<p><i>This article was originally published on November 11, 2024</i></p>

<p><span class="p-body">We are developing an AI-powered marketing simulation platform that will transform how marketers test their campaigns. Our platform uses large language models to simulate how target audiences react to marketing content, giving agencies and in-house teams quick, reliable feedback without the enormous costs and delays of traditional testing methods.</span></p>

<p><span class="p-body">We got an assignment in our marketing research class that required us to design and conduct a survey. I thought about how I could get this assignment done faster because I didn't want to do it. That's when I came up with our initial idea of creating AI personas on ChatGPT and asking those personas the survey questions we created. It worked well, but it was taking forever for each participant to respond to each question. That made me want to build a platform where this whole process would be streamlined.</span></p>

<p><span class="p-body">When I was talking to my professors about this idea and asking if this could work or if there was even a need for it, one of my professors recommended I should talk with Dr. Karaburun. I knew this program existed, but after talking with him, I realized how much this program could benefit our startup with its mentors. It's a space for us to grow, learn, and launch.</span></p>

<p><span class="p-body">The most rewarding aspect is building something born from genuine passion and personal experience with the problem we're solving. It gives our work a deeper purpose than traditional employment, as we directly address challenges I've experienced firsthand.</span></p>

<p><span class="p-body">One crucial piece of advice I've embraced is to not become too attached to your initial idea. Maintaining flexibility and being prepared to pivot is essential. Our current solution has evolved significantly from our original concept, and this adaptability has been key to our progress.</span></p>

<p><span class="p-body">I wish I had known about all the discouragement you face - that was surprising. You especially feel it when you're in social settings, and people ask what you do, and responding, &quot;I'm working on my startup&quot; gets you this look where people feel sorry for you. But this process taught me how to navigate these situations better. Instead of getting discouraged, I've learned how to keep the conversation going and use these interactions constructively - taking valuable feedback while filtering out the negativity. Because these conversations can be uncomfortable, they can be really important for helping you adapt and improve your idea.</span></p>

<p><span class="p-body">In an ideal world, our platform would become an integral part of every marketing campaign's development process, significantly improving efficiency for our customers. Our ultimate goal is to eliminate wasted marketing spend by ensuring campaigns are thoroughly tested and optimized before launch.</span></p>

<p><span class="p-body">I've been fortunate to work with several supportive professors, including Professor Rosemary Fitzgerald, my capstone advisor, who has been a particularly influential mentor since this project began as my capstone. The most valuable aspect of mentorship has been the encouragement and perspective they provide during challenging times. They help you understand that setbacks are part of the entrepreneurial journey and provide the support needed to persevere through difficulties.</span></p>