The Upstarts Podcast

Experts have called Valar Atomics CEO Isaiah Taylor “totally nuts.” He says that when you’re trying to build a trillion-dollar company that’s literally splitting the atom, it comes with the territory. Isaiah discusses his origins founding nuclear energy startup Valar, why competitors have failed, and his Upstart Moment in raising $150 million to build new-look energy campuses called “gigasites.” His life’s work: to solve AI’s energy crisis—and keep America on pace with China and Russia globally. Chapters: 00:58 Isaiah’s founder journey 4:18 Why nuclear startups fail 5:55 The case for small reactors 8:36 AI’s energy demands 12:04 Isaiah’s Upstart Moment 14:11 China and the global energy race 19:18 Speed as safety 22:47 Splitting the atom 27:50 Building energy campuses 29:16 Isaiah’s advice for his earlier self For more, visit https://www.upstartsmedia.com/ Season 1 of the Upstarts Podcast is presented by Mercury: https://mercury.com/ Produced & edited by Eric Johnson from LightningPod: https://lightningpod.fm/

When Loyal founder Celine Halioua told people she was building a dog longevity startup, they laughed in her face. Now she's running what could be the largest-ever clinical trial to extend canine lifespans — pursuing FDA approval for multiple drugs to help senior and large dogs live two years longer or more. Celine shares her unusual journey to raising $250 million for a startup that defies easy labels, her Upstart Moment taking her biggest fear head-on, and the example she hopes to set for another generation of women deep tech founders. Chapters: 0:00 Intro to Celine and Loyal 1:42 Celine’s origins in human longevity 12:44 Breaking Silicon Valley patterns 14:51 The largest clinical trial for pets 18:13 Handling founder highs and lows 20:53 Celine’s Upstart Moment 24:53 Overcoming her biggest fear 30:56 Finding the right people 34:49 Loyal’s healthier future 38:24: Setting a new example For more, visit https://www.upstartsmedia.com/ Season 1 of the Upstarts Podcast is presented by Mercury: https://mercury.com/ Produced & edited by Eric Johnson from LightningPod: https://lightningpod.fm/

Canva co-founder and CEO Melanie Perkins leads the most valuable woman-led startup in the world, a design and publishing tool used by more than 260 million users and valued at $42 billion. But before all that, Melanie was an Upstart: an unappreciated founder from western Australia who had to fly to San Francisco uninvited just to secure startup funding. Melanie goes into that Upstart Moment in this debut episode of The Upstarts Podcast, covering the mindset and strategies that helped her go from university pitch competition to global phenomenon. Melanie breaks down Canva’s framework for setting goals and values – and makes her case for why all startups should lean into a big vision and focus on impact from day one. Plus, Melanie turns the tables and gives Alex some founder homework of his own. Chapters: 0:00 Intro to Melanie 2:15 Canva’s scale and impact mindset 3:42 Melanie’s first startup and Canva origins 7:15 Melanie’s early motivation and facing doubts 10:19 Learning from customers and a long-term vision 16:35 Risking her life and her Upstart Moment 19:58 How to set effective team goals 22:51 Setting values, culture and priorities as you scale 28:01 Canva’s 1% pledge and giving away billions 33:02 Melanie’s homework for founders (like Alex) Season 1 of the Upstarts Podcast is presented by Mercury. Produced & edited by Eric Johnson from LightningPod.fm

On The Upstarts Podcast, you’ll hear from some of the most exciting Upstarts today: emerging technology leaders punching above their weight to achieve real impact. Veteran tech reporter Alex Konrad profiled leaders from Marc Benioff to Melanie Perkins in a decade-plus at Forbes. Now as the founder and editor of Upstarts Media, he’s sitting down with breakout entrepreneurs taking on the status quo to shake up their fields in AI, design, nuclear energy, space, and more. You’ll leave each interview with a new understanding of a world-changing technology that’s transforming how we live and work – as well as strategies and tactics any builder can put to use. Learn more at UpstartsMedia.com Produced & edited by Eric Johnson from LightningPod.fm