Missed phone calls are costing the restaurant industry millions of dollars every year, but conversational AI is completely changing the game. In this episode, we explore how cutting-edge voice technology is transforming front-of-house operations and recovering lost revenue for operators nationwide.

Christian Wiens, CEO and Co-Founder of Loman AI, shares his journey from working in a beachside barbecue joint to developing the leading voice AI platform for the restaurant sector. He explains the immense operational challenges inherent in the industry and how an intelligent phone agent can seamlessly take orders, process payments, and integrate directly with existing POS systems.

Beyond the technology, Christian provides a tactical masterclass on go-to-market strategies for B2B startup founders. From leveraging cold email and paid advertisements to building a powerful organic pipeline, he breaks down exactly what it takes to scale a software business in 2026.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Setup 04:56 Christian Wiens Introduces Lohman AI 06:32 Christian's Background and Entrepreneurial Journey 14:41 The Core Problem in Restaurant Phone Operations 17:10 How AI Solves Restaurant Call Misses 20:25 Surprising Customer Impact Stories 25:11 Customer Skepticism and AI Acceptance 32:19 Data Insights from Voice AI 37:32 Go-to-Market Strategies for AI Startups 44:22 The Role of Content and SEO in Growth 47:11 Hiring and Building an AI-Driven Team 50:12 Current Hiring and Growth at Lohman AI

Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal leads the top AI recruitment firm in Silicon Valley, www.matchrelevant.com, uncovering stories of funded startups and going behind the scenes to tell their founders’ journeys. If you are growing an AI startup or have a great story to tell, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com

Want to know how AI is helping small business owners unlock millions in hidden value before they sell? Discover how Cory Hogan built Unbroker, an AI-native services firm that generated $13 billion in valuations in just six months.

In this episode of Born in Silicon Valley, host Jake Aaron Villarreal sits down with Cory Hogan to discuss the massive shift happening on Main Street. With 10 million small business owners preparing to transfer trillions of dollars in wealth over the next decade, Unbroker is stepping in to ensure they get exactly what their life's work is worth.

Cory shares his origin story, transitioning from a blue-collar background to scaling Y Combinator startups, and ultimately creating a conversational AI bot that values businesses in under 60 seconds. We explore the unit economics of bootstrapping a massive tech startup and why the human element is more critical than ever in an AI-driven world.

Whether you are a startup founder looking for sustainable growth strategies or a business owner planning your future exit, this conversation delivers actionable insights on leveraging artificial intelligence to scale efficiently and hire the right talent based on skill and will.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background 05:55 The Birth of Unbroker 11:51 AI's Role in Business Valuation 17:56 Navigating the Selling Process 23:35 Startup Strategies and Team Dynamics 29:47 Hiring in the Age of AI 35:55 Future of Unbroker and Closing Thoughts

Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal leads the top AI recruitment firm in Silicon Valley, www.matchrelevant.com, uncovering stories of funded startups and going behind the scenes to tell their founders’ journeys. If you are growing an AI startup or have a great story to tell, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com

Is traditional SEO dead for tech founders? Discover how Generative Engine Optimization is transforming how B2B cybersecurity startups get discovered and scale their growth.

In episode 301 of Born in Silicon Valley, Jake Aaron Villarreal sits down with Deepak Gupta, co-founder and CEO of Gracker AI. They dive deep into the evolution of search and why Answer Engine Optimization is the new frontier for marketers and go-to-market teams.

Deepak shares his journey from software engineer to serial entrepreneur, explaining how Gracker AI helps young cybersecurity companies outrank legacy competitors on AI platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini. They also discuss the rise of Go-To-Market Engineers and the critical importance of building an AI-first company culture where teams actively share prompts and workflows.

Whether you are building a venture-backed SaaS product, optimizing your digital presence, or scaling a technical recruitment strategy, this episode provides actionable insights to master AI visibility.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Deepak Gupta and Gracker AI 04:54 Deepak's Journey as a Serial Entrepreneur 09:46 Understanding GEO and AEO in the AI Landscape 14:50 The Shift from SEO to AI Search 20:04 Gracker AI's Unique Position in the Market 21:26 Prompt Monitoring and Data Integration 23:59 Building a Team in the Age of AI 27:56 Fostering a Knowledge-Sharing Culture 31:25 Leading Change in AI Transformation 32:41 Leveraging Technology for Growth 40:39 Future Growth and Talent Acquisition

Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal leads the top AI recruitment firm in Silicon Valley, www.matchrelevant.com, uncovering stories of funded startups and going behind the scenes to tell their founders’ journeys. If you are growing an AI startup or have a great story to tell, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com