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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.

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🔗 Connect with David:
✉️ david@tekys.com
💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhirschfeld/
🌐 https://tekys.com

📍 Chapters
0:00 Intro
1:17 Success in a Recovery Project
6:11 Turning Around a Dying Business
11:27 The Mistake of Free Trials
14:32 From Small-Scale Idea to Major Snack Distribution Software
22:05 Building a Culture of Excellence Without Burnout
29:24 Founders, Delegation, and Cultural Leadership
35:31 Scaling Through Logarithmic Growth Principles
37:32 Visualizing Future Scale & Systemic Thinking
39:26 Recognizing a Profitable Market — The StageRite Story
42:29 Will AI Eliminate Software Jobs?
48:14 A Vision of AI-Driven Abundance
53:09 The Biggest Mistake Young Founders Make
55:53 Outro

#HorizonSearchPodcast #StartupSuccess #ProductMarketFit #AIinBusiness #FoundersAdvice #SaaS #TechLeadership #RemoteTeams #LaunchStrategy #ScaleSmarter #DavidHirshfield #TechInnovation #Automation #SmartHiring #DigitalProducts #NoCode #StartupTips #BusinessGrowth #EntrepreneurMindset #StartupMistakes

Ernesto Mandowsky is helping entrepreneurs turn chaos into clarity by systemizing their businesses for sustainable growth.
With a background spanning hospitality, tech, and consulting—including a chief of staff role at a fast-scaling POS startup and experience at Deloitte—Ernesto blends operational excellence with creativity.

As the founder of the Million Dollar Machine framework and author of Momentum Multipliers, he teaches solopreneurs how to scale without burning out by treating business like a recipe—step-by-step, repeatable, and scalable.

In this episode, we discussed:
Why structure and systems give entrepreneurs the freedom to be curious and scale with confidence.
How personal alignment and originality can create magnetic, sustainable business growth.
Why building a business should feel more like following a recipe than surviving a storm.

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Connect with Ernesto:
https://www.yourmdm.co/
https://www.yourmdm.co/book
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ernestomandowsky/

Chapters:
0:00 Intro2:01 Good Design Reflects Good Business4:19 The Idea Behind the “Million Dollar Machine”5:55 Crossing the First Threshold10:22 Leaving Deloitte for a Passion in Restaurants15:36 Lessons from Cross-Pollinating Life Experiences16:04 Introducing Momentum Multipliers and the Five Recipes18:10 The Philosophical Foundation Behind the Recipes19:54 Client Case Studies and Small Changes with Big Impact25:18 AI and the Solopreneur Reality26:20 Building a Team: From Org Chart to SOPs29:59 Building Systems Through Consistent Progress30:53 Outro

#HorizonSearchPodcast #Entrepreneurship #BusinessSystems #MillionDollarMachine #MomentumMultipliers #SolopreneurLife #DigitalTransformation #StartupSuccess #DeloitteAlumni #RestaurantToRiches #FoundersJourney #ScalingUp #SOPs #BusinessAutomation #SmallBusinessGrowth #StartupPlaybook #FromKitchenToCEO #ProductivityHacks #BusinessStrategy #ConsciousLeadership #BuildWithSystems

Sctacy Bishop is helping FinTech founders close more deals by turning technical brilliance into sales clarity.

With over two decades of experience at Jack Henry and a deep understanding of the banking world, Stacey now leads Selling FinTech, where she empowers startups to position their products effectively, build strategic partnerships, and master the art of selling to financial institutions.

In this episode, we discuss why sales success starts with empathy, clarity, and structured conversations—not aggressive tactics. Stacey explains how fintech founders can avoid costly mistakes by validating product-market fit before scaling sales teams. We also explore how Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) and Open Banking are transforming the future of fintech–bank collaboration.

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https://thesearchlight.com/subscribe

Connect with Stacey:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacybishop/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/sellingfintech/
https://sellingfintech.com/

Chapters:0:00 Intro1:27 Early Sales Challenges3:51 Being Underestimated as a Female Sales Leader5:44 Balancing Education and Sales in Communication9:27 Standing Out Without Discounts or Pushy Sales Tactics14:21 Why Discounting Often Signals a Deeper Sales Problem18:31 Building Confidence Through Validation and Micro-Agreements23:08 Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) as a Win-Win Model26:31 Founders, Sales, and Knowing When to Scale30:13 Motivating Sales Teams Without Burnout33:40 Emerging Trends in FinTech and Banking36:41 Defining a Realistic Target Market for FinTech Startups39:13 Vision for the Future of FinTech-Bank Collaboration43:03 Outro

#HorizonSearchPodcast #FinTech #StartupSales #BankingAsAService #OpenBanking #SalesStrategy #FinTechFounders #FinTechGrowth #StartupLeadership #SellToBanks #ProductMarketFit #SalesMentorship #SaaSSales #TechSalesTips #StartupAdvice #FoundersJourney #SalesCoaching #FinTechPodcast #HorizonSearchPodcast #BaaS #FinTechSelling