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Justin Massa

Justin Massa

AI strategist and entrepreneur, ex-IDEO Partner, Food Genius founder

justinmassa
Chicago, Illinois
Constantine, Michigan
Joined September 2025

Network

17.1K connections
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IDEO Design Leaders
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AI Data Innovators
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Solarea Bio Team
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Northern Illinois Food Bank
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Digital Innovators

Summary

Justin Massa is a prominent AI strategist and consultant, specializing in guiding small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to integrate generative AI for growth and efficiency. He currently leads Remix Partners, a firm dedicated to this mission, building on his previous work as owner of Midwest Quality Consulting and publisher of 'AI for SMBs Weekly.' His expertise emphasizes clear frameworks, real-world case studies, and a pragmatic approach to AI adoption, distinguishing between experimental use and impactful business integration. remixpartners+4
With a significant background in innovation and design, Justin Massa spent eight years at IDEO, rising to Partner and Executive Director of Business Development for North America. During his tenure, he played a crucial role in leading IDEO's exploration into data science's impact on design thinking, including co-leading the expansion of the data science capability after a key acquisition. His client work at IDEO focused on venture design, the intersection of data science and design, and B2B products and services. midwestquality+2
An experienced entrepreneur, Justin Massa founded and served as CEO of Food Genius Inc., a venture-backed big data and analytics company in the food industry. Under his leadership, Food Genius earned recognition as one of Entrepreneur Magazine’s “100 Brilliant Companies” and received multiple design and innovation awards. The company was acquired by USFoods in 2016 and continued to operate as an independent business unit, driving substantial incremental sales. midwestquality+3
Beyond his corporate and entrepreneurial ventures, Justin Massa is committed to social impact and mentorship. He serves as a board member for the Northern Illinois Food Bank, co-chairing its Innovation Task Force, and holds advisory roles for organizations like 1848 Ventures. Earlier in his career, he co-founded MoveSmart.org, an initiative focused on connecting housing seekers to diverse neighborhoods, and was recognized as one of Chicago's "35 Under 35" emerging civil rights leaders. midwestquality+3

Work

Education

Writing

A Leader’s Guide to Adopting AI with Confidence

November 7, 2025

An article and podcast episode where Justin Massa shares practical insights for leaders to adopt AI with purpose, foster experimentation, and lead with human-centered innovation.

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How healthcare leaders can build AI confidence and culture

October 2, 2025

An article discussing what healthcare leaders should prioritize when building AI confidence and culture within their organizations.

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Picking a Model Family

June 19, 2025

An article discussing insights on choosing the right AI model family.

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The Clean Data Myth

June 19, 2025

An article discussing the misconception of clean data in AI.

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Beyond the Hype: A Business Leader’s Guide to AI with Justin Massa

June 12, 2025

A podcast episode where Justin Massa provides frameworks, real-world case studies, and an accessible perspective on how business leaders can integrate generative AI to drive tangible value.

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Smart Customer Service

June 12, 2025

An article or media piece about smart customer service solutions.

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AI for SMBs Weekly

A newsletter published by Justin Massa, offering free, practical, and non-technical advice on how to create and capture value with generative AI for small and medium-sized businesses.

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Most people miss the point of generative AI

An article or media piece discussing the common misunderstandings of generative AI.

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How to Implement AI: Technique, Jig, or Tool?

An article or media piece on different approaches to implementing AI.

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How to Use AI as Your Own Personal Strategy Consultant

An article or media piece on leveraging AI for personal strategic consulting.

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Building an AI Strategy for SMB Leaders

An article or media piece focused on developing AI strategies for leaders of small and medium-sized businesses.

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Using Generative AI to Analyze Customer Feedback at Scale

An article or media piece on applying generative AI to scale customer feedback analysis.

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Using AI to improve your customers' experience

An article or media piece discussing the use of AI to enhance customer experience.

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