Bill Boulden, better known as Spruke, has spent years building and rebuilding in the startup world. As a fractional CTO, he’s helped launch twenty six companies, serving as a co founder for hire. In our conversation he explains why he’s finally focusing on one project worth betting everything on, and why the industry’s obsession with hype has pushed real builders out of the spotlight.

He talks about the shift from engineering to entertainment, describing how many founders chase “vibe coding” and perception instead of actual progress. The macroeconomy, he says, has made it harder than ever to build something meaningful without pandering to investors or algorithms.

We cover the wreckage of NFTs, the false promise of blockchain salvation, and the importance of friction. Boulden reminds us that technology is only as good as the intent behind it.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit roycedorazio.substack.com/subscribe