Randall Noval
@starfysh.net
Technology leader delivering sustainable growth, and creating the best places to work. Squeaky wheel. Founder. fCPO + fCTO.
"...those who manage to accompany customers not only with data, but with vision, ethics and purpose, will survive."
The end of billable hours: how AI is forcing consulting to reinvent itself
A Reuters article, “AI sets up Kodak moment for global consultants”, has sparked debate among the profession. The article explains how…
buff.ly
November 5, 2025 at 4:17 PM
"...those who manage to accompany customers not only with data, but with vision, ethics and purpose, will survive."
Reposted by Randall Noval
Sneak peek at creating a spec using Agent OS 2.0.
Planning, researching, writing, verifying accuracy.
Designed to setup Claude Code for successful implementation.
Planning, researching, writing, verifying accuracy.
Designed to setup Claude Code for successful implementation.
August 29, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Sneak peek at creating a spec using Agent OS 2.0.
Planning, researching, writing, verifying accuracy.
Designed to setup Claude Code for successful implementation.
Planning, researching, writing, verifying accuracy.
Designed to setup Claude Code for successful implementation.
MIT’s *State of AI in Business 2025* warns: 95% of generative AI pilots fail to deliver P&L impact. Only 5% reach production—usually when workflows are tightly integrated.
For investors: ask, “How is AI actually embedded?” Let’s go beyond headlines.
#AIAdoption #InvestorQuestions
bit.ly/45RivxG
For investors: ask, “How is AI actually embedded?” Let’s go beyond headlines.
#AIAdoption #InvestorQuestions
bit.ly/45RivxG
August 28, 2025 at 3:17 PM
MIT’s *State of AI in Business 2025* warns: 95% of generative AI pilots fail to deliver P&L impact. Only 5% reach production—usually when workflows are tightly integrated.
For investors: ask, “How is AI actually embedded?” Let’s go beyond headlines.
#AIAdoption #InvestorQuestions
bit.ly/45RivxG
For investors: ask, “How is AI actually embedded?” Let’s go beyond headlines.
#AIAdoption #InvestorQuestions
bit.ly/45RivxG
First Round’s Shopify case study is a must-read. It shows what happens when AI stops being optional and becomes infrastructure:
Org-wide access to tools means innovation isn’t siloed.
Legal alignment from day one lowers friction.
Experimentation at the edges surfaces unexpected value.
Org-wide access to tools means innovation isn’t siloed.
Legal alignment from day one lowers friction.
Experimentation at the edges surfaces unexpected value.
From Memo to Movement: Shopify’s Cultural Adoption of AI | First Round
The non-obvious insights, tactics and workflows Shopify used to bring an ambitious memo to life.
buff.ly
August 5, 2025 at 3:17 PM
First Round’s Shopify case study is a must-read. It shows what happens when AI stops being optional and becomes infrastructure:
Org-wide access to tools means innovation isn’t siloed.
Legal alignment from day one lowers friction.
Experimentation at the edges surfaces unexpected value.
Org-wide access to tools means innovation isn’t siloed.
Legal alignment from day one lowers friction.
Experimentation at the edges surfaces unexpected value.
Reposted by Randall Noval
🚀Founders, join SkyDeck & get $200K + access top VCs & 850+ mentors!
🧠5 tracks: Air & Space, Bio+Health, Fintech & Blockchain, Chip, Climate
🎯Info sessions for all tracks + Global & US, Female & BIPOC founders
🗓️7/29–8/7, lu.ma/B21info
⏳Apply by 8/22 tinyurl.com/SDB21
🧠5 tracks: Air & Space, Bio+Health, Fintech & Blockchain, Chip, Climate
🎯Info sessions for all tracks + Global & US, Female & BIPOC founders
🗓️7/29–8/7, lu.ma/B21info
⏳Apply by 8/22 tinyurl.com/SDB21
July 25, 2025 at 12:07 AM
🚀Founders, join SkyDeck & get $200K + access top VCs & 850+ mentors!
🧠5 tracks: Air & Space, Bio+Health, Fintech & Blockchain, Chip, Climate
🎯Info sessions for all tracks + Global & US, Female & BIPOC founders
🗓️7/29–8/7, lu.ma/B21info
⏳Apply by 8/22 tinyurl.com/SDB21
🧠5 tracks: Air & Space, Bio+Health, Fintech & Blockchain, Chip, Climate
🎯Info sessions for all tracks + Global & US, Female & BIPOC founders
🗓️7/29–8/7, lu.ma/B21info
⏳Apply by 8/22 tinyurl.com/SDB21
Reposted by Randall Noval
The EU Product Liability Directive will take effect Dec 2026. Software, firmware, applications, AI systems, and will now be subject to the same strict liability regime as traditional physical goods. Cybersecurity vulnerabilities will be considered product defects. www.lexology.com/library/deta...
July 8, 2025 at 3:21 PM
The EU Product Liability Directive will take effect Dec 2026. Software, firmware, applications, AI systems, and will now be subject to the same strict liability regime as traditional physical goods. Cybersecurity vulnerabilities will be considered product defects. www.lexology.com/library/deta...
Reposted by Randall Noval
A challenge with AI adoption is that organizations are not built to a Grand Plan where AI can just be slotted in by leaders, but rather socially constructed, semi-random & in flux
Here's an anecdote from a paper on how a CEO realized he didn't understand how things really worked (& that nobody did)
Here's an anecdote from a paper on how a CEO realized he didn't understand how things really worked (& that nobody did)
July 1, 2025 at 10:15 PM
A challenge with AI adoption is that organizations are not built to a Grand Plan where AI can just be slotted in by leaders, but rather socially constructed, semi-random & in flux
Here's an anecdote from a paper on how a CEO realized he didn't understand how things really worked (& that nobody did)
Here's an anecdote from a paper on how a CEO realized he didn't understand how things really worked (& that nobody did)
AI pricing is evolving from "per token" to value-based models as the market matures.
The progression is from activity-based (computational resources) to outcome-based (measurable business results).
Companies are aligning their pricing with customer success rather than input costs.
The progression is from activity-based (computational resources) to outcome-based (measurable business results).
Companies are aligning their pricing with customer success rather than input costs.
AI is Rewriting the Rules of Pricing – And You Need to Pay Attention
Insights from Manny Medina, Founder of Paid
bit.ly
May 6, 2025 at 3:17 PM
AI pricing is evolving from "per token" to value-based models as the market matures.
The progression is from activity-based (computational resources) to outcome-based (measurable business results).
Companies are aligning their pricing with customer success rather than input costs.
The progression is from activity-based (computational resources) to outcome-based (measurable business results).
Companies are aligning their pricing with customer success rather than input costs.
From writing code to leading teams: a critical transition for startups. 70% of startups fail by scaling too quickly, often because technical founders struggle to shift from being the technical hero to a leader who empowers others.
From Tech Whiz to People Pro: Scaling Your Startup with Heart and Smarts 🚀 – Expertise Guides
Your ultimate resource for expert-driven insights tailored to your needs
bit.ly
April 23, 2025 at 8:24 PM
From writing code to leading teams: a critical transition for startups. 70% of startups fail by scaling too quickly, often because technical founders struggle to shift from being the technical hero to a leader who empowers others.
New post: “The Invisible Architecture of Scale”
We chase scale in the visible. But it’s the unseen systems—leadership, culture, process—that make it stick.
After years of building and advising, this truth keeps showing up.
Would love your thoughts:
bit.ly/4jw9TBC
#Leadership #StartupGrowth
We chase scale in the visible. But it’s the unseen systems—leadership, culture, process—that make it stick.
After years of building and advising, this truth keeps showing up.
Would love your thoughts:
bit.ly/4jw9TBC
#Leadership #StartupGrowth
The Invisible Architecture of Scale
Three Critical Pillars for Growth & Profitability
starfysh.substack.com
April 14, 2025 at 3:17 PM
New post: “The Invisible Architecture of Scale”
We chase scale in the visible. But it’s the unseen systems—leadership, culture, process—that make it stick.
After years of building and advising, this truth keeps showing up.
Would love your thoughts:
bit.ly/4jw9TBC
#Leadership #StartupGrowth
We chase scale in the visible. But it’s the unseen systems—leadership, culture, process—that make it stick.
After years of building and advising, this truth keeps showing up.
Would love your thoughts:
bit.ly/4jw9TBC
#Leadership #StartupGrowth
Happy Twixmas all! The BOI filing requirement is back on. Fortunately, it is very easy to do yourself for free (no need to pay anyone).
File here, directly with the government (fincen.gov)
https://bit.ly/3ZTOSJ9
FAQs: https://bit.ly/4gteiUQ
Step-by-step screenshots: https://bit.ly/4gykZVH
HTH!
File here, directly with the government (fincen.gov)
https://bit.ly/3ZTOSJ9
FAQs: https://bit.ly/4gteiUQ
Step-by-step screenshots: https://bit.ly/4gykZVH
HTH!
BOI E-FILING
bit.ly
December 27, 2024 at 4:17 PM
Happy Twixmas all! The BOI filing requirement is back on. Fortunately, it is very easy to do yourself for free (no need to pay anyone).
File here, directly with the government (fincen.gov)
https://bit.ly/3ZTOSJ9
FAQs: https://bit.ly/4gteiUQ
Step-by-step screenshots: https://bit.ly/4gykZVH
HTH!
File here, directly with the government (fincen.gov)
https://bit.ly/3ZTOSJ9
FAQs: https://bit.ly/4gteiUQ
Step-by-step screenshots: https://bit.ly/4gykZVH
HTH!
Reposted by Randall Noval
Since I've been here for a while… here are some useful features on Bluesky that you might not have discovered yet! 🧵
November 20, 2024 at 7:52 PM
Since I've been here for a while… here are some useful features on Bluesky that you might not have discovered yet! 🧵
Focus is essential for effective delivery, whether you're an IC or a CXO. From Gerald M. Weinberg's "Quality Software Management: Systems Thinking," each additional task reduces productivity by 20%. >30 years later and we still have challenges.
https://buff.ly/48CxrAG
https://buff.ly/48CxrAG
January 6, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Focus is essential for effective delivery, whether you're an IC or a CXO. From Gerald M. Weinberg's "Quality Software Management: Systems Thinking," each additional task reduces productivity by 20%. >30 years later and we still have challenges.
https://buff.ly/48CxrAG
https://buff.ly/48CxrAG
Who had this on their AI Hijinks Bingo Card?
‘We are highly embarrassed’: creator of Pakistan website behind non-existent Dublin Halloween parade says it was a mistake https://buff.ly/3AtsVb1
‘We are highly embarrassed’: creator of Pakistan website behind non-existent Dublin Halloween parade says it was a mistake https://buff.ly/3AtsVb1
Top Stories of 2024: ‘We are highly embarrassed’: creator...
Nazir Ali of myspirithalloween.com said it is ‘very wrong...
buff.ly
January 6, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Who had this on their AI Hijinks Bingo Card?
‘We are highly embarrassed’: creator of Pakistan website behind non-existent Dublin Halloween parade says it was a mistake https://buff.ly/3AtsVb1
‘We are highly embarrassed’: creator of Pakistan website behind non-existent Dublin Halloween parade says it was a mistake https://buff.ly/3AtsVb1
So many things this applies to, not just building LLM Apps.
Evals > Set Target > Optimize - The starting point for your apps should always start with an evals. You won't know if you're going the right direction without an objective way to measure...
https://buff.ly/3XS61lj
Evals > Set Target > Optimize - The starting point for your apps should always start with an evals. You won't know if you're going the right direction without an objective way to measure...
https://buff.ly/3XS61lj
January 6, 2025 at 6:55 PM
So many things this applies to, not just building LLM Apps.
Evals > Set Target > Optimize - The starting point for your apps should always start with an evals. You won't know if you're going the right direction without an objective way to measure...
https://buff.ly/3XS61lj
Evals > Set Target > Optimize - The starting point for your apps should always start with an evals. You won't know if you're going the right direction without an objective way to measure...
https://buff.ly/3XS61lj
January 6, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Bluesky now has over 10 million users, and I was #1,969,125!
September 22, 2024 at 4:04 AM
Bluesky now has over 10 million users, and I was #1,969,125!
Reposted by Randall Noval
Uhhhh… this is probably bad 😬😬
July 9, 2024 at 9:35 PM
Uhhhh… this is probably bad 😬😬
CRO and CMO Jessica Gilmartin shares a first-hand account of how Calendly revamped their lead routing, qualification, and GTM org https://buff.ly/3VJOURR
How Calendly overhauled their product-led sales motion
CRO and CMO Jessica Gilmartin shares a first-hand account...
buff.ly
January 6, 2025 at 7:05 PM
CRO and CMO Jessica Gilmartin shares a first-hand account of how Calendly revamped their lead routing, qualification, and GTM org https://buff.ly/3VJOURR
Why deadlines are pointless:
"you can’t control outcomes, only the processes that generate those outcomes.
...take this: long-term objectives demand consistent short-term action and predictable performance improvements, not one big mindless push."
https://buff.ly/3SkLmBV
"you can’t control outcomes, only the processes that generate those outcomes.
...take this: long-term objectives demand consistent short-term action and predictable performance improvements, not one big mindless push."
https://buff.ly/3SkLmBV
January 6, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Why deadlines are pointless:
"you can’t control outcomes, only the processes that generate those outcomes.
...take this: long-term objectives demand consistent short-term action and predictable performance improvements, not one big mindless push."
https://buff.ly/3SkLmBV
"you can’t control outcomes, only the processes that generate those outcomes.
...take this: long-term objectives demand consistent short-term action and predictable performance improvements, not one big mindless push."
https://buff.ly/3SkLmBV
“I think the major harm that comes is there’s no time to think critically,” Odubela said.
It is so easy to chase the shiny AI object and become a distraction. Focus remains one of the most important elements for companies from solo-preneurs to F500.
https://buff.ly/44t9SIp
It is so easy to chase the shiny AI object and become a distraction. Focus remains one of the most important elements for companies from solo-preneurs to F500.
https://buff.ly/44t9SIp
January 6, 2025 at 7:15 PM
“I think the major harm that comes is there’s no time to think critically,” Odubela said.
It is so easy to chase the shiny AI object and become a distraction. Focus remains one of the most important elements for companies from solo-preneurs to F500.
https://buff.ly/44t9SIp
It is so easy to chase the shiny AI object and become a distraction. Focus remains one of the most important elements for companies from solo-preneurs to F500.
https://buff.ly/44t9SIp
Design is only as “human-centered” as the business model allows https://buff.ly/2mlYObQ
January 6, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Design is only as “human-centered” as the business model allows https://buff.ly/2mlYObQ
Learn how AI works with GPT2 in a standalone spreadsheet!
A low-code way to learn AI https://buff.ly/4cjtsdG
A low-code way to learn AI https://buff.ly/4cjtsdG
January 6, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Learn how AI works with GPT2 in a standalone spreadsheet!
A low-code way to learn AI https://buff.ly/4cjtsdG
A low-code way to learn AI https://buff.ly/4cjtsdG
Great example of why UX design is difficult and often undervalued. What is the worst design (digital or IRL) that you have seen?
Gracie's Ice Cream: "I put a poll about this cursed knob in the stories... Guess wrong and you melt your ice cream." https://buff.ly/3Q8pSd9
Gracie's Ice Cream: "I put a poll about this cursed knob in the stories... Guess wrong and you melt your ice cream." https://buff.ly/3Q8pSd9
January 6, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Great example of why UX design is difficult and often undervalued. What is the worst design (digital or IRL) that you have seen?
Gracie's Ice Cream: "I put a poll about this cursed knob in the stories... Guess wrong and you melt your ice cream." https://buff.ly/3Q8pSd9
Gracie's Ice Cream: "I put a poll about this cursed knob in the stories... Guess wrong and you melt your ice cream." https://buff.ly/3Q8pSd9
Great analysis from Gergely on tech compensation. All the way at the end is this gem of a perspective on how to think about monetary compensation as a component of a larger context.
Senior-and-Above Compensation in Tech
https://buff.ly/43rz3dT
Senior-and-Above Compensation in Tech
https://buff.ly/43rz3dT
January 6, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Great analysis from Gergely on tech compensation. All the way at the end is this gem of a perspective on how to think about monetary compensation as a component of a larger context.
Senior-and-Above Compensation in Tech
https://buff.ly/43rz3dT
Senior-and-Above Compensation in Tech
https://buff.ly/43rz3dT