Live from Software Day at The Ion, this episode brings together founders, engineers, and investors for a dynamic conversation on how modern engineering is evolving in the era of AI.
Mercury Fund Co-Founder Dan Watkins moderates a panel featuring Matt Cohen of Zen Cohen and Colin Hendricks of Omniscience. Together, they explore how AI is reshaping engineering paradigms, team structures, and traditional talent strategies as it becomes an essential tool for building and scaling software companies.
This conversation goes beyond tools and automation — it highlights the enduring importance of mentorship, community, and human-centered product thinking in building durable companies.
🎧 Episode Highlights
• 06:19 – Introduction to the panel and modern engineering in an AI-driven world
• 11:33 – How AI is changing the day-to-day work of software engineers
• 20:22 – Why testing, clean code, and evaluation matter more than ever
• 35:11 – How AI reshapes product teams and scaling strategies
• 46:36 – Live audience Q&A on AI use cases, limitations, and real-world applications
🔑 Key Takeaways
• AI is transforming how software is built, but strong engineering fundamentals remain critical. Clean code, rigorous testing, and thoughtful data design are even more important in an AI-enabled workflow. AI should be treated as a collaborator — not a shortcut.
• AI expands who can build software and changes how teams are structured. Founders, product leaders, and designers can move faster, but scaling still requires experience, judgment, and knowing when to bring in deep technical expertise.
• Companies that thrive in today’s AI-driven landscape are those that prioritize human perspective. Mentorship, community, and human-centered product thinking remain essential to building durable products and teams.
👤 Guest Spotlight
Dan Watkins
Co-Founder and Managing Director, Mercury Fund
Dan works closely with founders to build and scale technology companies, focusing on engineering strategy, product-market fit, and long-term value creation. He also co-founded Quicksilver Labs, a venture studio designed to accelerate company formation and product development. His expertise includes connecting founders with capital, mentorship, and the infrastructure needed to grow durable, venture-backed businesses.
Matt Cohen
Managing Director, Zen Cohen
Matt works with CEOs and leadership teams to design and scale modern software organizations. With over three decades of experience as an entrepreneur, investor, and engineer, he focuses on AI, data, and machine learning. His portfolio includes work with Toyota and Indeed, guiding AI adoption, product architecture, and engineering strategy.
Colin Hendricks
CTO, Omniscience
Colin leads the development of AI-powered software for clinical trials. He has worked across fintech, IoT, cybersecurity, and data-driven platforms, building scalable systems for companies such as Liongard, Enbase, and Triple Point Technology. He is known for translating complex, ambiguous needs into revenue-generating software products across big data, time series analytics, data science, and AI.
For more episodes, visit:
Mercuryfund.com/content/
Produced by Speakerbox Media.
Stay Connected
• Dan Watkins: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-watkins-2880141/
• Matt Cohen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattcohenprofile/
• Colin Hendricks: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chendricks/
