This Billionaire Reveals the #1 Business to Start in 2025 and How AI Helped Him Make $500 Million in One Year

At 42, John wasn’t a tech founder or a college graduate. He was a mechanic with no formal degree, just hard-earned experience and determination.

Today, he runs a billion-dollar company that supplies generators and heavy equipment across the globe. In 2025 alone, his business brought in $500 million in revenue.

How? By tapping into one of the biggest business opportunities of the decade: powering the data centers that run artificial intelligence.

In a recent interview with The School of Hard Knocks, John shared how he scaled up from local operations to supplying global infrastructure for the AI revolution.

“AI Is the New Industrial Revolution”

According to John, every AI tool, chatbot, or search engine relies on enormous computing power. That power comes from data centers, and those data centers need reliable energy.

“Do an AI search and it uses ten times the power of a Google search,” John explains. “That creates a huge demand for standby power.”

That demand is where John’s business thrives. His company sells and services industrial generators that keep data centers online. As AI adoption increases, so does his revenue.

“It’s not about building apps,” he says. “It’s about supplying the systems that keep them running.”

The Secret Behind a $250 Million Deal

One of John’s biggest wins was closing a single $250 million order with a major client. His strategy didn’t involve complex sales tactics or aggressive pitches.

It came down to one thing: building trust.

He focused on long-term relationships, taking time to understand the client’s world. Sometimes that meant going out for dinner. Other times, it meant weekend trips or even helicopter hog hunting with oil executives.

“Different clients need different things,” he says. “If you show up in a suit in Midland, Texas, you’ll lose the deal. But in New York, the suit matters.”

John reads the room. He studies the person. And he meets them where they are.

Why Transparency is His Superpower

When asked what sets him apart as a business owner, John gave a surprising answer: communication.

Specifically, transparency.

His office door is made of glass, intentionally. “I want my team to see what’s happening. No secrets. No drama. If there are changes coming, they hear it from me first.”

This kind of openness builds loyalty. Employees feel involved, not left in the dark. Whether it’s a new financing round or a shift in direction, he keeps them in the loop with town halls and company updates.

“When people feel safe, they perform better,” he says.

Getting Into the Business—No Tech Background Required

John didn’t start out with a vision to dominate the AI infrastructure space. He just paid attention to where the world was going and found a way to supply what it needed.

You don’t need a tech background to enter this space. According to John, what matters is your ability to learn, build relationships, and scale operations.

His advice:

• Understand what powers the digital world. Then figure out how to supply it.
• Know your customers well enough to make them feel comfortable doing business with you.
• Be clear, available, and trustworthy in how you lead.

Final Thought

AI is creating massive demand. But not just for software. It needs power, hardware, and infrastructure. John saw that early and built a business around it.

While the world chases the next flashy tech product, he’s supplying the fuel that keeps it all going.

“You don’t have to build the next app to get rich,” he says. “You just have to understand what the app needs to survive—and be the one who delivers it.”