Techstars Investor Day: Building in AI as a Female Founder

Why It Matters

Sophia’s experience shows how rigorous discovery and accelerator support can fast‑track AI‑enabled B2B startups, while her diverse background highlights the strategic advantage of inclusive leadership in driving innovation.

Key Takeaways

• 178 customer discovery calls drove pivotal product pivot.
• Techstars provided proven playbook and mentorship for Intelllet.
• Founder emphasizes solving human decision‑making, not data overload.
• Latin American resilience and creativity shape company culture.
• Focus on problem obsession over technology accelerates growth.

Summary

Techstars Investor Day spotlighted Sophia, the Mexican‑born founder of Intelllet, an AI‑powered prediction intelligence engine that helps go‑to‑market teams prioritize leads and reach decision‑makers. The event highlighted her journey from a master’s student at Columbia and a JP Morgan employee to a startup co‑founder navigating a rapid pivot after extensive customer discovery. The team conducted an extraordinary 178 discovery calls in just six weeks, revealing that their original financial‑deal‑sourcing tool missed the core pain point: sales teams drown in noisy data. This insight drove a pivot to a focused go‑to‑market intelligence platform, a move reinforced by Techstars’ proven playbook, mentorship, and network, which accelerated product‑market fit and investor confidence. Sophia’s narrative is peppered with memorable quotes—“Don’t get married to an idea; obsess over the problem,” and a personal mantra, “the world is yours”—underscoring her resilience, creativity, and commitment to building tools that clarify rather than overwhelm. The story also emphasizes the supportive dynamic with co‑founder José María, whose friendship and shared vision propelled the startup through setbacks. The broader implication is clear: disciplined customer discovery, accelerator guidance, and diverse leadership can dramatically shorten the path from concept to market for AI‑driven B2B solutions. Investors and founders alike can learn that focusing on human decision‑making challenges, rather than technology for its own sake, yields sustainable growth and market relevance.

Original Description

Three months. Countless customer calls. One stage in New York City.

In this video, we follow Intelital (Techstars 2025) founder Sofia De la Mora Tostado as she prepares for Investor Day at the Techstars NYC accelerator.

Intelital is building a prediction intelligence engine for go-to-market teams, helping companies prioritize the right leads and connect with decision makers with more clarity and precision.

From early pivots to over 170 customer discovery conversations, Sofia shares what it took to refine the vision, build with intention, and step onto the stage with confidence.

Check out Intelital ➡️ https://www.intelital.com/

Intelital Socials 👇

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intelital/

Sofia’s Socials 👇

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofiadelamoratostado/

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