Craig Lewis is the Founder & CEO Ogentic AI, builder of Zing—an AI-native enterprise browser that turns intent → action in a secure, workflow-native workspace. Before Ogentic, he founded Gig Wage (750k contractors paid, ~$1B moved, $25M+ raised) and learned payroll inside ADP. That operator muscle fuels Ogentic’s pace: incorporated in June, alpha in July, beta in August. He also serves on the governing board at MassChallenge and angels actively.
In this episode, Craig shares velocity advice like: ship before perfect (feedback > stealth), build pro-human AI (human-in-the-loop), and treat fundraising like sales (expect 19 no’s, optimize investor–founder fit, when it’s right—TTFM). He outlines the back-office stack that keeps your startup in good shape and his board philosophy: offer perspective, not prescriptions. If you’re building enterprise AI—or just want to move in weeks, not quarters—this one’s for you.
Key Topics Covered:
- Ogentic AI focuses on enterprise productivity and automation.
- Building a strong back office is crucial for startups.
- Fundraising is a numbers game; persistence is key.
- Feedback is essential for product development.
- AI will replace some jobs but also create new ones.
- Having a technical co-founder can accelerate growth.
- Navigating the fundraising landscape requires understanding investor fit.
- MassChallenge supports entrepreneurs in solving global challenges.
- The future of work will involve augmenting human capabilities with AI.
- Startups should find their niche in the AI market.
Chapters
(00:00) The Rise of Ogentic AI
(13:37) Building a Strong Back Office
(17:02) Navigating Fundraising Challenges
(19:14) The Role of MassChallenge
(23:12) AI and the Future of Work
(27:40) Fundraising in the AI Era
Where to find Craig J. Lewis:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrfutureofwork
X: https://x.com/CraigJamalLewis
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craigjlewis
Where to find Ogentic AI:
Website: https://ogenticai.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ogenticai
X: https://x.com/ogenticai
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ogenticai
Where to find David Phillips:
X: https://x.com/davj
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davjphillips
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