From SEO to Agent-Led Growth: Profound’s James Cadwallader
James Cadwallader, co-founder and CEO of Profound, makes the case that we are living through the biggest platform shift in marketing history. The front door of the internet hasn't changed, but the visitor walking through it has. Where consumers once clicked blue links, AI agents now crawl the web on their behalf, synthesizing answers and steering purchase decisions at scale.
James explains why Gemini, ChatGPT, and Claude all recommend brands differently, why mapping AI visibility onto traditional SEO is the wrong instinct, and why the real imperative is to equip a superintelligent agent with original insight it couldn't find anywhere else. He also digs into the dead internet theory – the possibility that human browsing could largely cease within three years – how AI advertising may become the most effective form the world has ever seen, and why agent-led marketing isn't just automation of the old work, but an entirely new capability.
Hosted by Sonya Huang, Sequoia Capital
How Brands Stay Visible When AI Decides | Profound CEO James Cadwallader
What happens when AI becomes your most influential referrer?
As consumers turn to ChatGPT for answers, James Cadwallader and his team at Profound help brands like Eight Sleep and MongoDB gain visibility and leverage inside AI models.
On this episode of Grit, he explains why brand narrative has shifted away from content, and why Profound is scaling globally ahead of traditional SaaS timelines.
Guest: James Cadwallader, co-founder and CEO of Profound and Ilya Fushman, partner at Kleiner Perkins
Connect with James Cadwallader
X: https://x.com/thejamescad?lang=en
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jsca/
Connect with Ilya Fushman
X: https://x.com/ilyaf
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilyafushman/
Connect with Joubin
X: https://x.com/Joubinmir
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joubin-mirzadegan-66186854/
Email: grit@kleinerperkins.com
Follow on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/kpgrit
Follow on X:
https://x.com/KPGrit
Learn more about Kleiner Perkins: https://www.kleinerperkins.com/
Profound, Resistant AI & OpenAI’s Economic Pitch | E2071
Today’s show: Alex covers Mark Zuckerberg’s Joe Rogan interview, OpenAI’s economic pitch and the pending IPO of India’s Groww. Our guests include two companies freshly added to the TWIST500: James Cadwallader from Profound and Martin Rehak from Resistant AI.
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Timestamps:
(0:00) Alex kicks off the show!
(2:51) A look at key moments from this week’s Mark Zuckerberg interview on Rogan.
(8:08) James Cadwallader, Co-Founder and CEO of Profound join Alex.
(10:05) Northwest Registered Agent. For just $39 plus state fees, Northwest will handle your complete business identity. Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today.
(11:23) Comparing Profound’s approach to SEO and looking and how problemism impacts search.
(20:21) Paddle. Go to https://www.paddle.com/twist to get started with your exclusive listener fee-free period.
(24:48) Building Profound in NYC, business model, and managing LLM costs
(30:51) Squarespace. TWiST listeners: use code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain: https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST
(32:15) Introduction to Resistant AI's mission and building an AI startup
(34:18) Resistant AI's approach to fraud detection and criminal techniques evolution
(41:17) Shift in the landscape of digital threats and security solutions ROI
(51:39) Synthetic fraud detection demonstration and business growth
(58:01) The Biden administration's AI diffusion plan and OpenAI's policy recommendations
(1:04:25) Groww: India's largest retail stock broker and tech IPO landscape
Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com
Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com
Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp
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Check out Profound: https://www.tryprofound.com/
Check out Resistant AI: https://resistant.ai/
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Follow James:
X: https://x.com/thejamescad
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jsca
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Follow Martin:
X: https://x.com/rehakmar
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinrehak/
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Follow Alex:
X: https://x.com/alex
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm
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Follow Jason:
X: https://twitter.com/Jason
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
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Thank you to our partners:
(10:05) Northwest Registered Agent. For just $39 plus state fees, Northwest will handle your complete business identity. Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today.
(20:21) Paddle. Go to https://www.paddle.com/twist to get started with your exclusive listener fee-free period.
(30:51) Squarespace. TWiST listeners: use code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain: https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST
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Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland
Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis
Follow TWiST:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartups
Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com
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Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916