How This 5x Founder Runs His Startup Solo With AI Agents (OpenClaw, Codex, Devin) | Ryan Carson

Ryan is a serial founder who’s building his latest startup solo with only AI agents. It was fascinating to watch him demo the exact skills and routines he uses to get OpenClaw, Codex, and Devin to manage his inbox and calendar, do sales outreach, and build features while he sleeps.Ryan and I talked about:(00:00) Agents are just cron jobs and text markdown files(02:25) Demo: How Ryan set up OpenClaw to be his AI chief of staff(08:14) The setting most people get wrong in OpenClaw(13:46) How to onboard your agent like you would an employee(17:06) The cron job that books cold meetings while Ryan sleeps(24:36) Why Ryan prefers Devin over other AI coding tools(28:33) Demo: How Ryan ships 10 PRs a day solo(33:08) Google Ads agencies and a $6K/month designer(37:11) Why building the system is the real startup workThanks to our sponsors:Oceans: Hire AI-native EAs http://oceanstalent.com/peterWispr Flow: Don't type, just speak https://ref.wisprflow.ai/peteryangLinear: The AI agent platform for modern teams. https://linear.app/behind-the-craftGet the takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/how-this-5x-founder-runs-his-startup-solo-with-ai-agents-ryan-carsonWhere to find Ryan:X: https://x.com/ryancarsonWebsite: https://untangle.us/Subscribe to this channel — more interviews coming soon!

Alex is a research PM at Anthropic building the next Claude model. He gave me a rare inside look at how the research team operates — including how they turn user feedback into model training, how they decide which capabilities to prioritize, and how they improve Claude’s personality. If you’re wondering how frontier model development actually works, then this interview is a must watch.Alex and I talked about:(00:00) How Anthropic treats each new model as a product(04:58) Building adaptive thinking into Claude(07:07) Why Claude is starting to dream(11:15) "If it's not a one-way door, then it's essentially free"(15:40) How Alex uses Claude Cowork to pressure test his docs(17:05) Inside Anthropic's eval process for new models(21:02) How Anthropic trains Claude's character(32:39) The consciousness question Anthropic is quietly working onThanks to our sponsors:Oceans: Hire AI-native EAs http://oceanstalent.com/peterWispr Flow: Don't type, just speak https://ref.wisprflow.ai/peteryangGet the takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/inside-how-anthropic-is-building-the-next-claudeWhere to find Alex:X: https://x.com/alexalbert__Website: alexalbert.me📌 Subscribe to this channel — more interviews coming soon!

Moritz is an AI founder who built a personal OS in Claude Code to manage his emails, create content, and even buy groceries. In this episode, he walks through everything you need to set up your own: folder structure, tools, memory loops, skills, and routines. We also talked about the pros and cons of OpenClaw vs. Claude Code.Moritz and I talked about:(00:00) The honest tradeoffs: OpenClaw vs. Claude Code(09:03) Why Moritz switched to Claude Code(15:40) The folder structure that runs Moritz's entire OS(20:03) The memory loop that makes Claude Code remember everything(23:47) CLI vs. MCP vs. API: which to pick and why it matters(26:02) Skills walkthrough: automated grocery runs and video uploads(29:03) Local vs. remote routines (and when to use each)(31:51) The full content pipeline from idea to posted video(41:43) Tips to start building your first personal OSThanks to our sponsors:Linear: The AI agent platform for modern teams https://linear.app/behind-the-craftWispr Flow: Don't type, just speak https://ref.wisprflow.ai/peteryangOceans: Hire AI-native EAs http://oceanstalent.com/peterGet the takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/build-a-claude-code-personal-os-step-by-step-moritzWhere to find Moritz:X: https://x.com/moritzkrembWebsite: https://joinagentos.com/Subscribe to this channel - more interviews coming soon!

Ravi is a top AI instructor and former CPO of Tinder. In our episode, he did a live demo of using his 3-layer context engineering system (functional, visual, data) to build a beautiful music app instead of the usual AI slop. You’ll never build with AI the same way again after learning about Ravi’s approach.Ravi and I talked about:(00:00) Why most AI prototypes feel like slop(01:08) Context engineering, explained from first principles(05:12) Layer 1 demo: Functional context (09:38) Layer 2 demo: Visual context (13:31) Layer 3 demo: Data context(15:47) Building a custom MCP server in Claude Code(19:54) The full stack prompt: all 3 layers in one shot(24:21) Why separating the data layer is the real unlock(28:59) Should PMs prototype or just ship to production?(33:51) Where PRDs still fit in AI native product developmentThanks to our sponsors:Wispr Flow: Don't type, just speak https://ref.wisprflow.ai/peteryangLinear: The AI agent platform for modern teams https://linear.app/behind-the-craftGranola: The AI meeting notes app that saves you hours. https://granola.ai/peter📌 Get the takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/three-layer-system-for-context-engineering-ravi-mehtaWhere to find Ravi:X: https://x.com/ravi_mehtaWebsite: https://www.ravi-mehta.com/Subscribe to this channel — more interviews coming soon!

Tibo is a solo founder making $1M+ a month (!) after bootstrapping 5 AI products. I got him to walk through his exact playbook for validating ideas fast, acquiring users, and pricing AI products. If you want to bootstrap an AI business from scratch, this interview is a must watch.Tibo and I talked about:(00:00) The right mindset for solo AI founders(04:48) Tibo's 5-step playbook to reach $1M/month(09:55) The product pivot that unlocked $600K/month(13:08) Why you should charge right away(20:50) The acquisition channel everyone says is dead (it's not)(26:58) Running 5 businesses without a real team(36:34) How to price your AI product(37:20) What's a good churn rate for AI products?(40:16) 9 products failed. The 10th hit $600K/monthThanks to our sponsors:Wispr Flow: Don't type, just speak https://ref.wisprflow.ai/peteryangLinear: The AI agent platform for modern teams https://linear.app/behind-the-craftGranola: The AI meeting notes app that saves you hours. https://granola.ai/peter📌 Get the takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/how-this-solo-founder-bootstrapped-to-1m-a-month-tibo-louis-lucasWhere to find Tibo:X: https://x.com/tibo_makerWebsite: https://www.revid.ai/Subscribe to this channel — more interviews coming soon!

Ryan is the VP of Product at Mercury, my favorite fintech product. We covered three things that’s on every AI builder’s mind — how to build a Claude Code second brain, how to make your product agent-ready with APIs and MCPs, and what Mercury’s data reveals about OpenAI and Anthropic’s race for the enterprise.Ryan and I talked about:(00:00) Why APIs and MCPs are the primary interface(04:40) How to get your product agent ready(07:51) Will MCPs cannibalize your app DAU?(10:36) How to decide between MCPs and CLIs(13:10) Inside Ryan's Claude Code second brain(18:40) Getting AI to coach you after every meeting(20:46) Mercury data: Are startups switching to Anthropic?(23:05) The product development process will never be the sameThanks to our sponsors:Wispr Flow: Don't type, just speak https://ref.wisprflow.ai/peteryangLinear: The AI agent platform for modern teams https://linear.app/behind-the-craftGranola: The AI meeting notes app that saves you hours. https://granola.ai/peterGet the takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/how-to-build-for-ai-agents-and-a-claude-code-second-brainWhere to find Ryan:X: https://x.com/rywiggsWebsite: https://mercury.comSubscribe to this channel - more interviews coming soon!

Dylan is the co-founder and CEO of Figma. I asked him some tough questions on whether AI can learn taste, how he plans to compete with AI startups, and whether design systems constrain creativity. Two thirds of Figma users are now non-designers and it was also super interesting to hear Dylan talk about where he’s taking Figma next.We talked about:(00:00) Taste, craft, and point of view: the 3 skills AI can't replace(05:33) Can AI agents actually learn design taste?(13:02) Figma MCP to go from design to code and back(17:42) What vibe coding gets wrong about design(22:17) Two thirds of Figma users are now non-designers(29:13) The one trait Dylan hires for over AI fluency(32:01) Why Dylan thinks design is the new code(36:32) Dylan's personal AI workflow for writing and ideationThanks to our sponsors:Linear: AI agents for modern teams https://linear.app/behind-the-craftGranola: AI meeting notes that don't suck https://granola.ai/peterReplit: From 0 to full stack app in 2 min https://replit.com/?utm_source=creator&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=creator_program&utm_content=peteryang📌 Get the takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/figma-ceo-on-how-anyone-can-get-good-at-design-in-ai-dylan-fieldWhere to find Dylan:X: https://x.com/zoinkWebsite: https://github.com/figma/mcp-server-guideSubscribe to this channel - more interviews coming soon!

Alex is the product lead for Codex and Romain runs developer experience. They gave me a rare inside look at how the Codex team operates, including how they build products with Codex and how they ship without traditional specs and roadmaps. Alex also has some spicy takes on the future of PM and what actually matters when hiring.We talked about:(00:00) Live demo: Building a game in seconds with Codex Spark (04:29) "For specs, we write like 10 bullets and that's it"(08:09) "Our designers now write more code than eng 6 months ago"(15:30) "We plan short and long term, never medium term"(22:11) How Alex actually spends his day as Codex PM(32:06) The traditional career ladder no longer makes sense(39:20) What the Codex team looks for when hiring (it's not your resume)Thanks to our sponsors:Linear: AI agents for modern teams https://linear.app/behind-the-craftGranola: AI meeting notes that don't suck https://granola.ai/peterReplit: From 0 to full stack app in 2 min https://replit.com/?utm_source=creator&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=creator_program&utm_content=peteryang📌 Get the takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/inside-openais-codex-team-how-they-ship-with-ai-agents-alex-romainWhere to find Alex and Romain:Alex: https://x.com/embiricoRomain: https://x.com/romainhuetWebsite: https://openai.com/codex/Subscribe to this channel - more interviews coming soon!

Jenny is the head of design for Claude. She gave me a rare inside look at how Anthropic operates — including how she uses Cowork to design and build products and the real story behind how Cowork was built. Anthropic is shipping new features almost everyday and it was fascinating to see how they do it.Jenny and I talked about:(00:00) How design work has changed at Anthropic(04:30) "My secret is that I actually use Co-work for most things now"(05:19) Cowork demo: From messy user feedback into product insights(14:41) "Every Monday Cowork gives me 3 vetted product ideas"(23:09) The real story behind Cowork's development (10 days?)(27:18) Exclusive look: Cowork prototypes that didn't ship(34:01) How product planning works at Anthropic(38:10) "If you feel like the ground is shifting, it's because it is."Thanks to our sponsors:Linear: AI agents for modern teams https://linear.app/behind-the-craftGranola: AI meeting notes that don't suck https://granola.ai/peterReplit: From 0 to full stack app in 2 min https://replit.com/?utm_source=creator&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=creator_program&utm_content=peteryang📌 Get the takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/inside-anthropic-claude-cowork-tutorial-jenny-wenWhere to find Jenny:X: https://x.com/jenny_wenWebsite: https://jennywen.ca/Subscribe to this channel - more interviews coming soon!

Felix is an expert at using Claude Code and Figma MCP to design and build apps. Watch as he demos how you can build apps that look exactly like their Figma designs, build a game from a FigJam flow cart, and convert code back to Figma components that you can tweak.Felix and I talked about:(00:00) 3 products Felix designed and built in Claude Code(06:36) Building an animated world map from a screenshot(7:50) Felix's app that analyzes how good your landing page is(13:17) Demo: Figma design to working website in 15 min(23:07) Demo: FigJam flowchart to a working game(31:30) A UX reviewer skill for design feedback(40:19) How to export code back to Figma as editable designs(45:10) Why most designers aren't adapting fast enoughThanks to our sponsors:Linear: The AI agent platform for modern teams https://linear.app/behind-the-craftGranola: The AI meeting notes app that saves you hours. https://granola.ai/peterReplit: From 0 to full stack app in 2 min https://replit.com/?utm_source=creator&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=creator_program&utm_content=peteryangGet the takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/master-claude-code-figma-mcp-for-design-felix-leeWhere to find Felix:X: https://x.com/felixleezdWebsite: https://adplist.org/📌 Subscribe to this channel - more interviews coming soon!