How This Serial Entrepreneur Is Making It Easier for Anyone to Build With AI

AI is rapidly reshaping the way businesses operate, automating routine processes and enhancing everything from marketing to inventory management. Still, for lots of companies it can feel more like a barrier than a breakthrough: too expensive, too complicated, and requiring skills many teams simply don’t have.

Anh Hatzopoulos, a serial entrepreneur with three IPOs and two acquisitions under her belt, is determined to change that. As co-founder of PepperMill, she’s on a mission to democratize AI for businesses of every size and sector. PepperMill’s no-code platform allows anyone—not just engineers—to build, deploy, and scale custom AI applications in days, not months.

It’s the latest chapter in a career spent building and scaling tech companies, including a pivotal role as head of product management at Walmart.com, where Hatzopoulos led the relaunch of the retail giant’s online presence. Now, she’s focused on helping businesses everywhere unlock the true potential of AI.

Here, Anh shares what drew her to tech, the lessons she’s learned from multiple exits, and why she believes the next wave of AI belongs to everyone.

You’ve spent your entire career in tech, from Walmart.com to multiple IPOs. What first drew you to this world?

I think you’re naturally drawn to what you’re good at. When I was younger, I gravitated toward technology because it was something I excelled at—and I enjoyed it more because of that. I went to school for tech, did a lot of coding in college, but fun fact: I’ve never coded professionally! I realized early on that my strength was understanding the language of tech and translating it for others. My co-founder is highly technical, so I focus on the other side—strategy, product, and building teams.

You led the relaunch of Walmart.com, which must have been a massive undertaking. What did you learn from that experience?

It was one of the hardest—and most rewarding—projects of my career. Walmart had tried to get their online presence right 16 times before bringing in a Silicon Valley team. We had to take the site dark, refactor everything, and relaunch with millions of items in time for the holiday season. The stakes were high, but the team bonded in the trenches. I learned that with a strong brand, you can do incredible things—but you also face unique challenges. And at the end of the day, people are people. Navigating resistance and building cohesion is just as important as the technical work.

You’ve achieved three IPOs and two acquisitions. What sets apart companies that make it to that stage?

It always comes down to people. The team and the cohesion you build as a leader are everything. You need people who are open, willing to adjust, and able to row in the same direction. It’s never a straight line—sometimes you have to recalibrate and make sure everyone’s aligned. You also have to balance dreaming big with setting realistic expectations. I mentor a lot of young founders, and I always tell them: don’t lose your sense of possibility, but stay grounded in what you can actually deliver.

PepperMill’s mission is to make AI accessible to everyone. What inspired you to tackle this challenge?

My first summer job in college was in a robotics department working on AI, and I’ve been fascinated ever since. For years, AI lived in academia, but I always felt it would eventually become mainstream. When the opportunity came to build PepperMill, it was an instant yes. Our goal is to insulate business users from the complexity of AI—so they can focus on solving problems, not learning how the tech works. We want to be the WordPress or Squarespace of AI: making powerful tools available to everyone, not just the experts.

What are some of the biggest misconceptions you hear about AI?

The biggest one is that you need deep technical knowledge to use it. You really don’t—if you have the right tools. Another is around data security. Many people don’t realize that when they use public AI chatbots, their data can be used for training future models. At PepperMill, we’re obsessed with protecting user data and making sure our customers’ information stays secure and private.

What’s a leadership lesson you wish you’d learned earlier?

Pick your board carefully! And don’t rush hiring, especially when you’re just starting out. When you’re a younger founder, you might not know yourself as well, so you don’t know how to complement your own strengths. Take the time to reflect on what you’re good at and hire for your gaps. There’s no shame in that—everyone has them.

How do you approach building and leading teams?

It’s not just about skill sets—it’s about how people think. I look for team members who challenge each other and think at different levels. And I’ll never ask anyone to do something I wouldn’t do myself. Whether it’s a tough problem or a tedious task, I’m right there with the team.

What keeps you coming back to entrepreneurship after so many successful exits?

I love the creative process—building something special that makes a real impact for customers. There’s nothing like seeing your work change someone’s life or business for the better. That’s what keeps me going.

How do you stay grounded and inspired as a founder?

My four kids keep me busy and grounded—sometimes “grounded” is in quotes! I also love to meditate, especially in quiet moments by myself. It helps me recharge and stay focused, especially in such a fast-paced world.

What’s next for PepperMill?

We’re rolling out new suites of tools for the hospitality industry, which is so ready for technological transformation. But really, our mission is to keep making AI accessible and useful for as many industries as possible. I’m excited to see where our customers’ creativity takes us next.