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ID:
2025-11-14-ari-crane-executive-ai-bootcamp-strategy
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Call Summary: Executive AI Bootcamp Advisory Session & Life Updates

Overview​

Transformative strategic conversation where Ari Crane proposed a comprehensive business model for Gary: executive AI intensive bootcamps targeting Fortune 500 companies. The call evolved from a catch-up into a detailed business planning session, with Ari offering to become an advisor and sharing extensive personal updates including health challenges, family dynamics, and spiritual perspectives.

Key Topics Discussed​

Executive AI Bootcamp Business Model​

  • Core Concept: Week-long intensive AI training for corporate executives at ranch/retreat locations
  • Pricing Strategy: "$15-20K per person for corporate clients. Target the corporate C-suite, target the directors and above"
  • Market Validation: "PMI, Project Management Institute... Their revenue was $343 million. So just to give you an idea, it's massive"
  • Personal Experience: Ari's company ASRC spent ~$100K sending 11 employees to PMI bootcamp in Denver
  • Revenue Potential: "If you had 120 to 160 people per month at 20K per... you could net two million a year. Pretty easy."

Operational Framework​

  • Class Size: "30 to 40 per cohort"
  • Frequency: "Four different cohorts per month, one a week for four weeks, or one week on, one week off"
  • Location Strategy: Gary's friend's ranch "in the middle between San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston"
  • Unique Experiences: "Have a mixer at the very beginning... you all have your own yurts... or your own mini cabins"
  • Staffing: "You'd probably be able to do it with like three people"

Marketing & Growth Strategy​

  • Target Market: Fortune 100, 250, and 500 companies
  • Acquisition Channels: LinkedIn automated ads targeting C-suite executives
  • Key Industries: Financial services, legal, medical, retail (Walmart, Ecolab mentioned)
  • Differentiation: In-person vs. online - "Businesses, if their executives are active, they want a program that's gonna be in your face"

Ari's Personal PMI Experience​

  • Context: "They sent like 10 of us or 11 of us to Denver for a week... like 75 or $7,800 a person"
  • Format: "10, 11, 12 hours a day in class... 20 or 25 modules... step through"
  • Critique: "It was kind of BS to be honest with you... there wasn't too much I picked up"
  • Value: "We got to spend time with like-minded people... regional managers and directors"

2026 Economic Predictions​

  • Oil & Energy: "They announced they're opening up ANWR... 40% of the largest untapped oil reserve on the planet"
  • Growth Timeline: "Summer 2026 is gonna be a huge boom... almost like the roaring 20s"
  • Innovation: "Flying vehicles are gonna be a brand new thing next year, like actually hit the consumer market 2026 to 2028"
  • Trade: "We just signed an agreement with China... new oil deals with India"
  • Historical Comparison: Referenced Trump's first term growth, Reagan, Eisenhower, and Coolidge eras

Personal Updates & Health Challenges​

  • MBA Program: Started at Southern New Hampshire University on August 25, 2025
  • Health Issues: Severe acid reflux ("can't have anything tomato-based anymore"), diverticulitis
  • Diet Philosophy: Follows "Eating for Your Blood Type" - A-positive, avoids red meat and pork
  • Chemical Understanding: "As a chemical hydrologist working for Ecolab... water is the universal solvent"

Family & Personal History​

  • Full Name: Ari Ben Crane - "lion and protector of the house of David... named by Palestinian grandmother"
  • Children: Jet (8) and Maverick (5) with wife Jennifer; 19-year-old daughter Ariana from first marriage
  • Custody Story: Lost contact with daughter at age 1 when stationed at Fort Snelling as Army Lieutenant
  • Military Background: "Former top 10% U.S. Army officer (enlisted to officer progression)"

Spiritual & Philosophical Perspectives​

  • New Church: New Beginnings in Euless, TX - "first Christian church I've been to that has giant Israel flags hanging inside"
  • Jewish History: Extensive discussion of 1956 war, Jewish resilience, and Teva pharmaceutical company
  • Film Recommendation: "Barabbas" (1963) - used as metaphor for redemption and God's plan
  • Free Will vs. Predestination: "If there's free will and God has a plan for us, then how much free will do we really have?"
  • Personal Philosophy: "I don't think I'm unlucky. I think I just haven't fully hit my stride yet"

Sherman Taylor Relationship Update​

  • Trust Issues: "I couldn't, I wish I could answer yes to [trusting him], but I can't"
  • Cultural Assimilation: "He told me now, he said he thinks like an Asian person... 'we screw each other all the time in China, so it's acceptable'"
  • Business Ethics: "He kept going behind my back and doing what he could to cut me out of certain things"
  • Decision: "I just quit talking with him, which is not easy for me to do"

Key Quotes​

  • On Gary's Potential: "I can actually see you doing it... You could probably clean 20K a week"
  • On Taking Action: "You're reminding me that it's easy to take for granted the things that are easy for me, but are not obvious to other people"
  • On Market Need: "There's nobody providing this service right now... businesses are screaming for this"
  • On Advisorship: "Just 1% for idea generation is all I ask. Nothing more, nothing less"
  • On Personal Mission: "I wanna be a better friend, but it's not always the case... just making better efforts"
  • On Faith: "God has a plan. Whether or not we agree with it, whether or not we're ready for it, there's a plan for all of us"
  • On Success: "Gary's a friend of mine and he's putting together this executive camp" - showing networking approach

Action Items / Takeaways​

  • Gary to research PMI Academy model and pricing ($343M annual revenue benchmark)
  • Consider pre-selling bootcamp spots to fund infrastructure development
  • Develop curriculum around 20-40 AI modules for week-long intensive
  • Target initial outreach to Gary's existing network of companies
  • Ari offered 1% equity advisory role in exchange for ongoing strategic guidance
  • Create branded names (suggestions included: "AI Executive Edge," "AI First Executive Leadership Experience")
  • Plan logistics: venue (ranch), lodging (yurts/cabins), catering, transportation from airports
  • Focus marketing on Fortune 500 L&D departments and C-suite decision makers

Strategic Business Framework​

Competitive Advantages​

  1. Gary's proven event/retreat management experience
  2. In-person format vs. predominant online offerings
  3. Executive-focused positioning vs. general AI training
  4. Network effects from Gary's existing relationships
  5. Ranch/retreat setting for memorable experience

Financial Model​

  • Revenue: 30 people × $20K × 4 weeks = $2.4M/month potential
  • Costs: Venue, 2-3 instructors, lodging, meals, transportation
  • Net: ~$2M annual profit after ~$1M expenses
  • Pre-sell model to minimize capital requirements

Risk Mitigation​

  • Start with one pilot cohort from existing network
  • Use participant feedback for rapid iteration
  • Build instructor team to reduce Gary's direct involvement
  • Create review/feedback system for continuous improvement

Personal Insights​

Ari demonstrated his characteristic pattern recognition abilities, immediately connecting Gary's past experience with co-living and bootcamps to this new opportunity. His offer to become an advisor shows continued faith in Gary despite his own challenging circumstances (job hunting, MBA program, delayed funding rounds). The conversation revealed Ari's deep market knowledge from both military and corporate experience, while also showing his struggles with communication and relationship management (Sherman Taylor situation). His spiritual journey and commitment to helping others remains strong despite personal setbacks.