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Persistence and the AI Revolution: Lessons from a Startup Journey
Startup Journey

Persistence and the AI Revolution: Lessons from a Startup Journey

Max Li
Max Li
February 19, 2026

I recently had the opportunity to speak to students at a university about my startup journey and two topics that are central to my story.

First, I shared my path from international student to U.S. citizen. It was a conversation about persistence, uncertainty, immigration hurdles, and the long-term mindset required to build both a life and a company in a new country.

Second, we discussed how to prepare for the AI revolution. With tools like ChatGPT from OpenAI reshaping how we work and build, I encouraged students to think beyond simply using AI and instead focus on leverage, fundamentals, and adaptability.

I am grateful for the invitation and inspired by the energy and ambition of the students. The next generation will define what the AI era becomes.

University Speech Flyer
Max Li

Max Li

Founder, Grassrootech

max@grassrootech.com

Max is dedicated to bridging the gap between advanced research and practical industry application. Drawing on his experience at IBM Research and Union University, he leads the development of AI solutions that drive meaningful progress.

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