Welcome to our first episode of 2024. We’re excited to be back and be sharing such a riveting episode to kick off the year! Today we have the pleasure of welcoming special guest, unicorn founder and CEO of Mercury, Immad Akhund. Mercury offers banking and credit cards for ambitious companies and was founded in 2017. With Chris and Yaniv, Immad shares his insights from scaling after finding product-market fit and how the journey has brought diverse challenges. In particular they discuss: 🚀 Mercu...
Jan 09, 2024•49 min•Season 3Ep. 1
This week we are sharing another one of our most popular episode of 2023 featuring Nir Zavaro. The lessons contained in this episode are so important to refresh with in 2024. We’re all storytellers. It’s the way we first begin to learn and it's the way we have communicated important information for thousands of years. However, it is the skill we practice the least. As startup operators, if you were a better storyteller imagine what you could accomplish. You would be able to engross and inspi...
Jan 05, 2024•40 min•Season 2Ep. 58
We’re back this week with one of our most popular episodes of 2023, featuring April Dunford. Product positioning will make or break your startup. Go toe-to-toe with multinational trillion-dollar behemoths and the likelihood of success is minute. Restructure your approach to target a different group and you can one-day “dab [your] tears with the money”. Researched ways on how to develop your product position and still feel stuck? Don’t fret! Yaniv and Chris are back this week with a super special...
Dec 28, 2023•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 57
2023 is winding down. You’re no doubt preparing and strategizing for 2024. You’ve listened to our recent episode on being more efficient in 2024 but now you’re at the pointy end - making the tough decisions on what to focus on. Feeling stuck? Not sure which way to turn? Don’t worry, Chris and Yaniv are here to end your decision paralysis! In this episode they cover: 🔍 Decoding Decision Challenges: Chris and Yaniv explore the complexities of decision making in the startup world, where poor choic...
Dec 18, 2023•40 min•Season 2Ep. 56
Google caught faking? Is the economy back? Are US colleges anti-Semitic? There’s been some major developments in the tech ecosystem this week. Don’t worry! Emil, Chris and Yaniv are here to unpack it all including: 🤖 Google's AI Deception: The team delve into Google's Gemini, an AI model that initially wowed with live commentary on videos but later revealed an unexpected twist—AI responses stitched together from still images, raising questions about transparency and progress. ⚖️ Google's Antitr...
Dec 13, 2023•43 min•Season 2Ep. 55
This episode is the MOST IMPORTANT podcast episode you will listen to in December. Contrary to popular opinion, saving money DOES NOT mean sacrificing progress. Planning your attack for 2024? Chris and Yaniv are here to dispel the myths and strategise for maximum output while minimizing costs in the latest episode of The Startup Podcast. Together they discuss: 🎯 Clarifying Company Strategy: Define a clear and focused strategy to guide your company's mission. Learn how to trim costs without ...
Dec 12, 2023•37 min•Season 2Ep. 54
What did Elon say? Leading the Silicon Valley chatter this week are comments Elon Musk made during an interview with Andrew Sorkin. Emil, Chris and Yaniv break it down and the flow-on effects on paid social networks while also exploring: 🚀 Elon Unleashed: Emil, Chris and Yaniv discuss Elon Musk's unfiltered behavior, especially on Twitter. They also explore how his lack of self-censorship and tendency to "troll" impacts his vision of an open platform and its perception. 🔋 EV Dema...
Dec 06, 2023•42 min•Season 2Ep. 53
VC fundraising. A crucial way to rapidly expand your startup. The best VC relationships will elevate your startup to another level while poor ones can make your startup lame. This week on The Startup Podcast, Chris and Yaniv venture into the shadows of fundraising as founders expose harrowing tales of dealing with unscrupulous venture capitalists. 🕵️♂️ 🤝 False Promises: Some VCs masquerade as venture studios, luring founders with promises of substantial support in exchange for hefty equity. I...
Dec 05, 2023•40 min•Season 2Ep. 52
Data is radioactive. Handle it appropriately and you can harness its extreme power for your startup. Don’t and the promised invaluable insights will decay and destroy it! Thankfully Chris and Yaniv explore the art of data-driven decision-making in this week’s episode of The Startup Podcast. Listen as they investigate: 📊 Choosing Wisely: Use product telemetry data for insightful product decisions, steering away from the common trap of relying solely on business metrics like revenue and user numb...
Nov 29, 2023•47 min•Season 2Ep. 51
He’s back! Sam Altman returns as CEO of OpenAI, less than a week after being fired by the board. Today on The Startup Podcast, Emil Michael former Chief Business Officer of Uber, also returns to the pod with Chris and Yaniv to discuss the latest OpenAI drama. Together they explore: 🤝 Leadership Dynamics at OpenAI: Uncover the compelling narrative of Sam Altman's departure and return as OpenAI's CEO, exploring the nuances of board decisions and the impact of employee protests. 🌐 Managing AI Par...
Nov 27, 2023•41 min•Season 2Ep. 50
When is it the right time to shut down your startup? Join Chris and Yaniv in this insightful episode featuring Gabor Cselle, the founder of the once-promising T2/Pebble, as he candidly shares the story behind the decision to shut down his startup. Facing the uphill battle of funding challenges and operational struggles, T2/Pebble, a Twitter alternative, ultimately reached a crossroads. Cselle walks us through the tough realization that the opportunity cost of persisting outweighed the benefits. ...
Nov 22, 2023•49 min•Season 2Ep. 49
On the 17th of November OpenAI announced on their blog that Sam Altman was fired. This sent shockwaves throughout the startup ecosystem worldwide. What happened next was even more fireworks. Greg Brockman, the other co-founder was removed as president of the board then Mira Murati was appointed interim CEO. Greg quit as well as four other senior people. Investors including Microsoft has been in the dark and Mira Murati and has since tried to bring Sam and Greg back to OpenAI. So what the hell is...
Nov 20, 2023•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 48
How do you improve your mental health? Today continues the important discussion we started with Mike Filbey, founder of Pepper and former co-founder of ButcherBox surrounding mental health. To help guide us on the ins and outs of founder mental health is expert coach Georgia Dienst. Georgia has spent her career working with high performance people at Google, Google X and Kernel. In this eye-opening conversation, Georgia sheds light on the formidable challenges founders face in maintaining their ...
Nov 17, 2023•50 min•Season 2Ep. 47
OpenAI DevDay 2023. A conference that sent reverberations throughout the startup ecosystem worldwide. Welcomed back on The Startup Podcast to discuss and debate it all are Jeremiah Owyang, general partner at Blitzscaling Ventures and founder of Lama Lounge, and Ben Parr, founder of Octane AI, AI Insiders deeply embedded in the Silicon Valley startup ecosystem. With Chris and Yaniv they explore the top takeaways from the OpenAI DevDay. From why GPT-4 Turbo is light-years better than GPT3.5, how t...
Nov 14, 2023•52 min•Season 2Ep. 46
Brace yourself for a masterclass in app evolution as Andres Glusman, founder of DoWhatWorks shares 15 years of wisdom gained at Meetup, where experimentation was the key to their monumental growth. Discover the hidden truth that most experiments fail, but when they succeed, the impact is colossal. The secret? Thoughtful experimentation. It's about testing specific hypotheses, not just throwing everything at the wall and hoping something sticks. Experiments go beyond correlation, establishing...
Nov 08, 2023•51 min•Season 2Ep. 45
Are you a product manager, wanting to become or know more about product management or hire one? Embark on a riveting expedition into the dynamic world of product management as Chris and Yaniv unveil the 17 extraordinary traits that catapult Product Managers to the pinnacle of success. 🎨 Picture this: Product Managers as the User Whisperers, tapping into the deepest needs and desires of their audience. 💡 They're not just guided by buzzwords but wield the power of common sense, keeping it si...
Nov 04, 2023•55 min•Season 2Ep. 44
🌟 Imagine sharing in the triumph and value of a startup's success! It's the magic potion that aligns every employee's heartbeat with the company's vision. Discover why options, with their tantalizing tax benefits, are the darlings of the startup universe but why they can also screw employees. In this week's electrifying episode of The Startup Podcast, we dive headfirst into the world of employee equity and ESOP with Jason Atkins, co-founder of Cake Equity - a startup that si...
Oct 26, 2023•45 min•Season 2Ep. 43
How do you hire a PM? 💭 How do you empower product designers? 🙌 What is the Domain Dogma trap? 🤔 We’ve gone into the vault and polished another one of our most popular episodes. Marty Cagan joins Chris and Yaniv to discuss what he sees as the biggest risk to building a successful product. It’s not choosing the wrong problem, it’s building the wrong solution! Marty is as close as the world of product has to a public intellectual: after decades spent building impactful products at Hewlett-Packa...
Oct 19, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 42
Gaza Strip. Events are evolving rapidly. The Startup Podcast is fortunate to be hosted by Chris and Yaniv who’s personal backgrounds provide a unique opportunity to share both sides of the Gaza War. This is a raw and unfiltered conversation. We hope this provides a balanced discussion in the midst of the current conversation. Our thoughts go out to all who have been touched by this tragedy. The Pact Honour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please: Fo...
Oct 13, 2023•43 min•Season 2Ep. 41
We’ve received a lot of questions from the last few episodes. It’s time Chris and Yaniv answer them! This Q&A episode they explore: When should you quit your day job to go all in on your startup? When should we raise? We have got advice from VCs to raise early before it gets complicated to show interest in our platform. I’m sitting on the fence whether we should raise it as it takes a bit of agility and liberty away from us but I understand the benefits that the network accelerators/ VCs cou...
Oct 11, 2023•35 min•Season 2Ep. 40
Are you lying to yourself? Are you really aiming for greatness? This week Chris and Yaniv dive deep into the psyche of startup founders. Discover the harsh truth that a lack of conviction in your vision can lead to self-sabotage, compromising your business through misalignment, poor decision-making, and lost credibility. Are you settling for "good enough," or are you pursuing greatness with unwavering faith in yourself? In this thought-provoking discussion, learn why being ruthlessly h...
Oct 04, 2023•41 min•Season 2Ep. 39
Today is a very special episode. This week on The Startup Podcast, Chris and Yaniv are joined by Mike Filbey, founder of Pepper and former co-founder of ButcherBox. Mike's journey is nothing short of extraordinary. He catapulted ButcherBox to soaring heights, amassing over $500 million in revenue. Yet, beneath the glitz and glamour of startup success, lay a harrowing truth. Driven by relentless ambition, Mike pushed himself to the brink, working grueling hours to meet colossal growth targets...
Sep 27, 2023•47 min•Season 2Ep. 38
Is monetization the secret sauce for startup success, or is it a treacherous highway to failure? Monetization isn't just about making money; it's about proving your product's worth in the market. Chris and Yaniv unveil the perfect timing for startups to take the monetization plunge and why premature monetization can slam the brakes on growth. Early-stage founders, take note: Discover why proving product-market fit is your North Star. Timing is everything, and monetizing too soon can ...
Sep 20, 2023•42 min•Season 2Ep. 37
Squads - they’re the “it” way to organise cross-functional teams at Silicon Valley-startups. So why do they often not work? Unravel the blueprint for achieving organizational excellence through effective squads. With squads, teams transform from mere projects to long-term mission owners. These cross-functional squads, comprised of diverse roles and skills, skillfully navigate the balance between self-management and alignment with company objectives. Leadership steps in as the guiding force, offe...
Sep 13, 2023•36 min•Season 2Ep. 36
In a world where insider founders often seem to have the upper hand, what if being an outsider founder could become your secret weapon? This week on The Startup Podcast, Chris and Yaniv dive deep into the intriguing journey of outsider founders – those who don't hail from traditional backgrounds. Join them as they unravel the strategies and insights that can transform your perceived disadvantages into strengths. Discover how understanding insider jargon and metrics can help you communicate e...
Sep 06, 2023•37 min•Season 2Ep. 35
There’s no denying it. No matter how good your product or team is, the startup will make or break because of the founder. Most founders learn this during their startup journey and actively pursue everything they can to make sure they can be the best founders possible. But in doing so, fall into the hidden traps and paradoxically become the founders they’ve tried so hard to avoid being. What are these founder traits that you should avoid at all cost? Chris is back and he rejoins Yaniv to explore ...
Aug 30, 2023•48 min•Season 2Ep. 34
Being a founder is incredibly difficult. There’s no denying that. As a startup founder, the fate of the company rests on your shoulders. There’s little wonder you’re stressed. For the sake of the company, you must develop skills and techniques to look after yourself! With Chris unavailable as he continues his European adventures, Yaniv explores his 5 Rules of Staying Sane As A Founder. Curious about the art of balancing ambition and well-being? Eager to glean insights from a co-founder's per...
Aug 23, 2023•28 min•Season 2Ep. 33
You're the average of the five people you spend the most time with. That’s great at a social level or when you’re climbing the corporate ladder but what happens when you’ve founded your own startup and are looking for advice. Enter advisory boards - your startup-oriented “five people”. Feeling stuck and unsure on how to build your advisory board? Don’t worry, Chris and Yaniv are here to help you navigate the world of advisory boards. In this week’s episode of The Startup Podcast they dive in...
Aug 16, 2023•29 min•Season 2Ep. 32
Planning on fundraising in the next 6-18 months? Interested in the inner-workings of startup fundraising? This episode is a MUST listen for you! After the success of our previous episode replay we’ve gone into the vault and polished another one of our most popular episodes. This week we’re rediscovering the symbiosis that exists between startup founders and venture capitalists and that at its core, this relationship is what makes the startup business model possible. When the relationship works, ...
Aug 09, 2023•31 min•Season 2Ep. 31
There is only one Silicon Valley. Countries around the world have tried and continue to attempt to recreate the magic of Sandhill Road. But there will be only one Silicon Valley. So what can different startup ecosystems do to emulate the success of Silicon Valley? This week on The Startup Podcast, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein dive into the key tenants on creating your own Silicon Valley. What marketplaces do NOT work Why governments need to focus on only ONE place to strive for ecosystem succe...
Aug 02, 2023•38 min•Season 2Ep. 30
