From Tequila to AI: The Origin of a Language Learning Startup

In this episode, we're hosting Vishal Chandawarkar, the co-founder of Verbalista. Vishal transitioned from a non-traditional background in music and advertising to product management at LinkedIn. He eventually went on to found Verbalista, an AI-powered language solution for professionals.

He discusses how the rise of GPT-4 and increased tech investment in Latin America inspired the creation of Verbalista, which aims to bridge the language gap for the 95% of skilled Latin American professionals who lack English proficiency. The conversation covers the founder's journey, the development of Verbalista, and insights into the potential of AI in addressing language barriers in the business world.

Chapters

(01:33) Building a product with built-in distribution can accelerate growth significantly.

(07:21) Getting a functional prototype into users' hands early allows for valuable feedback and helps in building a better product.

(17:02) Communicating openly with your current company about future plans and giving ample notice before leaving is crucial for maintaining relationships.

(30:42) Leveraging resources and networks from previous workplaces can be beneficial for starting a new venture.

(34:30) Solving a specific problem for a niche market, like language barriers in Latin America, can lead to a successful and impactful business venture.

Host Links

https://casperstudios.xyz/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaysingh10125

https://x.com/jsingh_08

Guest Links

https://www.linkedin.com/in/vishplease/

https://getverbalista.com/

Keyword:

LinkedIn, Verbalista, language, product, startup, Latin America, AI, translation, GPT-4, entrepreneurship, barbecue, tequila, advertising, engineering, prototype, investors, bilingual, open AI, Anthropic, nearshoring