fortune 50s, ten thousand teams, and tens of mi...
2025-11-281h 01
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesTurn Illiquid Equity Into Real WealthGreg Brogger of Collective LiquidityGuest: Greg Brogger, Founder and CEO of Collective LiquidityShow: AI for Founders with Ryan EstesEpisode OverviewWhat do you do when most of your net worth is tied up in one late-stage startup that might never exit?In this episode, Ryan talks with serial fintech founder Greg Brogger about how Collective Liquidity isbuilding an exchange fund designed specifically for private company shareholders. They break down the mathbehind diversification, the risks of concentrated startup equity, and why a tax-efficient liquidity strategyis becoming essential for...
2025-11-1256 min
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesBuilding A Restaurant AI Startup From Zero To 1,000 Customers In A YearFriday night in a busy restaurant, the phones never stop ringing and up to 40 percent of calls never get answered. Loman AI turns that chaos into captured revenue.In this episode, Christian Wiens breaks down how Loman AI built a fully conversational voice AI agent that answers every call, takes orders, handles reservations, and plugs directly into restaurant POS systems. No phone trees, no press one for this, just natural conversation and sub 500 millisecond response times.Christian shares how his team went from an idea in early 2024 to a funded, fast growing restaurant AI platform...
2025-11-0859 min
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesAI Is Rewiring Pregnancy Care: Babyscripts CEO on RPM, Risk, and Real OutcomesGuest: Anish Sebastian, CEO & Co-Founder, BabyscriptsHost: Ryan EstesEpisode SummaryMaternal mortality is rising in the U.S. while access to care lags. Anish Sebastian explains how Babyscripts uses AI, remote patient monitoring, and data-driven care plans to connect OB providers with patients between visits, cut unnecessary appointments, and surface high-risk events earlier. We dig into clinical validation, cultural and regulatory friction, value-based care incentives, and what an AI-assisted “team of experts” model means for the future of pregnancy care.Who This Is ForFounders and product leaders in d...
2025-10-3159 min
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesBuilding a Gen Z Art Platform without the Algorithm Trap: Devika Sarin of SoalAI for Founders Guest: Devika Sarin, Founder of Soal (thisissoal.com)Topic: AI-powered art discovery, taste mapping, and community-driven curation for Millennials and Gen ZEpisode OverviewSoal is building a daily ritual for art discovery that blends human curation with behavioral science and AI. Devika shares how the app helps users learn to see, name, and evolve their taste, why early community building beats early monetization, and how contemporary artists can thrive without chasing algorithms.What You Will LearnHow AI recommendation engines and human curation work...
2025-10-1855 min
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesBuild Remote Operations that Work: Isaac Kassab (Pearl Talent)How Isaac Kassab Scaled Pearl Talent to $10M in ARRGuest: Isaac Kassab (Pearl Talent)Host: Ryan Estes, AI for FoundersOverviewIn this episode of AI for Founders, Ryan Estes sits down with Isaac Kassab, cofounder of Pearl Talent. Isaac shares how he bootstrapped the business to $1M ARR in 7 months and scaled it to $10M by year three. You’ll hear actionable insights about using conversational agents for recruiting, structuring remote-first operations, and achieving high retention in global talent networks.Who This Is ForStartup founders scaling re...
2025-10-071h 02AI for Founders with Ryan EstesNewsletters outsell social: Eunice Tan on building kawara.aiAI for Founders with Eunice, Co-founder and CTO of Kawara.aiTopic: Turning creator content into newsletter-driven salesSummaryEunice explains how content-led growth is reshaping sales for creators and lean startups. Kawara.ai helps solopreneurs turn YouTube and other consumed or created content into weekly newsletter drafts that convert. We cover why newsletters outperform social for sales, how to keep voice quality high with AI, and the roadmap from drafts to full revenue workflows.Who this is forFounders, creators, and solo operators who want reliable conversions from...
2025-10-0156 min
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesSomatic leadership for founders: Owen Marcus on stress, presence, and performanceAI for Founders — Owen from Meld on Somatic Leadership, Founder Resilience, and CommunityGuest: Owen Marcus, co-founder of Meld (Men’s Emotional Leadership Development)Topic: Building embodied leadership for founders through somatics, nervous system training, and high-trust men’s groups.Why listen: A field guide for high performers who’ve maxed out intellect and want scalable tools to reduce stress, improve relationships, and lead with presence.Key TakeawaysBottom-up leadership beats top-down willpower: Somatic awareness unlocks intuition, safety, and executive presence when thinking harder no longer works.Retrain your baseline: Repeated...
2025-09-3056 min
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesBefore You Shake Hands, read this. Elle George on partnership alignmentElle George on Founder Alignment, Partnerships, and Hard-Won LessonsEpisode SummaryFounder and author Elle George breaks down her new book “Before You Shake Hands”, a practical system for assessing alignment before partnerships, co-founder agreements, or investor deals. She shares hard lessons from a two-decade legal saga, the exact questions she now asks, and how to structure conflict protocols before momentum blinds everyone.Who this episode is forFounders, CEOs, operators, first-time investors, and anyone considering a co-founder or strategic partner who wants fewer surprises and...
2025-09-2255 min
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesFuture of privacy-first computer vision in security techIn this episode of AI for Founders, Ryan Estes sits down with Galvin Widjaja, Founder and CEO of Lauretta.io, the privacy-first AI company transforming how organizations understand human behavior in physical spaces. Galvin shares how he built an AI startup trusted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, TSA, and U.S. Air Force, and how his early experiences in the restaurant industry shaped his empathy-first approach to AI leadership.Key TakeawaysHow Galvin went from managing quick-service restaurants to leading an AI company working with government and defense agenciesWhy Lauretta...
2025-09-121h 01
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesZero to $6M ARR with AI SDRsAI for Founders — Show NotesGuest: Gaurav Bhattacharya, CEO & Co-founder, Jeeva.aiTopic: Agentic AI for sales. From zero to $6M ARR in under nine months.Episode SnapshotJeeva.ai builds agentic AI that behaves like a sales teammate. It finds lookalike accounts, enriches contacts, drafts outreach, manages calendars, and pushes structured notes to CRM after calls. We cover deliverability, pricing alignment, and the exact workflow behind rapid growth.Who This Is ForFounders, indie hackers, B2B sales leaders, SDRs, AEsTeams replacing to...
2025-09-051h 00
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesBootstrapped Icons8 into millions of usersAI for Founders: Ivan Braun of Icons8 and Generated PhotosIn this episode of AI for Founders, Ryan Estes sits down with Ivan Braun, founder of Icons8 and Generated Photos. Ivan shares his journey from running a UX design agency to bootstrapping a global design platform with millions of users. We explore how he turned icon packs into a subscription business, built a massive stock asset library, and pivoted into generative AI years before it became mainstream.Key TakeawaysHow Icons8 evolved from selling individual icon packs to...
2025-08-2545 min
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesAI in Enterprise: Security, governance, and robotsEpisode SummaryIn this episode of AI for Founders, Ryan Estes sits down with Jim Spignardo, Director of Cloud Strategy and AI Enablement at ProArch, to unpack how a nearly 20-year IT consulting company is helping enterprises navigate cloud transformation and AI adoption. Jim shares candid insights on the hype versus reality of AI, frameworks for implementation, governance essentials, and practical use cases—from meeting notes automation to RFP response agents.If you’re a founder, CEO, or IT leader overwhelmed by “Now with AI” marketing noise, this conversation will help you cut through the fog and...
2025-08-2254 min
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesFloot helps non-coders build full-stack apps with AIEpisode SummaryIn this episode of AI for Founders, Ryan Estes sits down with Yuj, co-founder of Floot.com and part of Y Combinator’s Summer 2025 batch. Floot helps anyone, coder or not, build production-ready web apps by “vibe coding”—collaborating with AI through natural language. Yuj shares how the product grew from Reddit experiments to topping Product Hunt, how Floot differentiates from competitors like Bolt, Lovable, and Replit, and what vibe coding means for the future of software.Key TakeawaysDefining Vibe Coding: Not a one-shot prompt, but co-building and iteratin...
2025-08-2145 min
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesAgents that heal themselves. Alexander De Ridder on resilient AIAlexander De Ridder on Building the Internet of AgentsEpisode SummaryAlexander De Ridder, Co‑Founder and CTO of SmythOS, breaks down the coming Internet of Agents. He explains how SmythOS, an MIT‑licensed open source Agent Operating System, separates secrets, runtime, and agent logic to deliver safe autonomy at scale. We get into autonomy versus control, multi‑agent collaboration, why RPA chains break, and how founders can deploy real agent teams in production today.Key TakeawaysAgents should handle intelligent, repeatable processes. Humans should handle unique...
2025-08-1348 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesRay Jang found product-market fit on a mountain topGuest: Ray Jang, Founder and CEO of AtriaHost: Ryan Estes, AI for FoundersEpisode SummaryRay Jang shares the story behind Atria, an AI-powered ad automation platform. After a painful realization on top of Mount Kinabalu, Ray pivoted his failing gaming startup into a high-growth adtech company that now ranks among the top in its category.Key TakeawaysPivoted from gaming to adtech after identifying lack of growth as the core problemEarly validation came from in-person interviews at global conferencesAtria delivers real-time ad performance insights across TikTok...
2025-08-0450 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesBoutique catering booking app with AI in 30 minutesAI for Founders - Fernanda's Pop-Up Food App AI for Founders: Fernanda’s Pop-Up Food App Journey Overview In this episode, Ryan Estes teams up with Fernanda, co-creator of Bruma & Borba, to build a fully functioning boutique event booking assistant using GPT and Lovable. Together, they build a high-end, surrealist experience generator for her pop-up food brand in under 30 minutes. Key Takeaways Custom GPT-generated prompts created a branded booking assistant AI-generated menus include poetic descriptions and thematic pairings Prompt engineering strategy: always ask “how to make this better” App collects event data: location, cuisine, mood, guest count, etc. Editab...
2025-08-0240 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesGolf fashion; betting big with Rico LeonGuest: Rico Leon | Host: Ryan EstesIn this episode of AI for Founders, Ryan Estes interviews HGTV host and entrepreneur Rico Leon, who’s making a bold leap from construction and reality TV into women’s golf fashion. Rico reveals how he’s designing AI-powered apparel, prototyping with global manufacturers, bootstrapping the venture, and preparing for a major debut at New York Fashion Week. It’s a high-energy conversation about passion, execution, founder intuition, and trusting momentum over spreadsheets.Key TakeawaysBuild What People Want: Rico followed the signal...
2025-07-3146 min
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesUkraine to AI voice agents: Eva Karnaukh’s founder journeyAI Voice Agents and Founder Grit with Eva Karnaukh of Voice2Me.aiHost: Ryan EstesGuest: Eva Karnaukh, CEO & Founder of Voice2Me.aiOverviewEva Karnaukh joins AI for Founders to talk about the emotional and technical power of voice in AI. From Kyiv to DC, from simulators to startups, Eva is reshaping enterprise support through AI voice agents that talk, share screens, and learn like your best human teammate.Key TakeawaysEva bootstrapped Voice2Me.ai after leaving a successful...
2025-07-3052 min
AI for Founders with Ryan EstesWhat 50 founders taught me about innovationAI for Founders – 50 Episode RecapShow NotesRyan Estes and Fernanda celebrate 50 episodes of AI for Founders with a candid check-in on how far the podcast has come. From its humble beginnings in February to more than 50 episodes, 22,000+ subscribers, and countless hours of interviews with global startup founders—this episode is part recap, part roadmap for what’s next.Key TakeawaysPivot to AI Focus: The show started as “Lift” but shifted focus due to overwhelming AI demand.Global Founder Trends: Many early-stage AI founders are based in E...
2025-07-2540 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesShorts: AI taxis, fake vacations & GenAI disaster flicksSummary:This week’s theme: Autonomy without accountability.From self-driving taxis to AI-written disaster films, Ryan breaks down the tech headlines where no one seems to be steering the wheel—or taking the blame.🚗 Topics Covered:Uber’s 20,000 Robo-Taxis – Partnering with Lucid and Nuro for Level 4 autonomy (no steering wheel, no driver, no accountability).The Genius Act – First major US crypto legislation requiring stablecoins to be backed by dollars...but no consumer protections.Netflix’s GenAI Debut – El Ata features AI-generated collapsing buildings. Fast, cheap, and possibly replacing entire studios.Sa...
2025-07-2104 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesIs your SEO ready for AI? Jenna Hannon says probably notAI Search, Startup Funding & SEO in 2025 with Jenna Hannon of HatterGuest: Jenna Hannon, Co-founder of HatterHost: Ryan EstesEpisode Summary:Ryan Estes interviews Jenna Hannon, co-founder of Hatter, a company using AI to revolutionize SEO and LLM search. From her early career in Hollywood to Uber Eats and now founding Hatter, Jenna shares how AI is transforming organic traffic and what founders need to know to stay ahead. This episode also dives into current venture capital trends, government tech policy, and frameworks for mastering LLM-SEO.Key Takeaways:
2025-07-2145 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesCan this AI replace Amazon for smart shoppers?Inside Tonita – The AI Shopping Assistant You’ll Actually UseGuest: Siva, Founder & CEO of TonitaHost: Ryan EstesEpisode Summary:Ryan interviews Siva, the founder of Tonita, an AI-powered shopping search platform redefining how people shop for clothing and accessories. With a background in AI research at Google, Siva built Tonita to simplify and personalize online shopping through a natural language interface that educates and recommends in real-time.Key Takeaways:Tonita lets users search with everyday language and provides personalized product recommendations.AI guides users with educational resp...
2025-07-1847 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesSkincare that knows you better than you doGuest: Elle, CEO of Made AI and Founder of Same SkincareHost: Ryan Estes | Podcast: AI for FoundersKey Takeaways:Weekly workflow automation can lead to 50+ automations a year with very little effort.Start by asking your team: “What’s driving you nuts?” That’s your workflow opportunity.Tools like Fixer and Zapier can help you categorize tasks and automate inboxes.Break your automation goals into small weekly tasks—don’t try to solve everything at once.Same Skincare is an EDC-free skincare brand that s...
2025-07-1746 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesFrom blind vision to billion-dollar AI: Alberto Rizzoli’s startup journeyPodcast GuestAlberto Rizzoli, Co-Founder & CEO of V7 LabsEpisode OverviewAlberto joins host Ryan Estes to share how V7 Labs is automating back-office workflows with AI agents. They dive into product pivots, AI hype, fundraising in hard times, and what it really takes to scale AI products in B2B environments.Key Takeaways AI Agents with Memory: Unlike basic prompts, V7’s agents operate in multi-step logic to complete real-world business tasks. Concierge Agent System: Route any task via Slack, email, or upload, and it’s assigned to the righ...
2025-07-1644 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesA psychographic agent turned a student app into a scalable SaaS AI for Founders | Talent Scout: AI-Driven Hiring That Works AI for Founders: Talent Scout with Johnny & Sebastian Episode Summary: In this episode, Ryan Estes speaks with Johnny and Sebastian, the father-son team behind Talent Scout, an AI-powered hiring solution that started as a college platform called Juntos. They discuss building an AI tool that helps HR teams make better hiring decisions by analyzing psychographic traits, ensuring compliance, and maintaining cultural fit. Key Takeaways: Talent Scout evolved from Juntos, a social app designed to connect students. Core technology includes a psychographic engine measuring six...
2025-07-1039 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesUnlocking human and machine consciousness with Steven SchrembeckGuest: Steven Schrembeck, Founder of Impossible LabsHost: Ryan EstesEpisode Summary:In this wide-ranging conversation, Steven Schrembeck shares how over a thousand hours of meditation practice, close encounters with unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs), and a fascination with consciousness led him to explore the intersection of AI, ethics, and inner engineering. We cover how personal insight informs system design, why AGI requires more than just code, and the ethical considerations of creating conscious machines.Key Takeaways:Meditation as Technology: Steven discusses meditation not as a spiritual dogma but as a...
2025-07-0838 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesAmazon jungle to startup CEO: Zack Holland’s storyGuest: Zack Holland Host: Ryan Estes Company: Averi AIEpisode SummaryZack Holland joins AI for Founders to explore why executing marketing strategies—not creating them—is the biggest challenge for startups today. In this episode, we discuss Averi AI's unique blend of automation and human expertise, Zack’s philosophy of “seed-strapping,” and the emotional resilience required to survive as a founder. From AI memory to stoic wisdom, Zack shares deeply personal and professional insights for anyone building in tech.Key TakeawaysAveri AI closes the...
2025-07-0748 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesCrono vs. Clay vs. Apollo AI for Founders – Marco from Crono AI for Founders: Marco, Co-Founder of Crono Description In this episode of AI for Founders, Marco, the co-founder of Crono, shares how his AI-powered sales automation platform is redefining modern B2B outbound. From enriched data and custom lead signals to full-funnel multichannel automation, Crono is helping sales teams eliminate busywork and focus on building relationships. Key Takeaways Crono is AI-first—automating 80% of repetitive sales tasks Over 10 integrated data sources for unmatched contact accuracy Cross-channel outreach: Email, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, phone Perfect for structured outbound and high-ticket offe...
2025-07-0142 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesHow Brett Beck built Bellabooty: from gym floor to global productBrett Beck Interview - AI for Founders Interview with Brett Beck, Founder of Bellabooty Episode Summary Brett Beck joins Ryan Estes to talk about how he built Bellabooty Fitness and launched the patented hip thrust belt that's changing how people train glutes, core, and inner thighs. This episode dives into product design, IP protection, D2C growth, and why AI can’t replace real human training. Key Takeaways Frameworks Shared Product Innovation Cycle Observe pain points in real-world use Prototype in-person with engineers Test daily with real clients Iterate for efficiency, portability, an...
2025-06-3055 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesAI Interviews, Global payroll, No borders AI for Founders with Jake Johnson | Bolto Podcast Show Notes: AI for Founders with Jake Johnson, Co-Founder of Bolto Episode Summary Ryan Estes sits down with Jake Johnson, co-founder of Bolto, to explore how AI is transforming global hiring and HR. They cover Bolto’s rapid growth, employer of record services, team diversity, and how to build in public without fear. Key Takeaways Transparency builds accountability. Execution beats secrecy. EORs make global hiring easy, legal, and scalable. AI-driven interviews streamline recruiting worldwide. YC support and co-founder alignment drive startup momentum. Pricing: $500/month pe...
2025-06-2751 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesFrom China to AI: Ryan Shuken on startup lessons and innovationGuest: Ryan ShukenHost: Ryan EstesPodcast: AI for FoundersHow to Vibe Code: Zero to Hero --> hereSummaryRyan Shuken, a full-stack engineer, startup accelerator director, and longtime founder coach, shares how AI is changing how startups are built. From his experience in China’s startup ecosystem to creating the vibe coding method, this episode is packed with actionable strategies for AI-native founders.Key TakeawaysVibe Coding: A process that lets non-technical founders build with AI rapidly and intuitively.PRD Framework: Use a Project Re...
2025-06-2347 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesHow to use Hollywood storytelling to build blockbuster brands with Greg LoganGreg Logan on AI for Founders Founder of Narrativity | Author of Creating a Blockbuster Brand Episode Summary: Greg Logan reveals how to use Hollywood storytelling techniques to transform brand messaging and engage customers emotionally. Backed by neuroscience and decades of experience, Greg explains why conventional marketing language fails and how to make your message unforgettable—even in the AI age. Key Takeaways People buy emotionally first, then justify logically. Stories light up the entire brain, not just parts activated by data. Make your customer the hero; your brand is the mentor. AI writing often re...
2025-06-1842 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesExtended reality will unlock the next era of innovationAI for Founders – Jody Medich InterviewAI for Founders: Jody Medich on Designing AI That Makes Us SuperhumanGuest: Jody Medich, Designer, Futurist, Cognitive Ergonomics ExpertHost: Ryan EstesPodcast: AI for FoundersIn this episode, Ryan Estes talks with Jody Medich about the future of AI, XR (Extended Reality), and the design of human-first interfaces. Jody’s work reimagines how we interact with machines—not by replacing human intelligence, but by augmenting it.Key Takeaways AI needs better interfaces to become tools of amplification rather than automation. Cognitive ergonomics centers technology design around human mental...
2025-06-1148 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesElon, ChuckGPT, and the Future of Work According to Andrew AmannGuest: Andrew Amann, CEO of NineTwoThree.coHost: Ryan EstesPublished: June 09, 2025Episode SummaryAndrew Amann joins to share practical frameworks for AI integration, stories from projects with FanDuel, and bold predictions about the future of intelligent agents and emotional computing.Key TakeawaysAI adoption is 80% human, 20% tech – start with mindset, not software.Frameworks must focus on solving business bottlenecks.Custom agents like ChuckGPT need months of brand-safe training.AI augments employees; it doesn't replace them.Emotional computing is the next AI frontier.Apple is la...
2025-06-1044 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesThis confidential AI will save your team from meltdownsGuest: Katherine von Jan, Founder & CEO of Tough DayDate: June 05, 2025Key TakeawaysTough Day helps employees and managers work through workplace challenges via a private, AI-powered chat assistant called Tuffy.Tuffy assists with performance conversations, feedback collection, roleplay, journaling, and decision-making—all within a confidential interface.Built on curated HR, legal, and leadership frameworks not available in public LLMs, including HBR content and partner-authored materials.Customizes tone and recommendations to match regional and organizational culture.New subscriptions available directly via Tough.Day, including individual and small team plans.Frameworks & ConceptsConfidential Co...
2025-06-0554 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesThe future of workflow orchestration: AI agents and enterprise SaaSChris Pitchford, Founder of BrevSummary:Chris Pitchford joins Ryan Estes to explore how AI agents are reshaping business execution. Brev embeds AI directly into enterprise workflows to automate status tracking, identify risks, and align teams across OKRs—all without logging into new tools. Chris breaks down his startup journey, enterprise go-to-market playbook, and vision for a future where agents and humans work side-by-side.Key Takeaways:AI agents automate execution—not just status reportsWeekly check-ins drive 2.5x more goal achievementDesign partner process was cold, rigorous, and legally bindingPredictable pricing is k...
2025-06-0453 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesFrom pro snowboarder to AI CEO: Nicole Donnelly’s founder storyNicole Donnelly, Founder of AISmartMarketing.comOverview:Nicole is a former pro snowboarder turned AI strategist, now helping businesses of all sizes adopt practical, impactful AI tools. In this conversation, she explains how AI can help small businesses scale, survive economic shifts, and automate without losing their human touch.Key Takeaways:75% of small businesses haven’t adopted AI yet—major opportunity.Google search volume is down for the first time ever—AI search is rising.AI is the bridge through the $1M and $10M growth “valleys of death.”Use case: AI agent built to f...
2025-06-0248 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesBuilding an AI-native company with Benjamin Johnson of Particle41 AI Frameworks for Business: Interview with Benjamin Johnson Benjamin Johnson - Particle41 CEO on AI Frameworks, Regulation, and Authenticity Guest: Benjamin Johnson, CEO of Particle41 Episode Summary: Benjamin Johnson shares how Particle41 helps companies move from AI experimentation to full agentic automation using a Bronze–Silver–Gold framework. He unpacks the societal, ethical, and practical implications of large language models, AI-generated relationships, and AI's role in modern recruiting and marketing operations. Key Takeaways: AI relationships may disrupt emotional development in future generations. AI tools enhance creativity in business but can strip away emot...
2025-05-3138 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesNametag fights deepfakes with mobile-first identity techGuest: Aaron Painter, CEO of GetNametag.comEpisode OverviewAaron Painter joins the show to explore the urgent need for identity verification in the age of generative AI and deepfakes. As CEO of GetNametag.com, Aaron outlines how mobile-based authentication can protect businesses and individuals from cyber threats, account takeovers, and AI impersonation scams.Key TakeawaysDeepfake Threats: AI-generated impersonations are rapidly evolving, posing real risks to businesses and people.Outdated Security Methods: Security questions and SMS verification are insufficient in today’s threat landscape.NameTag’s Mobile Innovation: Combining ID scan...
2025-05-2942 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesThe MMA ring for cybersecurity: inside Hackerverse's product showdownsGuest: Mariana Padilla, Founder & CEO of Hackerverse.aiSummary: Mariana shares how Hackerverse is turning cybersecurity sales into hands-on, testable experiences for buyers. From "World Hacker Games" to instant, AI-generated product demos, Mariana explains how she and her team are slashing POC timelines, building trust through transparency, and creating a community-led growth engine in an industry known for skepticism. She also talks about her unique journey, advice for startup founders, and the looming risks of agentic AI warfare.Key TakeawaysStorytelling is critical in technical sales: “Words are our code.”Buyers can...
2025-05-2748 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesRevolutionizing browsing: inside Strawberry's AI-Powered workflow with Charles MaddockGuest: Charles Maddock, Co-Founder of Strawberry BrowserHost: RyanEpisode OverviewIn this episode, we delve into the innovative world of Strawberry, an AI-powered browser designed to automate repetitive tasks and enhance productivity. Charles Maddock shares insights into how Strawberry's AI companions learn from user behavior to streamline workflows, from managing emails to conducting research.Key TakeawaysAI Companions: Strawberry introduces AI assistants that learn from your actions, automating tasks like data entry, email management, and research.User-Centric Design: Emphasis on...
2025-05-1738 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesBeyond human intelligence: AI and the spectrum of consciousnessIn this episode, we delve into the intricate realms of consciousness, artificial intelligence, and the diverse forms of intelligence present in nature. Our discussion encompasses theories from renowned thinkers like Julian Jaynes, Iain McGilchrist, and James Bridle, exploring how these ideas intersect with modern AI developments and our understanding of the mind.Key Takeaways:Bicameral Mind Theory: Julian Jaynes proposed that ancient humans operated with a "bicameral mind," where decisions were guided by auditory hallucinations perceived as commands from deities. This theory suggests that consciousness, as introspective thought, emerged as this system broke down. Learn more...
2025-05-1431 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesThe AI security blueprint every founder needs in 2025 - Alex from TestsavantGuest:Alex Belotsky, Co-Founder of TestSavantHost:Ryan EstesEpisode Summary:Ryan Estes speaks with Alex Belotsky about the growing risks of agentic AI and how TestSavant helps startups and enterprises protect their applications. Learn how red teaming, compliance mapping, and real-time guardrails can secure your AI systems and protect your users from rogue agents, data leaks, and malicious exploitation.Key Takeaways:AI systems are becoming multi-agent and autonomous, increasing security risks.Traditional firewalls don’t stop AI jailbreaks or prompt injection attacks.TestSavant helps companies mi...
2025-05-1247 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesBuilding AI that makes you more human with Dave SifryGuest: Dave Sifry, Founder & CEO of Warmstart.aiHost: Ryan Estes, AI for Founders PodcastEpisode SummaryWe sit down with Dave Sifry, the legendary founder of Technorati and CEO of Warmstart.ai, to explore how AI can help founders reconnect with the relationships that matter. From building with empathy to managing personal evolution, Dave drops gems that every startup leader should hear.Key TakeawaysBuild products that solve problems or meet unmet needsAI should assist—not replace—human interactionReconnect with your network for organic deal...
2025-05-0633 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesGo-to-network is the new go-to-market with David Connors, CEO of The SwarmWhat if your next deal is already hiding in your network? In this episode, we sit down with David Connors, co-founder and CEO of The Swarm, the AI-powered relationship graph redefining outbound sales. From topping Product Hunt to integrating with platforms like Clay, HubSpot, and Gmail, David shares how to drive revenue through warm intros and network orchestration—no cold emails required.🔑 Key TakeawaysGo-to-Network > Go-to-Market: Cold outbound is saturated. Trust-based referrals are the future.The Great Ignore: Buyers are overwhelmed. AI tools must prioritize warm, authentic outreach.AI Assistants: Tools like Claud...
2025-05-0334 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesDayo: Get paid to log off with Corey ScholiboGuest: Corey Scholibo, Co-founder of Dayo.coHost: Ryan EstesTopic: Building a marketplace that pays users to use less social media🧠 Key TakeawaysDayo’s Mission: Reduce screen time by rewarding users with daily credits redeemable for products.Unique Model: Incentivizes non-action—logging off instead of engaging.Mental Health First: Designed around APA guidance and Surgeon General warnings.Reward System: $5/day earned by staying under 30 minutes on selected apps.Brand Marketplace: Features top-tier DTC brands (e.g., JBL, Patagonia) and Portland-based businesses.Revenue Model: Affiliate margins on redemptions, future plans for Day...
2025-04-2940 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesRedefining spreadsheets with AI: David Kircos of QuadraticRedefining spreadsheets with AI: David Kircos of Quadratic🔑 Key takeawaysQuadratic brings AI directly into spreadsheets, letting users analyze, manipulate, and visualize data with natural language and Python.Unlike black-box chatbots, Quadratic builds transparent methods of analysis, giving users visibility into every formula and line of code.Quadratic integrates with databases, PDFs, CSVs, and tools like HubSpot or Google Analytics, making advanced data analysis accessible to anyone.AI-powered code generation will soon be the norm. Quadratic lets non-coders interact with data using a full-featured Python environment.With 100K users and growing, Quadratic's growth is fueled by pro...
2025-04-2727 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesHow Omneky is rewriting the future of advertising with Hikari Senju🔑Key takeawaysAI has evolved from passive assistant to autonomous agent—comparable to a teenager ready to act independently.Full autonomy may lead to better outcomes in advertising, medicine, and driving—by removing human bias and delays.Traditional creative agencies are being replaced by scalable, AI-powered platforms that eliminate human bottlenecks.Omneky democratizes growth and creativity through accessible AI tools for ad generation and omnichannel distribution.With Omneky, campaigns can be launched using just a single paragraph—no platform logins or manual dashboards.🧠 Frameworks & ideas1. Agentic AI modelNow: Human-in-the-loop copilot systemsFutur...
2025-04-2544 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesVibe Coding in Real Time: Building a Podcast Follow-Up App🎙️ AI for Founders – Vibe Coding in Real Time: Building a Podcast Follow-Up AppHost: Ryan EstesGuest Collaborator: Fernanda (live co-build)📌 Episode SummaryThis episode of AI for Founders captures a live "vibe coding" session where Ryan and Fernanda attempt to build Follow-Up—an AI podcast companion that listens in real-time and suggests meaningful, context-aware follow-up questions.From hallucinated transcripts to real-time transcription APIs, the session dives into the technical and creative process of building a bionic assistant for podcasters. Along the way, they explore how conversational AI could soon become a whi...
2025-04-2333 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesScaling Content Creation for E-Commerce: Liz Giorgi on Building soona and Embracing AI🎙️ AI for Founders – Featuring Liz Giorgi of soona.coEpisode Title: Scaling Content Creation for E-Commerce: Liz Giorgi on Building soona and Embracing AIHost: Ryan EstesGuest: Liz Giorgi, Co-Founder & CEO of soona.co📌 Episode SummaryIn this episode, Ryan speaks with Liz Giorgi, founder of soona.co, a visual content creation platform for e-commerce brands. Liz shares how she bootstrapped the MVP, raised $56M over four rounds, and built a platform serving over 25,000 brands.They explore how AI tools are helping marketers save time, how sacred creative r...
2025-04-2228 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesBuild an audience you actually ownScaling Founder Series Part Two - AI for Founders 🎙️ Scaling Founder Series: Build an Audience You Actually Own In this episode of AI for Founders, host Ryan Estes explores how founders can build an audience they truly own—beyond the limitations of social platforms. This session, recorded live, introduces five frameworks for creating consistently and converting your audience into community and product. Subscribe to future events: ryanestes.info 🔑 Key Takeaways: Own the audience: Email, website, podcast feed Email list: Direct and permission-based connection Website: Full control, testing ground, and content hub Podcast: High-trust deep engagement Personal branding m...
2025-04-2034 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesBuilding Voice AI with Nikhil Gupta of Vapi.ai🎙️ AI for Founders: Building Voice AI with Nikhil Gupta of Vapi.aiGuest: Nikhil Gupta, Founder & CEO of Vapi.aiHost: Ryan Estes🔑 Key TakeawaysVapi.ai helps developers build real-time, voice-first AI agents with ultra-low latency.Raised $20M Series A after launching profitably and going through Y Combinator.Voice AI is becoming the default interface for businesses replacing outdated IVR systems.Use cases include AI receptionists, customer support agents, and local business tools.Future trend: AI agent...
2025-04-1832 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesBuilding AI Tools with Guardrails (Part 2 w/ Peter Holcomb)🎙️ AI for Founders: Building Secure AI Tools (Part 2 with Peter Holcomb)Guest: Peter Holcomb – AI Governance Expert, Founder of Optimal ITHost: Ryan Estes🔑 Key TakeawaysStart with Governance: Define security and compliance standards before adopting or building AI tools.Prompt Injection is Real: A top risk per OWASP; design with defenses in place.Test Before You Launch: Use red/blue team testing to secure your tool pre-market.Legal vs. Guardrails: Terms of service help, but secure code is better protection.Cross-Team Governance: Security, Legal, Privacy, and Engineering should all contribute.ryane...
2025-04-1732 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesThis ai expert says privacy in America is already deadGuest: Peter Holcomb, IT Security Leader, Fractional CISO, and Founder of Optimo ITHost: Ryan EstesPresented by: Kitcaster.comKey Takeaways:The Productivity vs. Privacy Dilemma — AI can drive massive productivity gains—but companies must weigh those gains against serious privacy, security, and ethical risks.The Real Risks of AI Right Now — Algorithmic bias, data breaches, hallucinations, and poor access controls are among the top concerns. Always sanitize inputs and outputs.Stop Feeding Sensitive Info to Chatbots — Don’t input PII or PHI into commercial LLMs unless using secure, enclaved systems.RAG + LLMs...
2025-04-1431 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesVibe policy is real and it’s running the tariffsAI for Founders: Vibe Policy, Data Sovereignty & Causal AI with Jake SandersAbout the Episode:In this episode, Ryan and Jake dig into how AI is influencing real-world decisions — from Trump’s new tariffs to future healthcare tech. They explore how AI is shaping policy, the importance of data ownership, and what comes next with causal AI.Key Takeaways:Trump’s Tariffs and AI: Some economists believe AI-generated prompts may have influenced U.S. tariff policy. Source: The VergeAI as Truth Detector: GPT can generate believable nonsense — but it can also help detect i...
2025-04-0647 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesWe built an AI wellness app in 10 minutes💡 App Concept:A simple, beautiful app to remind you to take breaks, stretch, go outside, and reset your brain.🚀 What We Covered: Creating a time and break organizer app using AI Using Replit to prototype with zero setup Features like “Break Roulette,” custom vibe packs, and mood tracking Why AI can supercharge idea generation and prototyping Hilarious takes on focus, forgetting lunch, and box breathing 😅Whether you're a founder, a developer, or someone who forgets to blink during work… this one's for you.__ryanestes.infoThe pod on TikTok...
2025-04-0432 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesAI, neuralink, and the soul of Twos - a notes appBuilding the Future of Note-Taking with Joe from Twos AppIn this episode, I’m joined by Joe from TwosApp.com, a super sleek, simple, and powerful note-taking app that’s redefining personal productivity. Joe shares how Twos is replacing clunky tools like Apple Notes with a smarter, faster, all-in-one solution for notes, reminders, calendar events, and even AI-powered suggestions. We also dive deep into the world of AI—what tools Joe is loving right now, how GPT has replaced Google Search in his daily life, and why the future of artificial intell...
2025-04-0331 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesTurn your podcast from obscure to viral: here's the blueprintToday we're speaking with David Ledgerwood, known as Ledge, founder of Listen Network, an innovative platform designed to help podcasts achieve predictable audience growth.If you're a podcaster looking to increase your downloads, expand your audience, and attract sponsorships, this episode provides practical insights.Key Highlights: How Listen Network delivers targeted, high-quality downloads through precise advertising. The realities of podcast analytics, downloads, and how to effectively utilize accurate metrics. Ledge’s recommended AI tools for enhancing podcast creation and promotion. The essential role of paid promotion in your podcast growth strategy alongside earned, shared, and owned me...
2025-03-3150 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesFounders, STOP giving bad feedback; use this AI tool insteadIn this episode of AI for Founders, Ryan Estes sits down with Erbil Yaman, founder of Teamble.com - a cutting-edge AI platform transforming the way managers deliver and employees receive feedback. Erbil reveals his personal experiences that inspired Teamble, outlines how AI enhances workplace feedback, and shares actionable advice for building a strong feedback culture within organizations.Highlights include:How Teamble leverages AI to make feedback constructive, specific, and actionable.Insights into the highly successful Product Hunt launch strategy that earned nearly 1,000 upvotes.Best practices for effective feedback, including...
2025-03-2839 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesThis DM trick just killed 'link in bio' foreverIn this episode of AI for Founders, host Ryan interviews Jeff Dwoskin, founder of Stampede Social, an innovative AI-powered platform that revolutionizes influencer marketing through advanced attribution and automated direct messaging. Jeff shares insights on how Stampede Social enhances ROI by accurately tracking influencer-driven engagement and conversions, enabling brands and creators to measure true attribution and build deeper audience relationships.Key takeaways from this episode include:Stampede Social streamlines influencer campaigns by automating sales through Instagram and Facebook DMs, avoiding the friction of "link in bio" interactions.Accurate attribution is crucial for influencer marketing success, allowing creators and brands...
2025-03-2643 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesThe launch strategy that put this podcast in the Top 5% overnightRyan discusses the launch of his podcast "AI for Founders," inspired by his successful newsletter (17,000 subscribers). He stresses the importance of building an audience first before product development, ensuring market demand. His strategic personal outreach during the launch positioned the podcast in the top 5% globally.Additionally, Ryan shares his experience with "vibe coding" using AI tools Lovable and Bolt, quickly developing practical apps. Preferring Lovable for its ease of use, he commits to regular experimentation and highlights "Code Rabbit" for refining AI-generated code.Key Takeaways:Validate market demand through...
2025-03-2111 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesWhy 18,000 creators are obsessed with HipClip.aiIn today’s episode, Ryan Estes chats with Artem Kubatkin, founder of HipClip.ai, an innovative AI tool revolutionizing short-form video content for podcasters and creators. Artem shares insights into leveraging short clips to dramatically boost podcast growth and explains how strategic clip distribution across platforms can significantly increase subscriber counts.Key takeaways include:Short video clips act as trailers to drive listeners from social media to full podcast episodes.Humorous and spontaneous content often outperforms meticulously crafted clips.Effective short clips extend the lifetime value of your content, tu...
2025-03-1926 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesWhy neuralink telepathy might not be the scariest ai threatIn this fascinating discussion, we dive into the existential anxieties surrounding AI, Neuralink, and the uncertain future of technology. Our panel explores why Elon Musk’s Neuralink telepathy might just be a distraction from even more pressing threats—like how your personal IRS data could soon be sold to the highest bidder. We touch on the ethical implications of using disabled people to "normalize" invasive tech and the surprising emergence of AI-powered mech suits.Key Takeaways:Privacy Crisis: Your sensitive data (financial, psyc...
2025-03-181h 04AI for Founders with Ryan EstesThis new AI inbox hack reignited my dead leads, and it’s freakishly easyIn this video, we explore the power of AI tools to streamline your inbox and data analysis. Ryan highlights his experience with WarmStart.ai, an AI agent that integrates with Gmail to reconnect you with old leads or contacts you haven’t messaged in years. We also discuss different AI “voices” and how they could transform the way you interact with your inbox. Then we delve into a quick comparison of Claude versus GPT—especially how Claude excels at digesting large PDFs, spreadsheets, and images.Key TakeawaysWarmStart.aiAutomates re-engagement emails for people you haven’t spoken to in a long time...
2025-03-1706 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesAre robots really taking over our kitchens?Use promo code ESTES15 for 15% off everything at eat2explore.comWelcome to AI for Founders! In today's episode, Ryan Estes is joined by Rowena Scherer, the founder of eat2explore.com, a company dedicated to making cooking a cultural adventure for families and individuals alike. Rowena shares her inspiring journey—from her childhood in Malaysia, through her career on Wall Street, to creating eat2explore, driven by her passion for food, culture, and education.Ryan and Rowena discuss the future of food, highlighting how technology and AI can enhance, rather than replace, the joy and cultural connection of cooking. Ro...
2025-03-1128 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesWhat it do: We vibe codingEver wondered how businesses scale to seven, eight, even nine figures? In this week's episode of What It Do, Ryan and Jason unpack powerful strategies to accelerate growth and boost your business valuation. From leveraging TikTok's explosive entrepreneurial ecosystem to mastering the psychology behind high-converting funnels, this conversation is packed with insights you can immediately put into action.You'll discover:How TikTok is transforming the future of e-commerce (and why your business NEEDS to be there!)The hidden secrets behind high-ticket coaching funnels (and why most marketers get it wrong)Why your lead magnets might be killing your conversions—an...
2025-03-0734 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesThe AI Hype Machine Is Crashing: Time to Panic?AI is supposed to be the future, but the numbers tell a different story. OpenAI spent $9 billion last year to generate just $4 billion in revenue. Every ChatGPT prompt costs more than it makes. Generative AI scales in reverse—more users mean higher costs, not lower. Big tech is pouring billions into AI infrastructure, yet products like Copilot and Gemini have underwhelming user numbers.So where is the money coming from? And how long before investors start asking the same question?In this episode of AI for Founders, we break down the economics of generative AI, th...
2025-03-0604 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesThe Dark Side of AI: When ChatGPT Takes You for a RideDescription:In this episode of What It Do, Ryan and Jason dive deep into the realities of scaling businesses to 9 figures, the hidden drama behind big exits, and the power of strategic decision-making. Ryan shares why he traded in his pickup truck for an electric spaceship and how it reflects a bigger lesson in smart business moves.Jason breaks down his fractional executive model, revealing key insights on pricing consulting services, avoiding AI rabbit holes, and staying in your zone of excellence. Plus, Ryan shares a sales call horror story that tested his patience and the exact strategy he...
2025-02-2425 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesHow a failed music career made me a better entrepreneurKey Takeaways:The Leader’s Dilemma: The hardest leadership challenges are often internal—when you are your own obstacle.Lessons from a Music Career: Ryan shares a story of being cheated in the music industry and how an emotional reaction led to a regrettable outburst. The real lesson? Learning to manage emotions instead of letting them control the moment.Anger as a Poison: Holding onto resentment and past injustices can be like poisoning yourself while expecting the other party to suffer.Buddhist & Martial Arts Wisdom: Mindfulness, Vipassana meditation, and...
2025-02-1432 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesWhy your job is next on ai’s hit listHey everyone, In this video, we’re exploring the top reasons people feel uneasy about AI right now—plus some hope to balance the fear. Let’s dive in:Rapid ChangeTools evolve so quickly that it’s tough to keep up. One day’s breakthrough can feel outdated by the next, making everyone anxious about “falling behind.”Job DisplacementExperts warn that a big chunk of jobs could be automated. From freelancers to full-time workers, many worry they’ll be replaced if they don’t adapt fast.Data & PrivacyAI systems are built on massive pools of personal and creative work. Who profits from a...
2025-02-1134 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesTask Lists vs. Total Enlightenment: The Temptation to Skip All the StepsIn this episode, we explore the tension between two approaches to productivity and fulfillment:The Satisfaction of Incremental ProgressCelebrating the joys of disciplined, step-by-step progress.Why checking off tasks can feel so rewarding.How consistent small wins can build momentum and confidence.The Allure of the Big LeapImagining what it would be like to skip the tedious work and go straight to “the holy land” of accomplishment.The concept of achieving sudden “enlightenment” in our work and daily tasks.Potential pitfalls of looking for shortcuts and bypassing the foundational steps.Balancing Both Wor...
2025-02-1019 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesDeepseek’s ai breakthroughWhat It DoEach week, Jason Katz and Ryan Estes share their “Rose” (wins), “Thorn” (challenges), and “Buffalo” (surprises) to stay accountable.
Highlights• Business Frameworks – Jason reveals his five-stage Capability Model (Firefighter → Repeater → Preventer → Optimizer → Innovator) and a personal Transformation Journey.• Sales & Closing – Ryan dives into the power of empathetic, quick closes that respect buyers’ time.• Time Management – Both discuss saying “no,” prioritizing the essential, and avoiding burnout.• AI Insights – Ryan’s take on “DeepSeek” shows the rise of efficient small language models challenging Big Tech.
Resources• Essentialism by Greg McKeown• Mailreach.co (email deliverabili...
2025-02-0339 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesFrom $2M to More: What it Do - Vision for Growth5 Key Takeaways from This Episode:
Weekly Focus Breakdown:
We introduced the concept of the "rose, the thorn, and the buffalo," a framework to evaluate weekly highlights, challenges, and unexpected discoveries.
Real-Time Personal Branding:
This podcast is a behind-the-scenes look at building personal brands and businesses, offering actionable insights for listeners who want to grow alongside us.
Entrepreneurial Backgrounds:
Host A shares his journey as an entrepreneur, running multiple businesses and working in podcasting, with plans to create a holding company to streamline operations.
Revenue Reflection & Goals:
Last year’s combined re...
2025-01-2443 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesIs OpenAI’s $200 Operator the Ultimate Life Hack?In this episode, we dive deep into OpenAI’s groundbreaking new product, Operator, and explore how it’s redefining the way we interact with AI. From booking travel to ordering groceries, this AI assistant is more than just a tool—it’s a glimpse into the future. Here’s what you’ll learn:
Revolutionizing Everyday Tasks: Discover how Operator automates complex tasks like booking flights, finding the best deals, and managing your online shopping, saving you hours of effort.
The Next Level of AI Integration: Learn how Operator combines GPT-4’s visual capabilities and partner integrations...
2025-01-2422 minAI for Founders with Ryan EstesIf You're in Your Head, You're Dead: Finding Peace with Metta MeditationIn this episode, we dive into a powerful tool for navigating intrusive thoughts: Metta meditation, also known as loving-kindness meditation. If your mind feels like a relentless gang of thoughts pulling you into the past or future, Metta can help you reclaim your peace. Here's what you'll take away:
The Power of Awareness: Learn how to notice when unproductive thoughts take over, and recognize the tug-of-war between past regrets and future anxieties. Awareness is the first step to breaking free.
The Metta Mantra: Discover the simplicity of Metta meditation. By repeating phrases like “May I be...
2025-01-2204 min