036 - Balancing Innovation and Integrity in the AI Era with Ming Chan, Founder, The 1st Movement
Pitch, Build, Scale - Startup Founder Stories in the Age of AI · 2025-08-18 · 35 min
Episode notes
What does it take to build a tech consultancy that thrives for 20+ years while staying small, nimble, and deeply human? In this episode, Emmy award-winning technologist and product strategist Ming Chan shares his journey from being yelled at by Steve Jobs, to launching The1stMovement, to navigating the promise and peril of AI. Ming reveals why he intentionally limits his client base, how he’s kept enterprise partnerships for decades, and the moral questions every technologist should ask about AI’s role in society. What you’ll learn in this episode: - How early experiences with Apple shaped Ming’s vision for tech and creativity - Why being a “lifestyle entrepreneur” can be a strategic choice - The tolerance-of-risk gap between startups and enterprises when adopting AI - Practical ways agencies can use AI to boost velocity without sacrificing quality - How to build client relationships that last decades Chapters 00:00 - The Morality and Perception of AI 01:54 - From Music to Tech: Ming’s Origin Story 04:53 - Getting Yelled at by Steve Jobs 08:17 - The1stMovement’s Mission and Evolution 10:49 - Client Base and Team Size Strategy 15:45 - Why Stay Small?