Can solo founders still win?In this episode of the VNTR Podcast, we sit down with Jude Gomila — serial entrepreneur and early investor in 20+ unicorns, including Airtable, Mercury, Linear, and Gusto. From building Heyzap to backing iconic startups worldwide, Jude shares hard-earned lessons on what truly drives success in early-stage ventures.
Key Topics Covered in This Episode:
🎧 Tune in for an unfiltered take on what it takes to survive and scale in the age of AI — from someone who’s seen hundreds try
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Timestamps:
00:00 Intro00:29 Welcome Jude Gomila14:45 Survived YC, the 2008 Crash, Built Hayzap, and 1st exit16:57 After the Exit: Why One Founder’s Journey Was Just The Beginning19:11 Great Founders Fire Fast20:46 The Hardest Startup Mistake? Starting Alone24:04 Lessons from Missing the AI Wave30:24 When Speed Drops and AI Rises — Exit Becomes Obvious33:38 Selling a Company Changes Your Ambition 35:46 How to Use ChatGPT and Perplexity for Research, Reasoning, and Faster Learning37:45 What Sets Unicorn Founders Apart: Talent, Obsession, and User Empathy41:44 Competing for Startup Deals Is a Red Flag for Smart Investors43:38 The Shape of a Billion-Dollar Company45:16 How Investors Waste Time47:49 Angel Checks and Global Talent: The Next Phase of Investing50:20 What Jobs Will Survive the AI Wave?52:29 Education as the Only Antidote to Automation55:29 Teaching, Learning, Surfing: The Founder Lifestyle Reimagined
------------------------------------------------------------------------------Follow VNTR:🔹 VNTR Website: https://app.vntr.vc🔹 VNTR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vntrcapital🔹 VNTR Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vntrcap------------------------------------------------------------------------------Host:Yuri G. Rabinovich https://www.linkedin.com/in/byuric------------------------------------------------------------------------------Guest:Jude Gomilahttps://x.com/judegomila https://www.judegomila.comhttps://gomila.notion.site/Gomila-Capital-13a6c92e7cb342ccb9ecd5f195cc616b
