Dennis Mortensen isn’t just another tech founder—he’s built five startups over two decades by turning personal annoyances into scalable businesses. In this episode, he talks about how frustration, not inspiration, sparked the idea behind x.ai, a company focused on one simple but painful problem: scheduling meetings.
Instead of chasing trends or building broad solutions, Dennis built something that solves a task people do thousands of times, figuring out when to meet. His approach isn’t based on vision boards or long brainstorms. It starts with a “hate list” on his phone, filled with tasks he never wants to do again. Scheduling showed up again and again, so he did what most people wouldn’t: he built an AI to handle it.
But there’s more. Dennis shares how he tests startup ideas by trying to kill them first. He invites experts to point out every reason something might fail. If the idea survives, it’s worth building. That’s how x.ai got its start, with Amy and Andrew, AI assistants that schedule meetings so realistically that most people don’t realize they’re bots.
So read on, this isn’t a story about building flashy tech. It’s about solving one small problem with laser focus and building a business that does it better than anyone else.
Why x.ai Started: Solving a Real Problem
Dennis didn’t build x.ai because he loved scheduling—he built it because he hated it. For years, he found himself arranging meetings late at night, asking, “Why am I doing this at 11 PM on a Thursday?” That repeated frustration made it to his personal “hate list”, a place where he writes down chores he never wants to deal with again.
After exiting his last company in 2013, he reviewed that list. Meeting scheduling showed up more than a dozen times. That was the signal. It wasn’t just annoying—it was stealing time. Hiring a personal assistant felt wasteful. As Dennis put it, “I’d rather hire half an engineer and do the work myself.”
So he didn’t stop there. Instead of ignoring the pain, he turned it into a company. x.ai was built to remove a repetitive task that everyone knows how to do but no one wants to. That’s where the idea of Amy, the AI scheduling assistant, was born.
Let me explain: x.ai wasn’t chasing a hot trend. It was built to solve one small problem completely.
Validating the Idea the Hard Way
Dennis didn’t move forward with x.ai because he believed in it; he moved forward because no one could kill it.
Before building anything, he invited six experts to New York for a week. Their one job? Prove the idea wouldn’t work. He didn’t want compliments or optimism. He wanted pushback. As he said, “I fall in love with ideas too easily. Your job is to stop me.”
They challenged everything—tech feasibility, data needs, and business risks. Dennis came prepared with answers. After days of debate, the idea still stood. That was his green light.
But there’s more. He believes killing weak ideas early saves you from wasting five years of your life. “Better to lose a week than a half-decade,” he said.
So read on—this wasn’t a shot in the dark. It was pressure-tested before day one.
Why Focus Beats Doing Everything
Dennis doesn’t believe in doing a little bit of everything. He believes in doing one thing well—and sticking to it.
He’s not a fan of pivots. If the original problem matters, keep solving it until you either crack it or prove it can’t be done. That’s how he treated scheduling. Even when the team could’ve branched out, he kept the focus sharp: fix scheduling, nothing else.
Let me explain. He doesn’t see x.ai as a company trying to grow into something bigger. It’s a company trying to finish what it started. “I’d rather be world-class at one thing than average at seven,” he said.
This mindset also shaped how he talks to investors and hires. If someone asks, “What will you do next?” his answer stays the same: “Schedule meetings.”
But here’s the good part—by doing less, they’re doing it better. Amy and Andrew aren’t just features. They’re purpose-built to solve one problem that shows up in inboxes every day.
His Startup Mindset
Dennis treats entrepreneurship like a long game, not a lucky break. He sees it as a career, not a calling.
He doesn’t buy into the idea that your first startup has to be “the one.” Using a VC analogy, he says most investors expect one win out of 20 bets. So why would a founder expect to hit it big on their very first try? Instead, he plans to build ten companies over 50 years, knowing some will fail, and that’s fine.
Let me explain—experience compounds. Each startup teaches you something. You get better at judging ideas, building teams, and avoiding mistakes.
But there’s more. He also believes in smart risk, not blind bets. He’s not afraid of failure, but he’s careful not to overextend. As he put it, “Don’t put up your house as collateral unless you have to.”
Dennis also sees entrepreneurship as a skillset anyone can train. Hate sales? Make 100 calls. Nervous about pitching? Practice. The discomfort fades. What matters is knowing which skills are non-negotiable—and being willing to learn them.
What Makes x.ai Special
x.ai isn’t just another calendar tool. What sets it apart is how real it feels.
When Dennis scheduled this podcast, the host didn’t realize the assistant replying was AI. That’s the magic of Amy and Andrew: they speak like humans, handle the back-and-forth, and book meetings without needing your input. You just show up.
Let me explain. Unlike basic scheduling links, x.ai works through email, like a real assistant. You can say, “Amy, find time with Sarah next week,” and she handles the rest, negotiating time, location, and follow-ups until it’s confirmed.
But there’s more. It’s not just about convenience. It’s about control. Users can connect both work and personal calendars, so Amy avoids conflicts without needing you to manage everything.
x.ai is built for real business needs: recruiting, sales calls, investor meetings, and internal check-ins. It handles the messy scheduling work most people don’t have time for—and does it better than the tools that expect everyone to “pick a time.”
More Than Just Putting Meetings on the Calendar
x.ai isn’t just about adding meetings—it’s about protecting your time.
Here’s the good part: Amy doesn’t just schedule for you, she filters who gets on your calendar and when. You can set rules like “no meetings before 11 AM” or “only on Wednesdays and Thursdays,” and she’ll follow them. No random bookings. No time thieves.
Let me explain. Dennis built x.ai with the understanding that not every meeting should be treated the same. Some people, like top clients or your spouse, deserve instant access. That’s why x.ai lets you mark VIPs—people who can schedule without needing your permission.
And it gets smarter. If you’re trying to close a big deal or meet with an investor, you can open up more time just for that person. No need to create a whole new calendar link or explain your availability—it’s handled in the background.
X.ai can coordinate ongoing meetings too. For regular check-ins or interviews, both sides can stay in sync without repeating the same back-and-forth every time.
This isn’t about booking faster. It’s about making smarter use of your time, one decision at a time.
Conclusion
Dennis Mortensen didn’t build x.ai to chase trends, he built it to eliminate a task he couldn’t stand. Scheduling wasn’t glamorous, but it was everywhere. And that was the opportunity.
By focusing on one real problem, testing the idea hard, and refusing to pivot, he built a product that feels human, respects your time, and does one job exceptionally well. Amy and Andrew aren’t just features, they’re the result of years of focus, failure, and refinement.
The takeaway? You don’t need a bold mission to build something meaningful. Solve a problem that matters, really solve it, and that’s more than enough.
