Make sure to subscribe to our new channel at @bizdevpod for more deep dives into innovation, growth, and startup strategy.David Hirshfield — 35-year tech veteran, founder of Tekyz Corp, and host of the Scaling Smarter podcast — joins us to share what it really takes to build, scale, and sustain a successful startup in today’s AI-driven world.In this deep-dive conversation, David unpacks his Launch First approach, which flips the traditional startup model by focusing on validation and sales before writing a single line of code. He explains why free beta testing doesn’t prove product-market fit — only paying customers do.We explore how AI is transforming software development, not by replacing developers, but by accelerating what’s automatable and unleashing more space for human creativity. You’ll also hear his insights on hiring smarter (not just more skilled) people, scaling systems through distinct growth phases, and how he envisions a future of AI-driven abundance — one where even parking garages disappear.🎧 This episode is essential for startup teams, founders, and innovators navigating the new tech economy.✨ Get weekly business growth hacks every Friday:https://thesearchlight.com/subscribe🔗 Connect with David:✉️ [email protected]💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhirschfeld/🌐 https://tekys.com📍 Chapters0:00 Intro1:17 Success in a Recovery Project6:11 Turning Around a Dying Business11:27 The Mistake of Free Trials14:32 From Small-Scale Idea to Major Snack Distribution Software22:05 Building a Culture of Excellence Without Burnout29:24 Founders, Delegation, and Cultural Leadership35:31 Scaling Through Logarithmic Growth Principles37:32 Visualizing Future Scale & Systemic Thinking39:26 Recognizing a Profitable Market — The StageRite Story42:29 Will AI Eliminate Software Jobs?48:14 A Vision of AI-Driven Abundance53:09 The Biggest Mistake Young Founders Make55:53 Outro#HorizonSearchPodcast #StartupSuccess #ProductMarketFit #AIinBusiness #FoundersAdvice #SaaS #TechLeadership #RemoteTeams #LaunchStrategy #ScaleSmarter #DavidHirshfield #TechInnovation #Automation #SmartHiring #DigitalProducts #NoCode #StartupTips #BusinessGrowth #EntrepreneurMindset #StartupMistakes

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