Ep. 069- Prasad Chavali- CEO of Axel Automotive

What this episode covers

In this episode of The Lion’s Den, we sit down with Prasad Chavali, CEO of Axel Automotive—a software platform built to unify and cleanse dealership data so it can actually be used. Prasad shares his journey starting on the dealership floor selling cars, where he first saw how fragmented dealership software systems were—and how hard it was to get meaningful insights from the data. That firsthand experience became the foundation for building Axle. In this conversation, we cover: -Why breaking into the automotive dealership space is so difficult -The role of trust and long-term relationship building with dealership owners -Where AI is actually creating value in automotive today (beyond autonomous vehicles) -What it takes to build a successful vertical SaaS platform—and the non-negotiable pillars behind it Perseverance, leadership, and what keeps Prasad pushing forward as a CEO despite inevitable roadblocks Prasad is thoughtful, candid, and deeply knowledgeable about both technology and the realities of this industry. It’s a great conversation for founders, operators, and anyone building in complex, relationship-driven markets.