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Sell First, Build Later: AI Startup Success Secrets with Martel Ventures
Free AI Automations to Level Up: automate.shahiddurrani.com
Unlock the secrets behind successful startups in today's AI-driven world! 🚀 In this episode of the Super Entrepreneurs Podcast, host Shahid Durrani sits with Cooper Simson, Portfolio Manager at Martell Ventures, to share hard-hitting truths that every founder NEEDS to hear.
From the real reasons why you should "go sell it, then build it," to the mindset and strategies Cooper uses to evaluate over 3,000 startups a year, you'll discover what truly sets winning founders apart. Whether you're building your first MVP, struggling to find your first customer, or scaling up, these practical tips and hard lessons are exactly what you need right now.
Don't miss insider advice on:
Securing your first sales before building your product
Avoiding the #1 cash flow trap killing startups in 2025
How to spot (and become!) founders with exceptional "founder-market fit"
The ugly side of relying on nocode/automation tools
Building a product that truly stands out in a crowded AI landscape
If you're an entrepreneur, tech builder, or dreaming of launching your own business—this is your roadmap. Get inspired, cut through the hype, and take your next bold step!
👉 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more real entrepreneur stories and actionable tactics.
🔔 Super Entrepreneurs Podcast
To watch more videos and get new video updates please subscribe to our channel and stay with us:
https://www.youtube.com/@SuperEntrepreneursPodcast
✅ Stay Connected With Us:
👉Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialshahiddurrani/ 👉Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialshahiddurrani/ 👉X: https://twitter.com/officialshahidd 👉Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shahid-durrani/ 👉Website: https://shahiddurrani.com/
=============================
Chapter Stamps:
00:00 - The Advice Every Entrepreneur Needs: "Sell First, Build Later"
01:16 - The Role of Mindset: What Investors Really Look For
02:00 - Cooper's Journey: From AI Startup to Portfolio Manager
04:41 - Building AI Products That Last: Avoiding Obsolescence
05:57 - What Martell Ventures Looks For in Startups
08:24 - Product vs. Idea: When Do Investors Step In?
09:45 - Why Founder-Market Fit Matters Most
12:04 - How Fast Is Fast Enough? The Startup Mindset in 2025
14:38 - How You Can Connect & Pitch Your Startup
17:43 - Why ANYONE Can 10X with AI Right Now
18:09 - Biggest Surprises: Good and Bad Founder Stories
20:24 - The Truth About No-Code "Products"
22:40 - Cash Flow Pitfalls & The New Rules for Startups
24:47 - Inside Martell's "Category First" Philosophy
26:33 - How to Research If Your Idea Already Exists
28:12 - Final Nuggets: Cooper's Last Word to Entrepreneurs
Pullout Quotes:
"Is the product you are building, does it get better as AI gets better or as AI gets better, do you become obsolete?"
"What we really like to focus on is how are businesses able to take AI right now and apply it to their businesses so they can actually get real results."
"Strong opinions loosely held."
"The one that I literally tell every single person is just the 'go sell it, then build it' kind of scenario."
"If nobody's working on the idea that you have, that's probably a signal that it's not the best idea to go after."
Social:
Website: https://www.danmartell.com/testimonials/cooper-simson/cooper-simson/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cooper-simson-896957b1/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coop_doggydog/
Disclaimer:
Please be aware that the opinions and perspectives conveyed in this podcast are solely those of our guests and do not necessarily represent the views, ideologies, or principles of Super Entrepreneurs Podcast, its associated entities, or any organizations they represent or are affiliated with. We provide a platform for discussion and exploration, and the content of each episode is understood to be independent expressions from our guests, rather than a reflection of the beliefs held by the podcast or its hosts.
Affiliate Disclaimer: If you buy through one of the links provided, I may receive a commission (without any additional charge to you).
▬▬▬ SHAHID'S LINKS ▬▬▬ https://zez.am/officialshahiddurrani
View all episodes
By superentrepreneurs
5
2727 ratings
Free AI Automations to Level Up: automate.shahiddurrani.com
Unlock the secrets behind successful startups in today's AI-driven world! 🚀 In this episode of the Super Entrepreneurs Podcast, host Shahid Durrani sits with Cooper Simson, Portfolio Manager at Martell Ventures, to share hard-hitting truths that every founder NEEDS to hear.
From the real reasons why you should "go sell it, then build it," to the mindset and strategies Cooper uses to evaluate over 3,000 startups a year, you'll discover what truly sets winning founders apart. Whether you're building your first MVP, struggling to find your first customer, or scaling up, these practical tips and hard lessons are exactly what you need right now.
Don't miss insider advice on:
Securing your first sales before building your product
Avoiding the #1 cash flow trap killing startups in 2025
How to spot (and become!) founders with exceptional "founder-market fit"
The ugly side of relying on nocode/automation tools
Building a product that truly stands out in a crowded AI landscape
If you're an entrepreneur, tech builder, or dreaming of launching your own business—this is your roadmap. Get inspired, cut through the hype, and take your next bold step!
👉 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more real entrepreneur stories and actionable tactics.
🔔 Super Entrepreneurs Podcast
To watch more videos and get new video updates please subscribe to our channel and stay with us:
https://www.youtube.com/@SuperEntrepreneursPodcast
✅ Stay Connected With Us:
👉Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialshahiddurrani/ 👉Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialshahiddurrani/ 👉X: https://twitter.com/officialshahidd 👉Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shahid-durrani/ 👉Website: https://shahiddurrani.com/
=============================
Chapter Stamps:
00:00 - The Advice Every Entrepreneur Needs: "Sell First, Build Later"
01:16 - The Role of Mindset: What Investors Really Look For
02:00 - Cooper's Journey: From AI Startup to Portfolio Manager
04:41 - Building AI Products That Last: Avoiding Obsolescence
05:57 - What Martell Ventures Looks For in Startups
08:24 - Product vs. Idea: When Do Investors Step In?
09:45 - Why Founder-Market Fit Matters Most
12:04 - How Fast Is Fast Enough? The Startup Mindset in 2025
14:38 - How You Can Connect & Pitch Your Startup
17:43 - Why ANYONE Can 10X with AI Right Now
18:09 - Biggest Surprises: Good and Bad Founder Stories
20:24 - The Truth About No-Code "Products"
22:40 - Cash Flow Pitfalls & The New Rules for Startups
24:47 - Inside Martell's "Category First" Philosophy
26:33 - How to Research If Your Idea Already Exists
28:12 - Final Nuggets: Cooper's Last Word to Entrepreneurs
Pullout Quotes:
"Is the product you are building, does it get better as AI gets better or as AI gets better, do you become obsolete?"
"What we really like to focus on is how are businesses able to take AI right now and apply it to their businesses so they can actually get real results."
"Strong opinions loosely held."
"The one that I literally tell every single person is just the 'go sell it, then build it' kind of scenario."
"If nobody's working on the idea that you have, that's probably a signal that it's not the best idea to go after."
Social:
Website: https://www.danmartell.com/testimonials/cooper-simson/cooper-simson/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cooper-simson-896957b1/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coop_doggydog/
Disclaimer:
Please be aware that the opinions and perspectives conveyed in this podcast are solely those of our guests and do not necessarily represent the views, ideologies, or principles of Super Entrepreneurs Podcast, its associated entities, or any organizations they represent or are affiliated with. We provide a platform for discussion and exploration, and the content of each episode is understood to be independent expressions from our guests, rather than a reflection of the beliefs held by the podcast or its hosts.
Affiliate Disclaimer: If you buy through one of the links provided, I may receive a commission (without any additional charge to you).
▬▬▬ SHAHID'S LINKS ▬▬▬ https://zez.am/officialshahiddurrani