In this episode, I sit down with Ben Yoskovitz, founding partner at Highline Beta, to explore the intersection of product, analytics, and venture studios.
We dive into:
- How data-driven decision-making fuels startup growth
- The role of venture studios in corporate innovation
- Lessons from Go-Instant’s journey to acquisition by Salesforce
- Why startups and enterprises must bridge the gap for success
With deep expertise in Lean Analytics, venture building, and product strategy, Ben shares insights on what it takes to build and scale impactful businesses.
Ben Yoskovitz
Ben Yoskovitz is a founding partner at Highline Beta, a hybrid venture studio and VC firm that helps corporations innovate beyond their core while investing in early-stage startups. A seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and product expert, Ben has built and scaled multiple startups, including GoInstant (acquired by Salesforce). He co-authored Lean Analytics, a go-to resource for data-driven growth, and has advised companies worldwide on Lean Startup methodologies. With expertise spanning innovation, product management, and venture investing, Ben bridges the gap between startups and enterprises.
Highline Beta
Highline Beta is a hybrid corporate venture studio and VC firm that helps large companies and family offices identify new growth opportunities, build ventures, and scale beyond their core business. Unlike traditional consulting firms, they focus on execution—designing, launching, and running corporate venture studios to create repeatable innovation. Working with global brands like RBC, AB InBev, and Colgate-Palmolive, they bring a startup mindset to corporate innovation, helping executives turn ideas into high-impact businesses.
Music Credit: "Neptuno" - Phondupe (Album: Onykia)
SHOW NOTES
Summary
In this episode of Startups Decoded, host Andy Walsh speaks with Ben Yoskovitz from Highline Beta about the evolution of startups, the role of venture studios, and the importance of product experience. They discuss the changing landscape of entrepreneurship, the significance of validation and early revenue, and how venture studios can provide a structured approach to building successful businesses.
Ben shares insights from his extensive experience in the startup world, emphasizing the need for rigorous methodologies and the balance between creativity and science in the startup process. In this conversation, Ben and Andy explore the dynamics of venture studios, emphasizing the balance between structured processes and creative flexibility in startup development.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Highline Beta and Ben's Journey
02:20 The Evolution of Startups and Venture Studios
05:58 Advice for Founders: Then and Now
11:32 The Role of Product Experience in Startups
16:29 Validation and Early Revenue in Startups
20:13 Venture Studios vs. Traditional Startups: A Comparative Analysis
24:28 Balancing Process and Creativity in Startups
26:31 The Role of Founders in Startup Success
30:00 Timing and Recruitment of Founders
34:36 Understanding Venture Studio Models
38:16 Navigating Investor Relationships in Venture Studios
42:20 Innovation Across Different Startup Models
48:02 Future Directions for Highline Beta
