Entrepreneur may be the best 'everyday job' of the AI future, says VC investor Alexa von Tobel
Artificial intelligence is lowering barriers to starting businesses, positioning entrepreneurship as a likely everyday occupation for many in the near future. Alexa von Tobel argues AI will empower people to turn skills into viable ventures, including as a fallback during transitions, while emphasizing that founders still make the final calls. The era is marked by rising interest in solo and small ventures, with platforms enabling creators to monetize expertise. Her path—from LearnVest to Inspired Capital—illustrates how experienced founders can shape funding ecosystems that back scalable yet accessible ventures. The outlook is one of broader opportunity, with careful investor selection and long-term vision deemed essential.
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Von Tobel, a serial founder and VC, asserts AI will democratize entrepreneurship, enabling more people to launch businesses without large upfront costs or specialized teams.
She cites her own experience launching LearnVest during the 2008 crisis and later selling it to Northwestern Mutual in 2015, followed by founding Inspired Capital in 2019 with Penny Pritzker.
Inspired Capital focuses on startups with the potential to become very large, but von Tobel notes an indirect link to everyday business owners, including solo ventures and gig work, through portfolio companies like ShopMy.
ShopMy uses AI-driven matching to connect creators with brands, allowing individuals to monetize recommendations and earn commissions, illustrating a practical bridge between creator skills and entrepreneurship.
Industry data cited shows a 26.8% rise in AI-exposed sectors where new businesses emerge without early hiring, indicating momentum in solo or non-employer ventures through early 2026.
Von Tobel emphasizes that the founder retains final decision-making, and she surveys hundreds of companies weekly to identify founders with a long-term, transformative view of their industry.
The broader message is that entrepreneurship could become a low-stakes, repeatable option for skill-based individuals, with platforms and capital aligning to support scalable yet accessible ventures.