Podcasts about lean startups

In this week's episode of The Conference Room, host Simon Lader sits down with Jeremy Vaughan, an entrepreneur, investor, and CEO of Start Left Security. Jeremy shares his journey from graduating from the University of North Florida to becoming a successful entrepreneur. He discusses the importance of taking risks, the challenges of startup life, and the mission behind Start Left Security.00:00:  Simon introduces the podcast and this week's guest, Jeremy Vaughan2:29 Jeremy talks about gaining experience outside of traditional corporate environments and the value of real-world learning.05:25 Anecdotes about learning to drive and the importance of real-life experiences in developing skills.09:20 Discussion on the impact of the Lean Startup methodology and its application in real-world scenarios.12:01 Addressing the chicken-and-egg problem of needing funding to build a product and needing a product to secure funding.15:25 Jeremy shares how Start Left Security was able to bootstrap and build a product with limited resources.18:11 The transition from product development to focusing on sales and go-to-market strategies.21:03 Balancing the demands of a startup with empathy for team members' personal situations.25:06 The need for salespeople and leaders to accelerate the go-to-market strategy and the importance of operational roles like sales engineers and customer 29:04 Balancing the demands of a startup with empathy for team members' personal situations and the impact on the business.39:05 Jeremy discusses the current focus on raising capital, differentiating from competitors, and expanding the company's capabilities.To learn more about Jeremy Vaughan please visit his Linkedin ProfileTo learn more about Start Left Security please visit their websiteYOUR HOST - SIMON LADER    Simon Lader is the host of The Conference Room, Co-Founder of global executive search firm Salisi Human Capital, and lead generation consultancy Flow and Scale. Since 1997, Simon has helped cybersecurity vendors to build highly effective teams, and since 2022 he has helped people create consistent revenue through consistent lead generation.        Get to know more about Simon at:      Website: https://simonlader.com/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonlader  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/headhuntersimonlader/      The Conference Room is available onSpotifyApple podcasts Amazon MusicIHeartRadio

Bienvenidos a un nuevo episodio de Spicy4tuna. En el día de hoy hablaremos sobre cuánto ganan los CEO's del S&P 500, el problema de trabajar con familiares y amigos, el rápido paso del tiempo, la empresa de juegos baratos de Willyrex y el libro de Lean Startup. Sin más dilación, empecemos. ☕ Prueba el mejor café de especialidad directo a la puerta de tu casa con Incapto: https://bit.ly/4aicFHu Crea tu Página Web con Hostinger: https://www.hostinger.com/spicy4tuna ️ Cupón de 10% de Descuento para planes de +12 meses: SPICY4TUNA ️ Consigue tus entradas para Madrid Economic Forum con un 10% de descuento con el cupón SPICY: https://madrid.economicforum.es/?referral-code=spicy4tuna ️ Disfruta de 30 días gratis y acceder a los mejores podcast sin anuncios en Podimo: https://go.podimo.com/spicy4tuna Contacta con Hausum para pedir más información sobre su servicio de inspección de viviendas: https://spicy4tuna.com/hausum Invierte en inmuebles de forma pasiva y sin dolores de cabeza con Invesiva: https://link.inversiva.com/spicy4tuna_youtube Encuentra tu hogar con un alquiler con opción a compra fácil y flexible con Wannaprop: https://wannaprop.es/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=spicy4tuna&utm_campaign=acceso_a_la_vivienda : Invierte de forma segura y recibe un 2,27% sobre tu efectivo con Trade Republic: https://trade.re/spicy4tuna Invertir conlleva riesgos, los rendimientos no están garantizados. Aplican T&Cs. Abre tu cuenta de empresa en Finom y comienza a operar en 24h: https://bit.ly/SpicyFinom Aprende a hablar inglés como un Nativo: https://youtalkonline.com/spicy4tuna ️ El curso digital #1 de Oratoria y Comunicación para Hablar en Público con Confianza: https://go.hotmart.com/L97199651U ════════════════ ️ Accede a la Web de Spicy4tuna y Suscríbete a nuestra Newsletter: https://www.spicy4tuna.com Contacto para Sponsors ➡ https://tally.so/r/nrPNE5 Email de Contacto ➡ podcast@spicy4tuna.com ════════════════ Todos los episodios completos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9XxulgDZKuzf6zuPWcuF6anvQOrukMom ════════════════ REDES SOCIALES DE SPICY4TUNA ➜ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/spicy4tunapodcast/ ➜ TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@spicy4tuna ➜ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/spicy4tuna ════════════════ ️ ESCUCHA SPICY4TUNA EN FORMATO PODCAST Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2QPC17Z9LhTntCA4c3Ijk9?si=39b610a14bb24f1f iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/es/podcast/spicy4tuna/id1714279648 iVoox: https://www.ivoox.com/escuchar-audios-spicy4tuna_al_33258956_1.html ════════════════ ¿QUIÉNES SOMOS? · Euge Oller: https://www.instagram.com/euge.oller/ · Willyrex: https://www.instagram.com/willyrex/ · Marc Urgell: https://www.instagram.com/marcurgelldiaz/ · Alvaro845: https://www.instagram.com/alvaro845/ ════════════════ CAPÍTULOS 00:00:00 INTRODUCCIÓN 00:00:56 VAMOS AL GRANO 00:02:50 TRABAJAR CON FAMILIARES Y AMIGOS 00:34:14 EL RÁPIDO PASO DEL TIEMPO 00:47:09 ¿QUÉ HACE ÁLVARO 845? 00:56:06 LA EMPRESA DE JUEGOS BARATOS DE WILLY 01:13:53 LOS SALARIOS DE LOS CEO's DEL S&P 500 01:34:52 LEAN STARTUP

Bienvenidos a un nuevo episodio de Spicy4tuna. En el día de hoy hablaremos sobre cuánto ganan los CEO's del S&P 500, el problema de trabajar con familiares y amigos, el rápido paso del tiempo, la empresa de juegos baratos de Willyrex y el libro de Lean Startup. Sin más dilación, empecemos. ☕ Prueba el mejor café de especialidad directo a la puerta de tu casa con Incapto: https://bit.ly/4aicFHu Crea tu Página Web con Hostinger: https://www.hostinger.com/spicy4tuna ️ Cupón de 10% de Descuento para planes de +12 meses: SPICY4TUNA ️ Consigue tus entradas para Madrid Economic Forum con un 10% de descuento con el cupón SPICY: https://madrid.economicforum.es/?referral-code=spicy4tuna ️ Disfruta de 30 días gratis y acceder a los mejores podcast sin anuncios en Podimo: https://go.podimo.com/spicy4tuna Contacta con Hausum para pedir más información sobre su servicio de inspección de viviendas: https://spicy4tuna.com/hausum Invierte en inmuebles de forma pasiva y sin dolores de cabeza con Invesiva: https://link.inversiva.com/spicy4tuna_youtube Encuentra tu hogar con un alquiler con opción a compra fácil y flexible con Wannaprop: https://wannaprop.es/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=spicy4tuna&utm_campaign=acceso_a_la_vivienda : Invierte de forma segura y recibe un 2,27% sobre tu efectivo con Trade Republic: https://trade.re/spicy4tuna Invertir conlleva riesgos, los rendimientos no están garantizados. Aplican T&Cs. Abre tu cuenta de empresa en Finom y comienza a operar en 24h: https://bit.ly/SpicyFinom Aprende a hablar inglés como un Nativo: https://youtalkonline.com/spicy4tuna ️ El curso digital #1 de Oratoria y Comunicación para Hablar en Público con Confianza: https://go.hotmart.com/L97199651U ════════════════ ️ Accede a la Web de Spicy4tuna y Suscríbete a nuestra Newsletter: https://www.spicy4tuna.com Contacto para Sponsors ➡ https://tally.so/r/nrPNE5 Email de Contacto ➡ podcast@spicy4tuna.com ════════════════ Todos los episodios completos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9XxulgDZKuzf6zuPWcuF6anvQOrukMom ════════════════ REDES SOCIALES DE SPICY4TUNA ➜ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/spicy4tunapodcast/ ➜ TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@spicy4tuna ➜ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/spicy4tuna ════════════════ ️ ESCUCHA SPICY4TUNA EN FORMATO PODCAST Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2QPC17Z9LhTntCA4c3Ijk9?si=39b610a14bb24f1f iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/es/podcast/spicy4tuna/id1714279648 iVoox: https://www.ivoox.com/escuchar-audios-spicy4tuna_al_33258956_1.html ════════════════ ¿QUIÉNES SOMOS? · Euge Oller: https://www.instagram.com/euge.oller/ · Willyrex: https://www.instagram.com/willyrex/ · Marc Urgell: https://www.instagram.com/marcurgelldiaz/ · Alvaro845: https://www.instagram.com/alvaro845/ ════════════════ CAPÍTULOS 00:00:00 INTRODUCCIÓN 00:00:56 VAMOS AL GRANO 00:02:50 TRABAJAR CON FAMILIARES Y AMIGOS 00:34:14 EL RÁPIDO PASO DEL TIEMPO 00:47:09 ¿QUÉ HACE ÁLVARO 845? 00:56:06 LA EMPRESA DE JUEGOS BARATOS DE WILLY 01:13:53 LOS SALARIOS DE LOS CEO's DEL S&P 500 01:34:52 LEAN STARTUP

How do you build a multi-million dollar e-commerce business with just one employee? Is it possible to escape the corporate grind without raising venture capital or hiring a huge team?On this episode of The Freedom Framework Show, host Sam Silverman sits down with David Groechel, founder of the successful pickleball brand 11SIX24. David shares his incredible journey from early entrepreneurial hustles and corporate sales roles at places like HubSpot (plus a candid story about a failed bar!) to launching and scaling a $15 million potential e-commerce operation built on lean principles, AI automation, and zero paid advertising.Discover David's playbook for hyper-efficiency, including:Lessons learned from corporate bureaucracy and how it inspired his lean mindset.Leveraging AI agents for customer support and marketing (even if you're not technical).Building a powerful brand through founder-led content, community engagement, and a thriving affiliate network.The power of focusing on the 20% of activities that drive 80% of revenue.How he started his business for under $10,000 and prioritized action over analysis.Maintaining impressive profit margins through operational efficiency.Actionable advice for anyone currently in a high-paying W2 role who dreams of building their own freedom and sustainable wealth.This conversation is packed with insights for aspiring entrepreneurs, current business owners looking to optimize, and anyone feeling trapped in the 9-to-5. Learn how simplicity scales and how modern tools can help you build your own version of the Freedom Framework.Find David's paddles at: https://11six24.com/Learn more about building your own freedom at The Freedom Framework Show.(Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Lean Startup, AI in Business, Ecommerce, W2 Escape, Financial Freedom, Business Automation, Sam Silverman, David Groechel, 11SIX24, Pickleball, Side Hustle, Building Wealth, Corporate Escape, Small Business Owner, Profitability, Zero Ad Spend)

Join Melissa Perri on the latest episode of the Product Thinking Podcast as she chats with Jake Knapp, creator of Design Sprint at Google, and general partner at Character Capital. Known for for his seminal book “Sprint”, Jake discusses nuances from his latest book, "Click," and emphasizes the critical role differentiation plays in product success.This episode dives into the importance of starting product ideation with a clear differentiation strategy, ensuring that by the time you're ready to launch, you're not just another face in the crowd. Learn how to apply Jake's insights to make your products stand out from the rest, using the Foundation Sprint.Want to understand how to make your product unique in today's competitive market? Tune in for some practical takeaways from Jake's extensive experience helping startups and established companies refine their product strategies.You'll hear us talk about:5:53 - The Power of DifferentiationJake explains why thinking about differentiation should be the starting point of any product project, and how it connects to finding product-market fit.16:48 - Foundation Sprint to Design SprintJake walks through how a two-day foundation sprint can set the perfect stage for design sprints, helping teams define their hypotheses and move quickly from ideas to testable prototypes.35:53 - Lean Startup vs. Design SprintExplore the similarities and differences between Lean Startup and Design Sprint methodologies, and why rapid iteration and experimentation are key to product success.Episode resources:Click book: https://www.theclickbook.com/Jake on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-knapp/Try Liveblocks: https://liveblocks.io/Timestamps:00:00 Introduction02:57 Dear Melissa06:57 Finding the gap before building14:39 Foundation sprint and why differentiation matters25:21 Customer research timing and magic lenses30:29 How to use lenses for decision-making35:53 Lean Startup vs design sprint and planning time43:19 Reclaim case study

In this episode we interview Ann Carden. Ann is one of the top business growth consultants and strategists for people who want to accelerate growth to multiple 7+ figures. She is an internationally best-selling author, keynote speaker and podcast host.In this conversation Ann shares her extensive experience with me in how she's built and exited multiple businesses, emphasizing the importance of testing ideas and understanding market needs. She discusses the challenges faced in the coaching industry, the significance of targeting the right market for premium clients, and the value of writing expert books that align with business goals.  Use the discount code PODCAST for $50 off a ticket to our upcoming Testing Business Ideas with ChatGPT Workshop on April 29th: www.eventbrite.com/e/1309306534089/?discount=PODCAST

How does crowdfunding fit into a startup's fundraising strategy? In this intriguing episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia Dawood converses with guest Woodie Neiss about how crowdfunding has emerged as a transformative option for entrepreneurs seeking capital. The conversation unveils the ways securities-based crowdfunding is reshaping how new ventures are funded, making investments more accessible to various investors.Woodie Neiss, an experienced entrepreneur and a key advocate for crowdfunding legislation, shares his journey from Wall Street to becoming a pivotal figure in changing securities laws. His efforts have helped launch a thriving crowdfunding industry that offers over $2.8 billion in raised capital to more than 8,000 startups. He is also one of the founders of Crowdfund Capital Advisors (CCA), a crowdfunding advisory, implementation, and education firm.This episode is a must-listen for anyone involved in entrepreneurship, providing insights into significant crowdfunding developments and statistics. Woodie discusses how the industry has evolved, highlighting trends in sectors like healthcare and technology, and explaining how crowdfunding complements traditional fundraising strategies. Whether you're an investor, entrepreneur, or policymaker, this episode offers valuable perspectives on the current and future state of investment crowdfunding. To get the latest from Woodie Neiss, you can follow him below!https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherwoodneiss/https://crowdfundcapitaladvisors.com/https://a.co/d/f9987We - Investomers: How Customers-Turned-Investors are Shaping the Future of Early-Stage Finance Sign up for Marcia's newsletter to receive tips and the latest on Angel Investing!Website: www.marciadawood.comLearn more about the documentary Show Her the Money: www.showherthemoneymovie.comAnd don't forget to follow us wherever you are!Apple Podcasts: https://pod.link/1586445642.appleSpotify: https://pod.link/1586445642.spotifyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/angel-next-door-podcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theangelnextdoorpodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marciadawood

Join host Tom Shiels as he speaks with Dr David Roach about his latest book The Innovation Approach: Overcoming the Limitations of Design Thinking and the Lean Startup. The conversation covers the challenges faced by modern innovation methodologies and the opportunities that exist when a robust concept is combined with a realistic business model. Welcome to Emerald Podcast Series. Join our hosts as they talk to experts using their research to create real impact in society. In each episode we explore the role research plays in our modern world, and ask how it can contribute to solving the complex environmental, economic, social and political challenges facing our planet.

In this dynamic episode, Scott Stirrett is joined by Eric Ries — entrepreneur, bestselling author of The Lean Startup and The Startup Way, and founder of the Long-Term Stock Exchange (LTSE). He explores how the principles of experimentation, vision, and agility can transform not only startups, but also individual careers. Eric shares how the Lean Startup methodology, originally designed to help businesses thrive in uncertainty, can empower early-career professionals to make bold decisions, test hypotheses about their work, and adapt to a rapidly evolving world. From founding a stock exchange with nothing but an idea and a government form, to navigating the rise of generative AI, Eric draws on decades of experience to offer practical advice for anyone navigating career ambiguity. Whether you're building your first MVP, pivoting in response to market changes, or trying to articulate your personal values in an age of institutional distrust, this episode offers a timely blueprint for embracing uncertainty with purpose.

BONUS: The End of Product Management? Three Experts Reveal the Unstoppable Rise of Product Engineers With Anton Zaides, Rafa Paez, and Max Piechota In this BONUS episode, we explore the emerging concept of the Product Engineer with three experts in the field: Anton Zaides, Rafa Paez, and Max Piechota. Together, they discuss how software engineers are evolving beyond just technical skills to embrace product thinking, business understanding, and customer empathy. This shift represents a move toward what they call "M-skilled" professionals who combine technical expertise with product sensibility to create greater impact. The Evolution of Software Engineering "The role of the software engineer is evolving to a product engineer...they understand what to build and why they are building it." Rafa Paez kicks off the conversation by sharing insights from his article on Substack, titled "The Rise of the 100x Product Engineer." He explains how the modern software engineer is taking on greater ownership of their work, focusing not just on writing code but understanding the underlying business reasons for features. This new breed of engineers thinks critically about product metrics, challenges assumptions, and takes extreme ownership of outcomes rather than just outputs. Breaking Product Management "Engineers don't really care about what they work on...but what if they did?" Anton Zaides discusses his provocative Substack article "Product Management is broken, a change is coming," where he challenges the traditional separation between engineers and product decisions. He describes the phenomenon of the "ZOOM-based product manager" who remains disconnected from both users and engineers, and contrasts this with engineers who genuinely care about the products they build. Anton argues that when engineers are invested in the product outcomes, the entire development process improves. For a podcast episode with Anton Zaides about the Product Management is broken article, listen to this Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast episode. Measuring What Matters "We need to measure the product outcome, the customer value and incentivize developers based on that." Max Piechota shares how his journey toward product engineering began through conversations with his CEO about measuring software engineer performance. His research led him to realize that traditional engineering metrics often miss what truly matters - the value delivered to customers. Max advocates for aligning developer incentives with product outcomes rather than just code output, representing a fundamental shift in how we evaluate technical contributions. Catalyzing the Transformation "What helped me change was working with those people that wanted to create products." The conversation turns to practical ways to foster this evolution toward product engineering: Max describes how exposure to product-oriented colleagues and learning about the Lean Startup methodology transformed his perspective as a developer. Anton outlines a three-step approach: helping engineers see metrics and user interactions, building business literacy, and connecting more deeply with the domain. The group discusses the importance of helping engineers understand concepts like gross margin and the AARRR framework (Acquisition, Activation, Retention, Revenue, Referral). Beyond Solutions to Problems "Often we only focus on the solution, without understanding the actual problem we are trying to solve." One crucial insight from the conversation is the need for engineers to take a step back from solution mode and better understand the underlying problems. The panel shares practical tips: Clarify how the business works and identify opportunities for improvement Be thoughtful about how developers are incentivized Connect technical decisions to financial outcomes Focus on landing page conversion and other customer-facing metrics when they're the bottleneck to growth This mindset shift enables engineers to make more strategic decisions about where to invest their technical efforts for maximum impact. About Anton Zaides, Rafa Páez, Max Piechota Anton Zaides is the founder of Manager.dev, where he shares insights about engineering management and product development. With extensive experience in both engineering and product leadership roles, Anton is passionate about bridging the gap between technical execution and product vision. You can link with Anton Zaides on Substack. For inquiries, reach him at Anton@manager.dev. Rafa Paez is a product engineering advocate who wrote the influential article "The Rise of the 100x Product Engineer." Through his work, Rafa explores how engineers can expand their impact by embracing product thinking and business understanding alongside technical skills. You can link with Rafa Paez on Substack. Find more of his work at rafapaez.com. Max Piechota is a thought leader in the engineering productivity space who has researched effective ways to measure and improve developer performance. He advocates for outcome-based metrics that focus on customer value rather than code output. You can link with Max Piechota on Substack.

Dan Magy's journey from a sun-soaked surf town in Southern California to building some of the most impactful defense technology in modern warfare doesn't follow any conventional path. He's not a coder, nor does he claim to be a technical wizard. But what Dan lacks in technical prowess, he makes up for in vision, grit, and relentless curiosity. Dan's latest venture, Firestorm Labs has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Harpoon VC, 645 Ventures, Feld Ventures, and Lockheed Martin Ventures.

In today's founder spotlight, we're joined by a rare breed, Adam Schwartz, who has lived the full startup cycle, not once but multiple times, and has done so on his own terms. He is a founder who went from building scrappy marketplaces to scaling a profitable, venture-free company. Adam's latest venture, Parable, has secured investment from founder-operators: the minds behind HubSpot, Ramp, Vimeo, Superhuman, Squarespace, and more.

In this episode we interview Deon Crasto.  Deon started his product management career at OnDeck Capital, a small business lending platform, where he focused on payments growth. He currently leads payments and ML- driven risk assessment at Velocity Global. Deon and I discussed the importance of curiosity and problem-solving in product management. We talked about the significance of metrics, and in particular, how to avoid vanity metrics. Deon shared some of the challenges of aligning teams with company goals and navigating regulations in experimentation.  Use the discount code PODCAST for $50 off a ticket to our upcoming Testing Business Ideas with ChatGPT Workshop on April 29th: www.eventbrite.com/e/1309306534089/?discount=PODCAST

Did you like the episode? Send me a text and let me know!!Launching Your Physical Product: Prototyping to MarketingIn this episode of 'Business Conversations With Pi,' Skoob and his AI co-host, Pi, delve into the essential steps for new entrepreneurs launching physical products. The discussion offers comprehensive advice on market research, design, prototyping, manufacturing, and marketing strategies. Listeners will learn about tools like CAD software and 3D printing, gather tips for refining prototypes, and receive guidance on creating a strong brand identity and effective pricing strategy. The episode also includes book recommendations to further support entrepreneurial success. Whether you're just starting out or looking to enhance your existing strategies, this episode is packed with actionable insights. "The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries:   "Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products" by Nir Eyal:"Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind" by Al Ries and Jack Trout: "The Ultimate Sales Machine" by Chet Holmes:00:00 Introduction to Business Conversations with Pi00:46 Meet Your Hosts: KU and Pi01:11 Diving into Entrepreneurial Questions01:59 Special Focus: Sunglasses Startup02:37 Steps to Launching a Product03:42 Prototyping Tips for Sunglasses04:49 Getting Help with CAD and 3D Printing05:50 Marketing and Pricing Strategies06:54 Recommended Reading for Entrepreneurs07:59 Final Words of Wisdom08:24 Conclusion and Next Steps Thank you for being a Skoobeliever!! If you have questions about the show or you want to be a guest please contact me at one of these social mediasTwitter......... ..@djskoob2021 Facebook.........Facebook.com/skoobamiInstagram..... instagram.com/uepodcast2021tiktok....... @djskoob2021Email............... Uepodcast2021@gmail.comAcross The Start Line Facebook Community If you would like to be coached on your entrepreneurial adventure please email me at for a 2 hour free discovery call! This is a $700 free gift to my Skoobelievers!! Contact me Now!! On Twitter @doittodaycoachdoingittodaycoaching@gmailcom

If you've ever done data analysis in Python, there's a good chance you've used Pandas, the groundbreaking open-source library that transformed how data scientists work. But behind Pandas is Wes McKinney's story of intellectual curiosity, risk-taking, and a relentless drive to build useful tools for others. Wes's latest initiative, Composed Ventures, is a micro venture capital (VC) fund that invests in early-stage data infrastructure, AI, and ML companies, as well as next-generation Python tooling and other related technologies.

In This Episode, We Cover:What success looks like for entrepreneurs in 2025How to build real wealth (hint: it's not about 7 figures—it's about freedom)The core marketing principles that still outperform AI gimmicksThe power of email, data, and owning your audienceHow to build and scale community in a disconnected digital worldHow Moola is helping the next generation become financially savvy

Toma el control financiero de tu negocio. Aprende a lidiar con tus finanzas de manera más eficiente, relevante y amena.

When you hear the term self-made, you might think of grit, long nights, and entrepreneurial tenacity. But in Suneera Madhani's case, it's a generational story—one forged in gas station aisles, sharpened in corporate boardrooms, and carried forward in billion-dollar exits. Suneera's latest company, Worth AI, has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Silicon Valley Bank, Ingeborg Investments, DeepWork Capital, and Florida Funders.

In a world where adult beverages have long been synonymous with alcohol, Bill Shufelt saw something different—a cultural and economic opportunity hidden in plain sight. He successfully navigated the startup ecosystem--scaling, manufacturing, building, and financing his company. Bill's company, Athletic Brewing, has attracted funding from top-tier investors like General Atlantic, Keurig Dr Pepper, Blake Mycoskie, and Lance Armstrong.

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 1638: Ryan Hoover makes a compelling case for building products in public, showing how transparency builds trust, attracts early adopters, and fosters real-time feedback loops. He also shares a behind-the-scenes look at how he uses his email list as a tool for discovery, testing, and community-building, proving it's not just a broadcast channel but a powerful engine for product validation. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://medium.com/@rrhoover/why-you-should-build-your-product-in-public-e28c54629bc1 & https://medium.com/@rrhoover/how-i-use-my-email-list-dfd1fdde61c5 Quotes to ponder: "Build in public and you'll build an audience." "I ask questions to learn. I share my process to inspire." "Your email list is more than a distribution channel; it's a product discovery tool." Episode references: The Lean Startup: https://www.amazon.com/Lean-Startup-Entrepreneurs-Continuous-Innovation/dp/0307887898 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Frank Mattes is the Founder and CEO of Lean Scaleup, a firm specializing in out-of-the-box innovation and corporate new-business development. He co-created the Lean Scaleup methodology, collaborating with over 100 experts from academia and industry. With a career spanning more than 25 years, Frank has advised numerous international corporations, including Fortune 10 companies. He has repeatably been named Global Thought Leader and influencer on Entrepreneurship and Lean Startup by Thinkers360. In this episode… Businesses often face the challenge of balancing short-term success with long-term growth. With rapid technological advancements and shifting customer demands, how can organizations innovate while maintaining their current operations? Is it possible to prepare for the future without neglecting the present? Frank Mattes, a seasoned expert in innovation and business strategy, offers practical insights into this dilemma. Drawing from his extensive career, Frank suggests that businesses must integrate immediate needs and future innovations by fostering a culture of out-of-the-box thinking. He emphasizes the importance of leadership in guiding teams through transformations, particularly in challenging industries. By listening to employee feedback and aligning short-term decisions with long-term visions, companies can avoid stagnation and adapt to change. Tune in to this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast as John Corcoran interviews Frank Mattes, Founder and CEO of Lean Scaleup, discussing how businesses can scale innovation while balancing current needs. Frank shares his expertise on adapting to disruption, the importance of innovation leadership, and lessons from companies like Kodak and Fujifilm. He also explains how Amazon and Amadeus successfully navigated the complexities of business transformation.

What if the key to building better teams and products is hidden in our brain chemistry? In this episode, Brad Nelson joins us to break down the neuroscience behind motivation, happiness, and productivity—especially for Agile teams. From dopamine and serotonin to stress hormones like cortisol, we explore how brain science can inform leadership, team culture, and workplace habits. Plus, we connect these insights to practical Agile practices like pair programming, retrospectives, and sustainable velocity. Unlock the full potential of your product team with Integral's player coaches, experts in lean, human-centered design. Visit integral.io/convergence for a free Product Success Lab workshop to gain clarity and confidence in tackling any product design or engineering challenge. Inside the episode... The four key brain chemicals that drive motivation and happiness Why a lack of control is the most stressful thing at work The neuroscience behind agile practices  How to use gratitude, movement, and breaks to boost productivity The connection between stress, cortisol, and sustainable team performance Practical ways leaders can create high-performing, engaged teams The surprising link between happiness, mastery, and continuous learning Mentioned in this episode Dan Pink's work on autonomy, mastery, and purpose - https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_the_puzzle_of_motivation?podconvergence DC and Ryan - https://www.apa.org/members/content/intrinsic-motivation?podconvergence Shawn Achor - https://www.shawnachor.com/?podconvergence Positive Psychology  - https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/positive-psychology?podconvergence Upward Spiral by Dr Alex Korb - https://www.amazon.com/Upward-Spiral-Neuroscience-Reverse-Depression/dp/1626251207?podconvergence Hawthorne studies - https://www.library.hbs.edu/hc/hawthorne/01.html?podconvergence Maslow's hierarchy of needs - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs?podconvergence Meik Wiking and the Happiness Research Institute - https://www.happinessresearchinstitute.com/experts/meik-wiking?podconvergence HarvardX: Managing Happiness: https://www.edx.org/learn/happiness/harvard-university-managing-happiness?podconvergence Book: The High 5 Habit by Mel Robbins: https://www.amazon.com/High-Habit-Take-Control-Simple/dp/1401962122?podconvergence TED talk on The brain-changing benefits of exercise by Wendy Suzuki: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHY0FxzoKZE?podconvergence Book: The infinite game by Simon Sinek: https://www.amazon.com/Infinite-Game-Simon-Sinek/dp/073521350X?podconvergence Peter Senge's “Learning Organization” - https://infed.org/mobi/peter-senge-and-the-learning-organization/?podconvergence Brad's favorite product: Nvidia Shield for streaming content: https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/shield/shield-tv-pro/?podconvergence Brad's podcast Agile for Agilists: https://www.agileforagilists.com/?podconvergence Brad's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradgile/?podconvergence Places to get started on finding a therapist:  Psychology Today - https://www.psychologytoday.com/?podconvergence Better Help - https://www.betterhelp.com/?podconvergence Talk Space - https://www.talkspace.com/?podconvergence Subscribe to the Convergence podcast wherever you get podcasts including video episodes to get updated on the other crucial conversations that we'll post on YouTube at youtube.com/@convergencefmpodcast Learn something? Give us a 5 star review and like the podcast on YouTube. It's how we grow.   Follow the Pod Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/convergence-podcast/ X: https://twitter.com/podconvergence Instagram: @podconvergence

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 1638: Ryan Hoover makes a compelling case for building products in public, showing how transparency builds trust, attracts early adopters, and fosters real-time feedback loops. He also shares a behind-the-scenes look at how he uses his email list as a tool for discovery, testing, and community-building, proving it's not just a broadcast channel but a powerful engine for product validation. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://medium.com/@rrhoover/why-you-should-build-your-product-in-public-e28c54629bc1 & https://medium.com/@rrhoover/how-i-use-my-email-list-dfd1fdde61c5 Quotes to ponder: "Build in public and you'll build an audience." "I ask questions to learn. I share my process to inspire." "Your email list is more than a distribution channel; it's a product discovery tool." Episode references: The Lean Startup: https://www.amazon.com/Lean-Startup-Entrepreneurs-Continuous-Innovation/dp/0307887898 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this conversation, Chris Hood shares his diverse background in storytelling across various media, including movies, video games, and digital marketing. He emphasizes the importance of storytelling in engaging consumers and how it connects to business strategies. The discussion explores the iterative nature of game development, the significance of customer feedback in marketing, and the evolving role of AI in media. Chris also highlights the challenges of balancing creativity with market demands and the necessity of testing ideas with real audiences.

Some entrepreneurs build one company. Others become serial founders. Then there's Vadim Rogovskiy — a rare breed who has built, scaled, sold, shut down, invested, and started all over again. His journey involved switching industries and switching sides on both sides of the table. Vadim's latest venture, Stealth Startup, has developed EVE, an AI assistant that allows humans to focus on high-impact decisions while it handles the rest. AI can filter 80% of noise, 80% of less important threads, conversations, etc., thus extending human capabilities.

En este Webinar hablo acerca de cómo la investigación de mercados es clave para identificar oportunidades viables y reducir el riesgo de fracaso empresarial, cumpliendo cuatro roles clave: identificar necesidades desatendidas o insatisfechas, detectar cambios en el mercado, validar conceptos y productos, y dimensionar la oportunidad. En concreto, recomendé cinco estudios de mercado que son imprescindibles en este proceso: segmentación de mercado, análisis del customer journey, estudio de tendencias, pruebas de concepto y producto, y dimensionamiento del mercado potencial. No tienes que realizarlos todos. El criterio más importante para decidir cuál hacer y cuándo es el grado de incertidumbre que tienes sobre la oportunidad. Como comenté en el Webinar, la investigación de mercado tiene mucho que aportar, pero no es el único camino para identificar oportunidades de mercado. Otras maneras alternativas son: la observación, especialmente de los competidores a través de estudios de benchmarking; la adaptación de ideas exitosas de otros mercados al contexto local; y la experimentación mediante metodologías como Lean Startup. Este episodio de PuntoBiz es posible gracias a...Zoom: ⁠https://zoom.red/⁠ Gimar: https://gimardistribution.com/Daycohost: https://daycohost.com/Con el apoyo de...https://www.tendenciasdigitales.comRECURSOS:Suscríbete a mi boletín: ⁠https://www.carlosjimenez.net/registroDescarga mis ebooks: ⁠https://carlosjimenez.net/ebooks/⁠Website: ⁠http://www.carlosjimenez.net/⁠ Punto Biz es un podcast producido por Carlos Jimenez, experto en identificar tendencias del mercado y diseñar estrategias de negocios para aprovechar las oportunidades que se derivan de los cambios en el comportamiento de los consumidores en América Latina. En este podcast se habla de tendencias, marketing y estrategias de negocios. Suscríbete a Carlos Jimenez Punto Biz en las principales plataformas ¿Te gusto mi podcast? Califícame y agrega tu comentario.

Entrepreneurship is a rollercoaster ride, and few have navigated its twists and turns with as much grit and adaptability as Vikram Shekhawat. His journey is a testament to resilience, learning, and an unwavering vision when building, scaling, and exiting his many startups. Vikram's latest venture, ModalX, has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Plug and Play, Panache Ventures, Combine Venture Builders, and Thin Air Labs.

Rami Tamir is no stranger to the startup world. A seasoned entrepreneur with multiple successful exits, he has honed his ability to build, scale, and navigate acquisitions like a veteran baseball player hitting home runs with each venture. Rami's latest venture, Salto, has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Bessemer Venture Partners, Accel, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Salesforce Ventures.

In the world of entrepreneurship, few stories embody resilience, vision, and adaptation like that of Colin Wiel. A four-time founder, Colin has built and scaled multiple companies, navigated financial crises, pioneered tech-driven real estate ventures, and is now at the forefront of AI innovation. Colin's latest venture, Qurrent, has raised funding from friends, angels, strategic investors, and venture capitalists.

Product management is a complex and multifaceted role that requires a delicate balance of strategy, organization, and communication. In order to effectively manage products from ideation to launch and beyond, product managers need the right tools at their disposal. This is where product management tools come into play.  Hubert Palan, the founder and CEO of Productboard, is a key figure in the evolution of product management tools, drawing from his extensive background as an engineer turned product manager. He recognized the pressing need for a dedicated platform that addresses the unique challenges faced by product managers, emphasizing customer-centricity and segmentation, a perspective shaped by his studies under Steve Blank at UC Berkeley.  Traditional tools like Jira and Asana, according to Palan, often fall short in catering to the nuanced needs of product management, prompting the creation of Productboard to fill this gap, which now serves over 6,000 clients including major players like Zoom and JPMorgan Chase. By leveraging visual communication tools and focusing on customer segmentation, Palan believes product managers can better understand and cater to their target audience, ultimately driving product success and organizational growth.  Resource Links Follow Hubert Palan on LinkedIn Follow Hubert Palan on X (formerly Twitter) Explore Productboard Learn about Steve Blank's Lean Startup philosophy Follow Holly on LinkedIn Visit the Product Science Group website Explore Product Science Workshops    Quotes from Hubert Palan: “Because at the end of the day you have to make a decision. Do I add another use case? Do I satisfy a new need, Do I expand the set of capabilities that my product has or do I double down on what the use case that I already have, but make them better or improve the usability? And that's every day.” Hubert Palan (18:06) “Frequently Personas are more like a design user Personas as opposed to Persona representing the business market segments that product managers need to think about. Because at the end of the day it needs to be a viable business, not just a product that satisfies needs of a specific user.” - Hubert Palan (21:16) “It's challenging and there's no shortcut, unfortunately. I mean, you have to do the workshops, you have to communicate frequently. You need to do the AMA sessions, you need to have the big 10-page document and then a summary of it. And it's constant communication, constant coordination.” - Hubert Palan (31:54)  Lab Notes Lab Note 603.1: Roadmaps are a conversation, not a one-way document.  Lab Note 603.2: Tools like roadmaps, customer interview snapshots, ideal customer profiles, competitive landscapes, and journey maps help leaders share context and set direction.  Lab Note 603.3: For more valuable personas, enrich them with data and an understanding of both behavior and business opportunities.  Lab Note 603.4: Find simple questions to identify who is best suited to get value from your product.  Ready to elevate your product leadership game? Dive deep into practical solutions for real-world product challenges. Register now: productsciencegroup.com/services View the transcript and the ⁠full episode description on the Product Science Podcast website here.⁠

Molham Aref's journey as an entrepreneur is nothing short of fascinating. With multiple successful ventures, big exits, and a deep history in AI, his story offers insights into the trials, triumphs, and evolution of the tech world, especially around the rise of AI. Molham's latest venture, RelationalAI, has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Madrona Venture Group, Addition, Tiger Global Management, and Menlo Ventures.

In the ever-evolving world of entrepreneurship, few stories stand out quite like Manolo Atala's. A founder from Mexico with an unconventional path, Manolo has navigated industries with precision, leveraging storytelling, trust, and a deep understanding of numbers to build and scale companies. Manolo's latest venture, Fairplay, has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Carlos Martin, Carlos Salinas, Nut VC, and DILA Capital.

Rish Gupta has had a long, winding journey filled with unexpected turns, painful challenges, and exhilarating wins. He has built and exited companies and is currently riding the incredible momentum and hype in the artificial intelligence world of AGIs. Rish's latest company, Spot AI, has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Redpoint Ventures, Scale Venture Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners, and StepStone Group.

David Young's journey to becoming a tech entrepreneur is anything but conventional. His career path took him from studying ancient Greek at Indiana University to Wall Street, and eventually to Silicon Valley, where he founded and scaled successful technology startups, including Joyent. David's latest venture, Federated Computer has attracted funding from top-tier investor, Lightning Ventures.

En este episodio de Las 3 Principales, tuve el placer de conversar con Alfonso Prim, emprendedor, especialista en SEO y marketing digital, y host del Innokabi Podcast. Alfonso trabajó por más de 11 años en grandes multinacionales como 3M e ICM, pero su espíritu inquieto lo llevó a emprender su propio camino.  Desde entonces, ha lanzado múltiples proyectos, enfrentado fracasos y aprendido valiosas lecciones en el proceso.En este episodio hablamos sobre:-  Qué es Lean Startup y cómo aplicarlo en tu negocio- Cómo minimizar riesgos al emprender con esta metodología - La importancia de iterar rápido y aprender del mercado- Su transición de empleado a emprendedor y qué aprendió en el camino  Si estás emprendiendo, o trabajas en una empresa que quiere innovar sin desperdiciar recursos, este episodio es para ti. Dale play!Sigue nuestro contenido aquí:Instagram: @cafedelexitoNewsletter gratuita con contenido exclusivo: www.cafedelexito.onlineSigue a Alfonso Prim en LinkedIn y escucha su podcast Innokabi Podcast 

In this conversation, David J Bland and Erich Archer discuss the intersection of AI and video production, exploring how AI tools are transforming workflows, the importance of iterative testing, and the future of content creation. Erich shares his journey from traditional video production to leveraging AI for efficiency and creativity, emphasizing the need for human reflection in the process. They also touch on the evolving landscape of video tools and the potential for AI to generate novel insights and ideas.

Entrepreneurship is often a winding road filled with unexpected twists, failures, and ultimately, moments of triumph. Few embody this journey as well as Michael Friedrich, who invested in and led Distalmotion from its infancy. Distalmotion has attracted funding from top-tier investors, such as Revival Healthcare Capital, Venturelab, Kinled Holding, and Swiss Entrepreneurs Fund.

From hiring philosophy to revenue operations, AI-powered outreach, and the challenges of selling AI-driven solutions to legacy businesses, Frank delivers hard-hitting insights for startup founders, sales leaders, and AI enthusiasts.

Building a successful company is rarely a linear journey. For Christine Spang, co-founder and CTO of Nylas, the journey has been marked by significant pivots, bold decisions, and relentless perseverance when scaling the business and raising capital. Nylas has attracted funding from top-tier investors like 8VC, Round13 Capital, Spark Capital, and Formation 8.

Artificial intelligence is radically transforming software development. AI-assisted coding tools are generating billions in investment, promising faster development cycles, and shifting engineering roles from code authors to code editors. But how does this impact software quality, security, and team dynamics? How can product teams embrace AI without falling into the hype? In this episode, AI assisted Agile expert Mike Gehard shares his hands-on experiments with AI in software development. From his deep background at Pivotal Labs to his current work pushing the boundaries of AI-assisted coding, Mike reveals how AI tools can amplify quality practices, speed up prototyping, and even challenge the way we think about source code. He discusses the future of pair programming, the evolving role of test-driven development, and how engineers can better focus on delivering user value. Unlock the full potential of your product team with Integral's player coaches, experts in lean, human-centered design. Visit integral.io/convergence for a free Product Success Lab workshop to gain clarity and confidence in tackling any product design or engineering challenge. Inside the episode... Mike's background at Pivotal Labs and why he kept returning How AI is changing the way we think about source code as a liability Why test-driven development still matters in an AI-assisted world The future of pair programming with AI copilots The importance of designing better software in an AI-driven development process Using AI to prototype faster and build user-facing value sooner Lessons learned from real-world experiments with AI-driven development The risks of AI-assisted software, from hallucinations to security Mentioned in this episode Mike's Substack: https://aiassistedagiledevelopment.substack.com/ Mike's Github repo: https://github.com/mikegehard/ai-assisted-agile-development Pivotal Labs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pivotal_Labs 12-Factor Apps: https://12factor.net/  GitHub Copilot: https://github.com/features/copilot Cloud Foundry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_Foundry Lean Startup by Eric Ries: https://www.amazon.com/Lean-Startup-Entrepreneurs-Continuous-Innovation/dp/0307887898 Refactoring by Martin Fowler and Kent Beck https://www.amazon.com/Refactoring-Improving-Existing-Addison-Wesley-Signature/dp/0134757599 Dependabot: https://github.com/dependabot Tessl CEO Guy Podjarny's talk: https://youtu.be/e1a3WuxTY-k  Aider AI Pair programming terminal: https://aider.chat/ Gemini LLM: https://gemini.google.com/app Perplexity AI: https://www.perplexity.ai/ DeepSeek: https://www.deepseek.com/ Ian Cooper's talk on TDD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN9lftH0cJc Mike's newest Mountain Bike IBIS Ripmo V2S: https://www.ibiscycles.com/bikes/past-models/ripmo-v2s Mike's recommended house slippers: https://us.giesswein.com/collections/mens-wool-slippers/products/wool-slippers-dannheim Sorba Chattanooga Mountain Biking Trails: https://www.sorbachattanooga.org/localtrails Subscribe to the Convergence podcast wherever you get podcasts, including video episodes on YouTube at youtube.com/@convergencefmpodcast Learn something? Give us a 5-star review and like the podcast on YouTube. It's how we grow.

Lots of healthy disagreement in this week's THAT WAS THE WEEK tech show with Keith Teare. We debate the impact of AI on coding jobs, with Keith suggesting that while traditional coding skills may become less important, system architecture and AI guidance skills will be crucial to maintaining the value of human labor. We also discuss the rise of early-stage unicorns, military-tech AI start-ups, and disagree strongly on the status of billionaires, with Keith arguing that it's “not hard” to be a billionaire in Silicon Valley today. Here are the five KEEN ON takeaways from today's conversation:* Divergent Market and Valley Sentiment: While the stock market is having its worst performance since Trump's inauguration, Silicon Valley remains optimistic, particularly about AI. Keith argues there's no short-term correlation between Silicon Valley sentiment and market performance.* Evolution of Tech Skills: The rise of AI is changing the nature of technical skills needed in startups. Keith suggests that traditional coding skills are becoming less crucial, while the ability to architect systems and guide AI is becoming more important. He notes that universities are already adapting their computer science programs to include AI.* Rise of Efficient Startups: AI is enabling lean startups to do more with fewer people. Keith uses his own company Signal Rank as an example, noting they've built a complex system with just five people, two of whom are coders, highlighting a shift in how startups can be built efficiently.* Military-Tech Convergence: There's a growing trend of Silicon Valley companies entering the defense sector, exemplified by Saronic raising $600 million for autonomous warships. This represents a broader shift in how military technology is being developed and funded through private companies.* Debate about Wealth Creation: The conversation concludes with a debate about wealth accumulation, sparked by Robert Reich's controversial X post about billionaires. Keith argues that technology's global reach and distribution capabilities have made it easier than ever to build valuable companies, with Andrew strongly disputing the idea that becoming a billionaire is "not that hard."That Was The Week - February 22, 2025With Andrew Keen and Keith TeareAndrew Keen: Hello everybody. It is Saturday, February the 22nd, 2025. The last Saturday in February, the last Saturday we're going to do That Was The Week tech roundup. It's been an odd week. On the one hand, the stocks notched the worst week since Trump's inauguration six weeks ago. It's been a long six weeks. According to the Financial Times, the geopolitical rupture, which of course has been caused by Trump, has sparked a quiet market rebellion. Niall Ferguson had an interesting piece in today's Wall Street Journal about the demise of the United States because of its massive debt, and Elon Musk has been continuing to make a public fool of himself this week, waving a chainsaw and pretending to be an Argentine politician, which I'm not sure reflects that well on him. However, in spite of all that bad news, Keith Teare's That Was The Week newsletter is actually very optimistic. Unicorns are back, according to Keith, and we have an image, of course, created by AI of these imaginary beasts horses with horns. Keith is joining us, as always, from Palo Alto, the home of optimism. Keith, do you think it's coincidental that suddenly everyone is optimistic again in Silicon Valley whilst the market is sliding to those two things in an odd way, kind of go together?Keith Teare: There's no correlation between Silicon Valley and the markets at all in any day to day sense. There's long term correlation, but not short term. Silicon Valley is having a moment because of AI, and Grok Three was launched this week. Crunchbase launched its new AI driven data platform, and the CEO declared that historical data is dead, meaning only future predictive data is any good anymore.Andrew Keen: And historical data being dead. The future is predictive intelligence. What does that mean?Keith Teare: He means that it's now possible, because of AI, to see patterns and trends and predict them. Just knowing the past is not the point anymore. Obviously it's stretching a point. You still need the history from the past to see the trends. But he's saying the needle has turned from looking backwards to predicting the future because of data. That's true in biology as well. There's a massive arc this week announced a new model that understands DNA and can predict the likelihood of solving diseases.Andrew Keen: Your editorial this week, Keith, is quite personal. You know that as the person in charge of Signal Rank, your startup, AI has been remarkably helpful in it. You refer in the editorial to an interesting piece in the New York Times about how AI is changing Silicon Valley build startups like your own Signal. What does your experience at Signal Rank tell us about the future of startups?Keith Teare: Signal Rank is five people. Two of us have coding skills. We've raised $5 million ever to spend on building Signal. All the other money we raised is to invest in companies. That article is focusing on the fact that it's almost like the Lean Startup story from the early 2000s, except it's true this time, because the most expensive thing in a startup is people. And the one thing you need less of is people. That's a massive shift. Of course, if you're building large language models, the opposite is true, because the most expensive thing is GPUs, which you pay Nvidia for. And that's super expensive. But everything else that's sitting on top of that is getting faster, cheaper and better.Andrew Keen: You also refer to a New York Times piece about how AI is prompting an evolution, not an extinction for coders. Your son's a coder, in a sense, you're a coder. Ultimately, one and I was at this thing with Tim Draper a couple of weeks ago where he was talking about companies, billion dollar companies built and managed by single people won't ultimately make most coders extinct. Maybe not all. But when founders like yourselves simply become coders and you won't have the need for other help.Keith Teare: I make the point in an editorial that I didn't write a single line of code, but I've built a very complex system with lots of AI agents working together and delivering results for users. Learning to code is going to be a low requirement. A very high requirement is learning to architect and guide the AI because the AI can code, but it can't imagine systems to build or know when it got it right or when it got it wrong. The skill base is going to shift to what normally would be the domain of a product manager who has coding skills and can understand what's happening and can understand what it can ask for and what it can't ask for. But coding itself, learning Python, learning JavaScript or Java? Probably less essential.Andrew Keen: So what happens to kids like your son who just graduated and now works in Silicon Valley as a coder?Keith Teare: He'll still be needed for some time. In his company, they're not allowed to use AI yet. It's a little bit like dying skills always protect themselves until they can't. Engineers that are defensive or companies that are defensive about using AI are going to fall behind a little bit. But eventually everyone gets there because it's just a better way of doing things.Andrew Keen: You're an innovator and instinctive in terms of innovation. But are people going to start going to college and doing majors and working with AI rather than learning how to code? Will computer science be really about how to ask the right questions and ask it to do the correct things?Keith Teare: Yes, but to do that you need to understand systems architecture. My youngest son just got an offer from my old university in the UK, Kent, and it's for a course called Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, so they're already evolving the courses to teach the new skills. I think it's going to be imperative if you can talk to a machine and you can imagine what you want it to build. Imagine you could describe to a machine the website you'd really like for Keen on America, and it would build it, and then you'd look at what it built and say, no, I didn't mean that, I meant this. It gives you massive power to produce things.Andrew Keen: And I think it's also true with writers. I'm not a coder. But the thing with AI is it's not designed to replicate human writing. It's designed to answer questions and organize ideas in ways that are instant as opposed to taking hours or days for humans. So it's similar in that sense. Meanwhile, let's go back to your unicorns. It's all coming out of Crunchbase that your wife works for. She writes for it. And what is Crunchbase telling us this week about quote unquote minting early stage startups? Are unicorns back in fashion? We haven't talked about unicorns for about a year. We talk about them every week.Keith Teare: The rates of unicorn production declined massively from 2021 onwards and reached the bottom last year.Andrew Keen: While the market was strong and now it's falling and unicorns are back.Keith Teare: This article is specifically about early stage unicorns. These are unicorns that become unicorns at a series A or a series B round. They're raising very large sums of money. The top six series A raises this week all raised more than $50 million.Andrew Keen: And the average valuation I guess early round has jumped to 3.3 billion. But doesn't the unicorn term become slightly absurd if you're raising hundreds of millions of dollars? It's given that you're going to be a unicorn. But does that really mean anything?Keith Teare: If you try to put it into a rational framework, the amount of money put into a company and the valuation is determined by supply and demand and likely outcomes. Investors who are writing these checks are making a calculation of what this company will be worth in the next five to ten years. They're writing checks appropriate to a gain of at least ten times that money. They're projecting into the future a likely outcome from writing the checks and the competition to invest in these companies is so intense that the checks get bigger earlier. Obviously that creates risk. The risk is that you're making the call too early and you're going to be wrong in your predictions. The upside is that you know you're right and you'll be smiling all the way to the bank. That's just the nature of any technology transfer.Andrew Keen: Is this different from any other hysteria boom? Just the numbers are larger. Is this different from the dot-com boom where huge amounts of money were poured in? Most companies failed. Some succeeded, like Amazon or like web 2.0, or like social media or like crypto.Keith Teare: It's very similar. It's more like the gold rush because there really was gold. There really is gold. Even in the dot-com boom, the asset class of venture capital did very well. Individual investments failed, but the asset class as a whole did very well. When you allocate to a tech boom like AI really is and the AI boom is real, there's real value being produced and real change in human experience that's going to generate lots of money. Placing those bets at the asset class level makes sense. Individual investments is a totally different story.Andrew Keen: You also refer to Hunter Walk, who is a very smart guy. He said, you have to assume every company will have access to the same LLMs and voices. The challenge then is to build a company that thrives despite this reality. Given the commodification of AI and all these platforms from xAI to OpenAI to Anthropic AI to Google Gemini, that are basically now all the same. We're seeing this commodification of LLMs. Doesn't that point to a weakness in this AI hysteria?Keith Teare: You have to distinguish between LLMs, reasoning agents and agents that can do things. This week, Grok Three was launched. It's very good, by the way. But it's only a little bit better than all the others. So it didn't get the attention that say deepfaked.Andrew Keen: And next week someone will come out with something else that will be a little better. And as this race continues, the differences between the products will become less and less.Keith Teare: But for you and me, that's fantastic. You use Anthropic, I use Perplexity, I use Claude, we're basically getting free intelligence to do work.Andrew Keen: I wonder whether in that sense it's rather like the early days of the internet where we got a lot of stuff for free, and then everyone woke up and started charging. I mean, we are paying. I pay my $20 a month to Anthropic. You pay your monthly fees, but it's still pretty small amounts of money.Keith Teare: OpenAI now has 400 million daily active users and is making billions of dollars.Andrew Keen: I hope so because it's raised tens of billions of dollars.Keith Teare: But that is the game. Think of the Andrew Keen world. You wouldn't want to constrain yourself to investing almost nothing and making almost nothing. You want to invest as much as possible as long as you know you can make more than that back.Andrew Keen: On the unicorn front, you've been at this rodeo before many times. You're about as experienced as it gets. Are you taking these arguments about unicorns seriously, or should we be taking them like unicorns themselves with a pinch of salt?Keith Teare: When you build startups, the valuation of the startup is not even in your mind as a variable. You're just building whatever your vision is and it costs money to build it. So you're raising money. You sell shares in your company at the highest price you possibly can. It's good news if you're a unicorn from the point of view of the company you're building. Founders don't really think about valuations as much as they think about how much money they need and what they're going to do with it. Normal people read the headlines and think that Silicon Valley is awash with irrationality. It isn't really true.Andrew Keen: Well, you're providing us with those headlines. One of the other pieces you linked to this week is from the FT about Silicon Valley fighting EU tech rules with backing from Trump. Most of the news this week has been about Trump outside technology. It's Trump changing the rules in terms of big tech and particularly Europe and tariffs completely.Keith Teare: Coinbase announced yesterday that the SEC has withdrawn its lawsuit against Coinbase. That's the latest little indication of the trend. There are rumors that Ripple, which was also subject to an SEC case, will have that case withdrawn. The Trump administration does not want to stand in the way of big tech or little tech for that matter, and it sees Europe, rightly so, as a bit of a backwater. The zeitgeist is changing. Even in Europe, the innovators are fairly pro the Trump message even if they're not pro Trump. The need to innovate and relax constraints.Andrew Keen: The German economy now seems to be in crisis or German culture is in crisis. But they probably left it too late. The horse or the unicorns, so to speak, has left the barn here, hasn't it?Keith Teare: Apple yesterday announced that it's turning off encryption in Europe, in the UK now, not the whole of Europe, because the UK asked for a backdoor. So now UK users of the iPhone have no security on their phones because Apple, rather than comply with a backdoor, would turn the whole security layer off. That's going to be a bit of a trend. The governments trying to control tech, especially if they're snooping on their citizens. Tech is not going to bend over and agree with them anymore. And Trump is going in the opposite direction. He's not trying to get them to do back doors.Andrew Keen: The interview of the week, my interview was with Tim Wu, who was perhaps the most influential critic of monopoly Big Tech in the Biden administration. He has an interesting new piece out on decentralizing capitalism. With the help of Claude, we came away with five points from my conversation with Wu. It's all about decentralizing capitalism, getting away from monopoly capitalism, which I think he sees in companies like Google and Facebook and even OpenAI. I know you're not a big fan of regulation, but do you think Wu has a point? He's in favor of decentralizing capitalism. He's not against the market. He's in favor of innovation.Keith Teare: What does he mean? Because you could frame that as being nation states that are too centralized or you could frame it that big tech is too centralized. How does he frame it?Andrew Keen: He frames it as capitalism lends itself to a winner take all economy. He goes over the argument that America has always been a more innovative and wealthier society when you attack the monopolies, whether it's the oil monopolies, the railroads, pharma. And the same needs to be done now to unleash creativity, to unleash guys like yourself. One of your close friends, Lina Khan, was on MSNBC this week, talking about what she calls an anti-monopoly hunger in America. I'm not sure whether that's an exaggeration, but certainly there is an anti-monopoly feeling, both on both sides of the aisle. It's one of the few things that unite Democrats and Republicans, isn't it?Keith Teare: No, I disagree. The zeitgeist is exactly the opposite. The desire to control, especially big tech is nonexistent. The Democrats live in their own bubble world on MSNBC, and they really don't know how normal people think. Most people think Google's awesome. They think Amazon is awesome. They like using AI. More and more people are using it.Andrew Keen: You can like using AI and not be in favor of monopolies. That's two different subjects.Keith Teare: Normal people don't even use the word monopoly. It's not a word in the normal lexicon. It's a purely political word, used only in the circles of the Democratic Party that have this kind of Stalinist influence. The word state monopoly capitalism came out of Stalin.Andrew Keen: But I think you need to read Wu's piece on decentralizing capitalism, because he's as much a critic of Stalinism and centralization as you. He uses models from postwar East Asia, particularly Taiwan, and of course, the Danish model to talk about reforming the US. So what would you advise guys like Wu to be arguing? Should they just throw in their chips with Donald Trump and say you're right?Keith Teare: Where I would agree with them, and this is the common thread where we can agree, is capitalism has the tendency to create what I think of as greater socialization. You get bigger and bigger units, more interconnected. The interconnected piece is super important. It's not just that they're big, they're interconnected and that tends to be global. There's a globalizing tendency within capitalism. As you globalize and you socialize production, small individual industries tend to go by the wayside. Artisan industries. All of that is true. But you don't fix that by trying to break it up. The real social good is that the human race increasingly becomes interconnected and interdependent. That's a good thing. What's wrong is the private ownership of the wealth that it produces.Andrew Keen: Last week we talked about Alva van Gogh's critique of Vance's Paris speech, although he agreed with it in part. This week, you connect with Albert's humanist vision for AI. The speech at the Paris AI summit he would have given. What is Albert's vision?Keith Teare: It's a little bit 1960s cumbayah-ish. I am one of those, so I agree with him. But it's basically saying that AI is a tool for humanity, not a tool against humanity. And he makes the case for that. He doesn't say there are no safety risks, but he minimizes safety risks and places human good first, which I think does correlate to Tim Vance. It's an opportunity to be taken, not a safety risk. So I think he's kind of on the same page as Vance, to be honest.Andrew Keen: Whenever anyone uses the word humanist, it always makes me slightly skeptical. I'm not entirely sure what it means. I mean, who's anti-humanist except for a few Marxist philosophers in Paris? Meanwhile, lots of other tech news. Microsoft announced what it sees as a breakthrough in quantum. Is that right, Keith?Keith Teare: You and I probably are not clever enough to know, but I think we are safe. The answer is yes. That headline says they've created a new state of matter, and that pertains to something called a topological qubit, which is a qubit that can be programmable. And they're so tiny and there's so many of them that a quantum computer can do calculations at much greater scale, much faster than anything before. And they claim to have reduced this new state of matter down into a chip that can be plugged into a computer, an electrical computer, not a quantum computer, and can run. And the claim is that that will accelerate quantum computing by decades, to the point where there are promising programs that mean something within five years. And so that's a new timeline from Microsoft.Andrew Keen: I think quantum is like we're going to talk about it and talk about it and talk about it, and everyone will be skeptical. Some people will say it's for real, and then suddenly something will come along, the equivalent of OpenAI or ChatGPT and quantum, and it will be real. But that certainly isn't this week. Meanwhile, your startup of the week is exactly what you've been talking about. A unicorn Saronic, which raised this week $600 million to mass produce autonomous warships. It's another example of how Silicon Valley and the Pentagon and the defense industry seem to be becoming one. Tell us about Saronic.Keith Teare: Saronic is part of that trend for Silicon Valley and military spending to converge. The same investors in Saronic are also in Anduril and some of the other companies we talked about from time to time, space as well. So it's symptomatic of two things. The first is militarized investment coming out of Silicon Valley, and the second is the valuations. I should disclose, by the way, that Signal Rank owns shares in Saronic. So this was good news for us this week.Andrew Keen: Or at least your investors own shares. It's interesting that this week Palantir also has done very well for the first few weeks of 2025. But it also crashed. This is a very frothy market, tech military startups isn't it?Keith Teare: I wouldn't say crashed. It's up like 200%. If you're an investor in Palantir and you've been holding, you wouldn't be too upset by this pullback. The world we're living in, and I'm not a fan of this by any means, but military investment by private companies selling to governments is going to be a rising trend because governments can't really innovate the military. They're so stuck with old fashioned views of what conflict might look like. It's interesting that even Musk and DOGE this week and Trump announced they're going to try to reduce the U.S. military budget by 10% annually.Andrew Keen: And they've seen some cuts. And I think when historians look back, the rise of companies like Saronic, the DOGE initiative, and the behavior which I'm like most people, I think rather critical of, of pulling back from Ukraine, they're all going to be part of the same narrative. Something is profoundly changing here on the military industrial, but the military political from the US's involvement in the world and the technological piece of this.Finally, post of the week and it comes back to the conversation you and I were just having about Tim Wu. Robert Reich, a well-known MSNBC type who was in the Clinton administration, posted that there are basically five ways to accumulate $1 billion: profiting from a monopoly, insider trading, political payoffs, fraud and inheritance. And Brad Gerstner, amongst others, was horrified with this. He said it was such a terrible, bitter and sad take on America. I'm assuming you're in the Gerstner camp, Keith.Keith Teare: I am, but that isn't why I posted it. I posted it because I wanted to focus on the absolute chasm between the democratic intellectual elite and the rest of us. Robert Reich almost is saying that you have to be a criminal to get rich. And that isn't how most people think.Andrew Keen: The American dream, right? But I, being a great fan of Reich, think he is the dinosaur of dinosaurs, but he isn't saying that. He's talking about being a billionaire. That's not being rich. So you have to distinguish.Keith Teare: This might be shocking to the listeners and maybe even to you, but it isn't that hard to become a billionaire if you do the right things these days, because 4 billion people on Earth are consuming technology outputs at increasing rates and paying for that. Being a billionaire is like what used to be being a millionaire. And it's only going up.Andrew Keen: I've got my title of this week's show Keith. "Keith Teare says it's not that hard to be a billionaire." How close are you to being a billionaire?Keith Teare: I've been very close twice in my career.Andrew Keen: No you haven't. When?Keith Teare: Absolutely have. Both RealNames and Easynet were valued at well over $1 billion.Andrew Keen: Yeah, but you didn't own the whole thing.Keith Teare: I owned a lot. And by the way, it was early in the life of the companies, and that was in 1994 and 1999. In 2025, those would be small outcomes. Today's outcomes, getting a company to be worth $1 billion happens early. That early stage unicorns point happens early.Andrew Keen: But let's be clear as well. What Reich is talking about is not billionaires. And as I said, I'm not particularly sympathetic to what he's saying either. But he's talking about real billionaires, people with $1 billion in the bank or with investors.Keith Teare: Let's just ask this question. Look back at what Reich says, and let's answer a few questions. Where would the brothers who run Stripe fit on that list? They're worth much more than $1 billion. They're not anywhere on that list. Where is Musk on that list? Where is Bezos on that list? Where are the founders of Google on that list?Andrew Keen: No, I agree with you. I think that he's wrong to say there are basically five ways to accumulate $1 billion: profiting from monopoly, insider trading, political payoffs, fraud and inheritance. You're absolutely right. But my disagreement with you is it's still incredibly hard to be a billionaire. How many billionaires are there in the US?Keith Teare: Of course it's hard.Andrew Keen: But you just said it was not that hard to be a billionaire.Keith Teare: Let me tell you what I mean by that. It's the easiest it's ever been, and it's going to get easier.Andrew Keen: Or it's easiest it's ever been because of inflation.Keith Teare: No, because of the scale of distribution networks and the revenues that come back from them. It used to be super hard. When I did Easynet, we had to put floppy disks on the front of magazines to distribute our software. When I did my most recent startups, you put an app in two app stores, and it's in the whole world the next day. And so the flow of money that comes from the ease of distribution of software to people who can pay for it if they like it, has completely changed the dynamics.Andrew Keen: I take your point. But coming back to this issue, how do you consider wealth? Who is rich? How much do you have to earn?Keith Teare: I think rich is totally subjective from your point of view. I thought I was rich when I didn't have credit card debt back in the day.Andrew Keen: Meaningless term, then. It's just entirely subjective.Keith Teare: Yes, but you can build the pyramid of wealth in terms of a smaller number of people at the top with very large amounts of wealth and go down to the bottom where lots of people have nothing. And that pyramid will change its shape and the scale at different levels through history, usually in a positive direction. That's one of the results of the socialization of production and the coming together of the human race into a single GDP growth. There's never been a period in human history recently where that pie or pyramid hasn't improved in both scale and distribution.Andrew Keen: As a bit frothy Keith, your new middle name is Keith "It's not that hard to be a billionaire" Teare. But coming back to Reich, I do agree with you. I think his approach is absurdly negative and reactionary, and the idea that you can't become a billionaire unless you're basically cheating, unless you're an inside trader or fraudulent or inherit money from someone else. He couldn't be more wrong on that, given, as you say, the Stripe guys, the Google guys, the Amazon people, even Musk. I'm no great fan of his but he didn't cheat to become a billionaire.Keith Teare: And you've got to believe, and this is why I put it in, that what he's saying is received wisdom in the minds of people like Lina Khan and Elizabeth Warren.Andrew Keen: That you're going to pick on your friend Lina Khan and Tim Wu as well. Wu teaches at Columbia. I wonder what Wu would say about that. I wonder whether Wu would argue that in a decentralized capitalism, it would be possible to be a billionaire. I'd have to get him back on the show to talk about that. Would we want a society, Keith? A decentralized capitalism where nobody was a millionaire, where the wealthiest people were worth 50 or $100 million?Keith Teare: No, I think the nightmare scenario for the future is that as production socializes and globalizes, a very small number of people control the wealth. But I think that's the right place to discuss how does the wealth get distributed to everyone? So you uplift human life, not just a few individuals, but I don't think you achieve that by trying to break up monopolies.Andrew Keen: The point is, it's not even breaking up monopolies. Reich's point is that one way to get $1 billion is to profit from monopoly. But the Google people, it's back to Peter Thiel's argument. Any entrepreneur wants to be a monopoly, that's the nature of doing startups. You want to win and winning becomes a monopoly, right? For better or worse. Google didn't start as a monopoly. Maybe it is one now because it's successful.Keith Teare: That's correct. If everyone was a failure, there'd be no monopolies. It's only success that creates market power and monopolies. It's a little bit like the word fascist. It's become a swear word to describe anything big. And fascist has become a swear word to describe anyone you disagree with. The truth is, these words mean things. Monopolies do get built. Google isn't one, in my opinion. And when they do, there's usually benefits that people are enjoying, which is why they're successful. And the key is how do you transition the world from massively concentrated private wealth to widely distributed aggregate wealth?Andrew Keen: And that's not about breaking up companies.Keith Teare: No, it's about distributing wealth, not breaking up companies.Andrew Keen: Also with Reich, there are lots of politically responsible or politically liberal billionaires. Reed Hoffman comes to mind. We talked about him last week. Finally, and this comes back to your point, Gerstner had another interesting post this week. He said the DOGE dividend could be a massive, game-changing legacy for Trump. Just one day of DOGE savings, apparently - this is what they claim, who knows whether they're really saving it - $3.7 billion could fund a private investment account with $1,000 for each child born in America. With just a little added per year, this could grow to $200,000 by age 30. Do you think Trump needs to do something radical on this front because he's not getting a great deal of good press on DOGE? A lot of people are losing their jobs every day. There are heart-rending stories of laid-off people. And it's not the billionaires losing their jobs. They're being fired by the billionaires. It's people working at poorly paid jobs in the first place. So does he need to do something with all the money he's supposed to have saved? Maybe in terms of a sovereign wealth fund or something more innovative?Keith Teare: What Gerstner is talking about there is about the distribution of wealth. It's one example of it. I think it's unlikely that Trump has the DNA to really follow through on anything like that. I don't think Donald Trump has any kind of social awareness at all about uplifting everybody. I do think there are people that do think like that. Sam Altman is one of them, and Reed Hoffman may be another, where the question of if there is abundance, how does everyone benefit from it? That's a real question. Gerstner's idea is not terrible, but I think it's a macro idea. There's a much bigger conversation needed than how to deploy the DOGE savings.Andrew Keen: I agree with you. And I think that I also agree with you on the Reich front that his kind of thinking, which is purely negative, is pointless. And what's missing on the progressive side amongst Democrats are creative, innovative thinking about the redistribution of wealth, rather than just taxing the rich or making it illegal to be a billionaire.Keith Teare: Yes.Andrew Keen: Well, we're in agreement, Keith.Keith Teare: Shocking.Andrew Keen: Shocking agreement. Although we disagree, I think it is still hard to be a billionaire. One thing I can guarantee is I've never been close and I never will be a billionaire. You say you've been close. What are the chances in the next few years, Keith, that you're going to be a billionaire from Signal Rank?Keith Teare: Don't even think about it. I think about what Signal Rank can do for everyone else. And if it does well, I'll do well.Andrew Keen: Go on bro. If it does well, I hope you'll pay me for this show. Keith Teare, publisher of That Was The Week. The man who argues that it's not that hard to be a millionaire. It's still a little hard, Keith, but we will be back next week to talk more billionaires, unicorns, AI, and everything else in the world of tech. Have a great week and we'll be back at this time next week. Thanks, Keith.Keith Teare: Bye. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

Entrepreneurship is often about taking big risks, and for Jonah Greenberger, that meant leaving behind a stable job at a global energy giant to venture into an entirely new country, industry, and business model.From growing up in an academically inclined household to founding Bright, one of Mexico's leading solar energy companies, Jonah's journey is a masterclass in bold decision-making, resilience, and strategic execution.Bright has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Leonardo DiCaprio, Sierra Peterson, Ajax Strategies, and Soma Capital.

You're smart. You know your business. But do you know how to build the right AI team? It's harder than it looks, and the old playbook won't cut it. In this episode, host Courtney Baker is joined by CEO David DeWolf, Chief Product & Technology Officer Mohan Rao, and NordLight CEO Pete Buer to break down the key differences between AI innovation teams and traditional ones. Plus, we ask the real questions—does Amazon's famous “two-pizza rule” still apply in the AI era? And if so, can we all agree at least one should be supreme? But first, we dive into what might be the most game-changing week in AI since ChatGPT launched. With Producer Will Sherlin stepping in to help, Pete Buer unpacks the frenzy around DeepSeek's new open-source AI model. How did this Chinese startup manage to train a cutting-edge model at a fraction of the cost of Meta's? And why does this mark a "Sputnik moment" for AI development? From business leaders to investors, the ripple effects could be massive. Finally, Pete sits down with Ben Hafele, CEO of Lean Startup and host of The Lean AI Podcast, to discuss how to assemble the right AI team. They explore what skill sets are essential, how to balance technical and strategic talent, and why AI teams need a different structure than traditional innovation groups. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/sHmj55qkYR0  Sign up for Knownwell's beta: www.knownwell.com 

Every founder's journey is a unique blend of ambition, resilience, and lessons learned the hard way. Yoseph West embodies this entrepreneurial spirit, having navigated the complexities of building, scaling, financing, and successfully exiting multiple startups. Yoseph's latest venture, Relay, has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Bain Capital Ventures, Better Tomorrow Ventures, Amaranthine, and Industry Ventures.

In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Scott Maynard, co-founder of Excite Media, a Brisbane-based marketing agency specializing in digital marketing for service-based businesses. Scott, an electrical engineer with a background in software development, brings over 20 years of experience to the marketing industry. Excite Media has grown from a two-person startup to a 40-employee company generating $5.6 million in revenue. Scott attributes their success to prioritizing team happiness, client satisfaction, and financial sustainability. They foster a positive work environment through a 4-day work week and open feedback channels. Other Resources: An easy way to measure if your customers love you in 21 minutes – use the Net Promoter Score (NPS). And it's FREE. Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here. Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? Scott Maynard, co-founder of Excite Media, believes the hardest thing in growing a small business is juggling the various demands and feeling pulled in different directions. He compares the experience to navigating an obstacle course in the dark or juggling Rubik's cubes while facing unexpected challenges. This feeling arises from the need to manage multiple priorities simultaneously as the business expands. What's your favourite business book that has helped you the most? One of the business books mentioned in the podcast you uploaded is "100 Million Dollar Offers" by Alex Hormozi. It's highly recommended for understanding how to create compelling offers that can transform a business. The guest also praises it for its insights on objection handling and structuring marketable offers​. For my personal favorite, I would highlight "The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries, as it provides a practical approach to building businesses that focus on continuous innovation and learning—a principle useful across industries. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Scott Maynard highly recommends seeking out podcasts and online resources that are specific to your industry. He also suggests exploring content from individuals like Gary Vaynerchuk (Gary V) and Warren Buffet, who offer valuable insights applicable to various business aspects. Maynard emphasizes the importance of being curious and choosing materials that resonate with your needs. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Scott Maynard suggests that learning how to use a spreadsheet is a valuable tool for growing a small business. While it may not seem glamorous, spreadsheets are incredibly versatile for tasks like business planning, number crunching, and financial forecasting. He emphasizes that mastering this fundamental tool can empower business owners to make informed decisions and manage their operations effectively. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Looking back on his 20-year entrepreneurial journey, Scott Maynard would advise his younger self to be patient, maintain consistency, and focus on the business fundamentals. He emphasizes that success is not a get-rich-quick scheme but rather a result of sustained effort and dedication over time. Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey.     Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: Know your numbers. You can't make good decisions unless you know the numbers — Scott Maynard Define your culture and accept that it's not going to be for everyone. That's fine — Scott Maynard Do the fundamentals well and cover your weaknesses by surrounding yourself with people who complement your strengths — Scott Maynard

In the fast-paced world of startups, few entrepreneurs stand out quite like Henrik Werdelin. With roots in Copenhagen, a foundation in journalism, and a career spanning MTV, startups, and venture capital, Henrik's story is a testament to embracing curiosity and adaptability. Henrik's latest venture, Audos is an AI-driven software platform and ecosystem designed to empower a new class of entrepreneurs—often individuals or very small teams—to rapidly build, launch, and scale profitable, million-dollar-a-year businesses.

Frederik Fahning's entrepreneurial journey is nothing short of remarkable. His is a story interwoven with ambition, resilience, business experiences where he faced challenges like almost running out of runway and layoffs, and an unwavering commitment to values. Frederik has co-founde3d Zenjob which attracting funding from top-tier investors like Aragon Global Management, 500 Global, Acton Capital, Atlantic LabsFor, and estay Capital.

Quentin Sannié's journey is a testament to the power of entrepreneurial vision, resilience, and the ability to adapt across vastly different industries. From his humble beginnings in Versailles to founding innovative companies like Devialet and Genesis, his story is about building dreams. Quentin's latest venture Genesis is the first Global Rating Agency for the ecological health of cultivated soils. Its researchers and engineers have built the first tool to measure the impact of agricultural practices on soils to improve their health, yield and resistance to risks. It is a tool designed and validated by the scientific community, enforceable and dynamic.

BONUS: Building Agile Startups with Nick Hughes of Founders Live   Welcome, Agile friends! In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Nick Hughes, the founder of Founders Live, a global startup community now operating in more than 100 cities and 50 countries. Our conversation explored what it really takes to build a business and how the principles of agility can help entrepreneurs adapt, iterate, and thrive.   If you've ever wondered how to sharpen your message, build resilience in the face of setbacks, and foster meaningful connections in the startup world, this episode is for you!   The Birth of Founders Live “Test, learn, iterate, and grow. That's how I built Founders Live.”   Nick's story began over 10 years ago when he noticed something missing in the entrepreneurial world—a supportive community where early-stage founders could connect, learn, and grow together. As a founder himself, he knew firsthand how isolating the startup journey could be.   He decided to experiment with an idea, and it worked. Founders Live has since become a thriving global movement where entrepreneurs pitch their ideas, connect with like-minded people, and celebrate innovation in an engaging, fun atmosphere.   Each Founders Live event follows a simple but powerful format: five founders deliver 99-second pitches, followed by four minutes of audience Q&A. Then, the crowd votes on the winner. Add some networking, food, and drinks, and you've got a recipe for an unforgettable experience!   The takeaway here? Test small, see what works, and refine from there.   The Power of a 99-Second Pitch “It's not easy to create your 99-second pitch. But that time frame forces founders to really think: What is my message?”   Nick's 99-second pitch format is more than a clever gimmick—it's a forcing function for founders to get crystal clear about their message. In a short window of time, founders must distill their big idea into something precise, engaging, and impactful.   Many founders tell Nick that while it's nerve-wracking at first, they walk away feeling more confident and impressed with their own ability to communicate under pressure. It's not just about pitching—it's about building communication agility and clarity of purpose.   Why Networking and Mentorship Matter “If you figure out ways to help people and open doors for them, it comes back to you tenfold.”   One of the most valuable aspects of Founders Live is its emphasis on connection. Nick shared that many of the most successful founders he knows have built networks by being generous—by “opening doors” for others. Whether it's offering advice, making introductions, or helping someone troubleshoot a challenge, those who give tend to receive tenfold in return.   His advice for founders? Show up, participate, and look for ways to add value to your community. Authenticity and generosity go a long way in building strong relationships that will support your growth.   Embracing Agility and Resilience “Agility is looking at things as experiments—identify what works, keep that, and stop what isn't working.”   We also dove into the mindset that helps founders bounce back from setbacks. For Nick, agility means viewing everything as an experiment. When things don't go as planned, the question isn't “Why did this happen to me?” but rather “What can I learn from this, and how can I adjust?”   Successful founders are constantly iterating—testing, learning, and evolving. The entrepreneurial journey isn't a straight line; it's a cycle of experimentation and improvement. Agility doesn't just happen in the product—it starts with how you frame your challenges and your willingness to pivot when needed.   Common Misconceptions About Entrepreneurship “We all want creators in the world, but it's a tough road. You need to build something that adds value before pitching it.”   According to Nick, many first-time founders enter the startup world with unrealistic expectations. Building a business isn't just about pitching your idea to investors—it's about creating something valuable, getting traction, and proving adoption first. If you don't have traction or proof points, you're burning bridges by pitching too early.   His advice? Focus on solving real problems and showing early growth before you seek funding. When you walk into the room with evidence that people love your product, your pitch becomes much stronger—and much harder to ignore.   Intrapreneurship: Innovating Inside Larger Companies   Not every entrepreneur is working outside the corporate world—some are internal innovators looking to make a difference within their organizations. For those intrapreneurs, Nick had some great advice: define your opportunity clearly, understand your company's risk tolerance, and align your goals with measurable outcomes.   If you want to pitch new ideas inside a company, start by identifying what success would look like and communicating that vision effectively. Intrapreneurship thrives when there's clarity around expectations and potential rewards.   Nick's Resource Recommendation   When I asked Nick for a resource recommendation, he shared the book “The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life” by David Brooks. It's an inspiring read about finding purpose and meaning by building something bigger than yourself—a fitting message for entrepreneurs seeking to create meaningful impact.   We closed with Nick's final piece of advice: “Test, learn, iterate, and grow. That's how I built Founders Live.”   This simple but powerful mantra reminds us that agility isn't just a process—it's a mindset. Whether you're launching your own startup or driving innovation within a larger organization, success comes from being open to experimentation and continuous improvement. About Nick Hughes Nick Hughes is the founder of Founders Live, a global community and event platform for entrepreneurs, now active in over 100 cities across 50 countries. With a background in founding companies, Nick created Founders Live to foster connection, mentorship, and growth for startups worldwide.  To learn more about Nick and Founders Live, visit FoundersLive.com or connect with Nick Hughes on LinkedIn.

Saman Farid is no stranger to reinvention. From growing up as a cultural misfit in China to leading groundbreaking ventures in robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), Saman's journey is a testament to resilience, curiosity, and a lifelong commitment to solving problems. Saman's latest venture, Formic, has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Alumni Ventures, Blackhorn Ventures, Calm Ventures, Chapter One, and FJ Labs.