An experiment

I think Claude can be your co-founder. I want to prove it.

One founder with a real idea. Claude (Anthropic's AI) as the co-founding layer. Me* in your corner. Let's build.

Claude plushie between two coffee cups on a wooden desk, with a notebook and laptop — ready to build together
The problem

After working with 350+ founders, I've watched this pattern play out too many times. Great idea, real passion, nobody to build it with.

For the ones with a real shot, it's rarely the idea that fails. It's not having the right person in the room with you.

The hypothesis

What if you could launch a tech business without being technical?

I've spent the last year building a system on top of Claude that lets non-technical founders launch and run tech businesses. It's not perfect yet, but it's close.

This system is enough. That's my bet, and I think it works across industries. I want to prove both, starting with one founder.

You — the unfair advantage

You've lived the problem or watched it up close. Nobody sees it the way you do.

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Claude — your agentic co-founder

Claude writes code, ships product, and iterates fast. Most of the foundation is already built. We fill the gaps together as we go.

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Phil — advisor & connector

I've been where you're about to go. More on my story and the system I've built below.

My gut says this works. But I want to prove it, in public.

Who's in your corner

Everything I know about building, I learned by getting it wrong first.

I built a company from scratch, raised a pre-seed, got into Techstars, and eventually lost everything. Spent years rebuilding from that. Now I use all of it to help founders like you.

350+ Canadian founders
$1.6M Pre-seed raised (last engagement)
10+ Years in startups
Phil Rivard pitching Nukern at Techstars Demo Day
The system

You're not starting from scratch.

I've been building on top of Claude since it launched in preview, about a year now. What started as a way to write code turned into something much bigger - a system that wears most of the hats an early-stage company needs.

Built on skills, agents, and workflows I've been refining for a year. You don't need to understand how it works. You just need to talk to it.

Ships product
Drafts copy and emails in your voice
Thinks through strategy with you
Automates the ops work that eats your day

You get the full system on day one. Your job is to know your market and talk to customers.

PitchTimer

A pitch practice app built for founders I coach

Built in a day

This site was also built entirely with the system.

What this looks like

This isn't advisory from the sidelines.

No Notion doc. No monthly check-in. This is hands-on. We figure it out together.

Thinking partner

When you're stuck or spinning, I'm the person you call. We figure out what matters, what doesn't, and what to do next.

Building with Claude

You're not starting from scratch. The system already ships product, automates ops, and handles the work you'd normally need a technical co-founder for. We plug your idea in and start building.

The right people

First customers, advisors, investors. I'll make the intro when the timing is right. Not before.

Who I'm looking for

Probably a first-time founder. Maybe one who's tried before.

If this sounds like you:

The offer

One spot. That's it.

I take a percentage of revenue when you start making money. Nothing before that. No equity. No retainer. I win when you win.

Let's do this
Apply

Tell me about your idea.

Three questions. No pitch deck needed. I'm not looking for the perfect answer. I'm looking for the right person solving the right problem with a real unfair advantage.

All fields are required.

First name is required.

Last name is required.

A valid email is required.

Applying doesn't guarantee a spot, but it guarantees a reply. If there's a fit, I'll reach out to meet. If there isn't, I'll tell you why.

Application received.

Thanks for putting yourself out there. I review applications in batches, not instantly, but thoughtfully. If there's a fit, I'll reach out directly. If there isn't, I'll still tell you why.