A startup founder’s viral post has triggered a fresh conversation around the realities of building a business from scratch. At the centre of the discussion is a familiar yet often underestimated challenge of sales, and whether it can ever be fully automated by AI.
A viral post by founder Yogini Bende has brought fresh attention to one of the most important parts of building a startup; sales. She shared her honest experience of how tough selling can be in the early days, which many people related to. Her post also raised a bigger question: Can AI ever fully replace humans when it comes to sales?
At one point, she considered hiring someone to handle sales. However, conversations with fellow founders and industry professionals changed her perspective.
The consistent advice she received was that in the early stages of building a company, founders must take ownership of sales themselves, regardless of how uncomfortable or unfamiliar it may feel.
Over time, she said, this experience also deepened her respect for those working in sales roles.
CAN AI TOOLS REALLY REPLACE HUMAN-DRIVEN SELLING?
Yogini Bende also reflected on the growing role of artificial intelligence, noting that while AI tools may eventually take over parts of engineering and technical work, sales remains deeply rooted in human interaction.
She described it as a reliable “fallback” skill, underlining its importance even in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.
ARE SALES HARDER THAN ENGINEERING AND PRODUCT BUILDING?
Her post sparked a broader debate, drawing mixed reactions from users across industries. Some argue that the difficulty of sales depends largely on how well one understands their product or service. With strong domain expertise, they said, sales conversations can feel more like consulting rather than persuasion.
Others, however, disagreed with the idea that sales are uniquely difficult. They pointed out that engineering and product development come with their own challenges, including repeated failures, constant iteration, and the complexity of aligning teams and stakeholders.
Many also noted that technical professionals often develop strong communication and persuasive skills, blurring the line between building and selling.
The discussion highlights a larger trend in the startup ecosystem. While AI continues to transform workflows, the human elements of sales such as trust, empathy, and relationship-building remain difficult to replicate.