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 LearnWhy 97% of middle-market AI projects fail — and the hidden infrastructure gap most companies ignoreThe critical role of master data management (MDM) and entity resolution in making AI outputs trustworthyHow AI agents can replace months of traditional data engineering work with one-week iteration cyclesReal examples of workflow automation that reduce operational waste and improve field execution in real timeHow private equity-backed companies are using AI in live board meetings to answer strategic questions instantlyChapters00:00 Intro01:00 Why Most AI Initiatives Fail04:40 The Synopsys Approach to Data Infrastructure10:40 The MDM Problem No One Talks About17:15 How Much of Your Data Are You Actually Using?20:45 Workflow Automation & Real-World Use Cases25:15 Disaster Recovery Case Study33:00 AI Inside Private Equity Board Meetings36:30 The Future: Rule of 40 Becomes Rule of 70+LinksExplore more expert interviews: https://checkpluris.com/expert-interviewsWatch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/a6H8SxJTsOcConnect with Kris Krisco: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kris-krisco/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.comExplore more interviews and connect with experts at https://www.checkpluris.com Subscribe to our newsletter at https://proof-of-work-ai.beehiiv.com/