As AI Platforms Consolidate, Founder Opportunities Will Expand

Author

Benjamin Friedman
February 24, 2026

Morning beehiivcommunity!

This newsletter turns experience into actionable lessons for your startup. As a growth partner for visionary founders, we sharpen leadership skills and unlock growth potential.

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What the Auto Industry Reveals About AI Consolidation

In 1908, more than 250 American automakers competed for buyers. Two decades later, only 44 remained. Consolidation was inevitable.

AI is following a similar path. As infrastructure and R&D costs soar into the hundreds of billions, only a handful of companies will operate core models at scale.

For founders, the future isn't building new “factories,” but designing resilient, human + tech systems on top of them. Make relationship-building, feedback loops, and rapid innovation your advantage. Pair the power of large models with judgment, empathy, flexibility, and creativity where outcomes matter most.

You can read the full piece in this week’s full blog post HERE.

Go Wide: A Life Less Curated explores how major historical events have shaped today’s world and what they might signal about the future. Do you agree? What else should we dive into? Share your thoughts at [email protected].

Silent Strength: An Impactful Resource for Introverted Founders

“Introversion…made me feel better when I was doing unusual things very out of the box. Silent Strength celebrates introversion as a path to authentic innovation and entrepreneurial success.”

— Steve Wozniak, Co-Founder of Apple

Silent Strength: The Introvert’s Guide to Building Successful Startups helps founders who want to scale companies without faking extroversion. It shows you how to turn quiet focus, deep thinking, and thoughtful relationships into advantages.

Silent Strength focuses on how to:

  • Lead, sell, network, and fundraise while staying true to yourself

  • Transform self-awareness into resilience, confidence, and growth

  • Build balanced, high-performing teams by collaborating with extroverts

Whether you’re an introvert leading your first venture or an extrovert learning to champion quieter teammates, this book will help you build calm confidence and use it to spark world-changing innovation.

Expert Tips for Startups

Want Better Decisions as a Founder? Ask Sharper Questions.

"When people stop giving you feedback, start to worry." —Amanda Pouchot

A couple of weeks ago, we talked about the value of asking for feedback. Today, here are specific questions that may feel uncomfortable, but are incredibly useful.

From your team, ask open-ended questions like “How can I support you better?” and “If you could change one thing at the company right now, what would it be?”

From investors, ask for insight, not direction: “What circumstances will prompt you to give feedback?” and “What is the toughest feedback you ever gave a founder?”

From customers, find out: “How exactly do we improve your business?” and “What could be better about what we’re offering?”

With replies, resist the urge to explain or defend. Listen now, process later, and decide what to change. Your reaction determines whether people keep telling you the truth.

What’s one question you’ll start asking this week?

Ramp [Sponsor]

Ramp is the ultimate platform for modern finance teams. Combining corporate cards with travel, expense management, AP, and more, Ramp’s all-in-one solution automates finance operations and builds healthier businesses. Over 25,000 businesses have switched to Ramp to save an average 5% and close their books 8x faster.

Ramp is a proud sponsor of CFOs and the Board: Finance Leaders at the Center of Strategy and Scrutiny on February 25. At the event, CFOs and investors will discuss how finance leaders can become true architects of long-term value.

Need Some Help?

What if the quietest person in the room is the one who changes the world?

Build Scale Grow provides expert strategies and clear metrics for social impact, EdTech, and health tech startups, with a focus on introverted founders. With five successful M&As in ten years, we’ll help your startup reach its full potential and beyond.

Book a free 30-minute call HERE to see how we can help.