FN Podcast

Founders Network

Candid conversations with the founders behind today’s most impactful start-ups. Each episode features a Founders Network Global Keynote: an inside look at how experienced founders build, scale, and lead. Hosted by Founders Network founder Kevin Holmes, these talks distill decades of hard-won lessons into practical insights on growth, fundraising, and founder resilience. Whether you’re building your first start-up or your fifth, join over 600+ peers in the Founders Network as we explore what it really takes to grow together.

Last refreshed: April 17th, 2026 at 4:12 AM ⓘ

Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.

Follow on

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

RSS

Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app

Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

What Still Matters in Start-ups (Even in the AI Era)

AI has made it easier than ever to build a product. So what actually matters now? In this episode, Guy Yalif, co-founder of Intellimize (acquired by Webflow) and former marketing leader at Twitter and Yahoo, breaks down what really drives durable growth in today’s environment. We cover: Why product is no longer a sustainable moat What actually is defensible: brand, distribution, data, and switching costs The “15 conversations” framework for validating ideas How founders fall into the trap of fal...

Apr 16, 2026•45 min•Ep. 3

When Your Start-up Dies, Do You? (The Founder Identity Trap)

Most founders are told to go all in. But what happens when your identity becomes your company? In this episode, Chip Conley, founder of a hotel hospitality group and mentor to Airbnb’s CEO, shares the realities most founders don’t talk about. We cover: Why tying your identity to your start-up can be dangerous The emotional toll of building, and what happens when things fall apart Lessons from mentoring Brian Chesky at Airbnb How to lead without ego and empower your team What comes after success,...

Apr 16, 2026•52 min•Ep. 2

Zapier’s Compounding Advantage

From a middle-class childhood in central Missouri to building one of the most important “glue” products on the internet, this conversation tracks the real Zapier origin story: the unglamorous early days, the “plus one” pain that sparked the idea, and the long, steady compounding effect of integrations. We talk about what it actually took to get momentum (credibility, distribution, and relentless customer feedback), why Zapier leaned into an integration flywheel , and how building relationships c...

Mar 03, 2026•53 min•Ep. 1

Hosted on Transistor

For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android