Clone with Care

What I Learned from Using an AI Avatar.

I recently tried cloning myself.

Not literally — but through an AI avatar. A digital version of me designed to deliver Funding4Growth content, freeing up time for strategy, founders, and partnerships. It seemed like the perfect solution: the ability to be “present” in more places without splitting myself in two.

It didn’t quite work. Not yet.

The technology was impressive, the production smooth. But as I watched my avatar speak, I realised something was missing. My words were there, my face was there — but my energy wasn’t. The empathy, timing, and conviction that come from lived experience didn’t translate. And it made me reflect on something bigger than technology: what happens when founders try to automate their presence before they’ve fully articulated their purpose?

The Allure of Efficiency

Every founder I know dreams of multiplying themselves. We juggle investor meetings, partnerships, team management, strategy, and content creation — often while running on caffeine and conviction. The idea of having a digital “twin” who can handle outreach, explain our programs, or present funding insights sounds revolutionary.

AI avatars promise that leverage. They can record evergreen videos, onboard clients, or personalise marketing at scale. When used well, they remove friction — letting you focus on relationships and decision-making. For founders with limited bandwidth, that’s not a gimmick; it’s a lifeline.

That’s why I tested one. Not to replace myself, but to extend the reach of Funding4Growth’s message — to help more women access insights about capital, confidence, and community.

When Technology Outpaces Connection

But here’s the catch: AI doesn’t yet replicate the nuance of trust. It mimics expression, but not intention. When I watched my avatar speak about purpose and perseverance, it looked like me, but it didn’t feel like me.

The tone was slightly too polished. The micro-pauses that carry sincerity were gone. The smile landed a fraction too late. Individually, these things were small — but together, they created distance. And founders, especially women leading with authenticity, can’t afford distance.

What I learned is that technology can carry your message, but not your meaning. Meaning comes from presence — from the heartbeat of experience behind every sentence. And no algorithm has mastered that yet.

What Still Makes It Worth Exploring

Despite that, I haven’t given up. There are real efficiencies to be gained. AI avatars can take care of foundational communication — like program overviews, FAQs, and investor updates — while we reserve our human voice for the moments that matter most.

The opportunity lies in balance. Use avatars to scale clarity, not connection. Let them deliver knowledge while you deliver belief. If you can build a system where the AI amplifies your expertise but your personality remains the bridge, you’ll have the best of both worlds.

I see this as the next frontier of founder sustainability. Because the truth is, we can’t keep scaling on exhaustion. Cloning part of our process — ethically, transparently, intelligently — might be one way to expand our impact without burning out.

Lessons I’ll Take Forward

Here’s what my short experiment taught me about leading in the age of AI:

1. Don’t automate before you articulate. Know your voice and your values first. AI can’t fix what’s unclear.

2. Stay visible in the loop. Let technology support your reach, but never outsource your relationships.

3. Experiment with intention. Test one function — onboarding, Q&A, introductions — before full integration.

4. Be honest about boundaries. If something feels inauthentic, it probably is.

5. Measure by trust, not clicks. Scale means nothing if credibility erodes in the process.

What I love about this journey is that it mirrors the reality of every founder: we build, we test, we refine. Sometimes we misjudge what’s ready — and that’s okay. Growth isn’t linear; it’s iterative.

The Real Power of Multiplication

In hindsight, maybe the avatar wasn’t meant to replace me at all. Maybe it was meant to teach me something — that efficiency without empathy is just noise. That our voice is our most valuable asset, and no machine can carry it without care.

The dream of cloning ourselves will keep evolving. The tech will improve. And when it does, I’ll try again — not because I want less of me in my work, but because I want my work to reach further than I can alone.

For founders building movements, not just companies, this is the challenge and the invitation:
Clone with care. Scale what’s repeatable. Protect what’s irreplaceable.

Because the future of leadership won’t be about who can automate the fastest — it will be about who can keep their humanity while they do it.

Author Bio
Lisa Erhart is a founder, funding strategist, and advocate for equitable access to capital. Through Funding4Growth, she helps women and diverse entrepreneurs build financially strong, impact-led businesses.