Startup Hustle

Product Driven: The Book Launch - A Software Leader's Journey to Creating High-Performance Teams 📚

After months of intensive writing and years of industry experience, Matt Watson unveils his groundbreaking book "Product Driven" - a comprehensive guide for engineering leaders seeking to build teams with a genuine product mindset. This isn't just another business book; it's a practical roadmap for transforming how software teams thin...

Breaking Through Requirements Hell: How AI is Revolutionizing Software Development 🚀

In this compelling exploration of technological transformation, host Matt Watson connects with Chris Rickard, founder of UserDoc, broadcasting from Vietnam. Their conversation unveils a profound shift happening across the software industry—one where artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping the relationship between business stakeholders an...

Learning Through Play: How Boddle Built Educational Games That Kids Actually Want

In this insightful conversation, Matt Watson talks with Clarence Tan, founder and CEO of Boddle Learning, about their journey building educational games that have reached over 10 million users. Clarence shares how they tackled the classic problem of educational games - how to make them as engaging as regular games while maintaining educational value. B...

Feedback-Driven Development: Optimizing Your Software Engineering Process

In this enlightening conversation with author Ashley Davis, Matt Watson explores the concept of feedback-driven development and how it shapes effective software engineering practices. Ashley, author of "Bootstrapping Microservices" and the upcoming "The Feedback-Driven Developer," shares valuable insights on how developers can leverage feedback loops to enhanc...

Bootstrapping vs VC: John Rush on Building 25 Successful Products 🚀

In this enlightening episode of Product Driven, host Matt Watson sits down with serial tech entrepreneur John Rush. Known for his prominent presence on social media platforms like Twitter (X) and LinkedIn, John shares his journey from VC-backed companies to successfully bootstrapping 25 different startups over the past 15 years. The conversation explores the stark ...

AI and Agency Evolution: Navigating the Future of Software Development 🚀

In this thought-provoking episode of Product Driven, Matt Watson welcomes Senad Santic, owner of Zendev software development agency and founder of LinkBound. They dive deep into how AI is reshaping software development agencies, training strategies for developers in this evolving landscape, and the challenges of diversifying from agencies into SaaS products. B...

Building Human-Centric Engineering Teams: Culture, Motivation, & Purpose 🛠️

In this episode of Product Driven, Matt Watson talks with John Durant, founder of Human Centric Engineering, about the critical elements that create high-performing engineering cultures. John explains how mastery, autonomy, and purpose form the foundation of intrinsic motivation for engineers and how courage enables teams to overcome organizational fear...

🧪 The AI Testing Revolution: Reimagining QA in the Era of Generative Intelligence

In this intellectually stimulating conversation, Matt Watson and Nuwan Samarasekera (Founder & CEO of TestChimp) explore the transformative impact of generative AI on software testing methodologies. As AI accelerates development cycles, discover why testing has emerged as the new bottleneck and how innovative approaches are creating the perfe...

🔍 Engineering Visibility: Unlocking Team Performance at Scale with Hacker Pulse

In this intellectually stimulating exploration, Matt Watson and Gleb Braverman (Founder & CEO of Hacker Pulse) delve into the universal challenges that emerge when engineering organizations reach critical mass. From identifying "ghost engineers" to optimizing team composition across time zones, discover why seemingly unique organizational challenges...

Full Scale Ventures Launches & The Power of Venture Studios 🚀

In this transformative episode of Product Driven, host Matt Watson introduces his exciting new venture with Craig Ferril—Full Scale Ventures. They dive deep into the concept of venture studios, exploring various models and explaining why they've launched their own. The conversation reveals how their combined expertise in technology, strategy, and operations positions...

🦸‍♂️ Unlocking CTO Mode: When Technical Leaders Become Innovation Heroes

In this intellectually stimulating conversation, Matt Watson and Ron Timoshenko (CIO of Rimbull Health) unpack the multifaceted nature of the CTO role and explore the critical moments when technical leaders must activate their "beast mode" to drive innovation. Through candid discussion about leadership styles, technical debt, and the balance between creativity...

In this episode, Matt Watson interviews Rajiv Nathan, the Startup Hype Man, who shares insights on how to pitch a startup to investors and customers effectively. Rajiv discusses his journey from a marketing background to becoming a pitch expert, emphasizing the importance of understanding the pitch landscape beyond just raising capital. He introduces the K-PASA formula for crafting elevator pitches and highlights common mistakes fo...

In this episode, Matt Watson interviews Ben Taylor, founder and CEO of Soft Ledger, about his journey in creating accounting software. They discuss the challenges of building a product in a competitive market, the importance of identifying gaps in existing solutions, and the lessons learned from the startup experience. Ben shares insights on their go-to-market strategy, the role of AI in accounting, and the impact of funding on the...

In this episode, Matt Watson and Sean Beckner discuss the journey of entrepreneurship, investment strategies, and the evolution of business growth. Sean shares his experiences transitioning from a startup founder to an investor, highlighting the importance of timing in business exits and the dynamics of customer engagement in the digital age.

They explore the challenges and rewards of acquiring businesses, the balance between equit...

In this episode, Matt Watson speaks with Joseph Ruscio, a partner at Heavybit, a venture capital firm focused on investing in software development-related companies. They discuss the evolving landscape of venture capital, the unique value niche VC firms provide, and the impact of AI on software development. Joseph shares insights on the challenges developers face, the importance of finding product-market fit, and how AI can enhance...

In this episode, Matt Watson and Yoni Kozminski discuss the intricacies of hiring talent in the Philippines, exploring Yoni's journey from creative advertising to building a recruitment agency. They delve into the challenges of scaling a business, the importance of value creation in sales, and the need for clear job definitions and onboarding processes. 

The conversation highlights the evolving workforce in the Philippines, cultura...

In this episode, Matt Watson interviews Andrew Plato, a seasoned entrepreneur and author of 'The Founder's User Manual.' They discuss the challenges of entrepreneurship, the importance of differentiation in a competitive market, and the role of trust and credibility in business. Andrew shares insights from his experiences, emphasizing the need for startups to establish a unique identity, navigate employee relationships carefully, a...

Adam Robinson, founder and CEO of Retention, discusses his new product RB2B and the importance of simplicity and profitability in building a successful business. He emphasizes the value of bootstrapping and achieving $10 million ARR before considering raising funds. Adam challenges the traditional venture-backed model and highlights the benefits of owning a profitable business that generates millions of dollars in revenue. He also ...

Tyler Lieber, co-founder and CEO of Coconut VA, joins Matt Watson on the Startup Puzzle podcast to discuss the benefits and challenges of hiring virtual assistants (VAs) in the Philippines. They share their personal experiences with remote hiring and highlight the importance of trust and communication in working with VAs. Tyler explains that VAs can assist with a wide range of tasks, from email and calendar management to event plan...