When AI replaced the product
Many founders in India may not recognise the name Chegg. Yet, for nearly two decades, it was one of the most successful education technology companies in America. Founded in 2005, Chegg built a subscription business around helping students with textbook solutions, homework assistance and tutoring. For millions of college students, it became a daily habit. If you had a difficult assignment, chances were you searched Google, landed on Chegg, and paid for access to the answer. Then came ChatGPT. Unlike many businesses that found AI to be another productivity tool, Chegg faced something far…
Waiting to get paid
A CEO walks into his office lobby and finds a young man sitting on the sofa, scrolling on his phone. What are you doing here, he asks. Waiting to get paid, comes the reply. The CEO, a little annoyed, asks how much he earns in a week. A thousand dollars, the fellow says. The CEO pulls out two thousand, hands it over, and tells him to leave and never come back. Pleased with how decisively he handled that, he turns to the receptionist and asks who the loafer was. That was the pizza delivery…
Use AI as a Cycle and not as a Car
“We are exporting data, we are importing AI.” This is analogous to India exporting raw cotton and importing textiles during the Industrial Revolution. On the topic of intelligence as a subscription: “We need to think of AI as a tool just like any other tool. We need to use it as a cycle with pedal control being with us and not think of it as a car where the machine handles all the factors.” I heard these quotes in a bilingual interview by TV celebrity Gobinath of Pratyush Kumar, co-founder of India’s own AI…
8 real world founder fears in the age of AI – Podcast Video
A D2C founder running an Ayurvedic skincare brand, doing about 8 crore in revenue, put it simply. AI is helping everyone create ads, write product descriptions, launch stores faster. My fear is not the technology. My fear is that AI makes every brand look equally good. If everyone has the same marketing superpower, where does my differentiation come from? Vineeth Vijayaraghavan, who I have known for over thirty years and who advises VCs, family offices and startups on AI strategy, did not pretend there was a tidy answer. This needs introspection, he said. But…
Your Learning Loop Is Your Real Moat
Over the weekend, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella shared a note on what he believes will define the next era of AI: organisations that “own their learning loop”. In simple terms, his point is this: the real advantage in AI will not come from access to models alone, but from how effectively a company captures, learns from, and improves using its own experience. For founders, this is worth paying attention to. Skills, prompts, and agents are portable. You can switch models, replace tools, and migrate clouds. None of these compounds on its own. What compounds…
Is the iPhone the Most Effective Birth Control Ever Invented?
Researchers used AT&T’s early iPhone monopoly to investigate whether smartphones changed social behaviour enough to reduce births When I first read the headline, I thought it was a joke. Then, when I looked more carefully, I realised it was an actual research finding, published this June by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Did the iPhone lower the birth rate in America? The researchers are Caitlin K. Myers and Ezekiel Hooper. Their approach is careful. Rather than speculating about smartphones and social behaviour in general, they found a natural experiment embedded in the iPhone’s…
AI and the polite Instagram hack
A few days ago, hackers took over high-profile Instagram accounts, including the Barack Obama White House profile. And they did so by politely asking Meta’s AI support chatbot to update the email addresses on those accounts. The attack method was childishly simple. No sophisticated exploit, no back-end breach — and that was the shocking part. Meta had given its support bot the ability to reset passwords and manage account recovery. The bot was not mature enough to distinguish between the actual account owner and a fraudster using a VPN and a politely worded request.…
Zoho’s bet: smaller models, not smaller teams
“Our data centre costs have gone up 3x to 4x. Our AI spending has gone up. But revenues are not growing any faster.” That was Sridhar Vembu, at Zoholics 2026. On the industry’s favourite vanity metric, he was blunter: “70% of our code is generated by AI — to me, that metric is useless. What have been the outcomes? We have yet to see significant results.” And on the American playbook of cutting headcount to protect margins, he rejected it outright. Zoho’s answer is not fewer people. It is more efficient, affordable AI: smaller…
What Silicon Valley fears and India has not yet noticed?
A piece published in The New York Times on 30 April 2026, written by Jasmine Sun, deserves a careful read. Sun writes about AI and Silicon Valley culture and spent considerable time speaking with researchers, founders, economists and policy experts across the major AI labs. The article is titled “Silicon Valley Is Bracing for a Permanent Underclass.” Three ideas from it stay with me: The Oxford economist Carl Benedikt Frey puts it plainly in the article: “most economists acknowledge adjustment problems in the short run, but rarely note that the short run can be…
Why a papal letter on AI deserves five minutes of your time
Founders and CXOs spend most of their time watching what customers, competitors, and investors think about AI. Fair enough. But occasionally, a voice from outside the industry frames the conversation in a way that cuts through the noise. This week, that voice came from an unlikely place — a holy one. Pope Leo XIV released a roughly 200-page encyclical on artificial intelligence, with technical input from Christopher Olah, co-founder of Anthropic. The AI industry will not alter its roadmaps because of this. But the previous five encyclicals — on workers’ rights, Cold War peace,…
What Indian IT services can skim from an ice cream advertisement
Kwality Walls recently ran a full-page advertisement saying “Made with Milk.” If you grew up in India, you know exactly why that needs explaining. For years, Kwality Walls and several other large brands sold products that Indian food regulations classified as “frozen desserts” rather than ice cream. The distinction came down to fat source. Traditional ice cream uses milk fat. These brands used vegetable fat instead. The reasons were not cynical by default. Vegetable fat was cheaper, yes, but it also gave manufacturers more control over texture and consistency, and a decade or so…
People Remember The Sequence
Over 92,000 technology jobs have reportedly been cut globally in the first few months of 2026 alone. Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, Oracle, Salesforce, and several others are restructuring teams while simultaneously increasing spending on AI infrastructure, chips, and AI talent. None of this surprises me. AI is not another software upgrade cycle. It is a structural shift. Entire layers of work are being compressed, automated, or redistributed. Every founder and CEO knows this privately, even if many are still hesitant to say it publicly. What surprised me recently was not the layoffs themselves, but the…
What a regulator quietly told every founder CEO
The moment I read about the Insurance Regulator in India, IRDAI, proposing to link CEO compensation with customer outcomes, I felt it carried a lesson far beyond the insurance industry. It is easy to dismiss this as just another regulatory move for a tightly governed sector. That would be a mistake. What IRDAI is signalling is something much deeper: the era where executive rewards could stay disconnected from customer experience due to market dominance or technology moat may be coming to an end. The proposal reportedly links CEO and executive pay to measurable customer…
Who controls what AI sees?
OpenAI just added “Computer Use in Codex”. It can now see your screen, move a cursor, click, and type across any Mac app — multiple agents running in parallel while you work. That’s genuinely impressive. Anthropic’s Cowork does something similar. And the companies that own your screen, your apps, and your enterprise software will decide what that’s worth to you. But here’s what I keep thinking about. This capability depends on macOS letting third-party apps observe your screen and control other apps. Apple has a long history of deciding what gets that kind of…
What Korean Bananas Know About AI Rollouts
On sequencing, readiness, and resisting the urge to optimise too soon I first saw the “Haru Hana Banana” pack in a South Korean grocery store. It held 5–7 bananas at different ripeness levels: one yellow and ready now, the next a bit greener for tomorrow, and the others still green for days ahead. No instructions, no app – just simple packaging aligned with how people actually eat bananas. This simple design stuck with me not as a hack, but as a new way to think about sequencing initiatives. Most founders and leaders want all…
What AI in the browser means for your business?
I have been trying out AI inference inside the browser for a while now, more out of curiosity than anything else. A debate that surfaced this week made me want to talk about it, because buried inside a browser standards argument is a platform governance question that every business relying on AI will eventually have to answer. We have moved through a familiar sequence. Web pages gave way to apps. Apps are giving way to AI interfaces. And now AI is being embedded directly into the browser itself. That last step is not a…
What money alone cannot build?
“For founders, the question is which part of that transformation requires something that money alone cannot build.” This line stayed with me. Every founder I speak to right now is asking the same question: what should I build? Frontier AI models are moving fast. What looked like a defensible product six months ago feels like a feature today. Advice is everywhere, and most of it is too generic to act on. Then I read something that actually answered the question directly. S. Somasegar and Rasik Parikh at Madrona Venture Group cut through the noise…
The CIO had a record year, but her teams didn’t notice.
The CIO had every reason to be pleased. She wasn’t. Board visibility. CEO approval. Record numbers of internal apps shipped. Her IT team was delivering at a pace that would have been unthinkable twelve months ago. When I joined the call, I expected good news. I heard hesitation instead. It took me a few minutes to notice what was missing from her update. She never mentioned the line managers. Not once. I asked her directly: Were the department heads actually seeing productivity gains from these applications? “Venkat, you guessed it. That’s exactly my problem.”…
What Microsoft got wrong about Copilot?
Underpromise and overdeliver — my message to founders on AI Microsoft’s own corporate VP of the Office Product Group admitted it publicly this week: “When we first shipped Copilot, foundation models were not powerful enough to use Copilot to command the applications.” That is a remarkable thing to say out loud. And the right thing to say. Go back to late 2022. ChatGPT lands. Microsoft moves fast — faster than they should have — and Copilot arrives positioned as the AI-powered assistant that would transform how you work in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The…
Is Formula 1 telling us something about how to roll out AI?
Stay with me for a second. Starting this 2026 season, F1 has quietly executed its biggest regulation overhaul in over a decade. The 1.6L V6 turbocharged engine stays. But the electric side of the hybrid system has been roughly tripled in power, and the sport is now targeting a 50:50 split between internal combustion and electric power. The cars are running on Advanced Sustainable Fuels for the first time, and DRS has been replaced by an electrically-driven Overtake Mode. A serious pivot. And yet F1’s own president has been categorical that the sport will…
The quiet work of building a safe firm
Some news is hard to read. Over the past week, two of India’s most respected IT firms have been in the headlines for reasons none of us wants to associate with the industry we grew up in. Tata Consultancy Services is facing a serious investigation in Nashik, with multiple police complaints, arrests, and a formal inquiry ordered by the Tata Sons Chairman himself. Infosys is responding to allegations surfacing on social media about its Pune operations. Both have shaken the industry. Having spent three decades in this space, I have no doubt the veterans…
How forecasts age in an AI moment?
Every quarter, someone in tech quietly walks back a confident prediction they made not long ago. In January 2026, Forrester published research showing that over half of all AI-attributed layoffs are likely to be reversed, because companies cut headcount based on AI promises that the technology was not yet ready to keep. The same month, Gartner forecast that generative AI in customer service would cost more than offshore human agents by 2030, prompting a pointed rebuttal from industry practitioners who argued Gartner was describing a vendor pricing failure, not an AI failure. The retractions…
The Secrets to Successful AI Implementation Revealed
Last week, a founder from Indore (India) shared a thread about deploying AI voice calling at scale. I could not put it down. Because the real lessons have nothing to do with voice calls. Strip away the telephony context, and what you have is a masterclass in how to deploy any AI solution in an enterprise. Here is what stood out. The first lesson is about trust, not technology. Their AI voice was technically flawless. Too flawless. People hung up. The moment they added small imperfections, pauses, and a little background noise, conversion went…
The butterfly that just changed cybersecurity.
A new AI model from Anthropic has just exposed thousands of security flaws hiding inside the world’s most trusted software, some for over two decades. The age of the once a year security audit is over, and every founder needs to know why. I read something this morning that made me put my coffee down, and I am not talking about the ceasefire in the Middle East. Anthropic, the makers of Claude, has announced Project Glasswing, a joint effort with AWS, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Cisco, JPMorgan Chase, NVIDIA, Broadcom, the Linux Foundation, and 30…
Avoiding AI Overkill: Right Tool for the Right Job
The most expensive mistake in AI adoption is not using it correctly. It is using it on the wrong problem. I spent 100 minutes and nearly 19,000 tokens asking Claude Code to clean up my Windows PC — old .NET runtimes, NVIDIA CUDA versions, Visual Studio build tools — figuring out what to keep, what to drop, what to upgrade. It worked. Mostly. With a lot of permission dialogs, a few course corrections, and some very patient clicking on my part. Then I realised: Bulk Crap Uninstaller and Winget, two free Windows tools, would…
Nobody owns this and nobody will admit it
Every organisation has a WDNW system. Most have several. A process that runs quietly in the background, consuming time and money, that nobody questions because it has never visibly broken. The moment someone asks what it actually does, the honest answer is usually some version of “we are not entirely sure, but we are afraid to touch it.” Startups are not immune to this. Technical debt accumulates faster than most founders realise. A workflow stitched together in year one, a third-party integration nobody remembers choosing, a report generated every Monday that nobody reads but…
Your competitors are going YOLO on AI, are you?
This week, a quiet but important shift happened in the developer tools world. It hints at a wider change in how software itself will be developed and delivered. Microsoft announced that Visual Studio Code will now ship stable releases every week instead of monthly. Around the same time, developer tools from both Microsoft and Google began introducing a new capability inside coding assistants — AI agents that can act without waiting for human approval. In tools like Copilot and Gemini Code Assist, these agents can execute commands, modify files, retry failures, and continue working…
AI Is Here. Now What?
The Ultimate Playbook for the Resilient IT Services CEO If you are running a mid-sized IT services firm today, you know the ground is shifting. You are part of a resilient industry that has survived COVID, remote work transitions, resource crunches, double-digit attrition, and geopolitical upheavals. Now, just as you are catching your breath, comes the most unsettling wave of all: artificial intelligence. In the next 6 to 12 months, your job is not to build “rigid forecasts”. Your job is to filter the hype, preserve your profits, and refuse to bet your company…
Why Unhappy Leave Can Break a Startup
The internet has a long memory, but a very selective one. Old news resurfaces without warning. Context quietly drops off. A half-forgotten announcement suddenly becomes today’s debate. That is exactly what has happened over the last few days with a decision taken in China in 2024. Many are now discussing something being called Unhappy Leave. On the surface, the idea is simple. Employees are given ten additional days of leave every year. These days can be taken purely at their own discretion. No medical certificate. No justification. Just the employee deciding they are unhappy,…
A Lesson for Founders Who’ve Been Cheated
I watched a short video of Frank Abagnale recently. It stayed with me longer than I expected. (Video attached at the end) Frank Abagnale is best known as the real-life inspiration behind the movie “Catch Me If You Can”, played by Leonardo DiCaprio. But this two-minute clip has nothing to do with glamour or clever cons. It is about a quiet, painful reality that many founders face but rarely talk about. Every business owner, at some point, encounters theft or fraud from within. An employee lies. Someone manipulates accounts. Company assets quietly disappear. In…
My early days in professional speaking
Early in my career, I travelled across India with a desktop PC. I was delivering a keynote on a Microsoft web platform. The platform was still in beta. During one session, the power failed. The generator struggled to start. My PC rebooted slowly in front of a silent room. Those minutes felt endless. That moment stayed with me. The reason was not the failure of technology. Instead, it taught me that professional speaking is less about the perfect demo. It relies more on preparation, experience, and learning from those who have walked the path…
What is the AI question most founders are missing?
Most founders I meet are still asking the wrong AI question. They ask, “How do we use AI?” The better question today is, “What exactly is becoming undefendable?” I watched the recent Davos conversation between Dario Amodei of Anthropic and Demis Hassabis of Google DeepMind with that lens. Not as a technologist. As a founder who has seen waves come and go. The signal was clear. Coding is no longer the bottleneck. Thinking still is. When the CEO of a frontier AI company says his engineers no longer write code, only review it, founders…
Remembering Louis Gerstner and the Elephant That Learned to Dance
I learnt on 27 December 2025 that Louis V. Gerstner Jr. had passed away. That news made me pause. It took me back more than two decades, to a phase when I was still finding my feet as a CEO, and to a book that quietly but firmly shaped how I looked at leadership. I first read Who Says Elephants Can’t Dance in the early 2000s. At that time, I was far more comfortable being close to technology than being close to people problems. Management felt like something I had to do, not something…
When AI prototypes get mistaken for finished software
Over the last few months, I have been noticing a pattern in many organisations experimenting with AI. A recent experience brought this out clearly and reminded me why we still need basic engineering discipline even in this new world. A client reached out to the team I was consulting for a proposal to redevelop a Python application and deploy it on Microsoft Azure. One of their business leaders had created the first version using an AI tool. Since it ran in the browser, the team assumed it was ready for production. When we looked…
The Future of Work: AI Skills vs Degrees – Let’s Stay Grounded
Recently, Ryan Roslansky, CEO of LinkedIn, said that “the future of work no longer belongs to those with the fanciest degrees or who studied at the best colleges, but to those who are adaptable, forward-thinking, and ready to embrace AI tools.” It’s an important reminder of how fast the world of work is changing. But I’d like to add a word of balance for students — especially in a country like India. Please don’t take such statements literally as a reason to stop pursuing education. In a growing economy like ours, formal learning remains…
Running Generative AI Models Locally Is Now Easy
Want to explore Generative AI without sending your data to the cloud? Running models locally on your PC or Mac is now surprisingly simple. Start with Ollama, a lightweight framework that makes it easy to run AI models locally on your computer. It supports both open-weight models and open-source models. Together, these models have made hands-on AI experimentation accessible to anyone with a capable machine, without depending entirely on cloud APIs. Ollama recently added a clean, chat-style desktop app to its command-line interface. I’ve been testing OpenAI’s GPT-OSS 20B open-weight reasoning models, which run…
How can founders protect their secret sauce?
Every company has its own version of the “secret sauce.” It might be a piece of intellectual property, a supply chain partner, a machine, or even an AI framework from a large vendor. At first glance, these look like commodities—always available, always affordable. But history has shown us that what looks abundant today can turn scarce overnight. A pandemic, a trade war, or a sudden regulation can rip away what you thought was permanent. When the Chips Run Out I was reminded of this when I came across a fascinating thought experiment: what if…
How Founders Can Turn Crisis into Growth
Founders don’t get the luxury of calm waters. The world throws storms, and our job is to sail through and still find new harbours. The latest wave is particularly heavy. The U.S. has piled on steep tariffs for imports from multiple countries, slapped a $100,000 fee on each H-1B visa, and is even debating a 50% tax on offshored work. For Indian IT outsourcing, which built its scale on affordable cross-border talent, this is the toughest challenge since its birth. Added to these are sizable pressures from Generative AI automating coding, testing, and support.…
Productive founders avoid recurring meetings
Recently in a podcast interview, Jason Citron, founder and former CEO of Discord, shared an approach to management that struck me as both simple and transformative. In most companies, product reviews involve lengthy meetings with multiple stakeholders. At Discord, Jason flipped this model. Instead of live demonstrations filling up calendars, his product managers send him short Loom(Video) recordings explaining the new feature, why it matters, and how it works. Jason watches them at his convenience, usually the same day, and replies—often with his own recorded video, screenshots, and comments. This asynchronous method removes the…
AI can draft your email, not your strategy
The UK government recently published an evaluation of Microsoft 365 Copilot after running a pilot across 1,000 employees in the Department for Business and Trade. The findings are refreshingly honest—and deeply relevant for founders. The results show Copilot is very good at what I call the “work hygiene” layer. Drafting emails, summarising meetings, cleaning up documents—these were faster, easier, and often of higher quality with Copilot. Employees reported high satisfaction: 72% said they were happy with the tool, and many felt its absence when the trial ended. But when the task demanded nuance or…
ChatGPT messed up the script of my AI talk!
Generative AI tools like ChatGPT are a huge productivity booster. I use them daily as a writer and speaker. But here’s what I’ve learnt the hard way: they are not magic lamps, and when not handled correctly, they can take you further away from your own voice. When I was preparing for my talk on “How AI can coach Gen Z and Gen A to lead”, I started with my outline and gave it to ChatGPT for expansion. Instead of polishing my ideas, it kept rearranging the flow and adding new ones. After a…
How AI Can Coach Gen Z and Gen A to Lead?
How technology can accelerate the leadership journey of next-gen leaders Every senior leader I meet—whether in a boardroom in Bengaluru, a startup hub in Chennai, or a CEO retreat in Singapore—shares the same worry. The leadership pipeline is thinning. The first line is often strong: functional heads, seasoned managers, directors who know the business well. But the second line? That is where the silence falls. We expect Gen Z, and soon Gen Alpha, to fill that gap. They are bright, digital-first, and fearless in experimentation. But leadership is not built on digital fluency alone.…
AI is eating your profits
Notion’s CEO recently revealed that 10% of their profits now go towards AI bills. That’s a significant shift for a SaaS company—and a warning sign for founders. AI was supposed to get cheaper. Instead, it’s becoming a major expense. The latest models are smarter, yes, but they also consume far more tokens. Especially when used for agent workflows, deep research, or coding tasks, the costs can spiral quickly. As a founder, you don’t always need the most advanced model. With clever prompts and a bit of experimentation, your team can often achieve great results…
How AI can coach Gen Z and Gen A to lead?
Every senior leader I speak with shares a common concern: the leadership pipeline is thinning. The first line is solid, but the second line is not so much. Gen Z is stepping up. They are fast and curious, but as digital natives, they learn and train differently. Traditional training and leadership grooming don’t match their pace. Enter Artificial Intelligence—not as a replacement for human leadership and mentorship, but as a powerful ally in developing it. AI can serve as their personal coach, offering real-time feedback, personalised learning paths, and scalable mentorship. Empowering your team…
What Captain Kirk can teach founder CEOs?
This week’s Star Trek SNW TV Show episode “The Sehlat Who Ate Its Tail” resonated with me in a surprising way. When I began my business nearly three decades ago, straight out of college, there were many moments when I felt like I had been pushed into the deep end without ever learning how to swim. No management book or autobiography really prepares you for the instant when your team turns to you for a critical decision. In this episode, First Officer James Kirk suddenly finds himself in command of the Farragut. With the…
How are Google’s AI Overviews affecting website traffic?
A recent study from the non-profit Pew Research Center caught my attention. Analysing the browsing behaviour of 900 US adults, the study found Google’s AI Overviews are reshaping how people interact with search results. When an AI-generated summary appears on Google’s search results page, users are almost half as likely to click on traditional website links. Even more telling, they’re also likely to stop browsing further. This means fewer visits, fewer page views, and significantly reduced traffic to websites creating original content. Google maintains that AI Overviews lead users to a broader variety of…
AI risk is real – are you prepared?
AI can be your rocket booster or your critical point of failure. In modern workflows, AI has moved from experimental to essential. If the model or the service you depend on stalls, or if bad actors weaponize AI to probe and disrupt your infrastructure, your operations freeze. Forward-thinking founders and business leaders are starting to factor this into their plans. Here are three practical steps I suggest: Trace every AI touch-point – Follow the customer journey from first click to final fulfilment and mark where each AI model, API, or script steps in. Stress-test…
Are researchers gaming the AI peer reviews?
What if I told you some scientists are quietly “whispering” to AI, asking for only positive feedback on their research papers? Sounds like science fiction, but it’s happening right now. Recently, both The Guardian and Nature reported a new trend: researchers are hiding secret instructions—using invisible white text—in their academic papers. These hidden prompts are designed to influence AI tools that some reviewers use, nudging them to give glowing reviews and ignore negatives. While this trick will not be seen by humans, AI models like ChatGPT or Google Gemini may pick up these cues…
AI for Founders: Simple, Strategic, and Safe Adoption
Last week, I had the opportunity to interact with a vibrant group of young founders and CEOs at Corporate Connections Chennai. My talk, “AI for Founders,” was designed to give them not just an overview, but a practical way forward in this fast-moving space. We often hear about AI as the next big thing, but for many business leaders, the challenge is knowing where to begin. I shared a simple four-step approach to help organisations adopt AI in a way that’s both realistic and effective. The starting point is understanding what problems you’re trying…
Testing Google’s AI Mode with a Real Startup Question
At this year’s Google I/O, one of the standout announcements was the introduction of “AI Mode” in Search. Until now, Google Search has been about pointing us to websites. With AI Mode, it offers direct, conversational answers, powered by Generative AI. Think of it as Google’s answer to Perplexity, but integrated right into the familiar search box. According to Google, this is a step up from the earlier “AI Overview” we’ve seen over the last few months. More features, like automation and computer agents, are likely coming soon. Curious to see how helpful it…
What the Infosys Cognizant Fight Reveals?
In a fast-changing field like software, especially in 2025, there are hardly any “trade secrets” in the traditional sense. People move freely, and knowledge flows with them. So when two of India’s top IT services firms are locked in a legal fight over this, it signals something deeper—rising pressure in the sector. The post-pandemic boom is behind us. AI is becoming a real threat to the old outsourcing model. Gen-Z is harder to engage. Input costs are climbing. US visa hurdles continue. In this context, such disputes seem more like symptoms than the real…
Why should you let candidates use AI in interviews?
For most of my career, I have watched software interviews change with the times. In the early days, interviews were formal. Dress codes were strict, and the process was one-sided. The interviewer asked questions, and the candidate answered. There was little room for personality or questions about work-life balance. Over the years, things have shifted. Today, interviews are more relaxed. Candidates are encouraged to ask questions, show their personality, and discuss work-life balance openly. Remote interviews are common, and it is normal for candidates to clarify assumptions or challenge ideas during technical discussions. Allowing…
How Founders Can Lead Through Uncertainty Without a Perfect Plan
(The below article is an excerpt from my upcoming book “The Founder Catalyst”. DM me to get added to the first access list) Most founders wait for clarity before making big decisions. The truth? Clarity never comes first—action does. Uncertainty is the default state of entrepreneurship. ✔ You won’t always have complete data. ✔ You won’t always make the perfect decision. ✔ You won’t always know what’s next. Yet, the best founders move forward anyway. Here’s how to lead through uncertainty: Trust your instincts, but test quickly. → Don’t wait for perfect information—experiment and…
Why ChatGPT and YouTube Are Replacing Textbooks?
We often speak of the future as if it’s something far away. But the way our next generation is learning has already changed—and I saw the trend unfold right in front of me. A few days ago, I was interviewing students from a college in Chennai for summer internships. These were second-year engineering students, specialising in Computer Science. I casually asked one of them to walk me through what they had learned each semester. He mentioned subjects like Modern Operating Systems and Programming in C++. Just to test the waters, I asked if the textbooks…
Founders, stop waiting for the perfect talent
A year ago, when Chris Miller, the author of the acclaimed book “Chip War,” visited India and shared an important observation. He emphasized the urgent necessity for India to build a robust talent pool specifically focused on chip design and manufacturing. Critically, Miller pointed out that India shouldn’t delay or wait for the ideal talent ecosystem to naturally evolve. Instead, it should start making strategic investments and building capabilities immediately. There’s a valuable lesson here for startup founders and leaders in any industry. Often, founders get stuck searching for the elusive “perfect” candidate who…
Why CEOs hear bad news too late?
On January 5, 2024, an alarming incident occurred when an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 experienced a door blowout mid-flight. Investigations highlighted significant communication lapses between the production floor and senior management (source: New York Times, Jan 6, 2024). This incident underscores a universal risk that startup founders also face: blocked flow of critical information. Founders, are you often among the last to hear when problems arise? Here are practical steps to help you detect issues early and prevent escalation: Firstly, as Bill Gates pointed out in “Business @ the Speed of Thought,”…
Why Founders Must Balance Local and Global?
There’s been renewed debate around the direction of startup ecosystems, especially in India. A recent remark by a senior Indian minister reignited the conversation. The Industry Minister of India, suggested that too many Indian startups rely heavily on consumer sales and e-commerce, without enough focus on deep tech or core innovation—unlike China, he pointed out. That comparison triggered a strong backlash. Founders and veterans from the Indian ecosystem were quick to respond. Many highlighted the real challenges: low ease of doing business, the return of aggressive tax scrutiny, regulatory complexity, and the limited scale…
The role of Generative AI in Automation
Abacus.AI’s recently introduced “Computer Agent”, part of their ChatLLM subscription. This represents a noteworthy step forward in simplifying computer automation. By far one of the most intuitive approaches I’ve seen, it functions like a simplified version of robotic process automation (RPA), but with the seamless ease of a chat interface. Currently, it operates within a virtual sandbox environment with limited applications, but the potential is clear and exciting. The idea is straightforward yet powerful: you interact with your computer through natural language chat to complete tasks. For instance, you can ask it to browse…
Exploring Google’s Gemini 2.0 Flash-Experimental
Google recently introduced Gemini 2.0 Flash-Experimental, a multimodal AI model designed to enhance image generation. While previous models could generate and interpret text and images, they often struggled with precise modifications—such as adjusting text within an image without distortion or seamlessly altering objects. This latest iteration claims to improve on these challenges, making such edits more natural and consistent. A standout feature of Gemini 2.0 Flash-Experimental is its ability to maintain consistency across generated images. If you’re creating a storyboard, for example, it ensures that characters, backgrounds, and objects remain uniform across frames—an area…
How to digitally sign invoices and get paid faster?
I recently had to digitally sign an invoice for a client, and it got me thinking about how freelancers and small businesses handle this. Paper invoices are nearly extinct, and most transactions now happen through PDFs. Some enterprise clients require a digitally signed invoice for compliance, and if you don’t have the right tools, this can slow down your payment. Over the years, I’ve signed plenty of contracts and agreements digitally—big enterprises typically send a link from their signing tools, and I just sign using it. But this was the first time a client…
The Emerging Role of Generative AI in Automation
Abacus.AI’s recently introduced “Computer Agent”, part of their ChatLLM subscription. This represents a noteworthy step forward in simplifying computer automation. By far one of the most intuitive approaches I’ve seen, it functions like a simplified version of robotic process automation (RPA), but with the seamless ease of a chat interface. Currently, it operates within a virtual sandbox environment with limited applications, but the potential is clear and exciting. The idea is straightforward yet powerful: you interact with your computer through natural language chat to complete tasks. For instance, you can ask it to browse…
The Secret to Communicating Effectively with Stakeholders
Effective communication with stakeholders — whether they are investors, customers, or employees — is critical for any founder’s success. To illustrate this, let’s journey back 54 years to an IBM manufacturing research facility in East Fishkill, New York. Back then, IBM was a leading manufacturer of integrated circuits (ICs), the backbone of modern computing. The story of one man’s determination in this facility holds a valuable lesson for today’s leaders. A Vision for Change In the 1970s, producing ICs was an arduous process, often taking weeks, if not months. But one man, William “Bill”…
The Venus Flytrap Strategy: Lessons for Business Leaders
In the realm of nature, the Venus flytrap is an extraordinary example of precision and discernment. Sir David Attenborough, in a BBC episode, revealed the fascinating behavior of this carnivorous plant. Its unique feeding mechanism offers profound insights for business leaders and founders striving to master the art of strategic decision-making. Nature’s Remarkable Teacher: The Venus Flytrap The Venus flytrap has a mouth-like structure that closes when an insect lands inside. However, it doesn’t snap shut impulsively at the first touch. The plant waits for a second touch within 20 seconds to confirm the…
Balancing AI Innovation with Humanity and Ethics
The recent podcast episode I participated in, hosted by the gracious Mr Prem Kumar, was an engaging and thought-provoking session on the theme, “Ethics at the Speed of Innovation: Is AI Innovation leaving Humanity and Ethics behind?” The discussion revolved around the critical role of ethics in AI, especially in the context of rapid innovation and real-world challenges. Here’s a detailed recap of the key points and examples I shared during the talk. Why do you want to use AI, can you do it without AI – this hard question brings the focus to…
How Toshiba Revolutionized Kitchens: A Lesson in User-Centric Innovation
In the 1950s, Japan witnessed a quiet revolution that transformed kitchens and inspired product innovation for generations to come. The story of Toshiba’s automatic rice cooker is not just about a product—it’s about collaboration, persistence, and listening to the voice of the user. As a Founder Catalyst, I’ve always sought to understand what it takes to create exceptional products and services. One of the most profound lessons I’ve learned comes from this tale of ingenuity and determination. The Challenge: Making Perfect Rice, Every Time Rice is a staple in Japan, served three times a…
Founder Catalyst Honoured as Most Empowering AI Digital Transformation Consultancy 2024
November 2024 Innovation in Business Magazine, a premier publication owned by the UK-based AI Global Media, has named Founder Catalyst as the Most Empowering AI Digital Transformation Consultancy 2024 – Tamil Nadu. This prestigious accolade recognizes the boutique consultancy’s trailblazing contributions to AI-driven transformation. Transforming Businesses with AI In an era where Artificial Intelligence reshapes industries, Founder Catalyst stands out for its specialized approach to AI consulting. The consultancy has been instrumental in helping businesses across diverse sectors adopt AI responsibly, enabling them to reimagine their processes, enhance productivity, and unlock new opportunities. Founder…
Two Key Lessons for Founders After Hiring Top Talent: A Look at Ron Johnson’s Journey from Apple to JCPenney
When you bring top talent on board, it’s natural to expect exceptional results. But even the best talent may face challenges if foundational elements are overlooked. Let’s explore two critical lessons for founders, inspired by the experience of Ron Johnson, who transformed Apple retail with groundbreaking innovations like the Apple Genius Bar, but faced setbacks in a new environment at JCPenney. Lesson 1: What Works in One Place May Not Work in Another At Apple, Johnson had a deep understanding of both the brand and the unique needs of its customer base. This insight…
Avoiding Pitfalls in Open Sourcing: Lessons from the Winamp Music Player Case
In a recent discussion on the benefits of open-sourcing software, we explored why companies should consider open-source strategies to drive innovation and community support. However, diving into open source without careful planning and awareness can lead to costly mistakes. Let’s discuss two common pitfalls using the example of Llama, the company that owns Winamp Music Player, which recently open-sourced their software – but made some significant missteps along the way. The Benefits of Open-Sourcing Software Open-sourcing a software project can create immense value for both companies and the wider community: Community Contributions: By open-sourcing,…
Revolutionising Banking: How AI is Transforming India’s Public Sector
The recent advertisement from the Bank of Baroda seeking AI talent marks a significant milestone in the Indian banking sector’s digital transformation journey. This public sector bank’s move to hire AI professionals, including positions like Head of AI and Senior AI Engineers, signals a broader shift in how traditional banking institutions are embracing cutting-edge technology. What makes Bank of Baroda’s AI initiative particularly noteworthy is its comprehensive approach to digital transformation. The bank has already implemented several AI-driven solutions, including Aditi, their virtual relationship manager that provides 24/7 customer support across multiple languages and…
The Practical Approach to Business Registration: Why Startups Should Delay Private Limited Incorporation
When I engage with startup forums, I often see founders caught up in the time-consuming and costly process of setting up a Private Limited Company (PLC) in India. While incorporation has undeniable benefits, it may not always be the most strategic choice at an early stage. My advice? Delay setting up a Private Limited until it’s essential. Why Delay Private Limited Incorporation? Time and Cost-Intensive Process Registering a Private Limited company in India requires considerable paperwork, compliance requirements, and ongoing costs. These efforts can detract from your focus on building a Minimum Viable Product…
The Power of Hiring People Greater Than You: A Lesson for Startup Founders
One of the most frequent questions I receive from startup founders is, “What’s the number one piece of advice you would give me?” My answer always revolves around a fundamental principle: the most important thing for any startup, business, or company is to hire the best people. While this sounds simple, executing it is far from easy. There are numerous factors and challenges that make hiring a critical yet complex task. But for now, let’s explore just one aspect of it, inspired by a timeless story from the 1970s about the renowned advertising firm,…
Simplifying Paperwork with Generative AI: A Practical Solution for Everyday Problems
In today’s world, where technology is transforming industries at lightning speed, we still encounter everyday challenges that make us wonder: Why hasn’t someone automated this yet? Recently, I had one of those moments while dealing with a tedious administrative task—reporting lost share certificates to the registrar. What should have been a simple process turned into a frustrating exercise, highlighting an area ripe for improvement with the help of generative AI. The Problem: Redundant Paperwork and Repetitive Forms To report my lost share certificates, I was required to generate around twelve different forms, including police…
Why 2024 is the Perfect Time to Launch Your Startup?
If you’ve been thinking about starting your own business, there’s no better time than now—2024. While some may view the current low funding cycles as a barrier to launching a startup, this period can actually be a golden opportunity for aspiring founders to take the plunge and develop their ideas without the intense pressure that often comes with high-investment environments. The Advantage of Low Funding Cycles With venture capital (VC) funding and angel investment at lower levels, you might think it’s a challenging time to secure financial backing. However, this situation actually presents a…
What Founders Can Learn from Automattic’s Exceptional Customer Care
In the digital age, we often hear about poor customer service experiences, especially on social media. However, I recently had an exceptional experience with Automattic, the company led by the original creator of the WordPress blogging platform. This experience provides valuable insights for technology startup founders on how to truly delight customers and build lasting relationships. The journey began with my decision to migrate my self-hosted blog, which I’ve maintained for over two decades, from an Azure Virtual Machine to Automattic’s WordPress.com SaaS platform. This article highlights the outstanding customer service I received during…
The Future of Foundation Models: A Game for Big Tech, Not Startups
Foundation models like Large Language Models (LLMs) and Generative Pre-trained Transformers (GPTs) have revolutionized the way we interact with technology. These models, capable of understanding and generating human-like text, have become the cornerstone of many advanced AI applications. However, the development and deployment of these models are increasingly becoming the domain of only a few tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI. This consolidation raises important questions about the future of AI development and the role of smaller players in the ecosystem. Why Big Companies Dominate Foundation Models The creation of foundation models such…
The Growing Value of Human-Crafted Content in a World of Algorithms
In today’s digital age, the convenience of algorithmically curated content is undeniable. Platforms like Spotify, YouTube, and Netflix have made it effortless to discover new music, videos, and shows based on our preferences. However, as technology advances and AI-driven curation becomes more prevalent, there’s an emerging desire for something more personal, something more… human. The Rise of Premium Human-Crafted Content Human-crafted content, in my opinion, is becoming increasingly premium. While algorithmic curation is efficient, it often lacks the depth and personal touch that only a human can provide. We are slowly realizing that the…
The Silent Crisis: Managing Work Pressure and Employee Well-being
Important Message for Business Leaders In today’s video, we address a heart-wrenching issue affecting business leaders and employees alike. The tragic news of a 26-year-old EY employee passing away due to work pressures is a reminder of the mental health crisis many are facing in the workplace. Did you know? In 2022 alone, over 11,000 people in India lost their lives due to work-related stress. This includes more than 2,500 public sector employees and 2,000 government workers. As entrepreneurs and leaders, we hold a significant responsibility in shaping a healthier work environment. One of…
Bridging the AI Talent Gap: India’s Urgent Call to Action
In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), India finds itself at a critical crossroads. Despite its historical dominance in the IT outsourcing sector, the nation is alarmingly lagging behind global leaders like China and the United States in producing AI specialists. A recent observation warns, “If timely action is not taken soon, we (India) might be double-digit years behind the AI world if we don’t wake up.” This stark statement underscores the urgency of the situation and the need for immediate action. While precise comparative data remains elusive, insights from the Global…
The Growing Importance of Responsible AI: What You Need to Know
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming an integral part of our daily lives, and with this rapid integration comes the growing focus on Responsible AI. It’s not just a technical field but also an ethical framework for developing and using AI technologies in ways that are fair, transparent, and respectful of human rights. At its core, Responsible AI is about ensuring that AI systems are not biased, insensitive, or unethical in their applications. Many people associate it with preventing discrimination or being mindful of sensitive issues like race and gender in AI algorithms. While these…
Is Your AI Model at Risk? Understanding Copyright Implications in Data Use
In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), the use of training data is a critical component for developing effective and intelligent models. However, one aspect that often goes overlooked is the copyright on the training data used, which can have significant legal implications. The Overlooked Aspect of Copyright in AI AI models are trained using vast amounts of data, sourced from various texts, images, and other digital content. While this data is essential for improving the accuracy and functionality of AI systems, it is crucial to recognize that much of this content…
How to Avoid AI Tool Overload: Focus on What Works
In today’s tech-driven world, the sheer number of AI tools and startups can be overwhelming. With thousands of new tools popping up, each promising innovative solutions, it’s easy to fall into the trap of trying every new option that comes your way. However, a strategic approach can save you time, reduce clutter, and enhance productivity. Here’s why focusing on established tools and being selective about new ones is often the best approach. The Skepticism Surrounding New AI Tools When exploring new AI tools, it’s common to encounter platforms that require you to sign up…
Navigating the World of AI Tools: Simplify and Succeed
In today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape, choosing the right AI tools can feel overwhelming. With countless options available, including various GPT models and integrations, it’s essential to streamline your approach for optimal efficiency and effectiveness. Here’s a guide to help you identify and utilize the right AI tools without getting bogged down by unnecessary clutter. Identify the Right Tool The first step is to identify the AI tool that best aligns with your needs and the ecosystem your organization is already using. For example, if you’re working within the Microsoft ecosystem, sticking to tools…
The Secret to More Effective Meetings: The Power of One-on-One Interactions
Meetings are a cornerstone of business operations, but recent surveys reveal a concerning trend: a staggering 90% of attendees admit to daydreaming during meetings, while 73% confess to multitasking. These numbers beg the question: Are meetings truly effective? As founders and leaders, we understand the necessity of meetings in coordinating tasks, aligning goals, and driving progress. However, the challenge lies in ensuring these meetings are productive and engaging. The solution? Reassessing the structure of your meetings and knowing when to opt for one-on-one interactions over group sessions. Understanding Meeting Dynamics Group meetings are designed…
The Real Potential of AI: Moving Beyond the Hype Cycle
After two years of relentless AI news and advancements, July 2024 has brought a wave of skepticism from Wall Street regarding the true potential of AI. This skepticism, while surprising to some, is a necessary reality check. In this blog post, I’ll discuss why this scrutiny is beneficial and how AI, particularly generative AI, is poised to transcend its current applications and revolutionize business processes. The Hype Cycle and Wall Street’s Skepticism The past two years have seen an explosion of AI developments, particularly in generative AI, leading to widespread enthusiasm and high expectations.…
Top Three Trends in Generative AI Applications for Enterprises in 2024
Generative AI is revolutionizing the business landscape, enabling enterprises to streamline operations, enhance decision-making, and create innovative solutions. In 2024, several key trends have emerged as organizations integrate generative AI into their workflows. Let’s explore the top three trends shaping the adoption and utilization of generative AI applications in enterprises. Customization Over Off-the-Shelf Solutions Enterprises are moving away from purchasing off-the-shelf generative AI applications. Many of these pre-packaged solutions are simply wrappers around foundational models. Instead, businesses prefer to take foundational models from industry giants like Microsoft, OpenAI, Google, and other cloud providers and…
The Importance of Focused Founders in 2024’s Competitive Funding Landscape
In 2024, securing funding for startups is increasingly challenging. Gone are the days when investors would “spray and pray,” distributing funds broadly in hopes that one or two ventures would succeed. Today’s investors are highly selective, choosing to back founders who demonstrate laser-focused strategies and clear visions. To illustrate this point, let’s explore the contrasting approaches of the Tata Group’s fashion brands, Zara and Zudio. The Zara Experience: Premium and Luxurious At one end of the spectrum is Zara, a brand that Tata has partnered with from Spain. Walking into a Zara store, customers…
Don’t Fear the Future: Understanding Data Privacy with Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft Copilot, an innovative AI tool integrated with various Microsoft products, assists users with tasks like writing code, generating creative text formats, and summarizing information. But with any powerful technology comes questions about data privacy. According to Microsoft’s official website, “Copilot respects your privacy and provides different editions to meet your specific needs.” This blog post will delve into the different Copilot editions and how they handle data privacy, helping you decide which version is right for you. Understanding Copilot Editions and Data Privacy Microsoft Copilot offers a range of editions catering to individual…
IDEA, from Outage to Resilience
On July 19, 2024, a significant software failure sent shockwaves through global enterprises: a massive crash of over 8.5 million enterprise Windows PCs worldwide, triggered by a defective update from Crowdstrike’s Falcon Sensor security software. Thankfully, this incident, though severe, did not involve any malicious activity or data compromise. The problem wasn’t an isolated one. A similar issue arose in April with Debian Linux servers following another Crowdstrike update, illustrating a troubling trend in software failures that are far from isolated incidents. As an experienced technologist, I recognize these events not merely as failures…
Automating Talent Filtering with Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365
In today’s fast-paced business environment, leveraging technology to streamline complex tasks is more important than ever. As a thought leader in the integration of AI within business processes, I recently explored the incredible capabilities of Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 in a detailed demo. This innovative tool showcases how AI can transform the hiring process, even when the hiring manager lacks domain-specific expertise. Harnessing AI for Effective Hiring In the video, we delve into a practical use case: hiring a master chef for a luxury resort in the Maldives. This scenario illustrates the challenge…
The Critical Lessons from Crowdstrike’s Software Update Error
The world we live in today has become so computerized that it highlights how impossible it is to operate without software. This has been made evident by the mistake made today by engineers from the company Crowdstrike in the United States. In my opinion, it’s not accurate to see this as an issue affecting only Windows computers. Debating which operating system is the best is also not the point. We need to examine how this update went out to thousands of computers simultaneously without proper testing and what went wrong in their (and large…
The Searchless Future: How Businesses Can Thrive in an Answer-Centric World
The landscape of information access is shifting. Search engines transitioning to answer-driven formats, like Google’s recent overview feature, and platforms like Meta AI replacing newsfeeds with chatbots that answer queries directly, represent a fundamental change in user behavior. So, as a business leader or founder, how do you get your products and services noticed in this searchless world? While the specifics of monetization and future developments remain uncertain, focusing on core principles will ensure your brand cuts through the noise: Distinct Value Proposition: Crystallize your unique selling point (USP) and value proposition. What makes…
Simplifying the Enterprise App Landscape: How LLMs are Revolutionizing User Experience
The modern enterprise landscape is a labyrinth of applications. Countless back-end services and front-end interfaces sprawl outwards, each serving a specific purpose. While this modularity offers flexibility, it creates a usability nightmare for users who must navigate a sea of interfaces to get their jobs done. This is where Large Language Models (LLMs) enter the scene, offering CIOs and enterprises a unique opportunity to reinvent their application ecosystem. The Challenge: Application Overload Imagine a user needing to access customer data, update inventory levels, and schedule a meeting. Today, this often requires juggling multiple applications,…
Essential Leadership Tips for First-Time Startup CEOs
As a founder myself, I’ve learned that being a startup CEO is not about glamour; it’s about grit. It’s essential to acknowledge that this role can be incredibly challenging and thankless at times. So, buckle up and grow a thick skin. While there is scope to learn all functions, here I’ll focus on your personal leadership rather than broader operational strategies. In most startups, your co-founders and initial hires are likely to be your friends and people you know well. You don’t hire your enemies. Be aware of this fact. As a result, what…
Founder’s Playbook: Winning Clients in 2024
With over 25 years of experience in the software services industry, I’ve seen firsthand the evolution of client acquisition strategies. In 2024, success in attracting clients demands not just clarity and focus but an understanding of where to direct your efforts. Identifying your target market is the first step. It’s essential to pinpoint who will benefit most from your services. Engage deeply by researching and participating in industry forums—not to sell, but to understand and connect with potential clients. Today, every business, no matter how small, needs software solutions, creating a vast, untapped market.…
The Power of Connection: Building Remote Teams That Thrive
In today’s digital age, remote work is the norm for many companies. But with geographical distance comes a challenge: fostering a sense of connection and team spirit. Venkatarangan Thirumalai, CEO of Founder Catalyst, shares a powerful story from his early days leading a remote team, highlighting the importance of building connections beyond the project agenda. The Disconnect in Remote Work The problem? Video calls often focus solely on projects, leaving little room for human connection. Team members come in, discuss the agenda, and leave without ever truly getting to know one another. This lack…
AI in Action: Venkatarangan Talks Tamil Language Development at SICCI Event
Yesterday, I, Venkatarangan, CEO of Founder Catalyst, had the opportunity to speak at the SICCI event titled “Technology & Innovation in Tamil Language Development – Perspectives for Industry” held in Chennai. The focus of the discussion was the exciting potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to revolutionize the Tamil language landscape. The conversation explored how AI can boost day-to-day productivity for traders, entrepreneurs, and businesses. The engaged audience raised questions about the safety and legal considerations surrounding Generative AI tools like ChatGPT. The session buzzed with lively debates on the short-term and long-term benefits of…
Why Companies Should Consider Open Sourcing Their Software
In the rapidly evolving tech landscape, the decision to open source software can be transformative. It’s not just a technical decision but a strategic one that can redefine how a business competes and innovates. Today, I will explore here why companies should consider open sourcing their software, the benefits it brings, and some personal insights from decades of experience in the tech industry. Why Consider Open Sourcing? The journey toward open sourcing software involves understanding its profound impact on business strategy and customer relations. Many business leaders are hesitant to shift away from traditional…
The Unseen Currency: Why Trust Matters More Than You Think in Business
In the business world, many terms get tossed around, but one word holds immense power and that is: trust. If you are surrounded by friends and family who are into business ventures, you would’ve heard them repeat this word, trust, often. But, for new founders, understanding the true weight of trust can be a revelation. A Broken Promise, a Broken Bond Venkatarangan shares a personal anecdote to illustrate this point. During a recent vacation, he booked a trip through a travel agent, a person he’d known for years. Everything went smoothly, or so it…
AI for Sales Success: Insights from the Sales Masters Talkshow
The Power of AI in Driving Revenue Sales are the lifeblood of any business. Without strong sales strategies and execution, even the most innovative product or service can struggle to gain traction. In a recent Sales Masters Talkshow with Dr Arunaagiri Mudaaliar, Venkatarangan Thirumalai, CEO of Founder Catalyst, discussed the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in boosting sales. This blog post dives into key takeaways from the conversation, offering valuable insights for sales professionals and entrepreneurs alike. Why Sales Matter Let’s face it: sales are fundamental to business success. Revenue fuels growth, innovation,…
Alphabet and Meta’s Next Move: Dominating News with AI
Over the last 25 years, we have witnessed the transformative power of the internet and social media platforms in shaping how content is created and disseminated. As a founder deeply engaged in the evolution of technology, I see Meta and Alphabet standing at an inflection point, where their potential entry into news production could disrupt the media industry once again. This strategic pivot is driven by a convergence of factors, including economic pressures, regulatory scrutiny, challenges within the user-generated content (UGC) model, and most importantly, the revolutionary prospects of artificial intelligence (AI). Current Landscape…