Success Story with Scott D. Clary Vishal Virani - Rocket.new Founder | The Future Of AI Software Development Belongs to Non-Coders
Nov 23, 2025
Vishal Virani, a serial entrepreneur behind Rocket.new, shares insights on building AI-driven no-code platforms from Surat, India. He discusses the importance of first-principles thinking and overcoming investor doubts to pivot successfully. Vishal emphasizes the need for tailored AI solutions for non-coders while balancing speed with output quality. He predicts shifts in software development roles towards AI-focused engineers and advocates for sustainable business practices. Expect to hear about the future of personalized AI assistants and the importance of implementing ideas rather than merely consuming them.
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Building From Surat Changed Everything
- Vishal grew up in Surat, a diamond and textile hub, and became the first engineer in his family by using the internet and travel to learn.
- Building from Surat taught him to leverage local mentors and prove product quality despite investor pauses.
Don’t Excuse Your Location Or Background
- Don't build a wall of excuses about location, college pedigree, or English fluency; focus on will and execution instead.
- Use first principles to craft strategy and find ways to understand users and build product-market fit.
Pivoted From Figma‑to‑Code To Rocket
- Rocket evolved from DhiWise, a Figma-to-code startup, after three and a half years of learning about acceptable machine-generated code.
- Vishal pivoted when LLMs made broader automation possible and shut the old product to pursue a bigger vision.