AI for Founders with Ryan Estes

What if your next deal is already hiding in your network? In this episode, we sit down with David Connors, co-founder and CEO of The Swarm, the AI-powered relationship graph redefining outbound sales. From topping Product Hunt to integrating with platforms like Clay, HubSpot, and Gmail, David shares how to drive revenue through warm intros and network orchestration—no cold emails required.🔑 Key TakeawaysGo-to-Network > Go-to-Market: Cold outbound is saturated. Trust-based referrals are the future.The Great Ignore: Buyers are overwhelmed. AI tools must prioritize warm, authentic outreach.AI Assistants: Tools like Claude, Perplexity, Replit, and Lovable power fast ideation and prototyping.Public + Private Data: The Swarm maps your entire network—then enhances it with consented private data.Massively Improved Metrics: Higher meeting conversion, win rates, and retention from warm intros.🧠 Frameworks Discussed1. Go-to-Network MotionMap all company networks: team, investors, advisors, customersScore each connection: weak, familiar, strongUse intros and multithreading to support deal flowShift from chance to strategic orchestration2. Relationship FunnelTop of Funnel: AI tools filter and qualify at scaleBottom of Funnel: Humans build trust, close dealsNext Wave: AI assistants will nudge you to engage and grow your network📚 Resources & Tools MentionedThe Swarm – Warm intros powered by relationship intelligenceClay – Data workflows and enrichmentThe Swarm on Product Hunt – #1 Product of the DayReplit, Bolt, Lovable – AI prototyping platformsClaude, Perplexity – AI research assistantsDavid Connors on LinkedIn🧪 Try The SwarmFree Chrome extension for contact insightsAPI access for platform integrationBuilt for sales teams, VCs, recruiters, and dealmakers🎧 Subscribe & Join the CommunitySubscribe to the Newsletter – Weekly founder-first AI strategiesListen to the Podcast – Weekly founder conversationsJoin a Workshop – Monthly hands-on AI sessionsLiked the episode? Share it with a founder who needs smarter outbound strategies.__ryanestes.infoThe pod on ⁠TikTok⁠The pod on ⁠YouTube⁠The pod on ⁠Spotify⁠The pod on AppleSubscribe to the newsletter ⁠here⁠, for AI news, tools, and exclusive promos for founders.

Guest: Corey Scholibo, Co-founder of Dayo.coHost: Ryan EstesTopic: Building a marketplace that pays users to use less social media🧠 Key TakeawaysDayo’s Mission: Reduce screen time by rewarding users with daily credits redeemable for products.Unique Model: Incentivizes non-action—logging off instead of engaging.Mental Health First: Designed around APA guidance and Surgeon General warnings.Reward System: $5/day earned by staying under 30 minutes on selected apps.Brand Marketplace: Features top-tier DTC brands (e.g., JBL, Patagonia) and Portland-based businesses.Revenue Model: Affiliate margins on redemptions, future plans for Dayo debit card and credit system.Traction: 5,000+ users, top 10 on Product Hunt, fully organic launch.📊 Frameworks DiscussedThe Dayo FlowSegment User: Why do they want to reduce screen time?Track Behavior: Apple API monitors usage of selected apps.Behavioral Nudge: Screen pops up after 30 minutes with a reminder.Marketplace Redemption: Redeem earned credits for discounted products.Behavioral Science: Inspired by studies on reward incentives.Capitalism for Good FrameworkTool ≠ Outcome: AI and social media can be constructive or destructive based on intention.Restorative vs. Extractive: Dayo offers a restorative economic model.Reasonable Tech: Encourages boundaries, not abstinence.🔗 Resources & MentionsDownload Dayo AppCorey on LinkedInCorey on InstagramAPA Social Media StudySweatcoinBlueSky SocialBook Mentioned: Stolen Focus by Johann Hari🎯 SEO TagsDayo app, social media detox, screen time tracking, reward-based app, attention economy, Corey Scholibo, startup founder podcast, AI and social media, mental health tech, Product Hunt fintech__ryanestes.infoThe pod on ⁠TikTok⁠The pod on ⁠YouTube⁠The pod on ⁠Spotify⁠The pod on AppleSubscribe to the newsletter ⁠here⁠, for AI news, tools, and exclusive promos for founders.

Redefining spreadsheets with AI: David Kircos of Quadratic🔑 Key takeawaysQuadratic brings AI directly into spreadsheets, letting users analyze, manipulate, and visualize data with natural language and Python.Unlike black-box chatbots, Quadratic builds transparent methods of analysis, giving users visibility into every formula and line of code.Quadratic integrates with databases, PDFs, CSVs, and tools like HubSpot or Google Analytics, making advanced data analysis accessible to anyone.AI-powered code generation will soon be the norm. Quadratic lets non-coders interact with data using a full-featured Python environment.With 100K users and growing, Quadratic's growth is fueled by product-led virality and influencer marketing.🧠 Frameworks & product features1. Method-based AI insight generationInstead of vague answers, Quadratic builds a method—formulas, Python, and charts you can audit and adjust.Update a number and watch the entire analysis dynamically adjust in real time.2. integrated spreadsheet + code editorEdit Python directly alongside spreadsheet cells.Use AI to generate or modify code, with full visibility and control.3. product-led viralityReal-time multiplayer collaboration with shared links.Use-case-driven growth (product managers, marketers, analysts) leads to peer-to-peer adoption inside teams.📚 Resources & linksTry Quadratic – Free and Pro plans availableFollow David on XBetaworks – Early backerCatapult Ventures – Lead pre-seed investorGoogle Ventures – Institutional investor💼 About the guestDavid Kircos is the co-founder and CEO of Quadratic, an AI-powered spreadsheet tool for data analysis. With a background in app development, neobanks, and data science, David is on a mission to help teams better understand their data through transparent, AI-assisted workflows.📊 pricing & use casesFree Plan: Robust access for solo usersPro Plan: $18/user/month billed annuallyUse Cases: Startup metrics, P&L review, CRM segmentation, product analytics, AI-powered spreadsheet modeling🔍 keywordsai spreadsheets, quadratic ai tool, david kircos interview, best spreadsheet for data science, python spreadsheets, google sheets alternative, ai financial analysis, startup data tools, ai product founders, chat with data, spreadsheet automation with ai__ryanestes.infoThe pod on ⁠TikTok⁠The pod on ⁠YouTube⁠The pod on ⁠Spotify⁠The pod on AppleSubscribe to the newsletter ⁠here⁠, for AI news, tools, and exclusive promos for founders.

🔑Key takeawaysAI has evolved from passive assistant to autonomous agent—comparable to a teenager ready to act independently.Full autonomy may lead to better outcomes in advertising, medicine, and driving—by removing human bias and delays.Traditional creative agencies are being replaced by scalable, AI-powered platforms that eliminate human bottlenecks.Omneky democratizes growth and creativity through accessible AI tools for ad generation and omnichannel distribution.With Omneky, campaigns can be launched using just a single paragraph—no platform logins or manual dashboards.🧠 Frameworks & ideas1. Agentic AI modelNow: Human-in-the-loop copilot systemsFuture: Fully autonomous agents optimizing in real timeImpact: More efficient, less error-prone marketing execution2. Omnichannel campaign briefInput: One paragraph (audience, budget, creative)Process: AI maps the brief to each ad platform’s APIOutput: Cross-platform campaign live in minutes3. build vs. buy vs. leverageStartups focus on outcomes, not controlUse APIs and open-source tools when possibleBuild proprietary tech only where it truly adds value📚 resourcesOmneky WebsiteContact Hikari Senju – hi@omneky.comConnect on LinkedInVillage GlobalRichard Socher on 20VC💼 About the guestHikari Senju is the founder and CEO of Omneky, a generative AI platform that creates and launches personalized ad campaigns at scale. A Harvard-trained computer scientist, he combines machine learning expertise with a deep passion for creative technology. His mission is to empower entrepreneurs and make high-performance advertising accessible for everyone.Keywords:AI advertising, omneky, hikari senju, ad automation, generative ai, ai campaign tools, podcast marketing, founder-led growth, startup advertising ai, omnichannel ad software__ryanestes.infoThe pod on ⁠TikTok⁠The pod on ⁠YouTube⁠The pod on ⁠Spotify⁠The pod on AppleSubscribe to the newsletter ⁠here⁠, for AI news, tools, and exclusive promos for founders.

🎙️ AI for Founders – Vibe Coding in Real Time: Building a Podcast Follow-Up AppHost: Ryan EstesGuest Collaborator: Fernanda (live co-build)📌 Episode SummaryThis episode of AI for Founders captures a live "vibe coding" session where Ryan and Fernanda attempt to build Follow-Up—an AI podcast companion that listens in real-time and suggests meaningful, context-aware follow-up questions.From hallucinated transcripts to real-time transcription APIs, the session dives into the technical and creative process of building a bionic assistant for podcasters. Along the way, they explore how conversational AI could soon become a whisper-in-your-ear coach for interviews, meetings, and everyday life.🔑 Key TakeawaysFollow-Up helps podcast hosts stay present while surfacing better questions to ask.Tool was built on Lovable.ai using just a few prompts.Main challenge: Hallucinated transcripts from mock data.Solution: Integration with live transcription services like AssemblyAI.Vision for a bionic future where AI aids in real-time conversation dynamics.🧠 Frameworks & Ideas1. Vibe CodingRapid prototyping using AI prompt chainingUI/UX selection based on functionality and feel2. Bionic Tools for FoundersReal-time suggestions via wearables and earbud integrationsApplications in podcasting, networking, investor meetings3. Prompt Refinement StrategyTest real-time vs. batch audio processingClarify hallucination issues upfrontIterate sequence of prompts for better outputs🛠️ Tools & Resources MentionedLovable.ai – AI app builderAssemblyAI – Real-time transcription APIOpenAI Whisper – Open-source transcription engineDeepgram – Alternative transcription API with high accuracyRoost Stand – Laptop stand by James Olander (mentioned)🔍 SEO KeywordsAI podcast tools, real-time transcription, AssemblyAI, OpenAI Whisper, follow-up question AI, podcast app builder, vibe coding demo, podcast automation, AI interviewer, bionic tools for podcasters👀 Watch This Episode If You Want To:Learn how to build apps live using AIUnderstand how to fix hallucinations in AI transcriptionExplore how podcast tools are evolving with AIGet a sneak peek at bionic communication assistance__ryanestes.infoThe pod on ⁠TikTok⁠The pod on ⁠YouTube⁠The pod on ⁠Spotify⁠The pod on AppleSubscribe to the newsletter ⁠here⁠, for AI news, tools, and exclusive promos for founders.

🎙️ AI for Founders – Featuring Liz Giorgi of soona.coEpisode Title: Scaling Content Creation for E-Commerce: Liz Giorgi on Building soona and Embracing AIHost: Ryan EstesGuest: Liz Giorgi, Co-Founder & CEO of soona.co📌 Episode SummaryIn this episode, Ryan speaks with Liz Giorgi, founder of soona.co, a visual content creation platform for e-commerce brands. Liz shares how she bootstrapped the MVP, raised $56M over four rounds, and built a platform serving over 25,000 brands.They explore how AI tools are helping marketers save time, how sacred creative rituals like writing fuel her leadership, and what it takes to build a scalable product that feels personal and approachable.🧠 Key Takeawayssoona helps e-commerce brands create scalable photo and video content—fast, high-quality, and affordable.Liz raised $56M and bootstrapped the first year using funds from a prior business sale.GPT Workspace is her go-to AI companion for writing and email workflows.Bulk Crop, a soona AI feature, allows users to crop thousands of images with content-aware automation.Pricing: $13/month + pay-per-content. You only pay for what you want to keep.Modern marketers are overwhelmed. soona aims to simplify workflows and align incentives.Liz writes weekly memos and protects sacred creative time—no AI involved.Being vulnerable and telling your founder story in public builds trust, community, and momentum.🧩 Frameworks DiscussedIterative vs Generative Creativity: Humans are generative; AI is best at iteration.Sacred Work Time: Identify what parts of your work are worth protecting from automation.Content for Scale: Leverage tools like soona to offload production without losing quality or control.🔗 Resources & Toolssoona.co – Visual content creation platform for e-commerce brandsGPT Workspace – Google Workspace AI companionKitcaster – Podcast guest booking for foundersLiz Giorgi on LinkedIn@ceolady on TikTok – Liz’s daily thoughts on e-commerce, small business, and leadership🔍 SEO Keywordsecommerce content creation, AI marketing tools, Liz Giorgi soona, AI photo editing, scalable content for ecommerce, gpt workspace for Gmail, ecommerce AI tools, founder podcast 2024, startup growth stories, affordable brand content__ryanestes.infoThe pod on ⁠TikTok⁠The pod on ⁠YouTube⁠The pod on ⁠Spotify⁠The pod on AppleSubscribe to the newsletter ⁠here⁠, for AI news, tools, and exclusive promos for founders.

Scaling Founder Series Part Two - AI for Founders 🎙️ Scaling Founder Series: Build an Audience You Actually Own In this episode of AI for Founders, host Ryan Estes explores how founders can build an audience they truly own—beyond the limitations of social platforms. This session, recorded live, introduces five frameworks for creating consistently and converting your audience into community and product. Subscribe to future events: ryanestes.info 🔑 Key Takeaways: Own the audience: Email, website, podcast feed Email list: Direct and permission-based connection Website: Full control, testing ground, and content hub Podcast: High-trust deep engagement Personal branding matters: Drives conversions, valuations, and investor interest 🧠 Frameworks Covered: 1. Audience → Community → Product (ACP) Start by identifying an underserved audience Engage consistently to build trust and feedback loops Co-create and validate a product after you've earned trust 2. Format Fit Pick a medium you enjoy (writing, podcasting, video, etc.) Test for 90 days before judging success Stay aligned with trending formats (e.g., short-form video) 3. Creative Faucet System Trigger inspiration through activities (walks, podcasts) Capture ideas using Apple Notes or TwoApps Build rituals and block time for creation 4. Publishing Strategy Set clear, measurable goals Track engagement and adjust formats Don’t judge your work until you’ve published 100 times 5. Goal Setting Pick one primary objective (e.g., email subs or revenue) Review every 30–90 days to track progress 📚 Tools & Resources: Content & Writing Spiral – AI writing platform with voice training TwoApps – Idea capture for creatives Milled – Newsletter discovery engine Podcasting Spotify for Podcasters – Free podcast hosting with video support Descript – AI podcast and video editor ryanestes.infoThe pod on ⁠TikTok⁠The pod on ⁠YouTube⁠The pod on ⁠Spotify⁠The pod on AppleSubscribe to the newsletter ⁠here⁠, for AI news, tools, and exclusive promos for founders.

🎙️ AI for Founders: Building Voice AI with Nikhil Gupta of Vapi.aiGuest: Nikhil Gupta, Founder & CEO of Vapi.aiHost: Ryan Estes🔑 Key TakeawaysVapi.ai helps developers build real-time, voice-first AI agents with ultra-low latency.Raised $20M Series A after launching profitably and going through Y Combinator.Voice AI is becoming the default interface for businesses replacing outdated IVR systems.Use cases include AI receptionists, customer support agents, and local business tools.Future trend: AI agents talking to other AI agents to solve real-world tasks faster.Current favorites: JuiceBox (recruiting), Superhuman (auto-tagging), Deep Research (creative and consumer search).AI fear: Reinforcement learning agents seeking power to achieve goals.🧩 Frameworks from the EpisodeWhat Makes a Product “AI-First”LLM, vision, and voice inputs built natively into UXAutomation of subtle features like smart tags and dynamic UI changes“One-button” interfaces wrapping full multi-modal workflowsBuilding Scalable Voice AIStreaming audio in 20ms packets for real-time feedbackDeveloper-first APIs + toolingVoice-specific nuance: disfluency, tone, emotional recognitionVoice AI in PracticeIRS-style phone agentsRestaurant reservation botsPersonal AI memory tools like be.computerAgent-to-agent conversations powered by voice APIs🔧 Tools & Resources MentionedVapi.ai – Voice AI developer platformJuiceBox – AI-powered recruitingSuperhuman – AI-enhanced email experienceDeep Research via ChatGPTbee.computer – Continuous voice-based memoryY Combinator – Startup acceleratorKitcaster – Podcast booking for funded founders👥 Who This Is ForStartup founders building AI-native appsDevelopers building vertical SaaS with voiceProduct designers exploring voice UXAI-curious creators and indie hackers💬 Try Vapi.ai➡️ Visit vapi.ai and click “Talk to Vapi” to test the voice AI agent yourself.📫 Connect with NikhilLinkedIn: Nikhil GuptaWebsite: vapi.ai

🎙️ AI for Founders: Building Secure AI Tools (Part 2 with Peter Holcomb)Guest: Peter Holcomb – AI Governance Expert, Founder of Optimal ITHost: Ryan Estes🔑 Key TakeawaysStart with Governance: Define security and compliance standards before adopting or building AI tools.Prompt Injection is Real: A top risk per OWASP; design with defenses in place.Test Before You Launch: Use red/blue team testing to secure your tool pre-market.Legal vs. Guardrails: Terms of service help, but secure code is better protection.Cross-Team Governance: Security, Legal, Privacy, and Engineering should all contribute.ryanestes.infoThe pod on ⁠TikTok⁠The pod on ⁠YouTube⁠The pod on ⁠Spotify⁠The pod on AppleSubscribe to the newsletter ⁠here⁠, for AI news, tools, and exclusive promos for founders.

Guest: Peter Holcomb, IT Security Leader, Fractional CISO, and Founder of Optimo ITHost: Ryan EstesPresented by: Kitcaster.comKey Takeaways:The Productivity vs. Privacy Dilemma — AI can drive massive productivity gains—but companies must weigh those gains against serious privacy, security, and ethical risks.The Real Risks of AI Right Now — Algorithmic bias, data breaches, hallucinations, and poor access controls are among the top concerns. Always sanitize inputs and outputs.Stop Feeding Sensitive Info to Chatbots — Don’t input PII or PHI into commercial LLMs unless using secure, enclaved systems.RAG + LLMs = Security Headaches — RAG improves outputs but opens up new API and access control vulnerabilities.Time Machine Hypothesis — Data input today could resurface in dangerous ways tomorrow without stronger regulations.Guardrails Are the New Gold — Autonomous agents are rising. Governance and real-time red teaming are critical.Bots vs. Bots — Cybersecurity is evolving into automated battles between defensive and offensive AI agents.Tools to Know — Tesson.ai: AI guardrails and red teamingHackaverse.ai: Security testing arena for AI toolsOptimo IT’s Governance Approach — Risk assessments, red teaming, and guardrails to secure proprietary AI use.The Human Element — AI will always need humans in the loop to keep things aligned, ethical, and on track.Mentioned Links:Kitcaster – Book Podcast InterviewsTesson.ai – AI Security PlatformHackaverse.ai – Red Team ArenaOptimo IT – Peter Holcomb on LinkedInNIST AI RMF FrameworkEU AI Act OverviewISO/IEC 42001 – AI Management SystemsRAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation) ExplainedNext Week:We’ll bring Peter back for Part 2, assuming the AI overlords let us finish the conversation this time. Until then—stay curious, stay cautious, and don’t feed your social security number to Skynet.__ryanestes.infoThe pod on ⁠TikTok⁠The pod on ⁠YouTube⁠The pod on ⁠Spotify⁠The pod on AppleSubscribe to the newsletter ⁠here⁠, for AI news, tools, and exclusive promos for founders.