Julissa | AI Builder

building AI systems in public ✨ // latina engineer + STR operator 🏠 // shipping agents, workflows & real products // FL 🌴

[Julissa | AI Builder @jujuco_]

Spent a decade building for others. Now building with my co-founder and life partner.

Revamping this account to cover:
🧵 Deep dives on founder couples
📚 Operating systems, pricing, relationships
🛠️ Real talk about building with someone you love

Let's go!

[Anthropic @AnthropicAI]

We’ve received notice that the Department of Commerce has lifted export controls on Claude Fable 5 and Mythos 5.

We'll begin restoring access tomorrow, and will share an update soon.

We’re grateful to our users for their patience, and to everyone who worked with us on redeploying the models.

[Julissa | AI Builder @jujuco_]

People ask: "How do you balance work and 3 kids?"

Adi’s answer: "It’s not balance. It’s integration."

They don't hide the business from the kids.
The children grew up seeing their parents build Houzz.
The "Board Room" was often the dining room.

[Julissa | AI Builder @jujuco_]

Adi & Alon prove that "Mom & Pop" can scale.

Alon = The Builder.
He focuses on the tech stack and product functionality.

Adi = The Voice.
She focuses on community, brand, and the "soul" of the platform.

They hold meetings at the kitchen table after the kids go to sleep.

[Julissa | AI Builder @jujuco_]

Adi Tatarko and Alon Cohen didn't want to start a company.
They just wanted to fix their kitchen.

But their "home renovation nightmare" turned into a $4 Billion empire.

They are the "Accidental Billionaires."

Here is how they built Houzz while raising 3 kids 🧵

[Julissa | AI Builder @jujuco_]

I’m breaking down the stories of 50 founder couples.

Next up: The "Accidental Billionaires" behind Houzz (and how they built it while raising 3 kids)

[Julissa | AI Builder @jujuco_]

Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht own a $26B company.

But 10 years ago, they were college kids getting rejected by 100 investors.

They are the ultimate "Founder Couple."

Here is how love, rejection, and a $30 engagement ring built Canva 🧵

[Julissa | AI Builder @jujuco_]

The Canva Lesson:

Survive the "Backpack Phase" together.
Melanie and Cliff traveled cheap and slept on floors to pitch investors.

Shared struggle creates a bond that money can’t buy.
If you can survive the "No"s, you can survive the "Yes"s.

[Julissa | AI Builder @jujuco_]

I’m studying 50+ founder couples to see how they build empires without losing their spark.

Next up: Canva (and the $30 backpacking trip that saved them).

Subscribe so you don't miss it ✌️

[Julissa | AI Builder @jujuco_]

💌 Most people think Panda Express is just fast food.
It’s actually a logistics machine disguised as a kitchen.

Andrew Cherng was the visionary.
Peggy Cherng was a PhD engineer building flight simulators.

The story of the $3B "Power Couple of Orange Chicken" 🧵 💌

[Julissa | AI Builder @jujuco_]

The Lesson:

Founder Couples work best when skills don't overlap.

Two Visionaries = Chaos.
Two Integrators = No risk.

You need one person to dream up the flavor, and one person to code the register.