Tech for Non-Techies

• 280: The Build-vs-Buy Framework: When Off-the-Shelf Wins — and When Custom Tech Is Worth It

  A popular debate is "build vs buy." Sadly, that's the wrong question. Here's the thing: shiny features and clever dashboards don't matter if you're solving the wrong problem. And picking the wrong path—custom tech when you don't need it, or off-the-shelf when it can't support your ambitions—can cost you six figures and months of lost momentum. In this episode of Tech for Non-Techies, Sophia walks you through a simple four-question scorecard to cut through the noise and make the right choice for your business. No jargon. No hype. Just a clear decision-making framework grounded in real founder behavior, operational limits, and what actually differentiates a tech venture today. In this episode, you will hear: The hidden trap founders fall into when they start with the solution instead of the problem When "good enough" off-the-shelf tools beat custom builds hands-down The scorecard Sophia uses to judge whether tech can become your competitive moat How to avoid blowing six figures on custom software you never needed 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/280-the-build-vs-buy-framework-when-off-the-shelf-wins-and-when-custom-tech-is-worth-it  

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• 279: What to Do If You've Already Spent $100K on Developers and Have Nothing to Show for It

  Founders assume that if they just hire "good developers," the product will magically take shape. Sadly, that's rarely what happens. Too many non-technical founders burn through $50K … $80K … even $100K, only to end up with half-baked code and zero users. Not because they're careless but because they skip the unsexy, zero-glamour work that actually protects their budget. In this episode of Tech for Non-Techies, Sophia Matveeva breaks down the real reason this problem keeps happening and what to do if you're already deep in the mess. In this episode, you will hear: The hidden trap that causes founders to waste $50K–$100K before they even realise it Why skipping design validation guarantees confusion, rework, and blown budgets What to salvage from a broken build and what to ruthlessly cut The one mindset shift that stops perfectionism from quietly killing your product 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/279-what-to-do-if-you-ve-already-spent-100k-on-developers-and-have-nothing-to-show-for-it.  

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• 278: The One Success Metric Every Non‑Technical Founder Must Know (Encore)

  Many founders think their product's success can be measured in downloads or revenue. But here's the truth: those are business outcomes, not product goals. In this encore episode, Sophia breaks down the one success metric that every non-technical founder must understand before leading a tech team or pitching investors. By the end, you'll know how to lead with clarity, ask sharper questions, and track the metric that matters most — without writing a single line of code. In this episode, you will hear: The one metric that separates product success from business success Why Airbnb's "nights booked" and Facebook's "daily active users" tell investors everything they need to know The mistake most non-technical founders make when they tell teams to "make more money" How to connect product goals to business results without confusing your developers 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/278-the-one-success-metric-every-non-technical-founder-must-know-encore  

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• 277: Why You Shouldn't Use AI to Build Your Product

  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  

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• 276: How AI is Reshuffling the Rules of Business

  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  

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