Startup Project

Author: Nataraj Sindam

  • #18: Bear.Tax Co-Founders on simplifying Crypto Taxes | Startup Project by Nataraj

    In this Episode of Startup Project, Nataraj talked to Tela Andrews and Vamshi, Co-Founders of crypto currency tax software Bear.tax.

    Full Conversation includes:

    • Origin story of Bear.Tax
    • How microacquire.com helped the founding team to get together
    • Crypto tax complexity for individuals, traders and businesses
    • Roadmap for solving tax complexity
    • Future of crypto

    Check out the recent fundraise announcement by Bear.Tax.

    Nataraj is an engineer at Azure, partner at NVC & hosts thestartupproject.io podcast. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/natarajsindam.

  • #17: Kirby Winfield GP Ascend.vc

    In this Episode of Startup project (https://thestartupproject.io/) , Nataraj talked to Kirby Winfield, Founding GP of Ascend.vc (pre-seed fund based in Seattle).

    Prior to founding Ascend.vc, Kirby was part of founding teams at Go2Net (GNET), Marchex (MCHX), Dwellable (Acquired by Home Away (AWAY)) & AdXpose (Acquired by comScore (SCOR)).

    Ascend has recently emerged as one of the most important pre-seed funds for Seattle based companies. Check out the fund’s portfolio here. Kirby’s blog post on how to create a deck is easily the best blueprint for any one who is new to venture to follow.

    Full conversation includes:

    ▪️ Through line of a successful career
    ▪️ How can companies strategize for an exit?
    ▪️ The why behind starting a pre-seed fund focussed on Pacific Northwest
    ▪️ Helping startups from zero to one
    ▪️ Price discovery of startups in current private markets

    Check out the full conversation below or wherever you get your podcast fix.

    🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5lVJtoUyIESGftMdfExixx?si=8dcec4527b514b65
    🎧 Youtube: https://youtu.be/5uMdazKrC0k

  • #16 Assure.co: Jeremy Neilson on all things Venture | Startup Project by Nataraj

    In this Episode of Startup project, Nataraj talked to Jeremy Neilson, CEO & Co-Founder of Assure.co. Prior to co-founding Assure, Jeremy ran Utah Fund of Funds and later went on to found Assure. Assure created & pioneered the usage of SPVs and became the synonymous as backend of Venture Capital. Assure’s clients include Republic, Launch Fund, Forge, Equity Zen and more.

    Full conversation includes:

    • Origin story of Assure
    • How Assure created SPVs that powered AngelList and others.
    • State of Venture from Assure’s point of View
    • Evolution of VC firms

    Full conversation here or wherever you listen to podcasts.

    Follow Jeremy on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyneilson/. Checkout Assure.co for more updates.

    Nataraj is an engineer at Azure, partner at NVC & hosts thestartupproject.io podcast. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/natarajsindam & stay up to date here.

  • #15 Ali Moiz: Founder of Stonks.com

    In this Episode of Startup project, Nataraj talked to Ali Moiz, Co-Founder of Stonks.Com.

    Prior to co-founding Stonks, Ali was a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Stream Labs which was acquired by Logitech) & before that founder of Peanut Labs which was acquired by E-Rewards.

    Ali is taking his experience with live video and combining it to early stage investing in his latest company stonks.com (great name!).

    If AngelList, Shark Tank & YC had a baby it would look like stonks.com.

    Apart from creating companies Ali has been an early stage investor himself. With Poor Founders he also acquired late stage equity in some of the most interesting break out tech companies like Notion, Canva & AirTable.

    For more interesting things about early stage investing, why do startups choose to get on to stonks.com & other topics check out the full conversation here or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

    Full conversation includes:

    • Value prop of Stonks for founders & investors
    • Post pitch effect for startups
    • Behind the Scenes of Stonks.com
    • Evolution of Video Streaming
    • Investing in Canva, AirTable & notion via Poor Founders

    Follow Ali on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ali_moiz & on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/alimoiz/. Checkout Stonks.com for more updates.

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    Startup Project podcast guests include Ali Moiz (Founder of stonks.com), Kirby Winfield (Ascend.vc), Eric Bahn (Hustle Fund), and many more.

    Startup Project is hosted by Nataraj, you can follow him on twitter at @natarajsindam. You can also check out his portfolio here.

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    If you like this episode, you might also enjoy the conversation with web3 critique Liron, long time business journalist Todd Bishop or Angel Investor Sajid Rahman.

  • #14 Simplified.co: Co-Founder Ajay Yadav on Scaling, Building in Public & More | Startup Project by Nataraj

    In this Episode of Startup project, Nataraj talked to Ajay, Co-Founder of Simplified.co.Prior to co-founding simplified.co, Ajay was a serial entrepreneur and was founder of Roomi, which helps people find flexible, affordable co-living solutions.Full conversation includes:

    • India to U.S
    • Raising venture for Roomi vs Simplified
    • Funding landscape for repeat founder vs first time founder
    • Competing against $40B Canva
    • Building in Public, Marketing-Product Fit.
    • Why be a repeat entrepreneur?

    https://anchor.fm/tsp1/embed/episodes/14-Simplified-co-Co-Founder-Ajay-Yadav-on-Scaling–Building-in-Public–More–Startup-Project-by-Nataraj-e1f0esu

    🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4QtEsoOqYfPTQdCg3Qgyx0?si=aa4184691f7c4b9f

    🎧 YouTube: https://youtu.be/-Xbv4O1ovvY

    Follow Ajay Yadav on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/yadavajay/ and learn more about Simplified.co.

    Nataraj is an engineer at Azure, partner at NVC & hosts thestartupproject.io podcast. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/natarajsindam & stay up to date here.

  • #13 First Check Ventures: Ali Jamal on Angel Investing in LATAM

    In this Episode of Startup project, Nataraj talked to Ali Jamal, Founder of First Cheque Ventures.

    Ali’s path from Stanford to venture is unique. From working in large Latin American startups his exposure to different markets makes him unique in the pool of solo angel investors.

    Prior to starting First Cheque Ventures, Ali was at companies like RockYou, Agoda & Rappi in growth and marketing roles.

    Full conversation includes:

    • Career in Growth and data analytics
    • Early Angel investing 
    • Transition from Angel Investing to founding first check ventures
    • YC MFN clause 
    • Strategy behind the growth of First Check Ventures
    • Building unique deal flow
    • Investing in LATAM, Asia & Africa

    —–

    Startup Project podcast guests include Ali Moiz (Founder of stonks.com), Kirby Winfield (Ascend.vc), Eric Bahn (Hustle Fund), and many more.

    Startup Project is hosted by Nataraj, you can follow him on twitter at @natarajsindam & on LinkedIn.

    —–

    If you like this episode, you might also enjoy the conversation with web3 critique Liron, long time business journalist Todd Bishop or Angel Investor Sajid Rahman.

  • #12 Harvey Multani: Founder RUV Alliance & Miami100 DAO

    If you are interested in co-investing with Nataraj, check out NVC Syndicate on Angel List.

    Harvey is an interesting guest and currently runs RUV Alliance. I have come to know Harvey as he started disrupting the angel investing space using RUVs (roll up vehicles) to create a way for investors to invest in deals with out any carry.

    This was definitely not the use case RUVs were initially created for, but Angel list team has been supportive to Harvey’s efforts and the alliance has more than 1000+ investors investing across the world.

    Since this conversation RUV Alliance has now changed its strategy from using RUVs to SPVs to make deal making more efficient & less cumbersome for founder. It is also currently experimenting with different pricing for its 1000+ investors to access zero carry deals.

    The SPVs that are used by RUV alliance are created and managed by AngelList which also the case with the roll-up vehicles from which the idea started.

    For more in-depth take listen to the full conversation, which includes:

    • The origins of RUV Alliance
    • Goals as an investor community
    • Macro factors that helped RUV Alliance
    • Dynamics with other SPVs 
    • AngelList’s reaction to RUV Alliance
    • Who funds RUV Alliance?
    • Miami100 DAO

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    Previous conversations on Startup Project podcast include Ali Moiz (stonks.com), Kirby Winfield (Ascend.vc), Eric Bahn (Hustle Fund), and more.

    To stay up to date checkout thestartupproject.io & follow us on twitter: @natarajsindam

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    If you like this episode, you might also enjoy the conversation with web3 critique Liron, long time business journalist Todd Bishop or Angel Investor Sajid Rahman.

  • #11 Richard White: Founder of Fathom.Video (YC W21) & Uservoice | Startup Project by Nataraj

    In this Episode of Startup project, Nataraj talked to Richrad White, Founder of Fathom.VIdeo. It is one of the companies invested by Zoom Apps Fund.

    Prior to starting Fathom.Video, Richard was CEO & Founder of Uservoice.com (Product feedback for B2B SaaS)/

    Full conversation includes:

    • Journey of Uservoice
    • Insights that led to starting Fathom.Video
    • Why repeat founders look at having more investors on cap table than less?
    • Optimization for Angels and New funds on cap table
    • Taking investment from Zoom Fund
    • How to think about B2B marketplaces like Zoom Apps

    Listen to full conversation here:

    Follow Richard on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rrwhite/ and learn more about Fathom here. Go to https://fathom.video/pod to skip the waiting list and try fathom.video.

    Nataraj is an engineer at Azure, partner at planbcapital.co & hosts thestartupproject.io podcast. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/natarajsindam & stay up to date here.

  • #10 Luba Lesiva: Founder of palumni.vc investing in Palantir Alumni | Startup Project by Nataraj

    In this Episode of Startup project, Nataraj talked to Luba Lesiva, Founder of palumni.vc

    Every one has a different path to venture, and Luba also has a unique one. She has a background of working in different investment firms and has been an investor banker on Wall Street before joining Palantir as part of their investor relations team.

    Seeing the Palantir talent leaving to start new companies, she realized she is at an intersection of talent and future startups and leveraged it to start palumni.vc. Palumni vc is a syndicate which invests in Palantir alumni founders.

    Full conversation on the podcast includes:

    • Origin story of palumni.vc
    • Investing in Palantir Alumni
    • Challenges & growth tactics in creating and growing an Alumni Syndicate 
    • Leveraging communities to create value

    —–

    Startup Project podcast guests include Ali Moiz (Founder of stonks.com), Kirby Winfield (Ascend.vc), Eric Bahn (Hustle Fund), and many more.

    Startup Project is hosted by Nataraj, you can follow him on twitter at @natarajsindam & on LinkedIn.

    —–

    If you like this episode, you might also enjoy the conversation with web3 critique Liron, long time business journalist Todd Bishop or Angel Investor Sajid Rahman.

  • #9 Eric Satz: Founder of Alto IRA | Startup Project by Nataraj

    In this Episode of Startup project, Nataraj talked to Eric Satz, Founder & CEO of Alto IRA.

    Prior to his role as founder and CEO of Alto, Eric worked in investment banking at DLJ/Credit Suisse and co-founded several companies, including: Currenex, an FX trading solution sold to State Street for more than $550M; Plumgood Food, and; Tennessee Community Ventures, a VC firm

    We talked about:-

    • The problems that led to creation of Alto IRA
    • Advantages of using Alto IRA 
    • Working with partners like Coinbase, Angellist & Republic
    • Diversification of investments
    • Fundraising via Equity Crowdfunding
    • Peter Thiel’s 401k strategy

    Follow Eric on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ericsatz and learn more about Alto IRA here.

    Nataraj is an engineer at Azure, partner at planbcapital.co & hosts thestartupproject.io podcast. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/natarajsindam and stay up to date at https://www.getrevue.co/profile/bmb/members