What if you could build your startup with AI at the core—not just as a tool, but as your unfair advantage?
From zero to scaling with global enterprises, Waseem has navigated the toughest questions around AI product strategy, enterprise GTM, and building defensible tech in an increasingly crowded space. If you’re a founder, operator, or builder, this session will challenge how you think about product, speed, and storytelling in the AI era.
Expect to learn:
🔥 How to build a truly AI-native company
📈 What early product bets actually paid off
💰 Fundraising lessons for AI startups
🚀 The real GTM moves that win enterprise customers
Whether you’re still validating your idea or scaling your Series A, this is the conversation you don’t want to miss.
Agenda
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Speaker
Waseem Alshikh - Writer (Co-founder & CTO)
Waseem Alshikh is a seasoned technology leader and entrepreneur with extensive experience in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. He is the co-founder and CTO of Writer, a leading generative AI platform built for enterprises that enables companies to create content that is consistent and on-brand. Platform used by companies such as Marriott, Braintree, Un…
Host
Derek Andersen - Bevy / Startup Grind (Co-founder & CEO)
For the past 15 years Derek has been building communities. He is the Co-founder/CEO of Bevy, a SaaS product that helps companies like Salesforce, Atlassian, Google, Snowflake, and Adobe build virtual and in-person communities. He co-founded Startup Grind, a community of 600 Chapters in 125 countries educating, inspiring, and connecting startup people. Since 2012, Startup Grind has hosted 15,000 e…
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Global Partner
Google Cloud (https://cloud.google.com/resources/content/future-of-ai-report?utm_source=events-with-google&utm_medium=et&utm_campaign=FY25-Q1-NORTHAM-SMB31054-website-dl-AIThoughtLeader-52420&utm_content=startup-grind&utm_term=-&hl=en)
Partner
Canopy (https://www.canopy.space/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAzba9BhBhEiwA7glbamajlAS-Peyz85om27RQ04GCHvd5SsgCqNxHM2748nYsC3PWyX_DbxoCS-IQAvD_BwE)
We are products of our environment and we take this to heart. CANOPY’s boutique, sustainable, design-forward flexible office and coworking spaces enable creativity and productivity to flow freely with limited distractions.
CANOPY is more than a workplace—it’s where a vibrant and creative community of members gather to inspire and be inspired.
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Startup Grind is a global startup community designed to educate, inspire, and connect entrepreneurs. We host monthly events in more than 600 cities and 125+ countries featuring successful local founders, innovators, educators and investors who share personal stories and lessons learned on the road to building great companies. Our monthly fireside chat interviews, startup mixers and annual conferences provide ample opportunities to connect with amazing startups and the people behind them, tap into a strong support network, form meaningful connections and gain inspiration for the startup journey ahead. For more information visit StartupGrind.com or follow us on twitter @StartupGrind.
Complete your event RSVP here: https://www.startupgrind.com/events/details/startup-grind-silicon-valley-san-francisco-bay-area-presents-building-with-ai-from-day-one-lessons-for-startups/.
