Welcome back to another season of The Room Podcast! To kick off season 12, we are joined by Ryan Petersen , Founder and CEO of Flexport , the revolutionary digital freight forwarder transforming how goods move around the world. Launched in 2013, Flexport combines technology and logistics expertise to bring transparency and efficiency to the complex world of global trade, having grown to become the third-largest American company in the ocean freight industry. In this episode, Ryan takes us throug...
Apr 08, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 1
In this special holiday episode of The Room Podcast, we sit down with Agatha Kluk and Sonia Farber, the co-founders of Kluk Farber Law (now part of Perkins Coie), a specialized law firm dedicated to supporting innovative founders and startups. Their firm provides strategic legal guidance to entrepreneurs navigating the complex landscape of building and scaling companies. This candid conversation takes us through the evolution of their practice, from its founding in 2017 to its strategic partners...
Dec 19, 2024•51 min•Ep. 9
Welcome back to another episode of The Room Podcast! This week, we’re thrilled to chat with Wade Foster, CEO and Co-Founder of Zapier, the tool that’s revolutionized workflows by making automation accessible to anyone. Zapier helps businesses and individuals connect the apps they rely on, creating seamless integrations that save time and boost productivity. In this episode, Wade takes us through Zapier’s origins, its flagship no-code-needed automation platform, and how the company has carved out...
Nov 19, 2024•47 min•Ep. 8
In this LIVE version of The Room Podcast, we’re thrilled to chat with Immad Akhund , Co-Founder and CEO of Mercury , a fintech company built specifically for startups and tech companies. Immad walks us through his journey from founder to industry leader, and how Mercury is reimagining banking with streamlined financial tools for growing businesses. Mercury’s core product offers an intuitive digital banking experience, designed to handle startups' unique cash flow and management needs. Join us as...
Nov 12, 2024•38 min•Ep. 7
Welcome back to The Room Podcast! Today, we’re thrilled to explore the fast-evolving world of B2B tech innovation with Shensi Ding , co-founder of Merge . Merge has become a leader in unified APIs, creating a category that addresses the challenges many companies face with complex integrations. Shensi’s journey is a unique one—from her coding days in Boston to Columbia, then a career at Silver Lake, all of which prepared her to tackle the 'SAAS sprawl' problem head-on. Together with her co-founde...
Nov 05, 2024•38 min•Ep. 6
In this episode of The Room Podcast, we sit down with Jason Lee , the founder of Salt Labs and DailyPay , to explore his journey from finance to fintech entrepreneurship. Salt Labs, Jason’s latest venture, focuses on empowering workers to maximize their earnings potential, while DailyPay revolutionized the way employees access their wages. We cover a range of topics such as the need for improvement in front-line workers' payment structures, how Jason’s years in investment banking shaped his appr...
Oct 29, 2024•48 min•Ep. 5
In this episode of The Room Podcast, we sit down with Kevin McCarthy , the CEO of Unreal , a company dedicated to creating healthier alternatives to classic candy. Unreal is known for creating delicious, better-for-you snacks that ditch artificial ingredients, offering cleaner, more natural options in the world of sweets. We discuss the intersection of entrepreneurship and health-conscious innovation, bringing a refreshing approach to an industry ripe for disruption. Kevin shares his journey to ...
Oct 22, 2024•40 min•Ep. 4
In this episode of The Room Podcast, we’re joined by Sami Inkinen , co-founder of Virta Health , a company transforming the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Virta Health’s mission is to not just manage, but reverse diabetes using personalized nutrition plans backed by clinical research. Sami also shares his journey from humble beginnings on a Finnish farm to co-founding the real estate platform Trulia, and ultimately, Virta Health. Key highlights include the current state and effect of GLP1 drugs i...
Oct 15, 2024•50 min•Ep. 3
In this episode of The Room Podcast, we sit down with Ariel Kaye , the founder of Parachute , a brand known for elevating the home essentials industry with a focus on comfort and wellness. Ariel shares her journey from a creative upbringing to her path through advertising, where she discovered her passion for building brands, eventually leading to the founding of Parachute. Join us as we dive into how Parachute taps into the wellness movement by focusing on the importance of sleep and home comfo...
Oct 08, 2024•45 min•Ep. 2
Welcome back to a new season of The Room Podcast! To kick off Season 11, we're joined by Johnny Ho , co-founder of Perplexity , an AI-powered platform transforming the way everyday consumers interact with search. Johnny shares his path from competitive programming to entrepreneurship and offers insights into the development of Perplexity’s core product, which aims to deliver precise, reliable answers in a simple, intuitive way. In this episode, we covered topics such as how Perplexity uses AI to...
Oct 01, 2024•34 min•Ep. 1
Sep 18, 2024•47 min•Ep. 13
In this episode, we dive into the Future of DTC panel from this summer’s Inside Summit. This panel was moderated by our very own Claudia Laurie, who is also the founder of Prive, a leading eCommerce billing platform. In this discussion, the panelists explore the future of DTC, how to build authentic brand communities, building a celebrity brand, challenges and opportunities around customer acquisition and retention, and advice for brand founders and builders. This conversation includes an incred...
Sep 10, 2024•44 min•Ep. 14
In this episode, we dive into the Future of Platforms panel from this summer’s Inside Summit. This panel was moderated by Alexandra York, Associate Editor at Forbes and a key figure behind the 30 Under 30 lists. Alexandra brings her expertise in covering young entrepreneurs and emerging brands to guide a discussion on the evolving digital platform space. In this discussion, the panelists explore the future of digital platforms, the impact of social commerce, and how they’re navigating challenges...
Sep 03, 2024•46 min•Ep. 12
In this episode of The Room Podcast, we recap the Inside Summit x Gen AI Collective panel, moderated by Sriram Ramakrishnan. The panel featured Vaikkunth Mugunthan (Dynamo AI), Hassaan Raza (Tavus), Ankur Patel (Multimodal), and Lulu Chang (Canapi Ventures), who shared their insights on the challenges and opportunities in the AI landscape. Key questions discussed: 1. Career Journeys: What led each panelist to venture into AI or invest in it? 2. Fundraising for AI: How does raising funds for AI-f...
Aug 29, 2024•48 min•Ep. 11
Episode Structure Introduction KJ Sidberry's Background Career Pivots and Decision-Making Frameworks Advice for Founders Insights for Funders Industry Experience and Market Changes Conclusion Key Discussion Points1. KJ Sidberry's Background East Coast upbringing between Connecticut and NYC Exposure to entrepreneurship and education through parents Early rejection led to a pivot in career direction 2. Career Pivots and Decision-Making Frameworks Pivot 1: Consulting to VC (Forerunner Ventures) Thr...
Aug 21, 2024•40 min•Ep. 10
In this episode: Dive into the highlights of our intimate gathering of 120 talented friends from the DTC space Get a taste of the dynamic perspectives and human connections that made Inside Summit unique Preview the upcoming episodes featuring panel conversations with leaders in: • Generative AI • Consumer social platforms • DTC • And more! We're thrilled to share how our pandemic side hustle has blossomed into a vibrant in-person community of impressive leaders. Join us as we recap the most pow...
Aug 13, 2024•25 min•Ep. 9
Welcome to the finale of Season 10 of The Room Podcast! In this episode, we're thrilled to sit down with Ben Goodwin , Co-Founder of OLIPOP , a pioneering beverage company at the intersection of taste and gut health. Ben takes us on a journey through his upbringing and how it shaped his worldview, his pivotal realization about lifestyle changes, and the catalysts that drove him to become a founder. Join us as we delve into the core product of OLIPOP and its unique approach to promoting gut healt...
May 14, 2024•52 min•Ep. 8
Welcome back to The Room Podcast! This week, we're excited to sit with and interview Matt Martin , Co-founder of Clockwise , a revolutionary productivity platform. Matt shares his career journey, detailing his evolution from tech enthusiast to the founding team of Clockwise, why he founded Clockwise, and his passion for properly utilized software. Matt elaborates on Clockwise's success in providing efficient scheduling solutions, leveraging advanced technology with intuitive design. In our conve...
May 07, 2024•45 min•Ep. 7
We are back with another installment of The Room Podcast! This week, we are joined by Meghan Joyce , the visionary CEO behind Duckbill , a revolutionary, AI-powered life management service. Listen in as Meghan shares her journey from pivotal roles at Uber and Oscar Health to founding Duckbill, where she's pioneering accessible solutions for the modern adult. We delve into Meghan's mission of democratizing access to assistance, exploring how Duckbill combines cutting-edge technology and human exp...
Apr 30, 2024•53 min•Ep. 6
Welcome to the latest episode of The Room Podcast! Today, we have the privilege of hosting Eva Ho , the co-founder of Fika Ventures , a driving force in the tech startup ecosystem. Eva Ho is no stranger to breaking barriers, and in this episode, she offers candid advice for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to carve their own paths. Join us as Eva takes us through her journey from her early days in the tech industry to her current role as a trailblazing venture capitalist. In this episode, we explo...
Apr 23, 2024•49 min•Ep. 5
This week, we are excited to return with another LIVE rendition of The Room Podcast! Last December Madison and Claudia traveled down to Miami for Art Basel to sit down live with some incredible guests. We are joined by Daniel Betts , founder of Blue Frontier Labs , and Tosh Ernest , Head of SVB Catalyst 2045 , a new program started by SVB to further support under-represented founders across every industry. In this episode, we delve into Daniel's early career in the energy sector, where he recogn...
Apr 16, 2024•51 min•Ep. 4
We’re back with another installment of The Room Podcast! In this episode, we're honored to host Julie Rice , the co-founder of SoulCycle and Peoplehood . Join us as Julie shares her journey from revolutionizing the fitness industry with SoulCycle to her latest venture, focused on strengthening human connections. We discuss the genesis of SoulCycle, exploring how it became a cultural phenomenon by fostering community and motivation beyond traditional fitness. Julie also sheds light on Peoplehood,...
Apr 09, 2024•51 min•Ep. 3
Welcome back to The Room Podcast! In today's episode, we're thrilled to have Larry Diamond , co-founder of ZIP , joining us for an insightful conversation. Larry and his co-founder, Peter Gray, identified a critical gap in the market, leading to the birth of ZIP. This episode delves into the evolution of digital payments, exploring ZIP's role in providing seamless financial solutions for businesses of all sizes. In this episode, we discuss the transformative impact of ZIP on the fintech ecosyste...
Apr 02, 2024•44 min•Ep. 2
Welcome back to another new season of The Room Podcast! Season 10 kicks off with an exploration into the world of health and wellness entrepreneurship featuring Katerina Schneider , the innovative founder and CEO of Ritual . Join us as we uncover the story behind Ritual, a company that revolutionized the supplement industry. Dive into Katerina's journey, her insights on transparency, and how Ritual's approach is reshaping the way we view vitamins. It's an episode filled with inspiration and a cl...
Mar 26, 2024•43 min•Ep. 1
Welcome to The Room Podcast! A series interviewing your favorite tech founders and funders. Our guests were in the room where it happened and they're sharing their stories. The Room is hosted by Claudia Laurie and Madison McIlwain, two digital natives based in SF, who are challenging the status quo just like our guests. WX Productions
Feb 17, 2024•4 min
Welcome back to Season 9 of The Room Podcast. In our final episode of the season, we sit with Cristina Junqueira . Cristina co-founded Nubank , a Brazilian fintech that revolutionized the industry with its user-friendly digital banking services. Nubank's transparent fee structures and mobile app have disrupted traditional banking, setting a new industry standard. Their innovative approach has made a significant impact, especially in Latin America, where Nubank has gained wide popularity. When Nu...
Oct 31, 2023•42 min•Ep. 8
Welcome back to another episode of The Room Podcast! This week’s guest is Christelle Rohaut , the CEO and co-founder of Codi . Christelle and Codi are leading the way to happier urban living through innovative approaches encompassing remote work, sustainability, and intelligent urban design. That’s why Codi’s mission is to offer more flexible and secure office spaces, providing a convenient alternative to traditional office setups. Companies of all sizes use Codi to attract and retain talent, re...
Oct 24, 2023•38 min•Ep. 7
We continue this season of The Room Podcast with another incredible guest, Christina Cacioppo , co-founder and CEO of Vanta . Vanta is an automated security monitoring platform that helps companies get SOC 2, HIPAA, or ISO certified quickly and easily. We and Christina share experiences working for Dropbox as she details what she learned from her time there and how that impacted her decision to start Vanta. In this episode, we learn more about topics such as transitioning from product manager to...
Oct 17, 2023•38 min•Ep. 6
We are back again with another episode of the The Room Podcast! We take a deep dive into blockchain technology with Kathleen Breitman , the co-founder of Tezos . Kathleen sets the stage for a fascinating discussion about Tezos' contributions to the blockchain space. We talk about Tezos’ self-amending nature and community-driven governance, how companies are tokenizing real assets on Tezos, and how these features drove Tezos to become a pioneering force in the blockchain industry. In this episode...
Oct 03, 2023•42 min•Ep. 5
Hey, The Room Podcast Family! In this exciting episode of the series, we dive headfirst into the open-source world of tech entrepreneurship with Guillermo Rauch, the visionary founder behind Vercel and Next.js. Guillermo takes us on his incredible journey, from growing up in Argentina to moving to Switzerland to becoming a driving force in shaping the future of web development. He shares the pivotal moments that led to the creation of Vercel, the platform that's revolutionizing front-end develop...
Sep 26, 2023•50 min•Ep. 4
