From Air Force to Tech Guru: Li Dai Backs Non-Tech Founders

In the ever-evolving world of technology, non-technical founders often face enormous challenges in building their software products from the ground up. Li Dai, a New York-based technology consultant and entrepreneur, has made it his mission to help these founders navigate the intricacies of software development with limited resources and access to top engineering talent. His journey from the US Air Force to becoming a successful Silicon Valley architect and founder of a consulting firm is not only inspiring, but also a testament to his belief in the convergence of technology and innovation.

Entering Technology: A Journey Rooted in Resilience

Li Dai’s career is unconventional and inspiring. After serving in the Air Force, he understood that the 21st century is defined by technology and innovation. This realization led him to move into the technology industry, starting as a software engineer at Fidelity Investments, a leading pension fund company, and later joining White Ops, a renowned bot detection company.

As he honed his technical skills, Li decided to pivot into roles that combined technology with customer-facing problem-solving. This led him to become a solutions architect at Confluent, a leading event streaming company, and later at Vendia, a well-funded startup. It was during this time that he began his entrepreneurial journey, gaining acceptance from prestigious accelerators such as Antler and eventually founding Universe without code.

The Birth of Codeless Universe: A Vision to Help Non-Tech Founders

The idea for Codeless Universe came to fruition after Li spent years helping founders—often for free—through volunteer consulting and engineering. The biggest challenge he faced was gaining trust. “How are we different from other so-called world-class service providers or top-tier engineering resources?” Li asked himself. The answer was to demonstrate ability before asking for payment. By offering free consulting and even engineering, he gained the trust of his customers.

“I wanted to create a platform that would truly add value to our customers by providing the best engineering services even on a tight budget,” says Li. “Engineering is expensive, and our goal is to make every dollar count for our customers.”

Important achievements and milestones

Under the leadership of Li Dai, Universe without code achieved several remarkable milestones that underscore his innovative approach to technology consulting. One of his major accomplishments was taking over the engineering team at Growth Channel, where he overhauled the onboarding process and redesigned the entire infrastructure, ultimately helping the company secure a $1.2 million investment. Similarly, he led the team that supported Bared Monkey’s technology transformation by building a custom CRM platform and integrating AI solutions, with the goal of reducing human labor costs by up to 80%. Additionally, Li positioned Codeless Universe as an early adopter partner for Brandklout, where they focused on growing customers’ online presence on platforms like Google, Facebook, and Yelp, ensuring the best possible reviews.

Li’s accomplishments also include developing an optimized routing application for WarpX’s last-mile delivery operations and successfully integrating it with major logistics partners such as Temu, which is expected to add over $8,000 to the company’s monthly revenue. Demonstrating his ability to work under strict constraints, he also led the development of Spry Forward’s Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in less than three months, despite the founder’s limited resources. These accomplishments reflect Li’s ability to create customized, effective solutions for his clients, always driven by a commitment to quality and ingenuity.

Codeless Universe: An innovative business model

Initially intended as a manufacturing company, Codeless Universe has pivoted toward becoming a service provider to ensure sustainable growth. It specializes in custom software development and hires globally distributed engineering talent, vetted through a rigorous process created by Li and his team. By recruiting non-English-speaking engineers and pairing them with bilingual project managers, Codeless Universe effectively reduces costs for clients while maintaining high quality standards.

For Li, trust is the foundation of his brand. “Trust is built on quality. Quality is built on our talent,” he says, summing up Codeless Universe’s core values. His unique combination of experience as a bilingual engineer and architect, combined with his understanding of the constraints of startups, sets him apart from the competition.

Inspiring others: a mission based on overcoming adversity

Li’s story is one of transformation and resilience. “I want to show people that it’s never too late to change your life,” he says. His background is far from typical for a tech entrepreneur. Li graduated from college a decade later than expected, had no clear goals or motivations until he was 23, and was deeply in debt before he joined the military. “If I can survive here without any connections and with a difficult background, anyone can.”

Through her success, Li wants to inspire those from less fortunate backgrounds to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams, regardless of their circumstances. “Words are cheap,” she says. “Having been successful in both my career and my entrepreneurial journey, I want my actions and story to inspire others.”

Looking to the Future: Technology Convergence

Li isn’t fooled by the hype surrounding specific technologies, but believes in their convergence. “I envision a future where we’re using VR/AR and AI glasses to build things like castles in front of us, combining technologies like VR/AR, AI, low-code/no-code solutions, and voice recognition,” he explains. Codeless Universe is preparing to thrive in this environment, ensuring they’re ready for the seamless integration of these converging technologies.

A Lesson in Life from Li Dai

“If you want something you’ve never had, you have to do something you’ve never done.” That’s the mantra that has guided Li throughout his career and entrepreneurial journey, and it’s a lesson he hopes to share with others around the world.

Li Dai’s journey from the US Air Force to becoming a Silicon Valley technology architect and consultant is one of determination, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to helping non-technical founders succeed. Through Codeless Universe, he continues to build a future where technology is accessible, affordable, and effective for everyone, regardless of their background or resources.