Every founder is looking for ways to save time and money.

And right now, AI promises both.

But here's the catch: while AI can write code, it can't think through your product's logic, security, or scalability. The result? A shiny prototype that collapses under real-world use.

In this episode of Tech for Non-Techies, Sophia Matveeva interviews Natalie Kaminski, CEO of JetRockets, with a knack for bridging the gap between non-tech founders and the digital world. With experience spanning multiple countries and roles she brings a hands-on approach to turning ideas into real, successful products.

At JetRockets, she leads a global team focused on building high-quality Ruby on Rails platforms that align perfectly with business goals.

Sophia and Natalie unpack the limits of AI in product development, why "AI-native" platforms often fail at the fundamentals, and what happens when shortcuts lead to security nightmares.

In this episode, you will hear:

• When to use AI for fast prototyping and when to bring in engineers
• The "toilet in the living room" test for spotting bad product architecture
• Why great developers are more valuable than ever in the AI era
• The red flags that signal a product quote is too cheap to trust

Free AI Mini-Workshop for Non-Technical Founders

Learn how to go from idea to a tested product using AI — in under 30 minutes.
Get free access here: techfornontechies.co/aiclass

Resources from this Episode

Growth Through Innovation

If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here.

Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/277-why-you-shouldn-t-use-ai-to-build-your-product

How many founders think AI is about faster automation?

What if the real opportunity lies in reimagining how entire systems work?

Sophia Matveeva sits down with Sangeet Paul Choudary, best-selling author of Platform Revolution and Re/Shuffle: Who Wins When AI Restacks the Knowledge Economy, to explore how AI isn't just speeding up workflows.

It's rewriting the rules of business models.

From TikTok's behavior-driven growth to Shein's algorithmic supply chain, Sangeet explains how AI coordination is quietly reshaping industries.

You'll learn why being a "second mover" might now be an advantage, and how to design your company around AI's strengths instead of bolting it on as a tool.

In this episode, you will hear:

• The difference between using AI for automation and building an AI-first business
• How Shein's real-time supply chain sensing outpaces Nike's legacy model
• Why "first mover advantage" is outdated in the age of AI
• The simple framework Sangeet uses to identify what won't change—no matter how fast tech evolves

Free AI Mini-Workshop for Non-Technical Founders

Learn how to go from idea to a tested product using AI — in under 30 minutes.

Get free access here: techfornontechies.co/aiclass

Resources from this Episode

Book: Reshuffle: Who wins when AI restacks the knowledge economy https://amzn.to/4n7NgF2

Podcast: listen to the platform series on Tech for Non-Techies:

• Tech for Non-Techies episode 90: What makes platform businesses SO successful https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/platforms-episode
• Tech for Non-Techies episode 91. How to launch a platform when you've got no users https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/chicken
• Tech for Non-Techies episode 92. How to get people to be nice to each other on your platform https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/how-to-get-people-to-be-nice-to-each-other-on-your-platform
• Tech for Non-Techies episode 94. Learning effects: why getting more users isn't the only key to success https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/learning-effects-why-getting-more-users-isnt-the-only-key-to-success

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/276-how-ai-is-reshuffling-the-rules-of-business

What separates founders who make it from those who stall out?

After spending two days surrounded by billion-dollar CEOs and investors at JP Morgan's Tech Investor Conference in London, Sophia Matveeva discovered that the conversations happening in those rooms reveal far more than market gossip.

They hold the blueprint for building resilient, fundable tech companies.

Whether you're preparing to fundraise, expand internationally, or simply sharpen your strategy, this episode gives you a rare look at how top leaders think and how you can apply those insights to your own company's next move.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Why AI adoption has shifted from hype to hard-nosed cost-cutting and how that affects startup strategy
• How to lead investors with confidence by defining your own market story
• What separates founders from hired executives when pitching and performing under pressure
• The mindset principle that football legend Thierry Henry shared that every founder should apply

Resources from this Episode

Free AI Mini-Workshop for Non-Technical Founders

Learn how to go from idea to a tested product using AI — in under 30 minutes.

Get free access here: techfornontechies.co/aiclass

Follow and Review:

We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/275-5-founder-lessons-from-the-jp-morgan-tech-conference