Wilmington, DE – In an era where AI can draft emails, generate designs, and even run A/B tests in minutes, the rules of talent have changed. Andrew Miracle, founder of venture studio Tecmie, believes one group of professionals is uniquely equipped for this shift: ex-founders.
“AI is not just automating tasks—it is collapsing entire job functions,” said Andrew. “The people who know how to stitch together tools, move fast, and ship value? They are former founders. And they are now the most underappreciated talent in tech.”
In his latest essay, The Rise of the Ultra-Generalist, Miracle argues that the age of “10X engineers” is fading—and that the most valuable hires in 2025 are multi-skilled generalists who can operate across silos, not within them.
Founders Are Built for the AI Era
Unlike traditional specialists, founders often work across design, product, engineering, marketing, and customer support—sometimes all in one day. This breadth, Andrew argues, makes them uniquely qualified to lead in an AI-first world where integration matters more than raw expertise.
“Founders don’t just understand speed—they live it,” he added. “They know what it means to move with urgency, to build while learning, and to prioritize real outcomes over perfect plans. That is the mindset AI workflows demand.”
A Shift Backed by Data
Andrew’s observations align with hiring trends. According to LinkedIn, job postings requiring AI skills surged by 61% in 2024 alone. Harvard Business Review has also shown that generalists consistently outperform specialists in volatile markets—exactly the kind of environment AI is creating.
Yet, a bias persists. A field study found that ex-founders were 43% less likely to get interview callbacks—largely because hiring managers feared they would be “too independent.” Andrew believes this hesitation is outdated.
“If you are still hiring for narrow roles, you’re already behind,” he said. “The smartest companies today are rewriting their job specs and bringing in generalists who can turn AI from a buzzword into business impact.”
What Companies Should Do Now
Andrew recommends companies:
- Create AI Generalist-in-Residence roles with autonomy to experiment across functions.
- Rewrite job descriptions to focus on outcomes, not years of experience in a single discipline.
- Pay for scar tissue. Ex-founders value ownership and trust over high salaries. Give them leverage.
A Word to Fellow Founders
To ex-founders exploring their next move, Andrew offers this advice:
“Don’t hide your story—highlight it. Your résumé is not a timeline, it is proof you can deliver across domains. Package the breadth. Show how you’ve used AI to save time, grow revenue, or scale operations. And most importantly—keep building. A live demo always speaks louder than a deck.”
About Andrew Miracle
Andrew Miracle is the founder of Tecmie, a venture studio that backs AI-first product teams and helps them go from zero to launch with speed. A former full-stack engineer and serial entrepreneur, Andrew has built products across ed-tech, blockchain, and automation. He is also known for his hands-on 7-Day Build Sprints, and for mentoring rising founders through rapid experimentation. His writing has appeared in startup and tech communities globally, fueling conversations on talent, venture design, and leadership in the AI age.
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Company Name: Tecmie
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Phone: +1 510 963 3706
City: Wilmington
State: Delaware
Country: United States
Website: www.tecmie.com