In this episode of Startup Hustle, Matt Watson interviews John Morlan, founder and CEO of Smarter Risk, about the transformative impact of AI on startups. John shares his journey of integrating AI into his business, enhancing productivity, and improving collaboration with developers. He discusses the balance between product-led and sales-led growth strategies, the importance of knowledge management, and the challenges of achieving product-market fit. The conversation emphasizes the necessity of hands-on involvement from founders and the evolving role of AI in business operations.⏱️ Episode Breakdown00:00 Introduction to AI in Startups00:57 John's Journey with AI04:58 Prototyping and Development with AI09:47 Balancing Coding and Leadership15:03 Sales vs. Product-Led Growth19:51 Building a Knowledge Base with AI24:57 Final Thoughts on AI and ProductivityLinks & ResourcesConnect with John Morlan on LinkedInWhat Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025Subscribe to the Global Talent SprintFull Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordablyIf you’re trying to get your team out of the basement and into real product ownership, this episode is your playbook. Stop being a ticket factory. Build teams that think, create, and lead.Follow the show, rate it, and send this to someone who’s still trying to do “real Scrum.” They need it more than you do.