"I Needed to Be Back in the Game": Leaving PE & Big Tech to Build Vertical AI w/ Lak Lakshmanan
The Joe Reis Show

”I Needed to Be Back in the Game”: Leaving PE & Big Tech to Build Vertical AI w/ Lak Lakshmanan

E 2026-01-28

Lak Lakshmanan had a successful career in Private Equity and Big Tech, but he realized he couldn't just "coach the game" while the rules were changing. He had to get back on the field play it. We discuss vertical AI, the "foolhardiness" required to start a company , the reality of the AI technology wave, and why sitting on the sidelines is the biggest risk of all.


LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valliappalakshmanan

Generative AI Design Patterns (book): https://amzn.to/45v0xBO


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