Building a Better Tech Culture
24 April, 2025
Innovation, AI, and Adaptability
On this episode of Code Bytes, host Stephen sits down with Jerry Staple, Founder at IntrinsicAi, for a powerful and wide-ranging conversation that dives into innovation, leadership, technology, and resilience. For anyone interested in the evolution of AI, the realities of entrepreneurship, and the mindset required to thrive in an ever-changing world, this episode offers a wealth of insight.
As a technology recruitment business, Search 5.0 is deeply invested in highlighting the voices that are shaping the future of work. Jerry’s journey — from military service to becoming a respected innovator and founder in Northern Ireland’s tech ecosystem — offers valuable lessons for candidates and clients alike in the tech recruitment space.
From Military Service to a Technology Career
Jerry’s entry into the world of technology began in an unlikely place: the Maze Prison (also known as Long Kesh) in Northern Ireland. While stationed nearby during his time in the military, Jerry was teaching leadership and promotion tactics using acetate projectors and stencils — until he witnessed a colleague using PowerPoint on a Windows 95 machine. Captivated by the potential of digital tools, he made an impromptu trip to PC World in Sprucefield to buy his first computer and a copy of PowerPoint. That moment sparked a fascination with technology that would define his future.
Discovering the internet through a dial-up modem was, in Jerry’s words, like “summoning the devil.” That visceral, almost spiritual reaction to early web access pushed him to buy a book on HTML and start coding with Notepad. This DIY approach is a defining trait of Jerry’s character — a curiosity-driven, self-starting mindset that would soon shape a dynamic technology career.
Breaking into Northern Ireland’s Technology Industry
After leaving the army, Jerry received a £4,000 grant and trained in Microsoft technologies through SX3. He did a placement at Northern Ireland Electricity and then hit an unexpected wall — seven months of unemployment, unable to find a job in tech despite his best efforts.
This challenging period became a defining moment. Without formal academic credentials, Jerry doubled down on self-learning. He immersed himself in computer books, stayed resilient, and ultimately landed a role at BizNet — one of Belfast’s first internet companies. Jerry likened the company rivalry at the time to “Blur vs. Oasis,” with BizNet as Oasis: scrappy, real, and committed.
It was here that Jerry’s passion for e-commerce took root. Recognising the growing demand for online services, he co-founded Origin Digital, which started with a proprietary e-commerce platform and expanded into mobile apps, digital marketing, and full-service digital transformation.
From Software Development to Digital Transformation
Origin quickly became known for its ability to innovate. Jerry was among the first in Northern Ireland to explore mobile application development, inspired by a trip to Los Angeles where he noticed radio stations advertising their iPhone apps. Upon returning, he taught himself Objective-C from scratch and led Origin to become a go-to agency for native mobile app development.
In 2014, Origin acquired a digital marketing company to broaden their offering. Their goal was to become a full-service digital transformation agency — and they succeeded. Jerry led the business through significant international expansion, working with clients across the United States and Europe. At one point, Origin was nearly acquired by a New York firm, but ultimately, it was purchased by a local company — The Foundation — in a deal that allowed Jerry to exit and return to what he truly loved: innovation.
Launching IntrinsicAi and Leading AI Innovation
After leaving Origin, Jerry experienced a sense of stagnation — the classic innovator’s dilemma. He had been focused on running P&Ls and managing operations, but he missed the thrill of building, learning, and transforming ideas into impactful tools. That restlessness led to the creation of IntrinsicAi, a company designed to help businesses adopt AI technologies strategically and effectively.
The idea was born out of a PwC event Jerry attended through the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce. Executives were intrigued by AI’s potential but unsure where to start. Jerry saw an opportunity: to become the bridge between business leaders and practical AI implementation.
With IntrinsicAi, Jerry supports companies in two core areas — identifying opportunities for AI adoption within existing processes and collaborating with domain experts to launch new AI-driven ventures. He’s passionate about solving real-world problems, and his method always begins with the same question: “Where are the problems?”
AI Adoption and Sector Disruption
One standout example of Jerry’s approach to AI in business is ChainMill — a joint venture with a customs expert. After attending a sustainability event hosted by Belfast Chamber, Jerry identified significant AI opportunities in the green economy, particularly within agriculture, steel, and carbon emissions tracking.
ChainMill aims to help companies navigate customs, import duties, and upcoming CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) regulations. With AI, ChainMill can automate steel carbon emission tracking, streamline tariff calculations, and reduce inefficiencies in supply chains. It's a case study in how AI and domain expertise can be combined to create high-impact technology businesses.
This approach aligns with the broader mission of IntrinsicAi — to be a catalyst for innovation, helping businesses remain agile and future-ready in a rapidly shifting technological environment. For companies seeking to innovate, collaborating with someone who understands both the technical and commercial landscapes — as Jerry does — can be a game changer.
Problem Solving, Lifelong Learning, and Staying Curious
Throughout the episode, Jerry emphasises the importance of staying curious and solving real problems. Whether it’s developing a CV-sorting application for HR teams or building AI agents that automatically transcribe and summarise meetings, Jerry’s work is rooted in identifying pain points and creating tools that make life easier.
He credits his military background with instilling discipline and a commitment to simplicity. “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication,” he says, quoting Steve Jobs. For Jerry, real innovation doesn’t mean complexity — it means clarity. His belief in demystifying technology has made him a sought-after speaker, advisor, and now a lecturer on the AI Masters programme at Queen’s University.
Jerry's learning mindset is relentless. He reads a book a week, often several at once, covering topics like AI, psychology, product development, and stoicism. This dedication to growth is deeply personal — rooted in his early life, lack of formal education, and the drive to always be better. For candidates in the technology recruitment market, this story is a reminder that self-education and determination often matter more than traditional qualifications.
The Role of Mentorship in Tech Careers
Another powerful theme in the conversation is mentorship. Jerry credits individuals like Brendan Mooney and Frank Graham for offering support and wisdom throughout his career. He’s also actively mentoring others, including a police detective and a young entrepreneur from a construction background, helping them navigate career transitions into technology.
Jerry’s view is simple: anyone who demonstrates drive and takes action deserves support. He’s not interested in people who romanticise entrepreneurship without doing the work — but if someone shows up, he’ll show up for them.
This resonates deeply with our mission at Search 5.0. In tech recruitment, understanding the human side of career development — mentorship, mindset, adaptability — is just as important as understanding the skillsets and roles shaping the future of the industry. As a leading technology recruitment business, we know first-hand how valuable mentorship can be in enabling tech careers to flourish.
Value-Based Hiring and Company Culture
As a founder who has built and exited a successful company, Jerry knows the cost of hiring mistakes. One of the most impactful insights in the episode is his belief that hiring against your company’s values can “crash your culture.” He’s seen firsthand how detrimental value misalignment can be, and it’s a lesson he brings into every new venture.
At IntrinsicAi, he’s established clear core values — innovation, agility, curiosity, and problem-solving — and he ensures every hire aligns with that ethos. This value-based hiring approach is something we champion at Search 5.0 as well. In today’s technology market, skill can be taught, but cultural alignment is what sustains growth and cohesion.
Recruiting for tech roles isn’t just about ticking boxes — it’s about understanding who a person is, what they value, and how they’ll contribute to a company’s long-term success. This is the foundation of strong technology recruitment strategies that deliver real business impact.
The Future of AI, Software Engineering, and the Technology Industry
Jerry offers a sobering but exciting view of what lies ahead. He believes we are witnessing the death of traditional SaaS. With AI agents capable of bypassing UIs and querying databases directly via natural language, many SaaS platforms — like CRM systems — will soon be replaced by more intelligent, conversational systems.
In the world of software engineering, he warns that the days of six-month, high-cost dev cycles are over. With code generation tools and AI-enhanced development environments like Cursor, clients will demand faster, more efficient delivery — and rightly so. Developers who resist these tools, he says, risk being left behind.
From a technology recruitment perspective, this shift has enormous implications. Job roles will evolve. AI literacy will become as essential as knowing a programming language. And recruitment agencies like Search 5.0 must stay ahead of these trends, helping clients hire not just for today's needs, but for tomorrow's transformation.
For candidates, this means proactively upskilling in areas like AI tooling, machine learning fundamentals, and data science workflows. For employers, it means being open to new profiles, new training methods, and new ways of working.
Final Reflections: A Catalyst for Change
Jerry Staple’s appearance on Code Bytes is more than a founder’s story — it’s a roadmap for anyone navigating technology, entrepreneurship, or leadership in a fast-changing world. His career is a testament to the power of lifelong learning, authenticity, and action.
At Search 5.0, we believe that the people shaping the future of technology aren’t just those writing code — they’re the ones asking the right questions, solving real problems, and empowering others along the way.
