Startup Project: Build The Future podcast

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The War and Treaty Are Getting Carried Away 46:55

3 hari yang lalu46:55

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46:55

The War and Treaty’s Michael and Tanya Trotter grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and Washington, DC, respectively, but both have family roots in the South. They also grew up in the musical traditions of their churches – Tanya in the Black Baptist Church and Michael in the Seventh Day Adventist Church – where they learned the power of song to move people. After becoming a father at a very young age, Michael eventually joined the armed forces and served in Iraq and Germany, where he took up songwriting as a way of dealing with his experiences there. Meanwhile Tanya embarked on a singing and acting career after a breakthrough appearance in Sister Act 2 alongside Whoopi Goldberg and Lauryn Hill. Now, after a long and sometimes traumatic journey, Michael and Tanya are married, touring, winning all sorts of awards, and set to release their fifth album together, and their fourth as The War and Treaty. Sid talks to Michael and Tanya about the new record, Plus One , as well as their collaboration with Miranda Lambert, what it was like to record at FAME studios in Muscle Shoals, and how they’re blending country, soul, gospel, and R&B. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

Startup Project: Build the future

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Conversations with founders, investors and operators who are building the future. Listen to find the stories, ideas, investments and strategies behind the startups. Learn more and stay up to date at thestartupproject.io

94 episode

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Startup Project: Build the future

updated 12 hari yang lalu

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Secondary Markets Explained: How EquityZen Provides Liquidity for Pre-IPO Shares | Startup Project Podcast #94 50:32

12 hari yang lalu50:32

50:32

Join Nataraj on Startup Project as he talks to Aatish, CEO and founder of EquityZen, a secondary market for private equities. They discuss the evolution of secondary markets, EquityZen's business model, the value proposition of secondary equity platforms, investor strategies, and the nuances of investing in secondary shares. They'll also delve into various IPO types and their pros and cons for investors, providing a glimpse into the future of secondary markets and IPOs by 2025. About the Episode: This episode explores how EquityZen created a market for secondary shares, connecting founders, employees, and early investors with individuals seeking pre-IPO investment opportunities. Aatish shares his personal journey from quant hedge fund employee to entrepreneur, highlighting how EquityZen helps late-stage private companies provide liquidity to shareholders. The conversation also covers: - Evolution of secondary markets - EquityZen's business model and platform - Investing in secondary shares - Different investor strategies - IPO types and their impact on investors - The future of secondary markets and IPOs in 2025 About the Guest and Host: Aatish: CEO and founder of EquityZen, former co-founder and CTO of Nullsoft, and VP of product at Ampush. Connect with Aatish: → LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/atishdavda/ → Website: https://equityzen.com/ Nataraj : Host of the Startup Project podcast, Senior PM at Azure & Investor. → LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natarajsindam → Twitter: https://x.com/natarajsindam → Email: ⁠https://startupproject.substack.com/⁠ → Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://thestartupproject.io⁠⁠⁠ Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 01:10 - What is EquityZen and How Did It Start? 04:19 - The Evolution of Secondary Markets 09:00 - Standardization in Secondary Transactions 14:44 - Portfolio vs. Individual Company Investments 20:10 - EquityZen's Business Model: Fees & Carry 22:21 - EquityZen's Stats and User Base 24:34 - EquityZen's Relationship with Companies and Issuers 27:17 - Rights of First Refusal and Blocking Rights 30:36 - Navigating the Secondary Market: Legitimacy and Risk 33:33 - How EquityZen Uses Data 37:14 - Marketing EquityZen in a Regulated Industry 40:19 - IPOs vs. Direct Listings: What's the Difference? 44:04 - Outlook for IPOs and Secondary Markets in 2025 Subscribe to Startup Project for more engaging conversations with leading entrepreneurs! → Email updates: ⁠https://startupproject.substack.com/⁠ #StartupProject #EquityZen #PrivateEquity #SecondaryMarket #PreIPO #Investing #IPO #VentureCapital #Stocks #Finance #Podcast #YouTube #Tech #Innovation #Entrepreneur"…

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Seattle's Ambition to Become the Next Silicon Valley | Aviel Ginsberg | Startup Project #93 47:15

19 hari yang lalu47:15

47:15

Join host Nataraj as he sits down with Aviel Ginsberg, the founder of Simply Measured (acquired by Sprout Social), managing director at Amazon's Alexa Accelerator, general partner at Founders Co-op, and now co-founder of Foundations, a shared workspace and accelerator designed to bolster Seattle's VC ecosystem. About the Episode: This episode explores Aviel's journey through the Seattle tech scene, from his arrival during the 2007 recession to his current venture. He discusses the evolution of Founders Co-op, their investment strategies, and the challenges faced by startups in the Pacific Northwest. Aviel shares insights into his investment philosophy, emphasizing the importance of founders' motivations and the long-term vision for their companies. Aviel also delves into the creation of Foundations, a community-driven space aimed at connecting founders, investors, and mentors. He discusses the need for such an anchor in Seattle's ecosystem and how it addresses the unique challenges faced by startups in the region. The conversation touches upon the changing landscape of venture capital, the impact of large language models, and the future of Seattle's tech community. About the Guest and Host: Aviel Ginsberg: Co-founder of Foundations, founder of Simply Measured, managing director at Amazon's Alexa Accelerator, and general partner at Founders Co-op. → LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/avielginzburg/ → Website: https://seattlefoundations.org/ Nataraj: Host of the Startup Project podcast, Senior PM at Azure & Investor. → LinkedIn: / natarajsindam → Twitter: https://x.com/natarajsindam → Email updates: ⁠https://startupproject.substack.com/⁠ → Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://thestartupproject.io⁠⁠⁠ Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction [00:30] What is Foundations? [00:51] Aviel’s journey with Founders Co-op [01:21] Navigating the 2007 Recession [03:22] Early days in the Seattle tech scene [03:36] Transitioning from employee to founder [06:46] Founders Co-op’s current focus [08:16] Evolving investment thesis [08:45] The art of investing in founders [10:47] The importance of people over product [11:07] Investing strategies and FOMO [14:23] Deal makers and breakers [14:36] The motivation of founders [16:47] De-risking entrepreneurship and motivation [18:56] The rise and fall of first-time funds [20:18] Exaggerated opportunity sizes [21:16] The realities of early-stage investing [22:20] The distortion of valuations [22:57] Winners bias and trillion-dollar companies [23:13] The illusion of constant growth [26:37] The Ally acquisition and Microsoft Viva Goals [27:50] Was the acquisition a fund returner? [28:32] The Clubhouse story [29:23] The importance of knowing when to sell [30:20] The trend of secondaries [30:50] Incentivizing founders [31:25] The future of secondaries [32:50] The vision behind Foundations [38:33] What else does Seattle need? [39:05] The need for pre-accelerators [40:38] Lack of pre-seed funds [41:02] Accessing Bay Area capital [42:41] What are you consuming? [43:14] Podcasts, books, and movies [44:31] What do you wish you knew about investing? [44:39] The long feedback loops of investing Subscribe to Startup Project for more engaging conversations with leading entrepreneurs! → Email updates: ⁠https://startupproject.substack.com/⁠ #startupproject #seattle #startupecosystem #venturecapital #founders #foundations #simplymeasured #founderscoop #amazon #alexaaccelerator #techstars #innovation #entrepreneurship #podcast #youtube #technology #investing #davidishim #readai #ai #artificialintelligence #meetings #productivity #hybridwork #remotework…

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Revolutionizing Workflows with AI Agents | Jacob Bank | relay app | Startup Project 44:54

25 hari yang lalu44:54

44:54

Join host Nataraj as he sits down with Jacob Bank, founder and CEO of Relay.app, a platform building AI agents to revolutionize how we work. **About the Episode:**This conversation explores the evolution of AI agents and how Relay is solving customer problems by automating cross-tool workflows. Jacob, a former product lead at Google (Gmail, G Suite), shares his entrepreneurial journey from academic AI research to building productivity tools. He discusses the challenges of product development in the fast-paced AI landscape and the importance of integrations for a successful product.Jacob explains how Relay transitioned from a workflow tool to an AI-powered automation platform. He delves into their customer acquisition strategy, focusing on product-led growth and community building, with a strong emphasis on content and partnerships.**Key Discussion Points:*** Evolution of Relay from workflow tool to AI agent platform* Building AI agents that integrate with various tools* Prioritizing integrations and the importance of robust APIs* Balancing AI automation with human-in-the-loop capabilities* Customer acquisition and the power of community building * Usage-based pricing models for AI agents* Jacob's entrepreneurial lessons learned* Scaling strategies and fundraising considerations* The future of work with AI agents**About the Guest and Host:****Jacob Bank:** Founder and CEO of Relay.app. Former product lead at Google (Gmail, G Suite), founder of Timeful (acquired by Google).→ LinkedIn: Search for Jacob Bank (currently waiting for LinkedIn Integration)→ Website: https://www.relay.app/**Nataraj:** Host of the Startup Project podcast, Senior PM at Azure & Investor.→ LinkedIn: / natarajsindam→ Twitter: https://x.com/natarajsindam→ Email updates: ⁠https://startupproject.substack.com/⁠→ Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://thestartupproject.io⁠⁠⁠**Timestamps:*** 00:00 - Introduction and Guest Introduction* 00:58 - What is Relay and how did it get started? * 07:18 - Transitioning to an AI agent platform * 08:06 - Prioritizing tool integrations* 12:14 - Traction and company scale* 13:30 - Driving adoption and product-led growth* 19:57 - Upcoming integrations* 24:19 - Open-source integrations discussion* 26:38 - Competition and differentiation* 28:15 - Pricing models* 30:19 - Lessons from previous company* 32:35 - The future of AI agents* 38:06 - Scaling and fundraising* 41:43 - Working at Google vs. StartupSubscribe to Startup Project for more engaging conversations with leading entrepreneurs!→ Email updates: ⁠https://startupproject.substack.com/⁠#StartupProject #Relay #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Agents #AIWorkflows #NoCode #Automation #Productivity #SaaS #Integrations #CommunityBuilding #ProductLedGrowth #Entrepreneurship #Podcast #YouTube #Tech #Innovation…

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Building a Billion-Dollar Portfolio: David Blumberg's Investment Strategies 56:55

5 weeks yang lalu56:55

56:55

Join host Nataraj on the Startup Project podcast as he sits down with David Blumberg, a seasoned investor with over three decades of experience in early-stage tech companies. From his early days at T. Rowe Price to founding Bloomberg Capital, David shares his unique journey and insights into the world of venture capital. About the Episode: This episode explores David's evolution as an investor, from his initial interest in government to his realization that business and entrepreneurship were the true drivers of positive change. He discusses his early investments in Israeli tech companies, his time at Claridge, a prominent family office, and the lessons he learned along the way. David shares his investment philosophy, emphasizing the importance of strong teams, large market potential, and minimal competition. He highlights his experience with successful companies like Double Verify and Nutanix, emphasizing the value of repeat founders and the power of building strong relationships. The conversation also delves into David's personal investment strategy, his passion for energy humanitarianism, and his belief in the potential of AI to revolutionize various industries. He shares his insights on the evolving landscape of venture capital, the importance of continuous learning, and the impact of regulatory changes on the business world. About the Guest and Host: David Blumberg: Founder and Managing Partner of Blumberg Capital, a venture capital firm focused on early-stage and growth investments. → LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjblumberg → Website: https://blumbergcapital.com/ Nataraj: Host of the Startup Project podcast, Senior PM at Azure & Investor. → LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natarajsindam/ → Twitter: https://x.com/natarajsindam → Email updates: ⁠https://startupproject.substack.com/⁠ → Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://thestartupproject.io⁠⁠⁠ Timestamps: 00:01 - Introduction and Guest Introduction 00:42 - David's Location and Work Model 00:54 - David's Career Journey and Interest in Tech Investing 01:22 - Early Influences and the Importance of Entrepreneurship 05:10 - First Tech Investment and Israeli Tech Ecosystem 09:22 - Israel's Tech Growth and the Yozma Program 13:45 - Government's Role in Fostering Innovation 17:53 - The Israeli Military's Influence on Entrepreneurship 19:54 - Experience at Claridge and Transition to Bloomberg Capital 24:34 - The Evolution of Venture Capital and Bloomberg Capital's Strategies 27:15 - Working with Repeat Founders 30:40 - Decision-Making in Pre-Seed Investing 34:19 - Defining Talent in Early-Stage Founders 39:32 - Importance of Domain Expertise 41:11 - Lawyers in Leadership Roles 43:15 - Bloomberg Capital's CIO Innovation Council 48:29 - Personal Investment Strategy and Energy Humanitarianism 51:39 - Admired Investors and the Venture Capital Landscape 56:06 - Current Consumption (Books, Podcasts, etc.) 01:00 - Mentors and Their Influence 01:01 - Advice for Young Investors Subscribe to Startup Project for more engaging conversations with leading entrepreneurs! → Email updates: ⁠https://startupproject.substack.com/⁠ #StartupProject #VentureCapital #Investing #TechInvesting #Israel #Entrepreneurship #Podcast #YouTube #Tech #Innovation #Energy #Humanitarianism #AI #CIO #BloombergCapital…

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From Zero to $50 Million Read.AI's Explosive Growth | David Shim Founder of Read AI 54:02

8 weeks yang lalu54:02

54:02

This episode of Startup Project tackles that very problem! Join host Nataraj as he sits down with David Shim, CEO of Read.ai, a company that just raised $50 million in Series B funding to revolutionize how we handle meetings and work in general. About the Episode: This insightful conversation dives deep into Read.ai's innovative AI-powered meeting summarizer. David, a repeat founder, trader, investor, and former CEO of Foursquare, shares his journey, from the initial spark of an idea during a particularly unproductive Zoom call to Read.ai's current position as a top meeting note-taker. He reveals the secrets behind their rapid growth, achieving a remarkable climb from #20 to #2 in the world in less than 18 months – all with zero dollars spent on media marketing! David discusses his unique approach, combining video analysis with text, to create meeting summaries that go beyond simple transcriptions. Learn how Read.ai analyzes sentiment, engagement, and even subtle cues like speaking pace to deliver truly insightful summaries. The conversation also touches upon the future of work, with David advocating for hybrid work models and sharing his perspective on the current AI hype cycle. He provides a compelling vision for Read.ai's evolution into a true "co-pilot" for everyone, everywhere, seamlessly integrating with various platforms to streamline workflows and boost productivity. The discussion extends to David’s own investment strategies, offering valuable insights into his approach to venture capital and angel investing. About the Guest and Host: David Shim: CEO of Read.ai, repeat founder, trader, investor, and former CEO of Foursquare. Connect with David: → LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidshim/. → Website: https://www.read.ai/ Nataraj: Host of the Startup Project podcast, Senior PM at Azure & Investor. → LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natarajsindam/ → Twitter: https://x.com/natarajsindam → Email updates: ⁠https://startupproject.substack.com/⁠ → Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://thestartupproject.io⁠⁠⁠ Timestamps: 00:02 - Introduction and Guest Introduction 00:54 - David's Location and Work Model 01:17 - Remote vs. Hybrid Work Models 03:37 - The Origin Story of Read.ai 05:50 - Read.ai's Initial Idea and Technological Challenges 08:42 - Analyzing Video and Text Data 11:33 - The Evolution of Read.ai's Product and Value Proposition 12:41 - Overcoming Challenges in Product Adoption and User Experience 14:50 - Customer Acquisition Strategy and Product-Led Growth 16:58 - Word-of-Mouth Marketing and Inherent Virality 19:43 - Read.ai's Expansion Beyond Meeting Notes: "Copilot Everywhere" 20:16 - Vision for Read.ai as a Universal Work Copilot 22:57 - Targeting Specific Verticals While Maintaining a Horizontal Approach 24:55 - Foundation Models and Pricing Strategies 29:15 - David's Perspective on the Current LLM Landscape 30:37 - Using AI to Optimize Internal Operations at Read.ai 34:09 - Thoughts on AI Agents and Their Current State 36:44 - Read.ai's Vision for the Next Few Years 41:11 - David's Investment Thesis and Strategies 46:21 - David's Early Career in Trading 50:59 - Current Consumption (Books, Podcasts, etc.) 52:38 - Mentors and Their Influence 54:13 - Lessons Learned as a Founder and Investor Subscribe to Startup Project for more engaging conversations with leading entrepreneurs! → Email updates: ⁠https://startupproject.substack.com/⁠ #StartupProject #ReadAI #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Meetings #Productivity #HybridWork #RemoteWork #VentureCapital #AngelInvesting #SeriesB #Funding #Entrepreneurship #Podcast #YouTube #Tech #Innovation #AIEverywhere #Copilot…

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#89 Secret Weapon Behind Small Businesses Success | Hello Alice Co-founder Elizabeth Gore 26:19

10 weeks yang lalu26:19

26:19

Ever wondered what it takes to build a thriving small business and secure funding in today's competitive landscape? This episode of Startup Project dives deep into the world of Hello Alice, a platform revolutionizing how small businesses access resources and capital. Join host Nataraj as he sits down with Elizabeth Gore, co-founder and president of Hello Alice, a company recently valued at $130 million! In this insightful conversation, Elizabeth shares her incredible journey, from her background in agriculture and humanitarian work to co-founding Hello Alice. Learn how she transitioned from supporting the UN to empowering 1.5 million small business owners across the US. We explore Hello Alice's innovative approach to financial technology, providing access to grants, loans, and crucial business planning services. Discover how Hello Alice itself generates revenue, beyond its mission-driven approach. Plus, we uncover the fascinating story behind their recent legal battle and how they navigated this challenge. Nataraj: Host of the popular Startup Project podcast, Nataraj brings his expertise and engaging interview style to this episode. → LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/natarajsindam⁠⁠ → Twitter: ⁠⁠https://x.com/natarajsindam⁠⁠ → Email updates: ⁠ ⁠⁠https://startupproject.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠ → Website: ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://thestartupproject.io⁠ Elizabeth Gore: Co-founder and President of Hello Alice, Elizabeth is a powerhouse in the small business ecosystem. Her experience and insights make this conversation invaluable for aspiring and established entrepreneurs. **Timestamps:** 00:01 - Introduction and Guest Introduction 01:07 - Elizabeth's Early Career and Background 03:13 - Hello Alice's Products and Services 04:47 - Hello Alice's Business Model and Revenue Streams 05:42 - Acquiring Early Customers and Growth Strategies 07:55 - The Main Needs of Hello Alice's SMB Customers 08:27 - Grants vs. Loans: Hello Alice's Funding Approach 09:24 - The Value of Grant Applications for Startups 10:02 - Post-COVID Trends in Small Business 12:36 - Popular Software Used by Small Businesses 14:01 - Customer Acquisition Strategies for Small Businesses 15:03 - Hello Alice's Future Plans and Growth Targets 16:26 - The Hello Alice Lawsuit and Its Impact 17:42 - AI's Role in Hello Alice and Small Businesses 19:15 - The Regulatory Environment for Small Businesses 22:14 - DEI Initiatives and Their Impact on Small Businesses 23:49 - Unique and Thriving Small Businesses 25:07 - Elizabeth's Information Consumption Habits 25:49 - Elizabeth's Mentors and Influences 26:17 - Lessons Learned as a Founder 26:51 - Advice for Aspiring Small Business Owners #StartupProject #HelloAlice #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #Funding #Grants #Loans #BusinessGrowth #Fintech #AI #DEI #SmallBusinessFunding #BusinessTips #Podcast #Entrepreneurs #Innovation #ElizabethGore #Nataraj…

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#88 How to Market a Database Product? | CMO of SingleStore Madhukar Kumar 50:21

12 weeks yang lalu50:21

50:21

Madhukar Kumar is the Chief Marketing Officer at SingleStore (formerly MSQL), a cloud-native database company that has raised over $300M in funding. In this conversation, we explore the intersection of technical marketing, product-led growth, and the future of AI in marketing: In this episode, we cover: (00:02) Introduction and SingleStore overview (01:56) CMO role and marketing strategy (04:12) Marketing technical products to developers (08:21) Product-led growth initiatives (14:12) Product-led sales and enterprise marketing (17:49) Career transitions and journey (21:14) Skills needed for product marketing (26:12) Marketing spend and channel effectiveness (28:24) Admirable brands and marketing approaches (31:41) Evolution of communication in marketing (35:23) Perspectives on AGI (44:05) Career challenges and overcoming them (47:47) Current influences and recommendations (48:52) Mentors and career guidance (49:53) Key marketing lessons learned Where to find Madhukar Kumar: → Madhukar's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madhukarkumar/ Nataraj is the host & creator of Startup Project podcast, he is a full time product manager at Microsoft, early stage investor & advisor. → LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natarajsindam → Twitter: https://x.com/natarajsindam → Email updates: ⁠ https://startupproject.substack.com/⁠ → Website: ⁠⁠⁠ https://thestartupproject.io Referenced: - SingleStore: https://www.singlestore.com/ - Apple Marketing - Webflow - dbrand Marketing - Pegasus Documentary - "The Beginning of Infinity" by David Deutsch #ProductMarketing #TechMarketing #SingleStore #DatabaseTechnology #DeveloperMarketing #ProductLedGrowth #MarketingStrategy #CMOInsights #B2BTech #EnterpriseMarketing #CareerTransitions #MarketingLeadership #StartupMarketing #CloudComputing #TechIndustry #BrandBuilding #AIinMarketing #MarTech #TechnicalMarketing #EnterpriseSales…

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#87 DocuSign Founder on Building $16B Company | Court Lorenzini 52:13

14 weeks yang lalu52:13

52:13

Guest: Court Lorenzini | Founder of DocuSign & FounderNexus Host: Nataraj | Senior PM at Azure, Creator of Startup Project & Angel Investor Subscribe to Startup Project Newsletter for valuable founder insights: https://startupproject.substack.com/ Join Nataraj in conversation with Court Lorenzini, co-founder of DocuSign and serial entrepreneur, as they delve into the world of startups. Court shares his incredible journey, from early engineering roles to leading DocuSign to its multi-billion dollar company. **Timestamps & Topics:** * **00:01:246 - 00:35:234:** Introduction and welcome to Court Lorenzini. * **00:40:246 - 01:16:782:** Court's background – Engineering career and early entrepreneurial ventures. * **01:50:102 - 02:05:838:** Discussion about Cisco's impact on fostering successful entrepreneurs. * **02:05:838 - 03:30:4:** Court's entrepreneurial journey: Early days of building companies and his approach to exiting around year five. * **03:34:004 - 05:06.042:** The genesis of DocuSign: Original idea, acquisition of IP, and the name's origin. * **05:06.042 - 06:35.318:** DocuSign's journey to product-market fit – a slow grind and long-term vision. * **06:35.318 - 09:46.848:** Key early customers: Microsoft and the National Association of Realtors – how these partnerships propelled DocuSign's growth and the importance of inbound vs outbound sales. * **09:46.848 - 11:22.828:** DocuSign's continued market dominance – exploring the reasons behind its success and the competitive landscape. * **11:22.828 - 14:07.594:** The core reasons for DocuSign's success: human preference for consistency and robust APIs for data integration. * **14:51.042 - 16:02.894:** Court's exit strategy from DocuSign and the incredible return on investment. * **16:10.026 - 17:12.088:** Court's ambition and his subsequent ventures, including a successful renewable energy company and a spectacular failure (Metabright). * **17:12.088 - 20:46.198:** Detailed analysis of Metabright’s failure and the lessons learned. * **20:46.198 - 23:48.586:** Court’s methodology for evaluating new opportunities – validating the idea and actively trying to kill it. * **23:48.586 - 25:01.294:** Introduction to Founder Nexus – a unique approach to supporting the next generation of founders. * **25:01.294 - 27:25.304:** The vision and purpose of Founder Nexus: increasing the odds of success for venture-scale founders. * **27:25.304 - 28:15.446:** The mathematical model of startup success and how Founder Nexus aims to improve each variable. * **28:15.446 - 29:27.704:** Comparison with similar communities like Hampton and Offline, and the importance of community curation. * **29:27.704 - 31:18.678:** Founder Nexus's unique approach to community building – focusing on lived experience and ongoing learning. * **31:18.678 - 33:26.323:** The structure and format of Founder Nexus events – short forums and rotating groups. * **33:26.323 - 35:07.126:** Traction and future plans for Founder Nexus – expansion beyond Seattle and the goal of global reach. * **35:07.126 - 37:08.072:** Court’s approach to investing in venture funds – focusing on early-stage, and often non-traditional funds. * **37:08.072 - 37:45.686:** Observations on the outperformance of women-run funds. * **37:45.686 - 40:36.635:** Thoughts on valuations and the current investment climate – focusing on early-stage deals and late-stage pre-IPO opportunities. * **40:41.27 - 42:06.304:** Court's personal investment strategies – both early-stage and late-stage pre-IPO investments. * **42:17.11 - 43:56.438:** Discussion about the surge in bio and energy companies in Seattle during the Obama administration. * **44:07.934 - 46:20.299:** Court’s decision to pursue three master's degrees and their impact on his career. * **46:36.566 - 48:25.076:** Current reading and listening – books and podcasts influencing Court's thinking.…

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#86 Building RelationalAI: AI Coprocessor for Snowflake | Molham Aref CEO & Founder 59:09

15 weeks yang lalu59:09

59:09

My guest today is Moham Aref, CEO of RelationalAI, a company that recently closed a $75 million Series B funding round. Moham shares his incredible journey spanning over 30 years in the AI and machine learning space, offering invaluable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts alike. Moham Aref , CEO of RelationalAI, Moham brings a wealth of experience, having previously led LogicBlox and Predictix, and now spearheading Relational AI's mission to simplify intelligent application development. → Website: ⁠https://relational.ai/ → Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/molham/ Nataraj is the host & creator of Startup Project podcast, he is a full time product manager at Microsoft, early stage investor & advisor. → Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natarajsindam/ → Twitter: https://x.com/natarajsindam → Email updates: ⁠https://startupproject.substack.com/⁠ → Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://thestartupproject.io⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Highlights: This episode covers a wide range of fascinating topics, from Molham's extensive career journey to the intricacies of the modern data stack and the transformative potential of Relational AI's technology. We unravel the complexities of descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics, demystifying these crucial concepts for a broader audience. We also discuss the challenges of finding those first five customers in the B2B world, the strategic decision to build on Snowflake, and the potential for future competition and cannibalization by larger platforms. Molham thoughtfully shares his perspective on the current hype surrounding Generative AI and its practical applications in the enterprise space. We finish with advice on leadership, mentorship, and the overall challenges and rewards of a career in tech. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction and Guest Introduction 01:55 - Molham Aref's Career Journey and Transition to Relational AI 08:30 - Understanding Descriptive, Predictive, and Prescriptive Analytics 12:00 - Early Use Cases and Target Customers for Relational AI 17:30 - The Decision to Build on Snowflake: Strategy and Competition 22:15 - Securing the First Five Customers in the B2B World 27:40 - The Modern Data Stack and Relational AI's Place Within It 34:30 - Generative AI: Hype, Reality, and Enterprise Applications 40:00 - Leveraging Generative AI Internally and for Customer Value 45:00 - B2B Sales Strategies: Content, Relationships, and Customer Focus 51:30 - Relational AI's Future Plans and Growth Strategy 54:00 - Molham's Consumption Habits: Historical Insights and Mentorship 58:30 - Lessons Learned as a Founder and CEO Don't forget to like and subscribe for more insightful conversations about the world of AI! → YouTube: ⁠https://youtu.be/9-J4eV8qvZg⁠ → Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Og8mbra1cokQ5cRJdjZn1?si=iqEOqKLLSqSbk8ehkniFqg⁠ → Apple podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/85-ai-should-not-be-regulated-author-ml-researcher/id1551300319?i=1000673806783⁠ → Email updates: ⁠https://startupproject.substack.com/⁠ → Others: ⁠https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/qYaG6vhTRNb⁠#ModernDataStack #RelationalAI #AI #MachineLearning #DataAnalytics #PredictiveAnalytics #PrescriptiveAnalytics #GenerativeAI #Snowflake #B2B #Entrepreneurship #TechPodcast #DataManagement #BusinessIntelligence #CloudComputing #TechLeadership #CareerAdvice #Innovation #DataStrategy…

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#85 AI Should Not be Regulated - Author & ML Researcher Pedro Domingos #ai #regulation 1:21:43

20 weeks yang lalu1:21:43

1:21:43

For video version watch the episode on: → YouTube link: https://youtu.be/9-J4eV8qvZg Join us as we dive deep into the world of AI with Pedro Domingos, a machine learning pioneer and author of the acclaimed book "The Master Algorithm." Pedro shares his insights on the current AI hype cycle, the real impact of AI on society, and how he sees the future of this transformative technology. Guest on the episode: Pedro Domingos (Author and Machine Learning Professor) → Website : pedrodomingos.org → Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/pedro-domingos-77b183/ → Twitter : https://x.com/pmddomingos → Read Pedro's new book 2040: https://2040novel.com/ Host: Nataraj (Investor at Incisive VC, angel investor, and Senior Product Manager) → Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natarajsindam/ → Twitter: https://x.com/natarajsindam → Email updates: https://startupproject.beehiiv.com/ → Website: ⁠⁠ https://thestartupproject.io⁠⁠ In this episode, we discuss: 00:00 - Introduction:** Meet Pedro Domingos, a legend in the field of machine learning. 03:28 - Early Career:** Learn how Pedro got into machine learning in the 80s, a time when it wasn't considered "cool". 08:17 - AI vs. Machine Learning:** Pedro clarifies the difference between these two terms and explains why machine learning is the driving force behind all other AI applications. 13:26 - The AI Hype Cycle:** Pedro discusses the rapid progress of AI, but also warns of the potential for a stock market bubble if the hype exceeds the reality. 21:45 - LLMs and the Future of AI:** Pedro analyzes whether the current hype around LLMs will lead to AGI and speculates on what breakthroughs might be needed to get there. 31:44 - The Master Algorithm:** Pedro talks about the purpose and scope of his book, "The Master Algorithm," and how it offers a broader understanding of AI beyond just LLMs. 42:29 - Open AI and the Comedy of Errors:** Pedro dives into the hype surrounding Open AI and its perceived dominance in the AI space, sharing his perspective on their overestimation. 54:25 - AI Safety and the Call for a Moratorium:** Pedro dismisses the fear-mongering around AI's supposed threat to humanity and provides a rational perspective on the current AI safety concerns. 1:03:19 - AI in 2040:** Pedro discusses his satirical book, "2040," which paints a humorous, yet thought-provoking, picture of how AI might impact society. 1:14:18 - Recommendation Systems and Human Psychology:** Pedro examines the limitations of current recommendation systems and argues for a shift towards systems that give users more control over their information consumption. 1:24:38 - The Importance of Critical Information Consumption:** Pedro shares his strategies for staying informed in the age of information overload, emphasizing the need for a balanced and diverse intake of information. 1:38:59 - The Importance of Choosing the Right Problem:** Pedro stresses the importance of finding research problems that align with your passion and potential impact, rather than chasing the latest trends. Don't forget to like and subscribe for more insightful conversations about the world of AI! → YouTube: https://youtu.be/9-J4eV8qvZg → Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Og8mbra1cokQ5cRJdjZn1?si=iqEOqKLLSqSbk8ehkniFqg → Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/85-ai-should-not-be-regulated-author-ml-researcher/id1551300319?i=1000673806783 → Email updates: https://startupproject.beehiiv.com/ → Others: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/qYaG6vhTRNb #AI #machinelearning #themasteralgorithm #llm #agi #futureofai #tech #society #2040 #openai #google #facebook #recommendation #information #research #podcasts #startups #sharp ratio…

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#84 From Mars Rover to Starups: Ex-aws exec khawaja shams on the art of product-market fit in b2b cloud 49:57

20 weeks yang lalu49:57

49:57

In this episode of Startup Project, we chat with Khawaja Shams, Co-founder and CEO of Momento, a serverless caching and messaging service built for interactive applications at scale. Host: Nataraj (Investor at Incisive VC, angel investor, and Senior Product Manager) Guest: Khawaja Shams (Co-founder and CEO of Momento) Website: ⁠Momento Website⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠Nataraj's LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠Khawaja's LinkedIn⁠ [0:00 - 2:00] Khawaja shares his incredible journey—from working on image processing for Mars rovers and communications for interplanetary missions at NASA to building crucial infrastructure at Amazon Web Services (AWS) and ultimately starting Momento. [2:00 - 6:00] Khawaja provides an in-depth look at his early days at NASA, where he was inspired by the company’s mission and the potential of cloud computing. He discusses how he prototyped using public datasets on his personal credit card and the challenges of onboarding Amazon as a vendor in the early days of AWS. [6:00 - 10:00] We discuss Khawaja’s experience at Amazon, where he witnessed the company’s rapid growth and customer obsession firsthand. He details his roles in AWS product engineering and leading key teams, including DynamoDB and Elemental Technologies. [10:00 - 16:00] Khawaja talks about the inspiration behind Momento and how the need for a better caching solution for interactive applications became clear. He explains how Momento addresses the pain points of traditional caching solutions and simplifies development for users. [16:00 - 20:00] We dive deeper into Momento’s target customer base and the importance of focusing on verticals like media, gaming, and fintech. Khawaja shares valuable insights on identifying the right customers and building strong design partnerships. [20:00 - 25:00] Khawaja discusses product-market fit and how Momento validated its solution through numerous successful customers. He emphasizes the need for coherence in customer asks and how that provides confidence in the product’s direction. [25:00 - 30:00] We talk about B2B growth and marketing strategies, specifically how Momento leverages its existing customer base and focuses on finding similar companies. Khawaja stresses the importance of operational excellence and customer obsession in building trust and advocacy. [30:00 - 35:00] Khawaja shares his thoughts on Amazon's leadership principles and how Momento has cultivated its own unique culture focused on customer centricity and psychological safety. [35:00 - 40:00] We explore the challenges of attracting top talent in a startup environment. Khawaja emphasizes the importance of finding a team you enjoy working with and tackling a problem you believe in. [40:00 - 45:00] Khawaja shares his current consumption habits, including his favorite books and podcasts. He also highlights the importance of mentorship and staying connected with people you admire. [45:00 - 50:00] Khawaja discusses the importance of focus in a startup environment and how prioritizing a few key goals can lead to greater success. [50:00 - 55:00] We finish with a discussion about AI and how Momento plays a crucial role in enabling interactive applications powered by real-time data. #Startup #TechPodcast #Serverless #CloudComputing #AWS #InteractiveApps #B2BMarketing #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #AI #Fintech #MediaTech #GamingTech #ProductMarketFit #Caching #CustomerObsession #FoundersJourney…

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#83 Learning Generative AI, Product Management & Upskilling your Career with Nataraj Sindam 47:01

22 weeks yang lalu47:01

47:01

This is a special episode. We are airing an episode where Nataraj was the guest on Learn It All podcast where he talked about trends in AI, how to leverage gen AI to build new products and how to upskill your career and find the right things to work on. Links: Startup Project Podcast: https://thestartupproject.io/ Website: ⁠⁠ https://thestartupproject.io ⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/natarajsindam/ Twitter: ⁠⁠ https://x.com/natarajsindam…

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#82 Silicon Valley Secrets: From 3x Exit Founder of Baffle io Ameesh Divatia 38:19

23 weeks yang lalu38:19

38:19

Host: Nataraj - Investor at Incisive VC, Angel Investor, and Product Manager. Connect with us: * Website: ⁠https://thestartupproject.io⁠ * LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/natarajsindam/⁠ * Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/natarajsindam⁠ Guest : Ameesh Divatia - Founder and CEO of Baffle. Connect with our guest: LinkedIn : ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ameeshd/⁠ Check out Baffle : ⁠https://baffle.io/⁠ ----- Startup Project Podcast Episode 82: Building Data-Centric Security with Baffle's Mish In this episode of Startup Project, we dive into the world of data security with Ameesh Divatia, the Founder and CEO of Baffle. Ameesh brings a wealth of experience from four successful startups, including stints at Cisco during the dot-com boom. We discuss the evolution of data security from protecting the network to securing the data itself. Ameesh explains how Baffle is creating a new category of “data-centric protection” to address the growing threat of data breaches in the cloud. This episode covers: - Ameesh's entrepreneurial journey from his early days in networking silicon to building multiple successful startups. - The importance of humility and building relationships in the tech world. - Why data protection is the next frontier in security. - How Baffle is solving data security challenges in the cloud. - The impact of GDPR and other regulations on data security. - The potential of Generative AI to disrupt data discovery and security. - Key considerations for starting a new company in today's tech landscape. **Don't miss this insightful conversation with a seasoned entrepreneur who is shaping the future of data security.** ---…

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#81 Coursera's Engineer No 1 on Building AI agents for knowledge workers #AI #podcast #aicode #startup 59:58

23 weeks yang lalu59:58

59:58

Startup Project Podcast: Building AI Agents for Knowledge Workers with Lutra AI Jiquan Ngiam joins Nataraj to discuss the future of AI, from the rise of deep learning to the potential of AI agents for knowledge workers. They delve into [Guest Name]'s experiences working with Andrew Ng at Coursera and Google Brain, where he witnessed the power of scaling up compute and data in pushing the boundaries of AI. Timestamps: * **0:00 - Introduction:** Nataraj welcomes [Guest Name] to the show and introduces his impressive background. * **2:28 - Working with Andrew Ng:** [Guest Name] shares his experience working with Andrew Ng, emphasizing Ng's foresight and focus on scaling up neural networks. * **6:15 - The Importance of Data and Compute:** [Guest Name] highlights how data and compute became key drivers in the success of AI, using the example of AlexNet's breakthrough in 2012. * **12:25 - Democratizing Education with Coursera:** [Guest Name] discusses the early days of Coursera and the team's vision for democratizing access to education, especially in fields like machine learning. * **17:55 - Google Brain and the Rise of Transformers:** [Guest Name] reflects on his time at Google Brain, where he witnessed the emergence of transformers and their potential for generalizing across modalities. * **21:24 - The Limits of Scaling:** [Guest Name] questions the future of AI scaling, suggesting that we may be approaching a point of diminishing returns due to data limitations and the difficulty of creating truly effective synthetic data. * **28:13 - The Need for Data on Physical Tasks:** [Guest Name] proposes a bold idea: collecting real-world data on mundane tasks to train AI agents for robotics and other applications that require replicating human behavior. * **34:23 - Lutrei.ai: AI Agents for Knowledge Work:** [Guest Name] introduces Lutrei.ai, an AI agent designed to assist knowledge workers with tasks like research, data manipulation, and automation. * **42:49 - Different Approaches to AI Agents:** [Guest Name] compares Lutrei's approach to building AI agents with other common methods, highlighting the importance of separating data and logic for reliable and scalable solutions. * **45:38 - Choosing the Right Models:** [Guest Name] discusses the diverse landscape of AI models and how Lutrei leverages different models for different tasks, from small models for summarization to larger models for reasoning and planning. * **52:04 - AI Code Generation: Cursor vs. GitHub Copilot:** [Guest Name] shares his experience using Cursor, a code generation tool, and compares it to GitHub Copilot, highlighting the potential for AI to empower average developers. * **1:00:16 - The Future of AI Code Generation:** [Guest Name] predicts that AI code generation capabilities will become ubiquitous, and the key innovations will be in user experience and interaction design. * **1:05:43 - Consuming Information:** [Guest Name] shares his favorite sources of information, including podcasts, books, and news outlets. * **1:08:44 - Mentorship and Learning:** [Guest Name] reflects on the key mentors in his career, including Andrew Ng, Daphne Koller, and John Chen. * **1:12:34 - Advice for Early Career Professionals:** [Guest Name] advises young professionals to be voracious learners and prioritize gaining diverse experiences early in their careers. * **1:16:21 - The Motivation Behind Lutrei:** [Guest Name] explains his passion for pushing the boundaries of AI while simultaneously making it accessible and impactful for a wider audience. * **1:18:33 - Closing Thoughts:** Nataraj thanks [Guest Name] for sharing his insights and expresses his excitement for the future of Lutrei.ai. **Don't miss this episode to learn more about the exciting things happening in gen AI and how it's poised to revolutionize the way we work!**…

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#80: End of Gaming PC? Ambitious Vision of Highscore for Cloud Gaming 47:44

29 weeks yang lalu47:44

47:44

🎮 Dive into the future of gaming with Ian from High Score! 🎮 In this episode of Startup Project, we explore: - The true size of the gaming industry (hint: it's HUGE!) - How cloud gaming is revolutionizing accessibility - The story behind High Score's innovative platform - Challenges faced by cloud gaming services like Google Stadia - Future trends in game development - Advice for aspiring game developers Ian shares insider insights on: - Why gaming is now recognized as a pinnacle of artistic media - How High Score aims to bring PC gaming to any device - The bifurcation of the gaming industry between indies and AAA titles Whether you're a gamer, a tech enthusiast, or an aspiring game developer, this episode is packed with valuable insights you won't want to miss! Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated on our latest episodes featuring innovators in the startup world. Website - https://thestartupproject.io/2024/08/17/80-end-of-gaming-pc-ambitious-vision-of-highscore-for-cloud-gaming/ #Gaming #CloudGaming #StartupProject #TechInnovation #GameDevelopment #startups #cloud #opensource…

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