How Founders Can Build Companies That Last | Clement Pang, Wavefront | Ep 7

In this episode of Inside the Silicon Mind, we sit down with Clement Pang - serial entrepreneur, investor, and Co-Founder of Wavefront ($400M exit) - to unpack how AI is reshaping the future of startups and software engineering. From his early career at Google to building and scaling companies, Clement shares what it really takes to go from engineer to founder in today’s shifting landscape.

We dive into why AI represents the next “cloud-level” disruption, the discipline required to build enduring products, and how creativity, customer obsession, and storytelling separate lasting companies from short-lived hype. Clement also reflects on the evolving role of engineers in an AI-driven world - moving from code execution to higher-level design and systems thinking - and the lessons every founder, engineer, and investor should carry into this next wave of innovation.

 

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Clement Pang: A Journey Through Tech and Entrepreneurship

02:54 The Impact of AI on Founding and Building Companies

05:58 The Evolution of Software Engineering in the Age of AI

09:06 Starting Companies: Challenges and Opportunities in the AI Era

12:10 Navigating the AI Landscape: Risks and Market Dynamics

14:58 The Transition from Engineer to Founder: Clement's Story

17:55 The Obsession with Building: From Google to Startups

21:11 The Role of Creativity in Engineering and AI

23:56 Lessons from Early Startups: Product Market Fit and Iteration

26:55 Building the Future: Insights from Clement's Entrepreneurial Journey

38:04 The Journey to Cloud Adoption

39:54 Engineering Focus and Customer Engagement

43:07 Understanding Customer Feedback

46:42 Key Customer Priorities

49:19 Rebuilding Wavefront with AI

51:18 Transitioning to Investment and Advisory Roles

57:26 Insights from Being an LP

01:00:53 The Role of Storytelling in AI

01:03:31 The Evolution of Voice Assistants

01:09:44 Influential Books and Learning

 

Book Recommendations:

The Right It, by Alberto Savoia

 

Follow Clement on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/clementpang/

 

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Inside The Silicon Mind

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