In this episode of Founders’ Tales, Dale Thomas, CEO and President of Digital Plastics, shares his journey from earning a PhD at MIT to building multiple technology companies at the intersection of AI, engineering, and sustainability. Drawing on his background in chemical manufacturing and venture capital, Dale explains how Digital Plastics is using AI to modernize technical sales in the plastics industry through an intelligent e-commerce marketplace powered by Hermann AI.

Dale walks through how the original idea was sparked by recognizing industries that could benefit from AI but were often overlooked. What began as an effort to help buyers understand the environmental impact of plastics purchasing decisions has grown into a much broader platform that supports safer products, reduced reliance on metals, and better material choices across everyday applications.

He also discusses how the product evolved from an early MVP with minimal code into a full-scale marketplace by identifying where large language models struggle with technical and engineering questions. This insight allowed Digital Plastics to build a competitive advantage by delivering more accurate, lower-hallucination answers for complex engineering use cases.

Beyond the product, Dale shares hard-earned lessons about transitioning from technologist to founder, building trust with customers, delegating effectively as a CEO, and assembling the right board to support long-term growth. He reflects on hiring for true startup DNA, navigating the Boston startup ecosystem, and maintaining personal resilience through exercise and routine.

This conversation offers practical insights for founders, engineers, and operators who are building AI-driven companies in deeply technical industries.