What startup founders can do to get better, more human-sounding content from AI tools

If you’ve ever used ChatGPT to draft a blog post or LinkedIn update, you know the drill. You drop in a decent prompt, get a bunch of text back in seconds… and it just doesn’t feel right.

It’s not wrong, exactly. It’s just not you. The phrasing is a little stiff. The tone’s too vague or too slick. And while it may technically answer your prompt, it doesn’t say anything with a real point of view.

That’s the gap between AI-generated content and founder-led content. The good news? You don’t have to rewrite everything by hand to fix it. With a few adjustments, you can get much closer to a draft that sounds like something you’d actually publish.

1. Define your voice before you start writing

AI tools are trained to sound neutral and safe by default — which usually translates to “vague and forgettable.” So if you want your output to sound more like you, you have to give it a voice to aim for.

You don’t need to write a style guide. Just jot down a few notes:

• Do you write casually or formally?
• Do you like short, direct sentences or longer explanations?
• Do you tend to use humor? Sarcasm? Dry understatement?

You can even paste in a few examples of your past writing and ask the AI to summarize the tone. Then refine what it gets right (or wrong) into a tone description you can use in future prompts.

Pro Tip: If you write a lot, consider creating a custom GPT trained on your past content. It won’t get everything right, but it can speed up drafting by using your tone, phrasing and structure as a starting point. Don’t know how to do this? I can help.

2. Use identity-based prompts

Instead of opening a new chat and asking, “Write a blog post about hiring,” try starting with something more grounded:

“You are a startup founder writing for other startup founders. You’re practical, honest and slightly informal. You don’t use buzzwords. Your tone is straightforward and direct, and you don’t try to sound like a brand.”

This helps the AI start channeling a more specific voice.

3. Give it your thoughts, not just a topic

AI is great at structure and filler. It’s not great at substance unless you bring it. The more direction you give — even in rough bullet points — the more useful and accurate your draft will be.

Let’s say you want to post something about remote work. Instead of a generic prompt like “Write a post about remote work culture,” try something like:

“I believe most remote work tools are designed for managers, not employees — and that’s why so many of them fail. Write a short post on that.”

Give it your angle, your frustration, your favorite metaphor. Anything you’d say out loud to a friend or investor can be useful input.

4. Watch for telltale AI phrasing

Even with a good setup, most AI tools lean on predictable writing patterns. A few to watch for:

• “It’s not just X — it’s Y.”
• “In today’s fast-paced world…”
• “Whether you’re a [persona] or a [persona]…”
• “The future of [industry] is here.”

If a sentence sounds like it came from a keynote you wouldn’t want to attend, rewrite it.

5. Don’t skip the human edit

AI can get you close. But a light human edit — focused on voice, clarity and logic — is usually the difference between a lackluster draft and something you feel confident publishing.

This is especially important for startup founders. When you’re writing for your customers, investors or your future team, the voice matters. And while AI can help you move faster, it won’t make very strategic decisions about tone, message or what to leave unsaid.

That’s where I come in.

Need a hand with AI-written content?

I’ve been ghostwriting for startup founders, execs and tech leaders since 2012 — turning rough drafts (AI or otherwise) into sharp, on-brand content that actually sounds like you.

Let’s talk