Lessons for early-stage AI founders from Pryon CEO Igor Jablokov

Fund/Build/Scale

Before Igor Jablokov was CEO and founder of Pryon, he worked with Apple on a prototype of Siri. He also founded a speech recognition company that Amazon acquired to develop its Alexa AI and Echo devices.

He joined me on the podcast to talk about the evolution and challenges of building AI technologies and companies, different phases of startup growth, and how AI is transforming enterprise software procurement.

Igor also offered his insights on the current AI hype cycle, explained the concept of “knowledge friction,” and shared some personal anecdotes and observations about achieving enduring entrepreneurial success in the AI domain.

Runtime: 42:55

Episode breakdown

(2:42) “We were their first AI-related acquisition that birthed what many people know as Alexa.”

(6:44) What happens when you can’t commercialize the technology you’ve created?

(9:11) How Pryon originated the concept of “knowledge friction.”

(14:33) Igor deconstructs the three main types of founders working in AI today.

(18:38) Where he thinks we are in the current AI hype cycle.

(21:14) “Before ChatGPT, it was a desert and very few of us survive in the desert with a small amount of water.”

(23:06) Inside Pryon’s September 2023 $100M Series B round.

(25:26) Why early-stage AI startups have a major advantage over legacy tech companies.

(28:07) Founders need “practical experience in an industry that eventually you're going to be a part of.”

(35:00) “Tech is as perishable as fruits and vegetables you can procure from Trader Joe's.”

(38:58) Questions Igor would ask the CEO if he was interviewing for a role with a startup.

Links

• Igor Jablokov, CEO, Pryon
• Pryon
• Pryon Closes $100 Million Series B Round Led by Thomas Tull’s US Innovative Technology Fund
• Amazon.com Acquires Voice Recognition Start-up Yap

• Follow Fund/Build/Scale on Substack

Thanks for listening!

– Walter.

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