After years of trial and error, I finally cracked the code on AI culture building. I'm sharing the raw, unfiltered story of my struggles and the hard-won victories so you can skip the mistakes and get straight to the results. It wasn't easy
What I've Learned From 105 Companies
Across 234 angel investments, including Anthropic, a few patterns in AI culture building come up again and again.
The founders who handle AI culture building well understand that timing is everything in this game.
The Reality Nobody Talks About
A lot of the advice on AI culture building rests on assumptions that made sense five years ago. The world has moved on.
The first thing to understand is that the best solutions are often the simplest ones. I've seen this play out across dozens of companies. The pattern is unmistakable.
Many teams spend months on the wrong path before realizing that the market doesn't care about your roadmap. Once they make the switch, everything changes.
The Numbers Don't Lie
Investing early in AI culture building can be the difference between raising your next round and running out of runway.
One of my portfolio companies went from struggling to profitable in under a year after they finally got serious about this. The founder told me later that they wished they'd started sooner.
This connects to broader themes around AI culture building, async communication AI, AI coworking, AI performance reviews that I've been thinking about a lot lately.
Wrapping Up
I've shared a lot here, and I know it can feel overwhelming. But you don't need to get AI culture building right on day one. You just need to get started and keep improving.
Founders who do well at AI culture building tend to share one trait: they're relentlessly practical. They don't chase perfection. They chase progress.
That's the mindset I'd encourage you to adopt. Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. And keep pushing forward.
As always, I'm rooting for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:How can I apply this thinking to my own situation?
Start by identifying the core principle behind the opinion, not the specific example. Then ask yourself: does this principle apply to my context? If yes, test it in a small, low-risk way before going all in.
Q:Do all experts agree with this view?
No, and that's fine. The best ideas in business are often contrarian. I share my perspective based on my experience and data, but I encourage you to seek out opposing viewpoints and form your own conclusions.
Q:How has this view evolved over time?
My thinking on most topics has changed significantly over the years. Early in my career, I held many conventional views that experience proved wrong. I try to update my beliefs when the evidence changes.