The Hard Part Isn’t Building—It’s Distribution

In the world of entrepreneurship, the "old guard" rules are dying. It used to be that building a company required a massive engineering team, a Silicon Valley office, and a million-dollar seed round just to get out of the gate.

I sat down with Manav Golevcha—a polymath entrepreneur who has generated eight figures in revenue without ever raising a single dollar of venture capital. Manav’s philosophy is simple: we live in an era of infinite leverage. If you have a computer and Wi-Fi, the only thing stopping you from scaling is your understanding of distribution and your willingness to talk to strangers.

1. The Hard Part Isn’t Building—It’s Distribution

We are currently in the era of "Vibe Coding." AI has made it possible to build an app or a service over a weekend. Because the barrier to entry for creating has dropped to zero, the value of distribution has shot through the roof.

Manav’s strategy for massive ROI is mathematical. While most brands are still trying to pay "mega-influencers" $5,000 for a single post, Manav is hiring micro-creators on retainers. He shared a case study where he turned $2,000 in creator spend into $13,000 in ROI. In 2026, you don't need a celebrity; you need a network of micro-creators who compete with each other in a community you orchestrate.

2. The Law of Large Numbers

Whether it's hiring talent or meeting the right partner, Manav relies on the Law of Large Numbers. He has hired over 500 people in the last five years, and his "hiring hack" is brutal but effective:

The LinkedIn Filter: When hiring internationally, ask every candidate to record a one-minute video of themselves. This immediately filters out 80% of applicants who are either too lazy or lack the communication skills required to win.

The same applies to networking. If you reach out to one person, you're at the mercy of luck. If you reach out to 300, you're at the mercy of math.

3. Authenticity as the Only Weapon Against AI

As we see more AI-generated content flooding our feeds (currently two out of every three clips), the "perfectly produced" 4K video is starting to feel fake. People are craving authenticity.

Manav suggests moving away from high-gloss production and toward raw, thought-leadership content. If you try to go viral every time, you’ll never build a loyal base. Instead, focus on the "1,000 True Fans" theory by Kevin Kelly. You don't need a million views; you need a thousand people who rave about your story and your mission.

Manav’s 40/40/20 Content Rule for Creators:

If you want to scale a brand in 2026, follow this production breakdown:

• 40% Talking Head: High-value thought leadership.

• 40% Reactions: Engaging with what’s already trending.

• 20% Trends: Pure "vibe" content to catch the algorithm.

Manav on set of The Axel Axe Show

5. Media: The Permissionless Leverage

Naval Ravikant famously said that leverage comes from media, code, and capital. For the non-technical founder, media is the ultimate permissionless leverage. A podcast isn't just a hobby—it’s the highest ROI business development tool in existence. It builds a parasocial relationship where your audience trusts you before they ever meet you. By the time they see your product, the sale is already made because you’ve provided months or years of free value upfront.

Axel Axe asking questions to Manav regarding scaling influencer teams

Final Thought: If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room. Find the smartest people, move to the right city, and stop waiting for "the perfect time" to launch.

Watch the full episode with Manav Golevcha on YouTube for the deep dive into Vibe Coding and 8-figure distribution.