The AI Edge Podcast: CRE & AI

Jaksot

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  Industrial Leases Take 12 Weeks. He Says They Can Take One Day 14.09.2026 29min

  A business can need warehouse space tomorrow.So why can leasing it still take 12 weeks?Emails. Phone calls. Spreadsheets. Attorneys. Site inspections. Negotiations. Documents moving between parties.And after all of that, the signed lease often disappears into a drawer.James Holbrook believes the problem isn't a lack of industrial real estate.It's the infrastructure surrounding the transaction.In this episode of The AI Edge Podcast, Louis Fernandes sits down with James Holbrook, Founder and Executive Chairman of Warehub, to unpack how more than two decades and roughly 2,500 short-term industrial leasing transactions led him to rethink the entire process.Warehub is building a structured operating environment designed to connect landlords, tenants, and brokers around verified property information, standardized workflows, transactions, compliance, and eventually the full lifecycle of operating industrial space.James says a process that can traditionally take roughly 12 weeks can be compressed dramatically inside a more structured environment.But this isn't a story about removing people from real estate.James makes the opposite argument:Technology should remove friction so brokers can spend more time on judgment, strategy, and relationships.In this conversation:• Why short-term industrial leasing remains so manual• What 2,500 transactions taught James about recurring friction• How information asymmetry slows commercial real estate• Why tenants increasingly need flexibility instead of long commitments• How landlords can monetize vacancy and underused space• Why brokers remain critical even as transactions become faster• How Warehub approaches verified property information• Why James rejected a traditional SaaS pricing model• How the platform aims to compress leasing from weeks to days• Why businesses often implement AI before fixing their data• How structured data creates the foundation for useful AI• Why AI should provide guidance—but not make real estate decisions autonomously• How Warehub could eventually connect space, labor, equipment, transportation, insurance, and servicesJames also shares an important founder lesson.His biggest mistake?Planning too long.After years developing the thesis, Warehub is now entering the phase where theory meets the market.And James believes that five years from now, people may look back and think it's crazy that industrial leasing ever took as long as it does today.About James HolbrookJames Holbrook is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Warehub and Founder of Payson Smith Holbrook.He has spent more than two decades in industrial real estate and estimates he has completed approximately 2,500 short-term lease transactions.That experience became the foundation for Warehub—a platform designed to create a more transparent, flexible, and efficient industrial leasing environment.Connect With James & WarehubJames Holbrook — LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jholbrookpsh/Warehub — WebsiteWarehub.comWarehub — LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/warehub-inc/
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  He Says His Pharmaceutical Company Was Born in a Prison Cell 25.08.2026 39min

  “Idrasil was ultimately born in a prison cell.”After nearly two decades pursuing one idea, Steele Clark Smith III is still fighting to answer a controversial question:Can cannabinoids move from the dispensary counter to the prescription pad?In this episode of The AI Edge Podcast, Louis Fernandes sits down with Steele, CEO of C3 Pharmaceuticals, for a conversation about pharmaceuticals, cannabinoids, opioids, regulation, government, AI, entrepreneurship, and what it takes to pursue a mission when the road lasts far longer than anyone expected.Steele's story is anything but conventional.His interest in the problem was deeply personal. After being prescribed opioids, Steele describes an extremely difficult withdrawal experience that ultimately helped shape his perspective on patients, medicine, and the difference between sympathy and genuine empathy.Then came another defining chapter.While incarcerated following a 2007 indictment, Steele remembered a former patient whose insurer had been willing to reimburse his cannabis expenses.That triggered a bigger question:What would cannabis have to become for a physician to actually prescribe and dose it like medicine?Steele says that question ultimately led to Idrasil, which he describes as a standardized cannabinoid tablet designed around pharmaceutical dosing rather than the consumer cannabis model.In this conversation:• Why Steele separates pharmaceutical cannabinoids from recreational cannabis• Why standardized dosing matters to his thesis• How his personal opioid experience shaped his mission• Why he says Idrasil was “born in a prison cell”• What nearly 20 years of persistence taught him• Why he's exploring a government-first strategy• His vision for a roughly 100,000-square-foot pharmaceutical operation• How he thinks about manufacturing, security and hiring at scale• Where AI can transform pharmaceutical data and regulatory workflows• Why humans still need final approval in high-stakes AI workflows• How founders distinguish conviction from stubbornness• Why Steele believes perseverance has been his greatest advantageWhat makes Steele's story fascinating isn't simply the product.It's the length of the fight.He has faced legal battles, regulatory uncertainty, capital challenges, changing markets, and years of waiting for the environment around his idea to evolve.Yet when asked why he hasn't quit, his answer is simple:“I truly was born for this.”This is a conversation about what happens when a founder refuses to let go of an idea, even when proving it takes decades.About SteeleSteele Clark Smith III is the CEO of C3 Pharmaceuticals and the founder behind Idrasil, a cannabinoid-based tablet he has spent nearly two decades developing and advocating for within a pharmaceutical framework.Steele's background includes experience across cannabis, pharmaceuticals, legal and regulatory matters, patient advocacy, and entrepreneurship.Today, his focus is building the infrastructure, team, regulatory pathway, and government relationships he believes are necessary to bring his pharmaceutical vision to scale.Connect With SteeleWebsite: Idrasil.comCompany: C3 PharmaceuticalsLinkedIn: Steele Clark Smith IIIPersonal Website: SteeleClarkSmith3.comSteele also says he can be found on X, Truth Social, and Facebook.
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  What Happens When America’s 90-Day Food Supply Runs Out? 17.08.2026 2t 3min

  AMERICA IS 90 DAYS FROM EMPTY GROCERY SHELVESWe assume the grocery store will always have food.Kendell Lang believes that assumption is far more dangerous than most people realize.After witnessing firsthand what happens when critical infrastructure and food supply chains fail, he's building a radically different model—one designed to make communities more food-independent while making regenerative agriculture economically viable.In this episode of The AI Edge Podcast, Louis Fernandes sits down with Kendell Lang, CEO of mOrganic Holdings, for a fascinating conversation about food security, agriculture, technology, AI, carbon markets, and what it will take to build more resilient communities.Ken's mission can be summarized in one sentence:“We are making healing the planet the most profitable business in the world.”His journey to that mission is deeply personal.After his late wife was diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2001, Ken began questioning what he understood about food, health, plants, medicine, and the systems surrounding them. That experience ultimately became part of a much larger mission around food security and the legacy he wanted to leave his children and grandchildren.In 2016, Ken moved from San Diego to Puerto Rico, where approximately 95% of consumed food was being imported, according to his account. Hurricane Maria later demonstrated just how quickly interconnected systems can break when electricity, water, transportation, agriculture, and supply chains fail simultaneously.Today, he's applying those lessons in Hawaii through mOrganic.But this isn't simply farming.Ken describes an ecosystem combining controlled-environment aquaponics, regenerative soil systems, agroforestry, livestock, renewable energy, sensors, real-time data, blockchain infrastructure, carbon measurement, and AI.In this conversation:• Why Ken believes food security must become hyperlocal• What Hurricane Maria taught him about fragile infrastructure• How mOrganic achieved 52 consecutive weekly harvests in Puerto Rico• Why billion-dollar vertical farming companies can still fail• How regenerative agriculture can become profitable• Why Ken believes carbon markets need better measurement• How sensors, blockchain and AI fit into modern agriculture• Why food security increasingly intersects with national security• How technology can amplify human expertise instead of replacing it• Why Ken believes environmentalism and capitalism can work togetherKendell Lang | CEO, mOrganic HoldingsKendell Lang is an entrepreneur, real estate developer, agricultural innovator, and CEO of mOrganic Holdings.Ken brings decades of experience spanning sophisticated real estate development, controlled environments, agriculture, infrastructure, and capital markets. During the conversation, he describes developing more than 12 million square feet of real estate, helping take two companies public, and advising another before turning his focus toward food security and regenerative agriculture.His mission:Make healing the planet the most profitable business in the world.LINKS Connect With Kendell LangLinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendelllang/mOrganic Holdings: morganic.agCompany LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/morganically/
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  Your 800 Credit Score Might Be Completely Useless 15.08.2026 49min

  You can have a 720 credit score and still get denied.And you can spend years chasing an 800 score without understanding what actually makes lenders say yes.Dave Burgio believes most people are solving the wrong problem: the goal isn’t perfect credit. The goal is becoming fundable before you need the money.You can have a 720 credit score and still get denied.And you can spend years chasing an 800 score without understanding what actually makes lenders say yes.Dave Burgio believes most people are solving the wrong problem:The goal isn't perfect credit. The goal is becoming fundable before you need the money.In this episode of The AI Edge Podcast, Louis Fernandes sits down with Dave Burgio, Founder of Trifecta Credit Solutions, to break down what entrepreneurs, real estate investors, operators, and everyday borrowers misunderstand about credit and access to capital.Dave's interest in credit started early.He watched his parents struggle financially after a divorce damaged both of their credit profiles. Years later, Dave experienced the other side himself when the 2008 financial crisis hit and his own credit suffered.Today, his work has expanded from credit education and positioning into business funding and private lending, helping clients understand what needs to happen before they urgently need capital.In this conversation, Dave and Louis discuss:• Why a high credit score doesn't automatically make someone fundable• How someone with a 720 score can still get denied• Why credit is usually an afterthought until a major opportunity appears• The danger of waiting until you desperately need capital• Why business owners often damage personal credit funding their companies• What lenders evaluate beyond the score• How entrepreneurs should think about capital readiness• Why newer investors and founders often struggle to get financing• How private lending is changing real estate investing• Why banks are tightening as consumer debt increases• What Dave learned from operating businesses in multiple industries• How AI is helping simplify internal operations• Why people, processes, and systems still determine whether a company scalesOne of Dave's strongest lessons is simple:Prepare for capital when you don't need it.About Dave BurgioDave Burgio is the Founder of Trifecta Credit Solutions, where he helps individuals, entrepreneurs, operators, and real estate investors move from credit positioning to capital access.His work spans personal and business credit education, funding readiness, business financing, and private lending.Dave began working in credit as a side business in 2016 before launching Trifecta Credit Solutions in 2020. His mission is to help clients understand their financial position, become better prepared for financing opportunities, and avoid waiting until capital becomes an emergency.Connect With DaveLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveburgiocredit/Trifecta Credit Solutions:www.trifectacreditsolutions.com
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  They Both Got Laid Off the Same Day, Then Built a 7-Figure Business 04.08.2026 1t 8min

  They both lost their jobs on the same day.Two corporate careers. Two salaries. Gone.Instead of immediately running back to another paycheck, Mike Deaton and his wife Ligia asked a much bigger question:What if we built a life we actually controlled?That question eventually led them to one of the simplest—and most overlooked—business models in real estate:Buying vacant land below market value and reselling it for a profit.In this episode of The AI Edge Podcast, Louis Fernandes sits down with Mike Deaton, Co-Founder of Flipping Dirt, to unpack how a former corporate executive went from more than 20 years inside companies including Motorola, Nokia, and Microsoft to building a seven-figure national land investing business.Mike and Ligia entered entrepreneurship with no guarantee the model would work.They gave themselves a runway.They started small.They learned the market.And once they proved the process, they began scaling.Today, Mike brings the same operational thinking he developed running large corporate organizations into entrepreneurship, keeping the business intentionally lean while using systems, automation, data, and AI to move faster.His philosophy is simple:Eliminate. Automate. Delegate.In this conversation, Mike and Louis break down:• What happened when Mike and his wife were laid off on the same day• Why they chose entrepreneurship instead of another corporate job• How vacant land flipping actually works• Why buying cheap land isn’t enough• How Mike evaluates markets and prices offers• Why timing can matter as much as price• How some investors buy land at a fraction of market value• Why owner financing can open the buyer pool• How Mike keeps his business incredibly lean• Where AI gives land investors a speed and data advantage• Why adding software too early can destroy margins• The difference between automating and simply adding complexity• Why entrepreneurs must become comfortable testing and failing• How Mike thinks about freedom, control, and real job securityMike also explains why land flipping is simple, but not easy.The mechanics can be learned.The harder part is making the right decisions:Is this the right market?Is my offer right?About Mike DeatonMike Deaton is an entrepreneur, real estate investor, and Co-Founder of Flipping Dirt.Before entrepreneurship, Mike spent more than 20 years in corporate operations, including roles with Motorola, Nokia, and Microsoft.After he and his wife Ligia were both laid off in 2016, they pivoted into real estate and formally launched their investing business full-time in 2017.Today, they are active land investors and coaches helping others learn how to generate cash flow by buying and selling vacant land.Their business is built around a simple principle:Create more control over your income, time, and life.Connect With MikeMike on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelbdeaton/Flipping Dirt:flippingdirt.usInstagram:Mike & Ligia on InstagramFlipping Dirt on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/flipping-dirt/
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  Stop Letting AI Make Decisions for You 04.08.2026 39min

  Everyone is racing to automate more work.But what happens when AI removes context, accountability, and the human experience?Brooks Saye believes companies are asking the wrong question.The goal should not be:“How much can we replace with AI?”It should be:“How can AI help people make better decisions and spend more time with the people they serve?”In this episode of The AI Edge Podcast, Louis Fernandes sits down with Brooks Saye, Partner at Varro Capital, to discuss why so many technology implementations fail, what multifamily operators misunderstand about AI, and why the renter must remain at the center of every operational decision.Brooks has worked across multifamily operations, PropTech, revenue growth, partnerships, and go-to-market strategy. Today, she helps connect operators, lenders, asset managers, investors, renters, and technology founders through Varro Capital, Varro Technology, and Varro Studio.Her perspective is clear:The industry does not necessarily need more technology.It needs better coordination between the technology that already exists.Fewer disconnected dashboards.Better workflows.Clearer communication.Less administrative friction.And products built with both operators and renters in mind.In this conversation, Brooks and Louis explore:• Why AI should support decisions instead of replacing human judgment• How companies confuse adding technology with creating innovation• Why change management determines whether technology succeeds• What separates great multifamily operators from average ones• Where AI creates real value in rental housing• Why PropTech companies fail despite having good ideas• How regulation is becoming an operational challenge• Why renter experience should remain the priority• How technology can give on-site teams more time to build community• Why the status quo is every technology company’s biggest competitorBrooks also shares an important reminder:Renters are not simply units, revenue, or expected demand.They are people choosing where to call home.They care whether maintenance requests are resolved, whether someone responds when something goes wrong, and whether their community actually feels like a community.Technology should improve those experiences.It should remove repetitive work so operators can return to service, relationships, and communication.It should not create another login, another disconnected workflow, or another barrier between the renter and the people responsible for their home.About Brooks SayeBrooks Saye is a Partner at Varro Capital, where she focuses on revenue development, partnerships, go-to-market strategy, and connecting multifamily operators with technology and investment opportunities.Before joining Varro, Brooks worked across multifamily operations and PropTech, helping companies grow while remaining focused on the real needs of on-site teams and renters.Her philosophy is simple:AI should help. It should not replace.Connect With BrooksLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookssaye/Varro Capital:https://varrocap.comVarro Technology:https://www.varroportal.com
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  Trillions in Property Are Being Managed Through Email 30.07.2026 35min

  Trillions of dollars in aging property infrastructure are still being managed through email threads, spreadsheets, phone calls, and human memory.A pipe bursts. A manager starts calling plumbers. Residents wait for updates. Vendors send photos by text, sometimes. Board members have no visibility. And after the repair is supposedly finished, someone still has to ask:“Did this actually get done?”In this episode of The AI Edge Podcast, Louis Fernandes sits down with Sally Hamidi, Founder and CEO of ON Property Technologies, to expose the hidden operational breakdown inside the HOA and community-association industry, and explain why better technology is no longer optional.Sally has spent more than 25 years working across real estate, property management, maintenance operations, vendors, boards, and management companies. After building her own management company, growing it to approximately 50 HOA communities alongside a rental portfolio, and eventually selling the business, she stepped into an executive maintenance role and saw the problem from an entirely new level.The industry was responsible for protecting people’s homes and managing trillions of dollars in aging infrastructure, but critical information was still fragmented across inboxes, spreadsheets, disconnected systems, text messages, and individual relationships.So Sally decided to build the system she wished she had.In this conversation, Sally and Louis explore:Why the biggest maintenance bottleneck is not the repair itselfHow fragmented communication creates risk, delays, and distrustWhy managers cannot scale while buried in manual coordinationHow vendor accountability can become measurableWhy invoices should require photos and service reportsHow AI can help managers identify patterns across repairs and asset lifecyclesWhat an emergency maintenance workflow looks like when automation handles the coordinationWhy reserve studies and property data often sit unusedHow management companies can improve service without continuously adding administrative laborWhy connected systems can strengthen relationships between managers, boards, residents, and vendorsWith an automated system, the request can be triaged to the correct vendor, escalated when the preferred vendor does not respond, tracked through arrival and completion, documented with photos, and shared with the appropriate stakeholders—while the manager focuses on higher-value work.About Sally HamidiSally Hamidi, GRI, CMCA, is the Founder and CEO of ON Property Technologies, a next-generation property-maintenance platform connecting management companies, property managers, vendors, technicians, and boards through a unified operating ecosystem.Sally brings more than 25 years of hands-on experience across real estate, property management, maintenance, and community-association operations. She previously built a property-management company from the ground up, grew it to serve approximately 50 HOA communities and a portfolio of rental properties, and sold the business in 2023.Connect With Sally HamidiSally Hamidi on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sally-hamidi/ON Property Technologiesweareon.ioON Property Technologies on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/on-proptech/
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  He Fired His Software... And Built His Own AI Instead 28.07.2026 41min

  Most companies are still figuring out how to use ChatGPT.Guillermo decided to build something entirely different.Instead of relying on off-the-shelf software, he created his own AI-powered operating system that automates research, outreach, reporting, underwriting, legal documents, and client intelligence, giving his brokerage an advantage that's difficult to replicate.In this conversation, he explains why he believes the future belongs to businesses that build AI around their own data instead of everyone else's.Episode DescriptionWhat happens when a commercial real estate broker decides that the software on the market isn't good enough?He builds his own.In this episode of The AI Edge Podcast, Louis Fernandes sits down with Guillermo, Founder & CEO of Panther Capital Group, to discuss how he's using AI to transform the way commercial real estate deals are sourced, analyzed, and closed.After closing more than $350 million in transactions before the age of 30, Guillermo made a bold decision: instead of adding more software subscriptions, he invested in building his own AI-powered operating system. Today, that platform automates everything from CRM and reporting to personalized outreach, legal documents, market intelligence, and deal analysis, allowing his team to move faster while delivering a better client experience.In this episode, you'll learn:• Why Guillermo chose to build AI instead of buying software• How proprietary data creates a competitive advantage in commercial real estate• The AI workflows helping his team source more off-market opportunities• How automation is improving client relationships instead of replacing them• Why execution, consistency, and data are becoming the new competitive edgeWhether you're a founder, operator, broker, investor, or business owner exploring AI, this conversation offers practical lessons on using technology to build systems that create leverage, not just save time.About the GuestGuillermo is the Founder & CEO of Panther Capital Group, a commercial real estate investment and brokerage firm specializing in industrial outdoor storage (IOS) properties across the United States.Since entering the industry, Guillermo has closed more than $350 million in transactions, built a growing investment portfolio, and developed proprietary AI systems that automate prospecting, underwriting, reporting, and client relationship management. His mission is simple: combine relentless execution with technology to create a better experience for clients while building one of the country's leading industrial real estate platforms.Connect with Guillermo🌐 Panther Capital Grouphttps://panthercapitalgroup.com/💼 LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/guillermo-de-nicolas-mba-sior-80b39614b/🏢 Panther Capital Grouphttps://www.linkedin.com/company/panther-capital-group-llc/about/
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  The Biggest AI Risk Nobody Is Talking About 28.07.2026 1t 50min

  Would you let AI make a $50 million real estate decision...if you couldn't verify where the data came from?Episode DescriptionArtificial intelligence is moving faster than ever—but what happens when it's making decisions based on data that can't be trusted?In this episode of The AI Edge Podcast, Louis Fernandes sits down with Matthew Schneider, President & CEO of Building, Inc., to explore one of the biggest challenges facing AI adoption in commercial real estate and enterprise organizations: data integrity.While much of the industry is focused on AI, automation, and tokenization, Matthew argues that the real problem isn't the technology—it's the quality, structure, and trustworthiness of the information behind it. Without verified data, even the most advanced AI systems can confidently make the wrong decisions.Matthew explains why trust has become the missing layer in digital real estate, how fragmented data creates friction across financing, compliance, transactions, and valuations, and why organizations must build stronger data foundations before AI and digital markets can reach their full potential.Throughout the conversation, you'll learn:• Why AI is only as reliable as the data behind it• The hidden cost of fragmented real estate information• How trusted data accelerates financing, compliance, and transactions• Why governance and transparency are becoming competitive advantages• The future of digital markets, tokenization, and AI-powered real estateIf you're a real estate owner, investor, operator, technology leader, or executive implementing AI, this conversation will change the way you think about data, trust, and the future of decision-making.About the GuestMatthew Schneider is the President & CEO of Building, Inc., a PropTech company building the data infrastructure that helps commercial real estate owners, operators, lenders, and investors organize, verify, and activate property information for financing, compliance, reporting, transactions, and emerging digital markets.Matthew is also a board director at FIBREE (Foundation for International Blockchain and Real Estate Expertise), a researcher, speaker, and recognized thought leader focused on AI, data infrastructure, digital asset readiness, and the future of commercial real estate. His work centers on creating trusted, verifiable data systems that enable faster decisions, greater transparency, and more efficient capital markets.Connect with Matthew Schneider🌐 Building, Inc.https://building.inc💼 Matthew Schneider on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/realmattschneider/🏢 Building, Inc. on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/building-proptech/
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  Everyone Sells Data. He Sells Decisions 24.07.2026 50min

  Everyone is selling more data.But what if the real competitive advantage isn't having more information.It's making better decisions faster?Most real estate investors spend hours bouncing between spreadsheets, comps, rental estimates, financing calculators, and market reports trying to answer one simple question:"Is this actually a good deal?"Andrew Weiss believes AI should eliminate that uncertainty—not create more of it.Episode DescriptionIn this episode of The AI Edge Podcast, Louis Fernandes sits down with Andrew Weiss, Founder & CEO of HomeStream, to explore how AI is transforming real estate investment analysis by shifting the focus from raw data to confident decision-making.Andrew's entrepreneurial journey began at just 15 years old, when he launched an e-commerce business with only $300. After scaling that business into a six-figure operation, he turned his attention to real estate investing—only to discover that evaluating investment properties was still painfully manual, fragmented, and dependent on endless spreadsheets.That frustration became the foundation for HomeStream.Instead of simply giving investors more property data, HomeStream combines dozens of public and private data sources with proprietary AI models to generate comprehensive investment reports in minutes—helping investors, agents, and brokerages move from analysis to action with greater confidence.In this conversation, Andrew and Louis discuss:• Why "more data" doesn't always lead to better investment decisions• The biggest mistakes investors make when analyzing properties• How AI can dramatically reduce analysis paralysis without replacing human judgment• The difference between data platforms and decision platforms• Building an AI-first startup in one of the most competitive PropTech markets• Why speed matters when evaluating investment opportunities• The future of AI-powered underwriting, property analysis, and real estate investingWhether you're an investor, real estate professional, founder, or simply curious about how AI is changing traditional industries, this episode offers practical insights into building technology that helps people make smarter decisions, not just faster ones.Andrew Weiss is the Founder & CEO of HomeStream, an AI-powered property analysis platform that helps residential real estate investors, agents, and brokerages evaluate investment opportunities with greater speed and confidence.A lifelong entrepreneur, Andrew started his first business at age 15 and later applied that entrepreneurial mindset to real estate investing after experiencing firsthand how inefficient and fragmented the property analysis process could be. Today, HomeStream combines AI, machine learning, and property data to simplify underwriting, improve investment analysis, and help users make better real estate decisions.Connect with Andrew Weiss🌐 HomeStream: https://www.homestream.io💼 Andrew Weiss on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-weiss11/🏢 HomeStream on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/homestreaminc/posts/?feedView=all
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  Zillow Doesn’t Own Homeownership. He Wants To 21.07.2026 1t 55min

  Most people think real estate has already gone digital.You can search for a house online, but once the search ends, the experience fractures across agents, lenders, insurers, contractors, rental platforms, service providers, and ownership tools.Bobby Bryant believes that entire system is ready to be rebuilt.After operating across mortgage lending, brokerage, title, education, and real estate technology, Bobby is now building Homhub: an AI-native marketplace designed to connect the entire lifecycle of homeownership in one place.In this episode of The AI Edge Podcast, Louis Fernandes sits down with Bobby Bryant, Founder and CEO of Homhub, to examine why one of the world’s largest industries still feels disconnected, and what it would take to create an operating system for the home.Bobby’s journey did not begin in technology.He started as an educator, entered mortgage lending, worked his way up to becoming a successful broker, and says he became a millionaire before the age of 30.That experience eventually led him to a much bigger question:Why does a consumer need six to eight platforms to manage one home?Bobby argues that today’s dominant real estate portals primarily own the beginning of the funnel.This conversation explores:Why real estate is still fragmented despite looking digitalHow Bobby went from teaching to becoming a successful mortgage brokerWhat the 2008 financial crisis taught him about the industryWhy Homhub is positioning itself as an operating system rather than a listing portalThe difference between an advertising portal and a transactional marketplaceWhy Airbnb owns more of the customer experience than traditional real estate platformsWhy Bobby chose to build independently from MLS dataHow legacy rules can restrict product innovationWhy companies cannot simply bolt AI onto old infrastructureWhat it means to build an AI-native companyWhy technology teams and business teams often struggle to communicateHow AI could improve the experience for consumers, agents, brokerages, and homeownersWhy real estate’s fragmentation may become both its greatest weakness and its greatest opportunityWhat incumbent industries can learn from Uber, Amazon, Netflix, and AirbnbThis is not just a conversation about proptech.It is a founder’s argument for rebuilding the infrastructure behind one of the most important financial decisions people make.About Bobby BryantBobby Bryant is the Founder and CEO of Homhub, an AI-native real estate marketplace designed to connect the complete lifecycle of buying, selling, renting, investing, financing, and owning a home.Before building Homhub, Bobby worked across education, mortgage lending, real estate brokerage, title, real estate education, and technology.His experience operating across multiple sides of the industry shaped his belief that real estate does not need another isolated tool—it needs a connected, consumer-centered ecosystem.Connect With BobbyHomhub:homhub.ai Bobby Bryant on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobby-bryant-m-ed-x2-53249610/Homhub on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/homhub-ai/
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  He Refused to Sell, So She Became His Competition 18.07.2026 1t 7min

  At 28 years old, Kassie Smith walked into a business and offered to buy the company.She had no money and no idea how she would make the acquisition happen.When the owner refused to sell, Kassie gave him an answer he probably never expected:“Okay. I’ll be your competition.”That decision became the beginning of an extraordinary career building companies, shaping luxury destinations, and helping turn raw land into ambitious real estate developments.Episode OverviewIn this episode of The AI Edge Podcast, Louis Fernandes sits down with Kassie Smith, Founder and President of KS Global Development, to explore what it actually takes to transform a vision into an iconic project.Kassie has spent nearly three decades working across luxury real estate, hospitality, branded residences, private clubs, master-planned communities, capital strategy, and global development.Her work begins before the building exists.It begins with a blank piece of land, a complicated collection of stakeholders, and a question:What could this become?Kassie explains why the most successful developments are not created by buying land first and figuring out the concept later. The vision, brand ecosystem, customer experience, capital strategy, approvals, and operating model must work together from the beginning.She also reveals why some of the hardest parts of real estate development happen long before construction starts—and why even a brilliant idea will fail without the right capital stack, government relationships, team, and execution strategy.This conversation explores:How Kassie built a competing company after an owner refused to sellWhat separates an ordinary development from an iconic destinationWhy developers should create the vision before selecting the landHow raw land can become significantly more valuable once it is entitled and shovel-readyWhy luxury is now defined by lifestyle, service, and ecosystem—not simply architectureHow investors evaluate complex real estate opportunitiesWhy capital and approvals remain the biggest obstacles to developmentHow to assemble teams across markets and jurisdictionsWhy transparency is essential when managing investor relationshipsHow AI can improve infrastructure, predictive maintenance, operations, and asset valueWhat entrepreneurs can learn from billion-dollar development projectsWhy bold ideas still require rigorous financial executionKassie’s story is a reminder that ambitious projects are rarely built by people who wait for perfect conditions.They are built by people who see what others miss—and are willing to move before the path is obvious.About Kassie SmithKassie Smith is the Founder and President of KS Global Development.She is a third-generation real estate and construction professional with nearly three decades of experience across real estate development, hospitality, luxury branding, master planning, capital strategy, and project advisory.Connect With KassieKS Global Development:http://www.ksglobalco.comLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kassiesmith1/Company LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/ks-global-consultants/
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  Why Construction Projects Actually Fail (It Isn't What You Think) 18.07.2026 51min

  Most people think construction projects fail because of bad labor, missed deadlines, or problems in the field.Nick Johnson says they're looking in the wrong place.According to Nick, the biggest failures happen long before construction begins—during planning, communication, and coordination.In this episode of The AI Edge Podcast, Louis Fernandes sits down with Nick Johnson, Director of Business Development at RYZEC Building Group, to explore what really separates exceptional construction companies from average ones.Nick shares why trust is the most valuable asset in commercial construction, how a 15-person team manages roughly $30 million in annual revenue, why relationships consistently outperform low bids, and how every successful project begins with operational excellence—not simply great craftsmanship.The conversation also explores Nashville's booming commercial real estate market, AI's impact on estimating and development, why permitting delays can derail projects, and the leadership mindset required to consistently deliver successful builds.In This EpisodeWhy projects fail before construction startsBuilding trust in commercial constructionHow relationships outperform priceManaging complex commercial projectsThe future of AI in constructionNashville's commercial real estate marketOperational excellence in constructionLeading lean, high-performing teamsWhy communication is everythingLessons every entrepreneur can applyAbout Nick JohnsonNick Johnson is the Director of Business Development at RYZEC Building Group, a commercial general contractor specializing in ground-up construction and tenant improvements across the Southeast.He is also the author of When the Pipeline Lies and leads the Nashville chapter of Contractors, Closers & Connections (CCC), one of the country's fastest-growing commercial real estate networking communities. Nick focuses on helping developers, owners, brokers, and contractors build long-term relationships that drive successful projects.Connect With NickWebsite: http://ryzecgroup.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-johnson-1abba6b2/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ryzec-building-group-llc/
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  Why Your Kids Still Won't Be Able to Afford a Home 18.07.2026 50min

  Everyone is waiting for interest rates to fall.David Huey believes they're waiting for the wrong solution.After helping finance billions of dollars in residential construction and thousands of homes across America, he argues that the housing crisis isn't being driven by interest rates, it's being driven by one simple reality:We aren't building enough homes.In this episode of The AI Edge Podcast, Louis Fernandes sits down with David Huey, Founder & CEO of Sound Capital, to discuss the real forces shaping America's housing market.David shares why banks are pulling back from construction lending, how private credit is stepping in, what builders are actually struggling with, and why the next decade could determine whether an entire generation is priced out of homeownership.The conversation also explores David's entrepreneurial journey—from building one of the first nationwide MLS aggregation companies that helped shape modern online real estate to leading a company that has financed billions in residential construction.Whether you're an investor, builder, entrepreneur, or simply wondering where housing is headed, this conversation offers a thoughtful perspective on one of today's biggest economic challenges.In this episodeWhy housing affordability is really a supply problemWhy lower interest rates may not solve the crisisBanks vs. private creditThe future of homebuildingLessons from the 2008 housing crashHow regulatory costs impact housing pricesWhat builders actually need to succeedThe future of construction financeDave's journey building one of the earliest MLS technology companiesWhy entrepreneurship is about solving problemsAbout David HueyDavid Huey is the Founder & CEO of Sound Capital, a private lending platform focused on financing residential construction projects across the United States.Before launching Sound Capital, David built one of the nation's earliest MLS aggregation technology companies, helping lay the foundation for modern online real estate search before its acquisition into what became part of Zillow's ecosystem. Today, his team works with builders, investors, and capital partners to help finance the creation of thousands of homes while addressing America's growing housing shortage.Connect With DavidWebsite: http://www.soundcapital.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-huey-sound-capital/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soundcapital/
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  The Industrial Revolution Is Happening Again, This Time With AI 17.07.2026 1t 15min

  Everyone says AI is the next electricity.GS Pannu disagrees.He believes the better comparison is the Industrial Revolution.Because AI isn't just creating smarter software.It's building digital factories capable of automating entire industries.In this episode of The AI Edge Podcast, Louis Fernandes sits down with GS Pannu, Co-Founder & CEO of Trajan AI, to discuss why AI's future isn't about chatbots, it's about infrastructure.GS explains how his team is building what they call an AI Factory for construction risk, automating underwriting, insurance workflows, and risk analysis by transforming fragmented data into actionable intelligence.The conversation goes far beyond construction.They explore enterprise AI adoption, why bad data makes AI dangerous, the future of work, digital infrastructure, and why AI companies have a responsibility that extends beyond profits.In this episodeWhy AI is more like the Industrial Revolution than electricityThe concept of digital factoriesWhy data—not models—is AI's biggest challengeAutomating underwriting with AIEnterprise AI implementationAI in insurance and constructionBuilding trustworthy AICivic responsibility in the AI eraFuture of workScaling AI companiesAbout GSGS Pannu is the Co-Founder & CEO of Trajan AI, an AI infrastructure company building intelligent underwriting and risk automation tools for the construction and insurance industries. Drawing on experience in real estate development, finance, and technology, GS is focused on transforming fragmented industry data into enterprise AI systems that improve decision-making at scale.Connect With GSWebsite: https://trajan.ai/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gs-pannu/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/trajan-ai/about/
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  Everyone Wants AI. Almost Nobody Is Ready for It. 17.07.2026 32min

  Every company wants AI.Very few are actually ready to use it.According to venture investor Fabian Hediger, the biggest challenge isn't choosing the right AI model, it's whether your business has the data foundation to make AI useful in the first place.In this episode of The AI Edge Podcast, Louis Fernandes sits down with Fabian Hediger, GP at Studio Alpha Capital, serial entrepreneur, and early-stage AI investor, to explore what separates AI-native companies from everyone else.Fabian shares what he's seeing from the front lines of venture capital, how he evaluates AI founders before they generate revenue, why vertical AI applications continue to outperform, and why enterprise AI adoption is far more challenging than most executives realize.In this episodeWhy AI isn't the biggest challenge—your data isWhat AI investors look for before writing a checkProduct-market fit in AI startupsThe rise of vertical AIWhy founders need customer feedback earlierEnterprise AI implementationUsing AI inside venture capitalThe future of AI-native businessesBuilding companies through weekly execution sprintsLessons from building and exiting software companiesAbout FabianFabian Hediger is a General Partner at Studio Alpha Capital, where he invests in pre-seed B2B AI startups. A serial entrepreneur and former software operator, he has built, bootstrapped, and exited multiple technology companies before focusing on venture capital and helping AI-native founders scale from idea to high-growth businesses.Connect With FabianStudio Alpha CapitalLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabianhediger/Substack (100K+ subscribers)
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  At 26, He Built a $102M Real Estate Platform by Doing What Everyone Else Outsources 17.07.2026 1t 2min

  Most real estate companies outsource everything.Property management.Construction.Operations.Customer experience.Josh Lugg built his company by doing the exact opposite.At just 26 years old, he and his team built a vertically integrated real estate platform that sold more than $102 million in real estate while creating one of the fastest-growing companies serving the Notre Dame community.In this episode of The AI Edge Podcast, Louis Fernandes sits down with Josh Lugg, Founder & CEO of Golden Legacy Partners, to discuss how his team is building an institutional-quality real estate company through vertical integration, elite culture, disciplined execution, and long-term relationships.Josh shares how Golden Legacy combines investments, brokerage, property management, construction, and operations under one roof, why they sold out a 36-unit condo conversion in just 28 days, and why he believes the future belongs to companies that own the customer experience instead of outsourcing it.In this episode:Building a vertically integrated real estate companySelling $102M in real estateWhy culture beats growthScaling without sacrificing relationshipsCondo conversions and value-add investingLeadership lessons at 26Why AI is becoming essential for real estate operatorsBuilding around the Notre Dame ecosystemLong-term investor relationshipsThe future of Midwest real estate investingAbout JoshJosh Lugg is the Founder & CEO of Golden Legacy Partners, a vertically integrated real estate investment, brokerage, development, construction, and property management company serving the Notre Dame community and the broader Midwest. Under his leadership, the company has rapidly grown while emphasizing culture, long-term relationships, operational excellence, and investor alignment.Connect with JoshGolden Legacy PartnersWebsite: https://goldenlegacypartners.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshualugg/LinkedIn: https://www.michianahomesandland.com/
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  The Property Managers Who Win With AI Won't Replace People. They'll Free Them. 15.07.2026 46min

  Everyone keeps asking the same question:Will AI replace people?Theresa Leatherbury thinks we're asking the wrong question.The real opportunity isn't replacing property managers.It's giving them more time to build relationships that technology never can.In this episode of The AI Edge Podcast, Louis Fernandes sits down with Theresa Leatherbury, President & CEO of Rachuba, to discuss how AI is reshaping property management without losing the human touch.As the leader of a third-generation family-owned real estate company managing more than 700 apartment units, Theresa shares how her team is integrating AI into leasing, maintenance, resident communication, and operations while keeping relationships at the center of everything they do.We discuss:Why AI should support people—not replace themHow faster response times improve resident satisfactionThe biggest operational bottlenecks in property managementCentralized leasing and maintenance workflowsCreating communities residents want to stay inHow leadership changes as companies growWhy communication is the foundation of great operationsWhere AI is overhyped—and where it's already creating valueWhether you're in property management, real estate, or any service business, this conversation offers practical insights on using AI to improve operations without sacrificing the customer experience.About TheresaTheresa LeatherburyPresident & CEORachubaTheresa Leatherbury leads Rachuba, a third-generation family-owned real estate company specializing in multifamily property management, investment, and long-term asset stewardship. She oversees strategy, operations, finance, and team development while helping modernize the business through technology, AI, and resident-first leadership.Connect With TheresaWebsitehttps://rachuba.comLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/theresa-leatherbury/
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  He Turned $1,500 Into $70 Million by Investing Where Everyone Else Looked Away 10.07.2026 33min

  Most people laughed at manufactured housing.Major Hillard saw something different.Starting with just $1,500, he bought a single mobile home, reinvested every dollar, and built more than $70 million in manufactured housing transactions, all while creating affordable housing and delivering strong returns for investors.In this episode of The AI Edge Podcast, Louis Fernandes sits down with Major Hillard, Founder of MH Estates, to discuss one of the most overlooked opportunities in commercial real estate.Major shares how he went from working three jobs and living with his parents to building a vertically integrated investment company that acquires, redevelops, finances, and manages manufactured housing communities across the Southeast.But this conversation isn't just about real estate.It's about discipline, perseverance, relationships, leadership, AI adoption, and building wealth while creating real impact.Inside this episode we discuss:• How Major turned $1,500 into a $70M real estate business• Why manufactured housing may be one of America's strongest asset classes• His "buy ugly and clean it up" investment philosophy• Why the best deals are often the ones you walk away from• Building a vertically integrated real estate company• How AI is improving investor communication, marketing, and operations• The systems required to scale without losing the personal touch• Why making money is easy—but changing lives is hardIf you're interested in commercial real estate, entrepreneurship, investing, AI, or building long-term wealth, this conversation is packed with practical lessons.About MajorMajor HillardFounder & CEOMH EstatesMajor Hillard is the Founder of MH Estates, a vertically integrated manufactured housing investment company focused on acquiring, redeveloping, and operating communities throughout the Southeast.After starting with just $1,500, Major has participated in more than $70 million in manufactured housing transactions while building a business centered on long-term cash flow, investor alignment, and improving affordable housing communities. He is also the author of the international bestselling book Your Money Is Dying.Connect With MajorWebsitehttps://mhestates.comBookYour Money Is Dying https://a.co/d/05c7b1SkYouTubeMajor Hillard https://www.youtube.com/@themajorhillardFacebookMH Estates https://www.facebook.com/mhestatesllc
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  He Built AI That Underwrites Multifamily Deals in Minutes, Not Hours 09.07.2026 45min

  Most businesses think they're implementing AI.They're actually just adding another tool.Joel Bechtel believes the companies that win won't have better AI models, they'll have better workflows.That's exactly what he built.In this episode of The AI Edge Podcast, Louis Fernandes sits down with Joel Bechtel, Founder of DealFlowPro and Co-Founder & CEO of Zuma Capital Group, to explore how AI is transforming commercial real estate underwriting and why workflow, not the model, is becoming the real competitive advantage.With more than 35 years of real estate investing experience, Joel combined decades of operational knowledge with a software background to build an AI-native underwriting platform that helps multifamily operators analyze deals in minutes instead of hours.Rather than replacing investors, DealFlowPro removes repetitive work so operators can spend more time making better decisions.In this episode, we discuss:Why most underwriting software is still "spreadsheets with a login"How AI-native workflows are changing commercial real estateBuilding software from an operator's perspectiveThe biggest bottlenecks slowing acquisitionsHow to analyze multifamily deals faster without sacrificing accuracyWhy workflow—not AI models—is the real competitive advantageWhere human judgment still matters in an AI-first worldIf you're a real estate investor, operator, founder, or executive looking to build practical AI systems that create leverage, this conversation is packed with actionable insights.About The GuestJoel BechtelFounder, DealFlowProCo-Founder & CEO, Zuma Capital GroupJoel Bechtel is a real estate investor, software entrepreneur, and AI operator with more than 35 years of investing experience. After building and exiting a software company, he combined his technology background with decades of multifamily investing to create DealFlowPro, an AI-native underwriting platform designed to help operators evaluate opportunities faster, improve consistency, and build repeatable acquisition workflows.Connect With JoelWebsitehttps://dealflowpro.ioZuma Capital Grouphttps://zumacapitalgroup.comLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/joelbechtel/