Forward-Deployed Engineers and Rapid Iteration

Will AI soon write investment memos, analyze deals, and run workflows inside investment firms? In this episode, I speak with Chaz, founder of Model ML, about the rise of agentic AI and how investment firms are beginning to automate complex workflows across private markets. Chaz explains how Model ML originally started as an internal tool built inside his family office to manage investments more efficiently — before evolving into a fast-growing AI platform used by asset managers, banks, and consulting firms. We discuss why chat-based AI tools have limitations for professional workflows, how firms can achieve major productivity gains through automation, and why the next phase of AI will shift from productivity toward generating investment insight.

Highlights:

• Why chat-based AI tools have limits for complex professional workflows
• How agentic AI can automate tasks like investment reporting and monitoring
• Why investment firms still manually process huge amounts of information
• The difference between productivity tools and insight-generating AI
• Why 2025 is the productivity year for AI — and 2026 may unlock true insight
• How one private equity firm automated 80% of its investment committee memos
• Why capturing more internal data today is critical for future AI advantage
• The cultural changes firms must make to successfully adopt AI
• Why early adopters are redesigning team structures around AI workflows
• The importance of forward-deployed engineers in building enterprise AI tools
• How firms can identify workflows that deliver 60%+ efficiency gains
• Why AI adoption in finance is roughly a year behind legal tech

Guest Bio:

Chaz Englander is the founder of Model ML, an agentic AI company that automates complex workflows and generates actionable insights for investors, asset managers, and professional services firms. Previously, Chaz co-founded YC-backed startups and built software to support family office investing. He focuses on embedding AI into organizational culture, structuring processes, and unlocking productivity and insight for high-performing teams.

Our Podcast now receives more than 300,000 downloads a month. Are you interested in sponsoring an episode? Please email David Weisburd at david@weisburdcapital.com.

We’d like to thank AlphaSense for sponsoring this episode!

Sponsor:

AlphaSense is the AI-powered market intelligence platform trusted by 85% of the S&P 100, helping investment professionals make faster, more confident, data-driven decisions. Built for hedge funds, asset allocators, private venture capital firms, and investment bankers, AlphaSense uses advanced AI and powerful search across premium proprietary content to surface the insights that matter most—before the market moves. Elevate your research and stay ahead of the competition. Visit https://www.alpha-sense.com/howiinvest/ to learn more.

Stay Connected with David Weisburd:

X/Twitter: @dweisburd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dweisburd/ Weisburd Capital: https://www.weisburdcapital.com/

Stay Connected with Chaz Englander:

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

Questions or topics you want us to discuss on How I Invest? Email us at david@weisburdcapital.com.

Disclaimer:

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, financial, legal, or tax advice. Nothing in this episode should be interpreted as an offer to buy or sell any securities or to participate in any investment strategy. All opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the views of Weisburd Capital. Participants may hold positions or have financial interests in the companies, funds, or investments discussed. Any references to specific investments are for illustrative purposes only. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of capital. Past performance is not indicative of future results, and any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Any third-party data or opinions have not been independently verified. Listeners should conduct their own research and consult their own advisors before making any investment decisions.

(0:00) Why We Built AI for Our Family Office First (1:03) The Messy Reality of Investor Reporting (2:45) Why ChatGPT Isn’t Enough for Real Workflows (4:35) When AI Will Start Generating Real Investment Insight (7:25) The One Thing Every Investment Firm Should Do Today (10:11) The Coming 50% Productivity Explosion in Finance (11:50) How Firms Find AI Workflows With 60% Efficiency Gains (17:50) Why AI Companies Focus on “Fewer, Happier Customers” (22:32) The Real Cost of AI Tools for Investment Firms (30:37) The One Trait Every Successful Founder Shares