In this episode of Superhuman AI: Decoding the Future, Hassan and Zain are joined by Jesse Middleton, former WeWork executive, early-stage tech investor, and hacker extraordinaire. Jesse shares how his journey from playing with early Apple computers to helping WeWork scale from a small team to a global phenomenon has influenced his unique approach to startup investing and the future of work.

Jesse provides insights into the wild early days of WeWork, how culture and focus built the company, and the lessons learned from its downturn. Jesse also dives into his investment philosophy, the explosive growth of AI, and why he believes the next decade will see AI transforming industries in ways we can hardly imagine.

We also learn about the role of culture in startups and hear Jesse’s predictions for AI’s impact on the regulation space.

What we talk about:

• (01:05) Jesse’s journey from hacker to WeWork and beyond
• 03:42) How Jesse’s love for breaking things led him to the tech world
• (05:48) The moment Jesse met Adam Neumann and joined WeWork
• (07:06) WeWork Labs: Building a space for tech entrepreneurs
• (09:58) How WeWork grew
• (12:00) The rise and fall of WeWork from an insider’s perspective
• (13:14) Key takeaways from WeWork: Focus and culture
• (15:12) Jesse’s philosophy on startup investing and AI’s future
• (19:12) AI’s impact on regulated industries and the creative fields
• (21:33) The rise of Small Language Models (SLMs) and agentic AI
• (25:51) AGI: Will it happen and how it could change everything?
• (28:35) How AI is already making a difference in Jesse’s life?

How does someone with zero software experience build multiple successful apps using AI? In this episode of Superhuman AI: Decoding the Future, Zain and Hassan sit down with Blake Anderson, a serial entrepreneur who has built apps generating millions in revenue—all with the help of ChatGPT.

Blake shares his journey, from discovering AI to building Umax, a looks-maxing mobile application, and PlugAI, an AI dating assistant, both of which have disrupted their respective markets.

Blake delves into how he leveraged ChatGPT to learn coding and develop his apps, despite having minimal technical background. The conversation covers the challenges of scaling a startup, the importance of rapid iteration in marketing, and the bold risks Blake took to ensure his apps' success. 

We learn what it takes to build and scale AI-driven consumer apps, the importance of finding and exploiting market niches, and the power of AI as both a tool and a tutor. 

What we talk about:

• (00:18) Who is Blake Anderson?
• (01:13) Overview of Umax and PlugAI
• (02:04) Blake’s entrepreneurial journey from childhood
• (03:31) Discovering the potential of AI in app development
• (05:23) The origin of RizGPT and its evolution to PlugAI
• (06:39) ChatGPT's role in app development
• (07:23) The power of rapid iteration in marketing
• (09:18) Overcoming initial struggles and finding success on TikTok
• (10:40) The importance of constant iteration in marketing
• (11:24) Step-by-step process of building an app with ChatGPT
• (13:26) Deciding on partnerships and team dynamics
• (14:47) The inception and development of Umax
• (19:08) Scaling Umax amid competition and market challenges
• (21:46) Managing risks and motivating a team
• (24:23) Introduction to Blake’s new venture, CalAI
• (26:23) Opportunities in AI with GPT-4.0
• (29:36) Advice for aspiring AI entrepreneurs

Learn more about Blake and his work here:

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/blakeandersonw
TWITTER: x.com/blakeandersonw
CALAI: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/cal-ai-calorie-tracking/id6480417616
UMAX: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/umax-become-hot/id6471026798
PLUGAI: https://apps.apple.com/bg/app/plug-ai-texting-assistant/id6449750416

How does an entrepreneur turn struggling startups to a multimillion-dollar AI business? In this episode of Superhuman AI: Decoding the Future, Zain sits down with David Park, CEO of Jenni AI, to explore his remarkable journey from a struggling entrepreneur to leading a successful AI writing app.

David reveals how he leveraged AI technology to create Jenni AI, a tool used by millions of academics, all while navigating personal challenges, including a cancer diagnosis, while growing his startup.

David shares his experiences of building Jenni AI, from his early experiments with GPT-2 to the breakthrough moment with GPT-3. They also discuss the importance of user feedback, the impact of viral social media content on growth, and the strategic decisions that propelled Jenni AI to success. 

We’ll learn about the practical aspects of scaling an AI startup, the significance of product-market fit, and the role of effective marketing strategies. David and Zain also touch on the broader implications of AI integration across industries and offer advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. 

What we talk about:

• (00:37) Who is David Park?
• (01:18) David’s background and Jenny AI
• (02:04) Revenue growth and team size
• (03:03) David’s entrepreneurial backstory
• (04:20) The path to Jenni AI
• (04:40) Idea inception and AI integration
• (06:19) Early experiments with Chat GPT
• (07:38) The pivotal moment with GPT-3
• (09:35) The technical co-founder’s role
• (10:20) Pivoting to an educational tool
• (12:07) Viral growth and its impact
• (14:22) Sustaining growth through social media
• (17:11) Marketing strategies post-virality
• (20:35) Overcoming personal health challenges
• (24:02) Lessons learned in AI development
• (27:05) Responding to critics and future outlook

Ever wondered why some AI startups succeed while others falter despite having groundbreaking technology?
In this episode of Superhuman AI: Decoding the Future Zain and Hassan dive deep into the intricate balance of product development, market timing, and strategic sales.
Through his own entrepreneurial journey, Hassan Bhatti shares invaluable insights on navigating the complexities of the AI landscape, from initial idea generation to securing the right team and finally, executing a profitable exit strategy.
Hassan, who has built and sold two AI startups, joins the conversation to unpack his experiences. From his academic background to his pivotal roles at companies like Snowflake, Hassan outlines his journey into the AI world. He’ll discuss the importance of timing in achieving product-market fit, the critical role of distribution and customer acquisition, and the evolving landscape of AI development post-LLM wave.
We’ll learn practical advice on building and scaling AI startups and we’ll hear about the nuanced decision-making process behind selling a startup. Plus, Zain and Hassan talk about the increasing integration of AI across industries and the transformative potential of AI
assistants.

What we talk about:

• (00:28) Introduction of Hassan Bhatti
• (01:14) Hassan’s background and journey
• (02:01) Overview of AI startups
• (03:37) Origins of the first company
• (04:03) Deciding on the right opportunity
• (05:47) Building the first product
• (06:53) Validating product-market fit
• (07:44) Lessons on timing in startups
• (09:13) Importance of budget allocation
• (10:54) Strength of go-to-market muscle
• (12:38) Building effective B2B strategies
• (14:41) Finding design customers
• (16:27) Selling your startup
• (20:26) Strategies for acquisition
• (21:27) Frameworks for building AI companies
• (24:45) Predictions for AI in the next year

Welcome to Superhuman AI: Decoding the Future, your go-to podcast for all things artificial intelligence, machine learning, and tech innovation. Hosted by Superhuman AI CEO, Zain Kahn, and co-host, tech entrepreneur Hassan Behati, we bring you two new episodes weekly  to share the future of AI, through AI tools, startups, expert insights and news.

Tune in every Tuesday for the latest AI news, industry trends, breakthroughs, and emerging technologies. We keep you in the loop with all the biggest stories and developments on AI ethics, AI marketing, and more.  Then, join us every Thursday for a video episode of  in-depth conversations with top  AI founders and entrepreneurs, sharing their stories, strategies, and expert advice on leveraging AI technology. You’ll learn how you can benefit from these advances.

Whether you're an AI expert or want to learn how new AI tools can transform your productivity and automation, this is the podcast for you. We cut through the noise of the AI era to keep you informed without feeling overwhelmed. So stay connected and join us as we decode the future of AI.