
← The Startup Ideas Podcast1 oct · 54 min
Become a $1M/yr FDE (Full Course)
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In this episode, I talk with Vas from Varick about what it takes to put AI to work inside a real company. Vas makes the case that AI pays off through process reengineering, and he walks me through the exact method his forward deployed engineers (FDEs) use: interviews, process mining, step sorting, and agents built inside existing systems of record. We go through real engagements, including a $5B public software company and an accounts payable overhaul that cut the cost per invoice from $31 to $6. By the end, you get a clear picture of the FDE role, the business opportunity behind AI roll-ups, and a five-day plan to start on your own.
Links Mentioned:
FDE Presentation: https://startup-ideas-pod.link/FDE-slides
Vas’s Article: https://startup-ideas-pod.link/vas-fde
Timestamps
00:00 – Intro
01:31 – Sponsor: Google
03:58 – FDE Overview