As far as tech skills, there isn't a one size fits all answer -- the landscape, even within "early-stage startups in the AI space", is simply too broad.
You can get a good idea of what tools are most commonly used in the area just by browsing the web, looking at blog posts and open source projects, etc.
More specifically, I recommend going to LinkedIn or whatever job posting site you prefer and finding a bunch (10-20?) job postings that really excite you and tallying up the most commonly required skills. Go learn those, build up a portfolio of online demos and git repos, and you'll probably be as prepared as you can be to navigate the job market.