In this podcast episode, Bob Stefanski, Co-founder and Managing Director of eLab Ventures joins Amir to discuss the promising future and current landscape of AI startups. They explore the significant room for growth in AI, particularly in the context of valuations, and the importance of giving founders time to pivot. Stefanski emphasizes the focus on early-stage investments in AI, highlighting the continued relevance of deep learning and the promising potential of generative AI. The discussion covers AI founders' evolving characteristics, unique data sets' impact, and the shift towards more accessible AI application development tools. Additionally, Stefanski provides insights into the differentiation between 'true AI companies' and those merely using AI as a buzzword. Highlights 01:38 The AI Landscape and Market Potential 04:11 Investing in AI Startups 06:41 Characteristics of Successful AI Founders 08:25 Functional vs. Generative AI 14:49 Valuations and Market Trends 18:01 Defining a True AI Company ---- Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Tech Trek. We would appreciate it if you would take a minute to rate and review us on your favorite podcast player. Want to learn more about us? Head over at https://www.elevano.com Have questions or want to cover specific topics with our future guests? Please message me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirbormand (Amir Bormand)