We are an early-stage startup, building an AI product to build explainer videos. We are targeting early stage SAAS companies, we get a few leads via LinkedIn and cold email, they show interest in the product, we do a meeting, share them details but after that it becomes dead, we follow up but we don't get any replies. Any suggestions.
While building our agentic system a lot of tool calls failed, agents kept calling tools in the wrong order, passed inconsistent information in JSON and everything got messy.
Here’s a real example.
An agent calls a datastore tool.
The database ID - num1.
The agent responds with num_1, num-1, or num(1).
Everytime different format.
How we improved our system
- Instead of matching exact formats, we focused on what will always be present in the agent’s output. In this case, num and 1. Everything else became noise.
- We stopped writing endless rules to handle every edge case. Instead, designed tools to capture only what the agent will provide reliably.
Instead of exact string matching, we made tools to match patterns. For example, a name and an address together are usually enough to identify the right record. If multiple results match, return them and let the agent decide.
-We Stopped forcing perfect formatting from agents. Tools work based on the most likely intent, not absolute certainty.
-One thing remained non-negotiable:
the tool name and description. If those are unclear, the agent fails
Walked into a chemist shop near my house in a Tier-4 city and saw a skincare brand sitting on the shelf. And I paused.
Not because I had never seen the brand before.
But because I was seeing it here.
Immediately, a recent ₹2700 Cr acquisition came to mind.
The brand had it all — consumer pull, great product packaging, pricing and positioning.
But sales were mostly online.
Then comes HUL — the pioneer of Indian FMCG and a giant with one of the most resilient offline distribution systems in the country.
Anyone building an FMCG product knows how difficult offline distribution really is.
Stock lying at retail and distributor outlets.
Receivable days skyrocketing.
Distributors not willing to keep the product.
Converting one distributor in one district can take months, sometimes years.
Then getting actual sales is another daunting task.
Products sitting on shelves. Damages. Expiry.
Offline distribution is a nightmare.
It takes enormous amounts of money, time and execution.
And then comes HUL with:
9 million retailers
35 Carrying & Forwarding agents
4000 distribution stockists
The largest in the country
Suddenly stock becomes available in every corner
That is the power of distribution.
The brand was Minimalist.
A product that took 6 years to build reach got plugged into an engine built over decades.
The distribution engine that can potentially turn ₹2700 Cr into billions.