Scaling AI: How Mark Kashef Built a Seven-Figure Consultancy

When Kashef launched his firm, prompt engineering was a nascent marketplace. What began as a side hustle—juggled alongside his full-time data science role—quickly scaled as he mastered keywords on Fiverr and leveraged YouTube to drive inbound demand. By late 2025, after confirming the AI boom had genuine longevity, he left his corporate position to lead the agency full-time. The business model has since undergone a significant pivot: while custom development defined 2023, it now accounts for only 30% of operations, with the remainder dedicated to consulting and workshops.

This shift reflects a broader reality in the industry: businesses are moving away from outsourcing technical builds to seeking guidance on how to integrate AI into existing, often messy, infrastructure. Kashef emphasizes that AI is not a universal right but a luxury earned through rigorous internal organization. His firm now charges between $15,000 and $50,000 for enterprise engagements, focusing on auditing backends and ensuring compliance. By dismantling the "non-technical" mental block that prevents many entrepreneurs from utilizing tools like Claude Code, Kashef argues that the barrier to entry is lower than perceived. His core advice for companies remains starkly simple: standardize internal systems, ensure data connectivity, and prioritize regulatory compliance before attempting to scale with automation.