Motivation Toronto

How two founders built a Toronto AI startup from $0 to $200K in just 90 days.No hype. Just mindset, discipline, and execution.In this episode, Motivation Toronto founder Abrham sits down with Jack Lau and Zeeshan, co founders of Searcle, an AI startup disrupting the marketing industry, to break down how they built a Toronto based company from $0 to $200,000 in revenue in just 90 days.Jack brings a sharp analytical edge from his background as a quant on Wall Street, while Zeeshan is a four time startup founder who has built and scaled companies across multiple industries. Together, they combine deep technical thinking with real world execution.Jack and Zeeshan share their unfiltered journey from early ideas and tough decisions to the mindset, discipline, and systems that fueled rapid growth without hype. We dive into entrepreneurship, fear, momentum, consistency, and what it truly takes to build something meaningful in today’s tech landscape.If you are a founder, builder, or someone questioning the safe path, this conversation will challenge how you think about growth, risk, and what it really means to bet on yourself.Timestamps00:00 How a Toronto AI startup went from $0 to $200K in 90 days01:07 Meet Zeeshan, a 10 year startup founder who’s seen it all01:24 From Wall Street quant to AI startup founder02:09 Why Jack walked away from Wall Street02:59 Why Zeeshan chose entrepreneurship over safety05:16 Jack’s biggest wins and painful failures07:05 Zeeshan’s hardest lessons as a founder08:48 The failed startup idea that taught them everything11:10 What Searcle AI actually does and why it matters14:37 Who their real customers are17:10 The biggest mistake founders make with AI search19:15 How Searcle gets companies discovered by AI tools20:10 The content strategy founders should be using right now21:27 How to market in an AI driven search world23:18 The exact playbook behind $0 to $200K ARR in 90 days24:14 How joining Focal Ventures changed everything26:05 The mistakes killing most early stage startups26:32 First principles thinking every founder needs27:20 Why sales comes before product28:10 Do you actually need a great idea to win?29:49 The fastest way to validate before building30:04 How smart founders get early insights31:24 Jack’s real strategy for landing customers33:00 How to run discovery calls that convert34:31 Zeeshan’s outreach strategy that works35:41 Why getting a job might make you a better founder36:46 How to cold call without sounding desperate38:12 Why authenticity beats tactics every time39:04 Preparation and proactivity separate winners39:56 Generic vs personalized outreach and what actually converts43:33 Toronto vs SF vs NYC for startups, the truth43:53 Inside the Toronto hacker house45:10 What SF teaches founders fast46:17 Build for customers, not VCs47:47 The vision they’re building toward49:01 Why pivots are inevitable in AI startups49:31 The mindset that separates AI founders50:01 How lean their team really is50:36 Where to find Jack and Zeeshan🎙️ Topics We CoverHow Searcle AI went from $0 → $200K in 90 daysEarly mistakes and lessons learnedThe mindset required to move fast without burning outBuilding an AI startup in TorontoStaying motivated through uncertaintyAdvice for aspiring founders and entrepreneurs🚀 About the GuestsJack Lau – Co-Founder, Searcle AI🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacktlau/Zeeshan – Co-Founder, Searcle AI🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zeeshansh/🔗 Learn more about Searcle AI: https://www.searcle.ai/🎧 About Motivation TorontoMotivation Toronto is a podcast highlighting driven, disciplined, and ambitious people who are building meaningful careers, companies, and lives in Toronto and beyond.If this episode resonated with you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who could use the motivation.For inquiries, collaborations, or guest opportunities, reach out at [email protected]👉 Subscribe for weekly conversations with founders, builders, and high performers.#MotivationToronto #Entrepreneurship #StartupPodcast #TorontoTech #AIStartup