Expert Session: Being an AI Native Founder from Day 1 with 500 Global & Google
- Date
- 2025-10-02
- Host
- Mercury
About this event
If you're building a company in the AI era, the old playbook is already outdated. Expert Session: Being an AI Native Founder from Day 1 with 500 Global & Google is designed for founders and operators who want to think more clearly about what it actually means to build AI into the foundation of a startup from the very beginning, not as a feature added later. This is an in-person session for people who care about practical advantage: how AI changes product strategy, team design, speed of execution, and the way early-stage companies make decisions. Expect a room full of people thinking seriously about what the next generation of startups should look like and how to build them with intention. About the Event This expert session brings together the themes behind being an AI native founder from day 1: building with AI at the core, operating with more autonomy, and learning in community with other ambitious builders. With 500 Global and Google attached to the conversation, the focus is likely to be on grounded insight rather than vague futurism. At its core, this event is about a simple but increasingly urgent question: what should founders do differently when AI is part of the company from the start? That includes how you evaluate opportunities, shape an MVP, use tools internally, and create leverage before you have a large team. Because this is an in-person gathering, the format also matters. You are not just showing up to absorb ideas passively. You are stepping into a room where context, perspective, and side conversations can be just as valuable as the main session itself. If you are early in your journey, this session can help sharpen how you frame your company. If you are already building, it can help you pressure-test whether you are truly AI native or simply AI adjacent. What to Expect You should expect a focused expert-led session centered on how founders can build and operate differently in an AI-first environment. The conversation will likely sit at the intersection of startup strategy, product thinking, and practical execution. The value of an event like this often comes from a mix of perspectives rather than a single takeaway. That means you may hear ideas relevant to: Product design: what changes when AI is part of the core user experience Company building: how small teams can create outsized output with the right systems Founder mindset: how to make decisions in a fast-moving technical landscape Autonomy and leverage: where AI can meaningfully expand capacity from day one Ecosystem learning: what founders can learn from peers, operators, and partners in the room Because the event is tagged with community and networking, you should also expect meaningful informal interaction around the main program. That may include pre-session conversations, post-session discussion, and opportunities to compare notes with other founders, builders, and AI-curious operators. Come ready to listen actively, ask sharper questions, and talk concretely about what you are building. The strongest conversations at events like this usually happen when attendees bring real problems, not just general interest. Why Attend The phrase AI native gets used a lot, but many people still mean very different things by it. This session gives you a chance to get more precise. That precision matters when you're deciding what to build, what not to build, and where AI creates actual strategic advantage instead of surface-level novelty. If you are a founder, one of the biggest benefits is calibration. You will be able to compare your assumptions against how others are thinking about speed, team structure, defensibility, and execution in an AI-driven market. Even a single reframed question can save weeks of building in the wrong direction. This event is also valuable because it sits at the overlap of expert insight and peer connection. You are not only hearing a point of view; you are entering a networked conversation. That is often where momentum starts, whether through clearer thinking, useful introductions, or a better sense of the landscape. You may leave with: A stronger definition of what being AI native actually means for a startup Better language for explaining your product or thesis to others New ideas for using AI to improve execution and operating leverage A clearer picture of how other builders are approaching similar challenges Relationships that can support your next steps after the event Practical Details This event is in person, which makes showing up prepared especially worthwhile. Plan to use the setting to your advantage: arrive ready to engage, not just attend. If you're actively building, think ahead about the one or two questions, challenges, or decisions you most want clarity on. Date and time: Thursday, October 2 at 1:00 PM PDT. Since the session starts in the afternoon, it is a good fit for founders and operators who want to break up the week with a concentrated burst of strategic thinking and conversation. A few practical ways to get more out of it: Come early if you can to settle in and start conversations before the session begins Bring context, not just curiosity — be ready to describe what you're building in a few clear sentences Stay after the formal program if networking is important to you Take notes on decisions, not just ideas so you leave with actions you can actually use If you're serious about building in AI, this is the kind of session that can help you move from broad excitement to sharper execution. The right room, the right topic, and the right questions can change how you build from here.
Who should attend
If you are actively thinking about how AI should shape a company from the ground up, this session is for you. - You’re a **founder or aspiring founder** exploring what it means to build an AI native company from day one, not bolt AI on later. - You’re an **early-stage startup operator, product lead, or technical builder** who wants a clearer view of how AI changes product strategy, workflows, and team leverage. - You’re working on an **AI, tech, or autonomy-related idea** and want sharper thinking about execution, positioning, and where real advantage comes from. - You value **in-person community and networking** and want to meet other people who are seriously building, experimenting, and asking the same hard questions. - You’re looking for **practical insight over hype** and want a session that helps you make better decisions about what to build next. - You may be especially well suited for this event if you already have a concept, prototype, or early product and want to pressure-test whether your approach is truly AI native. If that sounds like where you are right now, you’ll likely find both the conversation and the room worth your time.