Please share this episode around and get in touch with me on Linkedin or Bluesky 🗒 Brief summaryIn this interview, Alex speaks with Tomas Halgas, a tech entrepreneur from Slovakia, about his journey from working at Facebook to founding Sutro, a no-code development platform that integrates AI to empower users in building applications without deep coding knowledge. Thomas discusses the evolution of AI, particularly language models, and Sutro's focus on combining creativity with reliable software development. He critiques the current no-code ecosystem for often prioritizing ease of use over security and reliability, especially in business applications. Tomas shares his vision for Sutro's upcoming launch, emphasizing enhanced user experience and invites listeners to join the waitlist. The conversation highlights the intersection of AI, coding, and the no-code movement.📚 ResourcesTomas on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomhalgas/Sutro: https://withsutro.com/📖 Chapters0:17 Introduction to the Interview2:52 Tomas's Background and Experience4:47 The No-Code Ecosystem6:31 The Rise of AI in Development9:12 Sutro: Merging No-Code and AI12:35 The Role of Compilers in Sutro13:33 Evolution of Sutro and LLMs18:38 Challenges in Business Software22:59 Sutro's Approach to Development35:15 Future Steps for Sutro
Please share this episode around and get in touch with me on Twitter : @alexkovax🗒 Brief summaryIn this interview, Alex talks with Daniel Zrůst, App Solutions Architect at Make, about the platform's evolution and AI integration over the past year. They discuss key features like scenario inputs/outputs and a beta grid for organizing workflows, alongside the typical five-step complexity of automations. Daniel highlights the balance between traditional automation and AI's capabilities, emphasizing the importance of human oversight through the new Human in the Loop module. They conclude with enthusiasm for future developments in Make's offerings.📚 ResourcesDaniel on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danzrust/Daniel's talk from No-Code Week 2024: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v51vOCjrBYsMake: https://www.make.com📖 Chapters0:31 Introduction to the Interview2:22 Evolution of Make and the Industry10:37 The Role of AI in Automation18:18 Exploring MCP Servers21:55 Human in the Loop Technology25:00 Future Predictions and Closing Remarks
Please share this episode around and get in touch with me on Twitter : @alexkovax🗒 Brief summaryIn my interview with Igor, a Tokyo-based Webflow developer and agency owner, he shared his journey from studying international relations in Russia to building a tech career in Japan. Without a technical background, Igor discovered Webflow while seeking marketing solutions for his startup, which eventually led him to master the platform and launch his own agency. His company now specializes in helping Japanese businesses migrate from traditional CMS platforms to Webflow. Igor offered fascinating insights about Japanese web design aesthetics, which often feature information-dense layouts reflecting cultural communication preferences. Despite the challenges of lengthy decision-making processes with Japanese clients, he values the loyalty these relationships bring. Igor runs a team of five, teaches Webflow through his Supasaito Academy, and expressed his deep appreciation for Tokyo's unique blend of modernity and tradition.📚 ResourcesIgor on X: https://x.com/igorvoroshilovIgor on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/igorvoroshilov/Supasaito web site: https://www.supasaito.com/enStudio.design: https://studio.design/Webflow Tokyo Meetup: https://lu.ma/webflow-tokyo📖 Chapters0:36 Introduction in Tokyo1:25 Background and Education3:39 Startup Journey5:15 Transition to NoCode7:37 Discovering Webflow9:37 Learning Webflow11:37 Agency Overview14:30 Client Needs and Requests15:57 Japanese Design Aesthetics19:53 Working with Japanese Clients23:15 Sales Process and Challenges26:41 Company Structure and Culture29:03 Remote Work Benefits31:59 Project Management Tools34:15 Webflow Features and AI39:59 Use of AI in Projects46:22 No-Code Community in Japan49:12 Fragmentation of Communities51:30 Conclusion and Personal Interests54:53 Closing Remarks and Social Links
Please share this episode around and get in touch with me on Twitter : @alexkovax🗒 Brief summaryIn this interview, I talk with Maimi Higuchi, a no-code consultant in Japan, about the rise of no-code development and her role in promoting citizen development with Kintone, a platform for small businesses. Maimi shares her journey from the U.S. to Japan, the challenges of freelancing in a corporate culture, and the importance of foundational experience. They discuss Kintone's impact on streamlining operations and the necessity for effective training in no-code tools. Maimi also outlines her plans to create educational content for Japanese users and empower Ukrainian refugees with no-code skills, while touching on local AI adoption and the No-Code Japan Association's initiatives. The conversation highlights the evolving no-code ecosystem in Japan.📚 ResourcesMaimi on Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/maimi-higuchi-121410269/Maimi on X : https://x.com/maimihiguchiKintone : https://www.kintone.com/Cafe LA in Osaka : https://maps.app.goo.gl/YEVRnRiuLV2EKvw3A📖 Chapters0:44 Introduction to No-Code in Japan2:50 Background of a No-Code Consultant6:26 Freelancing Culture in Japan7:35 Challenges of Freelancing13:09 Understanding Kintone Tool16:28 Projects and Applications27:19 Notion and Its Popularity28:10 Citizen Development Explained34:03 The Role of Citizen Developers39:05 Supporting Ukrainian Refugees40:02 AI Tools in Japan44:06 No-Code Community in Japan46:49 Experience at No-Code Summit49:20 Personal Recommendations for Osaka
Please share this episode around and get in touch with me on Twitter : @alexkovax 🗒 Brief summary Join us for an insightful conversation with Nicolas Carroll, Product Manager at Bubble, recorded live at the No Code Week conference. We discuss the evolution of Bubble's visual programming platform, the challenges of enabling no-code mobile app development, and how AI is poised to transform the no-code landscape. Nick shares his perspective on product management for a powerful yet complex tool like Bubble and how they balance user requests with the company's broader strategic goals. An enlightening discussion for anyone interested in the future of no-code! 📚 Resources Nick on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolasjcarroll/ Bubble: https://bubble.io Nick's talk at the No-Code Week: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDDk3QjiNCs 📖 Chapters 00:00 - Intro 00:39 - Nick's background before Bubble 02:25 - How Nick would describe Bubble to someone new 04:47 - The breadth and challenge of working on Bubble as a product 07:02 - Organizing product teams at Bubble 09:09 - Deciding to focus on native mobile app development 13:01 - Current state of no-code mobile app builders 14:20 - Distinction between responsive web apps, app wrappers, and native mobile apps 18:33 - How Bubble determines product roadmap and feature prioritization 22:12 - The role of AI in enhancing the Bubble platform and assisting users 26:21 - Vision for AI-powered app generation and iteration in Bubble 29:31 - Challenge of onboarding users to modify AI-generated complex apps 32:27 - Documentation as a key problem to solve for no-code platforms 34:53 - Nick's experience and takeaways from the No-Code Week conference 36:54 - Outro
Please share this episode around and get in touch with me on Twitter : @alexkovax 🗒 Brief summary On this episode of the No-Code World radio podcast, we meet Sarkis Buniatyan, a prominent figure in the No-Code community. Sarkis discusses his background as a product designer and his love for software. He explains the potential of No-Code tools and showcases impressive projects using Webflow. He also talks about his entrepreneurial journey and his focus on revolutionizing learning with his company, Restep. He emphasized the importance of creativity and the need for quality in the No-Code space. Finally he highlights the benefits of exploring new environments, like Chiang Mai, for personal growth and creativity. The episode concludes with an invitation to subscribe and share thoughts. 📚 Resources Sarkis on Twitter/X : https://twitter.com/SarkisBuniatyan Sarkis on Webflow : https://webflow.com/@protocore Restep : https://www.restep.io/ Civilization 6 : https://webflow.com/made-in-webflow/website/Civilization 📖 Chapters 0:00:00 Introduction to Season 5 and Chiang Mai Trip 0:01:06 Discovering the Power of Software 0:03:07 The Choice Between Developer and Designer 0:03:34 The Gateway into Code: Exploring the World of No-Code 0:06:09 Pushing the Limits of Webflow with Realistic PlayStation Interface 0:14:51 Changing Perception of Web Design 0:18:49 AI Startup: Creating a contextual information platform 0:20:45 Restep: Revolutionizing learning with workflow replication technology 0:24:03 Frustrations with traditional learning methods 0:26:21 The future of visual development and the no-code space 0:29:15 No-code space evolving towards visual development 0:31:50 Building your own software with customizable platforms 0:34:22 The Danger of Valuing Speed over Creativity in Web Design 0:35:44 The Impact of our Environment on Creativity 0:39:06 Chiang Mai: A Place to Bootstrap Ideas 0:40:23 A Different Episode with Limited Equipment 0:42:25 Chiang Mai: A Vibrant City with Amazing Nature and Food
Please share this episode around and get in touch with me on Twitter : @alexkovax 🗒 Brief summary In this episode, we chat with Max, the founder of the 100 Days of No Code project. Max shares their journey from failed startup to discovering the world of no-code. We discuss the growth of the project, the importance of project-based learning, and the future of no-code with AI integration. Max also talks about their social media presence and how they document their building process on Twitter and LinkedIn. 📚 Resources Max on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HainingMax #100daysofnocode on Twitter: https://twitter.com/search?q=%23100DaysOfNoCode 100days account : https://twitter.com/100daysnocode 100 days of no-code website: https://www.100daysofnocode.com/ Max on Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxhaining/ 📖 Chapters 0:00:00 Introduction and Setting at RSA House in London 0:04:53 The Need for Technical Knowledge 0:07:18 Exploring the Idea of No-Code 0:10:08 The Birth of 100 Days of Code 0:14:02 The Need for Structure and Community 0:19:18 Building a community and leveraging growth 0:22:04 From Hashtag to Community: The Evolution of 100 Days of No Code 0:24:02 Adding Structure: Introducing the Daily Curriculum Challenge 0:25:21 Starting with Lean Education Approach 0:27:25 Balancing Motivation and Complexity in Project Selection 0:29:36 No-Code: Beyond Code - Design, Marketing, Product Management 0:32:22 AI as the Next Level of NoCode Development 0:34:21 AI Integration in Existing Tools: Zapier, Bardeen, Framer 0:36:19 The Exciting Possibilities of AI Integration in NoCode Tools 0:38:14 Teaching transferable skills with five essential tools 0:41:12 Introducing AI Skills Training for Individuals and Companies 0:42:10 Building a community within their own circle 0:43:04 Plans for In-Person Meetups and Future Expansion 📃 Long Summary In this podcast episode, I interview Max, the founder of the 100 Days of No Code project. Conducted at the RSA house in London, the discussion delves into Max's journey into the no-code space. Max initially wanted to learn coding but was drawn to the no-code movement after reading an article by Ryan Hoover. Inspired by the "100 Days of Code" concept, Max started "100 Days of No Code" and chronicled the journey on Twitter. The conversation touches on the benefits of project-based learning and the importance of community platforms like Twitter for sharing progress and mutual support. The project has since evolved from a hashtag to a community and now an education company. They have a paid Slack community and are offering structured learning experiences through curriculum and boot camps. The episode also explores the future convergence of AI and no-code, mentioning tools like Zapier, Bardeen, and Framer which are integrating AI into their workflows. We both emphasize being tool-agnostic in the no-code field and talk about upcoming educational offerings, including a no-code times AI boot camp. Regarding social media, Max is active on Twitter and LinkedIn, documenting their company's journey, while I mainly focuses on newsletters and YouTube tutorials.
Please share this episode around and get in touch with me on Twitter : @alexkovax 🗒 Brief summary In this episode, we talk to Frances Odera-Matthews, a certified Notion Consultant and founder of The Notion Bar. Frances shares her journey with Notion, its advanced features, and the benefits of using it for project management. We also discuss finding clients, the challenges of organizing information in Notion, and strategies for content creation. The conversation highlights the future of Notion, the value of serving both personal and enterprise users, and the diverse uses of the platform. To learn more about Frances and The Notion Bar, visit their website or find them on social media platforms. 📚 Resources All the links mentioned in that episode can be found here : link.thenotionbar.com/links The Notion Zeitgeist : newsletter.thenotionbar.com The Notion Bar website : thenotionbar.com 📖 Chapters 0:00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene in London 0:01:34 Learning Notion at a UX agency in DC 0:06:05 Starting on Fiverr 0:09:37 Introduction and Overview of Clients and Services 0:14:44 Consultant as a Marie Kondo of Notion 0:16:38 The Time-consuming Process of Setting Up Notion Workspaces 0:19:05 Content Strategy and Recycling Old Content for Finding Clients 0:23:02 Selling Templates and the Happiness Bar Journal 0:28:11 Efficiency and Design Principles in Notion Templates 0:35:44 Other No-Code Tools 0:40:16 Exploring the Notion and NoCode Community in London 0:48:28 Recommendations in London 📃 Long Summary In this episode, Alex welcomes Frances, a certified Notion Consultant and founder of The Notion Bar, to discuss the world of No-Code and Notion. Frances shares her journey of becoming a Notion expert, starting with her introduction to the platform while working at a UX agency. The conversation then delves into the changes and improvements in Notion over the past three years, particularly in catering to power users and offering enhanced project management capabilities. Alex expresses his curiosity about Frances' experience finding clients on Fiverr and raises his biases about the platform, to which Frances responds with her positive experience and success story. They further explore the options and experiences for freelancers starting out in the UK or US, discussing the importance of getting paid for services and the value of establishing boundaries and self-worth. Frances mentions her diverse range of clients, from solopreneurs and small creative teams to VCs, startups, and scale-ups, emphasizing the universal need for systems and organization. The conversation shifts to Frances' strategies for attracting clients, such as recycling old content and utilizing tools like Hypefury for scheduling social media posts. She also mentions her weekly newsletter, the Notion Zeitgeist, which showcases interesting happenings in the Notion community. The conversation then explores the enterprise shift happening within the no-code community, with Frances sharing insights on the prioritization of paying customers and the involvement of personal users in content strategy. They discuss various tools used for time management and automation, including Google Calendar, Zapier, Hypefury, and repurpose.io, while also addressing cultural differences in valuing free work and the importance of educating the market. Frances mentions the growing Notion community in London and the challenges of finding networking events and meetups, particularly due to the impact of COVID-19. She expresses her desire to share the stories of creatives using Notion and suggests the idea of conducting TikTok interviews with people in cafes.The episode concludes with Frances providing recommendations for non-touristy activities in London.
Please share this episode around and get in touch with me on Twitter : @alexkovax 🗒 Brief summary Veronica, a no-code professional and software creator, discusses her journey into the world of no code tools, her transition into a career in the field, and the benefits of tools like Webflow and Airtable. She shares insights on she uses Notion, the importance of templates, and her agency's philosophy of building projects without developers. The conversation also covers the London tech and no-code scene, along with recommendations for places to visit. 📚 Resources Veronica on Twitter: https://twitter.com/UberVero Eldur Studio's website : https://www.eldur.studio/ Veronica on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronicapicciafuoco/ 📖 Chapters 0:00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene in London 0:01:06 From Lawyer to Marketer: A Unique Background 0:02:58 Getting Hired at a Legal Tech Startup 0:05:06 Encountering No-Code Tools and Liberating Marketing Work 0:08:35 Becoming a Professional in No-Code: Freelancer or Agency? 0:10:51 Finding Clients through Referrals and Webflow Certification 0:14:51 Envy for developers with side projects 0:22:37 Choosing the Right Platform for Custom Development 0:30:43 Introduction to the London tech and no-code scene 0:32:20 London's vibrant design and startup scene amidst Brexit and COVID 📃 Long Summary In this episode, I have a conversation with Veronica, a no-code professional and software creator. Veronica shares her journey into the world of no-code tools, explaining how she made a career switch from law to marketing and tech after attending a hackathon. She discusses the benefits of no-code tools like Webflow, Airtable, and Zapier, which have allowed her to handle tasks without relying on developers and to execute projects independently in her role as a marketer.Veronica talks about how she transitioned into working as a professional in the no-code field, taking on client projects and eventually starting her own agency. We discuss the different paths and approaches that can be taken with no-code tools, including outsourcing certain tasks for larger companies.The conversation then focuses on the use of Notion, allowing for quick creation without the need to learn new software. Veronica explains the value of templates in establishing methodologies and best practices for different processes, such as project management and hiring, and how they can be shared with others in the industry.Veronica also shares her agency's philosophy of building projects without developers and providing a user-friendly experience for clients. They do not believe in retainers and instead offer training sessions at the end of projects to ensure clients understand how their project works. They aim to give clients autonomy and the ability to make changes without incurring extra costs.We also discuss the importance of investing in a good website upfront, particularly in the B2B sector, and the potential issues that can arise from choosing templates or relying on freelancers. The conversation touches on permissions and the need for role-level permissions in industries like healthcare, as well as the challenges and opportunities in the no code community.The discussion concludes with a look at the London tech and no code scene, including the no code drinks event and other meetups and workshops. Recommendations for places to visit in London, such as King's Cross and Hampstead Heath, are also shared. Veronica provides her Twitter handle and invites listeners to connect with her online.Finally, Veronica shares the story behind the name of her show, "Lord of the Ring," and her personal attachment to Iceland.
Please share this episode around and get in touch with me on Twitter : @alexkovax 🗒 Brief summary In this episode, I speak with Dominic Norton, a no-code educator and social entrepreneur. Dominic shares about his projects, including Missing Black People. We discuss the challenges of balancing corporate roles and entrepreneurship, the value of teaching and leveraging popular trends, and the importance of community in the no-code space. Dominic also shares insights on game development tools, AI, and the emergence of open-source options. We wrap up by talking about the survival of different tech industry categories and our favorite things to do in London. 📚 Resources Find all the links mentionned on this page : https://linktr.ee/dominiconorton 📖 Chapters 0:00:00 Introduction: Dominic Norton, No-Code Educator and Social Entrepreneur 0:02:44 Avoiding the Term "Citizen Developer" in the No-Code World 0:04:37 Early Beginnings: Customizing MySpace Layouts for Pocket Money 0:07:56 Applying Architecture Skills to Digital Projects and Planning 0:12:58 Balancing entrepreneurship with a corporate job 0:18:45 The Power of Participating in Hackathons 0:20:15 Grants: A Source of Support for Social Impact Projects 0:21:18 Leveraging Trends and Popular Culture for Marketing Projects 0:29:59 Democratizing coding through no code and low code platforms 0:33:56 AI as a thought partner in marketing, not a replacement 0:37:04 The Importance of Creative Thinking in Prompt Engineering 0:38:27 OnDeck: A Popular Cohort-based Community 0:41:02 100 Days of NoCode: A Pivotal Community 0:48:36 Lack of Ambassador Program in Airtable 0:51:32 The Business Side of No Code Tools 0:52:12 Uncertainty about the B2B focus of the event 0:55:16 Addressing the issue of vendor lock-in in no-code tools 0:58:26 The potential impact of AI on the development process 1:00:58 Shoreditch: A Gentrified Area with Unique Personality 📃 Long Summary In this episode, I speak with Dominic Norton, a no-code educator and social entrepreneur. Dominic introduces himself and shares about his projects, including Missing Black People and his startup. We delve into the term "citizen developer" and why it may not resonate with a wider audience. Dominic opens up about his coding background and experience in AEC and architecture.We navigate the challenging balance between corporate roles and entrepreneurship, emphasizing the significance of marketing and diversifying income streams. We also discuss the value of teaching and leveraging popular trends and projects. Dominic shares his insights on game development tools and the application of AI in generating ideas and enhancing the creative process.We explore the importance of community and knowledge sharing within the no-code space. Additionally, we touch on the role of major platforms in supporting community leaders and content creators, as well as the need for in-person events and ambassador programs. We highlight the issue of vendor lock-in and the emergence of open-source options.To wrap up, we discuss the survival of different categories within the tech industry and share our favorite things to do in London. Dominic graciously shares his social media handles and expresses gratitude for our conversation.
After a trip in the south of Spain and Portugal, I finally reach Lisbon to spend a month there. I was mostly surrounded by French people in our No-Code House. But I still had the chance to meet some local no-coders like Bruno Amaral, a community expert with a passion for Notion and productivity. Also a coffee enthusiast that leaves papper cranes he made for other customers. All this is in the episode! Resources : Bruno on Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/brunoamaral/ Bruno on Twitter : https://twitter.com/brunoamaral A Notion page as an example : https://amaralbruno.notion.site/amaralbruno/No-Code-World-Radio-example-73fee6a9f0b7467f9ddce66930ebeab2 Bruno's website : https://brunoamaral.eu/ The coffee place where we were : https://g.page/HowCoffee?share Chapters: 00:00:00 Lisbon 00:00:05 Introduction to No-Code World Radio with Alex 00:02:18 Bruno's Early Coding Experience and Hobby in Tech 00:06:05 Importance of Documentation in Communication and Coding 00:08:19 Using Calendar and Email Reminders for Tracking and Reflection 00:10:40 The Versatility of a Visual Programming Tool 00:19:24 No-Code: Focusing on People First 00:29:14 Utilizing the Shortcuts app for efficient task completion. 00:29:30 Productivity Habits and Monday Planning 00:38:51 Varying Levels of Digital Literacy in Different Communities 00:40:42 Digital Literacy and No-Code in Bridging the Gap 00:50:34 Season Finale: Reflections on Lisbon and No-code House Project You can also follow me and get in touch with me on Twitter : @alexkovax.
In Spring 2022, I embarked on a journey from Paris to Lisbon. Over there we had planned to spend a month with members from the French community. I decided to go there by land and took the train to Barcelona which was my first stop. I had the opportunity to have a chat there with Toby Oliver, the CEO of Bravo Studio. A great conversation about his vision for the future of no-code. Resources : Toby on Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/toby0/ Bravo Studio : https://www.bravostudio.app/ Bravo Studio on Twitter : https://twitter.com/Bravostudioapp Chapters: 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:48 Interview with Toby Oliver, CEO of Bravo Studio 0:04:38 Toby's journey from Typeform to starting Bravo Studio 0:09:41 Making Web Design Easier with Figma and Webflow 0:11:11 The Importance of Design in No-Code Tools 0:13:30 Balancing Functionality and Design in No-Code Tools 0:16:29 Pain points of processing and designing for app development 0:18:37 Bravo's generic API integration and versatile functionality 0:24:43 Roadmap: Mobile focus with potential expansion to web 0:26:28 Making the backend easier for users and exploring new tools 0:33:17 The Importance of Using the Right Tools in Development 0:34:54 Airtable and Sequin.io for better performance You can also follow me and get in touch with me on Twitter : @alexkovax.
For this second season, I've decided to embark on a quick train journey to go meet my parents in a small town of the Czech Republic. Over 7 days I will go through Geneva, Zurich, Vienna and Prague before reaching Karlovy Vary. As you can guess, I've tried to get in touch with no-coders along the way to have a chat with them. I couldn't find anyone in Geneva, but in Zurich, Natascha Buck was nice enough to accept my invitation. She's an automation expert and a Notion ambassador. That's going to be a good talk! Resources : Natascha on Twitter : https://twitter.com/nataschabuck Natascha on Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataschabuck/ Natascha's website : https://nataschabuck.com/ And we didn't mention it but she made a very popular Notion wedding planner template : https://notionweddingplanner.com/ Also make sure to check her tips about Zurich : https://nbcom.notion.site/Z-rich-Travel-Tipps-5da089d102644db391aecf1fe8c415e6 Chapters: 00:00:05 Introduction to No-Code World Radio and upcoming journey 00:03:44 Transition to discussing automations and manual work 00:11:04 Comparing FileMaker and Notion for data management 00:14:11 Defining Keys and Abstracting Relations in Notion and Airtable 00:24:37 The CEO's involvement in purchasing the server 00:33:29 Considering the pros and cons of using one database 00:37:23 Balancing Time and Explanation with Clients 00:37:43 Simplifying Database Modeling for Clients 00:39:34 Helping clients scale their activity and address process issues. 00:42:48 Using Notion as a tool of choice, but open to alternatives. 00:44:37 Selling the Package and Separate Options 00:46:53 German Entry Title: "You Can" 00:47:09 The Complexity of Notion's Proper Use 00:49:20 Challenges of Implementing Complex Notion System 00:52:09 Efficient Bookkeeping and Invoicing Process 00:55:07 Using UTM Codes and Redirects for Analytics 01:01:29 The French Community and Notion's Language Accessibility 01:07:34 Multilingualism and Language Preferences in Zurich You can also follow me and get in touch with me on Twitter : @alexkovax.
For this last episode of the first season of the podcast, I decided to do something a bit different and evade the no-code space. So I called my old travel blogger friend, Kash Bhattacharya to catch up on his industry. I was curious for him to tell me more about the blogger/influencer business and see if there were any common points with the no-code content creators. I also took the chance to ask him for some productivity tips for working while traveling. I hope you enjoyed this first season. It's really an experiment and probably not yet what I envisioned originally for this podcast. But please make me some feedbacks and together let's make an amazing season 2! Resources : Kash on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/budgettraveller/ Kash on Twitter : https://twitter.com/BudgetTraveller Kash's website : https://budgettraveller.org/ Kash on Linkedin : https://de.linkedin.com/in/budgettraveller Luxury hostels : https://budgettraveller.org/luxury-hostels-of-europe/ Neukölln : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuk%C3%B6lln_(locality) Tempelhof airport : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Tempelhof_Airport Chapters: 00:00:05 Introduction to No Code War Radio and guest announcement 00:02:06 Kash's expertise in luxury hostels and its concept 00:05:06 The design and branding aspect of modern hostels 00:07:12 From Magazine Founder to Bankruptcy at 24 00:10:02 Transitioning from Hobby to Professional Blogger 00:16:18 The Rise of Blogging as a Job 00:19:23 Unforgettable Festival Experiences and Impact of COVID 00:26:55 The Influence Game: Real vs. Fake 00:27:42 Identifying as a Digital Nomad 00:31:21 Tools and Productivity for a Digital Nomad 00:33:12 Berlin: A Creative and Open-Minded City 00:35:09 Tempelhofer Feld: From Abandoned Airfield to Public Park 00:40:53 Wrapping up Season 1 with Travel Industry Insights You can also follow me and get in touch with me on Twitter : @alexkovax.
For my second episode in Berlin, I met with Chris Strobl who started the website No-Code Germany. But as you will see in the episode, he's done many things before that and now has some serious plans for no-code in Germany. He also told be a lot about the tech scene in Berlin and why it's such an interesting city to start companies right now. Resources : Chris on Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-strobl/ Chris on Twitter : https://twitter.com/nocodechris Nocode Germany : https://www.nocodegermany.com/ Noble : https://nobleanswers.com/ The building we mention : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Berlin,_Kreuzberg,_Pfuelstrasse_5,_Lagerhaus,_suedlicher_Hof.jpg Kreuzberg : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kreuzberg Görlitzer Park : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%B6rlitzer_Park Chapters: 00:00:05 Introduction to No-Code World radio and Berlin trip 00:09:48 The Pressure to Grow Fast with Venture Capital 00:11:28 Different Capital Markets and Attracting the Best Talent 00:13:14 Support from Investors After Shutting Down a Business 00:16:29 Spreading Awareness of No-Code and its Empowering Effects 00:18:28 Discovering Bubble and Building Knowledge and Network 00:20:18 Learning Resources and Tutorials for Bubble Development 00:23:16 Creating Advanced Bubble Tutorials in German and Subtitles 00:27:30 Cultural Differences in No-Code Development 00:29:36 Localization and Adoption of No-Code Tools in Different Countries 00:37:50 Exploring Berlin: Kreuzberg and Gorlitzer Park You can also follow me and get in touch with me on Twitter : @alexkovax.
I'm finally in Berlin and there are many interesting to meet here! I started Jan Oberhauser who created the no-code automation software n8n. A very promising no-code tool that is also open source, which is very rare in our space, unfortunately. So we definitely talked more about that, how Jan started n8n and why. He also shares with me some insights about the local scene and Berlin in general. Resources : Jan on Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/janoberhauser/ Jan on Twitter : https://twitter.com/JanOberhauser n8n on website : https://n8n.io/ n8n on Twitter : https://twitter.com/n8n_io To know more about faircode : https://faircode.io/ Potsdam : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potsdam Spreewald : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spree_Forest Chapters: 0:00:06 Introduction to No-Code World radio and Berlin as a tech hub 0:03:07 Jan's journey from side project to launching N8n 0:08:58 The Power of Node-based Visualization Tools 0:12:09 Balancing Code and No-Code in n8n's Approach 0:17:48 Open Source vs. Open Core Business Models 0:27:34 Open-source Contributions and Pull Requests 0:36:17 Limitations of current setup and local tunnel usage 0:39:33 Roadmap: User management, fine-grained control for teams and groups. 0:42:28 Cloud option offers easy sign-up, data backup, and simplified authentication. 0:47:15 Hackmation: Quarterly event where teams automate processes and explore new possibilities. 0:50:03 Potential Collaborations and Meetups in Berlin's Startup Scene 0:56:52 Wrapping Up the Episode with a Technical Deep Dive You can also follow me and get in touch with me on Twitter : @alexkovax.
Hamburg is the next stop of the trip and there I'm meeting with Alex Sprogis, the second half of VisualMakers. We had a long conversation about how we went from coding to no-coding. He also shares with us the beginnings of VisualMakers and his vision for no-code. Resources: Alex on Twitter : https://twitter.com/AlexSprogis Alex on Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-sprogis-05b948106/ VisualMakers' website : https://www.visualmakers.de/ VisualMakers on Twitter : https://twitter.com/visualmakers_de St Michael's church : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Michael%27s_Church,_Hamburg Chapters: 00:00:00 #4: In Hamburg, Alex tells me how he went from programmer to no-coder 00:00:05 Introduction and Setting the Scene in Hamburg 00:03:45 Starting in IT support and learning the basics of coding 00:06:10 Transitioning from IT support to software development 00:11:21 Transition from working in advertising agency to freelancing 00:14:06 Discovering Webflow and its possibilities 00:23:18 Starting a Podcast to Connect with the No-Code Community 00:24:20 Recognizing Different Sounds: Firetruck, Ambulance, or Police? 00:26:26 Starting the Podcast Journey Together 00:29:05 Committing Full-Time and the Power of No-Code Collaboration 00:37:53 Balancing Money Making with Content Creation 00:47:49 Hamburg's Political Identity and Resistance to Technology 00:49:27 The Michel Church: A Must-Visit View Platform in Hamburg 00:52:23 Next Stop: Berlin - Exciting People Await! You can follow me and get in touch with me on Twitter : @alexkovax.
I finally arrive in Germany, a country comparable to France in size so I'm quite curious to see what is the local no-code scene like. On Twitter, several people pointed me towards VisualMakers.de, a company run by Lilith Brockhaus and Alexander Sprogis. I decided to head first to Cologne where Lilith is currently living so that she can tell everything about what they are doing, what led her to no-code and the local scene. Resources: Lilith on Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/lilith-brockhaus/ Lilith on Twitter : https://twitter.com/lilithbuilds VisualMakers' website : https://www.visualmakers.de/ VisualMakers on Twitter : https://twitter.com/visualmakers_de StartPlatz coworking : https://www.startplatz.de/en/ Chapters: 0:00:06 Introduction 0:00:38 Introduction and Background in Tech and No-Code 0:03:44 Defining No-Code as Another Programming Language 0:09:50 Community, Courses, and Agency Clients 0:10:25 Streamlining Stakeholder Communication and Internal Tools 0:12:06 Empowering Clients through Teaching and Automation 0:16:08 No-Code as a Tool for Empowering People and Understanding the Web 0:18:43 The Visual Appeal and Excitement of Integromat 0:21:45 Integromat vs. Zapier: The Power and Simplicity Debate 0:23:44 Bannerbear: A Graphic API for Easy Product Picture Creation 0:26:42 Notion: A Powerful No-Code Tool with Customizable Software-building Capability 0:29:00 Levity: Empowering Non-Programmers to Use AI and Machine Learning 0:30:15 Using AI to Identify Rooms in Real Estate Photos 0:31:56 N8n: A Powerful Open Source Automation Tool 0:38:09 Introduction to the podcast and its diverse guest lineup 0:42:00 Discussion on the current state of No--Code in Germany and internationally 0:45:05 Lack of a strong No-Code community in Germany, but some meetups and conferences 0:48:11 Positive aspects of working in Cologne and its convenient size 0:50:50 Cologne: A Great City to Travel to and Live In 0:51:59 Exploring the Old City and Enjoying Local Beer Culture 0:54:27 Exciting Projects and Future Plans for Germany and Paris 0:55:06 Enjoying the Park and Friendly People in Cologne You can also follow me and get in touch with me on Twitter : @alexkovax.
After Ghent, I stayed for a few days in Amsterdam. From there I did a quick day trip to Leiden, a student city closer to The Hague. I went to meet with Vincent Krouwels, co-founder of the no-code agency Tinkso, to talk about the agency business and especially with Bubble that they really master. Of course, I ask him also about his journey to no-code and some insights about the local scene. Resources : Tinkso (formerly known as Ideable*) : https://ideable.co/ OpenBuild : https://www.openbuild.io/ Vincent on Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincent-krouwels-27aa0b11/ Tinkso on Linkedin : https://fr.linkedin.com/company/tinkso You can also follow me and get in touch with me on Twitter : @alexkovax.
The first interview of my trip across Belgium, Netherlands and Germany is in Ghent. I headed there to meet with Marie Martens and Filip Minev to know more about Tally.so a no-code form builder that I really like. We talked about their careers before doing Tally, their vision of no-code, the challenges of building a tool like Tally and of course, the local scene. Resources: Website : https://tally.so/ Marie on Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariemartens/ Filip on Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/filipminev/ Tally updates on Twitter : https://twitter.com/TallyForms Marie on Twitter : https://twitter.com/mariemartens Filip on Twitter : https://twitter.com/filipminev Tally blog & help center : https://blog.tally.so/ Their travel project : https://hotspot.earth/ Filip's previous project Delta : https://delta.app/ Netlog that Filip mentioned : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netlog Places to visit in Ghent: Amigo : https://g.page/amigosareforever?share Dok Noord : https://goo.gl/maps/EPY4tsjUpPvneh5y8 You can also follow me and get in touch with me on Twitter : @alexkovax. Chapters: 00:00:00 #1: In Ghent, Marie and Filip tell me everything about tally.so 00:00:05 Introduction to No-Code World Radio 00:00:40 Introduction and Setting the Stage in Ghent 00:01:43 Introductions and Roles in Tally 00:02:44 The Birth of Tally: From Hotspot to Travel Influencers 00:06:05 Turning Tally into a Side Project and Finding Interest 00:08:46 Uncertainty and fear amidst the pandemic 00:18:53 Exploring the idea of a comprehensive form builder 00:21:25 Simplifying the concept and launching the form builder 00:23:47 Tally's unique approach to storytelling with answer piping 00:33:38 Opening up the API for form creation and manipulation 00:36:57 Exploring a no-code solution for API-like functionality in forms 00:38:11 Next Steps: Customization and Personalization 00:48:13 The Rise of the No-Code Community in Ghent 00:51:29 Startups and Meetups in Ghent