Rogue Startups

RogueStartups
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On Rogue Startups we share the journey of startup founders as they're growing their businesses. We feature experts in the fields of sales, marketing, and product development to hear how they're growth hacking their productized services and SaaS products. If you're on the journey of an entrepreneur then tune and hear how we're tackling some of the same obstacles you may be facing, and how we're winning in the game of business. Listeners of Startups for the Rest of Us, My First Million, Mixergy, and Bootstrapped Web will love checking out our show.

  1. 18 MAR

    RS358: Your Design Sucks

    In this episode, Craig sits down with Francois Brill, Head of Product at Castos and longtime design collaborator, for an honest and entertaining conversation about what it really takes to build great-looking products in the age of AI. Using Outlier as a live case study, Francois walks through the marketing site and product UX in real time, calling out the small but costly design mistakes that make AI-built tools look generic. From embarrassing mismatched button styles to cognitive overload on ideation pages, this episode is a must-listen for anyone vibe-coding their next SaaS app and wondering why it just does not feel polished. Highlights from Craig and Francois’ conversation: AI-generated design is the new "tell" that your product was built without a designer Picking one mode, light or dark, is almost always better than trying to do both Rounded inputs paired with square buttons is one of the most common and fixable design mistakes Color should guide user action, not decorate the interface UX is how something works; UI is what it looks like, and they require different thinking Cognitive overload kills conversion, especially on feature-rich pages like ideation tools A Design MD file can teach AI your brand system so every output stays consistent Code is cheap now, so the value has shifted to vision, taste, and design thinking Building fast and iterating beats trying to get it perfect the first time If everyone can prompt the same thing, standing out requires taste and a real system Resources and Links from This Episode: Clearly Design: https://www.clearly.design/  Francois on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fbrill/  Outlier: https://outlier.so/  Castos Free Tools: castos.com/tools Email me: podcast@roguestartups.com  Find me on Twitter: @TheCraigHewitt If you feel like Rogue Startups has benefited you, and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes.  Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Feel free to reach out to me: Twitter: @TheCraigHewitt LinkedIn: Craig Hewitt Email: podcast@roguestartups.com  Chapters (00:00:00) - Francois Brill on Design & UX(00:01:26) - How To Design SaaS Companies' User Experience ((00:04:04) - Light and Dark(00:07:08) - Mixed Bag: Round vs. Square On Mobile(00:09:24) - Kanban 2.8: Color(00:13:19) - Taste Design: The Future of AI(00:16:08) - Onboarding to YouTube(00:20:52) - Ideas in the Pipeline(00:27:25) - Ideation: A Chatbot Interface(00:33:56) - How to Build a Ui with a Human Interface(00:38:48) - Design Systems: The Need for Verification(00:40:45) - How To Build a Design System?(00:49:08) - Top AI Tooling Tips(00:53:08) - A Taste of Hard Work

    54 min

  2. 11 MAR

    RS357: I Got Hacked

    This week on the Rogue Startups, Craig gets roasted. He brought in experienced software engineer Brandon Hancock after building the AI-powered SaaS app Outlier largely through “vibe coding,” so Brandon could audit the entire codebase live during the episode. The result? An honest but useful breakdown of what happens when non-technical founders ship fast with AI tools.  Brandon digs into real security risks, common architecture mistakes, and the best practices every founder should follow when building AI-driven products. If you’re launching SaaS with tools like Next.js, Supabase, and Claude, or simply adding AI features to your existing product, this episode offers practical lessons on building faster without accidentally breaking everything. Check the episode out on YouTube to see Brandon dig through Craig’s code onscreen. Highlights from Craig and Brandon’s conversation: What “vibe coding” looks like when building a real production startup How a single exposed Supabase key can create major security risks Why row-level security is critical for protecting user data Using AI to audit code and uncover vulnerabilities in minutes Simple fixes that dramatically improve SaaS security Why many AI code review tools miss critical issues The danger of exposing backend clients in frontend code How server actions can replace many API endpoints Best practices for managing database migrations with Drizzle ORM Why staging environments save founders from catastrophic production mistakes The difference between moving fast and building responsibly How to structure AI documentation for better development workflows Using task templates to teach AI your coding standards Practical lessons for founders building SaaS products with AI tools Resources and Links from This Episode Shipkit.ai: https://www.shipkit.ai/  Brandon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-hancock-ai  Brandon’s website: https://brandonhancock.io/  Brandon on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aiwithbrandon  Rogue Startups on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@roguestartups  Castos Free Tools: castos.com/tools Email me: podcast@roguestartups.com  Find me on Twitter: @TheCraigHewitt If you feel like Rogue Startups has benefited you, and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes.  Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Feel free to reach out to me: T... Chapters (00:00:00) - Getting Roasted: AI Security Best Practices(00:01:42) - What I Learned From Working On EMS Soap(00:04:40) - loading pandas in C#(00:05:04) - How to hack a Supabase client with a single code(00:06:51) - How to compromise a C# project with a phishing(00:10:17) - Code Reviewing in the Cloud(00:15:10) - Migration workflow in C#(00:20:45) - Creating a second branch in the Supabase project(00:23:31) - Choosing the right API for your app(00:25:59) - Brandon: How do we structure AI Development?(00:32:35) - Seeking Compound Engineering in the Code(00:33:41) - How to max out Claude Code in 2019(00:38:38) - Building a Software Startup With Claude Code(00:44:04) - Shipkit AI Announcement

    44 min

  3. 25 FEB

    RS355: Code Velocity and the Future of SaaS

    What does it mean to be a SaaS founder in a world where AI can build features faster than we ever could?  In this conversation, Craig sits down with Arvid Kahl to unpack the shifting reality of software, competition, and the craft of SaaS in 2026. They talk about code velocity, discernment, marketing in an AI-saturated world, and why SaaS is not dead, even as the software part becomes commoditized. Listen in to find out what actually matters these days, if you want to build something that lasts. Highlights from Craig and Arvid’s conversation: AI is shifting the founder’s role from building to judging quality and making decisions Code velocity now matters more than perfect architecture for most SaaS products Replacing junior developers entirely with AI risks creating a future talent gap Your real competition increasingly includes general AI tools, not just other SaaS companies AI has leveled the marketing baseline, making differentiation and brand more important than ever Standing out requires taste, point of view, and clear positioning, not just tactics Acquiring legacy SaaS and refactoring with AI could be a major opportunity The service part of SaaS still matters most, because AI generates products but not businesses Resources and Links from This Episode Podscan: https://podscan.fm/  Castos Free Tools: castos.com/tools Email me: podcast@roguestartups.com  Find me on Twitter: @TheCraigHewitt If you feel like Rogue Startups has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes.  Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Feel free to reach out to me: Twitter: @TheCraigHewitt LinkedIn: Craig Hewitt Email: podcast@roguestartups.com  Chapters (00:00:00) - What Does It Mean to Be a SaaS Founder in 20(00:01:04) - What's the Next 3 or 4 Steps in Your Career?(00:10:01) - Building an AI-ready database in minutes(00:17:18) - Code Review: The Need for Continuous Development(00:21:09) - SaaS vs AI: Buy, Integrate, Arbitrage(00:23:45) - Are We Ready for AI in Medical Applications?(00:25:32) - Bill Gates on AI and Growth(00:30:31) - Marketing: The Challenge of Standing Out(00:34:42) - SaaS as a Service(00:38:52) - Agents and the agentic loop(00:42:00) - Will Agents Be Autonomous in the Future?(00:47:19) - Will Salesforce Give Marketing a Full API Access?(00:48:39) - Agile Coding: How to Keep Up with Everything(00:55:24) - An Optimistic View of the Market

    58 min

  4. 26/11/2025

    RS354: The State Of Podcasting Heading Into 2026

    Craig is back! Today, he welcomes fellow podcaster Colin Gray back to the podcast. They dive into the ever-evolving world of podcasting, reflecting on how much the landscape has shifted over the last decade and what people are craving now more than ever: genuine human connection. From the tug-of-war between YouTube and podcast growth, to what it really means to build an AI-first product, they explore the trends shaping creators, customers, and the platforms that connect them. Highlights from Craig and Colin’s conversation: How podcasting has changed over the last 10 years  The more we’re pulled toward AI, the more we crave genuine connection Is it easier to grow a YouTube channel or a podcast? Content integration and becoming a centralized hub Spotify’s role in the evolution of podcasting Monetization: ads, donations, subscriptions, and more Balancing and prioritizing feature requests How AI is shaping customer expectations How to make your product AI-first Resources and Links from This Episode: The Podcast Host: https://www.thepodcasthost.com/  Colin on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/colinmcgray?originalSubdomain=uk  beehiiv: https://www.beehiiv.com/  Kit: https://kit.com/ Creator Hooks: https://creatorhooks.com/  Castos Free Tools: castos.com/tools Email me: podcast@roguestartups.com Find me on Twitter: @TheCraigHewitt If you feel like Rogue Startups has benefited you, and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes.  Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Feel free to reach out to me: Twitter: @TheCraigHewitt LinkedIn: Craig Hewitt Email: podcast@roguestartups.com  Chapters (00:00:00) - Rogue Startups: 100 Days of AI(00:00:48) - How Podcasting Is Affecting AI(00:05:14) - How To Integrate Podcasts into Your Business(00:09:18) - Is Podcasting The Most Popular Media Format?(00:14:18) - Steve Bartlett on Spotify and Video(00:18:11) - Podcaster on Separation of Podcasting and Editing(00:22:19) - Podcasts: How Do They Monetize?(00:23:20) - Has Alitud added advertising to our Episode Builder?(00:25:24) - How to Make a Living on Podcast(00:27:45) - How is AI Affecting Your Company's Business?(00:32:24) - How To Make a Chatbot Like a Human Being(00:34:08) - 100 Days of YouTube(00:37:43) - How to Grow a Podcast on YouTube(00:40:53) - PODCAST: A Chat With Craig

    41 min

  5. 01/10/2025

    RS353: Is This the Last Organic Marketing Channel

    In today’s episode, Craig sits down with SaaS founder and entrepreneur Brian Casel to talk about the future of software and AI. With years of experience building and growing SaaS companies, Brian shares his perspective on how artificial intelligence is reshaping the industry, from launching in niche markets and creating content that resonates to the challenges SaaS businesses will face in the next few years. They also dive into YouTube growth strategies, monetizing AI tools, and whether today’s AI boom is a lasting shift or just another bubble. Highlights from Craig and Brian’s conversation: Craig’s 100 Days of AI Challenge Growing with content: from weekly AI newsletters to scaling YouTube channels Brian’s current projects – Agent OS, Builder Methods, and the difference between live workshops and online courses How to monetize AI tools and content in today’s market The power of the B2B super niche and what it takes to launch a new SaaS business in 2025 AI challenges for SaaS companies over the next few years Behind the scenes of Craig and Brian’s YouTube workflows How to choose the right content for your audience (and avoid wasting time creating the wrong stuff) Where is AI headed? Is this just a bubble, or real long-term change? Will artificial intelligence replace artists, musicians, painters, and writers? Resources and Links from This Episode: Brian Casel: https://briancasel.com/ Builder Methods: https://buildermethods.com/    Brian on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@briancasel    Find me on Twitter: @TheCraigHewitt If you feel like Rogue Startups has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes.  Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Feel free to reach out to me: Twitter: @TheCraigHewitt LinkedIn: Craig Hewitt Chapters (00:00:00) - Interview With Builder Methods's Brian Castle(00:00:40) - 100 Days of AI: How to Write a Weekly Newsletter for the(00:04:24) - Building With AI: How To Monetize It(00:08:00) - How Do You monetize AI?(00:08:49) - Bootstrapped SaaS: The Challenge(00:16:33) - How to Bootstrap a Startup at 40(00:23:48) - How to Write a 100-Day Video on YouTube(00:29:54) - How to Write a Scriptment for a Video(00:34:41) - How to Write a Short Video(00:36:23) - How to Edit Video in 2 Minutes(00:38:42) - Do You Think AI Will Cause a Recession?(00:41:49) - What are you most excited about AI in the future?(00:45:58) - Bill Simmons on Art and AI(00:49:55) - Craig Has All The Answers For AI

    51 min

  6. 03/09/2025

    RS349: Ranking In ChatGPT with Devesh Khanal

    Today on Rogue Startups, Craig sits with Devesh Khanal from Grow and Convert to talk about how to get your brand showing up at the top of search results in LLMs. They dive deep into the world of AI SEO—covering everything from debunking myths about large language models to sharing actionable strategies for ranking your content in both Google and AI-driven search tools. Devesh is the “convert” side of Grow and Convert. In addition to co-founding the company, he runs Growth Rock, a conversion optimization agency that helps e-commerce brands increase online sales through user research, usability testing, analytics evaluations, and A/B testing. Before launching into the marketing world, Devesh worked on financial strategy and cost modeling for a biofuels startup—and he also holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from U.C. Berkeley. Highlights from Craig and Devesh’s conversation: Bottom-of-funnel SEO vs. top-of-funnel queries How to use LLMs as a marketing tool Debunking common myths about LLMs in SEO Does community content promotion (like Reddit) actually work? The correlation between Google rankings and LLM results Identifying customer pain points and achieving product–market fit Why to avoid “fluff” writers and generic AI writing tools Resources and Links from This Episode: Devesh Khanal on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deveshkhanal/  Grow and Convert: https://www.growandconvert.com/  Email me: podcast@roguestartups.com  Find me on Twitter: @TheCraigHewitt If you feel like Rogue Startups has benefited you, and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes.  Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Feel free to reach out to me: Twitter: @TheCraigHewitt LinkedIn: Chapters (00:00:00) - How to get your brand to show up in ChatGPT or(00:01:21) - Why Our Traffic's Down 50% vs. 2 years ago(00:08:29) - ChatGPT's Google Rankings(00:09:47) - Pushing the Bottom of the Marketing Flourish(00:13:33) - Tim Ferriss: The Bottom of the Sales Cycle(00:16:21) - Category keywords and alternatives: What is SEM(00:18:49) - The 3 Types of Jobs in the SEO Market(00:21:23) - How to Get Your Bottom-of- Content to Rank in(00:30:05) - Don't Get On Reddit(00:35:36) - How to Get Your Lead Generation Solutions Recommended by LLMs(00:40:03) - Can You Rank in LLMs With ChatGPT?(00:45:30) - Do We Need AI in Our Jobs?(00:50:48) - Is AI Taking Over Your Business?(00:53:07) - Waverider vs. AI in Marketing Writing(00:59:06) - Grow and Convert: The AI Writing Tool

    1hr 4min

  7. 09/07/2025

    RS347: How to Rank Any Brand In AI Results

    This week on Rogue Startups, Craig chats with Mike Buckbee from Knowatoa about how AI is changing the game for brands. With tools like ChatGPT taking over the way we search and discover businesses, Mike breaks down what you need to do to get your brand noticed in the AI world. From content strategies to getting your site in front of the right eyes, this episode’s got the lowdown on how to stay ahead in an AI-driven world. Michael is a serial entrepreneur and software developer who has founded multiple successful startups in the cybersecurity space. With over a decade of experience in marketing and technology, he previously worked as a Director of Demand Generation for a public cybersecurity company, as well as consulting for multiple YC startups. Knowatoa’s mission is to help businesses win the AI search game by ensuring they remain discoverable, relevant, and competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Highlights from Craig and Mike’s conversation: How to get your business in front of customers in the AI-driven world New strategies for success: creating brand-specific content that attracts customers What "Face vs Space" content really means Where AI is training and how it impacts businesses The role of txt: Is it still important, and what’s the best alternative? Why you should ask ChatGPT questions about your business Personalized AI search results: Are they working for or against you? Why your content should be on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Reddit The growing role of LLMs in social etiquette and advice How search, companionship, and advice are blending in the AI space What does all this mean for businesses in the future? The future of business is pay-to-play Will AI take 30% of our jobs? The "floor" may rise, but the "ceiling" will stay human   Resources and Links from This Episode Knowatoa: https://knowatoa.com/ Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelbuckbee Email: Mike@knowatoa.com If you feel like Rogue Startups has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes. Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Feel free to reach out to me: Twitter: @TheCraigHewitt LinkedIn: Craig Hewitt Email: podcast@roguestartups.com Chapters (00:00:00) - AI SEO in Inbound Marketing(00:01:10) - Noah Toa: The Only AI-based Tool for S(00:05:02) - How HubSpot is Preparing for AI-based Resignation(00:13:28) - How to Optimize Your Website With Google Search(00:17:18) - Is LLMs Txt important for your site?(00:23:09) - Ask ChatGPT: How Much of its Intelligence Is Based on(00:25:02) - What's AI Doing To Your Company?(00:32:43) - How Social Networks Are Affecting Business(00:35:28) - Deep Learning and the Google Cloud(00:37:08) - Top Tech Thinkers: The Future of Content(00:46:11) - Noah Toa: A Landing Page for New Users

    48 min

  8. 11/06/2025

    RS345: The State Of Search 2025

    - LLMs.txt article: https://www.quoleady.com/llm-txt-files/ - Craig's YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@thecraighewitt   Chapters (00:00:01) - Rogue Startups: The Startup Podcast(00:00:07) - Content Marketing: Multimodal(00:03:37) - Is Content Necessary for Your Business?(00:06:23) - How to get a crawler to crawl your website for SEO(00:13:58) - Marketing Decoded: Content and Search(00:17:14) - Want to hear more of my ranting on AI?

    18 min
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About

On Rogue Startups we share the journey of startup founders as they're growing their businesses. We feature experts in the fields of sales, marketing, and product development to hear how they're growth hacking their productized services and SaaS products. If you're on the journey of an entrepreneur then tune and hear how we're tackling some of the same obstacles you may be facing, and how we're winning in the game of business. Listeners of Startups for the Rest of Us, My First Million, Mixergy, and Bootstrapped Web will love checking out our show.

Information

  • Creator
    RogueStartups
  • Years Active
    2014 - 2026
  • Episodes
    50
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 RogueStartups
  • Show Website
    Rogue Startups

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