The Room Podcast

In this episode of The Room Podcast, we sit down with Ben Witte, Founder and CEO of Recess, a consumer wellness brand pioneering a new category of functional beverages designed to help people relax, unwind, and feel better in an increasingly high-stress world. Recess blends ingredients like magnesium, adaptogens, and other functional compounds into beautifully branded drinks that position themselves as the “Red Bull for relaxation.”  Before launching Recess, Ben built his career in early-stage startups and hypergrowth companies like AdRoll, where he developed a deep understanding of digital marketing, brand building, and emerging consumer trends. In this conversation, Ben shares the core insight behind Recess: that relaxation would define the next major consumer category, driven by rising anxiety, changing alcohol consumption habits, and a cultural shift toward mental wellness. We dive into lessons on identifying non-obvious trends early, building a lifestyle brand in a crowded CPG market, and navigating major challenges like regulatory uncertainty and COVID-driven disruption. Ben also unpacks his philosophy on category creation, why great brands market outcomes instead of ingredients, and how founders should think about fundraising, timing, and long-term vision when building enduring companies. We also discuss: • How Recess validated product-market fit through user behavior • Building a brand-first flywheel using digital and DTC channels • Navigating the CBD regulatory crisis and COVID simultaneously • Fundraising strategy in capital-intensive categories like beverages • The long-term evolution of alcohol moderation and non-alcoholic drinks Learn more about Ben on LinkedIn and explore Recess at https://takearecess.com/ (03:36) Ben Witte’s childhood and early influences (04:01) Whether Ben always saw himself becoming a founder (04:52) Early career and entry into startups through AdRoll (07:13) The aha moment behind starting Recess (09:53) Choosing adaptogens and betting on the relaxation trend (12:31) Early signs of product-market fit for Recess (14:34) Building the initial marketing flywheel and go-to-market strategy (16:41) The first investors who backed Recess (17:20) Fundraising strategy in a modern CPG environment (19:07) A major challenge and unexpected twist in building Recess (22:36) Scaling operations and evolving the supply chain (32:52) Ben’s favorite Recess products and flavors (33:05) What’s next for Recess and Ben personally (33:22) Perspective on alcohol moderation and consumer behavior trends (34:28) A woman who had a profound impact on Ben’s life and career For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTokCheck out our guide to podcasting here! Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music! Brought to you by Rippling and Perkins Coie. WX Productions

In this episode of The Room Podcast, we speak with Scott Woody, Co-Founder of Metronome, a platform helping companies implement usage-based billing and modernize how they monetize software. Metronome enables businesses to move beyond rigid subscription pricing and instead charge customers based on actual product usage. The platform sits at the core of a new shift in SaaS: pricing that aligns directly with value delivered, rather than seats or static tiers, giving companies more flexibility and better feedback loops on how their products are used.  This episode explores how billing and pricing infrastructure are becoming critical levers for modern software companies and why aligning pricing with value will define the next generation of SaaS businesses. Before founding Metronome, Scott founded Foundry (later acquired by Dropbox) and went on to spend six years at Dropbox leading engineering teams, where he helped scale monetization systems from $200M to over $1B in revenue. His experience operating at scale deeply informed how he approached building billing infrastructure from the ground up. In this conversation, Scott shares the core insight behind Metronome: pricing is one of the most important yet underbuilt parts of software, and usage-based billing unlocks a more accurate reflection of customer value. He also reflects on early founder lessons, recognizing product-market fit, and why solving “unsexy” problems can lead to the biggest opportunities. We also discuss: • Lessons from building and shutting down his first startup, Foundry • Scaling monetization systems inside Dropbox during hypergrowth • Why usage-based pricing is more aligned with long-term customer value • Early signals of product-market fit and how to recognize them • Building trust and reliability in core infrastructure products • Navigating the acquisition of Metronome by Stripe Learn more about Scott on LinkedIn and explore Metronome at https://metronome.com/ (04:50) Scott’s childhood and how it shaped his worldview (06:11) Did Scott always think he would become a founder? (07:15) The founding of Foundry and lessons from his first startup (09:29) Lessons from scaling monetization at Dropbox (12:37) The core insight behind Metronome and usage-based billing (15:43) Surprising ways customers used Metronome early on (18:55) The first customer that signaled product-market fit (21:27) The first investor who backed Metronome (23:48) A time during the founder journey when things didn’t go as planned  (30:32) Building trust and reliability in billing infrastructure (41:15) Navigating the Stripe acquisition and transition (43:26) What Scott is most excited about for the future of usage-based billing (44:49) A woman who had a profound impact on Scott’s life and career For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on Instagram Follow us on TikTok Check out our guide to podcasting here!  Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music! Brought to you by Rippling and Perkins Coie. WX Productions

In this episode of The Room Podcast, we speak with Ryan Daniels, Founder and CEO of Crosby, an AI-first law firm rethinking how legal work gets delivered. Crosby combines AI systems with human legal expertise to provide faster, more transparent, and more scalable legal services, moving away from traditional billable hours toward outcome-driven work. Crosby is part of a broader shift in professional services, where AI is not just augmenting workflows but fundamentally reshaping how services are delivered. Instead of selling tools to lawyers, Crosby operates as a full-stack legal provider, meeting customers where trust already exists while embedding AI into the core of legal execution. In this conversation, Ryan shares the core insight behind Crosby: legal work is only partially about legal expertise, and largely about understanding business context, speed, and responsiveness. AI enables a shift where repetitive work is automated, allowing lawyers to focus on high-judgment decisions that actually impact outcomes. We also discuss: • Why selling tools to lawyers wasn’t enough and the importance of building a full-stack service • The broken incentives behind billable hours and how Crosby rethinks pricing • How trust plays a central role in legal services and in adopting new technology • The concept of “taste” in AI and maintaining high-quality outputs in critical workflows • The future role of lawyers as AI handles more of the repetitive work • Lessons from early customer behavior and product iteration • The mindset required to build in a rapidly evolving AI landscape This episode explores how AI is transforming professional services and why the next generation of legal companies will be built around integrated systems, speed, and aligned incentives rather than legacy workflows. Learn more about Ryan on LinkedIn and Crosby at their company website. (04:14) Crosby’s exciting news! (06:31) Ryan’s childhood and how it shaped his worldview (07:22) Growing up in a legal household (08:47) Whether Ryan always saw himself becoming a founder (10:02) Early career decisions from law into startups (11:51) The moment Ryan decided to build Crosby full time (12:00) The insight that selling tools to lawyers wasn’t enough (14:53) Rethinking legal pricing beyond billable hours (17:35) Early customer behavior and unexpected product usage (22:11) Dividing responsibilities with his co-founder (22:35) How Ryan’s legal background informs product development (26:33) The first investor who backed Crosby (32:43) Maintaining high taste in AI-driven legal work (34:46) Pareto efficiency in AI-powered legal negotiations (41:06) Personal growth as a founder and CEO (42:11) A woman who had a profound impact on Ryan’s life and career For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on Instagram Follow us on TikTok Check out our guide to podcasting here!  Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music! Brought to you by Rippling and Perkins Coie. WX Productions

In this episode of The Room Podcast, we speak with Alex Halliday, founder and CEO of AirOps, a platform helping companies build AI-powered content workflows and automate complex marketing operations. AirOps enables marketing and growth teams to orchestrate large-scale content generation using structured workflows, AI models, data integrations, and human-in-the-loop systems. The platform is part of a new category emerging in the AI ecosystem: the AI marketing stack, where companies move beyond simple prompt-based tools and instead build repeatable systems for producing high-quality content. Before founding AirOps, Alex built viral fan websites as a teenager and later founded SocialGo, eventually becoming the youngest CEO of a publicly traded company in the UK. His career has spanned early internet startups, hypergrowth technology companies, and now the modern AI platform landscape. In this conversation, Alex shares the core insight behind AirOps: great AI-generated content requires content engineering, meaning multi-step workflows that combine models, structured data, and human review rather than relying on a single prompt. We also discuss: • Alex’s early experience building viral websites and the origin of SocialGo • Lessons from becoming one of the youngest public-company CEOs in the UK • The importance of learning velocity as a competitive advantage for startups • Why the gap between AI-generated text and publishable content is larger than most teams realize • The concept of content engineering and why structured AI workflows matter • How AirOps discovered its initial product-market fit with marketing teams • Advice for founders raising venture capital in the AI startup environment • Why early-stage startups should focus obsessively on a narrow user segment • The emotional discipline required to navigate the founder journey This episode explores how AI is reshaping marketing infrastructure and why the next generation of software companies will be built around AI workflows, automation, and operational systems, not just models. Learn more about Alex Halliday on Linkedin and AirOps at https://www.airops.com/ (05:03) Introduction and overview of AirOps (05:13) Alex Halliday’s childhood and early internet projects (05:54) Did Alex always think he would become a founder? (06:54) The viral fan website projects that led to SocialGo (08:09) Becoming the youngest CEO of a publicly traded company in the UK (10:15) Transitioning from SocialGo to product leadership and founding AirOps (13:36) Lessons learned operating inside hypergrowth companies (14:52) The original insight behind AirOps and the pivot to AI content workflows (18:36) What “content engineering” means and why AI content requires multi-step workflows (21:13) Interesting and unexpected use cases customers are building with AirOps (23:00) The first investor who backed AirOps (25:05) Fundraising advice for founders raising capital in the AI era (28:51) A founder moment where things did not go as planned (31:57) How to compete with other SEO platforms (40:14) How AirOps thinks about integrations and building an AI agent ecosystem (44:28) What’s next for AirOps (46:00) Personal growth as a founder and CEO, of their fourth company (47:20) A woman who had a profound impact on Alex’s life and career For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on Instagram Follow us on TikTok Check out our guide to podcasting here!  Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music! Brought to you by Rippling and Perkins Coie. WX Productions

In this season opener of The Room Podcast, we speak with Nirav Tolia, the co-founder and CEO of Nextdoor, the neighborhood network designed to connect verified neighbors and strengthen local communities. Nirav shares and refelcts the story behind building Nextdoor, one of the world’s largest hyperlocal social platforms, and reflects on the lessons he has learned scaling a product designed around real-world communities. Before founding Nextdoor, Nirav was one of the first 100 employees at Yahoo, where he witnessed the rise of the early consumer internet and the power of network effects. He later co-founded Round Zero, an early startup studio that helped shape his thinking about entrepreneurship and product development. In this conversation, Nirav discusses: • Growing up in Odessa, Texas, as the child of Indian immigrant physicians, and how those experiences shaped his understanding of belonging and community • Why he never planned to become a founder and how failure at Stanford University helped him find his strengths • The early days of Yahoo and how the dot-com era influenced his entrepreneurial path • The founding story behind Nextdoor and the challenge of building a platform designed for neighborhoods rather than global networks • How founders can identify product-market fit, including his framework of building a “painkiller vs. vitamin” product • The responsibility technology companies have when platforms surface bias, trust, and safety challenges • Why Nextdoor prioritizes quality of interactions over pure scale and engagement metrics • How Nirav thinks about the role of artificial intelligence in local communities, and why he believes AI should act as an advisor rather than a driver Learn more about Nirav Tolia on LinkedIn and explore Nextdoor at nextdoor.com. (03:51) Growing up in Odessa, Texas, and how early experiences shaped Nirav’s worldview (07:31) Why Nirav never planned to become a startup founder (09:51) Transitioning from pre-med to an English major at Stanford (12:41) Lessons from failure and discovering personal strengths (15:51) Joining Yahoo as one of its earliest employees during the dot-com era (18:01) How the early internet shaped Nirav’s view of network effects (20:51) Why Nirav left Yahoo at its peak to pursue entrepreneurship (22:21) The story behind Round Zero and how it prepared him to build companies (22:51) The founding story of Nextdoor and the opportunity in hyperlocal networks (25:21) How founders know when to pivot versus persevere (29:51) Identifying product-market fit and early signals of traction (34:25) The “painkiller vs. vitamin” framework for product strategy (36:25) Trust, safety, and moderation challenges in community platforms (37:55) Lessons from addressing racial profiling and bias on Nextdoor (40:25) How technology can help people become better neighbors (48:55) Why Nextdoor prioritizes quality interactions over traditional network effects (49:55) Nirav’s perspective on artificial intelligence and community platforms (1:00:25) A woman who had a profound impact on Nirav’s life and career For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on Instagram Follow us on TikTok Check out our guide to podcasting here!  Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music! Brought to you by Rippling and Perkins Coie. WX Productions

Welcome back to another episode of The Room Podcast! This week, Claudia and Madison sit down with Julie Bornstein, founder and CEO of Daydream, a new AI-powered shopping platform reimagining how people discover fashion online. Julie is a two-time founder with deep roots in digital commerce, having previously helped build Stitch Fix and later founded The Yes, which was acquired by Pinterest. With decades of experience at the intersection of retail, technology, and consumer behavior, Julie has been at the forefront of how people shop as the internet — and now AI — evolves.In this episode, Julie shares why search has always been the hardest and most important problem in e-commerce, and how generative AI finally unlocks a more human way to shop. She walks through the lessons she learned building algorithmic fashion at Stitch Fix, why inventory ownership limits personalization, and how The Yes shaped her thesis around intent-driven discovery. We also dive into founding Daydream after an acquisition unwind, the challenges of hiring the right early team, navigating retailer relationships without becoming an ads business, and what the future of shopping looks like when your stylist lives in your pocket. Tune in for a masterclass on consumer AI, founder resilience, and why being early — twice — doesn’t make it easier the third time around.(00:00) Introduction(05:20) Where did Julie grow up and how did it shape her view of the world?(06:31) Did Julie always think she would become a founder?(07:42) How did Julie’s early career in retail and e-commerce shape what she’s building today?(09:59) How did Julie’s philosophy evolve from Stitch Fix to The Yes to Daydream?(11:54) Why did Julie decide to become a founder again after selling The Yes to Pinterest?(14:54) How does Daydream avoid getting squeezed between retailers and consumers?(17:58) Who is Daydream’s core customer and why did Julie choose them first?(18:45) Who was the first investor to say yes to Daydream?(19:39) What unexpected challenges did Julie face early at Daydream?(21:41) How is AI changing Daydream’s business model decisions?(22:26) Should retailers rethink site architecture in an AI-driven search world?(23:14) How can companies make products more discoverable in an LLM-first future?(23:33) Does better AI indexing by retailers threaten Daydream’s value?(25:48) How does Daydream think about LLM interoperability and model choice?(26:44) How should retailers think about cloud providers in modern e-commerce stacks?(27:57) Does Julie consider Daydream an AI-native company?(29:23) What does the future of online retail look like?(31:39) What advice does Julie have for new founders?(33:44) Who is a woman in Julie's life that has had a profound impact on her and her career?For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on Instagram Follow us on TikTok Check out our guide to podcasting here! Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.**Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.WX Productions

In this special live panel episode of The Room Podcast from Inside Summit 2025, host Ash Kumra sits down with an all-star group of AI and product leaders: Noah MacCallum of OpenAI, Grant Lee of Gamma, Malte Ubl of Vercel, and Chris Messina, inventor of the hashtag and longtime product strategist. Together, they represent the cutting edge of applied AI, developer platforms, design tooling, and the social technologies that shaped how we communicate today.Throughout the conversation, the panel digs into what ethical AI actually means in practice, how founders should think about scaling from early demos to real-world robustness, and why “iteration velocity” may matter more than perfection. From Noah’s breakdown of vibes-based iteration versus formal evals, to Chris’s framing of AI as a new expressive medium rather than just a technology, this episode is packed with perspective for builders navigating the next era of software. The discussion ultimately challenges founders to focus less on hype and more on clarity of vision, taste, and long-term impact.(00:00) Introduction(04:28) Who are the panelists and what is each of them building or focused on today?(06:39) How does Noah define ethical AI, and where do the real risks show up in practice?(08:02) How should early-stage AI companies think about trust, safety, and responsibility?(11:26) What advice would the panel give founders trying to scale AI products from one to one hundred?(12:21) How do founders balance intuition, taste, and formal evals when improving AI products?(13:32) Why is long-term founder conviction more important than early AI traction?(14:33) How should founders think about AI as a medium rather than just a technology?(17:42) Which industries remain underexplored for AI, despite the current hype cycle?(20:25) Which customer segments surprised Gamma as adoption scaled beyond early users?(23:30) What unexpected user behaviors emerged during the early days of social media and AI?(27:00) What specific product, feature, or workflow is each panelist most excited about building right now?For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on Instagram Follow us on TikTok Check out our guide to podcasting here! Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.**Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.WX Productions

In this special Inside Summit episode of The Room Podcast, Claudia moderates a powerhouse panel featuring Michelle Edwards, Partner at Perkins Coie, Indy Guha, GP of VMG, Dan Kang, CFO of Mercury, and Jared Roesch, a founder who recently exited to NVIDIA. When startups challenge incumbents, winning deals requires more than just a great product. This episode shares how to master founder sales by building strong relationships and leveraging insider knowledge. Learn about crafting a compelling sales strategy and how to sell effectively, even when facing executive changes. With perspectives spanning legal, investor, financial, and operator experience, the panel breaks down how deals get sourced, what drives acquirer motivation, and how macro conditions—from AI acceleration to shifting public markets—are reshaping the paths available to startups.In this conversation, the group shares tactical lessons on preparing your company years before an exit, cultivating strategic relationships, and understanding the human and emotional realities of selling a business. They explore why deals fall apart, how founders can signal readiness to buyers, and why the best outcomes often begin long before a term sheet is drafted. Whether you're raising, scaling, or fielding interest from potential acquirers, this episode offers clear, actionable insights for building toward a successful transaction.(00:00) Introduction(06:05) What has each panelist’s experience been with M&A?(08:51) How is M&A shifting in 2025 from the investor side?(10:56) What is driving more companies towards M&A?(12:25) What are some of the most common structural shifts in deals today versus the past?(14:49) When does a founder know acquisition is the right path?(17:41) What is something that most founders don’t think of when it comes to being acquired?(21:28) How does a founding team build relationships with investors?(23:28) What red flags should a buyer or seller be looking for during negotiations?(28:27) How do you manage a team that's working and building that might not know that an acquisition is happening?(29:48) What do buyers wish founders did more of to set themselves up for a successful transaction?(32:36) How should founders approach the conversation of acquisition with their investors?For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on Instagram Follow us on TikTok Check out our guide to podcasting here! Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.**Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.WX Productions

Welcome back to another LIVE rendition of The Room Podcast! This week, we are back at our live conference, Inside Summit. Listen in as we sit down with Michel Tricot, Co-Founder and CEO of Airbyte — the open-source platform that’s transforming how companies move data across their modern stacks. Airbyte gives teams the ability to extract and load data from virtually any source, empowering both AI-native companies and legacy enterprises to sync their information seamlessly and securely across hundreds of tools.In this conversation, Michel shares the lessons behind scaling Airbyte from its first connector to 600+, building open source community momentum, and navigating shocks like COVID and a disrupted engineering team during the war in Ukraine. We dive into why ELT architecture matters, what separates AI-native companies from incumbents trying to adopt AI, and why founders should optimize for survival before anything else. Tune in for tactical guidance on fundraising, building at “internet scale”, breaking data silos, and how to stay grounded when the journey becomes nonlinear — because it always does.(00:00) Introduction(04:23) Where did Michel grow up and how did that shape his view of the world?(05:09) Did Michel always think he was going to become a founder?(05:35) What early career milestones led Michel to move to San Francisco?(07:56) What insights brought Michel to want to develop a better data stack?(09:25) How did Michel transition from full-time work to launching an open-source solution and building Airbyte?(11:05) Why did Michel choose to name Airbyte’s architecture as “ELT”?(12:01) How did the “ELT” architecture choice influence decisions around scaling the company?(13:15) What was Airbyte’s first connector?(13:33) What was harder — going from 1 to 50 connectors or from 50 to 600?(14:20) Who was the first person to ever say yes to investing in Michel?(14:47) What metrics convinced investors that Airbyte was a billion-dollar-plus market?(15:23) What advice does Michel have for first-time founders preparing for their first fundraise?(16:00) What is something that went wrong during the founder journey?(16:31) What does “AI data infrastructure” really mean — is it just rebranding?(17:39) Where does Airbyte fit in the evolving AI ecosystem?(18:47) How does Airbyte think about competing with giant platforms building internal integration tools?(20:08) What separates AI-native companies from larger incumbents trying to cross the AI chasm?(21:21) When data infrastructure is fully solved, what does that mean for the world?(22:26) What general career and life advice does Michel have for future founders today?(23:49) Who is a woman in Michel’s life that had a profound impact on him and his career?For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on Instagram Follow us on TikTok Check out our guide to podcasting here! Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.**Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.WX Productions

Welcome back to The Room Podcast! This week, Claudia and Madison sit down with Tomer London, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Gusto, the all-in-one people platform that simplifies payroll, benefits, and HR for over 400,000 small businesses across the U.S. From humble beginnings as ZenPayroll, Gusto has become one of the most beloved products in the SMB ecosystem—known for turning one of the most stressful business tasks into a delightful experience.In this episode, Tomer shares the personal roots behind Gusto’s mission—growing up around his family’s small clothing store in Israel—and how those early lessons shaped his empathy for small business owners. He walks us through finding the right customer base, building emotional resonance into product design, and why “customer love” is the most powerful growth channel. Listeners will gain valuable insights into startup decision-making, measuring true product–market fit, and the mindset needed to scale from a scrappy YC-backed idea into a category-defining company.(00:00) Introduction(05:25) Where did Tomer grow up and how did that shape his view of the world?(05:50) Did Tomer always think he would become a founder?(10:13) What early challenges inspired Tomer to build something of his own?(11:23) What were Tomer’s first experiences like coming to the U.S. as an immigrant?(13:33) What was the “aha” moment that led to starting Gusto?(16:38) What were some early moments when things didn’t go as planned?(20:11) How did Gusto find product–market fit with small businesses?(23:51) What advice does Tomer have for founders navigating their beachhead market?(26:26) How did Gusto create emotional connection and delight through product design?(29:11) What has leading Gusto taught Tomer about building teams and company culture?(33:11) How does Gusto approach innovation while staying true to its mission?(36:04) How does Gusto assist businesses and customers during crisis moments?(38:04) How is Gusto adapting to the AI era?(44:08) Who is a woman in your life that had a profound impact on you?For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on Instagram Follow us on TikTok Check out our guide to podcasting here! Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.**Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.WX Productions

Welcome back to another episode of The Room Podcast! This week, Claudia and Madison sit down with William Allen, Head of Emerging Tech and AI at Cloudflare, and previously a key leader at Adobe and Behance. Will has spent his career at the intersection of creativity, technology, and infrastructure—from helping launch TED Talks and building Behance into a global hub for creatives, to leading initiatives like the Content Authenticity Initiative that aim to make the internet more trustworthy.In this episode, Will shares insights on the evolution of digital content, the challenges of building authenticity in an AI-driven world, and what it takes to create infrastructure that both empowers creators and protects their work. He discusses lessons learned from scaling startups, navigating acquisitions, and fostering innovation within large companies. Listeners will walk away with actionable takeaways on balancing speed with integrity, building products for real users, and creating a “better internet” rooted in trust and transparency.(00:00) Where did Will grow up and how did that shape his view of the world?(01:09) Did Will always think he would become a founder like he did with Chamber?(03:17) Was that first startup what led him to Adobe?(04:38) What was it like launching TED Talks for the first time?(06:35) What did Will learn from his decade at Adobe and leading Behance?(09:06) How did those experiences shape what Will wanted to do next in his career?(10:25) How did Will transition from Chamber to joining Cloudflare?(11:12) What was it like selling his startup and choosing not to join the acquiring company?(12:21) What was the idea that finally convinced him to join Cloudflare?(14:00) How is Cloudflare balancing protection and innovation in the AI era?(16:05) What advice does Will have for founders building resilient infrastructure in the age of AI?(18:18) What’s something that didn’t go as planned while building or launching a product?(21:04) How does Cloudflare communicate with creators and non-technical users?(23:00) How does Will think about policy and communicating with broader stakeholders?(24:40) What does the end-to-end C2PA workflow look like from capture to display?(27:30) In five years, what will creators’ relationship be with AI model providers?(32:45) What’s next for Will personally, and what is he excited about?(34:10) Who is a woman that has had a profound impact on Will’s life and career?For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on Instagram Follow us on TikTok Check out our guide to podcasting here! Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.**Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.WX Productions

We are back with another live rendition of The Room Podcast! This week, Madison sits down with Jack Barrett, Co-Founder and CEO of Almost Friday Media, the creative force behind the viral comedy brand Friday Beers. After starting and leaving his career in investment banking, Jack followed his storytelling instincts into media, co-founding a creator-first company that now spans comedy, live events, digital media, and even its own beer brand. Almost Friday Media has quickly become a cultural touchpoint for millennial and Gen Z audiences craving authenticity, humor, and community online.In this episode, Jack shares how moments of failure shaped his path, how comedy can connect people across generations, and what it takes to build a modern media business in the era of TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram Reels. Listeners will hear insights on evolving with algorithms, scaling creator ecosystems, and staying true to a mission that celebrates friendship, optimism, and laughter. Listen in as we take a look at how Almost Friday Media became a blueprint for the future of entertainment—where community meets creativity.(00:00) Introduction(02:00) Jack’s upbringing in Greenwich and how family and sports shaped his creative drive.(04:20) Madison on her childhood and early curiosity about tech and creativity online.(06:10) The role of siblings, humor, and community in shaping perspective.(06:50) Jack’s Dartmouth years, finding identity, rejection from Yale, and lessons on belonging.(08:45) Discovering campus culture & humor, how fraternity life and writing led toward comedy.(09:50) What Jack learned (and hated) about his first career path.(10:45) Meeting Radical Media’s John Kamen and discovering the power of storytelling.(11:10) Launching a podcast during COVID and finding purpose in connection.(13:40) Why storytelling became essential for investors and founders alike.(15:00) Birth of Friday Beers, from Instagram memes to a viral cultural brand.(16:45) Defining “Friday Beers” ethos, friendship, humor, and inclusion as the new comedy tone.(17:40) Building Almost Friday Media, from side hustle to full-scale creative network.(18:40) How The Room connects founders, investors, and community.(20:00) Digital disruption and audience ownership.(21:40) Shifts from TV to streaming to creator-led entertainment.(22:50) Adapting to algorithm changes and engagement analytics.(23:40) Indie creators vs. traditional media networks.(24:10) Expanding Almost Friday Media across content, live events, and culture.(25:30) Closing reflections, celebrating creativity, collaboration, and the next era of storytelling.For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTokCheck out our guide to podcasting here!Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.**Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.WX Productions

We are back with another live installment of The Room Podcast! This week, we sit down with Barry McCardel and Caitlin Colgrove, Co-Founders of Hex, the collaborative data workspace trusted by teams around the world. Hex empowers data scientists, analysts, and business operators to explore, visualize, and share insights in one connected platform—bringing together code, no-code tools, and now AI-powered features that make data storytelling seamless and accessible to everyone.In this episode, Barry and Caitlin unpack Hex’s origin story, from their early days at Palantir to building one of the most beloved modern data tools. They share how deep empathy for early users shaped their product decisions, why great co-founding relationships require shared values and “stress testing,” and what it means to truly be “AI-first” in 2025. You’ll also hear lessons on problem-driven entrepreneurship, managing investor relationships, and how Hex is redefining what it means for everyone to be a data person.(00:00) Introduction(06:47) Where did Barry and Caitlin grow up and how has that shaped their view of the world?(09:12) Did Barry and Caitlin always think they would become founders?(10:02) How did time at Palantir shape Barry and Caitlin’s conviction to start Hex?(12:45) What was the “aha” moment that made Barry and Caitlin decide to actually start Hex full-time?(15:02) What advice would Barry and Caitlin give to founders looking to find or choose the right co-founders?(16:48) What is Hex’s core product and who is it built for?(18:18) Is Hex an AI-native company, and how does AI integrate into the product and strategy?(22:16) What is “Hex Magic,” and what has building AI features taught you about product development?(25:13) Who was the first person to believe in Hex and invest?(27:29) How do Barry and Caitlin work with their board, and what’s that dynamic like as founders?(30:07) How do Barry and Caitlin think about scaling culture as the company grows?(32:21) What are some of the biggest leadership lessons Barry and Caitlin have learned since founding Hex?(34:54) How do Barry and Caitlin maintain product focus while expanding features and teams?(37:12) What’s the vision for the future of data collaboration and AI in analytics?(39:15) How is the role of the data team evolving with AI?(40:15) So… humans — we’re here to stay?(42:05) What’s next for Hex and for Barry and Caitlin personally?(43:49) Who is a woman in Barry and Caitlin’s lives who has had an impact on them and their career?For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on Instagram Follow us on TikTok Check out our guide to podcasting here! Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.**Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.WX Productions

Welcome back to The Room Podcast! This week, Claudia and Madison sit down with Eric Simons, Co-Founder and CEO of StackBlitz and creator of Bolt.new, the AI-powered development platform redefining how people build web and mobile apps. From humble beginnings coding in Naperville, Illinois, to literally living inside AOL’s Palo Alto offices at age 19, Eric’s journey is a Silicon Valley legend. StackBlitz emerged from a desire to eliminate setup friction for developers, enabling instant browser-based coding environments that reimagined how software gets built.In this episode, Eric shares the highs and lows of the founder journey — from near-shutdown to a $20M ARR turnaround powered by Bolt’s viral AI tools. He offers candid advice on knowing when to pivot, how to approach investors during uncertain times, and why obsession and experimentation are critical to surviving the startup grind. Tune in for insights on product-market fit, storytelling as a leadership superpower, and what the “vibe coder” movement means for the next generation of builders.(00:00) Introduction(04:40) Where did Eric grow up and how has that shaped his view of the world?(06:08) Did Eric always think he would become a founder?(08:06) How did Eric’s early interests, like acting, shape his storytelling and leadership today?(08:08) How did Eric gain attention as the “AOL Squatter” and what did that experience teach him?(12:04) What was the original idea behind StackBlitz and the aha moment that started it?(14:52) How did Eric convince early investors and engineers that StackBlitz was even possible?(16:48) How did StackBlitz navigate finding product-market fit and monetization challenges?(19:55) What advice does Eric have for founders at a crossroads between pivoting or shutting down?(21:51) In Eric’s words, what is Bolt and who is it built for?(22:59) How did Eric shift his storytelling as Bolt expanded beyond developers?(24:37) Who was the first person to believe in Eric and say yes to his vision?(25:43) What advice would Eric give to founders raising early-stage capital in 2025?(27:01) How did Eric approach his investors and board during the pivot from StackBlitz to Bolt?(27:05) Can Eric peel back the curtain on how he approached investors about the pivot?(31:25) How did Bolt turn a viral spark into durable long-term traction?(38:16) What is Eric most excited about for Bolt this year—and personally?(39:51) Who is a woman who profoundly shaped Eric and his career?For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on Instagram Follow us on TikTok Check out our guide to podcasting here! Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.**Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.WX Productions

Welcome back to another episode of The Room Podcast! This week, we sit down with Celine Halioua, Founder and CEO of Loyal, a biotech company pioneering FDA-approved longevity drugs for dogs. From a childhood surrounded by rescue animals to an academic journey through neuroscience, health economics, and venture capital, Celine’s path to entrepreneurship is as winding as it is inspiring. Today, Loyal is leading the charge in redefining what’s possible in veterinary medicine—aiming not just to treat disease, but to extend healthy lifespan itself.In this episode, Celine shares how her scientific curiosity about aging and her love for animals converged into a singular mission. She takes us behind the scenes on the founding story of Loyal—from a chance conversation around a campfire, to navigating the capital-intensive world of biotech, to winning over regulators and pet parents alike. Listeners will walk away with hard-earned insights about fundraising in uncertain markets, balancing ambition with operational discipline, and the importance of being both scientifically rigorous and soulfully driven when building something truly generational.(00:00) Introduction(05:00) How did Celine’s early upbringing in Austin shape her worldview?(06:31) Did Celine always think she’d become a founder?(06:49) What early research made Celine believe in longevity as a real field?(08:51) How did Celine’s love for dogs intersect with her scientific passion?(10:48) What was the aha moment behind starting Loyal?(16:14) What was it like convincing early investors and team members to believe in Loyal?(19:41) Who was the first person to invest in Celine and Loyal?(21:29) How did Celine build trust with both regulators and pet owners?(24:24) What’s a moment that didn’t go as planned, and how did Celine turn it around?(30:47) Is it challenging to build a brand while the product isn’t ready to go to market?(34:17) Is getting a drug for animals approved by the FDA different than a drug for humans?(36:41) What did Celine consider when building her team at Loyal?(40:21) Can Loyal’s work in dogs translate to longevity solutions for humans?(42:34) Who is a woman in your life who has had a profound impact on you and your career?For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on Instagram Follow us on TikTok Check out our guide to podcasting here! Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.**Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.WX Productions

This week on The Room Podcast, Claudia and Madison sit down with Zach Lloyd, Founder and CEO of Warp. Before founding Warp, Zach spent nearly a decade at Google, where he led engineering on Google Sheets and Docs, and later co-founded the startup Self-Made before launching Warp in 2020. Warp is a modern re-imagining of the command line, transforming one of the most widely used developer tools into an AI-powered, productivity-boosting experience.In this episode, Zach shares lessons from his challenge of finding the right founder–market fit, we explore how Warp integrates AI into developer workflows, why timing mattered during the ChatGPT wave, and the importance of retention before growth. Tune in for insights on building developer-first products, rethinking foundational tools, and how to adapt a startup in a fast-moving AI landscape. (0:00) Introduction(04:54) Where did Zach grow up and how did that shape his view of the world?(06:04) Did Zach always see himself becoming a founder or CEO?(07:07) How did Zach’s early years shape his career path, and why did he leave law school after one year?(09:37) How did Zach’s time at Google shape some of the insights behind Warp?(11:47) What did Zach’s first startup Self-Made do, and how did that experience influence Warp?(15:08) Why was the developer tools space so exciting and important for Zach to tackle with Warp?(18:41) In Zach’s words, what is Warp and how does AI supercharge the new terminal experience?(21:52) What was Zach’s “oh shit” moment in November 2022 when AI changed Warp’s trajectory?(24:58) How did Zach explain this AI-driven shift in product direction to investors?(26:53) What were Warp’s first growth inflection points and what drove that traction?(29:34) How did Warp differentiate itself from the explosion of AI coding tools after ChatGPT’s launch?(31:27) Who was the first person to invest in Warp?(33:29) What were some of the toughest user-experience or branding challenges Warp faced early on?(35:25) How is Warp growing into a dual approach of PLG and enterprise?(37:17) Do we need new business models to support what is happening in tech?(39:24) Who does Zach see as Warp’s true competitors in the AI developer tools space?(40:49) What’s Zach’s quick take on Model Context Protocol and how it fits into Warp’s future?(42:13) What can new users look forward to next with Warp?(43:11) Who is a woman in Zach’s life that has had a profound impact on him and his career? For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on Instagram Follow us on TikTok Check out our guide to podcasting here! Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music! Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.**Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC. WX Productions

In this episode of The Room Podcast, hosts Claudia Laurie and Madison McIlwain sit down with serial entrepreneur Craig Walker, founder and CEO of Dialpad.Craig’s story begins in Cupertino, back when apricot orchards defined the neighborhood and a young Steve Jobs lived just a few houses down. From those early days in Silicon Valley, Craig went on to earn degrees from Berkeley and Georgetown before starting his career as an M&A lawyer advising Cisco, Kleiner Perkins, and Sequoia. That legal lens shaped his entrepreneurial instincts and prepared him for the rollercoaster ride of building companies through both downturns and booms.Craig shares the pivotal moments behind:Rescuing Dialpad Communications in the wake of the dot-com crash, cutting $3M in monthly burn down to $100K.Founding GrandCentral, which became Google Voice after its acquisition by Google in 2007.Launching UberConference, later rebranded as Dialpad Meetings, and returning to his passion for modern communications.We dive deep into how Dialpad became an AI-native platform, from the bold $50M acquisition of TalkIQ in 2018 to pioneering real-time transcription, sentiment analysis, and call coaching. Craig explains why “work isn’t a place, it’s what you do” has been his guiding philosophy—and how that mindset shaped Dialpad’s remote-friendly, AI-first culture long before the pandemic.The conversation also covers:What it means to build an AI-native company vs. bolting on AI features.Lessons for founders raising capital in today’s market.How to balance automation with maintaining authentic human connection.Craig’s vision for the future of Dialpad and AI-powered work.The woman in Craig’s professional journey who has had a profound impact.This is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and leading at the edge of technological change

Welcome to a special bonus episode of The Room Podcast, recorded live at New York Tech Week! This week, we're thrilled to chat with Shreya Murthy, Co-Founder and CEO of Partiful, the modern social events platform that is revolutionizing how we make plans and build real-world relationships. Since launching in 2021, Partiful has scaled to millions of users and earned major accolades, including Google's Best App of 2024, Apple's Editor Choice, and recognition as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies for 2025. With its SMS-based approach and frictionless event creation, Partiful has become the go-to platform for gathering people together—so much so that "to partiful" has become a verb!In this episode, Shreya takes us through her unconventional journey from studying political theory at Princeton to building enterprise software, before ultimately founding Partiful to combat social isolation. We dive deep into fascinating topics like launching a party platform during a global pandemic, the strategic decision to start with SMS instead of an app, and how Partiful has maintained remarkable growth with an intentionally lean team. Shreya also shares invaluable insights on co-founder dynamics, navigating venture fundraising as a consumer company, and her vision for building community at every stage of life. Tune in for lessons on product development, authentic relationship building, and what it takes to create a platform that brings people together in an increasingly digital world.(00:00) Introduction(07:02) Where did Shreya grow up and how has that shaped her view of the world? (08:13) Did Shreya always think she was gonna become a founder?(08:47) How did going from Princeton to the real world spark curiosity about entrepreneurship?(11:30) How has Shreya seen the New York tech ecosystem evolve over the past decade?(13:14) What was the initial idea behind Partiful and what was the aha moment? (17:33) How did Shreya meet her co-founder Joy and cultivate trust? (20:10) What advice would Shreya give to folks looking for a co-founder? (21:33) What was COVID like for the Partiful team and how did the product evolve? (23:31) What was the strategy behind Partiful's SMS-based approach instead of launching with an app? (25:53) What metrics did Shreya orient around to know when to launch and build an app?(27:58) Who was the first person to say yes to investing in Partiful? (29:27) What made Partiful and Shreya so compelling as an angel investment? (32:56) What is Partiful's go-to-market strategy and business model? (35:40) How has Shreya managed conversations with VCs about when to start monetization?(36:57) How has Shreya thought about scaling the team at Partiful? (38:35) What's Shreya's favorite Partiful Invite that she's ever seen? (40:13) How has Partiful thought about building into the social graph network?(43:56) What is Shreya's take on consumer as a sector for growth and opportunity? (45:45) What have you seen resonate with consumer investors for folks fundraising? (49:16) What's next for Shreya personally? (51:45) Who is a woman that has inspired Shreya and impacted her career?For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on Instagram Follow us on TikTok Check out our guide to podcasting here! Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.**Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.WX Productions

In this season’s finale of The Room Podcast, we're thrilled to chat with Neil Parikh, Co-Founder of Casper and current Co-Founder of Slingshot. Neil first disrupted the mattress industry by building Casper into a household name, pioneering the direct-to-consumer sleep revolution before taking the company public. Now, he's tackling an even bigger challenge with Slingshot, building a foundational AI model specifically designed for psychology and mental health therapy.In this episode, Neil takes us through his unconventional journey from medical school dropout to D2C pioneer, sharing the serendipitous moments that led to Casper's creation and the harsh realities of going public during a pandemic. We delve into the mental health crisis facing society, the limitations of current AI therapy approaches, and how Slingshot is training models on real-world human therapy data to create more effective interventions. Neil also opens up about his therapy journey, the power of taking nudges when they appear, and why he believes we're entering an era of unprecedented change that will reshape how we think about mental health access and self-actualization.(04:06) Where did Neil grow up and how has that shaped his view of the world?(04:54) Did Neil always think he was gonna become a founder?(06:06) Was entrepreneurship in the water at Brown like it is today at Stanford or Harvard?(07:38) What led to Neil's decision to drop out of medical school?(10:52) What did Neil do after dropping out of medical school?(14:20) What made Neil believe that VC was the right route for a mattress company in 2014?(16:44) What was the name before Casper?(18:46) What advice would Neil have for DTC founders during this current climate?(22:17) What did Neil learn from the later stages of fundraising and preparing for the IPO?(27:14) How did Slingshot become the idea for Neil's next exciting phase?(31:40) How did Neil get the confidence to take "the nudge"?(32:48) How is Neil thinking about data sources, model training, and ethical guardrails for psychology?(38:53) How is Neil's model specificity even better than using ChatGPT for therapy?(41:58) Who's the first person to say yes to backing Slingshot?(43:25) What does Neil think is next for Slingshot and what is he excited for?(44:55) What's next for Neil personally, and what is he excited for this year?(46:34) Who is a woman in Neil's life that has had a profound impact on himself and his career?For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on Instagram Follow us on TikTok Check out our guide to podcasting here! Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.**Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.WX Productions

Welcome back to another episode of The Room Podcast! This week, Madison and Claudia sit down with Alex Konrad, former Senior Editor at Forbes and now Founder of Upstarts Media. After a decade covering technology and venture capital at Forbes, where he pioneered coverage from the Midas List to the Cloud 100, Alex has launched his own media company focused on telling the stories of early-stage founders and companies challenging the status quo.Throughout this conversation, Alex shares insights from his front-row seat to some of tech's most defining moments, including interviews with industry leaders like Sam Altman and Mark Benioff. He discusses the evolution of media in the age of AI, his decision to bootstrap rather than raise venture funding, and his vision for building a community-first media company. Alex also reveals how his upbringing in New York City shaped his no-nonsense approach to tech reporting and why he believes the future of media lies in creating direct, authentic connections with audiences. Tune in for a fascinating look at the changing media landscape and what it takes to build a modern media company from the ground up.(03:52) Where did Alex grow up and how did that shape his view of the world?(04:49) Did Alex always think he would become a founder?(05:35) What was the story as an intern that Alex got printed?(07:57) When Alex reflects on his Forbes interviews with tech leaders like Satya Nadella and Sam Altman, which ones stand out most?(10:04) What has Alex learned about power, vision, or vulnerability from being in the room with industry giants?(12:10) Why has Legacy Media been struggling to build an authentic connection with the startup community?(13:27) How is Alex thinking about building a foundation with Upstarts that's going to build into a legacy as lasting as Forbes?(16:03) How is Alex going to be thinking about events as a complement to media?(17:30) Is Alex seeking venture dollars to get Upstarts off the ground?(19:52) If Blue Links are dead, how does Alex think building an audience for the future is going to shift with AI?(23:57) How is Alex using AI in his workflow from editorial decisions to distribution?(29:05) What's next for Upstarts and for Alex personally?(40:06) Who is a woman in Alex's life that has had a profound impact on him and his career?For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on Instagram Follow us on TikTok Check out our guide to podcasting here! Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.**Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.WX Productions