The forge of Unicorns - BriX Consulting

97% of enterprise developers use AI coding tools. Trust crashed from 40% to 29% in one year. METR found experienced developers 19% slower while believing they were 20% faster. The 39-point perception gap exposes why your AI investment isn't delivering—and the 4-dimension framework that fixes it. 🎙️ EP81 - The AI Readiness Assessment | The Last Mile to 4X Results with AI Coding ToolsYou made the right investment. GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Claude Code—the tools work. But without readiness across 4 dimensions, AI amplifies dysfunction instead of excellence. This episode reveals the diagnostic framework and the pathway to turn your investment into exponential results.---In this episode, Michele (Mike) Brissoni exposes the AI-readiness gap costing CTOs millions: the delta between how fast organizations adopt AI and how prepared teams are to supervise it, validate it, and integrate it. He introduces the AI Readiness Assessment framework measuring organizational capacity across four critical dimensions, reveals why spec-driven development unlocks AI for experienced developers, and demonstrates how behavioral engineering—not more tools—closes the last AI-mile.💡 KEY INSIGHTS:- 97% of enterprise developers have used AI coding tools- Trust in AI accuracy dropped from 40% to 29% in just one year- 39-point perception gap: teams 19% slower while believing 20% faster- Experienced developers find traditional AI coding tools distracting without proper workflows- Spec-driven development expands AI's reach from 30% to full development lifecycle- AI readiness gap = delta between adoption speed and organizational capacity- The bottleneck is behavior, not infrastructure- Four dimensions determine AI success: focus, technical practices, product health, customer feedback- Miss one dimension and you stall, miss two and you suffer, miss four and you fail- Companies with strong fundamentals see 4X better AI results than those without- Elite XP teams correct mistakes in one week; canonical enterprises take a quarter- AI becomes an expensive accelerator for your failure without readiness🗣️ KEY QUOTES:"They were 19% slower while believing they were 20% faster.""AI amplifies what you have in the company.""Driving a Ferrari Enzo at 200 mph with 45% brakes—that's your AI adoption gap.""If developers don't have the cognitive capacity to supervise AI, you're dead on arrival.""Spec-driven development turns AI into a real co-pilot.""Miss one dimension and you stall. Miss two and you suffer. Miss four and you fail.""Stop embracing AI blindly. Start being aware."---🎯 READY TO CLOSE THE GAP?Get your FREE AI-Readiness Assessment for your software team.One number showing where you stand across 4 dimensions. Zero cost.👉 https://brix.consulting/free-ai-readiness-assessment/

In this episode, Michele (Mike) Brissoni explores the challenges and realities of software development in the age of AI. He discusses the historical context of coding productivity, the impact of Agile and DevOps methodologies, and the effects of remote work on developer efficiency. Brissoni emphasizes the importance of fundamentals over tools, highlighting the silent killers of productivity such as multitasking and environmental noise. He uses the automotive industry as a case study to illustrate the consequences of neglecting software fundamentals and calls for a reevaluation of how organizations approach AI adoption and developer training.💡 KEY INSIGHTS:- AI is revolutionizing software development but poses significant challenges- Developers spend minimal time actually coding, often less than 10%- Agile methodology, while promoting collaboration, can hinder productivity- Remote work has both benefits and drawbacks for developer focus- AI tools can exacerbate existing issues in coding practices- Mind wandering and multitasking significantly reduce developer productivity- Automotive industry exemplifies dangers of prioritizing speed over fundamentals- Strong organizational fundamentals lead to 4x better performance with AI- Companies must assess AI readiness and developer fundamentals- A shift from tools to foundational practices is essential for success🗣️ KEY QUOTES:"Coding is NOT the bottleneck. Indeed devs spend 10 to max 39% of their time actually coding!""We have destroyed them even before start coding.""We need AI free days to prevent skill atrophy.""Companies with strong fundamentals achieve almost four times the performance of companies without them when adopting AI."---🎯 READY TO FACE THE TRUTH?Get your FREE AI-Readiness Quick Scan for software teams.Clear data on where your team stands. Zero cost.👉 https://brix.consulting/free-ai-readiness-assessment/⚠️ Only 3 spots remaining for Q4 2025---📝 DEEP DIVE ARTICLE:Full written analysis drops Thursday on Substack & LinkedInSubscribe: https://theforgeofunicorns.substack.com/---ABOUT THE FORGE OF UNICORNS:Weekly insights for C-level executives, PE/VC leaders, and board members on building elite software organizations. 80+ episodes analyzing what really works in the AI era—backed by data from 130 people who built 52 unicorns.Host: Michele (Mike) Brissoni Background: F1-inspired behavioral engineering for software teams. 15+ years building the Software Craftsmanship Dojo. Engineer by training (robotics, telecom, software). Zero tolerance for mediocrity.Mission: Elevate software development to F1-level mastery through systematic behavioral engineering.🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes 📧 Join the newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-forge-of-unicorns-7184097792242458624/

Your $10M AI investment produces garbage code because you hired mediocre, trained badly, and blamed developers when production burned. Not their fault. Yours. This episode explores how leadership and organizational behavior shape software engineering teams—and why understanding the dynamics between teamwork, coding discipline, and behavioral transformation determines whether your software development succeeds or fails.I reveal the Software Craftsmanship Dojo, the behavioral transformation system that turns broken teams into 1% Elite performers—using the same neuroscience that transforms terrified kids into confident martial artists.🥋 THE 6 PARALLELS:→ Repetition creates instinct (not compliance)→ Fundamentals before frameworks (or 3 AM calls never stop)→ Sparring = pair programming (safe failure builds mastery)→ Belt system = KBI progression (measurable transformation)→ Sensei = cultural rewiring (mirror neurons & role model)→ Respect → Ownership (discipline builds elite mindset)💡 KEY INSIGHTS:- Why Key Behavioral Indicators predict team failure before production burns- The hostile environment paradox: build the 1% without executive buy-in- How grassroots transformation works when leadership won't act- Why AWS certifications and Agile workshops fail (training ≠ transformation)- The neuroscience of identity shift through deliberate practice🎯 WHO THIS IS FOR:- CTOs tired of being told it's a "people problem"- Engineering leaders drowning in production incidents- VPs watching AI investments produce zero ROI- Anyone building software teams in hostile environments---🎯 READY TO FACE THE TRUTH?Get your FREE AI-Readiness Quick Scan for software teams.Clear data on where your team stands. Zero cost.👉 https://brix.consulting/free-ai-readiness-assessment/⚠️ Only 3 spots remaining for Q4 2025---📝 DEEP DIVE ARTICLE:Full written analysis drops Thursday on Substack & LinkedInSubscribe: https://theforgeofunicorns.substack.com/---ABOUT THE FORGE OF UNICORNS:Weekly insights for C-level executives, PE/VC leaders, and board members on building elite software organizations. 77+ episodes analyzing what really works in the AI era—backed by data from 130 people who built 52 unicorns.Host: Michele (Mike) Brissoni Background: F1-inspired behavioral engineering for software teams. 15+ years building the Software Craftsmanship Dojo. Engineer by training (robotics, telecom, software). Zero tolerance for mediocrity.Mission: Elevate software development to F1-level mastery through systematic behavioral engineering.🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes 📧 Join the newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-forge-of-unicorns-7184097792242458624/

Three years after ChatGPT's release, $2.5 trillion wasted in 2024 alone. Forecast for 2027? $4 trillion. Meanwhile, 38% burnout rate, 77% disengaged workforce, and 90% failure rate on digital transformations.After 77 episodes analyzing 130 people who built 52 unicorns, one pattern emerged: The bottleneck isn't AI, Agile, or capital. It's the 1% problem—the extreme scarcity of people capable of executing at elite level.This episode is different. No guest. Just me and one year of brutal research findings. The patterns nobody wants to hear. The truth about why AI amplifies dysfunction instead of solving it.---🎯 WHO SHOULD LISTEN:CEOs wrestling with failed digital transformationsCTOs scaling teams but losing qualityVCs/PEs analyzing portfolio performanceBoard members demanding ROI from AI investmentsEngineering leaders tired of mediocrityIf you've invested millions in AI tools and seen minimal results, this explains why.---📊 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:- Why 52 unicorns all pointed to the same bottleneck (and it's not technology)- The 1% paradox: How talent scarcity lowered hiring standards to catastrophic levels- Why IT/software lacks the professional standards that make medicine and engineering reliable- How AI acts as a mirror—amplifying excellence OR weaponizing dysfunction at scale- The three-layer filtering system that separates elite performers from the 99%- Why digital transformation fatigue is structural, not temporary- How generative culture beats process-heavy bureaucracy every single time- The real cost of accepting mediocrity: $2.5T wasted and climbing---🔥 KEY INSIGHTS:"AI doesn't fail because of technology. It fails because of who uses it.""You can't buy the 1%. You have to build them.""Small elite teams always beat large bloated organizations.""77% of employees are disengaged.""38% burnout rate is alarming." ---🫵 READY TO FACE THE TRUTH?Get your FREE AI-Readiness Quick Scan for software teams.Clear data on where your team stands. Zero cost.👉 https://brix.consulting/free-ai-readiness-assessment/⚠️ Only 3 spots remaining for Q4 2025---📝 DEEP DIVE ARTICLE:Full written analysis drops Thursday on Substack & LinkedInSubscribe: https://theforgeofunicorns.substack.com/---ABOUT THE FORGE OF UNICORNS:Weekly insights for C-level executives, PE/VC leaders, and board members on building elite software organizations. 77+ episodes analyzing what really works in the AI era—backed by data from 130 people who built 52 unicorns.Host: Michele (Mike) Brissoni Background: F1-inspired behavioral engineering for software teams. 15+ years building the Software Craftsmanship Dojo. Engineer by training (robotics, telecom, software). Zero tolerance for mediocrity.Mission: Elevate software development to F1-level mastery through systematic behavioral engineering.🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes 📧 Join the newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-forge-of-unicorns-7184097792242458624/

Licensing beats equity 10x. Fabio Lettieri (Founder, Artivium | Partner, TLN) reveals how €2M turns into €100M in 24 months through royalty-based partnerships instead of ownership dilution, why Europe's 10x better engineers stay underfunded, and the $34B empire that makes nothing.----🎙️ Episode Highlights:After 27 episodes with 130+ guests who backed 52 unicorns, one pattern emerged: the capital allocation system is fundamentally backwards. Europe has world-class engineering talent but systematically starves it with slow, risk-averse investment. Meanwhile, accelerators spread €20K across 50 startups (nothing happens), and VCs burn €10-20M on equity models when €1-2M licensing achieves the same outcome.Fabio's contrarian model:- 20-50x ROI multiples in under 3 years- €9K patent protection worldwide for 2.5 years- ABG case study: $34B annual sales without manufacturing one product- 24-month discipline: market or die💡 Key Insights:"That million euro becomes nothing when you give €20,000 to everybody. It will be more productive to give $1 million to one company." European talent is 10x better than US engineers, but the capital structure prevents scale. The alternative exists—most investors just pretend it doesn't.👤 Guest: Fabio LettieriFounder, Artivium Inc. | Founding Partner, TLN - The Licensing Network25 years IP licensing experience | $500M+ in royalty deals | Former Licensing Director, Iconix Brand Group----📖 Deep Dive Article:Why licensing beats equity 10x, the ABG model that makes $34B without products, and why Europe's investment mindset is the real bottleneck—not talent, not tech.🪧 Subscribe to the Forge on Substack to stay up to date: 🔗 https://theforgeofunicorns.substack.com/---🔧 FREE AI-Readiness Assessment (5 spots, Q4 2025):Clear data. Actionable insights. Zero cost.👉 Contact: https://brix.consulting/free-ai-readiness-assessment/----⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 TL;TR01:00 Introduction to IP and Licensing Business Models05:46 The Role of Accelerators and Incubators12:39 Challenges in Software Development and Marketing19:00 The Power of Licensing in Business27:06 Innovative Approaches to Product Development31:50 The Ego of Founders and Company Success32:37 Future Potential Over Past Achievements34:52 Investing in Projects: A Personal Approach36:09 The Unique Venture Studio Model38:29 Licensing vs. Traditional Venture Capital40:21 The Misunderstood AI Market41:25 Social Tensions in AI Adoption43:22 The Speed of Idea to Prototype with AI45:06 The Importance of Personal Connections48:23 Cultural and Investment Mindset Differences50:25 The Power of Licensing and Branding#VentureCapital #Licensing #Startups #Europe #CapitalEfficiency #TechLeadership #Innovation #Patents #IPLicensing

Philosophy shapes AI future through karmapreneurship and soft skills revealed by Craig Weiss (Patent Attorney turned Unicorn CEO turned Managing Partner Flagstaff Venture) on execution curiosity mentorship and AI human gap.🎙️ Episode Highlights:Craig Weiss shares his journey from patent attorney to building Enjoy (unicorn, $1B valuation) to venture capital investor, revealing why philosophy and karmapreneurship matter more than ever in the AI era.The AI Human Gap:- AI amplifies organizational DNA—excellence or chaos- Soft skills becoming MORE important as AI replaces jobs- Code assistants need humans skilled in software fundamentals- VCs funding AI pitches without cultural/technical due diligence- Human experiences AI will never understand: love, loss, getting punchedKarmapreneurship Philosophy:- Treating employees, customers, vendors well = business foundation- Win-win over win-lose in business relationships- Small elite teams (F1 pit crew model) beat large bloated orgs- Execution beats ideas—always- Curiosity and question-asking as competitive advantage💡 Key Insights:"AI is never gonna understand what it's like to bury a parent, or to fall in love, or to pull an all-nighter" - Craig reveals why soft skills, authentic curiosity, and coaching culture create the human foundation AI needs to actually work.Peter Diamandis wisdom: "Ask good questions—because all the answers are out there. We differentiate by who asks the best questions."👤 Guest: Craig WeissManaging Partner, Flagstaff Venture 10 years Patent Attorney → Unicorn CEO (Enjoy, $1B valuation) → Venture CapitalistFirst investment became unicorn | Built consumer brand across 130,000 retail locations📖 Deep Dive Article (Thursday): https://go.brix.consulting/ForgeOfUnicorns🎁 Your Gift as a Subscriber:In a moment when AI requires your company to be ready, we offer limited spots for Q4 for our 🔧 Free AI-Readiness Assessment📬 Contact us: https://swcraftsmanshipdojo.com⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 TL;TR02:00 Intro: Patent Attorney to Unicorn CEO Journey12:02 Navigating Entrepreneurship Challenges21:39 Business Meets Spirituality31:42 Karmapreneurship: Merging Profit with Purpose45:46 Finding Your Why (Viktor Frankl Philosophy)50:00 Software Patents & Craftsmanship54:09 AI Disruption & Human Connection1:01:06 AI in Mental Health & Education1:08:24 Community Role in Tech Advancement1:12:25 Open vs Closed Systems in Innovation🔗 Connect:Craig Weiss LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-weiss-9890127/Flagstaff Venture: https://www.flagstaffventures.com/Forge of Unicorns: https://go.brix.consulting/ForgeOfUnicorns🏷️ Tags :#aireadiness #Karmapreneurship #SoftSkills #EmotionalIntelligence #VentureCapital #UnicornStartup #Entrepreneurship #AIHumanGap #TechnicalExcellence #BehavioralEngineering #ConsumerBrands #PatentAttorney #ExecutionOverIdeas #Curiosity #CoachingCulture #AILimitations #HumanPsychology #BusinessPhilosophy #SpiritualCEO #VentureStudio #CollaborativeAI #F1Craftsmanship #SoftwareEngineering #AIEthics #StartupFunding #VCDueDiligence #AI #Leadership #TechLeadership #Philosophy