The Lobster Talks Podcast by Lobster Capital

Focus groups used to take 6–8 weeks and cost around $30–50k. Motives is a YC Summer ’25 company that does it in a day, and is doing it the hard way: with real humans, not synthetic personas. In this episode of Lobster Talks, we sit down with Sean (Motives, YC S25) to unpack how AI-native companies are replacing legacy services, why YC is doubling down on agents, and the real tradeoffs of building outside San Francisco. You’ll learn: Why Motives can run focus-group-grade research in 1–2 days vs 6–8 weeksThe truth about synthetic users vs real humans (and where each wins)YC’s real “secret” (spoiler: it’s not a secret) and why it maps perfectly to agentsThe underrated founder problem: sales vs customer success once you have tractionWhy “unlimited research” pricing can create addiction-level usageLondon vs SF: customer density, talent economics, and survivability as a founder 📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Motives: Revolutionizing Consumer Research with AI 00:31 Welcome to Lobster Talks: Meet Sean from Motives 01:01 Deep Dive into Motives: How It Works and Its Advantages 01:49 The Evolution of Market Research: From Traditional to AI-Powered 03:52 Comparing Human and AI-Driven Consumer Research 09:58 The YC Experience: Building AI-Native Businesses 14:57 Challenges and Strategies for AI Startups 24:07 Sales and Customer Success in AI Agent Businesses 28:10 Reflecting on Client Payments and Capital 28:35 Testing the Unlimited Plan 28:57 Challenges and Learnings from AI Research 32:14 Quality Control and Automation 34:36 The Importance of Customer Feedback 36:20 Choosing London Over San Francisco 38:16 Advantages of Being in London 44:02 Balancing Work and Personal Life 47:38 Cultural Differences in Tech 52:40 Final Thoughts and Reflections 🎧 Listen on the go: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercap

A seed-stage fund gets 10 markups… and a YC company hits a 4.5x in 9 months. That’s the vibe heading into 2026. Speed is up, liquidity is thawing, and AI is compressing timelines across YC and the broader venture market. In this episode of The Lobster Talks, we recap Lobster Capital’s breakout 2025, unpack why seed → Series A is getting cut in half, and lay out the sharpest 2026 prediction: the liquidity cycle is coming back… via IPOs, M&A, secondaries, and “creative” acquihires. We also dig into the counter-trend: as AI floods everything, founders are building real-world, tangible products that pull people off screens… Powered by AI, Not anti-AI. What you’ll learn in this episode: Why seed → Series A is moving from 18–24 months to ~9 months in top YC companiesHow a YC-backed company can go 0 → $10M ARR in ~14 months and keep growing 40% MoMWhy DPI + liquidity is the only KPI LPs ultimately care aboutThe new playbook: VC + PE strategies converging as AI makes roll-ups and efficiency leaps inevitableThe “opposite reaction” to AI: hardware + real-life communities powered by AI agentsWhat’s showing up in Winter 2026: robotics, hardware, and a surprising wave of space tech 📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Cold Open 00:46 Welcome to The Lobster Talks 01:16 Recap of 2025 Achievements 02:19 Series A Success and Future Predictions 07:50 The Importance of Liquidity in VC 09:35 AI's Transformational Impact 18:58 The Role of YC and Future Outlook 21:45 AI Note Taker: A Physical Product in 2026 22:36 Digital Detox: Reconnecting with the Real World 23:59 Lobster Capital's Portfolio: RealRoots and Sunflower 28:15 The Rise of Robotics and Space Tech in 2026 31:39 YC's Moonshot Investments and Future Prospects 34:27 Reflections on YC's Evolution and Success 37:40 Upcoming YC Demo Day and New Group Partners 39:21 Conclusion and Future Episodes 🎧 Listen on the go: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercap

Everyone’s chasing shiny AI agents. Tanner Jones is quietly using AI to tear out 25% of a state’s rule book, and got Virginia to require his product by law. This episode goes inside Vulcan Technology, a YC startup using AI to map every law and regulation in America, undercut Deloitte and McKinsey, and turn a $4T regulatory burden into a trillion-dollar software market. We talk about Virginia’s $24K cheaper homes, destroying the Big Four with code, how to actually sell into government, and why most “AI for gov” plays are doomed from day one. You’ll learn: How Vulcan uses AI to analyze entire regulatory codes and show what can’t change, what can change, and what must change.The Virginia case study: how building code streamlining translated into ~$24,000 less per new home without touching safety.Why both red and blue states are leaning into AI for regulation, and how YC founders are navigating the politics.What investors get wrong about govtech, ARR, and how to value AI consultancies selling into the state.How Tanner sold to a state government 10 days after incorporation and then raised one of the biggest seeds of his YC batch.What’s overhyped in AI infra, what’s inevitable, and how to avoid building a “solution in search of a problem” in govtech. 📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction: The Challenges of Government Contracts 00:51 Sponsorship Message from Stable 01:51 Introducing Tanner Jones and Vulcan Technology 02:33 The Vision: AI in Government Consulting 06:20 Case Study: Virginia's Regulatory Overhaul 12:26 Bipartisan Appeal of AI Solutions 17:34 Behind the Scenes at Y Combinator 22:28 Navigating Government Sales and Investor Relations 24:51 Scientific Innovation and Emergence of New Companies 25:15 Palantir and Anduril's Impact on Intelligence Agencies 25:37 Targeting Regulatory Agencies and Market Size 26:10 Challenges and Opportunities in Government Contracts 27:37 Passion for Government Reform 28:25 Investor Interest in Govtech and AI 29:30 Challenges for Govtech Startups 32:26 Understanding Government Incentives 34:06 Metrics for Success in Govtech 42:31 Future of AI in Government 46:09 Final Thoughts and Contact Information 🎧 Listen on the go: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercap This podcast episode is sponsored by Stable. Click here to sign up for a virtual address:  https://dashboard.usestable.com/onboard/begin?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=influencer_lobster&promoCode=lobster50

Most people think GPS is “good enough”, until you realize 90% of human and object movement happens where GPS doesn’t work at all. Warehouses, hospitals, tunnels, battlefields… completely blind spots. In this episode of Lobster Talks, Raymond Lee (Twill, YC) sits down with John Ferrara, solo founder of Juxta (YC S25), who’s building a Universal Positioning System... a no-hardware GPS alternative that works indoors, underground, and anywhere humans or machines move. We break down the tech, the wedge into logistics and defense, and how he raised $5M at a $40M cap in ~48 hours as a 21-year-old solo founder straight out of YC. You’ll learn: - Why 90% of location data on Earth is currently invisible — and why that’s such a big deal. - How Juxta uses IMUs, 3D simulations, and “synthetic fingerprinting” to localize devices without satellites or beacons. - Real use cases across logistics, warehouses, defense, and hospitals — and why these buyers are leaning in. - How deeptech founders should think about tech risk vs market risk when pitching VCs. - What it’s like to go through YC S25 as a solo founder, and why so many deeptech founders end up solo. - The inside story on raising a fast, oversubscribed round from CRV, PG, SV Angel, Liquid 2, and more. 📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to GPS-Denied Spaces 00:44 Sponsor Message: Stable 01:45 Welcome to Lobster Talks Podcast 02:10 Meet Jonathan Ferrara from Juxta 03:39 Understanding Juxta's Technology 08:50 Applications and Use Cases of Juxta 10:34 Onboarding Process for Juxta 15:37 Competitors and Market Landscape 25:27 Deep Tech and Solo Founders in YC 34:47 Solo Founders and the Victim Complex 35:15 The YC Experience and Going Solo 37:18 Support Systems and Coping Mechanisms 40:23 Raising Funds as a Solo Founder 44:25 Choosing the Right Investors 56:17 Vision for the Future 59:05 Conclusion and Contact Information 🎧 Listen on the go: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercap This podcast episode is sponsored by Stable. Click here to sign up for a virtual address: https://dashboard.usestable.com/onboard/begin?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=influencer_lobster&promoCode=lobster50

YC pivot. Creator taxes. Real savings. Fernando from Beluga Labs explains how AI moves tax planning from “black box” to one-click, year-round optimization, starting with the messiest edge case: content creators. In today’s episode, Nikki hosts Fernando (Beluga Labs, YC S24) on building AI-first tax planning for creators, why they pivoted in-batch, and how YC’s “light cone” advice shaped a focused GTM. We cover messy creator income, quarterly taxes, line-by-line deductions, and fundraising with discipline…not vibes. You’ll learn: - Why creators are the hardest (and best) wedge for tax software - How YC’s niche-first “light cone” shaped Beluga’s roadmap - The two biggest ways creators lose money on taxes (and how to stop it) - What a 3-star → 10-star tax UX looks like (from “not going to jail” to one-click refunds) - Fundraising discipline: setting milestone-based use of proceeds - The creator economy reality: followers ≠ revenue; niche and brand matter more Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to AI-Powered Tax Planning 00:21 Stable: A Solution for Business Addresses 01:21 Welcome to Lobster Talk Podcast 01:40 Meet Fernando from Beluga Labs 02:03 Fernando's Journey to Entrepreneurship 05:14 Beluga Labs: Revolutionizing Tax Planning 06:32 The Pivot to Tax Solutions 11:56 The YC Experience and Support 16:32 Exploring Other Opportunities 19:20 The Future of Content Creation 21:50 Key Industry Insights and Data 24:14 The Financial Reality of Content Creators 24:43 Maximizing Income Through Investments 25:19 The Value Proposition of Tax Solutions 25:53 Streamlining Tax Filing for Creators 27:42 Aggressive Tax Savings Strategies 31:45 Future Plans and Expansion 36:59 Fundraising and Business Growth 43:19 Final Thoughts and Advice 📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews. 🎧 Listen on the go: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercap This podcast episode is sponsored by Stable. Click here to sign up for a virtual address: https://dashboard.usestable.com/onboard/begin?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=influencer_lobster&promoCode=lobster50

A YC insider walked away from the best seat in the Valley… to build “prank call” voice AI that now powers serious enterprise sales.  Simple AI started as a consumer assistant that people used to troll their friends—and turned into a phone agent platform that’s replacing entire call centers. In this episode of The Lobster Talks, I sit down with Cat, founder of Simple AI and former YC product lead behind Startup School and YC’s co-founder matching tools. We go deep on the real difference between a business and a startup, why YC went all-in on AI before the rest of the market, and how voice agents are quietly becoming the most valuable “employee” in the building. You’ll hear how a side-project consumer app turned into inbound from enterprises like Omaha Steaks, why B2B isn’t boring when the hair is really on fire, and what the future looks like when calling a business means talking to an AI that actually solves your problem. In this episode, we cover: How Cat went from building Startup School at YC to founding Simple AIWhy “making money” isn’t enough to call something a startup—and why tech-enabled scale still mattersThe origin story of Simple AI: consumer assistant, prank calls, and the first “holy sh*t” user feedbackHow large enterprises are using voice agents today for inbound sales, support, and real revenue liftWhy high-quality, high-conversion calls beat “cheap” AI—and how Simple AI thinks about upsell and A/B testingB2C vs B2B in voice AI, YC’s early bet on LLMs, and whether this is a winner-take-most market 📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews. Chapters: 00:00 The Power of Voice AI: Pranks and Beyond 00:34 Sponsor Message: Stable - Your Virtual Business Address 01:34 Introduction to Lobster Talks and Today's Guest 01:41 Meet Cat from Simple AI 01:55 Cat's Journey at YC and the Birth of Simple AI 02:46 Building Tools for Founders at YC 04:25 The Distinction Between Business and Startup 05:49 The Role of Technology in Startup Scalability 09:03 The Visionary Leap into Voice AI 10:58 The Early Days of AI and YC's Influence 15:58 The Consumer Focus of Simple AI 17:49 Real-World Applications of Simple AI 21:00 How Simple AI Works: Practical Examples 22:44 The Power of Simple AI: No Marketing Needed 22:58 Celebrity Endorsement: Reese Witherspoon's Favorite AI 23:41 How Simple AI Benefits Businesses 24:03 AI in Call Centers: A Game Changer 24:39 The Omaha Steaks Case Study 25:45 AI vs. Human: The Upsell Advantage 26:15 Seasonal Workforce Challenges Solved by AI 27:47 The Future of AI in Sales and Support 31:57 The Synergy Between B2C and B2B Products 34:10 The Potential of Voice AI in B2C 44:08 The Competitive Landscape of Voice AI 45:51 Conclusion and Final Thoughts 🎧 Listen on the go: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercap This podcast episode is sponsored by Stable. Click here to sign up for a virtual address:  https://dashboard.usestable.com/onboard/begin?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=influencer_lobster&promoCode=lobster50

YC F25 just produced one of the wildest Demo Days we’ve seen: AI everywhere, hardware roaring back, and a drone startup raising at ~$200M straight out of the batch.  If you care about where early-stage markets are really going, this is your field report. In this episode of The Lobster Talks Podcast, we break down YC F25 Demo Day just hours after it wrapped.  We walk through the real themes behind the noise: AI as default, healthcare and finance getting rebuilt, deeptech and defense going mainstream, and why some YC valuations are starting to look… ambitious.  We also dig into Absurd (AI launch videos as a service), whether AI-powered services can be truly venture-backable, and what a $200M YC seed round means for fund math and future returns. You’ll learn: Why “every startup is an AI startup” is no longer a hot take, it’s table stakes.The under-discussed YC F25 trends: healthcare, financial services, “AI for the real world,” and deeptech/hardware.How AI-enabled service providers like Absurd are rewriting the rules on what’s considered “venture-backable.”The inside view on a YC F25 drone company raising at ~$200M and what that implies for fund-return math.How YC valuations have quietly crept back up post-2023, and what that means if you’re raising or investing.Why narrative, defense, space, and truly hard tech (Starcloud, Astroforge, Array Labs, Harper, etc.) are shifting what “normal” outcomes look like. 📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction: Surprising Valuations and Market Dynamics 00:54 Sponsor Message: Stable's Business Address Solution 01:54 Welcome to Lobster Talks Podcast 02:45 Recap of YC F25 Demo Day 03:56 Diverse Categories in YC F25 Batch 05:31 AI's Impact on Various Industries 06:26 Deep Tech and Hardware Innovations 07:23 Consumer Startups in YC F25 09:53 The Rise of AI-Enabled Service Providers 16:11 Debate: Service Providers and Venture Backed Outcomes 22:44 Scaling Ad Production Challenges 23:11 The Future of Video Content 23:58 Absurd Valuations in YC Companies 24:21 Drone Company with a $200M Valuation 25:59 Investment Returns and Valuation Math 28:47 High Valuations and Market Trends 36:43 Ambitious YC Startups and Their Potential 39:17 The Cycle of YC Valuations 42:50 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes 🎧 Listen on the go: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercap This podcast episode is sponsored by Stable. Click here to sign up for a virtual address:  https://dashboard.usestable.com/onboard/begin?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=influencer_lobster&promoCode=lobster50

YC to 200K users without a marketing budget? HeRA is trying to become the Figma of motion design and put After Effects on notice. This is a builder’s story: fast pivots, AI-native product, and a bold bet to scale from Berlin, not SF. In this episode, Chia, co-founder & CTO of HeRA breaks down how they pivoted into AI motion design, grew to hundreds of thousands of users, and why they’re betting on an onsite Berlin team post-YC. We cover PMF vs. virality, the UI/UX of AI video, the Figma vs. Adobe playbook, and how HeRA wants to power every SaaS launch video. You’ll learn: - Why the motion graphics wedge beat “all-in-one” AI video editors - The YC pivot moment: prototype in two days → interview in a week - Berlin vs. SF: talent, costs, and staying plugged into the Valley - PMF litmus test for AI video: “1 min product video in less than 30 minutes” - How HeRA generates code to animate motion (and why time makes it hard) - The Figma analogy: AI-native UX vs. legacy add-ons—and why Adobe should worry 📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews. Chapters 00:00 The Origin of Hera: From Video Editor to Motion Graphics 00:29 Sponsorship Message: Stable's Virtual Address Service 01:28 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest 02:07 Chia's Journey with YC and Hera's Evolution 02:51 The Birth of Hera's Core Idea 05:25 Decision to Move Back to Berlin 14:53 Technical Insights: How Hera Works 19:46 Marketing Success and Product Market Fit 25:00 Creating Continuous Motion Graphics 25:22 Challenges in Long Video Generation 27:55 Competing with Adobe After Effects 30:28 The Future of Motion Graphics with AI 31:20 Collaborative Features and Market Vision 36:38 Trends in AI and Video Creation 43:23 Hera's Impact on the Industry 48:32 Closing Remarks and Future Outlook 🎧 Listen on the go: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercap This podcast episode is sponsored by Stable. Click here to sign up for a virtual address: https://dashboard.usestable.com/onboard/begin?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=influencer_lobster&promoCode=lobster50

YC Fall ’25 Demo Day isn’t here yet, but the signal is already loud. We went through 150+ companies and picked the ones we’d fight to get allocation in. From AI-native banks and eBay killers to fusion reactors in space and crowdsourced drug discovery, this episode is a pre–Demo Day breakdown of YC’s Fall ’25 batch. We go category by category (B2B, Consumer, Fintech, Healthcare, Industrial/Real Estate) and call our shots before founders hit the stage. No hindsight bias, just real-time conviction. In this episode, we cover: - Why AI video tool Waffer might become the Canva of motion, not just another Sora clone. - How Sorce hit 500k+ users and got Drew Houston to Venmo them a $200K angel check. - The AI-native consumer plays: SellRaze (the “AI eBay”) and Sunflower (sobriety companion that actually prevents relapse). - Fintech 2.0 with Selfin (AI bank aggregator) and Fernstone (AI-powered insurance brokerage in a Berkshire-sized market). - Wild upside in healthcare and deeptech: Exonic’s crowdsourced drug discovery and LunaBill’s AI phone agents for U.S. healthcare billing. - The industrial moonshots: Axial Composites’ next-gen carbon fiber and Zephyr Fusion’s bid to do fusion… in orbit. 📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews. Chapters: 00:00 The Crazy Story of Sorce's Founding 00:56 Introducing Stable: The Business Address Solution 01:56 Welcome to Lobster Talks: Fall 25 Demo Day Preview 03:28 Diving into B2B Startups: Laurie's Top Pick 08:43 Exploring B2B Startups:Gabriel's Top Pick 16:31 Consumer Startups: Laurie's Favorite Pick 21:09 Consumer Startups: Gabriel's Top Pick 25:10 FinTech Startups: Laurie's Top Pick 28:43 AI Native Banking Revolution 29:45 AI in Insurance: Fernstone's Disruption 32:01 Healthcare Innovations: Exonic and LunaBill 38:21 Industrial and Real Estate Picks 42:21 Fusion Energy in Space: Zephyr Fusion 47:17 YC's Hardware and Deep Tech Push 50:36 Demo Day and Final Thoughts 🎧 Listen on the go: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercap This podcast episode is sponsored by Stable. Click here to sign up for a virtual address: https://dashboard.usestable.com/onboard/begin?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=influencer_lobster&promoCode=lobster50

Hospitals are bleeding $260 billion a year to denied insurance claims — and AI is making it worse. One YC founder decided to fight back, using AI to beat insurers at their own game. In this episode, we dive deep into how Aegis, a Y Combinator startup, is using AI agents to help healthcare providers recover billions lost to claim denials. Founder Ong shares his journey from Calcutta to Carnegie Mellon to YC, the inside story of getting into YC at the last minute, and how his team is tackling one of healthcare’s most entrenched problems. What you’ll learn: - How YC companies are attacking trillion-dollar industries with AI - Why healthcare loses $260B a year to denied insurance claims - The hidden incentives driving insurers to deny payments - How Aegis built real traction in just 10 weeks - What YC really teaches founders beyond the playbook - The power of the YC network and why it still compounds after demo day 📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews. Chapters: 00:00 The YC Application Journey 00:48 Introducing Krishang from Aegis 01:21 Krishang's Entrepreneurial Background 02:30 The Birth of Aegis 04:53 The Power of YC Content 07:03 Getting into YC: The Application Process 10:00 The YC Batch Experience 14:25 Maintaining Momentum Post-YC 17:59 Advice for Aspiring YC Applicants 19:09 Tackling the Healthcare Industry 21:41 Targeting Medical Billing Companies 22:07 AI in Insurance: A Growing Challenge 22:21 The Impact on Hospitals 24:31 Investor Perspectives on AI in Healthcare 26:48 Strategies for Success in Healthcare Startups 33:12 The YC Advantage 33:49 The Power of the YC Network 38:14 Silicon Valley's Collaborative Ecosystem 39:58 Conclusion and Final Thoughts 🎧 Listen on the go: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson

They applied to YC with 90 minutes on the clock—and got in. Then they pivoted into the most operationally gnarly corner of fintech: global payroll. Avi Konduru (Shor) breaks down how AI agents + stablecoins can vertically rebuild EOR, cut costs by an order of magnitude, and expand the market beyond today’s incumbents. In this episode, we go deep on YC as an ambition amplifier, pivot mechanics under real pressure, price vs. TAM strategy, and why launch videos (done right) are still YC’s most underrated distribution hack. You’ll learn: How a 90-minute YC application (and one-take demo) still cleared the barThe precise wedge: vertically owning entities + automating back office with AIWhy “someone else’s margin is your opportunity” actually maps to EORPricing strategy: undercut to expand TAM vs. match to maximize marginHow YC Launch video distribution compresses customer discovery into daysThe pitfalls: agent reliability, compliance debt, and scaling beyond the batch Chapters 00:00 The Last-Minute Application Rush 00:42 Welcome to Lobster Talks 01:07 Introducing Shor: Reinventing Global Payroll 02:38 The YC Experience: A Rollercoaster Journey 05:02 The Pivot: From Stablecoin Infra to EOR 10:29 Bootstrapping Challenges and Lessons Learned 18:00 The Unexpected Turn: Applying to YC Again 23:27 Competing with Deel and Rippling 27:07 Understanding Reseller Margins and Fees 27:27 Deel's Automation and Disruption in Entity Management 27:46 Setting Up Entities in High-Traffic Countries 28:49 Challenges and Regulatory Issues in Global Payroll 30:06 AI Agents Revolutionizing EOR Operations 32:33 Pricing Strategy and Market Expansion 40:11 The Power of Launch Videos in YC 44:07 The Role of Influencers in Marketing 48:07 Future Challenges and Customer Acquisition 51:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts 📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews. 🎧 Listen on the go: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson

We finally found a voice assistant that actually ships work. Not a demo, not a hype reel—April closes the loop on email and calendar while you’re driving, lifting, or walking to your next meeting. In this YC-insider conversation, Neha (co-founder of April) breaks down how a narrow, vertical agent can outperform “do-everything” assistants, why dogfooding—not retention dashboards—built their product moat, and what a screen-lite future means for founders and operators. We also cover YC batch dynamics in a crowded voice category, Demo Day strategy, and the roadmap to a true “voice OS.” What you’ll learn: - Why narrowing scope (email + calendar first) beats generalist agents for real outcomes - The dogfood standard: building to a founder’s own bar, then scaling - How YC treats multiple “competing” companies—and why that can help you ship faster - Demo Day tactics: being live, iterating weekly, and selling the founder, not the fantasy - Voice vs. screens: trust, closed-loop execution, and the path to screenless workflows - April’s roadmap: LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Slack, Notion—and verticalizing for sales & investors 📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to April: The AI Voice Assistant 00:24 Welcome to Lobster Talks: Meet Neha from April 01:12 Diving into April's Features and Use Cases 02:46 The Journey of Building April 03:58 Challenges and Successes in the Voice AI Space 05:36 The Future of Voice AI and Investor Insights 07:37 YC Experience and Investor Reactions 08:47 The Competitive Landscape and Collaboration 12:25 The Role of YC and the Voice AI Market 20:08 The Vision for a Screenless Future 23:06 Preparing for YC Demo Day 25:38 The Importance of Execution in Business 26:16 Advice for Startups: Ship Quickly and Get Feedback 26:50 Future Integrations and Features 28:37 Challenges and Strategies During YC Journey 32:31 Maintaining Momentum Post-YC 33:20 Mental Resilience and Personal Well-being 38:10 Exciting Future Plans for April 40:17 Predictions and Insights on AI Assistants 41:09 Lessons from Zoho and Book Recommendations 43:23 Conclusion and Final Thoughts 🎧 Listen on the go: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercap

A Netflix storage engineer walks into YC and ships an “infinite, shareable disk” on top of S3—30× faster and up to 90% cheaper—then dials GTM for the AI era. This is the file system’s comeback story. Today I sit down with Hunter Leath (ARL) to unpack how a decade inside AWS + Netflix revealed a gap the hyperscalers won’t close: developers want storage that feels local, scales like S3, and doesn’t nuke the budget. We get into: YC as confidence engine, moving a family to SF, rebuilding for speed, why AWS won’t copy this, and why the file system—not object storage—becomes AI’s universal interface. You’ll learn -Why the clouds won’t ship a product that cannibalizes billions in revenue -The architecture that makes ARL 30× faster and up to 90% cheaper -How to catch customers exactly when new AI workloads start (the real ICP) -Post-batch velocity: how SF energy kills the YC slump -Why “serverless everything” needs a serverless disk to persist state -The contrarian bet: the file system is the future data interface for AI 📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews. Chapters 00:00 The Risk of Leaving Big Tech 00:33 Introducing Hunter Leh and Aril 01:32 Hunter's Journey from AWS to Netflix 02:47 The Birth of Aril 06:55 Challenges and Insights from YC 07:26 The Solo Founder Experience 19:39 Building and Launching Aril 21:01 Go-to-Market Strategy and Customer Acquisition 24:04 The AI Industry's Growing Demand 24:49 Fundraising Journey and Investor Insights 26:35 AWS and Market Dynamics 29:17 Innovations in Data Storage 36:23 Maintaining Momentum Post-YC 38:27 Future Predictions in Data Infrastructure 42:22 Contrarian Views on AI and Data Storage 44:20 Conclusion and Contact Information 🎧 Listen on the go: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson

YC just changed the rules—and the market is catching up. We break down why seed is the power position, how CVCs are reshaping Series A, and what YC’s new Early Decision really means for founders and investors. In this episode, we cover Lobster Capital updates (first Series A, first DPI), how we decide follow-ons from an insider vantage point, the rise of “seed-strapping,” Coinbase Ventures x YC’s RFS on Fintech 3.0, and why stablecoins + AI agents may be the next real on-chain wedge. We also unpack YC’s Early Decision—who it actually benefits—and what to expect heading into the next Demo Day. You’ll learn: Why seed has asymmetric leverage (and why top YC teams don’t optimize for dollars) How we evaluate follow-ons: revenue quality, NRR, churn, hiring, and real signal vs noise CVCs at Series A: when specialization beats the “Tier-1” logo “Seed-strapping”: profitability at seed, and why some teams skip A entirely Coinbase Ventures x YC’s Fintech 3.0 RFS and the stablecoin/AI-agent stack YC Early Decision: who it helps (hardware/bio) and how YC captures talent earlier 📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Investing Insights 00:23 Welcome to Lobster Talks 00:45 Lobster Capital Updates 03:16 Series A Graduation Rates 04:08 Fund Strategy and Follow-Ons 05:38 YC Companies and Profitability 10:33 Fundraising and Strategic Alliances 17:28 Crypto and FinTech 3.0 25:23 Global Currency Dynamics 26:20 The Rise of Stablecoins 27:27 AI and Crypto Synergy 32:03 Speculative Trading and Meme Coins 38:42 YC's Early Decision Program 44:01 The Future of YC and Startup Ecosystem 51:04 Conclusion and Upcoming Content 🎧 Listen on the go: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson

A robotaxi playbook… for dirt. Flywheel AI is turning excavators into remotely operated, camera-first machines — collecting the data to make them autonomous next. In this YC-insider episode, we unpack Flywheel AI’s “Waymo for excavators” strategy: retrofit any machine in hours, deliver value with tele-op now, and use that profitably collected data to train autonomy later. We get into labor shortages, safety economics (OSHA penalties), competitor traps (drive-by-wire only), and how to actually do hardware at YC in 90 days without getting stuck in pilot hell. You’ll learn Why construction’s bottleneck is skilled operators — and how tele-op removes it The dangerous blind-spot reality on sites and the true cost of safety incidents Flywheel’s retrofit + single-screen UX that works on any excavator brand/size The autonomy roadmap: camera-only stack, data flywheel, edge-case capture How to win data rights on site (be the only retrofit, own the dataset) The YC hardware playbook: sell first, build last; parallelize to kill lead-time 📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews. Chapters: 00:00 From Sandbox to Real Excavator: The Journey Begins 00:20 Introducing Flywheel AI: Revolutionizing Excavators 01:49 The Labor Shortage Crisis in Construction 03:51 The Dangers of Operating Excavators 05:58 Teleoperation: Enhancing Safety and Efficiency 11:28 The Path to Autonomous Excavators 16:34 Competing in the Autonomous Excavator Market 22:26 Demo Day: Bringing an Excavator to YC 24:37 Returning the Excavator 24:47 Demo Day Setup and Reactions 26:04 Autonomy and Data Training 26:38 Joining YC and Initial Thoughts 28:03 YC's Impact on Hardware Startups 29:18 Building and Iterating Hardware 33:13 Advice for Hardware Startups 34:49 Final Thoughts and Reflections 45:03 Accelerating Iteration Cycles 48:38 Conclusion and Contact Information

A “cute idea” until it wasn’t: RealRoots walked into YC as an overlooked consumer play and walked out with $9.4M ARR and an oversubscribed round. Summary: In this YC-insider episode, Dorothy Li (RealRoots) breaks down how AI-powered friendship matchmaking turned into real traction across 80+ cities. We unpack the demo day shock, the stigma shift (friendship ≈ dating 10 years ago), and the manual-to-AI playbook that de-risks consumer. We also cover investor blind spots, GTM math (cold DMs → paid), and why cofounder fit is a “you’ll know in 10 seconds” decision. You’ll learn: -Why “consumer is back” at YC—and how RealRoots rode a stigma shift -The manual-first, AI-next method that actually finds PMF -How 2–3k cold DMs converted to 11% paid ($20) and seeded the funnel -The marketplace + AI stack behind curated IRL events at scale -Investor pattern errors: scar tissue vs. behavior/tech inflections -Co-founder tactics, hiring posture, and sustainable pace vs. 9-9-6 Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to RealRoots and Demo Day Success 00:48 Meet Dorothy Li: Founder of RealRoots 01:32 The Problem of Loneliness and Finding Community 02:43 How RealRoots Uses AI to Build Friendships 04:02 Expansion and Success of RealRoots 08:07 The YC Experience and Its Impact 17:39 Overcoming Stigma and Building for the Future 29:27 Investor Hesitations and Scar Tissue 30:12 Challenges in the Friendship App Space 30:59 The Concept of 'Targets' in Startups 32:04 The Importance of Consumer Behavior and Technology Changes 33:04 Co-Founder Story: Meeting Through RealRoots 36:16 Manual Efforts in Early Startup Stages 38:49 The Impact of a Co-Founder 39:45 Work-Life Balance in Startups 44:18 YC's Focus on Younger Founders 48:21 Validating Your Startup Idea 55:09 Customer Acquisition Strategies 56:30 Conclusion and Final Thoughts 📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews. 🎧 Listen on the go: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson

A YC founder turns a manual, low-IQ grind into an AI agent that finds creators, negotiates terms, and scales UGC—sometimes a little too far. What starts as a viral local-model demo becomes Stormy AI’s end-to-end engine for influencer marketing. Fresh off YC Demo Day, Robert Lukoszko (Stormy AI) breaks down the pivot, the fundraising blitz, and how agencies are replacing hours of scrolling with autonomous outreach. We get into model-proof moats, why micro-creators beat celebrity accounts, and the coming wave of AI-generated influencers. You’ll learn: How a YC pivot formed around a founder’s own pain (and real demand) The playbook: sourcing, outreach, negotiation, and QA with AI agents Why “every better model makes us stronger” is the right moat test Micro vs. macro creators: what actually converts in 2025 The next act: AI-native UGC, personalization, and brand-owned AI faces Tactical Demo Day lessons: energy + social proof = signed checks Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Cold Open 00:13 Welcome to Lobster Talks 00:37 Demo Day Insights 03:05 The Journey of Stormy AI 04:39 From Viral Demos to YC Acceptance 07:35 Pivoting to Stormy AI 09:41 Automating Influencer Marketing 18:39 The Future of Influencer Marketing 19:50 AI and UGC: The Future of Influencer Marketing 20:11 The Rise of AI Influencers 20:41 AI-Generated Content vs. Human Content 21:05 The Makeup Industry and AI Influencers 22:26 The Shift to Micro-Influencers 23:23 Emerging Platforms and the Decline of Meta 25:22 The Future of AI in Content Creation 28:58 Preparing for an AI-Driven Future 31:46 Building a Moat in the AI Industry 34:54 The Importance of Vision and Customer Interaction 38:16 Stormy AI: Current and Future Plans 39:20 Conclusion and Call to Action 📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews. 🎧 Listen on the go: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson

AI won’t live in chat. The future is headless agents doing real work — and calling humans only when it matters. Dexter Horthy, cofounder of HumanLayer, explains how agent-driven software actually ships. In this fast, tactical deep-dive, we unpack HumanLayer’s origin story (from failed data tools to paid customers in a week), why frameworks lag real production apps, and the workflow that lets AI agents ship in complex codebases. We cover research-plan-implement loops, context engineering, team process, and how “specs become the new code.” You’ll learn - How HumanLayer emerged from a SQL “janitor” agent that needed human approvals - The YC grind as a solo founder and closing first revenue in a week - Why horizontal AI dev tools are hard — and how top 1% teams actually build - Context engineering 101: research → plan → implement, and why it beats vibe coding - How to review plans, not code, to scale quality across a team Where headless agents win first — and why culture, not models, is the bottleneck. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Cold Open 00:21 Welcome to Lobster Talks 00:47 Guest Introduction and Background 01:12 Early Startup Journey 01:35 Building the AI Agent 02:18 Challenges and Pivots 03:52 Solo Founder Experience 05:28 The Importance of Data Tools 11:20 YC Experience and Revenue 13:59 Building for the 1% vs. 99% 23:50 Exploring New Ideas 25:18 Exploring Cloud Code SDK 25:34 Building Experiments with Claude 26:05 Challenges and Learnings 26:49 Insights from AI Engineering Talks 28:22 The Future of Coding with AI 30:22 Context Engineering and Workflow 32:19 Product Development and Customization 38:22 Scaling AI in Teams 48:10 Exciting Future Prospects 50:42 Conclusion and Farewell 📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews. Show Notes & Resources: • 14min Youtube video on wielding coding agents: https://hlyr.dev/ace • Blog post version - https://github.com/humanlayer/advanced-context-engineering-for-coding-agents/blob/main/ace-fca.md • Sign up for codelayer beta: https://humanlayer.dev/code 🎧 Listen on the go: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson

Founders closing rounds before lunch. Investors making handshake commitments in the hallway. A startup with $9M+ ARR and another with $15M ARR lighting up the room. YC Demo Day isn’t a show; it’s a marketplace where speed and execution decide everything. In this fast, founder-first debrief, we break down what actually happened at the latest YC Demo Day: the subtle format changes (that matter), why the one-minute pitch is only the opener, and how deals really get done. We cover the batch’s AI/devtools tilt, the contrarian bets in defense and hardware, and why early traction remains the single best predictor at seed. We also unpack portfolio construction, conversion-rate dynamics inside YC, and what support looks like after the cameras stop. You’ll learn: - The real Demo Day mechanics: tranches, chat apps, long breaks for dealmaking - Why some hot rounds are already full and what to do about it - How to win YC deals: first-meeting decisions, 24–48h timelines, and prep work - The $9M+ ARR investment we made—and why traction beats narrative - Why we’re now backing deeptech/hardware (missiles vs drones, autonomous excavators) - Portfolio strategy: aiming for the fund returner, not spray-and-pray Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Demo Day Overview 00:15 Behind the Scenes of Demo Day 01:03 Changes and Improvements at YC Demo Day 03:11 Investor Insights and Strategies 04:23 Engaging with YC Startups 06:35 The Importance of Early Traction 09:49 Demo Day Pitch Dynamics 13:42 Fundraising Conversations and Strategies 18:07 Lobster Capital's Investment Approach 21:54 Portfolio Construction and Future Prospects 27:02 AI and Dev Tools: A Crowded Space 27:39 Challenges in Identifying Winners 28:48 Customer Acquisition: The Key to Success 29:57 The Importance of Traction 33:32 Investing in Deep Tech and Hardware 39:24 Evaluating Flywheel's Potential 45:46 Supporting Startups Post-Demo Day 50:09 Looking Ahead: The Never-Ending Cycle 📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews. 🎧 Listen on the go: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson

A surfer duct-tapes a phone to his board… and ends up saving enterprise couriers 32 seconds per stop. The last meter of delivery — not the last mile — is where the money is. In this Lobster Talks episode, Ingo Boegemann, co-founder/CEO of truemetrics, breaks down how sensor fusion + mission intelligence turn messy building entrances, courtyards, and wrong pins into precise, repeatable delivery actions. We go deep on Europe vs. US GTM, GDPR constraints (and why the US may unlock even more value), landing whales like GLS, and the unscalable POC that unlocked scale. You’ll learn Why “a generic geocode is just the starting point” — and how to map entrances that actually workThe POC → pilot → rollout playbook (and why Truemetrics charges for POCs)How to integrate via SDK without slowing ops — and show value before engineering lifts a fingerEurope vs. US: privacy ceilings, data linking, and why boots-on-the-ground still wins enterprise salesThe real driver bottleneck: pressure, compliance, and turning best drivers’ tacit knowledge into softwareThe long game: building a data moat for autonomous last-meter delivery Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Last Meter Delivery 01:07 Meet Ingo Boegemann: The Journey to Truemetrics 02:15 From Surfboards to Sensor Fusion 05:04 Challenges and Realizations in Delivery Solutions 06:47 European vs. US Market Dynamics 11:42 The Path to Scaling in North America 19:02 Innovative Solutions for Delivery Logistics 21:37 How Truemetrics Technology Works 26:36 Magnetic Field Intensity and Machine Learning Models 27:29 Challenges in Courier Data Integration 29:52 Sales Process and Proof of Concept 32:08 Logistics Industry Vulnerabilities 35:42 Future of Autonomous Deliveries 38:30 Data-Driven Delivery Solutions 48:31 Closing Remarks and Contact Information 📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews. 🎧 Listen on the go: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson