Hi, I'm Mat! During the day, I'm helping companies grow @ Product Hunt. On nights and weekends, I am thinking/writing/podcasting/building.

Latest Episodes

968 - Building Cursor for Mobile Apps W/ Mahdi Nouri (CatDoes)

In this episode of Forward Thinking Founders, Mat Sherman chats with Mahdi Nouri, co-founder and CEO of CatDoes, a no-code AI mobile app builder empowering anyone to create apps without writing code. Mahdi shares the story behind CatDoes, the product decisions that shaped its growth, and how he’s navigating the fast-changing AI landscape. They discuss what it takes to build a startup from Germany, how it compares to Silicon Valley, and why accessibility and user experience are central to CatDoes’ mission. Mahdi also offers a glimpse into the future of AI-powered app creation and how CatDoes is making software building radically easier for everyone.

967 - Controlling Your Phone With AI w/ Adam Cohen Hillel (Dafdef / AI Key)

In this episode of Forward Thinking Founders, Mat Sherman interviews Adam Cohen Hillel, co-founder of Dafdef, the company behind AI Key—a groundbreaking device that plugs into your phone and allows AI to directly control it. Adam discusses the development journey of AI Key, the importance of privacy and security, and the potential future applications of their technology. The conversation highlights the intersection of personal AI and user experience, emphasizing the need for a consumer-friendly approach in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.00:00 Introduction to DafDef and AI Key04:44The Technology Behind AI Key10:06 Development Journey and Background16:52 Use Cases and Future Applications26:28 Vision for the Future of Personal AI

966 - Building AI Copilots To Slow Down Human Aging W/ Nikhil Yadala (Healome)

In this episode of Forward Thinking Founders, Mat Sherman talks with Nikhil Yadala, cofounder and CEO of Helome, a company building AI copilots to help people slow their aging. Nikhil shares how Helome uses advanced “aging clocks”, AI models trained on blood biomarkers, to measure biological age and guide people toward healthier, longer lives.We explore his decade-long journey from mathematician to longevity founder, why he believes measuring aging is harder than curing it, and how he built an open-source AI assistant called Longevity GPT to make personalized health insights accessible to anyone, anywhere.Nikhil also opens up about moving from India to San Francisco, what the Bay Area’s startup culture taught him, and his candid take on Brian Johnson’s Blueprint experiment.Topics covered:What biological age really meansThe science behind AI-powered aging clocksHow Helome helps people test and track longevity markersLessons from building in the longevity spaceWhy SF accelerates founders faster than anywhere elseLearn more about Helome at helome.one and try Longevity GPT at asklongevitygpt.com.

Building Infra for Private, Sovereign, and User-aligned AI Systems w/ Will Preble (Covenant)

In this episode, we dive into one of the most pressing conversations in technology today: the balance between innovation and security in artificial intelligence. The discussion with Will Preble of Covenant Labs unpacks why maintaining control over AI models is critical, the looming risks tied to data security, and the potential fallout of compromised systems. From the threat of economic instability to the need for transparency and collaboration, this episode explores the stakes of AI’s rapid rise.Key Takeaways:Control over AI models is essential for long-term stability.Data security remains one of the biggest vulnerabilities in AI.Hacking risks could have devastating economic consequences.OpenAI and similar technologies must be protected with robust safeguards.Compromised AI has the power to destabilize global markets.Society must better understand AI’s influence on our lives and economies.A delicate balance is needed between advancing innovation and ensuring security.Collaboration and transparency are crucial to building trust.Proactive strategies are necessary to reduce risks before they spiral.

964 - Cat Turner On Building Cursor for Complicated Billing Workflows (Autaly)

In this episode of Forward Thinking Founders, Mat Sherman interviews Cathleen Turner, founder of Autaly, a software company focused on improving logistics businesses by automating invoicing and cash flow management. Cathleen shares her unique journey into the logistics industry, the challenges faced by third-party logistics providers, and how Autaly addresses these issues. The conversation also touches on the importance of networking on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), the balance between work and personal life, and valuable lessons learned as a founder.