Build Before You Hire: AI for Lean Startup Growth & Early Startup Success

Name: Build Before You Hire: AI for Lean Startup Growth & Early Startup Success
Start: 2026-04-30T13:00-07:00
End: 2026-04-30T14:00-07:00
Location: And-Co, #200, 1575 West Georgia Street, Vancouver

Vancouver Startup Week 2026

And-Co, #200, 1575 West Georgia Street, Vancouver

Thursday, April 30, 2026

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM PDT

About the Session Most early-stage founders assume that growth requires hiring more people. In reality, premature hiring and high upfront costs are some of the fastest ways to burn through runway. This interactive strategy sprint is designed for founders who are bootstrapping, pre-seed, or building lean by design . running teams of five or fewer . who want to scale intelligently before expanding headcount. Through guided exercises and live demonstrations, participants will learn how to use AI and automation as their first "operator." Topics include: - Identify what processes should be systemized before hiring - Use AI tools to automate research, operations, and decision-making - Avoid the most common early-stage hiring mistakes - Build simple yet reliable operating systems that support sustainable growth - Stretch limited budgets into maximum strategic leverage Participants will leave with practical frameworks and 3-5 AI automations they can implement immediately. The session concludes with structured networking. Agenda: 12:45 pm. Registration + networking 1:00 p.m. Welcome & overview 1:10 p.m. Panelist introductions 1:20 p.m. Open Q&A from the audience 1:50 p.m. Closing remarks + networking Moderator/Speakers: Maria Garcia de la Corte, Partner & Business Development Director, Inside View Global Maria is a bilingual business development leader with international experience across Europe, Australia, and Canada. At Inside View Global she drives strategic growth, key partnerships, and ecosystem building. She is passionate about supporting founders and the Vancouver startup community through initiatives like Van 365 View. Will Fan, EV Entrepreneur & Lead Visionary, Solo Automotive | Founder & CEO, EMOBILY Will Fan is a serial hi-tech entrepreneur and key opinion leader in the EV and technology sector. He took his first IPO public at age 26 and launched three successful businesses before 30. A TEDx Speaker, Forbes under 30 alumni, G20 Delegate for Young Entrepreneurs Alliance, and United Nations delegate, Will brings deep expertise in venture capital, EV manufacturing, AI, and sustainable technology. Adnan Sarwar, AI & FinTech Entrepreneur Adnan is an AI and FinTech entrepreneur and Full-Time Faculty at University Canada West. A former investment banker at Merrill Lynch Bank of America, he holds an MBA (Magna Cum Laude) from Hult International Business School. He serves as Advisory Board Member at UC Riverside's Design Thinking Program alongside executives from Amazon, NASA, SpaceX, and Disney, and actively mentors technology and startup founders across Canada. Speakers: Luis Juarez, Maria Garcia de la Corte, Will Fan, Adnar Sarwar Presented by Inside View Global