The AI revolution is here, and it’s reshaping industries faster than the internet did in the ‘90s. AI agents are replacing entire teams, traditional search engines like Google are losing ground, and the world is changing—permanently.
But here’s the good news: you don’t have to be left behind. Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to pivot, there’s a massive opportunity to build wealth with AI. Based on insights from a seasoned tech entrepreneur who’s built and sold three software companies, here are eight simple steps to ride the AI wave and create financial success in 2025.
Step 1: Pick the Right Industry
The key to AI success isn’t chasing shiny new trends—it’s focusing on what’s true and profitable. Boring industries often hide the biggest opportunities. Here are five industries ripe for AI disruption:
- Supply Chain: From logistics to delivery route optimization, AI can streamline forecasting and inventory management. With e-commerce booming, companies need AI to stay competitive.
- Administrative Services: AI can automate billing, scheduling, and file sorting, integrating with tools like Dropbox or HubSpot to save businesses time and money.
- Home Services: Roofing, HVAC, and plumbing are trillion-dollar industries. AI can optimize scheduling, dispatching, and customer management for local businesses.
- Legal Services: AI tools can draft contracts, analyze documents, and suggest key questions, making legal processes faster and cheaper.
- Team Training: AI-powered onboarding and training tools, like virtual assistants that join Zoom calls, can make employees more efficient by providing real-time answers.
Choose one of these industries to focus your AI venture. Their size and inefficiencies make them perfect for disruption.
Step 2: Choose a High-Margin Business Model
Margins are your moat—they protect your business and fuel growth. Avoid low-margin businesses like restaurants. Instead, focus on these high-margin AI models for 2025:
- AI Services (70% margin): Build automation workflows using tools like Zapier or Gumloop.
- AI Consulting (80% margin): Help businesses develop AI strategies to stay ahead.
- AI Software (90% margin): Create text- or voice-driven software to solve specific problems.
- AI Digital Products (95% margin): Build scalable products, like online courses or tools, with minimal overhead.
High margins mean more cash to reinvest, so prioritize models that maximize profit.
Step 3: Sell to Wealthy Customers
As marketing legend Dan Kennedy said, “It’s easier to make a million dollars selling to millionaires.” Target affluent clients in your chosen industry. Here’s how to connect with them:
- Attend Industry Events: Speak at or help organize events to access decision-makers.
- Send Hyper-Personalized Emails: Craft tailored messages that show you understand their needs.
- Offer Interviews: Start a podcast to network with industry leaders.
- Host Meetups: Organize Zoom calls or local events to connect with like-minded professionals.
- Throw Founders’ Dinners: Invite AI-focused entrepreneurs to themed dinners for networking.
These strategies build relationships with high-value clients who can afford your AI solutions.
Step 4: Create a High Cash Flow Offer
Cash flow is the lifeblood of any business. To create an offer that generates cash quickly:
- Use Anchor Pricing: Offer a premium tier 3-5x more expensive than your standard package to make other options seem affordable.
- Implement Scarcity: Limit spots to create urgency (e.g., “Only 5 slots available this month”).
- Add Bonuses: Include extras, like free team training, to sweeten the deal.
- Offer Volume Pricing: Encourage bulk purchases (e.g., multi-year contracts) for upfront cash.
A well-structured offer ensures you’re not financing your customers’ problems.
Step 5: Sell Before You Build
Don’t waste time or money building something nobody wants. Pre-sell your AI solution to fund development. Here’s how:
- Prototype: Use tools like Figma or InVision to create mockups of your AI product.
- Find Early Adopters: Identify 50 “founding” customers willing to take a risk and co-create with you.
- Ask for Advice: Pitch your prototype as a request for feedback, which often leads to sales.
- Choose One Conversion Tool: Focus on a single channel, like webinars or social media chats, to sell efficiently.
Pre-selling validates your idea and secures funding before you code a single line.
Step 6: Build a Lean MVP
Your Minimum Viable Product (MVP) doesn’t need to be perfect—it just needs to work. Avoid sinking millions into development. Instead:
- Use No-Code Platforms: Tools like Gumloop or GoHighLevel let you build without coding.
- Leverage AI Coding Tools: Platforms like Replit or Cursor can generate code quickly.
- Hire an AI Developer: Test candidates with small projects to ensure they align with your vision.
A lean MVP gets your product to market fast, letting you iterate based on real feedback.
Step 7: Automate Delivery
Automation turns your business into a machine that runs 24/7. Focus on automating these areas:
- Purchasing: Use Stripe or Gumloop for seamless payments.
- Account Setup: Automate user onboarding with tools like Memberium.
- Client Onboarding: Use forms (e.g., Typeform) to collect client data efficiently.
- Support: Build an AI-powered knowledge base to handle customer queries automatically.
Automation frees you to focus on growth, not busywork.
Step 8: Get Greedy (Strategically)
Decide whether you want short-term cash or long-term wealth:
- Sell: Cash out early by selling a small app or service.
- Scale: Keep growing a profitable business, like reinvesting profits to expand.
- Stack: Build a portfolio of AI solutions, like a venture studio, to dominate multiple niches.
Long-term greed—scaling or stacking—often yields the biggest rewards, as it builds experience and wealth over time.
Take Action Now
The AI revolution is a gold rush, but the window won’t stay open forever. Pick an industry, choose a high-margin model, and start connecting with wealthy customers. Pre-sell your idea, build a lean MVP, automate delivery, and decide whether to sell, scale, or stack. The future belongs to those who act now.
Want more? Follow industry leaders on social media for the latest AI insights, or join a community of AI entrepreneurs to network and learn. The tools and opportunities are out there—go seize them!