When people ask me for the “secret sauce” to founder productivity, they usually expect a list of obscure, expensive enterprise tools.
But the truth is much simpler: the best toolkit is a blend cutting-edge AI with deeply human elements. As a founder, you need systems that give you a 10x head start and also provide the necessary grounding and clarity.
Here’s mine:
OpenAI’s ChatGPT/Google’s Gemini – Helps me get a headstart on any topic ranging from tech, to legal and everything in between
Clay – my GTM Tech hive brain
Otter / Apollo – the real voice of the customer, captured and searchable.
Replit – My playground for personal apps. Starting with Claude code as well.
Whispr/ Slack – where loose thoughts turn into actual execution.
And then the underrated essentials:
📓 My Notebook & pen – still the best way to work through thinking exercises…
🚶♂️Walks with Colleagues (mostly, my co-founder) – where most of our clarity comes from.
🫂 A close founder circle 🤝 – It’s a group chat, where I can have the honest conversations to keep me sane and share struggles.
Instead of chasing the shiniest tools build a system that reduces noise and protects your ability to think.
What’s one unexpected tool that’s made a real difference in your leadership?