AI technology is growing rapidly, and in today’s bustling startup environment, plenty of founders are searching for practical guidance on how to harness its potential effectively. This challenge takes center stage at TechCrunch Sessions: AI, scheduled for June 5 at Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley, California. Hao Sang, a leading figure from OpenAI’s Startups Go-to-Market team, will offer critical insights on how startups can build robust, innovative, and market-ready AI products.
For early-stage companies, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the abundance of AI models, APIs, and accompanying hype. Founders continually grapple with the core question of how to transform this vast array of tools into products that function reliably and capture real market demand. Hao Sang’s role at OpenAI places him directly among founders, providing hands-on guidance on marrying advanced technical tools with realistic commercialization strategies.
In his talk, Sang will illuminate essential patterns that successful AI startups employ, highlighting where they are achieving meaningful leverage and how they effectively balance cost against performance. He’ll also address common pitfalls companies face when scaling too rapidly without solid technological or distribution infrastructures. His approach goes beyond merely using OpenAI’s API suite; instead, he’ll guide attendees to explore carefully how AI integrates into their products and architectures—and indeed, whether incorporating certain AI capabilities is strategically justified.
Before joining OpenAI, Hao Sang gained valuable experience assisting fintech startups during his tenure at Stripe. He also completed key go-to-market roles at Slack and OpenPhone, thereby establishing a background uniquely suited to link cutting-edge technological innovation with effective commercial growth. His experience allows him to discern clearly between hype-driven noise and genuine market traction.
The session led by Sang comes at a pivotal moment as startups evolve rapidly from developing simple AI-powered interfaces into sophisticated, differentiated AI systems and autonomous agents. His conversation is part of a broader agenda that includes discussions with industry leaders from top AI companies, exploring crucial topics such as AI infrastructure development, advanced tools, strategic thinking in product building, and securing sustainability in funding and scaling.
Designed specifically with founders and tech leaders in mind, the upcoming event promises comprehensive conversations diving deeply into the realities of navigating and succeeding in the quickly changing AI landscape.
