Just Curious: Applied AI for Value Creation

Stuart Willson
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Just Curious is the podcast of Pluris, a platform connecting investors and operators with the world’s leading applied AI experts. Each episode turns AI 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

  1. 4D AGO

    Justin Massa & Jason Rubinstein - Remix Partners | How to Operationalize AI: 32 Kickstarts, One Consistent Pattern

    Justin Massa and Jason Rubinstein are the co-founders of Remix Partners, an AI strategy consultancy that has now run 32+ kickstarts with small and medium-sized businesses across sectors and geographies. Their perspective is grounded in what actually works — not what looks good in a slide deck — and this conversation is full of practical frameworks for PE investors and operators trying to move AI from an experiment into the business. You'll Learn: Why executive engagement is the single non-negotiable success factor in any AI rollout, and what it actually looks like in practiceThe difference between augment and automate — and why 95% of consulting firms stop at automation when the real leverage is in augmentationHow to use a three-tier deployment framework (Experiment / Pilot / Implement) to prioritize where AI goes next, and why you need to revisit it every quarterWhat "agent-legible" means — restructuring business information so agents can navigate it efficiently — and a simple mental model for where to startA detailed manufacturing case study: how a 70-year-old custom parts company cut its RFQ turnaround time nearly in half using a Claude Code workbench built in 3.5 weeksChapters:  00:00 – Intro 00:33 – Welcome & what Justin and Jason hope listeners take away 01:41 – Who are Justin & Jason / Remix Partners origin 03:19 – Jason's background and why they're doing this together 04:36 – Reflecting on the past year: what changed in the market 07:21 – What's driving the shift in appetite for AI 11:50 – Going wide vs. going deep on AI opportunities 12:55 – Data on AI adoption: where companies actually are 14:42 – Why small businesses are now advantaged over enterprise 15:39 – Operationalizing AI: the Remix kickstart approach 18:21 – Executive engagement as the #1 success factor 19:13 – Show and tell culture: banning secret cyborgs 21:33 – How the approach scales from SMBs to Fortune 25 23:56 – The leader's mandate: making time for AI 25:03 – What went wrong with other consultants 26:48 – The augment vs. automate framework 28:07 – Getting from automation to augmentation 30:33 – The jagged frontier and workforce implications 31:55 – How to navigate capabilities without a static view 33:35 – Deployment zones: Experiment / Pilot / Implement 35:29 – How zones shift quarterly / software stack decisions 37:50 – Manufacturing case study: the setup 40:26 – What they built (workbench in Claude Code, RFQ automation) 42:54 – Who was involved across the organization 44:27 – Impact: clock speed and capacity nearly halved 46:00 – Engineers' time reallocation; divorcing revenue from headcount 47:33 – Agent legibility: what it means and why it matters 49:38 – Making your business agent-legible: the practical how 52:54 – This year we edit documents, we don't create them 53:32 – Where to start for a 50-person company 56:16 – Plug into your core work application and play 58:07 – What happens to companies that don't experiment now 59:11 – Playing to Win in an AI era: differentiation AND low cost 01:02:33 – Closing Watch on YouTube: https:Just Curious is the content and podcast brand of Pluris, helping leading operators and investors cut through a noisy AI market and find the right partners — from strategy and assessments to full-stack AI development. Our network of applied AI experts spans generative and agentic AI, workflow automation, and custom AI-powered software, helping teams turn curiosity into measurable value. Explore more interviews and connect with experts at https://www.checkpluris.com Subscribe to our newsletter at https://just-curious-ai.beehiiv.com

    58 min

  2. MAR 3

    Kris Krisco - Synopsis | Why 97% of AI Projects Fail in the Middle Market (And How to Fix It in 1 Week)

    Kris Krisco, Co-founder of Synopsis, is building AI-native data infrastructure designed specifically for the middle market. After scaling and selling a company under private equity, he saw firsthand why most AI initiatives fail — not because of ambition, but because of broken data foundations. In this episode, he explains how to move from fragmented systems and unreliable dashboards to real-time, operational AI that actually drives EBITDA. You’ll Learn Why 97% of middle-market AI projects fail — and the hidden infrastructure gap most companies ignore The critical role of master data management (MDM) and entity resolution in making AI outputs trustworthy How AI agents can replace months of traditional data engineering work with one-week iteration cycles Real examples of workflow automation that reduce operational waste and improve field execution in real time How private equity-backed companies are using AI in live board meetings to answer strategic questions instantly Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:00 Why Most AI Initiatives Fail 04:40 The Synopsys Approach to Data Infrastructure 10:40 The MDM Problem No One Talks About 17:15 How Much of Your Data Are You Actually Using? 20:45 Workflow Automation & Real-World Use Cases 25:15 Disaster Recovery Case Study 33:00 AI Inside Private Equity Board Meetings 36:30 The Future: Rule of 40 Becomes Rule of 70+ Links Explore more expert interviews: https://checkpluris.com/expert-interviewsWatch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/a6H8SxJTsOcConnect with Kris Krisco: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kris-krisco/ Just Curious is the content and podcast brand of Pluris, helping leading operators and investors cut through a noisy AI market and find the right partners — from strategy and assessments to full-stack AI development. Our network of applied AI experts spans generative and agentic AI, workflow automation, and custom AI-powered software, helping teams turn curiosity into measurable value. Explore more interviews and connect with experts at https://www.checkpluris.com Subscribe to our newsletter at https://just-curious-ai.beehiiv.com

    39 min

  3. FEB 25

    AI for Non-Technical Leaders: Turn One Meeting Into 10 Revenue-Generating Assets

    Mollie Amkraut Mueller, Founder of Watch Me AI and former strategist at IDEO and EY, helps non-technical leaders turn AI into a chief of staff, analyst, and revenue engine. In this episode, she breaks down a practical, business-first approach to AI adoption—showing how one recorded meeting can become 10 high-value assets. If you lead a team or operate in the middle market, this is a tactical blueprint for saving time, increasing output, and unlocking ROI without hiring a dev shop. You’ll Learn How to turn a single meeting transcript into LinkedIn posts, proposals, client deliverables, and course content in minutesWhy most AI projects fail—and how to scope high-ROI use cases that actually stickA simple diagnostic framework to uncover 1–10 immediate AI opportunities inside any workflowHow off-the-shelf tools like Claude and Relay can replace expensive, over-engineered automation projectsA real-world PR agency case study that cut multi-hour manual research down to 10 minutes per client request Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:58 Mollie’s background and founding WatchMe AI 05:09 The 90-minute AI diagnostic that reveals hidden ROI 12:17 One transcript → 10 revenue-generating assets 18:55 Why jumping into automations can backfire 20:32 PR agency case study: automating conference research 25:16 Busting myths about AI adoption 29:09 Who should start using AI now Links Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEP3Vs5ml4gConnect with Mollie Amkraut Mueller: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollieamkraut/Explore more on Just Curious https://www.justcurious.io/articles/ai-for-non-technical-leaders-turn-one-meeting-into-10-revenue-generating-assetsJust Curious is the content and podcast brand of Pluris, helping leading operators and investors cut through a noisy AI market and find the right partners — from strategy and assessments to full-stack AI development. Our network of applied AI experts spans generative and agentic AI, workflow automation, and custom AI-powered software, helping teams turn curiosity into measurable value. Explore more interviews and connect with experts at https://www.checkpluris.com Subscribe to our newsletter at https://just-curious-ai.beehiiv.com

    27 min

  4. FEB 17

    How AI Caught What Bonuses, Training, and Pay Raises Couldn't Fix

    Ryan Kurt, CEO & Founder of The AI Lab, advises middle-market CEOs on how to turn AI from hype into measurable operational advantage. A 13-year veteran of generative AI, he’s helped leaders move beyond “AI strategy decks” to real workflow transformation — including a healthcare network that used computer vision to improve care quality and performance-based pay with 99% accuracy. His perspective is clear: the technology isn’t the hard part — leadership ownership is. You’ll Learn • Why most AI initiatives fail because CEOs delegate ownership instead of leading transformation themselves • How to rebuild workflows from first principles instead of layering AI onto broken processes • What “total ownership” actually means — and why third-party vendors can’t carry your AI strategy • How agentic workflows unlock capacity by automating repetitive work before it hits your desk • A behind-the-scenes case study of using computer vision and human-in-the-loop systems to improve care quality, culture, and compensation Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:00 Ryan’s path from early AI startup to founding The AI Lab 04:15 Why “AI strategy” is the wrong starting point 08:10 The leadership readiness test most companies fail 12:00 What total ownership actually looks like 18:00 Why agentic workflows change the economics of work 23:00 Case study: Using AI to improve caregiver performance 27:30 Human-in-the-loop systems and hybrid AI architecture 30:00 Cultural and operational impact 31:45 How to sequence AI adoption the right way 34:25 Who The AI Lab works with Links Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bdSq4S2_PZUConnect with Ryan Kurt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryankurt/Explore more interviews: https://www.justcurious.io/articles/how-ai-caught-what-bonuses-training-and-pay-raises-couldnt-fix"Just Curious is the content and podcast brand of Pluris, helping leading operators and investors cut through a noisy AI market and find the right partners — from strategy and assessments to full-stack AI development. Our network of applied AI experts spans generative and agentic AI, workflow automation, and custom AI-powered software, helping teams turn curiosity into measurable value. Explore more interviews and connect with experts at https://www.checkpluris.com Subscribe to our newsletter at https://just-curious-ai.beehiiv.com

    33 min

  5. FEB 10

    How Sunrun Found $80M in Hidden Costs by Finally Understanding Its Data

    Adam Schwartz, Co-founder and CEO of Parable, explains why most enterprise AI initiatives fail before they ever touch the P&L. Drawing on firsthand work with Fortune 500 and private equity–backed companies, he breaks down how hidden operational inefficiencies block real transformation—and what leaders must measure to unlock durable AI-driven value. You’ll Learn Why executives consistently misjudge how teams actually spend their time—and how that blind spot derails AI strategyHow “keep-the-lights-on” work and operational debt quietly consume 50–70% of enterprise capacityWhy data warehouses and dashboards lack the context required for effective AI agents and decision-makingHow mapping work at the activity level enables AI use cases to be prioritized by ROI, not intuitionWhat Sunrun uncovered when it quantified technical and operational debt—and how that led to $80M+ in savingsChapters 00:00 Intro 01:33 Why leaders lack visibility into real work 05:12 The hidden cost of “keep the lights on” work 09:10 Why data warehouses fail at operational understanding 13:20 What a contextual work graph actually looks like 18:29 Measuring AI impact beyond adoption 23:46 Operational debt and resource allocation 30:01 Sunrun case study: uncovering $80M in inefficiencies 35:43 AI vs. process change—what to automate and why 41:57 The mindset shift leaders need for AI at scale Links Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zDDspYqT_7oConnect with Adam Schwartz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamgregoryschwartz/Explore more interviews: https://www.justcurious.io/articles/how-sunrun-found-80m-in-hidden-costs-by-finally-understanding-its-data Just Curious is the content and podcast brand of Pluris, helping leading operators and investors cut through a noisy AI market and find the right partners — from strategy and assessments to full-stack AI development. Our network of applied AI experts spans generative and agentic AI, workflow automation, and custom AI-powered software, helping teams turn curiosity into measurable value. Explore more interviews and connect with experts at https://www.checkpluris.com Subscribe to our newsletter at https://just-curious-ai.beehiiv.com

    38 min

  6. JAN 12

    Stop Buying AI Slop: How Mid-Market Companies Actually Get ROI from AI

    Arman Hezarkhani is the Co-founder & Managing Partner of Tenex, an AI transformation firm helping middle-market and growth companies turn AI from hype into real P&L impact. Drawing from experience scaling Google’s cloud AI tools and building venture-backed startups, Arman breaks down how leaders can actually operationalize AI — not just talk about it. This episode is a practical guide for investors and operators who want measurable results, fast. You’ll Learn Why AI adoption is easy for individuals but structurally hard for organizations — and how to close that gap How to identify high-ROI AI use cases by starting with business goals, not technology What “AI slop” looks like in practice and how to avoid wasting capital on vaporware Why Tenex charges on output (story points) instead of hours — and how incentives unlock 10x productivity How to get your first AI win inside a company to build momentum and executive buy-in Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:49 Arman’s background and founding Tenex 02:30 Why AI is different from past tech waves 05:26 What AI changes — and what it doesn’t — in business 07:08 How companies should prepare for an AI-native future 09:01 How Tenex identifies and executes AI opportunities 12:15 Diagnostic process and opportunity mapping 15:13 Why CEO-level buy-in is critical 16:31 The Tenex output-based business model 21:28 Generative AI, agents, and AI-powered software builds 23:25 Avoiding “AI slop” and navigating the AI bubble 27:00 Build vs. buy decisions in an AI world 28:39 Real client example: AI-driven revenue and efficiency gains 33:24 Ruthless focus on business goals 34:02 Advice for new Heads of AI Links Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xRV_OnkK9eAExplore more interviews: https://www.justcurious.io/Connect with Arman Hezarkhani: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahez/Just Curious is the content and podcast brand of Pluris, helping leading operators and investors cut through a noisy AI market and find the right partners — from strategy and assessments to full-stack AI development. Our network of applied AI experts spans generative and agentic AI, workflow automation, and custom AI-powered software, helping teams turn curiosity into measurable value. Explore more interviews and connect with experts at https://www.checkpluris.com Subscribe to our newsletter at https://just-curious-ai.beehiiv.com

    35 min

  7. JAN 6

    How Smart AI Guardrails Unlock Faster Growth (Without Killing Innovation)

    Evan Glaser, Founder & CEO of Alongside AI, joins Just Curious to break down how middle-market companies can actually deploy AI, without blowing up risk, compliance, or trust. Drawing on a decade of Fortune 100 experience, Evan explains why governance isn’t a blocker to AI value creation, but the accelerator most operators are missing. You’ll Learn Why AI governance is the fastest way to unlock real productivity—not slow it down How to design practical AI guardrails that let teams innovate safely and move faster Where middle-market companies typically underestimate their AI risk exposure How to turn siloed institutional knowledge into a scalable, AI-powered asset A real-world case study showing how AI reduced onboarding time and unlocked new revenue Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:24 Why middle-market leaders struggle to start with AI 02:59 Governance as an accelerator, not a brake 04:41 Defining AI guardrails that actually work 06:47 Common governance gaps and blind spots 09:03 What “good” AI governance looks like in practice 14:02 Unlocking trapped institutional knowledge with AI 19:59 Case study: AI-powered onboarding and faster ramp times 30:23 Turning AI questions into a new advisory revenue stream 33:54 The risks of shadow AI 36:13 Lessons from regulated industries that apply everywhere Links Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/OXYdxzPgPKgConnect with Evan Glaser: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glaserevan/Explore more interviews: https://www.justcurious.io/experts/evan-glaserJust Curious is the content and podcast brand of Pluris, helping leading operators and investors cut through a noisy AI market and find the right partners — from strategy and assessments to full-stack AI development. Our network of applied AI experts spans generative and agentic AI, workflow automation, and custom AI-powered software, helping teams turn curiosity into measurable value. Explore more interviews and connect with experts at https://www.checkpluris.com Subscribe to our newsletter at https://just-curious-ai.beehiiv.com

    38 min

  8. 12/05/2025

    Alex Gruebele & Chandler Gonzalez - Tau9 Labs | How Tau9 Labs Helped a Manufacturer Cut Quoting Time from Hours to Seconds — and Double Win Rates

    Alex Gruebele and Chandler Gonzalez, co-founders of Tau9 Labs, build custom AI systems that solve the messy, high-value problems generic manufacturing software can’t touch. With roots in robotics, hyperscale software, and logistics, they focus on the workflows where context matters most—quoting, downtime, document analysis, and technician knowledge. Their work shows how applied AI can transform mid-market industrial operations in months, not years, by fitting the way factories actually run. You’ll Learn Why generic SaaS breaks in manufacturing—and how custom AI can match real-world workflows without forcing process changes.How decades of unstructured documents hide the root causes of downtime, warranty costs, and defects—and how AI can surface them.A practical approach to turning vague “AI requests” into solvable, ROI-positive operational problems using on-site discovery and the five whys.How AI-accelerated engineering compresses build cycles from quarters to weeks, enabling tools like instant quoting platforms.When to build vs. buy: the signals that indicate a custom solution will outperform configurable off-the-shelf tools. Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:00 Backgrounds & the origin of Tau9 Labs 03:20 Why manufacturing lags in software adoption 05:10 Common operational problems & unstructured data 07:15 Downtime, tribal knowledge, and automation 08:50 Quoting workflows and workflow automation 09:50 How Tau9 diagnoses the “real” problem 12:20 On-site discovery and the five whys 15:20 Case study: injection molding quoting platform 18:10 Designing for speed and user behavior 20:15 Building the platform in four months 22:50 Results: conversion lift & revenue impact 25:10 Build vs. buy in industrial AI 28:45 Why on-site U.S. engineers outperform remote teams 31:20 How AI changes software design principles 33:50 Who Tau9 Labs is best suited to help 35:50 Closing Links Explore more interviews: https://www.justcurious.io/articles/how-tau9-labs-helped-a-manufacturer-cut-quoting-time-from-hours-to-seconds----and-double-win-ratesWatch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/njuUtQucqHUConnect with Alex Gruebele: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexgruebele/Connect with Chandler Gonzalez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandlergonzales/Just Curious is the content and podcast brand of Pluris, helping leading operators and investors cut through a noisy AI market and find the right partners — from strategy and assessments to full-stack AI development. Our network of applied AI experts spans generative and agentic AI, workflow automation, and custom AI-powered software, helping teams turn curiosity into measurable value. Explore more interviews and connect with experts at https://www.checkpluris.com Subscribe to our newsletter at https://just-curious-ai.beehiiv.com

    34 min
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Just Curious is the podcast of Pluris, a platform connecting investors and operators with the world’s leading applied AI experts. Each episode turns AI 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

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