Q: Who are you, and what exactly do you do?
Tharak: I’m Tharak Sreedharan, the Co-founder of Phablo.AI, an AI-native SaaS platform built to transform compliance at a global level. Our goal is simple, make compliance faster, smarter, and truly empowering for modern teams. We’re backed by Antler, who have played a major role in our journey.

Q: Why choose life sciences as the sector to build in?

Tharak: When I joined Antler, my focus was entering the B2B compliance space. Marc, my now co-founder, came in with an idea around life-sciences compliance. That’s where we clicked immediately.
Beyond aligned ideas, we had mutual respect, trust, and complementary strengths. That bond became the foundation of Phablo.AI.

Life sciences is one of the world’s most regulated industries. Compliance here is slow, complex, and constantly changing across regions. We saw a massive opportunity to automate entire workflows using AI. That’s how the vision for Phablo.AI took shape.

Q: How did you validate the idea before building?

Tharak: Market validation is everything.
We reached out to potential customers early, understood their pain points, and collected feedback. We even created a simple visual creative, added a form link with our planned features, and ran targeted ads to gauge interest.

Because we already had strong networks in the life-sciences industry, the validation process moved faster. Engaging veterans helped us ensure we were solving real problems, not imagined ones.

Q: Where is the industry heading in the next 3–5 years?

Tharak: The industry is growing rapidly.
Life-sciences compliance itself is projected to grow at 12% CAGR, and AI adoption is accelerating. Research firms like Spherical Insights, Grand View Research, and KBV Research highlight a strong shift toward AI-driven compliance, with healthcare AI showing 20%+ CAGR.

More companies are now turning to automation to simplify compliance. The next few years will be transformative, and we’re excited to be part of that shift.

Q: How did you raise your first round of funding?

Tharak: We raised $125k in pre-seed funding through Antler’s residency program.
Globally, there are many VC firms, like a16z, Draper, Techstars, who you can pitch directly. In some cases, VCs even approach you first.

When you pitch, always start with a strong hook:

• State the problem

• Explain your solution

• Show the growth potential

Investors examine every number. They made us reproduce test cases to validate our assumptions. So always be ready with data.

Q: Are you currently expanding your team?

Tharak: Not right now.

Q: How did you hire your earliest team members?

Tharak: My first hire was an intern I worked with earlier. He showed accountability and ownership, qualities far more important than just skill.
In an early-stage startup, founders don’t have time to micromanage. You need people who take responsibility without being told.

Q: What skills matter most in the early stage?

Tharak: Technical depth, AI, front-end, back-end, is essential.
But equally important is accountability.
We are fully remote, so at this stage I give candidates freelance tasks first. If they show good ownership, only then do I offer an internship or full-time role.

Q: One lesson every first-time entrepreneur should know?

Tharak: Have a risk appetite.
Be prepared to lose everything. I have experienced that myself. After shutting down my first venture, I was emotionally and financially drained, but I went back to work, saved money, and started again.

In your 20s, don’t chase money. Chase skills.
The skills you build now will give disproportionate returns in your 30s.

Q: A message for founders entering regulated sectors like life sciences.

Tharak: Listen before you build.
Talk to customers, users, and experts. Don’t rush into development without speaking to the people who face the problem daily. Patience is crucial in regulated sectors.

Q: One mistake early-stage founders should avoid?

Tharak: Don’t solve problems that don’t exist.
Validate your idea with real users and check if they’re willing to pay. Only then start building.