Built by an operator who has started over three times.
I'm Barack Ashtari, founder of LeverageFirst. I build AI systems that answer the call and follow up, I direct AI video ads for businesses, and I teach AI: Claude Code workflows and skills, prompting, and AI image and video.
- 20+ yearsin sales leadership
- 140 peopleon the sales team I personally led
- 1,000+ clientsserved across my sales career
- 5.0★average rating on Google for LeverageFirst
The short version
Materials science & metallurgical engineering
I started my career as an engineer in materials science and metallurgy.
9+ years as a Master Instructor
I left engineering behind and built a completely different life in Thailand, training divers and dive instructors.
Financial services, from scratch
I immigrated and started over again, first in Toronto and then in Vancouver, building a financial services business from scratch.
LeverageFirst
AI automation, AI video ads, an AI app, and AI training, all under one roof.
What I do today
AI systems for service businesses
AI receptionists, missed-call text-back, and follow-up that answer every lead. Clients include Cando Insurance in Downtown Vancouver.
See the systems → StudioAI video ads, made for you
I direct AI video ads, product commercials, and listing videos for businesses like ComForCare Coquitlam, Alpha Child Therapy, and Jolly & Joy Club.
See the Studio → AI Studio appMake it yourself
A web app I built that turns your photos into listing tours, UGC-style ads, product images, and one-photo template videos. You see the price before you create, pay per creation, and start with one free image. No subscription.
Try AI Studio →Learn to do it
I teach the workflows I use every day: Claude Code workflows and skills, prompting, and AI image and video. Courses, private coaching, and workshops. The first course turns listing photos into a property video, and Lesson 1 is free.
Start the course → · Book coaching →“I’m very happy with the video and ad you created for me. The work was professional, creative, and exactly what I was looking for. Thank you for the great work!”
Every automation build is scoped to your industry and agreed in writing, live in 7 days or the first month is free, with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Why I built LeverageFirst
I built this because I was sick of trading time for income and watching other business owners do the same.
Every time I started over, in a new country, a new career, or a new industry, I learned the same thing: your past experience isn't something you leave behind. It's something you build on. Twenty years in sales showed me where businesses actually lose money. LeverageFirst puts systems on those leaks.
What I believe
- Most service businesses still try to win by working harder, hiring more people, and doing everything by hand. That model is broken.
- The future belongs to owners who build systems, use AI well, and stop depending on constant human effort for every small task.
- AI won't replace real relationships. But businesses that refuse to use it will fall behind the ones that do.
Where I work
Home base is West Vancouver. I work with businesses in West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Burnaby, and across British Columbia, and with clients abroad, including the US, Thailand, Austria, and Romania. Setup, training, and support run over video and phone.