From VP to Founder: Betting on AI - Elton Cheung

Episode 5

In this episode, Elton Cheung, founder and CEO of TessanaAI, shares his journey from working in large tech companies to starting an AI-focused startup. He discusses understanding customer needs, the challenges of building from scratch, and the evolving role of AI in product development. Elton emphasizes the importance of relationships in business and offers candid thoughts on job security in an AI-driven world.

Takeaways

• Elton Cheung is the founder and CEO of TessanaAI, focused on 10x-ing QA productivity with AI.
• Leaving corporate for a startup demands a clear purpose and focus.
• Founders must own their time and obsess over customer needs.
• AI is transforming how products are built and can augment human effort.
• Strong customer relationships are critical for startup success.
• Starting a company is tough without a strong “why.”
• Flexibility and readiness to adapt are essential in entrepreneurship.
• Ideas are cheap; deep understanding of pain points wins.
• AI has accelerated product development and iteration speed.
• Certain blue-collar roles (e.g., trades, healthcare) are more resilient to AI replacement.

Chapters

• 00:00 — Introduction to Elton Cheung and TessanaAI
• 02:20 — The Entrepreneurial Spirit: Leaving Corporate Comfort
• 07:56 — The Shift from Corporate to Startup: Lessons Learned
• 10:25 — Competing with Giants: The Startup Advantage
• 14:33 — The Importance of Motivation and Focus
• 18:44 — Validating AI Products: The Essential Questions
• 22:41 — Navigating the AI Landscape: Tools and Ideas
• 26:43 — AI's Impact on Jobs: What’s Safe?
• 30:48 — Building Relationships: The Key to Success

Links

• DesignQA Website: designqa.com
• Mahdi on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mahdif
• Guest — Elton Cheung (Website): tessanaai.com
• Guest — Elton Cheung (LinkedIn): linkedin.com/in/eltoncheung