The EU-Startups Podcast recently aired a fascinating episode featuring Zuzanna Stamirowska, CEO and co-founder of Pathway, a deeptech startup building the world’s first post-transformer AI model. As a serial entrepreneur, I, Violetta Bonenkamp, couldn’t help but delve deeper into the conversation, as it perfectly aligns with the future I envision for AI integration into entrepreneurship. This article provides actionable insights from Episode 146 and explores why Pathway’s groundbreaking innovations could inspire startups to rethink their approach to AI, technology transfer, and scalability.
Why Pathway is Transformative for Entrepreneurs
Pathway is not just another AI company; it’s laying down the infrastructure for a new generation of AI systems that aren’t limited by the conventional transformer models that have been dominating the industry. Transformer models such as GPT-4 excel in certain applications (e.g., natural language processing) but often feel rigid in their design. They lack native memory, transparency, or adaptability, qualities essential for startups that operate in dynamic, fast-changing environments.
For entrepreneurs, especially in Europe, Pathway's approach speaks to the need for efficiency and transparency. As startups increasingly integrate AI-driven tools, they will demand smarter, faster systems that make immediate decisions and evolve in real-time. This is a massive opportunity for founders who wish to stay ahead of the curve.
Key Innovations from Pathway
Pathway’s post-transformer revolution rests on several standout features that could reshape how startups use AI. Let’s look at the highlights:
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Native Memory Integration
Current transformers recite rather than reason, meaning they struggle with complex, real-time tasks. Pathway’s AI model incorporates native memory, enabling adaptive decision-making essential for industries such as logistics, healthcare, and dynamic resource allocation. -
Temporal Awareness
Pathway has made significant strides in equipping AI with temporal reasoning capabilities. For founders, this means AI that adapts not just to what’s now but what’s next, processing information across timelines. Imagine a tool in your startup that anticipates market or workflow changes autonomously, it’s like having a CEO assistant that never sleeps. -
Glass-Box Visibility
Unlike the black-box methods used by most AI models, Pathway’s architecture provides transparent decision-making. Entrepreneurs in regulated industries needing compliance-friendly solutions (e.g., finance or healthcare) can depend on Pathway-like frameworks to document and explain model decisions transparently. -
Hyper-Fast Data Processing
With one of the industry’s fastest engines for real-time insights, Pathway promises immense value for startups that rely on heavy data streams daily. Whether it’s processing customer data or optimizing delivery routes, speed matters in the entrepreneurial world, where seconds can make or break an edge in competition.
Real-Life Applications for Startups
Startups across industries can leverage Pathway’s innovations in unique ways:
- Logistics Optimization: Pathway’s work with La Poste, ensuring real-time analytics for transport operations, can be replicated across sectors like supply chain management or e-commerce delivery startups.
- AI-Powered Predictive Tools: For healthcare startups, Pathway’s temporal and adaptive memory systems could elevate diagnostics and treatment planning, anticipating patient evolution over time.
- Dynamic Market Navigation: Any tech startup dealing with fast-changing market trends (e.g., blockchain, gamification, or SaaS tools) will benefit from AI that adapts in real-time without manual intervention. Entrepreneurs must explore integrations where Pathway-like systems predict buyer behavior, pricing trajectories, and feedback loops.
How Entrepreneurs Can Adopt Pathway Model Logic
Startups eager to incorporate post-transformer innovations should follow some proven approaches:
1. Custom AI Solutions
Adopt AI platforms that allow custom integrations. While Pathway sets the architectural tone, entrepreneurs can explore AI tools that customize data-handling features, such as Convoboss for real-time adaptations.
2. Start Small, Scale Fast
Pathway proved scalability in high-stakes industries, but even low-budget startups can experiment via open-source platforms or early-stage cloud collaborations. Leverage tools like Canvanizer AI to draft and iterate business solutions using AI guidance.
3. Focus on Transparency
Regardless of industry, build with tools that prioritize decision-visibility for customers and stakeholders. Compliances tied to AI transparency are rising globally, and startups embedding glass-box logic early will attract investors concerned by black-box pitfalls.
Avoid Common Mistakes
While incorporating cutting-edge AI systems like Pathway’s offers immense advantages, entrepreneurs may stumble if they don’t avoid these pitfalls:
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Ignoring Data Flow Scalability
Don’t miscalculate your startup’s future data needs. AI models will only perform optimally if data pipelines are scalable, secure, and hyper-organized. -
Overestimating AI Autonomy
Founders might assume that AI-based systems will fix or predict everything. Always augment algorithms with human oversight and a clear ethical framework. -
Skipping Training Consistency
AI systems require consistent fine-tuning. Startups should allocate resources for training AI to not just understand data but contextualize meaning as human projects evolve.
Why Founders Should Focus on Post-Transformer Technology
As a European entrepreneur, the potential of post-transformer AI architecture deeply resonates with the challenges I’ve encountered scaling companies. It’s no longer about just doing tasks faster; it’s about designing systems to think dynamically, evolve intelligently, and adapt transparently.
Pathway’s innovation highlights Europe as an emerging hub for impactful deeptech startups. In my personal journey, tools with adaptability, whether they’re in education gamification or the CAD industry, have positioned me ahead of competitors still stuck in mono-layer systems. These advancements are where funding trends point; VC firms want scalability matched with brilliance.
Conclusion
If you’re a startup founder striving to stay relevant in today’s hyper-competitive landscape, managing complexity through smarter AI is inevitable. Pathway alone might not be the direct solution for every entrepreneur, but its innovations signal what’s next for AI-powered business evolution. By embedding principles like native memory, temporal awareness, and glass-box transparency into your operations, your startup can navigate new opportunities with confidence.
Zuzanna Stamirowska’s insights in Episode 146 are a wake-up call to founders still relying on outdated AI approaches. Whether you’re refining logistics, scaling your SaaS product, or driving gamification in STEM diversification, tools that mimic Pathway’s genius architecture will accelerate productivity and create these enduring technological legacies.
Take note, fellow entrepreneurs: embracing innovation isn’t just about what AI can do today, it’s about where it’s evolving tomorrow. Now is the time to adopt systems that adapt faster than you do!
FAQ
1. Who is Zuzanna Stamirowska and what is Pathway?
Zuzanna Stamirowska is the CEO and co-founder of Pathway, a deeptech startup creating the world’s first post-transformer AI model aimed at improving memory integration, transparency, and adaptability for real-time applications. Discover Pathway’s approach
2. What is Pathway’s main innovation in the AI space?
Pathway is pioneering “post-transformer” AI systems with features such as native memory integration, temporal awareness, glass-box visibility, and hyper-fast data processing. Learn more about Pathway innovations
3. How is Pathway’s AI model different from transformer models like GPT-4?
Unlike traditional transformer models, Pathway’s architecture includes native memory and transparent decision-making, which improves adaptability and real-time reasoning. Explore Pathway’s model differences
4. What industries can benefit from Pathway’s innovations?
Pathway’s AI is applicable across industries such as logistics, healthcare, finance, and high-frequency data sectors like motorsport, providing real-time adaptability and analytics. Check out industries Pathway serves
5. What role does Pathway play in logistics optimization?
Pathway has collaborated with La Poste to enhance transport operations using real-time analytics and dynamic decision-making, reducing operational costs significantly. Learn about Pathway’s collaboration with La Poste
6. How can entrepreneurs integrate Pathway’s model into their startups?
Startups can adopt post-transformer AI by focusing on custom AI solutions, starting small with scalable tools, and prioritizing transparency in all deployments.
7. Why is glass-box visibility critical for regulated industries using AI?
Pathway’s glass-box AI ensures compliant solutions by providing transparent and explainable decision-making, crucial for industries like healthcare and finance. Learn more about compliance-friendly AI
8. Who are Pathway’s notable customers?
Notable customers include NATO, La Poste, and Formula 1 teams, which benefit from Pathway’s real-time analytics and adaptability in high-stakes environments.
9. What are the advantages of Pathway’s temporal reasoning capabilities for startups?
Temporal reasoning enables startups to anticipate workflow changes and market evolution proactively, offering an AI assistant that evolves in real-time. Find out more about temporal reasoning
10. What are common mistakes startups should avoid when adopting AI models?
Startups should avoid underestimating data scalability needs, overestimating AI’s autonomy, and neglecting training consistency and human oversight for ethical usage.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.