EP 34: Alon Talmor is a "Crises-Time" Founder Raising $20M in a Down Market After Losing his COO

In this episode, Alon Talmor, the co-founder of Ask-AI, shares his insights into the future of AI and where the market is today as every company is trying to adapt. He also discusses how he built deep relationships with just a few investors and the challenges he faced raising capital in a down market in a crowded sector. Beginning with the success story of BlueTails, a startup he founded and later sold to Salesforce, Alon walks us through the transition from startup to corporate life. He also talks about how he started Ask-AI and the importance of validation and building relationships with design partners. He shares insights into the fundraising process, including the challenges of raising capital and the importance of honesty and trust with investors. Here's what you're in for: 08:21 Transitioning from startup to corporate 09:07 Starting Ask-AI 10:50 Defining validation and building relationships with partners 15:11 Raising the seed round 32:53 Series A funding and maximizing valuation 35:50 Advice for founders This episode is sponsored by ThunderVC, an investment bank for founders by founders. Raising capital? Get a list of vetted VCs for FREE here: https://web.thunder.vc/list-of-investors-vcs-for-founders  Raising debt? Find the perfect lender in minutes here: https://debt.thunder.vc Get the latest fundraising insights, news, and tips - https://join.thunder.vc ABOUT ASK-AI ASK-AI is a generative AI answers and insights solution for enterprises specializing in the development of AI SideKicks designed to enhance workplace productivity. Ask AI initially focused on enterprise search solutions targeting customer support and documentation pain points, with Alon Talmor funding the early development before seeking external investment. ABOUT ALON TALMOR Alon is a software entrepreneur, AI researcher, and CEO of Ask-AI. He previously worked for an AI company, BlueTail, as a Chief Data Scientist. With a PhD in natural language processing and brain research, Talmor has built a world-class AI product team, including Prof. Jonathan Berant, who leads NLP research at Tel Aviv University. At AllenAI, he spearheaded AI Gamification efforts in Israel, contributing significantly to the advancement of AI technologies. Alon is known for his expertise, sharing interesting thoughts about the connection between AI and the brain in captivating talks. Beyond the professional sphere, he loves extreme sports, playing the piano, and exploring the world. Connect with Alon on: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alontalmor X: https://twitter.com/alontalmor Website: https://www.ask-ai.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alon.talmor/ ABOUT FUNDRAISING DEMYSTIFIED Our goal is simple: to equip you with the knowledge, inspiration, and guidance to navigate the labyrinthine world of fundraising. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking seed funding or an established founder looking to scale your business, this podcast will provide you with the tools you need to conquer the fundraising landscape. Thank you for being a loyal subscriber to Fundraising Demystified. We appreciate your support and are excited to continue bringing you more inspiring stories from successful founders. ABOUT JASON Jason Kirby is the co-founder of Thunder VC. He is a serial entrepreneur with 4 multi-million exits and decades of experience in fundraising and business building. He has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs in his career on fundraising, investing, capital strategy, and business development. You can reach out to Jason through: Email: [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrkirby/