In this conversation, Dennis Dixon, CEO & Co-founder of OQULi, shares his journey from a passionate tech enthusiast to leading a company reimagining compliance in architecture through AI. He walks us through the emotional and strategic challenges of pivoting business models, how CODiii came to life, and why understanding real market needs is essential to long-term success.
Dennis emphasizes the importance of mentorship, authenticity, and continuous learning in both personal growth and product development. He also unpacks insights on user experience, fundraising, and how AI can empower—not replace—creative professionals. The episode concludes with his vision for CODiii and advice for emerging architects and founders.
Takeaways
- Dennis Dixon’s early passion for technology shaped the foundation of his career.
- Mentorship played a critical role in his personal and entrepreneurial development.
- Pivoting business models is not just a strategic shift—it's an emotional one too.
- A deep understanding of compliance challenges in architecture inspired CODiii.
- Asking questions and staying curious is key for new graduates.
- Fundraising should be a tool, not the end goal, for startups.
- Building authentic relationships and trust leads to real traction.
- Constant iteration and feedback loops fuel product improvement. AI should serve as a creative amplifier—not a replacement.
- Community feedback drives meaningful innovation in architecture tech.
Chapters
- 00:00 – Introduction to Dennis Dixon and OQULi
- 02:26 – Career Journey and Mentorship
- 04:09 – Founding Stories of OQULi
- 05:16 – Starting a Company in Today's Landscape
- 06:30 – Advice for Recent Graduates in Architecture
- 07:52 – Finding Customers and Market Fit
- 08:51 – Deep Dive into CODiii
- 11:31 – Challenges in Building CODiii
- 12:59 – The Future of the Industry and AI
- 14:12 – Developing UI/UX for AI Tools
- 16:38 – Examples of Successful AI Implementations
- 17:52 – Fundraising vs Bootstrapping
- 19:09 – Preparing for Go-to-Market
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