From Layoff to Launch: Building an AI Business from the Ground Up

From Layoff to Launch: Building an AI Businessfrom the Ground Up with Cooper CraigWhen a product manager loses his job, what happens next? For Cooper Craig, it meant building his own AI automation agencyfrom scratch. In this episode, he shares how grit, community, and product thinking helped him rebuild—turning job loss into a thriving business. From building voice agents that actually sound human to managing growth without funding, Cooper’s story is the blueprint for every PM who’s ever asked, “What’snext?”Key Topics Discussed in This Episode1. The PM to Founder Leap:How Cooper turned a layoff into a launchpad by applying product management frameworks to entrepreneurship.2. Building Voice AI That Doesn’t Sound Like a Robot:The art (and headaches) of designing conversational AI that’s actually human.3. Product Thinking as a Superpower:Why being a PM made him better at pitching, prioritizing, and delivering value—client by client.Why Listen to This Episode?In this refreshingly honest conversation, you’ll gain:A real look at what it takes to rebuild after a layoff.Frameworks to apply PM thinking to entrepreneurship.Lessons on balancing AI innovation with boundaries (and burnout).A reminder that humility and hustle can be your biggest assets.Because every PM secretly dreams of building something of their own—Cooper just did it first.Related ResourcesCheck out these additional tools and resources to add to your PM belt:Productside Resource LibraryMore Productside Stories Podcast EpisodesExplore Productside Courses