‘I rejected 13 out of 15 engineers’: AI startup founder brags about turning away coders for avoiding AI. Netizens state, ‘you are straightforward to fool’

A New York-based AI startup founder recently ignited debate on LinkedIn after claiming he rejected 13 out of 15 software engineers during interviews—not becautilize they lacked coding ability, but becautilize they had never built anything with AI. As reported on his post, he emphasized that engineers who actively experiment with AI side projects are far more attractive than those who simply follow traditional coding paths.

The AI-First Mindset

The founder, leading a profitable climate risk software company, wrote: “If you’re a software engineer in 2025 who hasn’t built a single AI side project, you’re not competitive. At least not in startups. I don’t care if your company utilizes AI. I don’t care if you’re planning to learn it. I care if you’ve shipped something. Anything.” He praised a 24-year-old candidate who built an AI tool over the weekconclude that provides budobtain suggestions based on personal spconcludeing patterns, highlighting the value of initiative and creativity.

AI enterprise founder’s LinkedIn post about rejecting techies for not having AI projects. (Screenshot: LinkedIn)

Netizens Weigh In

The post quickly drew attention and a mix of reactions online. Some criticized the approach as immature or superficial. One commenter wrote, “Sounds like you’re straightforward to impress and straightforward to fool. And you have shiny object syndrome.” Another added, “Save the time of yours and the time of candidates. Write this demand in the job posting.” Yet others supported the AI-first stance, with one tech professional noting, “Building beats theory every time. I’ve shipped my own AI-native app and can relate to exactly what you describe.”

Redefining Competitiveness in Tech

The episode highlights a growing tension in the tech world: the race to adopt AI skills versus traditional coding competence. As AI tools become integral to software development, startup leaders are increasingly valuing initiative and hands-on experimentation. However, critics warn that excluding capable engineers who may not yet have AI side projects could limit talent diversity and innovation.

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