Why Using AI In Your Startup Is A Non-Negotiable

AI is here. If you’re not using it, you’re losing.? From automating operations to scaling faster with leaner teams, embracing AI will supercharge your business and redefine what’s possible.?

In this newsletter, we’ll explore how startups are leveraging AI to thrive including how we’re using it at Connectd, why adapting is essential for survival, and the tools you can use to integrate it into every area of your business.?

1. How we’re using AI to supercharge startups ??

At Connectd, we’ve made it our mission to help startups and talent harness AI’s full potential.

Here’s how:

We’ve been training our models on the millions of data points we’ve collected over the last 5 years to help start-ups understand their data, how investors will understand, and to connect them to the right talent.

We’ll now also provide start-ups with their Next Best Action. Actionable advice on what you should do next to grow your business and succeed.

So instead of just categorising your data, our algorithm takes it a step further and tells you what your next steps should be to grow your business sustainably and effectively.

But it doesn’t stop there.?

We also connect you with the specific talent to help you execute on that Next Best Action.

?This is strategy & execution on steroids.

And it’s not just start-ups who benefit, talent on our platform are gaining the insider edge to collaborate with the most forward-thinking AI startups, learning how to adopt emerging tech, use it effectively, and futureproof their expertise for the evolving world of business.

This is AI in action. It’s bold. It’s proactive. It’s the future.

And with Connectd, that future is yours to shape.

2. Adapt or starve: why AI is the future of your startup

The UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer very recently announced an ambitious AI action plan for the UK committing $14 billion, whilst the US government is allocating $500 BILLION to develop an AI infrastructure within the States. Global leaders are doubling down on this tech revolution.

And for startups? It’s adapt—or get left behind.

Here’s the deal: AI isn’t just about making stuff faster or cooler. It’s about survival. If you’re not integrating it into your business, you’re already falling behind. Think about the Internet in the late ‘90s. The startups that adopted it early? They exploded. The ones that didn’t? Gone. Blockbuster v Netflix is the obvious example here.

AI will improve your profit margins, supercharge your unit economics and scale your product faster than you ever thought possible — with a smaller, leaner team.

Yes, a leaner team.

We’re already seeing startups crush revenue targets with smaller teams because they’re using AI from the get go. It’s the future of efficiency and growth. (Pro tip: check out Roei Samuel's post on LinkedIn about the OnlyFans team.??)

3. How to bake AI into your startup

So, where do you start? Everywhere.

Baking AI into your startup from day one isn’t just a competitive advantage—it’s essential for scalability and efficiency.?

AI can transform every area of your business, from operations and marketing to customer support and product development. By adopting an AI-first mindset, you can automate processes, reduce costs % team size – and even potentially the need to raise capital AT ALL to achieve your goals.

In operations, Auto-GPT or Zapier with AI integrations can streamline repetitive tasks, such as scheduling, email management, or inventory tracking.?

Marketing can also benefit immensely from AI-driven platforms like Jasper AI for generating ad copy, blog posts, or email sequences, while tools like Optimizely use AI to optimize campaigns and improve performance.?

Customer support, often a cost-heavy function, can be transformed by AI-powered chatbots like Intercom or Ada, which provide instant, 24/7 responses to customer queries and handle routine issues without human intervention.

When it comes to product development, AI speeds up the process of building and iterating. Tools like GitHub Copilot assist developers with real-time code suggestions, while Figma’s AI plugins can enhance UX/UI design workflows.?

Companies like Airbnb and Stitch Fix offer real-world examples of AI in action. Airbnb uses AI to dynamically price rentals, while Stitch Fix relies on it for personalized styling recommendations. The result? Automated, scalable systems that reduce dependency on large teams while still delivering a top-tier customer experience.

Ultimately, the key is to start now. AI adoption isn’t optional, and waiting will only put your startup at a disadvantage.?

Ask yourself, “What part of this process can AI optimize or automate?” With the right tools in place, you’ll build a smarter, more efficient startup that’s primed for growth.