The case for AI co-founders, from less equity dilution to an infinite memory

Kisson Lin’s vision for AI co-founders challenges everything we know about startup dynamics. Speaking at TechCrunch Sessions: AI, the Tanka CEO argued that today’s founders face an impossible burden: endless context-switching among investor updates, product development, and team management.

Her solution? AI co-founders that handle routine tasks with perfect memory and infinite availability. Unlike human co-founders, these AI partners don’t require equity, don’t have bad days, and can work around the clock on everything from crafting pitch decks to monitoring team performance. Lin’s experience across Meta, TikTok, and other companies has informed her vision of AI-native startups where solo founders can achieve what had previously been restricted to large teams.