{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"289: The AI paradox (and 3 other trends shaping tech investing in 2026)","description":"Costs dropped 90%. Funding got 10x harder. It\u2019s now much cheaper to build an AI product than it was two years ago \u2014 and far harder to convince investors your product has a moat.  In this episode, Sophia Matveeva breaks down the four investing shifts shaping who gets funded, who doesn\u2019t, and why. You\u2019ll learn why vertical AI is winning, B2B beats consumer, acquisitions are replacing IPOs, and deal terms are getting riskier for founders. If you\u2019re building a tech product or considering raising capital, this episode will help you see what investors actually care about\u2014before it\u2019s too late. In this episode, you will hear:  Why it\u2019s 90% cheaper to build AI \u2014 and still harder than ever to get funded How \u201cAI for everyone\u201d quietly kills your defensibility with investors The hidden reason B2B startups keep winning while consumer apps struggle to survive What today\u2019s deal terms can cost you at exit if you don\u2019t understand them now  Resources from this Episode   Tech for Non-Techies episode:  213. How NOT to sell your company   YouTube: APIs for Non-Techies   Free AI Mini-Workshop for Non-Technical Founders Learn how to go from idea to a tested product using AI \u2014 in under 30 minutes. Get free access here: techfornontechies.co\/aiclass Follow and Review: We\u2019d love for you to follow us if you haven\u2019t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We\u2019d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on  Apple Podcasts. Simply select \u201cRatings and Reviews\u201d and \u201cWrite a Review\u201d then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https:\/\/emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you. For the full transcript, go to  https:\/\/www.techfornontechies.co\/blog\/289-the-ai-paradox-and-3-other-trends-shaping-tech-investing-in-2026 ","author_name":"Tech for Non-Techies - Practical app &amp; AI strategy for non-technical founders.","author_url":"https:\/\/www.techfornontechies.co\/","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/39984150\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/88AA3C\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/content\/198197590"}