How to Find and Hire a Great Developer for Your AI Startup (When You're Non-Technical)
AI has made it easier than ever to build a prototype.
But at some point, most AI startups hit the same wall.
The no-code tool isn't enough. The vibe-coding is getting messy. The product needs real structure - and you know it.
That's the moment most non-technical founders start thinking about hiring a developer.
And that's also the moment most of them make an expensive mistake.
Not because they hired the wrong tech stack. Not because they couldn't afford good talent. But because they didn't know how to find, evaluate, or manage a developer - and they found out the hard way.
This session is designed for founders who are ready to bring a developer into their AI startup but don't have a technical background to lean on.
If you've been:
unsure where to actually find good developers for AI projects
struggling to evaluate candidates when you can't read their code
worried about being overcharged, underdelivered, or taken advantage of
unclear on whether to hire a freelancer, agency, or full-time hire
unsure how to manage a developer once you've found one
…this session will give you a practical hiring framework built specifically for non-technical founders.
What You'll Learn:
In this 60-minute session you'll learn how to find, evaluate, and hire a great developer for your AI startup - even if you have no technical background.
We'll cover:
where to actually find developers who can build AI products (and where to avoid)
how to evaluate a developer's capability without reading a line of code
the red flags most non-technical founders miss in the hiring process
how to structure a paid trial so you know before you commit
how to set expectations, manage delivery, and stay in control of the build
freelancer vs agency vs full-time - what actually makes sense at the early stage
By the end of the session, you'll have a clear hiring process you can use immediately - so you find the right developer faster and avoid the mistakes that cost founders months and serious money.
Who This Is For:
This session is designed for:
non-technical founders building AI, software, or automation products
founders who have validated an idea or have an early prototype and are ready to hire
founders who want to lead the build confidently without depending entirely on their developer
Hosted by - Matt Ainsworth Product, marketing and communication specialist.
For over 10 years across the startup ecosystems of Japan and Australia, Matt has worked closely with founders navigating across a range of growth stages.
With a background in product, marketing, sales and communications - he focuses on helping non-technical founders move from feeling dependent on technical partners to confidently leading their build with structure and clarity.
Joined by - Daniel Le'au Technology Leader / Advisor
Highly experienced technology leader with decades of hands-on delivery and advisory experience across startups through to large corporates. Known for pragmatic guidance on strategy, roadmaps, architectures and execution - Daniel brings the kind of straight-talking technical perspective that non-technical founders rarely get access to early enough.
Joined by - Eran Ben-Shahar - CTO / Startup Advisor
An expert technologist and startup advisor, Eran has led product and tech strategy across sectors including AI, fintech, transport, and defence. With two successful startup exits, he specialises in translating visionary ideas into scalable technical architectures and real-world solutions - and knows exactly what separates a developer worth hiring from one that will slow you down.
What to Expect:
60-minute practical session
a clear hiring framework you can apply immediately
live Q&A with founders building right now
downloadable worksheet to help you take action immediately
Sign up now for this foundational session designed to empower non-technical founders to embrace their tech building journey - and lead it with lean insight and confidence.
If you missed our last 2 sessions you can catch up here:
How to Build Your MVP for $10k (Not $150k)
Do You Still Need a Developer to Build Your MVP?
Here's what people had to say about our sessions so far:
"I enjoyed it 😀 Especially, because I got to know what the right MVP looks like (I even got some screenshots). I figured everyone has similar questions and that was nice to know too ..."
"thank you so much for last nights session.. It was super helpful for me, who is in early stages... But you and Kale were great and certainly motivating! Thank you!"
"Great session yesterday with Kale on building MVPs with AI and managing the process of getting devs on board."
AI can help you build faster. But only if the person holding the keyboard is the right one.