AI Startups: Why now is the time to BUILD | Akash Bajwa

🚀 “Entire software categories are up for grabs.”

Investor Akash Bajwa explains why the next wave of AI‑native startups will rewrite today’s playbooks and how first‑time founders can ride it.

What you’ll learn

• The three‑layer stack (AI chips → models → apps) and the product & data flywheel that lets tiny startups punch above their weight.
• A clear framework for deciding “AI‑native or AI‑assist?” for your startup. Why 2025 feels like a 1994‑style inflection point for builders—and how timing alone can hand newcomers a huge edge.
• Talent‑density tactics: hire “heat‑seeking missiles” and design org charts that scale themselves.
• The coming surge of autonomous agents and micro‑transactions, plus the strange new business models they unlock.
• Five bold 2035 predictions that will reshape product, funding, and daily work.

⏱️ Chapters

0:00 Intro

5:23 What “AI‑native” really means

10:34 Designing lean, taste‑driven teams

20:30 The vertical stack playbook

26:29 Evals as the hidden moat

34:57 Agents 101 and the Model Context Protocol

39:47 Micro‑payments, macro impact

45:22 2035 outlook for founders

56:41 Hiring, culture, and rebellious opinions

1:04:15 Rapid‑fire takeaways

Why subscribe? If you sketch business ideas on napkins, obsess over product‑market fit, or dream of disrupting incumbents with AI, this channel is for you. 🔔 Hit subscribe so Spotify tells you the moment new episodes drop 🔔

Keywords: AI startup, entrepreneur tips, venture capital, SaaS, Earlybird Venture Capital, Akash Bajwa interview, AI‑native products, vertical integration, talent density, autonomous agents, evals, Founders and Builders podcast, build with AI, startup playbook, how to start a tech company, seed fundraising, product strategy, software innovation.#AI #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Software #VentureCapital