Episode 354: Building AI-Powered Companies Through Strategic Bootstrapping with Hikari Senju

Hikari Senju did something different. While everyone else was chasing VCs, he built Omneky to millions in revenue first. After seeing AI generate art at MIT, this Harvard CS grad knew the future. But when investors didn't bite in 2018 ("AI is vaporware," "advertising is too competitive"), he didn't give up. He bootstrapped. Two years. Living hand-to-mouth. Building real revenue. His philosophy: "Build a company that deserves capital." The result? When he finally raised money, he had leverage. He was selecting partners, not begging for checks. Three insights from our conversation that reinforce critical deal principles: Strategic exits: He took less money from his first sale to learn inside a funded startup. That buyer became his first investor in Omneky. The deserve capital test: Growing 3x with strong margins? Investment should be obvious. If not, keep building. Infinite game thinking: Every deal starts a relationship. Your vendor today might be your investor tomorrow. From selling art to grandma at 7 to serving Fortune 100s with AI. • • •FOR MORE ON THIS EPISODE:https://www.coreykupfer.com/blog/hikarisenju• • • FOR MORE ON HIKARI SENJULinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hisenju/Omneky: www.omneky.com FOR MORE ON COREY KUPFERhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/coreykupfer/https://www.coreykupfer.com/ Corey Kupfer is an expert strategist, negotiator, and dealmaker. He has more than 35 years of professional deal-making and negotiating experience. Corey is a successful entrepreneur, attorney, consultant, author, and professional speaker. He is deeply passionate about deal-driven growth. He is also the creator and host of the DealQuest Podcast.Get deal-ready with the DealQuest Podcast with Corey Kupfer, where like-minded entrepreneurs and business leaders converge, share insights and challenges, and success stories. Equip yourself with the tools, resources, and support necessary to navigate the complex yet rewarding world of dealmaking. Dive into the world of deal-driven growth today!