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   Don’t miss future episodes. Subscribe to the AEC Tech + AI Newsletter: https://aiaecdigest.substack.com/