Weekly Founder Insight

Frameworks and lessons from the New Founder School team and faculty

The Funnel Shift: How AI Changes Customer Journey Mapping

By Bailey Maldonado, NFS CGO & Faculty Member

The traditional marketing funnel is dead. Or at least, it's radically different than it was 12 months ago.

Here's what's changed: AI has compressed decision-making timelines and personalized every touchpoint. Your customers are researching, comparing, and deciding faster than ever; often without ever talking to you.

But here's the opportunity: if you understand how AI is reshaping the customer journey, you can meet buyers exactly where they are with exactly what they need.

The New Customer Journey Map:

Stage 1: AI-Powered Discovery
​Your customers aren't just Googling anymore. They're asking ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity for recommendations. If your business isn't in those AI training datasets or showing up in AI-generated recommendations, you're invisible.

What to do: Optimize your content for AI discovery. Create comprehensive resources that answer specific questions. Focus on depth over breadth.

Stage 2: Hyper-Personalized Research
​Buyers are using AI to compare competitors, analyze reviews, and validate decisions in minutes (not days). They're coming to you more informed and with higher expectations.

What to do: Make your unique value proposition crystal clear. Don't just say what you do, show why you do it differently. Use case studies, testimonials, and transparent pricing.

Stage 3: Trust-Building at Scale
​The old funnel relied on multiple touchpoints over time. Now, AI can deliver those touchpoints instantly through chatbots, email sequences, and personalized landing pages.

What to do: Build AI-powered nurture sequences that feel human, not robotic. Utilize tools like ChatGPT to craft personalized follow-ups at scale while preserving your authentic voice.

Stage 4: Decision Velocity
​When buyers are ready, they move fast. Your conversion process needs to match that speed, or you'll lose them to a competitor who can.

What to do: Simplify your checkout, application, or booking process. Remove friction. Use AI to handle FAQs instantly so prospects don't get stuck waiting.

The Bottom Line:
​AI isn't replacing the customer journey; it's accelerating it. The founders who win are the ones who use AI to meet customers where they are, faster and more personally than ever before.

For more insights from me, follow along on Instagram: @yourchiefgrowthofficer​

• Bailey Maldonado
  Expert Funnel Builder, Copywriter, and Fractional Chief Growth Officer

AI Tool of the Week

One tool, multiple use cases, immediate impact

This Week's Tool: OpenAI's New Browser

OpenAI just launched a browser that lets AI research, gather data, and pull live information from the web, all with citations. This is a game-changer for founders who need real-time market intelligence without spending hours on research.

Use it to:

Market Validation: Ask "What are the top 3 pain points working moms mention about meal planning in 2025?" and get cited, current answers.

Competitor Research: Request "Compare the pricing models of the top 5 wellness coaching programs" and receive structured data with sources.

Trend Monitoring: Query "What are the latest discussions about AI in retail?" and get up-to-date insights from multiple sources.

Content Research: Ask "What questions are founders asking about customer journey mapping?" and generate content ideas based on real searches.

Common Roadblocks:

• Vague queries return vague results. Be specific about what you're looking for and what format you need.
• Not all sources are equal. Ask for citations and verify information from authoritative sources.
• Real-time doesn't mean real-time. There's still a slight delay in data gathering.

Pro Tips:

1. Always add "cite your sources" to ensure credibility and fact-checking
2. Use follow-up questions to dig deeper: "Can you expand on point #2 with specific examples?"
3. Ask for structured output: "Present this as a comparison table" or "Give me bullet points for each competitor"

Want access to training on how to use AI tools like this one? Join Build with AI →​

AI & Entrepreneur News Roundup

Stay ahead with what matters for founders

💼 Google AI Business Tools for Small Business Owners
​Google's AI suite helps small businesses automate customer service, marketing, and operations—all integrated with existing Google Workspace tools.
​Read more →​

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📊 Study: 67% of Founders Using AI Report Increased Productivity, But 43% Feel Overwhelmed
​New research reveals the AI adoption paradox: founders know it works, but struggle with implementation. What the data tells us about sustainable AI integration.
​Read more →​

Funding & Opportunities

Funding & Opportunities This Week:

What's Happening at NFS

Events, workshops, and ways to connect this month

💰 December 3rd: Money and Holistic Mindset with Arjita — Explore the intersection of financial strategy and sustainable business practices

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💬 November 25th: Office Hours with Arjita — Bring your questions, get live feedback

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💬 December 9th: Office Hours with Arjita

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🎤 December 12th: Advantage Demo Day with Arjita — An in-person event where Advantage members pitch their businesses to potential investors. This is your chance to practice your pitch, get feedback, and connect with funding opportunities.
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→ Join the community to see all free events.​

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