The AI Download


BarkBox co-founder Henrik Werdelin shares how his new venture, Audos, is helping anyone—techie or not—build a million-dollar business using AI. Forget unicorns. The future belongs to “donkeycorns”: small, scrappy, and unstoppable.

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On this episode of The AI Download, Shira Lazar sits down with Henrik Werdelin—best known as co-founder of BarkBox and now the founder of Audos, a platform empowering people to start million-dollar businesses using AI. Henrik introduces the world to the concept of “donkeycorns”—startups built lean with heart, hustle, and AI-driven scale.

They dive into how Audos is using autonomous agents to coach founders from idea to first revenue, sometimes in under a week. If you’ve ever dreamed of starting something but didn’t know where to begin, Henrik’s model could change everything.

Plus, Henrik shares insights from his upcoming book, Me, My Customer, and AI, already praised by Reid Hoffman and Shopify’s Harley Finkelstein. The book is more than theory—it’s a roadmap for navigating the new frontier of entrepreneurship, where emotional connection and “relationship capital” are your moat in an age of automation.

This episode covers:
 🔹 What a donkeycorn is—and why it matters more than a unicorn
🔹 How Audos helps founders launch businesses in days, not months
🔹 Why AI makes it easier than ever to test and build ideas
🔹 The 5 P’s framework to uncover your business sweet spot
🔹 How Henrik raised $11M to invest in people, not just ideas
🔹 Redefining success—and the overlooked value of small, profitable businesses
🔹 Why the future of influence is relational, not viral
🔹 The mental health reality of modern entrepreneurship

Whether you’re a solopreneur, creator, or someone on the edge of a pivot, this conversation will shift your mindset, give you tangible tools, and maybe—just maybe—inspire you to chase your own donkeycorn dream.

 🎙 Guest: Henrik Werdelin, Co-founder of BarkBox, Founder of Audos, Author of Me, My Customer, and AI

LinkedIN.   Website

📘 Preorder Henrik’s book: Me, My Customer, and AI – Out Aug 5, 2025


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CREDITS
This episode of The AI Download was hosted, created, and executive produced by Shira Lazar. Executive Producer Michele Musso, with video and audio editing by the Musso Media team. Creative Director Nadia Giosia with Mint Labs. Music by PALA, Catalina Coastline (licensed under Boss Soundstripe Productions by BMI). Produced by Musso Media. © 2025 Musso Media. © 2025 Shira Lazar. All rights reserved.


Creators and Guests

Host
Shira Lazar
Shira Lazar is an Emmy-nominated host and interviewer covering social media, emerging tech and the future of well-being. Her content focuses on informing, inspiring and empowering the world to take action in their lives, and is infused with her own style of positivity and humor!

What is The AI Download ?

– AI News with a Human Touch

AI is transforming how we work, create, and connect—but what does that mean for the future of content, business, and creativity?

Hosted by Emmy-nominated digital pioneer Shira Lazar, The AI Download is your go-to source for sharp insights, expert interviews, and real-world discussions on AI, emerging tech, and the creator economy.

Each week, we break down the biggest AI trends, explore its impact on creativity and business, and bring you candid conversations with industry leaders, innovators, and disruptors shaping the future.

Whether you're a creator, entrepreneur, or just AI-curious, this podcast deciphers what’s next—and why it matters.

🔹 New episodes every week
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🔹 Where AI meets culture, creativity, and business

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This episode of The AI Download is hosted, created, and executive produced by Shira Lazar. Executive production by Michele Musso, with video and audio editing by the Musso Media team. Creative Design Director Nadia Giosia with Mint Labs. Music by PALA, Catalina Coastline (licensed under Boss Soundstripe Productions by BMI). Produced by Musso Media. © 2025 Musso Media. © 2025 Unicorn Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved.