AI Readiness Framework for PE Portfolio Companies
PE LIVE 2026 - KEYNOTE TAKEAWAY
£5M
The exit EV gap between getting tech & AI right - and not.
Is your portfolio leaving enterprise value on the table?
At PE Live 2026, Intium's co-founder Mart Lumeste walked through a live tech due diligence on AI readiness. Here's the framework - and how to apply it to your portfolio.
THE AI STRATEGY FRAMEWORK
Every portfolio company needs an AI strategy tied to one of three outcomes.
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BOTTOM LINE
Start Here
Operational efficiency.
Easiest wins.
Quick results.
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TOP LINE
No AI Washing
Features that add
actual client value.
Not vanity buttons.
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EXIT DEFENCE
The New Tech Debt
Buyers will discount
AI-unready assets.
Same as legacy code.
Three areas. Three findings.
01
Processes: "We're too unique to automate."
The unique complexity is usually undocumented complexity. Separate the genuinely unique work from the admin - then automate the admin.
02
Products & Tools: Already expert-level.
OpenAI’s GDPval, a benchmark for measuring knowledge work, shows that in 80%+ of cases, AI models perform as well as seasoned industry experts. At a fraction of the cost and time.
03
People: Stop hiring for roles. Start designing for outcomes.
The shift from "I need to hire X to do Y" to "to achieve X, I need steps 1, 2, and 3 done." Start designing for outcomes, not org charts.
THE EXIT CASE
£5M
The gap between getting AI right - and not. Per company.
Same company. One exits with a premium narrative: "AI-ready, proven efficiency." One gets a discount: "Needs AI transformation." The buyer prices in up to £1M of transformation cost.
Back of the napkin, the difference is around £5 million in enterprise value.