I was laid off from my banking job at 55 and left corporate America to build my own AI consultancy. Here's what I learned in the process.

Tech Insider : Business, Technology
Kristina Martinelli headshot.

Photo courtesy of Kristina Martinelli

My aging family kept falling for scams. For $20, I built a no-code app to protect them.

Tech Insider : Economy, Business, Crypto
Matt Sanner and his parents
Matt Sanner, 54, vibe coded ScamSkeptic, an app to help his aging family members who have fallen for scams.

Zack Wittman for BI

I hired a private chef for my 9-person AI startup — it was cheaper than our $13,500+ a month food delivery habit

Tech Insider : Business, Style
Four young adults pose around a conference table in a minimalist meeting room, with a screen displaying the word
Series CEO Nathaneo Johnson, their private chef Hayley, and other team members.

Courtesy of Nathaneo Johnson

3 AI execs on why tiny teams work, and where they could fall apart

Tech Insider : Business, Technology
Back view of team of graphic designers working on computers in the office.
Building with a smaller team has its benefits and challenges.

skynesher/Getty Images

I'm a therapist who lost my husband at 26 — here's how I learned to show up at work on my hardest days

Tech Insider : Business
Leaning forward with hands clasped, a woman in an orange top smiles at the camera against a softly blurred outdoor background.
Amy Morin is a psychotherapist, podcast host, and author.

Courtesy of Amy Morin

I took a paid apprenticeship instead of going to college. I'll make six figures within 5 years — the stability I feel is incredible.

Tech Insider : Business
Smiling person in a black Nike polo leans against a railing in front of a leafy ivy-covered wall.
Chris Rocha skipped college to become a pipe fitter.

Courtesy of Chris Rocha

We're former Google coworkers who raised $4.5M for an AI startup. We didn't build a big team — we built fast instead.

Tech Insider : Business, Environment, Technology
Two men wearing glasses and business attire stand side by side, smiling against a plain background.
Joe Cheuk and Praneet Dutta cofounded Pomo.

Dan Clark

I built an AI app with a tiny team. We scaled it to millions and sold it to MyFitnessPal in under 2 years — here's how.

Tech Insider : Business
A young man with tousled dark hair and a small goatee faces forward wearing a gray sweatshirt against a plain background.
Jake Castillo cofounded Cal AI in 2024.

Courtesy of Jake Castillo

We moved to Mexico in our 60s because US retirement was unaffordable. We started an AI business and rent a house here for $1,250 a month.

Tech Insider : Economy, Business, Technology
Karen Watts Nauman and Jeff Nauman
Karen Watts Nauman and Jeff Nauman moved to Mexico and founded The AI Boomers.

Karen Watts Nauman

I was happy at Apple, but I burned out after becoming a manager. I took a career break at 30 and have no regrets.

Tech Insider : Economy, Business, Environment
Meredith Meyer
Meredith Meyer

Carrie Kizuka Photography

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