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Why should most startups avoid hiring a PR agency until after their Series A? Jackson Wightman, founder of a tech PR firm, argues that early-stage companies often waste money on agencies before they are ready. In this interview, he breaks down the right time to invest in public relations and why the playing field has tilted against those who ignore AI. Jackson also reveals how AI has fundamentally changed the agency model—allowing him to grow 15-20% without hiring junior employees. He discusses the problem of "AI Slop" in media pitches, the terrifying reality of a "lost generation" of workers who can't get entry-level experience, and how Chinese manufacturers are aggressively taking over Amazon's "Buy Box" by bypassing traditional branding. Check out the company: https://properpropoganda.net----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------📚 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 - How AI Changed the PR Industry Forever01:32 - Why Your Startup Shouldn't Hire a PR Agency Yet02:52 - The Plague of "AI Slop" in Pitch Emails05:31 - Using AI for Media Training & Research08:38 - Why We Stopped Hiring Junior Employees10:48 - Is the Career Ladder Broken? (The Junior Talent Crisis)13:21 - The Future of Work: Scared to Have Kids?17:45 - How Chinese Brands Are Dominating Amazon21:58 - Trust & Brand Equity: Why Product Isn't Everything26:17 - The Translation Fail That Hurt a Game Launch28:58 - The #1 Rule for Agency Success: Run by NumbersLeave 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 the $400 billion currently being poured into AI infrastructure a visionary bet or a massive bubble waiting to burst? Vijay Rajendran explains why we are seeing the biggest investment in fixed capital since the railroads, and what could cause it all to come crashing down. In this interview, Vijay and Sean discuss the new velocity of fundraising, where startups hit $100M ARR in months, and the rise of "seed-strapping" (raising once, then profiting). They also debate why VCs are obsessed with "founder pedigree," the structural reasons why European startups struggle to scale compared to the US, and the geopolitical shocks (food and fuel prices) that could abruptly end the AI party. Check out the company: https://gai.ventures----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------📚 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 - How AI Changed Fundraising Forever00:40 - The Anomaly: 0 to $100M Revenue in 12 Months04:02 - What is "Seed-Strapping"? (Profitable & Funded)09:02 - The Pedigree Trap: Why VCs Obsess Over Stanford/Ex-OpenAI10:07 - The Alumni Ventures Model14:43 - Silicon Valley vs. Lisbon: Why Europe Can't Scale17:32 - The Bureaucracy Problem in the EU23:34 - The $400B Bet: Will the AI Bubble Burst?27:32 - The "Geopolitical Shock" That Could Crash the Market29:59 - How to Win Investor Money Right Now (Momentum)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.

In the "Amazon Age," customers expect custom products yesterday. Eric Turney explains why businesses are now "forced to automate" or get left behind. In this interview, he reveals how Chinese manufacturers are using robotics to reduce factory lines from 50 workers to just 5 and why speed is now the most critical metric for survival. The conversation delves into the practical side of automation: using Monday.com to manage thousands of orders , implementing AI image editors to stay competitive , and the controversial rise of "Vibe Coding." Eric shares how he bypassed expensive developers to fix a critical website bug in 30 minutes using Claude AI , while Sean details how he built a functional SaaS tool using Cursor without writing the code himself. Check out the company: https://montereycompany.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 - The State of Automation in E-Commerce00:53 - How Robots Replaced 90% of Factory Workers03:28 - Dialing in Manufacturing Processes in China07:15 - Automating Order Management (Monday.com)11:21 - The "Amazon Age": Why Speed is Everything13:15 - Adopt AI or Get Left Behind16:05 - Vibe Coding: Replacing Developers with AI19:53 - Sean's Story: Building a SaaS App with Cursor27:10 - Fixing Critical Bugs in 30 Minutes with Claude32:38 - The Reality of Buying a Business (It's Hard)34:36 - Why Culture is Your Best Retention StrategyLeave 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 did people turn down a $5,000 cash reward for referring a candidate? Dakota Younger discovered a strange psychological phenomenon while building his referral platform: offering money sometimes decreases motivation. In this interview, he breaks down the complex psychology of incentives, explaining why altruism often outperforms cash and how to structure a referral program that actually works. Dakota also explains why posting jobs is the least effective way to hire, the power of accessing passive talent through social capital, and the "Ice Cream Study" theory on why giving people too many choices leads to decision paralysis. Finally, he shares his most humbling lesson as a founder: admitting that he knows "absolutely nothing." Check out the company: https://goboon.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 Most Hiring Tools Fail (Employer-Centric)01:39 - The Power of Social Capital in Referrals04:10 - Why "Passive Talent" is the Gold Standard06:27 - Hiring Remote Developers (Sean's Experience)11:26 - How to Incentivize Referrals (Points vs. Cash)16:34 - Why People Declined My $5,000 Cash Reward18:34 - The Psychology of Altruism vs. Money23:20 - The "Ice Cream Study": Why Less Choice is More28:34 - Cultural Differences in Motivation (Asia vs. West)31:35 - The #1 Lesson: "I Know Absolutely Nothing"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 did David Windley disrupt the recruiting industry by moving from commissions to an hourly model? In this interview, he reveals how he scaled his firm to $50 million in revenue before selling it. He explains why the traditional 33% commission model is broken for clients and how he implemented a professional services approach instead. David unpacks the terrifying reality of a 75% revenue drop during COVID and how furloughing staff saved the company. He also shares why he spun out a software startup (Hoot Recruit) to build AI agents for sourcing, the truth about whether AI will replace human recruiters, and his #1 rule for leadership: character over competence.Check out the company: https://iqrecruit.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 - The $50M Exit & The Hardest Part 00:41 - Surviving a 75% Revenue Drop During COVID 03:11 - Rebuilding to $50M Revenue Post-Pandemic 05:54 - Why I Sold the Business (The "Accidental Entrepreneur") 06:06 - Hourly vs. Commission: Disrupting the Recruiting Model 09:35 - Why the Industry Hates the Hourly Model 12:42 - How to Generate $50M on Hourly Rates 14:00 - Spinning Out "Hoot Recruit" Software  16:35 - Using AI Agents for Candidate Sourcing 19:26 - Will AI Replace Recruiters? (Human in the Loop) 25:30 - AI Bias and Why Humans Are Still Needed 27:26 - The #1 Leadership Rule: Character vs. Competence 29:08 - Why Culture Matters More Than PoliciesLeave 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.

Don't miss out on this game-changing Cursor technique designed specifically for AI entrepreneurs. While most use Cursor AI just for coding, there's a revolutionary way to manage your entire business, documents, emails, projects, and sales, directly within its interface, treating everything like code in a GitHub repository. In this demo, Seva Ustinov unveils this powerful workflow. Forget scattered AI tools; see how centralizing your company's context (strategy docs, meeting transcripts, competitor analysis) allows AI agents like Claude inside Cursor to automate huge portions of your non-coding work. Learn how this technique saves hours, increases accuracy, and could be the key to building a leaner, faster AI-driven business. Check out the company: https://ellyanalytics.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 - The Cursor Technique AI Entrepreneurs NEED to Know01:27 - Why This Beats ChatGPT for Business Management01:55 - LIVE DEMO: Managing Business Docs in Cursor AI04:05 - Applying the Technique to Internal Company Ops06:03 - Maintaining Context: Cursor vs. Chat Threads07:14 - You're Still Responsible for the AI Output08:31 - Building Your "Canonical" Knowledge Base in Cursor11:35 - Using the Cursor Technique for Product Roadmapping18:30 - How This Technique Enables Leaner Teams19:10 - Managing Client Projects with the Cursor Technique22:15 - Seva's AI Product: Automating Performance Marketing31:58 - Why This Cursor Technique IS The Future of Work38:05 - Demo: AI Marketing Agent Based on Cursor Context46:03 - Automating Knowledge Extraction with This TechniqueLeave 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.

Which is harder: being a founder or being an investor? Mike Lazerow has done both, building and selling companies for nearly $1 billion and now running a $400M VC fund and a PE firm. His answer might surprise you. In this interview, Mike unpacks the "existential dread" of entrepreneurship versus the challenges of deploying capital. He shares why he's most excited about AI transforming "boring" businesses , the reality of feeling lost and purposeless after a massive exit, and the single most important lesson he's learned: your network is your net worth. Check out the company: https://velvetseavc.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 - Founder vs. Investor: Which is Harder?01:19 - Why I Still Prefer Being an Entrepreneur02:04 - Scratching Both Itches: VC vs. PE05:49 - The Best Part of Being an Investor07:23 - Why AI Will Revolutionize "Boring" Businesses12:03 - The Post-Exit Depression No One Talks About14:30 - Feeling Lost After Selling for $1 Billion16:01 - Why We're the Luckiest People in the World19:57 - Why I Keep My Anonymity23:36 - Money Buys Security, Health & Freedom27:30 - Why Idle Brains Go Dark31:41 - Your Network IS Your Net Worth38:45 - Giving GaryVee His First Office Space40:40 - The #1 Rule in Life & BusinessLeave 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.

Jeff Archibald is one of the lucky few who was able to sell his agency, and now he advises other agency owners. In this interview, he reveals what he would do differently if he had to start his agency all over again. We break down the critical mistakes most founders make, starting with the failure to set revenue goals and reverse-engineer a plan to meet them. Jeff explains why being too risk-averse and not reinvesting a portion of revenue into promotion hindered his agency's growth. He also shares the powerful 3-tier proposal method he adopted that transformed his pricing strategy by removing the fear of overpricing , and explains why you must proactively plan for your company's future instead of just reactively hiring when you get busy. This is a masterclass in building a sellable agency the right way. Check out the company: https://www.jeffarchibald.ca----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------📚 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 - Thing #1: Reverse-Engineer Your Revenue Goals02:28 - Why "Making Money" Isn't Enough to Survive08:17 - Thing #2: Reinvest in Promotion From Day One10:06 - Thing #3: Build Strategic Partnerships Intentionally15:10 - Thing #4: Master The 3-Tier Pricing Proposal21:40 - The Psychology of Price Anchoring24:01 - Thing #5: Proactively Plan For Growth (Stop Reactive Hiring)28:18 - The Hard Truth About Your Identity After an Exit29:53 - Recovering From Founder BurnoutLeave 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.

Everyone is talking about an "AI-First" content strategy, but it's the wrong mentality, and it's killing your founder authority. In a world drowning in noise, you don't need to be everywhere; you need to be "undeniable where it counts." This interview with Ethan Monkhouse, founder of Naviro, breaks down the new rules for building authority as a founder. We explore why quality content is a hundredfold more important than quantity and how to use AI as a co-pilot for the heavy lifting, not as a replacement for human creativity. You'll learn the fatal flaw in most AI content tools and the framework for a content funnel that attracts your ideal customers without turning you into just another "supplier." Check out the company: https://naviro.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 - Be Undeniable Where It Counts01:36 - Quality vs. Quantity in the Age of AI02:01 - Why The "AI-First" Mentality is Wrong02:30 - AI is The Co-Pilot, Not The Pilot04:09 - The Big Flaw in AI Content Tools05:48 - Building Your Content Funnel Framework08:36 - Why Your Content Must Be Evergreen12:24 - The #1 Mistake That Gets You Marked as a "Supplier"14:19 - Content Attracts, The Funnel Sells22:51 - Your LinkedIn Profile is a Landing Page, Not a Resume24:22 - The Most Important Lesson of My LifeLeave 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.

For many ambitious founders, bootstrapping is a slow death. After building a profitable, high seven-figure SaaS company for 10 years, Sameer Narkar realized his self-funded model was no longer enough to win. In this interview, Sameer explains why the AI revolution is forcing successful bootstrapped companies into raising funds to move faster. He breaks down his decision to seek investment after a decade of profitability, why he believes thinking about an exit is a distraction from building a great product, and how he plans to use the new capital to "buy growth" by investing in experienced sales teams and partnerships rather than burning cash on ads. Check out the company: https://konnectinsights.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 I'm Abandoning My 8-Figure Bootstrap Business00:35 - The AI Arms Race Demands Speed02:42 - Fundraising With No Plan to Exit?04:28 - Is a "Lifestyle Business" a Bad Thing?08:20 - How $15M Changes a Profitable Company09:50 - The "Spend $110 for every $100 Earned" Growth Model12:01 - Why We Invest in Partnerships, Not Google Ads15:20 - Why We're Hiring Expensive, Experienced Sales Vets18:10 - Our Content Strategy: Case Studies & Industry Reports23:05 - The Hardest Part of The Bootstrapping Journey27:57 - The Most Important Lesson After 10 Years as a FounderLeave 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.