Entrepreneurship is a journey of resilience, strategy, and adaptability. In this episode of Raw and Real Entrepreneurship, Susan Sly sits down with Hikari Senju, founder and CEO of Omneky, to discuss raising capital, mastering investor pitches, and how AI is transforming business.
Hikari, a Harvard-trained, award-winning entrepreneur, has built and exited multiple companies. One of his ventures was even recognized by NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang. As the founder of Omneky, an AI-powered marketing platform, he is leading the way in using generative and agentic AI to help businesses scale their advertising efforts.
With experience pitching hundreds of investors, Hikari shares the raw truth about raising money, securing funding, and growing a company in today’s competitive landscape.
Whether you’re a startup founder, an established entrepreneur, or someone interested in AI-driven business growth, this episode is packed with insights you can apply right now.
What You Will Learn in This Episode:
- How to handle rejection and turn it into a strategic advantage
- The investor pitching playbook – what works and what doesn’t
- Why AI is revolutionizing industries and how Omneky is leading the way
- How introverts can thrive in business by playing to their strengths
- The real story of how Hikari sold a company to a competitor
Standout Quotes from Hikari Senju
On Rejection and Pitching Investors:
“For every success, there’s like 99 rejections. Raising money is hard—it takes time to build trust, and the difference between those who succeed and those who don’t is that the ones who succeed just don’t give up.” – Hikari Senju
On Playing to Your Strengths as an Introvert:
“You don’t have to be the loudest person in the room to win in business. Find the medium that works for you—whether that’s online networking, writing, or building something so valuable that it speaks for itself.” – Hikari Senju
On AI’s Role in Business:
“AI is the great equalizer. It’s allowing businesses of all sizes to compete at a level that was previously impossible.” – Hikari Senju
On Selling a Company to a Competitor:
“No conflict, no interest. The companies most likely to acquire you are the ones who see you as a competitive threat or as a strategic addition to their business.” – Hikari Senju
Why This Episode Matters
Hikari’s story proves that success isn’t about luck—it’s about adaptability, persistence, and being strategic with every opportunity. He also shares why AI is becoming the great equalizer for businesses and how entrepreneurs can leverage it to stay ahead.
About Hikari Senju:
Hikari Senju is a Harvard-educated computer scientist and serial entrepreneur with a deep passion for technology and design. He founded QuickHelp, an on-demand tutoring app, which he later sold to Yup.com, where he became Head of Growth.
During his time at Yup.com, he saw inefficiencies in content spending and recognized AI’s potential in advertising. This led him to found Omneky in 2018, an AI-powered marketing platform that generates, analyzes, and optimizes ad creatives at scale.
Connect with Hikari:
Website https://www.omneky.com/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/hikari-senju-63780199/
About Susan Sly:
Susan Sly is an award-winning AI entrepreneur, MIT Sloan alumna, and sought-after speaker. Named one of the top women to watch in real-time AI, Susan has been featured on CNN, CNBC, Forbes, and MarketWatch.
As the host of Raw and Real Entrepreneurship, Susan delivers unfiltered business wisdom to help founders and business leaders navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship.
Connect With Susan:
- Website https://thepause.ai/
- LinkedIn @susansly
- Trusted Partners https://susansly.com/trustedpartners/
More Entrepreneurial Wisdom
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