Can you really build and launch a startup without writing code, or even knowing how to?
As AI tools promise lightning-fast product development, many founders still fall into old traps: over-validating, under-executing, or waiting too long for a technical cofounder.
In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein are joined by Eric Simons, founder of StackBlitz and creator of the viral AI app builder Bolt.new. Eric shares how modern tools like Bolt and Cursor are redefining what it means to be a founder, turning product managers, designers, and even marketers into full-stack startup builders.
They explore how AI coding agents are changing team composition, cycle times, and what the real founder skillset looks like in 2025.
In this episode, you will:
- Discover why reality-based iteration—not ideas—is the true startup superpower
- Learn how AI tools like Bolt give non-technical founders real shots on goal
- Understand the evolving role of the technical cofounder in the AI era
- Compare top-down and bottom-up AI workflows (e.g. Bolt vs Cursor)
- Avoid common pitfalls when prompting AI tools to build production-grade apps
- Explore how startup team roles are converging—and where creative tension still matters
- Hear the origin story of Bolt’s breakout growth and what made it an overnight success (after 7 years)
The Pact
Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:
- Follow, rate, and review us in your listening app
- Subscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe
- Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/
- Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg
- Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following
Key links
Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A
The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/
Learn more about Chris and Yaniv
Work 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/
Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/
Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/
Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthur
Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
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