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Cadre AI: The San Diego Startup Turning Artificial Intelligence Into Measurable Business Growth

Artificial intelligence is continuing to define the next wave of technological innovation, and in the noted AI hotspot of San Diego, locally founded company Cadre AI is leading the charge. 

As one of just one of a handful of initial companies chosen to be official service partners for OpenAI, Cadre AI is a nationally recognized name at the cutting edge of technological advancement.

Powerful Mission, Measurable Results

Cadre AI’s mission is simple but powerful: Turning your business into a future-proof organization through the strategic implementation of artificial intelligence.

Since it was founded in November 2024, Cadre AI has delivered more than 130 AI engagements, boosting client revenue, EBITDA, and improving productivity across departments. It works with a number of companies, both nationwide and in its own backyard of San Diego.

“Every week there’s a new AI tool promising to revolutionize business. We cut through that noise by focusing on what actually drives revenue and operational efficiency. It’s not about using the newest model – it’s about finding the right integration that delivers measurable ROI for each client’s specific workflow.” – Chad Lohrli

The company’s success is largely owed to the fact that it isn’t just an AI service provider. From the moment a client is onboarded, Cadre AI becomes a strategic partner in business transformation. According to Lafrenz, the company becomes an extension of your team.

Cadre AI doesn’t provide one-size-fits-all solutions to its customers. Instead, the team prioritizes a bespoke approach that’s heavily customized to a company’s unique culture, needs, and financial circumstances. Some of the tactics in this strategic approach include:

• Strategic AI Consulting: Creating highly customized, goal-aligned AI adoption strategies and roadmaps.
• AI Integration & Workflow Automation: Strategically implementing AI tools and processes to cut inefficiencies, streamline operations, and more.
• AI Agent Design & Deployment: Building of smart digital “employees” who can autonomously perform tasks at scale.
• AI Training & Education: Empowering employees with the skills and knowledge needed to adopt AI effectively.

Local Roots, Global Vision

Cadre AI’s vision and reach are global, but the company is thoroughly rooted in its hometown of San Diego. This commitment to the local community extends to its leadership team — five of Cadre’s top executives reside in La Jolla.

Grayson Lafrenz – Founder & CEO

Grayson Lafrenz is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cadre AI, as well as a San Diego native. Before launching Cadre AI, Grayson Lafrenz founded Power Digital. Over a 12 year period, that company became one of the largest privately held performance marketing agencies in the world. The company made strategic private equity exits in 2019 and 2022, as well as six acquisitions along the way.

A San Diego native, Grayson is deeply committed to the region’s growth. He’s long been a champion of local talent, engages with community organizations and business coalitions, and serves on multiple boards that help shape the city’s entrepreneurial trajectory. 

Lafrenz’s accolades are impressive: two-time CEO of the Year by the Entrepreneurs’ Organization, multiple Inc. 5000 recognitions, and honors from Entrepreneur magazine and the San Diego Business Journal.

Chad Lohrli – Founder & Chief AI Officer

Chad Lohrli is Cadre AI’s Chief AI Officer and he brings a formidable technical pedigree to the company. Along with deep experience working at a number of major AI startups, Lohrli has also been a builder in the AI and machine learning space since 2016 — and even has experience working at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

As you might expect from a local subject matter expert, Lohrli is deeply embedded in San Diego’s AI culture. He routinely takes part in panel discussions on the AI revolution, and even founded SDx, the largest technical AI community in the city.

SDx is San Diego’s premier community for AI builders. It provides collaboration, community, and hands-on support for those building the future of AI locally. Members can join the Builder Community for free, while AI leaders can apply for the Executive Network, an exclusive group of local AI executives.

A Symbol of San Diego’s AI Potential

Lafrenz, Lohrli, and Cadre AI as a whole aren’t just local leaders in the industry. They’re also staunch advocates for San Diego’s AI potential. Baked into the company culture is a focus on anchoring the latest AI advancements with a vibrant local ecosystem. That’s an approach that both strengthens Cadre AI’s culture and elevates San Diego as a national hub for AI innovation.

Lohrli, a UC San Diego alumnus, frequently taps into the university’s talent and innovation pipelines, fostering connections between Cadre AI and the next generation of AI professionals. Lafrenz, for his part, regularly engages with local college communities.

“San Diego has always been a city of builders and bold thinkers,” said Lafrenz. “We want Cadre AI to be a catalyst for that energy – connecting local talent, universities, and businesses so the region becomes a global hub for meaningful AI innovation.”

At its core, Cadre AI is a prime example of how combining local values with advanced technology is a winning recipe for success.

“San Diego is home to incredible engineering talent, anchored by institutions like UC San Diego,” said Lohrli. “Through SDx & Cadre, we’re channeling that energy into real-world innovation, creating opportunities for builders, executives, and students to collaborate on shaping the future of AI locally and beyond.”
You can learn more about Cadre AI on their website.

The copyright of the top image in this post belongs to LaJolla.com. Other images provided courtesy of Cadre AI of San Diego.