AI: How Smart Companies Are Building Their Own LLMs

Discover real-world AI in Business. Learn how Berkeley Skydeck automates diligence and Braydan Young scales revenue per employee. Practical AI for SEO and growth strategies for entrepreneurs.

TL;DL (Too Long; Didn't Listen)

Don’t have time for the full episode? Here are the top 4 takeaways on how real companies are using AI right now:

• AI as a Filter, Not a Finisher: Berkeley Skydeck uses AI to research and organize 3,800+ applications, but humans still make the final investment "gut call." AI handles the data; humans handle the relationship.
• The New Efficiency Metric: Successful startups are now tracking "Revenue per Employee." Before hiring for a new role, they search for an AI agent or tool that can do the job first.
• Small LLMs > Big Data: Companies are moving away from generic AI and building their own "Small LLMs" using internal data. This allows them to cut through the "noise" and predict future trends with 100% confidence in the data source.
• Your AI "Digital Footprint": AI is reading your LinkedIn, your podcast transcripts, and your website to build a profile of you. To be found by AI search engines, your message across the web must be hyper-consistent.

Moving beyond the hype of artificial intelligence requires looking at how companies are actually deploying these tools today. In this episode, hosts Elizabeth Gearhart, Ph.D. and Richard Gearhart, Esq. sit down with venture capital leaders and tech entrepreneurs to discuss the "on-the-ground" reality of AI integration in business operations, legal workflows, and marketing.

Inside This Episode:

• Venture Capital & AI Diligence: Caroline from Berkeley Skydeck shares how they manage a massive "deal flow" of 3,800 applications for 20 spots using AI to assist in research, while maintaining the essential "human-to-human" connection in investing.
• The "Revenue Per Employee" Metric: Braydan Young explains his strategy for scaling startups by using AI agents to replace traditional entry-level hires, ensuring the company only adds headcount when absolutely necessary.
• Data Signal vs. Noise: Clint Lotz of Trackstar AI breaks down how "Small LLMs" and on-premise data crunching allow companies to tell a holistic story to investors by distilling massive datasets into actionable insights.
• Legal & Content Strategy: Richard and Elizabeth discuss using AI for contract redlining and how to optimize your digital footprint for AI search engines through consistent SEO and podcasting strategies.

About the Hosts:

Elizabeth Gearhart, Ph.D. A marketing executive and AI strategy speaker, Elizabeth focuses on the practical application of AI in action. With a background in analytical chemistry and as a licensed US Patent Agent, she serves as the CMO at Gearhart Law, bridging the gap between technology and business strategy.

Richard Gearhart, Esq. A life sciences IP attorney and founding partner of Gearhart Law, Richard brings over 30 years of experience advising biotech and pharmaceutical companies. As an angel investor and innovation advisor at Rutgers Health, he integrates AI into firm operations to enhance efficiency and growth.

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Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Cold Open
• (00:01:23) - Caroline Winnett
• (00:03:20) - Brayden Young
• (00:04:49) - Clint Lotz
• (00:07:31) - Richard Gearhart
• (00:08:17) - Elizabeth Gearhart