RS367: How to Hire in the AI Era

RS367: How to Hire in the AI Era

Author: Craig Hewitt September 15, 2026 Duration: 48:35
Do you need a team to build a successful company these days? On this episode of Rogue Startups, host Craig Hewitt (Castos) and co-host Colin Gray (Alitu and The Podcast Host) tackle one of the biggest questions facing founders today: how do you hire in the age of AI agents?  Craig and Colin chat about what an "ideal" team looks like, which roles are still worth hiring for, and which ones AI agents can take over (to save more important tasks for humans). They dig into how their own hiring processes have changed and evolved, from async video interviews to paid work samples and screen-recorded tasks. They also explain why a candidate's CV matters far less than watching them think through a problem. Highlights from Craig and Colin’s conversation: Why you might still want a team, even if you don't need one What a minimal modern software team looks like What founders should never fully hand off How AI agents are changing customer research The best first hires for growth and partnerships Why every hire should be an AI power user How to spot great candidates beyond the CV Using paid work samples and screen recordings in hiring The hidden costs and risks of hiring overseas Why EORs and Merchant of Record services can simplify global hiring and sales When to hire a human vs. build an AI agent The trade-offs of staying solo with AI vs. building a team Resources and Links from This Episode: Produced by Castos Productions: https://castos.com/productions/  The Podcast Host: https://www.thepodcasthost.com/  Colin on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/colinmcgray?originalSubdomain=uk  Castos Free Tools: castos.com/tools Email me: podcast@roguestartups.com  Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheCraigHewitt  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-hewitt-78386a66/   Email: podcast@roguestartups.com

Behind every new company is a story, and Rogue Startups digs into the real ones-the messy, uncertain, and exhilarating paths founders actually walk. This isn't about polished success tales; it's a candid look at the day-to-day grind of building a business from the ground up. You'll hear directly from entrepreneurs in the thick of it, along with seasoned experts who specialize in the crucial engines of growth: sales, marketing, and product development. Conversations focus on practical tactics, particularly around scaling productized services and SaaS offerings, exploring the real "how" behind their growth hacking strategies. The value of this podcast lies in that shared experience-hearing how others navigate the very obstacles you might be staring down, and learning what moves actually led to a win. It’s for anyone who prefers the unvarnished truth of entrepreneurship over theory, offering a sense of camaraderie and a toolbox of ideas drawn from the front lines. Tune in for authentic dialogue that skips the fluff and gets straight to the challenges and victories of building something new.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Rogue Startups
Podcast Episodes
RS326: 5 Things Most Founders Struggle With [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:12
Today’s a solo episode with Craig where he’s talking through the 5 common topics and themes that he helps most of his coaching clients through. Whether it’s through his 1:1 coaching with private clients or in serving as…
RS325: Stuck? Ask Yourself These 3 Questions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:00
Are you a SaaS founder feeling stuck, unmotivated, or unsure about your next move? In this video, I dive into three powerful questions that can help you break through mental barriers and gain clarity on your business’s d…
RS324: $100 Million Bootstrapped SaaS with Adam Robinson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:34
In this episode of the Rogue Startups podcast, Craig sits down with Adam Robinson to explore key topics such as founder psychology, overcoming self-limiting beliefs, and avoiding self-sabotage. They delve into how to ide…
RS323: Breaking Through Plateaus with Josh Ho [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:33
Today on the Rogue Startups Podcast, Craig chats with Josh Ho from Referral Rock about the peaks and valleys of being a founder. When is the right time to sell? Is there ever a right time? How do you break through a plat…
RS322: Marketing, in 2 hours a week [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:17
In this episode Craig descirbes his current SaaS marketing approach. Balancing Active and Passive marketing, he’s got his marketing time down to just a few hours a week. Using a video-first, AI-assisted workflow he’s rea…
RS321: B2B Lead Gen on LinkedIn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:30
If there’s one thing Craig loves more than podcasting, it’s sales. In this episode, he shares his enthusiasm with tech sales coach Peter Ahn. They discuss everything from bridging the gap between creating content and dri…
RS320: The Psychology of Sales [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:26
Clearly Design works in every aspect from branding to marketing, from product to promotion. Go to Clearly.Design for a discount on his monthly design subscription service. Tell him that Rogue Startups sent you. What gets…
RS319: Mastering LinkedIn Video Content [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:21
Clearly Design works in every aspect from branding to marketing, from product to promotion. Go to Clearly.Design for a discount on his monthly design subscription service. Tell him that Rogue Startups sent you. Danny Del…
RS318: LinkedIn Content That Converts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:17
Clearly Design works in every aspect from branding to marketing, from product to promotion. Go to Clearly.Design for a discount on his monthly design subscription service. Today Craig is chatting with Nemanja Zivkovic ab…