The Building Blocks Podcast

In this episode of Building Blocks, we dive deep with Kris Rudeegraap, Co-founder and CEO of Sendoso, an AI-enhanced gifting platform that's revolutionizing how companies build authentic connections with customers and prospects. From selling mistletoe as a kid to building a company that's raised $152M in venture funding, Kris shares his entrepreneurial journey and insights on scaling both software and physical operations globally.Guest: Kris RudeegraapLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rudeegraap/Connect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivikFollow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpodTopics:0:00: Introduction2:40: Early entrepreneurial experiences and Silicon Valley influence8:15: Building Sendoso and validating the initial concept14:30: Scaling marketplace operations and warehouse logistics21:45: The Alyce acquisition and consolidation in the gifting space27:30: Relocating HQ from San Francisco to Phoenix33:15: Balancing AI automation with human connection39:40: Managing global operations and quality control45:20: Integration strategy and partnerships51:35: Book Recommendations53:00: Future of Sendoso and AI innovation#B2BSales #Entrepreneurship #StartupLife #PhysicalOperations #AIInnovation #BuildingBlocksPodcast #podcast

In this episode of Building Blocks, we sit down with Emre Ertan, co-founder and co-CEO of Cenoa, a borderless super wallet revolutionizing how people in emerging markets access digital dollars. Previously the CPO/CTO at Getir where he scaled the engineering team from 80 to 400 people, Emre shares his journey from a small town in Turkey to Silicon Valley, and how that experience shaped his vision for democratizing financial access globally. He discusses Cenoa's explosive growth in Nigeria (50K+ signups in first month), their innovative approach to simplifying blockchain technology for everyday users, and his perspectives on building compliant fintech products across 40+ markets.Check out Cenoa: https://www.cenoa.com/Guest: Emre ErtanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eertan/Connect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivikFollow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpodTopics:0:00: Introduction2:40: Early entrepreneurial journey and Silicon Valley inspiration13:20: Experience scaling product and engineering at Getir19:40: Building Cenoa and addressing emerging market pain points28:15: Achieving rapid growth in Nigeria35:30: Balancing technical sophistication with user simplicity42:45: Navigating regulatory environments across markets48:20: Future plans for US dollar-based debit cards and financing51:35: Book Recommendations53:00: Vision for Cenoa's future#Fintech #Blockchain #EmergingMarkets #StartupLife #FinancialInclusion #ProductDevelopment #BuildingBlocksPodcast #podcast

In this episode of Building Blocks, we dive deep with Shrikant Latkar, co-founder of BaseRock.ai and former CMO of InMobi. With over two decades of experience spanning from large enterprises to startups, Shrikant shares his journey from engineering to marketing leadership, and now to revolutionizing software testing through AI. He offers valuable insights on transitioning from 200,000-person companies to solo entrepreneurship, building and selling Oust Labs (acquired by Betterplace), and his current mission to transform QA with BaseRock.ai. Guest: Shrikant Latkar LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shrikantlatkar/ Connect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivik Follow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpod Topics: 0:00: Introduction 2:40: Shrikant's early days in technology 8:30: Journey from large enterprises to startups 15:20: Building and scaling BaseRock.ai 23:45: The evolution of software testing and AI 29:30: Building Oust Labs and path to acquisition 35:15: Marketing leadership at InMobi 41:30: Growth strategies in the AI era 46:50: The future of B2B sales and marketing 51:35: Book Recommendation - The First 90 Days 53:00: BaseRock's roadmap and future plans #SoftwareTesting #AI #Entrepreneurship #ProductManagement #Marketing #StartupLife #BuildingBlocksPodcast #podcast

In this episode of Building Blocks, we're joined by Michelle Stephens, Chief Revenue Officer at Felt and a pioneer in healthcare technology. With a unique journey from pediatric nursing to tech entrepreneurship, Michelle shares her invaluable insights on bridging the gap between clinical care and technological innovation. She discusses her experience co-founding Oath Care, a digital health platform leveraging AI for maternal and child healthcare, and her groundbreaking research on childhood stress and autonomic nervous system reactivity. Michelle also opens up about her current work at Felt, the "ultimate care API," and her mission to transform healthcare delivery through technology. Guest: Michelle Stephens, PhD, CPNP, RN LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-michelle-stephens/ Connect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivik Follow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpod Topics: 0:00: Introduction 4:15: Michelle's journey from nursing to entrepreneurship 12:30: Research on childhood stress and healthcare outcomes 19:45: Building Oath Care and lessons learned 28:40: The vision behind Felt and transforming healthcare delivery 35:20: Bridging clinical expertise with technology 42:15: The role of faith in technology (Acts 17 Collective) 48:30: The future of healthcare technology 51:35: Book Recommendation 53:00: What's next for Michelle #HealthTech #Healthcare #Entrepreneurship #DigitalHealth #Innovation #BuildingBlocksPodcast #podcast

In this episode of Building Blocks, we dive deep into the world of real-time data streaming with Paul Dudley, Co-founder and CEO of Streamkap. Having previously founded Gravity (acquired in 2022) and held leadership roles at BrightEdge and NetBase Solutions, Paul shares his journey from physics graduate to data infrastructure entrepreneur. He offers valuable insights on modernizing data streaming, the evolution of real-time data needs, and building developer-friendly tools that simplify complex technologies. Check out Streamkap: http://streamkap.com Guest: Paul Dudley LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauldudley/ Connect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivik Follow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpod Topics: 0:00: Introduction 2:40: Paul's journey into entrepreneurship 8:15: Early experiences with NLP before LLMs at NetBase 14:30: Scaling BrightEdge from single-digit millions to $100M 21:45: The founding story of Streamkap 28:30: Understanding Change Data Capture (CDC) and its importance 35:20: Real-time data's role in modern applications 41:15: The intersection of streaming data and AI 46:30: Building and scaling a technical team 51:35: Book recommendations and sci-fi's relevance to tech 54:00: Future plans for Streamkap #DataStreaming #RealTimeData #TechStartup #DataInfrastructure #Entrepreneurship #BuildingBlocksPodcast #podcast

In this episode of Building Blocks, we dive deep with Vijay Koduri, co-founder and CEO of Sizzle.gg, an AI-driven platform revolutionizing gaming highlights and esports content creation. From his early days witnessing the birth of the internet to leading marketing at Google Wallet and Adyen, Vijay shares his fascinating journey through tech's evolution. He offers valuable insights on building trust in fintech, leveraging community for growth, and his current mission of transforming how gaming content is created and shared. Learn more about Sizzle: https://sizzle.gg/ Guest: Vijay Koduri LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vijay-koduri-92936/ Connect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivik Follow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpod Topics: 0:00: Introduction 2:40: Vijay's journey from the early internet days 15:20: Experience at Google Wallet and marketing strategy 24:30: Building trust and community at Adyen 31:45: The birth of Sizzle.gg and AI in gaming 38:50: Navigating partnerships with esports leagues 43:15: The future of AI-driven content creation 48:30: Growth strategies and funding plans 51:35: Book Recommendation - The Science of Selling

In this episode of Building Blocks, we dive deep into the world of AI-powered content creation with Neel Balar, co-founder of Clueso. Neel shares his journey from IIT Madras to Y Combinator, and how he pivoted from his initial startup idea to building Clueso, a platform that transforms screen recordings into polished video tutorials and documentation. He offers valuable insights on product development, customer acquisition, and scaling a global SaaS business. Check out Clueso: https://www.clueso.io/ Guest: Neel Balar LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neelbalar7/ Connect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivik Follow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpod Topics: 0:00: Introduction 2:40: Neel's journey into entrepreneurship 8:15: The pivot from Desklamp to Clueso 15:30: Building and scaling Clueso 23:00: Integrating AI models into the product 29:45: Growth strategies and customer acquisition 36:20: Balancing global markets and customer support 44:10: The importance of customer experience for startups 50:30: Clueso's vision and future plans 55:45: Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs 59:30: Next steps for Clueso #aicontentcreation #Entrepreneurship #ProductDevelopment #SaaS #YCombinator #StartupLife #BuildingBlocksPodcast #podcast

In this episode of Building Blocks, we dive into the world of trust-based home-sharing with Bo Abrams, Co-Founder of Kommu. Bo shares his journey from finance to entrepreneurship and how he's reimagining travel accommodations through a unique social networking lens. He discusses Kommu's innovative approach to connecting travelers with trusted hosts, the challenges of building a two-sided marketplace, and his vision for the future of home-sharing. Check started on Kommu today: https://www.gokommu.com/ Guest: Bo Abrams LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bo-abrams/ Connect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivik Follow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpod Topics: 0:00: Introduction 2:40: Bo's background and journey into entrepreneurship 9:30: The inspiration behind Kommu 15:45: Kommu's trust-based model and market differentiation 23:00: Challenges of building a two-sided marketplace 29:30: Kommu's business model and monetization strategy 35:00: Future of home-sharing and Kommu's vision 41:15: B2B opportunities for Kommu 46:30: Book recommendations and wrap-up

In this episode of Building Blocks, we explore the cutting-edge world of AI-powered software integration with Isabella Reed, co-founder of CamelAI, a Y Combinator-backed platform that allows users to chat with their entire software stack. Isabella shares her journey from working in senior sales and growth roles to co-founding a startup that's revolutionizing how we interact with our digital tools. She discusses the challenges of pivoting from QA testing to a comprehensive AI chat interface, and how CamelAI is making complex software interactions more intuitive and accessible. Learn how this YC alum is navigating the rapidly evolving AI landscape and building a product that could reshape our daily digital interactions. Sign up for CamelAI's beta now: https://www.camelai.com/ Guest: Isabella Reed Company: CamelAI Connect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivik Follow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpod Topics: 0:00: Introduction 3:20: Isabella's transition from corporate roles to entrepreneurship 8:40: The genesis of CamelAI and Y Combinator experience 14:15: CamelAI's evolution from qaml to a comprehensive AI chat interface 20:30: Balancing B2B and B2C use cases in product development 26:45: The appeal of chat interfaces and the future of UI design 32:10: Key takeaways from Y Combinator and crucial startup advice 38:25: Growth strategies and showcasing platform value 44:50: The challenges and opportunities in the AI landscape 50:15: Book recommendations and insights from "Billion Dollar Whale" 53:30: Future plans for CamelAI and closing thoughts

In this episode of Building Blocks, we dive deep into the world of hospitality tech with Venkat Sakamuri, co-founder of Stayflexi, a Y Combinator-backed modern operating system for hotels and vacation rentals. Venkat shares his journey from working on core database technology at Oracle to revolutionizing the hospitality industry. He discusses the challenges of building a comprehensive platform that caters to both independent hotels and vacation rentals, and how Stayflexi is leveling the playing field for small and mid-tier properties. Learn how this YC alum is disrupting the hospitality tech space and scaling to over 30,000 properties across 15 countries. Guest: Venkat Sakamuri LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/venkatsakamuri/ Company: Stayflexi (https://www.stayflexi.com/) Connect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivik Follow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpod Topics: 0:00: Introduction 2:40: Venkat's transition from Oracle to hospitality tech 7:15: The genesis of Stayflexi and Y Combinator experience 12:30: Stayflexi's unique approach to property management systems 18:45: The launch of Empower tool and its impact on small hotels 24:00: Stayflexi's four-hub structure and product philosophy 29:15: Scaling strategies and navigating the COVID-19 pandemic 35:30: The role of passion and communication in startup success 41:00: Venkat's approach to sales and marketing as a technical founder 46:15: Future plans for Stayflexi and industry disruption 51:35: Book recommendations 53:00: Closing thoughts

In this episode of Building Blocks, we sit down with Vivian Zheng, a product leader who has made waves at Snap, TikTok, and Databricks, and is now embarking on her own entrepreneurial journey. She shares her insights on building industry-leading products from the ground up, the nuances of achieving product-market fit, and the challenges of scaling two-sided marketplaces like TikTok's Branded Mission. Guest: Vivian Zheng LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivian-zheng-931048122/ Connect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivik Follow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpod Topics: 0:00: Introduction 2:40: Vivian's journey into product management 6:15: Experience building Branded Mission at TikTok 12:30: Strategies for achieving product-market fit 18:45: Balancing advertiser control and creator incentives 24:00: Transitioning from TikTok to Databricks 29:15: The challenges of building a two-sided marketplace 35:30: Vivian's experience as a first-time founder 41:00: The impact of AI on entrepreneurship 46:15: Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs 51:35: Book Recommendation 53:00: Vivian's next steps and future plans #ProductManagement #Entrepreneurship #CreatorEconomy #StartupLife #TikTok #Databricks #BuildingBlocksPodcast #podcast

Join us for an enlightening episode with Arvind Radhakrishnan, Associate Director at WeWork Labs and founder of 21Dojo. Dive into his unique perspective on the startup ecosystem in India and uncover the strategies that have helped numerous startups secure funding and accelerate growth. Don't miss out on valuable insights into startup strategies, investment criteria, and the challenges of building a two-sided marketplace from someone who has successfully played both roles of founder and investor. Learn more about WeWork Labs: https://wework.co.in/labs/ Guest: Arvind Radhakrishnan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arvindrad/ Connect with Daivik: ⁠https://bento.me/daivik⁠ Follow the Podcast: ⁠https://bento.me/thebbpod⁠ Topics: 0:00: Introduction 1:30: Arvind's journey into the startup world 5:00: WeWork Labs' approach to evaluating startups 9:15: The WeWork Labs program and its four pillars 15:00: The unique characteristics of the Indian startup ecosystem 24:00: Strategies for startup scaling 30:30: The story behind 21Dojo and its 21 factors 38:00: How 21Dojo worked for both startups and investors 41:45: Building relationships with investors 44:15: The decision to sell 21Dojo 47:45: Promising sectors in the Indian startup ecosystem 51:35: Recommended books: Winning Middle India & Chip War 53:00: Arvind’s next steps and what to look forward to #startups #venturecapital #investment #incubators #WeWorkLabs #21Dojo #BuildingBlocksPodcast #podcast

Join us for an insightful episode with Utkarsh Sengar, Director of Engineering at WebFlow, as he delves into the experience of transforming website building with WebFlow. Uncover the strategies that propelled Webflow to dominate the market and explore how the platform navigates the line between no code and traditional coding functionalities. Don't miss out on valuable insights into AI startup growth strategies, as Utkarsh shares his perspectives on platform growth, addressing challenges in maintaining relevance for both B2B and B2C! Learn more about Webflow: https://webflow.com/ Guest: Utkarsh Sengar Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/utsengar/ Connect with Daivik: ⁠https://bento.me/daivik⁠ Follow the Podcast: ⁠https://bento.me/thebbpod⁠ Topics 0:00 - Intro 1:29 - What brought him into Product Building? 4:53 - How has decided what to pursue next? 8:38 - What does he think WebFlow did really well to get itself to this point, where it is the dominant player? 14:20 - How has WebFlow gone about retaining simplicity while allowing for true customization? 21:50 - How does WebFlow determine how deep to go? 28:40 - How does he think about ensuring the platform that the platform stays relevant to both B2C and B2B? 33:30 - Is there any fear that another company can come and build a competing platform that just focuses on one side? 41:00 - If he was doing an AI startup, how would he think about creating a growth strategy? 51:30 - Upwork's Growth Explained 49:23 - How has he transferred his skills into new products and companies? 58:38 - Wrapup #product #growth #nocode #tools #technology #productmanagement #BuildingBlocksPodcast #podcast

In this episode, we delve into the mind of Aayush Mudgal, a visionary in the realm of Machine Learning and AI. Currently spearheading Ads Ranking and Privacy Aware Conversion Modeling at Pinterest, Aayush shares his journey from an ML researcher to a tech leader at one of the most innovative social media platforms. We explore how Pinterest continues to revolutionize the way people discover things online and the evolving role of machine learning in ad targeting amidst growing privacy concerns. Aayush also sheds light on his experiences with computer vision at Netflix, his views on the future of General AI, and his venture into seed investing, focusing on Ad and EdTech startups. Guest: Ayush Mudgal Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aayushmudgal/ Connect with Daivik: ⁠https://bento.me/daivik ⁠Follow the Podcast: ⁠https://bento.me/thebbpod⁠ #productmanagement #AIInnovation #BuildingBlocksPodcast#AI #ML #data #syntheticdata #computervision #product #technology #startup #podcast #founders #productbuilding

Join us in a captivating episode with Aly Madhavji, Managing Partner at Blockchain Founders Fund, as we traverse the evolving landscapes of venture capital, blockchain, and AI. Aly, also a consultant with the United Nations and an author, unpacks his unique insights into crypto trends, investment strategies, and the future of Web3 and generative AI. Dive into a discussion rich with expertise and predictions about the next big waves in technology. Learn more about the Blockchain Founders fund: https://blockchainff.com Guest: Aly Madhavji Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alymadhavji/ Connect with Daivik: ⁠https://bento.me/daivik⁠ Follow the Podcast: ⁠https://bento.me/thebbpod⁠ #productmanagement #AIInnovation #BuildingBlocksPodcast#AI #ML #data #syntheticdata #computervision #product #technology #startup #podcast #founders #productbuilding

Join us as we sit down with Charles Gellman, CEO of Hido Health, to explore the groundbreaking work being done by his startup in using AI & robotics for patients. Discover how these cutting-edge technologies are transforming the way we deliver healthcare, empowering individuals to take charge of their own well-being. We explore the potential of AI robotics to revolutionize the healthcare landscape! Learn more about Hido Health: https://us.hidohealth.com/ Guest: Charless Gellman Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mshicgellman/ Connect with Daivik: ⁠https://bento.me/daivik⁠ Follow the Podcast: ⁠https://bento.me/thebbpod⁠ Use my special link https://zen.ai/_mMA3vhasMDPeC_bFTy-4aGDtb9c_viq5eHIDYEbXMM to save 30% off your first month of any Zencastr paid plan. #productmanagement #AIInnovation #BuildingBlocksPodcast#AI #ML #data #syntheticdata #computervision #product #technology #startup #podcast #founders #productbuilding

Veeraj is currently the Founder of Puzzl, a platform focused on letting companies manage their remote first workforce. Puzzl is backed by notable SF VC's and even at such a young age, Veeraj has already seen an exit as well as has been an angel investor in several high potential startups. Learn more about Puzzl: https://www.puzzl.app/ Guest: Veeraj Mehta LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veerajm/ Connect with Daivik: ⁠https://bento.me/daivik⁠ Follow the Podcast: ⁠https://bento.me/thebbpod⁠ #productmanagement #AIInnovation #BuildingBlocksPodcast#AI #ML #data #syntheticdata #computervision #product #technology #startup #podcast #founders #productbuilding

Ido is currently the Director of Product at Datagen, a company focused on providing high-performance synthetic data, with a focus on data for human-centric computer vision applications In 2022, Datagen closed a 50 million dollar Series B funding round and has been working with clients across the world like Nvidia, Google, IBM and Intel. We dive deep into Ido's vast experience as a Product Manager and the nuances of using Synthetic Data to train AI models. We go through how Datagen goes about sourcing its data sets, how they go about curating their initial training set, how the evaluation of the AI models and the future of the platform. Learn more about Datagen: ⁠https://datagen.tech Guest: Ido Halevi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ido-halevi-381603147/ Connect with Daivik: ⁠https://bento.me/daivik⁠ Follow the Podcast: ⁠https://bento.me/thebbpod⁠ Topics 0:00 - Intro 1:30 - What brought him into Product Management? 7:45 - Talking about Datagen 14:50 - Talking about the benefits of Synthetic Data 22:40 - How does Datagen source data for its own models? 26:05 - How does Datagen decide what features to let its customer control? 31:30 - How do they evaluate Synthetic Data Models? 37:09 - AI Startups 43:40 - Building the platform 47:40 - Wrapup ----- In the upcoming episode of our podcast, we're thrilled to host Ido, an industry leader in Product Management and currently the Director of Product at Datagen, a pioneering startup focused on providing high-performance synthetic data, with a special emphasis on data for human-centric computer vision applications. Ido's journey began at Intel as an Engineer before venturing into Product Management at Logz.io and then serving as a Senior PM at Explorium before finally joining Datagen. Outside of work, he actively mentors at Scale Up, an organization addressing human capital challenges in the hi-tech ecosystem, and also contributes to Max initiative, an educational impact entrepreneurship program. During the podcast, we'll delve into Ido's story, exploring what led him towards Product Management and how he has navigated his career decisions. We'll also discuss his invaluable experience building products at Datagen, a platform enabling users to generate synthetic data tailored for their machine learning models. We'll learn how Datagen addresses the critical role of data in model training, particularly in the challenging domain of Computer Vision. Ido will shed light on how they source data for their own models and the design considerations for their Neural Nets in generating realistic synthetic data. We'll explore the intricacies of evaluating GAN-based models and the compelling advantages of synthetic data over real-world data, from cost-effectiveness to mitigating bias. The future of Datagen's platform will be a focal point, as we'll uncover how they strike a balance between offering user control while maintaining a generalized self-serve platform. Ido will share some recommended reading and offer insights into the next steps for himself and Datagen. Don't miss this enlightening episode that unravels the wonders of synthetic data and its transformative potential in the world of AI! 🎧 #ProductManagement #AIInnovation #Datagen #BuildingBlocksPodcast #AI #ML #data #syntheticdata #computervision #product #technology #startup #podcast #founders #productbuilding

Sayantan is currently the GM at Nubank, a fintech company challenging the status quo to create a new generation of financial services in LATAM At Nubank he is leading their customer Experience Platform with over ~100 XFN reporting to him. They are building products and services used for all customer services needs for 70M+ global users and 10K+ support agents. We delve into his vast experience in building technology for companies like Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter. We discuss how he thinks about building products in Fintech, how he thinks about product innovation and his time building funnels for ads within social media platforms. Learn more about Nubank: https://nubank.com.br/en/ Guest: Sayantan Mukhopadhyay LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sayantanmukhopadhyay/ Connect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivik Follow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpod Topics 0:00 - Intro 1:35 - What brought him into Product Building? 10:45 - How has decided what to pursue next? 21:28 - What set Nubank apart? 33:20 - How do you build products in different verticals at the same time? 37:30 - How do you choose what to keep that has worked and where to innovate? 49:23 - How has he transferred his skills into new products and companies? 57:30 - What trends shaped advertising? 1:07:49 - Wrapup ----- Sayantan, the current General Manager of Nubank, is a seasoned professional with a remarkable journey in the tech industry. He kickstarted his career as a Software Engineer and Consultant at Accenture before venturing into Data Science and Business Analyst roles at Twitter. His tenure at Twitter witnessed him taking on various key responsibilities, starting as a DS/Analyst for Global Ops, later advancing to become the head of sales analytics, and ultimately transitioning into a Product Manager for both their Internal Tools and Core Ads teams. Moving on to Pinterest, Sayantan assumed the role of Product Lead for their Ads Delivery Team, showcasing his diverse expertise. His journey continued to flourish as he made his way to Facebook, leading their Market Dynamics team with precision. Eventually, he joined Nubank as a Product Director, contributing to the company's vision of revolutionizing financial services in Latin America. Beyond his professional achievements, Sayantan shares his knowledge and experience as a guest lecturer at the Product School and fulfills a mentoring role at Fast Track, nurturing the next generation of talents in the industry. #nubank #product #technology #LATAM #fintech #startup #podcast #founders #productbuilding

This week, I had the pleasure of having David E. Weekly, the Head of The Capital One Lab, on the podcast. We delve into his vast experience in building technology for startups, mid-sized companies, and international corporations. We discuss how he identifies problems that need to be solved, sets up a groundwork for products to ensure scalability and success, and achieves product-market fit. David also shared his thoughts on balancing innovation while ensuring cohesion between products, fostering environments that encourage innovation, and transferring skills and past experience to new products in different domains. We also touched on his experience in bringing connectivity to developing markets and how entrepreneurs in these countries can compete on a global level. Learn more about The Capital One Lab: https://www.thecapitalonelab.comGuest: David E. WeeklyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dweekly/Twitter: https://twitter.com/dweeklyConnect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivikFollow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpodTopics0:00 - Intro1:51 - What brought him into Entrepreneurship?4:20 - How has decided what to pursue next? 10:59 - What was the motive behind joining The Capital One Lab?13:31 - How has he identified problems worth solving? 17:49 - How do you make things that are scalable? 21:35 - The rise of new technology all over the world25:40 - How does David make time to do all the things he does?29:05 - Wrapup-----David E. Weekly is the head of The Capital One Lab, leading engineers, product managers, designers, and strategists focused on exploring the intersection of emerging technology and finance. He is also a seasoned technical product executive with 30 years of experience building technology for startups of his own creation, mid-sized companies, and international publicly-traded corporations.David has served as an angel investor and built and run commercial research teams for Google and Meta’s predecessor, Facebook. He brings a global perspective from a range of diverse experiences across the planet. Earlier in his career, he formed a high performing seed-stage fund backing entrepreneurs from Mexico. In Africa, he worked with the Tunisian government on connectivity, witnessed fiber trenching in Uganda, and taught elementary school students about technology in Ghana. On the continent of Asia, he reported for the Korean press and climbed mountains in northern India to support hilltop community wireless networks. He is a certified PADI Rescue Scuba Diver, a certificated private rotorcraft (helicopter) and instrument-rated fixed-wing pilot, and a Part 107 licensed commercial drone operator. David received his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Stanford University.