Go Slow to Grow Fast

Artificial intelligence is shaping up to be one of the most transformative technological advancements of the 21st century. Go Slow to Grow Fast Host Heath Butler is joined by executives from 3 vertical AI SaaS companies— Matt Robillard of SmartAC, Collin Mclelland of Digital Wildcatters, and Jeremy Gottlieb of Veritec AI— to break down what’s real, what’s hype, and what’s next for the future of AI in the startup world. Whether you're looking to integrate AI into your business, build an AI first product to take to market, or just trying to keep up with the rapid advancements, this conversation is one you won't want to miss. This episode is part of the Software Day at the Ion series. Key Insights & Timestamps: [00:00]: Podcast begins [01:26]: Why AI? 3 AI SaaS companies weigh in on tech & data opportunities [08:05]: Internal & External Leveraging: AI usage from hiring to workflows to system building [11:05]: Beyond the Hype? Delivering next level customer value during the AI boom [23:26]: Small Teams, Big Dreams: How do you build a $100M business with 5 employees? [29:41]: Personal AI Usage: Everyday tasks made easier at work & home [33:47]: Audience Q&A: AI-first approach, hiring talented teams, & marketing unique models Key Takeaways: Building AI-First Companies: “I think if you’re an AI native company, you have the wonderful opportunity of thinking from first principles,” Matt Robillard explains, citing that SmartAC progresses with their AI technology so as to not be hindered by pre-existing workflows. “It’s about really leaning into what this could be.” Beyond the Hype? “I think the cost curve is coming down dramatically, and for companies like ours, it’s incredibly beneficial,” Jeremy Gottlieb says, diving into how Veritec AI will change the game in the litigation space. “This gives us an opportunity to come in and compete with our larger competitors.” Big Businesses, Small Teams! “I don’t think I need a team of 50 engineers anymore,” Collin Mclelland admits, explaining that Digital Wildcatters is focused on using AI at every level of their business to build efficient teams, products and systems. “It’s important to hire technical people that understand the [AI] business as well.” Guest Spotlight: Jeremy Gottlieb Jeremy Gottlieb is the Co-Founder and CEO at Veritec AI, a company offering comprehensive AI-powered solutions tailored for the legal industry. Jeremy is a 2-time founder, a board member, and an advisor. Matt Robillard Matt Robillard is the Head of Artificial Intelligence at SmartAC, the first and largest Customer Loyalty Management for HVAC. Matt is an engineer and entrepreneur with software and systems experience. Collin Mclelland Collin Mclelland is the Co-Founder and CEO at Digital Wildcatters, a community for the next generation of energy professionals. Collin wants to move the energy industry forward and power the world. Heath Butler Heath Butler is a VC at Mercury, an early-stage venture capital firm. Heath is a venture investor, professional board director, startup advisor, author and speaker. Resources Mentioned: Mercury | mercuryfund.com, Veritec AI | veritec.ai, SmartAC | hvac.smartac.com, Digital Wildcatters | collide.io, Software Day at the Ion For More Information: Produced by Speakerbox Media. For more episodes, visit MercuryFund.com/Content. Stay Connected: Heath Butler on LinkedIn Jeremy Gottlieb on LinkedIn Matt Robillard on LinkedIn Collin Mclelland on LinkedIn

What makes Texas’ VCs tick? In today's session, Blair Garrou, Managing Partner at Mercury, leads a panel discussion with 3 Austin-based VC firms on the current investment landscape in Texas. Joining Blair are esteemed venture capitalists Craig Cummings of Moonshots Capital, Conrad Shang of Ensemble VC, and Han Shen of iFly.vc. Together, they’ll share key insights on emerging investment trends, discuss which sectors are attracting the most capital, and advise startups on navigating today’s market while achieving funding goals. This episode is part of the Software Day at the Ion series. Key Insights & Timestamps: [00:00]: Podcast begins [01:07]: 2024 Venture Capital Report: Blair talks Gunderson Dettmer findings [04:56]: Meet the Panelists: What differentiates these 3 venture funds from others? [11:32]: Portfolios & Philosophies: iFly.vc, Ensemble & Moonshots reveal what makes them tick [20:55]: Living in the Future? How VC funds embrace AI in the digital age [29:10]: Market Volatility: How should investors manage uncertain financial times? [36:03]: Audience Q&A: AI disruption, Houston investment advice & the importance of location Key Takeaways: “That ‘fit’ really is a big piece of the equation in our assessment,” Han Shen says, diving into iFly’s unique positioning and strategy as a solo GP. “We understand what is in it for the founders and us as investors, even before we extend a term sheet. To talk numbers, iFLY started in 2016 and over the course of the last 8 years, we’ve invested in a total of 15 companies.” “As AI is disrupting how startups are being built, the prediction that people have is that the next multi-billion-dollar company is going to be built with five people,” Conrad Shang hypothesizes, explaining how Ensemble VC is revolutionizing their AI-first approach. “Our belief was that the same impact will also affect investing. Our high conviction model is one where AI is also going to disrupt venture.” Guest Spotlight: Craig Cummings Craig Cummings is the General Partner at Moonshots Capital in Austin. Craig actively invests in technology start-ups, many of which are founded by military veteran entrepreneurs. Prior to Moonshots, Craig was the co-founder and CEO of mobile app RideScout, and was an Intelligence Officer at the NSA. Conrad Shang Conrad Shang is the founder and Managing Partner at Ensemble VC, based in Austin. Before founding Ensemble VC, Conrad led the $4 billion venture capital portfolio at UTIMCO. His success in venture capital was recognized by the Kauffman Fund Returner Index, where he was ranked #27. Han Shen Han Shen is a Founding Partner at iFly.v based in Austin. Han’s career in venture capital started in 2009 and has spanned at VantagePoint and Formation 8. Previously, Han worked for Rohm and Haas Company, the largest US specialty chemical company, where he was credited as a key inventor of 4 US patents. Blair Garrou Blair Garrou is co-founder and Managing Director of Mercury, an early-stage venture capital firm headquartered in Houston. Prior to co-founding Mercury, Blair worked with Intermat, Genesis Park, and the Houston Technology Center (HTC), and led the formation of the Houston Angel Network (HAN). Resources Mentioned: Mercury | mercuryfund.com, Moonshots Capital | moonshotscapital.com, Ensemble VC | ensemble.vc, iFly.vc | ifly.vc, Gunderson Dettmer 2024 Venture Capital Report For More Information: Produced by Speakerbox Media. For more episodes, visit MercuryFund.com/Content. Stay Connected: Blair Garrou on LinkedIn Craig Cummings on LinkedIn Conrad Shang on LinkedIn Han Shen on LinkedIn

Today, Heath talks with Mercury CMO Melissa Turowsky on the evolution of marketing and how big changes are forcing venture backed startups to reevaluate how they think about marketing function, customer acquisition, and the talent required to achieve their business goals. In the episode, Melissa retells her journey through startups and marketing from New York to Houston and how she arrived at Mercury. She also explains why you should “go for the gold” when hiring for talent, talks on metrics in marketing strategy, and lays out the difference between ‘vitamin’ and ‘painkiller’ strategies for cutting through advertising noise.

Heath Butler sits down with Ayoola John, AKA AJ, formerly Product Manager at Facebook and Coinbase who is now working on his own startup—an AI assistant for community managers called Astronaut. AJ shares how he jumped from Chevron to Facebook to now working for himself. Having immigrated from Nigeria, AJ has witnessed many different communities and now seeks to help community leaders nurture their own communities with AI. In this episode, Heath and AJ talk about the revolutionary power of AI, how to channel it into a startup, and the vital steps in ensuring great product market fit while following through with a world-changing vision.

In this part-two episode, Heath sits down with Aziz Gilani from Mercury Fund to discuss the current investing environment while also touching on topics such as pricing and fundability. They talk about how entrepreneurs can best build relationships with VCs and how founders should be thinking about their businesses to thrive in the current environment.

This week, Heath sits down with Sid Upadhyay, Co-Founder and CEO at WizeHire to explore why grade-A talent matters in a startup. Sid talks through the pre-product market fit stage and the hiring process, touching on the most critical decisions that a founder should make early on in the bootstrapping journey. Finding what good versus great looks like for each role is crucial, Sid says—and that it all does boil down to going slow first so that you can grow fast later.

Explore Mercury's innovative podcast crafted specifically to guide startups through growth hurdles. Gain practical wisdom from experienced investors, advisors, and accomplished founders, customized to your unique path. From surmounting funding hurdles and mastering the product-market fit to broadening your customer reach and fostering a growth-focused mindset, "Go Slow to Grow Fast" addresses the complete spectrum.