In this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast, host Ben Murray welcomes Ibrahim Ashqar, the co-founder and CEO of Lumi AI. Ibrahim shares his impressive background in data science and AI, including his time at Deloitte and the supply chain tech unicorn Stord, before diving into why he launched Lumi. The conversation highlights the challenges companies face with traditional business intelligence tools, and how Lumi is revolutionizing data access for brands, retailers, and supply chain operators through agentic workflows and conversational analytics.

Ben and Ibrahim discuss Lumi's focused go-to-market strategy, their partnerships with industry giants like Deloitte and BCG, and how they’re working with mid-market to Fortune 10 enterprises. Listeners will also hear about Lumi’s journey through fundraising, lessons learned in scaling an early-stage SaaS company, and the key product metrics that guide their growth.

Whether you’re interested in AI, enterprise analytics, or the inner workings of a fast-growing SaaS startup, this episode is packed with actionable insights and firsthand advice from the front lines of innovation.

Show Notes:

00:00 Supply Chain Analytics Software Focus

04:54 Strategic Supply Chain Planning Overview

09:13 Educational Analytics Approach Success

11:28 Consultant Challenges: Navigating Clearances

15:36 Complementary Tool, Not Replacement

18:36 Unexpected Visibility During Stealth Mode

21:34 Effective Investor Pitch Strategy

24:34 "Optimizing Intuitive AI Workflows"

Links:

SaaS Fundraising Stories: https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/lumi-ai-raises-3-7-million-in-seed-round

Ibrahim Ashqar’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ibrahimashqar/

Lumi AI’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lumi-ai

Lumi Ai’s Website: https://www.lumi-ai.com/

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