In this episode of The Next Next, I chat with Chris Olson, CEO of Mach 1. Chris discusses Mach 1's mission to transform businesses by integrating AI agents into their operations. Originating as a spin-out from TraceVision, Mach 1 helps companies leverage AI to automate tasks and significantly reduce operational costs.
The company was born out of Chris’ work at Trace running their sports highlights division, where he grew it from $1-200k in ARR in 2019 to tens of millions by the end of 2022. During that time, they automated their entire GTM function with AI agents (90 roles) while doubling sales, and it was so successful that it led to the spinout to become Mach 1, and help other companies do the same.
Fascinating how they were able to do this, and both exciting and scary in terms of what the future may hold.
Enjoy!
You can find it on your favorite podcast player, including Spotify, Youtube, and Apple.
Show notes:
00:00 Introduction to Chris Olson and Mach 1
00:14 The Origin Story of Mach 1
00:36 Chris Olson's Role at Trace
01:47 The Spin-Out to Mach 1
01:57 Overview of the Episode
02:23 Host Introduction and Show Purpose
03:59 Chris Olson's Background and Venture Capital Experience
04:24 Trace's Early AI Innovations
05:13 Transition to Youth Sports
08:16 Joining Trace Full-Time
13:04 Trace's Go-To-Market Strategy
17:14 Growth and Expansion of Trace
20:59 Leveraging AI for Operational Efficiency
26:57 Building In-House AI Tools
33:17 Scaling Down with AI Agents
36:15 Employee Satisfaction and Cultural Lessons
36:35 Managing Internal Dynamics with AI
37:06 Trace's Business Model and AI Integration
38:50 Communicating AI Changes to Employees
40:01 Challenges and Downsides of AI Transition
41:42 Broader Applications of AI Beyond Trace
43:31 Structuring the Spin-Out
47:47 Early Days of Mach One
49:52 Future of SaaS and AI Integration
57:18 Managing AI in Business Operations
01:05:57 Education and Support for AI Transition
01:07:45 Conclusion and Contact Information
Prior Episodes
Episode 1: Rob May, 4x founder with over 100 AI investments - youtube, apple, spotify
Episode 2: Navigating Transitions with Steve Schlafman - youtube, apple, spotify
Episode 3: Exploring the Future of AI and Gaming with Kayla Comalli from Lovelace Studio - apple, spotify
Episode 4: Redefining Work: A Conversation with Sahil Lavingia - youtube, apple, spotify
Episode 5: Wistia's Path to Independence: An Interview with Chris Savage - youtube, apple, spotify
Episode 6: Building a Balanced Business: Mike Salguero on Scaling ButcherBox Thoughtfully (to $500m+) - youtube, apple, spotify
Episode 7: AI-Driven Parenting Support: Exploring Happypillar with Mady Mantha - youtube, apple, spotify
Episode 8: Navigating Ambition, Family, and AI with Brian Balfour of Reforge - youtube, apple, spotify
Episode 9: Navigating the AI Learning Curve with Paul Heayn - youtube, apple, spotify
Episode 10: Revolutionizing Project Management with AI: A Conversation with Shawn Harris - youtube, apple, spotify
Episode 11: Sara Remsen and the Rise of Agent Innovation at Melodi - youtube, apple, spotify
Episode 12: AI and Fitness: A New Era with HYBRD's Founders - youtube, apple, spotify
Episode 13: Creative Disruption: How AI is Reshaping Film and Gaming with Bharat Vasan - youtube, apple, spotify
Episode 14: AI Revolution in Lending: A Chat with EnFi CTO Scott Weller - youtube, apple, spotify
Episode 15: Uday Chandra's Singular Vision: Small Teams, Big Impact with AI - youtube, apple, spotify
Episode 16: AI Agency Insights with Jay Singh: Building the Future with Casper Studios - youtube, apple, spotify
Episode 17: Building Financial Wellness: Reagan Bonlie on Nudge Money and Credit Unions - youtube, apple, spotify
Episode 18: Steve Krouse on Val Town's Vision for Collaborative Coding - youtube, apple, spotify
Episode 19: Building a Better Healthcare System with AI: Featuring Sunita Mohanty of Vibrant Practice - youtube, apple, spotify
Episode 20: Megan Lightcap on Slow Ventures' Creator Fund - youtube, apple, spotify
Episode 21: The Evolution of Storytelling: Gregg Spiridellis on Technology and Creativity - youtube, apple, spotify
Episode 22: AI, Venture Capital, and the Future of Work: A Talk with Hadley Harris - youtube, apple, spotify
Episode 23: Andrew Lau: Leading Jellyfish and Embracing AI in Engineering - youtube, apple, spotify
Episode 24: Building SwingVision: An AI-Powered Revolution in Racket Sports - youtube, apple, spotify
Episode 25: From Art to AI: Yohei Nakajima's Unique Path - youtube, apple, spotify
Episode 26: Jeremy Crane on Navigating Product Leadership in an AI Era - youtube, apple, spotify
Episode 27: Building a Winning Team: Leveraging AI in Sports with Jason Syversen - youtube, apple, spotify
Share this post