Podcast appearances and mentions of Paul Graham

Listen now: Spotify, Apple and YouTubeIf you've been hearing phrases like “taste is the only thing that will matter for PMs in the AI era” but aren't sure what that actually means—or more importantly, how to build it—this episode is for you.In this conversation, Marc and Ben sit down with Sachin Rekhi, founder, former LinkedIn product leader, and creator of LinkedIn Sales Navigator, to unpack the real mechanics of taste: where it comes from, how to sharpen it, and why it's already the defining skill of AI-native product teams.Sachin shares the frameworks he teaches inside companies and in his Reforge course—from Rick Rubin's “sensitivity & canon” model, to daily design-critique habits, to the patterns he saw across design-driven, metrics-driven, strategy-driven, and sales-driven org cultures.He also tells the untold story of how Sales Navigator went from a tiny skunkworks project to one of LinkedIn's biggest product lines—why social capital mattered, how he managed leadership skepticism, and how he used prototypes, real customer quotes, and narrative-building to secure executive conviction.Whether you're trying to level up your product intuition, navigate organizational taste cultures, or use AI without slipping into “AI slop,” you'll walk away with practical models you can apply immediately to your product work, leadership communication, and team workflows.All episodes of the podcast are also available on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.New to the pod? Subscribe below to get the next episode in your inbox

Liderar uma startup não é o mesmo que gerir uma empresa tradicional. O founder encara o caos, toma decisões sem manual e carrega uma responsabilidade existencial pelo negócio — tudo isso enquanto transforma energia em dinheiro.Neste episódio solo, Pedro Waengertner, CEO da ACE Ventures, explora o que torna a liderança do fundador tão única e por que muitos conselhos de gestão simplesmente não funcionam em contextos empreendedores. A partir de referências como Paul Graham e Brian Chesky (Airbnb), ele compartilha reflexões sobre quando o founder deve se envolver e quando deve, sim, jogar o manual fora.Você vai entender:As diferenças entre fundador, gestor e operadorOs seis perfis de foundersQual combinação desses perfis mais contribui para o crescimento de uma startupPor que autobiografias ensinam mais que playbooksComo usar IA para escalar sua atuação como founderSe você está na linha de frente de um negócio, esse episódio é um lembrete poderoso de que sua visão não é um detalhe — é o que dá vida à empresa.Dá o play e vem com a gente!Materiais mencionados:The Science of Startups: The Impact of Founder Personalities on Company Success — Paul X. McCarthyBefore the Startup — ensaio de Paul Graham (blog post) sobre os desafios de empreender.

What does it take to build tech the world actually trusts? Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales joins the crew to dig into the real crisis behind AI, social networks, and the web: trust, and how to build it when the stakes are global. Teen founders raise $6M to reinvent pesticides using AI — and convince Paul Graham to join in Introducing SlopStop: Community-driven AI slop detection in Kagi Search Part 1: How I Found Out $1 billion AI company co-founder admits that its $100 a month transcription service was originally 'two guys surviving on pizza' and typing out notes by hand His announcement leaving Meta White House Working on Executive Order to Foil State AI Regulations Nvidia stock soars after results, forecasts top estimates with sales for AI chips 'off the charts' Jeff Bezos Creates A.I. Start-Up Where He Will Be Co-Chief Executive Jack Conte: I'm Building an Algorithm That Doesn't Rot Your Brain AI love, actually Cat island road trip: liquidator's warehouse Gentype The Carpenter's Son... My excerpt from the Q&A Image of the paper Hosts: Leo Laporte, Jeff Jarvis, and Paris Martineau Guest: Jimmy Wales Download or subscribe to Intelligent Machines at https://twit.tv/shows/intelligent-machines. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: ventionteams.com/twit zapier.com/machines agntcy.org spaceship.com/twit

What does it take to build tech the world actually trusts? Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales joins the crew to dig into the real crisis behind AI, social networks, and the web: trust, and how to build it when the stakes are global. Teen founders raise $6M to reinvent pesticides using AI — and convince Paul Graham to join in Introducing SlopStop: Community-driven AI slop detection in Kagi Search Part 1: How I Found Out $1 billion AI company co-founder admits that its $100 a month transcription service was originally 'two guys surviving on pizza' and typing out notes by hand His announcement leaving Meta White House Working on Executive Order to Foil State AI Regulations Nvidia stock soars after results, forecasts top estimates with sales for AI chips 'off the charts' Jeff Bezos Creates A.I. Start-Up Where He Will Be Co-Chief Executive Jack Conte: I'm Building an Algorithm That Doesn't Rot Your Brain AI love, actually Cat island road trip: liquidator's warehouse Gentype The Carpenter's Son... My excerpt from the Q&A Image of the paper Hosts: Leo Laporte, Jeff Jarvis, and Paris Martineau Guest: Jimmy Wales Download or subscribe to Intelligent Machines at https://twit.tv/shows/intelligent-machines. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: ventionteams.com/twit zapier.com/machines agntcy.org spaceship.com/twit

What does it take to build tech the world actually trusts? Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales joins the crew to dig into the real crisis behind AI, social networks, and the web: trust, and how to build it when the stakes are global. Teen founders raise $6M to reinvent pesticides using AI — and convince Paul Graham to join in Introducing SlopStop: Community-driven AI slop detection in Kagi Search Part 1: How I Found Out $1 billion AI company co-founder admits that its $100 a month transcription service was originally 'two guys surviving on pizza' and typing out notes by hand His announcement leaving Meta White House Working on Executive Order to Foil State AI Regulations Nvidia stock soars after results, forecasts top estimates with sales for AI chips 'off the charts' Jeff Bezos Creates A.I. Start-Up Where He Will Be Co-Chief Executive Jack Conte: I'm Building an Algorithm That Doesn't Rot Your Brain AI love, actually Cat island road trip: liquidator's warehouse Gentype The Carpenter's Son... My excerpt from the Q&A Image of the paper Hosts: Leo Laporte, Jeff Jarvis, and Paris Martineau Guest: Jimmy Wales Download or subscribe to Intelligent Machines at https://twit.tv/shows/intelligent-machines. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: ventionteams.com/twit zapier.com/machines agntcy.org spaceship.com/twit

What does it take to build tech the world actually trusts? Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales joins the crew to dig into the real crisis behind AI, social networks, and the web: trust, and how to build it when the stakes are global. Teen founders raise $6M to reinvent pesticides using AI — and convince Paul Graham to join in Introducing SlopStop: Community-driven AI slop detection in Kagi Search Part 1: How I Found Out $1 billion AI company co-founder admits that its $100 a month transcription service was originally 'two guys surviving on pizza' and typing out notes by hand His announcement leaving Meta White House Working on Executive Order to Foil State AI Regulations Nvidia stock soars after results, forecasts top estimates with sales for AI chips 'off the charts' Jeff Bezos Creates A.I. Start-Up Where He Will Be Co-Chief Executive Jack Conte: I'm Building an Algorithm That Doesn't Rot Your Brain AI love, actually Cat island road trip: liquidator's warehouse Gentype The Carpenter's Son... My excerpt from the Q&A Image of the paper Hosts: Leo Laporte, Jeff Jarvis, and Paris Martineau Guest: Jimmy Wales Download or subscribe to Intelligent Machines at https://twit.tv/shows/intelligent-machines. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: ventionteams.com/twit zapier.com/machines agntcy.org spaceship.com/twit

What does it take to build tech the world actually trusts? Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales joins the crew to dig into the real crisis behind AI, social networks, and the web: trust, and how to build it when the stakes are global. Teen founders raise $6M to reinvent pesticides using AI — and convince Paul Graham to join in Introducing SlopStop: Community-driven AI slop detection in Kagi Search Part 1: How I Found Out $1 billion AI company co-founder admits that its $100 a month transcription service was originally 'two guys surviving on pizza' and typing out notes by hand His announcement leaving Meta White House Working on Executive Order to Foil State AI Regulations Nvidia stock soars after results, forecasts top estimates with sales for AI chips 'off the charts' Jeff Bezos Creates A.I. Start-Up Where He Will Be Co-Chief Executive Jack Conte: I'm Building an Algorithm That Doesn't Rot Your Brain AI love, actually Cat island road trip: liquidator's warehouse Gentype The Carpenter's Son... My excerpt from the Q&A Image of the paper Hosts: Leo Laporte, Jeff Jarvis, and Paris Martineau Guest: Jimmy Wales Download or subscribe to Intelligent Machines at https://twit.tv/shows/intelligent-machines. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: ventionteams.com/twit zapier.com/machines agntcy.org spaceship.com/twit

What does it take to build tech the world actually trusts? Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales joins the crew to dig into the real crisis behind AI, social networks, and the web: trust, and how to build it when the stakes are global. Teen founders raise $6M to reinvent pesticides using AI — and convince Paul Graham to join in Introducing SlopStop: Community-driven AI slop detection in Kagi Search Part 1: How I Found Out $1 billion AI company co-founder admits that its $100 a month transcription service was originally 'two guys surviving on pizza' and typing out notes by hand His announcement leaving Meta White House Working on Executive Order to Foil State AI Regulations Nvidia stock soars after results, forecasts top estimates with sales for AI chips 'off the charts' Jeff Bezos Creates A.I. Start-Up Where He Will Be Co-Chief Executive Jack Conte: I'm Building an Algorithm That Doesn't Rot Your Brain AI love, actually Cat island road trip: liquidator's warehouse Gentype The Carpenter's Son... My excerpt from the Q&A Image of the paper Hosts: Leo Laporte, Jeff Jarvis, and Paris Martineau Guest: Jimmy Wales Download or subscribe to Intelligent Machines at https://twit.tv/shows/intelligent-machines. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: ventionteams.com/twit zapier.com/machines agntcy.org spaceship.com/twit

On Monday, Luminal announced $5.3 million in seed funding, in a round led by Felicis Ventures with angel investment from Paul Graham, Guillermo Rauch, and Ben Porterfield.  Also, as U.S. giants like Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic race to develop the large language models that underpin their AI products, startups such as Sakana AI, Mistral AI, DeepSeek, and AI 21 Labs are carving out their own niche with specialized models designed for specific regions, industries, or unique features. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Most brands focus on what works in November. Smart brands plan for what happens in January. In Part 2 of our Black Friday Growth Series, Jim Huffman shares the strategic lens every DTC operator should adopt before running another BFCM campaign.Following up on the tactical BFCM episode, Jim goes deeper — exploring the downstream effects of your Q4 strategy and how to win long-term. He covers what separates high-ROI brands from revenue-chasers, how to evaluate customer acquisition quality during peak season, and how to balance margin, brand, and lifetime value when everyone else is just trying to “make noise.” This isn't about bigger discounts. It's about smarter growth.TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S EPISODEThe biggest mistake brands make during BFCMHow to set Q4 goals that don't backfire in Q1Why who you acquire in Q4 matters more than how manyOffers that build loyalty vs offers that attract deal-chasersHow to use BFCM for email growth and long-term leverageThe mindset shift that separates pro operators from seasonal brandsResources:Growth Marketing OS (Operating System) GrowthHitJim Huffman websiteJim's LinkedinJim's TwitterThe Shopify Growth School Additional episodes you might enjoy:Startup Ideas by Paul Graham (#45)Nathan Barry: How to Bootstrap a Company to $30M in a Crowded Market (#41)How I Met My Biz Partner and Less Learned Hitting $2M ARR (#44)Ryan Hamilton on his Netflix special, touring with Jerry Seinfeld, & how to write a joke (#10)How We're Validating Startup Ideas (#51) 

Black Friday and Cyber Monday aren't just about slapping on a discount. In this episode, Jim Huffman breaks down the offer-led strategies and conversion playbooks top DTC brands use to turn Q4 into their most profitable months - without relying on bloated budgets or ad spend.Originally aired as a guest appearance on the Ecwid eCommerce Show, Jim reveals the full GrowthHit playbook for building winning Black Friday/Cyber Monday campaigns. He dives deep into offer-led growth, conversion rate hacks, retention strategies, email tricks that actually work, and how to survive the Q1 hangover. Whether you're a scrappy DTC founder or scaling a 7-figure Shopify brand, this is your tactical guide to owning Q4 without burning out or discounting your business into the ground.TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S EPISODEOffer-led growth: the underrated strategy for converting in Q4The best bundles, BOGOs, and bonus offers that increase AOVTactical email patterns: “Oops” sends, internal leaks, and reminders that convertHow to turn customers into marketers for sustainable growthLanding page and ad setup that avoids performance burnoutWhy Q4 success starts with one hero productReal examples from fashion, consumables, and niche DTC brandsIf you're planning to “wing it” this Black Friday… don't. This episode gives you the framework to build offers, emails, and experiences that drive real growth  in any year. Subscribe for more.Resources:Jim Huffman websiteJim's TwitterGrowthHitThe Growth Marketer's PlaybookThe Shopify Growth School  Additional episodes you might enjoy:Startup Ideas by Paul Graham (#45)Nathan Barry: How to Bootstrap a Company to $30M in a Crowded Market (#41)How I Met My Biz Partner and Less Learned Hitting $2M ARR (#44)Ryan Hamilton on his Netflix special, touring with Jerry Seinfeld, & how to write a joke (#10)How We're Validating Startup Ideas (#51) 

Nigel Jones is joined by Paul Graham, Managing Director of Medical at Christie & Co, to explore the current dental practice market and delve into insights from Christie & Co's latest annual market review report. What you'll hear: The current practice market landscape The key points that came from the annual marketing review report The current landscape of NHS dentistry Tips for when the time is right to sell your practice.

A Note from JamesI'm such a fan of this guy. I loved The Psychology of Money — it felt like he was writing directly about me. I've made a lot of money, lost it all, made it again, lost it again. Over and over. And Morgan gets it.His new book, The Art of Spending Money, hits even deeper. It's not just about being rich; it's about freedom, simplicity, and contentment — the real returns of life. Every word of this conversation is a reminder that money is never about money. It's about independence.Episode DescriptionIn this episode, James sits down with bestselling author Morgan Housel (The Psychology of Money, Same as Ever, The Art of Spending Money) to explore how wealth, happiness, and identity intersect.They talk about why most people spend money to impress strangers who aren't even paying attention, why saving isn't “delayed gratification,” and why independence is the ultimate luxury.Housel and Altucher go beyond finance — into psychology, meaning, and what happens when your identity gets tied up in your success. This is one of the most personal and useful conversations you'll hear about money this year.What You'll LearnWhy the goal of money isn't happiness — it's contentment.How to “purchase independence” instead of possessions.The hidden trap of social signaling and lifestyle inflation.How to build a healthy “psychology of money” that lasts through boom and bust.Why compounding memories might be more valuable than compounding interest.Timestamped Chapters[02:00] “Saving is purchasing independence.”[02:29] Happiness vs. contentment — why wealth brings fewer bad days, not more good ones.[03:00] A Note from James: how Morgan's books mirror his own financial rollercoaster.[04:01] The social trap of spending for admiration.[05:19] Why signaling is universal — and why we overestimate who's watching.[06:29] The three skills of money: making, keeping, and growing it.[07:02] Saving as joy, not sacrifice: how independence is pleasure in the present.[09:08] Why wealth means fewer bad days, not more good ones.[10:00] The quest for the simple life — why simplicity equals freedom.[11:04] James's minimalist experiment: life with one backpack.[12:00] The billionaire's regret — Harvey Firestone and the mansion paradox.[14:15] The psychology of downgrades and why people can't go back.[15:40] Who are you trying to impress? The six people who actually matter.[17:21] Money as a tool vs. money as a scoreboard.[18:35] Why the desire for status falls when you find meaning elsewhere.[21:30] The fear of losing freedom — and how it drives bad decisions.[23:00] Even billionaires worry about losing it all — why fear never goes away.[25:11] Are we wired to worry about money? Nature vs. nurture in financial behavior.[27:39] Envy as outsourced thinking — how jealousy hijacks your decisions.[30:00] The five-minute rule: happiness never lasts, contentment does.[32:00] Saving in your 20s — when it matters and when it doesn't.[33:51] The habits that stick: why early saving teaches independence.[35:29] Why the best memories come when you have the least money.[37:07] Scarcity, gratitude, and why effort creates value.[38:35] Wiping the slate clean: how to escape identity traps.[40:00] Retirement, identity loss, and why former athletes struggle.[42:25] “Keep your identity small.” — lessons from Paul Graham and Tim Ferriss.[45:00] When obsession fuels creation — how James moves between identities.[49:22] Sticking with one thing vs. exploring many — the range paradox.[51:25] The barbell of wisdom: compounding stability vs. compounding experiences.[53:27] The compounding of memories — why they may outlast wealth.[55:15] Simplicity, location, and the emotional geography of memory.Additional Resources

En este episodio de Designaholic, Alejandro Cartagena repasa dos décadas de trayectoria desde la antesala de su retrospectiva en el SFMOMA. La conversación recorre su formación entre República Dominicana y Monterrey, su paso por la Fototeca de Nuevo León y los proyectos que definieron su mirada, como Identidad Nuevo León, Suburbia Mexicana y la serie Carpoolers. También habla sobre su relación con el fotolibro, la influencia de Paul Graham y su reciente trabajo con inteligencia artificial para replantear la identidad y el territorio. La conversación profundiza en la fotografía como lenguaje que fragmenta y edita la realidad, en los cruces entre práctica artística y comisiones editoriales, y en un consejo clave: construir independencia económica para proteger la libertad creativa.Escucha este episodio si estás…• Buscando metodologías de proyectos fotográficos de largo aliento (investigación, serialidad, edición, libro).• Interesado en paisaje, ciudad e identidad como ejes para pensar México y América Latina.• Curioso por el cruce entre archivo, edición, diseño editorial e IA en fotografía contemporánea.• Navegando cómo equilibrar práctica artística y encargos sin perder voz autoral.Alejandro Cartagena es un fotógrafo que vive y trabaja en Monterrey. Su obra explora temas sociales, urbanos y medioambientales a través del paisaje y el retrato, cuestionando las dinámicas culturales y políticas de América Latina. Ha expuesto de manera individual y colectiva en más de 50 ocasiones en museos y centros internacionales como la Fondation Cartier en París, el CCCB en Barcelona, el SFMOMA, el Getty Museum y el MFAH de Houston. Su trabajo forma parte de colecciones públicas y privadas, y ha sido reconocido con premios como el Photolucida Book Award, el Lente Latino en Chile y el Premio IILA en Roma. Cartagena es también editor y autor de múltiples fotolibros premiados, publicados por editoriales internacionales y en colecciones de referencia como Yale y Tate Britain. Entre sus proyectos más destacados se encuentra Carpoolers (2011–2012).Show Notes y Links relacionados a este episodioConsejo: “Encuentra la manera de ser libre para hacer tu arte. Busca una fuente de ingreso que te dé estabilidad para que tu obra no dependa del dinero que produces. Esa independencia es la que te permite arriesgarte y decir lo que realmente piensas.”Objeto favorito: Su colección de libros de fotografía, entre ellos destaca A Shimmer of Possibility de Paul Graham (https://www.paulgrahamphotography.com/a-shimmer-of-possibility)Recomendación: Poetry Podcast de The New Yorker (https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/poetry)• Alejandro Cartagena → https://alejandrocartagena.shop/• Ground Rules en SFMOMA → https://www.sfmoma.org/exhibition/alejandro-cartagena-ground-rules/• Fototeca de NL → https://fototecanl.org/• Identidad Nuevo León → https://alejandrocartagena.shop/products/identidad-nuevo-leon-sold-out• Espacios Habitables → https://alejandrocartagena.shop/products/espacios-habitables• Suburbia Mexicana → https://circuitgallery.com/artists/alejandro-cartagena/suburbia-mexicana/• Carpoolers (2011–2012) → https://circuitgallery.com/artists/alejandro-cartagena/carpoolers/• Paul Graham → https://www.paulgrahamphotography.com/• Galería Fellowship (Londres) → https://fellowship.xyz/Este episodio es patrocinado por BerelNo te pierdas nuestros episodios, publicamos todos los Martes.Instagram https://www.instagram.com/designaholic.mxFacebook https://www.facebook.com/designaholicmx/Twitter https://twitter.com/designaholicmx Suscríbete a nuestro newsletter semanal “Las 5 de la Semana” aquí: https://embeds.beehiiv.com/b98191c1-e91e-4e8c-bf49-e4ff0603f851Nuestra página web es: http://designaholic.mx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when you build an 8-figure business in one of the most taboo industries - without a team, funding, or traditional ad channels? Brian Sloan did exactly that. And in this episode, he reveals the unfiltered story behind his wild entrepreneurial path. Jim sits down with Brian Sloan, founder of AutoBlow, to unpack how he built a global DTC sex toy brand that now generates 8 figures annually - with a team of just two. From eBay auctions to viral PR stunts, Brian shares how his unconventional path, deep product focus, and scrappy tactics helped him thrive in a space where Facebook ads and mainstream visibility were off-limits. This conversation pulls back the curtain on manufacturing, media manipulation, brand building, and what it really takes to scale when the rules don't apply to your category.Key Topics Covered:How Brian went from selling antiques to latex fetishwear to inventing AutoBlowThe viral crowdfunding stunt that made him internet-famous overnightWhy he ditched Amazon - even after major salesHow to get on GQ, Playboy, Howard Stern, and more without a PR teamThe power of press-worthy product ideasWhy focus (on just 2 SKUs) was his biggest growth unlockBuilding a lean team using a global network of niche freelancersIf you're building in DTC and feel like you're drowning in overhead or noise, this episode is a masterclass in focus, edge, and unconventional growth.Resources:AutoblowJim Huffman websiteJim's TwitterGrowthHitThe Growth Marketer's Playbook Additional episodes you might enjoy:Startup Ideas by Paul Graham (#45)Nathan Barry: How to Bootstrap a Company to $30M in a Crowded Market (#41)How I Met My Biz Partner and Less Learned Hitting $2M ARR (#44)Ryan Hamilton on his Netflix special, touring with Jerry Seinfeld, & how to write a joke (#10)How We're Validating Startup Ideas (#51) 

What do you do when wholesale feels like success but starts killing your brand? For the founders of Mestiza, it meant rewriting the playbook. In this episode, they share how they survived COVID, pivoted to DTC, and built a multi 7-figure fashion business - while raising kids and refusing VC money.Jim is joined by Luisa Takas and Alessandra Perez-Rubio, the powerhouse duo behind Mestiza - a New York-based fashion brand worn by celebrities and loved by loyal customers. The two dive into how they broke into Neiman Marcus early on but quickly realized wholesale wasn't sustainable. From there, they detail how COVID forced a DTC pivot, how their hero product (“The Shimmy Dress”) became a game-changer, and how they've grown profitably while bootstrapping. This is a behind-the-scenes look at resilience, customer obsession, and building a brand with values. TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S EPISODEWhy wholesale nearly derailed their brand visionHow COVID forced a DTC rebirth that changed everythingThe power of flagship products like the Shimmy DressTactical tips for customer feedback, crowdfunding, and growthHow they raised a friends-and-family round and used SBA loansWhy being moms made them better foundersThe co-founder dynamic that's lasted longer than most marriagesIf you're building a brand and wondering whether to go DTC, how to grow without VC money, or how to survive the messy middle - this episode is pure gold.Resources:MestizaJim Huffman websiteJim's TwitterGrowthHitThe Growth Marketer's PlaybookAdditional episodes you might enjoy:Startup Ideas by Paul Graham (#45)Nathan Barry: How to Bootstrap a Company to $30M in a Crowded Market (#41)How I Met My Biz Partner and Less Learned Hitting $2M ARR (#44)Ryan Hamilton on his Netflix special, touring with Jerry Seinfeld, & how to write a joke (#10)How We're Validating Startup Ideas (#51) 

In this episode, Robert, co-founder of Wordware, shares the story of turning a sauna brainstorm into one of the largest seed rounds in YC history. He walks us through the early pivots, the highs and lows of YC interviews, and how a viral Twitter Roast fueled their momentum. This is a raw look at conviction, timing, and how founders can compound small wins into historic outcomes. FOUNDER PROFILE: Robert Chandler https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertjhchandler/

FOUNDER PROFILE: Ben Kim, Nitrode's Co-Founder https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-yoonsung-kim/

Are you truly being persistent with your startup, or just being stubborn? In the new age of AI-powered founders and hyper-fast iteration, many entrepreneurs mistake obstinacy for persistence and end up running out of time, money, and morale.Too often we glorify “hustle” and “grit” without understanding when to adapt, pivot, or quit. The misconception that sheer willpower equals success has caused countless startups to fail, not because the idea was bad, but because the founder couldn't tell when to change course.In this episode, Chris and Yaniv dive deep into Paul Graham's classic essay on the difference between persistence and obstinacy. Drawing from decades of startup experience, they unpack why adaptability, “predatory listening,” and goal-directed experimentation are the true drivers of breakthrough success.They explore the five traits that set persistent founders apart (energy, imagination, resilience, good judgment, and focus) and explain how to build these skills into your daily practice as a founder.In this episode, you will:Discover the critical difference between persistence and obstinacy in startup cultureLearn Paul Graham's “boat rudder vs. boat engine” metaphor and why it matters for foundersIdentify the five traits every successful founder must develop to survive and thriveUnderstand how “predatory listening” and adaptability accelerate learning and reduce riskExplore real-world examples (Stripe, Uber) showing how top founders embody these traitsApply practical strategies to know when to double down, pivot, or quit a failing ideaGain a fresh perspective on why resilience and imagination matter more than raw hustleThe Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/#Resilience #Startups #Founder #TheStartupPodcast #Mindset

What if you could turn BBQ ribs into a $250K/month Shopify business? That's exactly what Andrew Buehler did  and it started with crowdfunding, cold emails, and serious sales hustle.Jim sits down with Andrew Buehler to unpack one of the most unexpected eCommerce growth stories out there how he launched a premium BBQ brand and scaled it to $250K+ per month without outside investors. Andrew shares his step-by-step process for using crowdfunding to launch, how he activated his network to get early traction, and the exact sales skills that helped him scale. It's scrappy, smart, and full of lessons for any founder.Key Topics Covered:How to successfully launch with crowdfundingWhy activating your personal network is the ultimate unfair advantageWhat actually matters when you're launching on ShopifyCold email and sales tactics that drive real customer acquisitionDesign insights that helped build brand credibility fastWhy resilience is more important than fundingIf you're looking for a launch playbook rooted in hustle - this episode delivers the goods (literally and figuratively).Resources:Urban SmokehouseJim Huffman websiteJim's TwitterGrowthHitThe Growth Marketer's PlaybookAdditional episodes you might enjoy:Startup Ideas by Paul Graham (#45)Nathan Barry: How to Bootstrap a Company to $30M in a Crowded Market (#41)How I Met My Biz Partner and Less Learned Hitting $2M ARR (#44)Ryan Hamilton on his Netflix special, touring with Jerry Seinfeld, & how to write a joke (#10)How We're Validating Startup Ideas (#51) 

Jon spent 3 years building Gamma with barely any traction—just a few hundred users after burning millions. Then ChatGPT dropped. In desperation, he pivoted to AI-powered presentations in March 2023 with one year of runway left. What happened next was insane: Paul Graham publicly mocked their launch tweet calling it worthless—then it went viral. They went from 2,000 signups a day to 60,000. Their servers crashed for three days, but when they came back online, panicked users threw $50K at them thinking they needed to pay to make it work. Within two months of launching payments, they hit $1M ARR and became cashflow positive. This is the raw story of how a dying startup caught the AI lightning and never looked back.Why You Should Listen:How to survive 3 years with no traction.Why 80% hype and 20% value can still build a real business The exact onboarding flow that turned 5% activation into viral growthHow negative viral engagement can still drive massive revenueThe difference between 10x better and 50% betterKeywords:Gamma, Jon Noronha, AI presentations, product market fit, pivot to AI, viral growth, Paul Graham, ChatGPT, cashflow positive, productivity startup00:00:00 Intro00:02:15 Why presentations haven't changed in 40 years00:11:55 User research reveals the real problem00:26:26 The market crashes and runway shrinks00:34:32 ChatGPT drops and everything changes00:43:19 Paul Graham trashes the launch tweet00:48:59 Going viral by accident00:51:33 60,000 signups a day breaks everything00:55:07 Hitting $1M ARR in 2 months00:58:47 Endurance is everythingSend me a message to let me know what you think!

Sam Chaudhary is the co-founder and CEO of ClassDojo, a multi-product education platform used in 95% of U.S. schools and over 180 countries globally to connect teachers, students, and families. In this episode, Sam shares the full arc of building ClassDojo, from early skepticism about education and a failed group-making tool, to creating a communication platform loved by millions. In this episode, we discuss: Why ClassDojo was built for consumers (teachers, students and parents) instead of schools How ClassDojo grew entirely by word-of-mouth Sam's unusual approach to building multiple new businesses The founder mindset required to build an industry leader Why relentless resourcefulness is an underrated skill And much more… References: Accel: https://www.accel.com/ Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com/ Bill Gates: https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamhgates/ Brendan Kereiakes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/product/ ClassDojo: https://www.classdojo.com/ Dominick Bellizzi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominickbellizzi/ Geoff Ralston: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffralston/ Gonzalo Aguilar Málaga: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gonzalodecheck/ Hamilton Helmer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamilton-helmer-42983/ Imagine K12: https://www.imaginek12.com// Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/ Liam Don: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liamdon/ McKinsey: https://www.mckinsey.com/ Paul Graham: https://x.com/paulg Plaid: https://plaid.com/ Reid Hoffman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reidhoffman/ Roblox: https://www.roblox.com/ Sal Khan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khanacademy/ Superhuman: https://superhuman.com/ Tim Brady: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-brady-7a632510/ Y Combinator: https://www.ycombinator.com/ Where to find Sam: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samchaudhary/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/samchaudhary Where to find Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-berson-9986094/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/brettberson Timestamps: (01:36) Why education is a “bad market” (02:52) Why enterprise education is broken (03:35) Building for families, not schools (06:53) Early challenges and insights (09:45) Sam's unusual background (11:42) Meeting co-founder Liam at a hackathon (13:22) Getting into Imagine K12 with a group-making tool (19:47) The conversation with Reid Hoffman that changed everything (21:52) Building a network to reach more families (23:30) Scaling by building a community (33:18) Designing for delight and word-of-mouth growth (40:09) Launching the first monetization feature after 7 years (41:35) How to pick markets and when to go broad (46:04) The explosive expansion into the tutoring industry (55:11) Creating safe online spaces for kids (58:01) Harnessing AI in education (59:52) Lessons from ClassDojo's playbook

This episode takes me back to the early days of Neat Apparel, when Claudio and I were just getting started. For those who don't know, Claudio is my business partner on Neat - our sweat-proof Shopify brand and he has one of the most fascinating backgrounds of anyone I've ever worked with.He graduated from Stanford at 20. Climbed to the top of Wall Street. Then pivoted into entrepreneurship—first with a soccer brand, and now with me in performance apparel. In this conversation, we talked through the moment we decided to go all in on Neat.We broke down the actual negotiations that brought us together, why we decided to buy IP before launching, and how we thought about scaling the brand through content, storytelling, and founder alignment. Looking back, it's wild to see how much of that conversation still shapes how we run Neat today.

HEADLINES:♦ Y Combinator Co-Founder Paul Graham Weighs In On Gaza♦ Gathern Raises $72M Series B, Eyes Tadawul IPO♦ PIF-Backed Humain Seeks Data Centre Chief to Drive Saudi AI Ambitions♦ Saudis And Emiratis Use ChatGPT More Than Global Average Newsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModrWhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): https://aug.us/3BTU2MYLovin 10 Vote Link: https://lovin.co/lovins/?site_id=14

This new era of AI-driven startups has many founders still believing success is about having the perfect product roadmap. The truth, however, is far more counterintuitive.In this episode, Yaniv and Chris dive into timeless lessons from Paul Graham's legendary essay “Startups in 13 Sentences”. Drawing from Graham's wisdom and their own experiences, they break down why co-founders matter more than ideas, why “launch fast” is the golden rule, and why understanding users is harder (and more important) than chasing growth.In this episode, you will:Learn why choosing the right co-founder is the most important decision you'll ever makeUnderstand why launching fast is less about speed and more about learning from real usersDiscover why evolving your idea matters more than defending a perfect planSee how understanding users drives sustainable growth (and why chasing vanity metrics kills startups)Explore why great customer service that 'doesn't scale' is actually a secret weaponUnpack the dangers of measuring the wrong things and how to track what truly mattersFind out why distractions (even profitable ones) are the silent killers of young startupsFor founders serious about building in the AI era, these lessons, though written 16 years ago, are more relevant than ever. Startups succeed not by following conventional wisdom, but by mastering the counterintuitive truths that define Silicon Valley's greatest companies.Read Paul Graham's "Startups in 13 Sentences" here: https://paulgraham.com/13sentences.html The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/

Would you turn down funding after being featured on Shark Tank? Eric Bandholz did. In this episode, he breaks down how Beardbrand became one of the most iconic DTC companies 0 built on freedom, grit, and a wild Reddit strategy.Jim talks with Eric Bandholz, founder of Beardbrand, about the raw, real story of building a DTC cult brand from scratch. Eric shares how he turned a niche grooming obsession into a 7-figure business - without funding, with help from Reddit, and by staying fiercely true to his values. It's a founder story that throws out the rulebook.Key Topics Covered:Why school nearly derailed his founder pathThe power of community-led growthHow Reddit became his early traction channelGetting featured on Shark Tank (and what happened next)Bootstrapping lessons and the real gift of staying leanProduct expansion done rightWhy building a network is your secret growth weaponIf you believe in the power of community, conviction, and scrappy marketing - you'll love this episode.Resources:Ecommerce ConversationsBeardBrandJim Huffman websiteJim's TwitterGrowthHitThe Growth Marketer's PlaybookThe Shopify Growth ShowAdditional episodes you might enjoy:Startup Ideas by Paul Graham (#45)Nathan Barry: How to Bootstrap a Company to $30M in a Crowded Market (#41)How I Met My Biz Partner and Less Learned Hitting $2M ARR (#44)Ryan Hamilton on his Netflix special, touring with Jerry Seinfeld, & how to write a joke (#10)How We're Validating Startup Ideas (#51)

Immad Akhund is the CEO and co-founder of Mercury, a digital banking platform that's become the go-to financial infrastructure for startups. Before Mercury, Immad spent nearly two decades founding companies, learning the hard way what separates a good idea from a great business. In this episode, Immad shares the hard-earned lessons from launching Mercury as his third startup. He unpacks how he recognized this was the right idea to pursue, what strong product-market fit feels like, and why trying to "iterate" your way to success often leads founders astray. In this episode, we discuss: • Mercury's unusual culture playbook – and why it works • How to hire with intention • The trap of weak product-market fit • Shipping under intense pressure during the SVB crisis • And much more… References: • Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com/ • Andreessen Horowitz: https://a16z.com/ • Apple: https://www.apple.com/ • Block: https://block.xyz/ • Brex: https://www.brex.com/ • Chime: https://www.chime.com/ • Gusto: https://gusto.com/ • Mercury: https://mercury.com/ • Paul Graham: https://x.com/paulg • Plaid: https://plaid.com/ • Stripe: https://stripe.com/ • SVB (Silicon Valley Bank): https://www.svb.com/ • True Link Financial: https://www.truelinkfinancial.com/ • Varo: https://www.varomoney.com/ • Y Combinator: https://www.ycombinator.com/ Where to find Immad: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iakhund/ Where to find Brett: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-berson-9986094/ • Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/brettberson Where to find First Round Capital: • Website: https://firstround.com/ • First Round Review: https://review.firstround.com/ • Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/firstround • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstRoundCapital • This podcast on all platforms: https://review.firstround.com/podcast Timestamps: (1:07) Hard-won lessons from serial entrepreneurship (2:02) You shouldn't copy-paste advice (6:57) Why personality trumps culture playbooks (8:48) How do you hire for cultural fit? (12:38) The values that shaped Mercury's DNA (14:08) The drivers underpinning Mercury's success (15:50) The significance of product-market fit (20:41) Don't fall into the weak product-market fit trap (25:49) How to evaluate startup ideas that scale (30:14) Mercury's unlikely origin story (33:51) Breaking into the fintech space (37:31) Mindset shift: From “This is hard” to long-term gains (39:43) Building Mercury's MVP (44:25) Overcoming early obstacles to reach launch (47:36) Navigating Mercury's rapid growth phase (51:18) Competition isn't the reason you're failing (55:58) Crisis management during the SVB collapse

Ryan Petersen is the founder and CEO of Flexport, the platform that coordinates global logistics from factory floor to customer door. In this conversation, he's refreshingly transparent about the mistakes and painful lessons he's learned building several companies.  He opens up about stepping down as CEO, his struggles with self-confidence, and what happened when he was forced to step in and save his own company.Along the way, we explore why micromanagement might be the secret to better leadership, how Trump-era tariffs reveal the hidden complexity of global trade, and what it takes to scale a company without losing control. There are stories and lessons here you won't find anywhere else, from a data leak that triggered a call from Steve Jobs to flying 500 million masks into the U.S. during a global shutdown.  Thanks to our sponsors for this episode: SHOPIFY: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at www.shopify.com/knowledgeproject Basecamp: Stop struggling, start making progress. Get somewhere with Basecamp. Sign up free at www.basecamp.com/knowledgeproject ReMarkable for sponsoring this episode. Get your paper tablet at ⁠reMarkable.com⁠ today Approximate Timestamps: (2:49) Early Life   (4:58) First “Start Up”   (5:38) Living Abroad in China   (10:19) Y Combinator   (11:13) Steve Jobs & the iPhone 3G Launch   (13:41) Lessons from Import Genius   (22:33) Lessons from Paul Graham, Billionaire Investor   (25:31) Flexport Early Days   (36:08) COVID-Era Flexport   (40:06) COVID-Era Flexport – Continued   (44:09) Hiring Flexport's First COO   (47:02) Stepping Down as CEO of Flexport   (51:07) Cutting Cost & Improving Quality   (53:57) Lessons from Other CEOs   (57:05) How to Hire the Best Employees   (59:31) Paul Graham's Closed-Door Talk   (1:03:21) The Value of a 6-Page Monthly Business Review   (1:06:57) Why Do Tariffs Matter?  (1:09:52) Tricks for Dealing with Tariffs   (1:15:43) Other Creative Strategies for Tariffs   (1:21:30) Dealing with Operational Bottlenecks   (1:27:41) Lessons from Charlie Munger (1:30:12) Lessons from Peter Kaufman   (1:37:50) What Is Success for You? Upgrade—If you want to hear my thoughts and reflections at the end of all episodes, join our membership: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and get your own private feed. Newsletter—The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it's completely free. Learn more and sign up at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow me on X at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠x.com/ShaneAParrish Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if you could build a $25M+ business without raising a single dime?Jesse Pujji has done it - multiple times. From bootstrapping his first agency to launching Gateway X and scaling productized services in the DTC world, Jesse has a blueprint for founders who want to build big without giving away equity. In this episode, he shares how you can do the same. In this episode, Jim sits down with Jesse Pujji (Founder of Gateway X, Co-Founder of Ampush) to break down how he's built, scaled, and exited businesses without venture capital. Jesse reveals his “Bootstrap Advantage” framework, why he believes most founders overcomplicate their growth strategy, and the exact levers he focuses on to grow companies from zero to eight figures.This isn't a theory session - it's a behind-the-scenes look at the systems, mindset, and tactics Jesse uses to build bootstrapped giants.Key Topics Covered:The Bootstrap Advantage: Why it's the best path for most foundersHow Jesse validates new business ideas (quickly and cheaply)The difference between “Productized Services” and traditional agenciesGrowth levers bootstrapped founders must focus onThe psychology of staying lean while scaling bigJesse's personal workflow for launching multiple businesses at once If you're a Shopify founder, DTC marketer, or just someone tired of the VC hamster wheel, this episode is your blueprint.Resources:Jesse Pujji Twitter / XBootstrapped GiantsGatewayXJim Huffman websiteJim's TwitterGrowthHitThe Growth Marketer's PlaybookThe Shopify Growth School Additional episodes you might enjoy:Startup Ideas by Paul Graham (#45)Nathan Barry: How to Bootstrap a Company to $30M in a Crowded Market (#41)How I Met My Biz Partner and Less Learned Hitting $2M ARR (#44)Ryan Hamilton on his Netflix special, touring with Jerry Seinfeld, & how to write a joke (#10)How We're Validating Startup Ideas (#51)

Isaac Saul is the Founder of Tangle, an independent, nonpartisan newsletter that presents a breakdown of the biggest news stories of the day, from both sides of the political aisle, to 125K+ subscribers in 55+ countries. As an ambitious but broke political reporter, Issac was struggling with countless job rejections and uncertainty over his path in life when he decided to turn his passion for open-minded political discourse into a mission-driven business. In 2019, he bootstrapped Tangle. In 5 years, Tangle has hit $1M in annual revenue through reader subscriptions alone and draws a wide audience on the Tangle podcast and YouTube. Its success landed Isaac on Forbes' Next 1000 list in 2021 among other “upstart entrepreneurs redefining the American dream”. Tangle's credibility today as one of the most reliable and least biased news sources on the internet is matched by Isaac's standing as a seasoned political news voice. He has written for TIME Magazine, Vox, HuffPost, and other leading publications. - Recognized by notables like Dan Carlin, Elon Musk, Chris Anderson, Paul Graham for his viral analysis on the Israel-Hamas conflict, which had 20M+ views on X. - Cited by Fox News, The New York Times, and The Washington Post for his reports. - Delivered a TED Talk on how language shapes politics and ideas to communicate beyond the political divide in 2024. - Named by Yahoo News as one of 16 people whose writing shaped the 2016 election. Key Moments 04:28 Building a News Team Experience 07:48 "Why Not Try?" 10:06 Accidental Entrepreneurial Journey 15:09 Team Families and Responsibilities Find Out More About Isaac https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaac-saul/https://www.readtangle.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tangle/id1538788132https://www.youtube.com/@tanglenewshttps://www.forbes.com/next1000/https://adfontesmedia.com/tangle-bias-and-reliability/https://www.allsides.com/news-source/tangle-media-biashttps://www.isaacsaul.org/my-work.htmlhttps://x.com/Ike_Saul/status/1711780282725011520https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=543mYKKh1EEhttps://www.yahoo.com/news/16-people-who-shaped-the-2016-election-isaac-saul-175336283.html If you're enjoying Entrepreneur's Enigma, please give me a review on the podcast directory of your choice. The show is on all of them and these reviews really help others find the show. iTunes: https://gmwd.us/itunes Podchaser: https://gmwd.us/podchaser TrueFans: https://gmwd.us/truefans Also, if you're getting value from the show and want to buy me a coffee, go to the show notes to get the link to get me a coffee to keep me awake, while I work on bringing you more great episodes to your ears. →  https://gmwd.us/buy-me-a-coffee or support me on TrueFans.fm → https://gmwd.us/truefans. Follow Seth Online: Seth | Digital Marketer (@s3th.me) Seth Goldstein | LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/in/sethmgoldstein Seth On Mastodon: https://indieweb.social/@phillycodehound Seth's Marketing Junto Newsletter: https://MarketingJunto.com Leave The Show A Voicemail: https://voiceline.app/ee Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Repley de l'épisode avec Nicolas Dessaigne, Partner chez YCJ'ai du me restreindre cette semaine pour vous préparer un format court. Pas évident quand on s'entretient avec Nicolas qui cumule plusieurs vies professionnelles en parallèle depuis 20 ans.Cet entrepreneur, fondateur d'Algolia aujourd'hui Partner chez YC nous fait un magnifique retour d'experience sur ces deux sujets : Les apprentissages et moments clefs de sa boite du lancement à nos jours, mais aussi et surtout un tour du propriétaire du célèbre accélérateur de start-ups YC créé il y a une vingtaine d'année par Paul Graham et une poignée d'entrepreneurs.Je vous emmène découvrir les dessous de ce business absolument passionnant : la sélection, l'apport des partner, les secrets de cette réussite, l'experience COVID. Il y a chez YC une recette miracle que résume parfaitement l'entrepreneur Jim Rohn dans sa fameuse citation : "Nous sommes la moyenne des 5 personnes que nous côtoyons le plus".Un épisode à méditer.Produit par Gokyo Sàrl-S, hébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez la Politique de Confidentialité de Finscale et Audiomeans pour plus d'informations.

Qasar Younis is the co-founder and CEO of Applied Intuition, a leading vehicle intelligence platform that helps companies develop and deploy autonomous systems at scale. In June 2025, the company raised $600M at a $15B valuation. Before Applied Intuition, Qasar was the COO and a group partner at Y Combinator, and earlier founded TalkBin, which was acquired by Google. He's also held engineering roles at General Motors and Bosch. In today's episode, we discuss: • The two founder traits Silicon Valley undervalues • How to get 1–3 extra months of work done every year • Lessons from YC on pattern matching and founder feedback • The battle-tested startup formula Qasar used at Applied • Why co-founder fit is make-or-break • Applied's playbook: vertical SaaS, product-led GTM, and leveraging VC networks • Why Applied went multi-product in the early days • Contrarian takes on startup culture, compensation, and cost control • Why domain expertise is making a comeback • And much more… Referenced: • Applied Intuition: https://www.appliedintuition.com • Ansys: https://www.ansys.com • Bilal Zuberi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bzuberi • Bosch: https://www.bosch.com • Elad Gil: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eladgil • General Motors: https://www.gm.com • “Google's Acquisition of TalkBin”: https://techcrunch.com/2011/04/25/google-acquires-talkbin-a-feedback-platform-for-businesses-thats-only-five-months-old/ • “High Output Management”: https://www.amazon.com/High-Output-Management-Andrew-Grove/dp/0679762884 • Kyle Vogt: https://x.com/kvogt • Marc Andreessen: https://x.com/pmarca • “Only the Paranoid Survive”: https://www.amazon.com/Only-Paranoid-Survive-Strategic-Inflection/dp/0385483821 • Paul Graham: https://x.com/paulg • Peter Ludwig: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterwludwig • Sam Altman: https://x.com/sama • TalkBin: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/talkbin • “The History of the Standard Oil Company”: https://www.amazon.com/History-Standard-Oil-Company-Volumes/dp/1519455860 • Waymo: https://waymo.com • Y Combinator: https://www.ycombinator.com • Zoox: https://zoox.com Where to find Qasar: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/qasar/ Where to find Brett: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-berson-9986094/ • Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/brettberson Where to find First Round Capital: • Website: https://firstround.com/ • First Round Review: https://review.firstround.com/ • Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/firstround • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstRoundCapital • This podcast on all platforms: https://review.firstround.com/podcast Timestamps: (01:26) Two founder traits Silicon Valley undervalues (04:23) Gain 1-3 extra months of productivity yearly (05:52) Why founders should read outside the startup canon (07:27) Lessons from YC (13:44) Why it's harder to start than to quit (15:52) The moment you become a real founder (20:24) How great founders master luck (21:46) Qasar's battle-tested startup formula (25:37) The founding insight for Applied (31:42) How Applied expanded beyond automotive (38:05) Why Applied went multi-product early (45:45) What no one says about startup secondaries (49:02) Why being cheap is a startup superpower (51:04) The myth of "competition doesn't matter" (53:50) Early scrappiness: The Sunnyvale house setup (54:50) Why domain knowledge is making a comeback (58:32) The mentors who shaped Qasar

Today's show:SYDNEY SWEENEY'S AMERICAN EAGLE AD DIVIDES OUR PANEL!PLUS WHAT STARTUPS CAN LEARN FROM THE VIRAL ASTRONOMER RESPONSEJason, Alex, and Lon are looking at some of the biggest media stories of the day before returning to their favorite topic, tech. Tune in for deep dives on IMAX's new AI film festival, Figma's big IPO and much more!*Timestamps:(0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the show!(3:45) Lon's joining Alex and Lon to discuss the controversial Sydney Sweeney genes/jeans ad(7:20) A look at the polarizing takes on this jeans ad.(10:10) OpenPhone - Streamline and scale your customer communications with OpenPhone. Get 20% off your first 6 months at https://www.openphone.com/twist⁠(11:46) Hear the verdict from Jason, self—proclaimed Chairman of the Interwebs(16:42) Alex points out the economic impact of the controversy(20:26) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://www.vanta.com/twist(21:25) Back to the show!(26:35) Paltrow's Astronomer ad, meme-processing and the ideal way to change the conversation(30:04) Vouched - Trust for agents that's built for builders like you. Check it out at http://vouched.id/twist(31:28) Back to the show!(36:48) Netflix and the growing controversy around AI's role in filmmaking(42:53) IMAX/Runway collaboration and Hollywood's shifting attitude toward AI(47:34) Everything that went wrong with the Tea App(54:27) Why Jason thinks app stores should ban “anonymous” forms and message boards(1:04:19) Figma upped its IPO price… what does it mean for the return of liquidity? And is this too high or fairly priced?(1:07:53) Paul Graham says you shouldn't drop out of college to work on a startup… Why Thiel Fellows disagree*Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.comCheck out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.comSubscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp*Follow Lon:X: https://x.com/lons*Follow Alex:X: https://x.com/alexLinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm*Follow Jason:X: https://twitter.com/JasonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis*Thank you to our partners:(10:10) OpenPhone - Streamline and scale your customer communications with OpenPhone. Get 20% off your first 6 months at https://www.openphone.com/twist⁠(20:26) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://www.vanta.com/twist(30:04) Vouched - Trust for agents that's built for builders like you. Check it out at http://vouched.id/twist*Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland*Check out Jason's suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis*Follow TWiST:Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartupsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekinInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartupsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartupsSubstack: https://twistartups.substack.com*Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916

They didn't just launch a wine brand - they created a whole new category. In this episode, Kendra Kawala shares how Maker Wines went from cold outreach to category leader.Jim talks with Kendra Kawala, co-founder of Maker Wines, about how she turned B2B sales grit into DTC scale. From walking into wine shops cold to managing complex supply chains with 15 wineries, Kendra reveals the realities of launching a new product category — and why going B2B-first gave them an edge most DTC brands miss.TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S EPISODEWhy Maker Wines isn't your typical DTC brandThe early grind of B2B-style salesManaging logistics across 15 partner wineriesWhat business school got right  and wrongChoosing the right co-founder for scaleOrder economics and conviction at launchApplying B2B thinking to consumer marketingIf you're launching something new — or want to scale smart — this is the episode you'll come back to twice.Resources:https://www.makerwine.com/Jim Huffman websiteJim's TwitterGrowthHitThe Growth Marketer's PlaybookThe Shopify Growth School Additional episodes you might enjoy:Startup Ideas by Paul Graham (#45)Nathan Barry: How to Bootstrap a Company to $30M in a Crowded Market (#41)How I Met My Biz Partner and Less Learned Hitting $2M ARR (#44)Ryan Hamilton on his Netflix special, touring with Jerry Seinfeld, & how to write a joke (#10)How We're Validating Startup Ideas (#51) 

It started with a nickname. Then became a joke. And somehow… a 6-figure DTC brand. In this episode, Ryan Rock shares how Fatboy was born and how he turned culture, community, and UGC into a real business.Jim sits down with Ryan Rock to tell the unconventional story behind Fatboy - a brand that started as a laugh between friends and ended up hitting six figures. From pop-up marketing to micro-influencer strategy, Ryan breaks down what it really takes to turn momentum into money (without VC money or fancy tactics).Key Topics Covered:How Fatboy started from an inside jokeThe early wins and major milestonesUGC-first growth and creative content playsPop-ups, local events, and offline hustleBuilding clubs and communities around the brandMicro-influencer and word-of-mouth strategyIf you're thinking about launching a DTC brand — or want to grow without paid ads — this episode is packed with scrappy tactics and founder truths.Resources:Fat Boy Surf ClubJim Huffman websiteJim's TwitterGrowthHitThe Growth Marketer's PlaybookThe Shopify Growth School Additional episodes you might enjoy:Startup Ideas by Paul Graham (#45)Nathan Barry: How to Bootstrap a Company to $30M in a Crowded Market (#41)How I Met My Biz Partner and Less Learned Hitting $2M ARR (#44)Ryan Hamilton on his Netflix special, touring with Jerry Seinfeld, & how to write a joke (#10)How We're Validating Startup Ideas (#51) 

This week, on the Global Research News Hour, we have a special episode dealing with the principal concerns of the leading critic of Canadian foreign policy, Yves Engler. We discuss the subject of the Israel-bias in mainstream Canadian media and we also discuss Yves's decision to run seriously for the New Democratic Party, after its former leader resigned. We will also hear part of an interview from 2018 with Yves by Global Research News Hour collaborator and friend Paul Graham.

What would make someone spend a small fortune on the domain Couch.com? In this episode, Alex Back reveals the real reasons  and how it helped him build and sell a 7-figure business.Jim sits down with Alex Back, founder of Couch.com and Apt2b, to unpack the journey of bootstrapping an eCommerce brand and exiting with impact. From domain strategy to traffic growth and earnouts, this is a masterclass in building smart and selling well. Alex doesn't hold back on what worked, what flopped, and what he'd do differently.Key Topics Covered:Why “couches” was the niche of choiceThe surprising ROI of a premium domainBuilding sustainable traffic through SEOStructuring a strong co-founder relationshipWhat makes the right time to sellSmart growth hacks that moved the needleWhy earnouts might be underratedIf you're building, buying, or selling an eCom brand — this episode is packed with real talk and hard-won insights. Subscribe for more tactical founder convos like this.Resources:Couch.comJim Huffman websiteJim's TwitterGrowthHitThe Growth Marketer's PlaybookThe Shopify Growth ShowAdditional episodes you might enjoy:Startup Ideas by Paul Graham (#45)Nathan Barry: How to Bootstrap a Company to $30M in a Crowded Market (#41)How I Met My Biz Partner and Less Learned Hitting $2M ARR (#44)Ryan Hamilton on his Netflix special, touring with Jerry Seinfeld, & how to write a joke (#10)How We're Validating Startup Ideas (#51)

Most brands start online. Robert Nelson did the opposite and it changed everything. He used real-world feedback, military discipline, and pop-up precision to launch a thriving DTC brand.In this episode, Robert Nelson of Just Mystic shares the unconventional path his brand took to gain traction - starting offline with brick-and-mortar and pop-up activations before ever building a Shopify store. With a Marine mindset and data-driven instincts, Robert explains why starting on the ground gave him an edge online.Whether you're validating a product or scaling DTC, this episode shows why doing it the “wrong” way might be exactly right.Key Topics Covered:Why starting with a physical location validated the product fasterHow in-person pop-ups revealed customer behavior and pain pointsThe move from offline to Shopify — and what changedMilitary leadership lessons applied to brand-buildingUsing basic retail economics to unlock higher marginsFollow The Shopify Growth Show for more real founder playbooks - from brick-and-mortar rebels to AI-native operators.Resources:Just MysticJim Huffman websiteGrowthHitAdditional episodes you might enjoy:Startup Ideas by Paul Graham (#45)Nathan Barry: How to Bootstrap a Company to $30M in a Crowded Market (#41)How I Met My Biz Partner and Less Learned Hitting $2M ARR (#44)Ryan Hamilton on his Netflix special, touring with Jerry Seinfeld, & how to write a joke (#10)How We're Validating Startup Ideas (#51) 

We bought a DTC brand. Now we're putting it through the GrowthHit wringer. This is the actual strategy we're using to scale Neat Apparel — and yes, we're sharing everything.In this solo episode, Jim Huffman shares the full behind-the-scenes growth plan for Neat Apparel — a sweat-proof clothing brand recently acquired by GrowthHit. You'll hear the exact tactics he's using to revamp the site, increase AOV, build email flows, and tackle paid ads — all with a bootstrapped budget and a sharp eye on product-market fit.If you want a real-time blueprint for scaling a Shopify brand in a red-ocean category, this is it.Key Topics Covered:Why “shut up and listen” was step one post-acquisitionAOV > ROAS: The case for bundling and upsellsHow they're balancing paid media and scrappy growthTheir ad creative testing process (30+ angles)SEO, seasonality, and what they're betting on long-termFollow The Shopify Growth Show for more build-in-public breakdowns like this. Real playbooks, no fluff.             Resources:The Shopify Growth SchoolNeat WebsiteJim Huffman websiteJim's TwitterGrowthHitThe Growth Marketer's PlaybookAdditional episodes you might enjoy:Startup Ideas by Paul Graham (#45)Nathan Barry: How to Bootstrap a Company to $30M in a Crowded Market (#41)How I Met My Biz Partner and Less Learned Hitting $2M ARR (#44)Ryan Hamilton on his Netflix special, touring with Jerry Seinfeld, & how to write a joke (#10)How We're Validating Startup Ideas (#51)

"Si tu veux réussir en entrepreneuriat, c'est l'obsession client, c'est le service client."Je reçois Florian Boret - serial entrepreneur et fondateur d'Achille, sa troisième startup.On parle de son premier échec avec WeHome à la création de Wedoogift où il a appliqué religieusement les principes de Paul Graham et Y Combinator, et comment il en est venu à monter Achille.Achille c'est une startup qui mêle humain et IA pour gérer votre support client. Parce que selon Florian, si t'as un bon support client, t'es au max !Florian c'était mon boss chez Wedoogift (sa 2e startup, mon 2e stage lol) - et là-bas on était obligé de faire un peu de SAV justement.Il m'explique justement d'où lui vient ce customer obsession" à la française, et comment il a fait passer le NPS de Wedoogift de négatif à +40 en 3 ans.On parle aussi de sa stratégie "Do things that don't scale", de l'approche tech-enabled vs full IA, de ses "super agents" humains qui augmentent l'IA plutôt que d'être remplacés par elle - et évidemment, d'entrepreneuriat.Bonne écoute !

DEMAIN je reçois Florian Boret - serial entrepreneur et fondateur d'Achille, sa troisième startup.On parle de son premier échec avec WeHome à la création de Wedoogift où il a appliqué religieusement les principes de Paul Graham et Y Combinator, et comment il en est venu à monter Achille.Achille c'est une startup qui mêle humain et IA pour gérer votre support client. Parce que selon Florian, si t'as un bon support client, t'es au max !Florian c'était mon boss chez Wedoogift (sa 2e startup, mon 2e stage lol) - et là-bas on était obligé de faire un peu de SAV justement.Il m'explique justement d'où lui vient ce customer obsession" à la française, et comment il a fait passer le NPS de Wedoogift de négatif à +40 en 3 ans.On parle aussi de sa stratégie "Do things that don't scale", de l'approche tech-enabled vs full IA, de ses "super agents" humains qui augmentent l'IA plutôt que d'être remplacés par elle - et évidemment, d'entrepreneuriat.Bonne écoute !

Your traffic isn't the problem. Your ads aren't broken. Your positioning is off. And that's why you're stuck.In this solo episode, Jim Huffman shares a live coaching session that breaks down how to actually fix brand positioning — using case studies from Neat Apparel, GrowthHit, and breakout brands like Rocket Money, Warby Parker, and Figma. You'll learn how better positioning unlocks conversion rate gains, improves messaging, and becomes the foundation for scalable growth.This is the episode for Shopify founders ready to get serious about messaging, differentiation, and the real reasons customers buy.Key Topics Covered:Why your brand pitch likely isn't working (and how to fix it)Two frameworks to improve your positioning todaySpeaking to 3 customer types: informed, afflicted, and obliviousCase studies: Spanx, Truvani, Adam Shoes, Rocket Money & moreReal examples from GrowthHit and Neat Apparel's positioning playbookLearn live from Shopify experts. Join our biweekly AI-powered growth sessions - free for founders and marketers - https://shopifygrowthschool.com/ Resources:Shopify Growth SchoolGrowth Marketing OS (Operating System) GrowthHitJim Huffman websiteJim's LinkedinJim's Twitter Additional episodes you might enjoy:Startup Ideas by Paul Graham (#45)Nathan Barry: How to Bootstrap a Company to $30M in a Crowded Market (#41)How I Met My Biz Partner and Less Learned Hitting $2M ARR (#44)Ryan Hamilton on his Netflix special, touring with Jerry Seinfeld, & how to write a joke (#10)How We're Validating Startup Ideas (#51) 

What if the polished ads you spent thousands on were actually hurting your brand?In this episode, we explore how real, imperfect content is outperforming big-budget campaigns — and why most Shopify founders are still getting it wrong.Jim Huffman sits down with William Gasner, co-founder of Stack Influence, to unpack the real power behind UGC (user-generated content) and why it's become a secret weapon for smart eCommerce brands. From influencer seeding to ad fatigue, they get brutally honest about what actually drives conversions in 2025 — and how founders can stop wasting money and start scaling with authenticity.Key Topics CoveredWhy UGC outperforms professional ads in today's marketThe overlooked value of product seeding (and how to do it right)How to build a content machine that fuels both ads and organic growthWhy creative freedom often leads to better results than tight scriptsThe truth about influencers, follower counts, and what really matters Resources:Jim Huffman websiteJim's TwitterGrowthHitThe Growth Marketer's Playbook Additional episodes you might enjoy:Startup Ideas by Paul Graham (#45)Nathan Barry: How to Bootstrap a Company to $30M in a Crowded Market (#41)How I Met My Biz Partner and Less Learned Hitting $2M ARR (#44)Ryan Hamilton on his Netflix special, touring with Jerry Seinfeld, & how to write a joke (#10)How We're Validating Startup Ideas (#51) 

Việc điều hành một startup vô cùng khó khăn; khoảng một nửa số công ty được Y Combinator tài trợ được kỳ vọng sẽ thành công, có nghĩa là một nửa sẽ thất bại. Thành công thường đến từ việc "chỉ cần tránh chết"— sống sót cho đến khi đạt được thành công tài chính. Nguyên nhân chính dẫn đến cái chết của startup thường là hết tiền hoặc nhà sáng lập quan trọng bỏ cuộc, nhưng nguyên nhân sâu xa hơn thường là sự nản chí. Để đối phó, hãy duy trì liên lạc thường xuyên, liên tục lặp lại sản phẩm, tạo ra thứ mà ít nhất một số người thực sự yêu thích, và quan trọng nhất là tránh làm những việc khác gây xao nhãng. Hãy nhớ rằng cảm giác tồi tệ và cảm thấy những gì đang làm không hiệu quả là bình thường; những điều tồi tệ chắc chắn sẽ xảy ra, nhưng đừng nản chí và đừng bỏ cuộc. Khi tranh luận, đặc biệt là trực tuyến, hãy sử dụng Hệ thống phân cấp bất đồng quan điểm (Disagreement Hierarchy), cố gắng tránh lăng mạ (DH0) và công kích cá nhân (DH1), hướng đến các cấp độ cao hơn như phản biện (DH4) và bác bỏ (DH5, DH6) bằng lý lẽ, bằng chứng, và tập trung vào điểm chính. Điều này không chỉ làm cuộc trò chuyện tốt hơn mà còn khiến những người tham gia hạnh phúc hơn vì sự cay nghiệt tập trung ở các cấp độ thấp hơn. Quá trình học hỏi liên quan đến việc huấn luyện "mô hình thế giới" trong tâm trí bạn; ngay cả khi quên chi tiết, tác động vẫn còn lại, cho thấy việc đọc lại những cuốn sách quan trọng là rất đáng giá.Về tư duy và triết học, triết học truyền thống được xem là gặp vấn đề do sự mờ nhạt của các khái niệm hàng ngày, khiến nhiều tranh luận bị chi phối bởi sự nhầm lẫn về từ ngữ. Quan điểm cho rằng Aristotle đã sai lầm khi coi tri thức lý thuyết vô dụng là cao quý. Thay vì tìm kiếm "những sự thật chung nhất" mà không màng đến tính hữu dụng, cách tiếp cận tốt hơn là tìm kiếm "trong số những điều hữu ích mà chúng ta có thể nói, điều nào là chung nhất?", nhằm tạo ra những quan sát chung khiến người đọc hành động khác đi. Triết học được xem là một lĩnh vực rất trẻ, vẫn đang vật lộn với sự không chính xác của từ ngữ. Tư duy độc lập (vừa đúng vừa mới lạ) rất quan trọng trong một số lĩnh vực. Mặc dù có thể thiên về bẩm sinh, nó có thể được tăng cường hoặc không bị kìm hãm bằng cách giao lưu với những người có tư duy độc lập, nuôi dưỡng thái độ hoài nghi ("Điều đó có thật không?"), và quan sát các "thời trang trí tuệ" để tìm kiếm những ý tưởng chưa được khám phá. Tư duy độc lập có ba thành phần: sự kỹ lưỡng về sự thật, sự chống lại việc bị bảo phải nghĩ gì, và sự tò mò. Sự tò mò là nguồn gốc của những ý tưởng mới lạ và có thể được trau dồi bằng cách "chiều chuộng nó".Chàng-Ngốc-Già mong muốn xây dựng cùng mọi người một cộng đồng, một school:https://prime.changngocgia.com/feedTham vấn 1:1https://shorturl.at/E8lWC To hear more, visit changngocgia.substack.com

Cuộc đời là một hành trình phức tạp, đặc biệt khi nói đến việc tìm kiếm một công việc ý nghĩa và đạt được sự thịnh vượng. Nhiều người ao ước một "công thức" đơn giản, nhưng thực tế cho thấy con đường này đầy rẫy những ngã rẽ, áp lực xã hội và những cạm bẫy tinh vi. Dựa trên những phân tích sâu sắc từ các nguồn được cung cấp, chúng ta có thể phác thảo một bức tranh tổng thể về cách tiếp cận thách thức này, tập trung vào việc tìm kiếm công việc mình yêu thích, tầm quan trọng của lao động chăm chỉ, bản chất của sự giàu có, và cách tránh lãng phí những nguồn lực quý giá.Để tìm thấy sự viên mãn và thành công, chúng ta cần đi ngược lại nhiều bài học và áp lực đã ăn sâu trong tâm trí. Hãy tìm kiếm công việc mà bạn thực sự yêu thích, công việc đủ hấp dẫn để bạn sẵn sàng làm việc chăm chỉ và trung thực. Hiểu rằng sự giàu có đến từ việc tạo ra giá trị cho người khác, và những con đường như khởi nghiệp có thể khuếch đại nỗ lực của bạn thông qua đo lường và đòn bẩy.. Quan trọng nhất, hãy cảnh giác với những cạm bẫy của sự giả tạo và trì hoãn, đặc biệt là dạng "công việc giả", vốn là kẻ thù nguy hiểm nhất của thời gian và tiềm năng. Bằng cách tập trung vào công việc thực tế, chân thật và không ngừng học hỏi, bạn sẽ không chỉ có cơ hội đạt được thành công lớn lao mà còn trải nghiệm sự hài lòng sâu sắc từ chính quá trình làm việc đó. To hear more, visit changngocgia.substack.com

Liz Long, co-founder of Nearshore.ai, shares her extensive knowledge on transforming innovative ideas into actual products. Liz discusses the critical steps in product design, manufacturing, and supply chain management, offering invaluable tips for startups and established businesses alike. With a background in launching successful brands and an accelerator, Liz provides a wealth of practical advice, from navigating production phases to leveraging global supply chains. She also explores current trends, the importance of specialized products, and effective inventory management strategies. Whether you are a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned professional, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you thrive in the e-commerce and manufacturing spaces. TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S EPISODEStarting a Brand: The Initial StepsDesigning Your Product: Key ConsiderationsFinding the Right Factory and Supply ChainBudgeting and Cost ManagementNavigating Production and Quality ControlChoosing Manufacturing LocationsManaging Inventory and Cash FlowFinal Mile: Shipping and FulfillmentExploring Current Trends in Fashion and Product SpecializationThe Rise of the Drop Model and Its ChallengesLiz's Journey: From Reusable Shopping Bags to Product AcceleratorThe Transition to Nearshore and Its ImpactBalancing Work and Family: Liz's Personal InsightsConclusion and Final ThoughtsResources:Jim Huffman websiteJim's TwitterGrowthHitThe Growth Marketer's Playbook  Additional episodes you might enjoy:Startup Ideas by Paul Graham (#45)Nathan Barry: How to Bootstrap a Company to $30M in a Crowded Market (#41)How I Met My Biz Partner and Less Learned Hitting $2M ARR (#44)Ryan Hamilton on his Netflix special, touring with Jerry Seinfeld, & how to write a joke (#10)How We're Validating Startup Ideas (#51) 

What if your hardest season became your biggest breakthrough?Ming Zhao built a $24M skincare brand in just 2 years—while pregnant and going through Y Combinator. This isn't just a startup story. It's a story of pressure, clarity, and purpose colliding at once.In this raw and revealing episode, Ming Zhao, CEO and co-founder of PROVEN Skincare, shares how she transformed corporate burnout into one of the fastest-growing beauty startups—scaling to $24 million in just 24 months. She opens up about building a data-driven business during one of the most demanding periods of her life, and how AI, science, and personal insight helped reshape the future of skincare.Key Topics Covered:How AI and data are transforming skincareThe Skin Genome Project explainedNavigating Y Combinator while pregnantBuilding a business model rooted in scienceLiving the “Love your job, live your life” mindsetResources:ProvenJim Huffman websiteJim's TwitterGrowthHitThe Growth Marketer's Playbook Additional episodes you might enjoy:Startup Ideas by Paul Graham (#45)Nathan Barry: How to Bootstrap a Company to $30M in a Crowded Market (#41)How I Met My Biz Partner and Less Learned Hitting $2M ARR (#44)Ryan Hamilton on his Netflix special, touring with Jerry Seinfeld, & how to write a joke (#10)How We're Validating Startup Ideas (#51) 

In this engaging conversation, Brett McCollum interviews Paul H. Graham, an entrepreneur with a diverse background in various industries. They discuss the importance of maintaining a childlike wonder and belief in oneself, especially in the realm of entrepreneurship and investing. Paul shares his journey, insights on balancing finances, and the significance of mindset in achieving success. The conversation emphasizes the value of curiosity, collaboration, and the potential for personal growth at any age. In this conversation, Paul Graham and Brett McCollum explore the themes of overcoming limitations, the journey to joy in investing, finding peace and purpose in investments, and the importance of community. They discuss the mindset needed to succeed in real estate and investing, emphasizing curiosity, self-worth, and the human element in financial transactions. The dialogue encourages listeners to focus on the process rather than just the outcomes, fostering a deeper understanding of personal growth and fulfillment in their endeavors.   Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind:  Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply   Investor Machine Marketing Partnership:  Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true ‘white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com   Coaching with Mike Hambright:  Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike   Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a “mini-mastermind” with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming “Retreat”, either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas “Big H Ranch”? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat   Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform!  Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/   New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club   —--------------------

Flexport was a breakout success—reimagining global trade with tech at its core. But when the freight market cooled and efficiency overtook service, things started to unravel. Founder Ryan Petersen stepped aside, handing the CEO role to former Amazon exec Dave Clark. Months later, he was back at the helm.In this episode, Ryan explains what went wrong, how he's rebuilding Flexport—cutting $300M in costs, restoring customer focus—and why promoting from within beats chasing outside stars. He also weighs in on Trump's proposed tariffs and what they could mean for the future of global trade.Chapters: 00:00 Trailer00:31 Introduction02:07 Meeting smart people, seeing the world03:40 Eroded margins09:52 Charismatic and overconfident15:32 Not an overnight decision20:08 The founder has returned23:10 Redoing the hiring26:38 No substitute for passion31:00 Working for and with my brother37:28 Working with forwarders42:14 Being a founder can be lonely47:49 Life's work54:06 The right person for the job1:00:55 19 countries1:04:57 Blowing people up1:07:24 Work and being a good dad1:08:34 Not doing it for money and loving money1:17:52 Import and export tariffs1:22:57 De minimis1:25:54 Panama and the Suez Canal1:36:50 Going public1:42:24 Who Flexport is Hiring 1:42:42 What "grit" means to Ryan1:43:06 OutroMentioned in this episode: Founders Fund, Amazon, Toyota Motor Corporation, Slack, Brex, Pedro Franceschi, Henrique Dubugras, United States Customs and Border Protection, ImportGenius, Michael Kanko, Y Combinator, Paul Graham, Intel Corporation, Shopify, Geely Holding (Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd.), The Volvo Group, Intuit TurboTax, David Petersen, BuildZoom, TechCrunch, Google, Figma, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Jimmy Carter, Panama Canal Authority, United States Navy, Coinbase, Uber, AirbnbLinks:Connect with RyanXLinkedInConnect with JoubinTwitterLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins

Guest: Blake Scholl, Founder & CEO of Boom Supersonic“Passion and drive trumps knowledge and experience,” says Boom Supersonic CEO Blake Scholl. Long before he was running Boom — which earlier this year successfully tested the world's first privately-developed supersonic jet — he was enabling “the world's most obnoxious spam cannon” at Groupon, or designing a barcode-scanning game for retail shoppers.But eventually, Blake found the courage to be more audacious and do something closer to his lifelong love of aviation. He began educating himself about things he had never thought to learn, and tapping his LinkedIn network to get intros to the smartest people in the industry. “If you imagine yourself on like the day of IPO, 99 percent of what you needed to know to get to that day, you didn't know on day one,” he says. “So, why not take 99 percent to 99.5 percent, and work on the thing you really want to exist, even if you don't know anything about it yet?”Chapters: (01:07) - Blake on Boom's beginnings (01:52) - Breaking the sound barrier (05:23) - Concorde's legacy (09:36) - Navigating regulations (12:08) - Boomless supersonic flight (16:48) - The test flight (20:11) - Day-of nervousness (24:26) - Carrying passengers (26:55) - Cost & wi-fi (30:19) - “No middle seats” (32:35) - Hard tech (36:48) - What if Apple made a plane? (39:08) - Blake's career journey (43:29) - The risk of failure (49:12) - Finding the courage (52:49) - Balancing life with Boom (56:42) - Learning how to build a jet (01:00:20) - The power of LinkedIn (01:02:38) - Y Combinator Demo Day (01:08:24) - Richard Branson (01:11:38) - Dividing yourself (01:14:19) - Being a focused dad (01:20:05) - Exuberance vs. fear (01:24:15) - Hiring slowly (01:27:17) - What “grit” means to Blake Mentioned in this episode: Chuck Yeager, ChatGPT, the Apollo program, Elon Musk, SpaceX and Falcon 1, Boom Overture, Starlink, Boeing, Airbus, iPhone, Jony Ive, Uber, Airbnb, Anduril, United Airlines, American Airlines, Eclipse Aviation, Tesla, Scott Kirby, Mike Leskinen, Inktomi, Yahoo!, Amazon, Pelago, Google Ads, Kima Labs, Barcode Hero, Groupon, iPad, Eric Schmidt, Steve Jobs, Khan Academy, Sam Altman, Loopt, Virgin Atlantic, Paul Graham, Michael Seibel, Ashlee Vance, Bloomberg, Hacker News, Jared Friedman, Sen. Mark Kelly, SV Angel, Ron Conway, Virgin Galactic, Lockheed Martin, Gulfstream, Jeff Bezos, Jeff Holden, and How It's Made.Links:Connect with BlakeTwitterLinkedInConnect with JoubinTwitterLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.com Learn more about Kleiner PerkinsThis episode was edited by Eric Johnson from LightningPod.fm