The Client Left for AI and Came Back in Two Weeks (Natalie Kaminski)
In this episode, I'm joined by Natalie Kaminski, Co-Founder and CEO of JetRockets. We talk about why she runs her software consultancy like a trusted partner instead of a vendor, and why saying no to a client's idea is sometimes the most caring thing she can do. Natalie shares how 70% of her business comes from long-term retainer relationships, how she gets clients past "launch paralysis" and the trap of always needing one more feature, and why validating the pain point matters more than building the product. We also get into AI as a multiplier of skill rather than a shortcut, the "slop" problem with AI-generated code, and the story of a client who left to build with AI and came back two weeks later. She closes with the biggest thing she'd do differently after 15 years: go narrow and deep, not wide and shallow.
🔗 Guest & Resources
Connect with Natalie Kaminski:
/ nataliekaminski
🔑 Keywords
natalie kaminski, jetrockets, software consultancy, product development, dev shop, software agency, mvp, startup founders, first-time founders, pain point validation, launch paralysis, client relationships, retainer business, ai in software development, ai coding, vibe coding, ai slop, code reviews, test coverage, software architecture, maintainable software, product strategy, mvp development, tech leadership, entrepreneurship, agency growth, niche down, long-term partnership, scaling products, building software