Brainpool: Getting Started With AI

We talked to Kasia Borowska, Managing director and co-founder of Brainpool, about solving business problems with AI, and this is what she said about it.

First of all, how are you and your family doing in these COVID-19 times? 

Kasia Borowska: Not bad, we’ve all been in good health but mum was not happy I didn’t make it back home for Christmas! 

Tell us about you, your career, and how you founded Brainpool AI.

Kasia Borowska: I’m the co-founder and managing director at Brainpool AI, a start-up providing bespoke Artificial Intelligence solutions for clients in the UK and around the world. After finishing my degrees in Mathematics and Cognitive Sciences, I started my career in digital marketing working with brands such as Jaguar Land Rover and HSBC. Having experienced both the academic and the corporate world, I realized how little of the research done at universities is applied in real life. Brainpool’s mission is to democratize access to AI and to find new applications of cutting-edge AI research in business. Thanks to its network of 500 top-level AI and Machine Learning experts, Brainpool provides services for companies across industries, as well as builds its own products to address some of the key challenges faced by its clients. 

How does Brainpool AI innovate? 

Kasia Borowska: Our long term strategy is to form joint ventures with our clients and solve some of the most pressing business challenges by applying the latest research in Artificial Intelligence. The first joint venture was built with one of the leaders in timber construction called the Staircraft group. Having both the deep industry expertise and highest level technical skills we were able to build the first fully automated timber construction design software powered by AI called DAISY. 

How does the coronavirus pandemic affect your business finances?

Kasia Borowska: Yes, most of our clients put projects on hold or canceled AI product development altogether

Did you have to make difficult choices regarding human resources and what are the lessons learned?

Kasia Borowska: Yes, when times are tough make sure you have good contracts in place

How did your customer relationship management evolve? Do you use any specific tools to be efficient? 

Kasia Borowska: Yes, we did a research exercise with a company called Tectonic which helped us re-shape our offering to match the key demand areas during the recession

Did you benefit from any government grants, and did that help keep your business afloat?

Kasia Borowska: Yes, the furlough scheme.

Your final thoughts?

Kasia Borowska: Shit happens, time to move on.

Your website?

https://brainpool.ai/