Startup Hustle

Epizódy

• 
  The 2026 State of IT Staffing: Trends in Hiring, AI, and Offshore 13.08.2026 48min

  "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 cutIf you're hiring engineers, leading a team, or building a career in software, this one is worth your time.⏱️ Episode Breakdown00:33 Introduction and overview of the episode02:39 Full scale's employee satisfaction and recognition05:30 The impact of AI on software development roles10:40 The 2026 paradox: job growth vs. role filling15:35 The importance of product thinking and customer feedback20:36 Decoupling headcount from output with AI25:21 Remote work, location independence, and cultural shifts30:37 Running engineering teams in 2026 and beyond35:35 The need for strategic focus and organizational agility40:37 Conclusion and key takeaways from the episodeLinks & ResourcesRead the full report - [https://fullscale.io/blog/state-of-it-staffing/Full Scale(https://fullscale.io/blog/state-of-it-staffing/`Full) – Build your dev team quickly and affordablyWhat Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025Subscribe to the Global Talent SprintIf 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.
• 
  Why AI Made Software Engineers More Human 06.08.2026 36min

  "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 backgroundIf 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 Breakdown01:06 Introduction and Anthony Jackson's background02:47 Is software development dead again?03:48 The impact of AI on coding and human judgment04:41 The importance of responsibility in software development06:33 The challenge of product management and customer feedback10:52 Transitioning from individual contributor to manager12:00 Building effective teams and leadership culture15:14 Anthony Jackson's leadership OS book and approach19:00 The significance of company and team culture21:41 The impact of good and bad managers22:06 Anthony Jackson's newsletter and coaching23:48 Connecting software developers with customers25:40 Empathy for users and understanding their experience29:06 Where to find Anthony Jackson's resources and booksLinks & ResourcesConnect 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 2025Subscribe to the Global Talent SprintFull Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordablyIf 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.
• 
  LeadershipOS Decoded: Building Teams That Run Without You in the Room 30.07.2026 29min

  "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 Breakdown00:32 Introduction and Anthony Jackson's background02:13 Is software development dead again?03:14 The impact of AI on coding and human judgment04:07 The importance of responsibility in software development05:59 The challenge of product management and customer feedback10:18 Transitioning from individual contributor to manager11:36 Building effective teams and leadership culture14:41 Anthony Jackson's leadership OS book and approach18:26 The significance of company and team culture21:07 The impact of good and bad managers21:38 Anthony Jackson's newsletter and coaching23:14 Connecting software developers with customers25:06 Empathy for users and understanding their experience28:18 Where to find Anthony Jackson's resources and booksLinks & ResourcesConnect with Anthony Jackson on LinkedInAnthony Jackson's Website - https://technicaleader.coachWhat Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025Subscribe to the Global Talent SprintFull Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordablyIf 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.
• 
  It's Not About the Code. It's About the Problem. 23.07.2026 28min

  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 Breakdown00:42 Introduction to Adrian Gutierrez and Ledger01:04 Adrian's background in FinTech and PropTech00:49 The origin story of Ledgre and market gaps02:54 How AI is transforming property management tools04:11 Adrian's experience owning rental properties05:18 The importance of domain knowledge in product development06:18 Manual bookkeeping and workflow complexity07:15 Scaling wisely and understanding problems before automating08:24 The importance of iteration and customer feedback08:52 Challenges of outreach and building relationships10:16 Cold outreach and response rates11:03 The impact of AI on distribution and problem-solving12:10 AI exposing weaknesses in traditional software development13:36 Reviving software engineering practices with AI14:32 Shift in marketing and distribution roles15:55 Using AI for marketing and SEO automation17:22 AI's role in software development and team management21:10 Living as a digital nomad and its impact on business22:45 Traveling and understanding global fintech landscapes24:33 Financial and payment infrastructure differences worldwide25:13 The value of solving real problems in different markets25:48 How to learn more about Ledger and AdrianIf 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 & ResourcesConnect with Adrian Gutierrez on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian--gutierrez/Ledgre Website - https://www.ledgre.ai/
• 
  The Speed of Context: Why AI Changed What Engineers Actually Do 25.06.2026 25min

  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 Breakdown00:42 From Founding Engineer to Solo Founder01:52 Using AI as an Engineering Leader03:24 Building RTD2: An AI Teammate for Support05:27 The Speed of Context, Not Code06:11 Why You Should Record Everything08:59 Winning Over AI-Skeptical Engineers11:50 The AI Spectrum Across 80 Clients13:35 A Bad Time to Be a Coder, a Great Time to Build14:03 Why "Good Enough" Is Good Enough14:52 Human-in-the-Loop and Reviewing AI's Work16:28 Going All-In on Senvi19:01 Validating the Product With a Beta Group21:01 Bootstrapping a Truly AI-Native CompanyLinks & ResourcesConnect with Eban Bisong on LinkedInSenvi.ai - senvi.aiWhat Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025Subscribe to the Global Talent SprintFull Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordablyIf 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.
• 
  AI, Protein, and GLP-1s: What's Actually Working in Health Tech 18.06.2026 29min

  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 Breakdown00:28 Introduction to Health Tech and AI03:36 Trust in AI for Health and Nutrition06:29 Personalization in Health and Nutrition09:26 Emerging Trends in Health Tech12:23 The Role of GLP-1 in Weight Management15:29 Challenges in the Food Industry18:37 Innovative Products in Health and NutritionLinks & ResourcesConnect with Joshua Anthony on LinkedInNlumn Website - https://www.nlumn.com/Email - mailto: info@nlumn.comWhat Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025Subscribe to the Global Talent SprintFull Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordablyIf 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.
• 
  Building Software Solo with Beth Epperson of Legacy Purposed 11.06.2026 31min

  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 Breakdown00:38 Introduction to Legacy Purposed and Beth Epperson03:37 Beth's Entrepreneurial Journey and Corporate Experiences06:37 The Birth of Legacy Purposed and Its Mission09:52 Understanding Emotions and Accountability in the Workplace12:35 The Development of Innovative Tools for Corporate Growth15:38 Challenges in Building and Marketing the Software18:28 The Importance of Case Studies and Market Validation21:37 Future Aspirations and Closing ThoughtsLinks & ResourcesConnect with Beth Epperson on LinkedInLegacy Purposed Website - https://legacypurposed.com/Email - mailto:Beth@legacypurposed.comWhat Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025Subscribe to the Global Talent SprintFull Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordablyIf 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.
• 
  Geothermal Energy and the Future of Data Center Power 04.06.2026 24min

  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 Breakdown00:44 Introduction to Data Centers and Energy Challenges03:40 Geothermal Energy: A Sustainable Solution06:33 The Role of Geothermal in Data Center Energy Needs09:41 Entrepreneurship in Geothermal Energy12:41 Water Usage and Cooling in Data Centers15:40 Cost Comparison: Geothermal vs. Other Energy Sources18:50 Technological Advances in Drilling and Geothermal Energy21:48 Future of Geothermal Energy and Closing ThoughtsLinks & ResourcesConnect with Tim Tarver on LinkedInExceed Geo Energy - http://www.exegeoenergy.comWhat Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025Subscribe to the Global Talent SprintFull Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordablyIf 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.
• 
  From Excel Sheet to 13,000 Customers: How Sean Tepper Built Tykr 28.05.2026 28min

  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 Breakdown00:41 Introduction to Ticker and Sean Tepper03:31 The Journey of Building Ticker07:04 Understanding the Stock Market and Investment Strategies11:09 Building Trust and Confidence in Investment Decisions21:31 Acquisition Strategies and Metrics for Success16:21 The Impact of AI on Investment Platforms19:41 Challenges in Building a High-Tech Investment Platform22:11 Key Lessons Learned in Entrepreneurship25:33 Final Thoughts and Team DynamicsLinks & ResourcesConnect with Sean Tepper on LinkedInWhat Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025Subscribe to the Global Talent SprintFull Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordablyIf 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.
• 
  Eric Ries: Why Good Companies Go Bad 21.05.2026 36min

  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 Breakdown00:37 Introduction to Eric Ries and The Lean Startup06:57 The Journey to Incorruptible: A New Perspective12:38 The Challenge of Short-Term Thinking in Business16:14 Understanding Corruption in Business Practices22:51 Building Trustworthy Organizations31:03 Who Should Read Incorruptible?Links & ResourcesConnect with Eric Ries on LinkedInWhat Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025Subscribe to the Global Talent SprintFull Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordablyIf 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.
• 
  The Non-Technical Founder Who Beat the Developers 07.05.2026 35min

  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 Breakdown00:49 Introduction to Connie Lunn and Zaboom02:33 The Journey of Building Zaboom05:41 Tech Stack and Tools Used11:58 Prototype vs. Final Product16:16 Marketing and Customer Engagement21:09 Coaching and Helping Others25:31 Democratizing Technology and Skills32:08 Final Thoughts and AdviceLinks & ResourcesConnect with Connie Lund on LinkedInWhat Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025Subscribe to the Global Talent SprintFull Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordablyIf 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.
• 
  Stop Hiding Behind Process (You Should Own the Product Instead) 23.04.2026 29min

  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 Breakdown00:35 Reconnecting and Early Influences03:27 The Challenges of Product Management06:34 The Role of AI in Product Development09:32 Understanding Risks in AI and Software Development12:34 Bottlenecks in Product Teams15:25 The Importance of People in Business18:17 Innovative Fulfillment Solutions21:39 The Journey of Building a BusinessLinks & ResourcesConnect with Willis Jackson III on LinkedInWhat Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025Subscribe to the Global Talent SprintFull Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordablyIf 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.
• 
  The Secret to Winning Venture Capital: What 2,000 Startup Investments Taught Dave Lambert 16.04.2026 34min

  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 Breakdown00:26 Introduction to Venture Capital and Startups03:36 The Importance of Sales and Marketing in Startups06:24 Data-Driven Investment Strategies09:23 The Impact of AI on Startup Opportunities12:23 Operational Efficiency and Cost Reduction through AI15:28 Sales and Marketing Challenges for Startups18:31 Support and Resources for Portfolio Companies21:25 Evaluating Founders and Market Fit24:28 The Role of Delusion in EntrepreneurshipLinks & ResourcesConnect with Dave Lambert on LinkedInWhat Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025Subscribe to the Global Talent SprintFull Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordablyIf 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/
• 
  Are Software Engineers Really at Risk? Mohan Reddy Weighs In 09.04.2026 25min

  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 Breakdown00:30 The Journey of Mohan Reddy and Skyhive03:34 Transition to Cornerstone AI Labs06:22 AI's Impact on Skills and Workforce09:33 The Evolution of Software Engineering12:29 The Future of Coding and AI Collaboration15:33 Upskilling in the Age of AI18:30 Curiosity and Learning in Tech21:34 Final Thoughts and AdviceLinks & ResourcesConnect with Mohan Reddy on LinkedInWhat Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025Subscribe to the Global Talent SprintFull Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordablyIf 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.
• 
  How AI Is Disrupting Education with Katie Boody Adorno of LeanLab Education 02.04.2026 28min

  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 Breakdown00:00 The Genesis of Lean Lab Education05:25 Innovative Approaches to Educational Challenges09:08 The Impact of the Pandemic on Education11:32 Funding and Sustainability in Education12:58 The Role of Technology in Learning18:12 The Importance of Human Connection in Education20:12 Rethinking the Purpose of Education25:30 The Future of Higher Education and AILinks & ResourcesConnect with Katie Boody Adorno on LinkedInWhat Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025Subscribe to the Global Talent SprintFull Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordablyLean Lab Education - https://leanlabeducation.org
• 
  AI Isn't Killing Software Jobs: It's Changing Who Builds What 26.03.2026 35min

  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 Breakdown00:00 Introduction to Zach Klempf and AutoManager03:09 The Journey of Selle Automotive05:48 Outsourcing and Global Talent Strategy08:59 Experiences in Jamaica and the Philippines12:01 Transition to AutoManager and AI Integration15:13 AI Adoption and Team Dynamics18:02 The Future of Software Development and AI21:02 Challenges in AI Implementation24:10 Market Dynamics and Competitive Landscape26:53 Final Thoughts and ReflectionsLinks & ResourcesConnect with Zach Klempf on LinkedInhttps://www.automanager.com/What Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025Subscribe to the Global Talent SprintFull Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordablyIf 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.
• 
  From Personal Tragedy to Healthcare Innovation 12.03.2026 26min

  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 Breakdown00:00 The Entrepreneurial Journey Begins02:54 The Birth of MatchRite Care06:07 Navigating Product Fit and Market Strategy09:04 The Importance of Data Sharing in Healthcare12:01 Scaling vs. Selling: The Business Model Dilemma15:08 Consulting and Mentorship in the Entrepreneurial Space17:45 The Value of Lifelong Learning and Community Support20:48 Reflections on the Entrepreneurial JourneyLinks & ResourcesConnect with Chris Jones on LinkedInWhat Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025Subscribe to the Global Talent SprintFull Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordablyIf 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.
• 
  Matt & Mark Roberge 05.03.2026 37min

  In this episode of Startup Hustle, Matt Watson interviews Mark Roberge, a former HubSpot executive and current venture capitalist, about his journey from engineering to sales and the importance of scaling startups. Mark discusses the genesis of HubSpot, the significance of sales in startups, and the concept of product-market fit. He emphasizes the need for customer research, avoiding false positives in feedback, and identifying the ideal customer profile. Mark also shares insights on scaling strategies, key metrics for success, and the science behind scaling businesses effectively.⏱️ Episode Breakdown00:00 The Genesis of HubSpot02:56 Transitioning from Engineering to Sales06:06 The Science of Scaling08:53 The Importance of Selling Early12:12 Understanding Customer Needs14:58 Avoiding False Positives in Feedback15:39 Design Partner Dilemma18:21 Target Audience Insights19:56 Ideal Customer Profile Framework23:00 The Science of Scaling25:05 Understanding Growth Investment30:55 Navigating Growth Challenges35:25 Final Thoughts on Scaling SuccessTAKEAWAYSSales is crucial for startup success.Understanding product-market fit is essential before scaling.Customer research should start at the ideation stage.Avoid false positives by validating customer interest.Identify your ideal customer profile to focus efforts.Scaling should be approached methodically and strategically.Establish leading indicators of customer retention.Sales methodologies must evolve as the company grows.Demand generation must align with growth aspirations.The science of scaling involves data-driven decision making.Links & ResourcesConnect with Mark Roberge on LinkedInWhat Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025Subscribe to the Global Talent SprintFull Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordablyIf 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.
• 
  Revolutionizing Hiring with GitHired 26.02.2026 27min

  In this episode of Startup Hustle, Matt Watson interviews Krishna Oza, founder and COO of Git Hired, discussing the challenges of hiring software engineers, particularly for startups. Krishna shares his personal experiences that led to the creation of GitHired, an AI-driven platform designed to help startups find the right technical talent based on proof of work. The conversation delves into the unique needs of early-stage developers, the importance of product thinking, and how GitHired identifies and surfaces 10x engineers. Krishna also discusses the business model of GitHired and the struggles faced by startup founders in finding suitable engineering talent.TAKEAWAYSKrishna's personal experience with hiring challenges inspired GitHired.Startups need engineers who can match their fast-paced environment.Early-stage developers are builders who understand product development.Product thinking is crucial in today's AI-driven landscape.10x engineers possess product vision and minimal organizational friction.Get Hired surfaces hidden engineering talent through GitHub analysis.The platform creates one-page portfolios for applicants based on their work.Complexity of projects is a key factor in evaluating candidates.The business model includes a flat fee for successful hires.Startup founders often struggle to find engineers who can build for users.⏱️ Episode Breakdown00:00 The Genesis of GitHired03:01 The Ideal Early Stage Developer07:01 The Importance of Product Thinking10:10 Identifying 10x Engineers12:52 The Role of Proof of Work20:09 Business Model and Market Fit23:40 Startup Founder StrugglesLinks & ResourcesConnect with Krishna Oza on LinkedInWhat Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025Subscribe to the Global Talent SprintFull Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordablyIf 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.
• 
  Harnessing AI for Business Success 19.02.2026 26min

  In this episode of Startup Hustle, Matt Watson interviews John Morlan, founder and CEO of Smarter Risk, about the transformative impact of AI on startups. John shares his journey of integrating AI into his business, enhancing productivity, and improving collaboration with developers. He discusses the balance between product-led and sales-led growth strategies, the importance of knowledge management, and the challenges of achieving product-market fit. The conversation emphasizes the necessity of hands-on involvement from founders and the evolving role of AI in business operations.⏱️ Episode Breakdown00:00 Introduction to AI in Startups00:57 John's Journey with AI04:58 Prototyping and Development with AI09:47 Balancing Coding and Leadership15:03 Sales vs. Product-Led Growth19:51 Building a Knowledge Base with AI24:57 Final Thoughts on AI and ProductivityLinks & ResourcesConnect with John Morlan on LinkedInWhat Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025Subscribe to the Global Talent SprintFull Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordablyIf 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.