Podcasts about Y combinator

Want our complete app-building guide + $25 Lovable credit? Get it here: https://clickhubspot.com/fkw Ep. 358 10% of all new sites on the internet in June were built with Lovable Kieran dives into Lovable, the fastest-growing app in Europe, with its co-founder Anton Osika. Learn more about the implications for marketers and founders, how distribution and audience-building are evolving, and how to adapt your team and mindset to thrive in the era of AI-generated software. Mentions Anton Osika https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonosika/ Lovable https://lovable.dev/ Eoghan McCabe https://www.linkedin.com/in/eoghanmccabe/ Y Combinator https://www.ycombinator.com/ Get our guide to build your own Custom GPT: https://clickhubspot.com/customgpt We're creating our next round of content and want to ensure it tackles the challenges you're facing at work or in your business. To understand your biggest challenges we've put together a survey and we'd love to hear from you! https://bit.ly/matg-research Resource [Free] Steal our favorite AI Prompts featured on the show! Grab them here: https://clickhubspot.com/aip We're on Social Media! Follow us for everyday marketing wisdom straight to your feed YouTube: ​​https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGtXqPiNV8YC0GMUzY-EUFg  Twitter: https://twitter.com/matgpod  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@matgpod  Join our community https://landing.connect.com/matg Thank you for tuning into Marketing Against The Grain! Don't forget to hit subscribe and follow us on Apple Podcasts (so you never miss an episode)! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marketing-against-the-grain/id1616700934   If you love this show, please leave us a 5-Star Review https://link.chtbl.com/h9_sjBKH and share your favorite episodes with friends. We really appreciate your support. Host Links: Kipp Bodnar, https://twitter.com/kippbodnar   Kieran Flanagan, https://twitter.com/searchbrat  ‘Marketing Against The Grain' is a HubSpot Original Podcast // Brought to you by Hubspot Media // Produced by Darren Clarke.

Taylor Halliday is the Co-founder and CEO of Ravenna, an AI-powered helpdesk software company that simplifies IT support and internal operations for organizations. Under his leadership, Ravenna raised $15 million in funding from Madrona Venture Group and Khosla Ventures, gaining recognition for its innovative Slack-native platform that streamlines support for IT, HR, and revenue operations teams. Before founding Ravenna, Tylor served as Director of AI Engineering and New Products at Zapier and also completed a fellowship at Y Combinator, experiences that brought both technical depth and startup expertise to the company.  In this episode… Internal operations often struggle to keep pace with modern technology. Companies are buried in employee requests, scattered knowledge bases, and clunky help desk systems. What if AI could bring clarity and automation to that chaos — transforming Slack and other team platforms into true hubs of support? Taylor Halliday has helped shape the future of workplace operations by drawing on experience at Zapier, along with a fellowship at Y Combinator. He brings a blend of technical expertise and startup leadership to solving the challenges of modern internal support. Known for a customer-led approach to product development, Taylor focuses on intuitive design, automation, and data-driven decision-making that enable organizations to scale more effectively. His work highlights how the right mix of AI and human insight can transform team efficiency and build stronger, more resilient companies. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Taylor Halliday, Co-founder and CEO of Ravenna, to discuss how Ravenna is reinventing internal support, co-founder dynamics, the role of customer feedback, and key decisions behind growth and fundraising. Taylor also shares stories on winning early customers and why trust and speed are vital in client relationships.

It seems like startup accelerators are everywhere these days. But what are they? What's the point of them? And most importantly, is it worth having your startup go through one? Based on their own experience with YC and startups, Chris and Yaniv talk you through it all. In this episode, you will:Learn what startup accelerators are and how they work. Discover the primary benefits of going through a startup accelerator.Understand whether applying to a startup accelerator is right for you.Explore the process of choosing an accelerator.Listen to Yaniv's first-hand experience going through the Y Combinator accelerator.The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/

When somebody says “win-win” in Silicon Valley, check your pockets. It's usually some elaborate prelude to a sales pitch. And the only thing dodgier than a two-way win is the “win-win-win” narrative that my friend Keith Teare is selling this week. “User, Publishers and AI: Everybody Wins” is the title of Keith's That Was The Week newsletter this week. And to be fair, what he's selling is the dream of an AI world in which the publishers, consumers and manufacturers of information all win. Who wouldn't want that? Our conversation this week is built around the AI ethics showdown by Y Combinator and Andreessen Horowitz which has shaken Silicon Valley this week. The battle centers on whether AI agents should identify themselves when accessing publisher content - a seemingly technical question that reveals broader tensions about who controls information in the age of artificial intelligence. Y Combinator's Garry Tan called new authentication requirements an "axis of evil" while Andreessen Horowitz's Martin Casado argued they represent common sense infrastructure. But the ever-optimistic Keith (who seems to believe that all progress is good, even for its victims) thinks everyone can win - users, publishers and tech companies. Presumably even Garry Tan and Martin Casado. If you believe that, then I might have some beautiful, no-risk Las Vegas beachfront real-estate for you. 1. The "Axis of Evil" Fight Is Really About Anonymous Access When Y Combinator's Garry Tan attacked Cloudflare and Browserbase's AI authentication system as an "axis of evil," he revealed Silicon Valley's preference for consequence-free data harvesting. The technical dispute over AI agent identification masks a deeper question: should AI companies remain anonymous when accessing publisher content, or must they become accountable?2. Publishers Need Influence, Not Just Traffic The conversation exposed a crucial distinction between advertising models that require massive scale and sponsorship models that reward targeted influence. Quality audiences matter more than raw pageviews - an insight that could reshape how content creators think about monetization in the AI era.3. The "Virtuous Circle" Depends on AI Companies Acting Against Self-Interest Keith's vision of AI systems surfacing attribution links back to original sources requires companies to voluntarily complicate their user experience. Why would ChatGPT or Claude choose to send users away to read original articles when seamless summarization is their core value proposition?4. "Bad Publishers Deserved to Fail" Sidesteps Structural Questions Keith's argument that only inferior publishers lost to digital disruption ignores how entire categories of valuable journalism - particularly local news - faced structural economic challenges regardless of quality. This reveals the limitations of purely market-based explanations for technological displacement.5. Trust May Be Irrelevant in the Post-Truth Era My observation that "nobody cares about trust anymore" challenges the entire premise of authentication systems. If users don't demand source verification, then the economic incentives for Keith's proposed "trusted third party" infrastructure may not exist.Keen On America is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

Work with Jordan personally at www.ecommerceos.coWork with social commerce club at www.socialcommerceclub.comGet 27 strategies in 27 days at https://socialcommerceclub.com/pages/27-strategiesJoin Tiktok shop elites mastermind at https://www.skool.com/tiktokshopelite/aboutWhat was it like growing up with a dad who worked directly for Steve Jobs at Apple? In this episode, Jordan West sits down with Bora, co-founder of Reacher, to talk about his unique childhood experiences, including unforgettable encounters with Steve Jobs' legendary intensity.But that's just the beginning. Bora also shares how growing up in Cupertino's hyper-competitive environment shaped him into an entrepreneur, and how that journey led him into Y Combinator—the world's most prestigious startup accelerator.Together, Jordan and Bora dive into:

This is a recap of the top 10 posts on Hacker News on August 27, 2025. This podcast was generated by wondercraft.ai (00:30): Dissecting the Apple M1 GPU, the endOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45034537&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(01:55): MonodrawOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45037904&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(03:20): Scientist exposes anti-wind groups as oil-funded, now they want to silence himOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45036231&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(04:45): Nx compromised: malware uses Claude code CLI to explore the filesystemOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45038653&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(06:10): The Therac-25 Incident (2021)Original post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45036294&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(07:35): Google has eliminated 35% of managers overseeing small teams in past yearOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45045398&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(09:01): Unexpected productivity boost of RustOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45041286&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(10:26): Uncomfortable Questions About Android Developer VerificationOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45035699&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(11:51): I Am An AI HaterOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45043741&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(13:16): Malicious versions of Nx and some supporting plugins were publishedOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45034496&utm_source=wondercraft_aiThis is a third-party project, independent from HN and YC. Text and audio generated using AI, by wondercraft.ai. Create your own studio quality podcast with text as the only input in seconds at app.wondercraft.ai. Issues or feedback? We'd love to hear from you: team@wondercraft.ai

This is a recap of the top 10 posts on Hacker News on August 26, 2025. This podcast was generated by wondercraft.ai (00:30): Gemini 2.5 Flash ImageOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45026719&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(01:54): Claude for ChromeOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45030760&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(03:19): We regret but have to temporary suspend the shipments to USAOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45029579&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(04:44): Michigan Supreme Court: Unrestricted phone searches violate Fourth AmendmentOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45029764&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(06:08): US IntelOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45024786&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(07:33): Framework Laptop 16Original post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45027725&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(08:58): macOS 26 Tahoe's Dead Canary Utility App IconsOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45020685&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(10:23): Proposal to Ban Ghost JobsOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45028785&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(11:47): Dissecting the Apple M1 GPU, the endOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45034537&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(13:12): Show HN: A zoomable, searchable archive of BYTE magazineOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45028002&utm_source=wondercraft_aiThis is a third-party project, independent from HN and YC. Text and audio generated using AI, by wondercraft.ai. Create your own studio quality podcast with text as the only input in seconds at app.wondercraft.ai. Issues or feedback? We'd love to hear from you: team@wondercraft.ai

FieldAI builds foundational AI models that help all kinds of robots learn and adapt to new environments using physics. Also, Y Combinator is asking the court to deny Apple's appeal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nathan Blecharczyk, co-founder of Airbnb, built his first software business as a teenager, earning nearly a million dollars before shutting it down to attend Harvard. Years later, Nathan and his roommates turned an air mattress idea into Airbnb, facing investor rejection, financial hardship, and moments when quitting seemed inevitable. From creating satirical cereal boxes to joining Y Combinator after a near-failed interview, Nathan's story is one of perseverance and resilience. He shares how Airbnb overcame early struggles, scaled globally, and survived COVID-19 to go public successfully. Nathan Blecharczyk is the co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Airbnb, where he helped grow the platform from a spare air mattress idea to a $75 billion global travel company. According to Forbes, he is one of the richest people in the world, with a net worth of $9 billion. In this episode, Ilana and Nathan will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (01:36) Building a Software Business as a Teen (05:28) Harvard, First Job, and the Decision to Move West (11:58) The Birth of AirBed & Breakfast (15:07) Landing Their  First Guests and Gaining Early Validation (18:03) Investor Rejection and the Obama O's Cereal Stunt (30:45) Applying to Y Combinator and Getting In (36:29) Finding Evangelists and Meeting Hosts in New York (42:34) From $200 a Week to $4,200: Airbnb's First Growth Curve (44:59) Global Expansion, Competitors, and Building Teams Abroad (52:22) The 2020 Crisis: COVID, Collapse, and Reinvention (59:21) The Future of Travel  Nathan Blecharczyk is the co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Airbnb, where he helped grow the platform from a spare air mattress idea to a $75 billion global travel company. A Harvard graduate and self-taught programmer, Nathan has been instrumental in Airbnb's international expansion and strategy, navigating challenges from investor rejection to the COVID-19 crisis. According to Forbes, he is one of the richest people in the world, with a net worth of $9 billion. Connect with Nathan: Nathan's LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/blecharczyk⁠ Airbnb's Website: ⁠https://www.airbnb.com⁠ Resources Mentioned: Y Combinator: ⁠https://www.ycombinator.com⁠ Only the Paranoid Survive by Andy Grove: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Only-Paranoid-Survive-Exploit-Challenge/dp/0385483821⁠ Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities. Reserve your 24-HOUR PASS today at ⁠https://webinar.leapacademy.com/24hr-pass1

This is a recap of the top 10 posts on Hacker News on August 25, 2025. This podcast was generated by wondercraft.ai (00:30): Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on AndroidOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45017028&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(01:54): What are OKLCH colors?Original post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45010876&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(03:18): Show HN: Base, an SQLite database editor for macOSOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45014131&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(04:42): Ban me at the IP level if you don't like meOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45010183&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(06:06): Building the mouse Logitech won't makeOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45014993&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(07:30): FCC bars providers for non-compliance with robocall protectionsOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45015354&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(08:54): Temporary suspension of acceptance of mail to the United StatesOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45016517&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(10:18): Google's Liquid CoolingOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45016720&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(11:42): An illustrated guide to OAuthOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45013131&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(13:06): macOS 26 Tahoe's Dead Canary Utility App IconsOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45020685&utm_source=wondercraft_aiThis is a third-party project, independent from HN and YC. Text and audio generated using AI, by wondercraft.ai. Create your own studio quality podcast with text as the only input in seconds at app.wondercraft.ai. Issues or feedback? We'd love to hear from you: team@wondercraft.ai

Abel Police is transforming law enforcement efficiency through AI-powered report generation technology. With $5 million in funding, the company has developed a computer vision and natural language processing platform that automatically generates police reports from body camera footage, reducing officer paperwork time by up to one-third. In this episode of Category Visionaries, we sat down with Daniel Francis, Founder and CEO of Abel Police, to explore how a former data engineer with no policing background identified a massive inefficiency in law enforcement and built technology to address it. Topics Discussed: How a personal experience with domestic violence response times led to the founding of Abel Police The discovery that police officers spend one-third of their time writing reports Abel Police's approach to integrating with existing digital evidence management systems The unique challenges of selling technology to government agencies and police departments The company's evolution from attempting full record management system integration to standalone solutions The regulatory compliance requirements specific to criminal justice information systems (CJIS) GTM Lessons For B2B Founders: Immerse yourself completely in your target customer's world: Daniel spent 32 ride-alongs with police officers across different departments, not just conducting interviews but observing their daily workflows for hours. He describes himself as "chief ride along officer" and emphasizes that he had to "creepily watch them work for hours" to understand their pain points. B2B founders should go beyond traditional customer interviews and embed themselves in their customers' actual work environment to identify problems that aren't immediately obvious through conversation alone. Start with mock data when real data is inaccessible: Unable to access actual body camera footage, Daniel created fake scenarios with friends, filming mock arrests and citations to train their AI models. This creative workaround allowed them to begin product development despite regulatory barriers to accessing real police footage. B2B founders facing data access challenges should find creative ways to simulate their target environment and data types to begin building and testing their solutions. Become an insider to overcome industry skepticism: Daniel secured a position as a "records intern" at Richmond Police Department when they wouldn't initially buy his solution, giving him access to real body camera footage and deeper understanding of police workflows. This inside access became crucial for product development and credibility. B2B founders entering unfamiliar industries should consider temporary or consulting arrangements that allow them to work alongside their target customers and gain credibility within the industry. Give away pilots strategically in government markets: Contrary to Y Combinator's advice to always charge for pilots, Daniel found that offering free trials was essential for police departments due to their complex procurement processes. He explains that "if they have to pay for something, that's a hassle" in government settings, but if they're willing to share their data with you, "they're serious about it." B2B founders selling to government should consider free pilots as a necessary investment to navigate bureaucratic purchasing processes. Build standalone solutions before attempting platform integration: Abel Police initially tried to integrate with every record management system, which significantly delayed their go-to-market timeline. They found success by building a standalone version first, then pursuing integrations. Daniel notes they "would have never sold anything" if they had stuck to their original integration-first approach. B2B founders should prioritize getting a working solution in customers' hands over achieving perfect system integration from day one. Leverage adjacent opportunities from your core market position: Once established with police departments, Abel Police identified additional problems like online citizen reporting and policy/law lookup tools. Their relationship with agencies made them "very open to new solutions" since "there's way more problems than there is solutions" in policing. B2B founders should view their initial market entry as a platform for identifying and addressing related problems within the same customer base.   //   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe.  www.GlobalTalent.co   //   Don't Miss: New Podcast Series — How I Hire Senior GTM leaders share the tactical hiring frameworks they use to build winning revenue teams. Hosted by Andy Mowat, who scaled 4 unicorns from $10M to $100M+ ARR and launched Whispered to help executives find their next role. Subscribe here: https://open.spotify.com/show/53yCHlPfLSMFimtv0riPyM 

How do you win when your competitors are the biggest companies in the world?This week on Grit, Dropbox co-founder and CEO Drew Houston retraces the path from a bus-stop prototype to competing head-on with Google, Apple, and Microsoft.He explains why grit is “learning to run toward discomfort,” and the moments he realized founders keep going “for the love of the game.”Guest: Drew Houston, Co-Founder & CEO of DropboxChapters:00:00 Trailer00:52 Introduction01:35 Towards full autonomy16:20 Coming back to school21:45 Golden ticket to California25:23 No one's born a CEO28:15 Y Combinator and a co-founder37:53 The craft of being a great CEO53:41 Metabolizing the stress1:10:14 Tactical advices and frameworks1:27:48 Who Dropbox is hiring1:29:35 What “grit” means to Drew1:32:10 OutroLinks:Connect with DrewXLinkedInConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins

Hospitals are under immense pressure: burned-out clinicians, outdated systems, and rising costs have made delivering care harder than ever. Tanay Tandon, founder and CEO of Commure, shares how his team is rethinking hospital infrastructure by combining AI, forward-deployed engineering, and a provider-first mindset. Backed by over $750M in funding, Commure is using strategic M&A and next-gen tools like ambient AI to reduce administrative burden, improve revenue cycle operations, and protect clinical staff.We cover:

We ran the biggest public study on YC company's successes and failures in history. This is what we learned about the most prolific startup incubator in history.    Thanks for tuning in! Catch new episodes every Sunday and Thursday.   Don't miss GTM2025 — the only B2B tech conference exclusively for GTM executives. Use code TOPLINE for 10% off your GA ticket.   Subscribe to Topline Newsletter.   Tune into Topline Podcast, the #1 podcast for founders, operators, and investors in B2B tech.   Join the free Topline Slack channel to connect with 600+ revenue leaders to keep the conversation going beyond the podcast!   (00:00) - The Biggest Study on YC (00:40) - Personal Updates and Banter (03:47) - What Is Y Combinator? (04:24) - Our Research's Findings (06:26) - Advantages of Joining YC (10:40) - Challenges and Criticisms of YC (14:34) - Personal Experiences and Insights (29:47) - YC's Branding and Marketing Power (30:31) - YC's Expansion and Its Impact (31:16) - The Value of YC's Brand (34:04) - Dilution and Founders' Naivety (36:04) - Branding Lessons from YC (37:44) - Challenges and Opportunities for YC (46:17) - Chat GPT-5: Initial Impressions (50:31) - AI Companies and Market Dynamics (56:23) - Concluding Thoughts and Wins  

Neste episódio especial do BRASAcast, recebemos Daniel para uma conversa sobre tecnologia, rede e o impacto de começar pequeno, mas sonhar grande.Ex-diretor de tech da BRASA, Daniel agora é cofundador da Gaus, uma startup de inteligência de mercado que acaba de entrar na Y Combinator (S25).Ele compartilha sua trajetória, os aprendizados na BRASA e o que significa construir produto real dentro de uma rede estudantil. Falamos também sobre a importância da BRASA como trampolim para jovens que querem liderar, inovar e empreender.

Plus, Nvidia reportedly halts production on its H20 AI chips. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Building the Future: Carol Yu on Nurturing China's Tech StartupsIn the latest episode of the Asia Business Podcast, we're joined by Carol Yu, the dynamic founding partner and Associate Dean of Shenzhen InnoX Academy. This episode delves into Carol's journey from her academic roots in Guangzhou, through her formative years in the U.S., and back to her entrepreneurial endeavors in Southern China. Carol shares insights into the innovative model of InnoX Academy, which nurtures entrepreneurial talent and incubates tech startups in a region famous for its rapid technological advancements.Meet Carol Yu: The Visionary Behind InnoX AcademyConnect with CarolCarol Yu is no stranger to pioneering new paths. Her academic journey took her from Guangzhou to the U.S., where she pursued higher education in economics and public policy. Her passion for innovation and education ultimately led her back to China, where she co-founded Shenzhen InnoX Academy with Professor Li Zexiang. Professor Li, renowned for his role in launching DJI, has been instrumental in promoting tech innovation in Shenzhen, a hub for hardware technology.InnoX Academy: A Unique Model for Incubating TalentThe Shenzhen InnoX Academy stands out for its commitment to fostering young talent. Unlike traditional accelerators like Y Combinator focused primarily on product and pitch, InnoX provides a comprehensive nurturing environment. Carol elaborates on the academy's approach: starting with students who often have no clear project idea, InnoX offers a systematic empowerment platform. This includes a talent pool, curated curriculum, supply-chain resources, and a focus on both technical skills and go-to-market strategies.Combating Challenges: Bridging Technical Expertise and Entrepreneurial SavvyA key challenge faced by InnoX Academy is bridging the gap between technical innovation and commercialization. Carol notes that many young innovators possess deep technical skills but lack understanding of market dynamics and business management. The academy addresses this by providing industry-experienced mentors from leading firms like DJI, BYD, and Huawei, who guide students in transforming their innovative ideas into market-ready products.The Hardware Renaissance: Rethinking Global StrategiesCarol discusses the shifting perception of hardware in tech industries. As software business models saturate, the combination of hardware innovation with AI and robotics creates new opportunities. Shenzhen's capability to rapidly iterate and commercialize products presents a distinct advantage. InnoX Academy enables projects to achieve cash flow positivity within 18 months and even bypass traditional funding needs by directly moving towards IPOs.Navigating Geopolitical Landscapes: Expanding Beyond ChinaThe discussion also touches on the global ambitions of Chinese entrepreneurs amidst shifting geopolitical tides. Carol acknowledges the challenges brought by heightened tariffs and geopolitical tensions. Yet, she emphasizes the resilience and adaptability of entrepreneurs in pursuing the lucrative U.S. and European markets through strategic pivots, such as leveraging Singaporean bases or separating hardware and software development.The Role of Education: From Stanford and Harvard to InnoXReflecting on her educational experiences at Stanford and Harvard, Carol praises the environments that shaped her entrepreneurial spirit. Stanford imparted a boundless belief in possibility, while Harvard provided a deeper understanding of global policy dynamics. These influences are evident in her leadership at InnoX, where she underscores the importance of values-driven entrepreneurship and the power of positive societal impact.Conclusion: A Future-Forward Vision for Global InnovationCarol Yu's work with InnoX Academy embodies a forward-thinking model that intersects innovation with cultural understanding and business acumen. She continues to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs not only to succeed in markets but to create meaningful global impact. As the world navigates complex challenges, the narratives from leaders like Carol provide invaluable insights into the evolving landscape of global business and technology.Timestamps00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:08 Carol Yu's Background and Career Journey05:28 Professor Li and the Birth of DJI10:14 InnoX Academy and Talent Development11:25 Challenges and Strategies in Talent Selection13:28 Empowerment Platform and Curriculum18:09 Shared Factory Platform and Market Integration18:54 Innovation and Industrialization in China24:13 Funding Strategies and Road Shows25:11 Challenges in Hardware Business28:02 Global Expansion and Geopolitical Challenges29:40 Advice for Chinese Companies Entering Global Markets30:44 Impact of US-China Trade Relations ProducerJacob ThomasFollow UsLinkedInApple Podcasts

Y Combinator filed an amicus brief supporting Epic Games in its legal dispute with Apple, stating that Apple's App Store fees and restrictions have limited startup growth and discouraged venture capital investment in app-based businesses. The dispute began when Epic Games sued Apple over its 30 percent commission and anti-steering policies. A judge ordered Apple to allow alternative payment options, but Apple imposed a 27 percent fee on those transactions, leading to further legal challenges. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for October 21.Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Tank Talks, we sit down with Brett Gibson, Managing Partner at Initialized Capital, to explore how the world of venture capital is being reshaped by advancements in AI, crypto, and space technology.Brett's career has been anything but conventional. From co-founding Posterous with Garry Tan (which was later acquired by Twitter) to rebuilding the platform as Posthaven, and reengineering Y Combinator's internal software systems, he's seen it all. Today, as Managing Partner at Initialized Capital, Brett is spearheading investments in emerging sectors like AI infrastructure, crypto technologies, and even asteroid mining.In this conversation, Brett reflects on his journey of building and scaling startups, the transformation of Initialized Capital following its 2024 restructuring, and his thoughts on why AI is outpacing crypto in shaping the future. He also shares his perspective on moonshot investments, including AstroForge's mission to mine platinum from asteroids, and offers insights into how founders should navigate an era of rapidly evolving technology.This episode is packed with valuable insights for anyone interested in the future of venture capital, AI, crypto, and space exploration.How It All Began (00:01:44)Brett's early years in Los Gatos, his philosophy degree, and how teaching himself to code set him on the startup path.Posterous, Posthaven & Twitter (00:03:27)The lessons from co-founding Posterous with Garry Tan, scaling consumer tech, and rebuilding as Posthaven after Twitter shut it down.Rebuilding YC's Software Stack (00:09:00)Inside story of rewriting Y Combinator's internal tools, including applications, demo day, and Bookface.The Evolution of Initialized Capital (00:13:20)How Initialized grew from a $7M fund to billions under management, and the 2024 restructuring that refocused the firm on seed investing.Crypto Infrastructure & Bison Trails (00:17:08)Why Initialized leaned into crypto early, the Coinbase acquisition of Bison Trails, and crypto's ongoing product market fit problem.AI as Table Stakes (00:28:19)Why Brett believes every startup should leverage AI and why ignoring it puts founders at a competitive disadvantage.Scaling Technical Founders (00:32:48)Common pitfalls for technical founders, why people management is a skill, and how to avoid organizational debt.Moonshots: AstroForge & Beyond (00:34:42)How Brett evaluates deep tech bets like asteroid mining and the role of network density in space investments.The High Bit Podcast & Sharing Founder Insights (00:37:06)Why Brett launched Initialized's technical podcast and the surprising patterns across founders' approaches to problem-solving.The Future of AI, Crypto & Space by 2030 (00:40:45)Brett's vision for the next decade of innovation, and why he believes the world will move faster than ever.About Brett GibsonBrett Gibson is the Managing Partner at Initialized Capital, where he leads seed-stage investments in AI, crypto infrastructure, space tech, and beyond. A former software engineer, Brett co-founded Posterous with Garry Tan (acquired by Twitter), built Posthaven, and spent years at Y Combinator rewriting its internal software systems. At Initialized, he's led bold bets on companies like Bison Trails, Sequence, AstroForge, and more.Connect with Brett Gibson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettdgibson/Visit the Initialized Capital website: https://initialized.com/Connect with Matt Cohen on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/matt-cohen1Visit the Ripple Ventures website: https://www.rippleventures.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tanktalks.substack.com

The sleep tech company raised from HSG, Valor Equity Partners, Founders Fund, Y Combinator and big F1 names like Charles Leclerc and Zak Brown. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt Hamann knew he was going to be in tech way back in his younger days. His Dad worked for IBM, so there were always fun things to talk about and play with. He got his first family computer when he was 4 years old, and started programming BASIC when he was 8. Eventually, they got dialup through AOL - and he took off building websites with PHP & MySQL. Outside of tech, he is married with 3 kids. He loves to travel and spend time with his family. He also plays several instruments, including the piano and pipe organ, and enjoys tinkering with smart home devices.Right around the time of the pandemic, Matt and his co-founder were pitching a new company idea in Y Combinator, around data privacy. After receiving the feedback that there wasn't a big market for the original idea, they started to jam on ideas on how to pivot - and quickly landed on how cool it would be to have password-less authentication.This is the creation story of Rownd.SponsorsPaddle.comSema SoftwarePropelAuthPostmanMeilisearchMailtrap.TECH Domains (https://get.tech/codestory)Linkshttps://rownd.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthamann/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/code-story-insights-from-startup-tech-leaders/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Rujul Zaparde is the co-founder and CEO of Zip, the $2.2 billion AI platform for procurement trusted by OpenAI, Anthropic, Snowflake, and hundreds of leading enterprises. He previously co-founded FlightCar, which raised over $40 million and was acquired by Mercedes-Benz. A former Airbnb product manager and Y Combinator visiting partner, Rujul has built Zip into the category-defining leader in procurement orchestration.In this episode of World of DaaS, Rujul and Auren discuss:Why everyone hates procurement departmentsBuilding 50+ AI agents for enterprise workflowsThe future of autonomous business processesYC's evolution and startup quality over timeLooking for more tech, data and venture capital intel? Head to http://worldofdaas.com/ for our podcast, newsletter and events, and follow us on X at @worldofdaasYou can find Auren Hoffman on X at @auren and Rujul Zaparde on Linkedin at @rujulzEditing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant https://thepodcastconsultant.com

Listen in as your host Just Nate and guest host Greg "the lover" Glover talks with Eric Kronman from Fluet.  Fluet is the premier law firm for the national security, aerospace, defense, and intelligence sectors.Y-Combinator for SAFE forms: https://www.ycombinator.com/documentsNVCA.org for the model venture documentshttps://nvca.org/model-legal-documents/The annotated term sheet can be found here: https://nvca.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/NVCA-2020-Term-Sheet.docxAlso, in our conversation after the recording, here's the link to the Berkshire Hathaway annual letters (you'll really enjoy these – I'd start around 2017 and work your way to current): https://www.berkshirehathaway.com/letters/letters.htmlTo find out more about Fluet please visit their website at:  https://fluet.law/To find out more about the Smalls or become a member, please check us out at ⁠⁠www.thesmalls.org⁠⁠To contact Just Nate:  ⁠⁠justnate@thesmalls.org⁠⁠—  Send in a voice message: ⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/thesmalls/message⁠⁠Support this podcast: ⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/thesmalls/support⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/thesmalls⁠

Retrouvez l'épisode en version française ici : https://www.gdiy.fr/podcast/anton-osika-vf/“Over the last few decades, software has been eating the world. But now with AI, it's possible for the 99% who can't code at all to build software. And I think we're still just getting started.”Anton Osika turned my brain inside out.He founded Lovable in 2023 and, in just 8 months, went from $1M to $100M in annual recurring revenue.But the real magic lies in the product. In just a few clicks, it lets you create fully functional websites or apps from scratch… without writing a single line of code.Because of AI, what once took whole teams of experts and months of labour, can now be done with just a few prompts.The scale of this shift is almost hard to grasp and the whole economy is about to change. Big time.In this episode, Anton shares everything about this historic shift:How to ride this tsunamiThe jobs that could vanishWhat the internet might look like in just a few years (or months!)How to use Lovable effectivelyThe secrets behind his startup's explosive growthWe even build a website live whose sole purpose is to make money. Does it work? Find out in the episode.And even if you are not curious enough, you NEED to listen to this. It's essential to understand where we're headed — and more importantly, how to act right now before it's too late.If you want to try Lovable with free credits, here's the link to claim them: here.Thanks to our partner ElevenLabs, who translated and dubbed this episode into French. They also offer solutions for businesses (AI conversational agents for customer service, sales, and more). You can request a free demo through this link: www.elevenlabs.io/gdiyTIMELINE:00:00:00 : We are building the ultimate software00:08:52 : YCombinator's superpower00:12:25 : The new autonomous AI — explained simply00:18:32 : Who should be worried00:28:24 : Let's make a website that makes money, right now!00:41:08 : Using Lovable as a team or solo, as a sale person and even as a kid00:45:26 : The best way to use Lovable for no-coders00:56:51 : How they reached 90 millions in recurring revenue in 9 months01:11:13 : How AI could turn into a nightmare or a living utopia01:16:45 : Can a CEO have a personal life beside his work?01:23:37 : 1 million users by the end of the year?Les anciens épisodes de GDIY mentionnés : #429 - Nicolas Dessaigne - Y Combinator - Le berceau des futurs géants de la tech#418 - Clément Delangue - Hugging Face - 4,5 milliards de valo avec un produit gratuit à 99%#429 - Nicolas Dessaigne - Y Combinator - Le berceau des futurs géants de la tech#478 - Octave Klaba - OVH - La guerre du Cloud commence#479 - Nikola Karabatic - Champion de Handball - 22 titres sur 23 : la légende du sport français#387 - Alexandre Berriche - Fleet.co - “Garder son cash pour faire des choses plus pertinentes qu'acheter des ordinateurs”Nous avons parlé de :LovableMatrixSana LabsDepict.aiIntroducing gpt-engineer (Anton's tweet)CosaPlanitySalesforceSquarespaceWordpressDocuSignStripearchive (AI influencers)GDIY websiteimagi (Anton's wife business)Les recommandations de lecture :"Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!”Vous pouvez contacter Anton sur LinkedIn.Vous souhaitez sponsoriser Génération Do It Yourself ou nous proposer un partenariat ?Contactez mon label Orso Media via ce formulaire.Hébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

It's rare that we contemplate where all the plastic we throw out goes, but rest assured that nearly none of it is being recycled. Simply put, it's usually cheaper to make new plastic than to recycle old plastic, even the plastic you put in the recycling bin. Because it takes plastic centuries to break down, this means for each one of us you could build a mountain of plastic from all the packaging we use over the course of our lives.  But what if plastic didn't have to take centuries to break down, and could actually biodegrade in a matter of days or weeks?  That's exactly the vision Luna Yu is bringing to life as founder and CEO of Genecis Bioindustries, a biotech company using fermentation to transform food waste into high-performance, truly compostable bioplastics. In this episode, Luna joins us—at 1 a.m. her time from a manufacturing run in China—to share the story behind Genecis, from her early days as a teenage entrepreneur in Canada to raising $17 million for her startup in the climate tech world. Luna walks us through how Genecis engineers microbes to turn low-cost industrial waste streams like glycerol into PHA, a biodegradable plastic alternative that's already being used in consumer products like Mad Tea and Mad Coffee. We discuss why Genecis is taking a direct-to-consumer approach, how they're preparing to launch in Sprouts nationwide, and what it will take to make sustainable plastics cost-competitive with petroleum-based ones. We also dive into Luna's big bets on the future—including cell-free biology, the promise of enzyme-only production systems, and her vision for a world where the most convenient option is also the most sustainable. If you're curious about the intersection of synthetic biology, circular economy, and product design—or you just want to hear from someone reshaping the future of plastic—this episode is for you. Discussed in this episode You can learn more about Genecis' technology by reading their patents and patent applications here. Luna is very inspired by Isomorphic Labs. Genecis is backed by Amazon and is a graduate of the Y Combinator accelerator. CJ Biomaterials manufactures PHA via fermentation.  Plastic has only been around since the 1950s but we believe it lasts for centuries. How do we know? Researchers simulate environmental exposure in labs by increasing UV radiation, temperature, moisture, and mechanical stress to accelerate plastic breakdown. They analyze how the polymer chains degrade and extrapolate those results to estimate natural-world decay timelines. Get to Know Luna Yu Luna Yu is the CEO of Genecis Bioindustries. She completed her Bachelors and Masters in Environmental Science at the age of 21 at the University of Toronto. During her Undergrad, Luna co-founded, grew and exited from two profitable software startups. The exciting advancements in fields of synthetic biology, bioinformatics, and machine learning led her to infuse her passion and experience together. This created Genecis, where biotechnology enables the conversion of food waste into high value materials.  

Get help with Y Combinator from a 3x alum, learn about the newest VC in Oregon, and hear how Oregon regional innovation hubs fare from state funding. Plus I go off on a rant of sorts

If you're a non-technical founder building your first product, this episode is for you. In today's lesson, Robyn Exton shares the real story of how she went from branding agency employee to founder of a global tech company — without writing a line of code. She didn't raise millions on day one. She learned by doing, made all the early-stage mistakes, and got her first users with vodka shots in nightclubs. Now, her app has millions of users and she's been through Y Combinator. Robyn is the founder of HER, the dating app for queer women. Listen to this episode to learn: How to build a tech product without knowing how to code What to do when your first version fails The difference between product design and graphic design (and why it matters) How to work with developers when you don't speak tech Whether you're dreaming up your first MVP or struggling through version two, this is your honest guide to building in the dark — and making it work.   Chapters 00:00 — Vodka shots for downloads: the hustle begins 03:10 — From branding job to building a tech product 10:30 — The wake-up call: “You're doing too many things” 14:00 — Fake research, failed MVP, and what she learned 27:20 — How a non-technical founder led a dev team 33:45 — Hiring a CTO, letting go of ego, and building trust 45:35 — Raising $1M before YC — and why she joined anyway 51:10 — Final audience Q&A: churn, product, and user feedback   FREE Course: 5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know https://www.techfornontechies.co/freecourse   Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here. Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University. For the full transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/265-from-vodka-shots-to-y-combinator-how-a-non-technical-founder-built-a-global-tech-company

This week's guest is Brooke Hopkins, Founder of Coval, a company building automated testing infrastructure for AI agents starting with voice and chat assistants. We unpack her journey from studying in Abu Dhabi to leading simulation infrastructure at Waymo, where she helped ensure autonomous vehicles could operate safely at scale. Brooke shares how that experience shaped Coval's approach to agent evaluation, why voice is the hardest modality to test, and what it means to simulate human-to-agent interactions in a way that actually reflects user intent.Episode Chapters:1:54 - Abu Dhabi for college4:06 - Searching for engineering challenges5:08 - Joining Waymo9:00 - Scaling simulations10:17 - Balancing cost, latency, and signal14:40 - Starting with voice18:16 - Building evals23:44 - Persona surprises26:50 - MCP 27:15 - AI operating system for conversational workflows32:28 - Voice to voice 35:55 - Quick fire roundAs always, feel free to contact us at partnerpathpodcast@gmail.com. We would love to hear ideas for content, guests, and overall feedback.This episode is brought to you by Grata, the world's leading deal sourcing platform. Our AI-powered search, investment-grade data, and intuitive workflows give you the edge needed to find and win deals in your industry. Visit grata.com to schedule a demo today.Fresh out of Y Combinator's Summer batch, Overlap is an AI-driven app that uses LLMs to curate the best moments from podcast episodes. Imagine having a smart assistant who reads through every podcast transcript, finds the best parts or parts most relevant to your search, and strings them together to form a new curated stream of content - that is what Overlap does. Podcasts are an exponentially growing source of unique information. Make use of it! Check out Overlap 2.0 on the App Store today.

Chowdeck, a Lagos-based food delivery startup that has stayed profitable in a notoriously tough and low-margin market, has raised $9 million in Series A funding to launch a quick commerce strategy and expand into more cities in Nigeria and Ghana. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kumi Arhin is doing something new in wine: he's bringing the flavors of his homeland in Ghana to American wine, offering a Riesling made with Lake Erie region grapes accented by Ghanaian ginger. His innovative Ofori Brothers Wine honors winemaking tradition but caters to members of the West African diaspora in the U.S., providing familiar flavors that speak of home. The name Ofori Brothers harkens back to his family's background in cocoa production in Ghana in the early twentieth century. The Ofori brothers were quire successful in that trade, and he wanted to honor them with this new project. Kumi recently won Crafted For Action's Crafted Fellows microgrant competition, and he has more unique wines planned (a rosé with hibiscus is on the horizon).In this interview, Kumi talks about how his family's legacy in cacao has impacted his current venture in wine, the significance of including a flavor ingredient from Ghana in a American wine and how that helps him reach new audiences, and the importance of storytelling along the way.You can learn more about Ofori Brothers Wine and order bottles here.Guest:Kumi Arhin is a Ghanaian-American entrepreneur, engineer, and founder of Ofori Brothers Wine, a brand that redefines premium wine through the bold, expressive flavors of Africa. Inspired by his family's legacy in Ghana's early cocoa trade, Kumi blends heritage with innovation to craft culturally rooted, sensorially distinct wines. His debut release, a ginger-infused Riesling, launched at the beginning of 2025, quickly sold out, and recently won the top prize at the Crafted for Action pitch competition.By day, Kumi works at the intersection of technology and culture as a Partner Engineer at YouTube Music. He previously founded a Y Combinator-backed edtech startup that reached over a million users globally. A Columbia University alum with a background in software engineering and product design, Kumi now channels his technical and entrepreneurial experience into building a wine label that connects diasporic legacy, flavor, and storytelling. Check out David's book Pairing Beer & Chocolate: A Guide to Bringing the Flavors of Craft Beer and Craft Chocolate Together.Follow Bean to Barstool on social media!InstagramFacebookPinterestSign up for host David Nilsen's beer newsletter for regular beer musings, and the Bean to Barstool newsletter for pairings, collaborations, and maker profiles.

Matt Gialich is the Co-Founder and CEO of AstroForge, an asteroid mining company founded in 2022 that aims to extract platinum group metals from near-Earth asteroids to redefine sustainable mining practices. With over a decade of experience leading high-performing engineering teams, Gialich holds a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.  His career began at Toyon Research Corporation as an analyst developing novel navigation algorithms, followed by key roles at Virgin Orbit, where he led the flight software and GNC teams and oversaw avionics development. He later served as Director of Vehicle Software at Bird, where he met co-founder Jose Acain, sparking the idea for AstroForge amid their shared passion for space.  Previously, Gialich was co-founder and CEO of Ex Scientia Technologies. A Y Combinator alumnus, he has guided AstroForge to successful missions, including Mission 1's launch, and advocates for commercial space innovation to address resource scarcity on Earth. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: https://betterhelp.com/srs This episode is sponsored. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/srs and get on your way to being your best self. https://bruntworkwear.com – USE CODE SRS https://bubsnaturals.com – USE CODE SHAWN https://bunkr.life – USE CODE SRS Go to https://bunkr.life/SRS and use code “SRS” to get your 25% off your family plan https://shawnlikesgold.com https://helixsleep.com/srs https://moinkbox.com/srs https://mypatriotsupply.com/srs https://patriotmobile.com/srs https://rocketmoney.com/srs https://shopify.com/srs https://simplisafe.com/srs Matt Gialich Links: X - https://x.com/MattGialich LI - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-gialich AstroForge - https://www.astroforge.io Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

Spriha Tucker is the Field CTO at Buildkite, where she plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between Buildkite's engineering teams and its clients. A two-time Y-Combinator founder, Spriha previously co-founded Aviator, a developer productivity platform, which served customers like Slack, Figma, Doordash, Bosch, and others. Her prior experience includes Product Management at Google on developer tools, data, infrastructure and search ads, and at Microsoft, on platform tooling. Spriha also taught as an instructor at General Assembly and spent time as a Quantitative Trader at Morgan Stanley, focusing on developing trading models and trade execution algorithms for equities. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Econometrics and a Master's in Computer Science from the University of Pennsylvania.You can find Spriha on the following sites:LinkedInXGitHubHere are some links provided by Spriha:BuildkitePLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTSpotifyApple PodcastsYouTube MusicAmazon MusicRSS FeedYou can check out more episodes of Coffee and Open Source on https://www.coffeeandopensource.comCoffee and Open Source is hosted by Isaac Levin

Ivan Zhao joins Joubin Mirzadegan on Grit to break down how the company's minimalist design became a strategic edge in a world overwhelmed by bloated software. He shares why the AI agent still hasn't arrived, and how Notion's modular approach might be the closest thing to making it real.Guest: Ivan Zhao, co-founder and CEO of NotionMentioned in this episode: Fuzzy Khosrowshahi, Airbnb, Sequoia Capital, Linear, Figma, Apple, Things, Microsoft, BMW, Lumiere, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Rippling, Matt MacInnis, Inkling, Steve Jobs, Douglas Engelbart, Alan Kay, Bill Gates, OpenAI ChatGPT, Y Combinator, Andrej Karpathy, Toby Schachman, Simon Last, Spotify, SlackConnect with Ivan ZhaoXLinkedInConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins

Greg Selkoe has a storied history as a trailblazer in modern entrepreneurial ventures. As co-founder and CEO of XSET, Greg leads the company's vision of creating a gaming lifestyle brand and media company that redefines the digital landscape, connecting with the physical world. Under Greg, XSET seeks to lead a new youth culture through the connective tissue of gaming. Committed to inclusivity, innovation, and constantly evolving with culture (music, art, sports, fashion, etc.) and those who are at the vanguard of it, XSET's foundation is built on dynamic storytelling, fostering community, and empowering cultural leaders. Prior to XSET, Greg served as Co-Owner and the first President of FaZe Clan, where his strategic vision and leadership propelled the company from $0 to an impressive $36 million in annual revenue in 2 years, culminating in a personal financial exit at the peak valuation of FaZe Clan at $400m in 2020. His journey began by revolutionizing the e-commerce landscape with the founding of Karmaloop, a venture he nurtured from a fledgling startup into a streetwear retail titan, amassing over $1 billion in lifetime revenue under his tenure as CEO. Working with Pharrell Williams (Karmaloop Creative Director) and launching 2 other sub-sites, the Kazbah & PLNDR, which each did over $30M annually at their peak and the first YouTube channel launched by a retailer, KarmaloopTV. Karmaloop is 24 years old and still operating. Passionate about bridging socioeconomic gaps, Selkoe had a self-funded non-profit for 5 years called the FBA, run by Malia Lazu (former head of the Harry Belafonte Family Foundation) focused on diminishing the digital divide and fostering entrepreneurship in underserved communities. He is now launching the XSET Foundation, a new 501c3 organization where Selkoe aims to leverage the influential power of gaming and lifestyle to create inclusive opportunities and empower communities, integrating his business acumen with a strong sense of corporate social responsibility. A Harvard University M.P.P. graduate and 2016 Y Combinator alum, Selkoe has been honored as Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year in 2012, recognized as one of Goldman Sachs' 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs, and included in the Summit Series Top 35 Entrepreneurs under 35 with an invitation to the White House. He lives in Boston with his wife, Dina (a Harvard-trained attorney and CLO of XSET), and his 2 young children. Connect with Jon Dwoskin: Twitter: @jdwoskin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.dwoskin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejondwoskinexperience/ Website: https://jondwoskin.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jondwoskin/ Email: jon@jondwoskin.com Get Jon's Book: The Think Big Movement: Grow your business big. Very Big!   Connect with Greg Selkoe: Website: www.xset.com X: https://www.twitter.com/selkoe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/selkoe LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-selkoe-3b9964ab                                                     *E – explicit language may be used in this podcast.

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

On this week's episode, it's a Jenn Gore takeover! This time she sits down with the future of AI Intake, Ethan Hilton. They discuss the evolution of caseflood.ai, where Ethan sees the future of AI Intake going, getting selected by Y Combinator, being a founder at 18, and why one day you won't be able to tell the difference between an AI and a human. Get in touch with Ethan at https://caseflood.ai/ Get in touch with Jenn at https://sweetjames.com/ Guest Ethan Hilton (@realethanhilton on Instagram) is the founder of caseflood.ai. Caseflood.ai helps law firms cut costs by a third and increase average case value by 20% by replacing their entire admin/operations staff with AI agents. It takes care of all admin tasks - from client intake to case analysis to engaging clients - allowing for firms to be run more profitably and wildly more efficient.  Host Jennifer Gore (@jenngorelawyer on Instagram) is the Managing Partner of Sweet James GA East Coast and currently spearheading Sweet James Accident Attorneys' Georgia expansion. She also founded Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group. Her leadership led Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group to Inc. 5000 recognition for three consecutive years as one of the fastest-growing U.S. law firms. With over a decade of experience, she specializes in wrongful death, trucking, and motorcycle cases, achieving exceptional client outcomes. _____ LawRank grows your law firm with SEO Our clients saw a 384% increase in first-time calls and a 603% growth in traffic in 12 months. Get your free competitor report at https://lawrank.com/report. Subscribe to us on your favorite podcast app Rate us 5 stars on iTunes and Spotify Watch us on YouTube Follow us on Instagram and TikTok

On this week's episode, it's a Jenn Gore takeover! This time she sits down with the future of AI Intake, Ethan Hilton. They discuss the evolution of caseflood.ai, where Ethan sees the future of AI Intake going, getting selected by Y Combinator, being a founder at 18, and why one day you won't be able to tell the difference between an AI and a human. Get in touch with Ethan at https://caseflood.ai/ Get in touch with Jenn at https://sweetjames.com/ Guest Ethan Hilton (@realethanhilton on Instagram) is the founder of caseflood.ai. Caseflood.ai helps law firms cut costs by a third and increase average case value by 20% by replacing their entire admin/operations staff with AI agents. It takes care of all admin tasks - from client intake to case analysis to engaging clients - allowing for firms to be run more profitably and wildly more efficient.  Host Jennifer Gore (@jenngorelawyer on Instagram) is the Managing Partner of Sweet James GA East Coast and currently spearheading Sweet James Accident Attorneys' Georgia expansion. She also founded Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group. Her leadership led Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group to Inc. 5000 recognition for three consecutive years as one of the fastest-growing U.S. law firms. With over a decade of experience, she specializes in wrongful death, trucking, and motorcycle cases, achieving exceptional client outcomes. _____ LawRank grows your law firm with SEO Our clients saw a 384% increase in first-time calls and a 603% growth in traffic in 12 months. Get your free competitor report at https://lawrank.com/report. Subscribe to us on your favorite podcast app Rate us 5 stars on iTunes and Spotify Watch us on YouTube Follow us on Instagram and TikTok

This week's guest is Christopher Chedeau, better known as Vjeux, Front-End Engineer at Meta and the mind behind React Native, Prettier, Excalidraw, and more.We unpack his journey from modding Warcraft at 13 to shaping some of the most widely used developer tools in the world. Christopher shares his thoughts on why React took off, how side projects become developer staples, and what AI means for the future of software creation.1:55 - Christopher aka Vjeux2:55 - Learning to code6:30 - Programming in France8:53 - Open sourcing React13:01 - Moving to Facebook15:25 - The framework wars18:25 - The React community22:40 - AI React26:30 - What's next for Vjeux?29:46 - Active procrastination leading to virality32:42 - Future of whiteboarding 37:26 - Quick fire roundAs always, feel free to contact us at partnerpathpodcast@gmail.com. We would love to hear ideas for content, guests, and overall feedback.This episode is brought to you by Grata, the world's leading deal sourcing platform. Our AI-powered search, investment-grade data, and intuitive workflows give you the edge needed to find and win deals in your industry. Visit grata.com to schedule a demo today.Fresh out of Y Combinator's Summer batch, Overlap is an AI-driven app that uses LLMs to curate the best moments from podcast episodes. Imagine having a smart assistant who reads through every podcast transcript, finds the best parts or parts most relevant to your search, and strings them together to form a new curated stream of content - that is what Overlap does. Podcasts are an exponentially growing source of unique information. Make use of it! Check out Overlap 2.0 on the App Store today.

Brian Armstrong, born in San Jose, California, is the co-founder and CEO of Coinbase, the largest U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange, which he launched in 2012 with Fred Ehrsam. A Y Combinator alumnus, Armstrong grew up in a middle-class family and earned a B.A. in Economics and Computer Science from Rice University in 2005, followed by an M.S. in Computer Science in 2006. Before founding Coinbase, he worked as a software engineer at Airbnb developing anti-fraud tools and founded UniversityTutor.com, an online tutoring marketplace. Under his leadership, Coinbase went public via direct listing in 2021, reaching a $100 billion valuation. As of 2025, it serves over 110 million users with a market cap around $60 billion. A Forbes-listed billionaire with a net worth of approximately $10 billion, Armstrong is a vocal advocate for clear crypto regulation. He founded the Stand With Crypto PAC in 2023 to support pro-crypto politicians, promotes decentralized identity solutions, and has pledged 99% of his wealth to charity through the Giving Pledge. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: https://betterhelp.com/srs This episode is sponsored. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/srs and get on your way to being your best self. https://bunkr.life – USE CODE SRS Go to https://bunkr.life/SRS and use code “SRS” to get your 25% off your family plan https://shawnlikesgold.com https://helixsleep.com/srs https://rocketmoney.com/srs https://ROKA.com – USE CODE SRS https://ziprecruiter.com/srs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

(0:00) The besties introduce the day with Jacob Helberg (9:08) Michael Kratsios, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (18:24) Chris Power, Hadrian (35:15) Jake Loosararian, Gecko Robotics (44:37) Shyam Sankar, Palantir (1:00:33) Paul Buchheit, Y Combinator (1:13:35) Kelly Loeffler, Administrator of the Small Business Administration Thanks to our partners for making this happen: NYSE : https://www.nyse.com Visa: https://usa.visa.com Follow the besties: https://x.com/chamath https://x.com/Jason https://x.com/DavidSacks https://x.com/friedberg Follow on X: https://x.com/theallinpod Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theallinpod Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theallinpod Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/allinpod Intro Music Credit: https://rb.gy/tppkzl https://x.com/yung_spielburg Intro Video Credit: https://x.com/TheZachEffect

Clayton Farms: https://claytonfarms.com/Clayton Mooney on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claytonmooney/ FoA 53: Millennials Solving World Problems Through Agricultural Technology with MiKayla Sullivan of KinosolClayton Mooney is the co-founder and chief farmer at Clayton Farms based in Ames, Iowa. They build direct-to-consumer indoor farms and claim to serve the world's freshest salads. They were also part of Y Combinator in the winter of 2019. Clayton is fearlessly building his vision for a farm that grows local, healthy, accessible food and provides a real connection with customers in the community through a quick service restaurant. That's right, it's a restaurant with a drive through that grows hydroponic produce inside of it. Clayton will provide a lot more details in this episode, and I think it will be abundantly clear why his story is so interesting, relevant and inspiring for anyone thinking about the future of agriculture. But just for some brief background, Clayton grew up on a farm in Iowa and played professional poker before returning to his home state and starting Kinosol. In fact, his now wife Mikayla was one of his co-founders at Kinosol was on this show WAY back on episode 53 in May of 2017. I'll drop you into the conversation here where Clayton is giving more of his background and describing the early days of what was first called Nebulum, but was eventually re-branded into Clayton Farms.

Nicholas Tommarello is the Founder and CEO of Wefunder, a pioneering crowdfunding platform that allows individuals to invest in startups. He co-founded Wefunder in 2012, leveraging provisions from the 2012 JOBS Act to enable unaccredited investors to purchase equity in early-stage companies, thereby democratizing access to investment opportunities that were traditionally available only to wealthy individuals. Tommarello holds an MBA in Entrepreneurship from Babson College and participated in the prestigious startup accelerator Y Combinator in 2013.

Y Combinator is the tech incubator that has launched many of today's largest companies–Airbnb, DropBox, Door Dash, Open AI and many, many others. Jonathan Levy, Managing Director and former GC of YC had a role in many of them. On this episode of The Legal Department, Jonathan shares how legal can support start-up companies and help shape the future. He talks about adopting a CEO's mindset, keeping your opinions (and attitude) in check and not letter fears of what might go wrong prevent you from seeing what might go right. YC is also seeding several legal tech companies–Jonathan shares his thoughts about some of these and why they might disrupt the current market leaders. Join us for another episode on how lawyers support innovation.

From the streets of Philly to the boardrooms of Silicon Valley, Gabe DeRita brings a refreshing honesty and a fierce commitment to empowering others. In this conversation on The Coaching Podcast, we explore how to align thoughts, feelings, and actions to lead with integrity and character. We dive into the art of authentic relating, embracing nuance, and navigating difficult conversations – all while staying deeply human. About Gabe DeRita, Goal Whisperer Gabriel DeRita is a leadership coach and communication skills trainer who helps people find purpose in work and build stronger relationships with themselves and others. With a background spanning tech sales, hospitality, and consulting, Gabe brings a sharp business lens to the human side of leadership. Since founding his coaching practice in 2019, he's worked with a wide range of leaders—from Y Combinator startup founders to Fortune 500 management teams at companies like AirBnb, LinkedIn, Gap & Goldman Sachs —helping them lead with clarity, trust, and authenticity. In addition to his private practice, Gabe is a trusted partner to leading coaching and consulting firms like GLG, Skillsoft, Lapin International, and Medley, delivering leadership development programs for global clients across many industries. His approach blends real-world business experience with powerful, practical tools for personal growth – making the abstract feel actionable, and the human side of work a whole lot more effective. Outside the office, Gabe can be found exploring remote areas on a bicycle, foraging for wild mushrooms, or trying to outwit the unpredictable Colorado weather in his backyard garden. Connect with Gabe: Website: https://www.effectiveconnection.com/ Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielderita/ Instagram: @funngabe

In this episode of the Investing in Integrity podcast, Ross Overline, CEO and co-founder of Scholars of Finance, sits down with Brett Hagler. Brett is a social entrepreneur, CEO, and co-founder of New Story, a pioneering organization tackling global homelessness through capitalism.You will learn how Brett is transforming traditional philanthropy into sustainable, market-based solutions that serve vulnerable populations while delivering financial returns. They explore why capitalism, when guided by ethics and integrity, can outperform charity in addressing systemic issues. Brett unpacks how New Story Capital structures low-risk real estate investments in developing markets, combining profit with purpose. You'll also hear insights on values-based leadership, building scalable impact, and designing financial models where “more profit equals more impact.” Tune in for a bold reimagining of ethical finance, social entrepreneurship, and the future of charitable investment.Meet Brett Hagler:Brett Hagler is the CEO and co-founder of New Story, a nonprofit revolutionizing the fight against global homelessness. Founded in 2014 alongside Alexandria Lafci, Matthew Marshall, and Mike Arrieta, New Story brings innovation, transparency, and startup principles to the housing sector. After graduating from Y Combinator in 2015, Brett helped pioneer a new model for housing nonprofits. Under his leadership, New Story has raised over $80 million and provided homes for more than 20,000 people across Latin America.

Patrick McKenzie (patio11) is joined by Cate Hall, CEO of Astera Institute and author of a forthcoming book on agency, to explore how individuals can systematically develop higher agency in their lives. They discuss the selection effects that draw agentic people to fields like poker and startups, the importance of being comfortable with ignorance and feedback, and practical strategies like asking "Is there a better way to do this?" ten times daily. Cate shares insights from her journey from Supreme Court lawyer to world champion poker player, including how peer groups, emergencies, and what addicts call "the gift of desperation" can trigger step-changes in personal agency.–Full transcript available here: https://www.complexsystemspodcast.com/stacking-the-odds-cate-hall/–[Patrick notes: Complex Systems now produces occasional video episodes like this one.You can access them directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@patio11podcast. My kids inform me that I'm supposed to tell you to like and subscribe.]–Links:Cate Hall's Writing: https://usefulfictions.substack.com/Pre-order Cate's book on agency: https://mailchi.mp/44578760e686/book-preorder-signupAstera: https://astera.org/ –Timestamps:(00:00) Intro (00:28) Exploring the concept of agency(00:56) Selection effects in different fields(01:31) The tech industry evolution(02:54) Y Combinator's changing demographics(04:23) Parallels between poker and startups(15:48) The role of networking and relationships(19:12) Embracing feedback and continuous improvement(23:49) Exploring growth mindset(24:35) AI and personal improvement(27:04) Learning with AI: strategies and cautions(27:53) The value of human interaction(30:19) Professional gamblers and their unique insights(35:05) Understanding agency and its development(38:45) Triggers for increased agency(45:23) Wrap

Maor Shlomo is the founder of Base44, an AI-powered app builder that he bootstrapped to an over $80 million acquisition by Wix in just six months. As a solo founder (with severe ADHD), he hit $1 million ARR just three weeks after launch and grew the product to more than 400,000 users, all while navigating two wars in Israel and never raising a dollar of outside funding.What you'll learn:1. The growth playbook that took Base44 from three friends to 400,000 users without spending any money on marketing2. How he hasn't written a single line of front-end code in three months—and how to structure your code repository to make it easier for AI to write your code3. His AI productivity stack that allowed him to compete against heavily funded competitors4. Why being a solo founder in AI might be the ultimate advantage (and the wedding story that almost killed the business)5. The story of signing the $80M acquisition deal while war broke out with Iran6. How to identify when to sell vs. stay independent (and why Maor chose acquisition despite being highly profitable)7. The counterintuitive product decision that tripled activation by removing a “helpful” feature8. How building in public on LinkedIn drove more growth than any paid channel—Brought to you by:Sauce—Turn customer pain into product revenue: https://sauce.app/lennyDscout—The UX platform to capture insights at every stage: from ideation to production: https://www.dscout.com/Contentsquare—Create better digital experiences: https://contentsquare.com/lenny/—Transcript: ⁠https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-base44-bootstrapped-startup-success-story-maor-shlomo⁠—My biggest takeaways (for paid newsletter subscribers): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/i/167384119/my-biggest-takeaways-from-this-conversation—Where to find Maor Shlomo:• X: https://x.com/ms_base44• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maor-shlomo-1088b4144/—Where to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/—In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Introduction to Maor and Base44(08:16) The origin story: how Base44 came to be(14:55) Bootstrapping and solo founding: challenges and insights(22:52) Productivity hacks and tech stack for solo founders(27:23) How to get started using Base44(28:47) Thoughts on raising money(34:05) Distribution in the age of AI(36:09) Ambition and goals(40:05) Growth strategies: from first users to thousands(51:32) Building in public(57:42) The solo founder journey(01:00:23) Community support(01:03:23) Hackathons and partnerships(01:06:42) The importance of velocity in product development(01:08:20) Technical stack and infrastructure insights(01:15:24) Activation lessons(01:18:19) The acquisition journey with Wix(01:25:14) Final thoughts and advice for founders—Referenced:• Base44: https://base44.com/• Retool: https://retool.com/• Tzofim: https://www.israelscouts.org/• Y Combinator: https://www.ycombinator.com/• RescueTime: https://www.rescuetime.com/• Cursor: https://www.cursor.com/• Wix: https://www.wix.com/• The rise of Cursor: The $300M ARR AI tool that engineers can't stop using | Michael Truell (co-founder and CEO): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-rise-of-cursor-michael-truell• Building Lovable: $10M ARR in 60 days with 15 people | Anton Osika (CEO and co-founder): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/building-lovable-anton-osika• Inside Bolt: From near-death to ~$40m ARR in 5 months—one of the fastest-growing products in history | Eric Simons (founder and CEO of StackBlitz): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/inside-bolt-eric-simons• Behind the product: Replit | Amjad Masad (co-founder and CEO): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/behind-the-product-replit-amjad-masad• Everyone's an engineer now: Inside v0's mission to create a hundred million builders | Guillermo Rauch (founder and CEO of Vercel, creators of v0 and Next.js): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/everyones-an-engineer-now-guillermo-rauch• Snowflake: https://www.snowflake.com• Yoav Orlev on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yoav-orlev-4a044b72• WhatsApp: https://www.whatsapp.com/• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/• Google: https://about.google/• MongoDB: https://www.mongodb.com/• Deloitte: https://www.deloitte.com/• Render: Render.com• Claude 4: https://www.anthropic.com/news/claude-4• Gemini: https://gemini.google.com/app• Cloudflare: https://www.cloudflare.com/—Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed. To hear more, visit www.lennysnewsletter.com