"It's these knowledge graph relationships that tie all these episodes together and enable users to discover each other's new content somewhat serendipitously or organically." This episode with Lucas Dickey, CEO and Co-Founder of Deepcast.fm, explores the platform's mission to revolutionize podcast discovery and engagement through AI-driven indexing and structuring of audio content. Lucas shares his extensive background in software product management and passion for podcasting, discussing the challenges faced by both listeners and podcasters in navigating the vast podcast landscape. He emphasizes the importance of leveraging AI tools, prioritizing execution over perfection, and adopting product-led growth strategies for startups, while also offering insights into customer acquisition and team building on this week's episode of Founders In LA. Top 10 Topics Covered Podcasting AI Technology Audio Content Product Management Entrepreneurship Startup Advice Content Discovery Product-Led Growth Team Building Los Angeles Tech Scene Lucas Dickey (Person) - https://linkedin.com/in/lucasdickey Deepcast (Company) - https://www.deepcast.fm Ethan Cole (Person) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethancolephd/ Amazon (Company) - https://www.amazon.com Spotify (Company) - https://www.spotify.com The Echo Nest (Company) - https://wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Echo_Nest Fernish (Company) - https://www.fernish.com Techstars (Company) - https://www.techstars.com Okapi Ventures (Company) -https://okapivc.com IMDb (Product) - https://www.imdb.com genius.com (Company/Product) - https://genius.com YC (Company) - https://www.ycombinator.com Chamath Palihapitiya (Person) - https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamath_Palihapitiya Tyra Banks (Person) - https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyra_Banks Shay Mitchell (Person) - https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Shay_Mitchell Chamillionaire (Person) - https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamillionaire "Co-Intelligence" (Book) - https://www.amazon.com/Co-Intelligence-Living-Working-Ethan-Mollick/dp/059371671X/ Deepcast leverages AI technology to structure and index podcast audio content, making it more discoverable and engaging for listeners through features like episode summaries, key takeaways, and searchable transcripts. Lucas Dickey has over 20 years of experience in software product management, spanning various industries such as digital media, ad tech, and martech, which has prepared him for his current role as CEO and co-founder of Deepcast. Dickey emphasizes the importance of doing more with less, particularly in the early stages of a startup, by leveraging AI tools, virtual assistants, and fractional resources to maximize efficiency and minimize costs. Product-led growth strategies, such as organic content distribution and word-of-mouth marketing, are crucial for startups like Deepcast to acquire both listener and podcaster customers. Continuous learning and adaptation are essential for entrepreneurs, as Dickey highlights the need to stay up-to-date with emerging technologies like generative AI and multimodal content creation. Building a strong team with a diverse set of skills and leveraging AI tools as co-pilots can help founders navigate the challenges of starting and scaling a business. The Los Angeles tech scene offers a unique blend of various industries, from media and entertainment to logistics and aerospace, creating opportunities for startups to thrive in different verticals. Prioritizing execution over perfection and adopting an iterative approach to product development can help startups validate their ideas and gather feedback quickly, which is crucial in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.