Born In Silicon Valley

Is traditional SEO dead for tech founders? Discover how Generative Engine Optimization is transforming how B2B cybersecurity startups get discovered and scale their growth.
 
In episode 301 of Born in Silicon Valley, Jake Aaron Villarreal sits down with Deepak Gupta, co-founder and CEO of Gracker AI. They dive deep into the evolution of search and why Answer Engine Optimization is the new frontier for marketers and go-to-market teams.
 
Deepak shares his journey from software engineer to serial entrepreneur, explaining how Gracker AI helps young cybersecurity companies outrank legacy competitors on AI platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini. They also discuss the rise of Go-To-Market Engineers and the critical importance of building an AI-first company culture where teams actively share prompts and workflows.
 
Whether you are building a venture-backed SaaS product, optimizing your digital presence, or scaling a technical recruitment strategy, this episode provides actionable insights to master AI visibility.
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Deepak Gupta and Gracker AI04:54 Deepak's Journey as a Serial Entrepreneur09:46 Understanding GEO and AEO in the AI Landscape14:50 The Shift from SEO to AI Search20:04 Gracker AI's Unique Position in the Market21:26 Prompt Monitoring and Data Integration23:59 Building a Team in the Age of AI27:56 Fostering a Knowledge-Sharing Culture31:25 Leading Change in AI Transformation32:41 Leveraging Technology for Growth40:39 Future Growth and Talent Acquisition
 
Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal leads the top AI recruitment firm in Silicon Valley, www.matchrelevant.com, uncovering stories of funded startups and going behind the scenes to tell their founders’ journeys. If you are growing an AI startup or have a great story to tell, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com

Want to know how AI is helping small business owners unlock millions in hidden value before they sell? Discover how Cory Hogan built Unbroker, an AI-native services firm that generated $13 billion in valuations in just six months.
 
In this episode of Born in Silicon Valley, host Jake Aaron Villarreal sits down with Cory Hogan to discuss the massive shift happening on Main Street. With 10 million small business owners preparing to transfer trillions of dollars in wealth over the next decade, Unbroker is stepping in to ensure they get exactly what their life's work is worth.
 
Cory shares his origin story, transitioning from a blue-collar background to scaling Y Combinator startups, and ultimately creating a conversational AI bot that values businesses in under 60 seconds. We explore the unit economics of bootstrapping a massive tech startup and why the human element is more critical than ever in an AI-driven world.
 
Whether you are a startup founder looking for sustainable growth strategies or a business owner planning your future exit, this conversation delivers actionable insights on leveraging artificial intelligence to scale efficiently and hire the right talent based on skill and will.
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background05:55 The Birth of Unbroker11:51 AI's Role in Business Valuation17:56 Navigating the Selling Process23:35 Startup Strategies and Team Dynamics29:47 Hiring in the Age of AI35:55 Future of Unbroker and Closing Thoughts
 
Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal leads the top AI recruitment firm in Silicon Valley, www.matchrelevant.com, uncovering stories of funded startups and going behind the scenes to tell their founders’ journeys. If you are growing an AI startup or have a great story to tell, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com

Missed phone calls are costing the restaurant industry millions of dollars every year, but conversational AI is completely changing the game. In this episode, we explore how cutting-edge voice technology is transforming front-of-house operations and recovering lost revenue for operators nationwide.
 
Christian Wiens, CEO and Co-Founder of Loman AI, shares his journey from working in a beachside barbecue joint to developing the leading voice AI platform for the restaurant sector. He explains the immense operational challenges inherent in the industry and how an intelligent phone agent can seamlessly take orders, process payments, and integrate directly with existing POS systems.
 
Beyond the technology, Christian provides a tactical masterclass on go-to-market strategies for B2B startup founders. From leveraging cold email and paid advertisements to building a powerful organic pipeline, he breaks down exactly what it takes to scale a software business in 2026.
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Podcast Setup04:56 Christian Wiens Introduces Lohman AI06:32 Christian's Background and Entrepreneurial Journey14:41 The Core Problem in Restaurant Phone Operations17:10 How AI Solves Restaurant Call Misses20:25 Surprising Customer Impact Stories25:11 Customer Skepticism and AI Acceptance32:19 Data Insights from Voice AI37:32 Go-to-Market Strategies for AI Startups44:22 The Role of Content and SEO in Growth47:11 Hiring and Building an AI-Driven Team50:12 Current Hiring and Growth at Lohman AI
 
Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal leads the top AI recruitment firm in Silicon Valley, www.matchrelevant.com, uncovering stories of funded startups and going behind the scenes to tell their founders’ journeys. If you are growing an AI startup or have a great story to tell, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com

Discover how artificial intelligence is quietly revolutionizing the five trillion dollar construction supply chain and accelerating the massive data center boom. In this episode, Forest Flager reveals how Parspec leverages agentic AI to cut quoting times from days to seconds, driving billions in electrical product sales.
 
Since our last conversation, Parspec successfully secured a $31 million Series A and expanded its reach beyond electrical into mechanical and plumbing construction materials. Forest shares his insider perspective on how leading distributors are navigating modern procurement, overcoming manual workflow bottlenecks, and capturing new revenue in the rapidly growing data center market.
 
Beyond the product, we dive deep into how Parspec has completely restructured its own engineering teams to maximize the 3x to 5x development speed unlocked by AI coding tools. Forest provides actionable advice for founders on building an AI forward company culture that rewards experimentation over hoarding knowledge.
 
Whether you are building a venture backed startup, managing a global supply chain, or seeking ways to integrate AI into your daily operations, this conversation offers an unfiltered look at enterprise AI adoption that actually drives hard ROI.
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Paraspect and AI in Construction05:00 Expanding Product Offerings and Market Reach09:46 The Role of AI in Procurement and Workflow Automation15:04 Sales Strategy and Market Adoption19:39 Trends in Data Center Construction and Procurement24:49 Labor Dynamics in Data Center Construction25:56 Enhancing Construction Efficiency with Real-Time Data28:30 The Impact of AI on Startup Operations32:36 Navigating the AI Talent Landscape35:36 Fostering a Collaborative AI Culture38:30 Personal AI Tools for Leadership42:30 Future Directions and Team Expansion
 
Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal leads the top AI recruitment firm in Silicon Valley, www.matchrelevant.com, uncovering stories of funded startups and going behind the scenes to tell their founders’ journeys. If you are growing an AI startup or have a great story to tell, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com

Discover how physical artificial intelligence is transforming the manufacturing industry by giving the real world a voice and solving complex operational problems in record time. In this episode, Dave Copps, CEO of Worlds, reveals the groundbreaking shift from static data to live spatial models that allow factories to literally speak to their managers.
 
We explore the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence in physical spaces, highlighting why the days of waiting years for operational technology to show a return on investment are officially over. Dave breaks down how his team deploys intelligent agents to turn environments into continuous streams of spatial data, ensuring safety and massive efficiency gains within just days.
 
You will also learn about the rise of Forward Deployed Engineers and why insatiable curiosity combined with advanced tools like Claude is creating uniquely powerful developers. As companies pivot from simple automation to complex, multi-agent architectures, understanding this transition is crucial for any tech leader or startup founder looking to scale effectively.
 
We also get an exclusive sneak peek into Iris, a revolutionary new system launching soon that enables a facility to communicate directly with its operators during critical events. Tune in to understand why bolting artificial intelligence onto existing software is obsolete and how building native, agentic ecosystems is the true future of enterprise technology.
 
Chapters:00:00 Introduction and Welcome Back02:26 The Rapid Evolution of Physical AI04:57 Transforming Manufacturing with Live Spatial Data08:45 Operational Intelligence versus Traditional Dashboards12:45 Drastically Reducing Time to Value15:22 The Role of Forward Deployed Engineers20:53 The Shift to Native Agentic Software23:25 Delivering Health and Safety Outcomes26:10 Augmenting Human Safety in the Workplace28:46 Introducing Iris: Giving Environments a Voice32:30 Fostering a Culture of Curiosity and Innovation35:43 New Strategies for Interviewing Tech Talent39:01 Open Roles and Career Growth at Worlds42:28 How to Connect with Worlds and Conclusion
 
Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal leads the top AI recruitment firm in Silicon Valley, www.matchrelevant.com, uncovering stories of funded startups and going behind the scenes to tell their founders’ journeys. If you are growing an AI startup or have a great story to tell, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com

Discover how AI is transforming enterprise contact centers from massive cost centers into intelligent command centers. Ali Merchant, CEO of Orvera AI, reveals how his bootstrapped voice AI platform is outperforming billion-dollar competitors with unprecedented resolution rates.
 
With 18 years of experience building a 2000-person contact center firm, Ali shares his insider perspective on why context is the ultimate competitive advantage in generative AI. He breaks down how Orvera AI automates up to 84 percent of complex customer conversations, dramatically improving the lives of contact center leaders and shifting human agents to higher-value roles.
 
This episode dives deep into the future of conversational AI in healthcare, the strategic decision to bootstrap rather than raise venture capital, and actionable hiring advice for startup founders scaling their sales teams. Whether you are building an AI startup or looking to optimize your enterprise operations, this conversation offers a masterclass in product-market fit and sustainable growth.
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Ollie Merchant and Orvera AI01:53 Ollie's Journey in Technology and AI04:00 The Role of AI in Contact Centers07:50 Use Cases of AI in Various Industries12:38 Outperforming Competitors with Contextual Understanding14:55 The Future of Voice AI and Market Competition19:05 AI's Impact on Human Roles in Contact Centers22:02 Bootstrapping vs. Raising Capital24:44 Hiring Strategies for Growing Companies36:11 Mainstream Adoption of AI Voice Technology38:29 Future Roadmap for Orvera AI
 
Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal leads the top AI recruitment firm in Silicon Valley, www.matchrelevant.com, uncovering stories of funded startups and going behind the scenes to tell their founders’ journeys. If you are growing an AI startup or have a great story to tell, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com

Ever wondered what it takes to build a manufacturing plant on the moon? Madison C. Feehan is revolutionizing the multi-billion dollar aerospace supply chain by creating rapidly deployable 3D printers that turn raw dirt and scrap into critical infrastructure.
 
In this episode of Born in Silicon Valley, we sit down with the visionary founder and CEO of Space Copy. Starting her career with NASA at just sixteen years old, Madison has broken barriers in hard tech and lunar resource utilization. She walks us through the monumental challenges of expeditionary manufacturing and how her autonomous robotic systems operate in the most extreme environments, from remote disaster zones on Earth to the lunar surface.
 
We dive deep into the fascinating realities of hard tech fundraising, the vital role of AI in streamlining small startup operations, and the ultimate roadmap for commercializing space exploration. Madison also unpacks how Space Copy achieves construction that is up to seventy percent cheaper and twenty percent faster than traditional methods, ultimately saving lives and pioneering a new frontier in human expansion.
 
Chapters
00:00 Technical Difficulties and Introduction03:07 Madison Feehan's Journey to Space Copy05:11 Understanding Space Copy's Mission08:21 Explaining Space Copy's Technology11:31 Diverse Applications of Space Copy12:27 Surprises in Building Space Copy14:21 Exploring the Scale of 3D Printing Technology16:32 Understanding the 3D Printing Process18:57 Business Models in 3D Printing21:16 Defining Competitive Moats in Hard Tech25:31 Personal Journey and Milestones27:56 The Role of AI in 3D Printing31:16 Challenges of Fundraising in Hard Tech33:52 Future Opportunities in Space Data Centers35:51 Exciting Upcoming Launches and Projects38:10 Building a Culture and Future Team
 
Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal leads the top AI recruitment firm in Silicon Valley, www.matchrelevant.com, uncovering stories of funded startups and going behind the scenes to tell their founders’ journeys. If you are growing an AI startup or have a great story to tell, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com

The construction industry has seen zero productivity growth in over fifty years, but one former US Congressman is using artificial intelligence to change that forever. Discover how Patrick Murphy built Togal.AI to compress weeks of manual blueprint estimating into a seamless process that takes mere seconds.
 
Growing up in a family construction business and serving in Congress gave Patrick the unique perspective needed to revolutionize the real estate industry. In this episode, we dive deep into the archaic workflows of 2D plans, the incredible power of machine vision, and how artificial intelligence is finally bending the cost curve of building.
 
Patrick also shares his high-level insights on building a remote-first tech startup and the striking similarities between political campaigns and MVP product launches. Whether you are scaling a venture-backed startup or fascinated by the future of automation in legacy industries, this conversation delivers massive value.  
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background02:00 From Construction to Politics04:59 Transitioning from Politics to Business10:46 The Role of AI in Construction16:33 Challenges and Opportunities in AI Implementation19:13 Building a Successful Startup21:13 Hiring and Team Building in a Remote World29:04 Growth and Future Opportunities
 
Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal leads the top AI recruitment firm in Silicon Valley, www.matchrelevant.com, uncovering stories of funded startups and going behind the scenes to tell their founders’ journeys. If you are growing an AI startup or have a great story to tell, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com

Are your AI agents secretly compromising your production systems? Vincent Dermont, Co-Founder and Principal Engineer at Guild AI, reveals the unseen dangers of deploying autonomous AI and how to regain control before it is too late.
 
In this episode of Born in Silicon Valley, we dive deep into the chaotic reality of AI integration in modern startups. Vincent shares his journey from building the early foundations of TikTok and engineering at Meta to solving the massive governance problem plaguing tech leaders today.
 
We explore why companies desperately need an AI control plane to manage autonomous agents, the hidden costs of runaway token usage, and how builders can leverage artificial intelligence without sacrificing platform security. Whether you are an engineer trying to stay relevant or a founder scaling your tech stack, this conversation provides the tactical playbook you need for the future of enterprise AI.
 
Discover what it actually takes to become an LLM whisperer, why traditional coding whiteboard interviews are dead, and how junior engineers are teaching industry veterans entirely new frameworks in the age of generative development.
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Vincent Durmont and Guild AI04:37 Vincent's Journey into Technology07:17 The Birth of Guild AI10:13 Guild AI's Control Plane Explained14:05 Understanding the Market and Customer Needs17:21 Balancing Security and Speed in AI Deployment18:17 Navigating AI Adoption Challenges21:10 The Evolving Role of Engineers in AI23:53 Advice for Aspiring Engineers26:34 Staying Relevant in a Changing Job Market28:59 Practical Skills for AI Engineers31:42 Optimizing AI Usage and Cost35:40 Future Roadmap for AI Development40:33 Hiring for the Future of AI
 
Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal leads the top AI recruitment firm in Silicon Valley, www.matchrelevant.com, uncovering stories of funded startups and going behind the scenes to tell their founders’ journeys. If you are growing an AI startup or have a great story to tell, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com

AI is evolving faster than our power grids can handle, but what happens when the physical infrastructure can no longer keep pace?
 
Join Jake Aaron Villarreal as he sits down with Scott Willis, President and CEO of Dartpoints, to uncover the hidden backbone of the artificial intelligence revolution: data centers.
 
In this episode of Born in Silicon Valley, we dive deep into the physical realities of building and scaling technology. While software and silicon innovate at lightning speed, the infrastructure required to power them faces massive constraints, from supply chain delays to political headwinds.
 
Scott reveals the critical differences between learning and inference workloads, explaining why inference is set to dominate the market by 2026.
 
We explore the massive energy demands of modern tech, the surprising local economic benefits of data centers, and the intense challenges companies face when expanding into new communities.
 
Whether you are curious about the future of energy, looking to build a career in technology, or wondering if data centers in space are a reality, this conversation provides essential insights into the foundation of our digital economy.
 
00:00 Introduction and Welcome01:08 Building Outside Silicon Valley: Why Dallas?04:10 The Foundation of AI: Data Centers Explained06:45 The Complexity of Modern Data Centers10:30 The Biggest Risks in AI Infrastructure13:22 Dartpoints' Growth Strategy15:57 AI Inference vs. AI Learning Workloads20:10 Power Grids and the AI Energy Crisis30:15 The Massive Tech Infrastructure Talent Shortage36:57 Trade Schools and Data Center Careers40:54 Navigating Politics and Community Pushback48:25 The Hidden Economic Benefits of Data Centers55:54 Are Data Centers in Space a Reality?1:00:25 Career Advice: Embracing AI and Taking Risks1:06:52 The Future of Dartpoints and Hiring Needs1:10:54 Final Thoughts and Outro
 
Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal leads the top AI recruitment firm in Silicon Valley, www.matchrelevant.com, uncovering stories of funded startups and going behind the scenes to tell their founders’ journeys. If you are growing an AI startup or have a great story to tell, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com