Episode 13 - Building AI Before It Was Cool with Dennis Mortensen

In this episode of Founder Mode, Jason and I talked to Dennis Mortensen. He’s an entrepreneur who built AI solutions long before they were in the spotlight. Dennis shared his journey of creating AI companies, such as x.ai. He made an AI scheduling assistant at x.ai long before today’s language models showed up.

Dennis talked about how hard it was to build an AI dataset from nothing. His team manually labeled millions of emails. This was hard and expensive. He found out that early choices in AI development matter. They are hard to change later.

Dennis shared key tips for making smart decisions in business. He highlighted the need to focus on what customers want, not just on technology. He said success often comes from solving real problems. It’s not only about getting predictions right or using high-tech tools.

“Success isn’t attached to how good your predictions are. It's tied to understanding the real pain your customers feel and solving that.”

— Dennis Mortensen

Five Key Takeaways:

1. AI is Harder Than it Looks

Making AI before today's strong language models needed a lot of hard work and careful thought.

2. Customer Needs Over Tech

Tackling real-life issues is more important than having perfect tech. Know who gains the most from your product.

3. Decisions Have Lasting Impact

Early decisions in building AI products can’t be easily undone. It's critical to choose carefully.

4. Be Clear on Acquisition Goals

When a company is acquired, set clear goals from the start. Make it clear what success means so you can meet expectations quickly.

5. Keep Your Product Current

Automate tasks like documentation updates. It keeps your product in line with your marketing. This way, you always provide customers with the right info.

Final Thoughts

Dennis Mortensen's path reveals how vital timing and clear choices are in startups and AI. His experiences teach us that success comes from fixing real issues. It's not just about following tech trends. Dennis encourages founders to challenge their ideas. They should set clear goals and focus on what customers need.

These lessons are for anyone who wants to start a company in the fast-changing AI world.

“The number one task as a founder is to pressure-test and kill your idea before you start. Get your friends, venture partners, and even foes to shoot down your idea and find its weaknesses before you invest too much.”

— Kevin Henrikson

🎧 Listen to Episode 13 here: