Building an AI Startup While Working Full-Time | SG Podcast Episode 135 with Jacky Liang

The Josh Schachnow Show

Join Josh on the Solopreneur Grind Podcast as he chats with Jacky, the founder of AnswerHQ, an AI customer service assistant that significantly reduces customer support questions for small businesses and startups.

Jacky shares his journey of creating AnswerHQ as a side hustle while working full-time, his approach to time management, and the tools and strategies he uses to operate efficiently. This episode delves into key aspects of startup life, including market validation, customer acquisition, building in public, and the importance of focusing on solving pain points. Whether you're a technical or non-technical founder, there are invaluable insights to help you start and grow your own business.

More specifically:
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:15 Jacky's Background and Answer HQ Overview
00:33 The Journey from Side Hustle to Full-Time
01:23 Challenges and Initial Idea Validation
03:47 Building the MVP and Early Customer Acquisition
08:14 Leveraging AI Tools for Productivity
12:03 Time Management and Personal Strategies
15:13 Biggest Challenges as a Solopreneur
15:34 Shifting Focus: From Product Development to Marketing
15:56 The Challenges of Marketing and Sales for Startups
18:41 The Importance of Understanding Your Business Goals
19:55 Funding Your Startup: Options and Considerations
20:57 Building for Pain Points, Not Ideas
21:54 The Role of MVPs and No-Code Tools
26:12 The Concept and Benefits of Building in Public
30:12 Final Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
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Want to get even more solopreneur podcasts, content and the first 3 chapters of my e-book: “Just Get Started: Key business lessons from 2 businesses, 5 years and 100+ podcast episodes”?

Make sure you're subscribed on my Substack here: https://joshschachnow.substack.com/
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Where to find Jacky:
https://answerhq.co/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jjackyliang/
https://jjacky.substack.com/

#sgpodcast #solopreneur #businesspodcast