As we wrap up 2025, I've been thinking a lot about where tools are heading. The biggest shift I see isn't just "more features"—it's about context.
Notion AI is starting to understand the web of connections between your docs, your projects, and your team's goals. Going into 2026, this is going to be the differentiator between teams that move fast and teams that just move. I try not to be hyperbolic about new features, but Custom Agents will undoubtedly transform how teams work. It’s not out yet, but there’s good news: a lot about how we use Notion AI today wil apply to Custom Agents.
Why Founders Need to Own This Now
Here's what I've learned working with 50+ clients: the founders who drive an AI-first culture have teams that choose experiment over business as usual.
The companies that win in 2026 won't simply be the ones with the most money, employees, or revenue. They'll be the ones that figured out how to do more with less by letting AI handle the heavy lifting of organization and synthesis.
The hard part: your team won't adopt AI tools just because you told them to. They need to see you using it, iterating on it, and sharing what works.
Leading by Example Looks Like This
In my own practice, I've shifted from "consulting partner who has all the answers" to "consulting partner who shows the process." When I'm in client workshops, we ideate, prioritize, and rebuild one workflow at a time. I show them my messy first drafts and how I refine them.
That's the behavior that spreads. Not mandates. Not training decks. Transparent, repeatable workflows that your team can see working in real-time.
When founders share their work–when they publicly experiment, share their prompts, and normalize the iterative process—AI adoption becomes cultural, not transactional.
The Deep Dive
I'm partnering with Notion for Startups to host one last deep dive for the year. This isn't just a "feature walkthrough"—it's a look at how power users are actually deploying AI to handle the heavy lifting of strategy.
We'll focus on the high-leverage stuff:
Goal Setting: Turning rough ideas into structured OKRs without the blank-page paralysis.
Roadmap Planning: Building dynamic views that actually stay up to date.
Feedback Loops: Transforming scattered notes into a cohesive learning hub.
If you want to see what a fully AI-enabled startup operating system looks like—and more importantly, how to model that behavior for your team—come hang out.
See you there!
Dave
