7 AI Tools I Actually Use as a Founder

By Zach Schleien

Most AI tool lists are written by people who've never built a company. These are the 7 tools I use daily to run my business.

Every week there's a new "Top 50 AI Tools" listicle written by someone who has never run a business. Here are the 7 tools I actually use - every day - to run my consulting practice and companies.

1. PressPitch AI

I'm biased - I co-founded it. But PressPitch AI is the tool I use most for press outreach. It finds relevant journalists, helps craft targeted pitches, and tracks responses. I used the same approach manually to get 200+ media features, and now it's automated.

2. ChatGPT (GPT-5)

I use ChatGPT for drafting email sequences, brainstorming content angles, analyzing landing page copy, and summarizing long documents.

I don't use it to write finished content. I use it to think faster.

3. Lovable

For building web apps and landing pages quickly. I've used it to prototype client projects, build internal tools, and create marketing pages without waiting on a developer.

4. Loom

Async video is underrated. I use Loom for client updates, feedback on work, and internal communication. It's faster than a meeting and more nuanced than an email.

5. Notion AI

My entire business runs on Notion - CRM, project management, content calendar, SOPs. The AI features help me summarize meeting notes and generate action items.

6. Descript

For editing video content and podcast clips. The AI transcription and editing features cut my editing time by 80%.

7. Calendly

Not technically AI, but the automated scheduling saves me hours of back-and-forth every week. Every client interaction starts with a Calendly link.

The Pattern

Notice what's missing: no AI writing tools for blog posts. No AI social media managers. No AI strategy tools.

The best AI tools augment human judgment. They don't replace it. I use AI to go faster, not to think less.

The biggest growth lever in my business isn't AI - it's the strategic thinking that AI helps me execute faster.

Want to learn how I use these tools inside a complete growth system? Book a free strategy call and I'll show you.