Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Alex Sambvani, CEO & Co-Founder of Slang AI, a voice AI tool for restaurants that's raised $20 Million in funding.

Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:

From Robotics to Voice AI: Alex’s journey began in high school with a passion for automation and robotics, eventually leading him to work on voice AI features at Spotify.
Finding Product-Market Fit: Initially targeting various verticals, Alex’s team discovered a significant opportunity in the restaurant industry, particularly for managing reservations and common inquiries.
Live Demo of Slang AI: Alex demonstrated Slang AI’s capabilities by calling a restaurant and making a reservation, showcasing the seamless integration with reservation systems and high guest satisfaction.
Evolving AI Acceptance: Initially cautious about marketing their product as AI, Slang AI now embraces the AI label, benefiting from the increasing acceptance and curiosity about AI technology.
Niche Focus for Rapid Growth: By specializing in restaurants that take reservations, Slang AI has been able to deliver a highly tailored solution, enhancing the guest experience and operational efficiency.
Lessons in Fundraising: Alex shared key insights on navigating the fundraising landscape, emphasizing the importance of targeting the right investors who have a track record in your space and stage.

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Rice, but with Molly (w/ Phoebe Tran & Angeline Gragasin)