Founder Weekly (Issue 691 July 2 2025)

Welcome to issue 691 of Founder Weekly. Let's get straight to the links this week.

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General

2025: The State of Consumer AI

Consumer AI has reached a tipping point, with 61% of American adults and up to 1.8 billion people globally having used AI recently, but only about 3% pay for premium services—highlighting a vast monetization gap and major opportunity for new products. Adoption spans all ages and life stages, with parents and working adults emerging as power users, while most consumers default to general AI assistants for routine tasks, leaving room for specialized tools only when they deliver dramatically better experiences.

AI-powered R&D—vibecoding, taste, and the evolution of full-stack design

Perceptron's Founding Designer offers five lessons on leveraging AI in the R&D lifecycle—from prototyping to deployment.

Toast: A Recipe for Building a System of Record

A Deep Dive on the Vertical Software Company & Lessons on Building AI Companies Today.

Should China’s 996 work culture be the new normal for startup founders?

China’s 996 work culture—working 9am to 9pm, six days a week—has sparked debate in the startup world, with some arguing such intense schedules are necessary for rapid growth and competitive advantage, while others warn of burnout and diminishing returns. The article highlights that while periods of intense work may be unavoidable for founders, making 996 the norm risks harming mental health, company performance, and long-term sustainability, especially as attitudes shift toward valuing work-life balance

Marketing, Sales and PR

0-$5M: How to Go From Random Wins to Repeatable Revenue

When every deal closes differently, how do you build repeatability? First Round Partner Meka Asonye shares proven tactics from founders and revenue leaders who've solved this exact puzzle.

How to fight back against AI tourists

14 tactical ideas for selling annual plans via top growth leaders at Canva, Grammarly, Pleo and more.

Money and Finance

Capital Intensity Isn't Bad

How Hard Tech Can Be More Capital Efficient Than Software.

Choosing a VC Is Like Marriage But Pitching VCs is Not Like Dating

Choosing a venture capital partner is likened to marriage due to its long-term, high-stakes nature, but pitching to VCs is not like dating—initial impressions are not reliable indicators of future working relationships. Founders should prioritize backchannel references from other entrepreneurs to truly assess a VC’s suitability, as the pitching process often masks how an investor will behave once invested.

VCs Beyond The Meme

The First Principles of Being Useful, Circling Back, and Backing Outliers.