Tech Founders Lead Lean Transformation, Prioritizing People and Automation
Tech-forward founders Pablo Fernandez of Big Rentals and Dave Borsh of Giga-Mint are leading a wave of startups that prioritize lean, people-centered transformation. They advise learning from large enterprises about structure and documentation, but building flexible systems that grow with the company, not ahead of it.
Fernandez and Borsh warn against overengineering and urge startups to start lean, automating gradually and ensuring transparency in tool use. They believe the most disruptive startups focus on reengineering business operations using automation, data, and empathy to eliminate friction and create smoother customer experiences.
Fernandez suggests treating workflows like code, turning repeatable jobs into workflows or AI agents before hiring. This approach helps disrupt traditional industries quickly. Both founders cite examples from their own companies. Big Rentals, under Fernandez's leadership, digitizes the entire business flow, including money and decisions, without compromising quality. The company also schedules time for experimentation to test new tools and automations, fostering a culture of curiosity and disciplined agility.
The promise of digital transformation, according to these entrepreneurs, is to automate tasks that don't require human judgment or empathy, allowing startups to do less of the wrong things. Borsh emphasizes that successful digital transformation makes technology invisible, focusing on empathy and removing friction from the human experience.
