Throwing Away a 2 Million Euro Agency to Start an AI Startup - Why Patrick Haede No Longer Believes in the Future of Marketing Agencies and Founded Superscale AI

About this episode

Patrick Haede made a radical decision: He transformed his successful marketing agency Sonic, which generated 2 million euros in annual revenue, into the AI-powered marketing tool Superscale. His thesis: The AI revolution will fundamentally disrupt traditional agency models.

From Agency to AI Startup: The Transformation of Sonic to Superscale

Patrick recognized early that the marketing landscape is fundamentally changing due to AI. Instead of continuing his existing agency, he decided on a complete pivot. "The AI revolution is disrupting traditional agency models," Patrick explains his motivation for the radical change.

The transition from Sonic to Superscale was more than just a name change - it was a complete realignment of the business model. Patrick and his team developed a product that revolutionizes marketing processes through AI while dramatically increasing efficiency.

Product Development in the AI Era: New Rules for Development and Interface

Developing AI products follows different principles than traditional software. Patrick emphasizes that AI fundamentally changes both development cycles and user interfaces. Weekly releases and rapid iteration are no longer just nice-to-have features, but crucial for success.

"In the AI era, we need to completely rethink how we develop products and interact with users," Patrick explains. Traditional development cycles spanning months or quarters are no longer suitable for the fast-paced AI world.

Lightning-Fast Fundraising: 5 Million Euros in Record Time

Superscale secured an impressive 5 million euro financing in just four months. Particularly noteworthy: The pre-seed round was completed in only 6 days. Patrick relies on product demos instead of classic pitch decks - an approach that resonates much better with investors.

As a serial founder, Patrick already had experience with fundraising, which significantly accelerated the process. Investors trust his track record and clear vision for Superscale.

Technical Scaling: Infrastructure for Rapid Growth

The product launch brought important learnings regarding API limits and technical infrastructure. Patrick and his team had to quickly learn how to build a technical infrastructure for rapid growth. The changes in the tech stack were substantial and required a complete realignment of the technical architecture.

"We had to rethink from the ground up how we design our technical infrastructure," Patrick reports about the scaling challenges.

Work-Life Balance: Combining Family and Startup

Despite the intensive startup phase, Patrick manages to unite family and entrepreneurship. He shares practical tips for efficient time management and explains why even fitness - specifically core workouts - is part of his founder routine.

Balancing work time and family time requires clear structures and conscious decisions. Patrick demonstrates that it's possible to be present for family even as an intensely working founder.

Data-Driven Optimization: Feedback and Learnings

Superscale uses systematic data preparation for continuous improvements. Patrick explains how important it is to learn from customer feedback and usage data. Defining clear customer avatars and their relevance for product development are central to this approach.

Optimal launch channels were identified through data-driven methods, leading to an efficient market entry.

Conclusion: Courage for Radical Transformation

Patrick's story shows that sometimes radical decisions are necessary to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world. The transformation from a successful agency to an AI startup required courage, but pays off through rapid financing and product growth.

For founders facing similar decisions, Patrick's experience offers valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of AI transformation.