The entrepreneurial journey of Simon Vincent: from Marketing Consultant to AI Innovator

The Genesis of X-CMO

After working in London for a few years, Simon transitioned to Cornwall in search of a better work-life balance after becoming a father.

Initially moving to Newbury working at a local agency – he had reached a ceiling when it came to moving up in the company. He started looking at jobs in Cornwall doing similar work but found the pay cut too unsustainable to make the move further south.

So, Simon sought guidance from the Managing Director of his previous agency and the encouragement he received fuelled his confidence to establish X-CMO in 2018, despite the looming uncertainties of entrepreneurship.

…he gave me some real self-belief in my ability to do that. It's a really scary thing to do, particularly when already have a child like I did at the time. The courage it takes to say, ‘I'm going to give up a steady wage and a solid role in somebody else's company and build something of my own.

Simon hasn’t looked back since.

Navigating Challenges

The path of an entrepreneur, however, comes with trials. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic saw Simon lose numerous clients as shops and businesses closed. This challenging period enforced change and adaptation, compelling Simon to rethink the business strategy.

I realised I needed to build something that's much bigger than me, that's more substantial…

This realisation encouraged Simon to explore scaling X-CMO, examining different business models, and looking at alternatives to a typical agency model.  It ultimately led to the creation of KAIAKO AI in partnership with Nick du Preez, a CTO with expertise in AI technology. In combination the pair designed a software that could potentially scale up.

Going beyond

The partnership with co-founder Nick has been transformative - with twice the power, getting twice the work done, in half the amount of time. “Now that I've experienced having a co-founder, I don't think I would start a company on my own again,” he admits.

The change in productivity as a result of the synergy is initially alarming but ultimately extremely motivating. Simon highlights the importance of clarity in roles, noting that “delegation is one of the hardest things to do,” but is crucial for effective collaboration.

Once you take a leap of faith, with compromises involved, knowing your skillset and area of expertise – the collaboration is magical.

Looking ahead, Simon has ambitious plans for KAIAKO. With the recent launch of a fully operational website and a fundraising initiative aimed at raising £300,000, he envisions building a robust team and further developing the product.

Long-term, I want KAIAKO to enable a client to create the first 100% AI-generated piece of content to win a Cannes Lion,” he states. “I want that success to come from a small company, as that’s where AI can level the playing field with big budget companies.

Embracing AI in Creativity

‘The vast majority of people can’t explain why a piece of content is great. Quite often I think most people can feel it. As creatives – that’s our job.’ 

Simon’s perspective on AI is both optimistic and pragmatic. He believes that creativity should embrace AI as a powerful tool rather than a threat. Creatives who can articulate what makes marketing effective will apply these rules to their work and clients. AI is a tool to allow designers and creatives to go above and beyond their current practice.

“AI is only as good as the prompts you give it,” he explains. For him, the skill of a creative lies not just in producing content but in knowing how to leverage technology to enhance their work.

“In many ways, AI should be seen as a facilitator,” he argues. “It allows creatives to focus on refining their ideas and connecting with clients, ultimately leading to a more efficient process.” KAIAKO aims to create a better quality of written copy, which will then hopefully move into image and video, doing a large amount of the heavy lifting, to move away from the daunting blank page.

So where did the drive start?

To build a company requires finding something impossible to switch off and committing to that idea no matter the circumstances.

Reflecting on his journey, Simon acknowledges that his upbringing has played a crucial role in shaping his entrepreneurial outlook. Having lived in South-East Asia and the United States as a child, he spent time adapting to these new cultures and the people he was surrounded by.

“In the end, if you're going to commit your heart and soul to a company, it has to be based on something you love or find fascinating,” he concludes. For Simon, this commitment to understanding human connection and effective communication is at the core of his entrepreneurial success.

Simon Vincent's story is a powerful reminder that entrepreneurship is not just about the destination but the journey itself—one that is filled with learning, adaptation, and the courage to pursue one’s vision.