Ask HN: What makes startups with LLMs defensible in this market?

#1

Post by t_a_v_i_s » Thu, Apr 13, 2023, 11:07 PM UTC

I'm currently talking to investors about my startup's seed round. A core part of our product is using LLMs to automate a common job.

Currently, our defensible narrative is that LLMs are just one part of our product and our complete solution is what presents a large opportunity.

I'm curious - especially to those who invest or raised recently in this space - what are key characteristics of defensible startups using LLMs.

Re: Ask HN: What makes startups with LLMs defensible in this market?

#2

Post by brucethemoose2 » Thu, Apr 13, 2023, 11:17 PM UTC

I have no advice and no business giving it... but I am curious, are the LLMs making the investors feel nervous?

I thought it would have the opposite effect, kinda like other buzzwords in the past.

Re: Ask HN: What makes startups with LLMs defensible in this market?

#3

Post by jschveibinz » Fri, Apr 14, 2023, 12:46 AM UTC

I’m an investor in early stage startups, and yes I am nervous.

Re: Ask HN: What makes startups with LLMs defensible in this market?

#4

Post by t_a_v_i_s » Fri, Apr 14, 2023, 2:38 AM UTC

jschveibinz wrote: post #3

I’m an investor in early stage startups, and yes I am nervous.

Are you writing any checks or holding off until the dust settles?

Re: Ask HN: What makes startups with LLMs defensible in this market?

#5

Post by t_a_v_i_s » Fri, Apr 14, 2023, 2:40 AM UTC

brucethemoose2 wrote: post #2

I have no advice and no business giving it... but I am curious, are the LLMs making the investors feel nervous ? I thought it would have the opposite effect, kinda like other buzzwords in the past.

There's a lot of "well I just saw the latest version of GPT do exactly what your startup does on Twitter today".