Andrew Lau: Leading Jellyfish and Embracing AI in Engineering

Navigating Startups, AI, and Family Life with Andrew Lau of Jellyfish 

In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs interviews Andrew Lau, co-founder and CEO of Jellyfish. Jellyfish is a Boston-based software company that provides engineering leaders with data-driven insights to align their team's work with broader business objectives. Andrew discusses the founding and growth of Jellyfish, including their successful Series C round led by Accel in early 2022. The conversation covers the challenges of balancing startup growth with family life, the transitional impact of AI on engineering productivity, and the future of AI in business operations. Andrew shares insights on navigating market changes, the importance of strategic decision-making, and the value of building a supportive team culture. 

00:00 Introduction to The Next Next with Andrew Lau 

00:17 Meet Andrew Lau: Co-Founder and CEO of Jellyfish 

00:35 Jellyfish's Mission and Venture Success 

01:03 Andrew's Perspective on AI and Business 

01:58 Introduction to The Next Next: A Learning Journey 

02:38 Reconnecting with Andrew Lau 

03:38 The Early Days of Runkeeper and Jellyfish 

04:22 Building Jellyfish: Challenges and Successes 

06:58 Balancing Family and Startup Life 

09:05 Navigating Business Phases and Trade-offs 

21:58 The Impact of COVID-19 on Jellyfish 

25:14 Focusing on Engineering Leaders 

26:18 Shifting to Larger Companies 

26:29 Mid-Market Sales Strategy 

29:38 Adapting to AI in Customer Operations 

36:48 Internal Use of AI Tools 

37:01 Future of Teams and AI Integration 

40:13 Disruption and Market Adaptation 

41:06 Reflections on Startup Evolution 

45:23 Jellyfish's Future Vision 

47:33 Closing Remarks and Contact Information