The New Founder Playbook in the Age of AI
Angels Decoded · April 2026
Ep#11 of our weekly podcast on what’s actually happening in angel investing — hosted by Cheryl Kellond and Andy Walsh.
Listen:
- 🎧 Spotify — replace with episode URL before publish
- 🎙️ Apple Podcasts — replace with episode URL before publish
- ▶️ YouTube — replace with episode URL before publish
- 📩 Substack — replace with episode URL before publish
AI is changing how startups are built. It’s also changing what great founders look like.
In Ep#11 of Angels Decoded, Cheryl Kellond and Andy Walsh explore why the traditional traits investors look for in founders may no longer be enough in the AI era.
While grit, adaptability, and resourcefulness still matter, founders today face a new layer of responsibility: understanding how AI can remove friction, unlock new capabilities, and reshape how teams build and scale.
This episode unpacks how AI is raising the ceiling for startups, why tinkering and experimentation are becoming core founder skills, and the questions investors should be asking to identify founders who can thrive in this new environment.
What we cover
- Founder traits in the age of AI
- How AI changes startup building and scaling
- Why “tinkering” is a new founder skill
- The difference between hype and real AI advantage
- Questions investors should ask founders about AI
AI won’t magically create great founders.
But it will amplify the ones who know how to use it.
Angels Decoded is the companion podcast to Play Money — where everyday angels build diversified startup portfolios without turning it into a full-time job.
New episodes every Friday. Subscribe wherever you listen, or get them delivered weekly:
Related
