Explore every episode of the podcast Startup Success: A Podcast for Founders & Investors

In this episode of Startup Success, we sit down with Surojit Chatterjee, the CEO and founder of Ema, a generative AI platform poised to transform the future of work. With a career spanning high-level roles at Google and Coinbase, Surojit shares his journey from building billion-dollar businesses to creating Ema’s Universal AI Employee, designed to automate tedious tasks and empower employees to focus on high-value work.

Surojit explains the concept of AI employees and illustrates Ema’s ability to learn, adapt, and evolve to tackle complex, repetitive tasks across enterprises.

We discuss:

• The critical safeguards and trust-building features that make Ema a standout in generative AI
• The barriers to enterprise AI adoption and how Ema overcame those hurdles
• How technology like Ema could make it easier for founders to start companies in the future

Tune in to discover the next frontier of automation that’s fueling a more agile and efficient workplace! 


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In this episode of Startup Success, we dive into the incredible entrepreneurial journey of Russ d’Sa, Co-Founder and CEO of LiveKit, a startup that evolved from a pandemic side project into an open-source development stack that powers real-time AI. The wildly varied use cases for LiveKit’s technology range from voice conversations with ChatGPT to saving lives on 911 emergency calls.

It's a fascinating listen that spotlights the broad range of services we use every day that are now powered by AI!

Russ shares:

• How he and his co-founder navigated unexpected twists, including scaling their open source project that went viral on GitHub and pivoting to a business model they were genuinely passionate about
• Why taking the to time learn what customers really want was essential to LiveKit’s success and the lessons there for other founders
• The lightbulb moment when he realized his team was building “core infrastructure for the future of where computing is going”

A must-listen for aspiring and seasoned founders, Russ shares key lessons he learned along his winding path to startup success. Tune in to learn how LiveKit is revolutionizing real-time communication and empowering developers worldwide.

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In this episode of Startup Success, host Kate Adams sits down with Vlad Voroninski, CEO and co-founder of Helm.ai, an AI software startup that is developing the world's safest and most advanced autonomous driving systems at scale. 

Vlad gives us a fascinating look into Helm.ai's innovative approach to addressing previously unsolved problems in the self-driving car space, detailing how his company leverages unsupervised learning and generative AI to create scalable, robust solutions for real-time autonomous vehicle operations. 

We explore:

• Helm.ai’s bold approach to fundraising that paid off big
• How Vlad's academic background in applied mathematics helped him create technology that is transforming the automotive industry
• How he knew it was the right time to finally launch his own company
• The technology that got them a foot in the door at major automakers and a sneak peek at Helm.ai’s partnership with Honda 

Join us for a deep dive into the challenges and breakthroughs in the autonomous driving field and discover what sets Helm.ai apart from its competitors in this fast-moving space. 


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What if the powerful nutritional compounds in breast milk could be harnessed to improve the health of people of all ages? Today, we’re sitting down with Laura Katz, CEO and founder of Helaina, a groundbreaking biotech startup that’s pushing the boundaries of what food can do for health. Helaina’s technology platform replicates functional proteins found in the human body, making them available as new nutrients that enhance immunity, gut health, and cognitive function.

Laura shares her fascinating journey from a food scientist, who initially didn't even know what a venture capitalist was, to pioneering a new era of nutrition and raising $83 million in funding.

Our conversation touches on:

• Lessons Laura learned from her hard-fought fundraising successes
• The hardest part of being a founder and why it surprised her
• Laura’s methodology for turning her vision into a reality
• The challenges of being a solo founder and starting a company in the biotech space
• The tremendous value of having a mentor and a supportive network

Get ready to be inspired by Laura's incredible story of innovation and persistence as she brings the future of health to life—one protein at a time.

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What if your inspiration for starting a company came from solving a problem you experienced first-hand as an engineer at a tech giant like Uber?  In this episode, we welcome Anish Dhar, Co-Founder and CEO of Cortex, to share his incredible journey from an engineer at Uber to founding Cortex, the internal developer portal that addresses a massive gap in engineering processes and recently raised a $60M Series C round.

Anish reflects on how he and his co-founders identified a critical pain point that they knew countless engineers experienced but no one had tried to solve yet. Being “close to the pain” motivated them and was a huge factor in their startup’s fundraising success.

Our expansive discussion touches on:

• What VCs are looking for at Seed, Series A and beyond
• Anish’s experience applying (and getting rejected the first time) at Y Combinator and how persistence paid off
• Why being close to the pain point your product is trying to solve gives founders an advantage
• The engineering challenges that inspired Cortex

In Anish’s words, starting a company is “truly one of the most gratifying and impactful experiences that you can have. It's painful, but it's worth it!”

Don’t miss Anish's story of innovation, resilience, and building a product that’s transforming the way engineers manage complex systems.

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For startups, even software startups, figuring out what is worth patenting is one of the most important moves a founder needs to make.

That’s where our guest today comes in. Jeff Schox, Founding Partner and Patent Attorney at Schox Patent Group, is a patent expert who’s helped hundreds of very successful startups navigate this rocky terrain.

Jeff joins us to give startup founders a basic primer on everything they need to know about patents – an often misunderstood and overlooked area. Right off the bat, Jeff dispels the three biggest myths about startup patents (1. Software isn't patentable / 2. If we can't enforce the patent, it doesn't have value / 3. The biggest costs of a patent portfolio are the legal fees). And he explains how startups can take a strategic approach to patent filing that safeguards future innovation and fuels future growth.

We also discuss:

• All the key components around patents a founder must know
• The value of filing a provisional patent, especially for startups
• Why determining the valuation of patents is so tricky
• How a good patent attorney’s key role is strategic partner
• The strict deadline after which you can never pursue a patent

This episode is truly a must-listen as it gives founders valuable knowledge on patents and patent strategies for ensuring long-term success.

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We explore some weighty questions on this episode of Startup Success, including:

• What would the world look like if half the venture capital dollars were in women-led funds? 
• Is VC funding the golden ticket or just another hurdle for startups? 
• How do we overcome the biggest limiting factor to success – ourselves?
• Why is the bulk of venture capital still not in the hands of women?

Sutian Dong, Partner at Multitudes and a pivotal figure in venture capital, joins us to tackle these topics and to share profound insights on the dynamics that guide VC’s decision making process, how that impacts startups, and why she started her own fund.

Known for her work supporting female founders and investors, Sutian is the founder of Global Women in VC, the world’s largest global community for women in venture capital. Her firm, Multitudes, is built on the thesis that the next generation of innovation will be different than the last, and they invest in and incubate projects that explore the edge of human consciousness.

Join us for this enlightening discussion on the future of investing, the value of diverse perspectives, and the strategic decisions every founder should consider.


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To celebrate the 100th episode of Startup Success, we have two exceptional guests: Peter Reinhardt, CEO and co-founder of Charm Industrial (and the former co-founder/CEO of Segment), and Jeff Burkland, CEO and founder of Burkland.

Peter and Jeff take us behind the scenes of Segment, the hugely successful startup that was acquired by Twilio for $3.2 billion in 2020. They recount their time working together at Segment, where Jeff came on board early as the fractional CFO.

Jeff and Peter candidly discuss:

• How Peter overcame the early stage challenges that almost ended Segment
• The struggle to find product-market fit
• Jeff’s take on what makes a great fundraising pitch (and why Peter is a natural)
• The pricing model that was a game-changer for Segment

Finally, Peter touches on his latest venture Charm Industrial, a carbon removal technology startup that raised  $100 million last year and has a long list of renowned US companies as customers. 

Tune in for practical advice, insightful stories, and real-world lessons learned from their startup experiences. Whether you're in the early stages of your startup or looking to scale, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways!


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In the rapidly evolving world of AI, standing out requires more than just innovation; it demands leadership and a clear vision. Enter Lin Qiao, the driving force behind Fireworks AI, who is redefining the limitations of speed, value and scale in generative AI.

With a $52M Series B secured earlier this summer, Fireworks AI has quickly become a major player after launching their public platform just one year ago. Lin, their CEO and Co-Founder, joins us to share the invaluable lessons she’s learned along her journey from leading Meta’s AI platform development team to founding an industry-disrupting startup.

We explore:

• Fireworks AI’s customer obsessed culture and deep belief that “if our customers are successful, we will be successful”  
• How their product iterations flowed organically from their customers’ evolving needs
• Why moving fast and prioritizing for speed is key to their success
• Where AI is headed as it becomes more sophisticated and the industry matures

Lin offers advice for founders on everything from how to avoid the “paralysis of analysis” in decision-making to strategies for driving down the cost of AI. Don't miss this insightful conversation with one of the leading voices in AI innovation.

For more information about Fireworks AI, visit fireworks.ai.

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Amid high interest rates and election uncertainty, navigating the startup landscape has never been more challenging. Fortunately, our special guest, Steve Lord, is here to offer a broader perspective that may help ease your mind.

As a member of Burkland’s Leadership Team, Steve serves as Managing Director of Service Delivery and Chief Knowledge Officer. Steve has been in the trenches for a while and his knowledge of the startup and venture capital ecosystem runs deep.

He joins us today to discuss the current state of the startup and venture capital ecosystems and what to expect as we progress through 2024.

Steve expands on:

• The macro factors that are making the startup landscape and fundraising more difficult right now
• The pros and cons of using Venture Debt to extend your cash runway
• Why a rigorous due diligence process that addresses all the “Gotchas” is a good thing for your startup
• Finding investors who are allies and who can make your company better
• The value of delegating to subject matter experts so you can stay focused on your product
• The cyclical nature of VC funding and the strategic responses startups can take 

Tune in for practical tips on how to survive and even thrive in today’s startup environment. 

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In this episode of Startup Success, we welcome Jaclyn Chen, Co-Founder and CEO at Benepass, a platform that solves real-world pain points for both employees and employers in the benefits space.

Jacyln dives into her experience working with Y Combinator early on and how she approached fundraising during very different economic climates. And she shares some truly great advice for fellow startup founders!

Highlights from our discussion include: 

• Strategies that increase your odds of securing funding
• The parallels between enterprise sales and raising venture capital
• The evolution of the founder role from selling the vision to building a team and scaling the company
• Ideas on how founders can make the due diligence process more seamless for VCs

This episode is packed with valuable insights for early-stage startup founders looking for a competitive edge. 

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Dr. Misti Ushio, Managing Partner at Digitalis Ventures, joins us in the studio today. Misti’s entrepreneurial journey took flight with the formation of TARA Biosystems, a groundbreaking startup that developed “heart-on-a-chip” technology. 

From raising $20 million in venture financing to navigating the complexities of scaling a biotech startup, Misti shares the highs and lows of her journey and discusses how her talent for commercializing cutting-edge research is a perfect fit for her most recent role as a VC.

Misti offers valuable advice for startup founders on a variety of topics, including:

• How to put together a board of directors that will best serve your startup now and in the future
• The often-overlooked impact of branding and business development on a startup's success
• Methods for reining in the conflicting demands of running a fast-growing startup

Tune in for a conversation filled with wisdom, insights, and inspiration!

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Our guest today is Stasia Obremskey, Co-Founder and Managing Director at RH Capital, an impact-first venture capital fund that invests in the future of women's health.

Stasia provides an in-depth look at the types of innovations RH Capital is passionate about and shares examples of how their portfolio companies are dramatically improving health outcomes, affordability and health equity. Listeners will learn about the potential for outsized returns in this is a large, underserved, rapidly growing market.

We also discuss:

• The critical importance of managing every penny of your available cash, especially in this market
• Stasia’s advice for founders on securing funding
• The pivotal role of a CFO at a startup

Join us for this fascinating conversation and discover how RH Capital is a driving a paradigm shift in women’s healthcare.

Visit RH Capital at rhcapital.vc to learn more about their mission and investment criteria. Startups pioneering change in women’s health are encouraged to submit a pitch via the Pitch Us form on their website. 

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We’re thrilled to have Tanya Beja, General Partner at AlleyCorp, in studio for the latest episode of Startup Success. Join us for a fascinating conversation about their unique approach to investing and incubating that will strike a chord with startup founders looking to make a positive impact on society.

Tanya introduces us to AlleyCorp Impact, a fund dedicated to backing founders who are intentionally building for middle or low income Americans - the 80% of families who power our economy. Impact specifically looks for compelling ideas that use tech to solve big social challenges, accelerate upward mobility, and generate strong returns.

We also discuss:

• How AlleyCorp combines incubation and early-stage investment to build category-defining companies
• Real-world examples of how their portfolio companies are impacting a wide range of human needs, such as health equity and economic security
• Their new philanthropically funded ENG(INE) program that pairs nonprofits with a team of engineers to build tech that advances social & economic opportunity
• Tanya’s advice for founders on the importance of having a North Star, hiring amazing people, and how to pick the right investors

Don't miss this episode packed with insights and inspiration for anyone interested in the world of venture capital and impact-driven investing.

For more information on AlleyCorp and to stay updated with their latest ventures, visit allycorp.com and follow them on LinkedIn. Nonprofits interested in applying for ENG(INE) can learn more at nonprofitengine.org/

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In this episode of Startup Success, we sit down with Josh Gilbert, CFO of the VC firm Freestyle, who unravels the intricacies of venture capital investing. Josh offers an insider's perspective on the role of VC firms in the startup ecosystem and sheds light on the inner workings of how they operate.

His insights on the current state of the startup/VC landscape, along with why the renewed focused on due diligence is a good thing for startup founders (despite the potential headaches), make this a not-to-be-missed episode!

Highlights:

• Why due diligence is more stringent now and how founders should approach it
• His advice on what founders need to be transparent about, including past failures
• Josh details the rigorous process VCs go through in evaluating startups
• How to build strong relationships with your investors and why it’s important

Josh's dedication to supporting founders shines through, making this episode a must-listen for anyone navigating the world of startups and venture capital. Tune in to learn more about Freestyle and the secrets to startup success.

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Join us in this enlightening episode as we sit down with Bill Snyder, the CEO and Founder of Vivante Health. Propelled by a recent $31M Series B round, his company is on a mission to revolutionize digital health, starting with chronic GI conditions. 

Bill shares the founding story of Vivante Health and how their innovative platform transforms the way patients suffering from digestive health issues receive care. He also gives us a peek into the challenges of entrepreneurship, including the highs and lows of fundraising and the importance of building a strong company culture. 

We discuss: 

• The 3 things Vivante Health is doing right that sparked investors’ interest 
• The power of transparency, accountability, and collaboration in building a mission-driven organization
• How his startup is using pattern recognition to improve patient outcomes
• Bill’s hard-won advice for dealing with obstacles that arise along the startup journey

Tune in for valuable insights from an inspiring founder who built a successful startup from the ground up.

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Today we dive  into the world of legal strategy for startups with Charu Satia, startup attorney and Partner at Silicon Legal Strategy. With more than a decade of experience under her belt, Charu provides invaluable insights into the array of key legal issues startup founders need to be aware of from inception to exit.

Charu explains why it makes sense to bet on your startup's success by investing in a solid legal foundation early on. From entity formation to IP protection, equity structuring to commercial agreements, Charu highlights the critical areas where legal counsel plays a pivotal role in minimizing risks and maximizing opportunities for startups.

We discuss:

• The importance of working with legal counsel from an early stage to avoid costly cleanup and delays during fundraising or M&A due diligence
• Common pitfalls of opting for shortcuts like free online legal templates (hint: it may cost you more in the long run!)
• Actionable advice for startup founders around building a network of supportive partners 

Tune in to gain valuable insights from Charu Satia and learn how to lay the groundwork for your startup's success with strategic legal counsel.

Silicon Legal Strategy specializes in corporate transactional work, serving as trusted advisors throughout the entire lifecycle of startups. To learn more about their laser focus on helping entrepreneurs succeed, visit: www.siliconlegal.com.

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Our guest today, Aagya Mathur, has an inspiring story to tell. She transformed her personal health challenges into a startup that empowers people to improve their overall quality of life.

In this episode, Aagya, Co-Founder & CEO at Aavia, shares how she brought her idea to fruition with help from MIT and then recently was accepted into the Mayo Clinic and ASU MedTech Accelerator. After an incredible Q1, her startup plans to leverage the lessons they learned around pivoting, listening to customers, and the power of organic marketing to reach even great levels of success.

Our conversation covers:

• The importance of user-centric design and staying agile enough to adapt quickly
• Aavia’s innovative and hugely successful approach to growth marketing through organic, education-driven content on social
• Why perseverance and grit are key to navigating the ups & downs of the founder’s journey
• Her lightbulb moment of realizing that data-driven, science-backed insights could shine a light on an under-researched, under-funded area of health and potentially help half the world’s population

Tune in to hear how Aavia is revolutionizing health and empowering people with ovaries to take control of their well-being, one cycle at a time.

To learn more about Aavia and download the app, visit their website at aavia.io or find them on the App Store. Connect with Aavia on social media for educational content and updates on Instagram and TikTok (@aavia.io).

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The tech ecosystem in Los Angeles may not grab headlines like Silicon Valley, but over the past decade, it has gained some serious momentum and a several major VC players have emerged. Our guest today is Jennifer Richard, Principal at Bonfire Ventures – one LA’s top B2B venture firms.

Jennifer discusses what she’s excited about in the tech sector right now, why she’s optimistic about 2024, and Bonfire Ventures’ investment approach, which prioritizes building long term relationships with founders. ​​

Our conversation also covers:  

• Advice for founders, including how to make a positive first impression on investors 
• Increased deal flow, more competitive rounds, and other positive trends Jennifer is currently seeing in the market
• What Jennifer and her firm look for in startups
• Jennifer’s extraordinary experience as a Kauffman Fellow
• The latest on LA’s tech scene

Tune in for the latest on the evolving startup ecosystem and real-world advice for founders in the midst of their startup journey.

For more information about Bonfire Ventures and to connect with Jennifer, visit their website or reach out on LinkedIn and Twitter.

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Even though the success rates for startups today are sobering, there is reason to be optimistic. As our guest today, Venture Capitalist John Frankel sees it: "Cycles happen. We've gone through a downturn and I think we're now at an inflection point. We’re already starting to see some companies raise money at high valuations."

John founded ff Venture Capital in 2008 and has since funded over 150 seed and early-stage companies that in turn have created thousands of jobs and impacted the lives of millions. 

He joins us to share his motivation for founding a VC firm, his investment philosophy, and his perspective on today’s startup landscape.

Our conversation delves into:

• John's advice for founders
• What his firm looks for in early stage startups
• The significance of resilience and adaptability for early-stage founders
• His current fascination with applied AI, including drones, robotics, and financial services tech

This episode provides valuable insights and practical advice for early-stage founders navigating the challenging yet promising startup world.

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In today's episode, we have two VCs in the studio, Dr. Tara Bishop and Eileen Tanghal, co-founders of Black Opal Ventures, who discuss their strategic focus of supporting startups that are driving innovation at the intersection of technology and healthcare.

We explore the genesis of Black Opal Ventures and how the duo, who met as freshman 30 years ago at MIT, took a leap of faith, ultimately raising $63 million for their fund.

Discussion highlights:

• How their unique backgrounds converged in a shared vision for funding impactful innovation in healthcare
• Their passion for building a future where automation/AI drives down costs, making healthcare more accessible
• Why we are now on the cusp of a massive wave of evolution in the healthcare industry
• Black Opal Ventures’ portfolio, ranging from next-gen wearables to novel solutions for diagnosing lung cancer
• Where Founders in this space should be focused and their thoughts on how to achieve success

The episode gives listeners a captivating glimpse into the journey of two visionary leaders shaping the future of healthcare.

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No matter what industry you’re in, your audience is savvier than ever about digital branding and marketing. The tactics that worked 5 years ago no longer apply. And this makes growing your business and driving sales more challenging than ever.

That's why today, we're excited to sit down with a true digital marketing and branding expert to delve into strategies that will help your startup break through the noise.

Our guest, Juntae DeLane, is a sought-after strategist, thought leader, and the Founder + Chief Strategist at Digital Delane, a full-service digital marketing agency. He also founded the Digital Branding Institute and has spoken around the world on the practice of digital branding.

Juntae walks us step-by-step through what it takes to build a successful brand and convert customers in today’s ever-shifting market.

We discuss:

• The new rules of SEO and how to align content with Google's latest algorithm
• Why credibility & trustworthiness are key to your content creation strategy
• How a CRM system can multiple the efforts of small teams
• Why personal branding is especially important for founders
• His assertion that today all brands are built on social

Juntae wraps up with insights he learned along his founder’s journey … "Being a successful founder really starts from within. It takes something on the inside that keeps you going. You have to ask yourself if you have that grit."

Don’t miss this incredible episode packed with the best digital branding and marketing advice out there!

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Today, we have a remarkable guest in our studio, Suzanne Fletcher, the founder and general partner of Zelda Ventures. Suzanne’s career as an investor spans 20 years including a stint at StartX, Stanford’s startup accelerator & founder community, where she helped over 900 founders raise early-stage capital.

In 2023, she launched Zelda Ventures and raised $33M for her new fund in spite of “apocalyptic” fundraising conditions— an incredible accomplishment!

Suzanne dives into her VC journey and shares Zelda’s focus on backing serial entrepreneurs, a unique strategy that leverages her well-established founder network and deep industry knowledge.

We discuss:

• Her framework for selecting startups to fund
• What she looks for in a founding team
• Why a "no” from an investor may actually mean "not yet”
• Her advice for early-stage founders
• Lessons she’s learned from founders on tenacity, team dynamics and transparency

Join us in this enlightening conversation with Suzanne Fletcher as we explore her investment philosophy and valuable advice for entrepreneurs.

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Startup wind downs are not something founders usually think about until there is no other option. But for founders who find themselves in that position, juggling all the elements of a wind down (aka going out of business) can be tricky both logistically and psychologically. However, if you approach it the right way, there can be positive legal and financial implications.

In his role of VP at Sherwood Partners, Andrew Kitirattragarn, helps founders navigate the best possible route through the wind down journey. He was inspired to do this work after going through a difficult wind down himself at the CPG startup he co-founded, Dang Foods. Andrew has learned that if the wind down is done well, a founding team can gain a sense of closure (and not failure) at the end of the process.

Andrew emphasizes that doing even just a small amount of advance planning when your startup is not in immediate financial distress, can alleviate the risk of having to act hastily or haphazardly if the worst happens.

He shares valuable insights on:

• Why planning for a wind down at 12 months left of cash runway is key
• The empowering and positive aspects to the process that can leave in you a stronger financial position
• How preparing for the worst case scenario can reduce your concerns
• Support & resources to help you come out the other side ready for the next big thing!

This is a much-needed conversation that we hope gets the ball rolling for important talks with your team!
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Startup founders are some of the most committed, hardworking, innovative people in the world. But even in the best of times, they exist in a pressure cooker. And the relentless stress can sometimes lead to burnout.

Nevertheless, mental health has historically been a taboo topic in the venture capital and startup community. So when we heard about the work Flourish Ventures is doing to support startup founders, we were intrigued and wanted to dedicate an episode to their work.

Today, we are thrilled to sit down with Lisa Mikkelsen, Head of Global Human Capital at Flourish Ventures, who shares her firm’s mission to create a systemic change in the global fintech sector and their unique holistic approach to working with startups. Lisa details the work Flourish is doing to redefine the culture of venture capital to focus more on empowering founders and prioritizing their well-being and mental health.

Our far-reaching discussion covers:
– Why it’s important for VCs to offer more than just financial support to founders
– How to get past the perceived power imbalance between founder and investor
– Why the skill of empathy is key to startup success
– The warning signs of founder burnout (from a VC's perspective)
– The benefits of cultivating a strong founder/VC relationship
– What founders should look out for when vetting investors

Don't miss this frank conversation about the complexities of founder mental health and the role venture capital firms can play in supporting them.

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Happy New Year! Now, onto the million dollar question: “What to expect in 2024?” For Founders, topics like will the fundraising market improvel, the impact of an election year, and the macroeconomic landscape are front and center.

Today’s guests are Steven Lord, the Managing Director of Service Delivery & Chief Learning Officer and Ardy Esmaeili, the Managing Director of Tax Practice, tackle all those burning questions.

Steve and Ardy join us to share their unique perspective and key predictions for the new year. They break down what really happened in 2023 from a data perspective and then share their outlook for the macroeconomic landscape and fundraising market in 2024. Plus Ardy gives a simple overview of tax considerations for founders to keep in mind in 2024 like R&D tax credits and sales tax.

The episode wraps up on a positive note, urging Founders to prepare for an upswing in venture activity. This short but important episode is a must-listen for any founder who wants to be prepared for 2024.

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If you're looking for an uplifting conversation on the intersection of SaaS and AI, look no further.

Jim Gochee’s passion for B2B SaaS is real and inspiring! Jim is the CEO of Blameless, a SRE platform that empowers engineering and DevOps teams to improve reliability through better incident management, retrospectives and analytics.

Jim joins us to talk about how recent innovations in AI are having a big impact on B2B SaaS and where he sees the industry headed. He highlights the shift towards high quality consumer-like user experiences in enterprise software and the changing dynamics of the buyer's journey in the SaaS space. Jim also delves into how to build a strong B2B SaaS brand and how founders can win B2B sales in this challenging market.

We also discuss:
– How AI can really shine as a communications tool
– Jim’s experience taking over as an “outsider CEO” from a founding startup team
– Leadership decisions he had to make in the 2023 climate and the advice he has for other founders facing similar challenges

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Today’s guest, Griffin O'Brien, CEO of Estate Media, shares his journey from a traditional media background to founding a unique startup and video-first platform for real estate. We explore how Griff and his co-founders are changing the real estate industry with a tech forward media company that leverages the latest in digital. Additionally, Griff provides insights into the challenges of fundraising and the importance of data-driven decision-making.

Hear more about:

• How professional first creators are transforming traditional marketing
• The “uphill battle” of fundraising for a digital media startup in a tough environment
• How adapting to market changes can modernize an entire industry

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Accounting as a superhero? It may sound far-fetched, but after this conversation, you’ll completely understand!

Today’s guest is Sasha Orloff, Co-Founder & CEO of Puzzle. He shares his experiences in the startup ecosystem, highlighting his passion for solving problems and enabling people to do their best work. He discusses his journey into entrepreneurship, and his impressive work with startups around credit scores and financial inclusion.

We also deep dive into all things Puzzle, an autonomous accounting software designed to provide real-time financial insights. Sasha explains how the platform is built to facilitate data-driven decisions, which are critical for capital and resource allocation in any company.

We also discuss:

• How major shifts in the market can lead to startup success
• What Founders need to know about accounting and financial decision making
• A good framework for making decisions as a startup founder

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A critical component to the fundraising process is the pitch deck. Effective pitching is crucial for startup founders who often need to convey their ideas and products to investors, partners, and stakeholders.

Today’s guest is Neil Thompson, Founder of Teach the Geek, who gives incredible suggestions on how to improve the pitch deck and presentation style of the traditional technical founder. Neil emphasizes the need to highlight the benefits of their products rather than diving into technical features. He also provides practical tips, such as striking a balance between visuals and text, adapting to different audiences, and crafting a compelling narrative.

The conversation also dives into:

• Focusing on Benefits over Features & how challenging this can be for the technical gurus
• Overcoming blind spots of defensiveness
• Utilizing empathy to adapt the pitch for different audiences
• The importance of networking and the power of finding comradery in Founder groups

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Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn!

Leadership Coaches seem to be a dime a dozen in this workforce landscape. There are plenty of “coaches” out there who market themselves as experts but do not have the clout to back them up. That’s not the case with our guest today, Jason Weeman, the Founder of Refine Talent Development.

Jason is a Certified Professional Coach whose senior-level experience at LinkedIn, Upwork & Apple has influenced his unique take on coaching. He helps founders break free from self-imposed barriers and empower their teams to drive the business forward.

As a founder himself, Jason knows the challenges that come with taking intelligent risks in the entrepreneurial world. He emphasizes the importance of aligning your startup's value proposition with your personal goals and highlights how founders often hinder their own success by not allowing their teams to shine.

Our conversation dives into:

• How Founders can “get out of their own way” and empower their teams
• Navigating the relationship with your Co-Founder
• The benefits of investing in employee growth & development
• Creating alignment around your startup’s mission & company values

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Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn!

In this episode, we start by diving into the complexities founders face when navigating private equity (PE) interest. Next, we discuss M&A activity and areas that are critical for founders to address. Founders will learn what they should be looking for around both PE and M&A deals. Our guest, Gaurav Bhasin of Allied Advisers, shares helpful tactical advice. He also sheds light on the current fundraising market and advises founders on how to approach fundraising in this environment.

Gaurav Bhasin has vast expertise in valuations, mergers and acquisitions, investment banking, strategic partnerships, and business strategy, he’s also a Forbes Council Member and frequent contributor to Crunchbase News. You can find two recent articles on Gross Profit Margin and what to do when A Strategic or PE Firm Wants to Buy Your Company.


Join us as we discuss:

• How a founder should approach PE interest and a potential investment
• Tactical M&A advice on all the aspects of a deal
• Today's fundraising market and how to navigate it
• Advice for early-stage founders

Gaurav is the Managing Director at Allied Advisers; a global technology advisory firm. Gaurav’s clients range from startups with dreams to capture the world, to a vertical SaaS client whose last valuation was 1.5 billion dollars.

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Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, the CRO of Burkland, here on LinkedIn!

Welcome to Startup Success, the podcast for startup founders and investors. Today’s special episode is guest-hosted by Steve Lord, Managing Director of Burkland's CFO Practice and FinTech Group. Join us as Steve welcomes Natalie Testa and Jake Sally of Jadu, an independent AR studio. The engaging conversation touches on the challenges and opportunities of working in a startup, the company's AR game evolution, the metaverse concept, the impact of AI on their processes, and the importance of building joy into company culture.

We discuss:

• The pivot from crypto to AR at Jadu
• Monetization strategies in the AR space
• Are we at a plateau with Moore’s law regarding game development costs?
• What should “impact" mean at a startup?

Natalie Testa is the Vice President of Finance at Jadu, a fast-growing startup that develops next-gen augmented reality games for mobile. With over ten years of experience in finance and operations, Natalie has a proven track record of driving organizational improvement and leading successful and high-achieving teams.

Jake Sally is the COO at Jadu and is an Industry-leading, Emmy-nominated producer, public speaker, and champion of independent artists dedicated to building the pipeline, vernacular, and stories of the next-generation content ecosystems for audiences worldwide.

** Keep an eye out for Jadu’s first mobile AR Fighting Game – launching this fall! **

Welcome to another episode of Startup Success, a podcast for founders and investors hosted by Kate Adams. Today, we are joined by Maria Gutierrez Peñaloza from Nido Ventures, a venture capital fund investing in Latin American startups. Maria shares the inspiration behind Nido, their investment philosophy, and their commitment to supporting diverse teams. She also gives a great overview of the current market conditions in Latin America and the tremendous opportunities for tech startups in that region. Join us as we discuss:

• The cross-border startup ecosphere in Latin America
• Advice for early-stage founders from the VC perspective
• Fundraising in today’s economic climate
• How building a diverse team contributes to startup success

Maria Gutierrez Peñaloza is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Nido Ventures, a cross-border venture capital firm focused on Fintech, B2B Marketplaces, and SaaS startups in Latin America. Since its founding, Nido has backed incredible companies like Sellrs, Morado, Yuno, Palenca, and Cheaf. Maria is also a member of several venture capital communities, including MoVi and Global Women in VC.This podcast is a must-listen-to learn more about the Latin American startup ecosystem and for tips from a VC for early-stage founders.

Welcome to another episode of Startup Success, a podcast for founders and investors, hosted by Kate Adams. Today we are joined by Miles Cole, Co-Founder and CEO at Follow. Miles shares how his founding team took the time to build their product and initial customer base with savvy strategies every founder can learn from. He candidly discusses their challenges in building the app and the importance of user experience. We discuss:

• Shrewd moves Miles and his founding team made that every founder could learn from
• Challenges in developing the app and how they overcame them
• Their strategy in building an initial user base and why it’s been so successful
• Fundraising strategies that allowed Follow to raise all their capital pre-launch

Miles Cole is a tech entrepreneur and founder of several startups, including Invictus Technologies and Atomic. His latest company, Follow, is an app that enables users to follow top financial influencers and automatically copy their investment trades in real time.

This podcast is a must-listen if you're interested in hearing a fascinating story on an app that could change investing as we know it.

Welcome to another episode of Startup Success, a podcast for founders and investors. Today we are joined by David J. Muchow, the author of “The 7 Secret Keys to Startup Success” and Managing Partner at Muchow Law, a firm providing expert legal counsel to startups and other specialized clients. Join us as we discuss how to avoid what David refers to as startup suicide.

David shares some of the secret keys he outlines in his book; practical advice on what not to do in a startup – lessons that founders usually learn the hard way once the mistakes have already been made.

Join us as we discuss:

• Intellectual property and other legal considerations that are important from day one
• Common mistakes that can kill your startup and how to avoid them
• How to steer clear of potential issues in co-founder partnerships

David is a corporate lawyer, serial entrepreneur, and investor who helps companies grow from startup to exit strategy. He is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Georgetown University, as well as a founder of and General Counsel to a variety of foundations. He was previously a founder and CEO of SkyBuilt Power, the world’s first solar/wind plug-and-play pre-packaged systems for military, intelligence, and commercial customers.

Take advantage of this opportunity to enhance your entrepreneurial journey and increase your chances of success!

With 2,800 employees in over a hundred different countries and more than $300M in ARR, Deel is an incredible success story. We were thrilled to have the opportunity to sit down with their COO, Dan Westgarth, for this episode of Startup Success.

Dan shares his insights on global hiring and onboarding strategies, as well as best practices for building a successful team and maintaining a strong company culture.

Join us as we discuss:

• How startups can leverage the trend of hiring globally
• The importance of getting onboarding right
• How to build a global workforce
• Advice for early-stage founders around scaling & pivoting

Deel is the all-in-one HR platform for global teams. Dan is also the founder of Expansion Capital. Prior to his current role, he was the General Manager - North America at Revolut.

Don't miss this informative and engaging episode!

Welcome to another episode of Startup Success, a podcast for founders and investors. Today we sit down with Chris Kirsch, Co-Founder and CEO of runZero, a comprehensive cyber asset management solution. Join us as we discuss the challenges and benefits of branding your startup for a better product-market fit, funding, and scaling strategies. Chris also shares practical, real-world tips on the first marketing steps a startup should take.

Chris shares his insights on:

• Branding strategies for startups
• Rebranding for a better product market fit
• The journey from bootstrapping to Series A funding
• Marketing insights for early-stage founders

Chris Kirsch co-founded runZero with Metasploit creator HD Moore. Chris started his career at an InfoSec startup in Germany and has since worked at companies like PGP, nCipher, Rapid7, and Veracode. He is passionate about OSINT and Social Engineering.

Welcome to another episode of Startup Success, a podcast for founders and investors. Today we are joined by serial tech entrepreneur Scott Stouffer, CEO and Founder of scaleMatters, a go-to-market optimization platform that helps B2B startups fix inefficiencies in their revenue acquisition funnel. Join us as we discuss the importance of creating an Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) and honing your messaging to attract your precise target market. Scott shares his insights on:

• The need for a well-defined ICP at early & growth-stage startups
• Reducing your customer acquisition costs
• Identifying bottlenecks in your sales pipeline
• Aligning your messaging with your customer's needs

Scott Stouffer is a 5X CEO and a 3X Founder. He took his first company (Visual Networks) public in 2001 and grew it to a peak market cap of $3 billion. Since 2011, Scott has focused on early and growth-stage tech companies, building quantitative data and process models that uncover waste, inefficiency, and friction in the customer acquisition function.

With such an impressive portfolio, we’re honored to have him on the show to share some of his invaluable wisdom with us!

Welcome to another episode of Startup Success, a podcast for founders and investors. Today we are joined by Justin Rowe, Founder and CMO of Impactable, a Linkedin Ads Agency that specializes in Linkedin Marketing for B2B companies. Join us as we discuss using LinkedIn effectively as a marketing platform. Justin shares his insights on:

• What sets LinkedIn apart from other social platforms
• Effective LinkedIn strategies
• How startups and small companies can use LinkedIn for growth
• Retargeting on LinkedIn to enhance the ROI of other paid channels
• Marketing advice for early-stage founders and small businesses

Justin Rowe is an expert on using LinkedIn to build a robust network and open up endless growth opportunities for B2B companies. He is passionate about helping businesses and companies grow and scale through effective marketing and being a partner in their success.


With such an impressive portfolio, we’re honored to have him on the show to share some of his invaluable wisdom with us!

Startup marketing expert Scott Gelber joins us for an in-depth discussion on how startups can use demand generation and account-based marketing to ramp their revenue pipelines. Scott is the founder of SRG Marketing, a digital marketing and HubSpot agency that helps B2B startups drive revenue and growth with customized demand-generation strategies. We cover:

• What is demand generation, and how can it help a startup?
• The need to test and validate different demand-generation strategies
• How account-based marketing can help in growing the revenue stream
• Inbound vs. outbound strategies and deciding what works for you
• Advice for early-stage founders

Scott Gelber has spent over six years working for early-stage SaaS startups growing the demand generation functions of the businesses, before founding his own company. Scott has worked with companies across multiple industries like Construction, Corporate Governance, Cap Table Software, and Supply Chain, and developed customized and effective strategies to help them grow quickly.

With such an impressive portfolio, we’re honored to have him on the show to share some of his invaluable wisdom with us!

Welcome to another episode of Startup Success, a podcast for founders and investors. Today we are joined by David McFarland, Founder and CEO of Coterie, an InsurTech company that simplifies commercial insurance for small businesses and startups.

David shares insights for startup founders on:

• How to derisk your business
• The importance of surrounding yourself with smart people and building a trusted advisory network
• The impact of AI on his business
• Tips on persevering through turbulent times

David McFarland spent over eight years as an actuarial consultant before launching Coterie. As an actuarial, he saw a clear market gap wherein almost half the small businesses in America were not adequately covered. Four years on, Coterie has helped reimagine how insurance plays for small businesses by providing simple and speedy service in the commercial insurance space.

With such an impressive portfolio, we’re honored to have him on the show to share some of his invaluable wisdom with us!

In this episode of the Startup Success podcast, host Kate Adams welcomes Adam Nash, the CEO & Co-Founder of Daffy, a not-for-profit platform that empowers people to be more generous more often.

Adam discusses various topics related to entrepreneurship and angel investing. He shares his valuable insights on risk management and provides lessons for early-stage founders. Additionally, he delves into the intricacies of the fintech sector and sheds light on what angel investors look for in startups.

Join them as they:
-- Talk about managing risk at startups and valuable insights for founders
-- Discuss the landscape and future trends in the fintech sector
-- Evaluate the value drivers angel investors look for when investing in startups
-- Share Adam’s favorite Steve Jobs story from his Apple days (A must-listen-to for all founders)!

Adam Nash is a 32-year veteran in the business world and has helped drive growth and innovation at companies like eBay, LinkedIn, Dropbox, and Wealthfront. Adam is a proven advocate for developing products that go beyond utility to delight customers. He is also a successful angel investor, investing in over 129 startups.

With such an impressive portfolio, we’re honored to have him on the show to share some of his invaluable wisdom with us!

Welcome to another episode of Startup Success, a podcast for founders and investors. Today we are joined by mergers & acquisitions expert Lowell Ricklefs. He shares his insights on the key factors that founders looking for an M&A solution should consider. Lowell also explains the playbook of a typical M&A process and does a deep dive into M&A strategies for SaaS companies.

Lowell Ricklefs is the Founder and Managing Director of Traction Advising M&A, a premier boutique M&A firm focused on B2B SaaS companies in North America and Europe. He has over twenty years of experience in the M&A space and is also an angel investor. He mentions that SaaS acquisition is about strategic positioning, fit, and knowing the corporate buying process. With such an impressive portfolio, we’re honored to have him on the show to share some of his invaluable wisdom with us!

Today we dive into what it takes to build a successful startup and discuss why recruitment is such an integral part of the process. We’re joined by the fantastic Amy Volas, Founder and CEO at Avenue Talent Partners. Amy helps SaaS startups grow their businesses by hiring the right revenue leaders.

Amy is also the Founder of Better Together with Amy Volas, the Co-Founder of Thursday Night Sales, and is an MVP Member of Modern Sales Pros.

Today we are joined by Keith Putnam-Delaney, Co-Founder and CEO of Primer, a hyper-precise lead generation and targeting platform for B2B marketers.

Keith shares his insights on sustaining growth in a down market and discusses how customer-centricity can be a positive growth driver. And he mixes in some valuable tips for prospective founders.

This episode of Startup Success is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

In this episode, Kate Adams is joined by Sid Puri, the Head of Growth-India for Retool. Sid takes us through how Retool achieved hyper levels of growth and product adoption and his experience scaling a team from 5 to 300 employees.

The conversation is packed with practical advice for startup founders on how to create a successful go-to-market strategy and much more, including:

-- How to reach new customers
-- Pricing - how to get it right
-- Product strategies that lead to early adoption and growth
-- Breaking into a new market - how Retool grew its market in India
-- Where onboarding can play a role in scaling

Listen in for an inspiring conversation filled with valuable insights!

Unlock the secrets of using your network to supercharge funding, new prospects and growth with this episode of Startup Success!

Our guest this week is John Hill, Evangelist at Techstars. John shares his expertise on how founders can build and leverage their network — real actionable advice for startup founders. We'll also hear what Techstars looks for in a startup as well as John’s advice for founders after working with Techstars for over nine years.

We discuss:

-- How to not only build your network but leverage it for real needs (funding, prospects, knowledge share & more)
-- John's advice for where founders should focus their attention
-- Actionable steps to take today to maximize your network
-- How Techstars evaluates startups

Want to know the secret to getting your startup noticed by big publications and industry media sites? You’re going to need Public Relations.

In this episode, Nicole Osmer, CEO of Health+Commerce, shares expert advice for startup founders. From creating a strategy to crafting messaging, building relationships with reporters, and handling crisis communications, this episode is packed with actionable tips for any founder looking to improve their PR game.

Join us as we discuss:

• How PR can be the key to startup success
• Developing your company’s PR and communications strategy
• Getting your stories picked up by building rapport with reporters
• How to navigate crisis communications

Today's guest, Krish Ramineni, Co-Founder and CEO at Fireflies.ai and a 2022 Fortune 30 under 30, joins us with his candid advice and insight gleaned from ​his success scaling Fireflies.ai - including two highly successful fundraising rounds. We discuss the importance of knowing when to pivot your ideas and how to use setbacks as feedback. We also delve into the value of discipline in fundraising and the benefits of leveraging existing relationships when seeking funding. We look at product-led growth — and how it can be incredibly successful. Finally, we'll provide tips and strategies for finding top talent in a slowing job market and offer guidance on effectively navigating these challenging times. Tune in for actionable insights and practical advice to help you succeed in today's challenging environment.

Join us as we discuss the following:

• Being disciplined when fundraising and utilizing existing relationships
• Driving sales through product-led growth
• How to hire and fundraise in today's economic climate
• Knowing when to pivot and treating every setback as feedback