In this episode of The Room Podcast, we speak with Alex Halliday, founder and CEO of AirOps, a platform helping companies build AI-powered content workflows and automate complex marketing operations.

AirOps enables marketing and growth teams to orchestrate large-scale content generation using structured workflows, AI models, data integrations, and human-in-the-loop systems. The platform is part of a new category emerging in the AI ecosystem: the AI marketing stack, where companies move beyond simple prompt-based tools and instead build repeatable systems for producing high-quality content.

Before founding AirOps, Alex built viral fan websites as a teenager and later founded SocialGo, eventually becoming the youngest CEO of a publicly traded company in the UK. His career has spanned early internet startups, hypergrowth technology companies, and now the modern AI platform landscape.

In this conversation, Alex shares the core insight behind AirOps: great AI-generated content requires content engineering, meaning multi-step workflows that combine models, structured data, and human review rather than relying on a single prompt.

We also discuss:

? Alex?s early experience building viral websites and the origin of SocialGo
? Lessons from becoming one of the youngest public-company CEOs in the UK
? The importance of learning velocity as a competitive advantage for startups
? Why the gap between AI-generated text and publishable content is larger than most teams realize
? The concept of content engineering and why structured AI workflows matter
? How AirOps discovered its initial product-market fit with marketing teams
? Advice for founders raising venture capital in the AI startup environment
? Why early-stage startups should focus obsessively on a narrow user segment
? The emotional discipline required to navigate the founder journey

This episode explores how AI is reshaping marketing infrastructure and why the next generation of software companies will be built around AI workflows, automation, and operational systems, not just models.

Learn more about AirOps and how companies are building AI-powered content pipelines at scale.

(05:03) Introduction and overview of AirOps
(05:13) Alex Halliday?s childhood and early internet projects
(05:54) Did Alex always think he would become a founder?
(06:54) The viral fan website projects that led to SocialGo
(08:09) Becoming the youngest CEO of a publicly traded company in the UK
(10:15) Transitioning from SocialGo to product leadership and founding AirOps
(13:36) Lessons learned operating inside hypergrowth companies
(14:52) The original insight behind AirOps and the pivot to AI content workflows
(18:36) What ?content engineering? means and why AI content requires multi-step workflows
(21:13) Interesting and unexpected use cases customers are building with AirOps
(23:00) The first investor who backed AirOps
(25:05) Fundraising advice for founders raising capital in the AI era
(27:41) A founder moment where things did not go as planned
(39:04) How AirOps thinks about integrations and building an AI agent ecosystem
(43:18) What?s next for AirOps
(44:50) Personal growth as a founder and CEO, of their fourth company
(46:10) A woman who had a profound impact on Alex?s life and career

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Brought to you by Rippling and Perkins Coie.

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In this season opener of The Room Podcast, we speak with Nirav Tolia, the co-founder and CEO of Nextdoor, the neighborhood network designed to connect verified neighbors and strengthen local communities.

Nirav shares and refelcts the story behind building Nextdoor, one of the world?s largest hyperlocal social platforms, and reflects on the lessons he has learned scaling a product designed around real-world communities.

Before founding Nextdoor, Nirav was one of the first 100 employees at Yahoo, where he witnessed the rise of the early consumer internet and the power of network effects. He later co-founded Round Zero, an early startup studio that helped shape his thinking about entrepreneurship and product development.

In this conversation, Nirav discusses:

? Growing up in Odessa, Texas, as the child of Indian immigrant physicians, and how those experiences shaped his understanding of belonging and community
? Why he never planned to become a founder and how failure at Stanford University helped him find his strengths
? The early days of Yahoo and how the dot-com era influenced his entrepreneurial path
? The founding story behind Nextdoor and the challenge of building a platform designed for neighborhoods rather than global networks
? How founders can identify product-market fit, including his framework of building a ?painkiller vs. vitamin? product
? The responsibility technology companies have when platforms surface bias, trust, and safety challenges
? Why Nextdoor prioritizes quality of interactions over pure scale and engagement metrics
? How Nirav thinks about the role of artificial intelligence in local communities, and why he believes AI should act as an advisor rather than a driver

This episode explores what it really takes to build technology that strengthens communities, and why designing for trust, accountability, and usefulness may define the future of social platforms.

Learn more about Nirav Tolia on LinkedIn and explore Nextdoor at nextdoor.com.

(03:51) Growing up in Odessa, Texas, and how early experiences shaped Nirav?s worldview
(07:31) Why Nirav never planned to become a startup founder
(09:51) Transitioning from pre-med to an English major at Stanford
(12:41) Lessons from failure and discovering personal strengths
(15:51) Joining Yahoo as one of its earliest employees during the dot-com era
(18:01) How the early internet shaped Nirav?s view of network effects
(20:51) Why Nirav left Yahoo at its peak to pursue entrepreneurship
(22:21) The story behind Round Zero and how it prepared him to build companies
(22:51) The founding story of Nextdoor and the opportunity in hyperlocal networks
(25:21) How founders know when to pivot versus persevere
(29:51) Identifying product-market fit and early signals of traction
(32:51) The ?painkiller vs. vitamin? framework for product strategy
(34:51) Trust, safety, and moderation challenges in community platforms
(36:21) Lessons from addressing racial profiling and bias on Nextdoor
(38:51) How technology can help people become better neighbors
(47:21) Why Nextdoor prioritizes quality interactions over traditional network effects
(48:21) Nirav?s perspective on artificial intelligence and community platforms
(58:51) A woman who had a profound impact on Nirav?s life and career

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Brought to you by Rippling and Perkins Coie.

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Welcome back to another episode of The Room Podcast! This week, Claudia and Madison sit down with Julie Bornstein, founder and CEO of Daydream, a new AI-powered shopping platform reimagining how people discover fashion online. Julie is a two-time founder with deep roots in digital commerce, having previously helped build Stitch Fix and later founded The Yes, which was acquired by Pinterest. With decades of experience at the intersection of retail, technology, and consumer behavior, Julie has been at the forefront of how people shop as the internet ? and now AI ? evolves.

In this episode, Julie shares why search has always been the hardest and most important problem in e-commerce, and how generative AI finally unlocks a more human way to shop. She walks through the lessons she learned building algorithmic fashion at Stitch Fix, why inventory ownership limits personalization, and how The Yes shaped her thesis around intent-driven discovery. We also dive into founding Daydream after an acquisition unwind, the challenges of hiring the right early team, navigating retailer relationships without becoming an ads business, and what the future of shopping looks like when your stylist lives in your pocket. Tune in for a masterclass on consumer AI, founder resilience, and why being early ? twice ? doesn?t make it easier the third time around.

(00:00) Introduction
(05:20) Where did Julie grow up and how did it shape her view of the world?
(06:31) Did Julie always think she would become a founder?
(07:42) How did Julie?s early career in retail and e-commerce shape what she?s building today?
(09:59) How did Julie?s philosophy evolve from Stitch Fix to The Yes to Daydream?
(11:54) Why did Julie decide to become a founder again after selling The Yes to Pinterest?
(14:54) How does Daydream avoid getting squeezed between retailers and consumers?
(17:58) Who is Daydream?s core customer and why did Julie choose them first?
(18:45) Who was the first investor to say yes to Daydream?
(19:39) What unexpected challenges did Julie face early at Daydream?
(21:41) How is AI changing Daydream?s business model decisions?
(22:26) Should retailers rethink site architecture in an AI-driven search world?
(23:14) How can companies make products more discoverable in an LLM-first future?
(23:33) Does better AI indexing by retailers threaten Daydream?s value?
(25:48) How does Daydream think about LLM interoperability and model choice?
(26:44) How should retailers think about cloud providers in modern e-commerce stacks?
(27:57) Does Julie consider Daydream an AI-native company?
(29:23) What does the future of online retail look like?
(31:39) What advice does Julie have for new founders?
(33:44) Who is a woman in Julie's life that has had a profound impact on her and her career?

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Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.*
*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

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In this special live panel episode of The Room Podcast from Inside Summit 2025, host Ash Kumra sits down with an all-star group of AI and product leaders: Noah MacCallum of OpenAI, Grant Lee of Gamma, Malte Ubl of Vercel, and Chris Messina, inventor of the hashtag and longtime product strategist. Together, they represent the cutting edge of applied AI, developer platforms, design tooling, and the social technologies that shaped how we communicate today.

Throughout the conversation, the panel digs into what ethical AI actually means in practice, how founders should think about scaling from early demos to real-world robustness, and why ?iteration velocity? may matter more than perfection. From Noah?s breakdown of vibes-based iteration versus formal evals, to Chris?s framing of AI as a new expressive medium rather than just a technology, this episode is packed with perspective for builders navigating the next era of software. The discussion ultimately challenges founders to focus less on hype and more on clarity of vision, taste, and long-term impact.

(00:00) Introduction
(04:28) Who are the panelists and what is each of them building or focused on today?
(06:39) How does Noah define ethical AI, and where do the real risks show up in practice?
(08:02) How should early-stage AI companies think about trust, safety, and responsibility?
(11:26) What advice would the panel give founders trying to scale AI products from one to one hundred?
(12:21) How do founders balance intuition, taste, and formal evals when improving AI products?
(13:32) Why is long-term founder conviction more important than early AI traction?
(14:33) How should founders think about AI as a medium rather than just a technology?
(17:42) Which industries remain underexplored for AI, despite the current hype cycle?
(20:25) Which customer segments surprised Gamma as adoption scaled beyond early users?
(23:30) What unexpected user behaviors emerged during the early days of social media and AI?
(27:00) What specific product, feature, or workflow is each panelist most excited about building right now?

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Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.*
*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

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In this special Inside Summit episode of The Room Podcast, Claudia moderates a powerhouse panel featuring Michelle Edwards, Partner at Perkins Coie, Indy Guha, GP of VMG, Dan Kang, CFO of Mercury, and Jared Roesch, a founder who recently exited to NVIDIA. 

When startups challenge incumbents, winning deals requires more than just a great product. This episode shares how to master founder sales by building strong relationships and leveraging insider knowledge. Learn about crafting a compelling sales strategy and how to sell effectively, even when facing executive changes. With perspectives spanning legal, investor, financial, and operator experience, the panel breaks down how deals get sourced, what drives acquirer motivation, and how macro conditions?from AI acceleration to shifting public markets?are reshaping the paths available to startups.

In this conversation, the group shares tactical lessons on preparing your company years before an exit, cultivating strategic relationships, and understanding the human and emotional realities of selling a business. They explore why deals fall apart, how founders can signal readiness to buyers, and why the best outcomes often begin long before a term sheet is drafted. Whether you're raising, scaling, or fielding interest from potential acquirers, this episode offers clear, actionable insights for building toward a successful transaction.

(00:00) Introduction
(06:05) What has each panelist?s experience been with M&A?
(08:51) How is M&A shifting in 2025 from the investor side?
(10:56) What is driving more companies towards M&A?
(12:25) What are some of the most common structural shifts in deals today versus the past?
(14:49) When does a founder know acquisition is the right path?
(17:41) What is something that most founders don?t think of when it comes to being acquired?
(21:28) How does a founding team build relationships with investors?
(23:28) What red flags should a buyer or seller be looking for during negotiations?
(28:27) How do you manage a team that's working and building that might not know that an acquisition is happening?
(29:48) What do buyers wish founders did more of to set themselves up for a successful transaction?
(32:36) How should founders approach the conversation of acquisition with their investors?

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Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.*
*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

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Welcome back to another LIVE rendition of The Room Podcast! This week, we are back at our live conference, Inside Summit. Listen in as we sit down with Michel Tricot, Co-Founder and CEO of Airbyte ? the open-source platform that?s transforming how companies move data across their modern stacks. Airbyte gives teams the ability to extract and load data from virtually any source, empowering both AI-native companies and legacy enterprises to sync their information seamlessly and securely across hundreds of tools.

In this conversation, Michel shares the lessons behind scaling Airbyte from its first connector to 600+, building open source community momentum, and navigating shocks like COVID and a disrupted engineering team during the war in Ukraine. We dive into why ELT architecture matters, what separates AI-native companies from incumbents trying to adopt AI, and why founders should optimize for survival before anything else. Tune in for tactical guidance on fundraising, building at ?internet scale?, breaking data silos, and how to stay grounded when the journey becomes nonlinear ? because it always does.

(00:00) Introduction
(04:23) Where did Michel grow up and how did that shape his view of the world?
(05:09) Did Michel always think he was going to become a founder?
(05:35) What early career milestones led Michel to move to San Francisco?
(07:56) What insights brought Michel to want to develop a better data stack?
(09:25) How did Michel transition from full-time work to launching an open-source solution and building Airbyte?
(11:05) Why did Michel choose to name Airbyte?s architecture as ?ELT??
(12:01) How did the ?ELT? architecture choice influence decisions around scaling the company?
(13:15) What was Airbyte?s first connector?
(13:33) What was harder ? going from 1 to 50 connectors or from 50 to 600?
(14:20) Who was the first person to ever say yes to investing in Michel?
(14:47) What metrics convinced investors that Airbyte was a billion-dollar-plus market?
(15:23) What advice does Michel have for first-time founders preparing for their first fundraise?
(16:00) What is something that went wrong during the founder journey?
(16:31) What does ?AI data infrastructure? really mean ? is it just rebranding?
(17:39) Where does Airbyte fit in the evolving AI ecosystem?
(18:47) How does Airbyte think about competing with giant platforms building internal integration tools?
(20:08) What separates AI-native companies from larger incumbents trying to cross the AI chasm?
(21:21) When data infrastructure is fully solved, what does that mean for the world?
(22:26) What general career and life advice does Michel have for future founders today?
(23:49) Who is a woman in Michel?s life that had a profound impact on him and his career?

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Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!

Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.*
*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

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Welcome back to The Room Podcast! This week, Claudia and Madison sit down with Tomer London, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Gusto, the all-in-one people platform that simplifies payroll, benefits, and HR for over 400,000 small businesses across the U.S. From humble beginnings as ZenPayroll, Gusto has become one of the most beloved products in the SMB ecosystem?known for turning one of the most stressful business tasks into a delightful experience.

In this episode, Tomer shares the personal roots behind Gusto?s mission?growing up around his family?s small clothing store in Israel?and how those early lessons shaped his empathy for small business owners. He walks us through finding the right customer base, building emotional resonance into product design, and why ?customer love? is the most powerful growth channel. Listeners will gain valuable insights into startup decision-making, measuring true product?market fit, and the mindset needed to scale from a scrappy YC-backed idea into a category-defining company.

(00:00) Introduction
(05:25) Where did Tomer grow up and how did that shape his view of the world?
(05:50) Did Tomer always think he would become a founder?
(10:13) What early challenges inspired Tomer to build something of his own?
(11:23) What were Tomer?s first experiences like coming to the U.S. as an immigrant?
(13:33) What was the ?aha? moment that led to starting Gusto?
(16:38) What were some early moments when things didn?t go as planned?
(20:11) How did Gusto find product?market fit with small businesses?
(23:51) What advice does Tomer have for founders navigating their beachhead market?
(26:26) How did Gusto create emotional connection and delight through product design?
(29:11) What has leading Gusto taught Tomer about building teams and company culture?
(33:11) How does Gusto approach innovation while staying true to its mission?
(36:04) How does Gusto assist businesses and customers during crisis moments?
(38:04) How is Gusto adapting to the AI era?
(44:08) Who is a woman in your life that had a profound impact on you?

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Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!

Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.*
*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

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Welcome back to another episode of The Room Podcast! This week, Claudia and Madison sit down with William Allen, Head of Emerging Tech and AI at Cloudflare, and previously a key leader at Adobe and Behance. Will has spent his career at the intersection of creativity, technology, and infrastructure?from helping launch TED Talks and building Behance into a global hub for creatives, to leading initiatives like the Content Authenticity Initiative that aim to make the internet more trustworthy.

In this episode, Will shares insights on the evolution of digital content, the challenges of building authenticity in an AI-driven world, and what it takes to create infrastructure that both empowers creators and protects their work. He discusses lessons learned from scaling startups, navigating acquisitions, and fostering innovation within large companies. Listeners will walk away with actionable takeaways on balancing speed with integrity, building products for real users, and creating a ?better internet? rooted in trust and transparency.

(00:00) Where did Will grow up and how did that shape his view of the world?
(01:09) Did Will always think he would become a founder like he did with Chamber?
(03:17) Was that first startup what led him to Adobe?
(04:38) What was it like launching TED Talks for the first time?
(06:35) What did Will learn from his decade at Adobe and leading Behance?
(09:06) How did those experiences shape what Will wanted to do next in his career?
(10:25) How did Will transition from Chamber to joining Cloudflare?
(11:12) What was it like selling his startup and choosing not to join the acquiring company?
(12:21) What was the idea that finally convinced him to join Cloudflare?
(14:00) How is Cloudflare balancing protection and innovation in the AI era?
(16:05) What advice does Will have for founders building resilient infrastructure in the age of AI?
(18:18) What?s something that didn?t go as planned while building or launching a product?
(21:04) How does Cloudflare communicate with creators and non-technical users?
(23:00) How does Will think about policy and communicating with broader stakeholders?
(24:40) What does the end-to-end C2PA workflow look like from capture to display?
(27:30) In five years, what will creators? relationship be with AI model providers?
(32:45) What?s next for Will personally, and what is he excited about?
(34:10) Who is a woman that has had a profound impact on Will?s life and career?

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Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!

Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.*
*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

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We are back with another live rendition of The Room Podcast! This week, Madison sits down with Jack Barrett, Co-Founder and CEO of Almost Friday Media, the creative force behind the viral comedy brand Friday Beers. After starting and leaving his career in investment banking, Jack followed his storytelling instincts into media, co-founding a creator-first company that now spans comedy, live events, digital media, and even its own beer brand. Almost Friday Media has quickly become a cultural touchpoint for millennial and Gen Z audiences craving authenticity, humor, and community online.

In this episode, Jack shares how moments of failure shaped his path, how comedy can connect people across generations, and what it takes to build a modern media business in the era of TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram Reels. Listeners will hear insights on evolving with algorithms, scaling creator ecosystems, and staying true to a mission that celebrates friendship, optimism, and laughter. Listen in as we take a look at how Almost Friday Media became a blueprint for the future of entertainment?where community meets creativity.

(00:00) Introduction
(02:00) Jack?s upbringing in Greenwich and how family and sports shaped his creative drive.
(04:20) Madison on her childhood and early curiosity about tech and creativity online.
(06:10) The role of siblings, humor, and community in shaping perspective.
(06:50) Jack?s Dartmouth years, finding identity, rejection from Yale, and lessons on belonging.
(08:45) Discovering campus culture & humor, how fraternity life and writing led toward comedy.
(09:50) What Jack learned (and hated) about his first career path.
(10:45) Meeting Radical Media?s John Kamen and discovering the power of storytelling.
(11:10) Launching a podcast during COVID and finding purpose in connection.
(13:40) Why storytelling became essential for investors and founders alike.
(15:00) Birth of Friday Beers, from Instagram memes to a viral cultural brand.
(16:45) Defining ?Friday Beers? ethos, friendship, humor, and inclusion as the new comedy tone.
(17:40) Building Almost Friday Media, from side hustle to full-scale creative network.
(18:40) How The Room connects founders, investors, and community.
(20:00) Digital disruption and audience ownership.
(21:40) Shifts from TV to streaming to creator-led entertainment.
(22:50) Adapting to algorithm changes and engagement analytics.
(23:40) Indie creators vs. traditional media networks.
(24:10) Expanding Almost Friday Media across content, live events, and culture.
(25:30) Closing reflections, celebrating creativity, collaboration, and the next era of storytelling.

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Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!

Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.*
*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

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We are back with another live installment of The Room Podcast! This week, we sit down with Barry McCardel and Caitlin Colgrove, Co-Founders of Hex, the collaborative data workspace trusted by teams around the world. Hex empowers data scientists, analysts, and business operators to explore, visualize, and share insights in one connected platform?bringing together code, no-code tools, and now AI-powered features that make data storytelling seamless and accessible to everyone.

In this episode, Barry and Caitlin unpack Hex?s origin story, from their early days at Palantir to building one of the most beloved modern data tools. They share how deep empathy for early users shaped their product decisions, why great co-founding relationships require shared values and ?stress testing,? and what it means to truly be ?AI-first? in 2025. You?ll also hear lessons on problem-driven entrepreneurship, managing investor relationships, and how Hex is redefining what it means for everyone to be a data person.

(00:00) Introduction
(06:47) Where did Barry and Caitlin grow up and how has that shaped their view of the world?
(09:12) Did Barry and Caitlin always think they would become founders?
(10:02) How did time at Palantir shape Barry and Caitlin?s conviction to start Hex?
(12:45) What was the ?aha? moment that made Barry and Caitlin decide to actually start Hex full-time?
(15:02) What advice would Barry and Caitlin give to founders looking to find or choose the right co-founders?
(16:48) What is Hex?s core product and who is it built for?
(18:18) Is Hex an AI-native company, and how does AI integrate into the product and strategy?
(22:16) What is ?Hex Magic,? and what has building AI features taught you about product development?
(25:13) Who was the first person to believe in Hex and invest?
(27:29) How do Barry and Caitlin work with their board, and what?s that dynamic like as founders?
(30:07) How do Barry and Caitlin think about scaling culture as the company grows?
(32:21) What are some of the biggest leadership lessons Barry and Caitlin have learned since founding Hex?
(34:54) How do Barry and Caitlin maintain product focus while expanding features and teams?
(37:12) What?s the vision for the future of data collaboration and AI in analytics?
(39:15) How is the role of the data team evolving with AI?
(40:15) So? humans ? we?re here to stay?
(42:05) What?s next for Hex and for Barry and Caitlin personally?
(43:49) Who is a woman in Barry and Caitlin?s lives who has had an impact on them and their career?

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Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!

Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.*
*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

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Welcome back to The Room Podcast! This week, Claudia and Madison sit down with Eric Simons, Co-Founder and CEO of StackBlitz and creator of Bolt.new, the AI-powered development platform redefining how people build web and mobile apps. From humble beginnings coding in Naperville, Illinois, to literally living inside AOL?s Palo Alto offices at age 19, Eric?s journey is a Silicon Valley legend. StackBlitz emerged from a desire to eliminate setup friction for developers, enabling instant browser-based coding environments that reimagined how software gets built.

In this episode, Eric shares the highs and lows of the founder journey ? from near-shutdown to a $20M ARR turnaround powered by Bolt?s viral AI tools. He offers candid advice on knowing when to pivot, how to approach investors during uncertain times, and why obsession and experimentation are critical to surviving the startup grind. Tune in for insights on product-market fit, storytelling as a leadership superpower, and what the ?vibe coder? movement means for the next generation of builders.

(00:00) Introduction
(04:40) Where did Eric grow up and how has that shaped his view of the world?
(06:08) Did Eric always think he would become a founder?
(08:06) How did Eric?s early interests, like acting, shape his storytelling and leadership today?
(08:08) How did Eric gain attention as the ?AOL Squatter? and what did that experience teach him?
(12:04) What was the original idea behind StackBlitz and the aha moment that started it?
(14:52) How did Eric convince early investors and engineers that StackBlitz was even possible?
(16:48) How did StackBlitz navigate finding product-market fit and monetization challenges?
(19:55) What advice does Eric have for founders at a crossroads between pivoting or shutting down?
(21:51) In Eric?s words, what is Bolt and who is it built for?
(22:59) How did Eric shift his storytelling as Bolt expanded beyond developers?
(24:37) Who was the first person to believe in Eric and say yes to his vision?
(25:43) What advice would Eric give to founders raising early-stage capital in 2025?
(27:01) How did Eric approach his investors and board during the pivot from StackBlitz to Bolt?
(27:05) Can Eric peel back the curtain on how he approached investors about the pivot?
(31:25) How did Bolt turn a viral spark into durable long-term traction?
(38:16) What is Eric most excited about for Bolt this year?and personally?
(39:51) Who is a woman who profoundly shaped Eric and his career?

For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.
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Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!

Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.*
*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

WX Productions

Welcome back to another episode of The Room Podcast! This week, we sit down with Celine Halioua, Founder and CEO of Loyal, a biotech company pioneering FDA-approved longevity drugs for dogs. From a childhood surrounded by rescue animals to an academic journey through neuroscience, health economics, and venture capital, Celine?s path to entrepreneurship is as winding as it is inspiring. Today, Loyal is leading the charge in redefining what?s possible in veterinary medicine?aiming not just to treat disease, but to extend healthy lifespan itself.

In this episode, Celine shares how her scientific curiosity about aging and her love for animals converged into a singular mission. She takes us behind the scenes on the founding story of Loyal?from a chance conversation around a campfire, to navigating the capital-intensive world of biotech, to winning over regulators and pet parents alike. Listeners will walk away with hard-earned insights about fundraising in uncertain markets, balancing ambition with operational discipline, and the importance of being both scientifically rigorous and soulfully driven when building something truly generational.

(00:00) Introduction
(05:00) How did Celine?s early upbringing in Austin shape her worldview?
(06:31) Did Celine always think she?d become a founder?
(06:49) What early research made Celine believe in longevity as a real field?
(08:51) How did Celine?s love for dogs intersect with her scientific passion?
(10:48) What was the aha moment behind starting Loyal?
(16:14) What was it like convincing early investors and team members to believe in Loyal?
(19:41) Who was the first person to invest in Celine and Loyal?
(21:29) How did Celine build trust with both regulators and pet owners?
(24:24) What?s a moment that didn?t go as planned, and how did Celine turn it around?
(30:47) Is it challenging to build a brand while the product isn?t ready to go to market?
(34:17) Is getting a drug for animals approved by the FDA different than a drug for humans?
(36:41) What did Celine consider when building her team at Loyal?
(40:21) Can Loyal?s work in dogs translate to longevity solutions for humans?
(42:34) Who is a woman in your life who has had a profound impact on you and your career?

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Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.*
*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

WX Productions

This week on The Room Podcast, Claudia and Madison sit down with Zach Lloyd, Founder and CEO of Warp. Before founding Warp, Zach spent nearly a decade at Google, where he led engineering on Google Sheets and Docs, and later co-founded the startup Self-Made before launching Warp in 2020. Warp is a modern re-imagining of the command line, transforming one of the most widely used developer tools into an AI-powered, productivity-boosting experience.

In this episode, Zach shares lessons from his challenge of finding the right founder?market fit, we explore how Warp integrates AI into developer workflows, why timing mattered during the ChatGPT wave, and the importance of retention before growth. Tune in for insights on building developer-first products, rethinking foundational tools, and how to adapt a startup in a fast-moving AI landscape.

 

(0:00) Introduction
(04:54) Where did Zach grow up and how did that shape his view of the world?
(06:04) Did Zach always see himself becoming a founder or CEO?
(07:07) How did Zach?s early years shape his career path, and why did he leave law school after one year?
(09:37) How did Zach?s time at Google shape some of the insights behind Warp?
(11:47) What did Zach?s first startup Self-Made do, and how did that experience influence Warp?
(15:08) Why was the developer tools space so exciting and important for Zach to tackle with Warp?
(18:41) In Zach?s words, what is Warp and how does AI supercharge the new terminal experience?
(21:52) What was Zach?s ?oh shit? moment in November 2022 when AI changed Warp?s trajectory?
(24:58) How did Zach explain this AI-driven shift in product direction to investors?
(26:53) What were Warp?s first growth inflection points and what drove that traction?
(29:34) How did Warp differentiate itself from the explosion of AI coding tools after ChatGPT?s launch?
(31:27) Who was the first person to invest in Warp?
(33:29) What were some of the toughest user-experience or branding challenges Warp faced early on?
(35:25) How is Warp growing into a dual approach of PLG and enterprise?
(37:17) Do we need new business models to support what is happening in tech?
(39:24) Who does Zach see as Warp?s true competitors in the AI developer tools space?
(40:49) What?s Zach?s quick take on Model Context Protocol and how it fits into Warp?s future?
(42:13) What can new users look forward to next with Warp?
(43:11) Who is a woman in Zach?s life that has had a profound impact on him and his career?

 

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Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.*
*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

 

WX Productions

In this episode of The Room Podcast, hosts Claudia Laurie and Madison McIlwain sit down with serial entrepreneur Craig Walker, founder and CEO of Dialpad.

Craig?s story begins in Cupertino, back when apricot orchards defined the neighborhood and a young Steve Jobs lived just a few houses down. From those early days in Silicon Valley, Craig went on to earn degrees from Berkeley and Georgetown before starting his career as an M&A lawyer advising Cisco, Kleiner Perkins, and Sequoia. That legal lens shaped his entrepreneurial instincts and prepared him for the rollercoaster ride of building companies through both downturns and booms.

Craig shares the pivotal moments behind:

Rescuing Dialpad Communications in the wake of the dot-com crash, cutting $3M in monthly burn down to $100K.Founding GrandCentral, which became Google Voice after its acquisition by Google in 2007.Launching UberConference, later rebranded as Dialpad Meetings, and returning to his passion for modern communications.

We dive deep into how Dialpad became an AI-native platform, from the bold $50M acquisition of TalkIQ in 2018 to pioneering real-time transcription, sentiment analysis, and call coaching. Craig explains why ?work isn?t a place, it?s what you do? has been his guiding philosophy?and how that mindset shaped Dialpad?s remote-friendly, AI-first culture long before the pandemic.

The conversation also covers:

What it means to build an AI-native company vs. bolting on AI features.Lessons for founders raising capital in today?s market.How to balance automation with maintaining authentic human connection.Craig?s vision for the future of Dialpad and AI-powered work.The woman in Craig?s professional journey who has had a profound impact.

This is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and leading at the edge of technological change

Welcome to a special bonus episode of The Room Podcast, recorded live at New York Tech Week! This week, we're thrilled to chat with Shreya Murthy, Co-Founder and CEO of Partiful, the modern social events platform that is revolutionizing how we make plans and build real-world relationships. Since launching in 2021, Partiful has scaled to millions of users and earned major accolades, including Google's Best App of 2024, Apple's Editor Choice, and recognition as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies for 2025. With its SMS-based approach and frictionless event creation, Partiful has become the go-to platform for gathering people together?so much so that "to partiful" has become a verb!

In this episode, Shreya takes us through her unconventional journey from studying political theory at Princeton to building enterprise software, before ultimately founding Partiful to combat social isolation. We dive deep into fascinating topics like launching a party platform during a global pandemic, the strategic decision to start with SMS instead of an app, and how Partiful has maintained remarkable growth with an intentionally lean team. Shreya also shares invaluable insights on co-founder dynamics, navigating venture fundraising as a consumer company, and her vision for building community at every stage of life. Tune in for lessons on product development, authentic relationship building, and what it takes to create a platform that brings people together in an increasingly digital world.

(00:00) Introduction
(07:02) Where did Shreya grow up and how has that shaped her view of the world? 
(08:13) Did Shreya always think she was gonna become a founder?
(08:47) How did going from Princeton to the real world spark curiosity about entrepreneurship?
(11:30) How has Shreya seen the New York tech ecosystem evolve over the past decade?
(13:14) What was the initial idea behind Partiful and what was the aha moment? 
(17:33) How did Shreya meet her co-founder Joy and cultivate trust? 
(20:10) What advice would Shreya give to folks looking for a co-founder? 
(21:33) What was COVID like for the Partiful team and how did the product evolve? 
(23:31) What was the strategy behind Partiful's SMS-based approach instead of launching with an app? 
(25:53) What metrics did Shreya orient around to know when to launch and build an app?
(27:58) Who was the first person to say yes to investing in Partiful? 
(29:27) What made Partiful and Shreya so compelling as an angel investment? 
(32:56) What is Partiful's go-to-market strategy and business model? 
(35:40) How has Shreya managed conversations with VCs about when to start monetization?
(36:57) How has Shreya thought about scaling the team at Partiful? 
(38:35) What's Shreya's favorite Partiful Invite that she's ever seen? 
(40:13) How has Partiful thought about building into the social graph network?
(43:56) What is Shreya's take on consumer as a sector for growth and opportunity? 
(45:45) What have you seen resonate with consumer investors for folks fundraising? 
(49:16) What's next for Shreya personally? 
(51:45) Who is a woman that has inspired Shreya and impacted her career?

For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.
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Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!

Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.*
*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

WX Productions

In this season?s finale of The Room Podcast, we're thrilled to chat with Neil Parikh, Co-Founder of Casper and current Co-Founder of Slingshot. Neil first disrupted the mattress industry by building Casper into a household name, pioneering the direct-to-consumer sleep revolution before taking the company public. Now, he's tackling an even bigger challenge with Slingshot, building a foundational AI model specifically designed for psychology and mental health therapy.

In this episode, Neil takes us through his unconventional journey from medical school dropout to D2C pioneer, sharing the serendipitous moments that led to Casper's creation and the harsh realities of going public during a pandemic. We delve into the mental health crisis facing society, the limitations of current AI therapy approaches, and how Slingshot is training models on real-world human therapy data to create more effective interventions. Neil also opens up about his therapy journey, the power of taking nudges when they appear, and why he believes we're entering an era of unprecedented change that will reshape how we think about mental health access and self-actualization.

(04:06) Where did Neil grow up and how has that shaped his view of the world?
(04:54) Did Neil always think he was gonna become a founder?
(06:06) Was entrepreneurship in the water at Brown like it is today at Stanford or Harvard?
(07:38) What led to Neil's decision to drop out of medical school?
(10:52) What did Neil do after dropping out of medical school?
(14:20) What made Neil believe that VC was the right route for a mattress company in 2014?
(16:44) What was the name before Casper?
(18:46) What advice would Neil have for DTC founders during this current climate?
(22:17) What did Neil learn from the later stages of fundraising and preparing for the IPO?
(27:14) How did Slingshot become the idea for Neil's next exciting phase?
(31:40) How did Neil get the confidence to take "the nudge"?
(32:48) How is Neil thinking about data sources, model training, and ethical guardrails for psychology?
(38:53) How is Neil's model specificity even better than using ChatGPT for therapy?
(41:58) Who's the first person to say yes to backing Slingshot?
(43:25) What does Neil think is next for Slingshot and what is he excited for?
(44:55) What's next for Neil personally, and what is he excited for this year?
(46:34) Who is a woman in Neil's life that has had a profound impact on himself and his career?

For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.
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Check out our guide to podcasting here! 
Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!

Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.*
*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

WX Productions

Welcome back to another episode of The Room Podcast! This week, Madison and Claudia sit down with Alex Konrad, former Senior Editor at Forbes and now Founder of Upstarts Media. After a decade covering technology and venture capital at Forbes, where he pioneered coverage from the Midas List to the Cloud 100, Alex has launched his own media company focused on telling the stories of early-stage founders and companies challenging the status quo.

Throughout this conversation, Alex shares insights from his front-row seat to some of tech's most defining moments, including interviews with industry leaders like Sam Altman and Mark Benioff. He discusses the evolution of media in the age of AI, his decision to bootstrap rather than raise venture funding, and his vision for building a community-first media company. Alex also reveals how his upbringing in New York City shaped his no-nonsense approach to tech reporting and why he believes the future of media lies in creating direct, authentic connections with audiences. Tune in for a fascinating look at the changing media landscape and what it takes to build a modern media company from the ground up.

(03:52) Where did Alex grow up and how did that shape his view of the world?
(04:49) Did Alex always think he would become a founder?
(05:35) What was the story as an intern that Alex got printed?
(07:57) When Alex reflects on his Forbes interviews with tech leaders like Satya Nadella and Sam Altman, which ones stand out most?
(10:04) What has Alex learned about power, vision, or vulnerability from being in the room with industry giants?
(12:10) Why has Legacy Media been struggling to build an authentic connection with the startup community?
(13:27) How is Alex thinking about building a foundation with Upstarts that's going to build into a legacy as lasting as Forbes?
(16:03) How is Alex going to be thinking about events as a complement to media?
(17:30) Is Alex seeking venture dollars to get Upstarts off the ground?
(19:52) If Blue Links are dead, how does Alex think building an audience for the future is going to shift with AI?
(23:57) How is Alex using AI in his workflow from editorial decisions to distribution?
(29:05) What's next for Upstarts and for Alex personally?
(40:06) Who is a woman in Alex's life that has had a profound impact on him and his career?

For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.
Follow us on Instagram 
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Check out our guide to podcasting here! 
Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!

Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.*
*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

WX Productions

Welcome back to another episode of The Room Podcast! This week, we're excited to chat with Anna Kazlauskas, Co-Founder of Vana, a pioneering company creating an alternative to centralized AI monopolies. Vana uses crypto principles like ownership, incentives, and decentralization to build AI models that users collectively own and benefit from, empowering individuals to control their data while earning from its use.

In this enlightening conversation, Anna takes us through her journey from growing up in cold places around the world to her time at MIT's AI lab, and how that led to her vision for data ownership. We explore fascinating concepts like Data DAOs (which Anna compares to labor unions for your data), the emergent "DataFi" category, and how Vana enables users to pool their data to create more powerful AI models than any company could build. Anna shares invaluable insights on fundraising across both crypto and AI spaces, emphasizing the importance of aligning with investors on long-term vision. Tune in for a glimpse into how the future of data ownership could revolutionize our relationship with technology.

(00:00) Introduction
(03:57) Where did Anna grow up, and how has that shaped her view of the world?
(05:25) Did Anna always think she was going to become a founder?
(06:58) How did Anna go from just building in general to building in a tech-forward way at MIT?
(08:44) What research did Anna ultimately do during her time at MIT's CSAIL?
(11:02) How did Anna's insight around the power of data lead to iAmbic, her YC batch 2018 startup?
(14:21) How did Anna's experience at Celo shape her understanding of decentralization and data ownership?
(16:52) How did Anna decide to start something again and commit to a five-to-ten-year journey?
(18:14) Why should users care about Vana creating an alternative to centralized AI monopolies?
(21:56) What kind of compensation models is Anna exploring for users who contribute their data?
(24:30) To what extent does Anna feel big tech companies will start to empower users with their data to compete with the unionization DAO approach?
(27:20) Who was the first person to say yes to investing in Anna?
(31:30) How has Anna navigated constantly evolving her story and telling that to both customers and investors?
(34:41) What are some of the product and company-wide milestones that Anna is excited about looking into 2025 and beyond?
(37:19) What degree of technical feasibility, from a crypto native perspective, is Anna seeing from these builders?
(39:15) What is something Anna is most excited for that Vana will be launching later this year?
(41:13) Who is a woman in Anna's life that has had a profound impact on her and her career?

For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.
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Check out our guide to podcasting here! 
Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!

Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.*
*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

WX Productions

In this episode, we are joined by Elia Wallen, Founder and CEO of Engine (formerly Hotel Engine), the B2B travel booking platform that's streamlining how businesses manage their travel needs. From its origins as an internal tool for Elia's previous company, Travelers Haven, to becoming a $2.1 billion company, Engine has carved out a significant niche by focusing on serving SMBs with a frictionless approach to corporate travel management.

In this conversation, Elia shares his unconventional path from dropping out of college to founding multiple businesses, including the fascinating story of how Engine began as a side project that he almost shut down several times. We explore his philosophy of maintaining "strong conviction loosely held," his approach to fundraising (including a nail-biting near-miss with payroll), and why staying focused on doing one thing extremely well before expanding was crucial to Engine's success. Elia also offers valuable insights on bootstrapping versus raising capital, building in a non-tech hub, and why eliminating friction for customers has been central to Engine's competitive advantage in the crowded travel tech space.

(00:00) Introduction
(04:20) Where did Elia grow up and how did that shape his view of the world?
(04:42) Why did growing up in Naples push Elia to succeed?
(05:32) Did Elia always think he was going to become a founder?
(06:28) How did earlier founding experiences shape his view of leadership?
(07:28) What is Engine's core product?
(08:51) How does someone break into the corporate travel space?
(10:05) How did Elia think about scaling the go-to-market motion?
(11:59) How did Elia position Engine as it scaled?
(13:55) How did Elia and his leadership team discern which was the right scaling direction to go?
(15:57) How does a founder balance extreme focus while managing two businesses?
(18:29) How was building a company in Denver, and what prompted the decision to move to the Bay Area?
(20:42) How did fundraising begin for Engine?
(22:40) What is a moment when things didn't go as planned during Elia's founder journey?
(25:41) How did Engine think about building out both the integration suite and the business model?
(28:25) How will AI affect Engine's business model and policies?
(30:07) How is Engine thinking about diversifying customer benefits?
(31:35) How is Elia feeling about corporate travel as a sector for growth and opportunity?
(32:04) Where does Elia think Engine and he will be in five years?
(33:20) Who is a woman in Elia's life that has had a profound impact on him and his career?

For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.
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Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!

Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.*
*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

WX Productions

Welcome back to The Room Podcast! In this episode, we sit down with Matan Grinberg and Eno Reyes, co-founders of Factory, a company building the command center for software development. With backgrounds in physics and computer science, this dynamic duo is unifying all engineering contexts from GitHub to Notion, empowering product and engineering teams to collaborate with autonomous AI systems. Their impressive journey has already attracted $20 million in funding from Sequoia, Lux Capital, and Mantis Ventures, positioning them at the forefront of the AI-native movement.

During our conversation, Matan and Eno share their unexpected journey from Princeton classmates who barely interacted to co-founders who launched their company just eight days after reconnecting at an AI hackathon. They dive deep into how AI is shifting the center of gravity in software development from coding to understanding and planning, the challenges of enterprise adoption, and why they believe we're currently at "the lowest number of developers that will ever be for the rest of human history." Their insightful perspectives on building an AI-native company and transforming developer workflows offer valuable lessons for founders navigating the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

(00:00) Introduction
(03:56) Where did Matan and Eno grow up, and how did it shape their worldview?
(06:29) Did Eno always think he'd become a founder?
(07:01) Was it inevitable that Matan and Eno would start something together?
(07:36) How did Matan and Eno end up in this room today?
(09:15) Was it inevitable for them to start a company together after meeting at Princeton?
(11:26) Did Matan always see himself becoming a founder?
(11:33) How did Factory come to life after they reconnected?
(16:05) Did the Factory demo work for their Sequoia pitch?
(16:32) What was in Factory's original deck and demo?
(18:29) What was the biggest challenge in getting developers to use Factory?
(20:22) How does the Factory team see AI shaping the role of developers in the next five years?
(22:04) What was Factory's go-to-market strategy and first big customer win?
(30:06) What fundraising advice do they have for AI founders looking to raise a Series A?
(32:19) What does it mean to be AI-native from Factory's perspective?
(37:59) What inefficiencies did they see in developer workflows before starting Factory?
(40:00) Does Factory care about chip technology like Nvidia versus Traum?
(42:09) Where do they see Factory in five years?
(45:06) Is Factory hiring?
(45:31) What are they most excited about on Factory's roadmap?
(49:18) Who is a woman that had a profound impact on Matan and his career?
(50:33) Who is a woman that had a profound impact on Eno and his career?

For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.
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Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!

Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.*
*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

WX Productions

This week, we're excited to speak with Tiancheng Lou, Co-Founder and CTO of Pony AI, a leading autonomous vehicle technology company that went public in November 2024. As a two-time Google Code Jam champion and former engineer at both Google X and Baidu's Autonomous Driving Division, Tiancheng brings exceptional technical expertise to his pioneering work in developing driverless technology with over 40 million kilometers of autonomous driving testing.

In this episode, Tiancheng shares fascinating insights into the evolution of autonomous vehicle technology, explaining the difference between level two and level four autonomy and why highway driving is more challenging than city driving for AI. We explore Pony AI's virtual driver technology, their approach to commercialization, and how they're training AI through imitation learning and reinforcement learning in virtual environments. Tiancheng also offers valuable advice for founders on balancing technical ambition with market realities, the importance of finding the right co-founder with aligned visions, and why success can't be copied but failures can be avoided. Tune in for a deep dive into the future of transportation and the journey of building a billion-dollar autonomous technology company.

(00:00) Introduction
(04:09) Where did Tiancheng grow up, and how did that shape his view of the world?
(04:43) Did Tiancheng always think he would become a founder?
(05:11) How did Tiancheng's competitive programming background influence his approach to tech?
(06:08) How did Tiancheng find out about these competitive programming competitions?
(08:46) How did Tiancheng get into the autonomous vehicle space?
(11:22) What advice would Tiancheng give listeners on how to break into the autonomous tech space?
(13:16) What was the "aha moment' when Tiancheng realized he wanted to start Pony.ai?
(14:54) What were the differences between the American and Chinese autonomous vehicle industries?
(16:25) What is setting the new virtual driver technologies apart?
(18:06) What sets the technologies for autonomous trucks and taxis apart from average consumer cars?
(20:56) How do you prepare an autonomous car for unexpected events that may happen on the road?
(23:24) When did Tiancheng first put an autonomous car on the road?
(24:02) How have consumer reviews been of Pony.ai vehicles?
(26:15) How does Pony.ai prioritize their developments?
(29:23) Who was the first person to say yes to investing in Pony.ai?
(31:02) What advice does Tiancheng have for first-time founders?\
(32:30) How does Pony adapt to different regulatory environments across markets?
(34:40) How important is mass production and scaling of autonomous vehicles to Pony.ai and the overall industry?
(36:01) Are we now in the commercialization era of Robo Taxis?
(37:05) Is there an amount of autonomous driving data or a certain metric that Pony.ai aims to collect?\
(40:27) What are Tiancheng's thoughts on the future of AI?
(42:03) What are Tiancheng's thoughts on Deep Seek?
(43:41) What's the next market Pony.ai will be launching in, and what are their goals for global market expansion?
(44:19) What's next for Tiancheng personally?
(44:44) Who is a woman in Tiancheng's life that had a profound impact on him and his career?

For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.
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Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!

Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.*
*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

WX Productions

In this episode, we're joined by Alexa Grabell, Co-Founder and CEO of Pocus, a company revolutionizing how sales teams work by creating AI agents that supercharge sales representatives. Pocus has developed a suite of tools that combine internal and external data to help sales teams identify opportunities, prepare for calls, and close deals more effectively, generating over half a billion dollars in pipeline for their customers in a single quarter.

During our conversation, Alexa shares her journey from consulting at KPMG to Stanford Business School and eventually founding Pocus with her co-founder, Isaac, through the Lean Launchpad program. She offers valuable insights on building a sales team, navigating design partnerships, fundraising strategies for B2B startups, and the evolving landscape of AI-powered sales tools. Alexa also candidly discusses the challenges of being a female founder, the importance of finding community among peer founders, and how her mother's entrepreneurial spirit influenced her own path. Whether you're building a sales team, raising capital, or are interested in how AI is transforming business workflows, this episode delivers practical wisdom from someone who's successfully navigated these waters.

(00:00) Introduction
(03:52) Where did Alexa grow up and how did that shape her view of the world?
(05:12) Did Alexa always think she was going to become a founder?
(06:26) How were Alexa's experiences at Vanderbilt and KPMG?
(08:07) Why did Alexa choose to go to business school after college?
(09:07) How did Alexa's time at GSB encourage her to try becoming a founder?
(12:41) What was the moment that made Alexa want to start Pocus?
(14:06) How did Alexa navigate conversations with peers to find the right fit for a business partner?
(15:56) What is the core product of Pocus?
(17:27) How did Pocus successfully sell its product in the beginning?
(18:45) What advice does Alexa have for founders in the design partnership phase?
(21:16) How is Pocus helping move data from "Point A" to "Point B"?
(22:34) Who was the first person to say "yes" to investing in Pocus?
(23:18) What's a fundraising hot-take that Alexa has?
(24:08) What advice does Alexa have for B2B founders raising their A?
(25:41) How is Poucs thinking about and utilizing AI?
(27:41) What can go wrong when building a marketing team?
(28:59) What advice does Alexa have for PLG or B2B founders who might not feel comfortable in sales?
(30:15) How should founders be thinking about the AI sales tool space and the modern tech stack?
(31:56) How has the necessary startup capital changed over time?
(33:06) What was a moment in founding Pocus when things didn't go as planned?
(35:59) How has the experience of being a woman founder changed over time?
(40:22) What's coming up for Pocus and for Alexa?
(41:13) Who is a woman that has a profound impact on Alexa and her career?

For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.
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Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.*
*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

WX Productions

Welcome back to another season of The Room Podcast! To kick off season 12, we are joined by Ryan Petersen, Founder and CEO of Flexport, the revolutionary digital freight forwarder transforming how goods move around the world. Launched in 2013, Flexport combines technology and logistics expertise to bring transparency and efficiency to the complex world of global trade, having grown to become the third-largest American company in the ocean freight industry.

In this episode, Ryan takes us through his entrepreneurial journey, from his early days running an e-commerce business importing Chinese motorcycles to identifying the massive inefficiencies in international shipping that led to Flexport's creation. We dive into fascinating topics like building a company that combines tech talent with logistics veterans, navigating highly regulated international markets, and leveraging AI to transform an industry that still largely runs on email attachments. Ryan also shares valuable insights on fundraising strategies, responding to tariff changes, and maintaining resilience through unprecedented global disruptions like the pandemic and shipping crises. Tune in for a master class in spotting industry-wide inefficiencies and building a venture-scale business that's reshaping global trade.

(00:00) Introduction
(04:17) Where did Ryan grow up and how did that shape his view of the world?
(06:08) Did Ryan always think he would become a founder?
(07:30) What was Ryan's experience prior to Flexport, after Berkeley and Columbia?
(13:05) What was it like doing business in China in the early 2000s?
(16:447) How did Ryan go from observing inefficiencies to creating Flexport's first product?
(20:11) What's Ryan's advice on when founders should say no to customers?
(25:05) When did Ryan know to hire supply chain experts versus engineers?
(27:20) Who was the first person to invest in the Flexport vision?
(35:10) How did Flexport navigate the highly regulated logistics market early on?
(37:19) What key tech bets shaped Flexport's path in the early days?
(43:04) What's Ryan's view on AI in the logistics workforce?
(49:44) How is Ryan thinking about the shifts in the US tariff market?
(54:40) How has Ryan handled uncertainty as a founder through unprecedented times?
(58:26) Who is a woman who has had a profound impact on Ryan and his career?

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Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.*
*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

WX Productions

In this special holiday episode of The Room Podcast, we sit down with Agatha Kluk and Sonia Farber, the co-founders of Kluk Farber Law (now part of Perkins Coie), a specialized law firm dedicated to supporting innovative founders and startups. Their firm provides strategic legal guidance to entrepreneurs navigating the complex landscape of building and scaling companies. 

This candid conversation takes us through the evolution of their practice, from its founding in 2017 to its strategic partnership with Perkins Coie. Throughout our discussion, we explore the intersection of law and entrepreneurship, highlighting how the right legal partnership can empower founders to achieve their vision. At its core, Kluk Farber Law provides comprehensive legal services tailored specifically for startups and emerging companies. 

Key topics in this episode include strategic guidance for company sales and earn-out negotiations, balancing tech automation with historically successful advisory services, and AI regulation and compliance considerations.

(00:00) Introduction

(05:07) Where did Agatha and Sonia grow up and how did that shape their view of the world?

(07:10) Did Agatha and Sonia grow up thinking they would be founders and lawyers?

(08:44) How did Agatha and Sonia find themselves at the intersection of law and tech?

(12:24) How did Agatha and Sonia meet?

(13:02) What made Agatha and Sonia want to work together?

(19:29) What was the original goal of the firm that Agatha and Sonia started?

(21:22) What is the most common pitfall founders face when fundraising from VCs and, what are some of the mistakes to look out for when selling your company?

(23:48) Who or what is a memorable client or case that stands out from the first few years of working together?

(29:17) What encouraged Agatha and Sonia to say yes when being acquired in 2022?

(32:17) What is something that is not discussed enough when it comes to acquisition?

(34:19) How is tech affecting the legal sector, specifically for Agatha and Sonia?

(36:35) How do Agatha and Sonia feel about the current proposed AI regulations?

(39:28) Do Agatha and Sonia fund or support the founding of a venture firm?

(40:42) Are Agatha and Sonia bullish or bearish on first-time fund managers in today's market?

(47:06) Who is a woman in Agatha and Sonia's lives that has had a profound impact on them and their careers?

For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.
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Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!

Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.*
*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

WX Productions

Welcome back to another episode of The Room Podcast! This week, we?re thrilled to chat with Wade Foster, CEO and Co-Founder of Zapier, the tool that?s revolutionized workflows by making automation accessible to anyone. Zapier helps businesses and individuals connect the apps they rely on, creating seamless integrations that save time and boost productivity.

In this episode, Wade takes us through Zapier?s origins, its flagship no-code-needed automation platform, and how the company has carved out a niche as the go-to solution for streamlining business processes. We also dive into fascinating topics like growing a fully remote team before it was trendy, navigating the unique challenges of bootstrapping in a venture-driven world, and the surprising lessons Wade learned while literally counting telephone poles during a college internship. Tune in for insights on building impactful products, a behind-the-scenes look at Zapier's innovative culture, and a glimpse into what it takes to lead one of today?s most versatile SaaS companies.

(00:00) Introduction

(04:53) Where did Wade grow up and how did that shape his view of the world?

(06:08) Did Wade always think he was going to become a founder?

(07:01) How did Wade develop an interest in entrepreneurship?

(09:58) Why was Wade's first internship so impactful?

(12:31) How did Wade meet his cofounders and come up with the idea for Zapier?

(14:24) How was Wade's experience at YC?

(15:38) What lessons has Wade learned about marketing and sales tactics?

(16:53) What advice does Wade have for founders entering YC to maximize their experience?

(22:09) What were some moments when Wade realized they were onto something with Zapier?

(22:42) What advice would Wade give to founders looking to grow in today's market conditions?

(25:36) What's a memorable moment from the founding journey of Zapier?

(27:08) How did Zapier scale while maintaining authenticity to its core values?

(30:37) What is Zapier's core product?

(32:07) How has the business model of Zapier scaled alongside the product?

(35:24) What lessons has Wade learned on pricing and packaging B2B SaaS products?

(37:58) How is Zapier thinking about the future of their business?

(39:35) What is Zapier's view on how AI and automation are coming together?

(42:57) What are some things Zapier customers can look forward to in 2025?

(44:02) What is Wade personally excited about for the near future?

(44:19) Who is a woman in Wade's life who has had a profound impact on him and his career?

For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.
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Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!

Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.*
*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

WX Productions

In this LIVE version of The Room Podcast, we?re thrilled to chat with Immad Akhund, Co-Founder and CEO of Mercury, a fintech company built specifically for startups and tech companies. Immad walks us through his journey from founder to industry leader, and how Mercury is reimagining banking with streamlined financial tools for growing businesses. Mercury?s core product offers an intuitive digital banking experience, designed to handle startups' unique cash flow and management needs.

Join us as we explore Immad?s early entrepreneurial journey, his strategic shift from gaming with Hayzap to founding Mercury, and the insights he gained along the way. This episode highlights Mercury?s goal to simplify banking for tech founders, Immad?s take on the importance of resilience and adaptability, and how Mercury?s modern approach is transforming financial services for the startup ecosystem.

(00:00) Introduction

(08:40) Where did Immad grow up and how did that shape his view of the world?

(09:17) Did Immad always think he would become a founder?

(10:22) At what point did Immad move to the States?

(11:06) What lessons did Immad learn when running HayZap?

(12:55) How did Immad know who he wanted as cofounders when starting Mercury?

(14:07) What advice does Immad have for finding a co-founder and resolving conflict with a co-founder?

(15:31) Why did Immad want to tackle a problem in banking specifically?

(16:30) How was Immad's experience breaking into the fintech space?

(19:28) What advice does Immad have for founders in complex regulatory spaces?

(21:20) Who was the first person to say yes to investing in Mercury?

(22:46) What's a fundraising "hot take" that Immad has?

(24:39) How did Mercury's go-to-market strategy change as they scaled?

(26:39) How does Mercury scale their feature set and their product to meet the scaling needs of their clients?

(28:14) How did the liquidity crisis at Silicon Valley Bank impact Mercury and the fintech space?

(30:01) What traits does Immad look for when investing in a startup?

(31:03) What advice does Immad have for founders looking to be acquired in the current market?

(33:53) What does Immad expect in the future of fintech?

(34:48) What's next for Mercury and for Immad personally?

(35:31) Who is a woman in Immad's life that has had a profound impact on him and his career?

For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter
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Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!

Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.*
*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

WX Productions

Welcome back to The Room Podcast! Today, we?re thrilled to explore the fast-evolving world of B2B tech innovation with Shensi Ding, co-founder of Merge. Merge has become a leader in unified APIs, creating a category that addresses the challenges many companies face with complex integrations. Shensi?s journey is a unique one?from her coding days in Boston to Columbia, then a career at Silver Lake, all of which prepared her to tackle the 'SAAS sprawl' problem head-on. Together with her co-founder, Gil Feig, Shensi has built a powerhouse team and a product that?s essential for clients like Ramp and BambooHR. Their customer-first approach has secured $75 million in funding and a growing presence across SF and NYC.

In this episode, we delve into topics like using customer insights to drive category creation, balancing skills in co-founder dynamics, and navigating fundraising from seed stage through metrics-driven growth. 

(00:00) Introduction

(05:04) Where did Shensi grow up and how did that shape her view of the world?

(06:07) Did Shensi always think she was going to become a founder?

(06:29) How were website designers making money in the early 2000's?

(07:25) How did Shensi move from making websites to computer science?

(08:19) How has finance influenced Shensi to become a founder?

(10:26) Why did Shensi leave finance to join Xpanse?

(11:35) How did Shensi meet her co-founder, Gil, and why did they decide to find Merge?

(14:20) What was the aha moment that encouraged the start of Merge?

(14:57) What is the core product of Merge?

(16:48) Who was the first company to say yes to using Merge?

(17:53) What are some of the ways that customers are using Merge?

(18:48) How does Shensi classify the space that Merge is a part of?

(19:38) How did Shensi think about building her initial team?

(21:00) Who was the first person to say yes to investing in Merge?

(21:31) How was Shensi's experience fundraising for Merge?

(22:44) What advice does Shensi have for fundraising?

(25:37) What is Merge's go-to-market strategy and how did Shensi build the initial sales team?

(26:29) How do you scale up after the seed round?

(28:19) How is AI disrupting the unified API space and how does Merge fit into that?

(29:14) What is a part of the founding journey that Shensi didn't expect?

(31:17) How is the founding landscape today? Are people looking to keep building?

(32:52) What companies are a part of Merge's tech stack?

(33:38) What's next for Merge and for Shensi?

(34:48) Who is a woman in Shensi's life that has had a profound impact on her and her career?

For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.
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Check out our guide to podcasting here! 
Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!

Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.*
*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

WX Productions

In this episode of The Room Podcast, we sit down with Jason Lee, the founder of Salt Labs and DailyPay, to explore his journey from finance to fintech entrepreneurship. Salt Labs, Jason?s latest venture, focuses on empowering workers to maximize their earnings potential, while DailyPay revolutionized the way employees access their wages. 

We cover a range of topics such as the need for improvement in front-line workers' payment structures, how Jason?s years in investment banking shaped his approach to entrepreneurship, his pivotal "aha" moment that led him to create DailyPay and Salt Labs, and advice to founders looking to start fundraising. 

(00:00) Introduction

(05:38) Where did Jason grow up and how did that shape his view of the world?

(07:23) Did Jason always think he was going to become a founder?

(09:11) What attracted Jason to stay with Goldman for 16 years?

(10:39) When did Jason eventually leave Goldman?

(14:31) How did Jason convince employers to integrate Daily Pay into current payment structures?

(18:18) How did Jason get into this nice crossover of lending and fundraising?

(20:34) How has Jason scaled Daily Pay?

(23:50) How has Salt Labs helped solve employee retention and turnover?

(27:56) How was the experience fundraising for Salt Labs?

(30:03) What advice does Jason have for early-stage founders looking to fundraise?

(33:24) What was a moment in Jason's founding journey when things didn't go as planned?

(38:18) What are the key trends in the hourly worker market that will shape the evolution of Salt Labs?

(41:18) What's next for Salt Labs?

(44:38) Who is a woman in Jason's life that had a profound impact on him and his career?

For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.
Follow us on Instagram 
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Check out our guide to podcasting here! 
Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!

Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.*
*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

WX Productions

In this episode of The Room Podcast, we sit down with Kevin McCarthy, the CEO of Unreal, a company dedicated to creating healthier alternatives to classic candy. Unreal is known for creating delicious, better-for-you snacks that ditch artificial ingredients, offering cleaner, more natural options in the world of sweets. We discuss the intersection of entrepreneurship and health-conscious innovation, bringing a refreshing approach to an industry ripe for disruption. Kevin shares his journey to becoming CEO at just 24 years old, the pivotal changes Unreal made to become a leader in the health-conscious snack market, and how leadership lessons from his political campaign days shaped his approach to business.

Key topics in this conversation include; the challenges of rebranding during and after a pandemic, what it takes to lead a company and board room through major pivots, and the value of a transparent and in-person DTC strategy. 

(00:00) Introduction

(04:54) Where did Kevin grow up and how did that shape his view of the world?

(05:39) Did Kevin always believe he was going to be a CEO?

(06:46) How did Kevin's early passion for government shape his career?

(09:38) What lessons has Kevin learned that he employs on a day-to-day basis?

(10:50) How and why did Kevin join Unreal?

(13:49) When did Kevin realize he would be with Unreal for a long time?

(15:27) What is the original Unreal core product?

(18:06) What is Unreal's approach to the supply chain layer?

(20:10) How did Unreal incorporate a DTC approach to their business model?

(21:57) How has Kevin built a relationship with the Board of Unreal without being the founder?

(23:44) What advice does Kevin have for people entering a board room for the first time?

(25:34) What was a moment while CEO of Unreal when things didn't go as planned?

(27:47) How does Unreal think about "URL vs. IRL" in their go-to-market and sales strategy?

(29:35) What challenges can arise when running an omni-channel strategy for a business?

(31:58) How is Unreal cultivating a community around their product?

(34:41) What is Kevin's favorite Unreal snack?

(36:12) What's next for Kevin personally?

(37:05) Who is a woman that has had a profound impact on Kevin and his career?

For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.
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Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!

Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.*
*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

WX Productions

In this episode of The Room Podcast, we?re joined by Sami Inkinen, co-founder of Virta Health, a company transforming the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Virta Health?s mission is to not just manage, but reverse diabetes using personalized nutrition plans backed by clinical research. Sami also shares his journey from humble beginnings on a Finnish farm to co-founding the real estate platform Trulia, and ultimately, Virta Health. 

Key highlights include the current state and effect of GLP1 drugs in America alongside the growing prevalence of diabetes, overcoming skepticism and resistance to adopting non-traditional treatments for chronic diseases, and the intersection of technology and healthcare overall.

(00:00) Introduction

(05:07) Where did Sami grow up and how did that shape his view of the world?

(07:11) Did Sami always think he would become a founder?

(9:12) What was Sami's plan when he finished college at Stanford?

(11:16) When did Sami know it was time to start his journey as a founder?

(14:30) What was the aha moment behind Trulia?

(17:57) What were some lessons learned from Sami's first startup journey?

(22:13) How was Sami's experience with his first startup being acquired by Zillow?

(25:56) What is the core product of Virta Health?

(27:41) What is Virta Health's mission?

(31:43) How does Sami feel about GLP 1 medications becoming mainstream?

(35:34) What is Sami's approach on go-to-market strategy with Virta?

(38:04) Who was the first person to say yes to investing in Virta?

(40:07) How has Virta changed its clients' lives?

(45:09) What has been the hardest part of breaking into the healthcare space?

(47:21) Who is a woman in Sami's life that had a profound impact on him and his career?

For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.
Follow us on Instagram 
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Check out our guide to podcasting here! 
Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!

Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.*
*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

WX Productions

In this episode of The Room Podcast, we sit down with Ariel Kaye, the founder of Parachute, a brand known for elevating the home essentials industry with a focus on comfort and wellness. Ariel shares her journey from a creative upbringing to her path through advertising, where she discovered her passion for building brands, eventually leading to the founding of Parachute.

Join us as we dive into how Parachute taps into the wellness movement by focusing on the importance of sleep and home comfort. We explore the company's core product?bedding? and why it resonated with consumers looking for better home essentials. Ariel also shares insights on creating a brand from scratch while disrupting a market, the importance of consumer insights and communication in building a business, and the ups and downs of running a business while raising a family. 

(00:00) Introduction

(04:50) Where did Ariel grow up and how did that shape her view of the world?

(06:09) Did Ariel ever think she would become a founder?

(07:35) How did Ariel's experience at NYU lead her to found Parachute?

(11:27) What was the "aha moment" that encouraged the founding of Parachute?

(15:11) Why did Ariel think online sales would be best?

(18:29) What encouraged Ariel to take Parachute to brick and mortar?

(21:01) When did Ariel realize it was time to raise capital?

(23:34) What advice would Ariel give to other DTC founders?

(27:32) What was a moment in Parachute's life cycle when things didn't go as planned?

(30:37) What advice would Ariel give to founders facing uncertainties?

(32:24) How does Ariel think the role of digital vs physical sales will change in the near future?

(35:05) How does Ariel know when it's time to launch a new product?

(37:20) How does Ariel balance what she likes as a product vs what's best for the business?

(39:06) What advice does Ariel have for managing career and family balance?

(42:10) Who is a woman in Ariel's life that had a profound impact on her and her career?

For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.
Follow us on Instagram 
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Check out our guide to podcasting here! 
Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!

Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.*
*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

WX Productions

Welcome back to a new season of The Room Podcast! To kick off Season 11, we're joined by Johnny Ho, co-founder of Perplexity, an AI-powered platform transforming the way everyday consumers interact with search. Johnny shares his path from competitive programming to entrepreneurship and offers insights into the development of Perplexity?s core product, which aims to deliver precise, reliable answers in a simple, intuitive way.

In this episode, we covered topics such as how Perplexity uses AI to deliver accurate and reliable search results using multiple LLMs, building a user-first product in a competitive tech space, and the importance of finding investors who want to work with you in the right ways. 

Want to work with Perplexity? Apply here!

(00:00) Introduction

(05:05) Where did Johnny grow up and how did that shape his view of the world?

(05:42) Did Johnny always think he was going to be a founder?

(06:21) How did Johnny get into competitive programming?

(07:23) What brought Johnny to start working at Quora?

(08:06) What lessons did Johnny take away from his time at Quora?

(08:49) How did Johnny meet his cofounders of Perplexity?

(09:17) Why did Johnny, Arvin, and Dennis decide to start a company together?

(10:01) Why did Johnny think Arvin and Dennis would be good partners?

(10:56) What was the "aha moment" that inspired the core product of Perplexity?

(12:04) Why was user interface so important to Johnny and the team?

(13:26) What was the decision-making process behind implementing a unique feature allowing consumers to choose what LLM they use?

(16:09) Who was the first person to say yes to investing in Perplexity?

(17:06) What advice does Johnny have regarding picking the right investors to partner with?

(18:11) What's a fun story or anecdote from founding Perplexity?

(19:11) When should a founder consider trying a new idea/ altering their concept?

(20:32) How is Perplexity's go-to-market strategy changing with its success?

(21:39) How is Perplexity differentiating themselves from their competitors?

(23:21) Is B2B selling a part of Perplexity's future plans?

(24:51) How does Johnny get authentic reviews from customers?

(26:03) What was a moment in Perplexity's life cycle when things didn't go as planned?

(27:22) Is it possible that some of Perplexity's partners could be future competitors?

(29:43) Has Perplexity created a governing board?

(30:00) What's next for Perplexity?

(30:59) What's next for Johnny Personally

(31:45) Who is a woman in Johnny's life that had an impact on him and his career?

For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.
Follow us on Instagram 
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Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!

Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.*
*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

WX Productions

[]

In this episode, we dive into the Future of DTC panel from this summer?s Inside Summit. This panel was moderated by our very own Claudia Laurie, who is also the founder of Prive, a leading eCommerce billing platform. In this discussion, the panelists explore the future of DTC, how to build authentic brand communities, building a celebrity brand, challenges and opportunities around customer acquisition and retention, and advice for brand founders and builders. This conversation includes an incredible mix of perspectives from leading brands, agencies, and tech partners. Our panelists included: Nik Sharma is widely known as ?The DTC Guy,? a Forbes 30 Under 30 member, AdWeek?s Young & Influential, and a resource that brands and investors turn to for growth. Nik is the founder and CEO of Sharma Brands, where clients include Feastables, Jolie, Milk Bar, Everlane and more. Outside of Sharma Brands, Nik writes a newsletter to 50,000 investors, founders, and marketers and is also the co-host of Limited Supply, an award-winning marketing podcast.  Scout Brisson is the CEO of De Soi, a line of sparkling non-alcoholic apéritifs, co-founded by Katy Perry and Morgan McLachlan. Scout's professional journey spans over seven years in management consulting at McKinsey, and venture capital at M13.In 2020, Scout co-founded better-for-you CPG brand, DEUX, innovating a functional alternative with edible cookie dough.  Marissa Steinmetz is an accomplished digital product leader with 13+ years of eCcommerce and omnichannel expertise. She is currently the Head of Digital Product, eCommerce at Coterie and has spent her career helping well-known brands and businesses transform their digital enterprises, including Moda Operandi, Pernod Ricard, Drunk Elephant, and Target. Breana Teubner is COO of TYB, a community rewards platform with customers like Glossier, Urban Outfitters, JuneShine, and Rare Beauty. Prior to TYB, she helped scale Skillz, the first pay-to-earn gaming platform to go public - and was an executive at Walmart and Gap. She is an LP in two early-stage funds, Let?s Open the Door!

In this episode, we dive into the Future of Platforms panel from this summer?s Inside Summit. This panel was moderated by Alexandra York, Associate Editor at Forbes and a key figure behind the 30 Under 30 lists. Alexandra brings her expertise in covering young entrepreneurs and emerging brands to guide a discussion on the evolving digital platform space.

 

In this discussion, the panelists explore the future of digital platforms, the impact of social commerce, and how they?re navigating challenges like AI integration, community engagement, and finding the right revenue models. They also share personal insights on pivoting, fundraising, and defining success in today?s competitive tech landscape.

 

Our panelists included:

? Emma Bates, CEO and co-founder of Diem, a social search engine pioneering a new, inclusive internet for women. With a background in partnerships at Away and community-building at Whalar, Emma is a recognized advocate for gender equity in the digital world.

? Miri Buckland, COO and co-founder of Landing, a social commerce app revolutionizing how Gen Z interacts with shoppable content. Miri's experience spans corporate strategy and consumer tech, with a passion for fostering creativity and community.

? Judy Thelen, CEO and co-founder of Beli, a platform transforming how consumers discover and recommend restaurants globally, with over 30 million ratings across 30,000 cities since its launch.

? Dylan Diamond, co-founder and CEO of Saturn, a calendar platform tailored for high school students, with significant backing from top-tier investors. Dylan?s journey includes a stint as Tesla?s youngest software engineer and recognition as a Thiel Fellow.

 

Let?s Open the Door!

In this episode of The Room Podcast, we recap the Inside Summit x Gen AI Collective panel, moderated by Sriram Ramakrishnan. The panel featured Vaikkunth Mugunthan (Dynamo AI), Hassaan Raza (Tavus), Ankur Patel (Multimodal), and Lulu Chang (Canapi Ventures), who shared their insights on the challenges and opportunities in the AI landscape. Key questions discussed: 1. Career Journeys: What led each panelist to venture into AI or invest in it? 2. Fundraising for AI: How does raising funds for AI-focused startups differ from other ventures? What?s the investor perspective? 3. Enterprise Adoption: What hesitations do enterprises have regarding AI, and how can companies overcome them? 4. Building Sustainable AI Businesses: What are the keys to long-term success in AI? 5. Unlocking Mass Adoption: What needs to happen for AI to see widespread adoption in enterprises? 6. This episode is a must-listen for those interested in AI?s growing role in enterprise and the practical steps to navigate this evolving field. About Gen AI Collective: The Gen AI Collective is a community dedicated to fostering innovation and collaboration within the generative AI space. By bringing together industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors, the collective aims to accelerate the development and adoption of AI technologies that transform industries and improve human experiences.

Episode StructureIntroductionKJ Sidberry's BackgroundCareer Pivots and Decision-Making FrameworksAdvice for FoundersInsights for FundersIndustry Experience and Market ChangesConclusionKey Discussion Points1. KJ Sidberry's BackgroundEast Coast upbringing between Connecticut and NYCExposure to entrepreneurship and education through parentsEarly rejection led to a pivot in career direction2. Career Pivots and Decision-Making FrameworksPivot 1: Consulting to VC (Forerunner Ventures)Three key priorities in decision-makingPivot 2: Forerunner Ventures to GVPrioritizing family and career growth3. Advice for FoundersImportance of pre-existing relationships with investorsThree key traits that catch attention during pitches:MagnetismDeep curiosityFounder-market fitTip: Consider using memo format for pitches4. Insights for FundersRed flag when evaluating founders: "Lack of paranoia"How to be a good board member:Speak lessOffer contextualized perspectiveStay informed between meetings5. Industry Experience and Market ChangesEvolution of VC landscape since 2017First deal experience: Alchemy43 (MedSpa company)Current investment thesis: "Small communities that aren't actually that small"Changes in the VC market since 2017Predictions for emerging technologies (focus on AI)

In this episode:

 

Dive into the highlights of our intimate gathering of 120 talented friends from the DTC space

Get a taste of the dynamic perspectives and human connections that made Inside Summit unique

Preview the upcoming episodes featuring panel conversations with leaders in:

? Generative AI

? Consumer social platforms

? DTC

? And more!

 

We're thrilled to share how our pandemic side hustle has blossomed into a vibrant in-person community of impressive leaders. Join us as we recap the most powerful takeaways and key learnings from this extraordinary event.

Don't miss the rest of this 5-part series, releasing weekly, to experience the full impact of Inside Summit!

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.

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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?

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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. 

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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? 

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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.

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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?

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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?

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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?

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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? 

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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?

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