Ship Fast, Sell Faster, Validate Deeply

Mahesh Ram, serial entrepreneur and former Head of AI at Zoom, shares his journey from building pioneering companies in education and AI to helping launch FUNDA, a vibrant founder-to-founder community. He discusses the evolution of AI-first startups, lessons from working closely with Zoom founder Eric Yuan, and what it takes to build enduring tech companies today. Mahesh offers real-world advice on how founders can navigate the rapidly changing startup landscape, with a deep focus on customer obsession, rapid product iteration, and embedding technology into core workflows. ##In this episode, you’ll learn: [01:50] How Mahesh went from immigrant kid in New York to serial entrepreneur in Silicon Valley [06:50] Why Mahesh believes frustration often leads to the best startup ideas [10:55] Inside Zoom’s AI journey—and how Mahesh helped launch AI Companion at record speed [13:14] Lessons on leadership from Eric Yuan: customer obsession and quality over cost [20:41] Mahesh’s advice to AI-first founders: ship fast, sell faster, and validate deeply [24:23] What separates point solutions from workflow-embedded companies [27:03] Mahesh’s nuanced take on AI’s societal risks—and why we’re not ready [31:25] What is Funda? Why a grassroots founder community is booming The nonprofit organization that Mahesh supports: UStriveAbout Mahesh Ram Mahesh Ram is a serial entrepreneur and expert in artificial intelligence, most recently serving as Head of AI at Zoom. He was co-founder and CEO of Solvvy, a pioneering AI startup in customer experience, acquired by Zoom. Prior to that, he led GlobalEnglish, a business English learning platform used by millions worldwide. Mahesh advises founders, invests in early-stage startups, and is a founding member of FUNDA, a growing grassroots community of founders of Indian origin. He is deeply passionate about education, technology, and building systems that simplify complex problems.About FUNDA Funda is a pay-it-forward community for founders of Indian origin, designed to support early-stage entrepreneurs through collaboration, connection, and shared experience. Built by founders for founders, Funda now includes over 1,250 members across Silicon Valley, Texas, and India. The community offers peer support, curated events, and access to a trusted network—entirely volunteer-driven and mission-focused.About UStrive Mahesh actively volunteers with UStrive, a nonprofit providing free virtual mentoring for high school and college students with financial need. The platform matches students with mentors to help navigate college admissions and financial aid processes—removing barriers to higher education for underserved youth. Subscribe to our podcast and stay tuned for our next episode.