AI: A Note for Aspiring AI Founders

Earlier this year, our team at Vambo Academy | African Language, Culture & Heritage announced that we were going to venture into exploring Artificial intelligence as a tool to enable us to overcome the problem we have committed to solve for the past 4 years - the inequalities bred by language barriers. We have dedicated the past few months building Vambo AI | Multilingual Intelligence with the most intelligent CTO Isheanesu Misi at its helm. Ishe and I often reflect on this journey - the steep learning curve, the difficulties, the massive untapped potential in Africa and most importantly the game-changing ‘AHA’ moments. In this article, I will share some insights to aid any founder’s preparation on venturing into AI based on our experience.

Mind over Matter

I knew entrepreneurship on its own was a game requiring mental strength but AI has made me appreciate the essence of willpower and mental fortitude when realising an idea.

The nature of the industry is highly innovative, fast-paced, competitive and resource intensive.

Participation ceases to be about hustle alone, but thick skin, agility and an almost-irrational sense of belief in one’s concept. In hindsight, we had limited options to prepare for this however it helped to have a co-founder and teammate dedicated to the mission. It has been easier to find comfort in laughing at the punches with an ally.

Read & Develop Your Expertise Daily

Building an AI startup required active acquisition of knowledge, understanding and expertise. It is vital to acquire a solid understanding of artificial intelligence and its applications. For those new to AI, consider taking courses, attending workshops or earning certifications in machine learning, deep learning, and data science. Understanding the technology at its core will set any founder on the right path.

The pace of the industry requires the core team to remain plugged in on industry news, updates and opportunities. We are plugged onto Twitter, Reddit communities, AI-focused newsletters and publications from industry leaders and influencers.

Market Research and Validation

Before launching the product, conduct thorough market research. Understand the target audience, competition and market trends. Validate your AI solution with potential users and gather feedback for refinement.

Data, Data, Data

Data is the lifeblood of AI. Ensure that the team has an active strategy on accessing and acquiring quality, labeled data relevant to the problem that the start-up is solving. This may be new to founders but one of the key activities in the AI start-up will be to collect, clean, and preprocess data carefully. If needed, explore partnerships or data acquisition strategies. A strong data foundation is key to AI success and this element becomes easier to manage when the co-founding team understands and works towards perfecting the data acquisition strategy.

Build a Team & an MVP

AI startups require a multidisciplinary team. There will be a need for data scientists, machine learning engineers, software developers and domain experts. This was not possible to be done on day 1 - and the fact that one doesn’t have a full team should not stop progress on the build. As a founder, map out your skills acquisition journey be it through seeking mentors, consultants or part-time team members as you fundraise to assemble the full-time dream team.

In our experience building Vambo AI | Multilingual Intelligence , it has been vital to have a working prototype or minimum viable product (MVP). It demonstrates our concept's feasibility and can attract initial interest from investors, customers and potential partners. AI and its applications in the lives of the intended users can be an abstract concept particularly because of how “early” it is for some stakeholders. Having something to show and demonstrate always helps to land the message.

Understand The Regulatory and Ethical Requirements

Be aware of legal and ethical considerations specific to AI, such as data privacy, bias mitigation, and transparency. Ensure your AI solutions adhere to regulatory guidelines and ethical standards. Our team actually schedules sessions to discuss this matter on a weekly basis. This includes news, industry cases, internal testing and more.

The AI field evolves rapidly. Staying up to date with the latest trends, technologies and research is crucial. As an AI founder, agility becomes your default setting. We should always be ready to adapt the business strategy as needed to remain competitive. As you embark on your journey to build an AI startup, remember that perseverance and resilience are key. The path may be challenging but with the right preparation and mindset, you can overcome obstacles and create a game-changing AI company.

We strongly believe in our vision and its contribution to the African and Global AI community. To learn more about our work, visit www.vambo.ai