A.I. Tech startup

Founder and CEO of Suzu Technologies Ltd.

Suzu Tech was a B2B A.I. tech startup that I founded in London with Claudiu Soare. We built software for e-commerce companies to help them convert more sales on their websites. Our main product, Suzu Brain, analysed pre-basket visitor behaviour (before the retailer even knows who they are), worked out what is stopping the sale (before they abandon), and provided a relevant incentive to convert them (while they are still 'in the moment'). In geek-speak, we did this using a combination of random forest classifiers, support vector machines, and reinforcement learning.

For details see our product brochure or investor deck.

In retrospect, we probably attempted this 2-3 years too early, and most of the retailers we pitched were not yet ready to embrace A.I. technology into their business. So while we successfully raised funding and had paying customers, we sadly didn't reach escape velocity. Still, I learned more from this project than from any other professional role in my career, and to this date I consider entrepreneurship a great alternative to doing an MBA.

highlights

• Our technology achieved and average 13% increased online revenue for our clients

• Developed a Machine Learning algorithm that was 93% accurate at spotting potential buyers, displaying relevant campaigns that boosted conversion rates by 8%

• Raised pre-seed investment from Entrepreneur First, a leading technology investor

about 'entrepreneur first' (ef)

This chapter of my career began after I successfully applied for a place on a technology incubator programme known as Entrepreneur First (EF).

Similar to Y-Combinator, EF aims to foster innovation and entrpreneurship by supporting and investing in early-stage startups. The difference is that they invest in people; pre-team and pre-company. The 6-month programme starts with 'matchmaking for co-Founders', followed by mentoring, investment, introductions, and ongoing support.

According to the Telegraph, the programme 'is around twice as competitive as Harvard'.

EF have helped build over 140 technology companies, collectively worth over $1bn. They are backed by Reid Hoffman (founder of LinkedIn) as well as Greylock Partners, Mosaic Ventures, Founders Fund, Lakestar and some of the world's best entrepreneurs. 

I was on the flagship London programme, although EF has since grown and now operates in London, Paris, Berlin, Singapore and Hong Kong. More here.