About Podcast
In the ever-evolving landscape of entrepreneurship, success isn’t just about having a great idea it’s about embracing challenges and evolving with the times. Dilip Dubey, an accomplished AI entrepreneur and investor, shares his journey of creating two groundbreaking ventures, navigating the complexities of the AI world, and how his innovative mindset is reshaping the future of business.
In this Scale Tale, Dilip reveals the story behind his first venture, NetLink, a company that grew from his basement in Troy, Michigan, to a $100 million revenue powerhouse. He talks about the challenges of building a business from the ground up and how his innovative approach to reusable code ultimately revolutionized the software development industry. Dilip dives into the lessons he learned about overcoming skepticism, navigating growth, and scaling without external investment.
Dilip also opens up about his second company, Ziva, which he raised over $100 million for and successfully scaled to an exit in just six years. He shares how AI’s potential was still in its early stages when he first pitched it, but his forward-thinking approach helped him build a company at the forefront of the AI revolution. He discusses the importance of surrounding yourself with the right advisors and building the right team for exponential growth.
Finally, Dilip introduces his current venture, Sutra.AI, an innovative business operating system powered by AI. He explains how Sutra.AI is transforming the way companies scale by automating non value added tasks, offering deeper insights into how AI is changing the future of entrepreneurship.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How to scale businesses effectively, even without external funding.
- The importance of adapting early to emerging technologies like AI.
- The value of building the right team and surrounding yourself with great project managers and advisors.
- How AI-driven solutions can simplify and accelerate business scaling.
Tune in to hear Dilip’s incredible story and the powerful lessons he’s learned along the way about innovation, scaling, and the future of AI in business.
- Building Resilient Businesses: Learn to create adaptable businesses that can grow and thrive with minimal resources.
- Navigating Uncertainty with Confidence: Overcome uncertainty by taking risks and learning through experience.
- The Value of Expert Guidance: Leverage advisors’ expertise to avoid mistakes and accelerate growth.
- Leveraging Capital for Strategic Growth: Use capital wisely to scale quickly, hire talent, and invest in the right tools.
- Optimizing Operations for Sustainable Growth : Implement effective systems that streamline operations and support scaling.
Special Guest: Dilip Dubey – AI pioneer, entrepreneur, and investor
Location: Troy, Michigan, USA
Air Date: April 23, 2025
Websites:
- Dubey AI: the website home to the lastest news about Dilip including his bio which includes his success in starting and growing multiple AI companies, some of which he has scaled and exited, creating over $500 million in shareholder value.
- Sutra AI: the company that Dilip currently leads. Sutra is an AI tool that is an end-to-end platform designed to help mid-market companies achieve their business goals through AI transformation.
- Coursera: an online learning portal where students can advance their careers with more than 10,000 courses, professional certificates, and degrees from world-class universities.
Other AI Tools Dilip Recommends:
- Chat GPT: a generative AI tool that provides responses based on prompts or real-time voice conversations.
- MidJourney: a generative AI tool that creates images based on prompts.
- Perplexity AI: a free AI-powered answer engine that provides accurate, trusted, and real-time answers to any question.
- Anthropic: a competitor to ChatGPT with a mission to build AI tools that benefit humans and shows “…what responsible AI development looks like in practice.”
Producer & Host: Alicia Butler Pierre
Producer & Host: Clarence Levy III
Audio Editor: Olanrewaju Adeyemo
Sound Design: Sabor! Music Enterprises
Video Editor: Gladys Jimenez
Show Notes: Hashim Tale
Sponsor: Equilibria, Inc.More About Guest, Dilip Dubey:
Dilip Dubey is an AI pioneer, entrepreneur, and investor known for helping businesses unlock the full potential of artificial intelligence. With a career spanning over two decades, Dilip has been at the forefront of AI-driven transformation, founding and scaling multiple companies that have generated more than $500 million in shareholder value. His journey from launching startups to driving global AI adoption has shaped a powerful mission: to make AI accessible, impactful, and inclusive for businesses of all sizes.Dilip’s passion for technology and innovation led him to build and exit several successful ventures, including Netlink and Xeeva. As the founder of Sutra.AI, he now empowers mid-market companies with an intuitive AI platform designed to deliver real, measurable business value. He’s also the force behind String Ventures, an early-stage AI fund that mentors and invests in startups across the U.S. and India. With a hands-on approach, Dilip has guided over 100 AI implementation projects and mentored more than 50 founders, helping turn bold ideas into thriving companies.
Beyond his work as an entrepreneur, Dilip is deeply committed to creating social impact through innovation. He launched Inventrepreneur.me, a nonprofit that helps underprivileged young women file patents and monetize their ideas, tackling the gender gap in intellectual property. His commitment to equality, combined with his technical expertise, has earned him recognition including the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award and an induction into the Automotive Hall of Fame. He also holds multiple patents in AI and data technologies.
Dilip’s approach is rooted in making complex technologies approachable and useful. He’s admired by his clients and partners for his clarity, vision, and dedication to turning emerging tech into practical business results. His companies have repeatedly been recognized on the Inc. 500 list, and his strategic leadership has touched sectors ranging from healthcare and education to aviation and manufacturing.
A sought-after speaker and thought leader, Dilip shares insights on scaling AI, innovation strategy, and leadership at global events. He is also a longtime member of YPO (Young Presidents’ Organization), where he actively contributes to a global network of changemakers.
When he’s not building companies or mentoring future AI leaders, Dilip is exploring new ways to use technology for good driven by a belief that AI should not just advance businesses, but also elevate lives.
More About Host, Alicia Butler Pierre:
Alicia Butler Pierre is the Founder & CEO of Equilibria, Inc.. Her career in operations began over 25 years ago while working in various chemical plants and oil refineries. She invented the Kasennu™ framework for business infrastructure and authored, Behind the Façade: How to Structure Company Operations for Sustainable Success. She is the producer of the weekly top 2% Business Infrastructure podcast with a global audience across 70+ countries.Alicia is also an adjunct instructor of Lean Principles at Purdue University and serves as the USA Chair of the G100’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. The Process Excellence Network recognized her as a Top 50 Thought Leader in Operational Excellence. A chemical engineer turned entrepreneur, she’s designed and optimized processes for small businesses, large enterprises, non-profits, and government organizations alike.
More About Sponsor, Equilibria:
Equilibria, Inc. is a 20-year-old boutique operations management firm. We build the business infrastructure necessary for fast-growing businesses to scale with less pain. With a range of services and products, entrepreneurs can get the operational support and resources they need on demand. 
