A2Z Business it

05/15/2026

When peers in your industry ask you to walk them through how you did something, it's usually a sign the work is real.

On June 30 I'm presenting to a national community of IT and tech firms on the AI assistant I built for my own lead generation. End to end. Identifies the right prospects, sharpens the message, books the meetings.

This is the same kind of system I build for clients. Real business problem in, custom AI system out, measurable output.

If you have a problem you've been hoping AI could solve, let's talk.

Hosted by ASCII Group with Koutavas.

05/01/2026

Most post-acquisition plans focus on finance, people, sales, and operations.

But two areas can quietly change the risk profile of a newly acquired company fast:

AI and cybersecurity.

In the first 100 days, portfolio companies need more than "check the box" IT review. They need a practical plan to answer:

Where is sensitive data?
Who has access?
What AI tools are employees already using?
Which systems are exposed?
What risks could affect EBITDA, insurance, customer trust, or the next transaction?

AI can create value. Cyber gaps can destroy it.

The smartest firms are treating both as part of post-close value creation.

I'm putting together a 100-day AI and cyber plan for newly acquired portfolio companies. Schedule a call to talk through it:
https://booking.a2zbusinessit.com

04/30/2026

The first 30 days after an acquisition should answer one question:

"What did we just inherit?"

For AI and cyber, that means getting visibility before making big changes.

A strong 0-30 day plan should include:

1. Inventory core systems, vendors, and cloud tools
2. Identify sensitive data and where it lives
3. Review admin access and privileged accounts
4. Check whether MFA is actually enforced
5. Find employee use of unsanctioned AI tools
6. Review backup, recovery, and incident response readiness
7. Flag urgent risks that could affect operations or insurance

This is not about boiling the ocean.

It is about knowing where the biggest risks and fastest wins are.

If you're acquiring or operating middle-market companies, the first 30 days matter. Schedule a call:
https://booking.a2zbusin

04/29/2026

Days 31-60 after close are where AI and cyber move from assessment to action.

This is the window to fix the obvious gaps and build the foundation for smarter operations.

Focus areas:

1. Lock down identity and access
2. Remove unnecessary admin privileges
3. Secure email, cloud storage, and endpoints
4. Create an approved AI tool policy
5. Train leaders on safe AI use
6. Map workflows where AI can save real time
7. Prioritize cyber fixes based on business impact

The mistake is treating AI and cyber as separate projects.

They are connected.

You cannot scale AI safely if your data, access, and governance are weak.

Want to scale AI without adding unnecessary cyber risk? Schedule a call:
https://booking.a2zbusinessit.com

04/28/2026

By days 61-100, a newly acquired portfolio company should be moving from cleanup to value creation.

This is where AI and cyber start supporting growth.

Priorities should include:

1. Launch 1-2 AI use cases tied to measurable ROI
2. Build dashboards for cyber and AI risk
3. Test backup and incident response plans
4. Review vendor and third-party exposure
5. Align cyber controls with insurance requirements
6. Create executive reporting for the board
7. Build a 12-month AI and cyber roadmap

The goal is not perfection.

The goal is confidence.

Confidence that the company can grow, use AI responsibly, protect customer data, and avoid preventable disruption.

Need a practical AI and cyber roadmap for a portfolio company? Schedule a call:
https://booking.a2zbusinessit.com

04/27/2026

Here's the simple version of a 100-day AI and cyber plan for newly acquired portfolio companies:

Days 0-30: Understand the environment
Find the systems, data, access, vendors, AI usage, and urgent risks.

Days 31-60: Stabilize and govern
Fix identity gaps, secure critical tools, define approved AI use, and reduce exposure.

Days 61-100: Create value
Launch practical AI use cases, improve reporting, test resilience, and build the 12-month roadmap.

This matters because AI and cyber now influence:

Deal risk
Insurance
Customer trust
Operational efficiency
Board confidence
Exit readiness

For middle-market companies, the firms that get this right will move faster with less risk.

Want the full 100-day AI and cyber checklist for your portfolio company? Schedule a call:
https://booking.a2zbusi

04/24/2026

Your deal stack is leaking.

Unused software is only the visible cost. For PE and M&A firms, the bigger drag is fragmented deal visibility: CRM, VDR, cap table, portfolio dashboards, and IC memo workflows that do not operate as one system.

Every disconnected tool creates another manual handoff. Every handoff slows ex*****on.

PE Tech Partners helps firms map the stack, cut true waste, and connect the systems that move deals from origination to close.

Secure a Strategic Debrief: https://petechpartners.com

11/26/2025

“Cyber Turkey Blues”

Not your average Thanksgiving story…
because this year even the turkeys are worried about AI and cybersecurity. 😂

I wrote a little 50-second song called “Cyber Turkey Blues” — about a nervous turkey who’s not only scared of Thanksgiving… but also terrified of hackers, ransomware, and farmers using AI risk tools.

Here’s a snippet:

“Farmer’s got a laptop and he’s typin’ real fast,
I swear I saw ‘TurkeyRisk.ai’ flash past…
What if my data ends up in a phishing email?
Feathers on edge — this is getting real!”

Even turkeys are thinking about data protection these days.
Maybe your business should too. 😉

Have a safe — and secure — Thanksgiving!
🦃🔐💻

04/24/2025

Just got back from the ASSII Tech leaders and I’m honored to share that I was recognized with two awards!
Grateful to be among such innovative minds and inspired by the conversations happening at the intersection of tech, AI, and business growth.
Big thanks to the organizers and everyone who made this event unforgettable—more motivated than ever to keep pushing boundaries!

04/17/2025