# Advice Line: Tapping AI as a Resource for Your Business

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2026-01-01
- Length: 43m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-01-01-advice-line-tapping-ai-as-a-resource-for-your-business

## Summary

Host Guy Raz advises three callers on business challenges, featuring returning guests Randy Hetrick (TRX), Todd Graves (Raising Cane's), and Mei Xu (Chesapeake Bay Candle). Shireen of Moji Masala seeks advice on scaling customer acquisition beyond in-store demos, while Valerie of Large as Life puzzles asks whether to unify or separate her social media brands. Finally, Avani of Modi Toys explores using AI to create interactive plush dolls and animated content to revitalize declining sales.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-01-01-advice-line-tapping-ai-as-a-resource-for-your-business#t=0) Introduction and Moji Masala Demo Strategy
- [2:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-01-01-advice-line-tapping-ai-as-a-resource-for-your-business#t=139) Moji Masala: Sampling vs. Influencers
- [17:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-01-01-advice-line-tapping-ai-as-a-resource-for-your-business#t=1031) Large as Life: Unified vs. Separate Social Media
- [29:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-01-01-advice-line-tapping-ai-as-a-resource-for-your-business#t=1779) Modi Toys: AI, Animation, and Interactive Dolls

## Topics

- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up, established companies

## Mentioned

- TRX (product)
- Moji Masala (product)
- Cinderella (company)
- Wii (company)
- HelloFresh (company)
- Raising Cane's (company)
- Large as Life (product)
- Chesapeake Bay Candle (company)
- Modi Toys (product)
- We (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [#107 How to Turbocharge Your CX: DTC Marketing Learnings from Mr. Beast's Feastables on Chatbots, SMS, & Retention with Jess Cervellon](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2023-09-12-107-how-to-turbocharge-your-cx-dtc-marketing-learnings-from-mr-beasts-feastables) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [#183 - How AI is Helping CPG Brands with Lentiful and FocusFuel](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-02-18-183-how-ai-is-helping-cpg-brands-with-lentiful-and-focusfuel) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [#197 - AI for CPG 101 with Chris Szigeti](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-05-21-197-ai-for-cpg-101-with-chris-szigeti) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [#266: Building an Organic Social Media Following with Lindzi Shanks, XO Marshmallow](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-09-15-266-building-an-organic-social-media-following-with-lindzi-shanks-xo-marshmallow) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [#98 Reimagining Grocery Shopping: Instacart's AI-Powered Future with ChatGPT and Artificial Intelligence](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2023-07-11-98-reimagining-grocery-shopping-instacarts-ai-powered-future-with-chatgpt-and-ar) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-01-01-advice-line-tapping-ai-as-a-resource-for-your-business. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to How I Built This.