345: How Agentic AI is Changing the Way We Engage and Network with Tom O'Malley

We're delighted to welcome Tom O'Malley, the CEO and founder of Meshi, as today's guest. Tom is a true tech entrepreneur. He spent more than 25 years in technology before moving into startups.

Stay tuned to learn about a new approach to AI-powered networking that Tom is developing at Meshi that could change how we connect at events, in communities, and throughout our careers.

Tom's journey

Tom went to university in Japan to understand its successful economy and different culture. After working for a Japanese trading company, he coordinated the construction of six houses following the Kobe earthquake. He later moved to China, Singapore, and Madrid before returning to Silicon Valley, where he moved from corporate strategy at Oracle into startups.

Meshi is his fourth startup in 15 years. Tom has always been entrepreneurial. In high school, he ran a landscaping company employing 17 people. While working for large companies, he gravitated towards entrepreneurial projects and risky opportunities. After returning to the United States, he found his corporate role too narrow, with departments and people responsible for almost everything. So he decided to build his own technology.

Building Startups

While living in Madrid, Tom began building technology and learned through trial and error. After moving to Palo Alto, he found a mentor who helped him develop his skills, and a chance meeting with a Yahoo engineer who had built software for landscapers led to YardBook. They raised $1 million in two weeks, and the software eventually served 15% of all landscapers. Tom then built an engagement platform and secured his first $30,000 project through sales calls. The business grew rapidly, raising $5 million in its second year.