Advice for Founders Building in AI

It’s been a little more than three years since the ChatGPT moment in November 2022 – a turning point that reshaped how we think about building companies. But even with all the acceleration in AI, my core advice to founders hasn’t changed across any technology cycle.

As we start 2026, it’s worth going back to the basics.

Amid a thousand flavors and a crowded landscape, the fundamentals still matter:

• 1. People first — founders with resilience, clarity, and purpose.
• 2. Build a painkiller, not a vitamin — something which is a must-have, not a nice-to.
• 3. Enter at the right price and ownership — the only parts you can truly control as an early-stage VC.

In this short clip from my conversation with Jason M. Lemkin, I break down the simple framework I’ve used for decades to make investment decisions – one that applies just as well today as it did before the AI wave began.

Starting the year with this reminder: when everything feels noisy, focus on what’s timeless.