The Room Podcast

Welcome to the finale of Season 10 of The Room Podcast! In this episode, we're thrilled to sit down with Ben Goodwin, Co-Founder of OLIPOP, a pioneering beverage company at the intersection of taste and gut health. Ben takes us on a journey through his upbringing and how it shaped his worldview, his pivotal realization about lifestyle changes, and the catalysts that drove him to become a founder.Join us as we delve into the core product of OLIPOP and its unique approach to promoting gut health through delicious, low-sugar beverages. Plus, we explore the health components of OLIPOP's offerings, shedding light on the company's commitment to providing nutritious alternatives to traditional sodas rather than other more risky weight loss tactics.  Some key topics in the episode are; cultivating a community through strong branding and DTC marketing, gut health and beverage innovation of today, and observing consumer trends and demands while maintaining sustainable practices.For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Check out our guide to podcasting here! 5:03 - Where did Ben grow up and how did that shape his view of the world?6:44 - What made Ben realize that he needed to change his lifestyle?9:34 - Did Ben’s drive to make an impact lead him to become a founder?12:37 - What lessons did Ben take from his early founding journeys?18:56 - What is the core product of Olipop?21:41 - What are the health components of Olipop?26:41 - When did Olipop realize they had a skill for DTC marketing?30:39 - Who was the first person to say yes to investing in Olipop?32:53 - What advice does Ben have for founders looking to take on Venture Capital?36:53 - What was a time in Ben’s career when things didn’t go as planned?41:06 - How did Olipop think about creating a community through its marketing?44:19 - How do Ben and Olipop feel about “get healthy quick” alternatives?47:17 - What is Ben’s favorite Olipop flavor?47:49 - What’s next for Olipop?48:33 - Who is a woman in Ben’s life that had a profound impact on him and his career?WX Productions

Welcome back to The Room Podcast! This week, we're excited to sit with and interview Matt Martin, Co-founder of Clockwise, a revolutionary productivity platform. Matt shares his career journey, detailing his evolution from tech enthusiast to the founding team of Clockwise, why he founded Clockwise, and his passion for properly utilized software.Matt elaborates on Clockwise's success in providing efficient scheduling solutions, leveraging advanced technology with intuitive design. In our conversation, we explore Clockwise’s approach, using AI to transform time management for professionals and reshaping the way individuals approach their schedules. Throughout the episode, we explore key topics such as the evolution of Clockwise's go-to-market strategy versus adoption strategy, the seamless integration of AI technology with human workflows, and the recent importance and societal demand for inclusive solutions in the realm of professional productivity. For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Check out our guide to podcasting here! 5:03 - Where did Matt grow up and how did that shape his view of the world?6:13 - Did Matt always think he was going to become a founder?7:22 - How was Matt’s experience at Dartmouth and how did it shape his early career?10:55 - What was Maatt’s first entrepreneurial endeavor and how did it go?14:08 - What was the “aha moment” that encouraged Matt to start a business?16:54 - What was the initial product of Clockwise?20:40 - How did Clockwise reach Hallmark Brands such as Netflix, Uber, and Twitter?23:38 - What was the go-to-market strategy of Clockwise and how did they proceed to drive adoption?28:11 - Who was the first person to say yes to investing in Clockwise?29:11 - When was a time in founding Clockwise when things didn’t go as planned?34:37 - Why is now the time for AI calendar innovation?39:09 - How have people begun using calendars differently and how has that shaped Clockwise’s product?42:20 - What’s next for Matt personally?42:52 - Who is a woman in Matt’s life that has a profound impact on him and his career? WX Productions

We are back with another installment of The Room Podcast! This week, we are joined by Meghan Joyce, the visionary CEO behind Duckbill, a revolutionary, AI-powered life management service. Listen in as Meghan shares her journey from pivotal roles at Uber and Oscar Health to founding Duckbill, where she's pioneering accessible solutions for the modern adult.We delve into Meghan's mission of democratizing access to assistance, exploring how Duckbill combines cutting-edge technology and human expertise to tackle life's endless time-consuming, and energy-draining tasks. Hear how Meghan's passion for addressing societal needs led her to redefine the concept of life management, making it more affordable and accessible for all. In this episode, we explore insights and themes such as the balance of B2C versus B2B go-to-market, building cutting-edge AI platforms alongside human-driven services, and the societal shift towards inclusive support systems for working families.For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Check out our guide to podcasting here! 5:23 - Where did Meghan grow up and how did that shape her view of the world?7:21 - Did Meghan always think that she was going to be a founder?9:27 - How did Meghan's experience at Harvard play into her career trajectory? 12:39 - Why did Meghan join Uber and how was her experience with the company?17:58 - How did Meghan go from Uber to Oscar Health?20:26 - What did Meghan learn about growing a company at scale during her time with Oscar Health?22:46 - What was the initial “aha moment” that inspired Meghan to star Duckbill?26:03 - Is there a lesson learned from Harvard that Meghan thinks of often?28:00 - What role does AI play in Duckbill’s product?31:08 - Why did Meghan run an extensive beta and what advice would she give about going to market? 36:08 - Who was the first person to say yes to investing in Duckbill?38:31 - Would Duckbill ever create its own AI product instead of utilizing other popular AI products?41:11 - Where does Meghan think AI application technologies are going and where does Duckbill fit in?42:45 - How did Duckbill come up with their B2C go-to-market strategy and will they ever go B2B?44:42 - What was a moment when things didn’t go as planned during Meghan’s founding journey?47:08 - How does Meghan balance running a company while starting a family?49:45 - Who is a woman in Meghan’s life that has had a profound impact on her and her career?WX Productions

Welcome to the latest episode of The Room Podcast! Today, we have the privilege of hosting Eva Ho, the co-founder of Fika Ventures, a driving force in the tech startup ecosystem. Eva Ho is no stranger to breaking barriers, and in this episode, she offers candid advice for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to carve their own paths. Join us as Eva takes us through her journey from her early days in the tech industry to her current role as a trailblazing venture capitalist. In this episode, we explore the role of personal history in professional pathways, knowing when to leave and take the leap of faith as a founder, and the evolution of the emerging manager landscape. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur, an aspiring fund manager, or simply intrigued by the inner workings of venture capital, this episode is packed with wisdom and inspiration from one of the industry's most respected voices. Tune in as Eva Ho shares her vision for the future of technology and entrepreneurship.For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Check out our guide to podcasting here! 5:33 - Where did Eva grow up and how did that shape her view of the world?7:31 - Did Eva always think she was meant to be a founder?9:17 - How has the culture around entrepreneurship changed over time at Harvard?14:48 - What brought Eva to the tech industry?17:50 - Why has Eva become an angel investor?20:51 - How did Eva get involved with Susa?22:18 - When did Eva realize it was time to leave Susa?25:41 - What is the mission behind Fika?27:26 - Who was the first team to say yes to investing in Fika?29:35 - How does Fika decide what industries it invests in?32:57 - When does Eva know it’s time to say yes to investing in something?36:58 - What does Eva look for in a founder who encourages her to support them?41:48 - Why is Eva passionate about All Raise and how has it shaped her career?44:37 - What are some recent projects that Eva is excited about?46:17 - Who is a woman who has had a profound impact on Eva and her career?WX Productions

This week, we are excited to return with another LIVE rendition of The Room Podcast! Last December Madison and Claudia traveled down to Miami for Art Basel to sit down live with some incredible guests. We are joined by Daniel Betts, founder of Blue Frontier Labs, and Tosh Ernest, Head of SVB Catalyst 2045, a new program started by SVB to further support under-represented founders across every industry. In this episode, we delve into Daniel's early career in the energy sector, where he recognized the pressing need for efficient air conditioning solutions. From merging fuel cell technology to founding Blue Frontier Labs, explore the intersection of digital and physical solutions in the cleantech space as Daniel shares his vision for a sustainable future and the transformative impact of investing in cleantech companies. Plus, Tosh discusses the importance of founders forging strong banking relationships, such as SVB’s partnership with Daniel, to support startups through various stages of growth. Discover how SVB Catalyst 2045 empowers underrepresented founders and drives innovation in emerging segments, reshaping the entrepreneurship landscape.This week's episode covers topics such as Blue Frontier’s innovative approach to air conditioning, the value of strong banking relationships, and the importance of diversity and inclusion in entrepreneurship.For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Check out our guide to podcasting here! 8:16 - Where did Daniel grow up and how did that shape his view of the world?9:26 - Did Daniel always think she was going to become a founder?10:42 - Why did Daniel turn his attention to the energy problem space?12:13 - How did Daniel’s prior work experience lead him to founding Blue Frontier?15:17 - What was the initial product that Daniel and Blue Frontier launched?17:46 - Who was the first person to say yes to investing in Blue Frontier?19:13 - How is SVB uniquely positioned to best service founders like Daniel as they tackle big problems and start their journey of building the next big thing?23:01 - Why is it important for founders to have strong relationships with their banking partners?24:44 - Why has Daniel’s relationship with SVB been so important to the success of Blue Frontier?26:32 - How does SVB help founders from inception to IPO and everything in between?28:39 - What was Daniel’s go-to-market strategy with Blue Frontier?31:07 - What advice would Daniel give other founders in the advanced energy technology space?35:22 - Why is Daniel excited about Cleantech?38:29 - What is SVB Catalyst 2045?41:34 - What are some upcoming exciting projects coming from Catalyst 2045?43:25 - Who is a woman in Tosh’s life that has had a profound impact on her and her career?46:26 - Who is a woman in Daniel’s life that has had a profound impact on him and his career?WX Productions

We’re back with another installment of The Room Podcast! In this episode, we're honored to host Julie Rice, the co-founder of SoulCycle and Peoplehood. Join us as Julie shares her journey from revolutionizing the fitness industry with SoulCycle to her latest venture, focused on strengthening human connections.We discuss the genesis of SoulCycle, exploring how it became a cultural phenomenon by fostering community and motivation beyond traditional fitness. Julie also sheds light on Peoplehood, a practice aimed at enhancing relationships through guided group conversations. Julie re-defined a category with SoulCycle and now she's doing it again with making self-workouts a habit in building stronger relationships with Peoplehood. Key topics include finding your own entrepreneurial path, the importance of transparency and investing in people, and Julie's thoughts for founders thinking about acquisition or strategic partnership. Whether you're into fitness, entrepreneurship, or building connections, this episode offers valuable insights from a true trailblazer. We're also excited to offer a special Peoplehood promo code for The Room Podcast listeners. Simply use the code "Peoplehood1" for one free Gather!For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Check out our guide to podcasting here! 5:32 - Where did Julie grow up and how did that shape her view of the world?7:06 - Did Julie always think she was going to become a founder?8:12 - What was the entertainment industry like when Julie was a part of it?10:31 - What was the “aha moment” that led to the founding of Soul Cycle?13:52 - How did Julie and Elizebeth come up with the product of Soul Cycle?18:15 - When did Julie think that Soul Cycle had reached product market fit?20:49 - How was word-of-mouth marketing impactful to the growth of Soul Cycle?22:41 - What does it mean to get acquired or to sell or to chart an exit strategy and, what advice does Julie have for founders looking to sell?28:10- How did Julie and Elizebeth come up with the product of Peoplehood?33:56 - What can consumers expect from Peoplehood?39:57 - Where does Peoplehood lie on the spectrum of spiritual to tactical?42:35 - What can consumers look forward to in the future of Peoplehood?44:19 - What’s next for Julie, personally?45:53 - What is Julie’s favorite music to Soul Cycle along to?47:18 - Who was a woman in Julie’s life that had a profound impact on her and her career?WX Productions

Welcome back to The Room Podcast! In today's episode, we're thrilled to have Larry Diamond, co-founder of ZIP, joining us for an insightful conversation. Larry and his co-founder, Peter Gray, identified a critical gap in the market, leading to the birth of ZIP. This episode delves into the evolution of digital payments, exploring ZIP's role in providing seamless financial solutions for businesses of all sizes.In this episode, we discuss the transformative impact of ZIP on the fintech ecosystem, the importance of innovation in the digital finance space, and Larry's advice for budding entrepreneurs navigating the enterprise SaaS sector. Tune in for an up-to-date discussion on the future of finance, transparent M&A strategies, and the vital role of user-friendly, secure financial solutions. Whether you're a fintech enthusiast or a budding entrepreneur, this episode is jam-packed with wisdom and inspiration.For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Check out our guide to podcasting here! 4:42 - Where did Larry grow up and how did that shape his view of the world?6:27 - Did Larry always think he would become a founder?7:45 - What key lessons did Larry learn early on in his career? 10:51 - When did Larry meet his business partner, Peter?12:20 - Why did Larry and Peter start Zip?13:35 - What was the initial product and go-to-market strategy of Zip?16:27 - When did Larry realize they were having a successful product-market fit?18:28 - Who was the first person to invest in Zip?20:45 - What insights does Larry have from his experience of a unique capitalization structure?23:35 - When was a time when things did not go as planned?25:43 - What was Zip’s Go-To-Market strategy for their core customers? 27:42 - How does Zip consider banks stakeholders and partners in their ecosystem?  30:05 - How was Zip’s expansion into the US market?31:32 - What advice would Larry give founders looking to break into the US market?33:38 - How is Zip thinking about putting its customer base at the core of its business?36:55 - What is Zip looking forward to in 2024?39:18 - What’s next for Larry in the new year?40:30 - Who is a woman in Larry’s life that had a profound impact on him and his career?WX Productions

Welcome back to another new season of The Room Podcast! Season 10 kicks off with an exploration into the world of health and wellness entrepreneurship featuring Katerina Schneider, the innovative founder and CEO of Ritual. Join us as we uncover the story behind Ritual, a company that revolutionized the supplement industry. Dive into Katerina's journey, her insights on transparency, and how Ritual's approach is reshaping the way we view vitamins. It's an episode filled with inspiration and a closer look at the visionary mind behind this wellness sensation.Key topics in this episode include; challenging traditional norms in an industry, the importance of transparency in wellness products, and products reflecting a commitment to consumers.For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Check out our guide to podcasting here! 5:03 - Where did Kat grow up and how did that shape her view of the world?6:02 - Did Kat always think she was going to be a founder?7:00 - How was Kat’s early career as an investment banker?8:58 - How did Kat become the global lead of digital innovation at Universal Music Group?11:04 - How did Kat’s career experience prepare her for being a founder?13:14 - When did it occur to Kat that there was a gap in the market that she needed to solve?15:45 - How did Kat think about other gaps in the healthcare ecosystem and did she feel uniquely positioned to solve them?20:08 - What was Ritual’s first product/vitamin and how did the idea come around?22:19 - What did Kat learn as an early mover in the direct-to-consumer healthcare space?24:41 - Who was the first person to say yes to investing in Ritual?26:14 - How was Kat’s experience of raising a family while starting a company?27:54 - What was a moment in Ritual’s development where things didn’t go as planned?30:26 - How has Kat’s experience been going omnichannel and bringing Ritual to retail?33:10 - What is Ritual’s tech stack?36:10 - What advice does Kat have for other CPG founders of today?39:07 - Who was a woman in Kat’s life that had a profound impact on her and her career?WX Productions

Welcome to The Room Podcast! A series interviewing your favorite tech founders and funders.Our guests were in the room where it happened and they're sharing their stories. The Room is hosted by Claudia Laurie and Madison McIlwain, two digital natives based in SF, who are challenging the status quo just like our guests.WX Productions

Welcome back to Season 9 of The Room Podcast. In our final episode of the season, we sit with Cristina Junqueira. Cristina co-founded Nubank, a Brazilian fintech that revolutionized the industry with its user-friendly digital banking services. Nubank's transparent fee structures and mobile app have disrupted traditional banking, setting a new industry standard. Their innovative approach has made a significant impact, especially in Latin America, where Nubank has gained wide popularity. When NuBank went public in December of 2021 it was valued at 45 billion at IPO.In this episode, we discuss key themes for today's business world, including product diversification, innovation as a practical strategy, customer-centricity, problem-solving, and the importance of resilience in a dynamic environment.For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Check out our guide to podcasting here!4:38 - Where did Cristina grow up and how did this shape her view of the world?7:22 - When Cristina was younger did she always want to become a founder?8:40 - Why did Cristina get an MBA and come to the U.S.?10:27 - What were some learnings from Cristina’s early career?13:41 - What was the “aha moment” that inspired Cristina and David to start Nubank?16:19 - What was the initial product of Nubank?18:48 - Why does Cristina think word of mouth was so important to the success of Nubank?20:52 - What advice does Cristina have for any new founders in the fintech world?22:23 - Who was the first person to say yes to investing in Nubank?24:05 - How was the experience of starting a daily while also starting a business?26:52 - Are there any memorable moments from the IPO of Nubank?28:49 - What was a moment in Nubank's life cycle where things didn't go as planned? 31:40 - What should customers be excited about for the future of Nubank?33:46 - What trends has Cristina seen over the past year as the global economy is shifting and how has that impacted what products customers leveraging?  35:46 - What are Cristina’s thoughts on the future of leadership in fintech?38:01 - Who is a woman in Cristina’s life who has had a profound impact on her and her career?WX Productions

Welcome back to another episode of The Room Podcast! This week’s guest is Christelle Rohaut, the CEO and co-founder of Codi. Christelle and Codi are leading the way to happier urban living through innovative approaches encompassing remote work, sustainability, and intelligent urban design. That’s why Codi’s mission is to offer more flexible and secure office spaces, providing a convenient alternative to traditional office setups. Companies of all sizes use Codi to attract and retain talent, reduce commuting hassles, and adapt to evolving needs, contributing to a broader workplace revolution. In this episode, we expand on ideas such as personal transformation through parenthood as a catalyst for achieving business success, transforming underutilized neighborhood spaces into flexible hubs for businesses to share and revitalize local economies, and emphasizing in-person interactions, and streamlining operations to maximize supply and demand matching.For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Check out our guide to podcasting here! 4:29 - Where did Christelle grow up and how did that shape her view of the world?5:00 - Did Christelle always think she would become a founder?5:39 - Where does Christelle get her interest in cities?6:39 - What is a key difference between cities in France and cities in the States?7:51 - How has Christelle’s previous work impacted her journey as a founder?10:26 - What was the earliest inception of what Codi could and should be? 12:16 - What was the “aha moment” that sparked the start of Codi?13:38 - How has Codi’s core product evolved over time?14:10 - What was Codi’s original cord product?15:39 - How did Codi’s roadmap change over time?17:50 - What does Christelle think about the current commercial real estate climate?19:18 - How does Christelle adapt to changes in the commercial real estate market?21:34 - How are startups plugging into the current commercial real estate landscape?34:28 - How does Christelle envision being creative about a business model that's breaking in front of our eyes? 26:56 - Who was the first person to say yes to investing in Codi?27:38 - What advice would Christelle give to someone who is going out into the market today?29:24 - What was a moment in Codi's life cycle where things didn't go quite as planned?32:17 - How does Christelle think about marketplace growth and how does that affect the future of Codi?34:02 - Where does Christelle think physical space for startups and businesses is going to be in the next five years?35:23 - What is Christelle excited about in her personal life?35:48 - Who is a woman in Christelle’s life that has had a profound impact on her and her career? WX Productions

We continue this season of The Room Podcast with another incredible guest, Christina Cacioppo, co-founder and CEO of Vanta. Vanta is an automated security monitoring platform that helps companies get SOC 2, HIPAA, or ISO certified quickly and easily. We and Christina share experiences working for Dropbox as she details what she learned from her time there and how that impacted her decision to start Vanta.In this episode, we learn more about topics such as transitioning from product manager to founder and the path of finding a problem to solve, product and marketing differentiation in the competitive landscape of enterprise SaaS and, building out an early enterprise Go-To-Market team in motion. For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Check out our guide to podcasting here! 4:10 - Where did Christina grow up and how did that shape her view of the world?4:49 - Did Christina always think she was going to become a founder?6:16 - How did Christina’s first jobs in venture impact her?8:14 - What was the “aha moment” when Christina knew she wanted to start her first company?10:30 - How was Christina’s experience at Dropbox?13:14 - What was the “aha moment” when Christina knew she wanted to start Vanta?14:17 - What is the core product of Vanta?16:41 - What key problem is Vanta working to solve?18:17 - How should a company think about the right time to get compliant?19:59 - Who was the first person to say yes to investing in Vanta?21:06 - What advice would Christina give founders thinking about getting started in the security space today?22:42 What was a moment in Vanta's life cycle where things did not go as planned?24:38 - How do Christina and Vanta consider differentiating themselves in the market?28:29 -  How did Christina think about building and scaling her company from a Go-To-Market perspective?31:18 - How is Vanta thinking about AI?32:18 - How can we build an ecosystem that works to achieve parity with SAS companies founded by women?34:39 - What is Christina looking forward to in her personal life?36:08 -  Who is a woman in Christina’s life that has had a profound impact on her and her career?WX Productions

We are back again with another episode of the The Room Podcast! We take a deep dive into blockchain technology with Kathleen Breitman, the co-founder of Tezos. Kathleen sets the stage for a fascinating discussion about Tezos' contributions to the blockchain space. We talk about Tezos’ self-amending nature and community-driven governance, how companies are tokenizing real assets on Tezos, and how these features drove Tezos to become a pioneering force in the blockchain industry.In this episode, we cover themes such as security in the early blockchain landscape, approaches to funding startups in the crypto space, self-governance in Web3, and the current regulatory environment. For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Check out our guide to podcasting here! 4:00 - Where did Kathleen grow up and how did that shape her view of the world?4:50 - Did Kathleen always think she was going to become a founder?6:46 - How did going to an all-girls school impact Kathleen?8:29 - How did Kathleen end up working in the blockchain industry and what was the landscape like when she started?12:14 - What was the “aha moment” that sparked the start of Tezos?14:39 - What pushed Kathleen to make Tezos one of the first blockchains to leverage a proof of stake mechanism to provide high security and low energy usage compared to the popular proof of work chains? 16:30 - How was Kathleen’s fundraising journey for Tezos?19:42 - What was a moment when starting Tezos when things didn’t go as planned?26:25 - What is Kathleen looking forward to in the back half of 2023?29:43 -  What are Kathleen’s thoughts regarding some of the reputational damage that has been done by bad actors in the blockchain ecosystem?32:38 - What are some current projects that Kathleen is looking forward to?35:27 - How is Kathleen thinking about the relationship between self-governance and the current regulatory environment?37:25 - How has Kathleen’s work in the blockchain ecosystem interacted with the art world, and how does she see that aspect of crypto really evolving?39:37 - Who is a woman in Kathleen’s life that has a profound impact on her and her career?WX Productions

Hey, The Room Podcast Family!In this exciting episode of the series, we dive headfirst into the open-source world of tech entrepreneurship with Guillermo Rauch, the visionary founder behind Vercel and Next.js. Guillermo takes us on his incredible journey, from growing up in Argentina to moving to Switzerland to becoming a driving force in shaping the future of web development. He shares the pivotal moments that led to the creation of Vercel, the platform that's revolutionizing front-end development on top of the react framework.Join us as we explore the tech landscape and gain insights into Guillermo’s journey from MooTools to Next.js to Vercel, many pieces of advice for founders in the open-source landscape about timing and fundraising, the future of open-source development alongside AI, and much more!For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Check out our guide to podcasting here! 4:29 - Where did Guillermo grow up and how did that shape his view of the world?6:00 - Did Guillermo always think he was going to become a founder? 7:12 - What inspired the creation of MooTools?9:13 - What was it like moving across the world to Switzerland and then to San Francisco after, especially during this “post .com boom”?11:23 - What advice does Guillermo have for founders considering acquisition opportunities?15:46 - How did Socket and Mongoose change the development landscape and what did Guillermo learn through co-authoring and contributing to those projects?18:58 - What was Guillermo’s experience co-authoring Next.js?22:26 - What was the “aha moment” that led to creating Vercel and the early Go-To-Market strategy with it? 27:56 - How was Guillermo’s transition from Next.js to Vercel and how do the two differ?31:33 - How did Guillermo unlock his first enterprise customers and what advice does he have for founders who are also looking to make that leap? 35:05 - Who was the first person to say yes to investing in Vercel?36:52 - What advice does Guillermo have for founders working in open source who are thinking of getting fundraising?38:43 - What was a moment in Guillermo’s journey with Vercel when things just did not go as planned?40:48 - What is Guillermo’s take on the future of AI and development and what's next on Vercel's roadmap in regards to AI?46:25 - What is Guillermo excited about for this upcoming year?47:22 - Who is a woman in Guillermo’s life that has had a profound impact on him and his career?WX Productions

We are back again this week with another episode of The Room Podcast! This week we are joined by Julianna and Reed, the co-founders of Stych. TTopics in this episode include; the need for transparency and enabling conversations for potential M&A deals in the startup environment, the need for a more user-friendly and secure authentication method, and advice for other up-and-coming founders in the enterprise SaaS space.For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Check out our guide to podcasting here! 5:00 - Where did Julianna and Reed grow up and how did that shape their view of the world?7:27 - Did Juliana ever think that becoming a founder would be something she pursued? 9:47 - How did Reed relate to being a founder when growing up and what was his path from undergrad to becoming a founder?12:32 - How did Julianna and Reed meet at Plaid?17:38 - What was the “aha moment” that sparked the start of Stych?22:05 - Who are the core buyers of Stych and what is the Go-To-Market strategy for Stych?24:39 - What advice would Julianna and Reed give to new founders in the enterprise SaaS space?27:39 - What advice do Julianna and Reed have for deciding if someone is a good partner?32:10 - Who was the first person who said yes to investing in Stytch?33:27 - What was a moment when things did not go as planned?35:25 - What are some learnings from being the buyer persona for another startup that is looking to sell to another startup?38:17 -  What was/is the most successful growth channel? And how have Julianna and Reed thought about outbound versusinbound marketing as a result? 40:25 - What's kind of next for Julianna and Reed personally?42:44 - Who is a woman in your life that has had a profound impact on you and your career? WX Productions

Season 9 continues with another multi-dimensional guest. DeVon “Devo” Harris went from producing platinum records with G.O.O.D. Music to founding Adventr, an interactive AI-powered marketing tool that makes content more interactive to reach and connect with audiences more easily. “Adventr makes it easy to create smart, interactive video content that allows engaged viewers to connect with your message on demand.”In this episode we discuss; when to use the art of “fake it till you make it,” how to challenge other people’s perceptions, how to apply lessons from one industry to another, and the future of interactive content. For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Check out our guide to podcasting here! 5:00 - Where did Devo grow up and how did that shape his view of the world?6:27 - Did Devo always think he would become a founder?7:10 - How did Devo find his passion for writing and producing music?8:00 - What was Devo’s first job after college?11:18 - How did Devo come up with the idea to start G.O.O.D. Music?13:54 - What were some of the early highlights of G.O.O.D. Music?17:27 - What lessons did Devo take from the music industry that he applies to being a founder?21:30 - Was there ever a sense of satisfaction when receiving rewards for music?23:12 - How did Devo feel when he joined Vimeo?27:36 - What was the “aha moment” that sparked the creation of Adventr?32:11 - Who are the buyers of Adventr and how did that impact the go-to-market strategy?33:50 - Who was the first person to say yes to investing in Adventr?35:44 - What was a moment when things didn’t go as planned?37:08 - What’s next for Adventr?41:14 - What work has Devo done with the Lehman program?43:06 - Who is a woman in Devo’s life that has had a profound impact on him and his career?WX Productions

Welcome back to another season of The Room! We are kicking off Season 9 by diving into healthcare innovation and entrepreneurship with Iman Abuzeid, the visionary Co-founder & CEO of Incredible Health. Incredible Health partners with hospitals to hire nurses more effectively by flipping the recruiting standard on its head and having hospitals search for nurses instead of the other way around. Incredible Health is known for its software that sources experienced candidates, so recruiters have more time to interview and close candidates.In this episode topics include; what helped Incredible Health stand out in the healthcare labor marketplace, when to bring investors into your process, what impacts the pandemic is having on recruiting, and the future of the healthcare labor market. For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Check out our guide to podcasting here! 4:52 - Where did Iman grow up and how did that shape her view of the world?5:23 - Did Iman always think she would become a founder?6:48 - How was Iman’s experience in college learning about healthcare?8:51 - How did Iman’s experience in consulting assist her in healthcare?10:46 - What lessons did Iman learn early on as a founder?13:26 - How did Iman’s previous founding experiences impact what became Incredible Health?14:18 - What was the early vision of Incredible Health?16:16 - Why is it so important to have hospitals search for nurses instead of the other way around?18:20 - What are some of the supply restraints in this market?19:48 - Who was the first person to say yes to investing in Incredible Health?22:22 - What value did investors and investment capital add to the journey?24:11 - What are examples of a time when things didn’t go as planned?26:32 - How did Iman approach selling to hospitals, a notoriously challenging clientele?28:44 - What were some of the first hospitals to sign on and why did they?30:21 - How does Increible Health balance keeping both nurses and recruiters happy?31:47 - How is Incredible Health thinking about the future of Healthcare?34:01 - What long-term impacts does Iman see the pandemic having on staffing and recruiting?36:24 - What can we, as a society, do to better support healthcare professionals?38:31 - What has Iman’s perspective been as a female founder?40:26 - What’s next for Iman, personally?41:45 - Who is a woman who has had a profound impact on Iman’s life and career? WX Productions

While we are waiting for season 9, we are thrilled to share a podcast that we know you would love from our friends at Bessemer Venture Partners. Check out their podcast Wish I Knew's conversation with Nextdoor CEO Sarah Friar. Wish I Knew is about the revelatory, life-changing aha moments that founders, CEOs and leaders discover along their business journeys and why taking risks leads to growth. Presented by Bessemer Venture Partners. From consultant to investor to CFO to CEO, Sarah Friar has a business acumen rivaled by few others. Today, Sarah Friar is at the helm of NextDoor, the social network that services over 300,000 neighborhoods globally. On Wish I Knew, she shared why you should pay attention to what you both love and hate about your job, why strong conviction in a market thesis can buoy you through hard times, and why it’s never a bad time to raise money. She shares how she navigated her career and trusted her intuition to make smart decisions along the way. Listen to all the Wish I Knew episodes at bvp.com/wish-i-knew and subscribe to them wherever you get your podcasts!

In our season 8 finale, we explore the world of TYB, or Try Your Best, a community management platform that directly engages and rewards fans for taking action, founded by CEO Ty Haney, former founder and CEO of Outdoor Voices. Discover how TYB revolutionizes customer engagement, loyalty, and retention through its innovative platform. Explore their groundbreaking approach of using digital membership collectibles to create a sense of ownership and reward customers for their daily actions. Additionally, learn about Ty Haney’s path from being a brand founder with Outdoor Voices to launching TYB to further her mission of connecting brands and fans. Through TYB, Ty and Breana are seamlessly connecting engagement activity to purchase data, empowering businesses with valuable insights for small-scale and enterprise brands alike.In today's episode, we explore themes such as leveraging communities as growth channels, acquiring long-term customers in e-commerce given the current shifts in data regulation, and scaling effectively with an early-stage board. For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Check out our guide to podcasting here! 5:42 - Where did Ty and Breana grow up and how did that shape their views of the world?8:24 - Did Ty always think she would become a founder?11:52 - How was Breana’s transition from Capitol Hill to founding and building a company?13:43 - What was the “aha moment” that was the origin of Outdoor Voices?16:42 - How did Banana Republic respond to other up-and-coming D to C brands?19:32 - How did Outdoor Voices think about building community?21:54 - What was the initial concept for Try Your Best?24:06 - Who was the first person to say yes to investing in TYB?24:45 - What was a moment in founding TYB when things didn’t go to plan?29:03 - What is TYB’s core product?33:45 - How does TYB work with skincare and fashion brands such as Topicals?38:10 - What do Ty and Breana think of the up-and-coming e-commerce tech stack?41:18 - How do Ty and Breana feel about the concept of a board?46:22 - What’s next for Ty and Breana in their personal lives?49:00 - Who is a woman in your life that has had a profound impact on you and your career?WX Productions

This week, we brought our conversation inside the room to a LIVE audience! Join us in this enlightening episode as we sit down with Yin Wu, the founder of Pulley, a groundbreaking company revolutionizing equity management for startups. Pulley provides innovative equity solutions that empower founders and streamline the complex processes of equity administration, cap table management, and employee equity grants. In today's riveting episode, we delve into the realm of cap table management, emphasizing the importance of adopting a long-term perspective. We also provide insightful guidance on building your inaugural sales team, challenge the notion of working smarter, not harder, and explore an additional theme of fostering a culture of innovation within your organization. For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Check out our guide to podcasting here! 6:37 - Where did Yin grow up and how did that shape her view of the world?7:12 - What was the inception of Yin moving out to California? 7:34 - When did Yin start having an interest in becoming a founder?9:39 - What were some of the learnings from previous companies; Oven Labs and Echo Locker?11:52 - What company did Yin apply to YC with? 12:54 - What advice would Yin give to founders about when is the right time to pivot?14:07 - What was the “aha moment” that sparked the start of Pulley?16:19 - Why cap tables? 17:23 - What is one common mistake that founders often make when dealing with cap tables putting together equity? 19:32 - How does Pulley help founders?21:36 - Who was the first person to say yes to investing in Pulley?22:36 - How was Yin’s experience fundraising during Covid?23:40 - What advice does Yin have for founders beginning their fundraising journey?25:32 - What was a moment when building Pulley that things didn’t go as planned?26:49 - What tips does Yin have for making difficult decisions?28:50 - What is Yin’s Go-To-Market strategy?30:21 - How has Pulley thought about products that can scale with larger companies? 31:44 - What advice does Yin have on building an initial team?34:31 - What advice would Yin give founders about competitive dynamics?35:55 - How does Yin balance being a mother and a founder?37:57 - What’s next for Yin and Pulley?38:49 - Who is a woman in Yin’s life that has had a profound impact on her and her career?WX Productions