Building with OpenAI: Hao Sang at TechCrunch Sessions: AI on Startup Success
For early-stage startup founders navigating the complex AI landscape, the crucial question isn’t just about accessing APIs and models, but about building a functional, marketable product. Hao Sang, from OpenAI’s Startups Go-to-Market team, will address this challenge head-on at TechCrunch Sessions: AI on June 5 at Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley, CA.
Sang’s session will delve into constructing a robust AI engine within a startup environment. He will cover everything from initial integrations to responsibly scaling frontier models. Drawing from his experience at OpenAI, where he helps founders translate technology into tangible value, Hao offers insights into architecture, monetization, and achieving product-market fit in a rapidly evolving market.
Before joining OpenAI, Hao supported fintech founders at Stripe and held early go-to-market roles at OpenPhone and Slack. This blend of technical depth and market understanding provides him with a unique perspective on identifying genuine opportunities versus fleeting trends.
During his session, Hao will share patterns observed across leading AI startups, highlighting their effective strategies, approaches to cost versus performance, and common pitfalls when scaling rapidly without a solid foundation. His insights will extend beyond utilizing OpenAI’s platform to critically evaluating where AI fits within a product stack.
Founders attending the session will gain insights from an advisor with broad industry visibility and practical experience. The talk is especially relevant as startups aim to move beyond simple applications to create differentiated, agent-powered systems.
The event includes leaders from Google Cloud, Anthropic, Cohere, OpenAI, and more. Discussions will cover startup strategy, infrastructure, and next-generation tools transforming product development and funding.
