We Live to Build

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👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - Why 10x Growth is Easier Than 2x 01:29 - How to Audit Your Calendar for "Noise"02:40 - Charging for Value ($1M+) vs. Software Licenses 06:00 - The Hermes Strategy: Why Premium Pricing Wins 07:13 - The "Athlete Mindset": Discipline & Recovery 10:04 - Building Culture Remotely (VR Nights & Off-Seasons) 12:15 - Running Your Startup in "Seasons" (The NFL Model) 14:26 - The Netflix "Keeper Test" for Employees 16:15 - Why We Raised $15M (Speed vs. Bootstrapping) 18:30 - The "LLM Wrapper" Debate: Why Engineering Matters 21:40 - Business Model Innovation as a Moat 27:53 - The #1 Lesson: Stop Playing Not to Lose📈 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.ai

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.ai

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.ai

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👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - Why Leaders Are Creating AI Fear 03:32 - The "10-Year Clock" Until Work Becomes Optional 06:20 - Will AI Kill Junior Jobs? (The Skill Gap Crisis) 09:30 - How to Document Your Processes for AI 12:12 - "Vibe Coding" vs. Building Real Systems 16:40 - Automating the "Boring Work" (Sales CRM Example) 20:53 - Sean's Struggle to Automate His Podcast 24:30 - Why I Love Working in the Terminal (No UI) 28:50 - The Future of AI Agents & Automation 33:40 - Firing 50 People: The Hard Truth About Efficiency📈 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.ai

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👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - Why Agencies Use Duda vs. WordPress/Wix 03:00 - The New SEO: Ranking on ChatGPT & AI Search 06:27 - 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 Agencies 26:40 - Surviving 2 Years of Flat Growth 31:50 - There is No Single Playbook for Success📈 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.ai

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👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - Sudden Wealth: Why You Don't Need a Wealth Manager Yet 02:55 - High Net Worth Insurance (Umbrella & Carriers) 05:54 - Stop Buying Whole Life Insurance 08:33 - Estate Planning: Revocable vs. Irrevocable Trusts 11:25 - Are Offshore Trusts (Cook Islands) Worth the Risk? 14:46 - Asset Allocation: Why the Wealthy Don't Own Bonds 17:26 - The "Portfolio Line of Credit" Strategy (No Cash Drag) 20:23 - Private Equity vs. Public Markets 25:46 - How to Sell Concentrated Stock Without Taxes (Exchange Funds) 27:51 - Using Direct Indexing for Tax Loss Harvesting 29:16 - The 12-Month "Cooling Off" Rule for Windfalls📈 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.ai🎧 LISTEN TO THE AUDIO VERSIONSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68lykxIMOyofZNiWSF4vFxiTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-live-to-build/id1531994765

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👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - How AI Changed the PR Industry Forever 01:32 - Why Your Startup Shouldn't Hire a PR Agency Yet 02:52 - The Plague of "AI Slop" in Pitch Emails 05:31 - Using AI for Media Training & Research 08:38 - Why We Stopped Hiring Junior Employees 10:48 - 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 Amazon 21:58 - Trust & Brand Equity: Why Product Isn't Everything 26:17 - The Translation Fail That Hurt a Game Launch 28:58 - The #1 Rule for Agency Success: Run by Numbers📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/collaborate▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.ai🎧 LISTEN TO THE AUDIO VERSIONSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68lykxIMOyofZNiWSF4vFxiTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-live-to-build/id1531994765

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👀 CONNECT WITH SEANSubscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@seanweisbrotLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrotInquiries: welivetobuild@gmail.com🕒 CHAPTERS00:00 - How AI Changed Fundraising Forever 00:40 - The Anomaly: 0 to $100M Revenue in 12 Months 04:02 - What is "Seed-Strapping"? (Profitable & Funded) 09:02 - The Pedigree Trap: Why VCs Obsess Over Stanford/Ex-OpenAI 10:07 - The Alumni Ventures Model 14:43 - Silicon Valley vs. Lisbon: Why Europe Can't Scale 17:32 - The Bureaucracy Problem in the EU 23:34 - The $400B Bet: Will the AI Bubble Burst? 27:32 - The "Geopolitical Shock" That Could Crash the Market 29:59 - How to Win Investor Money Right Now (Momentum)📈 WORK WITH ME▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/ai-startup-fundraising▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/ai-product-testing▶ My AI/Automation Agency: https://optimai.ai🎧 LISTEN TO THE AUDIO VERSIONSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68lykxIMOyofZNiWSF4vFxiTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-live-to-build/id1531994765