Building a VC Backed Platform in the Age of AI | Sam Brown, Let’s Do This – Co-Founder & CEO

In this conversation, Sam breaks down the reality behind startup fundraising, Y Combinator, venture capital pressure, founder psychology, and why AI is reshaping the future of sport and live experiences. From raising early money through SEIS/EIS, to learning how VCs really think, to deciding when to pivot and when to stay true to the mission, this is a candid look at what it actually feels like to build at high speed.

Sam also shares why most founders misunderstand venture funding, how to handle investor pressure, what makes AI different from past hype cycles like crypto and virtual events, and the advice he’d give to anyone starting a business in sport today.

He talks openly about the mental side of leadership too — from anxiety and pressure to decision-making, ambition, and building a company without losing sight of the life you actually want to create. It’s an honest conversation about growth, trade-offs, and staying clear on the bigger picture.

Chapters
00:00 What people misunderstand about venture-backed companies
01:50 Raising early capital in the UK with SEIS/EIS
04:42 Getting into Y Combinator and lessons from Sam Altman
05:51 The pressure and expectations of serious VC backing
07:07 What YC taught about competition, luck, and top founders
08:22 What investors actually bring beyond capital
13:24 What happens when growth slows and investors get aggressive
13:54 Should every founder take venture capital?
17:47 The emotional reality of building under investor pressure
18:35 How to choose whose advice to listen to
24:27 Balancing founder vision with VC expectations
25:39 Why AI matters more than crypto or virtual events
31:12 How AI is changing event technology and operations
35:09 Going all-in on AI without “burning the boats”
40:16 Why AI automation matters more than small marketplace gains
42:45 Advice for founders starting a business in sport today