Kyle Vogt, founder of Cruise Automation and co-founder of Twitch, shares his journey from building Battlebots to developing self-driving cars. He discusses overcoming challenges in the tech industry, navigating corporate acquisitions, and the unique pitch that led to Cruise's success. The podcast also delves into his unexpected partnership that birthed Dropbox and his record-setting marathon challenge on every continent with a plant-based diet.
Kyle Vogt's journey from robotics contests to tech entrepreneurship showcases persistence and innovation.
Transition from Twitch to Cruise highlights challenges of tech adaptation and regulatory hurdles.
Funding struggles for self-driving cars emphasize the importance of pitch refinement and persistence.
Successful launch of Cruise in San Francisco demonstrates commitment to safety and incremental testing approach.
Deep dives
Transition from College to Tech Entrepreneurship
Starting from his college days at MIT, Kyle describes his journey from being fascinated by robotics and participating in engineering contests to meeting the founders of Justin TV, which sparked his interest in starting a company. His transition from college to tech entrepreneurship was marked by a series of innovative projects, including developing live streaming cameras and safe-cracking robots.
Overcoming Challenges in Transitioning to Twitch
After the success of Justin TV, Kyle and his team transitioned to launch Twitch, focusing on live streaming video gaming content. They faced challenges like adapting the technology for different car models and resolving legal and regulatory complexities. The team's persistence and willingness to pivot led to the successful launch of Twitch and their strategic shift towards fully autonomous self-driving cars.
Kyle shares the struggles of raising funds for his self-driving car venture, facing initial skepticism and numerous rejections from investors. Despite the hurdles, Kyle managed to secure funding for Cruise through a pivotal pivot, encouraged by investor Nabil Hyatt's support. He emphasizes the importance of refining his pitch, persistence, and belief in the vision.
Prioritizing Safety & Gradual City Testing Approach
In the quest for building safe self-driving cars, Kyle explains their rigorous safety standards, exceeding human driver performance benchmarks based on detailed research. The incremental testing approach in San Francisco focused on navigating complex city terrains, showcasing the team's commitment to safety and gradual deployment of autonomous vehicles.
Evaluating the Choice of San Francisco & Tech Industry Dynamics
Reflecting on launching Cruise in San Francisco, Kyle analyzes the tech clash and regulatory challenges faced in the city. While San Francisco offered the advantages of being a tech hub and a challenging driving environment for testing, Kyle acknowledges the potential benefits of launching in more tech-friendly cities that support innovation.
Impact of Collaborative Partnerships and Founding Principles
Kyle credits the success of Cruise to collaborative partnerships and the core founding principles instilled in the team. Strategic decisions, such as choosing San Francisco for its complex driving conditions and gradual market expansion, reflect the team's commitment to safety, innovation, and adaptive entrepreneurship.
Kyle's Experience with GM Acquisition and Spin-Out
After being acquired by GM and integrated as an R&D unit, Kyle faced challenges within the corporate structure. The process-oriented nature and risk aversion culture of large companies clashed with the startup mentality. This led GM to spin out Cruise again in 2018, with major investments from SoftBank and Honda. The transition highlighted the need for adaptability and adult supervision for massive capital investments.
Kyle's Marathon Running Challenge on Every Continent
Motivated by the long-term grind of building self-driving cars, Kyle sought a personal challenge by running a marathon on each continent within 81 hours, optimizing his route for efficiency. Despite facing extreme conditions, such as hypothermia in Panama, he persevered and set a new world record. This experience expanded his stress tolerance range and provided valuable lessons for managing the difficulties of running a startup.
Today we catch up with Kyle Vogt, whose self-driving car company, Cruise, was funded by Y Combinator in 2014 and acquired by GM in 2016. Before that he was a co-founder of Twitch and its predecessor, Justin.tv. Learn how his love of building hard things started at a young age, and why he’s nowhere near done building yet.
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