Dharmesh Shah

Founder and CTO at HubSpot. Helping millions grow better.

Career startup guy.

Author of the book &quot;Inbound Marketing&quot; (http://InboundBook.com)

Specialties: Entrepreneurship, Software Development, internet marketing,SEO

Founder and CTO

Founder of HubSpot, a venture-backed software startup.  HubSpot offers the industry's first inbound marketing system for small businesses.  The software is available as a hosted service (SaaS).

Here's a quick tip on how to build an effective presence on LinkedIn.

Too many people on LinkedIn are "performing" for their current (and future) followers.

Instead of self-centered performing, focus on generous *sharing*.

We all have something to share that will be helpful/useful to others. Things we are experts in or passionate about. What's often even better is sharing mistakes we've made and lessons we've learned. 

Share, don't perform and you'll pull people in.

* I fall into this "performing vs. sharing" mode sometimes too.  

** "effective presence" is not just about the number of followers, likes or comments. It's about having genuine impact on somebody's thinking -- even if just for a moment.

Lots of people much smarter than me have been talking about this compelling new idea called the "Context Graph". I love the idea, but am a wee bit skeptical of far away we are from it being something businesses can use.

A concept is making the rounds in AI circles right now that has many people very excited: context graphs. Foundation Capital published a piece calling

Open article: Context Graphs: Capturing The "Why" In The Age of AI by Dharmesh Shah • 4 min read

Context Graphs: Capturing The "Why" In The Age of AI

I'm  a massive fan (and daily user) of agentic coding tools like Claude Code and Codex CLI.

One of the questions we'll need to ponder in 2026:

How do you make sure that the compounding value you are getting from the use of agentic coding exceeds the interest on the technical debt that AI creates along the way?

The hope is that we'll be able to use AI itself to pay off the technical debt as the models and tooling get better.

We've long known that the best people have IQ + EQ.

When it comes to AI agents and their effectiveness, there's a new element — and it's multiplicative.

Agent Success = IQ  x EQ x  CQ

IQ = How well does it reason?
EQ = How well does it collaborate?
CQ (Context Quotient) = How well does it know YOU?

And because it's multiplicative, if an agent has a zero context quotient, it has zero value. (Apologies for revisiting grade school math).

Here's a quick thought exercise:

You can choose between two agents.

Agent A: 200 IQ. Bonafide Genius. Knows nothing about you.
Agent B: 150 IQ. Brilliant. Knows your business cold.

You pick Agent B. Every time. Why?

Agent A can solve PhD math problems.
Agent B can help solve YOUR business problems.

Raw intelligence without context is just confident guessing. (Also known as "management consulting"). 😀 

AI models know a lot about the world, but you need agents that know about YOUR world.

The real game isn't How smart is your model? It's How are you increasing the agent's CQ?

Imagine if it had...
...your top rep's call recordings.
...your angriest detractor's NPS comment.
...your happiest promoter's renewal notes.
...and everything else swirling around in your company

The agents that help you win aren't the ones with the highest IQ. They'll be the ones who know you best.

This is what we're furiously working on at HubSpot, because nowhere does context matter more than in GTM and nowhere is there more unified context than the HubSpot platform.  (Disclosure: As founder/CTO, I'm biased). 

We're excited about the progress the AI companies are making on delivering smarter LLMs  (higher IQ). We need that to build great agents. Meanwhile, we're working on delivering agents with higher CQ. (And stay tuned for the EQ part -- have thoughts on that too).

Anyhoo...

Key takeaway: In the age of AI agents...

IQ gets attention.
CQ gets results.

Woo hoo! Shipping an early release of a new AI app I've been working on. (Look at me, shipping something in the middle of the day instead of 2am!)

If you're curious about premium website domains and their underlying prices and trends, I think you might enjoy playing with this app:

domainsales .ai (yes, I like simple domains).

You can  ask questions like:

 "what were the top .ai domains sold this year."  

"what was the average price for .org domains every year".

"what's the sales history for chat .com "

All feedback appreciated. Feedback is a gift.

Thanks.

-Dharmesh

NOTE: I'm using this (and other) AI apps to test out new Agent.ai platform features that allow you to use any vibe coding tool to build apps and integrate them into the marketplace. That way, you benefit from 2.5M+ users, shared context and a bunch of tools you can use in your agents.  More on al this next week.

Was recently on a podcast with Manny Medina from Paid.

Was a great conversation around business strategy, pricing and of course, AI.

I'm not used to being on podcasts (not my natural habitat), but I think it turned out pretty well. Hope you like it.

Dharmesh Shah helped write the SaaS playbook.
Now he’s explaining why parts of it are about to get ripped out.

In today’s episode of Get Paid, the HubSpot co-founder doesn’t sugarcoat it:

AI agents aren’t a feature.
They’re a platform shift.
Seats still matter. For now.
Credits are inevitable.

And most “AI strategies” are just SaaS habits in disguise.
They go deep on why reasoning models changed the game, why vibe coding won’t save you, and why pretending this is a normal upgrade cycle is how incumbents quietly die.

If you’re building AI and telling yourself “we’ll figure pricing out later,” this episode is a warning shot.

🎙 New episode is live. Link in comments.

Nice to see folks combining the flexibility of Agent.ai and its access to a rich set of AI capabilities and data with the power of HubSpot Workflows for automation.

Senior Software Engineer | HubSpot-Focused Integrations & CRM Automation

I've been having a blast combining Agent.ai workflows with HubSpot automation lately, and the results have been impressive.

Here's what I've been able to automate:

Buyer Intent Detection -> Agent.ai monitors signals across multiple channels and automatically scores leads based on engagement patterns, content consumption, and behavioral triggers. When intent spikes, HubSpot workflows kick in with personalized outreach.

Company Intelligence Gathering -> No more manual research. The system automatically enriches company records with technographics, funding data, org structure, and relevant news. Everything flows directly into HubSpot properties, keeping our CRM current without lifting a finger.

Lead Qualification & Routing -> AI agents assess fit based on ICP criteria, then route qualified leads to the right team members with full context. Sales reps get notifications with a complete brief, not just a name and email.

Follow-up Orchestration -> Based on engagement signals, the system determines optimal timing and messaging for follow-ups. It's like having a sales ops team working 24/7.

The real power is in the combination: Agent.ai handles the intelligence gathering and decision making, while HubSpot executes the workflows and maintains the source of truth.

For teams drowning in manual research and qualification work, this stack has been a game changer.

Huge thanks to Dharmesh Shah for making this technology accessible and for his visionary presentation on AI at INBOUND this year. The future he outlined is already here, and it's incredibly exciting to build with these tools.

Want to automate your workflows with AI? Whether you're looking to streamline sales processes, enhance lead management, or build custom integrations, I'd love to help. Drop me a DM or comment below with what you're trying to solve.

#AIAutomation #HubSpot #SalesAutomation #AgentAI #CRMIntegration #MarketingAutomation #SalesOps #AIAgents #WorkflowAutomation #B2BSales #RevOps #SalesTech #AITools #BusinessAutomation #LeadGeneration #INBOUND2025

Goldenflitch

At Goldenflitch, we're passionate about offering unique and innovative solutions to meet all your online needs. 

Our team of professionals is dedicated to highlighting the "extra" in your "extraordinary." 

We specialize in a wide variety of services, including Brand Strategy, Product Design, Identity Design, Usability Test, Design Audit, Packaging, and many more. 

Our goal is to enhance the quality of your online presence and the stature of your brand.     
      
We understand that your business is more than just a collection of products or services. 

By optimizing your brand value, you can invest in a compelling strategy for long-term gains. 

We're committed to working on product strategy and enhancing the user experience to create a long-lasting impression of your brand. 

Whether you're looking for a complete overhaul of your online identity or just need a few tweaks to take your brand to the next level, we're here to help. 

Drop me a DM to know more :)

Co-Founder & CEO

Antino

We make a real difference by creating exceptional, high-performing web and mobile apps. Our approach is collaborative, transparent and focused on making an impact. We are customer focused, fast growing, IT firm and leader in Designing and Developing Websites, Web Applications, Mobile Applications and any other custom development work. We understand our Clients Requirements and our ability to handle all aspects of Front-end / Back-end Development which includes Clean Designs, Seamless Development Cycle and at last well-documented code. We do not just make a product we make a tool to take your business to another level. We blend the experience, innovation & technology and make a masterpiece for you. We believe in learning much more than winning new. We always keeps our promises regarding timelines.

We are Skilled in:
• iOS: Swift, Objective-C, Cocoa, Native & Hybrid Both
• Android: Java & Kotlin, Native & Hybrid Both
• Web: React.js, Angular.js, Next.js, Python Django, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, ASO, MEAN, LAMP
• Backend & DB : Node.js, Python Django, Java, Firebase, MySQL, MongoDB, AWS, Google Cloud Console etc
• Cross Platform: Flutter, React Native, IONIC, Apache Cordova

Vice President Product & Design

Head Of Design

Wirepaper

Graphic Designer

•  SlicePay (now slice) - Freelance as a product designer
•  PUBBS(Public Bicycle Sharing system) - Product and Graphics designer
•  Crash Up - Designer
•  TutorBin - Web designer
•  Wirepaper Studios - Designer
•  Rent Set Go - Graphic designer

Freelance

Cropper's Land

Cropper's Land provides creative design solution for any enterprise along with people's personal requirements. I am the lead designer and I design all branding elements and give UI & UX design solution also.

Website link: croppersland.com

Founder & Designer

Artywear

Graphic Artist

Enginerd

Designer

Leading Goldenflitch as Co-Founder and CEO, our mission is to elevate brands through innovative online solutions. With a focus on product strategy and brand value optimization, we empower businesses to achieve long-term growth. Our services range from brand and identity design to comprehensive usability testing, all tailored to enhance our clients' online presence.

In my role as Vice President of Product & Design at Antino, I've fostered a culture of collaboration and transparency. We're dedicated to creating high-performing web and mobile applications that make a significant impact. My expertise in product management and leadership, combined with a customer-centric approach, drives our success in delivering tools that propel businesses forward.

Arka Baidya

I recently went on a podcast with Kartik Verma and honestly… it felt less like an interview and more like a long, curious chai-time conversation ☕

We didn’t just talk about AI or UI/UX buzzwords, we went deep in from where it all started.

I shared my story how an engineering student from IIT Kharagpur slowly realised that engineering wasn’t the destination, it was just the starting point.

From:

- being confused in college

- to discovering design almost by accident

- to freelancing, messing up, learning fundamentals

- and eventually building a design agency (Goldenflitch)

We spoke about:

- why most engineers (especially IITians) feel lost at some point

- why design is more about thinking than tools

- why AI won’t replace designers, but lazy thinking might

- how empathy is built by living the user’s life, not guessing it

- and why fundamentals still beat trends in 2026

Everything I spoke about is not theory.

It’s literally how we work every day at Goldenflitch questioning assumptions, simplifying experiences, and designing for real human convenience.

Big thanks to Kartik Verma for asking the kind of questions that make you pause and think instead of perform.

If you’re:

- an IITian wondering “ab kya?”

- a designer confused by 100 AI tools

- or someone figuring out their creative path

this conversation might feel oddly familiar.

Watch the full episode, it’s way more fun than this post. 😆  (Link in the comments)

#IITKharagpur #IITianLife #IIT #Goldenflitch

Co-Founder & CEO, Goldenflitch | 120+ Brands | 7 Global Industries | Strategising Product and Branding for Enterprises | Speaker - Future of Design, AI, and Innovation

taplio

The Battle

Dharmesh Shah

Arka Baidya

Followers

Posts

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Likes

Performance ScoreDharmesh Shah's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreArka Baidya's LinkedIn Performance

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taplio

The Battle

Dharmesh Shah

Arka Baidya

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Dharmesh Shah's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreArka Baidya's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreDharmesh Shah's LinkedIn Performance