A Tool Is Only as Good as the Problem It Solves
AI can help trade professionals work differently, but what actually separates a useful tool from a solution that delivers? In this episode of Simply Trade, host Lalo Solorzano sits down with Penny Chen to explore her founder journey and what it’s taught her about customers, compliance, and the real limits of general-purpose AI.
From Algorithm Design to a Duty Drawback Startup
Penny traces her path from AI algorithm design and a stint at Flexport into founding a trade compliance company. She shares some refreshingly grounded startup details, including a small apartment, a modest IKEA shopping list, and two technical founders learning to build and sell at the same time. She also explains why the business pivoted from selling duty drawback software to delivering a full service built around customer outcomes.
