In this episode of The Eric Ries Show, I’m joined by Guillermo Rauch, CEO and founder of Vercel—a company powering the front end of the internet for brands like OpenAI, Nintendo, Chick-fil-A, and many more. Guillermo’s journey began far from Silicon Valley, in Argentina, where a Red Hat Linux CD changed the course of his life.
We talk about how open source gave him a way in—and why he still believes it’s the ultimate growth engine for companies and careers. Guillermo shares what he learned from building developer tools used by millions, and how Vercel became the go-to platform for the AI era.
In our conversation today, we talk about the following topics:
• How open source paved the way for Guillermo’s career
• The case for open source as a growth strategy
• What makes Silicon Valley special, and how online communities can unlock similar opportunities
• The gap between how elite companies ship software and how most others do
• How Vercel became the go-to for AI startups
• The future of the web: agents, AI clouds, and software 2.0
• Guillermo’s take on vibe coding and why it’s more than just prompts to code
• How recursive founder mode helps Vercel stay fast while scaling
• The challenge of keeping Vercel open, fair, and resistant to abuse
• And much more!
—
Where to find Guillermo Rauch:
• X: https://x.com/rauchg
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rauchg/
• Website: https://rauchg.com/
—
Where to find Eric:
• Newsletter:https://ericries.carrd.co/
• Podcast:https://ericriesshow.com/
—
In This Episode We Cover:
(00:00) Intro
(01:31) Guillermo’s early encounter with open source and how it shaped his path into tech
(08:44) Guillermo’s early contributions to the open source community
(11:03) Why Guillermo ditched Linux for Mac OS
(12:28) Guillermo’s contributions to MooTools
(13:40) How Guillermo landed his first real job before even graduating high school
(15:07) Guillermo’s early startups and the origins of his entrepreneurial drive
(18:40) How moving to Silicon Valley ignited his ambition to found a company
(23:45) The story of Vercel—and how it started with an open source project, Next.js
(31:40) Open source’s impact on talent creation
(33:46) Why building the harder thing up front makes everything easier downstream
(36:30) What Google got right with Chrome—and how open sourcing it changed the game
(39:55) What companies like OpenAI, Nintendo, and Chick-fil-A use Vercel for
(43:57) Why so many AI startups are building on Vercel
(51:52) What recursive founder mode is
(58:17) How Guillermo finds value-aligned founders
(1:02:03) Why nearly everyone at Vercel uses AI, without being told to
(1:04:50) Using Bezos’s Day 1 mindset to fight bureaucracy and move fast
(1:09:56) Vercel’s approach to vibe coding and AI safety
(1:11:32) Guillermo’s thoughts on immigration
(1:15:37) Why Vercel fights to keep its platform open, fair, and safe for everyone
—
You can find episode references at https://www.ericriesshow.com/
—
Production and marketing by Pen Name.
Eric may be an investor in the companies discussed.
In this episode of The Eric Ries Show, I’m joined by Sid Sijbrandij, co-founder and Executive Chair of GitLab—one of the world’s most radically transparent and values-driven software companies.
Sid shares how GitLab evolved from an open-source side project into a publicly traded DevOps platform, all while remaining deeply aligned with its values. From turning down a $10 million offer to maintaining control through dual-class shares, Sid walks us through the principles and systems that have shaped GitLab from the start.
We also delve into GitLab’s renowned, live, and public 2,000-page handbook—how it functions not only as documentation but also as a recruiting tool, cultural backbone, and governance mechanism.
In our conversation today, we talk about the following topics:
• Why Sid once cold-pitched a submarine inventor—and got hired
• What led GitLab to turn down a $10M buyout and pursue an IPO
• Why GitLab favors “boring solutions” by default—and avoids reinventing the wheel
• The role of GitLab’s live, public handbook in building transparency and trust
• Why every change at GitLab must be made in the handbook first
• How the handbook supports hiring, alignment, and radical transparency
• GitLab’s approach to decentralized decision-making
• Why “customer results” sits at the top of GitLab’s values hierarchy
• Sid’s case for open core as the future of software
•How GitLab encourages informal connection in a remote-first culture—and the role of in-person meetups
• And much more
—
Brought to you by:
• Ahrefs – Get instant website traffic insights, without the noise. Learn more.
—
Where to find Sid Sijbrandij:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sijbrandij/
• X: https://x.com/sytses
—
Where to find Eric:
• Newsletter:https://ericries.carrd.co/
• Podcast:https://ericriesshow.com/
• YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@theericriesshow
—
In This Episode We Cover:
(00:00) Intro
(02:52) The origins of GitLab
(04:15) The MVP of GitLab and how it has evolved to a DevOps platform
(05:09) Sid’s internships and why he chose to work with submarines after
(08:57) How Sid became a submarine engineer
(11:10) How Ruby sparked Sid’s interest in programming
(12:28) Why GitLab said no to $10M and chose YC and decided to go IPO
(17:45) How GitLab kept control including granting 10x voting shares before going public
(22:25) GitLab’s extreme commitment to their values
(28:29) GitLab’s Handbook and how changes are made
(33:11) How GitLab handles pushback and how the handbook builds trust
(37:38) An explanation of buyer-based open core at GitLab
(38:35) The challenges implementing a lean startup approach
(45:26) Keeping the organization aligned: How GitLab reinforces their values
(53:51) Why GitLab updates values
(55:57) Why senior engineers have an easier time securing budget
(57:21) Putting customers first: GitLab’s value hierarchy explained
(59:08) The case for decentralized decision-making—and how GitLab makes it work
(1:03:24) The handbook’s role in recruiting and building alignment
(1:06:25) Maintaining transparency after IPO
(1:10:55) The three phases of GitLab’s all-remote operating policy
(1:17:04) How GitLab developed its open core business model
(1:20:19) The trust-building power of open source and Sid’s case for open core
(1:25:20) Protective governance measures GitLab helps companies take
(1:29:28) How Sid has been doing on his cancer journey, and his work to help others
—
You can find episode references at https://www.ericriesshow.com/
—
Production and marketing by Pen Name.
Eric may be an investor in the companies discussed.
In this episode of The Eric Ries Show, I’m joined by Matt Mullenweg, CEO of Automattic and co-founder of WordPress, the open-source platform that now powers 43% of the internet.
Recorded on the 20th anniversary of Automattic, our conversation is a deep dive into what it takes to build enduring companies on top of open infrastructure. We explore Matt’s open-source philosophy, why WordPress has stayed true to its roots, and how Automattic continues to innovate, from pioneering remote work to rethinking compensation models.
In our conversation today, we talk about the following topics:
• The early days of WordPress and its open-source fork from b2/cafelog
• Why trust is a company’s greatest asset—and how open source fuels it
• The overlooked power of open standards like RSS
• How open source moved from fringe to mainstream, and is even embraced by Microsoft
• Why Automattic started remote-first in 2005, long before it was common
• How global salaries help Automattic attract and retain top talent
• Automattic’s alignment offer that reinforced team commitment and focus
• What Matt’s excited about in AI
• And much more!
—
Brought to you by:
• Ahrefs – Get instant website traffic insights, without the noise. Learn more.
—
Where to find Matt Mullenweg:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattm/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/photomatt/?hl=en
• Website: https://ma.tt/
—
Where to find Eric:
• Newsletter:https://ericries.carrd.co/
• Podcast:https://ericriesshow.com/
• YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@theericriesshow
—
In This Episode We Cover:
(00:00) Intro
(02:05) Reflecting on 20 years of Automattic
(03:14) Why Matt turned down an offer to buy WordPress for hundreds of millions of dollars
(08:34) The story of WordPress and its open-source origins
(15:15) How Matt’s love of jazz inspires his collaborative work style
(16:12) The ethos of WordPress
(18:38) Why WordPress followed web standards rather than create its own
(23:30) The Four Freedoms of software and how open source builds trust
(28:46) Why open source was once demonized—and what changed
(33:35) Eric’s open source future prediction and Matt’s thoughts
(38:03) Sol Price’s customer focus and why great businesses give more than they take
(40:34) Why Matt started Automattic and chose to operate fully remote
(49:34) More unique features of Automattic
(54:40) Matt’s thoughts on when to go to court
(58:15) Alignment offers, and other ways Automattic keeps employees aligned
(1:01:52) The state of Automattic currently, and their new product, Beeper
(1:04:26) Matt’s thoughts on AI
(1:06:36) Advice for aspiring open source founders—and Matt’s dream projects
—
You can find episode references at https://www.ericriesshow.com/
—
Production and marketing by Pen Name.
Eric may be an investor in the companies discussed.
In this episode of The Eric Ries Show, I’m joined by Bob Sutton, organizational psychologist and New York Times bestselling author of several influential books on leadership, behavior, and workplace culture, including his latest: The Friction Project.
We explore insights from across his body of work, including real-world examples of large organizations that have figured out how to operate more effectively and ethically—despite the inherent messiness of human systems.
We discuss:
• Ideas from The Knowing-Doing Gap, including the importance of psychological safety and a breakdown of “the smart talk trap”
• Why even the best-run companies are still flawed
• The surprising number of companies owned by private foundations, including Hershey Chocolate and Ikea
• How well-run organizations resist management fads while staying open to real innovation
• A story from Tim Cook about critical thinking in HR—and the cost of over-hiring
• “Addition sickness”: what happens when too many people work on a problem
• Strategies for removing friction
• The “No Asshole Rule”: why toxic leaders damage performance and morale
• The best founders strike the right balance between confidence and humility
• And much more!
—
Brought to you by:
• Ahrefs – Get instant website traffic insights, without the noise. Learn more.
—
Where to find Bob Sutton:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobsutton1/
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bobsutton.net
• Website: https://bobsutton.net/
—
Where to find Eric:
• Newsletter:https://ericries.carrd.co/
• Podcast:https://ericriesshow.com/
• YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@theericriesshow
—
In This Episode We Cover:
(00:00) Intro
(01:45) Insights from The Knowing Doing Gap
(09:29) How Becky Margiotta rewarded the doers of her 100,000 homes project
(12:24) An explanation of why every organization is flawed
(21:32) A case for still trying to improve the way companies are run
(26:03) How larger organizations always do things worse—some worse than others
(27:58) A case of organizational improvement: The California Department of Motor Vehicles
(29:58) Companies owned by private foundations and other unique models
(33:52) Lessons from Tim Cook around thinking critically about hiring
(36:26) Addition sickness
(39:58) Strategies for removing friction and adding good friction
(46:42) Simple practices that work
(49:50) The ‘no asshole’ rule
(52:32) The pitfalls of holacracy and an explanation of ‘stagegate’
(57:18) Why founders sometimes need to step back after scaling
(1:01:09) Advice for founders who want to stay CEOs and operate in founder mode
(1:04:40) The importance of ‘torchbearers’ and resisting pressures for short-term gains
(1:08:30) A case for doing things the right way, even if you don’t have to
(1:11:05) How corruption eventually degrades an organization
(1:18:03) Lightning round
—
You can find episode references at https://www.ericriesshow.com/
—
Production and marketing by Pen Name.
Eric may be an investor in the companies discussed.
What does it take to challenge a century-old status quo in aviation? In this episode of The Eric Ries Show, I sit down with Blake Scholl, Founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic, a company on a mission to bring back supersonic air travel—sustainably and affordably.
Blake doesn’t come from aerospace. He’s a computer scientist and former Amazon engineer who sold his startup, Kima Labs, to Groupon. What he does have is a clear mission, first principles thinking, and relentless execution. His story is a case study in how deep curiosity and iterative learning can outperform traditional credentials.
In our conversation, we explore how to navigate high-uncertainty environments, challenge industry inertia, and build world-class teams to do the seemingly impossible.
We cover:
• The “bystander effect” in innovation—and how to avoid it
• Why trying to disprove your idea is a founder's superpower
• The edge of understanding when the context changes
• The accidental pivot: How Boomless cruise came about
• Blake’s “confusion list,” a practice to gain clarity
• Why deep knowledge trumps credentials
• How Blake leveraged Wikipedia and SeatGuru to understand how the Concorde failed
• Boom's methodical approach to derisking each challenge
• The "talent distillery"—Boom's framework for building exceptional teams
• Tips for giving and asking for advice
• How Boom uses AI to cut through the minutia and do more with less
• Why accumulated learnings are a company's greatest asset
• And more!
—
Brought to you by:
• Gusto – Gusto is an easy payroll and benefits software built for small businesses. Get 3 months free.
—
Where to find Blake Scholl:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakescholl/
—
Where to find Eric:
• Newsletter:https://ericries.carrd.co/
• Podcast:https://ericriesshow.com/
• YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@theericriesshow
—
In This Episode We Cover:
(00:00) Intro
(02:43) How Boom is bringing back building commercial aircraft in the US
(04:30) The bystander effect in innovation
(07:30) The power of founder happiness and taking big bets
(12:10) How Blake shifted from building an airline to building a supersonic company
(14:07) Blake’s focus on first principles thinking
(16:17) How boomless cruise came about, and other accidental discoveries
(23:50) Blake’s practical exercise for gaining clarity
(25:15) Boom’s origin story
(31:10) How taking a bigger risk made Blake more comfortable with failure
(32:24) A case for entrepreneurship as a truth-seeking discipline
(33:47) How a founder’s deep understanding builds trust
(38:20) Why Concorde failed, and how Boom solved for those problems
(44:36) Boom’s plan for derisking each risk
(47:33) How Boom was able to get Richard Branson on board with pre-ordering for Virgin
(52:24) Boom’s relaunch after getting Virgin’s pre-order
(56:00) How Blake focuses on the end state
(59:22) The importance of aptitude and willingness to learn
(1:01:34) Why building a team was the hardest part for Boom
(1:06:32) Tips for getting better advice–and receiving it
(1:09:40) How Boom maintains mission alignment working with outside vendors
(1:14:04) Boom’s learnings from working with suppliers
(1:19:35) The current status of Boom
(1:20:57) How Boom uses AI to help with FAA certification and more
(1:23:00) The size of teams at Boom, and how using AI enables them to have less engineers
—
You can find episode references at https://www.ericriesshow.com/
—
Production and marketing by https://penname.co/.
Eric may be an investor in the companies discussed.
In this episode of The Eric Ries Show, I’m joined by Maria Colacurcio, Co-Founder and CEO of Syndio, a workplace equity analytics platform. Syndio helps companies close pay gaps and build high-trust organizations. Maria has had a long career in leadership, previously co-founding Smartsheet and serving as a senior leader at Starbucks, where she focused on global communications and social impact.
In our conversation, we discuss how to scale with integrity, navigate the complexities of equity, and lead with both data and principle.
We cover:
• The surprising insight that 1 in 5 pay remediations at Syndio benefit white men
• The distinction between expanding opportunity and enforcing quotas
• Why taking bias out of promotions makes companies stronger
• The role curiosity and passion played in opening doors for Maria
• Why “the reservoir of trust” is both the right thing to do and a smart business strategy
• Syndio’s commitment to transparency through annual pay gap and equity disclosures
• Why strategy and culture need to change as you scale
• And much more!
—
Brought to you by:
• Vanta – Automate compliance, manage risk, and prove trust—continuously. Save $1,000 today.
• Wilson Sonsini – Wilson Sonsini is the innovation economy’s law firm. Learn more.
• Gusto – Gusto is an easy payroll and benefits software built for small businesses. Get 3 months free.
—
Where to find Maria Colacurcio:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcolacurcio/
• X: https://x.com/mcolacurcio
—
Where to find Eric:
• Newsletter:https://ericries.carrd.co/
• Podcast:https://ericriesshow.com/
• YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@theericriesshow
—
In This Episode We Cover:
(00:00) Intro
(02:19) The executive order against DEI: what's changed, what hasn’t, what remains uncertain
(07:20) The benefits and limitations of DEI programs
(08:37) What is opportunity equity
(10:20) How biases in performance reviews advance incompetent people
(11:22) Syndio’s comp consistency analytics solution for pay consistency and pay equity
(13:18) The importance of pay being tied to the company’s stated values
(18:47) Why some CEOs are eager to abandon DEI
(21:46) How to tell if a company is serious about fair treatment
(25:00) Maria’s path to becoming the CEO of Syndio
(32:09) Tech for solving a problem vs. for the sake of tech
(35:12) Maria’s experience becoming a founder at Smartsheet and Syndio
(38:22) The reservoir of trust and other learnings from Maria’s time at Starbucks
(40:10) How Maria’s curiosity led to meeting Zev and founding Syndio
(49:25) Syndio’s pivot and why Maria hired a lawyer to lead sales
(52:15) An explanation of how Syndio’s software works
(54:46) Syndio’s AI chatbot, Syndi
(55:22) The current state of Syndio
(57:02) How Syndio maintains alignment with its core values
(1:02:14) Lightning round
—
You can find the transcript and references at https://www.ericriesshow.com/
—
Production and marketing byhttps://penname.co/.
Eric may be an investor in the companies discussed.
In this episode of The Eric Ries Show, I sit down with Ev Williams—someone whose work has profoundly shaped the modern internet. Ev co-founded Twitter, created Medium, and before all that, built Blogger, the original blogging platform (and the one where my own blog, Startup Lessons Learned, still lives today).
We cover a wide range of topics, but at the heart of our conversation is this: what does it mean to resist short-term pressures and build with long-term integrity?
Ev reflects on the early days of the internet, the cultural shifts inside big tech, and what happens when the systems we design begin to shape us in return. He also shares the thinking behind his latest venture, Mozi—an app designed to make it easier for people to meet up in person, with less friction and more intention.
In our conversation today, we talk about the following topics:
• The value of building strong relationships (and how they compound over time)
• The inside story of Google’s acquisition of Blogger
• Google’s “don’t be evil” policy, and a case for radical honesty
• Why Ev believes social media’s downsides were inevitable
• How data obsession can kill creativity
• Ev’s “feel it” principle and what it means for entrepreneurs
• The backlash against Medium’s login wall, and what it taught him about friction and trust
• How strong governance and intentional culture can safeguard a company’s mission
• Ev’s latest project, Mozi—an app that takes the hassle out of meeting up in person
• And much more!
—
Brought to you by:
• Wilson Sonsini – Wilson Sonsini is the innovation economy’s law firm. Learn more.
• Gusto – Gusto is an easy payroll and benefits software built for small businesses. Get 3 months free.
—
Where to find Ev Williams:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanwilliams/
• X: https://x.com/ev
—
Where to find Eric:
• Newsletter:https://ericries.carrd.co/
• Podcast:https://ericriesshow.com/
• YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@theericriesshow
—
In This Episode We Cover:
(00:00) Intro
(02:29) How Ev feels knowing his company, Blogger, acquired by Google, is still going
(06:01) Why many of Ev’s businesses have endured
(13:26) Ev’s early years growing up on a farm and how he ended up at O’Reilly
(20:46) The internet’s shift from idealism to reality—and why we still can’t see its full impact
(28:00) Motivations driving founders, and how Ev realized it’s about creativity
(30:55) Google’s ‘don’t be evil’ policy, and the importance of creating high bar values
(37:45) Ev’s thoughts on what went wrong with social media and if AI companies can do better
(45:00) The protective role of good governance
(54:10) Insights gleaned from the book Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned
(1:00:14) Why MBA-thinking and metric obsession are culture killers
(1:05:23) A story about trusting in a hypothesis before data is there
(1:06:35) Medium’s failure with the login pop-up
(1:09:58) How good governance and strong culture empower torchbearers
(1:12:34) An overview of Mozi, an app that helps make in-person meetups easier
(1:16:10) Lightning round
—
You can find the transcript and references at https://www.ericriesshow.com/
—
Production and marketing byhttps://penname.co/.
Eric may be an investor in the companies discussed.
In this episode of The Eric Ries Show, I'm joined by Jess Mah, an extraordinary entrepreneur who launched her first six-figure business in middle school and went on to co-found more than 10 companies collectively valued at over $1 billion.
Jess rose to public acclaim and earned a spot on Forbes' 30 Under 30 while privately facing the reality that her startup, inDinero, was far from profitable. That moment of failure became her turning point. Without VC funding, Jess had to rethink everything: her approach to building companies, her work methods, and her true priorities. What emerged was a more sustainable approach to entrepreneurship that prioritizes long-term thinking, authenticity, and mental health.
In our conversation, we explore:
• The hidden upside of failure and how it transformed Jess's career
• Why inDinero's failure to attract VC money was ultimately a blessing in disguise
• How AI is lowering barriers to starting a business with less capital and fewer workers
• Why authenticity beats performative positivity
• How Jess manages her mental health and her iterative learning approach inspired by 'kodawari'
• The “independent director problem” and how investor-beholden directors can undermine long-term strategy
• Why funding private companies is a frequently overlooked way to create global impact
• Jess’s 90-day trial method for evaluating executive talent
• Jess’s work supporting other female founders
• And much more!
—
Brought to you by:
• Vanta – Automate compliance, manage risk, and prove trust—continuously. Save $1,000 today.
• Explo – Explo helps teams deploy customer dashboard portals. Get Started.
—
Where to find Jess Mah:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicamah/
• Website: https://jessicamah.com/
—
Where to find Eric:
• Newsletter:https://ericries.carrd.co/
• Podcast:https://ericriesshow.com/
• YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@theericriesshow
—
In This Episode We Cover:
(00:00) Intro
(02:30) Why happiness eludes so many high achievers
(10:15) Why Jess considers herself lucky that inDinero was not a rapid growth company
(14:20) How Jess discovered that habits like meditation and exercise drive success
(17:10) Silicon Valley Bank: why short-term thinking and exploitation are bad business strategies
(24:00) Why it’s so hard to break out of the default culture of rapid growth
(28:30) Why Jess walked away from the Silicon Valley playbook
(33:11) Where Jess’s strength comes from
(40:25) Why true accountability doesn’t require a combative board
(44:43) What good governance looks like—and why it’s different for every company
(50:10) Jess’s long-term approach to goal planning, both in life and work
(51:34) Jess’s barbell approach: balancing cool businesses with world-changing tech
(58:15) Jess’s approach to hiring and spotting well-matched talent
(1:04:20) Strategies Jess uses to manage her emotions and learn from failure
(1:10:54) Lightning round
—
You can find the transcript and references at https://www.ericriesshow.com/
—
Production and marketing byhttps://penname.co/.
Eric may be an investor in the companies discussed.
In this episode of The Eric Ries Show, I sit down with Marten Mickos, a serial tech CEO who has been at the forefront of some of the most transformative moments in open-source technology. From leading MySQL through its groundbreaking journey to guiding HackerOne as a pioneering bug bounty platform, Marten's career is a masterclass in building innovative, trust-driven organizations.
Our wide-ranging conversation explores Marten's remarkable journey through tech leadership, touching on his experiences building game-changing companies and, more recently, his work coaching emerging CEOs. We dive deep into the world of open source, company culture, and the nuanced art of leadership.
In our conversation today, we talk about the following topics:
• How MySQL revolutionized open-source databases and became Facebook’s database
• The strategic decision to make MySQL open source and leverage Linux distributions
• The art of building a beloved open-source project while creating a profitable business model
• How a lawsuit solidified MySQL's position in the open-source database market
• The role of transparency and direct feedback in building organizational trust
• Why Marten was drawn to HackerOne's disruptive approach to cybersecurity
• Marten’s transition to coaching new CEOs
• Marten’s unique "contrast framework" for making complex decisions
• And much more!
—
Brought to you by:
• Wilson Sonsini – Wilson Sonsini is the innovation economy’s law firm. Learn more.
• Gusto – Gusto is an easy payroll and benefits software built for small businesses. Get 3 months free.
—
Where to find Marten Mickos:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martenmickos/
• X: https://x.com/martenmickos
—
Where to find Eric:
• Newsletter:https://ericries.carrd.co/
• Podcast:https://ericriesshow.com/
• YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@theericriesshow
—
In This Episode We Cover:
(00:00) Intro
(03:15) The first time Eric used MySQL
(07:10) The origins of MySQL and how Marten got involved
(13:22) Why MySQL pivoted to open source to leverage the power of Linux distros
(17:03) Open source vs. closed
(18:56) Building profitable open-source companies
(24:52) The fearless company culture at MySQL and the Progress lawsuit
(29:30) The value of not cutting any corners
(33:35) How a dolphin became part of the MySQL logo
(35:55) What it was like to build a company of true believers
(38:47) Marten’s management approach emphasizes kindness and direct feedback
(42:12) Marten’s hiring philosophy
(45:14) Why MySQL sold to Sun Microsystems and tried to avoid Oracle
(50:24) How Oracle has made MySQL even better
(52:22) Why Marten decided to lead at HackerOne
(55:41) An overview of HackerOne
(59:31) How HackerOne got started and landed the Department of Defense contract
(1:03:19) The trust-building power of transparency
(1:08:30) Marten’s successor and the state of HackerOne now
(1:09:23) Marten’s work coaching CEOs
(1:14:20) Common issues CEOs struggle with
(1:16:45) Marten’s contrast framework
(1:26:12) The book of Finnish poetry that inspired Marten’s love of polarities
—
You can find the transcript and references at https://www.ericriesshow.com/
—
Production and marketing byhttps://penname.co/.
Eric may be an investor in the companies discussed.
In this episode of The Eric Ries Show, I'm joined by Celine Halioua, founder and CEO of Loyal, a groundbreaking biotech startup developing drugs to extend dogs' healthspan and lifespan. Celine's journey combines her passion for animals with a bold scientific mission that looks beyond pets to potentially transform human longevity as well.
Our conversation explores:
• Why ambitious, moonshot visions can paradoxically make fundraising and team-building easier
• The critical early pivot that positioned Loyal for its first drug approval
• The undervalued power of listening deeply and asking the right questions
• Loyal's philosophy of exceeding regulatory requirements to build trust and advance the field
• Balancing the startup need for speed with scientific rigor and safety
• How Celine's background led her to focus on the untapped potential of canine longevity
• The competitive advantage of pursuing novel ideas before they become industry trends
• Why founder conviction and scientific expertise were crucial to overcoming skepticism
• Celine's approach to governance and maintaining mission control for the long-term
• Navigating the challenges of Silicon Valley as a female founder in biotech
• The realistic timeline and milestones for Loyal's drug development and approvals
• Building for truly long-term impact beyond conventional startup timelines
• And much more!
—
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—
Where to find Celine Halioua:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/celinehh/
• X: https://x.com/celinehalioua
• Website: https://www.celinehh.com/
—
Where to find Eric:
• Newsletter:https://ericries.carrd.co/
• Podcast:https://ericriesshow.com/
• YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@theericriesshow
—
In This Episode We Cover:
(00:00) Intro
(03:29) Early challenges Celine faced promoting Loyal
(08:20) The early pivot that led to Loyal’s first drug approval
(14:50) The importance of listening and asking questions
(15:58) Why you have to love the mission
(18:02) Why a lofty mission makes it easier to gain support
(22:30) Loyal’s commitment to regulatory frameworks—and doing more than required
(29:10) How to balance speed with safety and quality
(34:36) Eric’s startup lesson on speed and compromises
(38:22) How Celine became interested in the biotech space and canine longevity
(47:32) The power of new ideas, and why it’s too late once it’s a trend
(50:28) How Celine’s conviction and scientific expertise drove Loyal’s success
(56:00) Celine’s advice to new founders: go deep
(1:00:15) How and why Celine maintains control of Loyal
(1:07:23) Breaking through the glass ceiling of Silicon Valley
(1:15:50) Challenges of building a long-term company, and Loyal’s real milestones
(1:21:11) The timeline of Loyal’s drug approvals
(1:24:02) Lightning round
—
You can find the transcript and references at https://www.ericriesshow.com/
—
Production and marketing byhttps://penname.co/.
Eric may be an investor in the companies discussed.
In this episode of The Eric Ries Show, I sit down with Daniel Dines, the Founder and CEO of UiPath, a company that started in robotic process automation (RPA) and is now making a bold shift into agentic AI. Dubbed “the boss of bots” by Forbes, Daniel has led UiPath from its humble beginnings to a $6.65 billion company that’s reshaping the future of automation.
Daniel’s journey is anything but conventional. After working as an engineer on SQL at Microsoft, he felt a pull toward something more creative—building his own product. That decision led him back to Romania, where he founded the company that would eventually become UiPath.
In our conversation today, we talk about the following topics:
• Why stepping out of your comfort zone is key to growth
• The Jack London book that changed Daniel’s life
• The benefits of bootstrapping vs. raising big VC money
• Why letting go is the hard part of a pivot
• How failure can unlock unexpected opportunities
• A case for mixing work and life to build a strong company culture
• Why empowering employees is good for business
• What Daniel learned from UiPath’s journey to IPO
• Daniel’s plans for his second stint as CEO
• Why Daniel is optimistic about the impact AI will have on the future of work
• And more!
—
Brought to you by:
• Wilson Sonsini – Wilson Sonsini is the innovation economy’s law firm. Learn more.
• Explo – Explo helps teams deploy customer dashboard portals. Get Started.
• Gusto – Gusto is an easy payroll and benefits software built for small businesses. Get 3 months free.
—
Where to find Daniel Dines:
• LinkedIn: https://x.com/danieldines
• X: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danieldines/
—
Where to find Eric:
• Newsletter:https://ericries.carrd.co/
• Podcast:https://ericriesshow.com/
• YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@theericriesshow
—
In This Episode We Cover:
(00:00) Intro
(03:11) Growing up in communist Romania
(10:00) The importance of breaking out of your comfort zone
(13:41) Joy as a sign you’re on the right path
(15:27) The Jack London book that made Daniel an entrepreneur
(16:40) The beginnings of UiPath
(18:50) Why writing code wasn’t enough for Daniel and why coding is creative
(22:22) UiPath’s values
(24:50) Why Daniel returned to Romania
(28:00) Advantages of bootstrapping
(30:50) Pivoting to become a product company from outsourcing
(33:27) An early password management product that didn’t work out
(34:55) The difficult pivot that led to the product that is UiPath now
(39:10) How the early failures led to the big opportunity
(41:37) Hitting product market fit
(43:50) Why Daniel hired misfits, and the characteristics he looked for in hires
(48:32) How Daniel protected UiPath's values and why he plans to renew the commitment
(54:00) The importance of empowering employees at all levels to provide feedback
(57:47) UiPath’s journey to IPO
(1:01:30) Why Eric thinks he didn’t prepare Daniel psychologically for the difficulty of IPO
(1:03:46) Synthetic volatility’s human cost
(1:07:01) Why Daniel stepped down as CEO and why he’s resuming CEO duties
(1:11:55) Daniel’s second stint as CEO: hiring people he likes and going all in on agentic AI
(1:18:20) The promise of open source
(1:19:24) Daniel’s thoughts on the future of work
(1:24:36) Lightning round
—
You can find the transcript and references athttps://www.ericriesshow.com/
—
Production and marketing byhttps://penname.co/.
Eric may be an investor in the companies discussed.
In this episode of The Eric Ries Show, I’m joined by Alyssa Ravasio, CEO and Founder of Hipcamp. Hipcamp is the platform that has revolutionized camping, with a mission to “get more people outside.” By making it easier for people to find camping on public lands—and then expanding to include private lands—Hipcamp significantly increased the supply of camping spots, making the outdoors more accessible to all.
In our conversation, Alyssa shares how her childhood fostered a deep love of nature, and how missed opportunities ultimately led her to become a founder. We dive into Hipcamp’s mission and discuss how staying true to it has been key to the company’s success. We talk about the following:
• How a rejection led Alyssa to create her own major, Digital Democracy
• The early experiences that shaped Alyssa’s respect for nature
• The problem Alyssa set out to solve when she started California Camping (now Hipcamp)
• Why Alyssa took a coding bootcamp and the early days of bootstrapping Hipcamp
• How Hipcamp expanded the supply of camping by opening up private lands
• Hipcamp’s many value-enforcing practices, including tying performance reviews to values
• The power of direct feedback, and why Hipcamp seeks diverse perspectives
• The practice of treating the business as an ecosystem
• And much more!
—
Brought to you by:
• Vanta – Automate compliance, manage risk, and prove trust—continuously. Save $1,000 today.
• Wilson Sonsini – Wilson Sonsini is the innovation economy’s law firm. Learn more.
—
Where to find Alyssa Ravasio:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssa-ravasio-23114717/
• X: https://x.com/alyraz
—
Where to find Eric:
• Newsletter:https://ericries.carrd.co/
• Podcast:https://ericriesshow.com/
• YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@theericriesshow
—
In This Episode We Cover:
(00:00) Intro
(02:28) Alyssa’s entrepreneurship journey
(03:40) Alyssa’s outdoorsy upbringing that fueled her desire to democratize outdoor access
(06:30) How film school rejection led Alyssa to design her own major at UCLA
(10:20) Alyssa’s philosophy of using technology for good
(13:40) Learnings from Alyssa’s first two startups
(16:05) How Alyssa prioritizes Hipcamp’s mission with her employees
(19:20) Hipcamp’s hiring process
(20:24) How California Camping became Hipcamp
(21:47) The initial idea behind California Camping
(24:52) How Alyssa dealt with naysayers in the early days of building Hipcamp
(28:00) How solving a customer’s problem on Twitter drew Alyssa’s first investor
(31:22) The early days of bootstrapping Hipcamp
(36:40) The power of a shared vision
(38:07) Overcoming scarcity in outdoor spaces by adding private lands
(42:15) Why the business model of Hipcamp is a win-win for all
(47:10) Systems and cultural practices that keep Hipcamp aligned with its mission and values
(54:15) A case for bringing teams together in nature
(56:50) The current state of Hipcamp
(59:42) How Hipcamp might scale impact with a fund in the future
(1:03:15) The practice of treating the business like an ecosystem
(1:10:14) Why a positive-impact business is also good business
(1:12:41) Alyssa’s thoughts on AI, and how Hipcamp plans on utilizing it
(1:17:03) Lightning round
—
You can find the transcript and references athttps://www.ericriesshow.com/
—
Production and marketing byhttps://penname.co/.
Eric may be an investor in the companies discussed.
In today’s episode of The Eric Ries Show, I’m joined by Gagan Biyani, Co-Founder and CEO of Maven, a platform that’s redefining online education with cohort-based courses. Before Maven, Gagan co-founded Udemy, now one of the largest online education marketplaces, and Sprig, a meal delivery startup.
Gagan started his entrepreneurial journey at just 21, and along the way, he’s experienced both big wins and tough lessons. We get into what worked, what didn’t, and how those experiences shaped his approach to building companies today.
In our conversation today, we talk about the following:
• How a free truffle at Sprig revealed the pitfalls of MBA-style thinking
• Why Gagan has shifted his thinking to be less metric-obsessed
• The underestimated value of intuition in decision-making
• Maintaining company culture at scale—onboarding new hires while preserving core values
• What drives value in any marketplace
• Lessons from Gagan’s exit from Udemy—and how he rebuilt his friendship with his co-founder
• How to use AI to increase productivity and where it falls short
• An explanation of Gagan’s concept of ‘atomic unit’
• AI’s potential to transform education
• And more!
—
Brought to you by:
• Vanta – Automate compliance, manage risk, and prove trust—continuously. Save $1,000 today.
• Gusto – Gusto is an easy payroll and benefits software built for small businesses. Get 3 months free.
• Runway – The finance platform you don’t hate. Learn more.
—
Where to find Gagan Biyani:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaganbiyani/
• X: https://x.com/gaganbiyani
• Website: https://www.gaganbiyani.com/
—
Where to find Eric:
• Newsletter:https://ericries.carrd.co/
• Podcast:https://ericriesshow.com/
• YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@theericriesshow
—
In This Episode We Cover:
(00:00) Intro
(03:06) MBA thinking and how taking away the free truffle impacted Sprig
(13:35) Different types of trust in different industries
(19:19) How to preserve trust while balancing business costs
(26:21) How Maven’s internal processes, once ideal, needed to evolve with growth
(30:40) Why investing time in new hires is key to embedding company culture
(32:10) Gagan’s entrepreneurship journey
(35:00) The value of intuition
(37:40) Early insights at Udemy that led to the shift toward video-recorded courses
(46:52) Thoughts on failure
(49:40) How to build a successful marketplace
(54:42) Gagan’s exit from Udemy
(1:03:01) Why Gagan founded Maven and an explanation of cohort-based education
(1:07:05) The difference between Maven and Udemy and how Maven is doing now
(1:13:12) Why AI is overhyped—but still very useful
(1:16:02) The future of AI in education
(1:22:36) Lightning round
—
You can find the transcript and references athttps://www.ericriesshow.com/
—
Production and marketing byhttps://penname.co/.
Eric may be an investor in the companies discussed.
In today’s episode ofThe Eric Ries Show, I am joined by Luis von Ahn, CEO and co-founder of Duolingo.
With Duolingo, his mission was simple: make language learning accessible to everyone—not to build a for-profit company. Fast forward to today, and Duolingo has grown into a $17 billion business with a reported 90% of the online daily active users in the language learning market.
In our conversation today, we discuss the following topics:
• How hiring an intern led to Duolingo’s viral mascot
• Duolingo’s revenue strategy that helped their stock be up over 100% in the past year
• How only 10% of users pay but make about 30% of the revenue in the education app category
• The newly published Duolingo Handbook and its critical role within the company
• How turning learning into a game changed everything
• Why Duolingo spent the first five years focusing on improving retention
• Duolingo’s unique approach to experimentation and how to apply it
• Why Duolingo isn’t focused on market investors but on building a 100-year company
• And much more!
—
Brought to you by:
• Wilson Sonsini – Wilson Sonsini is the innovation economy’s law firm.Learn more.
—
Where to find Luis von Ahn:
• LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-von-ahn-duolingo/
—
Where to find Eric:
• Newsletter:https://ericries.carrd.co/
• Podcast:https://ericriesshow.com/
• YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@theericriesshow
—
In This Episode We Cover:
(00:00) Intro
(03:10) How Duolingo’s passive-aggressive mascot, Duo, became an internet sensation
(09:21) Why Luis took a chance on the Duo campaign—despite his doubts
(11:30) Take the long view: Duolingo’s principle to build a lasting brand
(12:52) Duolingo’s commitment to excellence
(14:54) Luis’s journey to entrepreneurship
(18:28) Luis’s MacArthur Fellowship “genius” award
(20:13) The inspiration behind Duolingo’s mission and how they stay in alignment with it
(26:16) Early learnings that shaped Duolingo into a fun product
(29:14) How Duolingo gained an edge over Rosetta Stone
(32:45) How a company with no revenue can be worth a billion dollars
(33:10) The VC who pushed Luis and Severin to monetize
(36:05) How Duolingo stays focused on long-term sustainability
(40:12) A mistake Duolingo made by focusing on the quarter rather than long term
(42:15) The importance of trust and “the cultural bank”
(44:11) Duo class shares and ways Duolingo resists hyper-monetization
(46:30) A case for staying under-monetized
(48:23) Why Duolingo wrote a handbook, and the process of creating it
(54:00) The cadence of evaluating the relevance of the handbook
(55:01) Eric’s “two-way reviews”
(58:34) An explanation of Duolingo’s “green machine”
(1:01:42) Product reviews and a/b testing at Duolingo
(1:06:32) Why Duolingo takes a stance against MVPs in their handbook
(1:10:07) How Duolingo’s v1 meets Eric’s definition of MVP
(1:11:45) Duolingo’s early strategy focused on retention
(1:16:22) Duolingo’s testing philosophy
(1:18:13) Lightning round
—
You can find the transcript and references athttps://www.ericriesshow.com/
—
Production and marketing byhttps://penname.co/.
Eric may be an investor in the companies discussed.
In this episode of The Eric Ries Show, I sit down with Craig Newmark, the founder of Craigslist—one of the internet’s most influential platforms. Despite its massive impact, Craigslist has remained intentionally minimalist, resisting the hyper-monetization strategies common in tech.
Craig attributes his success to being in the right place at the right time, but his story reveals a deeper truth: a steadfast commitment to his values. We discuss how his moral compass shaped Craigslist, his approach to business sustainability, and his perspective on ethical entrepreneurship.
In this episode, we cover:
• The origins of Craigslist as a simple email newsletter
• Why Craig resisted aggressive monetization and focused on community impact
• The market research behind Craigslist’s minimal fees
• How Craigslist maintained its mission even after Craig stepped back from leadership
• Craig’s thoughts on AI, cybersecurity, and the future of journalism
• How Craig’s strong relationship with customers kept him aligned with his values
• Craig’s philanthropic work
• Craig’s advice for new founders
• And more!
—
Brought to you by:
Vanta – Automate compliance, manage risk, and prove trust—continuously. Get $1,000 off.
• Gusto – Gusto is an easy payroll and benefits software built for small businesses. Get 3 months free.
Runway – The finance platform you don’t hate. Learn more.
—
Where to find Craig Newmark:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craignewmark/
• X: https://x.com/craignewmark
—
Where to find Eric:
• Newsletter: https://ericries.carrd.co/
• Podcast: https://ericriesshow.com/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theericriesshow
—
In This Episode We Cover:
(00:00) Intro
(03:06) The origins of Craigslist
(12:20) Why Craig used email in the beginning
(14:03) Lessons from Sunday school that shaped Craig’s moral compass
(15:34) How Craigslist promoted community
(17:42) Craig’s resistance to the allure of maximum monetization
(19:44) Why Craigslist became a private business, rather than a non-profit
(24:15) How monetization works at Craigslist
(27:11) Why Craigslist doesn’t need to drive engagement the way social media sites do
(30:54) The size and scale of Craigslist
(31:47) Current threats in cybersecurity
(33:44) How Craig became interested in cybersecurity
(35:34) How Craigslist maintained mission alignment after Craig left management
(40:54) Craig’s perspective on contentment and why he’s remained fulfilled
(42:25) Advice for aspiring world-changers
(47:56) Craig’s thoughts on AI
(51:08) Craig’s philanthropic work with journalism
(53:24) Problems in journalism today
(54:37) Craig’s involvement with Donors Choose
(57:14) Craig’s pigeon rescue work
(58:58) Advice for new founders
(1:01:02) The importance of staying close to the customer
(1:05:03) The case for avoiding exploitation
(1:07:16) Lightning round
—
You can find the transcript and references at https://www.ericriesshow.com/
—
Production and marketing by https://penname.co/.
Eric may be an investor in the companies discussed.
In this episode of The Eric Ries Show, I’m joined by Amir Nathoo, Co-Founder and CEO of Outschool, an education platform offering live online classes for K-12 learners. Amir’s own childhood inspired Outschool—while he went to traditional schools, his parents always encouraged his self-driven coding projects at home.
Outschool is about empowering kids to take control of their learning and building a lifelong love for education. It’s a mission-driven company that’s impacting how we think about education and social change.
In today’s conversation, we explore the intersection of business and social good and why education needs disruption. We talk about the following topics:
• Amir’s thoughts on AI’s role in education
• How maximizing profit and benefiting society can go hand in hand
• The value of allowing children to pursue their interests
• Why engagement is the number one metric at Outschool
• What Amir learned from the secular homeschool movement
• How traditional investors sometimes hold back disruption and why that’s a problem
• And more!
—
Brought to you by:
Vanta – Automate compliance, manage risk, and prove trust—continuously. Get $1,000 off.
—
Where to find Amir Nathoo:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirnathoo/
• Website: https://amir.io/
—
Where to find Eric:
• Newsletter: https://ericries.carrd.co/
• Podcast: https://ericriesshow.com/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theericriesshow
—
In This Episode We Cover:
(00:00) Intro
(02:58) Outschool’s launch at the height of the pandemic
(03:38) What a fiscal sponsorship and Outschool’s relationship with the Edward Charles Foundation
(05:18) Why Amir is thinking of having kids on his board
(07:40) How the pandemic was a critical moment for Outschool to launch their non-profit
(10:00) A case for tying for-profit with social missions
(17:56) Why younger generations value purpose-driven brands
(20:27) Outschool’s mission-tied metrics and why Amir is against double bottom lines
(23:10) Amir’s early experiences coding
(24:50) How Amir came up with the idea of Outschool
(28:52) How secular homeschooling inspired Outschool’s direction
(31:22) Why engagement became Outschool’s biggest metric and guided their mission
(36:55) What Amir learned from homeschoolers’ dynamic education journeys
(44:00) How systemic deficits are driving changes in education
(46:40) How Outschool supports diverse educational perspectives
(50:10) Outschool’s first value: stand with learner
(52:38) Outschool’s unique structure and how they keep employees tied to the mission
(54:45) The case for truth and open-mindedness in business leadership
(58:06) Eric’s bad experience working with an unscrupulous leader
(1:02:00) Amir’s thoughts on disruption
(1:05:08) The role of alignment in Outschool’s positive investor relationships
(1:08:31) The value of human-to-human interaction and AI’s role in education
(1:12:50) Amir’s thoughts on using AI to write an essay
(1:13:41) Lightning round
—
You can find the transcript and references at https://www.ericriesshow.com/
—
Production and marketing by https://penname.co/.
Eric may be an investor in the companies discussed.
In this episode of The Eric Ries Show, I’m joined by Emil Eifrem, Co-Founder and CEO of Neo4j, an open-source graph database. Neo4j enables organizations to unlock the business value of connections, influences, and relationships in data.
In our conversation today, we talk about the following topics:
• The origin story of Neo4j and why they chose open source
• Open source as a means of production vs. distribution
• How open source fosters trust and transparency
• The pros and cons of doing business in the US
• Why Neo4j updated their values and changed their stance on military contracts
• What a Leader’s Guide is and how it keeps companies tied to their mission
• The challenges of implementing AI
• An explanation of RAG information retrieval and how it relates to LLMs
• And more!
—
Brought to you by:
Vanta – Automate compliance, manage risk, and prove trust—continuously. Get $1,000 off.
• Gusto – Gusto is an easy payroll and benefits software built for small businesses. Get 3 months free.
Runway – The finance platform you don’t hate. Learn more.
—
Where to find Emil Eifrem:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emileifrem/
—
Where to find Eric:
• Newsletter: https://ericries.carrd.co/
• Podcast: https://ericriesshow.com/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theericriesshow
—
In This Episode We Cover:
(00:00) Intro
(01:42) How Eric and Emil got connected
(07:35) The origin story of Neo4j
(13:38) Why Emil went with an open-source model
(20:25) The benefits of being open source as a means of distribution
(25:07) Why Emil has no regrets about going open-source
(26:50) How open source builds trust
(30:33) The difference in doing business in the US vs. Sweden
(35:34) How Neo4j got to product market fit and early struggles
(38:30) Why Neo4j declined the GSA schedule and why it was a mistake
(46:22) Emil’s thoughts on changing his position, reworking values, and recommitting
(51:40) Eric’s advice to avoid mission drift: A leader’s guide, and a two-way review
(1:00:04) The challenge of implementing AI—and the possibility of massive opportunity
(1:09:20) How Neo4j successfully implemented AI
(1:11:55) An explanation of IR (information retrieval) and how it’s relevant to AI
(1:22:44) What gives us trust in the AI system
—
You can find the transcript and references at https://www.ericriesshow.com/
—
Production and marketing by https://penname.co/.
Eric may be an investor in the companies discussed.
In this episode of The Eric Ries Show, I’m joined by Iman Abuzeid, the co-founder and CEO of Incredible Health, a platform transforming how healthcare systems hire nurses.
After earning an MD, Iman pivoted to business and technology. She spent some time working in New York before enrolling at The Wharton School, where she earned her MBA. After graduating, she moved to Silicon Valley and worked as a product manager at AliveCor, where she met her future co-founder. Together, they launched Incredible Health, a company now valued at $1.65 billion.
In our conversation today, we talk about the following topics:
• Why Iman chose a different way to apply her medical school training
• The unique insights gained from NFX’s accelerator program
• Incredible Health’s purpose and its downstream effects on quality of care
• The evolution of Incredible Health’s MVP
• The focus on profitability from day one
• How to commit to your values
• The importance of vetting investors
• How Incredible Health has implemented AI
• How Amazon’s single-threaded model inspires the way Incredible Health prioritizes
• And more!
—
Brought to you by:
Vanta – Automate compliance, manage risk, and prove trust—continuously. Get $1,000 off.
Runway – The finance platform you don’t hate. Learn more.
—
Where to find Iman Abuzeid:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imanabuzeid/
• X: https://x.com/imanabuzeid
Where to find Eric:
• Newsletter: https://ericries.carrd.co/
• Podcast: https://ericriesshow.com/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theericriesshow
—
In This Episode We Cover:
(00:00) Intro
(01:52) An overview of Incredible Health
(02:48) Why Iman started Incredible Health
(05:22) Why Iman went to medical school but decided not to practice clinical medicine
(06:42) How Iman got into software
(08:01) Iman’s background and why she is drawn to entrepreneurship
(09:19) Why Roman and Iman left AliveCor to start their own company
(11:00) How the partners at NFX helped Roman and Iman transform their original vision
(15:55) James Joaquin's vision of "world positive" and how Incredible Health embodies it
(18:15) Balancing the lofty mission of quality care with financial goals
(20:20) The reasons for labor shortages in the healthcare industry
(22:20) The tools Incredible Health has to help nurses manage their careers
(23:18) What the MVP of Incredible Health looked like
(26:00) Some statistics around the current size of Incredible Health
(26:43) The values that Iman leaned into to overcome many difficult obstacles
(29:22) How Iman has created so much value with a small team
(31:49) Early decisions made that led to high impact and high growth
(33:34) The world positive term sheet and how Incredible Health clarified its values
(36:51) The three ways Incredible Health implements values
(38:30) Eric’s culture bank and leader’s guide
(39:50) Anecdotes from Incredible Health that illustrate customer obsession, speed, and
(43:41) How the pandemic impacted Incredible Health
(46:25) How Incredible Health upholds values and ensures accountability
(49:00) Protecting the culture from outside sources
(52:38) The future of product strategy and growth strategy at Incredible Health
(55:21) Learnings from implementing AI
(57:45) Building and retaining trust on both sides of the marketplace
(1:02:23) The importance of neutrality with all employers
(1:04:25) Prioritization and community standards
(1:08:15) The company as a whole vs. individual contribution
(1:11:24) Lightning round
You can find the transcript and references at https://www.ericriesshow.com/
—
Production and marketing by https://penname.co/.
Eric may be an investor in the companies discussed.
In this episode of The Eric Ries Show, I’m joined by Siqi Chen, a four-time founder and the CEO and CFO of his latest venture, Runway. Runway offers a modern, user-friendly platform for financial modeling, headcount planning, and departmental budgeting—proudly branding itself as “the finance platform your team doesn’t hate.” With its distinctive marketing and brand-building approach, Runway has garnered significant attention. (Full disclosure: I’m an investor in the company.)
Siqi and I discuss his journey from building some of the most viral social games in Silicon Valley to founding Runway. We also delve into the challenges faced by technical founders, the art of viewing a business as a product, and how Siqi has sharpened his strategic thinking. Other key topics include:
• Lessons from founding Serious Business
• Critiques of Zynga’s strategy and the story of selling to them
• Practical advice for building trust
• Insights into Leaders in Tech and Stanford’s GSB program
• The importance of crafting clear, universally understood company values
• An overview of Runway’s platform, mission, and values
• A fresh take on the fallacy of work-life balance
• And so much more!
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Brought to you by:
Vanta – Automate compliance, manage risk, and prove trust—continuously. Get $1,000 off.
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Where to find Siqi Chen:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siqic/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blader/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/founder/
Where to find Eric:
• Newsletter: https://ericries.carrd.co/
• Podcast: https://ericriesshow.com/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theericriesshow
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In This Episode We Cover:
(00:00) Meet Siqi Chen
(02:30) How Siqi came up with the idea for Mafia and the early years of gaming on Facebook
(05:10) The early investors in Mafia
(05:36) Siqi’s meeting with Keith Rabois and Max Levchin
(08:15) How Siqi was influenced by the Lean Startup approach
(11:04) How quickly Siqi’s career took off after moving to San Francisco
(11:48) Founding Serious Business and creating Friends for Sale
(14:20) How Serious Business raised $5 million
(16:20) Why Serious Business sold to Zynga
(17:20) The importance of prioritizing the business as much as the product
(19:11) Siqi’s learnings and advice for new founders
(23:25) What Siqi learned working at Zynga
(27:18) Siqi’s time running product
(29:20) Criticisms of Zynga and how they lost Eric’s trust
(33:42) The importance of trust and maintaining vision and mission
(39:15) An overview of Runway
(44:38) What inspired Siqi to create Runway
(50:43) What Siqi learned from user interviews
(52:07) An example of time wasting inside a company
(53:24) The values at Runway and why they changed
(58:35) Why you should write reflective values after having a high-performance team
(1:00:40) How Leaders in Tech shaped Siqi’s thoughts on values and building trust
(1:03:13) How open feedback builds trust
(1:08:20) The purpose of Runway
(1:11:34) Siqi’s struggles with strategy planning
(1:13:31) A top down approach to entrepreneurship and why it’s not common
(1:16:38) The importance of employees understanding their contributions and impact
(1:18:55) How Runway leverages AI
(1:22:12) Runway’s dramatic launch with a timed lock
(1:23:04) How Runway communicates value to customers
(1:24:54) Runway’s process for brand building and high-quality design
(1:28:40) Lightning round
You can find the transcript and references at https://www.ericriesshow.com/
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Production and marketing by https://penname.co/.
Eric may be an investor in the companies discussed.
Rodney Brooks has spent his entire life at the intersection of robotics, computers, and AI. When the Roomba vacuum cleaner launched in 2002, his company, iRobot, brought all three into millions of people’s homes.
iRobot had already succeeded with robots for space exploration, mine detection, search missions, and military applications. However, after the Roomba came out, it went public with a valuation of $600 million. By then, Rodney had been working on AI and robots for decades alongside the original creators of AI at Stanford and MIT. On today’s episode, we discuss:
The hype around machine learning and what’s next
Bootstrapping a startup versus taking funding
The advantages of being ambitious
The relationship between luck, risk, and success
Building robots that work with people rather than against them
How to build a trustworthy company
How he predicts what technology is on the rise
His advice to today’s builders
And much more
—
Brought to you by:
Vanta – Automate compliance, manage risk, and prove trust—continuously. Get $1,000 off.
Runway – The finance platform you don’t hate. Learn more.
—
Where to find Rodney Brooks:
• Website: https://people.csail.mit.edu/brooks/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodney-brooks-1a137517
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/rodneyabrooks.bsky.social
• X: https://x.com/rodneyabrooks
Where to find Eric:
• Newsletter: https://ericries.carrd.co/
• Podcast: https://ericriesshow.com/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theericriesshow
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In This Episode We Cover:
(00:00) Welcome to the Eric Ries Show
(03:00) Taking iRobot public
(04:33) The change in company culture from private to public
(06:14) Rodney’s upbringing in Australia and early experiments with computers, robots, and mathematics
(7:19) The era of the computer operator
(9:37) Rodney’s arrival at Stanford in 1977 and move to MIT, at the dawn of AI
(11:05) His relationships with the creators of AI
(12:15) What innovators of AI and general intelligence thought they were creating at the time
(13:17) Rodney’s first AI startup, Lucid
(14:52) What Rodney learned about building startups from the experience
(18:31) Starting Light Robot, the space exploration company that eventually became iRobot
(21:29) The fourteen business models on the road to success, including toys
(26:03) The pivot to vacuums
(29:04) Learning about the minutiae of mass production
(34:43) Rodney’s thoughts on the relationship between consumers and the people who make goods
(38:08) Making robots that don’t take away human agency
(40:57) Building a trustworthy robotics company
(43:56) Balancing low-cost and reliable products
(47:00) RobustAI, Rodney’s new company
(51:54) The demand and need for warehouse robots
(53:39) Building robots that work with people rather than against them
(58:20) Talking to warehouse workers for insight into building robots
(59:20) Building startups with a high degree of difficulty
(1:05:29) The advantages of ambition
(1:08:03) Predicting the patterns of technology
(1:11:23) The role of luck in entrepreneurship
(1:12:30) Rodney’s thoughts on the current hype around AI and machine learning
(1:15:34) Rodney’s advice for today’s builders
(1:16:28) Lightning round
You can find the transcript and references at https://www.ericriesshow.com/
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Production and marketing by https://penname.co/.
Eric may be an investor in the companies discussed.
