In this episode, a16z partner Chris Dixon and I discuss the history of venture capital, artificial intelligence, what makes a great entrepreneur, and why companies fail.
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Eve ... Show More
Jul 8
#236 Harley Finkelstein: You Must Requalify for Your Role, Every Year
Shopify President Harley Finkelstein talks with Shane Parrish about treating every role in your life like a job you have to earn again each year. Harley shares why stepping down as COO was his hardest choice, the family motto that guides his daughters, and what makes someone good ... Show More
1h 49m
Jul 1
#235 Outliers: Jimmy Pattison — Building a $16B Empire Without Connections, Capital, or Credentials
At 96 years old, Jimmy Pattison still runs his $16 billion empire personally. He’s built it over 63 years without outside capital or a college degree. He owns 100% of car dealerships, billboards, radio stations—even Ripley’s Believe It or Not—with a philosophy of: "No partners, n ... Show More
1h 13m
Jun 24
#234 Indra Nooyi: Lessons from the Top of PepsiCo—and the Cost of Getting There
On her first day as CEO of PepsiCo, Indra Nooyi fired her general counsel. Then rehired him before dinner. It wasn’t a stunt. It was a signal. She ran a $200 billion empire the same way she ran her life: with surgical precision, uncompromising standards, and an allergy to corpora ... Show More
1h 36m
Dec 2024
Investing & Fundraising - The Truth About VC w/ Nick Crocker (Replay)
How much value do VCs truly bring beyond their capital? And what makes the difference between a supportive partnership and a dysfunctional founder-investor relationship?
In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein welcome Nick Crocker, General Partner at Blackbird Ventures, t ... Show More
54m 38s
May 2024
Jason Cohen's Startup Koans (Bonus)
Two-time unicorn founder Jason Cohen (WP Engine, Smart Bear) returns to discuss his Twitter 'koans', exploring their implications for founders. In this bonus episode, Yaniv Bernstein, Chris Saad, and Jason Cohen discuss: Half-Baked Ideas: The pitfalls of working on too ma ... Show More
18m 17s
May 2023
Ep. 145, Never Start A Business Without An Exit Plan (An Entrepreneur’s Story)
This episode gives us access to Ezra Firestone’s Blue Ribbon E-Commerce Mastermind. Whether you’re already a Founder/Entrepreneur or want to launch your own business one day, there are takeaways, tips, and fun tidbits in this conversation between two heavy-hitters that have recen ... Show More
32m 1s
Jun 16
Apps Are Obsolete: How Startups Can Leverage the New Era of AI Agents (Spotlight)
What if your next startup competitor doesn’t have a single employee?AI agents aren’t just another software trend — they’re redefining the interface between humans, data, and execution, yet many founders still confuse basic chatbots with the true potential of these agents.In this ... Show More
46m 43s
Sep 2024
Passion and Purpose (with Andy Slavitt)
On today's episode, Laurie talks purpose-driven businesses with Andy Slavitt. Andy’s been a White House advisor, crisis response leader, health and technology business leader and investor with Town Hall Ventures. He was also the host of Lemonada’s hit podcast In the Bubble. He’s ... Show More
35m 45s
Nov 2024
Fundraising Basics Part 2 - Avoid Selling Yourself Short (Replay)
Are you ready to disrupt an industry and change the world? In this episode, Chris and Yaniv dive deep into the art of fundraising for startups, exploring how to signal value, run an effective process, and craft the perfect ask to fuel your ambitious vision.
They're joined by thei ... Show More
50m 42s