Reimagine Your Startup for the Age of AI

Does your B2B startup, founded before the 2023 AI boom, feel outdated? Has growth slowed while AI-native competitors surge ahead? Don't panic. It's not too late to adapt.

We are early. https://t.co/OoIjhQghBN

— Akshay Krishnaswamy (@hyperindexed) May 5, 2025

The Pre-AI Stigma and the Opportunity

Pre-2023 startups face a challenge: the "pre-AI" label. VCs prioritize AI-native companies, and the market demands AI capabilities. Founders worry about becoming legacy businesses overnight.

However, many leading AI companies today were founded pre-2023. Companies like OpenAI, Hugging Face, and Databricks didn't start with a complete AI vision. They pivoted and evolved.

Re-Founding Your Startup: A Practical Approach

Successful founders aren't abandoning their businesses; they're re-founding them around AI. This involves making hard product decisions, redefining value propositions, and potentially creating dedicated AI teams.

Consider these steps:

  1. Hard product decisions: Determine which parts of your product can be AI-enhanced versus rebuilt.
  2. Build for the future: Develop the product you would build today, starting from scratch, while supporting existing customers.
  3. Redefine your value proposition: Showcase your new AI-powered capabilities.
  4. Create a skunkworks team: A dedicated AI team can accelerate progress.
  5. Embrace change: Adapt to the faster pace of the AI era.

The Pre-AI Advantage

Pre-AI startups have distinct advantages:

  • Existing customers and proven problem-solving: You understand your market and its needs.
  • Deep domain expertise: This is crucial for applying AI effectively.
  • Established infrastructure: You have a foundation to build upon.
  • Revenue stability: This provides runway for experimentation.
  • Differentiation: You're not just another AI startup.

The Re-Founding Playbook

  1. Audit your current value and team: Be honest about your strengths and weaknesses.
  2. Find your AI wedge: Identify one key workflow where AI can create significant improvement. Focus on building this first.
  3. Talk to your customers: Understand their needs and how AI can best serve them.
  4. Consider a dual-track approach: Develop your AI future alongside your core business.

The Time to Act Is Now

The AI revolution is still in its early stages. While you may be late to the party, there's still time. Re-founding your startup now positions you as an early adopter, bridging the gap between proven business models and AI innovation.

Don't be intimidated by the "pre-AI" label. Embrace your experience and leverage your existing foundation to build a successful AI-powered future. The window of opportunity is closing, but it's not shut. Act now.