Ignite Startups: How AI is Automating Accounts Payable with Adam Barbera of Dost | #141

Ignite: Conversations on Startups, Venture Capital, Tech, Future, and Society

In this episode of Ignite Podcast, host Brian Bell welcomes Adam Barbera, the CEO and founder of Dost, an AI-powered accounts payable co-pilot that automates invoice and delivery note management. Adam shares his journey from a background in Java engineering and enterprise sales at SAP and Tech Data to founding Dost. His experience in large-scale business operations exposed inefficiencies in accounts payable processes, inspiring him to build an AI-driven solution. Initially, investors—including Team Ignite—passed on Dost, but Adam’s persistence and steady traction proved the company’s value, leading to an eventual investment.

Adam explains how Dost targets industries with complex procurement and supply chains, such as manufacturing and construction, where invoice matching is crucial to business continuity. Unlike generic AP automation tools, Dost tackles high-volume, multi-page invoices that require precise three-way matching between purchase orders, invoices, and proof of delivery. The company scaled through a structured outbound sales approach, leveraging founder-led sales, SDRs, and a playbook-driven sales team. Cold calling, a traditional yet effective strategy, played a significant role in customer acquisition, as AP teams immediately resonated with the product's pain-point solution.

The conversation shifts to the evolution of AI in financial operations, with Adam envisioning a future where accounts payable processes are nearly autonomous, with AI handling exceptions and providing real-time insights. Dost prioritizes control and flexibility by building its AI models in-house rather than relying on proprietary cloud solutions. Adam also discusses the broader shift in SaaS towards AI-driven workflows, emphasizing that while full AI automation is the future, enterprise adoption will be gradual due to legacy systems.

To wrap up, Adam shares insights on startup scaling, structured hiring, and leadership, crediting his time at SAP and Tech Data for instilling operational discipline. He also touches on his passion for food and his past as a lifeguard, reflecting on the importance of aligning career choices with personal strengths. The episode ends with a discussion on emerging AI trends, the future of automation in finance, and Dost’s ambition to become a global leader in financial automation. For those interested in learning more, Adam encourages listeners to visit Dost.io or reach out via LinkedIn.

Chapters:

Welcome & Guest Introduction (00:01 – 01:19)

Adam’s Journey: From Enterprise Sales to Startup Founder (01:20 – 04:08)

The Aha Moment: Identifying the Accounts Payable Pain Point (04:09 – 06:18)

Scaling Dost: Finding Product-Market Fit (06:19 – 09:26)

Outbound Sales & The Power of Cold Calling (09:27 – 13:39)

Leveraging AI: The Build vs. Buy Decision (13:40 – 16:24)

AI in Finance: The Future of Automation (16:25 – 19:08)

Building a High-Performance Team (19:09 – 22:18)

The Challenges of AI Adoption in Large Enterprises (22:19 – 27:08)

Long-Term Vision: Where Dost is Headed (27:09 – 30:34)

Rapid-Fire: Productivity Hacks, AI Trends & Startup Advice (30:35 – 34:50)

Final Thoughts & How to Connect with Dost (34:51 – 35:01)

Thanks to ⁠Byldd ⁠for sponsoring this episode! Byldd helps startups rapidly build and launch revenue-generating SaaS and marketplace businesses with cost-effective, scalable solutions - ⁠Get Started Here⁠.