Notion Podcast First Block: Interview with Michael Truell, Co-Founder & CEO of Cursor
34 snips
Jun 17, 2025 
Michael Truell, Co-founder and CEO of Cursor, shares his journey in creating an AI code editor that’s become a lightning-fast success. He delves into the decision to pursue a solution before identifying a problem and breaks down the unconventional path his team took, focusing on product over process. Truell discusses the explosive growth of Cursor, the challenges of early hiring, and the philosophy of maintaining focus in a rapidly evolving landscape. He concludes with valuable advice for aspiring founders in the AI era.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Early Pivot From Mechanical Engineering
- Michael Truell and team initially started with mechanical engineering but found poor market fit due to lack of expertise and data.
- They pivoted to focus on programming, driven by passion and the success of AI tools like GitHub Copilot.
Forking VS Code for Efficiency
- Cursor began by building a fully custom editor to integrate AI features but switched to forking VS Code to avoid reinventing the wheel.
- This was a strategic move to focus engineering efforts on AI and product development instead of basic editor infrastructure.
Balancing AI Speed and Developer Control
- Professional developers still need visibility and control over code despite AI's assistance.
- The goal is to let AI handle boilerplate and routine tasks while developers maintain precise control over logic and UI.