OpenAI is paying engineers $490K. AI platforms are charging startups $5K/month. So where does that leave lean teams trying to ship agents that actually work?

In this episode, we go deep with Daniele Bernardi, CEO of Toolhouse, a developer-first platform helping teams deploy production-ready AI agents with just a few terminal commands.

We break down:

• The “Simpsons model” of building tech in Italy, not SF
• Why most AI infra is bloated beyond reason
• How Toolhouse ships weekly updates with 2 full-time devs
• What “seed trapping” is—and why it might save your startup

Timelines:

00:00 - Why there's no shortcut to value in AI
01:12 - Daniele's background & why Toolhouse was created
03:41 - Live CLI demo: building a Hacker News agent
07:37 - Visual interface vs developer-first CLI
12:44 - The problem with current AI deployment workflows
15:25 - The partner program & revenue share for agencies
21:37 - Toolhouse pricing philosophy & Toyota mindset
24:23 - Why VC expectations are changing in the AI era
29:47 - "Dirty secrets" of AI agent pricing and lock-in
35:29 - Breaking down bloated AI infra cost structures
43:22 - The "Simpsons model": build in Italy, deploy globally
46:40 - Why geopolitical alignment matters in AI infra
50:58 - Are jobs really going away? A founder's honest take
56:47 - Indie devs, bootstrapped agencies, and the rise of AI services
01:04:01 - How Toolhouse differs from Crewai, LangChain & others
01:10:28 - Dev-first, runtime-first, and full agent ownership with Toolhouse

If you’re building in the AI economy and questioning the hype, this conversation is your blueprint.

👉 Watch on YouTube: AI Pricing RACKET Exposed
🧠 Read the full case study: From Twitter to Toolhouse: How 2 Engineers Built a Profitable AI Infra Platform Without VC Bloat

Where to find me:
• David: Linkedin
• Email: hello@thehomebase.ai

Want to stay ahead of AI's impact on jobs and future opportunities? Join 18000+ tech leaders and founders who are shaping the future of AI here:

• Newsletter: Join Here