400: Yembo: From Cold Calls & Rejections to Scaling an AI Startup - with Zach Rattner
Jun 13, 2024
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Zach Rattner, Co-founder of Yembo, shares insights on starting an AI company for virtual home surveys, tackling cold calls, managing customer expectations, and scaling the business. The podcast highlights the importance of persistence, educating customers, and hands-on sales approach for technical founders.
Educating customers about AI products is crucial for success.
Handling sales personally helps refine pitches and gather feedback.
Addressing initial AI limitations and managing customer expectations are key.
Deep dives
Zach Ratner - Co-founder and CTO of Yembo
Zach Ratner, the co-founder and CTO of Yembo, an AI-powered platform for virtual home surveys in the moving and insurance industries, discusses how he noticed the potential of AI in the moving industry, inspired by his wife's experience. He and his co-founder, Sid, faced challenges stepping out of their comfort zone, handling sales themselves, and seeking early adopters to address initial product limitations.
Yembo's Growth and Success Journey
Yembo's journey from overcoming customers' skepticism to gaining traction and serving 30 countries, processing hundreds of hours of video daily, and generating high seven figures in annual revenue with a team of 70 people is highlighted. Zach Ratner emphasizes the importance of setting realistic expectations about AI products and focusing on educating customers about technology advancements.
Sales Strategy and Customer Approach
The importance of Zach and his co-founder handling sales themselves initially to gather direct feedback, refine their pitch, and understand customer objections is emphasized. They attended trade shows and leveraged engaging demos to generate leads and build relationships with potential customers.
Early Challenges and AI Development
Yembo's early struggles with imperfect AI capabilities, like misidentifying items, and their strategic approach to managing customer expectations despite initial limitations are described. Zach Ratner shares anecdotes of AI inaccuracies, customer objections, and the gradual improvement and refinement process to enhance the product.
Book Recommendation and Personal Insights
Zach's favorite business book, 'Zero to One' by Peter Thiel, is recommended for its insights into startups and industry disruption. Zach's dedication and discipline in writing his book, 'Grow Up Fast,' alongside work and family, display his commitment to sharing knowledge and lessons learned from his AI startup journey.