Founders love the idea of skipping engineers and letting AI code their dream app.

Sadly, that dream falls apart fast.

AI can write code, but it also hallucinates, breaks in production, and leaves you with messes you can’t fix if you're not a coder.

What looks like a shortcut turns into a costly detour.

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva shows you where AI really helps founders—and where it doesn’t.

You’ll learn how to use AI to design prototypes, validate features, and impress investors without blowing thousands on guesswork. And you’ll hear why scaling, security, and serious launches still require pros.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Why AI won’t replace developers — and what it actually does well for founders
• How to turn an idea into a prototype that impresses users and investors
• The hidden risks of “vibe coding” every non-technical founder should know
• When to call in engineers, and how to avoid wasting money before you do

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/273-what-ai-can-and-can-t-do-for-non-technical-founders

For years, non-technical founders were second class citizens in tech.

Not anymore.

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva shares five reasons why today is the best time in history to start a tech venture without being a coder — and why, in some cases, non-technical founders actually have the advantage.

You’ll learn:

• Why investors are backing non-technical founders more than ever
• How AI and no-code slash startup costs from $35,000 to $20
• Why niche markets are exploding — and how to spot them
• How global talent and cheaper tools make launching safer and faster
• Why distribution — not code — decides which products win

This episode will leave you inspired and equipped to take your next step as a founder — even if you can’t write a single line of code.

🎧 Listen now and see why this is your moment.

Free AI Mini-Workshop for Non-Technical Founders

Learn how to go from idea to a tested product using AI — in under 30 minutes, plus get a downloadable framework.

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/272-why-this-is-the-best-time-to-be-a-non-technical-founder

Can you really lead a tech company if you’re not technical yourself?

David Windley has done exactly that.

He’s the former CHRO at Yahoo, held senior HR roles at Microsoft, Intuit, and Activision, scaled a startup from under $1M to $50M as CEO, and now leads HootRecruit — a recruiting tech company.

David has spent his career at the intersection of people, technology, and leadership.

Listen to this episode to learn:

• How non-technical founders blow it when hiring their first developers
• Why a startup CTO is nothing like a corporate CTO
• The “Windley Rule” — why engineers must make sure you understand, not the other way around

If you’ve ever felt shut out of the tech conversation because you don’t code, this episode will show you how to step up as a leader.

Resources from this Episode

Tech for Non-Technical Founders course https://www.techfornontechies.co/tech-for-non-technical-founders

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/271-what-big-tech-taught-me-about-leading-without-code