Running a small business is hard enough without the constant pressure to keep up with the latest tech trends. For many local business owners, artificial intelligence (AI) seems like something only big corporations can afford—too complicated, too expensive, and out of reach. But what if AI could be made simple, affordable, and tailored to the needs of small businesses? That's exactly what Wali is doing.
Wali was created to solve a very real problem: most small business owners know that AI can help them, but they don't have the time, resources, or expertise to figure it out. Wali's mission is to bring the power of AI to local businesses in a way that's easy to understand and even easier to use. The company's goal is to make AI accessible to everyone, ensuring that business owners can benefit from its advantages without needing to be tech experts. As founder and CEO Marvin Johnson puts it, "We want to help small businesses tap into the power of AI without the usual headaches."
At the heart of Wali's solution is an AI-powered chatbot designed specifically for small businesses. These chatbots act as digital assistants, managing customer interactions like answering questions, booking appointments, and providing product information. Whether it's a hair salon scheduling appointments or a bakery answering queries about the day's specials, the chatbot handles routine tasks so business owners can focus on what matters most—running their business.
What makes Wali's chatbots unique is how easy they are to set up. All a business owner has to do is link their website, and the chatbot is automatically customized to reflect their business's information. "It's as simple as just plugging in your website," Johnson explains. "No need for hours of setup or technical know-how—just a few clicks, and it's ready to go."
Johnson didn't just stumble into this idea—he saw the need for it firsthand during his previous venture. While working with small business owners, he noticed something interesting: many were curious about AI but didn't have the resources or technical skills to implement it. "I saw that small business owners were eager to learn about AI, but it felt out of reach for them," he shares.
Recognizing this gap, Johnson was inspired to create a product that would make AI approachable for the businesses that needed it most. That's how Wali came to life, with a clear mission: to give small businesses the same advantages that larger companies enjoy but without the complexity or high costs.
One business that found Wali's chatbot to be a game-changer is Cōneacopia. Before using the chatbot, the team at Cōneacopia—a local shop known for its 20+ flavors of artisanal waffle cones—was constantly swamped with phone calls, emails, and DMs from curious customers. Answering the same questions over and over took up a lot of their time, making it hard to focus on growing their business. But once they set up Wali's chatbot, everything changed. Customer inquiries dropped significantly, and instead of fielding endless questions, they started seeing more people come through the doors to check out their delicious cones in person.
"People don't like to spend time browsing and reading. At the end of the day, they just want their questions answered. The chatbot now handles frequently asked questions about the menu and dietary options and highlights new flavors 24/7," Johnson explains. "This gives the staff more time to focus on delivering quality service rather than being tied to the phone or computer. The result? A smoother, more efficient business operation—and happier customers."
The team at Wali has big plans. With the right investment, the company—having already created over 15,000 chatbots—has the capacity to produce up to 3,000 chatbots a day, helping thousands of small businesses across the country. The goal? To have 1 million chatbots deployed nationwide, helping local businesses everywhere thrive in the digital age.
But Johnson's vision doesn't stop at chatbots. He believes we're heading into a future where people will interact more with AI assistants than traditional websites. "We see a world where businesses will have multiple AI agents helping them perform many different tasks, optimizing tasks across their entire enterprise, not just conversational chat," he notes.
By giving local businesses the tools they need to embrace AI, Wali is helping them grow, compete, and succeed. Whether it's a small salon or a neighborhood cafe, Wali's chatbots are here to make life easier—because every business, no matter its size, deserves the chance to thrive. To learn more, visit askwali.ai.
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