Building new products has never been easier. But there’s a catch: it is becoming harder than ever to build products that stand out.
Generative AI is dramatically lowering the time and the cost required to create and launch products, flooding almost every category with new entrants. However, this huge influx is having unintended consequences, with an increasing number of similar-looking products offering similar-looking features. In other words, innovation seems to be spreading faster than differentiation.
Meanwhile, the cost to acquire new customers is escalating rapidly, with global ad spending projected to surpass $1 trillion this year. As these conditions continue to evolve, winning customers will be defined by a company’s ability to embed differentiation, customer value, and trust into its product from day one.
In this special Founders’ Series event, Lifang He, author of Brand Power Built In, and Stephanie Zeppa, partner at Sheppard Mullin Richter and Hampton, will share their thoughts on how founders and entrepreneurs can avoid costly mistakes and make high-stakes decisions with confidence.
- Beyond innovation, what else do you need to differentiate your product?
- Why should your brand be an integral part of your product offering?
- How can you use positioning to guide what you build, not just how you market it?
- In addition to the “fireside chat” discussion, a few select founders will have the opportunity to get in the “hot seat” and receive some individual counseling about their unique situations.
Join us on June 25 to hear more about differentiation in the age of AI — and get a free signed copy of Lifang’s book.
Speakers:
- Stephanie Zeppa, Partner, Sheppard
- Lifang He, Author and Brand Strategist, LifangHe.me
Date, Time and Agenda:
Thursday, June 25, 2026
- 6:00 pm: Reception
- 7:00 pm: Fireside Chat
- 7:30 pm: "Hot Seat" Startups *
- 7:50 pm: Q&A