The Future of Agencies in a AI World

In this talk, I share the journey of transforming my agency, Academy, from a traditional design studio into a lean, AI-first recruiting and product-building machine. We went from six figures to seven in a year—by shrinking our team, automating with AI, and adapting to the needs of a changing market.

You’ll hear why traditional agencies are shrinking, how economic pressures and AI are forcing a structural shift, and what that means for you. I introduce the idea of the Builder Economy—a world where small, expert teams use no-code tools, AI, and global talent to build products and services that used to require massive companies.

Whether you’re a founder, freelancer, or team lead, you’ll learn:
• Why agencies must either specialize deeply or offer integrated solutions
• How to build and sell scalable IP (instead of just selling hours)
• Why designers are in the best position to thrive in an AI-first world
• How I built B150 — a new professional network for builders — in just two months, solo

It’s time to rethink what an agency can be.
Specialize. Expand. Build. Own the future.

Thanks to @Peak for hosting me.

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👨‍💻 Speaker: Adam Perlis
🎙 Founder of Academy & B150