Ishveen Jolly, founder and CEO of OpenSponsorship, joins us in this episode to discuss the gritty middle part of building companies, the challenges of two-sided marketplaces, and the importance of adaptability in the ever-changing business landscape. EPISODE LINKS: Ishveen Jolly's Twitter Ishveen Jolly's LinkedIn OpenSponsorship Website The Long Game Podcast TIMESTAMPS: (00:01:46) OpenSponsorship, two-sided marketplaces (00:05:44) Adapting to Market Changes (00:09:07) Creating sustainable growth...
Jan 02, 2024•45 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Alex Meredith is the co-founder of Honest, a product growth studio. In this conversation, we explore the concept of product-led growth as a business strategy. We delve into aligning a company around its product, identifying a North Star metric, and using the ICE scoring system. Tune in for insights on measuring and analyzing product performance. EPISODE LINKS: Alex Meredith on LinkedIn Honest Website: https://honestprod.com/ Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson Forbes Article on North Star Metric Growth...
Dec 19, 2023•53 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Lucas Philips is a born-and-bred New Yorker and a third-generation serial entrepreneur. In this conversation, we explore Entrepreneurship through Acquisition (ETA) as Lucas shares his experiences and insights. He discusses his transition from Silicon Valley startups to the acquisition and modernization of existing small businesses, notably Newark Auto. Join us as we delve into SBA Loans, modernization processes, growth strategies, and the 'silver tsunami' in the small business market. EPISODE LI...
Dec 12, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Dominic Costanzo is the VP of Portfolio at 43North, a startup accelerator sponsored by Empire State Development. In this conversation, we explore the key elements that differentiate a good startup from the rest, the role of timing and luck in startup success, and 43North's unique investment strategy. We also delve into Dominic's perspective on the ever-evolving AI trend. EPISODE LINKS: Learn more about Dominic Costanzo and 43North: https://www.43north.org/ Connect with Dominic on https://www.lin...
Dec 05, 2023•46 min•Season 1Ep. 23
LaSean Smith is the founder of CAGR Investments, a firm specializing in compound annual growth rate-based investments in software companies. In this conversation, we explore investments, business models, entrepreneurship, and script contents, focusing on key topics like business decision-making, financial assessments, and the preference for personal capital over venture capital for business growth. EPISODE LINKS: CAGR Investments Delivering Happiness The Hard Thing About Hard Things TIMESTAMPS: ...
Nov 28, 2023•56 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Join me in this insightful conversation with LaSean Smith, founder of CAGR Investments, as we delve into the art of leveraging capital for startup success. We discuss the nuances of raising capital, the impact of capital on business growth, and the importance of market validation. LaSean shares his unique perspectives on avoiding conventional capital raising pitfalls and understanding the motivations behind different types of capital. EPISODE LINKS: LaSean's Twitter: https://twitter.com/lasean L...
Nov 27, 2023•44 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Chris Zeunstrom is an American entrepreneur currently residing in Lisbon, Portugal. He owns Crispy Strom Industries Inc., where he focuses on solving problems, creating products, and building businesses—through the thoughtful application of design and technology. Chris is the Founder of Ruca, a global design cooperative, and founder support network, and Yorba, a reverse CRM and passport to a more ethical internet. In this conversation, we explore design cooperatives as a flat structure, self-org...
Nov 14, 2023•46 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Jason Piperberg is a prolific illustrator who has showcased his versatility in comics, book covers, and more. In our conversation, we delve into his life as a comic artist, the essential role of intellectual property for artists, and the nuances of AI's emergence in the world of art, spotlighting topics like storytelling through art, the value of originality, and the future of generative AI in the creative space. EPISODE LINKS: Twitter: https://twitter.com/jasonpiperberg Instagram: https://insta...
Oct 31, 2023•55 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Sam Gimbel is the co-owner of Honest and formerly the Co-Founder of Clark and VP of Product at Clover. In this conversation we explored the intricacies of product strategy, the importance of low-tech experimentation, and the double diamond framework. We touch on topics such as AI investments, CRISPR technology, and the shift in business priorities in the current economic paradigm. EPISODE LINKS: Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamGimbel LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samgimbel/ Honest's Webs...
Oct 24, 2023•45 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Alex Porter is the founder and CEO of Mod Tech Labs, an automated optimization solution reshaping real-time content. In this conversation, we explored the intricate world of virtual production, dove deep into 3D content's vast applications across industries, and discussed the challenges and triumphs of fundraising in the ever-evolving tech industry. EPISODE LINKS: Alex Porter's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alextporter/ Mod Tech Labs: https://modtechlabs.com/ LED Video Walls Explained: h...
Oct 17, 2023•52 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Rich Zazo is the CEO and Co-founder of Matter Product Studio, a consultancy that works with early stage startups to build software products. In this conversation, we explore Matter's new product called CTO-in-a-box, pricing models, technical leadership, and the difference between startups and corporations. EPISODE LINKS: -Rich Zazo's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richzazo/ -Matter Product Studio: https://matterproductstudio.com/ TIMESTAMPS: (00:00:31) CTO-in-a-box Intro (00:06:20) Techni...
Oct 10, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Jason Harris is the CEO and Co-Founder of Button Finance, a specialized fintech mortgage lender. In this conversation, we explored Button Finance's unique approach, the impact of COVID on their market, and Jason's journey from being an M&A banker to starting his own company. We focus on key topics like the nuances of the fintech mortgage industry, the significance of interest rates, and the challenges of innovation within a regulatory environment. EPISODE LINKS: Jason Harris on LinkedIn: htt...
Oct 03, 2023•51 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Keo Sar is a seasoned startup veteran with over 12 years of deep involvement in various stages of company growth. In this conversation, we explored his experiences in startup ecosystems from Silicon Valley to Serbia, focusing on key topics like building businesses, integrating AI strategies, and the emerging opportunities in the Balkan region. EPISODE LINKS: Keo's Twitter: https://twitter.com/keo_sar Keo's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keo-sar/ JICA: https://www.jica.go.jp/english/...
Sep 26, 2023•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Stefan Wirth is a trailblazer in the world of bootstrapped startups, with a unique perspective on building profitable businesses. In this conversation, we explored the mechanics of building bootstrapped companies, the pitfalls of the VC model, and the value of building in public. We also discussed the importance of motivation, the reality of startup pivots, and micro acquisitions. We touched on Stefan's new ventures, including bridesmaid for hire and writing software using ChatGPT and AI, focusi...
Sep 19, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Dan Miller is the CEO and founder of Spora Health. In this conversation, we explored the significance of Spora, emphasizing key topics like its vision, the art of execution in startups, and the challenges of racism in healthcare. EPISODE LINKS: Spora Health: https://www.sporahealth.com/ Sivers on Multiplication: https://sivers.org/multiply Medi: https://themedi.org/ The Power of Now: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Now-Guide-Spiritual-Enlightenment-ebook/dp/B002361MLA Meditations: https://www.amazo...
Sep 12, 2023•1 hr 25 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Vince Golangco is the Founder & Publisher of WhenInManila.com and a serial entrepreneur in Manila. In this conversation, we explored the journey of building WhenInManila.com, the role of luck and timing, and how Vince has diversified his brand into other industries, focusing on key topics like online entrepreneurship, personal growth, and the importance of being present. EPISODE LINKS: Twitter: https://twitter.com/vincegolangco LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincegolangco/ Instagram: ...
Sep 06, 2023•50 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Hennesys Disla is the founder and CEO of ArmHug, a company that revolutionizes the phlebotomy process with portable kits. In this conversation we explored the complexities of building a physical product, tackled entrepreneurship myths, and discussed the changing face of healthcare. We also touched on the crucial role of relationships and emotional well-being in business success. EPISODE LINKS: Guest's Twitter: https://twitter.com/Armhugcare Guest's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hennesysd...
Aug 29, 2023•48 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Chris DeLorenzo is a renowned commercial lifestyle photographer from Los Angeles, capturing the profound interplay of light and color. His client list includes Entrepreneur Magazine, Reef, Toyota, Ferrari, Lexus, Jeep, Infiniti, Nissan, Chevy, and Subaru. In our conversation, we explored the world of art, its meeting point with business, the transformative power of AI in creative industries, and the essential principles of growth and dedication. Key topics include the significance of setting bou...
Aug 22, 2023•1 hr 40 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Spotify Description: Jared Neutel is the founder and CEO of Neutech, a seasoned product manager, strategist, and entrepreneur. In this conversation, we explored decision-making processes, entrepreneurship, and creative thinking. We dive into starting up, overcoming rejection fears, the interplay of sales and entrepreneurship, and why it’s essential to rapidly iterate and ship products early. We discuss how gamification can enhance products and personal life, the importance of living intentionall...
Aug 15, 2023•1 hr 21 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Jon Kinney is the Partner & CTO at Headway, boasting over 18 years of experience in web and mobile development. In this conversation, we explored humanity's innate desire for connection through technology, AI ethics, the original vision of an open internet by Steve Jobs, and the power dynamics of progressive web apps vs. native apps. We also touch upon Jon's lessons from building dozens of products, the intricacies of Ruby on Rails, and his experiences at Headway, a leading product studio. E...
Aug 08, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Pete McCarthy is an experienced tech entrepreneur with a wealth of knowledge in various industries. In this conversation we explored the evolution of the internet, his experiences during the dot-com bubble, and his insights into agile and waterfall methodologies, crypto, bitcoin, and Earthships. EPISODE LINKS: Pete's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pedromccarthy/ Fucked Company: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fucked_Company TIMESTAMPS: (00:00:59) Intro and Background (00:03:31) The internet...
Aug 01, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Courtney Caldwell is a successful entrepreneur and trailblazer in the tech industry. In this conversation we explored transitioning from the corporate world to entrepreneurship, the journey of a non-tech founder, the power of optimism, and the importance of multidimensional living, focusing on key topics like personal growth, founder mental health, and the role of user feedback in improving products. EPISODE LINKS: Courtney's Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShearShareCEO Courtney's LinkedIn: https:...
Jul 25, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Shane Brennan is a thought leader in the realm of AI and startup landscapes. In this conversation we explored the threshold for behavioral change as a framework for startups, the impact of AI on the current market, and the potential of AI as an equalizer in the marketplace. We also delved into startup opportunities in AI-adjacent sectors, such as compliance and data accuracy, and the nature of AI being intrinsically lazy. EPISODE LINKS: Shane's Twitter Shane's LinkedIn The Privacy Co. Kerckhoffs...
Jul 18, 2023•1 hr 22 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Chris Serron is an influential figure in the tech industry with a special focus on building second brain systems. In this conversation, we explored ego and identity, the role of adversity in personal growth, the transition from being a builder to a leader, the future of AR/VR and spatial computing, and the philosophy of stoicism, focusing on key topics like adversity, leadership transition, and the future of mixed reality. EPISODE LINKS: Chris's Twitter Chris's LinkedIn Chris's Instagram Chris's...
Jul 11, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Chip Leigh is a seasoned engineer with experience at both Tesla and Rivian. In this conversation, we delved into the intricacies of building electric vehicles, energy management, creating resilient microgrids, and the science behind constructing sustainable housing. With key insights like "What we all want is a 400 mile range toaster oven on wheels," and "Not only can you charge your car from your home, you can now charge your home from your car," this conversation is a deep dive into the inters...
Jul 03, 2023•1 hr 43 min•Ep. 4
Avinash Mandava is an exited entrepreneur who previously built Vorstella, an A.I. agent that stabilizes and optimizes your data platforms. In this conversation we explored the impact of AI and the future of work, focusing on key topics such as the effect of AI on startups and small teams, the unbundling of cloud computing, and the role of unique knowledge and self-learning. TIMESTAMPS: (00:00:00) Intro (00:00:26) What's the next idea? (00:05:08) LLMs and language (00:06:24) How AI affects small ...
Jun 27, 2023•1 hr 27 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Matt Berman is a self-taught engineer, VC backed, exited founder of Sonar, and a rising star on YouTube. In this conversation, we explored the need for a shift away from the traditional Silicon Valley and VC model of hyper growth and hyper death, and what more sustainable startups could look like. We delved into key topics such as starting in the middle in startups, AI and AI ethics, and the reality of mental health in startups. EPISODE LINKS: Sonar: https://investors.marchex.com/news-releases/n...
Jun 20, 2023•1 hr 20 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Rich Zazo is the CEO of Matter Product Studio, a consultancy that works with early stage startups to build software products. In this conversation Rich and I talk about the future of the service industry with the advent of AI, the nature of team building in startups, and how to cultivate a strong remote culture, as well as numerous other topics relating to technology, entrepreneurship, and life philosophy.
Jun 12, 2023•56 min•Season 1Ep. 1
