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PODCAST

The Tech Trek

The Tech Trek is a podcast for founders, builders, and operators who are in the arena building world class tech companies. Host Amir Bormand sits down with the people responsible for product, engineering, data, and growth and digs into how they ship, who they hire, and what they do when things break. If you want a clear view into how modern startups really get built, from first line of code to traction and scale, this show takes you inside the work.

technology

All Episodes

00:24:34

Understanding Scale and Tech Debt in Engineering

The Tech Trek ·

2024/10/17

In this podcast episode, the host interviews Brian Young, Director of Engineering at Grindr, about the concepts of scale and tech debt in the tech industry. Brian shares insights from his career at major companies like Wayfair and Amazon, highlighting the unique challenges each faced with scaling their systems. He explains the CAP theorem and its implications on consistency, availability, and partition tolerance within large-scale applications. The conversation also delves into the balance of art

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00:35:08

Leveraging Data, AI, and Peer Support to improve...

The Tech Trek ·

2024/10/15

In this episode, the host, Amir, speaks with Naama Stauber Breckler, Co-Founder and CEO of Better Health, and Adam Breckler, Co-Founder and Head of Product at Better Health. They discuss the company's unique approach to improving patient care for those with chronic conditions through easy access to medical supplies and a robust peer support network. The conversation covers the challenges in patient care, the complexities of the healthcare system, and how Better Health leverages data and AI to

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00:29:33

Building Successful Tech Companies

The Tech Trek ·

2024/10/10

In this episode, Amir hosts Dave McGann, the CTO of Self Financial, to discuss scaling strategies in technology companies. Dave shares his experiences working with venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE)-backed companies, detailing different growth strategies and company cultures. He highlights the importance of a cohesive early team, understanding financials, and the role of leadership in scaling businesses. The conversation delves into the differences between VC and PE environments, focusing

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00:25:26

Purpose-Driven Engineering Leadership

The Tech Trek ·

2024/10/08

In this episode, host Amir sits down with Nadav Eiron, SVP of Cloud Engineering at Crusoe, to explore the complexities of leading organizations. They delve into what it takes to align teams toward a common mission, the art of translating engineering skills to scale and overcoming the slow-moving stigma of big companies. Nadav shares his perspective on managing remote teams, maintaining team identities, and leveraging communication channels. The episode also discusses the importance of hiring ahead,

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00:30:54

Building High Performing Engineering Cultures

The Tech Trek ·

2024/10/03

In this podcast episode, Amit welcomes Harshit Shah, CTO at Kyruus Health, to delve into the concept of high-performing cultures within engineering teams. They explore the core tenets of such cultures in the rapidly-evolving tech landscape, focusing on identifying and nurturing key attributes. The discussion covers empowerment, geo-strategy shifts post-pandemic, and the scalable principles of high performance. Harsha shares insights into Kairos Health's mission of facilitating cost-effective

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00:15:53

Exploring the Role of Technology in Social Care

The Tech Trek ·

2024/10/01

In this episode, Mukta Nandwani, CTO of Findhelp, discusses technology's critical role in social care. The conversation covers the industry's current state, unique constraints, and challenges regarding technology adoption. Mukta emphasizes the importance of accessibility, privacy, and dignity in developing social care tech solutions and shares insights on how advancements like generative AI could further enhance social care services. The episode also explores the complexity of the social care domain

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00:26:24

Navigating the Transition from Founder to CEO

The Tech Trek ·

2024/09/26

In this podcast episode, the host is joined by Rebecca Price, a Partner at Primary Venture Partners, to discuss the transition of founders to becoming exceptional CEOs. They explore the skills and gaps in this transition, the importance of adaptability and leadership, and the role of venture capital firms in supporting founders. Rebecca shares insights on the five key attributes of successful founders: adaptability, leadership, discipline, personal grounding, and storytelling. The conversation also

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00:22:29

Why Org Charts Matter for Scaling Companies

The Tech Trek ·

2024/09/24

In this episode, Chris Fahey, SVP of Talent and HR at Volition Capital, discusses the often-overlooked value of org charts for growing companies. He discusses how they can pinpoint hiring gaps and the importance of focusing on roles, not just people. Chris also highlights the importance of aligning your company's strategy with its structure and regularly revisiting this alignment for smoother scaling. Great tips for founders and businesses aiming for efficient growth!Highlights: 01:47 The

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00:26:03

Why Early Data Hires Matter for Startups

The Tech Trek ·

2024/09/19

In this podcast episode, Amir interviews Christina Stejskalova, the Director of Data at Ontra. They discuss the optimal timing for startups to hire data professionals and the importance of data in shaping AI strategies. The conversation covers Christina’s experiences in big tech and startups, highlighting the commonly seen delays in hiring data experts in early-stage companies. Christina shares insights into the impact of early data integration on business strategies, particularly in AI-driven

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00:19:08

Data, AI, and Tackling Technical Debt

The Tech Trek ·

2024/09/17

In this podcast episode, Amir interviews Addhyan Pandey, Zoro.com's Senior Director of AI and Data. They discuss the role of data platforms in serving businesses, mainly focusing on advanced technologies like machine learning and AI. Addhyan explains Zoro's current AI maturity, the challenges posed by data quality, and the concept of technical debt in data management. He also touches on the importance of self-service and human-in-the-loop systems for enhancing business processes. Addhyan

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00:28:00

Startup Equity: Balance and Flexibility

The Tech Trek ·

2024/09/13

In this episode, Amir welcomes Matt Birnbaum, Partner at Pear VC, to discuss the intricacies of structuring equity in early-stage startups. They delve into factors that go into managing an option pool, the importance of setting aside the right amount of equity, and the nuanced calculations behind compensation packages. Matt shares insights from a blog article he authored, which provides a practical calculator to help founders plan equity distribution. They also explore common pitfalls, discuss the

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00:22:29

Navigating Founder Challenges

The Tech Trek ·

2024/09/10

In this episode, Amir welcomes Sandeep Bhadra, General Partner at Vertex US, to discuss early-stage founders' challenges and the critical support they need. The conversation covers the loneliness of the founder's journey, the importance of coaching and mentoring, and the dynamics of candid discussions between investors and founders. Sandeep emphasizes the significance of understanding distribution and managing teams with different expertise. The episode also delves into the art of pivoting,

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00:28:31

Transforming Insurance with AI

The Tech Trek ·

2024/09/05

In this podcast episode, Amir Bormand interviews John Cottongim, Co-Founder and CTO at Roots Automation, discussing the impact of process automation and generative AI in the insurance industry. John shares his extensive industry background and insights into how advanced technologies, mainly digital co-workers powered by generative AI, transform legacy systems and optimize processes in insurance companies. The conversation touches on data quality issues, simplifying complex business processes, and

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00:20:35

From Prototype to Production: Building Gen AI Solutions

The Tech Trek ·

2024/09/04

In this podcast episode, Amir Bormand interviews Michelle Avery, Group VP of AI at WillowTree, a TELUS International Company. They discuss the process of prototyping Generative AI (Gen AI) solutions and transitioning from prototypes to production-ready applications. Key points include identifying business problems, the importance of intentional prototyping, overcoming data access challenges, and ensuring user acceptance and ROI. Michelle shares insights from her work at WillowTree, emphasizing the

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00:28:23

Reimagining Education: Redefining Teaching and Learning

The Tech Trek ·

2024/08/29

In this podcast episode, Amir Nathoo, Co-Founder and Head of Outschool, discusses the innovative online marketplace for live classes aimed at kids globally. He explains how Outschool empowers unconventional educators to offer diverse and creative subjects, providing alternatives to traditional learning systems. The conversation covers the impact of the pandemic on remote learning, the challenges of integrating such platforms within traditional school systems, and the role of AI in personalized

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00:25:54

Balancing Technical Decisions and Tech Debt

The Tech Trek ·

2024/08/27

In this podcast episode, we explore critical technical decisions and the concept of technical debt with Brian Moseley, Co-Founder and CTO of Sixfold. Brian discusses his views on balancing short-term goals with long-term ramifications, including real-life examples from his work. The conversation delves into the use of generative AI in insurance underwriting, the importance of context in decision-making, and the challenge of remote work collaboration. Brian stresses the need for documenting reasoning

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00:22:00

Leadership Hiring in Early Stage Startups

The Tech Trek ·

2024/08/22

In this episode, Amir interviews Jen Kodner, a Talent Partner at Threshold Ventures and DFJ Growth, to discuss best practices and challenges in leadership hiring for startups. They explore the importance of finding the right leadership fit for different growth phases, professionalizing key functions, and balancing the hands-on approach required at early stages. Jen shares insights on the dynamics of player-coach roles, setting appropriate expectations for new hires, and the intricacies of delegating

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00:28:40

Software Development: Cheaper, Faster, Better

The Tech Trek ·

2024/08/20

In this episode, Joe Emison, CTO and Co-Founder of Branch Insurance, discusses achieving cheaper, faster, and better software development. Joe shares insights from his book, 'Serverless is a Game Changer,' and explains how embracing managed services can lead to substantial gains. He delves into the importance of continual education, managing technical debt, and focusing on undifferentiated value streams. Joe also talks about how Branch has worked to develop extensive applications with a

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00:23:18

From Nonprofit to AI Startup Founder

The Tech Trek ·

2024/08/15

In this episode, Amir interviews Rehgan Bleile, Co-Founder and CEO of AlignAI, about her transition from founding a nonprofit organization to leading a for-profit AI company. Rehgan shares insights into the differences between nonprofit and for-profit ventures, the skills required, and the lessons learned. She discusses the origins and mission of Women In Analytics (WIA), a nonprofit aimed at increasing visibility for women and diverse voices in AI and analytics. She details the challenges and

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00:24:02

Navigating the Long-Term Roadmap

The Tech Trek ·

2024/08/13

In this podcast episode, Eli Wachs, Co-Founder and CEO of Footprint, delves into the intricacies of managing long-term roadmaps for startups. Eli discusses Footprint's automated onboarding system, which focuses on identity and security. He shares insights on identifying and solving critical problems with intentionality, the challenges faced in balancing immediate priorities versus long-term goals, and the importance of selecting the right design partners. Eli also reflects on the debates and

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625 results

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