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#StartupsUneditedAuthor: Jorge Soto
#StartupsUnedited is a long-running podcast founded by Jorge Soto in 2015, originally recorded out of his San Francisco apartment and now evolved into a modern founder-led media platform. The show features interviews, roundtables, and live conversations with top entrepreneurs, operators, investors, and GTM leaders. New episodes are released regularly, covering what actually works in building, scaling, and surviving startups - no fluff, just real conversations and timeless insights. Language: en Genres: Business, Entrepreneurship Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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EP 110 - This Founder Is Building the Future of AI Search | Todd Sawicki, CEO of Gumshoe | #StartupUnedited
Episode 110
Tuesday, 15 September, 2026
AI search is becoming one of the most important customer acquisition channels for brands. But Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) require a different strategy from traditional SEO.In this episode of #StartupsUnedited, I sit down with Todd Sawicki, Co-Founder and CEO of Gumshoe AI, to discuss the evolution of AI search, what it takes to build a startup, and how marketers can improve their visibility in ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Perplexity, and other AI platforms.Todd explains why AI search does not simply repeat the top Google results, why brands must understand what AI says to different buyer personas, and how content, citations, technical accessibility, and sentiment influence whether a company gets recommended.We discuss:• Todd’s journey from Disney and the early internet to becoming a serial entrepreneur• The most challenging and fulfilling parts of being a startup CEO• Why the zero-to-one stage is both difficult and rewarding• How GEO and AEO have matured since 2024• Why AI search represents a new customer acquisition channel• How Gumshoe uses personas and synthetic users to analyze AI recommendations• The difference between traditional SEO and AI search optimization• Why AI sentiment matters• Gumshoe’s five-part GEO framework: visibility, content, citations, technical readiness, and sentimentLearn more about Gumshoe: https://gumshoe.aiFollow Todd Sawicki on LinkedInCHAPTERS00:00 Introduction00:44 Todd Sawicki’s founder journey08:25 The role and responsibilities of a startup CEO10:44 The most fulfilling part of building a company14:48 Why Todd built Gumshoe18:30 What makes Gumshoe’s approach to GEO unique23:50 Why GEO and AEO are different from traditional SEO25:04 How AI sentiment influences brand recommendations28:22 Where to follow Todd and learn more#GEO #AEO #AISearch #GenerativeEngineOptimization #AnswerEngineOptimization #GumshoeAI #StartupsUneditedFollow me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/startupjorge/Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/startupjorge
