Shaun Modi – Building Products at NASA, Google, Airbnb & Beyond Before Founding Capitol AI | #279

In this episode of The Builders Podcast, Matt Levenhagen sits down with Shaun Modi, product designer, founder, and builder whose career has taken him from NASA and MIT to Google, Airbnb, startup studios, government projects, and ultimately the founding of Capitol AI. From designing lunar habitats with astronauts to helping shape products at Google during the rise of social computing and contributing to Airbnb during its rapid growth, Shaun offers a firsthand look at some of the most influential technology movements of the past two decades. The conversation explores how great products emerge from understanding people, challenging assumptions, and relentlessly improving the customer experience. The discussion eventually lands on Capitol AI, where Shaun and his team are building the intelligence layer behind high-stakes enterprise workflows. From financial services to government agencies, they’re helping organizations move beyond scattered AI tools toward governed, repeatable systems that deliver reliable outcomes. For builders, founders, and product leaders, this episode is packed with lessons on innovation, execution, and seeing where technology is headed before everyone else. Key Takeaways: ✔️ Great builders learn to recognize transformational technology shifts before they become obvious. ✔️ Customer experience is often the strongest competitive advantage a company can build. ✔️ Working alongside exceptional people accelerates growth and sharpens your thinking. ✔️ Successful companies stay close to customer problems and avoid building in isolation. ✔️ Enterprise AI adoption requires governance, workflows, and repeatability, not just powerful models. ✔️ The best opportunities often emerge at the intersection of technology, design, and real-world needs. Tune in for a story of building through curiosity, craftsmanship, and a relentless focus on solving meaningful problems. #TheBuildersPodcast #ArtificialIntelligence #ProductDesign #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #StartupFounder #BusinessGrowth #EnterpriseAI #Technology #Leadership