AI isn’t optional: How Tray became a platform for what’s next

What’s covered 

In this episode of Founder Real Talk, Rich Waldron reflects on Tray.ai’s rebrand, why the shift to AI-first wasn’t optional, and what it takes to stay relevant in a fast-changing tech landscape. He breaks down the architectural and product choices that helped Tray become a foundational platform for AI orchestration—and shares lessons from customers, interns, and major enterprises building AI automation at scale.

Top takeaways   

• Tray’s pivot to AI was born from urgency—not trend-following

• Speed is critical: customers want working AI solutions in days, not months

• Tray’s platform architecture lets teams ship scalable AI solutions fast

• Real AI adoption requires composability, control, and internal momentum