What happens when you build AI without chasing the hype?

For Patrick Belliveau, Managing Partner at Gambit Technologies, staying bootstrapped was more than a financial choice. It kept his team focused on building features people truly needed and would pay for, rather than chasing short-lived opportunities. That discipline allowed them to adapt quickly as new models emerged and avoid the trap of investing in features that disappeared overnight.

Patrick’s story began with AskEllyn, an AI companion designed to support breast cancer patients and their families. Starting with a single manuscript and launched for free, AskEllyn is now used in more than 15 countries. It proved that AI could deliver empathy and dignity in some of life’s hardest moments, and it became the foundation for Gambit’s approach to creating products that endure.

In this episode, Daniel and Patrick explore what it takes to resist hype in AI, why bootstrapping can be a strength, and how generalists who bridge user needs and technical talent may be the ones shaping the future of this industry.

🔑 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• ✅ Why bootstrapping can keep you closer to customer needs than chasing funding
• ✅ How AskEllyn became a blueprint for building dignified AI products
• ✅ Why many failures come from solving the wrong problem, not from weak technology
• ✅ The advantages generalists have in today’s AI landscape
• ✅ How fun, focus, and scrappiness can fuel sustainable growth

🔗 Resources & Links

• 🤝 Connect with Patrick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-belliveau/
• 🌐 Learn more about Gambit Technologies: https://gambitco.io
• 💬 Curious about AskEllyn? Check out: https://askellyn.ai/
• 📩 Subscribe to the Artificial Insights newsletter for key takeaways: https://manary.haus/podcast/#haus
• 👉 Have a guest in mind? Reach out to Daniel at [email protected].

💡 Inspired by Patrick's approach? Share this episode with someone who is weighing the choice between raising money and building something people truly need today.