The Startup Podcast

Data is radioactive.

Handle it appropriately and you can harness its extreme power for your startup.

Don’t and the promised invaluable insights will decay and destroy it!

Thankfully Chris and Yaniv explore the art of data-driven decision-making in this week’s episode of The Startup Podcast. Listen as they investigate:

📊 Choosing Wisely: Use product telemetry data for insightful product decisions, steering away from the common trap of relying solely on business metrics like revenue and user numbers.

🚀 Being Guided, Not Dictated: Embrace a data-informed approach without losing sight of your startup's vision and intuition; data complements, but doesn't dictate.

🚨 Avoiding Pitfalls: Navigate the pitfalls of false precision and data fallacies. Understand that data, without proper context, can lead to misguided decisions.

🧹 Trimming the Excess: Don't drown in data! Collect only the essential information to avoid distraction and distortion of priorities.

❤️ User-Centric Approach: Prioritize user love over customer and investor data. A product that users genuinely love will naturally attract success.

This episode serves as a compelling reminder that while data is a powerful tool, it must be wielded judiciously. Tune in for an enlightening discussion on steering your startup with the right balance of insight, vision, and data

The Pact 

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Key links

• The Startup Podcast is sponsored by Vanta. Vanta helps businesses get and stay compliant by automating up to 90% of the work for the most in demand compliance frameworks. With over 200 integrations, you can easily monitor and secure the tools your business relies on. Go to www.vanta.com/tsp  for 20% off their incredible offer.

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• The Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.show   

Learn more about Chris and Yaniv

• Work 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/  

• Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/  

• Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/

Credits

Lovingly handcrafted for the global startup community by:

Editor: Justin McArthur

Associate Producer: Aidan Cousins

Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang  

He’s back!

Sam Altman returns as CEO of OpenAI, less than a week after being fired by the board. 

Today on The Startup Podcast, Emil Michael also returns to the pod with Chris and Yaniv to discuss the latest OpenAI drama. Together they explore:

🤝 Leadership Dynamics at OpenAI: Uncover the compelling narrative of Sam Altman's departure and return as OpenAI's CEO, exploring the nuances of board decisions and the impact of employee protests.

🌐 Managing AI Partnership Risks: Delve into the Microsoft-OpenAI deal, dissecting how Satya Nadella adeptly structured the partnership to mitigate risks, offering valuable lessons in strategic collaboration.

⚖️ Balancing Safety and Progress: Navigate the fine line between rapid AI advancement and ensuring safety, as the episode scrutinizes the potential risks of swift progress in the competitive landscape of AI development.

🤔 The Role of Effective Boards: Gain insights into the pivotal role of boards in companies, particularly OpenAI, and how board dynamics can influence strategic decisions, especially during challenging periods.

🚀 Lessons for Fast-Growth Companies: Extract valuable lessons for fast-growing companies, learning from OpenAI's experiences in navigating risk, embracing innovation, and fostering collaboration with a constructive board.

Don't miss this thought-provoking episode that unravels the complex tapestry of leadership, risk, and innovation in OpenAI. Watch the full episode for a deep dive into the lessons shaping the future of technology and company dynamics. 🎬🔍

The Pact 

• Honour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:

• Follow, rate, and review us in your listening app

• Subscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early-access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe     

• Follow us on YouTube

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Key links

• The Startup Podcast is sponsored by Vanta. Vanta helps businesses get and stay compliant by automating up to 90% of the work for the most in demand compliance frameworks. With over 200 integrations, you can easily monitor and secure the tools your business relies on. Go to www.vanta.com/tsp  for 20% off their incredible offer.

• Follow us on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg  

• Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A

• The Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.show   

Learn more about Chris and Yaniv

• Work 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/  

• Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/  

• Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/

Credits

Lovingly handcrafted for the global startup community by:

Editor: Justin McArthur

Associate Producer: Aidan Cousins

Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang

When is it the right time to shut down your startup?

Join Chris and Yaniv in this insightful episode featuring Gabor Cselle, the founder of the once-promising T2/Pebble, as he candidly shares the story behind the decision to shut down his startup.

Facing the uphill battle of funding challenges and operational struggles, T2/Pebble, a Twitter alternative, ultimately reached a crossroads. Cselle walks us through the tough realization that the opportunity cost of persisting outweighed the benefits.

While Cselle believes in the viability of a Twitter alternative, the intricate execution posed insurmountable challenges for T2/Pebble. Despite this setback, he remains optimistic, suggesting that future endeavors might successfully tread this path.

The emotional toll of shutting down a startup is not lost on Cselle, drawing on his experience from Google to approach the decision rationally. He emphasizes that "failure is a skill" developed over time, shedding light on the nuanced journey of founders.

Delving into competitor analysis, Cselle dissects platforms like Facebook's Threads, highlighting engagement and algorithmic effectiveness. Despite shortcomings, Facebook's colossal size and persistence grant them a formidable advantage.

In a comprehensive summary, Cselle imparts invaluable wisdom for fellow founders, navigating the delicate balance between financial realities, emotional resilience, and the ever-present consideration of opportunity costs. Tune in to glean insights for your entrepreneurial journey! 🚀🔍

The Pact 

• Honour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:

• Follow, rate, and review us in your listening app

• Subscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early-access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe     

• Follow us on YouTube

• Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following 

Key links

• The Startup Podcast is sponsored by Vanta. Vanta helps businesses get and stay compliant by automating up to 90% of the work for the most in demand compliance frameworks. With over 200 integrations, you can easily monitor and secure the tools your business relies on. Go to www.vanta.com/tsp  for 20% off their incredible offer.

• Follow us on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg  

• Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A

• The Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.show   

Learn more about Chris and Yaniv

• Work 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/  

• Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/  

• Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/

Credits

Lovingly handcrafted for the global startup community by:

Editor: Justin McArthur

Associate Producer: Aidan Cousins

Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang

On the 17th of November OpenAI announced on their blog that Sam Altman was fired.

This sent shockwaves throughout the startup ecosystem worldwide. What happened next was even more fireworks. Greg Brockman, the other co-founder was removed as president of the board then Mira Murati was appointed interim CEO. Greg quit as well as four other senior people. Investors including Microsoft has been in the dark and Mira Murati and has since tried to bring Sam and Greg back to OpenAI. 

So what the hell is going on?

Wading through the speculation craziness of the last week are Chris and Yaniv joined by special guest and friend of the pod Emil Michael, former Chief Business Officer at Uber.

Was this because of AI safety from people with no skin in the game? An internal battle?

What is to become of OpenAI?

You DO NOT want to miss this episode!

Episode Links:

• Checkout our recent episode on OpenAI DevDay 2023: https://www.tsp.show/reacts-ai-insiders-discuss-openai-devday-2023-everything-you-need-to-know/ 

The Pact 

• Honour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:

• Follow, rate, and review us in your listening app

• Subscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early-access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe     

• Follow us on YouTube

• Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following 

Key links

• The Startup Podcast is sponsored by Vanta. Vanta helps businesses get and stay compliant by automating up to 90% of the work for the most in demand compliance frameworks. With over 200 integrations, you can easily monitor and secure the tools your business relies on. Go to www.vanta.com/tsp  for 20% off their incredible offer.

• Follow us on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg  

• Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A

• The Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.show   

Learn more about Chris and Yaniv

• Work 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/  

• Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/  

  Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/

How do you improve your mental health? 

Today continues the important discussion we started with Mike Filbey, founder of Pepper and former co-founder of ButcherBox surrounding mental health.

To help guide us on the ins and outs of founder mental health is expert coach Georgia Dienst. Georgia has spent her career working with high performance people at Google, Google X and Kernel.

In this eye-opening conversation, Georgia sheds light on the formidable challenges founders face in maintaining their mental well-being within the demanding startup landscape. Drawing from her own experiences with burnout and her coaching insights, she unravels the complexities that often go unnoticed.

🌪️ Explore the key revelations:

🧠 Unmasking the Mental Health Epidemic: Founders, grappling with intense work demands, lack the crucial support needed for their mental health.

🤝 Untangling Founder Identity: Dive deep into the intricacies of how founder identities become inseparable from their companies, resulting in self-neglect and fragility.

🚨 Warning Signs: Recognize the early indicators of trouble, such as broken self-care promises and the dangerous link between self-care and company goals.

🧩 Mindset Matters: Uncover the prevalent mindset issues like imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and low self-worth haunting founders.

💼 Invest in Yourself: Georgia advocates for founders to treat themselves as equally vital resources, emphasizing the need for self-investment.

🌿 Holistic Well-being: Learn how basic self-care, coupled with guidance from a coach or therapist, can be a game-changer. Reach out for help early, not just when things are dire.

🤝 Coach's Corner: Understand the role of coaches in implementing support systems while addressing emotional challenges.

Embark on this illuminating episode to empower yourself as a founder, discovering the tools and insights crucial for building resilience in the face of mental health challenges.

Episode Links:

• Check out Georgia’s website: https://www.georgiadienst.com/ 

• Explore the Mochary Method: https://mocharymethod.com/

The Pact 

Honour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:

• Follow, rate, and review us in your listening app

• Subscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early-access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe   

• Follow us on YouTube

• Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following 

Key links

• The Startup Podcast is sponsored by Vanta. Vanta helps businesses get and stay compliant by automating up to 90% of the work for the most in demand compliance frameworks. With over 200 integrations, you can easily monitor and secure the tools your business relies on. Go to www.vanta.com/tsp for 20% off their incredible offer.
• Follow us on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg 

• Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A

• The Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.show 

Learn more about Chris and Yaniv

• Work 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ 

• Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ 

  Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/

OpenAI DevDay 2023.

A conference that sent reverberations throughout the startup ecosystem worldwide.

Welcomed back on The Startup Podcast to discuss and debate it all are Jeremiah Owyang, general partner at Blitzscaling Ventures and founder of Lama Lounge, and Ben Parr, founder of Octane AI, AI Insiders deeply embedded in the Silicon Valley startup ecosystem. With Chris and Yaniv they explore the top takeaways from the OpenAI DevDay.

From why GPT-4 Turbo is light-years better than GPT3.5, how to make your own super customized ChatGPT, to quality of life improvements for developers and tinkerers at home, interoperability, multi-modality, switching costs and more, this episode has it all!

The quartet also share hot takes on the future of AI startups and what startups in the AI field should be thinking about doing right now!

Stay on the pulse of AI, don't miss this episode.

Episode Links:

• Check out Ben’s startup Octane AI: https://www.octaneai.com/
• Reach out to Jeremiah at Blitzscaling Ventures on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jowyang/
• Check out Chris’ GPT he created: https://www.chrissaad.com/startupai
• And his AI standalone app he’s currently building: https://www.getwingman.ai/  

The Pact

Honour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:

• Follow, rate, and review us in your listening app
• Subscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early-access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe
• Follow us on YouTube
• Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following

Key links

• Follow us on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg
• Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A
• The Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.show

Learn more about Chris and Yaniv

• Work 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/
• Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/
• Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/

Brace yourself for a masterclass in app evolution as Andres Glusman, founder of DoWhatWorks shares 15 years of wisdom gained at Meetup, where experimentation was the key to their monumental growth. 

Discover the hidden truth that most experiments fail, but when they succeed, the impact is colossal.

The secret? Thoughtful experimentation. It's about testing specific hypotheses, not just throwing everything at the wall and hoping something sticks.

Experiments go beyond correlation, establishing causation – the only way to truly gauge if your product changes are working. 📊

Statistical significance is crucial, but startups can dance on the edge of uncertainty to move faster and break new ground.

And remember, every experiment carries downstream and upstream effects. Improvements in one metric might ripple through others, for better or worse.

Interested in revolutionising your experiments? Andres suggests exploring tools like Optimizely and Adobe Target. He also explores how DoWhatWorks is changing the industry by allowing companies to learn from each other's experiments, turbocharging the learning curve and skyrocketing success rates. 🔧 

🎙️ Don't miss this episode, where we decode the art of product experiments and learn the science behind app success.

Episode Links:

• Checkout Andres’ company DoWhatWorks at dowhatworks.io 

The Pact 

Honour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:

• Follow, rate, and review us in your listening app

• Subscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early-access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe   

• Follow us on YouTube

• Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following 

Key links

• Follow us on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg 

• Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A

• The Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.show 

Learn more about Chris and Yaniv

• Work 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ 

• Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ 
  Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/

Are you a product manager, wanting to become or know more about product management or hire one?

Embark on a riveting expedition into the dynamic world of product management as Chris and Yaniv unveil the 17 extraordinary traits that catapult Product Managers to the pinnacle of success.

🎨 Picture this: Product Managers as the User Whisperers, tapping into the deepest needs and desires of their audience.

💡 They're not just guided by buzzwords but wield the power of common sense, keeping it simple and effective.

🖌️ The aesthetic gurus who can tell a visual story and understand the marriage of design and function.

💻 Tech-savvy visionaries, bridging the gap between code and creative vision.

📊 Number crunchers who navigate the sea of data and transform it into insights that shape the future.

🌟 And that's just the beginning! From diplomatic peacemakers to trend-spotters and marathon runners, these Product Managers are the unsung heroes behind your favorite products.

🎙️ Join us for this enlightening episode as we uncover the traits that set apart the best in the industry. Whether you're an aspiring Product Manager or simply curious about the magic behind your favorite products, this episode is a must-listen!

Episode Links:

• Subscribe to Chris’ Newsletter where the concept of this episode originated: https://www.chrissaad.com/startupnewsletter 

The Pact 

Honour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:

• Follow, rate, and review us in your listening app

• Subscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early-access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe   

• Follow us on YouTube

• Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following 

Key links

• Follow us on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg 

• Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A

• The Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.show 

Learn more about Chris and Yaniv

• Work 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ 

• Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ 

• Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/ 

🌟 Imagine sharing in the triumph and value of a startup's success! It's the magic potion that aligns every employee's heartbeat with the company's vision. Discover why options, with their tantalizing tax benefits, are the darlings of the startup universe but why they can also screw employees.

In this week's electrifying episode of The Startup Podcast, we dive headfirst into the world of employee equity and ESOP with Jason Atkins, co-founder of Cake Equity - a startup that simplifies how startups and scaleups manage equity and stock options globally.

🔑 Startups play the long game, gifting options with a four-year vesting period and a tantalizingly extended expiration date. But, there's a catch - employees need to make their move to claim their stake.

📈 Early birds can score big with 1% equity, but the real treasure is in the communication and tracking tools to unlock its full potential.

🤝 Learn how equity acts as a powerful talent magnet and the secrets to keeping them hooked with timely updates.

❌ Watch out for warning signs of an equity scheme in peril: lack of transparency, communication, or support. A thriving startup culture thrives on shared ownership!

💻 Pro tip: Ditch the manual labor - unleash the true potential of equity with savvy software.

🚀🎙️ Tune in to this eye-opening episode, and master the art of employee equity, the driving force behind every startup's success story!

Episode Links:

• Checkout the Cake Equity toolkit discussed in the episode https://www.cakeequity.com/equity-toolkit

The Pact 

Honour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:

• Follow, rate, and review us in your listening app

• Subscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early-access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe   

• Follow us on YouTube

• Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following 

Key links

• Follow us on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg 

• Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A

• The Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.show 

Learn more about Chris and Yaniv

• Work 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ 

• Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ 

  Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/