AI Agents
Build Stage | $0-1M ARR | 1-10 headcount
Main challenge: Proving the business works. Founder-led everything.
AI Agent Recommendations
Automated Agents (Headless)
Run on triggers, no human in loop. Good for:
| Use Case | SOP/Playbook Required | Tool Example |
|---|---|---|
| Lead enrichment on inbound | Automated Inbound Data Enrichment | Clay + GitHub Action |
| CRM data entry from calls | Transcript processing SOP | Fireflies + Zapier |
| Follow-up sequences | Basic sequence SOP | HubSpot sequences |
| Social scheduling | Content calendar SOP | Buffer / Typefully |
Work Agents (Interactive)
Run alongside founder, conversational. Good for:
| Use Case | When to Use | Example Prompt |
|---|---|---|
| ICP hypothesis refinement | After customer calls | "Here are the last 5 customer calls. What patterns emerge in who's buying?" |
| Pitch deck iteration | Before demos | "Review this deck against these objections I'm hearing" |
| Proposal drafting | Deal progression | "Draft a proposal for [company] based on this call transcript" |
| Customer interview synthesis | Weekly | "Summarize feedback themes from this week's calls" |
When AI Agents Hit Limits
- Founder relationship building (can't be automated)
- High-stakes negotiations (need human judgment)
- Product decisions based on customer feedback (founder must internalize)
- Complex technical sales (AI can prep, human must deliver)