How to best implement artificial intelligence is a question more and more companies are facing, and a new startup from Northern Kentucky is aiming to provide the answer.
Tier1 Impact announced in early January the launch of Synthoni, described as “a consulting accelerator and collaborative development environment” that helps organizations find the most effective way to utilize AI.
Synthoni will help organizations understand what is possible and then develop products that allow employees to tap into the power of AI in their work environment, according to a news release.
“Through our flagship brand, Tier1 Performance, we have deep expertise in supporting business transformation, org design and systems adoption for leaders faced with significant change,” Greg Harmeyer, CEO of Tier1 Impact, said. “However, in the generative AI landscape, we saw a very specific need for technical leadership and development – a gap that Synthoni fills with some of the strongest talent out there.”
Synthoni launched Oct. 1, 2023, with its external launch slated for January 2024. It’s led by Chief AI Architect Mike Lewis and Chief Strategist Jerry Hamburg.
Synthoni currently has nine full-time and part-time employees and will be supported by additional contractors, according to a company spokesperson.
Synthoni has three specific objectives for its operations:
- Defining what’s possible (educating leaders and teams and assessing opportunities for AI's impact)
- Designing and developing what’s doable (proving concepts quickly with iterative pilots)
- Delivering and supporting what’s scalable (deploying and evolving solutions for the organization).
Lewis has been building generative AI apps since the infancy of OpenAI in 2022. He was an an early beta tester with OpenAI while applying open-source large language models to private business solutions.
Hamburg has been designing and implementing tech-enabled human performance support solutions for over two decades. He brings experience in architecture, implementation and the successful adoption of a wide variety of interactive technologies to the role.
“Successful adoption of generative AI is dependent on the development of a solution that not only meets the security and privacy needs of the business but also integrates with the specific challenges and data characteristics unique to each organization,” Lewis said in the release. “We’ve been excited to work with leaders to find practical solutions designed to deliver short-term results and also adjust and grow with the ever-evolving landscape of generative AI.”
Synthoni is co-located in Tier1’s Covington office network, though its client base will be national. The startup will target growth-oriented mid-market organizations and anticipates having 20 clients by the end of the year.
Early clients have included organizations in health care, professional services and manufacturing, and innovative nonprofits.
Tier1 Impact is an employee-owned professional services development company whose portfolio includes Tier1 Performance, Xplane and HSD Metrics.
