AI may be everywhere, but Brian Herr says the technology itself isn’t the competitive advantage. The real moat, he argues, is data, distribution, and trust. As founder and CEO of Starting Blocks and managing partner at HHI Advisory Group, Brian helps startups, scale ups, and portfolio companies grow while also advising organizations on secure adoption.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
- How data distribution and trust serve as true competitive moats in the AI era
- Why software wrappers fail without core business fundamentals and strategy
- How transparent, auditable AI processes protect brand credibility and trust
- How agile small teams leverage AI augmentation to outperform larger competitors
- How shared AI knowledge networks accelerate cross-functional team velocity
Episode Chapters
- (00:00) Intro
- (00:55) Defining the AI Moat
- (03:11) SAAS-pocalypse and Business Fundamentals
- (05:53) Building Trust in Technology
- (09:30) Responsible AI in Practice
- (12:28) Balancing Speed and Trust
- (17:23) Effective AI Startup Strategies
- (21:45) What We Overestimate in AI
- (24:18) Brand That Made Brian Smile
About Brian Herr
Brian Herr is the founder and CEO of Starting Blocks and managing partner at HHI Advisory Group. With extensive experience as an operator, executive, advisor, investor, and scout, Brian guides startups, scale-ups, and portfolio companies through growth and secure technology adoption.
What Brand Has Made Brian Smile Recently?
Filmlink, a Detroit-based company, made Brian smile recently by solving distribution and visibility challenges for the independent film industry. Their scrappy, enthusiastic approach to building a brand that connects independent filmmakers with audiences creates authentic support and excitement.
Resources & Links
- Connect with Brian on LinkedIn.
- Learn more about HHI Advisory Group and Starting Blocks.
Listen & Support the Show
- Watch or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon/Audible, TuneIn, and iHeart.
- Rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to help others find the show.
- Share this episode — email a friend or colleague this episode.
- Sign up for my free Story Strategies newsletter for branding and storytelling tips.
On Brand is a part of the Marketing Podcast Network.
Until next week, I’ll see you on the Internet!
