Lucid rants on driving disruption with Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein.
This is a bonus feed drop from Dan Blumberg's podcast 'Future Around and Find Out' (FAFO), winner of the 2026 Webby Award for Best Technology Podcast.If you like what you hear, check out FAFO at https://www.futurearound.com/Original description:Henrik Werdelin is one of my favorite entrepreneurs. He's founded and incubated several unicorns, most notably BARK, the dog happiness company.Henrik himself is a pretty happy guy — an optimistic guy who likes to ask what could go right? — and on the day we recorded (a few months ago as I was squirreling away interviews for the podcast relaunch), he helped me see through some future of tech gloom I was feeling. I honestly can't even remember what Trump+tech hellscape we were living through that week, but I do remember that Henrik put me in a better mood. I think he'll do the same for you, no matter how you're feeling.
Most founders treat 'scale' like a switch you flip after raising a round: hire 14 reps, 10x the ad spend, and pray. About half scale too early and burn the runway, while the other half scale too late and get caught by a more aggressive competitor. Almost nobody can tell you, in measurable terms, when they're actually ready.In this episode, Yaniv Bernstein is joined by Mark Roberge - founding CRO at HubSpot (where he scaled the company from $0 to $100M ARR), senior lecturer at Harvard Business School, cofounder of Stage 2 Capital, and author of the new book 'The Science of Scaling'. Mark walks Yaniv through his impressive data-driven framework for scaling that he's spent a decade refining, covering how to objectively define product-market fit, why customer retention is the only honest measure of PMF, and how to instrument a Leading Indicator of Retention you can act on in week one.In this episode, you will:Learn why retention is the only honest measure of product-market fit, and why most founders are flying blind without itDiscover Mark's framework for building a Leading Indicator of Retention (LIR) you can measure in week one, using Slack, HubSpot, and Facebook as worked examplesHear Mark coach Yaniv through Vera's LIR in real time, and pick up a repeatable method for designing one for your own businessLearn the 'Stay/Go/Slow' model for pacing hires and spend post-raise, and why startups should reassess monthly or quarterly rather than locking in an annual planGet Mark's take on why 'paranoid optimism' is the trait that correlates most strongly with founder success, and the link between that trait and founder mental healthTimestamps00:00 Coming Up00:26 On Today's Show: The Science of Scaling01:47 Guest Intro: Mark Roberge02:31 Why Scaling Needs Data04:20 Eric Ries and Product Market Fit06:56 Retention as a North Star10:15 What Makes a Good Leading Indicator?15:00 Case Study: Vera (Yaniv's Startup)17:41 Choosing Frequency and Event23:55 Instrumenting and Unique Value31:12 Blitzscaling and Defining PET34:41 ICP Denominator Rules37:28 Segmenting By Product40:40 Go To Market Fit45:25 Dealing with Revenue-Focused Investor Pressure50:33 The Pace of Scaling56:07 About the Book, The Science of Scaling57:45 Founder Mental Health01:02:28 Closing ThoughtsResources in this episode:Mark Roberge on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markroberge/‘The Science of Scaling: Using Data to Decide When — and How Fast — to Scale Revenue' by Mark Roberge: https://www.amazon.com/Science-Scaling-Revenue-Mark-Roberge/dp/1394319428Stage 2 Capital (Mark's B2B SaaS-focused venture firm): https://www.stage2.capital/Vera (Yaniv's startup): https://vera.guide/The PactHonor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appFollow us on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@startup-podcastGive us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksThis episode of the Startup Podcast is sponsored by .tech domains. Forget weird prefixes and creative misspellings; the availability for .tech domains is simply way better than .com. For a clean and memorable name, go to https://get.tech/tspThis episode of the Startup Podcast is sponsored by Vanta. Vanta helps businesses get and stay compliant by automating up to 90% of the work for the most in demand compliance frameworks. With over 200 integrations, you can easily monitor and secure the tools your business relies on. For a limited time offer of US$1,000 off, go to https://www.vanta.com/tsp The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurAssistant Producer: Steph Hefferan https://www.linkedin.com/in/steph-heff/Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
In 2026, startups age like milk. Josh Foreman's solution is a radical one - step down as CEO, go back to basics, and refound the whole company. Yaniv Bernstein discusses this decision with Josh, founder and (for now) CEO of InDebted - the AI-native debt resolution business he scaled to an $80M revenue run rate, a Series C raise, and operations across 8 markets. Just days before recording, Josh publicly announced he's hiring a new CEO so he can step back into the business as a hands-on operator and refound the company for the agentic AI era.In this conversation, Josh and Yaniv discuss 'refounding' in practice, what it takes to rebuild the company's processes from the ground up, and why technical founders who don't go back on the tools right now are setting themselves up to be outbuilt by a smaller, faster, leaner version of themselves.In this episode, you will:Learn why Josh believes the highest-leverage role for a technical founder in 2026 is no longer CEO, and how to structure a founder-CEO partnership that actually worksUnderstand why 'feature patching' an established business is a losing strategy, and what it really means to rebuild your company function-by-function from a clean slateDiscover how revenue-per-employee has become the metric that matters most when raising capital and competing with AI-native upstartsHear why services-as-software and performance-fee models are suddenly the bull case for investors who hated them 12 months ago - and why the SaaS seat fee is on the way outFind out what it looks like to unbundle your product into agent-ready primitives, and why owning the eval for a narrow domain may be a bigger moat than your full-stack UITimestamps00:00 Coming Up: Refounding00:41 Josh Foreman, CEO (for now)01:41 What Refounding Means04:53 Rebuilding the Factory07:38 Bringing the Team Along10:51 No Choice but Change14:56 Aligning the Board and Investors16:52 Putting Founders Back on the Tools26:24 'Corporate Ozempic' Shrinking Teams32:57 Unbundling and Products for Agents38:39 Hiring a CEO When Refounding44:11 Closing ThoughtsMentioned in this episodeJosh Foreman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshforeman/InDebted: https://www.indebted.co/Scott Galloway on 'Corporate Ozempic': https://www.profgalloway.com/corporate-ozempic/Surviving the AI SaaSpocalypse with Scotty Allen: https://youtu.be/j84LF4aru8I 'Paranoid Optimism' with Yaniv: https://youtu.be/FGqbdzr0-PM The PactHonor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSecure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGgGive us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksThis episode of the Startup Podcast is sponsored by .tech domains. Forget weird prefixes and creative misspellings; the availability for .tech domains is simply way better than .com. For a clean name that highlights your tech credentials, get a .tech domain at your favorite registrar.The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurAssistant Producer: Steph Hefferan https://www.linkedin.com/in/steph-heff/Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
Many AI startups funded in the last 18 months won't last three years - so what makes a business durable today?Yaniv Bernstein is joined by Marlon Nichols, co-founder and managing general partner of MaC Venture Capital - one of the most active seed-stage AI investors in the market, having scaled MaC to over $600M AUM across three funds in just four years. Marlon's portfolio includes Pipe, Stoke Space, Thrive Market, Chef Robotics, and exits like Wonder Dynamics to Autodesk and Gimlet Media to Spotify.In this conversation, Marlon uses his industry experience to explain the biggest threats to new AI startups, and what the key components of successful startups in the industry will be.In this episode, you will:Hear why Marlon thinks niche or mid-size foundational models are now prime acquisition targets for OpenAIDiscover why misreading traction is the #1 mistake VCs are making right nowLearn why Marlon is more excited about manufacturing-line prediction and grid-scale batteries than humanoid robotsExplore why founder unit economics need a complete rewrite when token costs replace SaaS-style marginal costUnderstand why software is no longer a moat — and why data access, deep customer integration, and speed are the only three durable advantages left at the application layerLearn the difference between AI-native companies and AI-bolted-on companies, and what a 5-year-old startup should do if it's on the wrong side of that lineTimestamps00:00 Coming Up01:07 On Today's Show: Durable Tech02:33 Meet Marlon Nichols03:25 Defining 'Durable' AI Startups05:23 Moats for Foundation Models07:15 Chef Robotics and AI Native vs AI Enabled09:24 Upgrading Legacy Startups10:55 Pipe's AI Pivot Case Study13:19 Winning at the App Layer15:56 Speed and Workflow Stickiness17:51 Investment Checklist and Team20:30 Automotive Digital Twins and Regulatory Testing24:27 Why Physical AI?26:09 Robotics In Manufacturing26:55 Energy Storage And Batteries28:30 Why Cheaper Builds Still Need Talent30:19 Where Traction Can Be Misleading33:41 Token Costs And Unit Economics36:46 Closing ThoughtsMentioned in this episodeMaC Venture Capital: https://macventurecapital.com/Marlon Nichols on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marloncnichols/'The Bitter Lesson' by Rich Sutton: http://www.incompleteideas.net/IncIdeas/BitterLesson.htmlVera (Yaniv's startup, AI-supported guidance for people caring for ageing parents): https://vera.guide/The PactHonor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSecure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/Follow us here on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGgGive us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksThis episode of the Startup Podcast is sponsored by .tech domains. Forget weird prefixes and creative misspellings; the availability for .tech domains is simply way better than .com. For a clean name that highlights your tech credentials, get a .tech domain at your favorite registrar.This episode of the Startup Podcast is sponsored by Vanta. Vanta helps businesses get and stay compliant by automating up to 90% of the work for the most in demand compliance frameworks. With over 200 integrations, you can easily monitor and secure the tools your business relies on. For a limited time offer of US$1,000 off, go to https://www.vanta.com/tspThe Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurAssistant Producer: Steph Hefferan https://www.linkedin.com/in/steph-heff/Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
Being a founder has always meant dreaming big while keeping a close eye on potential trip-ups, and in the age of AI, finding and maintaining that balance is more important than ever.Today, Yaniv Bernstein talks about the importance of getting that balance right. Using deep insight and decades of industry experience, he discusses why now is the time for founders to be more ambitious than ever before - while identifying threats to success and keeping a keen, near-paranoid eye on them.In this episode, you will:Understand why ‘paranoid optimism' has always been the founder superpower, and why AI has made it more essential than everLearn why tokens are ‘the new oil' and how the ‘token OPEC' is already exerting price and product leverage over every AI-native startupExplore Garry Tan's ‘boil the lake' concept and why early-stage founders can now afford to be more ambitious in scope than ever beforeFind out why startups have a bigger speed advantage over incumbents than at any time in history, and how to actually use itDiscover how foundation model providers like Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google can wipe out entire startup categories without ever deliberately competing with youTimestamps00:00 Coming Up00:59 On Today's Show: Paranoid Optimism01:27 Surviving as a Baby Turtle03:00 Risks of Pure Optimism05:24 A Herd of Thundering Elephants07:44 Magic Elephants09:50 3 Shifts: Compression, Leverage and Startup Advantage12:54 YC's Garry Tan & 'Boiling The Lake'15:38 Why Be Paranoid?15:52 AI Risks Category Collapse18:13 Anthropic, Google and OpenAI: The OPEC of Tokens19:51 Identity Collapse21:54 How to Operate As Paranoid Optimist21:59 1. Holding Strong Priors and Updating Fast23:31 2. Architecting For Escape25:57 3. Stay Closer To The Problem Than The Solution28:13 Closing ThoughtsResources mentioned in this episode'Same As Ever' by Morgan Housel: https://www.amazon.com/Same-Ever-Guide-Never-Changes/dp/0593332709Last week's episode - Same As Ever: 7 rules that HAVEN'T changed about building great startups (w/ Amir Shevat): https://www.tsp.show/same-as-ever-7-rules-that-havent-changed-about-building-great-startups-w-amir-shevat/Previous episode - 'Unlearning' with Yaniv: Why founders need to rewrite outdated, radioactive mindsets: https://www.tsp.show/unlearning-with-yaniv-why-founders-need-to-rewrite-outdated-radioactive-mindsets/Garry Tan's 'Boil the Ocean' blog post: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-oceanVera, Yaniv's current startup: https://vera.guide/ The PactHonor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSecure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGgGive us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksThis episode of the Startup Podcast is sponsored by .tech domains. Forget weird prefixes and creative misspellings; the availability for .tech domains is simply way better than .com. For a clean name that highlights your tech credentials, get a .tech domain at your favorite registrar.The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurAssistant Producer: Steph Hefferan https://www.linkedin.com/in/steph-heff/Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
Between AI shaking up the industry, geopolitical upheaval, and unpredictable capital, being a founder has never been more confusing.So what advice, if any, is still relevant?In this episode, Yaniv Bernstein is joined by Amir Shevat (Silicon Valley developer platform veteran and now General Partner at Darkmode Ventures) to answer exactly that. Focusing on what isn't changing rather than what is, Amir walks through seven truths of startup building that have become more important in the age of AI.In this episode, you will:Discover why AI-generated sales outreach is backfiring, and why authenticity, proof of effort, and in-person events are becoming the gold standardExplore the "founder tar pit" of bad markets, and the simple questions that reveal whether yours is one to run fromLearn why design in 2026 is about putting positive interactions and emotions first, and how to prioritize these effectivelyTimestamps00:00 Coming Up…01:07 Guest Intro: Amir Shevat02:36 On Today's Show: 7 Timeless Truths04:34 Jeff Bezos and the 'Same As Ever' Mindset08:19 Rule 1. Hire The Right Team10:15 How AI Raises The Bar14:26 Rule 2. A Delightful User Experience16:27 Conversational Interfaces18:07 Why You Should Design For Emotions24:20 Rule 3. Hustle Still Wins26:05 The Return of Authentic Selling28:09 Landing Your First Customers28:50 Rule 4. Build Real Moats30:48 Mongol Hordes: Is 'Execution Speed' A Moat?33:00 'Thick' Product Advantage33:39 Rule 5. Vision Beats TAM38:07 Rule 6. Choose Great Markets42:34 Rule 7. Build An Unfair Advantage47:10 Recap and Closing ThoughtsResources in this episode:Darkmode Ventures (Amir's early-stage fund): https://www.darkmode.vc/Amir Shevat on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirshevat/Designing Bots: https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/designing-bots/9781491974810/Working Backwards by Colin Bryar and Bill Carr: https://www.amazon.com/Working-Backwards-Insights-Stories-Secrets/dp/1250267595Same as Ever by Morgan Housel: https://www.amazon.com/Same-Ever-Guide-Never-Changes/dp/05933327092012 re:Invent Day 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4MtQGRIIuAThe Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksThis episode of the Startup Podcast is sponsored by .tech domains. Forget weird prefixes and creative misspellings; the availability for .tech domains is simply way better than .com. For a clean name that highlights your tech credentials, get a .tech domain at your favorite registrar.This episode of the Startup Podcast is sponsored by Vanta. Vanta helps businesses get and stay compliant by automating up to 90% of the work for the most in demand compliance frameworks. With over 200 integrations, you can easily monitor and secure the tools your business relies on. For a limited time offer of US$1,000 off, go to https://www.vanta.com/tspGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurAssistant Producer: Steph Hefferan https://www.linkedin.com/in/steph-heff/Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
Will AI kill your startup? For a lot of startups, probably yes.But which ones? And more importantly, how do you make sure yours isn't one of them?Yaniv Bernstein is joined by returning guest Scotty Allen (bootstrapper, founder of The Product Bus, and startup strategist extraordinaire) to reason through one of the most pressing questions of 2026: how do you build a startup to survive the SaaSpocalypse?They discuss why this AI wave is more of a threat to tech startups than Google and Facebook ever were, and why the B2B/B2C distinction has never mattered more. Along the way, Yaniv discusses why making your software 'headless' will be a key survival strategy, and the pair explore what it means to build products that cater to agents.In this episode, you will:Learn why the best B2B SaaS strategy is to strip the UI and invest everything in defensible, thick capability that agents want to useHear why the B2B/B2C split has sharpened dramatically, and why deep user empathy and design remain incredibly importantFind out what "agentic engine optimisation" means, and why creating an agent-centric tool could be your most powerful growth channelUnderstand why your tolerance for ambiguity may be the single most important skill you can develop as a founder right nowTimestamps00:00 Coming Up…00:54 On Today's Show: Will AI Kill Startups?01:32 Is This Different to Google/Facebook?05:15 The Threat to 'MD-able' SaaS10:49 Headless SaaS Advantage15:19 Thin and Thick Wrappers18:19 Bottom Up Disruption20:34 Platform Fragility Risks22:22 When DIY Systems Backfire24:46 B2B vs B2C Distinction28:53 Tools Agents Prefer30:56 Claude 'Skills' As Distribution32:05 Platforms Are Dead34:09 Tool Use As An Inflection Point35:42 Managing Agents Like Staff38:55 B2B Headless vs. B2C Design41:48 Who Pays In B2C?44:10 Why Vera Is A 'Guide', Not An Agent45:39 Embrace Ambiguity And Build46:30 Closing ThoughtsResources mentioned in this episode:The Product Bus (Scotty Allen's startup validation and product strategy firm): https://theproductbus.com/Scotty Allen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thescottyallen/ The Bootstraps Podcast (Scotty's own podcast, 'Straight Up From Scratch'): https://thebootstrap.tech/ Vera (Yaniv's startup, AI-supported guidance for people caring for ageing parents): https://vera.guideThe Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksThis episode of the Startup Podcast is sponsored by .tech domains. Forget weird prefixes and creative misspellings; the availability for .tech domains is simply way better than .com. For a clean name that highlights your tech credentials, get a .tech domain at your favorite registrar.Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurAssistant Producer: Steph Hefferan https://www.linkedin.com/in/steph-heff/Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/#SaaS #SaaSpocalypse #Startups #TechStartups #Founder #TechBusiness #TheStartupPodcast
You may have spent years (or even decades) building your expertise. But is any of it still relevant? And how much of it is an active detriment to your startup?In this special solo episode, Yaniv Bernstein delivers a no-guest monologue on the most critical skill any founder can develop right now: ‘unlearning'. Drawing on Morgan Housel's ‘Same as Ever'; real-world examples from his own startup, Vera; and frameworks for rebuilding beliefs from the ground up, Yaniv makes the case that obsolete knowledge is as bad as radioactive waste actively distorting your decisions. In this episode, you will:Understand why AI is making the half-life of expertise shorter than ever beforeLearn how the sunk cost fallacy stops founders from discarding knowledge that's causing more harm than goodDiscover why the identities you've built around your craft ("I am a programmer", "I am a copywriter") may be the single biggest barrier to adapting in 2026Find out what skills are actually worth holding onto, and how to combine them with the meta-skill of rapid adaptationLearn three practical mental models for unlearning: belief audits, first principles thinking, and systems thinkingTimestamps:00:00 Coming Up00:42 On Today's Show: Unlearning02:03 Morgan Hausel's Same as Ever04:13 When Knowledge Turns Toxic07:00 What Unlearning Means07:42 Why Unlearning Is Hard08:32 Sunk Cost Fallacy12:32 Identity Threat17:17 Redefining Expertise18:15 Meta Skills For Experts21:55 Auditing Your Beliefs24:14 First Principles Thinking25:21 Systems Thinking27:24 You Should: Make Time To Adapt28:14 You Should: Embrace Discomfort29:01 Closing ThoughtsResources mentioned in this episode:'Same as Ever: A Guide to What Never Changes' by Morgan Housel — the book Yaniv references throughout this episode on timeless principles of human behavior: https://www.amazon.com/Same-Ever-Guide-Never-Changes/dp/0593332709Naval Ravikant on identity — Yaniv attributes the idea of being cautious about taking on identities to Naval. Naval's writing and podcast appearances are a good starting point: https://nav.al The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksThis episode of the Startup Podcast is sponsored by .tech domains. Forget weird prefixes and creative misspellings; the availability for .tech domains is simply way better than .com. For a clean name that highlights your tech credentials, get a .tech domain at your favorite registrar.Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/#unlearning #psychology #Startups #TechStartups #Founder #TechBusiness #TheStartupPodcast
(This is Part 2 of a conversation with Dr. Matthew Jones about co-founder relationships. You can find Part 1 here: https://www.tsp.show/how-to-identify-red-flags-early-in-your-cofounder-relationship-w-dr-matthew-jones/)Co-founder conflict is tough to deal with, but it also has ripple effects through your entire organization. When a tough relationship is left to fester, it can erode your team culture, spike turnover, and eventually turn into a full-blown crisis.Continuing last week's conversation with Yaniv, Dr. Matthew Jones - author of The Cofounder Effect and founder of Cofounder Clarity - walks you through actionable ways to repair a flailing co-founder relationship. From identifying and avoiding common mistakes, to finding good coaching, Dr. Jones brings valuable insights that will ensure you and your founding team thrive together.In this episode, you will:Understand how co-founder dysfunction ripples through your organization, driving up employee churn and instability.Learn why most companies are in dire need of a 'co-founder date'.Discover why avoiding relationship repair makes the problem more difficult to deal with over time.Explore the Three Languages Framework, and how to use it to diagnose where your co-founder communication is breaking down.Learn why working on the 1–2% of bandwidth that goes to your co-founder relationship is actually the highest-ROI investment you can make as a founding team.Chapters00:00 Coming Up...00:41 On Today's Show: Co-founder Relationships, Part 201:17 Ripple Effects on Company Culture04:15 Stats on Employee Stress And Churn05:28 Co-founder Syncs and Co-founder Dates09:33 Using 'The Cofounder Effect' to Navigate Conflict10:30 Enduring Discomfort12:28 Co-founder Coaching: 'Couples Therapy For Founders'?16:18 Why Self-Work Is 'High Leverage'17:44 Today's Action: Use The Three Languages Framework19:48 'Nonviolent Communication' and Naming The Elephant In The Room22:20 Closing Thoughts and ResourcesResources mentioned in this episode:Part 1 of this conversation, 'How to identify red flags early in your co-founder relationship': https://www.tsp.show/how-to-identify-red-flags-early-in-your-cofounder-relationship-w-dr-matthew-jones/Dr. Matthew Jones' website, Cofounder Clarity (further information on his coaching practice and his book, The Cofounder Effect): https://www.cofounderclarity.comStartup Snapshot: https://www.startupsnaphot.comNonviolent Communication (NVC): https://www.cnvc.orgDr. Matthew Jones on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-matthew-jones-7a832a37/The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksThis episode of the Startup Podcast is sponsored by .tech domains. Forget weird prefixes and creative misspellings; the availability for .tech domains is simply way better than .com. For a clean name that highlights your tech credentials, get a .tech domain at your favorite registrar.Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
Your co-founder relationship is the single most important variable in your startup's success, and one of the most likely things to destroy it.Today, Yaniv Bernstein sits down with Dr. Matthew Jones, author of ‘The Cofounder Effect' and founder of Co-Founder Clarity, to dig into the psychology of co-founder relationships: why they break down and what the warning signs look like.Matt brings a rare combination of clinical depth and startup-world pragmatism to the topic - an essential skillset to help you properly understand common co-founder pitfalls, and how to avoid them. In this episode, you will:Learn what 'negative sentiment override' is, why it's the tipping point in a deteriorating co-founder relationship, and how to catch it before it takes hold.Discover how the co-founder relationship is structurally different from a marriage, and why that means you have to deliberately repair and reconnect with your co-founder.Hear why power dynamics in founding teams are almost always present and are often more destructive when left unnamed.Find out why being able to navigate conflict is more important than finding the 'right' co-founder pairing.Understand the risks of identity fusion with your startup, and why professional distance is a feature rather than a weakness.Learn why co-founder agreements need to evolve over time, and what a healthy renegotiation looks like.Explore the unique dynamics of three- and four-person founding teams, including the coalition patterns that tend to emerge and why they're so destructive.Resources mentioned in this episode:Dr. Matthew Jones' website, Co-Founder Clarity (his coaching practice): https://www.cofounderclarity.com‘The Founder's Dilemmas' by Noam Wasserman: https://www.amazon.com/Founders-Dilemmas-Anticipating-Princeton-Entrepreneurship/dp/0691158304'Knowing This Data Will Make You A Better Fundraiser', the TSP episode with Carta's Head of Insights, Peter Walker: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7aI9NeIVZ7JqkSH2OsizBFThe Gottman Institute - the research behind 'negative sentiment override' discussed in this episode: https://www.gottman.comDr. Matthew Jones on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-matthew-jones-7a832a37/ The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksThis episode of the Startup Podcast is sponsored by .tech domains. Forget weird prefixes and creative misspellings; the availability for .tech domains is simply way better than .com. For a clean name that highlights your tech credentials, get a .tech domain at your favorite registrar.This episode of the Startup Podcast is sponsored by Vanta. Vanta helps businesses get and stay compliant by automating up to 90% of the work for the most in demand compliance frameworks. With over 200 integrations, you can easily monitor and secure the tools your business relies on. For a limited time offer of US$1,000 off, go to https://www.vanta.com/tspGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
In a deeply regulated industry such as healthcare, building an AI-native app poses a host of unique challenges, particularly when it comes to navigating customer privacy and industry red tape. How do you create an industry-leading resource and stay on the cutting edge of tech, while managing these constraints?Keoki Alexander-Chang can help you there. He's the founder and CEO of Minikai, a Melbourne-based startup using AI agents to slash the administrative burden on disability and aged care providers. Before launching Minikai, he led Deloitte's Forensic AI lab, so he's been thinking about applied AI in complex, regulated environments for far longer than most founders.In this episode, Yaniv sits down with Keoki to explore what it really means to build a person-centred AI product in a high-stakes regulated sector — and how Minikai applies that same AI-native mindset to their internal operations, through fine-grained access control, human-in-the-loop design, and AI agents keeping the entire sales pipeline up to date in the background.In this episode, you will:Learn how to design agentic AI products for high-stakes regulated environmentsUnderstand the importance of intentionally including fine-grained access control, provenance and adding friction to the process in order to keep humans in the loopMake sense of the fundamental shift within the build vs. buy equation, and why Minikai is questioning every SaaS tool in their stackFind out why Keoki treats his product like a garden, and why pruning is just as important as growingUnderstand what "person-centred AI" actually means in the disability and aged care contextHear how Minikai's team now uses continuously running AI agents to keep their entire HubSpot pipeline up to dateLearn about the story of the lapel mics: how Minikai is condensing the entire workflow from meeting to working code, skipping Jira entirelyResources mentioned in this episodeMinikai (Keoki's startup: AI agents for disability and aged care providers): https://www.minikai.com/Keoki Alexander-Chang on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keokichang/DJI Mic (the lapel mic Keoki's team uses to capture all meeting audio for Claude): https://www.dji.com/micInsiders React: How OpenClaw and Claude Cowork changed Gary Lo's approach to startups (the companion TSP episode referenced by Yaniv): https://www.tsp.show/insiders-react-how-openclaw-and-claude-cowork-changed-gary-los-approach-to-startups-w-gary-lo-op/The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksThis episode of the Startup Podcast is sponsored by .tech domains. Forget weird prefixes and creative misspellings; the availability for .tech domains is simply way better than .com. For a clean name that highlights your tech credentials, get a .tech domain at your favorite registrar.Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
Has your hiring process kept up with the industry's AI leaps, or are you still interviewing like it's 2022?Today's AI-driven landscape means the skill gap between a good engineer and a great one widens every day, and the great ones can be difficult to find. But how do you choose – and hire – the best in the business? How do you find those elusive engineers who can skilfully handle multi-agent workflows, ship in hours what used to take weeks, and add an AI-focused competitive edge to your startup?In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein are joined by Matt Cook, an expert in hiring the best engineers in the business, and co-founder of Scouut – one of Australia's most respected engineering recruiters for early-stage startups. Matt works with pre-seed through to Series C companies and has a front-row seat to how AI is reshaping what ‘great' looks like in engineering, and how founders and hiring teams alike can keep pace.They cover what's fundamentally changed in engineering hiring, what hasn't, and how to build a small, elite team that punches well above its weight.In this episode, you will:Understand why AI is widening the gap between great and average engineersDiscover the three questions to ask any Big Tech candidate to determine if they'll thrive in a startupFind out why much more is expected of ‘senior' engineers, and what that means for foundersHear how the best startups are now testing for AI competency in interviews, not just coding abilityLearn why smaller teams, higher salaries, and generous token budgets are the new arbitrage for attracting elite engineersUnderstand why you should be designing the role for the people you want, and making your AI-forward culture clearly visibleResources mentioned in this episodeScouut (Matt Cook's engineering recruitment firm for early-stage startups): https://scouut.com.au/Matt Cook on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewmarkcook/Loki (Australian startup referenced for their public AI-first hiring stance): https://www.itsloki.com/Solid (lightweight vibe-coding tool mentioned by Chris): https://trysolid.com/The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribeSecure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksThis episode of the Startup Podcast is sponsored by .tech domains. Forget weird prefixes and creative misspellings; the availability for .tech domains is simply way better than .com. For a clean name that highlights your tech credentials, get a .tech domain at your favorite registrar.This episode of the Startup Podcast is sponsored by Vanta. Vanta helps businesses get and stay compliant by automating up to 90% of the work for the most in demand compliance frameworks. With over 200 integrations, you can easily monitor and secure the tools your business relies on. For a limited time offer of US$1,000 off, go to https://www.vanta.com/tspGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
The agentic AI revolution is finally escaping the coding bubble. What does that mean for startup founders?Just 13 days after recording his first conversation with Yaniv, Gary Lo called to re-record. The reason? OpenClaw and Claude Cowork dropped some huge AI agent updates, and it shifted Gary's perspective enough to change the whole conversation.In this episode, Yaniv Bernstein sits down with Gary Lo – founder of OpenBA, one of Australia's most compelling pre-seed AI startups – to unpack why OpenClaw and Claude Cowork news marks a 'Cursor moment' for the rest of the world: the inflection point where AI stops being a productivity tool for tech teams and starts fundamentally reshaping how every industry works.They break down why tool use will make LLMs genuinely transformative, why non-technical business owners are already buying Mac Minis to run AI agents, and what the shift from 'human-first' to 'LLM-first' product design means for how you build and position your startup today. This episode is essential listening for any founder trying to figure out where to place their bets in an agentic world.In this episode, you'll learn:Why OpenClaw and Claude Cowork signal a 'Cursor moment' beyond software engineeringHow tool use transforms LLM weaknesses into strengthsWhy the long-promised vision of "everything as an API" is finally becoming realHow to think about building for agents vs. humans, and why most current tools aren't optimized for eitherThe "done list" mental model: how agentic coding is collapsing the coordination layers in software workflowsWhy being "a tool worth calling" – like Supabase – is a smarter bet than competing directly with AI modelsHow Gary is applying LLM-first thinking to OpenBA's roadmap right nowResources mentioned in this episode:OpenClaw: https://openclaw.ai/Claude Cowork (Anthropic's agentic desktop tool): https://www.anthropic.com/news/claude-coworkCursor (AI-native code editor, referenced as the original 'Cursor moment' for coding): https://www.cursor.comSupabase (referenced as an example of a tool that rides the agentic AI wave): https://supabase.comOpenBA (Gary Lo's startup - AI platform for buyer's agents): https://openba.com.auGary Lo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-lo-engineer/The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksThis episode of the Startup Podcast is sponsored by .tech domains. Forget weird prefixes and creative misspellings; the availability for .tech domains is simply way better than .com. For a clean name that highlights your tech credentials, get a .tech domain at your favorite registrar.Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
Founders and investors like to tell themselves they're on the same team, and they can be – but it takes work.In this episode, Yaniv Bernstein sits down with Liz Zalman, a veteran founder with over 20 years of startup experience, for an in-depth chat about the real dynamics of the founder-investor relationship. Liz is also co-author (alongside VC Jerry Neumann) of 'Founder Vs Investor: The Honest Truth About Venture Capital from Startup to IPO', one of Yaniv's favorite books on startups.From re-vesting demands to acquisition offers that investors won't approve, Liz brings hard-won, unfiltered perspective to some of the most uncomfortable moments a founder will face.In this episode, you will:Understand what re-vesting actually is, and the smartest way to respond when investors ask for it.Learn why taking a single dollar of venture capital puts you on a specific, irreversible path.Discover how to negotiate a term sheet from a position of strength, even when you're exhausted and desperate to close.Find out when and how founders can take money off the table – and why most quality investors support founders to have stability in their personal finances.Learn how Liz stress-tests potential investors while negotiating terms.Understand the real difference between valuation and control.Hear why listening is the single most underrated skill in a founder's toolkit.Resources mentioned in this episodeFounder vs. Investor (book) by Elizabeth Zalman & Jerry Neumann, the book discussed throughout this episode: https://www.foundervsinvestor.comVenture Deals by Brad Feld & Jason Mendelson, referenced by Yaniv as "the bible of venture capital": https://www.venturedeals.comSandgarden, Liz's current startup: https://www.sandgarden.comLiz Zalman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethzalman The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksThis episode of the Startup Podcast is sponsored by Vanta. Vanta helps businesses get and stay compliant by automating up to 90% of the work for the most in demand compliance frameworks. With over 200 integrations, you can easily monitor and secure the tools your business relies on. For a limited time offer of US$1,000 off, go to https://www.vanta.com/tspThis episode of the Startup Podcast is sponsored by .tech domains. Forget weird prefixes and creative misspellings; the availability for .tech domains is simply way better than .com. For a clean name that highlights your tech credentials, get a .tech domain at your favourite registrar.Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/#Investors #Startups #TechStartups #Founder #TechBusiness #TheStartupPodcast
Is AI making founders more anxious than ever, even in the heart of Silicon Valley? Behind the optimistic LinkedIn posts and fundraising announcements, some of the most successful people in tech are struggling with burnout and an overwhelming pace of change. So what does it actually take to build a resilient, successful startup in 2026?In this episode, Yaniv is joined by Jess Mah, serial founder, Y Combinator alum, and venture creation powerhouse behind Mahway. Jess has founded more than 10 companies — collectively valued at over $1 billion — and was the youngest woman ever accepted into Y Combinator. Fresh from dinners with Fortune 500 CEOs and unicorn founders in San Francisco, she shares what's really happening behind closed doors in the startup world, and why the founders who refuse to get hands-on with AI tools are now at a serious disadvantage.In this episode, you will: Discover why experienced, repeat founders are at the highest risk of falling behind in the AI eraLearn Jess's go-to interview question that instantly reveals whether a hire will stay relevantUnderstand "role collapse", and what should replace traditional siloed positions when the boundaries between product managers, designers, and engineers break downHear why the best founders in 2026 are building clickable prototypes themselves instead of delegating to product teamsFind out why AI has made distribution and competitive moats harder, not easier, and what to do about itExplore why domain expertise has become the most valuable startup superpower when building is cheapGet an honest look at the anxiety, burnout, and 996 culture affecting even the top AI founders in the Bay AreaLearn the AI educators and resources Jess and Yaniv personally rely on to stay aheadConnect with Jess: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessmah/Resources mentioned in this episode:Stratechery by Ben Thompson: https://stratechery.com/Matthew Berman (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/@matthew_bermanHow I AI with Claire Vo: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/s/how-i-aiSteve Yegge / Gastown: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveyegge/Maven (cohort-based learning): https://maven.com/Hacker News: https://news.ycombinator.com/The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksThis episode of the Startup Podcast is sponsored by .tech domains. Forget weird prefixes and creative misspellings; the availability for .tech domains is simply way better than .com.For a clean and memorable name, go to https://get.tech/tspGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
Self-determination throughout your team: it sounds simple, but implementing it effectively could give your startup a razor-sharp competitive edge.In this episode, Chris and Yaniv unpack the 'Recursive Principle of Self-Determination', a framework for designing autonomous startups that maximize agency at every layer of the business. They explore how high-agency decisions shape product strategy, engineering, go-to-market, fundraising, teams, and culture, and why AI is accelerating the shift toward founder empowerment. In this episode, you will:* Understand the concept of recursive self-determination and why it applies across the entire startup stack* Identify low-agency decisions that slow innovation (agencies, misaligned partners, restrictive funding)* Design products that increase customer empowerment by reducing friction, cost, and dependency* Evaluate tech stack and vendor choices based on incentive alignment and long-term control* Apply high-agency go-to-market strategies by selling directly to customers* Structure teams as cross-functional, autonomous squads that move fast and learn faster* Leverage AI as a force multiplier for founder and team agencyThe Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksThis episode of the Startup Podcast is sponsored by Vanta. Vanta helps businesses get and stay compliant by automating up to 90% of the work for the most in demand compliance frameworks. With over 200 integrations, you can easily monitor and secure the tools your business relies on. For a limited time offer of US$1,000 off, go to https://www.vanta.com/tsp.This episode of the Startup Podcast is sponsored by .tech domains. Forget weird prefixes and creative misspellings; the availability for .tech domains is simply way better than .com. For a clean and memorable name, go to https://get.tech/tsp.Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
Were we wildly wrong, or surprisingly on the money? As 2025 wraps, Chris and Yaniv revisit the bold predictions they made at the start of the year. They reflect on their calls about AI, robotics, VC markets, crypto, and geopolitics. While some were accurate, some were also hilariously off. Together, they unpack what 2025 really looked like for startups, venture capital, and the global tech landscape.In this episode, you will:Learn why both hosts believe their AGI predictions were misses and what “AGI” even means anymore.Understand how Google re-emerged as a serious AI contender, from Gemini to Cloud to Chrome.Discover how VC funding split into a two-speed market, with AI startups booming while everyone else grinds.See why Bitcoin's stability above $100K signals its cemented role as a store of value.Reflect on how tech dominance, global competition, and Trump-era chaos shaped the broader economy.The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
OpenAI may appear to be building the future, but are they leading the tech industry towards collapse?In this episode, Chris and Yaniv are joined by Jacob Ward (journalist, author of The Loop and NBC Technology Correspondent) to break down OpenAI's latest livestream and what it signals about the next era of AI. Sam Altman may talk the good talk, but his actions, and the priorities of OpenAI at large, may not align with those claims. Chris, Yaniv, and Jacob unpack these differences between words and actions, the emerging social consequences, and what it all means for the tech industry.In this episode, you will:Understand OpenAI's roadmap for AI-powered research and why "AI research interns" might be closer than you thinkLearn why the promise of autonomous five-year research cycles raised eyebrowsExplore the shift from ChatGPT as a product to ChatGPT as a platform, and what that means for app ecosystemsConsider the emotional and psychological dimensions of AI companionship and relianceEvaluate the trillion-dollar infrastructure buildup underway across data centers, GPUs, and nuclear-scale power demandsExamine how OpenAI's nonprofit arm plans to invest in disease research and AI resilienceThe Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
What do you need to do to keep employees engaged and committed? What should your position be on remote work? Side hustles? Ping pong tables? Should you offer all employees equity?Bringing Gen Z employees to your workplace is well worth it, but it means a mental pivot from the hiring team, keeping in mind an entirely new set of criteria.Chris and Yaniv discuss all this and more with Dan Brockwell, Founder and Chief Meme Officer of Earlywork, a vibrant community for early-career professionals.In this episode, you will:Understand the four key factors Gen Z professionals weigh when choosing startups: learning, culture, compensation, and impact.Learn why “job risk” and “career risk” are not the same and why startups often offer safer long-term bets.Discover how equity (ESOPs) can be both a powerful motivator and a cultural signal of respect for young talent.Explore the pros and cons of remote vs hybrid work for early-career employees and how to design hybrid intentionally.Recognize the rise of side hustles, and how founders can embrace them to retain ambitious, creative employees.Get insights into how Gen Z finds jobs through online communities, Slack channels, and personal branding instead of traditional job boards.[This is a replay episode. The original was published on May 26, 2022]The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
Is this the moment quantum computing becomes real?After years of being “five years away,” Google just announced a verifiable quantum advantage, claiming its Willow chip ran a molecule simulation 13,000× faster than the world's fastest supercomputer. Is this truly the dawn of the quantum era?In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein dive deep into Google's latest quantum computing breakthrough, exploring what it means for AI, science, and the future of technology. They'll also expand to cover the rise of brain–computer interfaces, China's ten-year tech roadmap, and the political turbulence shaping our next decade of innovation.In this episode, you will:Understand Google's new Willow chip and its role in achieving “verifiable quantum advantage”Learn how quantum computing could accelerate drug discovery, materials science, and AI developmentExplore why Google's “Quantum AI” lab is merging the worlds of artificial intelligence and quantum physicsHear how emerging brain–computer interfaces (like MIT's Alter Ego) could usher in near-telepathic communicationDiscover China's bold 10-year plan targeting quantum tech, robotics, and embodied AI — and what it means for global competitionDebate whether technocratic governance models (like China, Singapore, and Dubai) are overtaking Western democracies in innovation speedThe Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
Looking to fund your startup? If you're new to the process, fundraising can be difficult to navigate. Not only are there a myriad of ways to go about it, but it can be hard to tell whether the tips, tricks, and advice floating around are based on any evidence at all.So, what is the truth? And what are the actual, data-backed insights that can help you choose the best method of fundraising for your own business?Enter: Peter Walker. As Head of Insights at Carta, he has access to, and industry knowledge about, the vast sets of funding data that will help you cut through the noise. Today, he joins Chris and Yaniv in discussing the real data behind startup funding trends in 2025 and the key takeaways you can apply to your own startups.In this episode, you will:Discover why Silicon Valley valuations often hurt founders more than they helpUnderstand how AI startups now account for nearly half of all venture funding, and what that means for non-AI foundersLearn how lean AI-driven teams are reshaping early-stage hiring, with Series A companies shrinking from 25 employees to just 15See why most founders misunderstand SAFE notesExplore why 70% of startup employees never exercise their equityUncover the reasons behind why nearly 40% of startups lose a co-founder within seven yearsGet clarity on founder vesting, equity splits, and why a six-year vesting schedule may protect your company better than fourReframe your goals as a founder: why chasing “life-changing money” isn't the right reason to start a companyThe Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
OpenAI just dropped its unbelievable new browser. All signs point to it overshadowing Chrome, but is this really the dawn of a new era? Or just another hype cycle, courtesy of Sam Altman?In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein react to OpenAI's surprise launch of ChatGPT Atlas and debate its strategic implications. They also discuss Apple's underwhelming Vision Pro refresh (and what it means for the company at large), YouTube's new likeness detection tech, and Reid Hoffman's viral post on “good vs. bad actors” in AI.In this episode, you will:Explore what makes ChatGPT Atlas different from Chrome, Safari, and Arc, and why it matters.Understand why OpenAI is desperate to own distribution, not just models.Compare today's “browser wars” with the 2000s Chrome vs. Internet Explorer showdown.Learn how Apple's Vision Pro M5 update signals the slow rebirth of spatial computing.Discover why YouTube's new Content ID for faces could be a turning point for AI deepfakes.Hear how AI arms races mirror past battles like spam detection, piracy, and antivirus wars.Unpack Reid Hoffman's call for “good actors” in AI and whether self-regulation can actually work.Get started with Cyber Matters: https://www.cybermatters.io The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
Think you're executing well? Think again. Chances are you're making one of these four common mistakes.Drawing from Chris's latest essay and real-world advisory experience, Chris and Yaniv spend this episode breaking down the four biggest execution mistakes you're probably making right now. They explore how to recognize these patterns early, how to apply taste and judgment when scaling, and how to develop the discipline needed to execute with precision.In this episode, you will:Identify when you're oversimplifying, and mistaking nuanced, unique use cases for the same problemUnderstand how overcomplicating your product or process can destroy focus and momentumLearn to categorize problems correctly using the principle of mutually exclusive, collectively exhaustive thinkingApply the concept of “necessary and sufficient” work — doing everything that's needed and nothing that's notRecognize that mistiming priorities ends in attempting to do everything at once, but finishing nothingDevelop the taste, judgment, and rigor to strike the perfect balance between simplicity and depthAvoid falling into domain dogma; naming, structuring, and communicating ideas clearly for your team and customersRead Chris's original LinkedIn post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/chrissaad_the-big-4-execution-mistakes-youre-probably-activity-7379681603847049216-ApcVThe Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
OpenAI is set to roll out its new “treat adults like adults” policy, heralding the beginning of AI chatbots speaking more amorously with users. As the company pushes boundaries, from personality-rich bots to experimental devices, others are warning that the industry might be inflating a dangerous AI bubble.In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein break down Sam Altman's controversial announcement, unpack Johnny Ive's vision for the next generation of OpenAI hardware, and debate whether Google's slow-moving Gemini rollout signals resilience or decline. They also dive into the billion-dollar race for health data, exploring how Oura's massive new raise fits into the wider AI gold rush.In this episode, you will:Explore how OpenAI's “Treat Adults Like Adults” philosophy changes the future of AI interactionUnderstand the ethical and mental health challenges behind human-like AI personalitiesLearn why Johnny Ive's “family of AI devices” could redefine how we interact with technologyExamine Google's glacial AI rollout and whether slow and steady approach might actually win the raceUnpack Bloomberg's “AI Money Loop” and what it reveals about risky financial entanglementsCompare the AI investment surge to past industrial bubbles like railroads and dot-comsThe Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
What if your best work came from finding your flow, rather than simply grinding harder? In the age of constant distraction, many founders mistake busyness for progress, chasing notifications, meetings, and multitasking without realizing that true innovation happens when the mind is deeply focused.Today, Chris and Yaniv are joined by Steven Puri, former DreamWorks executive and founder of The Sukha, to unpack the science of flow state and why mastering it may be the ultimate founder advantage. From Hollywood film production to startup leadership, Steven shares how high performers sustain creativity and energy by designing their environments, schedules, and team cultures around deep work.They explore how to use neuroscience, rhythm, and intentional structure to unlock focus, eliminate context switching, and help your team reach peak performance without burnout.In this episode, you will:Understand flow state, and how it fuels both productivity and creativityIdentify common barriers preventing founders from achieving deep focusLearn how to structure your day around your natural chronotype for maximum energyImplement practical tools and mental environments that enable sustained concentrationExplore how to build company cultures that protect “maker time” and empower deep work across teamsAdopt sustainable rhythms that increase output while avoiding founder burnoutFind Steven on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-puriLearn more about Sukha: https://www.thesukha.co The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
What happens when AI stops being a product and starts being a platform?With OpenAI's latest Dev Day changing the game, we might find out sooner rather than later. In this episode, Chris and Yaniv explore OpenAI's Dev Day and the huge announcements made (including the Sora 2 launch), as well as their apparent transformation from product to platform. In other tech news, the guys dive into Anthropic's open-source counterpunch with Claude's Agent SDK, along with Apple's controversial censorship call - all while analyzing what all of this means for startup founders building in the AI era.In this episode, you will:Understand how SDK, OpenAI's new ChatGPT App, turns AI into a full developer ecosystemLearn about “platform risk”,and how founders can avoid being crushed by itCompare OpenAI's walled-garden strategy to Anthropic's open, Unix-inspired approachExamine the launch of Sora, OpenAI's new AI video social network, and why it mattersDebate whether large tech companies can ever succeed in building new social platformsAnalyze Apple's ICE Block takedown and what it says about censorship in curated ecosystemsThe Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
What happens when a founder who took a taboo health topic mainstream decides to reinvent pet care? In this Spotlight episode of The Startup Podcast, former Hims co-founder Joe Spector faux-pitches his startup Dutch, a telemedicine platform making veterinary care accessible, affordable, and convenient.Most founders fear tough questions from investors, this episode shows what happens when they face them live. Discover how Joe applies lessons from scaling a billion-dollar company to a completely different market, and how understanding regulation, timing, and storytelling can make or break your pitch.In this episode, you will:Discover what makes a founder “fundable”, beyond just a good ideaUnderstand how Joe Spector scaled Hims and is now using those insights to disrupt pet telehealth with DutchExplore how regulatory insight can become a startup's biggest competitive moatSee why subscription-based business models drive valuation and recurring growthFind out how Dutch makes pet care up to 10x cheaper while creating flexible jobs for veterinariansHear expert commentary from Chris and Yaniv on storytelling, founder credibility, and investor psychologyLearn more about Dutch: https://www.dutch.com/Connect with Joe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joespector The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
OpenAI just launched ChatGPT Pulse, a succinct, personalized daily feed. Will this shift the focus of AI from performance to personal context? Or is it just an overhyped, overpriced daily digest? In this episode, Chris and Yaniv get right into this week's tech news: the reality of ChatGPT Pulse, plus the wider implications of Hollywood's first AI actress, Tilly Norwood; Amazon's record-breaking $2.5B fine for deceptive Prime signups and the lessons founders can learn from it; and plenty more.In this episode, you will:Understand why context, not just performance, is becoming the new moat in AI.Explore how ChatGPT Pulse signals OpenAI's strategy against Google and Apple.Debate whether AI-generated actors like Tilly Norwood have a real future in Hollywood.Learn what Amazon's $2.5B FTC settlement teaches about dark patterns and user trust.Identify the regulatory risks startups must consider when designing growth funnels.Discover why Anthropic is shifting focus to enterprise and coding workflows.Reflect on how distribution and lock-in, not just innovation, shape the competitive landscape.The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
Standing out has gotten even more difficult thanks to the flood of AI content, and many early-stage founders mistakenly believe they need to act like corporate brands to be taken seriously.In this episode, Yaniv chats with Christine Blosdale, an award-winning media coach, podcaster, and branding strategist. Together they discuss how authenticity, personal branding, and “expert authority” can give founders a massive edge in today's AI-driven startup landscape.They also explore how to overcome imposter syndrome, use AI responsibly, and build a founder-led brand that attracts talent, customers, and investors.In this episode, you will:Discover why authenticity is now the ultimate differentiator in the age of AI and algorithmic contentLearn how to build “expert authority” to boost your reputation and visibility as a founderOvercome imposter syndrome with practical mindset shifts that make content creation easierApply Christine's tactics for repurposing podcasts, blogs, and videos to scale your personal brandSee why founder-led branding attracts better hires, investors, and partnersCreate a simple media kit to clarify your mission, credentials, and unique value propositionLearn more about Christine here: https://www.christineblosdale.com The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
What happens to Silicon Valley when the world's best founders and engineers can no longer afford to work in the US? Today, Chris and Yaniv break down why the massive new work visa fee is a tech talent crisis waiting to happen. They discuss how Trump's surprising $100K H-1B fee could reshape startup hiring and the tech sector at large, along with the nitty gritty of Meta's new smart glasses launch, and Figure AI's billion-dollar Series C robots. They also unpack OpenAI's unexpected jobs platform, and what it reveals about the future of AI work.In this episode, you will:Understand how the new $100K H-1B visa fee could drain Silicon Valley of global talentExplore why immigrant founders and startups may shift to Canada, the UK, or AustraliaDiscover how Meta's new Ray-Ban and Oakley smart glasses bring AR into the mainstreamCompare Meta's “bottom-up” approach to Apple's Vision Pro strategy and timingExamine Figure AI's $1B+ raise and the coming battle with Tesla and Chinese robotics firmsEvaluate why OpenAI is launching a jobs platform amid fears of AI job lossLearn actionable insights for founders navigating talent shortages, AR hardware, and AI disruptionThe Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
Is the new age of AI agents about to kill niche B2B SaaS businesses? Many first-time founders worry that tools like ChatGPT or custom AI builders will make off-the-shelf SaaS products obsolete, but it could simply herald a new evolution of SaaS.In this episode, Yaniv is joined by Rob Walling, serial founder, investor, and author of The SaaS Playbook, to break down why B2B SaaS still outperforms other business models and how founders can build defensible products – even in an AI-driven world.They explore the fundamentals of recurring revenue, why vertical SaaS wins over horizontal competitors, and the real opportunities AI creates for startup builders.In this episode, you will:Understand why recurring revenue outperforms one-off sales for stability and growth.Learn how vertical and orthogonal SaaS niches beat large horizontal players.Discover the importance of high margins and why bootstrapping B2B SaaS is often possible.Evaluate how net revenue retention and negative churn can exponentially increase enterprise value.Apply Rob's 2-20-200 framework to validate and launch your own SaaS idea.Explore how to use AI as a feature or an enabler rather than seeing it as a threat.Gain insights on positioning, pricing, and finding your ideal customer profile in crowded markets.Learn more about Rob Walling and his work here: https://robwalling.com The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
Is YouTube quietly becoming the most powerful platform in the world? Announcements made during Made On YouTube 2025 revealed incredibly promising long-term plans, with the media giant seemingly set to dominate video, music, and podcasts with the help of Google's AI.Too many entrepreneurs still see YouTube as ‘just' a video host, missing the bigger picture: it's a global discovery engine and monetization machine. In this episode, Chris and Yaniv break down YouTube's creator ecosystem and what their announcements mean for the future of media services. They also delve into Oracle's unexpected AI rise, Sam Altman's high-pressure interview on AI ethics, and Figma's new AI tools reshaping design.In this episode, you will:Discover how YouTube's latest AI tools could outpace TikTok and Spotify in shorts, podcasts, and musicLearn why Oracle's $100B OpenAI cloud deal and TikTok nationalization play mark a massive comebackUnderstand Sam Altman's tough Tucker Carlson interview and what it reveals about OpenAI's ethics stanceExplore Figma's breakthrough AI features and what they mean for designers and startup teamsSee why “Nothing” phone's $200M AI-first push could disrupt Apple and Google's hardware advantageIdentify key lessons in strategy, timing, and neutrality from Oracle's approach to AI infrastructureApply insights from vibe coding and vibe design tools to accelerate your own startup workflowThe Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
Are you truly being persistent with your startup, or just being stubborn? In the new age of AI-powered founders and hyper-fast iteration, many entrepreneurs mistake obstinacy for persistence and end up running out of time, money, and morale.Too often we glorify “hustle” and “grit” without understanding when to adapt, pivot, or quit. The misconception that sheer willpower equals success has caused countless startups to fail, not because the idea was bad, but because the founder couldn't tell when to change course.In this episode, Chris and Yaniv dive deep into Paul Graham's classic essay on the difference between persistence and obstinacy. Drawing from decades of startup experience, they unpack why adaptability, “predatory listening,” and goal-directed experimentation are the true drivers of breakthrough success.They explore the five traits that set persistent founders apart (energy, imagination, resilience, good judgment, and focus) and explain how to build these skills into your daily practice as a founder.In this episode, you will:Discover the critical difference between persistence and obstinacy in startup cultureLearn Paul Graham's “boat rudder vs. boat engine” metaphor and why it matters for foundersIdentify the five traits every successful founder must develop to survive and thriveUnderstand how “predatory listening” and adaptability accelerate learning and reduce riskExplore real-world examples (Stripe, Uber) showing how top founders embody these traitsApply practical strategies to know when to double down, pivot, or quit a failing ideaGain a fresh perspective on why resilience and imagination matter more than raw hustleThe Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/#Resilience #Startups #Founder #TheStartupPodcast #Mindset
With Apple's iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, AirPods Pro 3, and Apple Watch 11 now unveiled, what does this mean for the future of phones and wearable tech? And does the incredible AI of Google Pixel still blow Siri out of the water?In this episode, Chris and Yaniv delve into Apple's newest product lineup and what it reveals about the company's long-term strategy, particularly in the current AI-driven climate. They also discuss both the IPO market heating back up and the recent White House tech dinner, the implications both of these have on the tech industry, and the key takeaways for you as a founder.In this episode, you will:Unpack Apple's biggest announcements, from the ultra-thin iPhone Air to the next iterative iPhone 17Explore the hidden strategy behind AirPods Pro 3's real-time translation and heart-rate monitoring featuresLearn why Apple Watch 11's new health functions could reshape the wearable marketAnalyze why Apple's generative AI gap matters and how it compares with Google's approachUnderstand how the authenticity economy is changing hiring, recruiting, and founder strategyGain insight into the rebounding IPO market and what it signals for startup liquidityThe Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
Pre-seed founders want explosive growth early on, but are you following the wrong playbook too soon? These days strategies, acronyms, and well-intended advice are everywhere, but today's guest argues that the path forward is a simple one: talk to customers, run experiments, and embrace rejection as part of the journey.In this episode, Yaniv Bernstein speaks to guest Ashley Smith (ex-Twilio, Parse, GitLab, GitHub, and now General Partner at Vermilion Cliffs) and unpacks what it really takes for your startup to go from zero to one. Ashley has been at the helm of some of the most successful developer tool companies in the last decade and now invests in the next generation of technical founders. She shares raw insights from the trenches on how to build community, experiment with growth, and keep your startup alive through grit and iteration.In this episode, you will:Learn why investor playbooks can be dangerous for early-stage foundersUnderstand why customer conversations matter more than LinkedIn hot takesDiscover how product and marketing should be treated as one cohesive strategyExplore how companies like Twilio, Parse, and GitLab grew by leaning into community, content, and relentless product shippingSee why hiring generalists and “specialists in experimentation” is the best early-stage moveGain tactical tips on creating authentic founder content in the age of AI slopEmbrace rejection as a natural (and necessary) part of fundraising and early customer acquisitionThe Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
Google's long-running antitrust case has reached its remedy stage, and the outcome was far lighter than many expected. No breakup, no ban on default search deals, just a few constraints on bundling apps and some required data sharing, but it may not be quite as simple as it seems on the surface.Meanwhile, OpenAI dropped $1.1 billion to acquire Statsig, a product analytics company. What are the details of the deal, and what does it reveal about the future of OpenAI?To top the week off, Y Combinator released its Fall 2025 Request for Startups, and the lineup is surprisingly AI-heavy. Is this really a good indicator of successful startups, or are YC missing the mark with this one? Chris and Yaniv discuss this at length, cutting deeply into why these criteria were chosen, what you should (and shouldn't) listen to, and where founders can looking for investors instead.In this episode, you will:Understand why Google's “light touch” antitrust remedies sent its stock up 8% overnightLearn what OpenAI's Statsig acquisition signals about its long-term strategyExplore why YC's latest startup requests are so heavily AI-focused, and why that's a mistakeCompare today's antitrust rulings with the Microsoft case of the 1990sDiscover how AI may disrupt not just tech, but also government consulting and enterprise softwareGet Yaniv's insider view on why intent-driven marketplaces may be the next frontierThe Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
It seems like startup accelerators are everywhere these days. But what are they? What's the point of them? And most importantly, is it worth having your startup go through one? Based on their own experience with YC and startups, Chris and Yaniv talk you through it all. In this episode, you will:Learn what startup accelerators are and how they work. Discover the primary benefits of going through a startup accelerator.Understand whether applying to a startup accelerator is right for you.Explore the process of choosing an accelerator.Listen to Yaniv's first-hand experience going through the Y Combinator accelerator.The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
Is Apple's dominance in smartphones starting to crack? Google's Pixel 10 launch brought AI-first features, polished hardware, and bold marketing, signaling a new era in the iPhone vs. Android rivalry.For years, the iPhone has been synonymous with polish, hardware quality, and ecosystem lock-in. But with Google's patient, decade-long investment in the Pixel line, coupled with deep AI integration, the balance may be shifting.Today, Chris and Yaniv analyze Pixel 10's hardware updates, AI-powered OS features, and how Google's persistence has brought it head-to-head with Apple. For founders and entrepreneurs, they also offer their unique insight into startups and unpack what you can learn about patience, platform strategy, and design in the middle of a platform shift.In this episode, you will:Understand how Google turned Pixel from a reference device into a competitive product lineExplore why AI-first design is becoming the true battlefield in smartphonesSee how proactive AI (Magic Q, contextual responses, Gemini integration) could reshape user experiencesDiscover why patience and iteration are critical lessons for startup foundersApply insights from platform ecosystems (reference apps, open source, and monetization strategies) to your own businessThe Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
What makes a great tech infrastructure startup? And how do the best ones successfully navigate, and stand out from, the overcrowded market?In this episode, Yaniv is joined by Joseph Ruscio, General Partner at Heavybit and former CTO of Vibrato, to unpack the dos and don'ts of tech infrastructure startups, how open source fuels growth, and why AI is changing the way software is built.With over 20 years in system software and a portfolio including LaunchDarkly, Netlify, and PagerDuty, Joe brings a front-row perspective to the future of startup building. The conversation dives into bottom-up growth, developer adoption, and the open source strategies that give founders leverage—and how AI agents are reshaping the role of the software engineer.In this episode, you will:Understand why bottom-up adoption often beats enterprise sales for startup growthLearn how AWS scaled from startups to Fortune 500s—and what founders can copyDiscover the power of open source as a go-to-market strategy (and its pitfalls)See why giving away your product can actually accelerate growth and community adoptionExplore how AI is changing developer workflows and the future role of engineersIdentify the risks of being “too close to your own pain” as a technical founderApply practical guidelines for choosing your startup's tech stack without overthinkingDevGuild Open Source: http://heavybit.com/devguild/open-source The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
Is the AI hype cycle about to burst?For months, investors and founders have chased sky-high valuations, billion-dollar hires, and promises of superintelligence, but Meta's drastic plans to cut back its AI division seem to indicate a bleak future for LLMs and AI at large.In this episode, Chris and Yaniv unpack the latest shakeup at Meta, using their knowledge and experience in Silicon Valley to analyze the situation and pick apart whether this is a canary in a coal mine. They explore why Meta is restructuring, what it says about the state of large language models (LLMs), and how to navigate high-stakes moments when the hype cycle turns.In this episode, you will:Understand what Meta's latest AI restructure really signals about industry prioritiesLearn why hype cycles always lead to a trough of disillusionment, and how to prepareExplore how trillion-dollar bets on AGI could reshape competitive dynamicsSee why founders should question assumptions about LLM productivity gainsRecognize the risks of chasing hype versus building sustainable business modelsThe Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGgGive us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
This new era of AI-driven startups has many founders still believing success is about having the perfect product roadmap. The truth, however, is far more counterintuitive.In this episode, Yaniv and Chris dive into timeless lessons from Paul Graham's legendary essay “Startups in 13 Sentences”. Drawing from Graham's wisdom and their own experiences, they break down why co-founders matter more than ideas, why “launch fast” is the golden rule, and why understanding users is harder (and more important) than chasing growth.In this episode, you will:Learn why choosing the right co-founder is the most important decision you'll ever makeUnderstand why launching fast is less about speed and more about learning from real usersDiscover why evolving your idea matters more than defending a perfect planSee how understanding users drives sustainable growth (and why chasing vanity metrics kills startups)Explore why great customer service that 'doesn't scale' is actually a secret weaponUnpack the dangers of measuring the wrong things and how to track what truly mattersFind out why distractions (even profitable ones) are the silent killers of young startupsFor founders serious about building in the AI era, these lessons, though written 16 years ago, are more relevant than ever. Startups succeed not by following conventional wisdom, but by mastering the counterintuitive truths that define Silicon Valley's greatest companies.Read Paul Graham's "Startups in 13 Sentences" here: https://paulgraham.com/13sentences.html The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
Is AI threatening traditional subscription software models and accelerating competitive turnover? Sam Altman thinks so.In this episode, Chris and Ray discuss OpenAI's GPT-5 release, and Altman's prediction that AI will enable a “fast fashion” era of SaaS, where applications can be created, deployed, and discarded in rapid cycles.You'll also hear them delve into Apple's commitment of $2.5 billion toward US-based manufacturing as part of a broader $600 billion plan, and their examination of the public spat between Elon Musk and Sam Altman on X, exploring what it reveals about ego, platform power, and the competitive dynamics shaping the AI industry.In this episode, you will:Understand why GPT-5's biggest innovation might be routing, not raw intelligenceLearn how AI cost structures are shifting as subsidies fadeExplore the risks and opportunities in the “fast-fashion” SaaS economySee why control of the browser is the next big AI platform playAnalyse Apple's US manufacturing move in the context of global geopoliticsRecognise the double-edged impact of AI on the labour marketHear lessons founders can apply from today's tech power playsThe Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
Raising money for your startup isn't just about pitching but navigating egos, timing, and a flood of contradictory feedback. Why do some founders win over early believers who open every door, while others get stuck in endless “soft nos”? And how do you avoid twisting yourself into a pretzel trying to please every investor you meet?In this episode, Yaniv Bernstein and Chris Saad dive into the gritty, unfiltered reality of early-stage fundraising. Yaniv shares six fresh, hard-earned lessons from raising a pre-seed round for his own startup, Violet. These are insights you rarely hear outside closed-door founder circles.In this episode, you will:Learn why your pitch deck should be treated like a product—and why rapid iteration matters more than perfection.Discover how to find and leverage early believers who can champion your raise.Understand why you can't (and shouldn't) try to please every investor.Recognize that rejections will never stop stinging—and how to keep going anyway.Decode why some investors say they can't invest and what that really means.Get strategies for overcoming the embarrassment of asking for money, especially from people you know.Hear how macro trends like the IPO drought ripple down to impact early-stage funding.Whether you're a first-time founder or a seasoned operator gearing up for another raise, this episode will give you a candid, practical roadmap for navigating the messy art of securing early capital.The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
In violation of long-standing internet norms like robots.txt, Cloudflare caught Perplexity AI scraping content from websites that had explicitly opted out. The situation begs the question: what happens when AI startups prioritize growth over digital consent?Listen as Chris and Yaniv discuss the repercussions of Cloudflare's "honeypot" traps. They also dig into Wikipedia's launch of a fast-track deletion policy to counter the overwhelming number of low-effort, AI-generated articles, and consider whether Amazon's AWS is falling behind cloud rivals like Google, Microsoft, and Oracle.In this episode, you will:Understand why Cloudflare accused Perplexity AI of ignoring internet normsLearn how robots.txt and internet trust are being undermined by AI crawlersExplore whether “move fast and break things” still applies in the AI eraDiscover how Wikipedia is fighting back against a flood of AI-generated slopDebate the moral vs. legal boundaries of disruptive startup behaviorHear why AWS may be falling behind Google, Microsoft, and even OracleExamine what makes a wartime vs. peacetime CEO in the AI cloud raceConsider whether AI is eating its own tail by destroying its data sourcesThe Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
In the startup world, speed is everything. But too many founders confuse busyness with velocity, mistaking frantic activity for real momentum.In this episode, Chris and Yaniv are joined by Keith Lucas, former product and engineering leader at Roblox, to unpack what speed actually means—and how to build it into your startup from day one.They explore why alignment, culture, and cadence matter more than hustle, and how Keith's “Inspire, Align, Amplify” framework can unlock lasting execution velocity.In this episode, you will:Understand why "busyness" is a dangerous red herring that kills real progressLearn how to define speed as strategic value delivered to users, not activityExplore how culture acts as the "fat tires" that enable rapid startup momentumApply Keith's "Inspire, Align, Amplify" framework to build cohesive, fast-moving teamsIdentify common founder traps, from toxic niceness to decision paralysisDesign company values that actually shape behaviorDiscover why realized culture drives execution speedThe Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
Is GitHub Spark the future of AI software building? Startups looking to use “vibe coding” often face janky tools and broken promises. Microsoft's latest IDE, however, has serious potential to be the industry breakthrough that addresses the agonizing issues developers face.In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein unpack Microsoft's latest attempt to win back developer mindshare with the launch of GitHub Spark, a cloud-based, AI-enhanced IDE. They debate whether Spark is an MVP for building micro-apps or a Trojan horse for a more ambitious plan to dominate developer workflows.Plus, the hosts dive into Trump's executive order on “woke AI,” Coinbase's bold relaunch of Base as a social platform, and YouTube's machine-learning age verification for teens.In this episode, you will:Explore what GitHub Spark is and why it matters for the future of AI-powered software developmentUnderstand Microsoft's positioning strategy and why it might be hiding bigger ambitionsCompare Spark to tools like Cursor, Claude Code, and WindsurfLearn how Trump's executive order frames “neutral AI” and why it's likely political theaterAssess whether Coinbase's “Base App” is crypto's answer to YouTube and TwitterDiscover the implications of YouTube's new AI-based teen detection systemDebate the real risks and rewards of AI regulation and social media safetyThe Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
AI is changing how we build startups, but how can founders leverage it without their product becoming slop?Too many early-stage entrepreneurs believe that faster prototyping automatically leads to better products. In reality, rushing to “ship something” can destroy product-market fit before it's even tested.In this Q&A episode, Yaniv Bernstein (ex-Google, ex-Airtasker) and Chris Saad (former Head of Product at Uber) answer your burning questions about startup strategy, from hiring and product design to breaking industry rules. They reveal how to separate real innovation from AI-washing and why “contrarian and right” is the only strategy that works.In this episode:Discover which AI-adjacent startup opportunities are attracting real investor interest (and which ones to avoid)Learn how to rethink your MVP strategy in an AI-powered world without falling into the “build fast, fail fast” trapUnderstand when and how to break conventional startup rules to gain a genuine competitive edgeAvoid the most common hiring mistakes founders make, including the “warm body” trap and hiring the wrong senior execsIdentify the difference between a great product manager and a glorified project manager (and when to hire one)The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
Is Uber's gamble on RoboTaxis a brilliant move, or the end of its asset-light magic? And what's really going on inside OpenAI as it races to dominate AI?Many founders assume hypergrowth companies are perfectly coordinated machines, but the reality is far messier. From billion-dollar GPU costs to chaotic product launches, there's a lot for entrepreneurs to learn from how these giants operate.Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein break down Uber's 20,000-car RoboTaxi deal with Lucid and Nuro, and delve into what it means for the future of ride-hailing. They also discuss OpenAI's new ChatGPT Agent, the company's internal culture, and why GPU costs might be the most important factor shaping the AI race.In this episode:Understand why Uber is moving away from its asset-light model to own RoboTaxisDiscover how Uber plans to compete with Waymo, Tesla, and other autonomous vehicle playersLearn the economics of hybrid fleets—and why surge pricing is still criticalUnpack OpenAI's confusing product lineup and what it reveals about their cultureEvaluate why GPU costs dominate OpenAI's strategic decisionsExplore the risks of AI agents acting autonomously—and why reliability is still a huge issueTake away lessons founders can apply when scaling teams and managing chaotic hypergrowthThe Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
Getting noticed is harder than ever, but Rajiv Ayyangar (CEO, Product Hunt) says most startups fail for a surprisingly simple reason: lack of clarity and velocity.In this episode of The Startup Podcast, Rajiv explains what separates breakout startups from the thousands that never gain traction. Drawing on insights from hundreds of Product Hunt launches, Rajiv shares how to craft a tagline that resonates, why launching early (and often) is critical, and how velocity builds a powerful feedback flywheel that accelerates growth.He also shares what Product Hunt's biggest winners did differently, why clarity forces better product thinking, and how AI tools are changing the speed of iteration, giving today's founders a unique advantage if they use them correctly.In this episode:Learn why clarity beats hype every timeHow to craft a tagline that drives viral tractionWhy velocity builds trust and better user feedbackThe power of launching early (and re-launching often)Lessons from Notion, Superbase & other Product Hunt standoutsWhether you're planning your first launch or trying to reignite growth, this conversation is packed with actionable lessons for founders who want to stand out.The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
Is Apple losing its edge in the AI race? And what does it mean for startups when big tech strip-mines entire companies for talent?Many early entrepreneurs believe giant tech firms are unbeatable, but this episode reveals how even industry leaders can stumble—and what founders can learn from their missteps.In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein discuss the AI Chaos Week that the tech industry just witnessed. From Apple's AI leadership crisis to Intel's shocking admission of defeat in AI chips, they share hard-earned insights on strategy, leadership, and staying competitive in a brutal talent war.In this episode, you will:Learn why Apple's conservative AI strategy is costing it top talent, and what founders can do differentlyDiscover why Intel publicly admitting defeat might actually be brilliant strategy for survivalExplore the brutal Windsurf talent raid and how “acqui-raids” are changing Silicon Valley's startup cultureEvaluate whether AI tools actually slow senior engineers more productiveSee what startup founders can learn from big tech's talent wars when building and retaining teamsDecide if playing it safe (Apple) or betting big (Meta) is the smarter move in fast-changing marketsThe Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
Can you really build and launch a startup without writing code, or even knowing how to?As AI tools promise lightning-fast product development, many founders still fall into old traps: over-validating, under-executing, or waiting too long for a technical cofounder.In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein are joined by Eric Simons, founder of StackBlitz and creator of the viral AI app builder Bolt.new. Eric shares how modern tools like Bolt and Cursor are redefining what it means to be a founder, turning product managers, designers, and even marketers into full-stack startup builders.They explore how AI coding agents are changing team composition, cycle times, and what the real founder skillset looks like in 2025.In this episode, you will:Discover why reality-based iteration—not ideas—is the true startup superpowerLearn how AI tools like Bolt give non-technical founders real shots on goalUnderstand the evolving role of the technical cofounder in the AI eraCompare top-down and bottom-up AI workflows (e.g. Bolt vs Cursor)Avoid common pitfalls when prompting AI tools to build production-grade appsExplore how startup team roles are converging—and where creative tension still mattersHear the origin story of Bolt's breakout growth and what made it an overnight success (after 7 years)The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
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