Proof of Work: AI Value Creation

Csongor Barabasi, CEO of Bonsai Labs, helps private equity–backed B2B software companies ship AI products that generate real EBITDA impact. Working with top global PE funds, his team has repeatedly taken companies from idea to paying customers in as little as a few weeks—often unlocking new ARR and defending market share against AI-native competitors. He explains why most AI efforts stall, how to validate use cases fast, and what it takes to turn domain knowledge into production-grade AI workflows.

You’ll Learn:

• How to validate high-ROI AI use cases in 4–6 weeks without waiting on long, expensive data-transformation projects.
• Why evaluation datasets, first-answer correctness, and weekly iteration cycles are essential for launch-ready AI.
• How to redesign legacy processes through an AI-native lens to reduce busywork and unlock revenue opportunities.
• The engineering practices Bonsai Labs uses to reach production in 4–12 weeks, even in complex domains.
• How incumbents can neutralize AI-native challengers by pairing distribution advantages with elite execution speed.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro
00:42 Who Csongor Is & What Bonsai Labs Does
03:04 Career Path & Why He Built Bonsai Labs
06:15 Common Mistakes in AI Adoption
08:04 How Leaders Should Approach POCs
09:13 CTO Concerns & Engineering Challenges
11:18 People, Process & Product in AI Transformation
13:53 The Four-Step Build Process
17:26 Legal AI Case Study
20:24 Revenue Impact & Lessons for Incumbents
23:49 PE-Backed Legacy Software Case Study
26:21 How Bonsai Labs Differs From Dev Shops
30:53 Misconceptions About Launching AI Products
32:28 Building High-Performing AI Teams
34:28 What Leaders Should Stop Doing With POCs
36:02 Who Should Reach Out to Bonsai Labs

Links:

• Explore more interviews and Csongor Barabasi’s expert profile: https://www.checkpluris.com/insights/from-poc-to-7-figure-arr-in-6-months-bonsai-labs-ai-playbook-for-pe-backed-companies
• Connect with Csongor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barabasicsongor/
• Watch the full conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LEfWNjaT_Lg

Proof of Work is the podcast of Pluris, a platform connecting investors and operators with the world's leading applied AI experts. Each episode features the builders, operators, and investors who've actually put AI into production, turning it from buzzword to bottom line through sharp case studies and practical conversations. We explore how AI is used to grow revenue, expand margins, improve operations, and create measurable value inside real businesses.

Learn more at checkpluris.com

Explore more interviews and connect with experts at https://www.checkpluris.com

Subscribe to our newsletter at https://proof-of-work-ai.beehiiv.com/

Osman Ghandour, Co-founder & CEO of Soal Labs, helps private equity and private credit firms turn chaotic, spreadsheet-driven processes into unified, AI-powered workflows. Working with middle-market teams drowning in SIMs, fragmented systems, and delayed reporting, he shows how well-designed data foundations and targeted automation can unlock 50% more deal capacity without adding headcount. In this conversation, he breaks down what actually drives time-to-value and why AI only works when it’s built directly into the way investment teams operate.

You’ll Learn:

• Why most firms struggle to move from AI ideas to execution—and how to bridge the gap with standardized workflows.
• How private equity and private credit differ in their AI needs, and what each must prioritize to move faster.
• Where diligence and reporting break down, and which parts of underwriting can be automated for immediate wins.
• A four-stage framework (align → blueprint → deliver → expand) for bringing AI into core investment functions.
• How a private credit firm cut memo-creation time by 70% and increased deal capacity by 50% through systematization and automation.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro
00:42 What Soal Labs Does
03:04 Why Osman Entered the PE/PC Data Space
05:06 Indicators a Firm Is Truly Forward-Looking
07:13 Biggest Bottlenecks in Diligence & Reporting
09:08 How AI Conversations Have Shifted
10:41 How Middle-Market Funds Should Prioritize AI
12:12 The Four-Stage Transformation Framework
15:25 Time-to-Value & What Can Be Done in Weeks
16:11 Private Credit Case Study: The Initial Problem
17:32 Diagnosing the Root Causes
19:39 System Design & Integration Choices
20:48 Trade-Offs: Standardization vs. Flexibility
22:19 Driving Adoption Through Co-Design
23:22 Results: 70% Faster Memos & 50% More Deal Capacity
24:27 Lessons Learned
25:37 Misconceptions About AI Platforms
26:37 Why Projects Get Stuck
27:46 Moving Teams From “Cool Idea” to Business Impact
28:42 Close

Links:

• Explore more interviews and Osman Ghandour's expert profile: https://www.checkpluris.com/insights/how-ai-gave-a-private-credit-firm-50-more-deal-capacity----without-hiring
• Connect with Osman Ghandour: https://www.linkedin.com/in/osman-a-ghandour/
• Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_-Wt-CGkPxc

Proof of Work is the podcast of Pluris, a platform connecting investors and operators with the world's leading applied AI experts. Each episode features the builders, operators, and investors who've actually put AI into production, turning it from buzzword to bottom line through sharp case studies and practical conversations. We explore how AI is used to grow revenue, expand margins, improve operations, and create measurable value inside real businesses.

Learn more at checkpluris.com

Explore more interviews and connect with experts at https://www.checkpluris.com

Subscribe to our newsletter at https://proof-of-work-ai.beehiiv.com/

Brandon Gell, Head of Studio at Every, shares how companies move from AI experimentation to true adoption by creating the “magic moments” that make AI indispensable. Drawing from his experience building and selling companies, shipping AI-native products, and advising leadership teams, Brandon breaks down the practical steps operators and investors can use to turn AI into leverage, productivity, and cultural transformation.

You’ll Learn:

• How to uncover high-value workflows by interviewing teams about what they actually do—not their AI ideas.
• Why magical moments, not abstract training, are the key to durable AI adoption.
• How to package institutional knowledge into prompts, tools, and GPTs that multiply expertise across an organization.
• When simple LLM workflows are enough—and when you need agents, automation, or lightweight internal apps.
• How executive curiosity and cultural pressure accelerate adoption more than any technical investment.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro
02:49 The origins of Every Consulting
06:44 How Every’s maker culture shapes consulting
11:07 What Every’s studio builds and why it matters
13:21 Every’s framework for AI adoption
17:22 Creating magical moments
20:47 How engagements work
28:43 Turning interviews into solutions
32:27 Training by building real tools
36:25 What makes a workflow a strong AI candidate
39:32 Who Every works best with
42:55 What’s coming next in AI
48:28 Quick wins for teams

Links:

• Explore more interviews and Brandon Gell's expert profile: https://www.checkpluris.com/insights/turning-ai-curiosity-into-real-adoption
• Connect with Brandon Gell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandongell/
• Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/C1lajIlHVpg

Proof of Work is the podcast of Pluris, a platform connecting investors and operators with the world's leading applied AI experts. Each episode features the builders, operators, and investors who've actually put AI into production, turning it from buzzword to bottom line through sharp case studies and practical conversations. We explore how AI is used to grow revenue, expand margins, improve operations, and create measurable value inside real businesses.

Learn more at checkpluris.com

Explore more interviews and connect with experts at https://www.checkpluris.com

Subscribe to our newsletter at https://proof-of-work-ai.beehiiv.com/

Ross Hale, CEO of Artium, and Mike McCormick, Artium’s CTO, share how leading organizations are moving from AI experimentation to real production-grade systems. They explain what it takes to build reliable, high-impact AI software in environments where accuracy, governance, and scale truly matter. Their perspective is grounded in deep hands-on work with enterprise and mid-market teams navigating AI adoption today.

You'll Learn:

• How enterprises move from AI proofs-of-concept to production reliability using continuous alignment testing
• Why AI-native software requires scientific experimentation before traditional product development
• How small, senior teams leverage AI-assisted development to deliver outcomes in weeks, and not years
• The operational differences between building custom AI systems and buying off-the-shelf tools
• Real examples of AI workflows transforming healthcare, financial services, and media operations

Chapters:

00:00 Intro
01:04 What Artium Builds and Why AI Changes Everything
03:37 Where Enterprises Actually Stand With AI Adoption
08:29 How AI Development Differs From Traditional Software
10:53 Reducing Uncertainty With a Proof-of-Concept Phase
12:47 Turning Experiments Into Production Systems
16:59 Ensuring Reliability in Non-Deterministic AI Systems
24:43 Build vs. Buy in the Age of AI
32:39 Real-World Case Study: Arrive Health
36:48 Timelines, Stakeholders, and Scaling AI Products
41:19 Who Artium Works With
43:37 Closing

Links:

• Explore more interviews and Ross Hale's expert profile: https://www.checkpluris.com/insights/enterprise-grade-ai-software-that-scales
• Connect with Ross Hale: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosshale/
• Connect with Mike McCormick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/get-to-know-mike/
• Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/qtryqaCaPWk

Proof of Work is the podcast of Pluris, a platform connecting investors and operators with the world's leading applied AI experts. Each episode features the builders, operators, and investors who've actually put AI into production, turning it from buzzword to bottom line through sharp case studies and practical conversations. We explore how AI is used to grow revenue, expand margins, improve operations, and create measurable value inside real businesses.

Learn more at checkpluris.com

Explore more interviews and connect with experts at https://www.checkpluris.com

Subscribe to our newsletter at https://proof-of-work-ai.beehiiv.com/

Amrit Saxena, CEO of SaxeCap, shares how he and his team have led more than 100 AI transformations and advised over 40 private equity funds on using AI to expand margins, accelerate growth, and reshape value creation. His perspective matters because SaxeCap has pioneered AI-levered buyouts and proven repeatable frameworks for turning workflow inefficiencies and data assets into enterprise value. In this episode, he breaks down what actually drives returns—and what doesn’t—when applying AI inside middle-market businesses.

You’ll Learn:

• How to evaluate AI risk and upside during diligence using business-model signals, workflow analysis, and proprietary data assets
• Why early EBITDA wins within the first 60 days are essential for building AI adoption and organizational momentum
• How to quantify value from AI across labor optimization, human-capital augmentation, and AI-driven product expansion
• The functional areas where AI repeatedly delivers ROI, especially customer service, operations, and engineering
• How to determine whether an AI transformation can become a defensible moat through proprietary data and distribution advantages

Chapters:

00:00 Intro
01:00 Evolution of value creation in private equity
05:15 How SaxeCap supports diligence
07:00 Signals of AI risk and opportunity
08:20 Speed to EBITDA impact
09:50 Transforming legacy or lean organizations
12:20 Cost vs. revenue value creation mix
14:00 Where AI delivers repeatable ROI
15:00 Common mistakes PE firms make with AI
17:40 AI transformation examples
22:55 Value creation ranges
24:55 Generative AI transformation example
27:30 Can AI be a moat?
30:00 Who should reach out to SaxeCap
31:20 Three AI questions for investment committees
32:40 Closing

Links:

• Explore more interviews and Amrit Saxena's expert profile: https://www.checkpluris.com/insights/the-new-ai-playbook-for-private-equity"
• Connect with Amrit Saxena: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amrit-saxena-33432035/
• Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2UigwwWcl6g

Proof of Work is the podcast of Pluris, a platform connecting investors and operators with the world's leading applied AI experts. Each episode features the builders, operators, and investors who've actually put AI into production, turning it from buzzword to bottom line through sharp case studies and practical conversations. We explore how AI is used to grow revenue, expand margins, improve operations, and create measurable value inside real businesses.

Learn more at checkpluris.com

Explore more interviews and connect with experts at https://www.checkpluris.com

Subscribe to our newsletter at https://proof-of-work-ai.beehiiv.com/

Justin Massa, Partner & Co-Founder of Remix Partners, helps SMB and mid-market teams translate rapidly evolving AI capabilities into practical workflows that unlock real business value. His perspective matters because he has spent a decade guiding leaders through emerging technology waves and building repeatable frameworks that help organizations identify, experiment with, and operationalize AI in ways that drive competitive differentiation. In this episode, he explains why most executives lack a true on-ramp into generative AI, and how techniques, jigs, and tools provide a structured path from experimentation to scalable impact.

You’ll Learn:

• How to build an “AI on-ramp” that gives leaders strategic context—not just task-level tricks
• Why techniques, jigs, and tools form a maturity path for workflow transformation
• How to identify the specific AI capabilities tied to a company’s competitive differentiation
• How early experimentation accelerates prototyping speed and cross-functional innovation
• How to approach ROI rigorously when deciding whether to adopt, buy, or build AI tools

Chapters:

00:00 Intro
01:00 Justin’s background in innovation and AI
02:15 The client’s challenge and early skepticism
03:40 The on-ramp problem for business leaders
06:20 Techniques vs. jigs vs. tools
10:50 How leaders decide what to build or buy
14:30 Evaluating ROI and tool decisions
18:45 Why leaders don’t need deep technical knowledge
22:00 Coaching executives to use AI directly
24:20 Startup acceleration and rapid prototyping
26:45 Advice for leaders beginning their AI journey

Links:

• Explore more interviews and Justin Massa's expert profile: https://www.checkpluris.com/insights/building-an-ai-strategy-for-smb-leaders
• Connect with Justin Massa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinmassa/
• Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/smZC_jLk0Zs

Proof of Work is the podcast of Pluris, a platform connecting investors and operators with the world's leading applied AI experts. Each episode features the builders, operators, and investors who've actually put AI into production, turning it from buzzword to bottom line through sharp case studies and practical conversations. We explore how AI is used to grow revenue, expand margins, improve operations, and create measurable value inside real businesses.

Learn more at checkpluris.com

Explore more interviews and connect with experts at https://www.checkpluris.com

Subscribe to our newsletter at https://proof-of-work-ai.beehiiv.com/

Jeremy Utley, adjunct professor at Stanford and host of Beyond the Prompt, shares how executives and operators can use AI to unlock creativity, accelerate decision-making, and drive transformational change. His work sits at the intersection of innovation, experimentation, and applied AI, making his perspective especially relevant for private equity leaders and middle-market teams navigating rapid operational shifts. In this episode, he breaks down practical ways AI becomes a strategic partner, not just a tactical tool.

You’ll Learn

• How AI-powered role-play can prepare leaders for high-stakes conversations and improve organizational outcomes.
• Why treating AI like a collaborator — not an oracle — dramatically improves idea quality and problem-solving.
• A structured method for using AI as a strategic thought partner for capital allocation, board prep, and complex decision workflows.
• How non-technical teams can codify workflows into lightweight GPTs that unlock days — and sometimes weeks — of saved effort.
• Why experimentation must be a KPI, and how leaders can create a culture where inaction — not failure — becomes the punishable offense.

Chapters

00:00 Intro
00:42 Jeremy’s shift from professor to AI learner
03:39 Coaching executives on applied AI
05:54 Using AI to prepare for difficult conversations
10:02 Expanding executives’ imagination for AI
13:22 Strategic use cases for leaders
18:19 Modeling AI adoption from the top
20:11 How AI amplifies creativity
22:39 Collaborating with AI vs. treating it as an oracle
24:21 Who benefits most from these tools
26:38 National Park Service transformation story
30:49 “Use AI to use AI” — the first step
33:48 Closing

Links

• Explore more interviews and Jeremy Utley's expert profile: https://www.checkpluris.com/insights/ai-as-your-new-strategic-thought-partner
• Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZuUXggPcQyg
• Connect with Jeremy Utley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyutley/

Proof of Work is the podcast of Pluris, a platform connecting investors and operators with the world's leading applied AI experts. Each episode features the builders, operators, and investors who've actually put AI into production, turning it from buzzword to bottom line through sharp case studies and practical conversations. We explore how AI is used to grow revenue, expand margins, improve operations, and create measurable value inside real businesses.

Learn more at checkpluris.com

Explore more interviews and connect with experts at https://www.checkpluris.com

Subscribe to our newsletter at https://proof-of-work-ai.beehiiv.com/