In a Sloppified A.I. World, Only Humans Can Build ‘Ecosystems’

详细摘要

The people ushering in the artificial intelligence revolution are also doubling down on in-person relationships in their own industry.

Networking has long been crucial in tech, an industry where so-called warm intros, founder dinners and alumni communities are central to the culture (and to deal making).

But lately, start-ups and venture capital firms have been sharpening their focus on human connection, by hiring people for “ecosystem” jobs. Such roles, which have titles like “start-up ecosystem lead” or “ecosystem growth manager,” focus on building or maintaining relationships among various parties on a company’s behalf. In this way, the people ushering in the artificial intelligence revolution are doubling down on in-person ties.

The workers in such roles often spend their days planning events, orchestrating partnerships, supporting clients and leading trainings. Are the tasks new? Not really. But the framing is.

“When companies talk about ecosystem, they are talking about trying to cultivate and tend to an extended network — not just of customers but also of partners, distribution channels, supporters and advocates,” said Yoni Rechtman, a partner at Slow Ventures, a venture capital firm.

The venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz defined ecosystem as “the bottom-up vector of trust in venture,” and the firm’s “ecosystem lead” explained his role as “focused on expanding and reinforcing the multitude of networks spanning our firm.”

Ecosystem roles exist on various teams, including marketing, partnerships and sales, and the job’s specifics vary from company to company, said Natalie Sportelli, who since January has held the title “start-up ecosystem” at Clay, an A.I. sales tool start-up. In recent months, her projects have included putting together product demonstrations for a partner’s portfolio companies, coordinating product coaching sessions with customers and collaborating with other start-up program leaders for a panel in London about building A.I.-native sales organizations.

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