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Strategic Communications Advisory For Visionary Founders
Conversation
Highlights
Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech’s most innovative B2B founders. In today’s episode, we’re speaking with Anand Kulkarni, CEO of Crowdbotics, a rapid application development platform that’s raised $58 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
- Early AI Adoption: Anand’s early belief in AI’s potential for software development positioned Crowdbotics as a pioneer, even before AI became mainstream in the tech community.
- Responding to Market Skepticism: Crowdbotics faced early doubts about the feasibility of AI-driven software development, highlighting the challenge of introducing innovative solutions in a skeptical market.
- Focus on Regulated Industries: Unexpectedly, Crowdbotics found its niche in regulated sectors like healthcare and government, underscoring the importance of being responsive to market needs in shaping product strategy.
- CodeOps Movement: Anand discusses the emergence of CodeOps as a new category, reflecting Crowdbotics’ role in shaping industry trends and practices through innovation.
- Systematic Fundraising Approach: Anand shares insights on the necessity of a methodical fundraising strategy, engaging with a wide range of investors to ensure long-term success.
- Government Contracting Persistence: The journey to securing government contracts taught the team valuable lessons in perseverance and opened up a significant market for Crowdbotics.
Actionable
Takeaways
Embrace AI Early, But Strategically:
Anand’s engagement with AI from the outset of Crowdbotics, despite market skepticism, illustrates the value of investing in emerging technologies. Yet, his approach wasn’t just about jumping on a bandwagon; it was about foreseeing the strategic application of AI in software development. For tech founders, this underscores the importance of not only adopting new technologies early but doing so with a clear vision of how they can fundamentally transform your offering.
Navigate Market Skepticism with Persistence and Education:
Crowdbotics faced initial doubts about the feasibility of AI-driven software development. This skepticism from the market is a common challenge for pioneering tech solutions. The key takeaway here is the importance of persistence and the role of educating your market. Demonstrating the tangible benefits and reliability of your technology can slowly shift perceptions and open up opportunities.
Identify and Leverage Unexpected Market Opportunities:
Crowdbotics' pivot to serve regulated industries like healthcare and government was not planned from the outset but emerged from listening to the market. This adaptability highlights the importance of being open to and prepared for pivoting your focus based on where the demand is, even if it leads you into areas you hadn't initially considered.
Champion and Shape Emerging Categories:
Crowdbotics is at the forefront of defining and promoting the CodeOps category. This proactive approach to not just participating in but actively shaping an emerging category can position a company as a leader and go-to authority in new industry segments. For founders, this means looking beyond fitting into existing categories and considering how you might define new ones.
Systematize Fundraising as a Rigorous Process:
Anand's experience in fundraising highlights the necessity of treating it as a systematic process that requires dedication and a strategic approach. For founders, it’s crucial to understand that fundraising is not just about selling your vision but about engaging in a structured process that involves thorough preparation, a deep understanding of investor landscapes, and a commitment to engaging a wide array of potential investors.
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