Sharmin Ali — CEO
They say life gives second chances, but I know firsthand it also gives third chances—if you’re bold enough to take them. I’ve stared death in the face not once but twice, and each time, I’ve come back stronger, more determined, and deeply committed to creating a lasting impact in this world. I’m an entrepreneur at heart and by choice. My career began in the trenches of startups, where I helped grow a Chicago-based company from zero to a couple of hundred million dollars in ARR. But my true entrepreneurial journey started when I bootstrapped my first company, a Netflix-like platform for Indian vernacular languages, which I sold for an 8-figure exit after just four years. My second venture, Instoried, was an emotion AI startup that transformed how marketers connect with their audiences. Through grit and persistence, I raised $200M for the company and scaled it to a successful exit in 2023, stepping away only due to health reasons. Now, I’m building PiePie AI, a cutting-edge video content creation platform, while championing mental health for entrepreneurs through the Sharmin Ali Foundation for Entrepreneurs (SAFE). SAFE is my soul’s work, inspired by my journey of overcoming stress-induced trauma and cardiac arrest. I aim to give back to the entrepreneurial community by providing the support system I wish I had. I’ve shared my experiences through two books and am thrilled to announce my third, ‘Bitch, Stop, Please’, coming soon—a deeply personal account of resilience, clarity, and the art of innovation. Through it all, my dream remains the same: to create meaningful impact, build ecosystems that empower, and inspire others to rise above the chaos. Life is short, and I’m here to make every moment count. Let’s connect, collaborate, and create something extraordinary together.
Stackforce AI infers this person is a SaaS and MarTech entrepreneur with a strong focus on mental health advocacy.
Location: New York, New York, United States
Experience: 15 yrs 11 mos
Skills
- Strategic Planning
- Problem Solving
- Business Development
Career Highlights
- Successfully raised $200M for an AI startup.
- Achieved 8-figure exit with a media platform.
- Advocate for mental health in entrepreneurship.
Work Experience
Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator
Mentor (7 mos)
hubble
Advisor (8 mos)
PEF Community
Member (1 yr 1 mo)
Sharmin Ali Foundation for Entrepreneurs (S.A.F.E.)
Chief Philanthropy Officer (1 yr 4 mos)
PiePie AI
Founder & CEO (Acq by Blue Bells Media) (2 yrs 5 mos)
Forbes Technology Council
Official Member (4 yrs 9 mos)
Instoried
Founder & CEO ($200M Raised & Exited) (5 yrs 2 mos)
Art-Right-Is Productions (8-figure exit)
Founder & CEO (8-figure exit) (4 yrs 2 mos)
Mu Sigma
Senior Partner (4 yrs 2 mos)
Education
B.E at Visvesvaraya Technological University
XII at DPS RK PURAM, New Delhi