AI Agents Are Failing... Here's What Actually Works | Episode 21

Everyone says AI agents are the future. But what if most of them… don’t actually work? Not because the tech is bad, but because the way they’re being sold is completely wrong. In this episode of Verticals, Nic sits down with Deepak Chhugani, Founder and CEO of Nuvocargo, to break down why the real opportunity in AI isn’t selling tools or agents, it’s selling outcomes. Deepak shares how he built an $85M logistics company by focusing on results over software, and why most AI startups are struggling with retention, change management, and real-world complexity. They unpack what actually happens when you try to deploy AI inside messy, legacy systems, and why most approaches fall apart at scale.   They also explore the deeper shift happening in AI and services: -Why selling AI agents alone isn’t a defensible strategy -How outcomes-based models outperform traditional SaaS -Why embedding into workflows matters more than building tools   They also go tactical on what is working right now: -How to win customers by proving value (not pitching AI) -Why change management is the biggest hidden bottleneck -How to structure pricing to capture value over time   If you are building, investing, or operating in AI, this is a real look at what works beyond the hype, and what it actually takes to build a lasting company.   TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro 01:18 From Wall Street to building an $85M logistics company 11:13 Finding the wedge: from simple freight to full supply chain control 13:56 The truth about AI agents: why most are failing 16:14 Selling outcomes vs selling software 19:42 Where real defensibility is built 29:57 The biggest mistake founders make 35:45 From AI skeptics to AI obsession 42:18 The AI agent landscape: what’s working, what’s not, and what’s hype 45:40 What actually matters for AI companies