Funded, Now What! Episode 46: The Death of the On Hold Button with Voice AI
This guy’s raised millions to make getting help at hotels 100x easier for you. Jonathan Lei, the CEO and founder of withQ.
withQ is the world’s most advanced voice AI specifically designed for the hospitality and hotel industry. By replacing traditional, frustrated phone lines with an AI that never sleeps, never puts guests on hold, and knows every inch of a hotel property, Jonathan is turning hotel "cost centers" into massive revenue drivers. Fresh off their latest growth milestones, Jonathan and Andrew discuss the shift from "stealth tech" to becoming the most famous name in hospitality AI.
Tune in as we dive into:
The End of Being "On Hold": Why hospitality is the perfect industry for Voice AI and how withQ ensures guests never wait to make a booking again.
Cost Center to Revenue Driver: How AI doesn't just answer questions—it handles complex bookings, upsells services, and increases a hotel’s bottom line by 2x to 5x.
The "White Glove" AI Service: Why withQ isn’t just a "platform" but a managed service with 24/7 QA to ensure every guest interaction is flawless.
B2B over B2C: Andrew shares his "B2B pivot" story and why selling a product that creates clear ROI is the easiest decision a hotel owner will ever make.
The "50% Test": Why Jonathan challenges hotels to put withQ on half their calls to prove it can out-earn any human or existing AI competitor.
About the Show:
Funded, Now What?! is the ultimate startup marketing podcast for founders and growth-focused leaders. It’s the world’s only show that interviews recently funded founders to uncover how they raised millions and gives them tactical advice on how to spend it to scale efficiently.
Learn more: www.growthexpertz.com/podcast
About GrowthExpertz:
Founded in 2016 by Andrew Lee Miller, GrowthExpertz provides startups with senior marketing expertise through strategic consulting, fractional leadership, and hands-on execution. Since then, the team has helped more than 100 tech startups grow faster and spend smarter.
Book a free chat: www.growthexpertz.com
Why Fractional Consultants?
Startups using fractional execs see up to 50% faster growth due to cost-effective expertise and strategic firepower.
Work with us: email [email protected]
Learn more about withQ:withqconcierge.com
Subscribe on YouTube: / @growthexpertz
00:00 Introduction and Guest Credibility
01:18 What is withQ and Its Vision
02:14 The Evolution from Pizza to Hospitality AI
02:59 Industry Challenges: Staffing and Guest Experience
03:49 Training AI on Real Customer Calls
05:27 Tech Differentiation and Industry Trends
06:51 Proprietary Data and Continuous Improvement
07:48 Rapid Prototyping and Customer Feedback
08:49 Enhancing Guest Experience and Revenue
09:12 Fundraising Insights and Lessons Learned
10:49 Team and Leadership in Fundraising
12:45 Marketing Strategy and Digital Channels
15:48 Pre-Launch Marketing and Market Education
17:35 Future Marketing Challenges and SEO
19:25 GEO and Content Strategy for Visibility
20:36 Innovative Marketing Experiments
23:14 Market Positioning and Competitive Edge
24:05 Live Demo of AI Call in Action
26:23 Upsell Opportunities and Revenue Boost
28:08 Cost Savings and Revenue Impact
29:01 Pricing Model and ROI Focus
29:48 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks
30:55 POD OUTRO.mp4