Research & Publications

Insights that shape the future of AI-native business

From playbooks to principles, our research helps businesses capture continuity, scale smarter, and exit stronger.

Ex.Brain doesn’t just build technology, we study how AI transforms enterprises. Our research and publications provide executives, operators, and investors with frameworks to act on today and prepare for tomorrow.

Featured Book

AI-Native by Design

by Dena Neek, CEO of Ex.Brain

A blueprint for leaders transitioning from AI-zero to AI-native. Written by Ex.Brain co-founder Dena Neek, this book shows executives how to design workflows, capture knowledge, and structure organizations where AI compounds value over time.

"The real advantage isn’t in adding more tools — it’s in building organizations where knowledge outlives people, systems absorb change, and AI compounds results through growth, succession, and exit."

Dena Neek

Co-Founder & CEO, Ex.Brain

What Leaders Are Saying About
AI Native by Design

"Most leaders bolt AI onto broken systems and wonder why nothing changes. Dena Neek shows why becoming AI-native requires redesigning your business from the ground up and gives you the step-by-step framework to do it before your competitors figure it out."

Nir Eyal

Bestselling author of Hooked and Indistractable

“The difference between companies that thrive and those that stall comes down to one thing: systems. AI brings this truth into sharper focus. In AI Native by Design, Dena Neek gives leaders a framework to turn AI into a source of compounding advantage. Her insights are not theory, they’re grounded in the realities of scaling businesses in disruption.”

David Cohen​

Co-Founder & CEO, Techstars

“Too many AI pilots stay trapped, disconnected from the systems that actually run a business. Dena Neek provides a way out of that trap. She ties AI directly to operations, governance, and adoption — showing leaders how to design around real friction points. For leaders ready to move past the hype and build AI capabilities that last, this book is essential.”

Rob Cimperman

Former Director, Launch Minnesota at the Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development

“The American Dream is not a slogan. It’s a practice — and Dena and Cyrus Neek embody it. What sets Dena apart is a rare mix of technical depth, systems thinking, and clarity. Paired with Cyrus’s human-centered design vision, they make progress possible. This book is the guide leaders need to step into the AI-native era with confidence.”

Shirley Romig

Chief Operating Officer, Techstars | Former VP, Lyft

Available on Amazon

A leadership guide for executives moving from AI-zero to AI-native.

White Papers

Why White Papers?

Our white papers are designed for executives and investors who need actionable, evidence-based insights, not hype. Each paper goes deep on a strategic challenge faced by enterprises adopting AI, and offers a framework to address it with continuity, security, and measurable ROI.

From Tools to Systems: Designing the AI-Native Enterprise

Why bolt-on copilots and dashboards fail, and how companies can shift from fragmented tools to system-level design. Case studies on workflows, guardrails, and compounding knowledge loops.