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The Founder`s Code

Shamil Malachiyev

The Founder's Code is for entrepreneurs, builders, and visionaries at every stage of their journey. Building a startup isn't easy—it’s filled with hard choices, constant struggles, and moments of uncertainty.

Join me, Shamil Malachiyev, founder of FluidLabs, as I openly share my own journey of building my IT consultancy, learning weekly from honest conversations with some of the world’s most successful founders. We cover the tough stuff that all founders face: finding the right co-founders, hiring C-level talent, scaling your business, overcoming limiting beliefs, and even managing the mental

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  • 26 episodes
  • fortnightly
  • Avg 1 hr 1 min
  • English
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • S1 · E22
    January 9 · 1 hr 9 min

    The Business AI Was Supposed to Kill | Janus Klok Matthesen | Pixelz

    In this episode of Founder's Code, Janus Klack-Matysen, Co-Founder & CDO of Pixelz, breaks down what actually happens when AI enters the core of your business — not as a tool, but as a direct competitor. Pixelz operates in a category many believed AI would wipe out first.Instead of fighting it, they rebuilt their model so AI became a multiplier, not a replacement.In this conversation, we cover:– Why some AI campaigns cost more than traditional production — and why brands still choose them– What AI really breaks inside a business (and what it doesn’t)– How Pixelz shifted from manual work to a human + AI operating system– Why “AI will make everything cheaper” is a misleading narrative– How to think about AI as infrastructure, not a shortcutThis is not an AI hype episode. It’s a real story about business pressure, structural change, and scaling through disruption.🎧 Watch the full episode to understand what AI actually changes — and how to build on top of it, instead of being replaced. 👇 CONNECT WITH JANUSJanus Klok Matthesen ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/janusklok/Pixelz ► https://www.pixelz.com/👇 CONNECT WITH SHAMILShamil Malachiyev ► www.linkedin.com/in/shamilmalachiyevFluidLabs ► https://fluidlabs.tech/ 🎙 LISTEN to The Founder’s Code on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7v6YOQ77R1xzbOiiHsDawdApple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-founder-s-code/id1797768317 🔔 Subscribe & hit the bell so you don’t miss the next episode.

  • S1 · E21
    Dec 29, 2025 · 1 hr 5 min

    From IBM to Founder: The Skills That Actually Matter | Laura Loughran | Factor Form

    In this episode of Founder’s Code, Laura Loughran — CEO & Founder of Factor Form and former product manager at IBM — talks about the real transition from corporate to CEO.We discuss leadership, solo founding, pressure that comes with ownership, people decisions, and why corporate experience doesn’t fully prepare you for building and running a company.This episode is for founders, aspiring entrepreneurs, product managers, and professionals thinking about leaving corporate to start a business.

  • S1 · E20
    Dec 9, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min

    How AI Exposes Bad Founders (and Makes Good Ones Unstoppable) | David Youssefnia | Uplevel

    In this episode, David Youssefnia shares insights on the challenges founders face, emphasizing the importance of understanding team dynamics, emotional resilience, and the evolving role of AI in startups. He discusses the significance of founder market fit, the emotional ups and downs of entrepreneurship, and the value of building effective advisory boards to navigate the complexities of startup life.

  • S1 · E19
    Dec 1, 2025 · 1 hr 1 min

    The Dark Side of Ambition: What a Racing Mind Feels Like | JT White | Augie Studio

    In this episode of The Founder’s Code, JT White — entrepreneur, author, and co-founder of Augie Studio — gives a rare, deeply honest look into what it means to build, create, and push your mind to the edge. We explore why his brain “never turns off,” how ADHD-like tendencies shaped his work style, and why so many founders operate with similar patterns of intensity, restlessness, and hyper-focus. JT shares the discipline behind writing a book, the evolution of product management in the age of AI, the challenges of building a healthy company culture, and the emotional cost of relentless ambition. We talk about failure, identity, parenthood, spirituality, and why the pursuit of happiness matters more than chasing financial wins. A vulnerable and powerful conversation for anyone living inside the tension between big goals and mental clarity.

  • S1 · E18
    Nov 23, 2025 · 1 hr 1 min

    They’re lying about what it takes to build a $150M ARR business | Aytekin Tank | Jotform

    In this episode of the Founder's Code Podcast, Aytekin Tank, CEO and founder of Jotfrom, shares his entrepreneurial journey, from the inception of Jotfrom to its growth into a billion-dollar company. He discusses the challenges of partnerships, the importance of user feedback, and strategies for competing with larger companies like Google. Aytekin emphasizes the significance of delegation, continuous learning, and adapting to market changes while maintaining a strong focus on product development and innovation. CONNECT WITH AYTEKIN Aytekin Tank ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/aytekintank Jotform ► https://www.jotform.com 👇 CONNECT WITH SHAMIL Shamil Malachiyev ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/shamilmalachiyev FluidLabs & Founder`s Code ► https://fluidlabs.tech/

  • S1 · E17
    Nov 12, 2025 · 1 hr 1 min

    What 99% of Startups Get Wrong About Trust | Akhil Nigam | Finmo

    In this episode, Shamil Malachiyev interviews Akhil Nigam, co-founder and chief product officer of Finmo, a FinTech platform focused on global treasury management. They discuss the dynamics of co-founding teams, the importance of product management, and the lessons learned from building a startup. Akhil shares insights on navigating co-founder relationships, the significance of customer feedback, and the role of AI in business. He emphasizes the need for trust in financial technology and offers advice for founders in a rapidly changing landscape.Chapters00:00 Introduction to FinMotech and Akhil Nigam02:55 The Journey of Co-Founding FinMotech06:21 The Dynamics of Co-Founding Teams08:45 Navigating Challenges in Co-Founding Relationships13:27 Understanding Product Management vs Project Management18:49 The Importance of Problem Validation in Product Development24:35 Experiences from Working in Large Corporations27:53 Transformational Moments in Startup Life29:00 Building a Culture of Accountability and Transparency31:56 Embracing Mistakes in Leadership34:03 The Importance of Strategic Vision36:13 Navigating Early Operational Challenges42:02 The Value of Customer Feedback47:44 Adapting to the AI Era53:39 Building Trust in Financial Technology55:31 The Power of Relationships for Founders🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcast: https://lnk.to/founderscode👇 CONNECT WITH AKHILAkhil Nigam ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/akhilnigam562Finmo ► https://finmo.net/👇 CONNECT WITH SHAMILShamil Malachiyev ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/shamilmalachiyevFluidLabs & Founder`s Code ► https://fluidlabs.tech/

Showing 21–26 of 26 episodes