The Playbook – How Hassan Bhatti built and sold 2 AI companies

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