AI investment analysis · Step 1 of 6
01 / THE INITIATIVE
What are you considering?
Describe the AI product, workflow, agent, platform, or capability in plain English.
What business outcome should this create?
Increase revenueSell more, convert better, expand accounts, create a new product.
Improve marginReduce labor, operating cost, rework, or cost-to-serve.
Increase speedShorten cycle time, response time, or time-to-decision.
Reduce riskImprove control, accuracy, compliance, or consistency.
02 / ECONOMICS
Does the value justify the distraction?
Estimate. Precision is less important than forcing the economics into the conversation.
03 / STRATEGIC EDGE
If a competitor could buy the same thing tomorrow, where would your advantage live?
Select the layer you believe is genuinely differentiated.
Proprietary dataUnique information improves decisions or outcomes over time.
Workflow / processYour operating method is difficult to reproduce without company-specific context.
Customer-facing productThe AI experience is directly part of why customers choose or stay.
Distribution / relationshipsYour advantage comes from access, trust, or market reach—not the AI itself.
Nothing proprietaryThis is valuable capability, but competitors could access something similar.
We don't know yetThe strategic advantage has not been demonstrated.
04 / OWNERSHIP
Which layer actually needs to remain yours?
You rarely need to own the whole stack to own the advantage.
05 / OPERATING REALITY
Can you actually own what you build?
The build cost is only the beginning. Maintenance, evaluation, security, data quality, and ongoing ownership count too.
FELDMAN AI INVESTMENT MEMO
BUY + BUILD.
Risk-adjusted annual value$0
First-year spend$0
Value / cost—
The reality
What should be owned
MODEL LAYERRent
DATA LAYEROwn
WORKFLOW LAYEROwn
APPLICATION LAYERBuild selectively