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PODCAST

The Founder Initiative

Helping founders hit PMF, get funded & drive durable growth through podcasting & buyer events (Formerly TheTop.VC)

technology investing

All Episodes

00:35:14

(YC W25) How To Nail Your YC (or any VC) Interview;...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/09/17

FOUNDER PROFILE: Ben Kim, Nitrode's Co-Founder https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-yoonsung-kim/ 🎙️ 7 Most Interesting Moments Michael Seibel’s brutally honest feedback in interviews—pushing them to scrap lines and “cut the crap.” Pivoting right before their YC interview and getting challenged on whether their new idea could ever reach a billion-dollar outcome. The week-long sprint to build a demo after Michael said, “I’ll see you Sunday.” YC’s insight that gaming and QA are their worst-performing

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00:37:05

YC Founder, How PG's 10% WoW Growth Led to Rejection,...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/09/16

🔑 7 Most Interesting MomentsDavid shares how his first YC application was rejected despite 10% week-over-week growth. The surprising reason they later got accepted: adding two technical co-founders even while growth was flat. Insights into what YC actually values (team, determination, big market) vs. what most founders think matters. A pivotal YC interview moment where David “flipped a switch” at minute 7 and convinced the partners. The origin story of 60: live website builds over Zoom that turned

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00:49:30

Real Pitch of a $2B VC, Cybersecurity Founder, Ajay...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/09/10

What's it like to pitch an actual VC in Silicon Valley? We recorded a real one to show you :)This was not scripted and it was the first time the pitched this VC! Vignesh Ravikumar Partner at Sierra Ventures https://www.linkedin.com/in/vravikumar1/ Ajay Gulati Founder of Kitecyber https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajaygulaticloud/ 🤔 VCs not responding to you? I’ll review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations: Submit here:

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00:52:09

a16z Invested; $231M Raised Sub 2-years; Decagon's...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/09/09

How to build a unicorn in under 2-years? Not exactly a step-by-step playbook, but you will learn something from a founder who actually did it! You will also hear a VC's perspective from Kevin Weber, Managing Director at Amex Ventures! Boom. Jesse Zhang Founder & CEO of Decagon https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejessezhang/ Kevin Weber Managing Director at Amex Ventures https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-weber-b77b8028/ 🤔 VCs not responding to you? I’ll review your deck & send you a detailed video

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00:43:03

YC S24 -Accepted After 3:00am Interview, Hitting PMF...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/09/02

Will, Founder of Phonely, shares his raw journey into Y Combinator—including sleeping in his car before a 3AM interview. He reveals how founders should interpret investor rejections, the real path to product-market fit, and top lessons a long the way. A must-listen for anyone navigating the early-stage PMF journey or getting funded! Will Bodewes https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-bodewes/ 🤔 VCs not responding to you? I’ll review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable

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00:44:15

Accepted to YC, no product, website, or co-founder:...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/08/26

EPISODE DESCRIPTION EXAMPLEWhat really matters when applying to YC? How to get your first $1 top learnings from fundraising FOUNDER PROFILE: Brooke Hopkins https://www.linkedin.com/in/bnhop/ 🤔 VCs not responding to you? I’ll review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations: Submit here: https://airtable.com/appBXetKIMsy5r3bE/pagQlrExmVx38bk6W/form

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00:33:20

a16z & Sequoia Invested in Rillet; Nic's Journey to...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/08/21

How do you close $100M from VCs like a16z & Sequoia? Nic shared what he did and his most shocking learnings. FOUNDER PROFILE: Nic Kopp https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolas-kopp/ 🤔 VCs not responding to you? I’ll review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations: Submit here: https://airtable.com/appBXetKIMsy5r3bE/pagQlrExmVx38bk6W/form

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00:48:26

[$50M+ Raised] From 4 Weeks To Shutdown To Round...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/08/20

SUMMARYIn this episode, Gil shares the raw journey of building Metadata — from validating the idea through consulting, to nearly running out of cash, to eventually raising a $35M+ Series B. He explains how doubling prices unlocked product-market fit, why retention beats new logos, and how adopting AI transformed the company. This is a candid look at the highs, lows, and lessons every founder needs to hear. FOUNDER: Gil Allouche https://www.linkedin.com/in/gilallouche/ 🤔 VCs not responding to

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00:34:05

Stanford Dropout Raises $42M; Teddy Solomon, Founder...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/08/19

Teddy, founder of Fizz, shares how a side project at Stanford exploded into one of the fastest-growing Gen Z social platforms. From rejecting VC money at first to eventually raising $40M, Teddy explains how focusing on students’ needs fueled growth. This episode dives into product-market fit, the power of community launches, and building without chasing money.Founder profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/teddy-solomon-85a183188/ 🤔 VCs not responding to you? I’ll review your deck & send you a

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00:46:57

[VC Pitch] YC Founder Pitches NEA ($25B AUM) Partner...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/08/14

What's do VCs ask during a pitch conversation? Here's a real pitch in San Francisco with a $25B AUM VC. This is unscripted and it's the first time they met. NEA Partner: Andrew Schoen https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewaschoen/ YC Founder: Berni Hausleitner https://www.linkedin.com/in/hausleitnerb/

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00:36:38

Uber's Former Head of AI; Now Founder of Proshort;...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/08/13

Gaurav Mishra, Founder of Proshort, shares how a single conversation led to his first big customer win and set the foundation for a multi-million-dollar raise. In this candid conversation, he breaks down the biggest growth unlocks, the vision that inspired investors, and the hype cycle pitfalls that every founder faces. If you're on the journey to PMF, this is the episode for you.

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00:27:05

[$200M VC] How To Cold Email A VC, Importance of...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/08/12

Julie Lein, Managing Partner at Urban Innovation Fund, shares what it takes to get funded in today's market. From mastering your pitch to leveraging AI and regulatory tailwinds, Julie breaks down how to stand out to investors. We also dive into her cold email formula, first meeting strategy, and what makes a founder unforgettable. Top Moments 05:31 Why it's never too early to pitch and how progress between meetings wins investors. 11:42 Julie explains Urban Innovation Fund's AI-native and

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00:44:40

Harvard Dropout Builds Fastest Fintech App To Hit 1M...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/07/24

Gravity - Discover prospects with time-based signals https://bit.ly/40ALy6G Check out Dub --> https://www.dubapp.com/ Check out Steven Wang, Co-Founder of Dub https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenzwang/ 🤔 VCs not responding to you? Adam will review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations: Submit here: https://airtable.com/appBXetKIMsy5r3bE/pagQlrExmVx38bk6W/form Reach out on Linkedin if you have any questions:

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00:36:52

MasterClass's Pre-Revenue Investor, Alex Gurevich,...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/07/22

Check out Alex Gurevich, Managing Director of Javelin Ventureshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/alexg79/ https://www.javelinvp.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com 🤔 VCs not responding to you? Adam will review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations: Submit here: https://airtable.com/appBXetKIMsy5r3bE/pagQlrExmVx38bk6W/form Reach out on Linkedin if you have any questions: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamfodonnell/ DESCRIPTION Alex, Managing Director at Javelin Venture

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00:26:57

[Stealth Founder] $7.5M Round, Blok's Co-Founder, Tom...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/07/21

Gravity - Discover prospects with time-based signals https://bit.ly/40ALy6G Learn about JoinBlok.co and their recent raise: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tcharman_im-excited-to-announce-were-coming-out-activity-7348767950427832321-RhBh?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAKE4P0B3kRfnC9MVuMcDibUIwodKep97GA Check out Tom Charman, Co-Founder of Blok https://www.linkedin.com/in/tcharman/ 🤔 VCs not responding to you? Adam will review your deck & send you a detailed video with my

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00:48:39

[Real VC Pitch] $5B Lux Capital Partner, Shaq vs. ex...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/07/16

Shaq, Partner at Lux Capital, talked to a top robotics founder about his business. What follows is a deep dive into platform strategy, defensibility, and value capture in general-purpose robotics. If you’re building a startup, this is a must-watch for understanding how top-tier VCs think.VC Shaquille Vayda, Partner at Lux Capital https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaquillevayda/ https://www.luxcapital.com/ FOUNDER Hoa Mai Founder, Feather Robotics https://www.linkedin.com/in/whoishoa/ HELP WITH YOUR

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00:13:46

0-600 Customers: How Dan Bladen, Hit PMF After A...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/07/15

🤔 VCs not responding to you? I’ll review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations: Submit here: https://bit.ly/44z2vj8 FOUNDER Dan Bladen, CEO, Kadence - https://www.linkedin.com/in/danbladen/ Kadence - https://kadence.co/ DESCRIPTION After building hardware, Dan Bladen's (https://www.linkedin.com/in/danbladen/) startup faced a COVID‑driven collapse—and he made a bold pivot from wireless chargers to hybrid‑work SaaS, ultimately winning 600 customers. This episode

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00:30:10

(YC W21) Indian Startup Denied 3x by YC, Accepted...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/07/15

🤔 VCs not responding to you? I’ll review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations: Submit here: https://bit.ly/44z2vj8 OVERVIEW Sarthak Goel, Founder of Invoid, shares how he turned 3 YC rejections into an eventual acceptance — and how traction, clarity, and calm confidence played a role. This episode is packed with actionable insights for any founder navigating product-market fit and pitching under pressure. TIMESTAMP 03:30 - Crafting a clearer problem

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00:39:35

Small Town Founder, Got Into YC Without Pedigree;...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/07/09

🤔 VCs not responding to you? I’ll review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations: Submit here: https://airtable.com/appBXetKIMsy5r3bE/pagQlrExmVx38bk6W/form =================== GUEST INFO Joseph Johnson https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-johnson-/ LedgerUp https://www.ledgerup.ai/ TIMESTAMPS 00:02:45 – Pitching the “AI bookkeeper” concept 00:04:10 – Using Reddit for brutally honest feedback 00:05:05 – YC’s top lesson: “Just launch” 00:06:00 – Sharing a real YC

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00:15:29

[$25M Raised] Getting Into YC, Top Fundraising...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/07/08

🤔 VCs not responding to you? I’ll review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations: Submit here: https://airtable.com/appBXetKIMsy5r3bE/pagQlrExmVx38bk6W/form =================== GUEST INFO Matthew Watts https://www.linkedin.com/in/wattswolf/ Lendflow https://www.lendflow.com/ TIMESTAMPS 03:00 – Why “CTO” isn’t a real title early on → A candid take on what technical leadership really means pre–product-market fit. 04:00 – The real YC mantra: Make things people

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197 results

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