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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

00:31:00

($100M raised) RetailNext Founder, Alexei Agratchev:...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/11/19

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX. VC PROFILE: Alexei Agratchev, Founder of RetailNext https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexeiagratchev/

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00:24:59

(YC S21) $10M ARR, Storylane Founder, Nalin...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/11/12

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX. FOUNDER PROFILE:Nalin Senthamil, Founder of Storylanehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/nalinpradeep

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00:24:23

(YC S23) Gleam Founder, Oliver Keh: Investigative...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/11/06

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX. FOUNDER PROFILE:Oliver Keh, Founder of Gleamhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-keh COMPANY: https://joingleam.com/Gleam automatically extracts data from any source, intelligently validates it against protocol, eliminates queries

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00:28:25

(YC W21) Sold to Dropbox, Promoted.ai's Founder,...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/11/04

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX. FOUNDER PROFILE:Andrew Yates, Founder of Dropbox, Promoted.aihttps://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-yates-0217a985

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00:29:24

Roo Capital's Founder, Nate DaPore: Most VCs Are Like...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/10/30

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX. VC PROFILE:Nate DaPore, Founder of Roo Capitalhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/natedapore/

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00:32:29

(YC F25) Denied 6x By YC: Hyperspell's Founder, Conor...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/10/28

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX. FOUNDER PROFILE: Conor Brennan-Burke, Founder of Hyperspell (YC F25) https://www.linkedin.com/in/conorbrennanburke

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00:32:36

a16z Partner Interview, Seema Amble: 3 things she...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/10/23

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX. VC PROFILE:Seema Amble, Partner at Andreessen Horowitzhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/seema-amble-b404126/

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00:33:09

($70M+ Raised) Future Family Founder, Claire Tomkins:...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/10/16

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX. FOUNDER PROFILE:Claire Tomkins, Founder of Future Familyhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-tomkins-b122422/

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00:35:11

($55M Raised) Benchmark & Mayfield Invested;...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/10/14

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX. VC PROFILE: Ram Venkatesh, Founder of Sema4.ai https://www.linkedin.com/in/ram-venkatesh-34166/

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00:30:42

a16z Invested; $55M Raised, CYGNVS' Founder, Arvind...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/10/09

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups --> 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vipAuth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX.FOUNDER PROFILE:Arvind Parthasarathihttps://www.linkedin.com/in/arvindparthasarathi/

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00:30:08

YC Founder & Thiel Fellow; Arist's Founder, Michael...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/10/07

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups --> 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vipAuth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX. VC PROFILE:Micahel loffe, Founder of Aristhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelaioffe/

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00:48:21

$13B VC; Promod Haque, Former Managing Partner at...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/10/01

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups --> 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vipAuth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX. VC PROFILE:Promod Haquehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/promodhaque/

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00:47:06

VCs Don't Know The Future; $55M Raised, Radical.ai's...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/09/25

Get 1-year free of Auth0 (authentication and authorization platform)--> https://auth0.com/startups/vipAuth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX. FOUNDER:Joseph Krausehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/josephfkrause/

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00:40:55

[Pitch] ex Lightspeed VC & Founder of Meshly.ai:...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/09/23

EPISODE DESCRIPTION EXAMPLEWhat does a real pitch in Silicon Valley look like? This might be as close as you can get without being here yourself! VC PROFILE Mercedes Bent, ex Lightspeed Ventures, Partner https://www.linkedin.com/in/mercedesbent/ FOUNDER PROFILE: Sandra Bustos, Founder of Meshly.ai https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandrabustos/ 🤔 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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00:48:29

$30M Seed; Largest Seed In YC History? (YC S24)...

The Founder Initiative ·

2025/09/18

In this episode, Robert, co-founder of Wordware, shares the story of turning a sauna brainstorm into one of the largest seed rounds in YC history. He walks us through the early pivots, the highs and lows of YC interviews, and how a viral Twitter Roast fueled their momentum. This is a raw look at conviction, timing, and how founders can compound small wins into historic outcomes.FOUNDER PROFILE: Robert Chandler https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertjhchandler/ 🎙️ 7 Most Interesting Moments The “sauna

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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

en

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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192 results

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