On Between Meetings, I interviewed Ed Kang, CSO of Startups.com, about his startup journey, Startups.com's unique non-dilutive model, and his passion for helping founders (especially with pitch decks via his YouTube channel). He also shared insights on AI in startups/consulting, emphasizing investor understanding and the current AI saturation.

Takeaways:

• Startups.com: Non-dilutive accelerator supporting underserved founders & raising significant capital.
• Pitch Decks: Avoid mismatching investors, customer-focused language, lack of clarity, and problem misidentification.
• AI in Startups: Essential but facing "AI washing" and solution saturation. Focus on future AI applications.
• AI Productivity: Automates tasks, boosts efficiency in consulting & other fields.
• Democratizing AI: Start with conversational AI (ChatGPT) and explore from there.
• Startup Community: Startups.com offers community, advice, and support.
• Founder Content: Ed Kang's YouTube channel provides free pitch deck resources.
• Value Exchange: Free content is plentiful, but direct consulting is limited; consider community engagement.

Ed Kang is a startup advisor, executive coach, and Registered Organization Development Consultant (RODC) with a long history of serial entrepreneurship, including raising over $100M. He advises and consults for startups, accelerators, and funds, and serves as Chief Strategy Officer at Startups.com. He has guided over 600 founders through all stages of venture building, from launch to funding and scaling.

Between Meetings is a series of on-the-go interviews featuring industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators. In these interviews, we delve into the latest trends and developments in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, catching our guests between meetings in a car ride across town. Along the way, they share inspiring stories, personal experiences, industry insights, and practical advice on how to scale your way to success. Each interview is packed with valuable information and inspiration for anyone looking to make an impact in the tech and innovation world.

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