The Best AI Companies to Invest In Aren’t Listed Anywhere

The best AI startups are discovered through relationships. Here’s how to build them by leading with your domain expertise.

Who I’m writing this forI’m writing this for mid career to senior professionals who have deep expertise in a specific domain and can see how AI can be applied in that world. You might be in healthcare, law, construction, manufacturing, education, finance, media, or another industry where software is changing how work gets done. You understand the language of your field, how decisions get made, what buyers care about, and what makes adoption hard.What you do not have is a large startup network. You are not getting warm introductions to founders. You are outside the circles where these conversations usually happen.Why I’m in a position to write thisI’m D. Langston. West Point graduate, Harvard MBA & MPA, Army veteran, and TV host. Over the past year I’ve conducted 189 interviews at trade shows and conferences, including early stage AI companies across healthcare, construction, logistics, legal, finance, and other industries.I kept seeing the same mismatch. Founders build strong technology, but they do not have enough domain support around them to scale fast into the industry they want to serve. At the same time, I meet operators who know an industry cold but have no visibility into the startups that could use their help. The issue is not intelligence on either side. The issue is that the bridge is missing.

The belief I want to replaceMost people assume early access is gated by who you know. I think it is gated by whether people can place you quickly and trust you. In practice, early rounds move through trust. Founders and lead investors give allocation to people they already know, or to people who come recommended.That room is earned when founders and lead investors see you as useful, visible, and low friction to work with.A quick reality checkEarly stage investing is not the same as buying public stock. Private rounds are permissioned. Someone decides who gets allocation, and most people never get considered because they are not in the flow of relationships where deals move.Let me be clear. I am not claiming I can hand you access to the best deals. I am saying there is a practical way to earn access, even if you are starting without a big network.Where your leverage comes fromMany AI startups get stuck at the point where they need industry trust, workflow fit, and buyers. Domain experts are hard to hire early, but they can change the trajectory of a company quickly. Here are a few examples.

The point is not that you need to be an engineer. The point is that you can help an AI startup get stronger in ways that match what you already know.Pillar 1: Usefulness beats check sizeIn early rounds, founders are not only raising money. They are trying to reduce risk and move faster. If you can help them do that in a concrete way, your check size matters less than people assume.For AI startups, usefulness is often very specific. It can look like stress testing the product against day to day workflows in your field. It can look like helping the team avoid a domain mistake that would take six months to unwind. It can look like opening a door to a pilot customer who can validate the product in the field.Pillar 2: Make your value easy to repeatFounders decide quickly who is useful to them. If you describe yourself with broad language, they will not know where you fit. Your job is to make it easy for someone else to explain you.Your job is to express your value in one sentence, then list three to five ways you help.Examples: “I help AI startups sell into hospitals and health systems.” “I help AI tools fit into construction jobsite workflows.” “I help founders navigate compliance and procurement so pilots turn into contracts.” When you can say it this plainly, the right people can route you into the right conversations.Pillar 3: Reputation travels faster than introductionsWhen you do not have a network, reputation becomes the thing other people are risking when they introduce you. So you need to be predictable and lightweight.That means being clear about your process, being responsive, and not turning early conversations into a time sink. It means doing what you say you will do. This is how second and third introductions happen.Pillar 4: Proximity creates deal flowYou do not build access by asking strangers for deals. You build it by showing up consistently where founders and active investors spend time, contributing in small ways, and letting people observe how you think. Over time, familiarity does what cold outreach cannot.A detail most people miss is that this is not only about networking. It is also about reps. Reviewing opportunities, listening to how experienced investors ask questions, and learning the rhythm of early rounds builds judgment. Deal flow and education are the two bottlenecks for most new angels, and consistent proximity solves both.What I’m buildingI’m building a clarity first cohort for domain experts who want a credible path into early AI investing without relying on a big network.Most people jump straight to outreach. They start attending events, asking for introductions, and chasing conversations before they can clearly explain what they bring to the table. I want to start with a foundation instead. We get clear on what you know, where you can be useful, what you want to learn, who you can introduce, and which kinds of founders you want to support. Once that foundation is in place, your message is easier to repeat, and the right people can route you into the right conversations.If you want to talkIf this resonates, the next step is a short call. I’ll ask about your background, your domain, and what part of AI you are most interested in. Then we will make a decision together about whether it makes sense to start.Book a callForm not loading? Click here.

Disclaimer: This website and program are for educational purposes only and are not investment advice. I do not broker transactions, arrange investments, or sell securities, and nothing on this site should be interpreted as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security.Any examples, frameworks, or discussions are provided for general education. I do not provide personalized recommendations. You should consult your own legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decision.Investing in startups is high risk, illiquid, and speculative. You can lose 100% of your investment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. No outcomes are guaranteed.Testimonial Disclaimer: Testimonials reflect individual experiences and are not a promise or guarantee of results. Outcomes vary based on many factors, including background, effort, timing, and market conditions.

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