We Live to Build

Is the new open-source AI agent "OpenClaw" a revolutionary tool for startups, or a dangerous liability that could destroy your computer and spend thousands of your dollars? Sze Wong returns to the podcast to debate Sean on the massive risks and rewards of giving autonomous AI agents full control over your machine. In this heated discussion, Sze explains why the future of startups isn't building SaaS products, but rather selling "AI Agent Teams" as a service—like a digital staffing firm. Meanwhile, Sean shares terrifying stories of AI models trying to blackmail engineers and why he refuses to give agents access to his personal data. They also cover why Sze prefers Anthropic's Claude over OpenAI , the psychology of naming your AI "Felix" , and how Sze used AI to build a Calendly clone over a single weekend. Check out the company: https://zenithstudio.io----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------📚 NETWORK BEFORE YOU NEED IT (6 LESSONS THAT MADE SEAN $15M)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▶ Get my eBook free - https://welivetobuild.com/network-----------------------------------📈 WORK WITH ME-----------------------------------▶ Buy 300 Lessons From 300 Founders: https://welivetobuild.com/300-lessons-ebook▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://welivetobuild.com/book-a-call▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/sponsorship---------------------------------------------👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN---------------------------------------------▶ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot▶ Inquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com---------------------------🕒 CHAPTERS---------------------------00:00 - The Controversial Thesis: Why OpenClaw Will Win00:25 - The Dangers of Autonomous AI Agents03:25 - How to Safely Test AI Agents (Use a VPS)04:40 - The AI That Tried to Blackmail an Engineer08:40 - Claude Code vs. OpenAI: Which is Better?15:00 - The Psychology of Naming Your AI (Meet "Felix")20:15 - Why SaaS is Dead (The "AI Staffing Firm" Future)24:00 - Building a Calendly Clone in One Weekend with AI28:30 - The Reality of "Vibe Coding" to ProductionLeave a Review (it truly helps us grow): https://welivetobuild.com/reviewHow I Made $15M: https://welivetobuild.com/networkSubscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@seanweisbrotFollow Sean on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you unknowingly breaking the law by paying a commission to someone helping you raise capital? Wendy Culbertson, a securities lawyer, warns that many startup founders are violating SEC rules by paying "finders" who are not registered broker-dealers. In this interview, she explains the severe consequences of these illegal payouts, including civil and criminal liability. Wendy breaks down the complex world of SEC regulations, explaining the critical differences between Regulation D (506b vs 506c), Regulation A (Mini-IPO), and Crowdfunding (Reg CF). She also reveals the "safe harbor" strategies for hiring internal investor relations staff without triggering regulatory action and why founders should think twice before handling filings themselves. Check out the company: https://----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------📚 NETWORK BEFORE YOU NEED IT (6 LESSONS THAT MADE SEAN $15M)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▶ Get my eBook free - https://welivetobuild.com/network-----------------------------------📈 WORK WITH ME-----------------------------------▶ Buy 300 Lessons From 300 Founders: https://welivetobuild.com/300-lessons-ebook▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://welivetobuild.com/book-a-call▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/sponsorship---------------------------------------------👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN---------------------------------------------▶ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot▶ Inquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com---------------------------🕒 CHAPTERS---------------------------00:00 - Why Many Founders Are Breaking Securities Law01:50 - The Danger of Paying "Finder's Fees"04:12 - What is a Broker-Dealer? (SEC Definition)07:05 - Safe Harbor: Hiring Employees to Raise Capital09:20 - Can You Pay Fundraisers with Equity?10:20 - Reg D vs. Reg A vs. Crowdfunding Explained15:00 - Why Reg D and Reg CF Are Named That Way18:50 - When Do You Need to File with the SEC?20:00 - "Blue Sky Laws": State-Level Compliance Nightmares23:30 - Should Founders File Their Own SEC Forms?24:35 - The Risks of Unregistered Broker-Dealers (Criminal Action)Leave a Review (it truly helps us grow): https://welivetobuild.com/reviewHow I Made $15M: https://welivetobuild.com/networkSubscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@seanweisbrotFollow Sean on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do most climate startups fail to scale? Tom Chi, a founding member of Google X and inventor with 77 patents, argues that relying on "Green Premiums" or even price parity is a death sentence. In this interview, he reveals the "CapEx Inertia" trap that prevents factories from adopting new tech and why your solution needs to be 3x cheaper than the incumbent to survive. Tom shares the heartbreaking story of watching a coral reef die in just two months—a tragedy that pushed him from inventing to investing. He breaks down his unique physics-based diligence process (analyzing Matter, Energy, Time, and Space) and explains why he focuses on the four industries responsible for 90% of water pollution. Finally, he shares his life philosophy on why you should focus on "verbs" (your metabolism of learning) rather than "nouns" (status and titles).Check out the company: https://www.atoneventures.com----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------📚 NETWORK BEFORE YOU NEED IT (6 LESSONS THAT MADE SEAN $15M)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▶ Get my eBook free - https://welivetobuild.com/network-----------------------------------📈 WORK WITH ME-----------------------------------▶ Buy 300 Lessons From 300 Founders: https://welivetobuild.com/300-lessons-ebook▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://welivetobuild.com/book-a-call▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/sponsorship---------------------------------------------👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN---------------------------------------------▶ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot▶ Inquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com---------------------------🕒 CHAPTERS---------------------------00:00 - From Google X Inventor to Climate Investor02:55 - The Coral Reef Tragedy: Extinction by 2055?08:38 - Why Hardware is Easier to Pick than SaaS11:53 - The 4 Industries Causing 90% of Damage13:28 - The "Triad" Investment Thesis14:40 - Why "Green Premiums" & Price Parity Fail15:40 - The "CapEx Inertia" Problem18:00 - How to Due Diligence with Physics (Matter, Energy, Time, Space)22:50 - Why Software Metrics Don't Work for Deep Tech25:35 - Investment Readiness Levels (Avoiding Science Risk)27:50 - The Cold Fusion & Superconductor Hype Cycles30:10 - The #1 Life Lesson: Nouns vs. VerbsLeave a Review (it truly helps us grow): https://welivetobuild.com/reviewHow I Made $15M: https://welivetobuild.com/networkSubscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@seanweisbrotFollow Sean on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why is aiming for 10x growth actually easier than aiming for 2x? Philipp Wehn, founder of an AI company for heavy industries, explains how raising $15 million shifted his mindset from survival to dominance. In this interview, he reveals why you need to stop doing 80% of your tasks to achieve exponential results. Philipp breaks down his unique business model—combining a high-touch service agency with a scalable AI software platform—and why he charges enterprise clients based on value created ($1M+) rather than seat licenses. He also shares his "athlete mindset" for leadership, why he forces his team to take time off to recharge, and the critical difference between "playing not to lose" and "playing to win." Check out the company: https://nexxa.ai----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------📚 NETWORK BEFORE YOU NEED IT (6 LESSONS THAT MADE SEAN $15M)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▶ Get my eBook free - https://welivetobuild.com/network-----------------------------------📈 WORK WITH ME-----------------------------------▶ Buy 300 Lessons From 300 Founders: https://welivetobuild.com/300-lessons-ebook▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://welivetobuild.com/book-a-call▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/sponsorship---------------------------------------------👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN---------------------------------------------▶ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot▶ Inquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com---------------------------🕒 CHAPTERS---------------------------00:00 - Why 10x Growth is Easier Than 2x01:29 - How to Audit Your Calendar for "Noise"02:40 - Charging for Value ($1M+) vs. Software Licenses06:00 - The Hermes Strategy: Why Premium Pricing Wins07:13 - The "Athlete Mindset": Discipline & Recovery10:04 - Building Culture Remotely (VR Nights & Off-Seasons)12:15 - Running Your Startup in "Seasons" (The NFL Model)14:26 - The Netflix "Keeper Test" for Employees16:15 - Why We Raised $15M (Speed vs. Bootstrapping)18:30 - The "LLM Wrapper" Debate: Why Engineering Matters21:40 - Business Model Innovation as a Moat27:53 - The #1 Lesson: Stop Playing Not to LoseLeave a Review (it truly helps us grow): https://welivetobuild.com/reviewHow I Made $15M: https://welivetobuild.com/networkSubscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@seanweisbrotFollow Sean on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do talented new hires often destroy value instead of creating it? Matt Putra, founder of EightX and a fractional CFO for 8-figure brands, argues that "profitability is a human problem," not a math problem. In this interview, he explains how misaligned teams create operational drag and how he helps companies save millions (like a recent $1.5M inventory win) by fixing communication rather than just tweaking spreadsheets. Matt and Sean also dive deep into the future of AI in business, debating whether we are heading toward a "Utopia" with Universal Basic Income or a total economic collapse. They discuss Sean's experience "Vibe Coding" a SaaS product using AI, the risks of buying a business versus starting one, and why an "irrational belief in oneself" is the most important trait for success. Check out the company: https://eightx.co👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - What is EightX? (CFOs for E-commerce & CPG) 01:50 - Using AI to Predict Sales & Analyze Sentiment 03:50 - Why Profitability is a Human Problem (Not Math) 10:20 - How "Well-Meaning" Experts Create Operational Drag 12:15 - Saving $1.5M by Optimizing Supply Chain 13:40 - Sean's "Vibe Coding" Story: Building SaaS with AI 17:20 - AI Utopia vs. Dystopia: Will the Economy Collapse? 21:50 - Buying a Business vs. Starting from Scratch 24:00 - The Risks of Acquisitions & Operations 27:00 - The #1 Lesson: Irrational Belief in Yourself📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/ai-startup-fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/collaborate▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.aiLeave a Review (it truly helps us grow): https://welivetobuild.com/reviewHow I Made $15M: https://welivetobuild.com/networkSubscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@seanweisbrotFollow Sean on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can you land enterprise clients like Marriott and Panasonic without a massive sales team? Dima Syrotkin, founder of Panda Training, reveals his strategy for hacking enterprise sales: partnering with consulting firms who already have the trust (and the golf buddies) to close the deal for you. In this interview, Dima and Sean discuss why firing middle managers is a mistake, the reality of "AI shrinking companies," and why getting SOC2 and ISO certifications was the best $20k he ever spent. Dima also shares his personal struggle with defensiveness as a CEO and how hiring an angel investor full-time forced him to confront his own ego. Check out the company: https://pandatron.ai👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - Why Companies are Stagnating (Coordination Problems) 01:46 - Why "Firing All Managers" (Holacracy) Doesn't Work 04:13 - Will AI Shrink or Grow Companies? 06:11 - How to Hack Enterprise Sales with Channel Partners 09:30 - The Risk of Relying on Partners (Conflict of Interest) 11:28 - Why You Need a Direct Sales Channel to Survive 14:26 - The Power of Face-to-Face Sales in Enterprise 16:04 - Landing the First Big Client (0 to $1M ARR) 17:40 - The Nightmare of Enterprise Security (300-Page Questionnaires) 21:00 - How to Get ISO/SOC2 Certified for $20k 24:40 - Hiring Top Talent After an Exit 27:47 - The #1 Lesson: Stop Being Defensive📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/ai-startup-fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/collaborate▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.aiLeave a Review (it truly helps us grow): https://welivetobuild.com/reviewHow I Made $15M: https://welivetobuild.com/networkSubscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@seanweisbrotFollow Sean on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is AI coming for your job, or just the boring parts you hate? Tim Cakir, an AI consultant who scaled his agency to nearly $1M ARR in the first year, reveals why he believes "boring work" is the enemy of productivity and how AI agents can eliminate it. In this interview, Tim shares the controversial story of how he helped a company replace 50 employees with an automation tool, why he believes leaders are manufacturing AI fear, and how he built a fully automated sales CRM using Claude and Make.com. He also debates Sean on the future of "Vibe Coding" and why the future of work might just be a black terminal screen. Check out the company: https://aioperator.com----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------📚 NETWORK BEFORE YOU NEED IT (6 LESSONS THAT MADE SEAN $15M)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▶ Get my eBook free - https://welivetobuild.com/network-----------------------------------📈 WORK WITH ME-----------------------------------▶ Buy 300 Lessons From 300 Founders: https://welivetobuild.com/300-lessons-ebook▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://welivetobuild.com/book-a-call▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/sponsorship---------------------------------------------👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN---------------------------------------------▶ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot▶ Inquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com---------------------------🕒 CHAPTERS---------------------------00:00 - Why Leaders Are Creating AI Fear03:32 - The "10-Year Clock" Until Work Becomes Optional06:20 - Will AI Kill Junior Jobs? (The Skill Gap Crisis)09:30 - How to Document Your Processes for AI12:12 - "Vibe Coding" vs. Building Real Systems16:40 - Automating the "Boring Work" (Sales CRM Example)20:53 - Sean's Struggle to Automate His Podcast24:30 - Why I Love Working in the Terminal (No UI)28:50 - The Future of AI Agents & Automation33:40 - Firing 50 People: The Hard Truth About EfficiencyLeave a Review (it truly helps us grow): https://welivetobuild.com/reviewHow I Made $15M: https://welivetobuild.com/networkSubscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@seanweisbrotFollow Sean on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do ad platforms like Meta and Google claim credit for sales they didn't actually generate? Scott Desgrossilliers explains why relying on ad platform data is like letting the "fox watch the henhouse" and how it leads businesses to burn cash on ineffective campaigns. In this interview, Scott and Sean discuss the complexities of multi-touch attribution, why you need an unbiased "source of truth" for your data, and how to lower your Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) by feeding better signals back to ad algorithms. They also dive into the reality of buying a business vs. starting one, the importance of hiring for "grit," and why YouTube subscribers might be a vanity metric if you don't have an email list. Check out the company: https://wickedreports.com----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------📚 NETWORK BEFORE YOU NEED IT (6 LESSONS THAT MADE SEAN $15M)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▶ Get my eBook free - https://welivetobuild.com/network-----------------------------------📈 WORK WITH ME-----------------------------------▶ Buy 300 Lessons From 300 Founders: https://welivetobuild.com/300-lessons-ebook▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://welivetobuild.com/book-a-call▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/sponsorship---------------------------------------------👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN---------------------------------------------▶ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot▶ Inquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com---------------------------🕒 CHAPTERS---------------------------00:00 - Why Ad Platforms Lie About Your Sales02:15 - How Conversion Tracking Actually Works (The "Fox in the Henhouse")04:32 - The Difference Between First-Click & Last-Click Attribution06:04 - Sean's Struggle with YouTube Ads & Subscribers08:38 - Why You Need a Middle-of-Funnel Strategy (Email Lists)16:04 - Buying a Business vs. Starting From Scratch24:43 - The #1 Trait to Hire For: Grit & Persistence29:30 - Hiring Mistakes: The MIT Graduate vs. The Doer33:17 - How to Filter Candidates Before You Interview Them36:36 - Lowering CAC by 40% with Better Data SignalsLeave a Review (it truly helps us grow): https://welivetobuild.com/reviewHow I Made $15M: https://welivetobuild.com/networkSubscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@seanweisbrotFollow Sean on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you save a startup when growth flatlines? Itai Sadan, co-founder of Duda, reveals the two critical pivots that saved his company: shifting from mobile-only to responsive design, and the controversial decision to ignore 50% of his customers (small businesses) to focus entirely on agencies. In this interview, Itai explains why AI is the new SEO, how to optimize your website for ChatGPT search, and why the combination of AI and human creativity is the future of web design. He also shares the hard truth about competing with giants like Wix and WordPress and why founders must sometimes make painful decisions to survive. Check out the company: https://duda.co----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------📚 NETWORK BEFORE YOU NEED IT (6 LESSONS THAT MADE SEAN $15M)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▶ Get my eBook free - https://welivetobuild.com/network-----------------------------------📈 WORK WITH ME-----------------------------------▶ Buy 300 Lessons From 300 Founders: https://welivetobuild.com/300-lessons-ebook▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://welivetobuild.com/book-a-call▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/sponsorship---------------------------------------------👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN---------------------------------------------▶ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot▶ Inquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com---------------------------🕒 CHAPTERS---------------------------00:00 - Why Agencies Use Duda vs. WordPress/Wix03:00 - The New SEO: Ranking on ChatGPT & AI Search06:27 - Will AI Replace Web Designers?09:30 - The Future: Voice AI Building Websites?12:35 - The Hardest Part of Being a CEO (Constant Growth)19:30 - Pivot #1: Mobile-Only to Responsive Design22:20 - Pivot #2: Ignoring 50% of Customers (SMBs) to Focus on Agencies26:40 - Surviving 2 Years of Flat Growth31:50 - There is No Single Playbook for SuccessLeave a Review (it truly helps us grow): https://welivetobuild.com/reviewHow I Made $15M: https://welivetobuild.com/networkSubscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@seanweisbrotFollow Sean on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do the ultra-wealthy ignore the traditional 60/40 portfolio? Tad Fallows, founder of a high-net-worth community, reveals that his members hold almost zero bonds and use portfolio lines of credit instead of keeping cash reserves. In this interview, he breaks down the actual asset allocation strategies used by those with $5M-$100M+ net worths, including why they prioritize private equity and real estate over public bonds. Tad also explains why whole life insurance is almost never a good investment , the difference between revocable and irrevocable trusts for estate planning , and sophisticated tax strategies for selling concentrated stock positions—like Exchange Funds and Direct Indexing—without triggering a massive tax bill. Check out the company: https://longangle.com----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------📚 NETWORK BEFORE YOU NEED IT (6 LESSONS THAT MADE SEAN $15M)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▶ Get my eBook free - https://welivetobuild.com/network-----------------------------------📈 WORK WITH ME-----------------------------------▶ Buy 300 Lessons From 300 Founders: https://welivetobuild.com/300-lessons-ebook▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://welivetobuild.com/book-a-call▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/sponsorship---------------------------------------------👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN---------------------------------------------▶ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot▶ Inquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com---------------------------🕒 CHAPTERS---------------------------00:00 - Sudden Wealth: Why You Don't Need a Wealth Manager Yet02:55 - High Net Worth Insurance (Umbrella & Carriers)05:54 - Stop Buying Whole Life Insurance08:33 - Estate Planning: Revocable vs. Irrevocable Trusts11:25 - Are Offshore Trusts (Cook Islands) Worth the Risk?14:46 - Asset Allocation: Why the Wealthy Don't Own Bonds17:26 - The "Portfolio Line of Credit" Strategy (No Cash Drag)20:23 - Private Equity vs. Public Markets25:46 - How to Sell Concentrated Stock Without Taxes (Exchange Funds)27:51 - Using Direct Indexing for Tax Loss Harvesting29:16 - The 12-Month "Cooling Off" Rule for WindfallsLeave a Review (it truly helps us grow): https://welivetobuild.com/reviewHow I Made $15M: https://welivetobuild.com/networkSubscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@seanweisbrotFollow Sean on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.