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Were we wildly wrong, or surprisingly on the money? As 2025 wraps, Chris and Yaniv revisit the bold predictions they made at the start of the year. They reflect on their calls about AI, robotics, VC markets, crypto, and geopolitics. While some were accurate, some were also hilariously off. Together, they unpack what 2025 really looked like for startups, venture capital, and the global tech landscape. In this episode, you will: Learn why both hosts believe their AGI predictions were misses and what “AGI” even means anymore.Understand how Google re-emerged as a serious AI contender, from Gemini to Cloud to Chrome.Discover how VC funding split into a two-speed market, with AI startups booming while everyone else grinds.See why Bitcoin’s stability above $100K signals its cemented role as a store of value.Reflect on how tech dominance, global competition, and Trump-era chaos shaped the broader economy. The Pact  Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please: Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe 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 Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/  Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following Key links Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A  The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/ 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/ Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthur Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/

OpenAI may appear to be building the future, but are they leading the tech industry towards collapse? In this episode, Chris and Yaniv are joined by Jacob Ward (journalist, author of The Loop and NBC Technology Correspondent) to break down OpenAI’s latest livestream and what it signals about the next era of AI. Sam Altman may talk the good talk, but his actions, and the priorities of OpenAI at large, may not align with those claims. Chris, Yaniv, and Jacob unpack these differences between words and actions, the emerging social consequences, and what it all means for the tech industry. In this episode, you will: Understand OpenAI’s roadmap for AI-powered research and why "AI research interns" might be closer than you thinkLearn why the promise of autonomous five-year research cycles raised eyebrowsExplore the shift from ChatGPT as a product to ChatGPT as a platform, and what that means for app ecosystemsConsider the emotional and psychological dimensions of AI companionship and relianceEvaluate the trillion-dollar infrastructure buildup underway across data centers, GPUs, and nuclear-scale power demandsExamine how OpenAI’s nonprofit arm plans to invest in disease research and AI resilience The Pact  Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please: Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe 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 Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/  Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following Key links Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A  The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/ 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/ Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthur Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/

What do you need to do to keep employees engaged and committed? What should your position be on remote work? Side hustles? Ping pong tables? Should you offer all employees equity? Bringing Gen Z employees to your workplace is well worth it, but it means a mental pivot from the hiring team, keeping in mind an entirely new set of criteria. Chris and Yaniv discuss all this and more with Dan Brockwell, Founder and Chief Meme Officer of Earlywork, a vibrant community for early-career professionals. In this episode, you will: Understand the four key factors Gen Z professionals weigh when choosing startups: learning, culture, compensation, and impact.Learn why “job risk” and “career risk” are not the same and why startups often offer safer long-term bets.Discover how equity (ESOPs) can be both a powerful motivator and a cultural signal of respect for young talent.Explore the pros and cons of remote vs hybrid work for early-career employees and how to design hybrid intentionally.Recognize the rise of side hustles, and how founders can embrace them to retain ambitious, creative employees.Get insights into how Gen Z finds jobs through online communities, Slack channels, and personal branding instead of traditional job boards. [This is a replay episode. The original was published on May 26, 2022] The Pact  Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please: Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe 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 Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/  Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following Key links Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A  The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/ 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/ Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthur Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/

Is this the moment quantum computing becomes real? After years of being “five years away,” Google just announced a verifiable quantum advantage, claiming its Willow chip ran a molecule simulation 13,000× faster than the world’s fastest supercomputer. Is this truly the dawn of the quantum era? In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein dive deep into Google’s latest quantum computing breakthrough, exploring what it means for AI, science, and the future of technology. They'll also expand to cover the rise of brain–computer interfaces, China’s ten-year tech roadmap, and the political turbulence shaping our next decade of innovation. In this episode, you will: Understand Google’s new Willow chip and its role in achieving “verifiable quantum advantage”Learn how quantum computing could accelerate drug discovery, materials science, and AI developmentExplore why Google’s “Quantum AI” lab is merging the worlds of artificial intelligence and quantum physicsHear how emerging brain–computer interfaces (like MIT’s Alter Ego) could usher in near-telepathic communicationDiscover China’s bold 10-year plan targeting quantum tech, robotics, and embodied AI — and what it means for global competitionDebate whether technocratic governance models (like China, Singapore, and Dubai) are overtaking Western democracies in innovation speed The Pact  Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please: Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe 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 Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/  Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following Key links Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A  The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/ 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/ Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthur Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/

Looking to fund your startup? If you're new to the process, fundraising can be difficult to navigate. Not only are there a myriad of ways to go about it, but it can be hard to tell whether the tips, tricks, and advice floating around are based on any evidence at all. So, what is the truth?  And what are the actual, data-backed insights that can help you choose the best method of fundraising for your own business? Enter: Peter Walker.  As Head of Insights at Carta, he has access to, and industry knowledge about, the vast sets of funding data that will help you cut through the noise. Today, he joins Chris and Yaniv in discussing the real data behind startup funding trends in 2025 and the key takeaways you can apply to your own startups. In this episode, you will: Discover why Silicon Valley valuations often hurt founders more than they helpUnderstand how AI startups now account for nearly half of all venture funding, and what that means for non-AI foundersLearn how lean AI-driven teams are reshaping early-stage hiring, with Series A companies shrinking from 25 employees to just 15See why most founders misunderstand SAFE notesExplore why 70% of startup employees never exercise their equityUncover the reasons behind why nearly 40% of startups lose a co-founder within seven yearsGet clarity on founder vesting, equity splits, and why a six-year vesting schedule may protect your company better than fourReframe your goals as a founder: why chasing “life-changing money” isn’t the right reason to start a company The Pact  Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please: Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe 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 Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/  Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following Key links Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A  The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/ 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/ Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthur Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/

OpenAI just dropped its unbelievable new browser. All signs point to it overshadowing Chrome, but is this really the dawn of a new era? Or just another hype cycle, courtesy of Sam Altman? In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein react to OpenAI’s surprise launch of ChatGPT Atlas and debate its strategic implications. They also discuss Apple’s underwhelming Vision Pro refresh (and what it means for the company at large), YouTube’s new likeness detection tech, and Reid Hoffman’s viral post on “good vs. bad actors” in AI. In this episode, you will: Explore what makes ChatGPT Atlas different from Chrome, Safari, and Arc, and why it matters.Understand why OpenAI is desperate to own distribution, not just models.Compare today’s “browser wars” with the 2000s Chrome vs. Internet Explorer showdown.Learn how Apple’s Vision Pro M5 update signals the slow rebirth of spatial computing.Discover why YouTube’s new Content ID for faces could be a turning point for AI deepfakes.Hear how AI arms races mirror past battles like spam detection, piracy, and antivirus wars.Unpack Reid Hoffman’s call for “good actors” in AI and whether self-regulation can actually work. Get started with Cyber Matters: https://www.cybermatters.io The Pact  Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please: Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe 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 Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/  Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following Key links Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A  The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/ 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/ Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthur Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/

Think you’re executing well? Think again. Chances are you’re making one of these four common mistakes. Drawing from Chris’s latest essay and real-world advisory experience, Chris and Yaniv spend this episode breaking down the four biggest execution mistakes you're probably making right now. They explore how to recognize these patterns early, how to apply taste and judgment when scaling, and how to develop the discipline needed to execute with precision. In this episode, you will: Identify when you’re oversimplifying, and mistaking nuanced, unique use cases for the same problemUnderstand how overcomplicating your product or process can destroy focus and momentumLearn to categorize problems correctly using the principle of mutually exclusive, collectively exhaustive thinkingApply the concept of “necessary and sufficient” work — doing everything that’s needed and nothing that’s notRecognize that mistiming priorities ends in attempting to do everything at once, but finishing nothingDevelop the taste, judgment, and rigor to strike the perfect balance between simplicity and depthAvoid falling into domain dogma; naming, structuring, and communicating ideas clearly for your team and customers Read Chris’s original LinkedIn post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/chrissaad_the-big-4-execution-mistakes-youre-probably-activity-7379681603847049216-ApcV The Pact  Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please: Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe 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 Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/  Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following Key links Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A  The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/ 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/ Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthur Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/

OpenAI is set to roll out its new “treat adults like adults” policy, heralding the beginning of AI chatbots speaking more amorously with users. As the company pushes boundaries, from personality-rich bots to experimental devices, others are warning that the industry might be inflating a dangerous AI bubble. In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein break down Sam Altman’s controversial announcement, unpack Johnny Ive’s vision for the next generation of OpenAI hardware, and debate whether Google’s slow-moving Gemini rollout signals resilience or decline. They also dive into the billion-dollar race for health data, exploring how Oura’s massive new raise fits into the wider AI gold rush. In this episode, you will: Explore how OpenAI’s “Treat Adults Like Adults” philosophy changes the future of AI interactionUnderstand the ethical and mental health challenges behind human-like AI personalitiesLearn why Johnny Ive’s “family of AI devices” could redefine how we interact with technologyExamine Google’s glacial AI rollout and whether slow and steady approach might actually win the raceUnpack Bloomberg’s “AI Money Loop” and what it reveals about risky financial entanglementsCompare the AI investment surge to past industrial bubbles like railroads and dot-coms The Pact  Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please: Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe 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 Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/  Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following Key links Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A  The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/ 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/ Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthur Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/

What if your best work came from finding your flow, rather than simply grinding harder? In the age of constant distraction, many founders mistake busyness for progress, chasing notifications, meetings, and multitasking without realizing that true innovation happens when the mind is deeply focused. Today, Chris and Yaniv are joined by Steven Puri, former DreamWorks executive and founder of The Sukha, to unpack the science of flow state and why mastering it may be the ultimate founder advantage. From Hollywood film production to startup leadership, Steven shares how high performers sustain creativity and energy by designing their environments, schedules, and team cultures around deep work. They explore how to use neuroscience, rhythm, and intentional structure to unlock focus, eliminate context switching, and help your team reach peak performance without burnout. In this episode, you will: Understand flow state, and how it fuels both productivity and creativityIdentify common barriers preventing founders from achieving deep focusLearn how to structure your day around your natural chronotype for maximum energyImplement practical tools and mental environments that enable sustained concentrationExplore how to build company cultures that protect “maker time” and empower deep work across teamsAdopt sustainable rhythms that increase output while avoiding founder burnout Find Steven on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-puri Learn more about Sukha: https://www.thesukha.co The Pact  Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please: Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe 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 Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/  Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following Key links Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A  The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/ 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/ Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthur Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/

What happens when AI stops being a product and starts being a platform? With OpenAI’s latest Dev Day changing the game, we might find out sooner rather than later.  In this episode, Chris and Yaniv explore OpenAI’s Dev Day and the huge announcements made (including the Sora 2 launch), as well as their apparent transformation from product to platform.  In other tech news, the guys dive into Anthropic’s open-source counterpunch with Claude’s Agent SDK, along with Apple’s controversial censorship call - all while analyzing what all of this means for startup founders building in the AI era. In this episode, you will: Understand how SDK, OpenAI’s new ChatGPT App, turns AI into a full developer ecosystemLearn about “platform risk”,and how founders can avoid being crushed by itCompare OpenAI’s walled-garden strategy to Anthropic’s open, Unix-inspired approachExamine the launch of Sora, OpenAI’s new AI video social network, and why it mattersDebate whether large tech companies can ever succeed in building new social platformsAnalyze Apple’s ICE Block takedown and what it says about censorship in curated ecosystems The Pact  Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please: Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe 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 Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/  Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following Key links Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A  The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/ 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/ Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthur Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/

What happens when a founder who took a taboo health topic mainstream decides to reinvent pet care? In this Spotlight episode of The Startup Podcast, former Hims co-founder Joe Spector faux-pitches his startup Dutch, a telemedicine platform making veterinary care accessible, affordable, and convenient. Most founders fear tough questions from investors, this episode shows what happens when they face them live. Discover how Joe applies lessons from scaling a billion-dollar company to a completely different market, and how understanding regulation, timing, and storytelling can make or break your pitch. In this episode, you will: Discover what makes a founder “fundable”, beyond just a good ideaUnderstand how Joe Spector scaled Hims and is now using those insights to disrupt pet telehealth with DutchExplore how regulatory insight can become a startup’s biggest competitive moatSee why subscription-based business models drive valuation and recurring growthFind out how Dutch makes pet care up to 10x cheaper while creating flexible jobs for veterinariansHear expert commentary from Chris and Yaniv on storytelling, founder credibility, and investor psychology Learn more about Dutch: https://www.dutch.com/ Connect with Joe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joespector  The Pact  Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please: Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe 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 Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/  Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following Key links Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A  The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/ 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/ Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthur Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/

OpenAI just launched ChatGPT Pulse, a succinct, personalized daily feed. Will this shift the focus of AI from performance to personal context? Or is it just an overhyped, overpriced daily digest?  In this episode, Chris and Yaniv get right into this week's tech news: the reality of ChatGPT Pulse, plus the wider implications of Hollywood's first AI actress, Tilly Norwood; Amazon's record-breaking $2.5B fine for deceptive Prime signups and the lessons founders can learn from it; and plenty more. In this episode, you will: Understand why context, not just performance, is becoming the new moat in AI.Explore how ChatGPT Pulse signals OpenAI’s strategy against Google and Apple.Debate whether AI-generated actors like Tilly Norwood have a real future in Hollywood.Learn what Amazon’s $2.5B FTC settlement teaches about dark patterns and user trust.Identify the regulatory risks startups must consider when designing growth funnels.Discover why Anthropic is shifting focus to enterprise and coding workflows.Reflect on how distribution and lock-in, not just innovation, shape the competitive landscape. The Pact  Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please: Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe 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 Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/  Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following Key links Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A  The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/ 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/ Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthur Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/

Standing out has gotten even more difficult thanks to the flood of AI content, and many early-stage founders mistakenly believe they need to act like corporate brands to be taken seriously. In this episode, Yaniv chats with Christine Blosdale, an award-winning media coach, podcaster, and branding strategist. Together they discuss how authenticity, personal branding, and “expert authority” can give founders a massive edge in today’s AI-driven startup landscape. They also explore how to overcome imposter syndrome, use AI responsibly, and build a founder-led brand that attracts talent, customers, and investors. In this episode, you will: Discover why authenticity is now the ultimate differentiator in the age of AI and algorithmic contentLearn how to build “expert authority” to boost your reputation and visibility as a founderOvercome imposter syndrome with practical mindset shifts that make content creation easierApply Christine’s tactics for repurposing podcasts, blogs, and videos to scale your personal brandSee why founder-led branding attracts better hires, investors, and partnersCreate a simple media kit to clarify your mission, credentials, and unique value proposition Learn more about Christine here: https://www.christineblosdale.com  The Pact  Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please: Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe 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 Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/  Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following Key links Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A  The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/ 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/ Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthur Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/

What happens to Silicon Valley when the world’s best founders and engineers can no longer afford to work in the US?  Today, Chris and Yaniv break down why the massive new work visa fee is a tech talent crisis waiting to happen.  They discuss how Trump’s surprising $100K H-1B fee could reshape startup hiring and the tech sector at large, along with the nitty gritty of Meta’s new smart glasses launch, and Figure AI’s billion-dollar Series C robots. They also unpack OpenAI’s unexpected jobs platform, and what it reveals about the future of AI work. In this episode, you will: Understand how the new $100K H-1B visa fee could drain Silicon Valley of global talentExplore why immigrant founders and startups may shift to Canada, the UK, or AustraliaDiscover how Meta’s new Ray-Ban and Oakley smart glasses bring AR into the mainstreamCompare Meta’s “bottom-up” approach to Apple’s Vision Pro strategy and timingExamine Figure AI’s $1B+ raise and the coming battle with Tesla and Chinese robotics firmsEvaluate why OpenAI is launching a jobs platform amid fears of AI job lossLearn actionable insights for founders navigating talent shortages, AR hardware, and AI disruption The Pact  Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please: Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe 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 Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/  Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following Key links Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A  The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/ 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/ Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthur Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/

Is the new age of AI agents about to kill niche B2B SaaS businesses? Many first-time founders worry that tools like ChatGPT or custom AI builders will make off-the-shelf SaaS products obsolete, but it could simply herald a new evolution of SaaS. In this episode, Yaniv is joined by Rob Walling, serial founder, investor, and author of The SaaS Playbook, to break down why B2B SaaS still outperforms other business models and how founders can build defensible products – even in an AI-driven world. They explore the fundamentals of recurring revenue, why vertical SaaS wins over horizontal competitors, and the real opportunities AI creates for startup builders. In this episode, you will: Understand why recurring revenue outperforms one-off sales for stability and growth.Learn how vertical and orthogonal SaaS niches beat large horizontal players.Discover the importance of high margins and why bootstrapping B2B SaaS is often possible.Evaluate how net revenue retention and negative churn can exponentially increase enterprise value.Apply Rob’s 2-20-200 framework to validate and launch your own SaaS idea.Explore how to use AI as a feature or an enabler rather than seeing it as a threat.Gain insights on positioning, pricing, and finding your ideal customer profile in crowded markets. Learn more about Rob Walling and his work here: https://robwalling.com  The Pact  Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please: Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe 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 Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/  Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following Key links Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A  The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/ 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/ Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthur Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/