Not Another CEO Podcast | Survival Through Determination - Artem Rodichev - Ex Human

Survival Through Determination - Artem Rodichev - Ex Human - Episode #79

December 16, 2025 / 59:39/E79

How do you keep building when every month your company is almost out of money, and quitting would be the logical choice?

In this episode, Artem Rodichev shares the gritty, unfiltered story of Ex Human’s near-death year. Instead of shutting the company down, that year hardened the team, shaped the culture, and created a level of resilience that became Ex Human’s defining advantage.

Now Ex Human is profitable and building empathetic AI characters capable of multimodal emotional intelligence, technology designed to see, hear, and feel in ways that help combat loneliness. Artem also discusses his path from leading AI at Replica to building a company that spans both consumer and enterprise markets, powered by millions of user-created AI characters that generate a unique data advantage.

Takeaways:

Persistent Belief in Your Vision: Artem emphasized the importance of having unwavering belief in your mission. His steadfast belief in the potential of AI to create meaningful human interactions kept him going through challenging times.
Foster a Culture of Resourcefulness and Persistence: The trials that Ex Human endured became pivotal learning experiences, instilling a culture of resourcefulness and persistence within the team.
Be Prepared for Sacrifices: Artem candidly discussed the personal sacrifices he made, including taking a salary below market rate and making hard personnel decisions.
Expand Beyond Comfort Zones: Despite an engineering background, Artem knew he needed to step out of his comfort zone and learn essential skills like marketing and sales to lead Ex Human effectively.
Data-Driven Innovation: Ex Human’s success hinges on continuously refining their AI models with data collected from their consumer app. This iterative approach allows them to stay ahead in the competitive AI market.
Transitioning from a Stable Job to Entrepreneurship: Artem’s move from a significant role at Replica to founding his startup showcases the courage needed to leave stability behind in pursuit of a bigger vision.

Quote of the Show:

“Every month I thought I should give up. But then the other side of me said, if you give up now, you’ll never build the future you believe in." - Artem Rodichev

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