Why Most Companies Are Behind on AI (And Don't Know It) with Brian Dainis

"The compounding effect of time in your business is incredible. Most of the value gets created at the end of that curve. Just stick with it." In this episode of Built to Finish, Steven sits down with Brian Dainis, Founder and CEO of Curotec, to break down what it really takes to scale a business in today's technology-driven world. Brian shares his unconventional path from waiting tables and door-to-door sales to building a global software development firm approaching a $10M run rate. Together, they dive into the realities of early-stage entrepreneurship, the evolution of strategic thinking, and the major shifts happening in technology today. The conversation explores why so many companies are falling behind in AI adoption, the risks of outdated systems, and the critical decisions leaders must make between building custom solutions or buying existing software. Brian also unpacks the concept of technical debt and why imperfect decisions early on can compound into major challenges later. This episode is a must-listen for founders, operators, and executives navigating growth, technology, and long-term scalability. Key Takaways: *]:pointer-events-auto [content-visibility:auto] supports-[content-visibility:auto]:[contain-intrinsic-size:auto_100lvh] R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:77749b71-3570-42b7-9a33-8d4aa7a55877-4" data-testid= "conversation-turn-10" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn= "assistant"> Most founders spend years figuring things out before gaining real traction Many mid-market companies are running outdated technology AI adoption is happening faster than any previous technology shift Most companies know they need AI but don't know where to start Culture of experimentation is critical for innovation Bureaucracy slows down progress and technology adoption Build vs buy decisions are becoming more complex with AI AI tools are dramatically increasing developer productivity Technical debt is unavoidable and compounds over time Long-term success in business comes from compounding effort CONTACT BRIAN Brian Dainis, Founder & CEO, Curotec Website: https://curotec.com LinkedIn: Search "Brian Dainis Curotec