Build the signal map
I'd start by building a live ecosystem map around companies actively deploying AI.
Not random lead lists.
Actual signal.
- startups shipping AI features
- companies hiring AI infra/platform/security roles
- teams talking about governance/compliance
- startups scaling internal copilots or agents
- AI-native SaaS companies
- infra-heavy engineering orgs
- founders publicly discussing AI workflows
- SF startups
- NYC AI ecosystem
- India AI-native SaaS
- remote-first AI companies
Instead of blind outbound, we know:
- who's moving fast
- who's under pressure
- who probably already has security gaps
- who recently raised
- who's scaling too quickly for their current infra
That becomes the foundation for everything else.
