Ep 1.8 • Professor-Student Duo Takes on AI | Interview with Voxel51

This week’s episode brings professor-student duo from University of Michigan, Brian Moore (CEO) and Prof. Jason Corso (CSO), co-founders of Voxel51, an open source toolkit to enable better data and better models. They discuss transitioning from academia to entrepreneurship in AI, shedding the “faculty” and “student” roles, changing CEO titles earlier last year, how they made a major pivot (and if it was the right choice), as well as how they tackled one of their biggest disagreements - deciding when to fundraise.

Over the past 7 years, Jason and Brian have grown Voxel51 to a company with 25+ team members, over 2 million downloads, and have secured over $12M to date led by Drive Capital, with participation from Top Harvest, Shasta Ventures, eLab Ventures and ID Ventures.

In our conversation, we discuss:

• The transition from academia to entrepreneurship
• Starting a company with two technical co-founders
• Shedding the “faculty” and “student” roles
• Changing who is CEO 5 years in
• Making a *major* business model pivot
• Conflict: when is the right time to fundraise?

Key Insights:

It all began in a computer vision course at the University of Michigan during the fall of 2014. Jason, an established professor, and Brian, a bright PhD student in the frontline but not directly under Jason's tutelage, formed a connection that transcended the conventional teacher-student relationship, laying the foundation for what would eventually become Voxel 51.

1. The Transition from Academia to Entrepreneurship": Their venture began not with a startup mindset but as a research partnership, focusing on applied research funded by grants. This phase allowed them to "nerd out" on technology, gradually learning about the market and the potential for their project. This period was crucial for building technical foundations and understanding the market before fully committing to the startup route. (see Jason’s blog post)

2. Shedding the “Faculty” and “Student” Roles: Jason and Brian's journey emphasizes the significance of equitable decision-making and leadership. Shedding previous labels of "faculty" and "student," they adopted a "leadership by committee" approach, ensuring that decisions, especially critical ones, were deliberated jointly. This democratic process fostered a strong, trust-based relationship that played a pivotal role in navigating the startup's direction and strategy.

3. Title Changes in the C-Suite: One of the most intriguing aspects of their partnership was the fluidity of roles within the company. The transition from Jason as CEO to CSO and Brian from CTO to CEO highlighted their flexible nature, always aligning roles with the company's needs and individual priorities and strengths. Their ability to adapt and reassess roles showcases a vital lesson in leadership flexibility for startup success.

4. Navigating Conflict - When is the Right Time to Fundraise?: The narrative of Voxel 51 is interlaced with moments of agreement and discord. One of their biggest moments of disagreement was on the timing of fundraising. The pair trace this back to their different personality types and how each of them thinks about risk-taking. They ultimately came to a shared decision after creating a shared data set and having a series of conversations over time both internally as well as externally with advisors, peers, and investors.

5. How to Make a Major Pivot: A compelling takeaway from Brian and Jason's story is the analogy of the founding team to a family, underlining the importance of trust, commitment, and the ability to navigate conflicts productively. Their journey underscores the necessity of a solid foundational relationship, capable of weathering the challenges that come with startup growth and evolution. A notable instance was their decision to pivot the company's direction, a move borne out of aligned values and a shared vision, despite the inherent risks.

The story of Voxel 51 is about the evolution of a partnership through challenges, learning, and unyielding adaptability. Brian and Jason's journey from the classroom to the forefront of technological innovation serves as an inspiring blueprint for co-founders everywhere, emphasizing that the bedrock of any successful venture is communication.

Where to find Voxel51, Brian, and Jason:
Website: https://voxel51.com
Briane Moore: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brimoor
Jason Corso: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-corso

Where to find Annie Garofalo, host and startup team relationship expert:

Website: https://www.confidante.info
Newsletter: https://confidante.substack.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-garofalo/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thecofounderconfidante
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.cofounder.confidante
Twitter: https://twitter.com/anniegarofal0
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCoFounderConfidante

In this episode, we cover:

00:00 Episode Highlights

00:47 Meet the Professor-Student Founding Duo

01:31 The Origin Story of Voxel 51

01:51 From Classroom to Startup: The Early Days

02:43 Navigating the Transition from Academia to Startup

03:05 Building a Technical Foundation and Market Understanding

03:42 The Dynamics of a Founding Team

04:29 Remote Work and Geographic Challenges

05:03 Leadership and Decision Making

09:34 Adapting Roles for Growth

12:58 Navigating Change and Conflict

14:46 The Importance of Commitment and Trust

17:15 Managing Conflict and Decision Making

18:00 The Pivot: A Major Strategic Decision

33:40 Closing Thoughts and Advice for Founding Teams

References & Resources:

• [Blog Post by Jason Corso] Navigating Academia to Startup: What Kind of Companies Do Scholars Create?: https://medium.com/@jasoncorso/navigating-academia-to-startup-what-kind-of-companies-do-scholars-create-9fe5b7e44fbc

• Understanding Your Co-Founder’s Life Priorities: https://confidante.substack.com/p/understanding-your-co-founders-life

• The Sound Relationship House: https://confidante.substack.com/p/the-sound-relationship-house-for-cofounders