At Waterloo Tech Week, Communitech CEO Sheldon McCormick brought together Alex Millar, co-founder and CTO at GovAI, Nick Lebesis, founder of Neolific, Mila Banerjee, CEO and founder of Pronti AI, and Mike Kirkup, co-founder of Elderella, for a fireside chat about what it takes to build a company when AI is radically changing everything from product roadmaps to hiring plans.
Somewhere between discussing traction and platform strategy, the group admitted they’ve given nicknames to their AI tools. Because, let’s be honest, “ChatGPT” has too many syllables to yell across a team meeting. (So, if you’ve ever called it “Doug” or “Claude”, you’re in good company.)
The panelists shared their thoughts on why tech leaders still need to trust their instincts …
Humans still call the shots
AI is incredible. But it’s not infallible. Or even accountable.
Founders reminded us that humans still decide where to give their attention and trust. Respect your users’ time and data and build products that solve problems.
And never let automation run on autopilot. One founder shared how they caught “Claude” trying to rewrite their cloud functions. A reminder that guardrails and oversight aren’t optional. AI can supercharge your work, but it still needs a human check-in.
Keep swimming
Traction rarely happens on the first try. Think of yourself like a shark. You need to stay in motion or risk sinking.
“As long as you keep moving, you’re the shark. Don’t wait for ChatGPT to say it’s a good idea.” – Nick Lebesis
Iterate, pivot, test, repeat. Some distribution channels will fizzle. Some algorithms can drastically reduce your reach overnight. But that’s OK. And don’t wait for AI to bless your idea. The “spark” happens when you combine machine insights with human gut instincts and just keep going.
Build the foundation first
One of the biggest takeaways was to build a true evaluation platform from day one. It’s tempting to duct-tape tools together until you “have time” to make it scalable. But by then, you won’t have time.
Start with clean data pipelines, API-friendly tools and automated workflows that can grow with you. Think ahead to an AI-powered future. Is your product agent-friendly? Can it plug into other systems? Laying the groundwork early saves some painful rework later.
Ask AI the hardest questions
AI is the ultimate “yes-man.” It’ll happily tell you why your idea is great. Why not ask why your idea isn’t so great? It’s a reality check that can save you from building something no one wants.
“Ask it why I shouldn’t do this. It’s shockingly good. It will make you never want to start a business ever.” – Mike Kirkup
Once you’ve poked holes in the idea, get out into the world and validate it with humans. Talk to users, watch how they interact with your product and use AI to speed up the process, not replace it.
Your move, Waterloo Region
Building a company in the age of AI is exhilarating, exhausting … and endlessly iterative. But you don’t have to do it alone.
Connect with the Communitech community today and find the people who can help you move faster, build smarter and stay human while you scale.