265. From vodka shots to Y Combinator: how a non-technical founder built a global tech company
Release Date: 08/14/2025
265. From vodka shots to Y Combinator: how a non-technical founder built a global tech company
techfornontechies's podcast
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...
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264. The vacation strategy for people who can’t switch off
techfornontechies's podcast
If you’re the kind of leader who is “on” all the time — even on vacation — this episode is for you. In today’s lesson, Sophia Matveeva shares a practical, honest approach to taking time off without pretending you’ll fully unplug. Because when you're in charge, not checking work emails is often a pipe dream. Listen to this episode to learn: Why inner peace isn’t realistic for early-stage founders How to structure your break without lying to yourself The one rule you must follow if you get a great idea mid-vacation Why learning to trust your team now...
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263. The feature factory trap: when output doesn’t equal progress
techfornontechies's podcast
Why do so many software teams feel busy — but deliver so little value? Fractional tech leader Thanos Diacakis shares why shipping more features doesn’t always mean progress. Drawing on 25+ years in software — from startups to scaling JUMP Bikes at Uber — he explains how to escape the trap of over-planning, feature overload, and technical debt. Listen to learn: Why planning more often leads to less progress What non-technical leaders need to ask their tech teams How to find your team’s bottleneck (and why that changes over time) The 4 stages of becoming a...
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262. Why the CEO is the most dangerous person in a tech startup
techfornontechies's podcast
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 episode dives into the blind spots that trip up even well-meaning founders. Whether you’re a CEO, part of a startup team, or investing in one — this lesson will help you lead smarter, build better, and waste less time. Listen to learn: Why startup CEOs are more dangerous than corporate...
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261. AI won’t kill jobs — but short-term thinking will
techfornontechies's podcast
Some CEOs are already replacing engineers and junior staff with large language models. But what if the real risk isn’t that AI replaces your team — it’s that it doesn’t, and you’re left without a talent pipeline? In this episode, Sophia Matveeva breaks down: Why cutting junior hiring today could sabotage your company in 3–5 years What IBM’s CEO gets right that others get very wrong How the hype around “AI-first” companies is creating poor decision-making What the S-curve of innovation tells us about the real pace of AI progress And why thinking...
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260. How non-techies succeed in tech: lessons from Microsoft’s CTO
techfornontechies's podcast
What does it really take to lead in tech without a technical degree? In this episode, Jennifer Byrne, former CTO of Microsoft US, shares how she built a top-tier tech career starting with a psychology degree — and why understanding context, not code, is your key to success. You’ll learn: How Jennifer transitioned from nonprofit work to tech leadership The difference between digital fluency and context (and why it matters) What cloud computing really is — minus the jargon How Microsoft handled global trust issues post-Snowden What...
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259. Big tech, AI and the future of attention: what you missed in Cannes
techfornontechies's podcast
Think advertising is just TikTok, Instagram, or TV? Think again. At Cannes Lions, a major industry summit, Big Tech set the agenda for what’s next in AI, branding, and attention. This is your insider's summary. In this episode, you will learn: How offline spaces are powering smart digital brands What AI personas are, and how to use them to test product and brand ideas faster (and cheaper) Why most agencies are missing half the audience — and what that means if you’re building a mass-market product If you’re building or marketing a tech product — whether...
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258. Why you need a brand before you need an app
techfornontechies's podcast
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 businesses. You’ll learn the four brand foundations every founder needs — whether you’re launching a new venture or scaling an existing one: Clarity — Who you serve and why you exist Story — What problem you solve and what’s at stake Trust...
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257. Why bad work wins
techfornontechies's podcast
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 can be the difference between building real momentum and watching your venture die. You will learn: Why perfectionism feels smart but keeps you stuck How no-code tools tempt you to tinker instead of launch Why top founders move fast and embrace imperfection...
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256. Top mistakes non-technical founders make & how to avoid them
techfornontechies's podcast
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 mistakes non-technical founders make — and how to avoid them. Whether you’re a founder, a corporate innovator, or leading a new digital venture, these lessons will help you lead product teams effectively and build better tech businesses. You will learn: Why hiring a developer first is a...
info_outlineIf 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:
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How to build a tech product without knowing how to code
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What to do when your first version fails
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The difference between product design and graphic design (and why it matters)
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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
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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