Meet Darby Rollins
AI Educator, Market Research Expert, Game Creator & Entrepreneur
I'm the founder of Gen AI University, creator of MarketSauce.ai (customer research tool), and SideHustle (entrepreneurship game played worldwide). I help businesses understand their customers better and implement AI tools that actually work.
What I've Built
MarketSauce™ AI
The AI-powered customer research and go-to-market platform that helps businesses create detailed buyer personas and understand what drives buying decisions… from idea to launch.
What MarketSauce™ does:
  • Creates comprehensive buyer's briefs using AI
  • Generates detailed customer personas in minutes
  • Reveals customer pain points, motivations, and objections
  • Provides specific language and messaging that resonates
  • Helps businesses speak directly to their audience
Available Resources:
Gen AI University
Practical AI education through courses, workshops, weekly podcast, and virtual summits. No theory—just real business applications.
What we offer:
  • Weekly Gen AI University Podcast
  • Scale with AI Summit (annual virtual event)
  • Live workshops and training sessions
  • Step-by-step implementation guides
  • Real business case studies and examples
Listen & Learn:
SideHustle®: The Party Game for Entrepreneurs
Digital entrepreneurship game that helps people practice pitching ideas. Used in classrooms, corporate events, and game nights worldwide.
Global Impact:
  • Universities teaching entrepreneurship
  • Corporate team building events
  • Startup pitch practice sessions
  • Family game nights and entertainment
  • Virtual team activities
Play & Purchase:
Fun Fact: Darby is the World's First Jasper User
At the very end of 2020, Darby got the chance to try a new AI tool at the time called Conversion AI, now called Jasper, as their first customer. He consulted with Jasper to develop multiple templates and tools for the Jasper community, has helped train 10,000+ Jasper early adopters to create better content using AI for marketing.
Featured In Major Publications
The Verge
"How independent writers are turning to AI" Early feature on AI adoption by creators and writers, including community building and workshop development. Read Full Article →
Forbes
"9 AI Tools Every Creator Must Know About" Expert quote on using Claude for content analysis and finding high-engagement themes for audiences. Read Full Article →
Side Hustle Nation
"From Kickstarter Success to a Sustainable Brand" Complete interview about taking SideHustle from crowdfunded card game to sustainable digital platform. Listen to Interview →
Digital Champions
"From The AI Author" Interview Discussion about AI-assisted content creation, business building, and educational platform development. Watch Interview →
Additional Coverage: The New York Times, AdWorld, The Iconic Agent, DigitalMarketer, and more
Gen AI University Podcast & Guest Appearances
Gen AI University Podcast
Weekly conversations about practical AI applications featuring real business examples, tool demonstrations, and MarketSauce customer research techniques.
What listeners get:
  • Step-by-step AI implementation guides
  • Live tool demonstrations and walkthroughs
  • Real business case studies and results
  • MarketSauce buyer persona techniques
  • Guest interviews with AI practitioners
Subscribe & Listen:
Recent Podcast Interviews
Create a Life You Love Podcast
Episode: "Navigating the AI Era: What Coaches Must Know to Adapt"
Host: Stephanie Brennan
Topics: AI adaptation for coaches, MarketSauce for client research, service evolution
Listen on Apple Podcasts →
DigitalMarketer: Agencies Talk Podcast
Episode: Agency Growth + AI Operations
Host: Mark De Grasse on Wisdom Delivery
Topics: AI tools for marketing agencies, client research, operational efficiency
Listen on Wisdom Delivery →
Speaking Engagements & Events
Annual Flagship Event
Scale with AI Summit
My signature virtual event featuring live workshops, guest presentations, and hands-on AI training.
Event Features:
  • Live MarketSauce demonstrations
  • Customer research workshops
  • AI implementation training
  • Guest expert presentations
  • Networking and Q&A sessions
  • Recordings and templates provided
Event Resources:
Featured Presentations
1
World AI Summit (Austin)
Topic: "Using AI to Understand Your Customers"
Focus: MarketSauce methodology, practical customer research, buyer persona creation
2
AI for Positive Social Impact Summit
Topic: AI Applications for Social Good Projects
Focus: Ethical AI implementation, community impact, social entrepreneurship
Watch Presentation →
3
Startup Grind Local
Topic: AI Tools for Entrepreneurs and Startup Founders
Focus: Practical AI for small businesses, customer research, SideHustle methodology
Watch Session →
Available Speaking Topics:
  • MarketSauce methodology and customer research with AI
  • Practical AI implementation for business growth
  • From AI beginner to daily business user
  • Entrepreneurship education through game-based learning
  • Building sustainable digital products
SideHustle: From Kickstarter to Global Digital Platform
From Physical Game to Digital Success
SideHustle® began as a vision: Spread the creative spirit of entrepreneurship in the world by helping people practice pitching business ideas in a fun, low-pressure environment. What started as a physical card game has evolved into a global digital platform.
The Timeline:
1
Initial Creation
Developed card game concept for pitch practice in 2019
2
Kickstarter Success
Successfully crowdfunded physical version
3
Community Growth
Built following on Product Hunt and gaming platforms
4
Digital Evolution
Transformed into online platform for global access
5
Educational Adoption
Now used in universities and corporate training
Global Impact Today:
  • Business schools and entrepreneurship programs
  • Corporate team building and innovation workshops
  • Startup accelerators and pitch competitions
  • Virtual team activities and remote collaboration
  • Family entertainment and educational gaming
Multiple Ways to Play & Connect
Digital Platform
Play SideHustle Online →
Free online version accessible worldwide
Physical Version
Amazon Marketplace →
Original card game version for in-person play
Success Story Coverage
Complete Interview on Side Hustle Nation →
Deep dive into building sustainable product business
The MarketSauce Method: Deep Customer Understanding
Complete Guide to Customer Research
"Buyer's Brief: Discover What Drives Your Best Customer's Buying Decision in Seconds"
The comprehensive guide to understanding your customers using AI-powered research techniques and the MarketSauce methodology.
Inside the Book:
  • Complete MarketSauce workflow and process
  • Step-by-step customer research techniques
  • AI prompts and templates for buyer personas
  • Real business case studies and examples
  • Language and messaging frameworks

Reader Success Stories: "The Buyer's Brief was the answer to my decade-long struggle with marketing. It provided me with the language to use and valuable insights into my potential customers' objections and concerns."
Live Demonstrations & Training
See MarketSauce methodology in real business applications through workshops, presentations, and detailed case studies.
Learning Resources:
1
Detailed MarketSauce Method
Comprehensive guide to the complete methodology and process
2
MarketSauce AI Tool
Try the actual platform that powers the customer research process
3
Scale with AI Summit Workshops
Live training and implementation sessions with real examples
Perfect for:
  • Business owners struggling with messaging
  • Marketers wanting deeper audience insights
  • Entrepreneurs improving their positioning
  • Anyone needing to understand their customers better
About Darby Rollins
Professional Background & Philosophy
I help business owners understand their customers better and implement AI tools that create real business results.
My Journey
As the world's first Jasper AI user, I've been working with AI tools since their earliest days. This experience led me to create three interconnected ventures that help entrepreneurs succeed: MarketSauce for customer understanding, Gen AI University for practical AI education, and SideHustle for creative confidence building.
What Drives My Work
I believe in learning by doing, not theory. Every tool I create and technique I teach has been tested in real business situations. Whether it's helping someone understand their customers through MarketSauce, learn AI applications through Gen AI University, or build confidence through SideHustle, the focus is always on practical application.
Recognition & Media
My work has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, The Verge, AdWorld, DigitalMarketer, and other major publications. I speak about practical AI implementation, customer research, productive play, creativity and entrepreneurship education.
Personal Life
I live in Austin, Texas with my wife Rachel and our dog Luna. When I'm not working on AI education or customer research, I enjoy drumming and hosting SideHustle game nights with friends.
"AI should be a practical tool that enhances human creativity and business outcomes, not replace it." -Darby
Connect with Darby & His Work
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