the future belongs to ai startup founders who continue to talk about their category long after the launch hype fades.

In 2024, SF AI startups pulled in nearly $70 billion, over half of all global AI venture funding. the takeover is happening.

If someone’s googling your ai startup name, they’re already halfway to buying. And if you’re not the top result? Your competitor might be. Owning your name on Google is the cheapest way to defend your brand and convert warm traffic. It’s not optional. It’s insurance.

5 signs your AI startup is underusing email: • No opt-in offer, just “join our newsletter” • Emails are written last minute • You have one list, no segments • You treat it like support, not conversations • You only send 1 per week send more emails, make more money.

a lot of ai startups in SF want more traffic. But are you converting the traffic you already have? because pouring more water into a leaky bucket won't help.

amateurs reason by analogy. pro's reason from first principles.

what if school just taught us about other people’s mistakes. I feel like the world would be a much better place. it seems like we just repeat the same mistakes over and over again. like we have to find out for ourselves before believing it’s a mistake.

cultural trends are creating more economic value than ever. and SF Ai startups who understand internet culture have a competitive advantage over those who don’t.

three modern mechanics exist for maximum leverage: write once → many read (signull on x) build once → many use (signull labs) invest once → many gain (signull ventures) we’re eventually going to pull all of them.

don’t optimize for attention. optimize for resonance.

optimizing for any and all forms of attention is for reality tv stars, not startup founders.

bullish on ai startup founders in SF who watch a lot of movies and understand the art of story.

3 steps ai startups can use to turn website traffic into email subscribers: • Find 1 specific outcome your users want • Build a 5-day email course to deliver that outcome • Create a simple landing page with a compelling headline It’s not “just traffic” if it becomes a list.

Old website strategy: • Static homepage • Footer form: “Join our newsletter” • Hope they come back New strategy: • Outcome-driven 5-day email course • Above-the-fold opt-in • Turn one visit into five email touches Don’t just get traffic. Start conversations.

ai startups in SF misunderstand "product led growth." they think it means a bunch of users talking about their product and referring others. which is true. but... word of mouth only scales when each user is using the same language to describe or refer your product.

Why most SF AI startups waste website traffic: • No email capture • “Subscribe to our newsletter” form buried in the footer • No clear value exchange • No follow-up once the user leaves don't waste traffic, capture it with a 5-day EEC and follow up on autopilot.

This is what trying to compete on brand, instead of differentiated category, looks like.

you wouldn’t want your wife comparing you to all her past boyfriends 24/7. but this is what life’s gonna be like for all these companies. they’re gonna live in an endless loop of “better” “cheaper” “faster” “smarter.” why? just like Cole said. competing on brand.

most SF AI startup websites are built to impress, not convert. a sleek homepage with no real opt-in is like having a beautiful storefront with the doors locked. a 5-day email course gives the right visitors a reason to stay, plus gives you a way to follow up on autopilot.

Benefits of a 5-day educational email course for AI startups in SF: • Warms up social/website traffic • Differentiates you from other brands • Builds trust • Can convert 20–50% vs <5% on your site • Grows a targeted email list • Runs while you’re building or sleeping