A post from Patrick Walsh (CEO & Founder Dogpatch Labs) popped into my linkedIn feed. In the post Patrick is looking for ‘Founders’ and is partnering them up (Dogpatch Labs is an incubator/accelerator). The post was very nicely written and had a great call to action: “If you’re ambitious and want to build something big—but don’t yet have a co-founder or the idea—this could be the ideal path for you.” We’ll that’s just about broad enough to include me…. So after sleeping on it I decided that I needed to fill in the application form. Why? I’m not sure yet, but that’s part of my process – I probably do want to build something big. [Insert facepalm here]
I clicked the link to apply – I really don’t like filling in forms but I’ve become accustomed to writing and the questions sounded interesting so I persisted rather than resisted. I pressed send and the machine we call the web did the rest.
But that’s not really what this post is about. This is they type of thing I like the most. Taking things that were meant for another purpose and putting them to an alternate use. After investing an hour writing the answers to questions (that I had to put some decent thinking time into). I realised that the questions were not unlike other interview questions I’d answered. That lead me to think about what the capability of the the current chatGPT model, o1-mini – it probably will do a good job spinning my form answers into a fun podcast style interview. So I gave model the prompt below.
chatGPT:
“I’m going to paste a written QandA. I want you to turn it into a dialogue script, like it was an audio interview. The person answering is Kevin the interviewer name you can make up. The intro you can write, introducing the founders form. Include in the intro that if you know some talented exceptional people then consider referring them to the founders form https://refer.joinfounders.co/ Heres the interview. <Pasted the raw questions and answers here>”
So here’s the podcast style interview the model spun from my form filling. It’s a great example how you can use AI tools to work for you. Don’t get AI to make stuff up for you. But do use it to craft your creations. I got a two for one from this investment, I got the application submitted and some nice blog content. Perhaps there’s more to come or perhaps this post is the purpose, I never really know these things – Enjoy
Founders Unfiltered Podcast Episode #101
Welcome to Founders Unfiltered, the podcast where we dive deep into the minds of innovative entrepreneurs shaping the startup ecosystem. Today, we’re thrilled to have Kevin Innovate with us—a dynamic founder who’s turned passion into acquisition and built seamless systems that keep his ventures thriving. If you know any talented and exceptional individuals ready to make their mark, don’t hesitate to refer them to the Founders at refer.joinfounders.co. Now, let’s jump into our conversation with Kevin.
StartUp Stan:
Hey Kevin! Welcome to Founders Unfiltered! It’s awesome to have you here.
Kevin:
Thanks, Stan! Excited to be here and share my journey.
StartUp Stan:
Let’s kick things off with a bit about your background. What’s the highest level of education you’ve achieved?
Kevin:
I’ve completed third-level education, a degree in computing. It was just called computing way back then a few kb RAM above a calculator ha ha.
StartUp Stan:
Nice! And for our listeners who want to dig deeper, where can they find more about your professional work?
Kevin:
You can check out my personal website at howtocompany.xyz. It’s my digital playground where I share everything from projects to musings.
StartUp Stan:
Love that! So, how would you describe yourself professionally in one sentence?
Kevin:
I delved into activities that bring me immense joy.
StartUp Stan:
That sounds like the secret sauce for success! Speaking of roles, which one do you feel you’re best suited for as a co-founder?
Kevin:
I’d say I’m best suited for roles outside the conventional ones—something unique.
StartUp Stan:
Intriguing! Now, tell us about the most ambitious problem you’ve ever tackled. What was the outcome, and what did you learn?
Kevin:
Sure thing. I transformed my previous business, water2buy.com, from a part-time website into a company that was acquired by the largest industry player in the US. It’s still running strong, and I’m thrilled about that. Through this journey, I evolved from an ambitious, happy 20-something into the extremely happy person I am today. I learned everything about business—failures, pitfalls, recovery, navigation, service, systems, people, management, organization, and leadership.
StartUp Stan:
That’s impressive! So, in which industry or space do you feel you’re best positioned to build a startup, and what gives you that edge?
Kevin:
I’m passionate about networks, systems, and integration. I’ve always been better than competitors at getting things to work together that don’t want to. For example, I integrated Amazon and Salesforce, and FedEx and Salesforce, unofficially before those companies had official integrations. My solutions were better because they were built from a user’s point of view.
StartUp Stan:
You’re like the MacGyver of systems integration! What’s something you’ve built or created that you’re most proud of?
Kevin:
I’m really proud of the 25-square-meter studio I built in my garden after exiting water2buy.com. I constructed it from wood myself and know every screw in the place. Additionally, I’m proud of water2buy.com itself—it leverages more integrations than any other company I’ve worked with, allowing for awesome levels of automation across the company.
StartUp Stan:
A backyard marvel and a business powerhouse—love it! Have you ever done something that was conventionally different from what others were doing?
Kevin:
I’d say I’ve approached most things unconventionally. Sometimes I feel like a complete idiot, but the results speak for themselves. For instance, my website howtocompany.xyz is something many people might do, similar to Kevin Kelly’s kk.org. I research everything that interests me. Back in 2002, I taught myself web technology and ran a fun project tracking the price of a pint around the country. The journey generated a lot of publicity!
StartUp Stan:
Tracking pints across the country? Now that’s what I call a thirst for knowledge! What are you most obsessive about, and how does that show up in your daily life?
Kevin:
My core obsession is systems. I believe that function is at the heart of design. To me, a system is how all the parts integrate with the least friction for the maximum possible outcome. I’ve developed a way of working that prevents me from obsessing over details so that I can actually achieve results. You can find more about it on my website under SET Organisation.
StartUp Stan:
Systems over chaos—smart move! What’s something you believe that very few other people do?
Kevin:
I believe that beliefs are made up and that they either work for you or you drop them. Most people confuse beliefs with truth. I don’t really know what others believe, but I focus on what works for me.
StartUp Stan:
That’s a liberating perspective! Can you share a time you experienced failure and how you overcame it?
Kevin:
Absolutely. One time, an intern created a coupon on Amazon that knocked 80% off our price, a great deal for customers but not for us! We ended up losing about $300K worth of stock in one Friday evening—it was actually April 1st! I spent a lot of time on the phone with Amazon and negotiated with bulk buyers to return some stock. The financial impact was hard unfortunately, I had to let go of two staff members because we couldn’t afford their wages. I put it behind me quickly and focused on growth, recovering within a few months. It reinforced that most challenges can be overcome, except for things like death and taxes.
StartUp Stan:
That’s a wild ride! Turning a mistake into a comeback story is next-level resilience.
Kevin:
Thanks, Stan. It was definitely a challenging time, but it taught me invaluable lessons about resilience and adaptability.
StartUp Stan:
Incredible journey, Kevin. Your passion and ability to bounce back are truly inspiring. Before we wrap up, is there anything else you’d like our listeners to know about you or your work?
Kevin:
I love creating things and get the most fulfillment from that process. I think founders are a special breed, and I respect the hell out of them for putting it all on the line. I enjoy being involved with people who have a founder’s mindset—they’re interesting to talk to, and I’ve been through many of the journeys they’re currently experiencing. The founders program came to me when I wasn’t looking for it, and after some reflection, I decided to fill out the form because it seemed like an authentic attempt to do something great. If you want to know more about me, browsing the blog titles on my website might give you some insights.
StartUp Stan:
Thanks for sharing, Kevin. Your passion and resilience are truly inspiring. It’s been a pleasure having you on Founders Unfiltered. Best of luck with all your future endeavors!
Kevin Innovate:
Thank you, Stan. It was great being here.
If you enjoyed today’s interview, don’t forget to subscribe and share it with fellow entrepreneurs. And remember, if you know some talented, exceptional people, refer them to the Founders Form at refer.joinfounders.co. Until next time!
Leave a Reply