Episodes
Published 05/25/18
In this interview, Claire Lew talks about leadership, how to keep your team motivated and the things leaders should avoid. We also talk about the importance of building relationships with your customers and the real reasons why people buy from you.
Published 05/25/18
In this interview, Bill Irvine explains what it means to be a stoic. We discuss how to evaluate and pursue worthy goals and how to keep perspective during challenging times. We examine the necessity of failure in the pursuit of greatness and uncover the value of setbacks.
Published 05/08/18
In this interview, James Freeman reveals what it was like starting Blue Bottle Coffee. He explains the importance of pursuing simplicity and creating an overarching experience. We also talk about building a business that stands for something and what he does to find inspiration.
Published 05/02/18
In this interview, Keith Rabois explains the importance of hard work and turning your startup into a smooth machine. We discuss management styles, the downfall of remote working and how to go about hiring talented people.
Published 04/22/18
In this interview, Geoff Donaker explains the details involved in taking a company public, from hiring a CFO through to collaborating with an accounting firm. We examine the job of the COO, the role of experimentation in the shaping of business models and the principles of scaling. We finish with a discussion of his investing strategy.
Published 01/30/18
In this interview, Michael Sippey explains each stage of his product management process; research, idea validation and product iteration. We discuss the evolution of Medium and how to go about defining one’s vision and strategy.
Published 01/26/18
In this interview, Cal Newport argues that focus is the new I.Q. in the knowledge economy and that individuals who cultivate their ability to concentrate without distraction will thrive. He provides practical examples to escape the being caught in the frantic blur of e-mail and social media.
Published 01/17/18
In this interview, Wade Foster reveals how Zapier started and the way they got their first users. We talk about the best practices of getting customer feedback and where to find your best ideas. We also look at content strategy, the benefit of having a co-founder and managing remote teams.
Published 12/14/17
In this interview, Joel Gasgoine explains how to enter a competitive market and the importance of focus. We talk about experimenting with pricing, how pricing impacts churn and the best practices for launching multiple products. We also review his favourite ways to validate business ideas.
Published 12/03/17
In this interview, Des Traynor reveals Intercom’s product strategy and the central role vision formation plays within his company. We discuss prioritisation and the value of saying no to new features. We conclude with a review of the jobs to be done framework and some disruptive technologies that could affect Intercom’s future.
Published 11/26/17
In this interview, Jeff Atwood reveals what led to the success of Stack Overflow and how he managed to beat the incumbents. We discuss the importance of building software iteratively and how to gather the right feedback. We also talk about the vision for his new company Discourse.
Published 11/18/17
In this interview, Chris Savage explains how to achieve product-market fit, and the importance of rejecting short term opportunity to build long-term value. We also discuss his principle of profitability over growth and the future of video.
Published 11/12/17
In this interview, Brian Singerman explains why he doesn't have an investment thesis and why he’s agnostic to both sector and stage. We also discuss business strategy and the importance of finding a unique competitive advantage.
Published 10/29/17
In this interview, Charles Hudson explains how seed investing has changed over the years. We talk about his process for raising money, the details of his new fund and the things founders should be cautious of when working with investors.
Published 10/26/17
In this interview, Andy Rachleff explains why big business opportunities are based off inflexion points and why founders shouldn’t pursue the obvious problem-solving ideas. We also discuss how CEOs can best balance personal decision making with the seeking of counsel in order to thrive in times of uncertainty.
Published 10/18/17
In this interview, Jon Callaghan explains the basics of running a business and why it's all about creating value for the right customer. We talk about customer acquisition, laying the right foundation and raising money from the right investors and managing expectations.
Published 09/16/17
In this interview, Kevin Kelly explains why he's optimistic about the future and the inevitable technological advancements that will play a pivotal role in our lives. We also explore virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and opportunities for entrepreneurs.
Published 08/31/17
In this interview, Nir Eyal explains how to build a product that sticks. We explore why engagement is initially more important than growth and the importance of user narratives to simplify the product experience.
Published 08/14/17
In this interview, David Skok explains effective sale strategies and how people buy. We also discuss reducing churn, increasing retention and the importance of improving your sales funnel.
Published 07/18/17
​In this interview, Andy Weissmann shares the firm's investment thesis​ and ​how they spot investment opportunities. We also discuss the obstacles founder​s​ typically face when running a startup.​
Published 05/30/17
In this interview, Mike McDermont explains what it takes to build a big business and why marketing is the key driver to success. We also talk about distribution, understanding your customer and thinking differently when it comes to finding acquisition channels.
Published 05/22/17
In this interview, Sarah Tavel explains the right way to grow your startup and the right way to listen to your users. She also reveals the difficulties of building a consumer-led product and how Pinterest was able to succeed.
Published 04/19/17
In this interview, Alan Schaaf explains how he acquired users, built something that resonated with a large audience, and why simplicity leads to a sticky product. We also talk about investing and staying focused.
Published 04/12/17
In this interview, Kevin Rose talks about his investments, pursuing new ideas, building products you love, dealing with failure and collaborating with talented designers and developers.
Published 03/27/17