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Startup Hustle

Startup Hustle is a podcast for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs. With the mission of telling the real story of startups and entrepreneurs, topics range from funding to failure and beyond. If you want to start, own, or build a business then you're in the right place.

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#1382
Thursday · 31 min
Just Because You Can Build It Doesn’t Mean You Should
“Building your own software is like adopting a puppy. Most companies don’t want to adopt a whole litter of them, they buy software to eliminate problems, not create new ones.” I talked with Spencer Thomason, founder and CEO of StartupHakk, on Startup Hustle this week. Spencer runs a three-headed beast: a YouTube channel pulling millions of views a year, a licensed apprenticeship that trains developers from zero, and a consulting shop now spinning off its own AI products. Here’s what you’ll get out of it: ⚡ Why AI made writing code the easy part, and why security, hosting, and maintaining large codebases are now the real work ⚡ The “adopting a puppy” test for when to build vs. buy, and why Full Scale moved to HubSpot instead of rolling its own ⚡ Why we’re at “the PC moment all over again,” with every boardroom demanding AI and nobody sure how to integrate it ⚡ Why small, local models are becoming a commodity, and how Spencer runs a 90-billion-parameter model on an eight-year-old GPU ⚡ The data-privacy reckoning he predicts for regulated industries, and why some clients will never put data in the cloud If you’re building software, running a consulting shop, or figuring out how to actually use AI, this one is worth your time. Listen to the Startup Hustle podcast anywhere you listen to podcasts! ⏱️ Episode Breakdown 00:31 Meet Spencer Thomason and Startup Hack 02:32 A business spanning training, consulting, and products 04:52 Open Mono Agent and the push to build with AI 07:29 Why code generation isn’t the hard part anymore 10:47 Building secure AI workflows for small law firms 12:50 AI prototypes create demand for software expertise 16:23 Who can actually get value from AI tools? 18:54 Local models, privacy, and avoiding vendor lock-in 20:32 Running AI on consumer and older GPUs 23:55 Private infrastructure and potential legal risks 25:11 The pace of AI and the risk of burnout 27:06 Models become commodities as AI moves into hardware 29:02 Spencer’s advice: start using AI Links & Resources Connect with Spencer Thomason on LinkedIn StartupHakk - https://www.startuphakk.com/ Open Mono Agent (free, open source) - https://openmonoagent.ai/ Full Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordably If you’re trying to get your team out of the basement and into real product ownership, this episode is your playbook. Stop being a ticket factory. Build teams that think, create, and lead.
#1381
October 1 · 23 min
Building the Ramp of the Philippines: Fintech for the Underbanked
"There are eight digital banks trying to build the Chime of the Philippines. No one's building the Ramp or the Brex. That's the opportunity." I talked with Zach Marks, founder and CEO of Jia, on Startup Hustle this week. Jia is building modern digital banking for small businesses in emerging markets, starting in the Philippines, powered by an AI credit engine that turns messy, handwritten paperwork into an underwriting decision in minutes instead of weeks. Here's what you'll get out of it: ⚡ Why small businesses in emerging markets are so underserved, and why banks there take zero risk while asking founders to put their house up as collateral ⚡ How Zach went from teaching English and befriending samosa vendors in India to launching fintech markets across 15+ countries ⚡ How Jia's AI credit engine cuts a three-week manual underwriting file down to minutes, with a low non-performing loan rate ⚡ The real story of doing business in the Philippines, from BIR shakedowns to why the best local talent still beats every other emerging market ⚡ Why building a strong local culture and hiring leaders who embody it matters more than anything when you hire abroad If you're building in fintech, emerging markets, or with an offshore team, this one is worth your time. Listen to the Startup Hustle podcast anywhere you listen to podcasts! ⏱️ Episode Breakdown 01:16 Introduction and Guest Background 02:20 Starting in Construction and Key Clients 03:24 The Inspiration Behind the Book 04:23 Early Life Challenges and Lessons Learned 07:03 Common Entrepreneurial Traits and Backgrounds 09:38 Key Lessons from the Book 10:27 Business Lessons for Tech Entrepreneurs 11:55 Impact of AI on Construction and Design 13:50 Acquiring Big Name Clients and Referrals 16:24 Building a Scalable Business Model 18:24 The Power of Case Studies and Content Marketing 20:05 Showcasing Work Through Content and Videos 24:00 Final Advice and Closing Remarks Links & Resources Connect with Zach Marks on LinkedIn Jia - https://jia.xyz/ Full Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordably If you're trying to get your team out of the basement and into real product ownership, this episode is your playbook. Stop being a ticket factory. Build teams that think, create, and lead. Unlock working capital with Jia
#1380
August 20 · 26 min
Nothing to Lose: What Really Drives Entrepreneurs
"There's no magical growth lever. You just do a good job, every day, for 23 years, and the referrals do the rest." I talked with Matt Watts, founder of MWA Projects and author of Made With Ambition, on Startup Hustle this week. Matt designs and builds some of the most striking commercial spaces in the world, from Jimmy Choo's London HQ to Nike showrooms, Net-a-Porter, and a new lounge for Netflix. Here's what you'll get out of it: ⚡ Why there's no magic growth lever, and how one great job snowballed into Nike, Hermès, ASOS, and Stella McCartney through pure referral ⚡ How a difficult childhood and a bitter divorce shaped the risk appetite so many entrepreneurs share, playing not to lose instead of playing to win ⚡ The AI horror story where a tool invented 10 years of Harrods experience for his head of facilities "because it thought it sounded better" ⚡ Why case studies are the mistake too many founders skip, and how showing beats telling in a visual business ⚡ Why the CEO has to drive the marketing, and why "TikTok next week" is now on the agenda ⏱️ Episode Breakdown 00:48 Introduction and Guest Background 01:52 Starting in Construction and Key Clients 03:18 The Inspiration Behind the Book 03:55 Early Life Challenges and Lessons Learned 06:35 Common Entrepreneurial Traits and Backgrounds 09:09 Key Lessons from the Book 09:59 Business Lessons for Tech Entrepreneurs 11:27 Impact of AI on Construction and Design 13:22 Acquiring Big Name Clients and Referrals 15:56 Building a Scalable Business Model 17:56 The Power of Case Studies and Content Marketing 19:37 Showcasing Work Through Content and Videos 23:32 Final Advice and Closing Remarks Links & Resources Connect with Matt Watts on LinkedIn Website: MWA Projects What Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025 Subscribe to the Global Talent Sprint Full Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordably If you're building a business the slow, durable way, this one is worth your time. Listen to the Startup Hustle podcast anywhere you listen to podcasts!
#1379
August 13 · 48 min
The 2026 State of IT Staffing: Trends in Hiring, AI, and Offshore
"Both things are true. Software jobs are projected to grow 15%, and 74% of employers say they can't fill the roles. That's the whole story of IT staffing in 2026." This week on Startup Hustle, Matt Brown, Full Scale's head of marketing, put me in the guest chair to walk through our new State of IT Staffing report, a data-heavy look at where tech hiring actually stands heading into 2026. Here's what you'll get out of it: ⚡ The 2026 paradox, why the field isn't shrinking but the entry ramp into it is breaking, with new-grad hiring down 65% at big tech ⚡ Why the job shifted from "engineering" back to "development," and why AI made product thinking the scarce skill ⚡ Why AI sped up the typing but left the judgment exactly as hard, so the value moved to senior people ⚡ Why retention is the number the industry can't fake, and why AI turned it from nice-to-have into the whole game ⚡ Why software has never been cheaper to build, and why that's a reason to build more, not cut If you're hiring engineers, leading a team, or building a career in software, this one is worth your time. ⏱️ Episode Breakdown 00:33 Introduction and overview of the episode 02:39 Full scale's employee satisfaction and recognition 05:30 The impact of AI on software development roles 10:40 The 2026 paradox: job growth vs. role filling 15:35 The importance of product thinking and customer feedback 20:36 Decoupling headcount from output with AI 25:21 Remote work, location independence, and cultural shifts 30:37 Running engineering teams in 2026 and beyond 35:35 The need for strategic focus and organizational agility 40:37 Conclusion and key takeaways from the episode Links & Resources Read the full report - [https://fullscale.io/blog/state-of-it-staffing/ Full Scale(https://fullscale.io/blog/state-of-it-staffing) – Build your dev team quickly and affordably What Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025 Subscribe to the Global Talent Sprint If you're trying to get your team out of the basement and into real product ownership, this episode is your playbook. Stop being a ticket factory. Build teams that think, create, and lead.
#1378
August 6 · 36 min
Why AI Made Software Engineers More Human
"AI scribes are just a feature. The record of clinical judgment is the moat." I talked with Kush Shah, founder and CEO of Noted Dent, on Startup Hustle this week. Noted Dent uses AI to handle clinical documentation for dentists, so practitioners aren't stuck writing notes at 11pm or on the weekend, and so they're covered when the auditors and health funds come knocking. Here's what you'll get out of it: ⚡ Why vibe coding gets you to an MVP and no further, and why Kush deleted 8,000 lines of AI-generated code in three months ⚡ Why the job of a software engineer has changed, and how AI has actually made it more human ⚡ Why demand, not product, is the hardest thing in any business, even eight years in ⚡ Why startups are the best place for young engineers to learn, and why job-title silos hold them back ⚡ What actually makes the leap to CEO so hard when you come from a technical background If you're a technical founder, an engineer eyeing your next move, or anyone building in a regulated space, this one is worth your time. Listen to the Startup Hustle podcast anywhere you listen to podcasts! ⏱️ Episode Breakdown 01:06 Introduction and Anthony Jackson's background 02:47 Is software development dead again? 03:48 The impact of AI on coding and human judgment 04:41 The importance of responsibility in software development 06:33 The challenge of product management and customer feedback 10:52 Transitioning from individual contributor to manager 12:00 Building effective teams and leadership culture 15:14 Anthony Jackson's leadership OS book and approach 19:00 The significance of company and team culture 21:41 The impact of good and bad managers 22:06 Anthony Jackson's newsletter and coaching 23:48 Connecting software developers with customers 25:40 Empathy for users and understanding their experience 29:06 Where to find Anthony Jackson's resources and books Links & Resources Connect with Kush Shah on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kush-shah-kush/ Noted Dent - https://noteddent.com/ What Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025 Subscribe to the Global Talent Sprint Full Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordably If you’re trying to get your team out of the basement and into real product ownership, this episode is your playbook. Stop being a ticket factory. Build teams that think, create, and lead. Follow the show, rate it, and send this to someone who’s still trying to do “real Scrum.” They need it more than you do.
#1377
July 30 · 29 min
LeadershipOS Decoded: Building Teams That Run Without You in the Room
"Back in the 1900s when I was crossing the Great Plains in a covered wagon, programming in the back, the cover headline was: Software Development is Dead." I talked with Anthony Jackson, a CTO with 30 years across healthcare tech and enterprise software and author of the Architecture Protocol series, on Startup Hustle this week. Anthony is the creator of LeadershipOS, a framework for building teams that keep running when the leader isn't in the room. Here's what you'll get out of it: ⚡ Why "software development is dead" has been a headline for 30+ years, and why the human judgment layer never goes away ⚡ Why the real gap isn't more engineers, it's product people (and engineers who think like them) ⚡ What actually changes when you go from individual contributor to manager, and why almost no company trains you for it ⚡ Why every line of code still needs a name attached to it, especially in regulated industries ⚡ How "lossy compression" quietly ruins decisions as they filter up and back down through management ⏱️ Episode Breakdown 00:32 Introduction and Anthony Jackson's background 02:13 Is software development dead again? 03:14 The impact of AI on coding and human judgment 04:07 The importance of responsibility in software development 05:59 The challenge of product management and customer feedback 10:18 Transitioning from individual contributor to manager 11:36 Building effective teams and leadership culture 14:41 Anthony Jackson's leadership OS book and approach 18:26 The significance of company and team culture 21:07 The impact of good and bad managers 21:38 Anthony Jackson's newsletter and coaching 23:14 Connecting software developers with customers 25:06 Empathy for users and understanding their experience 28:18 Where to find Anthony Jackson's resources and books Links & Resources Connect with Anthony Jackson on LinkedIn Anthony Jackson's Website - https://technicaleader.coach What Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025 Subscribe to the Global Talent Sprint Full Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordably If you’re trying to get your team out of the basement and into real product ownership, this episode is your playbook. Stop being a ticket factory. Build teams that think, create, and lead. Follow the show, rate it, and send this to someone who’s still trying to do “real Scrum.” They need it more than you do.
#1376
July 23 · 28 min
It's Not About the Code. It's About the Problem.
I don't view engineers being out of a job. I view software engineers finally coming back to a real job." I talked with Adrian Gutierrez, co-founder of Ledgre, on Startup Hustle this week. Ledgre is an AI-native accounting platform built specifically for real estate investors, putting agentic AI to work doing the bookkeeping instead of handing you one more piece of software to manage. Here's what you'll get out of it: ⚡ Why he was the startup's bookkeeper by hand for a year before writing a line of product, and why doing things manually first is the shortcut ⚡ Why AI didn't kill software engineering, it exposed that distribution and the value prop were always the hard part ⚡ Why domain knowledge beat his development skills every time when getting Ledgre off the ground ⚡ What running a startup as a digital nomad across Europe, Spain, and Argentina taught him about which problems are actually worth solving ⏱️ Episode Breakdown 00:42 Introduction to Adrian Gutierrez and Ledger 01:04 Adrian's background in FinTech and PropTech 00:49 The origin story of Ledgre and market gaps 02:54 How AI is transforming property management tools 04:11 Adrian's experience owning rental properties 05:18 The importance of domain knowledge in product development 06:18 Manual bookkeeping and workflow complexity 07:15 Scaling wisely and understanding problems before automating 08:24 The importance of iteration and customer feedback 08:52 Challenges of outreach and building relationships 10:16 Cold outreach and response rates 11:03 The impact of AI on distribution and problem-solving 12:10 AI exposing weaknesses in traditional software development 13:36 Reviving software engineering practices with AI 14:32 Shift in marketing and distribution roles 15:55 Using AI for marketing and SEO automation 17:22 AI's role in software development and team management 21:10 Living as a digital nomad and its impact on business 22:45 Traveling and understanding global fintech landscapes 24:33 Financial and payment infrastructure differences worldwide 25:13 The value of solving real problems in different markets 25:48 How to learn more about Ledger and Adrian If you're building a product, leading engineers, or working in fintech and proptech, this one is worth your time. Listen to the Startup Hustle podcast anywhere you listen to podcasts! Links & Resources Connect with Adrian Gutierrez on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian--gutierrez/ Ledgre Website - https://www.ledgre.ai/
#1375
June 25 · 25 min
The Speed of Context: Why AI Changed What Engineers Actually Do
Most engineering teams are still optimizing for the wrong thing. They chase the speed of code when the real bottleneck is the speed of context. Matt Watson and Eban Bisong, founder and CEO of Senvi, get into what actually changes when AI moves from a coding tool to a teammate. Eban has spent his career as a founding engineer, and his approach is hands-on: don't tell skeptical engineers AI works, show them, every standup, until the pushback turns into excitement. At Park DNA he built "RTD2," an OpenClaw-powered droid wired read-only into their data sources, Slack, and Jira. It answered support questions before an engineer could, created its own bug tickets, and joined meetings through Fireflies so nothing got lost. The lesson underneath all of it: record everything, because the team that captures the most context ships the right thing fastest. Matt also shares his own three-week rabbit hole with Claude Cowork, $8K in tokens, a fully rebuilt Full Scale website, a thousand dead blog posts deleted, and 200 more rewritten. They go a few rounds on why it's a bad time to be a coder but a great time to be a builder, why "good enough" is a real standard and not a cop-out, and why ownership beats asking permission every time. If you build software or lead an engineering team, listen now. And if you want to try Eban's voice-first AI journal, visit senvi.ai. ⏱️ Episode Breakdown 00:42 From Founding Engineer to Solo Founder 01:52 Using AI as an Engineering Leader 03:24 Building RTD2: An AI Teammate for Support 05:27 The Speed of Context, Not Code 06:11 Why You Should Record Everything 08:59 Winning Over AI-Skeptical Engineers 11:50 The AI Spectrum Across 80 Clients 13:35 A Bad Time to Be a Coder, a Great Time to Build 14:03 Why "Good Enough" Is Good Enough 14:52 Human-in-the-Loop and Reviewing AI's Work 16:28 Going All-In on Senvi 19:01 Validating the Product With a Beta Group 21:01 Bootstrapping a Truly AI-Native Company Links & Resources Connect with Eban Bisong on LinkedIn Senvi.ai - senvi.ai What Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025 Subscribe to the Global Talent Sprint Full Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordably If you’re trying to get your team out of the basement and into real product ownership, this episode is your playbook. Stop being a ticket factory. Build teams that think, create, and lead. Follow the show, rate it, and send this to someone who’s still trying to do “real Scrum.” They need it more than you do.
#1374
June 18 · 29 min
AI, Protein, and GLP-1s: What's Actually Working in Health Tech
Most people are already asking AI about their health. Almost none of them believe the answers. Around 40% use it to make wellness choices, but fewer than 5% trust what it says. Matt Watson and Josh Anthony, CEO of Nlumn, dig into why. Josh has spent 25 years in food and nutrition, and his take is blunt: trust drops fast as the question gets serious, from a recipe to a diagnosis, and the fix isn't a smarter chatbot. It's pairing the data with a human people actually trust. They cover what's real right now too. The protein obsession. Beans having a moment. GLP-1s and why weight loss is now about saving muscle, not just dropping fat. Why people are building their own messy personalization stacks because no single company does it well. Matt also explains why he flat out ignores his doctors on cholesterol, and he and Josh go a few rounds on whether ultra-processed food is the problem or a missed opportunity. If you build or invest in health products, listen now. And if you want help with personalized nutrition, reach Josh@nlumn.com or info@nlumn.com. ⏱️ Episode Breakdown 00:28 Introduction to Health Tech and AI 03:36 Trust in AI for Health and Nutrition 06:29 Personalization in Health and Nutrition 09:26 Emerging Trends in Health Tech 12:23 The Role of GLP-1 in Weight Management 15:29 Challenges in the Food Industry 18:37 Innovative Products in Health and Nutrition Links & Resources Connect with Joshua Anthony on LinkedIn Nlumn Website - https://www.nlumn.com/ Email - mailto: info@nlumn.com What Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025 Subscribe to the Global Talent Sprint Full Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordably If you’re trying to get your team out of the basement and into real product ownership, this episode is your playbook. Stop being a ticket factory. Build teams that think, create, and lead.
#1373
June 11 · 31 min
Building Software Solo with Beth Epperson of Legacy Purposed
Matt Watson sits down with Beth Epperson, founder and CEO of Legacy Purposed, here in the Kansas City area. Beth came up through marketing and branding, including the brand launch for Hyvee Arena, before deciding to build something of her own. Her company is built around two products. Aligned Legacy measures how people think in real time and helps teams see how aware, connected, and aligned they actually are. HIKMET, or Wisdom Illuminated, keeps a company's knowledge governed and accurate so nothing walks out the door when an employee leaves. Beth and Matt get into the messy reality of being a founder. She self-funded the whole thing, learned to code her own prototype, and pitched for over a year through a pile of rejections. She also walked away from a paid pilot because the people on the other side were not aligned on ethics and accountability. Matt shares why he thinks Beth represents a new kind of founder. Sales first, build second, now that AI can help build the thing. They also dig into validating an idea, the pull you want to feel from customers, and why getting your first case studies is the hardest part. If you have ever tried to get a product to market on your own, this one is for you. ⏱️ Episode Breakdown 00:38 Introduction to Legacy Purposed and Beth Epperson 03:37 Beth's Entrepreneurial Journey and Corporate Experiences 06:37 The Birth of Legacy Purposed and Its Mission 09:52 Understanding Emotions and Accountability in the Workplace 12:35 The Development of Innovative Tools for Corporate Growth 15:38 Challenges in Building and Marketing the Software 18:28 The Importance of Case Studies and Market Validation 21:37 Future Aspirations and Closing Thoughts Links & Resources Connect with Beth Epperson on LinkedIn Legacy Purposed Website - https://legacypurposed.com/ Email - mailto:Beth@legacypurposed.com What Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025 Subscribe to the Global Talent Sprint Full Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordably If you’re trying to get your team out of the basement and into real product ownership, this episode is your playbook. Stop being a ticket factory. Build teams that think, create, and lead. Follow the show, rate it, and send this to someone who’s still trying to do “real Scrum.” They need it more than you do.
#1372
June 4 · 24 min
Geothermal Energy and the Future of Data Center Power
Data centers are multiplying fast, and the energy demands are staggering. Matt Watson sits down with Tim Tarver, founder and CEO of Exceed Geo Energy, to talk about one of the most underrated power sources in the conversation: geothermal. Tim breaks down how his company is adapting drilling technology from the oil and gas industry to generate clean, baseload energy almost anywhere in the country, why geothermal outlasts solar and wind by decades, and how it could be the right fit for the next wave of AI infrastructure. If you're watching energy costs climb and wondering where the power for all these data centers is actually going to come from, this one's worth your time. Listen now and learn why geothermal might be the energy answer nobody's talking about enough. And if you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review and subscribe so you never miss a conversation with the founders and operators building what's next. ⏱️ Episode Breakdown 00:44 Introduction to Data Centers and Energy Challenges 03:40 Geothermal Energy: A Sustainable Solution 06:33 The Role of Geothermal in Data Center Energy Needs 09:41 Entrepreneurship in Geothermal Energy 12:41 Water Usage and Cooling in Data Centers 15:40 Cost Comparison: Geothermal vs. Other Energy Sources 18:50 Technological Advances in Drilling and Geothermal Energy 21:48 Future of Geothermal Energy and Closing Thoughts Links & Resources Connect with Tim Tarver on LinkedIn Exceed Geo Energy - http://www.exegeoenergy.com What Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025 Subscribe to the Global Talent Sprint Full Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordably If you’re trying to get your team out of the basement and into real product ownership, this episode is your playbook. Stop being a ticket factory. Build teams that think, create, and lead. Follow the show, rate it, and send this to someone who’s still trying to do “real Scrum.” They need it more than you do.
#1371
May 28 · 28 min
From Excel Sheet to 13,000 Customers: How Sean Tepper Built Tykr
Most retail investors don't know what to do after they open a brokerage account. Sean Tepper was one of them until he built a traffic light rating system for stocks and turned it into a SaaS platform used by 13,000 customers across 50 countries. In this episode of Startup Hustle, Matt Watson sits down with Sean Tepper, founder and CEO of Tykr, to break down the real story behind building a B2C SaaS product in a crowded fintech space. They get into why Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger inspired a process engineer to build a stock screener, how Tykr cuts through 100+ data points to give investors one simple signal, the broker API nightmare that nearly broke their best feature, and why onboarding is harder than the product itself. Sean also gets honest about the hiring mistake he made for years—and what finally changed. If you're building a self-serve SaaS product or trying to find your footing as a solo founder, this one's worth your time. Tune in to Startup Hustle now. ⏱️ Episode Breakdown 00:41 Introduction to Ticker and Sean Tepper 03:31 The Journey of Building Ticker 07:04 Understanding the Stock Market and Investment Strategies 11:09 Building Trust and Confidence in Investment Decisions 21:31 Acquisition Strategies and Metrics for Success 16:21 The Impact of AI on Investment Platforms 19:41 Challenges in Building a High-Tech Investment Platform 22:11 Key Lessons Learned in Entrepreneurship 25:33 Final Thoughts and Team Dynamics Links & Resources Connect with Sean Tepper on LinkedIn What Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025 Subscribe to the Global Talent Sprint Full Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordably If you’re trying to get your team out of the basement and into real product ownership, this episode is your playbook. Stop being a ticket factory. Build teams that think, create, and lead. Follow the show, rate it, and send this to someone who’s still trying to do “real Scrum.” They need it more than you do.
#1370
May 21 · 36 min
Eric Ries: Why Good Companies Go Bad
Eric Ries wrote The Lean Startup. Sold 2 million copies. Helped hundreds of people build companies from nothing. Now he's back with a harder question: why do so many of those companies eventually go bad? In this episode, Matt Watson sits down with Eric to talk about his new book Incorruptible—a deep dive into the invisible forces that corrupt organizations, why profit-maximization becomes pathological, and what it actually takes to build a company that stays great. They get into why the stage-gate development model keeps failing founders, the story of Saul Price and how Costco was born from a betrayal, and what a real fiduciary duty to your customer looks like in practice. Plus, how to structure your company so your values outlast you. Listen to the full episode on Startup Hustle. And if Incorruptible sounds like your next read, pre-order it at incorruptible.co before May 26th. ⏱️ Episode Breakdown 00:37 Introduction to Eric Ries and The Lean Startup 06:57 The Journey to Incorruptible: A New Perspective 12:38 The Challenge of Short-Term Thinking in Business 16:14 Understanding Corruption in Business Practices 22:51 Building Trustworthy Organizations 31:03 Who Should Read Incorruptible? Links & Resources Connect with Eric Ries on LinkedIn What Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025 Subscribe to the Global Talent Sprint Full Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordably If you’re trying to get your team out of the basement and into real product ownership, this episode is your playbook. Stop being a ticket factory. Build teams that think, create, and lead. Follow the show, rate it, and send this to someone who’s still trying to do “real Scrum.” They need it more than you do.
#1369
May 7 · 35 min
The Non-Technical Founder Who Beat the Developers
Most founders get the order wrong. They build for two years, then ask a marketer how to sell it. Connie Lund flipped the script. She started Zaboom with no dev team, no code background, and no VC funding. What she had was 50+ years of combined marketing and product experience, a GoHighLevel account, and a willingness to break things at 2 a.m. on a Sunday. In this episode, Connie walks Matt through how she built a working voice AI product for insurance agencies—using N8N, GoHighLevel, and Claude as her "CTO." Then landed paying customers in under 90 days. She also gets honest about what AI can't do for you: use good judgment, know when to stop, and figure out if what you're building actually matters to anyone. They cover the difference between outputs and outcomes, why talking to customers beats building in isolation every time, and how the traditional "raise VC, hire devs, ship product" playbook is getting replaced by something scrappier and faster. If you're a founder who's been waiting until the product is perfect to talk to people, this episode will make you uncomfortable. Good. Listen to this Startup Hustle episode now. ⏱️ Episode Breakdown 00:49 Introduction to Connie Lunn and Zaboom 02:33 The Journey of Building Zaboom 05:41 Tech Stack and Tools Used 11:58 Prototype vs. Final Product 16:16 Marketing and Customer Engagement 21:09 Coaching and Helping Others 25:31 Democratizing Technology and Skills 32:08 Final Thoughts and Advice Links & Resources Connect with Connie Lund on LinkedIn What Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025 Subscribe to the Global Talent Sprint Full Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordably If you’re trying to get your team out of the basement and into real product ownership, this episode is your playbook. Stop being a ticket factory. Build teams that think, create, and lead. Follow the show, rate it, and send this to someone who’s still trying to do “real Scrum.” They need it more than you do.
#1368
April 23 · 29 min
Stop Hiding Behind Process (You Should Own the Product Instead)
Most product managers are just project managers with a fancier title. They make zero real decisions, answer to everyone, and wonder why nothing ships on time. Willis Jackson has been building product teams for over a decade. He's blacklisted entire companies from his hiring pool. And he moved to the Bay Area to measure himself against the best—only to find out nobody there really knows how to do product either. In this episode, Willis and I get into why product thinking is now the most valuable skill in tech, why AI didn't solve the bottleneck problem (it exposed it), and what happens when engineers can build 10x faster but nobody knows what to build. We also get into his company Middle Mile—basically the Airbnb of e-commerce fulfillment—and why stay-at-home parents running micro-warehouses out of spare rooms might be the future of how your next Amazon package gets delivered. Fair warning: if you're a product manager who hasn't talked to a customer for two weeks, this episode is going to be uncomfortable. Hit follow so you never miss an episode of Startup Hustle. ⏱️ Episode Breakdown 00:35 Reconnecting and Early Influences 03:27 The Challenges of Product Management 06:34 The Role of AI in Product Development 09:32 Understanding Risks in AI and Software Development 12:34 Bottlenecks in Product Teams 15:25 The Importance of People in Business 18:17 Innovative Fulfillment Solutions 21:39 The Journey of Building a Business Links & Resources Connect with Willis Jackson III on LinkedIn What Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025 Subscribe to the Global Talent Sprint Full Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordably If you’re trying to get your team out of the basement and into real product ownership, this episode is your playbook. Stop being a ticket factory. Build teams that think, create, and lead. Follow the show, rate it, and send this to someone who’s still trying to do “real Scrum.” They need it more than you do.
#1367
April 16 · 34 min
The Secret to Winning Venture Capital: What 2,000 Startup Investments Taught Dave Lambert
Most founders think investors bet on ideas. They don't. Dave Lambert has funded over 2,000 companies through RightSide Capital, and he's seen this pattern play out thousands of times. Great product. No revenue traction. Wrong ask, wrong timing. Automatic no. In this episode of Startup Hustle, Matt sits down with Dave to break down how RightSide Capital evaluates startups differently than traditional VCs. No subjective analysis. No months of diligence. Just data, profiles, and a decision in about a week. They get into how AI is changing the startup game, not just for building products faster, but for every operational aspect of running an early-stage company. And why sales is still the one thing that isn't getting easier anytime soon. Plus, the real talk on founder-market fit, why being slightly delusional might actually help, and what it takes to walk away with a check from an investor who's seen everything. If you're a technical founder who knows how to build but has no idea how to sell, this episode is for you. ⏱️ Episode Breakdown 00:26 Introduction to Venture Capital and Startups 03:36 The Importance of Sales and Marketing in Startups 06:24 Data-Driven Investment Strategies 09:23 The Impact of AI on Startup Opportunities 12:23 Operational Efficiency and Cost Reduction through AI 15:28 Sales and Marketing Challenges for Startups 18:31 Support and Resources for Portfolio Companies 21:25 Evaluating Founders and Market Fit 24:28 The Role of Delusion in Entrepreneurship Links & Resources Connect with Dave Lambert on LinkedIn What Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025 Subscribe to the Global Talent Sprint Full Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordably If you’re trying to get your team out of the basement and into real product ownership, this episode is your playbook. Stop being a ticket factory. Build teams that think, create, and lead. Follow the show, rate it, and send this to someone who’s still trying to do “real Scrum.” They need it more than you do. Right Side Capital Management - https://www.rightsidecapital.com/
#1366
April 9 · 25 min
Are Software Engineers Really at Risk? Mohan Reddy Weighs In
Matt Watson sits down with Mohan Reddy, serial entrepreneur and Chief Scientist at Cornerstone AI Labs, to explore how AI is fundamentally reshaping the way we think about work, skills, and human potential. Mohan shares the origin story of Skyhive—a workforce intelligence platform built to reskill and upskill people at a global scale—and how its acquisition by Cornerstone brought that mission to a larger stage. The conversation digs into why AI doesn't eliminate skills but transforms them, the distinction between tasks that can be automated versus those that require human judgment, and why "vibe coding" is both a breakthrough and a danger. Mohan also makes the case for reverse engineering as the most critical skill in an AI-driven world, and why sandbox environments will be essential for building trust in AI-assisted workflows. Whether you're a founder, engineer, or business leader trying to navigate the AI transition, this episode offers a grounded, optimistic perspective from someone who has spent decades at the intersection of human potential and machine intelligence. If you enjoyed today's episode, subscribe to the Starter Hustle podcast and leave us a review! ⏱️ Episode Breakdown 00:30 The Journey of Mohan Reddy and Skyhive 03:34 Transition to Cornerstone AI Labs 06:22 AI's Impact on Skills and Workforce 09:33 The Evolution of Software Engineering 12:29 The Future of Coding and AI Collaboration 15:33 Upskilling in the Age of AI 18:30 Curiosity and Learning in Tech 21:34 Final Thoughts and Advice Links & Resources Connect with Mohan Reddy on LinkedIn What Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025 Subscribe to the Global Talent Sprint Full Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordably If you’re trying to get your team out of the basement and into real product ownership, this episode is your playbook. Stop being a ticket factory. Build teams that think, create, and lead. Follow the show, rate it, and send this to someone who’s still trying to do “real Scrum.” They need it more than you do.
#1365
April 2 · 28 min
How AI Is Disrupting Education with Katie Boody Adorno of LeanLab Education
AI is changing how kids learn. But are schools ready? Katie Boody Adorno is the founder and CEO of LeanLab Education. She's spent 13 years trying to close the opportunity gap in public education. In this episode, she and Matt break down how COVID widened learning disparities, why high-dosage tutoring works but doesn't scale, and how AI is now lowering that cost. They also get into what it takes to prepare kids for a world where AI handles most of the knowledge work. Listen to the full episode now! Subscribe to Startup Hustle wherever you get your podcasts. ⏱️ Episode Breakdown 00:00 The Genesis of Lean Lab Education 05:25 Innovative Approaches to Educational Challenges 09:08 The Impact of the Pandemic on Education 11:32 Funding and Sustainability in Education 12:58 The Role of Technology in Learning 18:12 The Importance of Human Connection in Education 20:12 Rethinking the Purpose of Education 25:30 The Future of Higher Education and AI Links & Resources Connect with Katie Boody Adorno on LinkedIn What Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025 Subscribe to the Global Talent Sprint Full Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordably Lean Lab Education - https://leanlabeducation.org
#1364
March 26 · 35 min
AI Isn't Killing Software Jobs: It's Changing Who Builds What
Zach Klempf is back! He joined Matt Watson on one of the early episodes of the show. Now, Zach is president of AutoManager, a private equity group with five automotive software companies under its umbrella. In this episode, Zach and Matt get into how AI is making senior engineers more productive. They talk about why offshore teams tend to adopt it more slowly, and where vibe coding breaks down when you're running production software with real integrations. They also get into why simple SaaS products are getting harder to defend. And why leads and sales have always been the harder problem anyway. Listen to the full episode now! Subscribe to Startup Hustle wherever you get your podcasts. ⏱️ Episode Breakdown 00:00 Introduction to Zach Klempf and AutoManager 03:09 The Journey of Selle Automotive 05:48 Outsourcing and Global Talent Strategy 08:59 Experiences in Jamaica and the Philippines 12:01 Transition to AutoManager and AI Integration 15:13 AI Adoption and Team Dynamics 18:02 The Future of Software Development and AI 21:02 Challenges in AI Implementation 24:10 Market Dynamics and Competitive Landscape 26:53 Final Thoughts and Reflections Links & Resources Connect with Zach Klempf on LinkedIn https://www.automanager.com/ What Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025 Subscribe to the Global Talent Sprint Full Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordably If you’re trying to get your team out of the basement and into real product ownership, this episode is your playbook. Stop being a ticket factory. Build teams that think, create, and lead. Follow the show, rate it, and send this to someone who’s still trying to do “real Scrum.” They need it more than you do.
#1363
March 12 · 26 min
From Personal Tragedy to Healthcare Innovation
In this episode, entrepreneur Chris Jones shares his journey from personal tragedy to building MatchRite Care, a healthcare data integration platform. He discusses product-market fit, scaling strategies, and the importance of community and continuous learning in entrepreneurship. ⏱️ Episode Breakdown 00:00 The Entrepreneurial Journey Begins 02:54 The Birth of MatchRite Care 06:07 Navigating Product Fit and Market Strategy 09:04 The Importance of Data Sharing in Healthcare 12:01 Scaling vs. Selling: The Business Model Dilemma 15:08 Consulting and Mentorship in the Entrepreneurial Space 17:45 The Value of Lifelong Learning and Community Support 20:48 Reflections on the Entrepreneurial Journey Links & Resources Connect with Chris Jones on LinkedIn What Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025 Subscribe to the Global Talent Sprint Full Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordably If you’re trying to get your team out of the basement and into real product ownership, this episode is your playbook. Stop being a ticket factory. Build teams that think, create, and lead. Follow the show, rate it, and send this to someone who’s still trying to do “real Scrum.” They need it more than you do.

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