Pete Koomen

Pete Koomen, YC General Partner and founder of Optimizely, shares insights on reimagining AI in software. He critiques current AI tools, like Gmail's draft feature, for complicating tasks instead of simplifying them. The conversation highlights the need for customizable, AI-native applications that empower users. They discuss how user-driven prompts can transform the AI development landscape, making it accessible for non-programmers. Koomen advocates for a redesign of software that fully leverages AI's potential, enhancing productivity and user experience.

In this discussion, Pete Koomen, co-founder and CTO of Optimizely and Y Combinator partner, shares valuable insights from his journey to $100M ARR. He dives into the critical stages of the enterprise sales funnel, emphasizing founder involvement and the importance of tailored outreach. Pete offers strategies for navigating complex sales, mastering product demos, and determining effective pricing. He also stresses collaboration among teams and proactive engagement to ensure successful customer implementation. A treasure trove of wisdom for technical founders!

Pete Koomen, Co-founder and CTO at Optimizely, dives deep into A/B testing, sharing insights from running over 200,000 tests. He reveals how structured experimentation can elevate product innovation, highlighting the importance of hypotheses and success metrics. The conversation also addresses the challenges of testing, the significance of understanding user behavior, and the ethical considerations in experimentation. Koomen emphasizes fostering a culture of testing within organizations to drive data-driven decision-making and enhance user experience.