289: The AI paradox (and 3 other trends shaping tech investing in 2026)

Costs dropped 90%. Funding got 10x harder.

It's now much cheaper to build an AI product than it was two years ago — and far harder to convince investors your product has a moat.

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva breaks down the four investing shifts shaping who gets funded, who doesn't, and why.

You'll learn why vertical AI is winning, B2B beats consumer, acquisitions are replacing IPOs, and deal terms are getting riskier for founders.

If you're building a tech product or considering raising capital, this episode will help you see what investors actually care about—before it's too late.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Why it's 90% cheaper to build AI — and still harder than ever to get funded
• How "AI for everyone" quietly kills your defensibility with investors
• The hidden reason B2B startups keep winning while consumer apps struggle to survive
• What today's deal terms can cost you at exit if you don't understand them now

Resources from this Episode

• Tech for Non-Techies episode: 213. How NOT to sell your company

• YouTube: APIs for Non-Techies

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

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Episode Credits

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For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/289-the-ai-paradox-and-3-other-trends-shaping-tech-investing-in-2026