The insiders return this week to discuss the latest in AI startups: 💡 Investments and Optimism: A16z's huge raise suggests an optimistic outlook for tech IPOs. 🤖 Electric Atlas: Boston Dynamics' latest robot raises questions about the future of robotics, but does it have real world utility? 🍏 Siri's Major Update: Siri has the potential for transformative updates, including multi-modal interactions and integration across Apple devices like AR glasses, enhancing Apple's AI strategy. 🔍 Meta's O...
Apr 24, 2024•43 min•Ep 32•Transcript available on Metacast Are you protecting your superpower? 🦸 In this Listener Q&A, Chris and Yaniv discuss: 🧠 Expanding Your Engineering Mindset: How to gain empathy and strengthen your team with diverse skill sets. 🎯 Building Valuable Products: Focus on solving real customer problems with strategic feature prioritization. 🚀 Crafting Ambitious Yet Grounded Pitches: Find the balance between a startup vision that's aspirational and grounded in practical plans. 🔗 Aligning Product and Company Strategy: Develo...
Apr 22, 2024•35 min•Ep 31•Transcript available on Metacast The insiders return this week to explore the rapidly evolving world of AI startups: 🤖 AI Company Trends at Y Combinator: More startups are branding themselves as AI-focused during Demo Day, regardless of their true engagement with the technology. 🧠 Competing AI Models: New AI models are challenging GPT-4, like Claude 3 Opus and Mistral. Will one player come to dominate the market? 🍏 Tech Giants and AI: How Google and Apple's rich consumer data and device integration give them an edge in A...
Apr 17, 2024•42 min•Ep 30•Transcript available on Metacast Could bootstrapping be your golden ticket to success?💡 This week, Chris and Yaniv are joined by Rob Walling, a seasoned entrepreneur with a wealth of startup wisdom to share. Rob Walling is an entrepreneur, author, and podcaster known for his contributions to the startup ecosystem. He is the co-founder of TinySeed, the first startup accelerator designed for bootstrappers, and he also co-founded Drip, an email marketing automation platform for ecommerce businesses, which was later acquired by Le...
Apr 15, 2024•43 min•Ep 29•Transcript available on Metacast The insiders return this week to discuss the latest strides in Google's AI innovations: Google unveiled groundbreaking AI advancements at Cloud Next, showcasing Gemini 1.5's impressive capabilities. Their focus on enterprise AI customers signals a strategic shift for Google. Updates to Vertex and Google Workspace introduce new AI features, enhancing productivity and model-building. The revelation of the "XZ backdoor" vulnerability underscores the risks inherent in open-source s...
Apr 10, 2024•43 min•Ep 28•Transcript available on Metacast Last week we had Clementine Jacoby on the podcast to discuss enterprise sales. Chris was unfortunately unwell. But he’s back! And he’s ready for round 2! This week with Yaniv Bernstein they discuss: - How enterprise customers' demands can disrupt product roadmaps. - Why underestimating costs of custom work for enterprises can be costly. - How partnering with champion customers fosters customization within a product-led framework. - Educating customers on best practices ensures long-term prod...
Apr 08, 2024•41 min•Ep 27•Transcript available on Metacast The insiders return this week to discuss some developments including: SBF’s 25 year sentence as repercussion for FTX legal and ethical misdeeds. Is 25 years for a white collar crime too long? The tech titans (Apple, Google, Facebook and X) are taking over as media giants concerning the insiders over journalistic ethics versus commercial interests Latest AI tech trends – where should we be investing amid the challenge of discerning viable ideas? The current issues facing product management - Will...
Apr 03, 2024•51 min•Ep 26•Transcript available on Metacast Chris is unwell this week. Joining Yaniv this week on the pod is Clementine Jacoby. Clementine is founder and CEO of Recidiviz, a company building an open source platform to turn fragmented criminal justice data into actionable insights for practitioners, policy makers, researchers and the public. She has raised tens of millions in philanthropic capital from Vinod Khosla, Paul Graham and Y combinator. She was previously a product manager at Google where she worked with Yaniv. Together they explo...
Apr 01, 2024•56 min•Ep 25•Transcript available on Metacast The insiders are back to unpack the latest news in the tech ecosystem. Joining them this week is Kimberly Marshall, she is an investor and advisor in early stage companies and venture capital funds. Previously she helped build Uber, built the EdTech investing strategy at Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and built the Black and Latinx investing strategy for Goldman Sachs. Together with Emil Michael, former Chief Business Officer of Uber, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein they discuss: • Reddit's IP...
Mar 27, 2024•43 min•Ep 24•Transcript available on Metacast Are you really answering the right question? Do you find that your solutions to the problems you’re facing are not working? Don’t fear, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein are here to steer your startup towards success. Together they discuss the essential strategies of not falling victim to the substitution heuristic. Misguided Priorities: Explore how founders often prioritize fundraising and publicity over solving core customer problems, leading to convoluted results. The Right Sequence: Learn the i...
Mar 25, 2024•36 min•Ep 23•Transcript available on Metacast The insiders are back to unpack the latest news in the tech ecosystem. Joining them this week is Amir Shevat - early stage startup investor and author. Together they discuss: OpenAI Marketplace Dynamics: The quartet explores the current state of the OpenAI marketplace for GPT models and predictions for its future growth and utility. Apple's Potential Collaboration with Google: The insiders discuss rumors about Apple's discussions with Google regarding the utilization of Google's AI m...
Mar 20, 2024•49 min•Ep 22•Transcript available on Metacast It’s finally happened. We held our first LIVE session. And who else better to guest star than previous special guest of the podcast Nir Zavaro. Nir is currently in Australia promoting his book “F*ck The Slides!” and together with Yaniv Bernstein shared more nuggets of information. Together the duo discussed: The Power of the Hook: Learn how to craft a succinct 70-word hook followed by a compelling 2-3 minute pitch that grabs attention from the start. Slide Decks Done Right: Explore different typ...
Mar 18, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep 21•Transcript available on Metacast Feeling overwhelmed with tech developments happening around the globe? Don’t worry! Tech insiders, Emil Michael, former Chief Business Officer of Uber, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein are here to break through the noise and provide a deep-dive on the most important topics from the last week. Together they discuss: Princess Kate Photo Controversy: The insiders react to the fallout from a manipulated photo of Princess Kate, sparking discussions about the challenges of trusting AI-altered images in ...
Mar 13, 2024•41 min•Ep 20•Transcript available on Metacast Startups cannot survive without a runway… Unless they’ve reached escape velocity. Haven’t reached takeoff? Wondering how you keep your startup on track? Chris and Yaniv are here to help you through the tough times Together they discuss: Runway refers to how long a startup can operate with its current resources before shutting down. It depends on cash, burn rate, and other factors like loss of interest or personal commitments. Becoming cash flow positive is not the same as becoming sustainably vi...
Mar 11, 2024•46 min•Ep 18•Transcript available on Metacast The insiders are back and just in time - tech news this week has been MASSIVE! Together they discuss: Figure AI Funding: Discover how Figure AI secured a staggering $675M investment to advance humanoid robot technology from the biggest names in AI (Google, NVIDIA and more!) , despite uncertainties about mass production. Elon Musk vs. OpenAI: The team unravel the legal battle as Elon Musk sues OpenAI, raising questions about the transition from non-profit to for-profit and ethical considerations....
Mar 06, 2024•38 min•Ep 16•Transcript available on Metacast Leverage. It’s a powerful ally in a startup founder’s itinerary to success. But how can you harness it in your day-to-day life? This week Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein are here to walk you through how you can master leverage to supercharge your startup! Together they discuss: Software & Automation: Explore how tech companies harness low-cost replication and distribution for exponential success. Financial Leverage: Delve into the impact of venture capital and debt, enabling founders to ampli...
Mar 04, 2024•38 min•Ep 16•Transcript available on Metacast Edu: Founder Time Management - Take Back Control w/ Henry Shapiro Time. It's a founder’s greatest resource. It’s also a founder’s scarcest. Joining Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein this week on The Startup Podcast to help you take back control of your time is Henry Shapiro. Henry is the co-founder and COO of Reclaim AI, a company specializing in creating solutions to enhance productivity. Henry's expertise lies in creating systems and strategies for effective time management, making him a crucial ...
Feb 26, 2024•33 min•Ep 15•Transcript available on Metacast Emil is out this week from the Insider trio so Yaniv and Chris welcome special guest Alireza Ali to discuss the hottest developments in the tech industry this week. Ali is currently the co-founder and partner at Blue Dot who specializes in AI strategy and implementation consulting services. He previous founded another AI startup and has worked at Google for 11 years, some of which as a Tech Lead. Together, this week’s trio discusses: 🌌OpenAI's Sora 🧠Groq's AI chip 💥Gemini's compet...
Feb 21, 2024•56 min•Ep 14•Transcript available on Metacast Founders are the linchpin of a startup. They are the central foci, the lifeblood. The buck stops with them. But how can you tell the difference between a good and a bad founder? And how can you avoid being a bad one? Don’t worry, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein are here this week to discuss 9 differences between good and bad founders, based on a recent article Chris wrote. The differences are: 🔍 Good founders focus on solving important problems for customers while bad founders mainly concentrate...
Feb 19, 2024•37 min•Ep 13•Transcript available on Metacast Today we have a special bonus interview. The tables have turned and Yaniv finds himself being interviewed by Ben Wirtz. Together the duo discuss: 🚀 Early Leadership Lessons: Yaniv's Google journey began with an early leadership role, emphasizing efficiency and effective communication. 🎓 Inspiration from Mentors: Insights from Oliver Heckman instilled high standards and fostered a culture of psychological safety, nurturing Bernstein's leadership skills. 💡 Innovative Problem-Solving: Ya...
Feb 18, 2024•57 min•Ep 12•Transcript available on Metacast $7 TRILLION!?! It’s the number everyone has been talking about this week. Here to break down the latest tech news are the insiders: Emil Michael, former Chief Business Officer of Uber, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein. This week they discuss: 💰💡🤔Sam Altman's Ambitious Bid: Rumors swirl around Altman's purported $7 trillion funding quest for a new AI chip company, sparking debates on its feasibility and strategic implications. 🚀💻🏆NVIDIA's Dominance: With NVIDIA's AI chip dominance in mind, Al...
Feb 14, 2024•38 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast Hybrid work. One of the biggest points of contention in the tech startup landscape right now. Some startups seem to thrive with the arrangement while others suffer culture implosion and perish. Navigating the post-COVID work landscape involves grappling with the challenges and opportunities of hybrid work setups. Don’t worry, this week, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein are here to discuss what you need to know to allow your team to flourish no matter the circumstance: 🤝💼🚗In-person Work: Fosters...
Feb 12, 2024•46 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast Should Congress apologize to Mark Zuckerberg? If you haven’t been living under a rock recently, major tech company CEOs have been hauled into Congress to discuss child safety and moderation on their platforms. What does it mean? Is Congress right to really drill down on these CEOs? What else could Congress be doing to really change the current climate to protect our kids while also protecting democracy and free speech? To debate the hottest topic in tech this week is Emil Michael, former Chief B...
Feb 07, 2024•55 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast Startup founders are often preached to follow neat frameworks and one-size fits all prescriptions. Here to say “embrace the mess” is John Cutler. John is a well-respected thought leader in the startup world. He is currently the Senior director responsible for product enablement at Toast. John has previously held the position of product evangelist at Amplitude and numerous product management roles over his fascinating career arc. Most importantly, John is the author of the long running newsletter...
Feb 06, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast Taylor Swift on a startup podcast? It’s not for her ERAS tour, nor is it for the Kansas City Chiefs upcoming Super Bowl game. Listen to the insiders discuss the biggest developing stories this week: 🚀 Navigating the Volatile Fundraising Landscape: A challenging fundraising environment in 2023 post-tech bubble burst, characterized by high rates and volatility. Optimism surfaces in 2024, but with caution—expectations of smaller valuations and round sizes. Founders urged to prioritize metrics like...
Jan 31, 2024•45 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast There’s a fair bit of sentiment in the startup community at the moment purporting that B2B2C is better. Chris believes it is not. Joining Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein on The Startup Podcast to discuss their startup as a case-study is special guest Matt Holme, CEO and Founder of YouPay. YouPay is an ecommerce payment platform that pivoted from B2B to B2C over its lifetime. Together they discuss: 🚀 YouPay's Evolution: Starting as a B2B platform facilitating payment for others' shopping ...
Jan 29, 2024•30 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast The insiders are back this week to discuss the hottest topics coming out of the tech and startup ecosystems. This week Emil, Chris and Yaniv discuss: 🔍 Carta's Controversial Pivot: Carta halts its secondary business sharing private company data with investors following backlash. The hosts dissect the situation, critiquing Carta's response and exploring potential alternatives. 💹 Cryptocurrency ETF Impact: Bitcoin experiences a minor dip post-ETF announcement, aligning with predictions. ...
Jan 24, 2024•40 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast 🤔Should founders care about building a personal brand? Isn’t there enough “real work” to be done that posting on LinkedIn is a total waste of time? We don’t think so and neither does Michael Houck, a founder and investor who has built his personal brand to create Houck’s Newsletter, which is read by 75,000+ founders every week. Prior to focusing on his newsletter, Houck founded a startup that raised $15M from a16z, co-founded an early stage venture firm, and was part of the early team at Airbnb...
Jan 22, 2024•43 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast It’s one of the first questions people ask when they hear of startups. What makes startups different from usual businesses? Recently Chris found himself in a debate about the differences between traditional businesses and startups. As a result he created a document and shared it with his followers about the similarities and differences. Fortunately, this week on The Startup Podcast he and Yaniv debate the commonalities, differences and how startups drive disruption. Together they discuss: 📈 Obj...
Jan 15, 2024•47 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast The Insiders are back for 2024 and hasn’t it been a big week of controversy in the tech world! Here to break it all down is Emil, Chris and Yaniv. This week they discuss: 🔍 Carta's Privacy Clash: Carta, a software company, faces allegations of privacy breaches, using customer data for a secondary business. The CEO's response sparks criticism, highlighting the conflict between Carta's ventures and customer interests. 🧠 AI and Copyright Dilemma: The trio explores the tension between AI creativit...
Jan 10, 2024•43 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast 
