How We Built an AI Business Development Department

Watch the full walkthrough, then download the slide deck.

A practical look at how an AI-operated business development department is built with Airtable, Make, OpenClaw and OpenAI — where the system handles research, handoffs, updates and reporting, while humans stay focused on strategy, approvals and relationships. Watch the video below, then grab the full slide deck.

What's Inside

The operating model, architecture and closed-loop workflows behind an AI-operated business development department.

The New Operating Model

• Why handoffs between tools are the real bottleneck
• From manual handoffs to instruction, rules, agents, actions
• AI execution, system design, human oversight
• What business owners actually get: less chasing, better context

The Architecture

• Make watches and runs reliable scenarios
• OpenClaw + Codex handle agentic execution
• Airtable as the control room and source of truth
• Connected apps: Apollo, Exa, Instantly, HeyReach, Drive, Calendar

Outbound: Signal to Campaign

• Research and enrichment with Apollo and Exa
• Eligibility rules before any record moves
• Email and LinkedIn via Instantly and HeyReach
• Replies classified and written back to the CRM

Beyond Sales

• RFP standardization into approved templates
• Event research and owner-specific outreach
• Invoices and finance admin through the same controls
• A real 17-person team running on one operating layer

What you'll walk away with

• A clear model for an AI-operated BD department
• The exact Airtable + Make + OpenClaw architecture
• A closed-loop outbound system that reports itself
• A reusable pattern that extends beyond sales