Why Most Startups Fail - And How AI Can Change That: The David Hirschfeld Interview

In this episode, software veteran David Hirschfeld shares vivid insights into the rapidly approaching wave of AI transformation in tech, startups, and daily life. Drawing on his 35-year experience building successful software businesses, David paints a striking metaphor of a 100-foot rogue wave—representing the disruptive power of AI—forcing companies to either reinvent themselves or risk obsolescence. We discuss why startups frequently fail due to inadequate market validation, and how David's unique "Launch First" methodology dramatically boosts startup success by rigorously testing market demand before building products. Discover the critical importance of distinguishing between customer needs and wants, why pre-launch sales can be game-changing, and how AI tools can make this meticulous validation process faster and cheaper. Plus, David reveals his bold predictions about self-driving cars, transportation revolutions, and why he believes multi-story parking garages will soon become obsolete. He shares his thoughts on the future roles of software developers, the evolving job landscape due to AI, and even the philosophical implications of conscious AI. If you have a startup and want to reach David, you can write him: david@tekyz.com Or connect with him on LinkedIn ! Davids Podcast, Scaling Smarter, will be publilshed here: ScalingSmarter --- Tune in to get my thoughts, don't forget to subscribe to our Newsletter ! Want to get in contact? Write me an email: podcast@argo.berlin Music credit: "Modern Situations" by Unicorn Heads