What we learned from a year of talking to founders
Dec 26, 2023
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Hosts reflect on favorite conversations and predict startup trends for 2024. They discuss innovative climate tech companies, AI ethics, and fundraising. They also explore building good founder relationships and what next year could look like for startups.
The podcast highlights the wide range of innovation happening in the climate tech space, from upskilling programs for green energy jobs to companies working on recycling and clean water generation.
The hosts discuss the increasing prominence of AI in startups, especially in the medical sector, and highlight the ethical considerations involved, with companies like Regard implementing measures to mitigate AI bias.
Deep dives
Reflecting on the Companies Spoken to in 2023
In this episode, the hosts take a look back at the companies they spoke to in 2023. They covered a range of industries, including climate, tech, commerce, and even an ear piercing company. The most popular industries discussed were climate and sustainability, as well as healthcare. The hosts highlight some of their favorite companies, such as GigFinesse, which simplifies live music bookings for venues and bars, and A Plant, which focuses on communication with trees. They also talk about the diversity of companies in the climate and sustainability space, beyond the commonly covered areas of EVs and carbon credits.
The Growing Importance of Climate Technology
The hosts discuss the increasing focus on climate technology and its importance in addressing climate change. They mention the wide range of innovation happening in this space, from upskilling programs for green energy jobs to companies working on recycling initiatives and clean water generation. They also touch on the discrepancy between political discussions around climate change and the active development of solutions within the tech world. The hosts express optimism about the number of people taking climate change seriously and working towards mitigating its effects.
The Role of AI in Startup Innovation
The hosts explore the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in startups and the increasing prominence of AI in various industries, especially the medical sector. They note that while AI has been used in many medical companies for years, the topic has gained more attention recently. They discuss the ethical considerations involved and highlight companies like Regard that implement measures to mitigate AI bias. The hosts also mention the impact of AI on the startup landscape, with more companies using AI as a tool or integrating it into their products.
Challenges and Changes in Startup Funding and Culture
The hosts delve into the challenges and changes in startup funding and company culture. They touch on the disparity in funding for women and minority founders and predict that there may be a wave of backlash against the lack of diversity in startup funding. They discuss the evolving perception of founders, highlighting that the traditional image of a young tech bro is changing as more diverse founders, including those in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, enter the startup space. The hosts also consider the importance of company culture and the need for empathy and flexibility in the workplace.
Welcome to a very special host-only episode of Found. Dom and Becca are breaking down 2023 in startups by looking back on some of our favorite conversations and looking forward to predict some startup trends in 2024. They talked about innovative climate tech companies, AI ethics and fundraising, building good founder relationships, and what next year could look like for startups. Thanks to all our listeners for an amazing year, we’ll see you in 2024!