A CTO's Framework for Shipping with AI

Nowadays, AI is integral to the development of products. The challenging aspect is determining how much to trust it, which evolves as a product transitions from prototype to first users to something people depend on daily. Martin Medina established Solotude, a marketplace based in Sydney that connects individuals seeking support with independent providers, as the sole technical member of the team, utilizing AI-assisted development. He will demonstrate his actual working process: where he allows agents to operate, where he scrutinizes every line, what he never relinquishes, and how those practices changed as the product expanded. The emphasis will be on the criteria a hands-on CTO employs to ascertain how much to trust AI, and when. What you'll take away: Format: Operator talk and Q&A. Who it's for: Founders, technical and non-technical operators building with AI, or deciding how much to trust the personnel and tools they engage with. Speaker: Martin Medina, CTO, Solotude Martin is an engineering leader with over 15 years of experience in startups and scale-ups, focusing on user-facing products and, previously, on fintech and digital assets infrastructure. He has established and directed engineering teams while remaining hands-on when necessary, as he does today at Solotude, where he transitioned a validated prototype into a production platform. Recently, he spoke at SydJS regarding the application of AI agents throughout a product's lifecycle. The Startup Growth Lab consists of two days of practical workshops, live demonstrations, and genuine discussions, forming part of Spark Festival at UTS, 23-24 September 2026.