Claim OwnershipThe Founder Initiative
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Helping founders hit PMF, get funded & drive durable growth through podcasting & buyer events
(Formerly TheTop.VC)
(Formerly TheTop.VC)
185 Episodes
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Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX. VC PROFILE:Seema Amble, Partner at Andreessen Horowitzhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/seema-amble-b404126/
Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX. FOUNDER PROFILE:Claire Tomkins, Founder of Future Familyhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-tomkins-b122422/
Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip
Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX.
VC PROFILE:
Ram Venkatesh, Founder of Sema4.ai
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ram-venkatesh-34166/
Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups --> 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vipAuth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX.FOUNDER PROFILE:Arvind Parthasarathihttps://www.linkedin.com/in/arvindparthasarathi/
Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups --> 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vipAuth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX. VC PROFILE:Micahel loffe, Founder of Aristhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelaioffe/
Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups --> 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vipAuth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX. VC PROFILE:Promod Haquehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/promodhaque/
Get 1-year free of Auth0 (authentication and authorization platform)--> https://auth0.com/startups/vipAuth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX. FOUNDER:Joseph Krausehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/josephfkrause/
EPISODE DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE
What does a real pitch in Silicon Valley look like? This might be as close as you can get without being here yourself!
VC PROFILE
Mercedes Bent, ex Lightspeed Ventures, Partner
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mercedesbent/
FOUNDER PROFILE:
Sandra Bustos, Founder of Meshly.ai
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandrabustos/
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In this episode, Robert, co-founder of Wordware, shares the story of turning a sauna brainstorm into one of the largest seed rounds in YC history. He walks us through the early pivots, the highs and lows of YC interviews, and how a viral Twitter Roast fueled their momentum. This is a raw look at conviction, timing, and how founders can compound small wins into historic outcomes.
FOUNDER PROFILE:
Robert Chandler
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertjhchandler/
🎙️ 7 Most Interesting Moments
The “sauna spark” in Warsaw that inspired the core idea for Wordware.
How getting denied by YC initially led to killing their first agent and pivoting.
Building the first prototype in just 3–4 days and knowing it felt different.
The conviction to ignore mixed feedback and double down on the small group of passionate users.
The chaotic YC interview process — failing twice before finally getting in on the third attempt.
The viral “Twitter Roast” stunt that reached 8M people and fueled their fundraising momentum.
Closing $30M in a single week, with Paul Graham advising them to speed-run the raise.
FOUNDER PROFILE:
Ben Kim, Nitrode's Co-Founder
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-yoonsung-kim/
🎙️ 7 Most Interesting Moments
Michael Seibel’s brutally honest feedback in interviews—pushing them to scrap lines and “cut the crap.”
Pivoting right before their YC interview and getting challenged on whether their new idea could ever reach a billion-dollar outcome.
The week-long sprint to build a demo after Michael said, “I’ll see you Sunday.”
YC’s insight that gaming and QA are their worst-performing sectors, and why the team was pushed to pivot.
Paul Graham comparing their idea to the “YouTube of gaming.”
The bold vision: building an AI-powered game engine that lets anyone create games with infinite endings and new player experiences
🤔 VCs not responding to you?
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🔑 7 Most Interesting Moments
David shares how his first YC application was rejected despite 10% week-over-week growth.
The surprising reason they later got accepted: adding two technical co-founders even while growth was flat.
Insights into what YC actually values (team, determination, big market) vs. what most founders think matters.
A pivotal YC interview moment where David “flipped a switch” at minute 7 and convinced the partners.
The origin story of 60: live website builds over Zoom that turned “bad leads” into high-value customers.
The founding story of Endorsed: an AI recruiting agent designed to cut hiring times dramatically.
FOUNDER PROFILE:
David Head
https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbhead/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
🤔 VCs not responding to you?
I’ll review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations:
Submit here:
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🔑 7 Most Interesting Moments
David shares how his first YC application was rejected despite 10% week-over-week growth.
The surprising reason they later got accepted: adding two technical co-founders even while growth was flat.
Insights into what YC actually values (team, determination, big market) vs. what most founders think matters.
A pivotal YC interview moment where David “flipped a switch” at minute 7 and convinced the partners.
The origin story of 60: live website builds over Zoom that turned “bad leads” into high-value customers.
The founding story of Endorsed: an AI recruiting agent designed to cut hiring times dramatically.
How they validated Endorsed—pre-selling mockups that made 100x more revenue than their previous live product.
What's it like to pitch an actual VC in Silicon Valley? We recorded a real one to show you :)
This was not scripted and it was the first time the pitched this VC!
Vignesh Ravikumar
Partner at Sierra Ventures
https://www.linkedin.com/in/vravikumar1/
Ajay Gulati
Founder of Kitecyber
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajaygulaticloud/
🤔 VCs not responding to you?
I’ll review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations:
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https://airtable.com/appBXetKIMsy5r3bE/pagQlrExmVx38bk6W/form
How to build a unicorn in under 2-years? Not exactly a step-by-step playbook, but you will learn something from a founder who actually did it! You will also hear a VC's perspective from Kevin Weber, Managing Director at Amex Ventures! Boom.
Jesse Zhang
Founder & CEO of Decagon
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejessezhang/
Kevin Weber
Managing Director at Amex Ventures
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-weber-b77b8028/
🤔 VCs not responding to you?
I’ll review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations:
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https://airtable.com/appBXetKIMsy5r3bE/pagQlrExmVx38bk6W/form
Will, Founder of Phonely, shares his raw journey into Y Combinator—including sleeping in his car before a 3AM interview. He reveals how founders should interpret investor rejections, the real path to product-market fit, and top lessons a long the way. A must-listen for anyone navigating the early-stage PMF journey or getting funded!
Will Bodewes
https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-bodewes/
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EPISODE DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE
What really matters when applying to YC?
How to get your first $1
top learnings from fundraising
FOUNDER PROFILE:
Brooke Hopkins
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bnhop/
🤔 VCs not responding to you?
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How do you close $100M from VCs like a16z & Sequoia?
Nic shared what he did and his most shocking learnings.
FOUNDER PROFILE:
Nic Kopp
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolas-kopp/
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SUMMARY
In this episode, Gil shares the raw journey of building Metadata — from validating the idea through consulting, to nearly running out of cash, to eventually raising a $35M+ Series B. He explains how doubling prices unlocked product-market fit, why retention beats new logos, and how adopting AI transformed the company. This is a candid look at the highs, lows, and lessons every founder needs to hear.
FOUNDER:
Gil Allouche
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gilallouche/
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Submit here: https://bit.ly/44z2vj8
MAIN POINTS:
Gil found product-market fit by doubling prices until customers pushed back.
He shifted focus from chasing new logos to retaining high-NRR customers.
Metadata survived by cutting 85–90% of workforce costs and replacing work with AI.
He validated the idea through consulting first, proving ROI before building software.
The company nearly died in 2019–2020 but survived through investor support and scrappy financing.
Raising Series A took two years and 100+ pitches, but Series B was oversubscribed.
His biggest lessons: pause to reassess, trust intuition, be transparent, and get a coach.
Teddy, founder of Fizz, shares how a side project at Stanford exploded into one of the fastest-growing Gen Z social platforms. From rejecting VC money at first to eventually raising $40M, Teddy explains how focusing on students’ needs fueled growth. This episode dives into product-market fit, the power of community launches, and building without chasing money.
Founder profile
https://www.linkedin.com/in/teddy-solomon-85a183188/
🤔 VCs not responding to you?
I’ll review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations:
Submit here: https://bit.ly/44z2vj8
HIGHITES
Raising $40M for a Gen Z social app
Stanford launch took off instantly
Building without chasing money
Saying no to VC money at first
The real launch: summer 2021 at Stanford
From Stanford success to nationwide phenomenon
What's do VCs ask during a pitch conversation? Here's a real pitch in San Francisco with a $25B AUM VC.
This is unscripted and it's the first time they met.
NEA Partner:
Andrew Schoen
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewaschoen/
YC Founder:
Berni Hausleitner
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hausleitnerb/
Gaurav Mishra, Founder of Proshort, shares how a single conversation led to his first big customer win and set the foundation for a multi-million-dollar raise. In this candid conversation, he breaks down the biggest growth unlocks, the vision that inspired investors, and the hype cycle pitfalls that every founder faces. If you're on the journey to PMF, this is the episode for you.
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