Tina Tang: Finding Product-Market Fit, Raising Pre-Seed, and the Bristles.AI Story

Triangle Tweener Talks

How do you turn a simple “what if?” into a thriving venture—especially when you’re blending creativity, technology, and a dash of entrepreneurial courage?

In this episode of Triangle Tweener Talks, we sit down with Tina Tang, Co-Founder and CEO of Bristles, an AI-driven platform that helps furniture refinishers and DIYers reimagine their projects before picking up a single paintbrush.

Tina shares her journey from civil engineering and data analytics into the world of startups, navigating the messy middle of product-market fit, and iterating her way from a broad concept to a laser-focused solution for a passionate niche audience. She talks candidly about how she used customer interviews, no-nonsense feedback, and evolving AI tools to refine Bristles into a tool that’s now cutting DIY project mock-up time from hours to minutes.

Tune in to hear:

• How Tina discovered her target market by starting broad and then homing in on furniture refinishers.
• The gritty reality of early product-market fit—what it looks like, why it’s so hard, and how to push through.
• Lessons learned from 200+ customer discovery calls: turning “cool tech” into a practical, must-have tool.
• How evolving AI capabilities, from generative models to segmentation tools, gave Bristles the edge it needed.
• The value of starting small, embracing “good enough for now,” and letting customer feedback guide your next big move.

Where to Find Tina Tang:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-tang-uva/
• Website: https://bristles.ai/
• X: https://x.com/stocasiaai

Where to Find Scot Wingo:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescotwingo/
• Tweener Times: https://www.tweenertimes.com/
• X: https://x.com/scotwingo

In this episode:

(00:06:23) Immigrant Sacrifices and the American Dream

(00:13:27) Modeling Brain Functions Through Code Replication

(00:16:34) Legacy System Analysis for Modernization Success

(00:21:50) Advancements in Neural Networks and AI Technology

(00:27:47) Revolutionizing Photo Editing with Generative Models

(00:30:31) Geographical Constraints in Adobe's AI Product Management

(00:38:06) Interactive AI Photo Painting Tool Development

(00:46:26) Precision Photo Editing Tool for Home Improvement

(00:55:58) Enhancing User Experience Through Feedback Insights

(01:02:30) Bristles and Simplifying Furniture Design Tools

(01:15:52) Demand-Driven Strategy for Business Success

(01:18:15) Zero Friction Addiction: Customer Engagement Strategies

In the news:

• Hidden Gems: Meet Tina Tang: https://voyageraleigh.com/interview/hidden-gems-meet-tina-tang-of-bristles/
• Meet Our Founders: Tina Tang & Anthony Alers: https://ncidea.org/meet-our-founders-tina-and-anthony/
• Startup Spotlight: Bristles.ai uses AI to help folks DIY home design: https://wraltechwire.com/2022/02/08/startup-spotlight-bristles-ai-uses-ai-to-help-folks-diy-home-design/

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Triangle Tweener Talks is hosted by Scot Wingo, presented by Triangle Tweener Fund, and produced by Earfluence.

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Triangle Tweener Talks is sponsored by:

• Atomic Object: https://atomicobject.com/