In this conversation, Xaver Lehmann shares his entrepreneurial journey, starting from his initial foray into the startup world with E-Bot 7, a customer service automation platform, to his experiences with team building, product-market fit, and navigating the challenges of early AI technology. He discusses the importance of hiring for attitude, the strategies used for customer acquisition, and the decision-making process behind selling E-Bot 7. Following the sale, Xaver reflects on his health struggles and the launch of his second company, Fidlab 7, before transitioning to his current project, The Honest Founder, where he aims to support other founders through shared experiences and insights.

Key takeaways

• Xaver initially aimed to be an investment banker before entering the startup world.
• E-Bot 7 was born from a desire to improve customer service.
• The AI landscape was challenging and underdeveloped in 2016.
• Finding product-market fit was a gradual process involving customer feedback.
• Building a team was difficult due to limited resources and experience.
• Hiring for attitude proved more effective than hiring based on resumes.
• Word of mouth and networking were key to acquiring customers.
• The decision to sell E-Bot 7 was influenced by market conditions and offers.
• Fidlab 7 was launched to explore the potential of video in AI.
• The Honest Founder was created to share experiences and support other founders.

Chapters

00:00 The Journey Begins: From Investment Banking to Startups

02:55 E-Bot 7: The Birth of an Idea

05:50 Navigating Early Challenges in AI

08:44 Validating the Product: Finding Market Fit

11:37 Building a Team: Lessons in Hiring

14:24 From Concept to Product: Collaborating with Customers

18:26 Navigating Product-Market Fit

21:51 Strategies for Customer Acquisition

22:14 Deciding When to Sell

25:04 The Journey of a Second Startup

29:18 Building the Honest Founder Community

33:10 Understanding Founder Burnout

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