Building an AI-powered startup today presents distinct challenges: a lingering hype cycle, steep competition, endless customer education, and rapidly evolving technical capabilities. In this episode of Spotlight On, Syrup’s James Theuerkauf shares advice for early-stage founders on building an AI product that cuts through the noise and adds real value, the advantages of building a distributed, global team, and how to stay focused on what matters in a market full of noise and distraction.

The episode also offers a look into the evolving retail landscape. Syrup's AI helps brands like Faherty, Desigual, and Reformation optimize inventory, their most precious and expensive asset. Getting the right product, in the right location, at the right time is an age-old challenge, but today, it is precisely the type of problem AI can solve. 

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About Spotlight On:
Spotlight On examines the technology shaping our world through conversations with the people building it. Hear from the established leaders and rising visionaries behind some of the world’s most important companies. They will share the challenges and breakthroughs of building in today’s dynamic tech environment and the focus, resilience, and relentless conviction required to build market-defining technology companies.

Season 2:
In season two, established and rising tech leaders from both private and public sectors reflect on the challenges and opportunities of company building in today’s rapidly changing landscape.

Accel: Accel is a global venture capital firm that is the first partner to exceptional teams everywhere, from inception through all phases of private company growth. Atlassian, Bumble, CrowdStrike, Fiverr, Flipkart, Freshworks, Qualtrics, Scale, Segment, Slack, Spotify, Squarespace, Tenable, and UiPath are among the companies Accel has backed over the past 40+ years. We help ambitious entrepreneurs build iconic global businesses.

Featured: Sara Ittelson, Partner at @AccelVC and James Theuerkauf, CEO and Founder of Syrup, https://syrup.tech/

Watch the episode on Spotlight On: https://www.accel.com/spotlight-on/ep...

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Conversation highlights:
00:00 – James’ background and Syrup’s founding story
01:44 – How technology can solve the complex merchandising problems brands face
06:57 – The environmental impact of wasted garments, how AI presents solutions
10:05 – Roadblocks to AI adoption among brands and common customer concerns
18:27 – Advice for startups building a global distributed product and team
26:17 – How early-stage companies can cut through the noise and fundraise thoughtfully

Syrup’s James Theuerkauf | Building An AI-powered Product To Cut Through The Noise | S2EP3 | AccelVC
   / @accelvc