Surviving the early stages as an AI startup is about more than just making the technology work: it’s about hiring the right people, avoiding costly mistakes, and standing out in a crowded market.
This week on Build Mode, Isabelle Johannesen speaks with Jasper Carmichael Jack, founder and CEO of Artisan, a fast-growing AI startup building an AI workforce for sales. Best known for its viral “Stop Hiring Humans” campaign, Artisan is leveraging AI to reimagine outbound sales while still betting on hiring great talent.
In this episode, we dive into what it really takes to build and scale a venture-backed AI company, from Y Combinator to rapid growth.
This conversation includes:
Startup hiring mistakes every founder should avoid. Lessons on layoffs, team building, and company culture in early-stage startups. The strategy behind bold and controversial marketing that drives growth. How AI will transform sales, recruiting, and the future of work. Founders’ misconceptions about the roles needed for scaling startups.
This conversation gets to the heart of building a startup: hire the right people early or pay for them later.
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TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: We’ll be back at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco from October 13th to 15th. There, the Startup Battlefield 200 will take place. So if you want to support them, or network with thousands of founders, venture capitalists, and technology enthusiasts, grab a ticket.
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