Welcome to Crown Castê, your financial literacy podcast for small businesses. We publish inspiring, insightful conversations with investors and stewards of capital. In this episode of Crown Castê, we welcome Alpesh Joshi, a visionary entrepreneur and investor, to discuss how AI-first companies and venture studios are redefining the future of business. Alpesh shares his journey, from his early passion for technology to his leadership in creating scalable, innovative businesses through his venture studio model. The conversation begins with Alpesh’s deep connection to technology, which started in his teenage years and evolved into a career focused on solving real-world problems with cutting-edge solutions (1:02). He reflects on his early roles as a programmer and technology architect, explaining how his background informs his current work with boards to integrate AI into business strategies (2:44). A key theme of the episode is how AI is transforming traditional business models. Alpesh highlights the rise of generative AI and its role in revolutionizing industries by simplifying complex tasks, increasing productivity, and enabling innovation (3:49). He shares how his venture studio model focuses on creating "AI-first" companies, which use AI at their core to drive efficiency and success. One standout example is his "AI-first law firm," a groundbreaking venture that uses generative AI to automate contract creation, cutting costs by 50% while maintaining high-quality advisory services (11:14). Alpesh explains how such innovations are reshaping service industries, making them faster, more accurate, and more customer-centric. The episode also delves into Alpesh’s unique approach to capital deployment. He believes in going beyond funding by working closely with founders to provide hands-on guidance, networks, and resources. His philosophy emphasizes the importance of mentorship and collaboration to navigate the challenges of building and scaling startups (6:07). Looking to the future, Alpesh discusses his plans to scale his venture studio, Kendra Labs, and his goal of launching AI-first businesses across sectors such as healthcare, sustainability, and financial services. He emphasizes the importance of finding partners who bring not just funding, but also expertise and networks to accelerate growth (14:10). Alpesh’s practical, visionary approach to combining AI and entrepreneurship offers valuable insights for anyone interested in the intersection of technology and business. Where to Connect: Kendra Labs Website Alpesh's Linkedin