Building the Backbone of Artificial Intelligence
While Silicon Valley dominates headlines in the artificial intelligence race, a Chicago-based company is quietly building the physical infrastructure that makes the AI revolution possible. Introl, founded in 2021 by former cable technician Ryan Puckett, has emerged as one of the fastest-growing companies in America by specializing in the complex installation of GPU clusters that train and run advanced AI models. The company’s explosive growth—achieving nearly 10,000 percent revenue growth over three years—demonstrates how AI infrastructure firms like Introl are riding the GPU demand wave that’s sweeping across the technology landscape.
The Pickaxe Strategy in the AI Gold Rush
Introl exemplifies the business wisdom that during a gold rush, the smartest play is often selling tools rather than digging for gold. As companies worldwide scramble to implement artificial intelligence, Introl provides the essential physical infrastructure needed to power these systems. The company designs and installs the complex networks that connect GPUs in massive data centers, deploying what CTO Blake Crosley describes as “up to 100,000 GPU units in a data center” with over 40,000 miles of fiber optic cable installed to date. This infrastructure work represents the unseen foundation of the AI ecosystem that enables everything from AI-powered interior design tools that slash costs to advanced computational research.
Bootstrapped Growth Against Industry Giants
What makes Introl’s story remarkable is its bootstrapped approach in a field dominated by well-funded competitors. While companies like CoreWeave have taken the venture capital route, Puckett built Introl through careful cash flow management and, initially, “a lot of credit card debt.” The strategy has proven spectacularly successful, with the company reaching approximately $38 million in domestic revenue last year without external funding. This growth comes amid broader technological expansion, including developments like the Malmesbury solar plant expansion to 10 MW that supports energy-intensive computing operations.
The Physical Reality of Digital Transformation
Introl’s work reveals the substantial physical requirements behind AI’s digital facade. The company doesn’t own or operate data centers but specializes in the “rack and stack” process—designing how equipment will be arranged and connected within these massive facilities. Puckett describes data centers so large that employees use golf carts to navigate them, with footprints measured in terms of how many Costco stores could fit inside. This physical scale creates logistical challenges, particularly when clients demand rapid deployment with sometimes just a week’s notice, requiring Introl to mobilize hundreds of technicians to often-remote locations.
Global Workforce Meets Local Challenges
With approximately 45-50 full-time employees and over 1,000 subcontractors, Introl maintains a flexible workforce that can deploy to data centers worldwide. This global operation faces surprisingly local challenges, including finding hotel accommodations for hundreds of staff in small towns where data centers are frequently built. The company’s work intersects with broader industrial trends, including the industry push for solar energy in South Africa and similar initiatives that power energy-hungry computing infrastructure.
Future-Proofing in an Evolving Market
Despite current booming demand, Introl leadership acknowledges the potential volatility of the AI market. Puckett admits uncertainty about how the company would pivot if GPU deployments “fell off the face of the earth,” though maintenance of existing installations could provide a pathway. Currently, about 70% of Introl’s work involves new installations, with 30% dedicated to maintaining existing sites. This balance positions the company to adapt as the market evolves, similar to how record-breaking expos boost SMME generation across technology sectors.
Confidence Amid Bubble Concerns
While some industry observers worry about an AI bubble, Introl’s CTO Blake Crosley remains optimistic about long-term growth. “From a user perspective, on the side of utilizing AI, I can only see things expanding faster in the total adoption and usage,” he notes. This confidence stems from seeing firsthand how AI infrastructure requirements continue to grow in scale and complexity, suggesting sustained demand for the company’s specialized installation services regardless of market fluctuations in the broader AI sector.
Chicago as an Emerging Tech Hub
Puckett’s deliberate choice to base Introl in Chicago rather than traditional tech centers highlights an important trend in technology geography. “There’s not a better city in the country,” Puckett says of Chicago, where he had lived during his early twenties. This Midwest location provides access to talent and resources while operating outside the competitive and cost-intensive environments of coastal tech hubs, demonstrating how innovation in AI infrastructure is spreading beyond conventional technology centers.
Based on reporting by {‘uri’: ‘inc.com’, ‘dataType’: ‘news’, ‘title’: ‘Inc.’, ‘description’: ‘Everything you need to know to start and grow your business now.’, ‘location’: {‘type’: ‘place’, ‘geoNamesId’: ‘5128581’, ‘label’: {‘eng’: ‘New York City’}, ‘population’: 8175133, ‘lat’: 40.71427, ‘long’: -74.00597, ‘country’: {‘type’: ‘country’, ‘geoNamesId’: ‘6252001’, ‘label’: {‘eng’: ‘United States’}, ‘population’: 310232863, ‘lat’: 39.76, ‘long’: -98.5, ‘area’: 9629091, ‘continent’: ‘Noth America’}}, ‘locationValidated’: False, ‘ranking’: {‘importanceRank’: 176509, ‘alexaGlobalRank’: 1973, ‘alexaCountryRank’: 1193}}. This article aggregates information from publicly available sources. All trademarks and copyrights belong to their respective owners.
