Podcast appearances and mentions of Max Levchin

In the latest global trade war development, India could be ready for a trade deal with the U.S. Ahead of the trade negotiations between the U.S. and China this weekend, CNBC contributor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera discusses the leverage of each nation and her observations on her recent trip to China with the Brookings Institution. In Washington, Emily Wilkins reports on the GOP's tax package, including President Trump's idea to raise taxes on top earners. Plus, shares of buy now, pay later platform Affirm fell after the company reported a beat on quarterly earnings but a disappointing revenue forecast. CEO and PayPal co-founder Max Levchin discusses the state of consumer spending, the rate of loan repayment delinquencies, and the evolution of payments.  Emily Wilkins - 07:19Max Levchin - 16:10Michelle Caruso-Cabrera - 27:18 In this episode:Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, @MCaruso_CabreraMax Levchin, @mlevchinBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinCameron Costa, @CameronCostaNY

This is one of the wildest founder journeys you'll ever hear. Dmitry Gurski went from growing potatoes and picking mushrooms on a farm in Belarus to building Flo—a billion-dollar company with 75M monthly users that dominates the health and fitness category worldwide. He started Flo in a market already controlled by PayPal co-founder Max Levchin's startup, which had $30M in funding from a16z. Today, Flo is 100x bigger than its once-dominant rival.Dmitry shares raw, unfiltered startup truths—like why he got rejected by 200+ VCs, why 90% of startup failures are team-related, and why most founders are delusional about product-market fit. He breaks down how simplicity beats complexity in product, why retention is everything, and how deleting features can actually boost revenue.If you're a founder, this episode will fundamentally change how you think about perseverance, pivots, and building something that lasts. Listen now—you'll be referencing this one for years.Why you should listen:Why big market beats niche – How Flo won because it targeted all women's health while competitors focused only on fertility.How Retention is the real test – A product with natural recurring use cases (like periods) has built-in retention, unlike fitness or productivity apps.Why simple wins – The first version of Flo was less complex than competitors but had far better predictions—accuracy mattered more than features.Fundraising is brutal – Flo got 300+ investor rejections before raising $300M. Many VCs just didn't “get” the space.Keywordsstartup, entrepreneurship, product design, user retention, Flow app, health and fitness, early stage founders, product market fit, simplicity, user engagement, retention, user case, app development, entrepreneurship, product market fit, mobile apps, business strategy, team dynamics, failure, success, risk, uncertainty, decision making, market demand, competition, product-market fit, fundraising, entrepreneurship, startup success, female healthTimestamps(00:00:00) Intro(00:09:10) Why you Need to Keep it Simple(00:13:10) Why B2C is All About Retention(00:19:05) Why you Need to Delete Features(00:24:14) PMF is about the Shape of the Curve(00:39:17) When to Persevere, When to Pivot, and When to Quit(00:42:22) More attempts = more success(00:51:34) The Idea for Flo(00:59:05) Finding Product Market Fit(01:02:07) Advice for An Early Stage Founder(01:10:22) A Potato StorySend me a message to let me know what you think!

During its formative years in the late 1990's, Paypal attracted an extraordinary group of young entrepreneurs, who then went on to build some of the best known companies in tech. They became known as The PayPal Mafia—and Max Levchin was one of the leaders. A computer genius from Soviet Ukraine, Max joined Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, Reid Hoffman and others as they grew PayPal into a massively successful online payment service. Along the way, they encountered almost every start-up challenge imaginable, including the emotional ouster of Elon Musk as CEO. After PayPal was acquired by eBay in 2002, Max couldn't sit still, so he launched a startup lab that eventually led to another successful fintech company: Affirm.This episode was produced by Alex Cheng with music by Ramtin Arablouei. Edited by Neva Grant, with research from Claire Murashima.You can follow HIBT on X & Instagram, and email us at hibt@id.wondery.com. Sign up for Guy's free newsletter at guyraz.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Max Levchin is one of the great founders and technologists of our time. As the Founder and CEO of Affirm, he has built am $18.7BN monster in the buy no pay later space. Prior to Affirm he was one of the original co-founders of PayPal. Max is also the co-founder and Chairman of Glow, a data-driven fertility company. Max is also an immensely successful angel investor with a portfolio including the likes of Yelp, Pinterest and Evernote.  In Today's Episode We Discuss: 04:19 How to Hire the Best People in the World 05:05 How to Manage Extreme Personalities 08:18 Biggest Lessons on Trust and What Happens When Lost 12:05 Is Grading Talent A and B Players Total BS? 15:31 How to Think About Calculated vs Uncalculated Risk 27:18 How to Create a Culture of Post Mortems: Step by Step 32:08 Why Every Person Must Write and How to Create a Writing Culture 36:01 Leadership Lessons from Layoffs 38:38 Is Affirm Losing or Beating Klarna in the US? 47:03 Peter Thiel or Elon Musk: Who Would Max Rather Start a New Company With? 48:37 Quickfire Round  

Here is the episode where Peter Thiel and Max Levchin start Paypal and meet and defeat Elon Musk. We hope you like that. Thanks again, Deco19 for the request! Have a request, or want to say hi? - Here is our subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/profiteersvsthepeople/ - Here is our email: profitvspeeps@gmail.com Here are our sources, besides The Contrarian, by Max Chafkin: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1diauIRcuH0XXYg1AWrIRcbx1b9sV0-78RtW5O3dhx4c/edit?usp=sharing

In this episode of The Eric Ries Show, I'm joined by Siqi Chen, a four-time founder and the CEO and CFO of his latest venture, Runway. Runway offers a modern, user-friendly platform for financial modeling, headcount planning, and departmental budgeting—proudly branding itself as “the finance platform your team doesn't hate.” With its distinctive marketing and brand-building approach, Runway has garnered significant attention. (Full disclosure: I'm an investor in the company.) Siqi and I discuss his journey from building some of the most viral social games in Silicon Valley to founding Runway. We also delve into the challenges faced by technical founders, the art of viewing a business as a product, and how Siqi has sharpened his strategic thinking. Other key topics include: • Lessons from founding Serious Business • Critiques of Zynga's strategy and the story of selling to them • Practical advice for building trust • Insights into Leaders in Tech and Stanford's GSB program • The importance of crafting clear, universally understood company values • An overview of Runway's platform, mission, and values • A fresh take on the fallacy of work-life balance • And so much more! — Brought to you by: Vanta – Automate compliance, manage risk, and prove trust—continuously. ⁠⁠Get $1,000 off⁠⁠. — Where to find Siqi Chen: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siqic/ • X: https://x.com/blader/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blader/ • Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/founder/ Where to find Eric: • Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ericries.carrd.co/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  • Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ericriesshow.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  • YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@theericriesshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  — In This Episode We Cover: (00:00) Meet Siqi Chen (02:30) How Siqi came up with the idea for Mafia and the early years of gaming on Facebook (05:10) The early investors in Mafia (05:36) Siqi's meeting with Keith Rabois and Max Levchin (08:15) How Siqi was influenced by the Lean Startup approach (11:04) How quickly Siqi's career took off after moving to San Francisco  (11:48) Founding Serious Business and creating Friends for Sale (14:20) How Serious Business raised $5 million (16:20) Why Serious Business sold to Zynga  (17:20) The importance of prioritizing the business as much as the product (19:11) Siqi's learnings and advice for new founders  (23:25) What Siqi learned working at Zynga (27:18) Siqi's time running product  (29:20) Criticisms of Zynga and how they lost Eric's trust (33:42) The importance of trust and maintaining vision and mission (39:15) An overview of Runway  (44:38) What inspired Siqi to create Runway (50:43) What Siqi learned from user interviews (52:07) An example of time wasting inside a company (53:24) The values at Runway and why they changed  (58:35) Why you should write reflective values after having a high-performance team (1:00:40) How Leaders in Tech shaped Siqi's thoughts on values and building trust (1:03:13) How open feedback builds trust (1:08:20) The purpose of Runway (1:11:34) Siqi's struggles with strategy planning  (1:13:31) A top down approach to entrepreneurship and why it's not common (1:16:38) The importance of employees understanding their contributions and impact  (1:18:55) How Runway leverages AI  (1:22:12) Runway's dramatic launch with a timed lock (1:23:04) How Runway communicates value to customers  (1:24:54) Runway's process for brand building and high-quality design  (1:28:40) Lightning round You can find the transcript and references at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ericriesshow.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Production and marketing by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://penname.co/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Eric may be an investor in the companies discussed.

What I learned from rereading James J. Hill: Empire Builder by Michael P. Malone. ----Ramp gives you everything you need to control spend, watch your costs, and optimize your financial operations —all on a single platform. Make history's greatest entrepreneurs proud by going to Ramp and learning how they can help your business control your costs and save more. ----Founders Notes gives you the ability to learn from history's greatest entrepreneurs on demand. You can search all my notes and highlights from every book I've ever read for the podcast. Get access to Founders Notes here. ----Join my free email newsletter to get my top 10 highlights from every book----Notes and highlights from the episode: —He had unlimited energy, was stubborn, had a temper, was supremely arrogant and he did more to transform the northern frontier of the United States than any other single individual.—One of the things he learned from history and biography: The power of one dynamic individual: Like so many other nineteenth-century youths, young Jim Hill fell under the spell of Napoleon. He came to believe in the strength of will, the power of one dynamic individual to change the world, the conquering hero. (He says that the railroad entrepreneurs conquered the distance between remote communities in the American west)—He accustomed himself to handle a large workload.—If you want to know whether you are destined to be a success or a failure in life, you can easily find out. The test is simple and it is infallible: Are you able to save money? If not, drop out. You will lose. You may think not, but you will lose as sure as you live. The seed of success is not in you. –James J. Hill—He held people's attention as he engaged them in characteristic rapid-fire, highly animated conversation, gesturing expansively and driving home his point with jabbing motions of his hands—the embodiment of high energy.—He worked incredibly hard, sometimes laboring late into the night, falling asleep at the desk, then getting up for a swim in the river and a cup of black coffee, then going back to work.—“Rebates existed in other industries. I just applied them to oil.” Rockefeller said. [Don't copy the what, copy the how]  —John D: The Founding Father of the Rockefellers by David Freeman Hawke. (Founders #254)—"The very best employee at any job at any level of responsibility is the person who generally believes that this is their last job working for someone. The next thing they'll start will be their own. — Max Levchin in The Founders: The Story of PayPal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley by Jimmy Soni. (Founders #233)—Hill drank little, worked hard, and confined his socializing to respectable settings. As always, he read incessantly. He permitted himself few distractions in his relentless drive to achieve wealth and status.—Inefficiency disturbs him greatly.—James J. Hill loved eliminating steps.—Genius has the fewest moving parts.—Hill limited the number of details. Then he makes every detail perfect.—Hill called vertical integration, rational integration.—Hill always gets out quickly in front of the emerging trend.—Hill had an entirely pragmatic business personality. When competition suited him in a market, he competed fiercely. But when competition became wasteful to him, he did not hesitate to end it, even if this meant joining with old enemies and creating a monopoly.—Hill was making profits owning steamboats. Then a competitor from Canada starts running the same route and the rates and profits dwindle. Hill discovers a neglected maritime law that prohibited foreign ships from operating in American waters. Hill then persuades the US Treasury Department to enforce the law against his competitor. The competitor has to transfer ownership to an American. After that Hill then merges with that competitor and forges another monopoly.—This railroad is my monument. — James J Hill—As man emerged into history, he became a road maker; the better the road, the more advanced his development. — James J. Hill.—By 1885 Railroads brought in twice the revenue than the federal government.Railroads were the nations largest employer.The railroaders were the largest private land holders in the country.They owned more than 10% of land in the United States.—Hill identified an opportunity hiding in plain sight: Unlike most who viewed the Saint Paul and Pacific as a near-worthless derelict, Hill viewed it as a miracle waiting to happen, a potentially wondrous enterprise simply lacking competent leadership. He studied the road constantly, reading every scrap of information he could find about it and boring anyone who would listen with endless detail as to what it could one day be.—He possessed a priceless advantage compared with most other nineteenth-century rail titans. Rather than coming from the outside world of finance, as most of them did, he arose from the inside world of freighting and transportation, and he knew this world in all its complexities. He was about to demonstrate how certain well-established, regional capitalists on the frontier could challenge and even best larger eastern interests.—Being obsessed is an edge. Hill was obsessed getting control of the bankrupt Saint Paul & Pacific rail line:  Hill, who knew the road better than anyone else, constantly argued to his friends, the potential prize defied description. He seemed completely fixated on the project. Many years later, his friend recalled that Jim had spoken of it to him “probably several hundred times” during the mid-1870s.—James J. Hill finds what he is best at in the world at, at 40 years old, in a field where he had no direct experience.—“It pays to be where the money is spent” — James J Hill—James J. Hill was very easy to interface with. He had an easy to understand organizing principle for his company. Hills credo: What we want is the best possible line, shortest distance, lowest grades, and least curvature that we can build.—He had appreciation for those who had dirt underneath their fingernails.—Many observers would later compare Hill with Villard. The comparison was inevitable. “While Hill was building carefully and checking his costs minutely Villard built in ignorance of costs.” Like other transcontinental plungers, Villard did in fact build rapidly and poorly, much of his main line would later have to be torn up and rebuilt. He had rushed to get the massive land grants. Amid mounting deficits and acrimony, Villard was then forced to resign the presidency of the NP in 1884.—Find what you are good at and pound away at it forever.—He simply could not delegate authority and live with the outcome.—Hill on how to build a railroad: Work, hard work, intelligent work, and then more work. — James J Hill.—They managed the finances of the railroad in a highly conservative and prudent manner.  Hill advocated and practiced a policy of plowing large percentages of profits directly back into the property, knowing that the best defense against invading railroads was a better-built system that could operate at lower rates.—Give me Swedes, snuff and whiskey, and I'll build a railroad through hell. — James J. Hill—From the Hour of Fate: James J. Hill had built the Great Northern with deliberate thrift and brutal efficiency. His railroad would become among the most profitable in the Northwest. He didn't need JP Morgan the way other railroad executives did. (Financial strength was kryptonite to JP Morgan)—He cared most about freight, never frills.—The life of James J. Hill certainly demonstrates the impact one willful individual can have on the course of history.—I've made my mark on the surface of the earth and they can't wipe it out. — James J Hill.----“I have listened to every episode released and look forward to every episode that comes out. The only criticism I would have is that after each podcast I usually want to buy the book because I am interested so my poor wallet suffers. ” — GarethBe like Gareth. Buy a book: All the books featured on Founders Podcast

In this episode, I had the chance to sit down with an OG of fintech who really needs no introduction, cofounder and CEO of Affirm and PayPal Mafia member Max Levchin. Max and I had the chance to discuss:* How Affirm designs its systems and processes to mitigate third-party risks, including service interruptions and, yes, data breaches* How Affirm thinks about selecting its bank partners and how it works with them to meet regulatory and compliance expectations* To what extent political and regulatory uncertainty impacts how Affirm approaches running its business* The CFPB's interpretive rule that treats pay-in-four buy now pay later as a “credit card” for certain purposes under TILA Reg Z* Affirm's recent earnings announcement* And Affirm's recent launch in the United KingdomExisting subscriber? Please consider supporting this newsletter by upgrading to a paid subscription. New here? Subscribe to get Fintech Business Weekly each Sunday: Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

On this TCAF Tuesday, Mizuho fintech analyst Dan Dolev joins Josh Brown to discuss the potential earthquake coming for Visa and Mastercard, the reasons behind PayPal's big rally this year, why Affirm's genius founder Max Levchin is important to watch and Accenture as a "picks and shovels" play for investing in AI. Then, at 44:47, hear an all-new episode of What Are Your Thoughts with Josh and Michael Batnick! This episode is sponsored by Rocket Money! Visit: http://rocketmoney.com/compound and cancel your unwanted subscriptions today!  Sign up for The Compound newsletter and never miss out: https://www.thecompoundnews.com/subscribe Instagram: https://instagram.com/thecompoundnews Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecompoundnews LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-compound-media/ Investing involves the risk of loss. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be or regarded as personalized investment advice or relied upon for investment decisions. Michael Batnick and Josh Brown are employees of Ritholtz Wealth Management and may maintain positions in the securities discussed in this video. All opinions expressed by them are solely their own opinion and do not reflect the opinion of Ritholtz Wealth Management. The Compound Media, Incorporated, an affiliate of Ritholtz Wealth Management, receives payment from various entities for advertisements in affiliated podcasts, blogs and emails. Inclusion of such advertisements does not constitute or imply endorsement, sponsorship or recommendation thereof, or any affiliation therewith, by the Content Creator or by Ritholtz Wealth Management or any of its employees. For additional advertisement disclaimers see here https://ritholtzwealth.com/advertising-disclaimers. Investments in securities involve the risk of loss. Any mention of a particular security and related performance data is not a recommendation to buy or sell that security. The information provided on this website (including any information that may be accessed through this website) is not directed at any investor or category of investors and is provided solely as general information. Obviously nothing on this channel should be considered as personalized financial advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities. See our disclosures here: https://ritholtzwealth.com/podcast-youtube-disclosures/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Affirm Holdings Chairman/CEO/Founder Max Levchin discusses Buy Now, Pay Later, new features and partnerships. Levchin speaks with Bloomberg's Sonali Basak.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Paypal is a 70+ billion dollar company, but how did it start out? And why are the founders sometimes referred to as the Paypal Mafia? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg Talks: Affirm CEO Max Levchin discusses the company's 'Killer Quarter'. Levchin speaks with Bloomberg's Ed Ludlow and Caroline Hyde.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wondered what it takes to build a tech giant from the ground up? Is it just about having a great idea, or is there a secret formula for success? In this episode, we dive into Jimmy Soni's The Founders, uncovering the key principles that propelled PayPal from a fledgling startup to a cornerstone of the digital economy.In the world of investing and entrepreneurship, having a visionary idea is just the beginning. "The Founders" reveals that it's the combination of vision, timing, and an unrelenting focus on execution that separates successful companies from the rest.Throughout my career, I've learned that building a business is like solving a complex puzzle. Each piece—whether it's hiring the right people, navigating market challenges, or building a sustainable business model—needs to fit perfectly. Drawing on my experience as an entrepreneur and investor, I'll break down the stories and strategies from PayPal's early days to help you understand what it really takes to create a company that lasts.This episode dissects 10 crucial lessons from the book, each one offering valuable insights into leadership, innovation, and resilience. From taking calculated risks and building trust, to the power of culture and strategic partnerships, we'll explore how these principles can help you build a winning team and a sustainable business.Book on Amazon[Link to Amazon]Problems This Solves:Overwhelmed by the sheer volume of business books? This concise summary delivers the most impactful lessons from "The Founders."Unsure how to translate entrepreneurial principles into action? We'll provide actionable takeaways and reflection questions to guide your journey.Curious about the minds behind PayPal and its lasting impact? Gain insights into the challenges, strategies, and collaborative spirit that fueled their success.Why Listen:Discover the 10 Lessons for Success: Uncover the strategies that turned PayPal into a tech powerhouse.Learn from Real-World Examples: Hear stories from the book and my own experiences that illustrate these principles in action.Apply the Lessons to Your Own Ventures: Reflect on how you can foster innovation and build a resilient business.Quotes:“On the eve of its IPO, a prominent trade publication declared that the country needed PayPal ‘as much as it does an anthrax epidemic.'”“Properly understood, PayPal's story is a four-year odyssey of near-failure followed by near-failure.” "PayPal started off as a product with no use case. Then we had a use case but no business model. Then we had to build a sustainable business.""Your life will be shaped by the things you create, and the people you make them with." Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(03:03) Jimmy Soni(06:28) Overview of the Book(10:42) Vision, Persistence, and Hiring the Right People(17:08) Elon Musk's Bold Moves: Risk and Reward(23:07) Peter Thiel's Contrarian Thinking: Market and Monopoly(30:20) Max Levchin's Obsession with Security: Building Trust(35:36) PayPal's Viral Growth: User-Centric Design(41:54) Surviving the eBay Wars: Strategic Partnerships(48:10) The IPO and Beyond: Timing and Execution(54:00) The Role of Culture: From Chaos to Cohesion(59:42) PayPal Mafia: Legacy and Impact(01:05:30) Entrepreneurship Challenges: Navigating Uncertainty(01:11:12) Wrap-Up and Key TakeawaysSend us a Text Message.Support the Show.Join the Podcast Newsletter: Link

In this episode of The Founder Hour, we have an insightful conversation with Max Levchin, a true trailblazer in the tech world. Max's journey began in Ukraine, where he grew up in a family of scientists who instilled in him a deep respect for knowledge and discovery. After his family relocated to Crimea to escape the fallout from the Chernobyl disaster, Max discovered his passion for programming at a young age. With no computer at his disposal, he began teaching himself to code by writing programs on paper.In 1991, Max's family moved to the U.S., settling in Chicago. It was here that he found his footing at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a pivotal moment that set the stage for his future success. Immersed in the early internet scene, Max's path eventually led him to Silicon Valley, where a chance meeting with Peter Thiel at Stanford's lecture halls sparked the creation of what would become PayPal. Initially conceived as a secure way to store and transfer encrypted data, PayPal evolved into a groundbreaking online payment system that transformed the way we conduct financial transactions.Max takes us through the early days of PayPal, sharing stories of tackling complex challenges like document encryption and fraud prevention. But his entrepreneurial journey didn't stop there. He went on to found Slide, and later Affirm, a company dedicated to providing honest financial products that align with consumers' best interests. Throughout the conversation, Max discusses his guiding philosophy of HVF—hard, valuable, and fun—and how it shapes his approach to building companies that aim to make a positive impact on the world.We also explore Max's thoughts on the future of technology, exploring AI's potential, the evolving landscape of fintech, and the importance of aligning financial interests with customers. Tune in to uncover the story of an engineer at heart, a visionary leader, and a man who continues to shape the future of finance and technology.***CHA-CHING! Customers are rushing to your store. Do you have a point-of-sale system you can trust or is it (ahem) a real P.O.S.? You need Shopify for retail.Shopify POS is your command center for your retail store. From accepting payments to managing inventory, Shopify has EVERYTHING you need to sell in person. Get hardware that fits your business. Take payments by smartphone, transform your tablet into a point-of-sale system, or use Shopify's POS Go mobile device for a battle-tested solution.Plus, Shopify's award-winning help is there to support your success every step of the way.Do retail right with Shopify. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at www.shopify.com/founderhour. Once again, go to www.shopify.com/founderhour to take your retail business to the next level today.***It's 2024 - are you still using your personal phone number for your startup?One of the most common founder mistakes we see is using your personal phone for business. OpenPhone makes it super easy to get business phone numbers for your team. It works through a beautiful app on your phone or computer, and integrates with CRMs like HubSpot and Salesforce.Here's a feature we love: With OpenPhone's AI-powered call transcripts and summaries, you can have a summary of your phone call with action items right when you hang up. No more note-taking, or forgotten to-do's.What's more, every employee that's sharing that phone number with you has access to it, too. Total recall across your entire team. OpenPhone is already affordable at a starting price of $15/user/month. But, The Founder Hour listeners can get 20% off for 6 months. And if you have existing numbers with another service, OpenPhone will port them over at no extra charge.Head to https://www.openphone.com/founder to start your free trial and get 20% off!***The Founder Hour is brought to you by Outer. Outer makes the world's most beautiful, comfortable, innovative, and high-quality outdoor furniture - ALL from sustainable materials - and is the ONLY outdoor furniture with a patented built-in cover to make protecting it effortless. From teak chairs to fire pit tables, everything Outer makes has the look and feel of what you'd expect at a 5-star resort, for less than you'd pay at a big box store for something that won't last.For a limited time, get 10% off at www.liveouter.com/thefounderhour. Terms and conditions apply. ***Follow The Founder Hour on:Instagram | www.instagram.com/thefounderhourTwitter/X | www.x.com/thefounderhourLinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/company/thefounderhourYouTube | www.youtube.com/@thefounderhour

Max Levchin is the founder and CEO of Affirm, the payment network that empowers consumers and helps merchants drive growth. He is also the co-founder and Chairman of Glow, a data-driven fertility company. Both companies were created and launched from his San Francisco based innovation lab, HVF (Hard, Valuable, Fun). Max was one of the original co-founders of PayPal where he served as the Chief Technology Officer until its acquisition by eBay in 2002. In 2002, he was named to the Technology Review TR100 as one of the top 100 innovators in the world as well as Innovator of the Year.Prior to HVF, Max founded and was CEO of Slide, a personal media-sharing service, which was acquired by Google in 2010. Max also helped create Yelp Inc., a consumer internet company, where he served as Chairman of its Board of Directors from its founding in 2005 until July 2015. He served on the board for Yahoo! Inc., an internet company, from 2012 until 2015. Max was born in Kyiv, Ukraine before moving to the United States and settling in Chicago in 1991. He holds a B.S. in Computer Science from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he founded and led four other technology startups. Max is a serial entrepreneur, computer scientist, philanthropist and active investor in more than 100 startups.

Max Levchin, CEO of Affirm, explains why the company's safety measures make 'buy now, pay later' superior to credit cards. Levchin also breaks down why he believes the new credit rules enacted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau are a good thing for the industry. The content of the video is for general and informational purposes only. All views presented in this show reflect the opinions of the guest and the host. You should not take a mention of any asset, be it cryptocurrency or a publicly traded security as a recommendation to buy, sell or hold that cryptocurrency or security. Guests and hosts are not affiliated with or endorsed by Public Holdings or its subsidiaries. You should make your own financial and investment decisions or consult respective professionals. Full disclosures are in the channel description. Learn more at Public.com/disclosures. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. There is a possibility of loss with any investment. Historical or hypothetical performance results, if mentioned, are presented for illustrative purposes only. Do not infer or assume that any securities, sectors or markets described in the videos were or will be profitable. Any statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements are strictly based on the current views, opinion, or assumptions of the person presenting them, and should not be taken as an indicator of performance nor should be relied upon as an investment advice.

Elon Musk, Amy Rowe Klement, Peter Thiel, Julie Anderson, Max Levchin, Reid Hoffman.  What do these powerhouse entrepreneurs all have in common?  Hint: They all played a role in the meteoric rise of PayPal. Find out the intricate web behind one of the biggest startups in the world, as Alex chats with the author of "The Founders: The Story of PayPal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley," Jimmy Soni. They dive into the history of PayPal and discuss the early days of the company, its vision, and the talented individuals who were part of its success. How did PayPal start as the result of a broken AC unit and a simple ploy to get free air conditioning from a college campus? How did Elon Musk's role in PayPal fundamentally shape his views on banking? Find out how some of today's most seminal minds collided and how things culminated into the height of Silicon Valley's fintech revolution. For a fascinating glimpse into one of history's most fundamentally impactful fintech companies, you don't want to miss this ep! Read “The Founders” here.   TruStage Payment Guard Insurance is a first-of-its-kind insurance solution built for digital lenders, designed to help you attract more borrowers, strengthen your loan portfolio and reduce time spent on collections — all with minimal tech lift needed to go live. To learn more about Payment Guard Insurance, visit https://www.trustage.com/payment-guard.   00:01:59 - Book on PayPal's Genius Team 00:09:02 - Paths Crossed: Silicon Valley Engineers 00:13:21 - Evolution of PayPal Founder's Ideas 00:19:21 - David Sacks: From Email to Product Officer 00:21:31 - Elon Musk's Early Banking Experience 00:24:03 - Elon Musk's Financial Services Interest 00:32:33 - eBay and X.com's Email Money Concept 00:39:13 - PayPal's Merger Against Elon's Will 00:44:32 - Shorting the Stock Market: Peter Thiel's Proposal 00:50:39 - PayPal's Evolution in Fintech Industry 00:52:24 - PayPal: From Startup to Modern Regulations 00:57:37 - Elon Musk's Vision for Efficiency   Sign up for Alex's Fintech Takes newsletter for the latest insightful analysis on fintech trends, along with a heaping pile of pop culture references and copious footnotes. Every Monday and Thursday: https://workweek.com/brand/fintech-takes/   And for more exclusive insider content, don't forget to check out my YouTube page.   Follow Jimmy:  Website: https://jimmysoni.com/books/the-founders/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1501197266 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmysoni/   Follow Alex:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJgfH47QEwbQmkQlz1V9rQA/videos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhjohnson Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/AlexH_Johnson

On this episode of the SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership Show, Wayne Kimmel interviewed C.J. Handron, CEO of Diamond Kinetics and Ben Jun, Founder of sidelineHD. Diamond Kinetics X sidelineHD: Diamond Kinetics, a SeventySix Capital portfolio company, has acquired sidelineHD, a youth sports media platform specializing in live streaming and video highlights. The acquisition aims to enhance player experiences in youth baseball and softball by integrating live streaming and video highlight capabilities. With the strategic move, Diamond Kinetics reaffirms its commitment to innovation and providing personalized experiences for athletes and families in youth sports. The acquisition aligns with DK's vision of providing a unified and complete experience for youth baseball and softball athletes and families. The integration of sidelineHD's capabilities will offer more personalized training, instruction, and development opportunities for DK users. DK aims to deliver increased value to its users by incorporating sidelineHD's features, including guided hitting sessions, MLB content, and interactive training content and games. SidelineHD will remain a stand-alone live streaming application, with DK continuing to enhance its product and add more value to existing streaming capabilities. Handron is the Co-Founder and CEO of Diamond Kinetics. He is responsible for leading commercialization efforts of all products and applications, as well as guiding the overall vision and strategy for the company.  Prior to Diamond Kinetics, Handron served as director of an early stage technology commercialization program at the University of Pittsburgh. Handron serves on the advisory boards of several Pittsburgh start up companies and is actively involved with several local non-profit organizations. A native of Greenville, NC, Handron holds a B.S. from North Carolina State University and a MBA from the University of Pittsburgh's Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business. Jun was CEO and co-founder of sidelineHD, a youth sports streaming and highlights company. He is now the VP of Livestreaming and Video at Diamond Kinetics.  A passionate technologist, product builder, and youth sports advocate, Ben has created companies with a net value of over $2B. Jun was formerly CEO and Chief Builder at HVF Labs (hard / valuable / fun), which is Max Levchin's investment and startup incubation laboratory.  Prior to that he was the co-founder of Cryptography Research and an early engineer at Audible (now Amazon). C.J. Handron Social Media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cj-handron-7859159/ X: https://twitter.com/CJ_Handron Diamond Kinetics Social Media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/diamond-kinetics/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diamondkinetics/ X: https://twitter.com/DiamondKinetics Ben Jun Social Media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjun/ sidelineHD Social Media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sidelinehd/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidelinehd/ X: https://twitter.com/sidelinehd

Affirm CEO Max Levchin is one of the original co-founders of PayPal, and now he leads one of the biggest players in the buy now, pay later business. Levchin wants to build a company that changes how shoppers pay for big-ticket items and the way people take on debt. But critics argue the company is a danger to consumers because it allows them to make some purchases with no interest payments, thereby encouraging excessive spending. For this bonus episode of WSJ's Take On the Week, Levchin talks about Affirm's future and competing with the credit-card industry. How can we better help you take on the week? Send us an email to takeontheweek@wsj.com.  Listening on Google Podcasts? Here's our guide for switching to a different podcast player. Listen to WSJ's Take On the Week: https://on.wsj.com/3r5DbS7 

In this episode we are joined by Jason Portnoy, who wrote a memoir called “Silicon Valley Porn Star”. Jason shares his personal journey of addiction, infidelity, and self-discovery. We discuss the importance of surrendering and taking responsibility for unhealthy patterns in order to heal, grow, and overcome addiction. As with any personal recovery story, please recognize that comparisons and criticism are normal reactions, as you may not agree with or do some of the same things he and his wife have done in their journey. As the famous 12-step saying goes, "Take what you need and leave the rest for someone else." We hope this interview helps strengthen your resolve to live a life of integrity and stay in the light. The Power of Community in Pornography Recovery: Download Relay and try it out for free, or learn more at Relay's website. Use code GEOFF1 for 15% off!  Broken trust? Download my FREE video series “The First Steps to Rebuilding Trust”  Join my 12-week program, The Trust Building Bootcamp, to heal your broken relationship. Sign up for our FREE weekly newsletter to stay up-to-date on exciting new announcements!  Download my FREE guide to help you quickly end arguments with your spouse:  Connect with me on social media: INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK Visit http://www.geoffsteurer.com for online courses and other supportive resources. About Geoff Steurer: I am a licensed marriage and family therapist, relationship educator, and coach with over 20 years of experience. I am the co-author of, "Love You, Hate the Porn: Healing a Relationship Damaged by Virtual Infidelity", the host of the weekly podcast, "From Crisis to Connection", and have produced workbooks, audio programs, and online courses helping couples and individuals heal from the impact of sexual betrayal, unwanted pornography use, partner betrayal trauma, and rebuilding broken trust. As a leader in the field, I am a frequent contributor on these subjects at national conferences, documentaries, blogs, magazines, and podcasts. I also write a weekly relationship advice column available on my blog. I founded and ran an outpatient sexual addiction and betrayal trauma recovery group program for over 14 years, co-founded and chaired a local conference to educate community members about harmful media, and founded and administered a specialized group therapy practice for over 10 years. I currently maintain a private counseling and coaching practice in beautiful Southern Utah where I live with my wife and children. About Jody Steurer: Jody has been a strong voice supporting women as co-host of the podcast “Speak Up Sister”. She completed a bachelor's degree in psychology from Brigham Young University and is an ACA certified coach. She runs a small business and has years of experience in corporate training and organization. Jody's most challenging work has been raising her four children (two of which are on the autism spectrum). She loves to do landscape design, paint in watercolor, spend time outdoors, and snow ski. About Jason Portnoy: Jason is an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and began his career at PayPal, working closely with technology icons like Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, Max Levchin, and Reid Hoffman. He served as the first Chief Financial Officer of Palantir Technologies (NYSE: PLTR) and later founded Oakhouse Partners, a top-performing venture capital firm. In his own words:"I had a life many men dream of: money, titles, cars, women. Then one day it all came crashing down, and I realized that deep inside I was miserable, lonely, and scared. Where did I go wrong? A lifetime of messages from society told me if I had those things I'd be a “real man” and happy. It was all a lie. After years of intense work and study, I learned I couldn't find happiness in material possessions or validation from society. It only existed inside of myself. In my book, I share the story of how it happened: my rise, my fall, and my redemption."

Affirm Holdings Chairman/CEO/Founder Max Levchin discusses the results of the "buy now/pay later" company's last quarter with Bloomberg's Ed Ludlow and Caroline Hyde.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Support me by becoming wiser and more knowledgeable – check out Peter Thiel's books for sale on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/49cVDbt If you purchase a book through this link, I will earn a 4.5% commission and be extremely delighted. But if you just want to read and aren't ready to add a new book to your collection yet, I'd recommend checking out the ⁠⁠⁠Internet Archive⁠⁠⁠, the largest free digital library in the world. If you're really benevolent you can buy me a coffee or donate over at ⁠https://ko-fi.com/theunadulteratedintellect⁠⁠. I would seriously appreciate it! __________________________________________________ Full speech transcript here. Peter Andreas Thiel (born 11 October 1967) is a German-American billionaire entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and political activist. A co-founder of PayPal, Palantir Technologies, and Founders Fund, he was the first outside investor in Facebook. As of June 2023, Thiel had an estimated net worth of $9.7 billion and was ranked 213th on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. He worked as a securities lawyer at Sullivan & Cromwell, as a speechwriter for former U.S. Secretary of Education William Bennett and as a derivatives trader at Credit Suisse. He founded Thiel Capital Management in 1996. He co-founded PayPal with Max Levchin and Luke Nosek in 1998, serving as chief executive officer until its sale to eBay in 2002 for $1.5 billion. After PayPal, he founded Clarium Capital, a global macro hedge fund based in San Francisco. In 2003, he launched Palantir Technologies, a big data analysis company, serving as its chairman since its inception. In 2005, he launched Founders Fund with PayPal partners Ken Howery and Luke Nosek. Earlier, Thiel became Facebook's first outside investor when he acquired a 10.2% stake for $500,000 in August 2004. He sold the majority of his shares in Facebook for over $1 billion in 2012 but remains on the board of directors. After the Fifth National Government intervened on his behalf, Thiel was controversially granted New Zealand citizenship in 2011 after spending 12 days in the country non-consecutively. He co-founded Valar Ventures in 2010; co-founded Mithril Capital, serving as investment committee chair, in 2012; and served as a part-time partner at Y Combinator from 2015 to 2017. Audio Source: ⁠here⁠ Full Wikipedia entry ⁠here⁠ Peter Thiel's books ⁠here --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theunadulteratedintellect/support

Pre Silicon Valley - Claude Shannon & Bell Labs w/ Jimmy Soni  AZ TRT S04 EP49 (212) 12-10-2023   Revisit the Show w/ Clips From: PayPal Mafia - The Founders Story & Their Battle w/ EBAY w/ Jimmy Soni  - BRT S03 EP36 (135) 8-7-2022  Full Show: HERE    What We Learned This Week PayPal Mafia – alumni created or involved many other co's – Tesla, SpaceX, Palantir, Yelp, Yammer, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube & more PayPal had may contributors & a real long shot to happen during the DOTCOM Crash of 2000 Claude Shannon – creator of Information Theory, predecessor to the modern computer age, & algorithms Bell Labs was a classic Tech Incubator like Fairfield Semiconductor, Xerox Parc, Menlo Park – Edison / GE, Manhattan Project, Tuxedo Park PayPal sold to EBAY in 2002 for $1.5 Billion, prior to this, the two companies were rivals as EBAY wanted a different payment system   Full Show: HERE     Guest: Jimmy Soni, Author https://jimmysoni.com/ https://twitter.com/jimmyasoni   https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmysoni/ My books are passion projects. My topics come because I look for a book to buy on the subject and can't find one. I know it's supposed to be fancier than that, or that there must be some grand theory of my work, but there isn't one. That said, my readers seem to enjoy what I've written, so maybe it's fine? I am inspired by my literary heroes, including Robert Caro, Laura Hillenbrand, Candice Millard, Daniel James Brown, and Barbara Tuchman, among many others. They are all rigorous researchers—but reading their books doesn't feel like doing homework. That's what I'm going for, and hopefully I hit the mark a few times. For me, books are all-consuming projects, leaving little other time for the things that should populate this section like hobbies, interests, and even the ability to remain in basic touch with people. I enjoy obsessing over a subject for years, and my goal is to find as much information as possible and then make the material readable for a general audience.  When not writing or reading, I spend time with my daughter in Brooklyn, NY.  If you'd like to connect, please drop me a line at hello [@] jimmysoni.com.   https://jimmysoni.com/books/   The Founders: The Story of PayPal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley A definitive, deeply reported look at the origin of PayPal and its founding team, including Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Reid Hoffman, Max Levchin, and others whose stories have never before been told. They defined the modern world. This experience defined them.   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PayPal_Mafia Paypal Mafia   Elon Musk – Tesla, Space X, Boring Co. Peter Thiel – 1st FB Investor, AirBnB Investor, Founders Fund, Palantir Reid Hoffman – LinkedIn (sold to Microsoft) Max Levchin – Affirm, Investor in Yelp David O. Sacks – Geni.com & Yammer Chad Hurley – YouTube Russel Simmons – Yelp   https://fintechboomer.com/guide-evaluate-the-founders-the-story-of-paypal-and-the-entrepreneurs-who-formed-silicon-valley/   https://www.pressreader.com/india/the-hindu-business-line/20220620/281758452959411   https://twitter.com/jimmyasoni/status/1488992532268732419       A Mind at Play: How Claude Shannon Invented the Information Age In this elegantly written, exhaustively researched biography, Soni and Goodman reveal Claude Shannon's full story for the first time. With unique access to Shannon's family and friends, A Mind at Play brings this singular innovator and always playful genius to life.   https://www.quantamagazine.org/how-claude-shannons-information-theory-invented-the-future-20201222/ QUANTIZED COLUMNS How Claude Shannon Invented the Future Today's information age is only possible thanks to the groundbreaking work of a lone genius.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9hfWiQKhcs&t=2s A Mind at Play | Jimmy Soni & Rob Goodman | Talks at Google     Life in Code and Digits: When Shannon met ... - ScienceOpen  Shannon is credited with the invention of signal-flow graphs, in 1942. He discovered the topological gain formula while investigating the functional operation of an analog computer. For two months early in 1943, Shannon came into contact with the leading British mathematician Alan Turing.   Ed Thorp, Claude Shannon and the World's First ... - Winton https://www.winton.com › technology › 2018/07 › ed-t... Jul 13, 2018 — Thorp, 85, is a former American mathematics professor and hedge fund manager, who became a New York Times bestselling author in 1962 with his ...   https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/magazine/15Battier-t.html The No-Stats All-Star     Notes: Claude Shannon Bio – A Mind at Play (2017) Claude Shannon – mathematician & MIT professor created Father of Information Theory – How do you make info transferrable, & secure in wartime? Friend of Alan Turing (British Mathematician), both worked on coding in WW2, German code breaking scientists became celebrities in WW2 and raised funding The science behind compressing info, digitizing info and MP3 files, transfer data Mathematics Theory of Communication, Shannon's paper and theory considered the Magna Carta of information age. Great paper theoretically and practically. Shannon created algorithm called sigsally. Imitation Game – WW2 bio movie about Alan Turing Shannon's work used for Gun torrents on Navy ships, target projectiles Bell Labs – math group that Shannon was a part of Famous Groups of Genius - Menlo Park – Edison/GE, Manhattan Project – Built the A Bomb Fairfield Semiconductor – predecessor to Intel and other Silicon Valley tech co's Bell Labs had money and started as R&D Dept. in Bell Telephone Bell Telephone ran all land lines in America, had a Fed guaranteed monopoly on the phone system Bell invented touch tone dialing, transistor, satellite tech, cell tech, communication networks We are all affected by Bell tech and inventions, modern age owes a solid to Bell Had big group of talent and could afford all of it, leading scientists of the time. During WW2 many major U.S. corporations – Bell, Ford were recruited by the US Government. War effort created urgency – math used to shoot down the enemy. The Founders – story of PayPal (2022) Dot Com burst created urgency to Pay Pal, bleeding money, had to survive. Dotcom crash – companies started 1 day, & BK out of business next day. Rise like a rocket and crash in 2 years Next Gen of Genius Teams - Xerox Parc, Microsoft, Apple Music Producer – Brian Eno coined the term “scenious” Scene meets genius - Clusters of talent American Revolution – Hamilton, Jefferson, Washington, Adams, Franklin all together for 1 cause Inklings, Fugitive Poets, 1960's British Music scene, Bill Walsh 49ers Coaching staff of the 1980s Paypal is the story of many – Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Max Levchin, Reed Hoffman Alumni of Fairchild Semi led to Intel, Atari and Xerox Parc led to Apple. Post WW2 Bell Labs pressure decreased compared to PayPal. Bell Labs allowed free wheeling, could work on a project for 10 years.   PayPal Mafia - The Founders Story & Their Battle w/ EBAY w/ Jimmy Soni  - BRT S03 EP36 (135) 8-7-2022 Full Show: HERE   More on Bell Labs:   'The Idea Factory': How Bell Labs invented the future – Article HERE           Bell Labs: The research center behind the transistor, and so much more – Article HERE         Best of Biotech from AZ Bio & Life Sciences to Jellatech: HERE   Biotech Shows: HERE   AZ Tech Council Shows:  https://brt-show.libsyn.com/size/5/?search=az+tech+council *Includes Best of AZ Tech Council show from 2/12/2023     ‘Best Of' Topic: https://brt-show.libsyn.com/category/Best+of+BRT      Thanks for Listening. Please Subscribe to the BRT Podcast.     AZ Tech Roundtable 2.0 with Matt Battaglia The show where Entrepreneurs, Top Executives, Founders, and Investors come to share insights about the future of business.  AZ TRT 2.0 looks at the new trends in business, & how classic industries are evolving.  Common Topics Discussed: Startups, Founders, Funds & Venture Capital, Business, Entrepreneurship, Biotech, Blockchain / Crypto, Executive Comp, Investing, Stocks, Real Estate + Alternative Investments, and more…    AZ TRT Podcast Home Page: http://aztrtshow.com/ ‘Best Of' AZ TRT Podcast: Click Here Podcast on Google: Click Here Podcast on Spotify: Click Here                    More Info: https://www.economicknight.com/azpodcast/ KFNX Info: https://1100kfnx.com/weekend-featured-shows/   Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the Hosts, Guests and Speakers, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent (or affiliates, members, managers, employees or partners), or any Station, Podcast Platform, Website or Social Media that this show may air on. All information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes. Nothing said on this program should be considered advice or recommendations in: business, legal, real estate, crypto, tax accounting, investment, etc. Always seek the advice of a professional in all business ventures, including but not limited to: investments, tax, loans, legal, accounting, real estate, crypto, contracts, sales, marketing, other business arrangements, etc.  

Max Levchin, CEO of Affirm, a buy now pay later provider, discusses what's wrong with credit in America and why so many consumers are turning to buy now pay later -- and how that threatens financial incumbents. He speaks with Bloomberg's Sonali Basak for this week's Bloomberg Markets Magazine interview. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Miguel Armaza sits down with Ohad Samet, CEO & Co-Founder of TrueML, a leading platform of fintech products to enable intelligent, digital customer communication, which in clues TrueAccord, a leading debt recovery and collections platform with a consumer-friendly digital experience. They are backed by AmEx, Arbor Ventures, BoxGroup, Felicis, Homebrew, Nyca, Max Levchin, and many more.Ohad is also an industry veteran and previously held leadership roles at PayPal and Klarna.We discuss:Lessons learned at PayPal and Klarna. What drives the success of these organizations?How TrueAccord has pioneered a humane, consumer-friendly approach to debt collectionThe state of BNPL and why Ohad thinks the category is here to stay and he hopes it displaces payday loansAdvice on managing your relationship with VCs… and a lot more!Want more podcast episodes? Join me and follow Fintech Leaders today on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app for weekly conversations with today's global leaders that will dominate the 21st century in fintech, business, and beyond.Do you prefer a written summary, instead? Check out the Fintech Leaders newsletter and join 60,000+ readers and listeners worldwide!Miguel Armaza is Co-Founder and General Partner of Gilgamesh Ventures, a seed-stage investment fund focused on fintech in the Americas. He also hosts and writes the Fintech Leaders podcast and newsletter.Miguel on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nKha4ZMiguel on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Jb5oBcFintech Leaders Newsletter: bit.ly/3jWIp

Diving into the life, lessons, and greatness of the founders of PayPal from Jimmy Soni's book called, The Founders: The Story of PayPal and the Entreprenuers Who Shaped Silicon ValleyCheck out my new book Chasing Greatness: Timeless Stories on the Pursuit of Excellence-----0:00 - Wrong Ideas“You start off with an idea, and that idea is mostly wrong. And then you adapt that idea and keep refining it and you listen to criticism…and then engage in sort of a recursive self-improvement…keep iterating on a loop that says, ‘Am I doing something useful for other people?' Because that's what a company is supposed to do.” - Elon Musk2:50 -  On questions“A lot of times the question is harder than the answer, and if you can properly phrase the question, then the answer is the easy part.” - Elon Musk6:35 - Trust“Trust builds speed. We could be on a much faster cycle than a lot of companies where you have to take a month to sort of massage things throughout the company before you could say what you were trying to say.” - Peter Thiel7:40 - On hirings“As hire As. Bs hire Cs. So the first B you hire takes the whole company down." - Max Levchin15:30 - On all-nighters“I think there's something very special about the all-nighter ethic. There's definitely something about the nocturnal lifestyle for engineers specifically that really opens up the chakras of creativity or code writing. People get slightly sillier, but also maybe a little more creative. They get tired and some spirit and camaraderie wakes up in those hours and you get more done because you're not afraid to tell people to shove it when they're doing something wrong and the interactions become more interesting." - Max Levchin17:15 - On losers“Show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser.” - Peter Thiel25:50 - A question to ask.“Who is the most eccentric or unorthodox person you know and could I meet them.” - Reid Hoffman27:00 - One final note "The fates guide the person who accepts them and hinders the person who resists them." - Cleanthes

The meeting was an interview between Kerry Lutz and Eric Jackson about the early days of PayPal and its founding team, including Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and Max Levchin. Jackson reflects on the historical significance of the company and the strong personalities that sometimes clashed but ultimately worked together. They discussed the challenges PayPal faced, including fraud and regulatory issues, and how it overcame them to become a success. The conversation also touched on the cultural differences between PayPal and eBay, and how they affected the companies' respective trajectories. Jackson also discussed the formation of the PayPal Mafia, a group of successful entrepreneurs who worked together at PayPal, and attributed their success to a culture of innovation, risk-taking, and accountability. The interview provides insight into the early days of PayPal and the individuals who helped shape its success. Buy the book here: The PayPal Wars Find Kerry here: FSN  

The Affirm CEO talks about new ways consumers are using its buy now, pay later services.

PayPal was the defining tech company of its generation, with alumni going on to start YouTube, Tesla, Yelp, LinkedIn, among many others. But the company nearly didn't make it. The PayPal of today only exists because of how its team navigated early, unprecedented inflection points. Find out why Max Levchin now says he does “not recommend” a merger of equals to anyone, how the team pioneered CAPTCHA to fight $10M in monthly fraud that nearly sank the fledgling business, and how they maneuvered through ongoing battles with eBay on their way to an IPO. Host: Roelof Botha, Managing Partner of Sequoia Capital  Featuring: Max Levchin, Michael Moritz, Jimmy Soni Transcript: https://www.sequoiacap.com/podcast/crucible-moments-paypal/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

My guest is Jimmy Soni, an American author, and former The Huffington Post managing editor. He is best known for A Mind at Play, his biography of Claude Shannon, and The Founders: The Story of Paypal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley.This is a masterclass episode on the skills, mentality, and stories of the greatest team ever built, The Paypal Mafia.You will learn on this episode:- Why it took Jimmy 6 years to write this amazing story- What is Peter Thiel's exceptional skill that powered the growth of PayPal-  How was he able to interview Elon Musk, Reid Hoffman, and Peter Thiel-  How PayPal acquired the first 100 and went viral in a strategy that could have bankrupted the company- The key ingredients common between Elon Musk, Reid Hoffman, Max Levchin, Peter Thiel, and David Sacks- and much more ...You can find Jimmy on:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmysoni/https://twitter.com/jimmyasoniThis is a must-read, and I would recommend purchasing the book. Here is a link:https://jimmysoni.com/books/the-founders/https://www.amazon.com/Founders-Paypal-Entrepreneurs-Shaped-Silicon/dp/1501197266If you like our podcast, please don't forget to subscribe and support us on your favorite podcast players. We also would appreciate your feedback and rating to reach more people.We recently launched our new newsletter, Principles Friday, where I share one principle that can help you in your life or business, one thought-provoking question, and one call to action toward that principle. Please subscribe Here.It is Free and Short (2min).

Miguel Armaza sits down with Adena Hefets, CEO/Co-Founder of Divvy Homes, one of the most innovative PropTech companies in the US that helps renters transition into homeowners with a rent-to-own model. They are backed by great investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, GGV Capital, GIC, Tiger Global, Caffeinated Capital, and Max Levchin.We discuss:What's going on in the US commercial and residential real estate markets? Adena gives a deep dive of the tough state of the market.How Divvy's rent-to-own model is a win-win for consumers, giving them the flexibility to be homeowners without necessarily having a mortgage.Leadership and productivity lessons after six years in the CEO role.Struggles from their early fundraising journey, building company culture… and a lot more!Want more podcast episodes? Join me and follow Fintech Leaders today on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app for weekly conversations with today's global leaders that will dominate the 21st century in fintech, business, and beyond.Do you prefer a written summary, instead? Check out the Fintech Leaders newsletter and join 56,000+ readers and listeners worldwide!Miguel Armaza is Co-Founder & Managing General Partner of Gilgamesh Ventures, a seed-stage investment fund focused on fintech in the Americas. He also hosts and writes the Fintech Leaders podcast and newsletter.Miguel on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nKha4ZMiguel on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Jb5oBcFintech Leaders Newsletter: bit.ly/3jWIpqp

Miguel Armaza sits down with Trisha Kothari, CEO/Co-Founder of Unit21, a company at the forefront of the fight against financial crimes. Founded in 2018, Unit21 has raised close to $100M from Google, ICONIQ Capital, Tiger Global, Core Innovation, and a number of great angel investors.We discuss:Finding Unit21's initial design partners and how they eventually landed Coinbase and Intuit as their first and second customersFounder-led sales and common mistakes on building an enterprise sales teamWhat she learned about fraud and company building as a young engineer and product manager at Max Levchin's AffirmHow financial fraudsters are creative, coordinated, and quick… and a lot more!Want more podcast episodes? Join me and follow Fintech Leaders today on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app for weekly conversations with today's global leaders that will dominate the 21st century in fintech, business, and beyond.Do you prefer a written summary, instead? Check out the Fintech Leaders newsletter and join 55,000+ readers and listeners worldwide!Miguel Armaza is Co-Founder & Managing General Partner of Gilgamesh Ventures, a seed-stage investment fund focused on fintech in the Americas. He also hosts and writes the Fintech Leaders podcast and newsletter.Miguel on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nKha4ZMiguel on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Jb5oBcFintech Leaders Newsletter: bit.ly/3jWIpqp

Jimmy Soni is an award-winning author, whose book "The Founders: The Story of PayPal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley" vividly narrates PayPal's rise from its challenging early days to revolutionizing financial systems. Soni also brings insights from his previous award-winning book, "A Mind at Play: How Claude Shannon Invented the Information Age." In this episode, delve into the butterfly effect of PayPal on the tech industry, the importance of selecting peers for success, and leveraging connections in business. Uncover the dichotomy of dreams versus economic reality in startups, explore the value of competition in the workplace, and learn about the geographical influences on ambitious projects. Whether an aspiring entrepreneur or tech enthusiast, tune in for invaluable lessons and insights. Checkout the book:→ Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Founders-Peter-Company-Modern-InternetConnect with Jimmy:→ Website: https://www.jimmysoni.com  → Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/jimmyasoni   → LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmysoni   → Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmyasoniResources Mentioned in The Episode:→ A Mind At Play: https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Play-Shannon-Invented-Information→ Elon Musk: https://www.twitter.com/elonmusk  → Peter Thiel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterthiel  → Luke Nosek: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukenosek→ Max Levchin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxlevchin→ David O. Sacks: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidoliversacks→ Ken Howery: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenhowery  → The Defiant Ones: https://www.netflix.com/title/80214552     → Silicon Valley Porn Star: https://www.amazon.com/Silicon-Valley-Porn-Star-Rediscovering  Help The Louis and Kyle Show:→ If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend or leave a review!→ Leave a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1504333834→ Drop us an email: LouisandKyleShow@gmail.com→ Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb6qBiV1HAYcep87nKJmGhAFollow The Show on Social Media:→ Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouisKyleShow→ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louiskyleshow/→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/65567567/Connect with Louis and Kyle:→ Read Louis' Newsletter: https://louisshulman.substack.com/→ Louis' Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouisShulman→ Kyle's Twitter: https://twitter.com/_kylebishop→ Louis LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisshulman/→ Kyle's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-bishop-7b790050/

Rebecca Hotsko engages in a conversation with Jimmy Soni, focusing on his book titled "The Founders." This captivating book explores the rise of PayPal and the influential entrepreneurs who were instrumental in shaping the landscape of Silicon Valley. Jimmy Soni's work takes readers on an extraordinary two-decade journey of PayPal, uncovering its origins and presenting fascinating anecdotes about the key figures involved.Jimmy Soni, an award-winning author, has garnered acclaim for his latest book, "The Founders: The Story of PayPal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley." As a debut best-seller, it has received praise from renowned publications such as the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Economist, and many others.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN:00:00 - Intro.02:26 - The incredible story of how PayPal got started. 06:08 - Who is the PayPal mafia? 10:40 - Max Levchin and Peter Thiel story, and their role in PayPal. 29:19 - The role Elon Musk played in PayPal and stories from his early start up days running Zip2, and X.com. 38:21 - How the merger of Cofinity and X.com happened and why? 42:11- The hurdles the company faced along the way and lessons learned. 45:33 - The unique culture at PayPal.*Disclaimer: Slight timestamp discrepancies may occur due to podcast platform differences.BOOKS AND RESOURCESCheck out: Jimmysoni.com. Get Jimmy's book: The Founders: The Story of PayPal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley.Related Episode: Listen to MI230: Buffett Indicator Says Market Is Overvalued w/ Lance Roberts. or watch the video.NEW TO THE SHOW?Check out our Millennial Investing Starter Packs.Browse through all our episodes (complete with transcripts) here.Try Robert and Rebecca's favorite tool for picking stock winners and managing our portfolios: TIP Finance.Enjoy exclusive perks from our favorite Apps and Services.Stay up-to-date on financial markets and investing strategies through our daily newsletter, We Study Markets.Learn how to better start, manage, and grow your business with the best business podcasts.P.S The Investor's Podcast Network is excited to launch a subreddit devoted to our fans in discussing financial markets, stock picks, questions for our hosts, and much more! Join our subreddit r/TheInvestorsPodcast today!SPONSORSGet a FREE audiobook from Audible.Instead of trying to time the market or pick single stocks, automate your investments and invest in a variety of companies with Betterment.What does happen when money and big feelings mix? Tune in to find out on the new podcast, Open Money, presented by Servus Credit Union.Apply for the Employee Retention Credit easily, no matter how busy you are, with Innovation Refunds.Support our free podcast by supporting our sponsors.Connect with Rebecca: Twitter | InstagramEmail: Rebecca@theinvestorspodcast.comConnect with Jimmy: Website | LinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What do we actually know about the applications we use every day? Few people are aware of PayPal's humble beginnings, despite the company being a behemoth today. Nowadays, PayPal is a household name. Its founders include some of the most well-known figures in the tech industry including Max Levchin, Elon Musk, and Peter Thiel. In this episode, we've invited an award-winning author and biographer, Jimmy Soni. Jimmy has spoken about his books throughout the USA at organizations big and small, including universities, conferences, and companies such as Talks at Google. His latest book, THE FOUNDERS: The Story of PayPal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley, was a debut best-seller and has earned praise from the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The New Yorker, and The Economist, among many others. In this episode, Jimmy will be sharing: 1) The Story of Paypal And The Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley 2) The Superpower which Elon Musk & Peter Thiel possess 3) The Power of Social Capital Learn more about Jimmy: Website: https://jimmysoni.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jimmy.soni.750 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmysoni/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmyasoni/ Get The Founders: https://jimmysoni.com/books/the-founders/ Episode Sponsor: https://bookthinkers.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theraygacyshow/message

On the latest episode of Great Books Distilled, we explore Jimmy Soni's bestselling book, The Founders. The Founders tells the founding story of PayPal and the personalities who shaped it, including Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Max Levchin, and Reid Hoofman. To write the book, Jimmy Soni conducted hundreds of interviews and had unprecedented access to thousands of pages of internal material. In this interview, we explore the most interesting aspects of this incredible story and what we can learn from it, and we go behind the scenes to explore the five-year story of writing the book. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Major averages finish higher as the markets digest the Credit Suisse rescue. Cantor Fitzgerald's Eric Johnston on why he's still bearish while Macquarie Group's Thierry Wizman discusses the huge swings in the bond market. Glenn Hubbard was the chair of the Council of Economic Advisers under George W. Bush; he discusses what the Fed is watching most closely ahead of this week's rate decision. Our Phil LeBeau on why auto inventories are finally increasing at dealerships while Eamon Javers brings us the big ruling a judge made against JPMorgan in a Jeffrey Epstein lawsuit. Plus, Affirm CEO Max Levchin on where consumers remain strong and where weakness is showing and Cowen analyst John Kernan previews Nike's earnings. 

Max Levchin is one of the giants of the fintech space. He was a co-founder and CTO of the original fintech, PayPal, and now he leads Affirm, the company that is reinventing how we pay for things at the point of sale.The buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) space continues to be hot. Consumers love it and so the volume of merchandise funded in this way keeps growing every year. But what is behind that growth and why is BNPL so much better for consumers than credit cards? We delve into a detailed discussion of this and more in the latest episode of the Fintech One-on-One podcast.In this podcast you will learn:The catalyst for the founding of Affirm.Why they decided to start in point-of-sale lending.Why transparency was integral to their offering.Why Max thinks credit cards have a lot in common with payday loans.How the CFPB views BNPL.The types of loans Affirm offers and the different ways they make money.How Peloton became such a big part of their business.The key to landing partnerships with both Walmart and Amazon.How they are adapting their credit models to drive lower delinquencies.Max's thoughts on their recent layoffs.How they have engaged with the CFPB.Why there has been a bunch of fintech startups by ex-Affirm execs.His surprising view on the future of cards as a payment vehicle.Connect with Max on LinkedInConnect with Affirm on LinkedInConnect with Fintech One-on-One: Tweet me @PeterRenton Connect with me on LinkedIn Find previous Fintech One-on-One episodes

The best advice Brex founder and co-CEO Henrique Dubugras ever received came from Snap CEO Evan Spiegel: The best CEOs, Spiegel told him, are “extremely authentic to themselves ... If you try to emulate being Elon Musk and you're not like that, you're just gonna fail.” This wisdom has empowered Dubugras and his co-founder, Pedro Franceschi, to focus on the places where they can be most effective at Brex, and to be more authentic with their coworkers. In this episode, Henrique and Joubin discuss coaches vs. therapy, mutual crushes, “hacker famous,” big egos, why missions are overrated, dropping out of college, CEO's identities, the “Silicon Valley mold,” trojan-horsing Max Levchin, pivoting after two years, going to the ground, compensation and hiring myths, core customers, fixing expense report policies, and joining the Expedia board.In this episode, we cover: Growing up in Brazil and Henrique's relationship with his mom (01:07) The first company he sold, Pagar.me, and his co-founder Pedro Franceschi (07:11) Becoming “successful” and why it's fine to have a “f**ked up motivation” (10:35) ADHD, dueling superpowers, and focusing on the right things (15:56) Being an authentic CEO and not reading books (19:51) The radical changes Brex has experienced in the past three years (24:40) Brex's new spend management product and landing initial customers (30:30) The messages sent by how Brex structures its employee compensation (34:07) How Henrique and Pedro recruited top talent when they were just getting started (38:57) Pivoting a $12 billion company: “We can't do all these things” (43:33) The challenges of becoming more of an enterprise company than a Fintech one (50:34) Links: Connect with Henrique Twitter LinkedIn Connect with Joubin Twitter LinkedIn Email: grit@kleinerperkins.com  Learn more about Kleiner Perkins

Action Plan: https://jimharshawjr.com/ACTION Free Clarity Call: https://jimharshawjr.com/APPLY Author and Venture capitalist Jason Portnoy grew up in the suburbs of New Jersey. He went to Stanford University and eventually found himself in Silicon Valley in the middle of what's called the PayPal Mafia— where he worked with visionaries like Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, Max Levchin, and Reid Hoffman.  This launched him into a life of wealth and prestige that he never dreamed of growing up.   He had stock options in PayPal. Flashy cars. And an amazing family.  Everything looked perfect on the outside, but on the inside, he had unhealed traumas from his past. Slowly and painfully, Jason descended into the dark world of pornography and sex— which pushed him and his life to the edge. Listen to this episode of the Success Through Failure podcast as Jason walks us through his book, "Silicon Valley Porn Star: A Memoir of Redemption and Rediscovering the Self," and his journey that sheds light on a crisis of masculinity in our own world where so many men quest for unlimited power and success.  Tune in now and be inspired to look inside of yourself and find your own path to success and fulfillment in becoming the person that you truly want to be.  If you don't have time to listen to the entire episode or if you hear something that you like but don't have time to write it down, be sure to grab your free copy of the Action Plan from this episode— as well as get access to action plans from EVERY episode— at http://www.JimHarshawJr.com/Action.  

Max Levchin is the Co-Founder of Paypal and the current Founder & CEO of Affirm. In this conversation, we discuss building a new credit score, how to navigate market downtowns, and building company culture in a remote environment, ======================= Arculus is the next generation crypto & NFT cold storage wallet that combines one of the world's strongest security protocols with the easiest to use form factor and app. Arculus requires 3-Factor Authentication to ensure only you have access to your digital assets – something you know – a PIN, something you have – the Arculus Key Card, and biometrics. Learn more and buy it now on getarculus.com. Use promo code POMP to save 15%. Remember, with Arculus, it's your keys, your crypto. ======================= LMAX Digital - the market-leading solution for institutional crypto trading & custodial services - offers clients a regulated, transparent and secure trading environment, together with the deepest pool of crypto liquidity. LMAX Digital is also a primary price discovery venue, streaming real-time market data to the industry's leading analytics platforms. LMAX Digital - secure, liquid, trusted. Learn more at LMAXdigital.com/pomp ======================= With a Messari Pro subscription, you gain access to exclusive industry-leading long-form daily research reports, daily crypto news & insights in your inbox, advanced asset screeners, curated sets of charts and metrics and so much more. Try Messari Pro today! Get up to 25% off their Messari Pro membership by visiting www.messari.io/pro and entering promo code "POMP" at checkout. =======================

Jason Portnoy, first Chief Financial Officer of Palantir Technologies and venture capitalist, talks about his book Silicon Vally Porn Star, redemption, and his evolving definition of success. Guest Biography Entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and author Jason Portnoy began his career at PayPal, working closely with technology icons like Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, Max Levchin, and Reid Hoffman. He served as the first Chief Financial Officer of Palantir Technologies (NYSE: PLTR) and later founded Oakhouse Partners, a top-performing venture capital firm. Jason is sought after as a trusted advisor to technology company CEOs and has spoken on topics ranging from executive leadership to the intersections of technology and humanity. He holds engineering degrees from both Stanford University (MS) and the University of Colorado (BS). This episode is brought to you by Seeking Alpha Premium. Sign up for a free trial at https://www.runnymede.com/alpha In this episode, you'll learn: • Happiness comes from within, not money or material things • Lessons from the dark place of porn, philandering, and infidelity • Why he flipped the script on how he views money Show notes: http://www.inspiredmoney.fm/258 Find more from our guest: www.jasonportnoy.com Twitter LinkedIn Mentioned in the episode: Brené Brown Books: Silicon Valley Porn Star: A Memoir of Redemption and Rediscovering the Self Women Who Love Too Much: When You Keep Wishing and Hoping He'll Change The Hero's Journey: Joseph Campbell on His Life and Work Thanks for Listening & Watching! To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below. Share this show on Twitter or Facebook. Join us at the Inspired Money Makers groups at facebook and LinkedIn To help out the show: Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts, Podchaser.com, or wherever you listen. Your ratings and reviews really help, and I read each one. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

The Dow gained over 300 points and Jim Cramer is breaking down the biggest news driving the market, including today's election decision. First, Kelly Steckelberg, CFO of Zoom, joins Mad Money to discuss how the company is faring after peaking at the height of the pandemic. Then, Cramer digs into Portillo's, the fast-food chain known for its Chicago style hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches and chats with CEO Michael Osanloo. Plus, Affirm fell going into and after earnings - Cramer's talking to CEO Max Levchin.

How does the fintech company Affirm work? And what's the story behind its founder, Max Levchin? From Chernobyl to Peloton, our story takes some pretty crazy twists and turns.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After PayPal sold to eBay in 2002, Max Levchin could have relaxed on a beach for the rest of his life. But that's not the kind of person he is. He isn't happy unless he's coming up with new ideas and building companies – so much so that he actually fell into a dark place after leaving PayPal. He didn't fully find himself until years later, when he rediscovered his passion for the “hard, valuable, fun” problems of fintech. Now, Max runs another billion-dollar company: Affirm, a “buy now, pay later” service that's transforming how we purchase things on credit. This is the second part of a two-part conversation with Max; to hear the story of PayPal, be sure to listen to part 1! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jason Portnoy of PayPal, Palantir, and More — Porn Addiction, Sexaholics Anonymous, Shame Spirals, and His Path to Recovery and Redemption | Brought to you by LinkedIn Marketing Solutions marketing platform with ~770M users, Athletic Greens all-in-one nutritional supplement, and Shopify global commerce platform providing tools to start, grow, market, and manage a retail business. More on all three below.Entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and author Jason Portnoy began his career at PayPal, working closely with technology icons like Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, Max Levchin, and Reid Hoffman. He served as the first chief financial officer of Palantir Technologies and later founded Oakhouse Partners, a top-performing venture capital firm.Jason is sought after as a trusted advisor to technology company CEOs and has spoken on topics ranging from executive leadership to the intersections of technology and humanity. He holds engineering degrees from both Stanford University (MS) and the University of Colorado (BS). His new book is Silicon Valley Porn Star.Please enjoy!This episode is brought to you by LinkedIn Marketing Solutions, the go-to tool for B2B marketers and advertisers who want to drive brand awareness, generate leads, or build long-term relationships that result in real business impact.With a community of more than 770 million professionals, LinkedIn is gigantic, but it can be hyper-specific. You have access to a diverse group of people all searching for things they need to grow professionally. LinkedIn has the marketing tools to help you target your customers with precision, right down to job title, company name, industry, etc. To redeem your free $100 LinkedIn ad credit and launch your first campaign, go to LinkedIn.com/TFS!*This episode is also brought to you by Shopify! Shopify is one of my favorite platforms and one of my favorite companies. Shopify is a platform designed for anyone to sell anywhere, giving entrepreneurs the resources once reserved for big business. In no time flat, you can have a great looking online store that brings your ideas to life, and you can have the tools to manage your day-to-day and drive sales. No coding or design experience required.More than a store, Shopify grows with you, and they never stop innovating, providing more and more tools to make your business better and your life easier. Go to Shopify.com/Tim for a FREE 14-day trial and get full access to Shopify's entire suite of features.*This episode is also brought to you by Athletic Greens. I get asked all the time, “If you could use only one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is usually AG1 by Athletic Greens, my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in The 4-Hour Body in 2010 and did not get paid to do so. I do my best with nutrient-dense meals, of course, but AG further covers my bases with vitamins, minerals, and whole-food-sourced micronutrients that support gut health and the immune system. Right now, Athletic Greens is offering you their Vitamin D Liquid Formula free with your first subscription purchase—a vital nutrient for a strong immune system and strong bones. Visit AthleticGreens.com/Tim to claim this special offer today and receive the free Vitamin D Liquid Formula (and five free travel packs) with your first subscription purchase! That's up to a one-year supply of Vitamin D as added value when you try their delicious and comprehensive all-in-one daily greens product.*For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsorsSign up for Tim's email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Discover Tim's books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissYouTube: youtube.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferrissPast guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, and many more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

During its formative years in the late 1990's, Paypal attracted an extraordinary group of young entrepreneurs, who then went on to build some of the best known companies in tech. They became known as The PayPal Mafia—and Max Levchin was one of the leaders. A computer genius from Soviet Ukraine, Max joined Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, Reid Hoffman and others as they grew PayPal into a massively successful online payment service. Along the way, they encountered almost every start-up challenge imaginable, including the emotional ouster of Elon Musk as CEO. After PayPal was acquired by eBay in 2002, Max couldn't sit still, so he launched a startup lab that eventually led to another successful fintech company: Affirm. Guy will talk to Max about Affirm next week, in the second episode of this two-part series. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Text Hawk to 66866 for Mindful Monday... A carefully curated email sent to you every Monday to help you start your week right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12      https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Jimmy Soni is an award-winning author. His book, A Mind at Play: How Claude Shannon Invented the Information Age, won the 2017 Neumann Prize, awarded by the British Society for the History of Mathematics for the best book on the history of mathematics for a general audience, and the Middleton Prize by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. His book, Jane's Carousel, completed with the late Jane Walentas, captured one woman's remarkable twenty-five-year journey to restore a beloved carousel in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Jimmy's most recent book is called, The Founders - The Story of PayPal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley.  Notes: “Your life will be shaped by the things you create, and the people you make them with. We tend to sweat the former. We don't worry enough about the latter." The founders and earliest employees of PayPal pushed and prodded and demanded better of one another. Instead of "Acknowledgements" to end his book, Jimmy titled the section "Debts" "A debt is deeper than an Acknowledgement." Envy the optimist, not the genius. There's real power in optimism. The world is built by optimists. Look for the silver things. Have belief. Be the type of person that believes in themselves and others… Optimism builds confidence in yourself and others. Be an optimist. Phil Jackson and Michael Jordan – The fact that Phil told the best player in the world… “We aren't going to win a championship if you keep playing that way. You have to buy into the triangle offense.” It shows the value of a friend (or a coach) telling you the truth in order to help you (and the team) get better. "Walter Isaacson made me believe in its (the book) importance and potential. At the very end, he provided the kind of advice that can only come from someone who has spent years laboring in the same fields. Peter Thiel refined Max Levchin's thinking... He made him better. Ask, "Have you thought about it this way?" Watch Jiro Dreams of Sushi Kobe Bryant was an incredible learning machine. His insatiable curiosity made him better. You can become curious about anything. Mr. Beast spent hours every day on Skype with his friends talking about how to grow a YouTube channel. We live in a moment were you can connect with others who are passionate about the same topics you are. With the internet, you can connect with anyone. Qualities of the leaders who created PayPal: It was so hard. They all experienced failure and bounced back. Highly intelligent. Hard-working. They worked 7 days a week. There was no work-life balance. They weren't just resilient, they were fast-moving. Life Advice: What looks like expertise on the outside is generally messiness on the inside. Leadership in Solitude. There are benefits to spending some time by yourself. Ask – The people who make things happen are willing to ASK. Steve Jobs to Bill Hewlitt. Elon Musk to Dr. Peter Nicholson. Those "asks" changed the trajectory of their lives. Who knows, maybe your next ASK will change yours… Claude Shannon, Bell Laboratories, renowned as an incredible hub of innovation…  whose work in the 1930s and '40s earned him the title of “father of the information age.” Geniuses have a unique way of engaging with the world, and if you spend enough time examining their habits, you discover the behaviors behind their brilliance.

The Dow dropped in its sixth consecutive day of losses and Jim Cramer is guiding investors toward areas of opportunity. First, Molson Coors Beverage Company CEO Gavin Hattersley talks to Cramer about his company's quarter results and new products. Then, Affirm soared after earnings and CEO Max Levchin discusses company partnerships, earnings, guidance and more. Next, Micron Technology CEO Sanjay Mehrotra gives Cramer a recap of the company's Investor Day. Plus, Diamondback Energy's CEO.

David Sacks is a paradox. The entrepreneur and venture capitalist helped lay the foundations of the digital world we now live in: He was one of the members of what's known as the PayPal Mafia, alongside people like Peter Thiel, Elon Musk and Max Levchin. He's also been an early investor in some companies you may have heard of: Airbnb, Facebook, Slack, SpaceX, Twitter, Uber.  At the same time, he is something of a whistleblower from inside the world of tech. He believes that Big Tech has far too much power. He argues that the fact that a handful of billionaires get to decide what we are (and aren't) allowed to say in the new, digital public square is something that the Framers would have been repelled by—and that all Americans should oppose. Today I spoke to David, now a general partner at Craft Ventures, about the rise of America's social credit system and how we can defend our civil liberties in the age of the Internet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices