PODCAST · business
The Startup Podcast
by Yaniv Bernstein and Chris Saad
Advice for founders and entrepreneurs who want to build disruptive startups like they do in Silicon Valley.Not another interview podcast: concrete tips and masterclasses on what founders need to know: raising Venture Capital, strategy, product, marketing, growth, and more.A guide to the unique mindset and approach that drives Silicon Valley style disruption. Hosts Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein share practical advice based on decades of experience at Google, Uber, and their own startups.
Episodes
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Applied Wizardry: Cutting AI coding token costs, with Dave Slutzkin
Follow Applied Wizardry on its new feed to keep getting every episode. Dave Slutzkin, co-founder of Antiburn, joins Yaniv to break down what actually drives token costs in agentic development and how to bring them down. They cover how caching differs between Anthropic and OpenAI, when to reach…
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ScaleStudio: The new tool putting our principles into practice
After nearly 300 episodes of The Startup Podcast, Chris Saad is bringing everything he's learned about building world-class products and product strategy into a single tool: ScaleStudio. In what may be our final episode (unless a white knight sponsor appears), Chris walks Yaniv through the…
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Rob Snyder demonstrates his PULL framework in real-time – using Yaniv's startup
A few weeks ago, Rob Snyder came on the pod to introduce his PULL framework for identifying real product-market fit. Now, Yaniv turns the tables and subjects his own startup, Vera, to the same scrutiny. Yaniv and Rob strip away the noise around Vera's mission to help adult children care for aging...
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Why you should run your startup like a poker player (Replay)
This is a remastered Replay of one of our most popular episodes, "What Startups Can Learn From Poker", which was originally published on 21 December 2022. Enjoy! Original description: All season, Chris and Yaniv have talked about the mindset that is needed to succeed at venture-backed startups.…
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Avoiding ‘team debt’ by building small and smart (w/ Matt Cook)
Is hiring a person still your default answer to a problem? For a growing number of startups, it shouldn't be. In this episode, Yaniv Bernstein is joined by returning guest Matt Cook, co-founder of Scouut, one of Australia's most respected engineering recruiters for early-stage startups, to unpack...
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How good timing makes great products w/ Paul Orlando
Every startup pitch deck has a "why now" slide. Most of them are nonsense, barely considered, and only there to tick a box. But timing is more than a slide, it can make or break a company. It’s the difference between pets.com and the trillion-dollar company selling the exact same idea a decade...
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Make your product irresistible: Rob Snyder on the PULL framework
You’ve done all the research, implemented every startup strategy you could find, but your product just isn’t selling. Where do you start looking for the problem? And how do you identify and implement the solution? In this episode, Yaniv Bernstein sits down with Rob Snyder – serial founder, fellow...
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Success is 90% luck. So how do you build a successful startup? (w/ Mike Grossman)
Founders are told that if they work hard, build the right product and hire well, the outcome will follow. It's motivating. It's clean. And according to today's guest, it's mostly wrong. Mike Grossman has been CEO of six venture-backed Silicon Valley companies. Across them, he tried 18 different...
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Insiders React: Anthropic’s Fable, Mythos explained + SpaceX’s record-breaking IPO
The Startup Podcast is back for its 300th episode – and it’s an absolute doozy. In today’s Reacts, hosts Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein break down how Anthropic became the new industry leader in AI, and why betting on coding as the 'meta domain' of AI turned out to be one of the most…
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How to fix a 'broken industry' (w/ Brandon Weber – Nava Benefits, VTS, Hightower)
Every founder gets a version of the same advice: don't pick a fight with an entrenched industry. The incumbents have the relationships, the regulatory cover, the deep pockets - you'll bleed out trying. But some of the most interesting companies of the last decade were built ignoring that advice,...
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Why Gary Lo's product strategy has evolved in the era of DIY software
What if writing software became as easy as taking a selfie? This episode, Yaniv Bernstein sits down with Gary Lo - founder of OpenBA and one of the sharpest AI-and-startups thinkers Yaniv knows - to discuss the concept of 'selfie software': disposable, hyper-personal, AI-generated tools that…
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Author Eric Ries (The Lean Startup) on how to build an incorruptible company
Most founders set out to build something that matters: a company that’s aligned with their mission, now and forever. But what if the very systems we use to build ‘real’ companies are the thing that corrupts them? In this episode, Yaniv Bernstein is joined by Silicon Valley legend Eric Ries author...
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FEED DROP: Could AI Make Capitalism Better? Henrik Werdelin Is Optimistic (from FAFO with Dan Blumberg)
This is a bonus feed drop from Dan Blumberg's podcast 'Future Around and Find Out' (FAFO), winner of the 2026 Webby Award for Best Technology Podcast. If you like what you hear, check out FAFO at https://www.futurearound.com/ Original description: Henrik Werdelin is one of my favorite...
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The Science of Scaling: Using data to scale your startup perfectly w/ Mark Roberge
Most founders treat 'scale' like a switch you flip after raising a round: hire 14 reps, 10x the ad spend, and pray. About half scale too early and burn the runway, while the other half scale too late and get caught by a more aggressive competitor. Almost nobody can tell you, in measurable terms,...
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Refounding: Why this $80m founder quit as CEO, and what it says about the future of startups
In 2026, startups age like milk. Josh Foreman's solution is a radical one - step down as CEO, go back to basics, and refound the whole company. Yaniv Bernstein discusses this decision with Josh, founder and (for now) CEO of InDebted - the AI-native debt resolution business he scaled to an $80M...
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Adapting your startup to an AI-native world (w/ Marlon Nichols)
Many AI startups funded in the last 18 months won't last three years - so what makes a business durable today? Yaniv Bernstein is joined by Marlon Nichols, co-founder and managing general partner of MaC Venture Capital - one of the most active seed-stage AI investors in the market, having scaled...
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How the best founders balance fear and hope
Being a founder has always meant dreaming big while keeping a close eye on potential trip-ups, and in the age of AI, finding and maintaining that balance is more important than ever. Today, Yaniv Bernstein talks about the importance of getting that balance right. Using deep insight and decades of...
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Same As Ever: 7 rules that HAVEN'T changed about building great startups (w/ Amir Shevat)
Between AI shaking up the industry, geopolitical upheaval, and unpredictable capital, being a founder has never been more confusing. So what advice, if any, is still relevant? In this episode, Yaniv Bernstein is joined by Amir Shevat (Silicon Valley developer platform veteran and now General...
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Surviving the AI SaaSpocalypse: Will AI kill your startup? w/ Scotty Allen
Will AI kill your startup? For a lot of startups, probably yes. But which ones? And more importantly, how do you make sure yours isn't one of them? Yaniv Bernstein is joined by returning guest Scotty Allen (bootstrapper, founder of The Product Bus, and startup strategist extraordinaire) to reason...
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‘Unlearning’ with Yaniv: Why founders need to rewrite outdated, radioactive mindsets
You may have spent years (or even decades) building your expertise. But is any of it still relevant? And how much of it is an active detriment to your startup? In this special solo episode, Yaniv Bernstein delivers a no-guest monologue on the most critical skill any founder can develop right now:...
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Your co-founder relationship could break your startup! Here's how to fix it
(This is Part 2 of a conversation with Dr. Matthew Jones about co-founder relationships. You can find Part 1 here: https://www.tsp.show/how-to-identify-red-flags-early-in-your-cofounder-relationship-w-dr-matthew-jones/) Co-founder conflict is tough to deal with, but it also has ripple effects...
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How to identify red flags early in your cofounder relationship w/ Dr. Matthew Jones
Your co-founder relationship is the single most important variable in your startup's success, and one of the most likely things to destroy it. Today, Yaniv Bernstein sits down with Dr. Matthew Jones, author of ‘The Cofounder Effect’ and founder of Cofounder Clarity, to dig into the psychology of...
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Why Claude never stops listening to our meetings (w/ Minikai's Keoki Alexander-Chang)
In a deeply regulated industry such as healthcare, building an AI-native app poses a host of unique challenges, particularly when it comes to navigating customer privacy and industry red tape. How do you create an industry-leading resource and stay on the cutting edge of tech, while managing…
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Recruiting the best AI engineers w/ Matt Cook of Scouut
Has your hiring process kept up with the industry’s AI leaps, or are you still interviewing like it's 2022? Today’s AI-driven landscape means the skill gap between a good engineer and a great one widens every day, and the great ones can be difficult to find. But how do you choose – and hire – the...
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Insiders React: OpenClaw and Claude Cowork have changed everything for startups w/ Gary Lo, Open BA
The agentic AI revolution is finally escaping the coding bubble. What does that mean for startup founders? Just 13 days after recording his first conversation with Yaniv, Gary Lo called to re-record. The reason? OpenClaw and Claude Cowork dropped some huge AI agent updates, and it shifted Gary's...
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Making the most of the founder/investor dynamic (w/ Liz Zalman, author of 'Founder vs Investor')
Founders and investors like to tell themselves they're on the same team, and they can be – but it takes work. In this episode, Yaniv Bernstein sits down with Liz Zalman, a veteran founder with over 20 years of startup experience, for an in-depth chat about the real dynamics of the…
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How founders can survive 2026 w/ Jess Mah
Is AI making founders more anxious than ever, even in the heart of Silicon Valley? Behind the optimistic LinkedIn posts and fundraising announcements, some of the most successful people in tech are struggling with burnout and an overwhelming pace of change. So what does it actually take to build…
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Recursive Self-Determination: Why your startup needs autonomy at every layer
Self-determination throughout your team: it sounds simple, but implementing it effectively could give your startup a razor-sharp competitive edge. In this episode, Chris and Yaniv unpack the 'Recursive Principle of Self-Determination', a framework for designing autonomous startups that maximize...
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Reviewing Our 2025 Tech Predictions
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....
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Is OpenAI Evil? Reacting to Sam Altman's Latest Announcements w/ Jacob Ward
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...
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Replay: Engaging Young Employees - How to Attract the Best & Brightest Minds w/ Dan Brockwell from Earlywork
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…
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Insiders React: Google's 'Quantum Advantage' + MIT's 'Telepathic' Interface, China Leads the Sci-Fi Future
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...
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Trends in Startup Funding w/ Carta's Head of Insights, Peter Walker
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…
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Insiders React: Is ChatGPT Atlas The Future Of Browsing? + YouTube's AI Likeness Detection, Apple's New Vision Pro M5
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...
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The 4 Biggest Execution Mistakes Founders Make
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...
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Insiders React: 'Treat Adult Users As Adults' Says OpenAI's Sam Altman + Oura's $900M Raise, NVIDIA's Funding Bubble
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...
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Flow State: The Competitive Advantage You Need, And How To Harness It w/ Film Producer & Founder, Steven Puri
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…
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Insiders React: New ChatGPT Dev Tools Threaten App Store + Sora 2 Launch, Apple Removes ICE Block
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...
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Nailing Your Market Niche w/ Dutch CEO, Joe Spector (Spotlight)
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...
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Insiders React: ChatGPT Pulse: An Overpriced Daily Digest? + Hollywood’s First AI Actress, Amazon’s $2.5B Settlement
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,...
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How Being Genuine is a Critical Advantage For Startup Founders w/ Christine Blosdale, Expert Authority Coach (Edu)
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...
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Insiders React: Tech Talent Pool to Be Decimated by New Fee + OpenAI Jobs Platform, $1B for Dishwashing Robots
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…
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Why Every Startup Founder Should Consider B2B SaaS w/ Rob Walling (Edu)
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,...
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Insiders React: YouTube's Steady Domination + Oracle's AI Comeback, Sam Altman v. Tucker Carlson
Is YouTube quietly becoming the most powerful platform in the world? Announcements made during Made On YouTube 2025 revealed incredibly promising long-term plans, with the media giant seemingly set to dominate video, music, and podcasts with the help of Google’s AI. Too many entrepreneurs still…
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Startup Persistence: A Masterclass from YC Founder Paul Graham
Are you truly being persistent with your startup, or just being stubborn? In the new age of AI-powered founders and hyper-fast iteration, many entrepreneurs mistake obstinacy for persistence and end up running out of time, money, and morale. Too often we glorify “hustle” and “grit” without...
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Insiders React: Apple's Huge AI Blunder + IPO Market Heats Up, White House Tech Dinner
With Apple’s iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, AirPods Pro 3, and Apple Watch 11 now unveiled, what does this mean for the future of phones and wearable tech? And does the incredible AI of Google Pixel still blow Siri out of the water? In this episode, Chris and Yaniv delve into Apple’s newest product...
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Growing a Pre-Seed Startup? This Is The Core Knowledge You Need w/ Ashley Smith
Pre-seed founders want explosive growth early on, but are you following the wrong playbook too soon? These days strategies, acronyms, and well-intended advice are everywhere, but today's guest argues that the path forward is a simple one: talk to customers, run experiments, and embrace rejection…
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Insiders React: Google Antitrust: Is The Ruling Fair? + YC’s Latest Request For Startups, Statsig Acquisition
Google’s long-running antitrust case has reached its remedy stage, and the outcome was far lighter than many expected. No breakup, no ban on default search deals, just a few constraints on bundling apps and some required data sharing, but it may not be quite as simple as it seems on the surface....
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First Principles: Listen to This Before You Apply to YC
It seems like startup accelerators are everywhere these days. But what are they? What’s the point of them? And most importantly, is it worth having your startup go through one? Based on their own experience with YC and startups, Chris and Yaniv talk you through it all. In this episode, you will:...
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Insiders React: Google Pixel 10 – Does It Finally Beat Apple at Its Own Game?
Is Apple’s dominance in smartphones starting to crack? Google’s Pixel 10 launch brought AI-first features, polished hardware, and bold marketing, signaling a new era in the iPhone vs. Android rivalry. For years, the iPhone has been synonymous with polish, hardware quality, and ecosystem lock-in....
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Advice for founders and entrepreneurs who want to build disruptive startups like they do in Silicon Valley.Not another interview podcast: concrete tips and masterclasses on what founders need to know: raising Venture Capital, strategy, product, marketing, growth, and more.A guide to the unique mindset and approach that drives Silicon Valley style disruption. Hosts Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein share practical advice based on decades of experience at Google, Uber, and their own startups.
HOSTED BY
Yaniv Bernstein and Chris Saad
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Startup Podcast have?
The Startup Podcast currently has 314 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Startup Podcast about?
Advice for founders and entrepreneurs who want to build disruptive startups like they do in Silicon Valley.Not another interview podcast: concrete tips and masterclasses on what founders need to know: raising Venture Capital, strategy, product, marketing, growth, and more.A guide to the unique...
How often does The Startup Podcast release new episodes?
The Startup Podcast publishes regularly with 314 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The Startup Podcast?
You can listen to The Startup Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Startup Podcast?
The Startup Podcast is created and hosted by Yaniv Bernstein and Chris Saad.
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