In the Age of AI, pre-2023 B2B startups may face challenges due to the emphasis on AI-native companies by investors.
Founder anxiety is prevalent among those who launched before the AI revolution, questioning if they are considered legacy.
Some of today's successful AI companies were founded years ago and evolved to seize AI opportunities when they became evident.
Smart founders are adapting by 're-founding' their companies around AI, making hard product decisions and redefining their value propositions.
Pre-AI startups that transition successfully to AI-native may have advantages like real customer base, domain knowledge, and battle-tested infrastructure.
The playbook for re-founding includes auditing current value, finding AI wedges for impactful improvement, and involving top customers in the transformation process.
Consider a dual-track approach by developing AI future in parallel with the core business to stay competitive.
The opportunity to re-found a startup around AI still exists, but time is limited as the AI revolution progresses.
Early adopters can leverage proven business fundamentals with AI innovation to stay relevant in an evolving market.
While the window for re-founding is closing, there is still time for pre-AI startups to embrace AI and drive future growth.