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High Rise InfluenceThe AI Builder ProgramFit check

The AI Builder Program

We train young adults to make the phone ring for local businesses, with AI.

They start with one real business, often a parent’s. They use AI to run its videos, ads and Google presence, and they prove it with phone calls. The best go on to build agencies, software and real careers.

I’m a young adult Build skills, clients and a career I’m a parent See what your $7,500 buys

Run a business or a company? There’s a founder path too.

$7,500 one time not monthly apply with a one-minute video

Dennis Yu, Dylan Haugen and Jack Wendt on stage at DigiMarCon — Dennis Yu, Dylan Haugen and Jack Wendt

Cam Hazzard mid-air, dunking a basketball — Cam Hazzard

Marko Sipilä and Dennis Yu sitting side by side for a recorded interview — Marko Sipilä with Dennis

George Paladichuk and Dennis Yu taking a selfie over dinner — George Paladichuk with Dennis

$1.5MCaptured in 30 days for one franchise client by George Paladichuk’s AI call center, NaiL AI 300+Contractors use Marko Sipilä’s HVAC Quote AI $500K+Booked in one season for the Christmas-light companies Ethan Murphy runs ads for +37%One tree-service client’s revenue in a year, with Jacob Hastings’s Growth Ring Media

Results from the builders’ own pages and press. Individual results, not promises.

Why it works

It’s not just that they’re good with phones. It’s focus.

Young adults do pick up AI fast. Most grew up with a phone in their pocket and already use AI for something. But the bigger reason they win is that this can be their main thing.

Most local service business owners are over 50, and many don’t want to learn AI. Often they’re nervous to try. They’d rather have a young adult handle it. We work in HVAC, roofing, landscaping, fencing, concrete coatings, appliance repair and more, and we have more work than people to do it.

Choose your path

Three ways in. One program.

Same coaching, same standards, same one-time $7,500. What changes is your job in it.

Most builders

Young adults

Pick one industry, like roofers or plumbers. Start with one client. Prove it with phone calls. Then grow.

Weekly live coaching and a weekly report
AI agents, video, ads and Google, in plain English
Paid path, or a hire path if you can already show public proof

Young adult path

Who usually pays

Parents

You invest once. Your son or daughter does the work, often starting with your business.

You can read their weekly report
Results are measured in phone calls, not grades
No sales calls, no tours, no babysitting

Same program, different path

Founders and owners

You probably won’t start a one-industry agency. You’ll put AI agents to work in your own company, or put a young adult in the seat.

An honest look at the time it takes
Four ways to bring AI into your business
Same $7,500, one time

Proof

Builders who did it

These are real people we’ve coached. Each one started small, often with one client. Every story links to a video or a source you can check.

George Paladichuk and Dennis Yu taking a selfie over dinner

George Paladichuk

Founder, NaiL AI

George was a college student when he messaged Dennis after a Facebook post about the program, expecting the usual pitch. In George’s telling, Dennis said: “I don’t need you in this program. It works for the people who actually do the work.” George joined anyway. His first agency, Gutterwise Marketing, was bought in 2025.

His AI call center, NaiL AI, now answers calls for 100+ locations

For one franchise client, NaiL captured almost $1.5 million in 30 days. He grew it to 60 clients in a year with no sales reps and no cold calls.

Watch: George Paladichuk on joining the AI Builder ProgramMar 2026 georgepaladichuk.com

Marko Sipilä and Dennis Yu sitting side by side for a recorded interview

Marko Sipilä

Founder & CEO, HVAC Quote AI

Marko started a marketing agency in high school. It was bought and merged into ServiceLegend, where he became CMO and a co-founder. He also founded CoatingLaunch and HVAC Quote AI.

HVAC Quote AI is used by 300+ HVAC, plumbing and electrical contractors

He co-taught a 77-minute Dollar a Day class for contractors with Dennis in 2023.

He’s helped me dramatically get in the right rooms, talk to the right business owners… He’s personally helped me grow my companies.
Facebook video

Watch: When someone you respect explains your impact: Marko SipiläApr 2026 markosipila.com

Cam Hazzard and Dennis Yu sitting down together for an interview

Cam Hazzard

DunkMan World Champion · AI builder

Shaq hand-picked Cam as one of 24 dunkers to compete for $500,000 on TNT. Off the court, he built a Claude agent that finds positive mentions of a person, scores them and updates their website, without writing code.

Won the 2026 DunkMan World Championship and its $500,000 prize

He’s a senior at Abilene Christian University, and he teaches business owners to use AI agents alongside Dylan Haugen.

Watch: Meet Cam Hazzard, one of the 24 best dunkers in the worldJun 2026 camhazzard.com

Dylan Haugen dunking at the DunkMan event in Atlanta

Dylan Haugen

AI builder · co-author, How to Get a Google Knowledge Panel

Dylan was 17, a pro dunker who had made videos for years. He says he knew absolutely nothing about AI. Within his first year he was setting up AI for real businesses, earned his own Google Knowledge Panel and launched his personal brand site.

Built Cam Hazzard’s personal-brand website

At 18 he competed in Shaq’s DunkMan League. He gave his first conference talk next to Dennis at the ALIGN Volleyball Summit.

Watch: Secrets to building a personal brand with Dylan HaugenMar 2025 dylan-haugen.com

Dennis Yu, Dylan Haugen and Jack Wendt on stage at DigiMarCon

Jack Wendt

Founded High Rise Influence

Jack started reselling watches at 12. He never went to college. He learned on church camera crews and in an unpaid internship, then learned digital marketing in about 18 months.

Went from zero experience to running his own agency, then founded High Rise Influence

He joined the Army National Guard at 18. In basic training he shared his food with everyone, and his platoon went from second-to-worst to the best.

Watch: The easiest way for young adults to start in digital marketing, with Jack WendtApr 2025 jackwendt.com

Ethan Murphy smiling at the beach

Ethan Murphy

AI builder, Louisville, Kentucky

Ethan started with his dad’s landscaping and Christmas-lights business. He used AI to run its Facebook ads, Google Business Profile and Local Services Ads, faster than doing it by hand. He wrote down everything he did, so his AI agents could repeat it.

Ran ads for 12+ Christmas-light installers: more than $500,000 in booked installs in one season

Leads cost under $20 each across seven Georgia markets. He also co-wrote the book Mow Money with Anthony Hilb.

Source: case study, Nov 2025

See all the stories

How it works

What happens after you’re in

Apply with one minute of video

No 400-question test. Record a minute about anything, post it on YouTube and send us the link.
Start with one client

Often a parent’s business. Think of it as running an agency with one client.
Get coached every week

Live calls, plus a weekly Metrics, Analysis, Action report, so we can coach you without playing 20 questions.
Prove it, then repeat

You “graduate” when tracked phone calls show up for a live client. Then you do it again for the next one.

How we work

We run this like an emergency room, not a hospital tour.

What we look for

Self-driven problem solvers who don’t wait to be told
People who can explain a problem clearly in words, especially to an AI
Steady communication: you reply within a day and you write down what you did
Coachable: you follow the system first, then help us improve it
Comfortable with ambiguity and risk. This is harder than a job

What we avoid

People who wait to be chased down
Anyone who won’t record a one-minute video
Arguing with the system before trying it
Looking for a two-hour-a-day escape from a boss you hate
Wanting a sales call or a tour before deciding

This isn’t one-on-one consulting with Dennis. He isn’t a freelancer for hire. You join a team: Dennis, Dylan Haugen, the other builders and the AI agents we use every day.

Take the fit check Read the FAQ

In their words

What people who’ve worked with us say

Exact words, with links to where each one said it.

Dennis Yu is an amazing person. He invests in helping others… if you ever get a chance to work with or work for Dennis, I strongly advocate on his behalf.

Mike StelznerFounder, Social Media Examiner · Facebook video

One of the top digital marketing Jedi Masters, if you will, of our time. I was just looking at the participant count and it literally did not drop…

Jeff NiebaumHost, Better Business Bureau workshop · BBB workshop, Jun 2020

I am literally on the stage at Traffic and Conversion because Dennis has given me opportunities to not only learn from him, but… actually travel and get speaking opportunities to speak in front of hundreds of people.

Caleb GuilliamsFounder & CEO, BetterWealth · YouTube, May 2026

Dennis, over and over, just extended his time, his knowledge, created more opportunity for me than anyone that I’ve met.

David CarrollFounder & CEO, DOPE Marketing · YouTube

Dennis is one of the most practical AI practitioners I’ve met. Extremely generous with what he knows. Hands-on. No fluff. And honestly, an inspiration.

Chan Leong TengSkribble · LinkedIn, Oct 2026

And your advice has landed us 2 deals in this past week… I’m very blessed to have a great mentor like you, Dennis.

Justin SonnenreichFounder & CEO, MarkitAds · YouTube, Aug 2026

We practice what we teach: we collect proof and publish it. See more in our public libraries: dennisyu.com/mentions (85+ named mentions) · High-powered positive mentions (200+ records with sources).

Lighthouses

Home-service giants who know our work

Respected names in home services. Exact words are marked as quotes. Appearances say only what happened, with a link.

Dan AntonelliFounder & President, KickCharge Creative · He says it at 35:58

Tommy MelloFounder, A1 Garage Door Service · host, The Home Service Expert · The Home Service Expert, Ep. 112

Appearance

Jason runs Power Crew and the Operations Mastery Lab. Dennis joined his workshop for home-service operators near Broomfield, Colorado, in August 2026, then hiked Mt Bierstadt with him.

Jason AmatoHome Services Hall of Fame inductee · jasongamato.com · Dennis’s write-up

Ready? Take the two-minute fit check.

If it’s a fit, you’ll record a one-minute video. If you’re not sure yet, the courses are free.

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