In today’s episode, we sit down with Xavier Collins, co-founder of Wonder Studios — the London-based AI film studio backed by Blackbird, LocalGlobe, and angels from OpenAI and DeepMind.Xavier shares Wonder’s mission to become the Pixar of the AI age, democratizing Hollywood-grade production and sparking a global wave of creativity. From supercharging storytelling and navigating venture capital, to blending software with traditional filmmaking and building a 21st-century studio culture, Xavier offers a rare inside look at the future of film.
We dive into:
00:00 Introduction to the AI Gold Rush
00:19 Meet Xavier Collins of Wonder Studios
00:42 The Future of Storytelling with AI
01:02 Challenges and Opportunities in AI Film Studios
01:34 Building a Unicorn: Culture and Vision
01:51 Audience Engagement and Subscription Drive
02:30 Deep Dive into Wonder Studios' Vision
03:41 The AI Gold Rush Analogy
06:33 Democratizing Hollywood-Grade Production
08:36 VC Skepticism and Conviction
12:11 The Agency Model and Beyond
13:44 Notion Ad
18:39 Lowering Barriers to Hollywood-Grade Animation
21:20 Personal Journey and Creative Collaboration
26:19 The AI Video Landscape
29:40 Advice for Creatives in the Age of AI
32:23 Leveraging Technology in Filmmaking
34:36 Challenges and Opportunities in Scriptwriting
36:32 Impact of AI on the Filmmaking Economy
40:00 Building a 21st Century Studio
42:42 Team Structure and Culture
54:24 Future Goals and Vision
In today’s episode, we’re joined by five leading voices shaping the future of artificial intelligence: Dan Palmer, co-founder of Relevance AI; Michelle Gilmore, CEO and co-founder of Juno; Xharmagne Carandang, founding software engineer at Lorikeet; and Georgie Healy, head of Google’s AI accelerator and host of *In the Blink of AI*. Recorded live at the second-ever AI Roundtable Dinner, this conversation dives deep into the most urgent, surreal, and high-stakes issues in AI today. From billion-dollar bets and VC hype cycles, to AI’s impact on jobs, education, and global competition, the guests share candid insights from their own journeys building in one of the most intense moments in tech history. Listen in for a rare behind-the-scenes look at how these founders are navigating ethical dilemmas, rapid product development, market expansion, and staying grounded amid the noise.
Check out their socials:
Daniel Palmer’s: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-palmer/
Michelle Gilmore’s: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellejoygilmore/
Xharmagne Carandang’s: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xharmagne/
Georgie Healy’s: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georginahealy/
We dive into:
- The reality of the current AI VC bubble and capital efficiency in hyper-competitive markets
- Why founder expertise, adaptability, and team quality are critical moats in AI
- How AI could become as ubiquitous as electricity—and what that means for pricing, value, and innovation
- The skills and mindsets that will thrive (and those that might disappear) in an AI-first world
- The global race for AI talent and why Sydney, SF, and emerging markets each play a role
- Displacement vs. amplification: the societal impacts of automation and possible safety nets
- The hype vs. product debate—how to cut through noise and build enduring companies
- Storytelling, trust, and the future of marketing in a world where agents make buying decisions
- The advice these founders would give their future selves about building in AI over the next decade
00:00 Introduction
02:37 Round Table Dinner: AI Founders and Leaders
03:19 The Future of AI and Market Dynamics
04:53 Challenges and Opportunities in AI Startups
07:19 The Role of Talent and Capital in AI
09:54 Global Perspectives on AI Development
13:50 Notion Ad
14:36 The Impact of AI on Industries and Society
28:11 Geographical Dispersion and Talent Density
37:35 Challenging Company Culture Norms
38:14 Building Relationships in San Francisco
39:38 Talent Density and Research in Australia
41:24 AI's Impact on Skills and Employment
43:07 The Future of Education and Creativity
8:43 Job Displacement and Economic Shifts
01:03:57 Ethical Concerns and AI Governance
01:14:19 The Importance of Attention in Business
01:14:46 Investor Expectations and Startup Metrics
01:15:42 Challenges of Building a Sustainable Business
01:16:32 Focus on Customers and Incremental Growth
01:17:23 The Role of Hype and Distribution
01:21:05 The New Generation of Founders
01:26:56 The Future of AI and Human Value
01:37:49 Reflections and Advice for the Future
01:44:01 Conclusion and Podcast Wrap-Up
Thanks to Notion for sponsoring this episode! Organise your team, projects, and ideas all in one place. Try Notion for free and get started with our special link: https://ntn.so/sachin&adam
In today’s episode, we’re joined by John and Jax, partners at AirTree, to talk about their massive new $650 million fund — a milestone backed by some of the world’s top institutional investors. They break down why global capital is finally paying attention to Australia, how this changes the game for local founders, and what traits they now look for in world-class startups. From the rise of AI-native companies to the evolving VC landscape, this is a must-listen for anyone building in tech.
Check out their socials:
Jonh Henderson:
https://www.airtree.vc/team/john-henderson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhenderson/
Jackie Vullinghs:
https://www.airtree.vc/team/jackie-vullinghs
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jvullinghs/
We dive into:
00:00 Exciting Announcement: New $650 Million Fund
00:17 The Importance of International Investors
00:52 Meet the Partners: John and Jax
01:13 The Emotional Rollercoaster of Venture Capital
01:23 The Fast-Paced World of VC: Diligence and Conviction
01:49 A Special Message to Our Viewers
02:31 Deep Dive: The New Fund and Its Impact
05:21 Why Australia? Convincing Global Investors
06:28 The Growth of the Australian Tech Ecosystem
09:28 Vanta Ad
12:40 Fund Structure: Seed, Growth, and Co-Investment
18:48 The Role of Growth Funds in the VC Landscape
20:44 Global Trends in Venture Capital
29:47 The Emotional Journey of Building a VC Firm
31:21 Core Ingredients for Venture Scale Business
32:11 Navigating the Nebulous World of AI
33:10 Backing AI Native Entrepreneurs
34:30 Valuation Challenges in the AI Era
35:53 Importance of Founders in AI Startups
43:22 Australian Founders on the Global Stage
46:19 Air Tree's Growth Fund Strategy
49:00 Building a World-Class Team at Air Tree
50:49 Future Vision for Air Tree
55:21 Adapting Investment Strategies
58:36 Continuous Learning and Healthy Debate
01:01:07 Conclusion and Future Outlook
Today we’re joined by John Kim, co-founder and CEO of Paraform—a startup reshaping how companies hire through a fast-growing recruiter marketplace. He shares Paraform’s journey from early struggles to raising a $20M Series A, and reflects on his growth as a leader, along with the company’s vision to expand across industries and deepen AI integration.
This conversation matters because it reveals what it really takes to scale a marketplace, build trust with users, and win in one of tech’s most competitive battlegrounds: hiring.
We dive into:
00:00 Welcome and Introduction
00:26 Startup Growth and Office Expansion
01:27 Series A Funding Announcement
01:48 The Journey to Series A
03:13 Customer Success Stories
07:22 Elevator Pitch and Recruiting Edge
09:55 Vanta Ad
11:34 Building the Marketplace
12:34 Personal Background and Experiences
15:05 Rapid Company Growth
15:41 Overcoming Early Challenges
20:17 Go-to-Market Strategies
24:02 Navigating a Hot Market
24:29 The Talent War: Changes in Recruiting
25:34 AI's Impact on Work and Salaries
26:52 The Future Role of Recruiters
28:25 Cultural Fit in Talent Acquisition
30:44 In-House vs. External Recruiters
33:34 Different Approaches to Recruiting
36:37 Sustainability of Current Hiring Practices
39:21 Personal Growth and Leadership
44:29 Future Goals and Vision
The future of hiring with AI and trust-driven workflows is here. #AI #Startups #Paraform #TechFounders
About us
We are two best friends, trying to build a community around in-depth interviews and short documentaries with the best minds in technology and startups. Through bold storytelling and candid conversations, we explore how visionary thinkers are shaping the future. The best way to support is subscribing, truly it makes all the difference for us 💙
Today we’re joined by Pasha and Pennie - second-time founders and the minds behind @a1base, a breakout @ycombinator startup giving AI agents real-world identities like phone numbers, emails, and Slack handles.
This conversation matters because it tackles one of the most important missing pieces in AI: identity and trust.
We’re moving beyond flashy demos - into a world where agents don’t just generate, they participate.
We dive into:
- Why agents need a phone number
- Building Twilio for AI
- Startup mistakes they’ll never repeat
- Why “looking legit” slows you down
- Speed, soul, and real execution
- Trust, safety & agent messaging
- What YC still gets right
- SF ambition vs. cynicism
- Winning in the agent era
- Infra for agents, not apps
00:00 Introduction to YC and Founders' Ambitions
00:24 The Birth of A1 Base: From Idea to YC
02:21 Personal Histories: Clues to Becoming Founders
08:42 Lessons from Forage: Mistakes and Learnings
10:46 Vanta Ad
13:40 Building with Intentionality in the Age of AI
24:41 AI Agents and Human Communication
25:41 The Role of Y Combinator
26:09 Cultural and Strategic Benefits of YC
27:43 Silicon Valley's Unique Culture
29:07 AI Agents in Real-World Applications
35:03 Building Trust in AI Agents
40:54 Challenges and Optimism in AI Development
47:08 Future of AI Agents and Company Goals
48:44 Conclusion and Podcast Wrap-Up
This isn’t just about bots in group chats - it’s about reshaping how software works with people. The agent era has begun.#AI #Startups #YCombinator #a1base #AIagents #SachinandAdamShow #MessagingInfra #AIInfrastructure #TechFounders
About us
We are two best friends, trying to build a community around in-depth interviews and short documentaries with the best minds in technology and startups. Through bold storytelling and candid conversations, we explore how visionary thinkers are shaping the future. The best way to support is subscribing, truly it makes all the difference for us 💙
Anna Podolsky turned a home-cooked meal for her dog into one of Australia’s fastest-growing startups. In this episode, she shares how Lyka scaled from her kitchen to a 400-person team and hundreds of millions in revenue.
We dive into mission-driven leadership, operational complexity, and the mindset behind building a generational company. If you care about startups, pets, or building with purpose - this one’s for you.
00:00 Introduction
02:02 Anna's Background and Early Influences
03:24 Building and Leading a Team
06:54 Operational Complexities and Growth
09:23 Vanta Ad
12:36 Navigating Supply and Demand
16:30 Lessons from Consulting to Entrepreneurship
23:04 Empowering Teams for Success
24:04 Day-to-Day Life of a CEO
25:21 Mission and Culture: Keys to Success
27:05 The Importance of Brand and Marketing
29:37 Personal Growth and Leadership
32:27 Balancing Work and Personal Life
36:20 The Drive Behind the Mission
38:53 Working with a Partner
42:56 Final Thoughts and Reflections
--
Thanks to Vanta for the episode sponsorship. Our audience gets a special $1,000 off Vanta through our promo: https://www.vanta.com/sachinandadam
Vanta automates compliance for global frameworks like ISO 27001 and SOC 2 and, the latest Australian frameworks like CPS 234 or Essential 8, saving you time and money.
Over 8,000 global companies like Atlassian, Handle, FireAnt, and Tactiq.io use Vanta to manage risk and prove security in real time.
--
JOIN OUR COMMUNITYLinkedIn 🚀: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-sachin-and-adam-show
🐦 X: https://x.com/Sachin_and_Adam
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sachinandadam/
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3M29tMFbZ4mtzJbcRNY3N6?si=731f376e2ddf4d34iTunes:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-sachin-and-adam-show/id1462522364
About us
We are two best friends, trying to build a community around in-depth interviews and short documentaries with the best minds in technology and startups.
Through bold storytelling and candid conversations, we explore how visionary thinkers are shaping the future. The best way to support is subscribing, truly it makes all the difference for us 💙
On today’s episode, we sit down with Charlie Gearside, co-founder of Eucalyptus - one of Australia’s fastest-growing healthtech companies, recently valued at $560 million. After 6 intense years building alongside three close friends, Charlie made the rare move: he walked away.
We explore:
- Why he left Eucalyptus at its peak
- The personal toll of startup life and how therapy helped
- Australia’s cost of living crisis and housing affordability
- The rise of equity as a new wealth path for young Australians
- How culture, media, and politics are shaping our economic future
- Charlie’s vision for Australia — and why he’s turning to content to tell it
This episode is honest, vulnerable, and sharp. If you're a founder, creator, or someone wondering *what’s next for Australia*, this one’s for you.
---
Thanks to Vanta for the episode sponsorship. Our audience gets a special $1,000 off Vanta through our promo:
(https://www.vanta.com/sachinandadam)
Vanta automates compliance for global frameworks like ISO 27001 and SOC 2 and, the latest Australian frameworks like CPS 234 or Essential 8, saving you time and money.
Over 8,000 global companies like Atlassian, Handle, FireAnt, and Tactiq.io use Vanta to manage risk and prove security in real time.
00:00 Introduction
00:29 Charlie's Exit from Eucalyptus
01:03 Startup Insights and Equity
01:25 Audience Engagement and Subscription Drive
02:03 Charlie's New Journey and Reflections
04:59 Challenges and Burnout
12:05 Vanta Ad
12:42 Therapy and Self-Discovery
22:01 Australian Startup Ecosystem
22:46 Vision for Australia's Future
30:59 Media's Role in Startup Culture
31:27 Optimism in Tech Journalism
32:24 Challenges for Australian Startups
34:39 Deep Tech and Investment in Australia
36:17 The Brain Drain Dilemma
38:47 Economic and Cultural Impacts
43:20 Encouraging Entrepreneurship
52:41 Balancing Personal Life and Entrepreneurship
55:28 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
57:47 Future Visions and Political Aspirations
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY
LinkedIn 🚀: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-sachin-and-adam-show
🐦 X: https://x.com/Sachin_and_Adam
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sachinandadam/
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3M29tMFbZ4mtzJbcRNY3N6?si=731f376e2ddf4d34
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-sachin-and-adam-show/id1462522364
About us
We are two best friends, trying to build a community around in-depth interviews and short documentaries with the best minds in technology and startups. Through bold storytelling and candid conversations, we explore how visionary thinkers are shaping the future. The best way to support is subscribing, truly it makes all the difference for us 💙
We're trying something different. We’re testing a new format this week on the The Sachin and Adam Show - a deeper discussion on the forces driving the tech industry right now.
It's been a bit challenging to serve our community best when every episode is only covering 1 person’s story. So we’re trying something new: open conversations on the trends that matter + a bit more personality and BTS.
This week? Unpacking the rise of the "Design-Founder Era".
Why? Because when everyone can build with AI, taste becomes your moat.
With Jony Ive teaming up with OpenAI, and folks like Aaron Epstein (Y Combinator) and Brian Chesky calling for more design-led companies, this movement is heating up.
We also;
- introduce our Head of Media Tom Duffy, who's been working BTS all year to help us create the best tech media in Australia.
- reveal more about our company in beta, which will be launched this year 👀 (we can't wait to share more).
It's a new format for us and we really enjoyed creating it. It's our mission to best serve founders and operators in the tech ecosystem - so let us know what you think! What should we cover next?
00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
01:40 Meet Tom: The Man Behind the Scenes
03:00 Tom's Journey to Joining the Team
05:53 The Startup Culture and Young Talent
08:30 Zeller Ad12:04 The Importance of High Taste Designers
13:57 OpenAI and the Future of AI Technology
21:23 What Influences Sachin and Adam?
24:15 Seeking Contextual Business Advice
26:34 Risk Perception and Venture Capital
31:32 KC Ventures Ad
36:33 The Importance of Speed and Ambition
41:29 Balancing Media and Product Development
47:09 Exciting Goals and Future Plans
—
Thanks to our sponsors Zeller and KC Ventures.
Zeller is building the financial stack to help startups scale, called Zeller for Startups. https://www.myzeller.com/startups. Every founder unlocks exclusive rewards and offers when you use Zeller for Startups — including a high-interest savings account, 12-month free access to Zeller Corporate Cards and expense management, and discounts on amazing partner solutions from Employment Hero, Xero, and Pop Business.
KC Ventures helps Australian startups scale by providing strategic financial advice. You can find KC Ventures at http://kcventures.com.au/ or message their founder Luke Rix on Linkedin to get in contact directly.
—
Cuttable founders Jack and Sam are the unlikely duo behind one of Australia’s most exciting AI startups - one is a former agency creative, the other sold A Cloud Guru to Pluralsight for $2B in 2021. Together, they’re using AI to bring creative craftsmanship back to advertising.
Why this conversation is important? Jack and Sam are rethinking how ads get made in an AI-saturated world. With one foot in old-school storytelling and the other in frontier tech, they offer a blueprint for what creative work looks like in the future.
What Jack and Sam reveal in this episode:
- How Sam’s $2B exit and Jack’s Mad Men-like childhood made them an unlikely but compatible duo
- The emotional advice Jack’s dad gave him that still drives him today- How Sam’s volatile childhood made him risk-averse
- Why most AI-generated ads look like catalog junk (and how Cuttable was born)
- Their competitive edge over startups like @Icon
- Why creative humans will remain the highest leverage
---
Thanks to our sponsors Zeller and KC Ventures.
Zeller is building the financial stack to help startups scale, called Zeller for Startups. https://www.myzeller.com/startups. Every founder unlocks exclusive rewards and offers when you use Zeller for Startups — including a high-interest savings account, 12-month free access to Zeller Corporate Cards and expense management, and discounts on amazing partner solutions from Employment Hero, Xero, and Pop Business.
KC Ventures helps Australian startups scale by providing strategic financial advice. You can find KC Ventures at http://kcventures.com.au/ or message their founder Luke Rix on Linkedin to get in contact directly.
---
Enjoyed this video? You may like our most recent documentary on Relevance AI - an Aussie startup in the global AI agent race https://youtu.be/oanG_oIYU7Q?si=8VKA2OzW-jV4SINW
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:54 The Unlikely Duo
04:34 Sam's Journey from Tech Training to Advertising
09:44 Zeller Ad
11:13 Jack's Advertising Roots
14:10 The Evolution of Advertising
19:10 The Birth of Cuttable
31:17 Redefining Customer Mindset
31:53 Testing Theories with SMBs
32:22 Merging Industries and Building Vision
32:32 KC Ventures Ad33:24 Challenges in Advertising
34:01 The Importance of Quality in Ads
36:45 Balancing Quality and Quantity
37:09 Philosophy and Product Development
43:40 The Role of AI in Advertising
49:54 Recruiting Talent for Innovation
58:26 Staying Hungry and Passionate
01:03:00 Conclusion and Call to Action
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY
LinkedIn 🚀: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-sachin-and-adam-show🐦 X: https://x.com/Sachin_and_Adam📸
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/sachinandadam/LISTEN TO THE SHOW
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/3M29tMFbZ4mtzJbcRNY3N6?si=731f376e2ddf4d34iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-sachin-and-adam-show/id1462522364
About us
We are two best friends, trying to build a community around in-depth interviews and short documentaries with the best minds in technology and startups. Through bold storytelling and candid conversations, we explore how visionary thinkers are shaping the future. The best way to support is subscribing, truly it makes all the difference for us 💙
Mina Radhakrishnan was Uber’s first Head of Product in 2011 (employee #20), after working at both Google and Goldman Sachs, and was also the co-founder of Different - a VC-backed startup that raised millions and scaled fast before shutting down.
Now, she’s building solo with AI as her co-founder.
In this episode, she shares an unfiltered look into the highs and lows of building at the edge of tech:
- What it was really like working with Travis Kalanick at Uber
- The hard lessons from shutting down Different - and how she bounced back
- Why AI is changing how we build companies - and who should build them
- Her hot takes on junior engineers, bootcamps, and the future of coding
- How Uber shaped her mindset on speed, intensity, and product culture- Building a solo startup today - with AI as her full team
- The mistakes founders make when acting like big companies- Why Australian startups need more pay-it-forward culture
One of our most candid and insightful episodes yet - a must-watch for anyone building in tech.Like this video?
You might also enjoy our interview with 21-year old CEO, Liam Millward, of $100M startup, Instant. https://open.spotify.com/episode/5WgEElgBuyz3I1fvDXPAwA?si=6cb7c19e875548cf
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:12 Help us get to 15k subscribers!!
01:46 Vibe-coding & Back to Building
03:12 The Future of Software Engineering
05:40 Mina Career Journey
07:57 Zeller Ad
15:03 Reflections on the Tech Industry
19:58 Lessons from Uber and Working with Travis Kalanick
23:00 Working with Intensity: The Travis Effect
25:13 Uber's Legacy and Personal Growth
27:20 Advice for Aspiring Founders
30:11 The Role of AI in Modern Startups
31:03 Emotional Challenges of Founding a Startup
32:38 KC Ventures Ad
33:46 The Importance of Curiosity and Learning
35:33 Building a Company in the Age of AI
41:27 Improving Australian Startup Culture
45:15 Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts
-
Thanks to our sponsors Zeller and KC Ventures.
Zeller is building the financial stack to help startups scale, called Zeller for Startups. Every founder unlocks exclusive rewards and offers when you use Zeller for Startups - including a high-interest savings account, 12-month free access to Zeller Corporate Cards and expense management, and discounts on amazing partner solutions from Employment Hero, Xero, and Pop Business.
https://www.myzeller.com/startups
KC Ventures helps Australian startups scale by providing strategic financial advice. You can find KC Ventures at http://kcventures.com.au/ or message their founder Luke Rix on Linkedin to get in contact directly.
-
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY
LinkedIn 🚀: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-sachin-and-adam-show
🐦 X: https://x.com/Sachin_and_Adam📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sachinandadam/
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3M29tMFbZ4mtzJbcRNY3N6?si=731f376e2ddf4d34
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-sachin-and-adam-show/id1462522364
About us
We are two best friends, trying to build a community around in-depth interviews and short documentaries with the best minds in technology and startups. Through bold storytelling and candid conversations, we explore how visionary thinkers are shaping the future. The best way to support is subscribing, truly it makes all the difference for us 💙
Liam Millward is the 21-year-old co-founder and CEO of Instant — one of the fastest-growing startups in Australia valued at $100M. In this episode, he reveals how he went from dodging WeWork rent at 17 to raising $18 million in just 10 days at 21.
We dive deep into Liam’s wild founder journey:
- How he scaled Instant to millions in revenue with zero pitch deck
-The real story behind their lightning-fast Series A raise
- Why momentum solves every issue — and how to create it
- Why every person at Instant has a revenue target (including engineers)
- His unconventional hiring strategy, leadership style, and obsession with speed
- Expanding into the US and building AI-powered marketing tools- What drives him to prove people wrong — and what it takes to win
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Rapid Growth
00:08 Liam Millward's Entrepreneurial Journey
00:38 Challenges and Proving Doubters Wrong
01:37 Fundraising and Expansion
02:12 Podcast Interview Begins
02:29 Scaling the Company
03:18 Revenue Obsession and Company Culture
04:48 Fundraising Strategies and Investor Relations
08:10 Zeller Ad
11:25 Driving Momentum and Setting Goals
21:09 Leadership and Personal Drive
28:27 KC Ventures Ad
28:58 Optimal Timing for Founders
29:19 Managing Founder Psychology
31:43 Hiring and Talent Strategy
33:32 Scaling and Product Expansion
36:01 Global Expansion Challenges
37:47 Revenue Obsession and AI Integration
48:52 Operational Efficiency and Team Focus
53:14 Leadership and Decision Making
59:33 Future Goals and Reflections
--
Thanks to our sponsors Zeller and KC Ventures. Zeller is building the financial stack to help startups scale, called Zeller for Startups.
Every founder unlocks exclusive rewards and offers when you use Zeller for Startups — including a high-interest savings account, 12-month free access to Zeller Corporate Cards and expense management, and discounts on amazing partner solutions from Employment Hero, Xero, and Pop Business.
https://www.myzeller.com/startups
KC Ventures helps Australian startups scale by providing strategic financial advice. You can find KC Ventures at http://kcventures.com.au/ or message their founder Luke Rix on Linkedin to get in contact directly.
--
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY
LinkedIn 🚀: / the-sachin-and-adam-show
📸 Instagram: / sachinandadam 🐦 X: https://x.com/Sachin_and_Adam
🎵 TikTok: sachinandadam
Today we’re joined by Max Marchione — a close friend and ambitious founder disrupting healthcare through AI, data aggregation, and radical prevention to make personalised medicine accessible to everyone.
This conversation is important because it explores one of the few industries left untouched by true innovation — healthcare. Despite its scale, it’s still waiting for its defining startup moment.
We dive into:
- Why healthcare is still waiting for its defining startup
- How Superpower raised $30M to make prevention mainstream
- The vision: AI doctors, not human ones
- Building for the world vs. building for VCs
- The danger of consensus thinking and advice
- Making $50K concierge care available for $500
- Sacrifice, fear, and living below the office
- What sets elite investors and teams apart
- Underpriced talent, content, and 10x growth bets
- Why dreaming bigger is the only option
This isn’t just about building a startup — it’s about reinventing a system that impacts everyone.
00:00 Intro
02:05 Podcast Introduction and Catching Up
02:25 Reflecting on the Journey and Future Plans
03:04 Insights on Fundraising and Investor Relations
04:18 Challenges and Strategies in Building a Startup
05:41 The Role of AI in Transforming Healthcare
08:33 Zeller Ad
10:06 Proving and Discarding Beliefs in Healthcare
11:55 Constructing Superpower's Funding Round
15:00 Setting Ambitious Goals for the Future
16:34 Product Vision and Consumer Impact
18:53 Balancing Focus and Expansion
20:56 Superpower's Branding
24:16 Operational Challenges and Growth Strategies
27:01 Betting on the Right Growth Levers
28:18 Top-Down and Bottom-Up Growth Strategies
29:13 KC Ventures Ad
30:05 The Importance of Risk in Business
31:16 How does Max Balance Ambition and Happiness?
33:01 Tips For Hiring and Identifying Talent
36:16 Personal Sacrifices and Priorities
37:09 Discarding Old Beliefs
38:48 How Max Learnt to Overcome Fear and Take Action
40:11 Changing Self-Talk and Personal Narratives
43:00 New Learning and Growth Methods
47:28 The Future of AI and Human Relationships
53:06 Final Thoughts and Accountability
-Thanks to our sponsors Zeller and KC Ventures. Zeller is building the financial stack to help startups scale, called Zeller for Startups. Join the waitlist at https://www.myzeller.com/startups to be eligible for a $100 cash bonus.
KC Ventures helps Australian startups scale by providing strategic financial advice. You can find KC Ventures at http://kcventures.com.au/ or message their founder Luke Rix on Linkedin to get in contact directly.
Check out more of Max's work including learnings on the journey of building a $100B company, hobbies, life hacks and more at maxmarchione.com
Alex Valente is the founder of Redactive, an AI security startup helping enterprises control who can access sensitive data. Redactive ensures permissioning is done right—so companies can safely adopt tools like Copilot and AI agents without leaking internal documents, exposing secrets, or creating massive security risks.
This episode is for anyone building or working with AI—especially in enterprise, security, or early-stage startups. If you're thinking about AI adoption, data risks, or how to take a product global, Alex shares hard-won insight, sharp takes, and a few great stories along the way.
Thanks to our sponsors Zeller and KC Ventures.
Zeller is building the financial stack to help startups scale, called Zeller for Startups. Join the waitlist at https://www.myzeller.com/startups to be eligible for a $100 cash bonus.
KC Ventures helps Australian startups scale by providing strategic financial advice. You can find KC Ventures at http://kcventures.com.au/ or message their founder Luke Rix on Linkedin to get in contact directly.
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00:00 Introduction
02:05 The Bull Case for Europe
05:03 Moving to San Francisco: Opportunities and Challenges
06:28 Redactive's Mission and Vision
07:25 The Importance of Exporting Australian Engineering
15:03 Early Life and Career Path
21:39 The Future of AI and Software
28:13 Enterprise AI Adoption Challenges
33:23 The Pitfalls of Relying on a Single Vendor
34:05 The Importance of Agility and Grit in Founders
35:51 Commerciality and Interdisciplinary Respect
38:23 Identifying and Improving Weak Points
41:05 The Reality of Moats in Modern Business
49:20 Security Threats in the Age of AI53:39 Building a High-Performance Culture
57:23 Strategic Bets and Market Predictions
1:01:00 Reflections and Future Plans
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LISTEN TO THE SHOW
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3M29tMFbZ4mtzJbcRNY3N6?si=3ba0457fb1974595
Ben Pfisterer is an ex-NAB, Visa and Square employee who co-founded Zeller, an Australian fintech company that achieved unicorn status - reaching a valuation of $1 billion - in less than two years.
Under his leadership, Zeller has attracted over 85,000 customers and secured $180 million in funding, revolutionizing business banking in Australia by offering integrated financial solutions that challenge traditional banking giants.
He built fast, made bold bets, and outworked the competition - and Zeller is now challenging the banks that have dominated Australia for decades.
If you're a founder, operator, or just someone who wants to understand how startups win at scale, this episode is for you.
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Thanks to our sponsor for this episode, KC Ventures! They help Australian startups scale by providing strategic financial advice.
You can find KC Ventures at https://kcventures.com.au/ or message their founder Luke Rix on Linkedin to get in contact directly.
00:00 Introduction to Zeller's Success
00:10 Challenges and Low Points
00:22 Go-to-Market Strategy
00:35 Ben Pfisterer's Background
01:00 The Startup Community and Zeller for Startups
01:25 Building a Culture of Speed
02:33 Ben's Early Life and Influences
04:48 Competitiveness and Design in Zeller
05:52 Direct Approach to Leadership
07:05 Navigating Bureaucratic Organizations
10:02 Insights into the Financial System
12:16 Founding and Growing Zeller
17:33 Hiring and Building a Team
19:40 Rapid Growth and Execution
22:19 Sponsor Break: KC Ventures
22:35 Strategic Work and Scaling Startups
22:50 Optimal Timing for Founders to Seek Help
23:11 Product Growth and Market Penetration
25:25 Challenges and Resilience in Startup Journey
28:27 Building a Culture of Speed and Efficiency
30:58 Balancing Work Intensity and Employee Well-being
33:37 Zeller for Startups: Revolutionizing Financial Services
38:23 Future of Customer Experience in Financial Services
40:47 Endless Entrepreneurial Journey
42:46 Conclusion and Wrap-up
Casey Flint is the AI Business Lead at AWS and a former VC at Square Peg, where she met over 1,000 AI leaders to uncover where the industry is headed. From growing up in a rural town with no doctors to joining Uber during its hypergrowth phase, Casey has been at the forefront of major technological shifts. Now, she shares her insights on AGI, AI automation, and the future of work.From reinforcement learning breakthroughs to AGI acceleration, the AI race is reshaping industries overnight—so who wins, and who gets left behind?
00:00 Introduction to AGI and Its Implications
00:32 Meet Casey Flint: AI Business Development at AWS
00:44 The Future of Work in an AI-Driven World
00:48 Casey's Journey: From Rural Queensland to AI Leadership
01:32 Insights on Learning and Adapting to AI
01:45 Casey's Career Shift to AWS
02:09 The Rapid Pace of AI Advancements
04:31 Experimenting with AI Tools and Staying Updated
06:09 Casey's Background and Early Influences
08:09 Joining Uber and the Startup Experience
12:40 Reflections on Uber's Culture and Lessons Learned
17:19 Transition to AI and Updated Beliefs
27:05 The Uber Analogy: Complexity Beyond GPS
28:17 AI's Impact on Marketplaces and Industries
29:36 The Future of AI and Society's Inertia
30:35 The Importance of Domain-Specific Solutions
31:33 Distribution Challenges in the AI Era
37:36 AI's Role in Social and Economic Change
41:03 Ethics and Geopolitics in AI Development
43:27 Exploring AI Safety and Economic Implications
46:05 AWS and Building the Future of AI
48:37 Staying Informed and Learning in AI
51:50 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Today’s guest on the Sachin and Adam show, Steve Hind, is the co-founder of Lorikeet AI, one of Australia’s fastest-growing AI Agent companies. Before that, he quickly climbed the ranks at Stripe and Bridgewater Investments -only to realise that titles and prestige can be traps in disguise. His story is a masterclass in knowing when to quit and why leaving a “dream job” might be the smartest move you’ll ever make.
00:00 The Impact of Joining a Strong Company
00:26 Key Takeaways from Working at Stripe
00:35 Challenges and Ambitions in the Market
00:57 Storied Career and Building Fast-Growing Companies
02:07 Insights into Career Moves and Personal Growth
10:00 The Importance of Operating Principles
12:53 AI Advancements and Market Impact
14:40 Lorikeet's Unique Approach to Customer Support
21:52 Future of AI Agents and Career Implications
27:19 Reflections on Founding and Personal Weaknesses
28:14 The Importance of Distribution in Product Building
29:28 B2B vs B2C: Distribution Relevance
30:36 Core Beliefs on Team Building
32:54 Hiring Strategies and Market Arbitrage
34:58 In-Office Work Culture
36:36 Winning Culture in Australian Startups
41:50 Challenges and Risks for Lorikeet
45:46 Marketing Strategies for Success
49:56 Personal Reflections and Career Insights
53:11 Book Recommendations and Final Thoughts
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https://open.spotify.com/show/3M29tMFbZ4mtzJbcRNY3N6?si=cbf357ef9d944c0e
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ABOUT US
The Sachin and Adam Show dives deep into the raw, unfiltered stories of the world’s top tech leaders, from former Prime Ministers to unicorn founders and leading investors. We ask the bold questions others won’t, uncovering the human side of success and ambition. Hosted by two best friends building their dream company, it’s your backstage pass to the minds shaping the future.
In today's episode we sat down with Daybreak founder Rex Woodbury to breakdown the importance of "taste" in forecasting high growth industries and the startups ripe to dominate them. As a former partner at Index Ventures, Rex is planning to build a generational VC firm focused on an artisanal approach to company building not just asset management. We also explore how "consumer AI" will transform customer experiences and why AI agents will become an integral part of nearly all businesses...
Links
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Sponsors Slice: https://www.slicegroup.co/
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction: Venture Capital Meets Architectural Digest
00:04 The Importance of Taste in Consumer Investing
00:29 Human Skills and PR in Venture Capital
00:49 Exploring the Remarkable Apartment
01:10 The Role of Design in Early-Stage Investing
02:00 The Anthropologist Approach to Venture
02:32 The Elusiveness of Brand and Taste
03:28 AI and the Future of Human Skills
04:29 Personal Insights: Card Game and Psychology
11:04 The Journey of Building Daybreak
12:26 The Importance of Independent Thinking in Venture
16:48 Trends and the Future of Consumer Behavior
30:19 The Vibrant Life in New York City
32:04 Conclusion and Reflections
About us
We tell the raw stories of the world’s tech leaders, by asking the vulnerable questions that no one else does. Guests have included former Prime Ministers, unicorn tech founders and the world’s top investors. Join us for these interviews and get a real behind the scenes look into 25 year old best friends building the company of their dreams.
Farouk Ismail, Co-founder of Slice, joins us to discuss the journey from bootstrapping his startup to raising a massive $7.5 million seed round. Farouk shares candid insights on the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, the importance of risk management, and invaluable lessons learned from navigating a global pandemic. Tune in for actionable advice and inspiration for aspiring founders.
Links
Sponsors Slice: https://www.slicegroup.co/
Zed Law: https://www.zed.law/
Timestamps 00:00 Trailer
00:41 Welcome to the Studio: Catching Up with an Old Friend
01:20 The Journey of Slice: From Inception to Public Recognition
04:21 Bootstrapping Slice: The Early Days and MVP
06:37 Slice 07:25 Surviving COVID: A Hail Mary Expansion to the US
19:50 Balancing Risk and Reward: Lessons from the Journey
24:44 Balancing Aggression and Building a Good Company
25:00 Embracing Risk and Reward
25:51 The Story of SoftBank's Masayoshi Son
27:11 The Importance of High Conviction Portfolios
27:50 Going All In: The Entrepreneur's Journey
29:00 Zed Law
29:35 Raising Capital: The 17.5 Million Seed Round
31:30 Finding the Right Investors
36:09 Evolving as a Founder and CEO
40:50 Instilling Company Culture and Principles
46:56 Recommended Resources for Founders
48:56 Podcast Wrap-Up and Final Thoughts
About us
We tell the raw stories of the world’s tech leaders, by asking the vulnerable questions that no one else does. Guests have included former Prime Ministers, unicorn tech founders and the world’s top investors. Join us for these interviews and get a real behind the scenes look into 25 year old best friends building the company of their dreams.
We interviewed David Brillembourg Jr. of Dune Ventures. David dropped out of NYU at 18 to join Galaxy Digital. He joined as employee number 5 and left when it was in the billions of market cap. After Galaxy Digital, at just 21 he started his own venture fund, Dune Ventures. Dune invests in the best founders in the video games industry. David shares his invaluable insights on venture capital, the impact of immersive video games, the importance of independent and creative thinking, and his own entrepreneurial journey, from dropping out of NYU to founding a venture fund. Along the way, he delves into the cultural differences between New York and San Francisco, his views on the future of Web3 and VR, and the critical balance between creativity and commercial success in the gaming industry.
Links
Sponsors Slice: https://www.slicegroup.co/
Zed Law: https://www.zed.law/
Timestamps 00:00 Trailer 00:36 The Aesthetic Influence of New York 02:07 Entrepreneurial Journey and Philosophy 03:53 Impact of Background and Crypto 06:27 Early Career and Risk-Taking 08:43 Slice 15:02 Starting Dune Ventures 16:32 The Fascination with Gaming 22:59 Innovations in Gaming Business Models 26:11 Zed Law 27:37 Scaling Gaming Investments 27:58 Identifying Great Talent in Gaming 29:30 Balancing Creativity and Commercial Success 30:58 Portfolio Construction in Gaming 32:44 Non-Competitive Investment Strategy 35:01 Exploring New Markets and Opportunities
About us We tell the raw stories of the world’s tech leaders, by asking the vulnerable questions that no one else does. Guests have included former Prime Ministers, unicorn tech founders and the world’s top investors. Join us for these interviews and get a real behind the scenes look into 25 year old best friends building the company of their dreams.
In this episode, join Siobhan, an innovative leader in workforce intelligence, as she discusses the transformative power of AI, her entrepreneurial journey, and how she's balancing work and personal life. From starting a baking business at 13 to building a billion-dollar company, Siobhan shares her unique insights on building in the era of AI, the principles of enterprise sales, and her relentless drive to make an impact.
Links
Sponsors Slice: https://www.slicegroup.co/
Zed Law: https://www.zed.law/
Timestamps 00:00 Trailer 00:32 Meeting Siobhan in New York 01:03 Siobhan's Personal Drive and Energy 02:39 Building a Big Company in New York 04:22 The Importance of Workforce Strategy 06:20 Challenges and Innovations in Workforce Management 07:17 The Role of AI in Workforce Transformation 16:30 Personal Reflections and Work-Life Balance 21:11 Day Theming and Time Blocking 22:04 Leveraging AI for Productivity 23:11 Mastering Enterprise Sales 25:53 Strategic Hiring and Workforce Optimization 28:07 Building a Community and Distribution Strategy 34:33 Balancing Parenthood and Entrepreneurship 38:04 Final Thoughts and Reflections
About us We tell the raw stories of the world’s tech leaders, by asking the vulnerable questions that no one else does. Guests have included former Prime Ministers, unicorn tech founders and the world’s top investors. Join us for these interviews and get a real behind the scenes look into 25 year old best friends building the company of their dreams.