In this episode of Let’s Talk Evolution, Maria Singson, Founder and CEO of SMEMojo, shares deep insights into how startups and SMEs can strengthen their resilience and investability in an era shaped by artificial intelligence. She explains how SMEMojo’s scoring platform evaluates nearly two hundred factors using experienced executives who work closely with founders for six weeks. This approach provides investors with a clear and structured form of due diligence, especially for companies developing or adopting AI.

Maria discusses the most common gaps she sees in early-stage companies, including weak decision stress testing, limited founder self-awareness, and minimal attention to carbon impact. She also highlights the unique advantage that smaller firms have in terms of agility, while emphasizing that AI must serve as the strategic connector that supports long-term value creation.

The conversation also covers key future-proofing strategies, including building stronger data foundations, forming AI transformation pods with clear ROI, and improving carbon efficiency. Maria shares how AI is reshaping the workforce by giving younger employees more meaningful work and helping older professionals move into advisory roles through AI literacy. She encourages companies to rethink HR, support intrapreneurship, and evolve workplace culture to keep pace with rapid technological change.

This episode is perfect for founders, SME leaders, and professionals wanting to understand how AI, resilience, and investability come together to shape the next generation of business growth.