274: The non-technical founder mindset: how to lead when you can't code Oct 15, 2025

Many startups collapse not because the idea fails, but because the pressure gets unbearable.

Sadly, it’s not strategy or funding that takes them out. It’s the grind, the chaos, and the sheer mental weight of building something new.

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva shares three mindset shifts th...

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272: Why this is the best time to be a non-technical founder Oct 01, 2025

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 advant...

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271: What big tech taught me about leading without code Sep 24, 2025

 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 <$1M to $50M as CEO, and now leads HootRecruit — a recruiting tech company. ...

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270: Real people, real startups: lessons from our alumni Sep 17, 2025

Most people think you need to be a Silicon Valley insider — or have millions in funding — to start a tech venture.

That’s just not true.

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva shares the journeys of four Tech for Non-Techies alumni who built products and startups without writing a single line of code...

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269: 4 Non-technical founders who built billion-dollar tech empires Sep 10, 2025

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...

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265. From vodka shots to Y Combinator: how a non-technical founder built a global tech company Aug 14, 2025

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. ...

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262. Why the CEO is the most dangerous person in a tech startup Jul 16, 2025

Most startup CEOs think they’re the visionary.

But in today’s episode, you’ll learn why the CEO is often the single biggest threat to team productivity — and how to avoid becoming one.

Based on a real conversation with a seasoned CTO and a sales leader who’ve scaled startups to exit, this episo...

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258. Why you need a brand before you need an app Jun 11, 2025

Most founders dive straight into building — features, user flows, no-code tools — before they’ve nailed the strategy that actually drives traction: brand.

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva shares why brand must come before product, especially for non-technical founders building tech-enabled busin...

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257. Why bad work wins Jun 04, 2025

 

Analysis paralysis is BORING. And it doesn't get you results.

Most founders think they fail because of the market, the product, or the pitch.

But the real killer is a slow mindset.

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva shows you why bad work beats perfect ideas — and how shifting your mindset ca...

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256. Top mistakes non-technical founders make & how to avoid them May 27, 2025

 

If you’re building a tech product but don’t have a technical background, this episode will save you months of wasted time and thousands in unnecessary spend.

In this re-release of one of our most popular early episodes, Tech for Non-Techies founder Sophia Matveeva shares the 5 biggest mistake...

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255. What Most Startup Support Gets Wrong — and How to Fix It May 21, 2025

 

From accelerators to corporate venture capital, most startup support structures fail to deliver. Investor and entrepreneur Andrew Ackerman explains why — and what founders and corporates should do instead.

With over 70 investments and hundreds of founders mentored, Andrew brings rare perspect...

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253. 4 Podcasts That Will Make You Smarter This Summer May 07, 2025

Want to become a better tech innovator while you sit on a beach?

In this episode, Sophia Matveeva shares four podcast episodes you can learn from through osmosis—and enjoy every minute of it.

You will learn:

  • Why Netflix’s original CEO got fired by his co-founder—and what that says about st

    ...
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