The NFX Podcast

The Google of Biology: Meet the Company that is Reading & Writing the Code of Life

The Insider Story of Houseparty with Ben Rubin & James Currier

Josh Elman & James Currier on the Arrival of the Next Social Era

In this episode, Kristin O'Brien, James Currier, and Josh Elman delve into the evolution of social media, its current state, and future opportunities. They share valuable advice for early-stage founders in social media startups, discuss the transition from Meerkat to House Party, and the growth of Discord. The conversation emphasizes the importance of humanity in technology, psychology in startup innovation, and constant product evolution.

The Founders' List: Your Life is Driven by Network Effects by James Currier

In this episode, James Currier discusses the unseen hand of networks and their influence on our decisions and social order. He dives into the intensity of personal networks, Dunbar's Law, the impact of educational and professional networks, and the role of location on networking. The episode concludes with a discussion on network crossroads and reassessments.

How Reid Hoffman & James Currier See the Path Ahead for Founders during The Great Reset

In this episode, James Currier, Reid Hoffman, and Kristin O'Brien discuss decision-making strategies during layoffs, unlearning and adapting in crises, and post-crisis financing strategies. They also explore changes in human behavior due to the pandemic, startup opportunities in a changing landscape, and the future of work. The role of cultural entrepreneurship and Silicon Valley's pandemic response are also discussed.

David Sacks shares how PayPal & Trulia Navigated Downturns

In this episode, Kristin O'Brien, Pete Flint, and David Sacks discuss leading through challenging times, navigating disruption, and the importance of adaptability. They delve into crisis management, the economic impact on startups and VC investments, and the role of paranoia in survival. Insights on wartime CEOs and the response of Silicon Valley to COVID-19 are also shared. The episode concludes with potential long-term pandemic impacts, highlighting the rise of edtech and healthtech.

Stacy Brown-Philpot on Leading Startups Through Uncertainty

In this episode, Pete Flint chats with Stacey Brown-Philpot, CEO of Task Rabbit, about leadership, company culture, and handling crises. They delve into TaskRabbit's evolution, community engagement, marketplace balancing, and tackling disintermediation. They also discuss geographic expansion, pricing strategies, and their IKEA acquisition. Lastly, they explore the gig economy's evolution, its regulation, and the impact of the COVID crisis.

How Iman Abuzeid (CEO of Incredible Health) Raised Venture Capital

In this episode, James Currier talks with Iman Abuzeid about the role of structured thinking in problem-solving and fundraising. They discuss the importance of controlling the fundraising process, common errors in pitching, the evolution of pitch decks, and how to navigate term sheets. The conversation also covers financial model adjustments, key SaaS metrics, and the psychology of fundraising.

How Marco Zappacosta (Founder & CEO of Thumbtack) Built a Billion Dollar Marketplace

In this episode, Pete Flint converses with Marco Zappacosta and Kristen O'Brien on the growth and evolution of Craigslist and Thumbtack. They discuss the importance of liquidity and network effects in marketplaces, the misapplication of Uber's model, and the future of human capital in marketplaces. They also delve into leadership, fundraising, competition, and the future of online-offline interaction.

The Founder List: 16 Non-Obvious Fundraising Lessons On Pitching (James Currier, Partner at NFX)

Scott Cook (Founder of Intuit) Shares Why Top Founders Understand Network Effects

In this episode, James Currier chats with Kristin O'Brien and Scott Cook about the importance of network effects for startups. They delve into Cook's experiences with eBay and Amazon, discuss the efficiency of small teams, and share strategies to overcome the chicken and egg problem in network effects. The conversation also touches on societal benefits of network effects, the transformation of lives through technology, and the rise of volunteerism through digital platforms.

The Founder List: The Hidden Patterns to Great Startup Ideas (James Currier, Partner at NFX)

In this episode, James Currier delves into the conceptualization and refinement of startup ideas. He introduces five key frameworks, including leveraging technological shifts and balancing market risk versus execution risk. The episode concludes with case studies on companies managing different risk types.

The Founder List: 9 Habits of World Class Startups (James Currier, Partner at NFX)

In this episode, James Currier delves into the fundamentals of running a successful startup. He discusses the nine habits of world-class startups and explores the power of storytelling with Morgan Beller. The conversation also touches on the "11 of 13" rule, the significance of language, the necessity to test and iterate, and how to spot major changes in crucial metrics.

Manish Chandra (Founder & CEO) shares The Poshmark Story

In this episode, Manish Chandra, founder of Poshmark, joins James Currier to discuss his experience building and scaling Poshmark. They delve into overcoming operational challenges, the importance of social commerce, and the company's unique business philosophy. The conversation also touches on fundraising, team development, and Poshmark's future plans.

The Founder List: Inside the Marketplace of Uber (James Currier, Partner at NFX)

In this episode, James Currier discusses the key learnings from Uber's success, emphasizing the importance of speed, product defensibility, and strategic use of capital in startups. He underscores the role of a big vision and the power of language and naming in business.

Inside the Marketplace of Lyft with James Currier & Pete Flint (NFX Partners)

In this episode, Pete Flint and James Currier discuss the Lyft IPO, comparing the ridesharing market to the airline industry and exploring Lyft's expansion into scooters. They delve into the future of autonomous vehicles, supply side innovation, and the influence of Wall Street on company strategies. They also touch on the importance of founders' control and Lyft's potential dominance in smaller markets.

Andy Johns & Pete Flint on "Why Growth Hacking Is Broken"

In this episode, Pete Flint and guest Andy Johns discuss the interplay between innovation and optimization in startups, setting multiyear goals, and unique growth strategies for network effect businesses. They also critique product development focus in tech companies, analyze startup organizational charts, and explore future growth trends.