Today we’re joined by Pasha and Pennie - second-time founders and the minds behind @a1base, a breakout @ycombinator startup giving AI agents real-world identities like phone numbers, emails, and Slack handles.

This conversation matters because it tackles one of the most important missing pieces in AI: identity and trust.

We’re moving beyond flashy demos - into a world where agents don’t just generate, they participate.

We dive into:

- Why agents need a phone number

- Building Twilio for AI

- Startup mistakes they’ll never repeat

- Why “looking legit” slows you down

- Speed, soul, and real execution

- Trust, safety & agent messaging

- What YC still gets right

- SF ambition vs. cynicism

- Winning in the agent era

- Infra for agents, not apps

00:00 Introduction to YC and Founders' Ambitions

00:24 The Birth of A1 Base: From Idea to YC

02:21 Personal Histories: Clues to Becoming Founders

08:42 Lessons from Forage: Mistakes and Learnings

10:46 Vanta Ad

13:40 Building with Intentionality in the Age of AI

24:41 AI Agents and Human Communication

25:41 The Role of Y Combinator

26:09 Cultural and Strategic Benefits of YC

27:43 Silicon Valley's Unique Culture

29:07 AI Agents in Real-World Applications

35:03 Building Trust in AI Agents

40:54 Challenges and Optimism in AI Development

47:08 Future of AI Agents and Company Goals

48:44 Conclusion and Podcast Wrap-Up

This isn’t just about bots in group chats - it’s about reshaping how software works with people. The agent era has begun.#AI #Startups #YCombinator #a1base #AIagents #SachinandAdamShow #MessagingInfra #AIInfrastructure #TechFounders

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