How I Use AI to Run 3 Businesses to $80k/m (And How You Can Too)

What if you could build simple AI systems that run in the background, automate your boring tasks, and scale your business to $100k per month—all without writing a single line of code? Sounds wild, right? But that’s exactly what I’ve done.

I’m Deric Yee, and over the past five years, I’ve bootstrapped multiple tech businesses—growing them to $80K/month in revenue.

Today, I run Sigma School (helping people break into tech), NorthStackAI (automating businesses with AI), and Jobier (using AI to help people land jobs on autopilot).

In this blog, I’m breaking down exactly how I build and run AI-powered systems that make money. No fluff. Just what works.

First Principles: What Is an AI System, Really?

Let’s get one thing straight—an AI system doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s simply a workflow that uses AI, automation, and a bit of logic to solve business problems without your constant involvement.

Think of it like hiring a virtual employee who never sleeps, never asks for a raise, and works 24/7. When I first got started, I was drowning in manual tasks—responding to leads, sending follow-ups, tracking data.

It was killing my speed and focus. That’s when I built my first system: a WhatsApp AI chatbot that handled lead replies, meeting bookings, and follow-ups.

It instantly saved me hours and doubled my conversion rates. That’s when it clicked. If I wanted to scale, I needed to automate.

The 3 Core AI Systems You Need in Business

If you want to build an AI-powered business, you don’t need a dozen tools—you need three types of systems, each solving a major bottleneck in the customer journey: lead generation, sales, and retention.

The first is lead generation and outreach automation. The reality is, if you don’t have leads, you don’t have a business. But manually scraping leads, writing emails, and following up is a nightmare.

So I automated the whole thing. I use tools like Instantly, GoHighLevel, LeadCarrot, and OutScraper to identify the right audience, collect data, and send personalized emails at scale. One of my AI sequences booked 50+ meetings in a single month—while I was asleep.

Next is sales and follow-up automation. This is where most people drop the ball. Not because their product is bad, but because they don’t follow up.

I created an AI appointment setter using GoHighLevel and n8n to send reminders, chase cold leads, and close deals automatically.

The research is clear: 80% of sales happen after the fifth follow-up. My AI never forgets a lead—and my conversion rates have skyrocketed because of it.

The third system is customer service and retention. Acquiring a customer is hard. Losing one is easy. That’s why I built AI-powered support systems using Synthflow and Fathom AI.

These bots handle FAQs, troubleshoot issues, and even suggest upsells—24/7. That means I spend less time answering emails and more time growing the business.

My Tech Stack: The Tools Behind the Systems

Let’s talk tools. My tech stack is lean, affordable, and deadly effective. For lead generation, I rely on Instantly, LeadCarrot, and OutScraper. For sales automation and CRM, I use GoHighLevel, Uphex, and n8n.

On the customer support side, I use Synthflow and Fathom AI. I manage data and workflows with Airtable, Apify, Arcads AI, and ClickUp. And for scheduling and CRM integration, I use zCal and GoHighLevel.

These tools work together like a digital machine, keeping my businesses running with minimal input. It’s like stacking tiny systems that replace full-time employees—at a fraction of the cost.

How to Build Your Own AI System (Even If You’re a Beginner)

If you’re reading this and thinking, “Okay, this sounds amazing, but where do I even start?”—here’s your roadmap.

Step one: identify the biggest bottleneck in your business. Is it lead generation? Sales? Customer service? Choose just one. Step two: pick the right tool to tackle that bottleneck.

Use the ones I mentioned above—no need to reinvent the wheel. Step three: build and test your first AI system. Keep it simple. Automate one process, run it for a week, and tweak it as needed.

Step four: once your first system is running, layer in another. Stack system on top of system until you’ve built an AI engine that works for you around the clock.

This is how you scale smart. Not by working more hours, but by designing systems that work harder than you ever could.

Final Thoughts: The Best Time to Start Was Yesterday

AI isn’t just the future—it’s the now. And the people who learn how to use it today will dominate tomorrow. I’ve shown you the blueprint. Simple systems. Practical tools. Proven results.

So the question isn’t “can I do this?” It’s “will I?” If you’re serious about scaling with AI and want help building your first system, check out NorthStackAI.

I build these for businesses every day—and I’d love to help you too. Until then, start small. Build one thing. Let the system work for you.

Then build the next. Welcome to the AI-powered way of doing business.