This week we are republishing one of our favourite conversations that didn't get much visibility when it first came out.
About the episode:
Nataraj hosts Pedro Domingos, a distinguished figure in AI and machine learning, to discuss the current state of AI, hype cycles, and future trends. Pedro shares insights from his early career, his widely-read book "The Master Algorithm," and his satirical novel "2040." He offers a critical perspective on LLMs, the AI safety debate, and what truly drives progress in the field, while providing guidance on navigating the complex information landscape and choosing impactful research problems. The discussion dives deep into the societal impact of AI, the importance of critical thinking, and the future of AI research, offering a unique blend of technical insights and thought-provoking commentary. Why should you care? Understand the reality behind the AI hype, identify future trends, and learn how to navigate the complex world of AI research.
What you’ll learn
- Understand the reality of AI progress, separating it from the hype and misconceptions surrounding LLMs and AGI [1, 2].
- Learn about the history of AI, including Herb Simon's Nobel Prize and the evolution of machine learning as a subfield of AI .
- Discern the truth about AI, including the importance of machine learning, reasoning, and other AI fields .
- Identify the key factors driving investment in AI and the potential risks of the current AI bubble, including how technological progress can be shaped using S-curves .
- Gain insights into the future of AI research, exploring the limitations of transformers and the need for diverse research directions .
- Explore the concept of "The Master Algorithm" and how it provides a comprehensive view of AI, beyond narrow slivers of research .
- Learn practical tips for navigating the information landscape, including identifying reliable sources, being a critical consumer of information, and maximizing your "Sharpe ratio" in terms of impact .
- Discover the importance of mentorship and community in AI research, including attending conferences, engaging in discussions, and learning the empirical method of machine learning .
About the Guest and Host:
Guest Name: Pedro Domingos is a professor emeritus of computer science and engineering from the University of Washington and a leading expert in artificial intelligence.
Connect with Guest:
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pedro-domingos-77b183/
Nataraj: Host of the Startup Project podcast, Senior PM at Azure & Investor.
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natarajsindam/
→ Twitter: https://x.com/natarajsindam
→ Substack: https://startupproject.substack.com/
→ Website: https://thestartupproject.io
In this episode, we cover
(00:01) Introduction and Guest Introduction
(01:26) Pedro's early career and why he chose machine learning
(03:51) Nobel Prizes and AI
(07:12) AI vs Machine Learning
(08:53) LLMs and the current AI hype cycle
(14:17) Comparing Models to Human Intelligence
(16:56) Investment in AI and progress
(21:22) Thoughts on OpenAI
(25:56) Investing in talent
(29:05) AI Safety
(35:10) Master Algorithm
(40:27) Jensen Wong and NVIDIA's Pivot
(43:59) AI Chip Projects
(47:05) 2040
(52:19) How AI Will Change Society
(55:12) Recommendation Systems
(59:56) Sources of Consumption
(01:07:50) What Pedro is consuming
(01:09:59) Advice to those interested in AI research
(01:12:41) Mentors
(01:15:47) Advice to Researchers
Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review/comment on YouTube Apple Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.
#AI #MachineLearning #DeepLearning #ArtificialIntelligence #MasterAlgorithm #2040 #PedroDomingos #Research #Innovation #Tech #Technology #Podcast #Startup #Entrepreneurship #VentureCapital #LLMs #AGI #AISafety #FutureofAI
We are republishing one of our favorite episode with the co-founder of Momento this week, we will be publishing a brand new episode next week.
Discover how a NASA engineer leveraged AWS to build a serverless caching solution.
About the episode:
Join Nataraj as he speaks with Khawaja Shams, co-founder and CEO of Momento, a serverless caching solution that just closed a $15 million Series A round. Khawaja shares his journey from processing images for Mars rovers at NASA to leading engineering teams at Amazon and now revolutionizing caching with Momento. He discusses the challenges of building scalable infrastructure, the importance of developer productivity, and how Momento is simplifying real-time data infrastructure for enterprises. Learn how Momento addresses the complexities of traditional caching solutions, enabling developers to focus on building interactive experiences.
What you’ll learn
- Hear Khawaja's experience at NASA, working on image processing for Mars Rovers and his transition to AWS to accelerate image processing.
- Find out how AWS inspired Khawaja to join Amazon and contribute to the growth of cloud computing and its impact on innovation.
- Learn how Momento addresses the complexities of traditional caching solutions, enabling developers to focus on building interactive experiences.
- Understand Momento's accidental discovery of a two-tier caching system that evolved into a web server, enhancing developer productivity and scalability.
- Discover the initial steps from zero to one in building Momento, including team hiring and partnering with design partners for customer feedback and product grounding.
- Hear about target customers for Momento's solutions, focusing on media, entertainment, gaming, and fintech companies with spiky traffic and mission-critical needs.
- Explore Khawaja's perspective on Amazon's leadership principles and Momento's core leadership values, emphasizing customer centricity and psychological safety.
- Gain insights into building a company culture that attracts top talent and addresses the challenges of convincing individuals to join a startup.
About the Guest and Host:
Khawaja Shams: CEO and Co-Founder of Momento, previously at NASA and AWS, building serverless and low-latency solutions.
Connect with Guest:
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kshams/
Nataraj: Host of the Startup Project podcast, Senior PM at Azure & Investor.
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natarajsindam/
→ Twitter: https://x.com/natarajsindam
→ Substack: https://startupproject.substack.com/
→ Website: https://thestartupproject.io
In this episode, we cover
(00:00) Introduction and Guest Introduction
(01:14) Khawaja's Early Career at NASA
(03:27) Transitioning Image Processing to AWS
(05:59) Joining Amazon and the Cloud Computing Revolution
(08:00) Early Days at Amazon and AWS Culture
(10:08) Roles and Products at Amazon: DynamoDB and Elemental
(13:58) The Vision Behind AWS's Growth
(15:55) The Genesis of Momento: Identifying a Gap in Caching Solutions
(19:07) Insights from DynamoDB Customers
(21:30) Building Momento: From Zero to One
(24:46) Ideal Design Partners and Target Verticals
(27:24) Validating Product-Market Fit
(28:43) B2B Marketing and Growth Strategies
(31:19) Amazon's Leadership Principles and Company Culture
(34:27) Building a Unique Culture at Momento
(36:56) Attracting Talent to a Startup
(39:26) Khawaja's Current Consumption (Books, Podcasts, etc.)
(40:32) Mentors and Influences
(41:50) Lessons Learned as a First-Time Founder
(43:27) Thoughts on AI and Its Impact on Infrastructure
(45:33) Concluding Remarks
Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review/comment on YouTube Apple Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.
#Momento #Serverless #Caching #AWS #DynamoDB #NASA #CloudComputing #Startup #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #BainCapital #SeriesA #RealTimeData #Infrastructure #DeveloperProductivity #Tech #Podcast #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #MarsRover
Discover how webAI is revolutionizing AI by enabling powerful models to run directly on devices.
About the episode:
Nataraj chats with David Stout, founder of webAI, about bringing AI infrastructure to edge devices. David shares his journey from a Michigan farm to pioneering techniques for compressing AI models onto phones, laptops, and even airplanes. They discuss the importance of data privacy, real-time processing, and the shift from cloud-based AI to a web of interconnected, specialized AI systems working across devices. Learn about WebAI's vision for the future of AI and how they achieved a $700 million valuation.
What you’ll learn
- Understand the limitations of cloud-based AI and the advantages of edge computing for data privacy and real-time processing.
- Discover how webAI compresses and optimizes large AI models to run efficiently on everyday devices like phones and laptops.
- Learn about the potential of a decentralized “web of models” and how it could revolutionize various industries.
- Explore the key factors driving webAI's success, including their focus on horizontal technology and support for diverse AI models.
- Gain insights into the future of AI hardware and software.
About the Guest and Host:
Guest Name: David Stout, Founder of webAI, pioneering AI infrastructure for edge devices.
Connect with Guest:
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidpstout/
→ Website: https://www.webai.com/
Nataraj: Host of the Startup Project podcast, Senior PM at Azure & Investor.
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natarajsindam/
→ Substack: https://startupproject.substack.com/
In this episode, we cover
(00:01) Introduction and Guest Introduction
(01:35) David's Journey in AI and Machine Learning
(03:51) Bringing AI Models to Devices
(05:49) Applications of AI on Devices
(08:10) The Thesis for Starting webAI
(11:16) Optimizing for Specialized Models
(15:02) Web AI's Customers and Use Cases
(17:00) Hardware Optimization for webAI
(19:12) Lightweight Personal Models
(22:55) The Trajectory of Foundational Model Companies and AGI
(31:48) Emergent Behavior and Intelligence
(35:17) Prompts Don't Pay Bills
(41:22) Meta's Approach to Recruiting and Spending
(44:51) Form Factors in AI
(51:04) Surprising AI Products
(52:42) Breakthroughs in AI Research
(56:31) XAI's Models
(01:03:24) The Future of Google and Search
(01:06:39) Finding David and webAI
Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review/comment on YouTube Apple Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.
#AI #EdgeComputing #MachineLearning #DataPrivacy #WebAI #ArtificialIntelligence #DecentralizedAI #AIInfrastructure #Startup #Technology #Innovation #Podcast #Entrepreneurship #TechStartups #DeepLearning #ModelCompression #AIModels #Inference #NatarajSindam #StartupProject
In this episode, Nataraj welcomes Matt Martin, CEO of Clockwise, to explore the science of smart scheduling. Discover how Clockwise uses AI to optimize calendars, reduce meeting overload, and create more focused work time. Matt shares insights on balancing collaboration with individual productivity, the impact of remote work on meeting culture, and the future of AI-powered time management. Learn actionable strategies to transform your workday and boost your team's efficiency. Why care? Because reclaiming your time is the first step to achieving your goals.
### What you’ll learn
- Implement AI-driven tools to analyze and optimize your schedule for peak productivity.
- Balance maker and manager schedules to accommodate different work styles within your team.
- Identify and eliminate unnecessary meetings to free up valuable time for focused work.
- Leverage asynchronous communication methods to reduce the reliance on synchronous meetings.
- Understand the impact of remote work on meeting culture and adapt your strategies accordingly.
- Measure the ROI of productivity tools to ensure they are contributing to your bottom line.
- Explore the potential of AI agents to automate scheduling and optimize workflows.
- Discover the importance of memory and context in AI assistants for the workplace.
### About the Guest and Host:
Guest Name: Matt Martin, CEO of Clockwise, helping individuals and teams create smarter schedules with AI.
Connect with Guest:
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/voxmatt/
→ Website: https://www.getclockwise.com/
Nataraj: Host of the Startup Project podcast, Senior PM at Azure & Investor.
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natarajsindam/
→ Twitter: https://x.com/natarajsindam
→ Substack: https://startupproject.substack.com/
### In this episode, we cover
(00:01) Introduction to Matt Martin and Clockwise
(00:58) What is Clockwise and how customers use it
(02:19) Optimizing meetings in organizations
(02:56) Maker Schedule versus Manager Schedule
(05:38) Trends in non-scheduled meetings
(07:33) The shift in adopting new SaaS products
(08:43) Impact of zero interest rate environment on SaaS buying
(11:32) AI agents and their promises
(12:49) Measuring efficiency gains with AI tools
(14:14) Outcome-based pricing models
(17:46) How Clockwise leverages AI in its product
(20:51) MCP vs APIs
(22:26) The trend of half-baked tools
(24:54) Rethinking fundamental apps with AI
(26:56) Adding AI features on current products
(29:03) Power of products like Zapier and Enneken with AI
(33:08) Categories of AI companies that are likely to succeed
(36:49) AI assistant for your workplace
(39:26) User interface
(46:01) How to discover Matt and Clockwise
Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review/comment on YouTube Apple Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.
#Clockwise #AIScheduling #CalendarOptimization #ProductivityTips #TimeManagement #MeetingStrategy #RemoteWork #HybridWork #AITools #SaaS #Entrepreneurship #StartupProject #NatarajSindam #Podcast #TechInnovation #WorkflowAutomation #ArtificialIntelligence #ProductivityHacks #MattMartin
Discover how Glean AI is transforming enterprise productivity with AI-powered search and intelligent agents.
About the episode:
Join Nataraj as he explores the evolution of enterprise AI with Arvind Jain, CEO of Glean. From its roots as an AI-powered search solution, Glean has transformed into a comprehensive AI agent platform, helping companies like Zapier, Carta, and Grammarly boost productivity. Arvind shares his journey, the challenges of building a universal AI assistant, and his vision for the future of AI at work. Discover how Glean is helping enterprises leverage AI to streamline workflows and enhance employee efficiency. Learn how Glean ensures AI delivers value safely and securely.
What you’ll learn
About the Guest and Host:
Arvind Jain: CEO of Glean, work AI platform, and co-founder of Rubrik.
Connect with Guest:
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jain-arvind
→ Website: glean.com
Nataraj: Host of the Startup Project podcast, Senior PM at Azure & Investor.
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natarajsindam/
→ Substack: https://startupproject.substack.com/
In this episode, we cover
Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review/comment on YouTube Apple Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.
#GleanAI #EnterpriseAI #AISearch #AIAgents #FutureofWork #Productivity #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #SaaS #Startups #BusinessInsights #Technology #AIPlatform #WorkflowAutomation #MachineLearning #DeepLearning #AIStrategy #DigitalTransformation #AIinBusiness #TechPodcast
### About the episode:
Join Nataraj as he interviews Matt DeBergalis, CEO of Apollo GraphQL, about the evolution of GraphQL from an open-source project to a product company. Matt shares insights on building and scaling APIs, the challenges of transitioning open-source tech into a viable business, and how AI is reshaping API development. Discover how Apollo is helping companies of all sizes leverage GraphQL to build agentic experiences and modernize their API strategies.
### What you’ll learn
- Understand the journey of GraphQL from open source to a product-driven company.
- Explore the challenges of adopting and scaling GraphQL in enterprise environments.
- Discover how GraphQL simplifies complex data combinations with its declarative language.
- Learn how Apollo GraphQL helps companies accelerate the development of robust APIs.
- Examine the role of GraphQL in building modern agentic experiences powered by AI.
- Understand how to balance short-term shipping pressures with long-term architectural considerations.
- Identify when GraphQL makes sense for a company based on its API size and consumption needs.
- Discover how AI is driving increased API consumption and transforming user interfaces.
### About the Guest and Host:
Guest Name: Matt DeBergalis is the Co-founder and CEO of Apollo GraphQL, previously CTO and Co-founder at Meteor Development Group.
Connect with Guest:
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debergalis/
→ Website: https://www.apollographql.com/
Nataraj: Host of the Startup Project podcast, Senior PM at Azure & Investor.
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natarajsindam/
→ Twitter: https://x.com/natarajsindam
→ Substack: https://startupproject.substack.com/
→ Website: https://thestartupproject.io
### In this episode, we cover
(00:01) Introduction to Matt DeBergalis and Apollo GraphQL
(00:37) Matt's journey and the origins of Apollo GraphQL
(03:24) The transition from open source to a company
(05:02) GraphQL as a client-focused API technology
(07:22) Meta's approach to open source technologies
(10:11) Challenges of converting open source to a business
(13:11) Balancing shipping speed with architectural considerations
(15:52) The risk of adopting the wrong technology
(19:13) The evolution of full-stack development
(23:57) When does adopting GraphQL make sense?
(26:45) Apollo's customer scale and focus
(31:48) Acquiring customers and marketing to developers
(33:52) Matt's transition from CTO to CEO
(37:02) Apollo's sales motion and target audience
(40:24) Matt's thoughts on AI and its impact
(47:12) How AI is changing business metrics
Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review/comment on YouTube Apple Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.
#GraphQL #ApolloGraphQL #API #OpenSource #Enterprise #AI #AgenticAI #APIDevelopment #Startup #Technology #SoftwareDevelopment #GraphQLAdoption #Kubernetes #React #FullStack #DataAnalytics #Innovation #DigitalTransformation #TechStrategy #Podcast
In this episode of Startup Project, Nataraj interviews Ben Kus, CTO of Box, about the critical role of unstructured data in the AI revolution. They discuss the cost structures of adopting and building with AI, and how AI is transforming enterprise businesses. Ben shares Box's unique perspective, managing over an exabyte of data for 120,000 enterprise customers. Learn how AI can understand, automate, and enhance the value of your unstructured data, turning untapped potential into practical benefits.
What you’ll learn:
About the Guest and Host:
Ben Kus: Chief Technology Officer at Box, previously VP of Product at Box and co-founder of Subspace.
Connect with Guest:
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benkus .
→ Website: https://box.com/
Nataraj: Host of the Startup Project podcast, Senior PM at Azure & Investor.
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natarajsindam/
→ Twitter: https://x.com/natarajsindam
→ Substack: https://startupproject.substack.com/
In this episode, we cover:
Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review/comment on YouTube, Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.
#unstructureddata #ai #artificialintelligence #enterprisetech #cto #box #datamanagement #machinelearning #generativeai #businesstransformation #ainnovation #techleadership #cloudcomputing #datascience #podcast #startupproject #natarajsindam #digitaltransformation #enterprisesolutions #aifirst
About the Episode:
This episode dives into AngelList's core products and how they strengthen the startup ecosystem. Goutham explains how AngelList sits at the center of founders, GPs, and LPs, providing tools and infrastructure to fuel innovation. He discusses the impact of AI on AngelList's operations, from streamlining fund deployment to providing deeper insights for investors. Goutham also shares his thoughts on the current AI hype cycle and how it's blurring the lines between traditional roles in tech companies. The conversation explores AngelList's adoption of crypto, including USDC funding and the potential for tokenization to create liquidity in private markets. Goutham also touches upon the future of AngelList and the exciting AI-powered products on the horizon.
About the Guest and Host:
Goutham Buchi: CTO of AngelList, former Senior Director of Engineering at Coinbase, co-founder and CEO of Mysicamore.
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gouthambuchi/
Nataraj: Host of the Startup Project podcast, Senior PM at Azure & Investor.
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natarajsindam
→ Email updates: https://startupproject.substack.com/
Timestamps:
00:02 - Introduction and Guest Introduction
01:06 - Goutham’s Background and Journey
02:21 - AngelList's Core Products and Business Drivers
05:18 - Democratizing Access to Early Stage Venture
06:43 - How AngelList Differs from Coinbase
09:27 - The Role of Regulation in Crypto and AngelList
11:19 - Goutham's Thoughts on Gen AI and the AI Hype Cycle
14:09 - AI: From Research Problem to Engineering Problem
17:56 - The Blurring of Roles with AI
22:28 - Blockers to AI Adoption
24:50 - How AngelList is Using AI in its Products
29:52 - Crypto Integration at AngelList
33:26 - Competition: Banking Rails vs. Regulation
35:58 - Creating Liquidity for GPs on the Platform
39:46 - Future of AI at AngelList
44:14 - Skills for Product Managers in the Age of AI
49:11 - Exploring AI Tools
50:21 - Product Hunt
Subscribe to Startup Project for more engaging conversations with leading entrepreneurs!
→ Email updates: https://startupproject.substack.com/
#StartupProject #AngelList #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Startups #VentureCapital #Investing #Crypto #Coinbase #ProductHunt #Technology #Innovation #Funding #GouthamBuchi #NatarajSindam"}]
About the episode:
Join Nataraj as he explores the world of online advertising with Jared Siegal, founder and CEO of Aditude. Discover how programmatic advertising empowers publishers to scale their revenue and the evolving landscape of online monetization. They discuss the roles of different players in the ad industry, the impact of AI on search traffic, and the future of publishing. Gain insights into how Aditude is leveling the playing field for publishers in a Google-dominated world. If you are a publisher, this episode can provide actionable strategies to maximize your ad revenue and maintain control over your content.
What you’ll learn
About the Guest and Host:
Guest Name: Jared Siegal is the Founder and CEO of Aditude, a programmatic advertising solution that empowers publishers to scale their revenue.
Connect with Guest:
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-siegal-tude
→ Website: https://www.aditude.com/
Nataraj: Host of the Startup Project podcast, Senior PM at Azure & Investor.
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natarajsindam/
→ Twitter: https://x.com/natarajsindam
→ Substack: https://startupproject.substack.com/
In this episode, we cover
(00:00) Introduction to Jared Siegal and Aditude
(00:51) How Jared got into the ad business
(03:34) Growing revenue and traffic at Answers.com
(04:21) Understanding Google Ad Manager (GAM) and real-time bidding
(07:30) Lay of the land in the ad industry: players and roles
(09:30) Aditude's role in connecting advertisers to publishers
(12:20) How brands place bids and the role of ad exchanges
(13:33) Why choose Aditude over Google for ad management?
(14:35) Creating fair competition across ad platforms
(15:11) Aditude's SaaS pricing model and its advantages
(18:08) Ideal publisher size for using Aditude's services
(19:47) Google's acquisition of DoubleClick and monopoly concerns
(23:46) High-frequency trading analogy in ad tech
(26:20) Transition from consulting to a product company
(32:04) Customer acquisition strategies for Aditude
(33:27) Impact of AI and Chat GPT on publishers and traffic
(36:19) Is AI making the internet better or worse for publishers?
(38:04) How Google and Facebook sustain ad revenue despite traffic shifts
(40:35) Move from search to answer and its impact on traffic sources
(42:15) Challenges for new content creators in the current landscape
(44:08) Trends in publishing: consolidation and mixed media
(44:58) Bright spots in publishing: gaming and influencers
(47:01) The influencer economy and its limitations
(49:00) Generating content with AI and its potential pitfalls
(50:09) Publishers leaving big houses and starting their own substacks
(52:29) Common misconceptions about running a company
(54:19) Aditude's next milestones and future plans
Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review/comment on YouTube, Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.
#adtech #programmaticadvertising #publishermonetization #onlineadvertising #digitalmarketing #headerbidding #realtimebidding #googleadmanager #advertising #adtechindustry #aditude #jaredsiegal #natarajsindam #startupproject #podcast #business #entrepreneurship #saas #artificialintelligence #AI
Join Nataraj as he interviews Rish, the co-founder and CEO of Greyparrot, a company leveraging AI to revolutionize the recycling industry. Rish shares his journey from augmented reality to AI-powered waste management, detailing the challenges and opportunities in this space. Discover how Greyparrot's innovative technology brings transparency and efficiency to recycling, impacting the circular economy and creating a more sustainable future. Learn how AI can transform waste into a valuable resource.
What you’ll learn
About the Guest and Host:
Rish: Co-founder and CEO of Greyparrot, using AI-powered waste analytics to revolutionize the recycling industry.
Connect with Rish:
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ambarishmitra/
→ Website: https://www.greyparrot.ai/
Nataraj: Host of the Startup Project podcast, Senior PM at Azure & Investor.
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natarajsindam/
→ Substack: https://startupproject.substack.com/
In this episode, we cover
(00:00) Introduction and Guest Introduction
(00:49) The Origin Story of Greyparrot and its mission
(02:23) From Visual Search to Waste Intelligence: The Pivotal Moment
(04:58) Defining Greyparrot as a Material Asset Recovery Company
(05:15) How Greyparrot's Analyzers Optimize Waste Sorting at Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs)
(07:44) Integrating AI Brains into Mechanical Waste Management Plants
(09:28) Architectural Challenges of Deploying AI in Waste Management
(12:46) Building a Scalable AI Solution for Diverse Waste Management Plants
(15:39) Deep Dive into Processing Images and Data Locally with On-Camera Computing
(20:02) Brands leveraging waste data for packaging R&D and sustainability
(21:52) Customer Acquisition strategies
(28:07) Scale of business
(30:01) Contrasting Waste Management in Developed vs. Developing Economies
(35:13) China's role in global waste management
(37:03) Diverting waste streams
(39:57) The key components responsible for circular economy
Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review/comment on YouTube Apple Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.
#StartupProject #GreyParrot #AI #WasteManagement #Recycling #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #Innovation #DeepLearning #ComputerVision #MaterialRecovery #Tech #Environment #Podcast #Entrepreneurship #Startup #RecyclingTech #WasteAnalytics #AIforGood #GreenTech
Join Nataraj as he sits down with Vijaye Raji, founder and CEO of Statsig, a platform revolutionizing product development with data-driven decision-making. Formerly a VP at Facebook and head of Facebook Seattle, Vijaye shares his journey from big tech to startup founder.
About the Episode:
This conversation explores Vijaye's transition from leading entertainment at Facebook to building Statsig, a developer platform empowering data-driven decisions. He dives into his experience at Microsoft and Facebook, highlighting the challenges and motivations that led him to entrepreneurship. Vijaye discusses Statsig's value proposition, differentiating it from existing point solutions by consolidating feature flagging, analytics, and experimentation into one platform. The discussion extends to the future of experimentation in an AI-first world. He emphasizes the importance of product intuition alongside experimentation and shares Statsig's approach to culture, talent acquisition, and growth.
About the Guest and Host:
Vijaye Raji: Founder and CEO of Statsig, former VP at Facebook, and head of Facebook Seattle. Connect with Vijay:
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vijaye/
→ Website: https://www.statsig.com/
Nataraj: Host of the Startup Project podcast, Senior PM at Azure & Investor.
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natarajsindam
→ Twitter: https://x.com/natarajsindam
→ Email updates: https://startupproject.substack.com/
→ Website: https://thestartupproject.io
Timestamps:
00:01 - Introduction and Guest Introduction
00:48 - Vijay's Background and Transition from Big Tech
01:11 - Leaving Facebook and the Motivation for Startups
02:05 - Early Career at Microsoft and Facebook's Startup Phase
04:21 - Diverse Roles and Experiences at Facebook
05:38 - Problems and Scale as Head of Entertainment at Facebook
07:41 - Business Side of Entertainment: Licensing and Content Acquisition
08:30 - From Facebook to Statsig: Idea Evaluation
10:27 - Getting the First Customers: Avoiding Common Mistakes
13:19 - Blind Spots in Transitioning from Big Tech to Startups
14:38 - Go-to-Market Intuition and Building Conviction
17:03 - Statsig's Value Proposition and Differentiation
19:28 - Explanation of Feature Flagging
20:47 - Trends in Experimentation and Product Validation
23:00 - Ideal Customer Profile for Statsig
24:38 - Experimentation vs. Gut Feeling: Balancing Data and Intuition
28:20 - Statsig's Growth: Customers, Users, and Scale
29:44 - Positioning Statsig: Developer Tool vs. Product Development Platform
31:08 - Marketing Efforts and ROI
32:24 - Culture: In-Person Work Environment
34:41 - Attracting Talent: Statsig's Approach
40:04 - Fundraising: Strategy and Benefits
41:35 - AI: Integration with LLMs and Product Extensions
44:26 - ML vs. LLMs: Democratization of Access
46:44 - Favorite Failure and Learning from Mistakes
49:31 - Current Consumption (Books, Podcasts, etc.)
50:11 - Lessons Learned as a Founder
51:16 - Big Company Perks Missed and Not Missed
Subscribe to Startup Project for more engaging conversations with leading entrepreneurs!
→ Email updates: https://startupproject.substack.com/
#StartupProject #Statsig #ProductDevelopment #Experimentation #FeatureFlagging #ProductAnalytics #DataDriven #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #SaaS #Entrepreneurship #Podcast #YouTube #Tech #Innovation
Martin Mao is the co-founder and CEO of Chronosphere, an observability platform built for the modern containerized world. Prior to Chronosphere, Martin led the observability team at Uber, tackling the unique challenges of large-scale distributed systems. With a background as a technical lead at AWS, Martin brings unique experience in building scalable and reliable infrastructure. In this episode, he shares the story behind Chronosphere, its approach to cost-efficient observability, and the future of monitoring in the age of AI.
What you'll learn:
The specific observability challenges that arise when transitioning to containerized environments and microservices architectures, including increased data volume and new problem sources.
How Chronosphere addresses the issue of wasteful data storage by providing features that identify and optimize useful data, ensuring customers only pay for valuable insights.
Chronosphere's strategy for competing with observability solutions offered by major cloud providers like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, focusing on specialized end-to-end product.
The innovative ways in which Chronosphere's products, including their observability platform and telemetry pipeline, improve the process of detecting and resolving problems.
How Chronosphere is leveraging AI and knowledge graphs to normalize unstructured data, enhance its analytics engine, and provide more effective insights to customers.
Why targeting early adopters and tech-forward companies is beneficial for product innovation, providing valuable feedback for further improvements and new features.
How observability requirements are changing with the rise of AI and LLM-based applications, and the unique data collection and evaluation criteria needed for GPUs.
Takeaways:
Cost efficiency is a major differentiator for Chronosphere, offering significantly better cost-benefit ratios compared to other solutions, making it attractive for companies operating at scale.
The company's telemetry pipeline product can be used with existing observability solutions like Splunk and Elastic to reduce costs without requiring a full platform migration.
Chronosphere's architecture is purposely single-tenanted to minimize coupled infrastructures, ensuring reliability and continuous monitoring even when core components go down.
AI-driven insights for observability may not benefit from LLMs that are trained on private business data, which can be diverse and may cause models to overfit to a specific case.
Many tech-forward companies are using the platform to monitor model training which involves GPU clusters and a new evaluation criterion that is unlike general CPU workload.
The company found a huge potential by scrubbing the diverse data and building knowledge graphs to be used as a source of useful information when problems are recognized.
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#StartupProject #Chronosphere #Observability #Containers #Microservices #Uber #AWS #Monitoring #CloudNative #CostOptimization #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #LLM #MLOps #Entrepreneurship #Podcast #YouTube #Tech #Innovation
Join host Nataraj as he speaks with Emilie Gerber, founder and principal of SixEastern, a PR firm specializing in startups and tech companies. Emilie shares her expertise on crafting effective PR strategies for early-stage startups and navigating the evolving media landscape.
About the Episode:
This episode demystifies the world of PR for tech founders. Emily differentiates PR from marketing, emphasizing the importance of earned media and credibility. She provides actionable advice on when to engage a PR firm, the types of media to target, and how to manage expectations. The conversation explores alternative strategies beyond traditional tech publications, including podcasts and new media platforms. Emily highlights the increasing importance of founders building their social profiles and telling authentic stories. She shares real-world examples of successful PR campaigns and offers valuable insights into navigating crisis communications.
About the Guest and Host:
Emilie Gerber: Founder and Principal of SixEastern, a PR firm for startups and tech companies. Previously at Uber and Box. Connect with Emily: → Website: https://www.sixeastern.com/
Nataraj: Host of the Startup Project podcast, Senior PM at Azure & Investor.
→ LinkedIn: /natarajsindam
→ Twitter: https://x.com/natarajsindam
→ Email updates: https://startupproject.substack.com/
→ Website: https://thestartupproject.io
Timestamps:
00:02 - Introduction and Guest Introduction
00:45 - Emily's Background and PR for Tech Startups
01:17 - PR vs. Marketing: Understanding the Difference
03:13 - When to Engage a PR Firm: Seed vs. Series A
05:40 - The Unique Landscape of AI Startup PR
06:19 - Top Tier PR Firms and Their Specializations
08:39 - Setting Expectations and Measuring PR Success
09:18 - Pitching Podcasts vs. Traditional Media
14:21 - The Problem with Automated PR Pitches
16:42 - Storytelling for Series A to Series C Startups
17:44 - Crafting the Founder's Message for Podcasts
21:08 - The Trend of Founders Going Direct on Social Media
24:15 - Why Elon Musk's Strategies Don't Work for Everyone
25:26 - Concrete Examples of Successful PR Campaigns
29:21 - Why Traditional Media Still Matters for Startups
31:12 - Pitching to New Media Platforms
32:00 - Organic vs. Strategic PR: Behind-the-Scenes Tactics
34:12 - SEO for AI Search Engines and the Future of PR
37:18 - PR Plus Marketing: Integrating Services
38:47 - Emily's Current Media Consumption: TBPN
42:39 - Mentors and Their Influence
44:38 - Lessons Learned in PR
45:40 - Crisis Communications at Uber
48:16 - Ignored Sectors in Startup PR: Enterprise Software
Subscribe to Startup Project for more engaging conversations with leading entrepreneurs!
→ Email updates: https://startupproject.substack.com/
#StartupProject #PR #PublicRelations #Startups #Tech #Media #Marketing #Communications #Founders #Entrepreneurship #TechCrunch #WallStreetJournal #Podcast #YouTube #AI #SixEastern
Join host Nataraj as he sits down with Todd Bracher, founder of BetterLab, an industrial design firm partnering with scientists and innovators to create game-changing products. Previously Executive Creative Director and Design Partner at Human Scale, Todd has also collaborated with iconic brands like Issey Miyake, Herman Miller, and 3M. A two-time International Designer of the Year and recognized by Wallpaper Magazine as a Top 100 Global Design Influencer, Todd shares his insights on the intersection of design, science, and technology.
About the Episode:
This episode explores the world of industrial design through the lens of Todd Bracher's extensive experience. The conversation delves into building a successful design firm and the critical importance of human-centered design. Todd recounts his journey from art school to becoming a leading industrial designer, emphasizing the role of manufacturing, materials, and understanding market needs. He highlights the shift towards sustainability in design, including the use of recycled materials and circularity principles. The discussion covers BetterLab's innovative projects, such as glasses designed to combat myopia using full-spectrum light and a UVC light-based hand sanitizer called Lightwash. Todd also shares his perspective on digital design, the influence of Japanese design principles, and his role as a design advisor with Antler, a pre-seed stage firm. He touches upon products he admires, including the Leica M camera, and the importance of integrating design early in the product development process.
About the Guest and Host:
Todd Bracher: Founder of BetterLab, an industrial design firm. Former Executive Creative Director and Design Partner at Human Scale. Connect with Todd:
→ Website: https://betterlab.com/
Nataraj: Host of the Startup Project podcast, Senior PM at Azure & Investor.
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natarajsindam/
→ Twitter: https://x.com/natarajsindam
→ Email updates: https://startupproject.substack.com/
→ Website: https://thestartupproject.io
Timestamps:
00:01 - Introduction and Guest Introduction
00:55 - Todd's Background and Entry into Design
01:45 - The Definition of Industrial Design
03:22 - Early Influences and Drawing
04:27 - Examples of Industrial Design Projects
06:06 - Admired Technology Products (Beyond Apple)
09:14 - Trends in Industrial Design: Sustainability vs. Consumable Products
12:02 - Todd's Take on IKEA's Design and Business Model
14:37 - Admired Brands: VITSO and Dieter Rams
15:54 - Sustainability and Longevity in Well-Designed Products
17:05 - The Business of Running a Design Firm: BetterLab
19:39 - Products from BetterLab: Myopia-Correcting Glasses
24:48 - Sustainability Project: UVC Light Hand Sanitizer (Lightwash)
28:44 - Working with Antler: Advising Early-Stage Startups
30:08 - Day-to-Day Products Todd Uses and Admits
31:53 - Modern Design Aesthetics and Globalization
36:01 - Todd's Take on Digital Design
37:46 - Trend Back into Hardware
40:01 - What Makes Japanese Design Unique
42:00 - Design Hubs in the US
44:13 - Current Consumption (Books, Podcasts, etc.)
45:39 - Mentors and Influences: Charles Darwin
46:55 - Lessons Learned: The Importance of Business Acumen
Subscribe to Startup Project for more engaging conversations with leading entrepreneurs!
→ Email updates: https://startupproject.substack.com/
#StartupProject #IndustrialDesign #DesignThinking #BetterLab #ToddBracher #Sustainability #ProductDesign #Innovation #HumanCenteredDesign #TechDesign #Manufacturing #Materials #DesignTrends #Myopia #UVCLight #Antler #VentureCapital #Entrepreneurship #Podcast #YouTube #Tech #Innovation
Join host Nataraj as he sits down with Zach Lloyd, the founder and CEO of Warp, a company developing an intelligent terminal aimed at modernizing the command line experience for developers. Zach, a former principal engineer at Google, having worked on Google Sheets and Docs, and co-founder and CTO of Selfmade, shares his insights on the future of software development, the evolution of the terminal, and AI's role in building new products.
In this episode, they discuss:
Guest:
Zach Lloyd
Host:
Nataraj
Timestamps:
00:01 - Introduction and Guest Introduction
00:55 - What is Warp?
02:59 - How Developers Use Warp
04:56 - Warp's Compatibility with Existing Developer Tools
05:21 - Warp's Intelligence and Features
06:31 - Integrating Existing Developer Nuances into Warp
07:24 - Warp's AI-Powered Enhancements
10:06 - The Future of IDEs and Terminals
13:50 - The Evolution of Abstraction in Software Development
16:37 - The AI Hype Cycle and Developer Productivity
18:07 - Developer Feedback and Adoption of Warp
20:30 - Go-to-Market Strategy and Customer Acquisition
21:33 - Leveraging LLMs in Warp
23:28 - The Role of AI Agents in Software Development
25:49 - Cost and Sustainability of AI-Powered Tools
27:17 - Warp's Pricing Model and Margins
30:04 - Open-Source Models and Profitability
32:43 - Key Metrics for Warp's Success
34:45 - Go-to-Market Motion and Acquiring Customers
37:40 - Using AI in Building Warp
39:15 - The Impact of AI on Developer Demand
41:00 - The Current State of AI and Developer Productivity
43:31 - The Importance of Context and Knowledge in AI
44:31 - What Zach is Consuming
45:40 - Zach's Mentors
46:25 - Lessons Learned as a Founder
Subscribe:
Subscribe to Startup Project for more engaging conversations with leading entrepreneurs!
https://startupproject.substack.com/
Tags:
#StartupProject #Warp #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Terminal #DeveloperTools #Coding #Productivity #SoftwareDevelopment #DevOps #VentureCapital #Entrepreneurship #Podcast #YouTube #Tech #Innovation
Join Nataraj on Startup Project as he interviews Jennifer Jeronimo, CEO of Gaingels, a venture capital syndicate that has deployed over $900 million into 2,500 startups.
About the Episode:
Jennifer shares Gaingels' unique journey from an investment club focused on LGBTQ+ founders to one of the largest venture capital syndicates globally, with a diverse community of over 4,000 accredited investors. Learn about their investment strategy, focusing on co-investing alongside top-tier VC firms like Sequoia and Greycroft, and their mission to democratize venture capital by providing access to high-potential deals.
Discover how Gaingels sources deals, conducts due diligence, and supports its portfolio companies. Jennifer also discusses the current venture landscape, offering insights into market trends, diversification strategies, and the importance of building a balanced portfolio over time. She also discusses her mentors and books that inspired her journey.
About the Guest and Host:
Jennifer Jeronimo: CEO of Gaingels, former banking executive, and advocate for diversity in venture capital.
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-jeronimo1/
Nataraj: Host of the Startup Project podcast, Senior PM at Azure & Investor.
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natarajsindam
→ Twitter: https://x.com/natarajsindam
→ Email updates: https://startupproject.substack.com/
→ Website: https://thestartupproject.io
Timestamps:
00:01 - Introduction and Guest Introduction
00:59 - J-Engels: A Venture Capital Syndicate
01:28 - How J-Engels Works & Its Mission
02:58 - Evolution from AngelList Syndicate
04:41 - Deal Flow Sources
07:17 - Securing Allocation in Competitive Deals
08:39 - J-Engels' Organizational Structure
10:38 - Deal Evaluation Process
13:47 - The Strength of Community in Venture
18:44 - Role of Venture Partners
20:09 - Navigating Market Corrections and Trends
23:35 - Portfolio Diversification Strategies
28:15 - J-Engels' Vision for the Future
30:20 - What Jennifer is Consuming Now
31:59 - Jennifer's Mentors
34:15 - Investing Advice for Beginners
Subscribe to Startup Project for more insightful conversations with leading investors and entrepreneurs!
→ Email updates: https://startupproject.substack.com/
#StartupProject #VentureCapital #Investing #Syndicate #Diversity #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Podcast #YouTube #Tech #Innovation #PortfolioDiversification #MarketTrends #AngelInvesting
Join host Nataraj on Startup Project as he sits down with Vanessa Larco, Partner at NEA, to discuss the transformative impact of AI on startups and venture capital.
About the Episode: This episode delves into the evolving landscape of tech investing, exploring how AI is reshaping business models, pricing strategies, and the future of work. Vanessa, a former Director of Product at Box and co-founder of Funloop, shares her insights on:
* The shift towards AI in venture capital
* The commoditization debate surrounding LLMs
* The evolving pricing models in the age of AI
* Common mistakes startups make when fundraising
* How to identify and secure promising deals
* Vanessa's personal journey and mentorship experiences
About the Guest and Host:
Vanessa Larco: Partner at NEA, investing in Series A and Series B technology companies. Former Director of Product at Box and co-founder of Funloop.
Connect with Vanessa:
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessalarco
Nataraj: Host of the Startup Project podcast, Senior PM at Azure & Investor.
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natarajsindam/
→ Twitter: https://x.com/natarajsindam
→ Email updates: https://startupproject.substack.com/
→ Website: https://thestartupproject.io
Timestamps:
00:01 - Introduction and Guest Introduction
01:01 - AI's Impact on Venture Capital
04:12 - The Commoditization of LLMs
08:57 - The SaaS Subscription Model and AI
16:04 - AI-Enabled Investment Ideas
18:50 - Life as a Partner at NEA
23:42 - Working with Series A & B Companies
25:40 - Traction Metrics for Series A
27:59 - Case Studies: Majoree & Rewind
33:04 - Common Startup Mistakes
36:37 - Sourcing Deals in Venture Capital
38:57 - What Vanessa is Consuming Now
40:20 - Mentors in Vanessa's Career
41:38 - Lessons Learned in Venture Investing
Subscribe to Startup Project for more engaging conversations with leading entrepreneurs!
→ Email updates: https://startupproject.substack.com/
#StartupProject #NEA #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #VentureCapital #Startups #SaaS #PricingModels #Fundraising #ProductMarketFit #Investing #Podcast #YouTube #Tech #Innovation
Join host Nataraj as he sits down with Karthee Madasamy, the Managing Director of MFA Partners, to discuss his journey from chip designer to venture capitalist in the world of deep tech.
About the Episode:
This episode explores Karthee's transition from a technical background in semiconductors and wireless communication to a successful career in venture capital. He shares his experiences at Qualcomm Ventures, where he led investments in companies like Waze and MapMyIndia, and discusses his current focus on deep tech companies at MFA Partners. Karthee provides valuable insights into the evolution of venture capital, the challenges of raising a fund, and the exciting potential of technologies like AI, robotics, and quantum computing.
Karti dives into the nuances of investing in deep tech, sharing his investment thesis for MapMyIndia and highlighting the importance of understanding technology commoditization. He also discusses the incentive structures within corporate venture capital versus traditional VC firms, and offers advice for those considering a career in the field.
About the Guest and Host:
Karthee Madasamy: Managing Director of MFA Partners, previously Managing Director and Vice President at Qualcomm Ventures.
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kartheemfv/
Nataraj: Host of the Startup Project podcast, Senior PM at Azure & Investor.
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natarajsindam/
→ Twitter: https://x.com/natarajsindam
→ Email updates: https://startupproject.substack.com/
→ Website: https://thestartupproject.io
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
00:51 - Karthee's Journey into Venture Investing
02:46 - First Job in Venture Capital
04:52 - Early Deals and Learnings
07:34 - Identifying Technology Commoditization
09:56 - Investment Thesis for MapMyIndia
13:32 - Incentives in Corporate vs. Traditional VC
18:09 - Starting MFA Partners and Fundraising Challenges
23:37 - Lessons Learned from Fundraising
25:01 - The State of Deep Tech
32:42 - Investing in PsiQuantum and the Future of Quantum Computing
43:34 - Staying Updated and Influential Content
45:54 - Key Learnings about Investing
Subscribe to Startup Project for more engaging conversations with leading entrepreneurs!
→ Email updates: https://startupproject.substack.com/
#startupproject #deeptech #venturecapital #investing #qualcommventures #mfapartners #ai #robotics #quantumcomputing #technology #innovation #entrepreneurship #podcast #youtube #tech #mapmyindia #waze #psiquantum #semiconductors
Join Nataraj on Startup Project as he talks to Aatish, CEO and founder of EquityZen, a secondary market for private equities. They discuss the evolution of secondary markets, EquityZen's business model, the value proposition of secondary equity platforms, investor strategies, and the nuances of investing in secondary shares. They'll also delve into various IPO types and their pros and cons for investors, providing a glimpse into the future of secondary markets and IPOs by 2025.
About the Episode:
This episode explores how EquityZen created a market for secondary shares, connecting founders, employees, and early investors with individuals seeking pre-IPO investment opportunities. Aatish shares his personal journey from quant hedge fund employee to entrepreneur, highlighting how EquityZen helps late-stage private companies provide liquidity to shareholders.
The conversation also covers:
- Evolution of secondary markets
- EquityZen's business model and platform
- Investing in secondary shares
- Different investor strategies
- IPO types and their impact on investors
- The future of secondary markets and IPOs in 2025
About the Guest and Host:
Aatish: CEO and founder of EquityZen, former co-founder and CTO of Nullsoft, and VP of product at Ampush. Connect with Aatish:
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/atishdavda/
→ Website: https://equityzen.com/
Nataraj: Host of the Startup Project podcast, Senior PM at Azure & Investor.
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natarajsindam
→ Twitter: https://x.com/natarajsindam
→ Email: https://startupproject.substack.com/
→ Website: https://thestartupproject.io
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
01:10 - What is EquityZen and How Did It Start?
04:19 - The Evolution of Secondary Markets
09:00 - Standardization in Secondary Transactions
14:44 - Portfolio vs. Individual Company Investments
20:10 - EquityZen's Business Model: Fees & Carry
22:21 - EquityZen's Stats and User Base
24:34 - EquityZen's Relationship with Companies and Issuers
27:17 - Rights of First Refusal and Blocking Rights
30:36 - Navigating the Secondary Market: Legitimacy and Risk
33:33 - How EquityZen Uses Data
37:14 - Marketing EquityZen in a Regulated Industry
40:19 - IPOs vs. Direct Listings: What's the Difference?
44:04 - Outlook for IPOs and Secondary Markets in 2025
Subscribe to Startup Project for more engaging conversations with leading entrepreneurs!
→ Email updates: https://startupproject.substack.com/
#StartupProject #EquityZen #PrivateEquity #SecondaryMarket #PreIPO #Investing #IPO #VentureCapital #Stocks #Finance #Podcast #YouTube #Tech #Innovation #Entrepreneur"
Join host Nataraj as he sits down with Aviel Ginsberg, the founder of Simply Measured (acquired by Sprout Social), managing director at Amazon's Alexa Accelerator, general partner at Founders Co-op, and now co-founder of Foundations, a shared workspace and accelerator designed to bolster Seattle's VC ecosystem.
About the Episode:
This episode explores Aviel's journey through the Seattle tech scene, from his arrival during the 2007 recession to his current venture. He discusses the evolution of Founders Co-op, their investment strategies, and the challenges faced by startups in the Pacific Northwest. Aviel shares insights into his investment philosophy, emphasizing the importance of founders' motivations and the long-term vision for their companies.
Aviel also delves into the creation of Foundations, a community-driven space aimed at connecting founders, investors, and mentors. He discusses the need for such an anchor in Seattle's ecosystem and how it addresses the unique challenges faced by startups in the region. The conversation touches upon the changing landscape of venture capital, the impact of large language models, and the future of Seattle's tech community.
About the Guest and Host:
Aviel Ginsberg: Co-founder of Foundations, founder of Simply Measured, managing director at Amazon's Alexa Accelerator, and general partner at Founders Co-op.
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/avielginzburg/
→ Website: https://seattlefoundations.org/
Nataraj: Host of the Startup Project podcast, Senior PM at Azure & Investor.
→ LinkedIn: / natarajsindam
→ Twitter: https://x.com/natarajsindam
→ Email updates: https://startupproject.substack.com/
→ Website: https://thestartupproject.io
Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction
[00:30] What is Foundations?
[00:51] Aviel’s journey with Founders Co-op
[01:21] Navigating the 2007 Recession
[03:22] Early days in the Seattle tech scene
[03:36] Transitioning from employee to founder
[06:46] Founders Co-op’s current focus
[08:16] Evolving investment thesis
[08:45] The art of investing in founders
[10:47] The importance of people over product
[11:07] Investing strategies and FOMO
[14:23] Deal makers and breakers
[14:36] The motivation of founders
[16:47] De-risking entrepreneurship and motivation
[18:56] The rise and fall of first-time funds
[20:18] Exaggerated opportunity sizes
[21:16] The realities of early-stage investing
[22:20] The distortion of valuations
[22:57] Winners bias and trillion-dollar companies
[23:13] The illusion of constant growth
[26:37] The Ally acquisition and Microsoft Viva Goals
[27:50] Was the acquisition a fund returner?
[28:32] The Clubhouse story
[29:23] The importance of knowing when to sell
[30:20] The trend of secondaries
[30:50] Incentivizing founders
[31:25] The future of secondaries
[32:50] The vision behind Foundations
[38:33] What else does Seattle need?
[39:05] The need for pre-accelerators
[40:38] Lack of pre-seed funds
[41:02] Accessing Bay Area capital
[42:41] What are you consuming?
[43:14] Podcasts, books, and movies
[44:31] What do you wish you knew about investing?
[44:39] The long feedback loops of investing
Subscribe to Startup Project for more engaging conversations with leading entrepreneurs!
→ Email updates: https://startupproject.substack.com/
#startupproject #seattle #startupecosystem #venturecapital #founders #foundations #simplymeasured #founderscoop #amazon #alexaaccelerator #techstars #innovation #entrepreneurship #podcast #youtube #technology #investing #davidishim #readai #ai #artificialintelligence #meetings #productivity #hybridwork #remotework
