Don’t be afraid to ask for help - and be honest when you do.
People are often more willing to help than you expect, even your competitors.
Many successful founders received help when they were just starting out.
People are often more willing to help than you expect, even your competitors.
Many successful founders received help when they were just starting out.
An interview with Dr. Bharat Sangani
Starting a business from the ground up comes with its own set of challenges — limited resources, building a customer base from nothing, and navigating the uncertainty of uncharted territory. What does it take to succeed as a first-time founder? What lessons can new entrepreneurs learn from those who have been through the process? In this interview series, we are talking with startup founders who can share insights on the unique challenges of launching a business from scratch.
As part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Stan Suchkov.
Stan Suchkov, CEO and Co-founder of Evolve, an AI platform that creates onboarding and training programs from any type of document in as little as 24 hours. AI expert and founder of AI Corporate University in MENA. Seasoned entrepreneur with experience in IT and real estate development.
— Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
— I've had several successful entrepreneurial experiences, but I’ve always dreamed of creating something big and meaningful. That’s why I decided to start my own tech startup. My previous business was in construction development, but I realized the industry couldn’t scale as quickly as a SaaS product could, so I made the shift to tech. After testing different hypotheses, the current solution for the Evolve AI Platform became our third pivot - and that’s how we got to where we are today.
— Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
— The funniest - and most painful - mistake I made was not talking to potential users and clients early on. We assumed we knew what the market wanted, but our product didn’t meet anyone’s real needs. We spent a lot of time and resources going in the wrong direction. The lesson I learned is simple: always listen to your users from the start. Without their feedback, you’re just guessing.
— Can you tell us a story about the hard times that you faced when you first started your journey?
— The hardest part was quitting a job with great opportunities and a high salary to focus on a startup with no revenue for two years. No one, except for my wife and a few close supporters, believed we could succeed. I was increasing my expenses every month, with no income, and investors weren’t interested. They told me there were too many similar projects out there. Looking back, the only reason I kept going was the willingness to build something great.
— Where did you get the drive to continue even though things were so hard?
— Sometimes, startup success is about chasing the carrot in front of you - the stories of people who built something significant. But for me, I prefer having a dog barking behind me, pushing me forward to achieve results. You just keep running.
I believe the harder you work, the luckier you get - and that’s exactly what happened with us.
The biggest drive for me came from the willingness to help when I reached out to other founders. In the fall of 2023, I messaged a dozen founders from major EdTech and HRTech companies, asking for their feedback on our startup. Nine out of ten responded, offered offline meetings, and helped us shape our product.
I can’t afford to let them down - their belief in Evolve AI Platform and the time they invested is the fire that keeps me going.
I believe the harder you work, the luckier you get - and that’s exactly what happened with us.
The biggest drive for me came from the willingness to help when I reached out to other founders. In the fall of 2023, I messaged a dozen founders from major EdTech and HRTech companies, asking for their feedback on our startup. Nine out of ten responded, offered offline meetings, and helped us shape our product.
I can’t afford to let them down - their belief in Evolve AI Platform and the time they invested is the fire that keeps me going.
— So, how are things going today? How did grit and resilience lead to your eventual success?
— I always say that resilience, discipline, and consistency are your best allies on the startup journey. We’ve pivoted three times and tested more than 30 hypotheses to find product-market fit. We had no option but to succeed.
Today, Evolve is an AI-powered Learning Management System that can transform any uploaded material into courses and training programs in as little as 24 hours, saving up to 90% of time and effort. Users can upload a variety of learning and training materials (including pdf, ppt, doc, audio and video) and start the internal training of their employees as soon as the next day.
The platform enables the creation of engaging content, including tasks, quizzes, and case studies. It also evaluates learning results and generates comprehensive reports for data-driven decisions. Nearly all of Evolve’s features are available via API (Application Programming Interface), allowing seamless integration with other LMSs. Customers can choose from three options: course generation only, an LMS subscription, or API integration. And most importantly, we’re growing 30% MoM, with more leads than we can handle.
Today, Evolve is an AI-powered Learning Management System that can transform any uploaded material into courses and training programs in as little as 24 hours, saving up to 90% of time and effort. Users can upload a variety of learning and training materials (including pdf, ppt, doc, audio and video) and start the internal training of their employees as soon as the next day.
The platform enables the creation of engaging content, including tasks, quizzes, and case studies. It also evaluates learning results and generates comprehensive reports for data-driven decisions. Nearly all of Evolve’s features are available via API (Application Programming Interface), allowing seamless integration with other LMSs. Customers can choose from three options: course generation only, an LMS subscription, or API integration. And most importantly, we’re growing 30% MoM, with more leads than we can handle.
— What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?
— We made a big mistake - but it turned out to be our biggest advantage. When we first started generating courses and training programs, we had no idea about the industry standards. Later, we decided to build our own Learning Management System and develop a unique AI-driven approach to analytics and course interaction. Once again, we didn’t know the so-called rules because we were new to the market - so we just built it our own way.
People told us we were doing it wrong, but no one could really explain why. So we kept going. Over time, something changed - people started asking how we did it. That’s when I realized we had disrupted approaches that had been used for 25 years.
Everyone else was following the rules without questioning them. Honestly, if someone had handed us those rules, we might have followed them too.
Looking back, I see why Evolve AI Platform stands out: we didn’t just improve the old model - we completely redefined it. We built a system designed for AI from day one, instead of trying to adapt AI into an outdated system. And that made all the difference.
People told us we were doing it wrong, but no one could really explain why. So we kept going. Over time, something changed - people started asking how we did it. That’s when I realized we had disrupted approaches that had been used for 25 years.
Everyone else was following the rules without questioning them. Honestly, if someone had handed us those rules, we might have followed them too.
Looking back, I see why Evolve AI Platform stands out: we didn’t just improve the old model - we completely redefined it. We built a system designed for AI from day one, instead of trying to adapt AI into an outdated system. And that made all the difference.
— Can you share a tough decision you had to make as a founder that had a lasting impact on your business?
— The toughest decision I had to make was leaving my stable job to fully commit to Evolve. The first two years passed with no revenue and two major pivots along the way - but it was the only way to give the business a real chance to succeed.
— Can you share a tough decision you had to make as a founder that had a lasting impact on your business?
— The toughest decision I had to make was leaving my stable job to fully commit to Evolve. The first two years passed with no revenue and two major pivots along the way - but it was the only way to give the business a real chance to succeed.
— What marketing or sales strategies were most effective in getting your first customers?
— We explored every channel we could find. I offered free trials to anyone willing to test Evolve AI Platform and asked for their feedback. One day, I connected with an influencer who agreed to try it. Just five hours later, he not only shared his feedback but also offered to partner with us. That partnership brought us over 10 clients, including large enterprises with more than 10,000 employees.
We still work together, but we also continue exploring new channels. Recently, we shifted our focus to building brand awareness rather than relying on cold outreach and ads. This strategy really started paying off at the end of last year.
Word of mouth has been incredibly valuable too about 20% of our current clients heard about us from colleagues at other companies.
We still work together, but we also continue exploring new channels. Recently, we shifted our focus to building brand awareness rather than relying on cold outreach and ads. This strategy really started paying off at the end of last year.
Word of mouth has been incredibly valuable too about 20% of our current clients heard about us from colleagues at other companies.
— Which tips would you recommend to other Fresh Founders about how to develop the relentlessness and “stick-to-it-ness” needed to keep a new business going?
— Build strong relationships with your clients, team, and investors. Listen to advice - don’t underestimate the importance of what people share with you. Sometimes, your vision should lead the way, but it shouldn’t be set in stone. The market sets the rules, and investors set the conditions.
The biggest sources of demotivation are usually:
– Clients unwilling to pay for your product
– Investors unwilling to invest in your startup
To build resilience, actively ask for feedback and advice from these very people. Use it to improve your product and approach. When you start seeing positive changes in how clients and investors respond, it gives you the fuel to keep going. It always works.
The biggest sources of demotivation are usually:
– Clients unwilling to pay for your product
– Investors unwilling to invest in your startup
To build resilience, actively ask for feedback and advice from these very people. Use it to improve your product and approach. When you start seeing positive changes in how clients and investors respond, it gives you the fuel to keep going. It always works.
— None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?
— My wife and my team - they are the people I’m most grateful to for helping me and Evolve on this journey to success. My wife left her position at General Motors to support me and show that she believes in our product and my vision. That level of trust and commitment means everything to me.
I also see it in my team - people who took a personal risk to join me full-time, choosing a startup over stable corporate jobs. For example, our CTO left his dream job as CTO of a major e-commerce platform, accepting a lower salary because he believed in our mission to transform the e-learning market.
I also see it in my team - people who took a personal risk to join me full-time, choosing a startup over stable corporate jobs. For example, our CTO left his dream job as CTO of a major e-commerce platform, accepting a lower salary because he believed in our mission to transform the e-learning market.
— Can you share a few ideas or stories from your experience about how to successfully ride the emotional highs & lows of being a founder?
— Learn from others. There are incredible books filled with stories of both success and failure that can teach you a lot about how to navigate the emotional rollercoaster of being a founder.
Company culture also plays a huge role in helping you ride those emotional waves - just like surfing. Some days the waves are rough, and you might fall, but what matters is that you keep getting back up and trying again. What’s most important is the result, not every single step of the process. Just like in surfing, you always end up back on the shore - tired, but full of joy and already looking forward to the next wave.
Company culture also plays a huge role in helping you ride those emotional waves - just like surfing. Some days the waves are rough, and you might fall, but what matters is that you keep getting back up and trying again. What’s most important is the result, not every single step of the process. Just like in surfing, you always end up back on the shore - tired, but full of joy and already looking forward to the next wave.
Some days the waves are rough, and you might fall, but what matters is that you keep getting back up and trying again.
— What are the 5 biggest lessons you’ve learned on this journey, and how did you learn them? Please share a specific experience or challenge that shaped each lesson
— 1. Luck favors those who keep moving.
We made countless mistakes and struggled for a long time. All the pivots, failures, and attempts to create something valuable eventually led us to product-market fit. We started with a B2C challenge platform and, through iteration after iteration, transformed it into an AI-powered learning platform for the B2B market. The only reason we got there was because we kept moving forward despite all the setbacks.
2. Don’t be afraid to ask for help - and be honest when you do.
People are often more willing to help than you expect, even your competitors. Many successful founders received help when they were just starting out. When I reached out to people on LinkedIn, I was surprised by how many were open to sharing advice. Being honest about your struggles makes a big difference. I know how much Evolve AI Platform was shaped by the kindness of strangers - and I’ll always pay it forward.
3. Startup founders commit to things without any guarantee of success.
That’s what sets founders apart from people with stable jobs, predictable routines, and monthly loan payments. I’m not proud of every commitment I failed to fulfill, but I’m proud that I did everything in my power to achieve them. And there are very few that I truly left behind.
4. Sometimes, you need to make difficult team changes.
Every stage of your product’s development requires different skills and expertise. When you have to let people go, treat them with respect and care. Those you lay off will talk to the people who remain, and how you handle the process shapes how your team sees you. People need to know they are valued, even if they’re no longer part of the team.
5. Take care of your team first, your clients second - and the revenue will follow.
Make sacrifices for your team and your product. My team saw the sacrifices I made, and they stood by me through every pivot, every failed experiment, and every tough decision. Our product exists because of the team - together, we brainstormed, searched for clients, and shaped Evolve into what it is today.
We made countless mistakes and struggled for a long time. All the pivots, failures, and attempts to create something valuable eventually led us to product-market fit. We started with a B2C challenge platform and, through iteration after iteration, transformed it into an AI-powered learning platform for the B2B market. The only reason we got there was because we kept moving forward despite all the setbacks.
2. Don’t be afraid to ask for help - and be honest when you do.
People are often more willing to help than you expect, even your competitors. Many successful founders received help when they were just starting out. When I reached out to people on LinkedIn, I was surprised by how many were open to sharing advice. Being honest about your struggles makes a big difference. I know how much Evolve AI Platform was shaped by the kindness of strangers - and I’ll always pay it forward.
3. Startup founders commit to things without any guarantee of success.
That’s what sets founders apart from people with stable jobs, predictable routines, and monthly loan payments. I’m not proud of every commitment I failed to fulfill, but I’m proud that I did everything in my power to achieve them. And there are very few that I truly left behind.
4. Sometimes, you need to make difficult team changes.
Every stage of your product’s development requires different skills and expertise. When you have to let people go, treat them with respect and care. Those you lay off will talk to the people who remain, and how you handle the process shapes how your team sees you. People need to know they are valued, even if they’re no longer part of the team.
5. Take care of your team first, your clients second - and the revenue will follow.
Make sacrifices for your team and your product. My team saw the sacrifices I made, and they stood by me through every pivot, every failed experiment, and every tough decision. Our product exists because of the team - together, we brainstormed, searched for clients, and shaped Evolve into what it is today.
— How did you approach funding your business in the early days? Did you bootstrap, seek investors, or take another approach? Please explain why you took that course of action.
— It’s a long story, but to keep it short - we didn’t succeed in raising funds at the very beginning. For the first two years, I invested my own money, along with support from a friend who believed in me. Later, instead of focusing on fundraising, I took a step back and shifted my focus entirely to traction - generating our first revenue and growing it.
Just four months later, we secured our first investment. All I did was pitch at a few online meetings - that’s it.
Today, we’re always open to pitching, but I don’t actively reach out to investors anymore. I focus on improving Evolve AI Platform and driving growth, and now investors reach out to us.
Just four months later, we secured our first investment. All I did was pitch at a few online meetings - that’s it.
Today, we’re always open to pitching, but I don’t actively reach out to investors anymore. I focus on improving Evolve AI Platform and driving growth, and now investors reach out to us.
— What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about starting a business but is afraid to take the leap?
— If you want to achieve something great, starting a business is your first real challenge - and first step. If you’re not aiming high, you probably shouldn’t start a startup at all. It’s tough, risky, and full of uncertainty. If you believe in your idea, take the leap - you’ll never know your potential until you try.
— You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
— I care a lot about climate change because it affects every single person on our planet. I fully support Bill Gates’ view that we can all send a clear signal to the market - we want zero-carbon alternatives, and we’re ready to pay for them. If enough people send that signal, companies will respond with sustainable solutions, and decision makers will take these demands into account. A person of great influence can become a role model for an eco-friendly lifestyle and also influence key decisions at the highest levels.
About The Interviewer:
Dr. Bharat Sangani is a cardiologist and entrepreneur with over 35 years of experience, practicing in Gulfport, Mississippi, and Dallas, Texas. Board-certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology, he specializes in diagnosing, treating, and preventing cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease and hypertension. In 1999, Dr. Sangani founded Encore Enterprises, a national real estate investment firm. Under his leadership, the company has executed transactions exceeding $2 billion, with a portfolio spanning residential, retail, hotel, and office developments. Known for his emphasis on integrity and fairness, Dr. Sangani has built Encore into a major player in the commercial real estate sector. Blending his medical and business expertise, Dr. Sangani created the Life is a Business mentorship program. The initiative offers guidance on achieving balance in health, wealth, and relationships, helping participants align personal and professional goals. Now based in Dallas, Texas, Dr. Sangani continues to practice cardiology while leading Encore Enterprises and mentoring others. His career reflects a unique blend of medical expertise, entrepreneurial spirit, and dedication to helping others thrive.
Read other blogs