Switching 3 accounting tools in 2 years nearly broke his ops.

This episode is for non-technical founders choosing software that actually works.

Terrance, founder of Dash Oil, built a tech-enabled business in a traditional space by starting with riders (not software), validating 10 → 100 → 1,000+ users, and fixing ops before picking tools. 

We also dive into the messy middle of tech adoption. What happens when off-the-shelf tools can’t keep up with shifting business models (B2C → B2B), why loyalty programs fail without field execution, and how to use tech to connect customers, retail partners, and internal teams to your end goal: trustworthy data and better decisions.

What you’ll learn

• A simple validation path: 10 → 100 → 1,000+ customers
• When “easy” tools become expensive (and how to avoid tool-hopping)
• The hidden risks in loyalty/CRM (retailers claiming rewards for users)
• A founder’s framework to adopt tech for outcomes, not aesthetics
• Bridging B2C and B2B workflows without breaking your ops

 Ready to scale with smarter tech decisions? 

Listen now!

Support the show

🎙️ More from Adrian & Upstack Studio
Website: https://upstackstudio.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianchinghc
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adrianchinghc

Your brain might be the biggest barrier to AI adoption, and Aster Wei explains why.

In this episode, we sit down with Aster Wei, founder of OTTI, the NeuroLearning Institute, to explore the human side of AI transformation. While most conversations focus on technology, Aster reveals that resistance to AI often begins in the brain itself - our natural fear of change.

She introduces Human-AI Synergy, a framework designed to combine digital skills with human strengths. From critical thinking to creative problem-solving, Aster breaks down how leaders and teams can embrace AI without losing the very abilities that make us human.

Whether you’re a business owner, entrepreneur, or team leader, this episode will help you understand how to train your brain and your workforce to work with AI, not against it.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why the human brain resists AI adoption (and how to overcome it)
• The six components of the Human-AI Synergy skill set
• Practical tips for designing AI-augmented workflows
• How to avoid becoming “dumb and lazy” with AI overuse
• The mindset shift leaders need for successful AI transformation

👉 Listen to the full episode now!

Support the show

🎙️ More from Adrian & Upstack Studio
Website: https://upstackstudio.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianchinghc
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adrianchinghc

Degrees are dead. AI is the new diploma, and Deric Yee has the receipts.

In this episode of Tech It or Leave It, we sit down with Deric Yee, founder of Sigma School, to unpack why traditional education is failing entrepreneurs and how AI is reshaping the future of tech careers. Derek shares his raw journey. From rejection to building a bootcamp with a “job or money back” guarantee, and the unfiltered lessons every non-technical founder needs to hear.

We explore how AI is transforming developer productivity, why most products fail (hint: it’s not the code), and what business owners should focus on if they want to scale. Whether you’re a founder struggling with tech hires or a business leader curious about AI, this episode will give you the playbook you can’t afford to ignore.

What you’ll learn:

➡️ Why degrees no longer guarantee success in tech (and what matters instead)

➡️ How AI is reshaping teams, coding, and founder responsibilities

➡️ Derek’s blunt advice to non-technical founders on hiring and scaling

👉 Watch the full episode now! 

Support the show

🎙️ More from Adrian & Upstack Studio
Website: https://upstackstudio.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianchinghc
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adrianchinghc

Is AI killing authenticity or reshaping it?

Everywhere you look, AI tools are flooding the internet with content.
Most of it sounds the same.

In this episode of Tech It or Leave It, we dive into the controversial question. What happens to human voices when AI can write better, faster, and cheaper?

From the risks of “faking authenticity” to why the real winners will be those who learn to combine AI with lived experience, this conversation is a wake-up call for entrepreneurs, creators, and leaders navigating the future of content.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

✅ Why “AI will replace jobs” is the wrong debate
✅ The difference between authentic voices vs. AI-generated fluff
✅ What every non-technical founder must know about AI and content
✅ The real future of creativity in an AI-driven world
✅ How Cleve AI validated their idea before writing a single line of code
✅ Advice for non-technical founders on validating, funding, and finding the right CTO

👉 Watch the full episode now!

Support the show

🎙️ More from Adrian & Upstack Studio
Website: https://upstackstudio.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianchinghc
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adrianchinghc

I know what’s on your mind…

If you’re a non-technical founder, you’ve probably asked yourself questions like:

“How do i make money with my app?”
“Which no-code tool should I start with?”
“Why should I hire an app agency when I can pay a freelancer for a cheaper price?”

You’re not alone. In fact, these are the same questions EVERY founder secretly has but rarely gets straight answers to.

That’s why in the very first episode of Adrian Answers, I sit down to answer them. Honestly, unfiltered, and without the jargon.

In this episode, I answered questions on:

➡️ The REAL reason most apps lose users (and how to fix it)
➡️ How to monetize smarter without copying others blindly
➡️ The risks of Fiverr devs no one tells you about
➡️ Where no-code actually works in 2025 (and where it doesn’t)
➡️ How to use AI to validate your app idea

👉 Listen to the full episode now!

Support the show

🎙️ More from Adrian & Upstack Studio
Website: https://upstackstudio.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianchinghc
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adrianchinghc

Tired of overthinking your tech idea?

While you're busy planning the "perfect" product, your competitors are already building and shipping.

In this exclusive episode of Tech It or Leave It, we go beyond the personal stories and dive deep into the strategic mindset of Dennis Lee, a technical founder who successfully built a multi-million-dollar platform in a traditional, "ancient" industry.

This isn’t a story about luck, it’s a masterclass in swift execution, strategic pivots, and focusing on what actually matters.

Dennis shares the lessons he learned from working with countless founders, revealing why most non-technical entrepreneurs get stuck and what you can do to avoid their most common mistakes. He breaks down the difference between a "perfect" product and a valuable one, and why chasing the first is a guaranteed path to failure.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

✅ The single biggest mindset shift every non-technical founder needs to make to build a valuable product from day one.
✅ The #1 red flag to look for when choosing a tech partner that will save you from a major financial pitfall.
✅ How to move from idea to execution quickly and what to do when your first attempt fails.
✅ Why building trust with your tech team is more important than any line of code.

This episode will challenge everything you think you know about building a tech product. Opportunities won't wait for your product to be perfect. The time to act is now.

Follow Dennis Lee:
https://www.instagram.com/dennis13e/

More about Cloudjoi:
https://my.linkedin.com/company/cloudjoi
https://www.cloudjoi.com/

#businessgrowth #AIforStartups #TechPodcast #aiforbusiness #aiinbusiness #techitorleaveit 

01:11 Who is Dennis Lee?
04:39 Dennis Lee's Background
06:51 The First Story: Cloud Theatre
18:41 The Second Story: Cloudjoi
28:47 Mindset Shift for Non-Technical Founders
32:00 Choosing a Tech Partner
39:24 Marrying Tech with Traditional Industries
48:33 Lesson from performing that made him a better entrepreneur
49:08 Mistake tech teams make when building for creators

Support the show

🎙️ More from Adrian & Upstack Studio
Website: https://upstackstudio.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianchinghc
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"Today is the dumbest AI will ever be.”

That’s what Johnson Goh, CEO of Mindhive, believes, and he’s proving it by quietly building the unsexy AI that actually grows businesses.

Forget the hype. Forget the flashy AI demos.

This episode dives into how AI is solving the boring-but-critical problems. Accounting, logistics, and operations that actually scale companies

In this episode of Tech It or Leave It, we cut through the AI hype and talk about :

✅ The biggest mistakes founders make when “AI-ing” their business
✅ How to build AI tools for teams who don’t even understand the tech
✅ Why back-office bottlenecks (not flashy AI demos) are where the real ROI lies

Cut through the noise. Trust the guy who’s actually scaling businesses with AI. This is the one you need to hear.

Support the show

🎙️ More from Adrian & Upstack Studio
Website: https://upstackstudio.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianchinghc
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adrianchinghc

Welcome to the very first episode of Tech It or Leave It! Join hosts Adrian Ching and Elly as they kick off the podcast made for non-tech founders, entrepreneurs, and business owners who want to grow and scale with technology.

In this debut, Adrian shares his 10+ years of experience running a software company, the mistakes entrepreneurs make with tech, and raw behind-the-scenes stories of how businesses succeed (or fail) when it comes to digital transformation.

If you’ve ever wondered:
 ✅ Why tech is no longer optional
 ✅ How non-technical founders can actually win with digital products
 ✅ What it really takes to scale with AI, apps, and automation

…then this is the place for you.

🎙️ Subscribe now so you don’t get left behind.

🎙️ More from Adrian & Upstack Studio
Website: https://upstackstudio.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianchinghc
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adrianchinghc

Yo! I’m Adrian Ching,

Founder of Upstack Studio and your go-to guy when it comes to building apps that actually scale.

For the past 8 years, I’ve been helping non-tech founders turn their million-dollar app ideas into reality in just 16 weeks. Along the way, I’ve seen the wins, the failures, and the messy truth about trying to scale with tech.

This podcast is where I unpack it all. Not the sugar-coated “hustle culture” version but the unfiltered stories, lessons, and strategies from real entrepreneurs who’ve been in the trenches.

Every week, I’ll break down what’s working (and what’s not) in tech, startups, and business. You’ll hear from founders, builders, and disruptors who know what it really takes to grow.

If you’re a non-tech founder, an entrepreneur chasing the next big thing, or just someone who wants to make tech actually work for your business. This is your spot.

Welcome to Tech It or Leave It. The podcast for founders who aren’t afraid to play by their own rules.

🎙️ More from Adrian & Upstack Studio
Website: https://upstackstudio.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianchinghc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@adrianchinghc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adrianchinghc