In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, Andrew Romeo, CEO and Co-Founder of Aerion Technologies and  Co-Founder of DevReady.Ai,, is joined by Olivia Truong, Director of W&T Investment Management, Co-Founder of WT Acquisition Advisory and Director of Wilson & Truong Developments. With more than 20 years of experience spanning banking, business transformation and product management, Olivia shares how she transitioned from corporate leadership into entrepreneurship, combining artificial intelligence, business acquisition and strategic investing to build long-term wealth. Drawing on her experience helping people acquire businesses and launch new ventures, Olivia offers practical insights for founders, investors and non-technical entrepreneurs looking to turn ideas into sustainable businesses.

The conversation begins with Olivia's entrepreneurial journey and how experimenting with AI enabled her to build Lemonade Empire, a financial literacy game for her daughters, before publishing it to the Apple App Store within days. Andrew and Olivia explore how AI has transformed product development by making prototyping, validation and idea visualisation far more accessible for non-technical founders. They also discuss why experienced technology partners remain essential when moving from early concepts to secure, scalable products, alongside the importance of strategy, product thinking and customer validation before investing heavily in development.

Andrew and Olivia then compare the realities of launching startups with acquiring established businesses. Olivia explains why she and her partner chose business acquisition as a strategy to generate cash flow that can fund innovation, while Andrew reflects on lessons learned from supporting founders through nearly two decades of software development. Together, they examine the role of business intelligence, customer insights, operational dashboards and strong leadership in building businesses that can grow without founders becoming the bottleneck. They also explore how understanding your own strengths helps determine whether entrepreneurship, investment or business operations are the right path.

The discussion moves into the practical side of buying businesses, covering due diligence, profitability, business valuation and the importance of acquiring companies that can operate independently of their owners. Olivia explains why successful acquisitions depend on trust, shared values, experienced advisers and flexible deal structures rather than focusing solely on purchase price. The conversation also highlights how AI, automation and operational improvements can unlock additional value within long-established businesses while helping investors build scalable portfolios that extend beyond their local market.

To close the episode, Andrew and Olivia compare the mindset required for business acquisition and startup success, identifying patience, resilience and continuous learning as essential qualities for both paths. They encourage aspiring entrepreneurs to take meaningful action, ask better questions and seek guidance from people who have already travelled the journey. Whether listeners are planning to build a technology startup, invest in an established business or explore new opportunities through AI, this episode provides practical frameworks for making better decisions and creating long-term business success.

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