🎉 SAYWISE BETA FOR iOS IS LIVE!

• We launched a closed beta during Tech Week to test out some initial components of our AMA platform.

• You can download it for iOS here and use code FISTBUMP.

• On there, you can find fellow founders, investors, and other startup leaders. You can ask and answer questions using text and voice.

• Would love to hear your thoughts as you test out the app. Feel free to reply directly to this email with your feedback!

⭐ Highlights from Lucas’s AMA
(edited for clarity)

What are some advantages in working with co-founders?

Having a co-founder lets you handle more tasks, especially on busy days when the workload feels overwhelming. In my previous company, extra help made things easier, but now I manage alone daily. What truly matters is finding the right co-founder, not just any partner. If you’re considering one, ask, “What unique value can they bring?” Since I can handle development, I’ll wait for the right fit.

What are some key things you look for in a co-founder?

It’s crucial to be friends with your co-founder first. Finding someone who truly fits the culture is key since you’ll likely be talking to this person daily for the next 10 years. If you’re not friends, sustaining that connection long-term will be tough.

Do you have any mentors?

ChatGPT acts as a mentor for me, offering business insights by aggregating vast internet knowledge. For example, instead of seeking a traditional mentor to assess my startup’s value by analyzing industry comps and valuation metrics, I use ChatGPT for its large data-processing capacity. While human mentors bring intuition, they might lack time for deep dives; ChatGPT, however, can review extensive information quickly and provide relevant insights.

How do you deal with the ups and downs of building a startup?

When growing a business, it’s vital to avoid tying self-worth to net worth. Early on, my mood depended on my company’s success. But decoupling personal value from business highs and lows is essential. Don’t let others’ views define your success. No matter how your business fares, you’re okay. Journaling, physically stepping away, and finding hobbies outside work all help maintain this separation and balance.

What are some key sales tactics you learned?

I used typical internet sales tactics to close deals, but buyers can sense when they’re being “closed.” Intelligent buyers, often polite, won’t outright reject you—they’ll just quietly tune out if they’re uninterested. The book SPIN Selling shows that the best salespeople are straightforward. They explain the product, outline the pricing, and persist without gimmicks. Focus on your product, be honest, and smart buyers will connect with what you’re offering.

What advice do you have for founders?

I aimed for a successful exit in my last company, despite hearing that it would be hard, time-consuming, and distract from operations. But from due diligence to funds in the bank, it took just one month. While it wasn’t a hundred-million-dollar exit, it was still solid. My advice: don’t buy into internal or external narratives about a goal’s difficulty—often, it’s easier than expected.

For the full AMA, click here.

📅 Upcoming AMAs

• Nov 14 at 2pm PT: Mike Chen and Lena Zhang, Founders at Cohere

  • Cohere is a retail intelligence platform for B2B buyers to source vendors with verified insights, aiming to set a new credibility standard in B2B commerce.

  • Mike is the CEO of Cohere; former Michelin 2-star chef, self-taught data scientist, and retail buyer with grocery experience.

  • Lena is the COO of Cohere; architect with expertise in commercial retail design, has worked on branding projects for luxury brands like IWC and Louis Vuitton.

📺 Past AMAs

Missed any of our previous AMAs? No worries! You can catch up on all the guests here.

• Will Drewery, Founder and CEO at Diagon (AI-powered procurement platform)

• Gaurav Seth, Founder and CEO at PierSight Space (maritime surveillance using satellites)

• Tejes Srivalsan, Founder and CEO at Poppin (event-based social media)

• Christie Marchese, Founder and CEO at Kinema (film distribution platform)

• Michael Kapps, Founder and CEO at Sanii (longevity and lifestyle for the elderly)

• Ahmed Mirza, Investor at Techstars Los Angeles (leading startup accelerator)

• Clara Hong, Founder and CEO at Smore (B2B form building platform)

• Luiza Justus, Founder and CCO at Supersocial (gaming for the metaverse)

• Mark Linao, General Partner at Progression Fund (early stage consumer VC)

• David Yi, General Partner at Ethos Fund (early stage VC in Vietnam and the US)

• Fay Wells, Angel Investor and VC in Residence at Techstars

• Christian Dorffer, General Partner at Defiance Capital (early stage VC fund in AI)

• Brent Murri, Partner at M13 (leading consumer VC fund)

• Jorge Garcia, Founder and CEO at Linker Finance (financial platform for community banks)

• Bodin Scepanovic, Partner at SparkLabs Saudi Arabia (startup accelerator in the Middle East)

• Adam Lebovitz, Consumer Investor at BAM Ventures (early stage fund in LA)

👋 Want to be an AMA guest?

Startup founders, investors, and leaders—join our AMA series as a guest! Reply with your details, and let’s chat!

📬 Contact Us

Have suggestions for future guests, feedback on the sessions, or just want to say hi? We’d love to hear from you! Reply directly to this email or send us a note here.

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