Osman Ghandour - Soal Labs | How AI Gave a Private Credit Firm 50% More Deal Capacity — Without Hiring

Osman Ghandour, Co-founder & CEO of Soal Labs, helps private equity and private credit firms turn chaotic, spreadsheet-driven processes into unified, AI-powered workflows. Working with middle-market teams drowning in SIMs, fragmented systems, and delayed reporting, he shows how well-designed data foundations and targeted automation can unlock 50% more deal capacity without adding headcount. In this conversation, he breaks down what actually drives time-to-value and why AI only works when it’s built directly into the way investment teams operate.You’ll Learn:Why most firms struggle to move from AI ideas to execution—and how to bridge the gap with standardized workflows.How private equity and private credit differ in their AI needs, and what each must prioritize to move faster.Where diligence and reporting break down, and which parts of underwriting can be automated for immediate wins.A four-stage framework (align → blueprint → deliver → expand) for bringing AI into core investment functions.How a private credit firm cut memo-creation time by 70% and increased deal capacity by 50% through systematization and automation.Chapters:00:00 Intro00:42 What Soal Labs Does03:04 Why Osman Entered the PE/PC Data Space05:06 Indicators a Firm Is Truly Forward-Looking07:13 Biggest Bottlenecks in Diligence & Reporting09:08 How AI Conversations Have Shifted10:41 How Middle-Market Funds Should Prioritize AI12:12 The Four-Stage Transformation Framework15:25 Time-to-Value & What Can Be Done in Weeks16:11 Private Credit Case Study: The Initial Problem17:32 Diagnosing the Root Causes19:39 System Design & Integration Choices20:48 Trade-Offs: Standardization vs. Flexibility22:19 Driving Adoption Through Co-Design23:22 Results: 70% Faster Memos & 50% More Deal Capacity24:27 Lessons Learned25:37 Misconceptions About AI Platforms26:37 Why Projects Get Stuck27:46 Moving Teams From “Cool Idea” to Business Impact28:42 CloseLinks:Explore more interviews and Osman Ghandour's expert profile: https://www.justcurious.io/experts/osman-ghandourConnect with Osman Ghandour: https://www.linkedin.com/in/osman-a-ghandour/Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_-Wt-CGkPxcProof 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/