Today we’d like to introduce you to De’Lon Dixon.
Hi De’Lon, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My path into technology really started with people. I studied Industrial and Organizational Psychology with a strong focus on behavioral science and behavioral engineering, which trained me to understand how people think, decide, and act within systems. That background taught me how to design research studies, analyze complex data, and, most importantly, tell clear and meaningful stories with data that lead to better decisions.
Early in my career, I was deeply involved in applied research. I’ve published three research papers in traffic safety, where the goal wasn’t just academic insight, but real-world behavior change and risk reduction. I also worked on behavioral research initiatives around recycling with Better Made, studying how environmental design, messaging, and incentives influence everyday decision-making. Those experiences shaped how I approach technology today, not as something abstract, but as a tool that should guide behavior in measurable and responsible ways.
As my career progressed, I moved into analytics, product, and customer experience roles, working closely with large enterprise organizations. There, I saw how powerful advanced analytics, AI, and well-designed systems could be when paired with strong behavioral insight. I also saw something that stayed with me. Large companies had access to innovation, resources, and experimentation at a scale that small and midsize businesses rarely could.
That realization became a turning point. While working with enterprise teams, I increasingly felt called to bring that same level of innovation and opportunity to small businesses and startups, particularly in Detroit. Many SMBs had the ambition and creativity, but not the infrastructure, strategy, or support needed to adopt modern technology effectively.
That gap is what led me to found Think Technologies. The company was built on the belief that AI should be practical, human-centered, and accessible, not reserved only for the largest organizations. Our work blends AI, analytics, product strategy, and behavioral science to help SMBs and growing startups move from curiosity to real adoption and impact.
Building Think Technologies has come with its share of challenges, especially in a space evolving as quickly as AI. But those challenges have reinforced why the work matters. Today, we operate at the intersection of technology, creativity and community impact. Alongside client work, we invest heavily in education, mentorship, and local innovation initiatives to help Detroit’s business and startup ecosystem grow confidently into the future.
Where I am today feels like a natural extension of my early research work, just applied at a broader scale. I’m still focused on understanding behavior, telling meaningful stories with data, and building systems that create real opportunity. The goal has always been the same: to make powerful technology accessible and to ensure innovation works for people, not just platforms.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Early on, one of the biggest challenges was credibility. AI was still very new for many organizations, and as a young company, it was difficult to land larger deals without an established track record, even though I had already helped build and deploy advanced AI tools at the enterprise level. Translating that experience into trust for a new brand took time.
Another challenge was deciding how much to share and how to position our work. We were doing powerful, meaningful projects, but finding the right way to communicate that value, especially to non-technical audiences, required a lot of iteration and learning.
What ultimately made the difference was consistency. We showed up everywhere. We attended and hosted AI events, spent time educating people, and often helped individuals and organizations for free early on. Teaching, sharing knowledge, and being visible in the community allowed people to see our expertise firsthand. Over time, that consistency helped us build a reputation as leaders in the space, especially in Detroit.
In the early stages, we also took on projects at very low cost, and sometimes close to free, simply to prove we could deliver high-quality work. While that was challenging financially, it allowed us to build real case studies, relationships, and trust, which became the foundation for long-term growth.
Raising capital was another hurdle. We explored fundraising but quickly realized it would pull focus away from building and serving our clients. Ultimately, we made the decision to bootstrap the company. That choice forced discipline, creativity, and focus, but it also gave us control over our vision and allowed us to grow sustainably on our own terms.
Looking back, those challenges shaped how we operate today. They taught us the value of patience, community, and execution. Every obstacle reinforced the importance of showing up consistently, delivering real value, and letting the work speak for itself.
We’ve been impressed with Think Technologies , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Think Technologies is an AI and data agency that helps SMBs, startups and growing organizations design, build, and scale intelligent systems. Our work spans AI strategy, AI Ops, and AI product design, allowing us to support clients from early exploration through full production and long-term adoption.
What sets us apart is our human-centered approach. Instead of starting with tools, we start with behavior. We analyze how people interact with systems, where friction exists, and how data and AI can guide better decisions and outcomes. This approach allows us to design AI products that are not only technically sound, but intuitive, usable, and sustainable.
As an official service partner with OpenAI, we help organizations responsibly leverage leading AI models while prioritizing privacy, security, and long-term value. We support everything from MVP development and proof-of-concept work to fully enterprise-ready platforms, with strong emphasis on AI Ops, including monitoring, governance, model lifecycle management, and operational reliability.
A core focus of our work is building systems, not one-off tools. Through thoughtful AI product design, we create platforms that connect data, analytics, and AI into cohesive workflows. This allows startups to move quickly while giving larger organizations the structure they need to scale without creating technical debt or operational complexity.
We are especially proud of our commitment to accessibility and community impact. While many firms focus exclusively on large enterprises, Think Technologies was built to bring the same level of innovation and opportunity to SMBs and startups, particularly in Detroit. We invest heavily in education, mentorship, and hands-on enablement so teams feel empowered rather than overwhelmed by emerging technology.
At its core, Think Technologies stands for clarity, integrity, and execution. We don’t oversell AI or chase trends. Our goal is to help organizations build durable AI systems, operationalize data-driven decision-making, and turn innovation into real, measurable impact.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
The quality that has mattered most to my success is how I treat people. I’ve always believed that kindness, respect, and honesty create better outcomes than ego or intimidation. When people feel valued and heard, they show up differently, and that has shaped every team, partnership, and company I’ve been part of.
Equally important is not being afraid to experiment. Nearly everything meaningful I’ve worked on started as an idea that felt uncertain or unproven. Innovation rarely comes from playing it safe. It comes from being willing to try something new, learn quickly, and adjust without letting fear get in the way.
I’ve learned that the combination of respect and curiosity creates momentum. Treat people well, give them room to explore ideas, and you unlock creativity and trust at the same time. That mindset has guided how I build teams, work with clients, and approach new challenges.
At the end of the day, every breakthrough begins with someone being willing to try what hasn’t been done before. I’ve never lost sight of that, and it continues to shape how I define success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.think-technologies.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/think._.technologies/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThinkTechnologies/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/think-technologies
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Think-Technologies
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/delon_dixon0/
