164. AI Meets E-Commerce: Shanif Dhanani on Personalization, Startups, and Innovation

In this episode, host André Marquet sits down with Shanif Dhanani, founder of Nobi, to discuss the transformative role of AI in e-commerce and the evolving landscape of startups. They dive into the importance of personalization in enhancing customer experiences, the technical challenges of scaling AI solutions, and the balance between hard work and luck in entrepreneurship. Shanif shares his journey through the tech industry, from programming languages to philanthropy, offering practical advice for early-stage founders on leveraging data effectively and understanding consumer behavior. Tune in to learn how AI-powered solutions are reshaping the future of online shopping and why focusing on real-world problems is key to success. Key Takeaways: ➡️ Personalization boosts customer experience. ➡️ AI search enhances product discovery. ➡️ Knowing customer intent improves personalization. ➡️ Scaling AI requires speed and accuracy balance. ➡️ Success needs hard work—and a bit of luck. ➡️ Entrepreneurship is all about learning and adapting. ➡️ Data-driven decisions are crucial for startups. ➡️ Giving back is central to Shanif’s mission. ➡️ Clear communication is vital for lean teams. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Shanif Dhanani and Nobi 02:45 The Evolution of Programming Languages: A Personal Journey 05:21 Personal Background: A Deeper Look 08:11 The Role of Luck and Hard Work in Success 10:48 Navigating the Startup Landscape: Pivots and Challenges 13:33 From Apteo to Nobi 17:07 AI-Powered Search: Revolutionizing E-Commerce 19:57 Staying Competitive in an AI-Driven Market 23:00 Challenges in E-commerce Personalization 28:29 Verticals for Personalized AI in E-commerce 33:07 The Future of AI Personal Shopping Agents 35:57 Technical Challenges in Scaling AI Solutions 39:43 Leveraging AI for Efficiency in Startups 42:45 Data Science and Machine Learning at Twitter 47:16 Advice for Early Stage Founders Where to find Shanif: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanifdhanani/ shanif@nobi.ai https://twitter.com/shanif https://www.locusive.com/ Where to find Andre: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marquet/ 🎉 Mark your calendars for Productized Conference 2025! Join us for the 10th edition of this premier event, where product management leaders from around the world gather for insightful talks, networking, and celebration. Tickets are already available—don’t miss out! Get your tickets now: https://www.productized.co Where to find us: JOIN THE COMMUNITY 👉 http://bit.ly/3aMvWn2 Website: https://productized.co/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/productized Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/productized.co/ Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/pt-BR/Productized/