Episodes
Real conversations with the founders building the future
NewEp. 123Storage as the Data Foundation for Enterprise AI | Garima Kapoor, Co-founder & Co-CEO of MinIO
Garima Kapoor, Co-founder and Co-CEO of MinIO, joins Nataraj Sindam to discuss how MinIO is building the data foundation for the AI era. From the founding thesis that bulk of data will be produced outside public cloud, to why storage is now the biggest bottleneck for GPU utilization, Garima shares a decade of building infrastructure at scale and offers a frank view on how AI is reshaping engineering velocity, SaaS economics, and the competitive landscape for startups.
🔥 PopularEp. 122Autonomous AI Agents Are Changing How We Interact with the Web | Abhishek Das - Co-founder and Co-CEO of Yutori
Abhishek Das, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Yutori, joins the show to discuss how autonomous AI agents are revolutionizing web interactions. Learn how his team, with roots in Meta's AI division, is building proactive agents to automate our daily digital tasks.
Ep. 121How Yoodli is Replacing Boring Sales Training with AI Roleplays | Varun Puri, Co-Founder & CEO of Yoodli
How do you train a global sales team in the age of AI? Varun Puri, Co-Founder & CEO of Yoodli, shares how his AI communication coach evolved from a consumer app to an enterprise powerhouse used by Google and Snowflake, offering a masterclass in product evolution and GTM strategy.
Ep. 120Inside the Battle for AI Cloud Dominance — Why Cloud Builders like TensorWave are Rethinking NVIDIA’s Monopoly | Jeff Tatarchuk, Co-Founder of TensorWave
Jeff Tatarchuk, Co-Founder of TensorWave, joins the show to reveal how specialized AI cloud builders are challenging NVIDIA’s market dominance. Learn how his company is betting on AMD's GPUs to build a more open and accessible AI compute future.
Ep. 119Eilon Reshef on How Gong Leverages AI to Revolutionize Revenue Operations
Eilon Reshef, Co-Founder and CPO of Gong, discusses the company's journey from conversational intelligence to a comprehensive revenue AI operating system. He shares insights on product-market fit, the impact of AI, and the future of enterprise...
Ep. 118Treating Every Customer Like the Only One: Andrew Bialecki on Building Klaviyo
Andrew Bialecki, CEO of Klaviyo, discusses the company's journey from a database solution to a marketing automation powerhouse. He shares insights on product-market fit, capital efficiency, and the evolving role of AI in customer engagement.
Ep. 117Ilya Levtov of Craft: Building Resilient Supply Chains with AI-Powered Intelligence
Ilya Levtov, CEO of Craft, discusses how his company is revolutionizing supply chain management with an AI-powered platform that provides 360-degree visibility and risk mitigation. Learn how Craft helps governments and enterprises proactively avoid...
Ep. 116Inside Story of Building the World’s Largest AI Inference Chip | Cerebras CEO & Co-Founder Andrew Feldman
Andrew Feldman, Co-Founder & CEO of Cerebras Systems, reveals the inside story of building the world's largest AI chip. Learn how their wafer-scale architecture challenges NVIDIA by delivering unprecedented speed for AI inference.
Ep. 115How AI Is Unlocking Materials We’ve Never Been Able to Build | Radical AI
Discover how Radical AI is revolutionizing material science with self-driving labs. CEO Joseph Krause shares how they combine AI and robotics to accelerate R&D and unlock materials we've never been able to build.
Ep. 114How Decagon Built Human-Level AI Support: Ashwin Sreenivas on customer obsession, early traction, enterprise complexity, and the AI concierge future
Ashwin Sreenivas, co-founder of Decagon AI, reveals how his company is revolutionizing enterprise customer support with human-level AI agents. Discover the shift from rigid chatbots to fluid, instruction-following AI concierges.
Ep. 113From Forbes to Founder: Alex Konrad on new media, creator economy, AI tools for journalists, Midas List secrets, and why traditional media is losing to independent voices
Discover the evolving roles of traditional vs. new media in tech and gain insights into effective content creation strategies. About the episode: In this episode, Nataraj hosts Alex Konrad, founder and editor of Upstart...
Ep. 112AI Hype, Future Trends & Research Trends with Best Selling Author of The Master Algorithm Pedro Domingos
Pedro Domingos, best-selling author of "The Master Algorithm," joins the podcast to cut through the AI hype. He offers a critical look at LLMs, OpenAI, and the future of AI research.
The Invisible Layer Powering the AI Infrastructure | Co-Founder and CEO of Momento | Khawaja Shams
The Invisible Layer Powering the AI Infrastructure | Co-Founder and CEO of Momento | Khawaja Shams
From processing Mars Rover images at NASA to leading teams at AWS, Khawaja Shams saw a universal problem: the complexity of caching. Now, as the Co-Founder and CEO of Momento, he's building the invisible serverless layer to power AI and real-time data infrastructure.
Ep. 110Offline AI, personal AI assistants, edge computing revolution, compression of neural networks, privacy, compute efficiency, AI infrastructure startups | David Stout, Founder of webAI
David Stout, founder of webAI, is revolutionizing AI by moving it from the cloud to your pocket. He shares how compressing powerful models to run offline on everyday devices unlocks new levels of privacy, efficiency, and real-time processing.
Ep. 109Fixing Broken Meetings, Managing Calendars with AI, and Redesigning the Future of Work | Matt Martin CEO & Co-Founder Clockwise
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...
Ep. 108The Future of Enterprise AI: $100M ARR, Agents, Company Building, and Scaling Unicorns | Arvind Jain (Co-founder of Glean, Rubrik, ex-Google)
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....
Ep. 107APIs as Graphs not Endpoints, building a company on open source foundations, why VPs of Engineering face impossible trade-offs | Apollo GraphQL CEO Matt DeBergalis
Matt DeBergalis, CEO of Apollo GraphQL, joins the show to discuss the evolution of GraphQL from an open-source project to a product company. Learn how to balance shipping speed with long-term architecture and why APIs should be treated as graphs, not endpoints.
Ep. 106How to be an AI first company, Enterprise AI adoption, Future of Developers, Cost of AI, Unlocking value from Enterprise Data with AI & more with Ben Kus | CTO of Box
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...
Ep. 105Automating Startup Formation, Scaling Fund Products, Applying AI Across Venture Tools | AngelList CTO Goutham Buchi
AngelList CTO Goutham Buchi explains how the platform sits at the center of the innovation economy. This episode explores how AngelList is leveraging AI to automate startup formation, scale fund products, and provide deeper insights for investors and founders.
Ep. 104How Publishers are Navigating Advertising, AI's Impact on Search Traffic, Biased Incentives of Ad Industry, Future of Publishing | Jared Siegal Founder of Aditude Inc | #104
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...
Ep. 103AI Startup Cleaning Up a $1.6 Trillion Crisis, Building a Hardware + AI Startup, Scaling Edge AI, Digitize Waster & Reduce Landfill | Ambarish Mitra Co-Founder of Greyparrot AI | #103
Ambarish Mitra, Co-Founder & CEO of Greyparrot, is tackling the $1.6 trillion global waste crisis with AI. Learn how his team builds ruggedized hardware and edge AI to digitize and sort waste, turning landfills into valuable resources for the circular economy.
Ep. 102How Statsig Founder Vijaye Raji Built a $1.1B Product Development Platform | CEO & Co-Founder of Statsig | Startup Project #102
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...
Ep. 101How Chronosphere Solved Observability in Containerized Environments to Build $1.6B Company | Uber spin-out, 5x Cheap & Impact of AI in Observability | CEO Martin Mao | Startup Project #101
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...
Ep. 100The Unfiltered Playbook to Make Early‑Stage Startups Get Media Traction & Demystifying Public Relations for Tech Founders | Emilie Gerber Founder of Six Eastern PR
Emilie Gerber, founder of the tech PR firm Six Eastern, joins The Startup Project to demystify public relations for founders. She shares a playbook on how early-stage startups can earn media coverage and build credibility in a crowded landscape.
Ep. 99Award-Winning Industrial Designer on How to Design Great Hardware Products at Scale? | Todd Bracher Founder of Betterlab
Award-winning industrial designer Todd Bracher joins the podcast to demystify the process of creating great hardware. The Betterlab founder shares how to design manufacturable products at scale by merging science, sustainability, and human-centered principles.
Ep. 98Warp Dev The AI Terminal Changing Software Development | Zach Lloyd CEO & Co-Founder of Warp Dev
Zach Lloyd, CEO & Co-Founder of Warp, is building an intelligent terminal to modernize the command-line experience. He shares how AI is transforming developer productivity by moving from manual coding to a prompt-driven workflow.
How to Build a Scalable Venture Community | Jennifer Jeronimo CEO of Gaingels Inc| Startup Project #97
How to Build a Scalable Venture Community | Jennifer Jeronimo CEO of Gaingels Inc| Startup Project #97
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.
Guest
Startup Mistakes to Avoid
Startup Mistakes to Avoid: Overvaluation, Fundraising, AI & SaaS Pricing | Vanessa Larco Partner at NEA | Startup Project #96
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.
Ep. 95Deep Tech's Golden Age: Investing in Robotics, AI, and Quantum Computing | Startup Project #95
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...
Ep. 94Secondary Markets Explained: How EquityZen Provides Liquidity for Pre-IPO Shares
Atish Davda, CEO and founder of EquityZen, joins The Startup Project to demystify the world of secondary markets. Discover how his personal need for liquidity led to the creation of a platform that provides access to pre-IPO shares for accredited investors.
Seattle's Ambition to Become the Next Silicon Valley | Aviel Ginsberg | Startup Project #93
Seattle's Ambition to Become the Next Silicon Valley | Aviel Ginsberg | Startup Project #93
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 V...
Revolutionizing Workflows with AI Agents | Jacob Bank | relay app
Revolutionizing Workflows with AI Agents | Jacob Bank | relay app
Jacob Bank, founder and CEO of Relay.app, joins The Startup Project to discuss the evolution of AI agents. Learn how he's building a platform to automate complex, cross-tool workflows and moving beyond simple automation to transform how we work.
Founder and Managing Partner
Building a Billion-Dollar Portfolio
Building a Billion-Dollar Portfolio: David Blumberg's Investment Strategies
David Blumberg, Founder of Blumberg Capital, joins the podcast to share insights from three decades in venture capital. Learn his framework for early-stage investing and the story behind the rise of Israel's 'Startup Nation'.
From Zero to $50 Million Read.AI's Explosive Growth | David Shim Founder of Read AI | Startup Project #90
From Zero to $50 Million Read.AI's Explosive Growth | David Shim Founder of Read AI | Startup Project #90
This episode of Startup Project tackles that very problem! Join host Nataraj as he sits down with David Shim, CEO of Read.ai, a company that just raised $50 million in Series B funding to revolutionize how we handle meetings and work in general.About the Episode:This insightful conversation dives de...
Secret Weapon Behind Small Businesses Success | Hello Alice Co-founder Elizabeth Gore
Secret Weapon Behind Small Businesses Success | Hello Alice Co-founder Elizabeth Gore
Discover the secret weapon behind small business success with Hello Alice Co-founder Elizabeth Gore. Learn how her platform provides equitable access to capital for 1.5 million entrepreneurs.
How to Market a Database Product? | CMO of SingleStore Madhukar Kumar
How to Market a Database Product? | CMO of SingleStore Madhukar Kumar
How do you market a highly technical database to developers? Madhukar Kumar, CMO of SingleStore, unpacks the playbook for marketing to technical audiences, blending product-led growth with enterprise sales.
DocuSign Founder on Building $16B Company | Court Lorenzini
DocuSign Founder on Building $16B Company | Court Lorenzini
DocuSign Co-Founder Court Lorenzini reveals the 15-year journey to IPO for the $16B e-signature giant. Learn the strategies he used to achieve 70% market dominance and why he’s now helping other founders.
CEO & Founder
Building RelationalAI
Building RelationalAI: AI Coprocessor for Snowflake | Molham Aref CEO & Founder
Molham Aref, CEO of RelationalAI, shares insights from his 30-year journey in AI and machine learning. Learn how he's building an AI coprocessor for Snowflake and the strategy behind navigating the modern data stack.
AI Should Not be Regulated - Author & ML Researcher Pedro Domingos #ai #regulation
AI Should Not be Regulated - Author & ML Researcher Pedro Domingos #ai #regulation
Machine learning pioneer Pedro Domingos joins the podcast to cut through the AI hype. The author of "The Master Algorithm" explains why OpenAI is overrated and why calls to regulate AI are a dangerous joke.
From Mars Rover to Starups: Ex-aws exec khawaja shams on the art of product-market fit in b2b cloud
From Mars Rover to Starups: Ex-aws exec khawaja shams on the art of product-market fit in b2b cloud
From building image processing for Mars rovers at NASA to leading key teams at AWS, Khawaja Shams shares his incredible journey. Now the Co-founder & CEO of Momento, he reveals how to find product-market fit for B2B cloud infrastructure by solving the problems you've experienced firsthand.
Learning Generative AI, Product Management & Upskilling your Career with Nataraj Sindam
Learning Generative AI, Product Management & Upskilling your Career with Nataraj Sindam
In a special episode, The Startup Project host Nataraj Sindam steps into the guest seat. As a Senior Product Manager at Microsoft, he demystifies generative AI, explaining how it will reshape knowledge work and product management.
Founder
Silicon Valley Secrets
Silicon Valley Secrets: From 3x Exit Founder of Baffle io Ameesh Divatia
Ameesh Divatia, a 3x exit founder and CEO of Baffle, shares his Silicon Valley journey. Learn how he navigated the dot-com boom at Cisco and is now pioneering data-centric security for the cloud and AI era.
Coursera's Engineer No 1 on Building AI agents for knowledge workers #AI #podcast #aicode #startup
Coursera's Engineer No 1 on Building AI agents for knowledge workers #AI #podcast #aicode #startup
Jiquan Ngiam, Coursera's first engineer and a Google Brain alum, joins The Startup Project to discuss the future of AI. Discover his journey from scaling deep learning with Andrew Ng to building AI agents for knowledge workers at his new startup, Lutra AI.
End of Gaming PC? Ambitious Vision of Highscore for Cloud Gaming
End of Gaming PC? Ambitious Vision of Highscore for Cloud Gaming
Is the era of the expensive gaming PC coming to an end? Ian, Founder and CEO of High Score, joins the podcast to discuss his ambitious vision for making any PC game playable on any device through the cloud.
Building a Scalable No-Code Backend with Xano
Building a Scalable No-Code Backend with Xano
Prakash, Co-Founder & CEO of Xano, joins Nataraj to discuss building a truly scalable no-code backend. Discover how Xano is overcoming the limitations of traditional no-code and empowering a new generation of citizen developers.
Securing The World's IoT Devices with Asimily
Securing The World's IoT Devices with Asimily
Shankar Somasundaram, Founder & CEO of Asimily, joins the podcast to discuss the critical challenge of securing medical and IoT devices. Discover how he identified a major gap in healthcare cybersecurity and built a company to protect our most critical infrastructure.
Learn It All Mindset with CEO Damon Lemby
Learn It All Mindset with CEO Damon Lemby
Damon Lemby, CEO of Learn It, shares his journey from professional baseball to training over 1.9 million people. He introduces the 'learn it all' mindset as the key to success in today's dynamic world.
How Product-First VC Mighty Capital is Picking great companies?
How Product-First VC Mighty Capital is Picking great companies?
SC Moatti, Managing Partner at Mighty Capital, reveals his product-first VC strategy that defies industry norms with a 1-in-5 hit rate. Discover his journey from engineer to investor and the secrets to picking winning startups.
Co-Founder
Satya Singh
Satya Singh - Co-Founder of Scispot on redefining modern biotech's data infrastructure
Satya Singh, Co-Founder of Scispot, joins The Startup Project to discuss his journey from leading data teams at Expedia to tackling biotech's biggest data challenges. Learn how Scispot is building the essential data infrastructure for modern life science labs.
Investor
Sajid Rahman
Sajid Rahman - Angel Investor Secrets - Lessons from 1000+ Startup Investments
Prolific angel investor Sajid Rahman, with over 1000 startup investments, returns to discuss the seismic shifts in the venture landscape. Learn his secrets for navigating down rounds, Web3, and the AI boom.
Investor
Brian Bell
Brian Bell - From Product Manager to Full Time Investor
Brian Bell, Managing Partner at Team Ignite, shares his incredible journey from a product manager at Microsoft and AWS to a full-time investor. Learn the realities of operating a syndicate and the mindset required to succeed in early-stage venture capital.
Todd Bishop GeekWire Co-founder, Business and tech journalist on big tech, AI and more!
Todd Bishop GeekWire Co-founder, Business and tech journalist on big tech, AI and more!
Todd Bishop, co-founder of GeekWire, returns to discuss the seismic shift caused by AI in tech journalism. Learn how he's using AI to boost efficiency and get his insider take on the AI strategies of giants like Microsoft and Amazon.
Peter Mueller Founding Partner Breakwater VC about Pre Seed Investing in Seattle Tech Startups
Peter Mueller Founding Partner Breakwater VC about Pre Seed Investing in Seattle Tech Startups
Peter Mueller, Founding Partner at Breakwater VC, joins the show to dissect the pre-seed investing landscape in the Pacific Northwest. Discover why Seattle's ecosystem is underperforming and where the biggest untapped opportunities lie for early-stage founders and investors.
Brendan Rogers From Founding WAG (NASDAQ: PET) to Investing in India
Brendan Rogers From Founding WAG (NASDAQ: PET) to Investing in India
From co-founding the pet-care giant Wag (NASDAQ: PET) to becoming a venture capitalist, Brendan Rogers shares his unique journey into the Indian startup ecosystem.
Direct-to-Consumer Companies & Long Tail Opportunity in AI (Above Average Newsletter)
Direct-to-Consumer Companies & Long Tail Opportunity in AI (Above Average Newsletter)
In this special newsletter edition, host Nataraj Sindam explores the downfall of public DTC brands, linking their struggles to unsustainable customer acquisition costs. He then pivots to the future, revealing where the true AI opportunity lies for small, nimble developer teams.
Why the new AI button on your keyboard is inevitable? (Above Average Newsletter)
Why the new AI button on your keyboard is inevitable? (Above Average Newsletter)
In this special solo episode, host Nataraj Sindam shares insights from his 'Above Average' newsletter. Discover why Microsoft's new AI keyboard button is an inevitable strategic move and who the real giants funding the AI revolution are.
What late stage investors got wrong about investing in Startups? (Insight)
What late stage investors got wrong about investing in Startups? (Insight)
Host Nataraj Sindam questions the current venture capital landscape, arguing that late-stage investing has lost its way. Discover why firms claiming expertise across all funding stages might be fundamentally flawed and what it means for LP returns.
Why Rivian Will Become 2nd Largest EV Company in the US? (Insight)
Why Rivian Will Become 2nd Largest EV Company in the US? (Insight)
Host Nataraj Sindam predicts Rivian will overtake competitors to become the #2 EV player in the US. Discover why Rivian's product, market segment, and brand give it a key edge over Tesla.
Why YouTube is Unbeatable? (Insight)
Why YouTube is Unbeatable? (Insight)
Why is YouTube so dominant? In this insight episode, host Nataraj Sindam reveals the single biggest moat protecting YouTube from competitors like TikTok and Instagram.
Managing Director
Matt McIlwain
Matt McIlwain – MD Madrona Venture Group on all Things Venture Capital
Matt McIlwain, Managing Director at Madrona Venture Group, joins the podcast to break down the current state of venture capital. Learn his take on navigating market cycles and why AI is creating a tale of two cities for startups.
Managing Partner
Jon Staenberg
Jon Staenberg: Investing in Startups, Venture Funds & Search Funds
Jon Staenberg, a veteran investor and early Microsoft employee, shares his journey from the tech giant's explosive growth to launching his own venture funds. Discover why he's now moving away from traditional VC and pioneering search funds.
Founder
Ashmeet Sidana
Ashmeet Sidana - Founder of Engineering Capital on Investing in Technical Insights
Ashmeet Sidana, Founder and Chief Engineer of Engineering Capital, joins the podcast to discuss his journey from VMware to venture capital and his thesis on investing in deep tech startups with unique technical insights.
Entrepreneur
Joe Heitzeberg
Joe Heitzeberg - From Tech Whiz to Sustainable Meat Entrepreneur
Joe Heitzeberg is a serial entrepreneur who went from building viral apps for MySpace to revolutionizing the meat industry with Crowd Cow. Learn how he validated his sustainable meat marketplace and why he believes the commodity food system is broken.
Investor
Tim Chen
Tim Chen - From Open Source Contributor to Investor in Infrastructure Startups
Tim Chen is the Managing Partner at Essence VC, an early-stage fund focused on data infrastructure and developer tool companies. He has over a decade of experience leading engineering in enterprise infrastructure and open source communities and companies.
Partner
Aseem Datar
- Aseem Datar - Partner at Madrona Ventures - From Intern to General Manager at Azure
Aseem Datar, Partner at Madrona Ventures, shares his incredible journey from a Microsoft intern to General Manager at Azure. Learn how his breadth of experience in a tech giant shaped his perspective as a venture capitalist investing in the next generation of infrastructure and AI.
Managing Director
TA McCann
- TA McCann - Professional Sailor, Serial Entrepreneur (5x Founder with 3 Exits), Managing Director at Pioneer Square Labs
TA McCann, a 5x founder and Managing Director at Pioneer Square Labs, shares his unique journey from professional sailor to serial entrepreneur. Learn his systematic process for customer discovery and why venture studios are a powerful model for building companies.
How to Run Innovation Sessions with Bill Gates to Solve World Problems?
How to Run Innovation Sessions with Bill Gates to Solve World Problems?
Ever wonder how to brainstorm solutions to the world's biggest problems with Bill Gates? Taylor Black, Principal Product Manager at Microsoft, shares the framework used at the Innovation Science Fund to run high-stakes invention sessions.
Why Wordpress dominates internet?
Why Wordpress dominates internet?
Why does WordPress still power 40% of the web amid a flood of no-code tools? Nataraj Sindam and a guest explore its sticky community, extensibility, and perfect abstraction layer.
What is the insurance against Innovation Dilemma?
What is the insurance against Innovation Dilemma?
How can large companies avoid the innovator's dilemma? Taylor Black, Principal Product Manager at Microsoft's CTO Incubator, joins The Startup Project to discuss why corporate incubators are essential insurance for long-term survival.
How Techstars Seattle Works & How Should Founders Think About It?
How Techstars Seattle Works & How Should Founders Think About It?
Ever wonder what really happens inside a top startup accelerator? Marius Ciocirlan, Managing Director of Techstars Seattle, breaks down their 13-week program for founders, revealing its core structure and benefits.
Principal Product Manager, Office of the CTO Incubator
Taylor Black
Taylor Black - Innovation Science Fund & Microsoft Incubator
Taylor Black, Principal Product Manager at Microsoft's Office of the CTO Incubator, shares his non-traditional path from law school to deep tech and corporate innovation.
What is Sharegrid & how it got started?
What is Sharegrid & how it got started?
How do you turn a personal pain point into a thriving marketplace? Marius Ciocirlan, co-founder of ShareGrid, shares the origin story of his company, a peer-to-peer rental platform for creative equipment.
Working in Tech vs Movie Business
Working in Tech vs Movie Business
Marius Ciocirlan, MD of Techstars Seattle, shares why he chose a career in tech over the film industry. Discover the stark contrast between the traditional, hierarchical movie business and tech's meritocratic world.
Managing Director
Marius Ciocirlan
Marius Ciocirlan - Managing Director Techstars Seattle, Co-Founder of Sharegrid (Acq by Backstage)
Marius Ciocirlan, Managing Director of Techstars Seattle, shares his unconventional journey from film school to tech entrepreneur. Learn how he co-founded and sold ShareGrid, a marketplace for creatives.
Insidious Loops in Indian Startup Ecosystem (TSP Insights)
Insidious Loops in Indian Startup Ecosystem (TSP Insights)
Debarghya 'Deedy' Das, a tech operator and commentator, unpacks the 'insidious loops' within the Indian startup ecosystem. Discover why he believes most consumer startups lack a path to profitability.
Shark Tank India vs Shark Tank U.S Differences Explained (TSP Insights)
Shark Tank India vs Shark Tank U.S Differences Explained (TSP Insights)
In this special TSP Insights segment, host Nataraj Sindam analyzes the key differences between Shark Tank India and Shark Tank US. Discover why the Indian version of the popular show is much closer to a venture capital ecosystem than its American counterpart.
Google Got Chat Right 10 Years Back, But Didn't Know (TSP Insights)
Google Got Chat Right 10 Years Back, But Didn't Know (TSP Insights)
Google has launched and killed numerous chat apps, but what if they had the perfect solution a decade ago? In this insight, Nataraj Sindam explores Google's product paradox.
Netflix No Longer Controls the Streaming Story (TSP Insights)
Netflix No Longer Controls the Streaming Story (TSP Insights)
For years, Netflix dictated the streaming narrative, forcing giants like Disney to play by its growth-at-all-costs rules. Discover how that story has shifted and why all players are now judged as traditional media companies.
Venture Fund is a Startup (TSP Insights)
Venture Fund is a Startup (TSP Insights)
Ever wondered what it takes to launch a venture fund? Host Nataraj Sindam reveals why starting a fund is just as challenging as building a startup, requiring you to pitch your own decision-making.
NFTs in Games? (Bonus Clip)
NFTs in Games? (Bonus Clip)
Web3 critic and Coinbase investor Liron Shapira challenges the core premise of NFTs in gaming. Does carrying your hard-earned items to a new game really solve a problem for players?
Democratizing Education (Bonus Clip)
Democratizing Education (Bonus Clip)
In this bonus clip, host Nataraj Sindam and Eric Bahn of Hustle Fund discuss the complex impact of EdTech giant Byju's on democratizing education for millions in India.
What is Amazon's Fourth Dreamy Business? (TSP Insights)
What is Amazon's Fourth Dreamy Business? (TSP Insights)
Amazon has three "dreamy" businesses: Prime, Marketplace, and AWS. But what will be the fourth? In this TSP Insights episode, Nataraj Sindam and guest Todd Bishop debate the top contenders, from advertising and logistics to Alexa, and analyze whether any of them can meet Jeff Bezos's strict criteria
500x Coinbase Exit (Bonus)
500x Coinbase Exit (Bonus)
What's it like to make a 500x return on your first angel investment? Liron Shapira shares the story of his 2012 seed investment in Coinbase and his contrarian approach to betting on the future.
Story Behind Patagonia’s First Ecommerce Store (Bonus)
Story Behind Patagonia’s First Ecommerce Store (Bonus)
Chris Devore, Managing Partner at Founders' Co-op, shares the incredible story of building Patagonia's first e-commerce store in the 90s, and how he convinced its famously anti-technology founders to take a chance on the internet.
Deedy (Debarghya Das) - Indian Startups, AI & Search
Deedy (Debarghya Das) - Indian Startups, AI & Search
Debarghya Das (Deedy), a founding member at enterprise search unicorn Glean, joins the show to offer a critical look at the Indian startup ecosystem. He shares his nuanced perspective on why many consumer startups struggle with profitability and where the real opportunities lie.
Director
Jacob Colker
Jacob Colker - Co-Managing Director AI2 Incubator
Jacob Colker, Co-Managing Director of the AI2 Incubator, joins The Startup Project to discuss building AI-first companies. Learn how to navigate the hype and focus on solving real customer problems.
Co-founder
Jacques Fu
Jacques Fu - Co-founder at Stax, Author of "Time Hacks"
Jacques Fu, Co-founder of the fintech unicorn Stax, joins The Startup Project to share his journey from early-stage builder to Chief Innovation Officer. Learn how Stax grew to a $1B valuation by turning SaaS companies into payments businesses.
Build In Public or Not? w/ KP
Build In Public or Not? w/ KP
KP, known as the 'Build In Public' guy on Twitter, joins The Startup Project to unpack the strategy he used to corner a keyword on the internet. Learn the good, the bad, and the ugly of building in public.
Managing Partner
Geoff Harris
Geoff Harris: Managing Partner Flying Fish VC
In this episode of Startup Project we spoke to Geoff Harris, Managing Partner Flying Fish VC. Flying Fish is a thesis driven fund focused on Al/ML.
Co-Founder
Mohan Belani
Mohan Belani: Co-Founder of E27.co
Todays guest is Mohan Belani the co-founder of E27.co. E27 is tech publication covering SEA startups.
Co-Founder
Todd Bishop
Todd Bishop: Co-Founder of Geekwire.com
In this week's episode of Startup Project we spoke to Todd Bishop, Co-Founder of Geekwire.
Investor
Liron Shapira
Liron Shapira: Web3 Critique, Founder & Early Investor in Coinbase
Liron Shapira, a prominent Web3 critic, shares his journey from raising $170M for a failed startup to building a profitable YC company and, ironically, being an early seed investor in Coinbase.
Managing Partner
Chris DeVore
Chris DeVore: Managing Partner Founders Co-op (Remitly, Auth0 & Outreach)
Chris DeVore, Founding Managing Partner of Founders' Co-op, shares his journey from building Patagonia's first online store to backing unicorns like Remitly, Auth0, and Outreach. Learn his core investment thesis: bet on the 'who' and 'how,' not the 'what.'
Partner
Sudip Chakrabarti
Sudip Chakrabarti: Partner Decibel.vc Ex Partner at A16Z, Lightspeed & Madrona
Sudip Chakrabarti, Partner at Decibel.vc, joins the podcast to share his unique journey from a two-time founder to a top-tier venture investor at firms like A16Z and Madrona.
General Partner
Eric Bahn
Eric Bahn: Co-Founder & General Partner of Hustle Fund
Eric Bahn, Co-Founder and General Partner at Hustle Fund, shares his journey from accidental EdTech founder to pioneering a new model for pre-seed investing. Learn how his definition of "hustle" shapes every investment decision.
Managing Director
Mike Fridgen
Mike Fridgen: Seattle based Startup Incubator Madrona Venture Labs
Mike Fridgen, Managing Director at Seattle's Madrona Venture Labs, joins the podcast to demystify the startup incubator model and share his playbook for navigating successful M&A exits.
General Partner
Shruti Gandhi
Shruti Gandhi: Founder and General Partner of Array.VC on early stage investing
Shruti Gandhi, Founder and General Partner of Array.VC, joins The Startup Project to share her journey from engineer to founder to solo GP. Learn how she reverse-engineered venture capital to build her own fund.
Bear.Tax Co-Founders on simplifying Crypto Taxes
Bear.Tax Co-Founders on simplifying Crypto Taxes
Bear.Tax co-founders Tela Andrews and Vamshi join the show to discuss the origin of their crypto tax software. They share how they're simplifying tax compliance for a new generation of investors.
Founding Partner
Founding Partner of Ascend.vc
Founding Partner of Ascend.vc: Kirby Winfield on all things Venture
Kirby Winfield, Founding Partner of Ascend.vc, joins the podcast to discuss his incredible career as an operator with four successful exits. He shares the playbook for how startups can strategically position themselves for acquisition and why he started a pre-seed fund.
Assure.co: Jeremy Neilson on all things Venture
Assure.co: Jeremy Neilson on all things Venture
Jeremy Neilson, Co-Founder & CEO of Assure.co, joins the podcast to share the origin story of the company that pioneered the SPV and became the engine behind modern venture capital.
Stonks.com: Ali Moiz on Investing, Streaming & Stonks
Stonks.com: Ali Moiz on Investing, Streaming & Stonks
Ali Moiz, Co-Founder of Stonks.com, joins The Startup Project to discuss how he's democratizing startup investing. Learn how Stonks uses live streaming to create fundraising momentum and open access for all.
Simplified.co: Co-Founder Ajay Yadav on Scaling, Building in Public & More
Simplified.co: Co-Founder Ajay Yadav on Scaling, Building in Public & More
Ajay Yadav, Co-Founder of Simplified.co, joins The Startup Project to share his journey as a repeat founder. Learn how he's scaling an all-in-one content creation platform to compete with giants like Canva.
Founder
First Check Ventures
First Check Ventures: Ali Jamal on Angel Investing
Ali Jamal, Founder of First Check Ventures, joins the podcast to share his journey from operator to prolific angel investor. Learn how he built a thriving syndicate by focusing on emerging markets and being the literal first check into startups.
Founder
Harvey Multani
Harvey Multani: Founder RUV Alliance & Miami100 DAO
Harvey Multani, founder of RUV Alliance, shares how he's flipping the venture capital script. Learn how his community leverages Roll Up Vehicles (RUVs) to give investors more power.
Founder
Richard White
Richard White: Founder of Fathom.Video (YC W21) & Uservoice
Richard White, founder of Fathom.Video (YC W21) and UserVoice, shares his journey as a repeat founder. Learn his unique fundraising strategy of raising many small checks to build a powerful network.
Founder
Luba Lesiva
Luba Lesiva: Founder of palumni.vc investing in Palantir Alumni
Luba Lesiva, Founder of palumni.vc, joins The Startup Project to share her playbook for building a highly successful investment syndicate focused exclusively on Palantir alumni.
Founder
Eric Satz
Eric Satz: Founder of Alto IRA
Eric Satz, Founder and CEO of Alto IRA, shares how a frustrating, 8-week process to make one investment led him to build a platform to unlock the $30 trillion retirement market for alternative assets.
Investor
Sajid Rahman
Sajid Rahman: Founder of My Asia VC, Investor in 1000+ Startups with 40+ Exits
Sajid Rahman, Founder of My Asia VC, shares his incredible journey from banking to becoming a prolific operator-investor in over 1000 startups with 40+ exits. Discover his unique frameworks for investing globally, from pre-seed syndicates to late-stage secondary funds.
Founder
Martin Tobias
Martin Tobias: Founder of Incisive.vc
Martin Tobias, founder of Incisive.vc and a prolific angel investor, joins The Startup Project to reveal his evolution from a 'shotgun' approach to a thesis-driven strategy. Learn how he evaluates high valuations using 'notional capital' and why he backed DocuSign when it was still illegal.
Founder
Vipul Agrawal
Vipul Agrawal: Founder of Unlu.io
Vipul Agrawal, Founder of Unlu.io, joins The Startup Project to discuss his journey building for the creator economy. Learn how he built a platform to attract legends like Ruskin Bond and Manoj Bajpayee.
Founder
Ani Mohan
Ani Mohan: Founder & General Manager at GameSnacks (Google Area 120)
Ani Mohan, Founder & General Manager of GameSnacks, shares the inside story of building a startup within Google's Area 120 incubator. Learn how his team pivoted from a US-based game show to a web gaming platform for emerging markets by following unexpected user data.
Founder
Manik Mehta
Manik Mehta: Founder of Omnify, a global SaaS platform for small and medium service business
Manik Mehta, Co-Founder of Omnify, shares his decade-long journey of building a global SaaS platform. Learn how multiple pivots, scrapping products, and shifting from a local to a global-first mindset led to finding product-market fit.
Co-Founder
Vikas Malpani
Vikas Malpani: Co-Founder of Leher & Ex-Cofounder of Commonfloor.com
Vikas Malpani, Co-Founder of Leher and previously Commonfloor.com, joins The Startup Project to discuss the explosion of social audio. He shares insights on getting startup timing right, building community, and the evolution of India's startup ecosystem.
Investor
Pankaj Jain
Pankaj Jain: COO Workomo & Investor
Pankaj Jain, COO of Workomo and a veteran of the Indian startup ecosystem, joins The Startup Project to share his journey as a founder, investor, and community builder. Learn how he navigated failure, built foundational communities like Startup Weekend, and gained unique insights into India's tech e
Cofounder
Pranay Gupta
Pranay Gupta: Cofounder of 91Springboard & Angel Investor
Pranay Gupta, Co-founder of 91Springboard, shares the incredible origin story of one of India's largest co-working companies. Learn how a failed attempt to start a micro-fund led to a necessary pivot that built a billion-dollar business.