20VC: Why 90% of Founders Build Startups Wrong | Why AI Growth Rates are Sustainable & Remote Work is BS and the AI Talent War | Competing with Brett Taylor and Sierra: Who Wins the Customer Service War with Jesse Zhang, Decagon

In this episode of The Memo, Harry Stebbings interviews Jesse Zhang, co-founder and CEO of Decagon, a conversational AI platform for customer experience. They discuss Jesse's background as an Olympiad mathematician and how that mindset translates to entrepreneurship. Jesse shares insights from his first company, Loki, and the importance of execution over intellectualizing. The conversation covers Decagon's rapid growth, the transition from software spend to human labor budgets in the AI space, and the challenges of building a company in a competitive market. They also delve into the future of AI in customer service, the significance of hiring for "clock speed," and the internal debates at Decagon. Jesse offers advice on leadership and reflects on the company's journey, providing valuable lessons for founders.