Aris Valtazanos: Start with the Pain Point, AI Isn't Always the Answer

In this episode of the AI Pathfinder for Private Equity podcast, host Steve Budd speaks with Aris Valtazanos, Head of Data and Analytics at Oakley Capital, about navigating AI across a diverse portfolio of 30-40 companies. Aris shares his journey from a PhD in robotics at the University of Edinburgh through nearly six years at Quantum Black to his current role supporting founder-led businesses in tech, education and consumer sectors. The conversation explores why bespoke sector-specific AI solutions are creating more value than cross-cutting tools, the critical importance of finding small self-contained problems to avoid becoming a bottleneck, and why firms must start with business pain points rather than asking "where can we use AI?" Takeaways Bespoke sector-specific AI solutions are creating more value than cross-cutting tools like marketing automation Avoid becoming a bottleneck by focusing on small self-contained problems that can scale across the portfolio Start with the biggest business pain points first, then determine if AI is the right solution The gap between what AI can do and where companies actually are has widened despite technological progress Successful adoption requires C-suite vision meeting ground-level champions in the middle Links Aris's LinkedIn Aris's Oakley Capital profile Oakley Capital AI Pathfinder Private Equity AI Strategy Meet-ups:  https://www.aipathfinder.co/private-equity-ai-events Have a question or would like to suggest improvements, please contact steve@aipathfinder.co