Today, I talk with Cody Schneider, the co-founder and CEO of SwellAI, about his AI content repurposing company.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Cody biggest challenges and my targeted advice


• The common mistake self-funded founders make


• Which market SwellAI should win first


• How Cody can differentiate SwellAI

Timestamps

(00:00) Episode trailer

(00:50) Cody’s Pitch for SwellAI

(03:12) More engineers and money ≠ growth

(04:19) Cody’s biggest challenge

(06:38) Advice on differentiation, opportunity, and growth

(15:15) Key takeaways

(16:15) That’s a wrap!

Socials

• Website: https://www.hiten.show/


• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkNsg4JbOBrXeCbcFN8R71A


• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hitenshow/


• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hitenshow

Quick Links

• Share feedback: https://www.hiten.show/feedback


• Pitch me: https://www.hiten.show/pitch


• Ask a question: https://www.hiten.show/ask


• Newsletter: https://www.hiten.show/

Find the show

• All episodes: hiten.show/episodes


• YouTube: hiten.show/youtube


• Spotify: hiten.show/spotify


• Apple: hiten.show/apple

Disclaimer Hiten Shah’s “The Hiten Show” episodes are provided for general information purposes only and do not constitute business, financial, or other professional advice. Audience members should not act upon the content or information found here without first seeking appropriate advice from an accountant, financial planner, lawyer, or other professional.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.hiten.show

Today, I'm trying another show format. In this episode, I react to four famous startup pitches (some real, some fake!). Throughout each pitch, I pause the clip and give my take on what worked and what didn’t.

The pitches

• Jian Yang’s hot dog app


• DoorDash’s YC application


• DoorDash’s YC demo day


• Doorbot’s Shark Tank pitch

Episode timestamps

(00:00) Show intro

(00:10) Silicon Valley’s hot dog app

(01:54) DoorDash’s YC application

(02:38) DoorDash’s YC demo day

(06:29) Doorbot’s Shark Tank pitch

(07:44) That’s a wrap!

Socials

• Website: https://www.hiten.show/


• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkNsg4JbOBrXeCbcFN8R71A


• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hitenshow/


• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hitenshow

Quick Links

• Share feedback: https://www.hiten.show/feedback


• Pitch me: https://www.hiten.show/pitch


• Ask a question: https://www.hiten.show/ask


• Newsletter: https://www.hiten.show/

Find the show

• All episodes: hiten.show/episodes


• YouTube: hiten.show/youtube


• Spotify: hiten.show/spotify


• Apple: hiten.show/apple

Disclaimer Hiten Shah’s “The Hiten Show” episodes are provided for general information purposes only and do not constitute business, financial, or other professional advice. Audience members should not act upon the content or information found here without first seeking appropriate advice from an accountant, financial planner, lawyer, or other professional.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.hiten.show

Today, I'm trying a new show format. Three founders submit their pitch via video, I react and then give them targeted advice on improving it.

I discuss:

• Finding the right hook


• What information will make investors say yes


• When to focus on the product versus the problem


• How each founder should refine their pitch

Today’s founders

• Jacob Peters (superpower.com)


• Luke Yarnton (therave.co)


• Valentin Haarscher (easop.com)

Episode timestamps

(00:00) Show intro

(00:31) Jacob, founder of Superpower (Longevity tech)

(02:50) Luke, founder of The Rave (20% MOM growth)

(06:29) Valentin, founder of Easop (Acquired by Remote)

(09:52) That’s a wrap!

Socials

• Website: https://www.hiten.show/


• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkNsg4JbOBrXeCbcFN8R71A


• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hitenshow/


• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hitenshow

Quick Links

• Share feedback: https://www.hiten.show/feedback


• Pitch me: https://www.hiten.show/pitch


• Ask a question: https://www.hiten.show/ask


• Newsletter: https://www.hiten.show/

Find the show

• All episodes: hiten.show/episodes


• YouTube: hiten.show/youtube


• Spotify: hiten.show/spotify


• Apple: hiten.show/apple

Disclaimer Hiten Shah’s “The Hiten Show” episodes are provided for general information purposes only and do not constitute business, financial, or other professional advice. Audience members should not act upon the content or information found here without first seeking appropriate advice from an accountant, financial planner, lawyer, or other professional.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.hiten.show

On today’s episode, three founders pitch me. I give them two perspectives: the investor viewpoint, including the impressions and likely questions they'd face, and detailed feedback on the pitch itself. We discuss:
• What not to say
• How to talk about traction
• Telling a compelling story in under 60s
• Avoiding investor confusion
• Communicating your unique value

Today’s founders:
• Austin: Howie (howie.ai)
• Omar: UnInbox (uninbox.com)
• Luke: Pixels (pixels.xyz)

Episode timestamps
(00:00) Show intro
(00:33) Luke, founder of Pixels (400k DAU)
(05:35) Austin, founder of Howie (AI scheduling assistant)
(10:56) Omar, founder of UnInbox (open-source email)
(15:26) Reflecting on today’s pitches
(16:14) That’s a wrap!

Socials
• Website: ⁠⁠https://www.hiten.show⁠⁠
• YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@hitenshow⁠⁠
• TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@hitenshow⁠⁠
• Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hitenshow⁠⁠

Quick Links
• Share feedback: https://www.hiten.show/feedback
• Pitch me: https://www.hiten.show/pitch
• Submit a question: https://www.hiten.show/ask
• Newsletter: https://www.hiten.show/

Find the show
• All episodes: ⁠⁠https://www.hiten.show/episodes⁠⁠
• YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@hitenshow⁠⁠
• Spotify: ⁠⁠https://www.hiten.show/spotify⁠⁠
• Apple: ⁠⁠https://www.hiten.show/apple⁠⁠

Disclaimer Hiten Shah’s “The Hiten Show” episodes are provided for general information purposes only and do not constitute business, financial, or other professional advice. Audience members should not act upon the content or information found here without first seeking appropriate advice from an accountant, financial planner, lawyer, or other professional.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.hiten.show

On today’s episode, we discuss hiring and firing, including:

• Big mistakes and how to avoid them

• Why “hiring slow, firing fast” is wrong

• The problem with offshore talent

• Building remote versus in-person

• Ways to hire top talent

• Tips that will help you scale

Socials

• Website: ⁠⁠https://www.hiten.show⁠⁠

• YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@hitenshow⁠⁠

• TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@hitenshow⁠⁠

• Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hitenshow⁠⁠

Share feedback:

• https://www.hiten.show/feedback

Pitch me:

• https://www.hiten.show/pitch

Submit a question:

• https://www.hiten.show/ask

Newsletter:

• https://www.hiten.show

Find the show

• All episodes: ⁠⁠https://www.hiten.show/episodes⁠⁠

• YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@hitenshow⁠⁠

• Spotify: ⁠⁠https://www.hiten.show/spotify⁠⁠

• Apple: ⁠⁠https://www.hiten.show/apple⁠⁠

• Amazon: ⁠⁠https://www.hiten.show/amazon⁠⁠

Disclaimer Hiten Shah’s “The Hiten Show” episodes are provided for general information purposes only and do not constitute business, financial, or other professional advice. Audience members should not act upon the content or information found here without first seeking appropriate advice from an accountant, financial planner, lawyer, or other professional.

Episode timestamps

(00:00) Show intro

(00:20) Rapid Fire Round

(00:28) Q1: How we we keep morale high after a pivot?

(01:28) Q2: How much financial info should we share with employees?

(02:31) Q3: What’s the biggest hiring mistake you’ve ever made?

(03:00) Q4: What’s the biggest firing mistake you’ve ever made?

(03:52) Q5: Do you have a golden rule for hiring?

(04:48) Q6: How do I lower an employee’s pay?

(05:23) Q7: What’s your favorite interview question?

(06:06) Q8: Thoughts on poaching employees?

(08:04) Hot Takes

(08:18) You should hire slow and fire fast

(08:45) In-person startups > remote ones

(10:10) Work trials are a great way to evaluate job candidates

(11:33) Hiring offshore talent is a great way to build a team

(12:10) That's a wrap!

Last updated: 10:02am, 23 April, 2024

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.hiten.show

Today, I talk to two founders about a range of challenges they’re facing with building AI products, including:

• What founders get wrong about AI

• Why AI isn’t the problem

• Building horizontal versus vertical

• Pricing AI products

• Dealing with churn

Todayʼs founders

• James Flynn - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Coso.ai⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://coso.ai/⁠⁠⁠

• Girri M Palaniyapan - DialMe: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://dialme.at⁠⁠⁠

Socials

• Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hiten.show⁠⁠⁠⁠

• YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@hitenshow⁠⁠⁠ ⁠

• TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@hitenshow⁠⁠⁠ ⁠

• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hitenshow⁠⁠⁠⁠

Share feedback

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hiten.show/feedback⁠⁠⁠⁠

Pitch me

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hiten.show/pitch⁠⁠⁠

Submit a question

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hiten.show/ask⁠⁠⁠

Call the hotline and leave a message

• ⁠+1 (866) 860 6695⁠

Newsletter

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hiten.show⁠⁠⁠

Find the show

• All episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hiten.show/episodes⁠⁠⁠⁠

• YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@hitenshow⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hiten.show/spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hiten.show/apple⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hiten.show/amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode Timestamps

(00:00) Show intro

(00:31) Rapid Fire Round

(00:43) Q1: Have you been tempted to start an AI company?

(01:17) Q2: What do people get wrong about AI?

(01:49) Q3: Is it too late to start an AI company?

(02:40) Q4: Will AGI make every startup redundant?

(03:15) Q5: Can AI help us compete against market leaders?

(05:20) Q6: How do I tell if my AI product is working?

(07:29) Q7: Should you offer a freemium model for your AI product?

(09:15) The Hotline

(09:22) James, co-founder of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coso.ai⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

(12:44) Building what customers want

(13:59) Girri, co-founder of DialMe

(16:48) Building broad versus vertical

(17:23) That's a wrap!

Last updated 9:54 pm, April 22 (ET)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.hiten.show

On the second episode of The Hiten Show, I speak to two founders about how to pitch investors

We cover a range of challenges, including:

• One thing all great pitches have

• What investors actually care about

• The secret to telling a story in 60 seconds

• Common pitching mistakes and how to avoid them

Todayʼs founders

• Steve Witmer - Roster

• Michael Bishop - Spot

Socials

• Website: https://www.hiten.show

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hitenshow

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hitenshow

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hitenshow

Share feedback

⁠https://www.hiten.show/feedback⁠

Pitch me

https://www.hiten.show/pitch

Submit a question

https://www.hiten.show/ask

Call the hotline and leave a message

+1 (866) 860 6695

Newsletter

https://www.hiten.show

Find the show

• All episodes: https://www.hiten.show/episodes

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hitenshow

• Spotify: https://www.hiten.show/spotify

• Apple: https://www.hiten.show/apple

• Amazon: https://www.hiten.show/amazon

Episode Timestamps

(00:00) Show intro

(00:26) Pitch Perfect

(00:33) Steve, founder of Roster

(05:54) Getting investors to pick you

(07:16) Micheal, founder of Spot

(13:07) Selling the founders’ story

(14:40) Rapid Fire Round

(14:50) Q1: Tips for pitching over Zoom

(15:32) Q2: One thing all great pitches have

(16:33) Q3: Most common mistake when pitching

(17:38) Q4: How to avoid common mistakes

(19:22) That's a wrap!

Disclaimer

Hiten Shahʼs “The Hiten Showˮ episodes are provided for general information purposes only and do not constitute business, financial, or other professional advice. Audience members should not act upon the content or information found here without first seeking appropriate advice from an accountant, financial planner, lawyer, or other professional.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.hiten.show

Welcome to episode #1 of The Hiten Show! Today, I cover a range of fundraising challenges, including:

Crafting a narrative around cap table complications

Judging whether a pitch went well

Biggest fundraising mistakes

Managing term sheet deadlines

Common investor red flags

Disclaimer Hiten Shah’s “The Hiten Show” episodes are provided for general information purposes only and do not constitute business, financial, or other professional advice. Audience members should not act upon the content or information found here without first seeking appropriate advice from an accountant, financial planner, lawyer, or other professional.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.hiten.show

Let's give it another shot.

All right.

This is really hard for me. I've recorded this more times than I can count, now. Part of the reason is I had the mic facing the wrong way the first time.

So, let me just give you a quick update and get this all out of the way. I'm launching a new show and it's all about honest conversations with founders working through some of their biggest challenges as they're happening.

These are the conversations that as I've been in startups for the last 20 years, don't really happen. And what I mean by that is direct, honest, meaningful, impactful, actionable feedback on whatever challenge that founders are going through.

But I need something from you.

I need your help to make this great. So, what I ask is that you check out the first episode, you find the feedback form in the description or on the website, and then you tell me exactly what you think.

I want to know what's good, what's great, but most importantly, the thing that's going to make me smile, is tell me your most critical feedback.

What you don't like, what you hate, what you think can be improved.

I'm calling it The Hiten Show

Connect with Hiten

• Website: ⁠https://www.hiten.show⁠


• YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@hitenshow⁠


• TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@hitenshow⁠


• Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/hitenshow⁠

Apply for an upcoming pitch session:

⁠https://www.hiten.show/pitch⁠

Ask Hiten a question:

⁠https://www.hiten.show/ask⁠

Thoughts? Ideas? Questions?

We’re always looking to learn and improve!

Leave your feedback for Hiten: ⁠https://www.hiten.show/feedback⁠

Where you can find the show

• All episodes: ⁠https://www.hiten.show/episodes⁠


• YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@hitenshow⁠


• Spotify: ⁠https://www.hiten.show/spotify⁠


• Apple: ⁠https://www.hiten.show/apple⁠


• Amazon: ⁠https://www.hiten.show/amazon⁠

About Hiten Shah

Hiten Shah is a veteran entrepreneur who’s been building and investing in successful startups for over twenty years. Beyond founding of three SaaS companies (Crazy Egg, KISSmetrics and Quick Sprout). Hiten has been a key investor in hundreds of other startups, and has helped founders raise billions of dollars in VC money along the way.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hitenshah.substack.com