269: 4 Non-Technical Founders Who Built Billion-Dollar Tech Empires
Most founders think you need to be technical to build a billion-dollar company. But some of the world’s biggest tech giants were started by people who never wrote a single line of code. In this episode, Sophia Matveeva unpacks the journeys of four non-technical founders who rewrote the rules of business. In this episode, you will hear: How Steve Jobs proved that design instincts can beat coding skills Why Jack Ma’s 30 job rejections became his unfair advantage in building Alibaba The broke rent payment that sparked Airbnb’s $80B global empire What Katrina Lake’s Stitch Fix IPO teaches about trusting customers over investors Resources from this Episode https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/how-companies-really-use-ai FREE CLASS: Build a Startup WITHOUT Learning to Code https://www.techfornontechies.co/freeclass 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/269-4-non-technical-founders-who-built-billion-dollar-tech-empires
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268: How to Align Founders and Investors (Before Things Go Wrong)
Most founders think securing investors will solve all their problems. But fundraising often creates a new set of challenges—misaligned expectations, endless reporting requests, and pressure that pulls focus from building the business. The truth is, raising capital isn’t just about money. It’s about relationships, trust, and knowing when to push back. In this episode, you’ll learn from Jeffrey Fidelman, founder and managing director of Fidelman & Company, which is on Inc.’s list of America’s fastest-growing companies. Jeffrey has worked at Morgan Stanley, been a partner at a venture fund, and now advises early and mid-stage companies on growth and fundraising strategy. He shares what founders should realistically expect from investors, how to set boundaries without burning bridges, and why today’s tools—like AI and no-code—make it possible to show traction before raising a single dollar In this episode, you will hear: Why some investors secretly derail startups — and how to spot them early The hidden risk of over-delivering for your investors (and how to say no) How no-code and AI tools can replace your first $250K in funding The newsletter strategy smart founders use to turn interest into investment Resources from this Episode Free class: Build a startup without learning to code https://www.techfornontechies.co/freeclass Fidelman & Co https://fidelmanco.com/ Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection https://amzn.to/3HPMHRG Financial Times: Being an angel investor is tougher than it looks https://on.ft.com/4oDoQFD 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/268-how-to-align-founders-and-investors-before-things-go-wrong
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267: 7 Startup Lessons from BlackBerry’s Rise and Fall
Most non-technical founders dream of building a game-changing tech product—without learning to code. But bridging the gap between vision and execution? That takes more than just a good idea. In this episode, Sophia Matveeva breaks down 7 essential lessons from the rise and fall of BlackBerry, a tech company that revolutionized communication, then lost it all. You’ll learn why great engineers aren’t enough, how clueless sales pitches kill trust, and why falling in love with your invention might be your biggest risk. Whether you’re planning your first app or scaling your second startup, this episode is packed with real talk and timeless wisdom, straight from a founder who’s been there. In this episode, you will hear: How BlackBerry went from world-domination to irrelevance — and what every non-technical founder can learn from its rise and fall Why mutual respect and tech fluency between business leaders and engineers is non-negotiable How poor communication between sales and technical teams can sink even the best products The hidden risk of falling in love with your invention — and how to avoid it FREE class: Build a Startup WITHOUT Learning to Code https://www.techfornontechies.co/freeclass 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/267-7-startup-lessons-from-blackberry-s-rise-and-fall
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266. Founder-Led vs. Product-Led Growth: how to pick the right path for your startup
Most founders dream of creating a product so good it sells itself. That’s the promise of product-led growth: customers discover, share, and adopt your product with little to no sales effort. Sadly that's rarely the reality. In the early stages, almost every founder has to do the hard, unglamorous work of founder-led growth: building trust, making offers and facing rejection. In this episode, you will learn from Vijay Rajendran, author of The Funding Framework: Secure Startup Funding With Confidence. Vijay previously led portfolio value at 500 Global, a venture capital firm with $2.7 billion under management, where he supported startups in more than 80 countries. Vijay has helped hundreds of founders grow, scale, and raise capital. Listen to learn: The difference between founder-led and product-led growth — and when each approach works best. How design partnerships and pilots can win your first customers (and even get them to fund product development). Why “influence” is a better mindset than “sales” — and how listening to customers creates trust. Stories from Airbnb to enterprise startups that reveal what growth really looks like behind the scenes. Whether you’re launching your first product, leading innovation inside a corporate, or backing founders as an investor, this episode is for you. Resources mentioned in this episode: Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, Robert Cialdini Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It, Chris Voss Chapters 05:24 — The seductive dream of product-led growth (and why it rarely works early on) 07:52 — Design partnerships: how customers can fund your product 13:39 — The Airbnb toilet photos story: why every founder must talk to customers 18:55 — Stop pitching, start listening: turning sales into influence 23:23 — Empathy and persuasion: the human skills behind tech success 28:48 — When to move from founder-led growth to a professional sales team FREE Course: 5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know https://www.techfornontechies.co/freecourse 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. For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/266-founder-led-vs-product-led-growth-how-to-pick-the-right-path-for-your-startup
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265. From vodka shots to Y Combinator: how a non-technical founder built a global tech company
If you’re a non-technical founder building your first product, this episode is for you. In today’s lesson, Robyn Exton shares the real story of how she went from branding agency employee to founder of a global tech company — without writing a line of code. She didn’t raise millions on day one. She learned by doing, made all the early-stage mistakes, and got her first users with vodka shots in nightclubs. Now, her app has millions of users and she’s been through Y Combinator. Robyn is the founder of HER, the dating app for queer women. Listen to this episode to learn: How to build a tech product without knowing how to code What to do when your first version fails The difference between product design and graphic design (and why it matters) How to work with developers when you don’t speak tech Whether you’re dreaming up your first MVP or struggling through version two, this is your honest guide to building in the dark — and making it work. Chapters 00:00 — Vodka shots for downloads: the hustle begins 03:10 — From branding job to building a tech product 10:30 — The wake-up call: “You’re doing too many things” 14:00 — Fake research, failed MVP, and what she learned 27:20 — How a non-technical founder led a dev team 33:45 — Hiring a CTO, letting go of ego, and building trust 45:35 — Raising $1M before YC — and why she joined anyway 51:10 — Final audience Q&A: churn, product, and user feedback FREE Course: 5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know https://www.techfornontechies.co/freecourse 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. For the full transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/265-from-vodka-shots-to-y-combinator-how-a-non-technical-founder-built-a-global-tech-company
Tech for Non-Techies helps Business Leaders have great careers in the Digital Age, with episodes on innovation, digital transformation, start-ups and how technology is changing business.
Learn tech concepts, apply them to business strategy, and get practical advice on how to succeed as a Digital Leader today.
Learn how to work with tech clients, transition career, succeed in digital transformation and start a company as a non-technical founder.
Tech for Non-Techies is for:
- Leaders in corporates going through digital transformation
- Non-technical founders
- Professionals who want to transition into a career in tech
- Tech investors
Hosted by tech entrepreneur, executive coach and Chicago Booth MBA Sophia Matveeva.
Ireland