Elias Torres

Elias Torres, a serial entrepreneur and engineer, co-founded Drift and now leads Agency, focusing on AI-driven customer experiences. He discusses the mismatch between businesses demanding perfect AI and their rejection of imperfect results. Drawing from his experiences at HubSpot and Drift, he highlights the need for human-independent automation in customer service. Elias also emphasizes the limits of current AI models while expressing optimism for their potential to enhance human decision-making and streamline customer interactions.

Elias Torres, Co-founder and CEO of Agency and former Drift co-founder, shares insights on his complex journey in tech. He discusses why selling Drift for $1.2BN felt like a massive failure, highlighting the pitfalls of a cushy company culture. Elias examines how incumbents are slower and less effective in today's fast-paced AI landscape, emphasizing that the most valuable companies may remain small and agile. He also reflects on the emotional challenges of balancing entrepreneurship with parenthood, offering a fresh take on success and meaningful work.

Elias Torres, CEO of Agency and former leader at HubSpot and Drift, shares his inspiring journey from Nicaragua to tech success. He discusses the limitations of current customer success software, envisioning a future where AI seamlessly enhances customer experiences. Insights into his consulting with OpenAI reveal how LLMs fuel his innovative approach. Elias also tackles the challenge of building an efficient team, aiming for $1B in revenue with under 100 employees, and highlights the evolving landscape of hiring in the AI era.

In this discussion, Elias Torres, co-founder and CEO of Agency AI, shares his journey from founding Performable to leading Drift, a billion-dollar company. He emphasizes the significance of building a strong company culture and recruiting talent for success in Silicon Valley. Elias reveals how AI can transform customer engagement, highlighting its potential to enhance understanding of the customer journey. He also provides practical advice for aspiring founders, focusing on transparency and adaptability in business. Plus, he teases his latest initiative aiming to redefine customer service.

Elias Torres, Founder and CEO of Agency AI, discusses his vision of reaching unicorn status with just 100 employees. He reflects on the American Dream and how his immigrant background fuels his entrepreneurial spirit. Torres delves into the evolution of AI technologies and the challenges of enhancing customer experiences in a competitive market. He emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence in AI, and advocates for adaptable problem-solving skills in the changing job landscape. His insights about innovation and personalized service are both inspiring and thought-provoking.