Shane Burns

The first decade of institutional AI was research. The next decade is organization. The firms that win put the model, the capital, and the distribution onto one decision surface. Almost none are set up for this. The legacy stack — research siloed from execution, allocation siloed from product, distribution outsourced to platforms — was built for an environment that no longer exists.

The mismatch is the opportunity.

I advise the principals doing the work. A small number of operators, allocators, and founders. References on request.

If your firm has already proven the thing it is doing works, we should talk. If it is still promising, we should not.

I sit with the principal until the question is the right question, and then I stay until the decision is made. Most of the work is the deletion of false optionality. The rest is the introduction of capital, talent, and counterparty the principal cannot reach from inside the firm.

I do not produce decks. I do not run process. I do not source. I make the calls the principal cannot delegate.

Mondays. A private list. Short, on what I am thinking about that week.

Email me one sentence on why now and I will read it.

By submitting, you give me your email so I can read your note. I will not add you to a marketing list. I will not share or sell your address.

Six engagements a year. Six figures and up. Sitting principals only.

I do not engage pre-product startups, sub-eight-figure raises, prospective allocators, capital not in the market, or anyone who is not the decision-maker.

Reply to shane@shaneburns.us with the engagement and a sentence about why now. I read everything sent here. I reply when there is something to discuss.