In this episode of Inside Story, host Dursun Halimova dives into the world of startup stories with Jacob Pichna, co-founder and CEO of sommify, an AI-powered wine sommelier startup. Learn how Jacob turned a simple business idea into a thriving tech company by focusing on real customer needs, applying Lean Startup principles, and raising funds to fuel his venture.

Jacob shares his experience of starting a business with friends, the challenges of building a startup in college, and how to overcome the odds when starting a business with no experience. He also discusses what it’s like to work with investors, secure partnerships with major retailers like Tesco, and scale a business in the competitive world of startup tech companies. He also shares the lessons learned from Silicon Valley and how they shaped sommify’s success.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro: The Sommify Story – AI Meets Wine Selection

02:00 How Sommify is Helping Customers Choose the Perfect Wine

05:00 The Power of Wine Education in Retail

07:20 sommify's Integration into Major Retail Stores

11:56 Challenges of Launching a Startup with Childhood Friends

13:32 Pivotal Moments in Sommify’s Startup Journey

14:23 Building a Team of Experts: Why It Matters

23:03 How to Reach Decision Makers and Secure a Demo

25:55 Key Lessons from Silicon Valley for Startup Success

28:42 Thinking Big: Setting Ambitious Goals for Growth2

9:03 Perfecting Your Startup Pitch

31:19 Future Plans: What Happens After a Successful Exit

33:12 Entrepreneurship: The Fulfillment and Potential Ahead