In this episode of Founder Secrets, Principal Engineer at Microsoft Jeff Harrington takes us through his career journey — from early coding experiments to building the restaurant-tech startup Cardoona, and eventually returning to the corporate world. Jeff shares candid insights on fundraising challenges, breaking into relationship-heavy industries, and how AI agents are changing the future of software development. Whether you’re a founder, developer, or tech enthusiast, this episode is packed with lessons on adaptability, industry knowledge, and leveraging technology for growth.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How early curiosity in technology can shape your entire career path.

• Why deep industry knowledge and authentic relationships are critical for startup success.

• The truth about investor feedback — and how to interpret “come back later.”

• Ways AI agents are automating repetitive tasks and boosting productivity in software teams.

• How to pivot effectively when your initial product or market isn’t working.

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