ECHELON 1
Awakening
Leaders and employees truly understand what AI makes possible. Fear gives way to understanding. The first individual gains begin to emerge.
HOW WE HELP
Explore what AI can do and guide teams through their first practical uses.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE THAT SERVES YOUR BUSINESSProgress is built.
Progress is built.
One echelon at a time.
Every engagement should build or strengthen a useful capability. Progress is measured by the value it delivers.
Evolution before revolution.TAKE THE NEXT STEP
OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLESJudgment
Judgment
before technology.
We choose technologies based on their usefulness, reliability and your business constraints. We continually explore new developments and only recommend them once their relevance has been demonstrated.
It creates more value than complexity.
It addresses a real business priority.
It brings the business closer to its next echelon.
It strengthens the organization’s capabilities.
Its rationale is clear, its results can be evaluated and its limitations are understood.
It will still be a sound choice five years from now.
THE SEVEN ECHELONSYour next
Your next
echelon.
Every engagement should build or strengthen a useful capability.
ECHELON 2
Augmentation
Every employee has a copilot. AI improves quality, speed and decision-making, while the work remains essentially human.
HOW WE HELP
Set up copilots and train teams to use them in their daily work.
ECHELON 3
Transformation
Processes are redesigned. Instead of simply doing the same tasks faster, teams work differently. Tools are connected and data begins to flow.
HOW WE HELP
Redesign processes, integrate APIs, structure permissions and enable interoperability across systems.
ECHELON 4
Automation
Workflows run automatically. Systems work together. People focus primarily on exceptions and oversight.
HOW WE HELP
Build automated workflows, monitoring and exception handling.
ECHELON 5
Agentification
AI agents take on entire functions. They collaborate, use business tools and ask for help when uncertainty exceeds their defined thresholds.
HOW WE HELP
Deploy agents with the right tools, permissions and escalation mechanisms.
ECHELON 6
Learning enterprise
Human interactions help improve the system. Decisions, corrections and knowledge continually enrich the agents. Organizational memory becomes a living asset.
HOW WE HELP
Structure organizational memory and the feedback loops that improve systems.
ECHELON 7
Autonomous enterprise
The business operates as a true Enterprise OS. Physical and digital events create usable records. Agents coordinate operations, learn continuously and carry out the objectives set by leadership. People remain responsible for vision, ethics and strategic direction.
HOW WE HELP
Orchestrate agents and operations with human governance and oversight.
ABOUT — DAVID PROULX AND HIS TEAMBuilt on experience.
Built on experience.
Driven to build.
David Proulx
Artificial intelligence architect · Entrepreneur · Agent builder
David Proulx has been building technology businesses for more than 20 years. He is an artificial intelligence architect, Chief AI Officer at HoloMD and founder of Échelon 7, his AI consulting firm.
He holds several NVIDIA training certificates and a certificate from MIT Professional Education in applied agentic AI for organizational transformation. He designs AI systems deployed in critical environments and advises organizations every day.
The recipient of AQIII’s 2026 Independent Technology Consultant Award, he is also a co-founder of HoloMD, recognized at the 2025 Twilio AI Startup Searchlight Awards as one of 20 honorees worldwide selected from more than 750 applicants.
Explore David’s background on LinkedInFred Fortin
Vice President, Sales and Business Development
Fred Fortin has worked in the digital sector for more than 20 years. He ran his own web development firm for 15 years, serving marketing agencies, before joining HubSpot partner SmartBug Media. He understands the realities of small and medium-sized businesses: competing priorities, limited resources and investments that need to pay off.
At Échelon 7, he is the first point of contact for organizations ready to move from curiosity to action. He identifies their business challenges and connects them with the right solutions: training, a roadmap or AI agents, helping them reach their next echelon.
Work that earns recognition.
An individual distinction in Quebec and international recognition for HoloMD, where David is co-founder and Chief AI Officer.
Independent Technology Consultant Award
David Proulx received the 2026 award, recognizing his professional journey and work in technology.
View the recognitionAI Startup Searchlight Awards
HoloMD was selected as one of 20 honorees worldwide from more than 750 applicants. David co-developed the prototype behind the venture.
View the recognitionMental health innovation and AI-powered monitoring
HoloMD earned two US distinctions for mental health technology innovation and leadership in AI-powered remote therapeutic monitoring.
View the recognitionRecognition renewed
HoloMD was recognized again in the US for mental health technology innovation and its expertise in AI-powered remote therapeutic monitoring.
View the recognitionLearn. Build. Go deeper.
Ongoing training in agentic AI, large language models and application development, with certificates from MIT, NVIDIA and other organizations in the field.
- MIT Professional Education · 2026
Applied Agentic AI for Organizational Transformation
- NVIDIA · 2026
Building Observable and Scalable Multi-Agent Workflows for Asset Lifecycle Management
- NVIDIA · 2025
Building LLM Applications With Prompt Engineering
View Anthropic and DeepLearning.AI certificates
- Anthropic · 2026
Building with the Claude API
- Anthropic · 2026
AI Fluency for educators
- Anthropic · 2026
AI Fluency Framework & Foundations
- Anthropic · 2026
Claude Code in Action
- Anthropic · 2026
Introduction to Model Context Protocol
- DeepLearning.AI · 2026
Natural Language Processing with Probabilistic Models
University education: BBA in Finance, HEC Montréal; studies at Lund University, Sweden.
View credentials on LinkedInExpertise worth sharing.
David combines entrepreneurship, solution development and a commitment to sharing what he learns.
Échelon 7
CEO and co-founderAI consulting and support for businesses putting artificial intelligence to practical use.
HoloMD
Co-founder and Chief AI OfficerDeveloping an AI platform that supports mental health monitoring between appointments.
OneNine
Co-founder and Head of AIDesigning and developing digital products at a Montreal-based software firm.
A TEAM WORKING WITH YOU
A committed partner. A team to move you forward.
David works with a team to support your organization. Together, we connect your business priorities with what AI makes possible: setting a clear direction, building solutions and supporting adoption. Each engagement is designed to help you reach your next echelon with useful, lasting capabilities.
Let’s talk about your next echelonPodcasts and media appearances are in French.
IA-tu pensé?
Join David Proulx to explore how artificial intelligence is changing our businesses and everyday lives.
Watch on our channel↗Listen to the podcast↗dIAlogue
Conversations about the impact of artificial intelligence on professions.
Watch on our channel↗Listen on Spotify↗Commentary
David Proulx’s take on technology news, available on our own channel.
Watch the commentary↗