Traction

Is generative AI rewriting the rules for how startups scale, hire and grow? In this episode, Brian Rothenberg, Partner at Defy.vc, explores how the resurgence of the Bay Area, the rise of generative AI and the future of marketplaces are reshaping the startup landscape. We revisit Brian’s 2017 talk on scaling marketplaces and analyze which lessons still hold true. Specifically, Brian discusses:(02:54) Why defy backs early-stage founders with a strong operator mindset.(03:59) How the Bay Area has re-emerged as the epicenter of AI-driven innovation.(09:15) Applying AI to the most constrained side of a marketplace can unlock major growth.(12:37) Training-wheel tools can help onboard more users to AI in a business-friendly way.(15:46) Generative AI can likely handle 80–90% of tasks that once needed large teams.(20:11) AI performance may shift ratings to simple yes-or-no outcomes.(25:40) Verified identities could help filter fake content as trust declines.(31:55) AI may shift roles but will likely create new kinds of jobs.(35:00) Data privacy concerns are fueling cautious AI adoption and enterprise solutions.(40:42) Outcome-based pricing is overtaking traditional per-seat SaaS models.Resources Mentioned:Brian Rothenberghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/brianrothenberg/Defy.vc | LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/defy-vc/defy.vc | Websitehttps://defy.vc/This episode is brought to you by:Leverage community-led growth to skyrocket your business. “From Grassroots to Greatness” by author Lloyed Lobo will help you master 13 game-changing rules from some of the most iconic brands in the world — like Apple, Atlassian, CrossFit, Harley-Davidson, HubSpot, Red Bull and many more — to attract superfans of your own that will propel you to new heights. Grab your copy today at FromGrassrootsToGreatness.com.Each year the US and Canadian governments provide more than $20 billion in R&D tax credits and innovation incentives to fund businesses. But the application process is cumbersome, prone to costly audits and receiving the money can take as long as 16 months. Boast automates this process, enabling companies to get more money faster without the paperwork and audit risk. We don’t get paid until you do! Find out if you qualify today at https://Boast.AI.Launch Academy is one of the top global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada's Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch's programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://LaunchAcademy.ca.Content Allies helps B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. We recommend them to any B2B company that is looking to launch or streamline its podcast production. Learn more at https://contentallies.com.#StartupGrowth #VentureCapital #Entrepreneurship #OutcomeBasedPricing #Product #Marketing #Innovation #StartUp #GenerativeAI #AI

Building a thriving SaaS community isn’t just about content — it’s about creating real, in-person connections that people keep coming back to. Alex Theuma, Founder of SaaStock, shares how he transformed a simple blog into one of the most influential SaaS conferences in the world. He unpacks the highs and lows of scaling a global event, from bootstrapping early growth to navigating expansion challenges.Specifically, Alex discusses:(05:02) Turning a simple blog into a SaaS community.(10:51)A SaaS community grew through blogs, emails and newsletters before events.(15:20) The biggest challenges and lessons from launching the first SaaStock conference.(22:28) The name SaaStock was inspired by Woodstock and came together instantly.(30:34) The risks and rewards of bootstrapping versus raising strategic capital.(33:56) How expanding too quickly nearly derailed SaaStock’s growth.(40:41) A strategic pivot to virtual events positioned the conference as an industry leader.(44:51) The SaaSop Founder Membership unites 70 CEOs through meetups and retreats.(49:45) The power of in-person meetups for fostering engaged communities.(51:48) A decade in, the vision for SaaStock is to 10x its impact and growth.Resources Mentioned:Alex Theumahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/alextheuma/SaaStock | LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/saastock/SaaStock | Websitehttps://www.saastock.com/This episode is brought to you by:Leverage community-led growth to skyrocket your business. “From Grassroots to Greatness” by author Lloyed Lobo will help you master 13 game-changing rules from some of the most iconic brands in the world — like Apple, Atlassian, CrossFit, Harley-Davidson, HubSpot, Red Bull and many more — to attract superfans of your own that will propel you to new heights. Grab your copy today at FromGrassrootsToGreatness.com.Each year the U.S. and Canadian governments provide more than $20 billion in R&D tax credits and innovation incentives to fund businesses. But the application process is cumbersome, prone to costly audits, and receiving the money can take as long as 16 months. Boast automates this process, enabling companies to get more money faster without the paperwork and audit risk. We don’t get paid until you do! Find out if you qualify today at https://Boast.AI.Launch Academy is one of the top global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada's Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch's programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://LaunchAcademy.ca.Content Allies helps B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. We recommend them to any B2B company that is looking to launch or streamline its podcast production. Learn more at https://contentallies.com.#SaaS #CommunityBuilding #B2BEvents #Product #Marketing #Innovation #StartUp #GenerativeAI #AI

Scaling a company requires more than just great ideas — it demands execution, urgency and adaptability. In this episode, Dan Rogers, CEO of  LaunchDarkly, shares how he has built high-performance teams and driven sustained success, drawing from his experience leading growth at Microsoft, Amazon, Salesforce and ServiceNow.Specifically, Dan covers:(03:24) Dan’s passion for technology led to an early start and a journey to Silicon Valley.(06:01) Why owning a number early in a career builds strong leadership skills.(11:28) Technical audiences want guidance, not marketing — stay product-focused.(25:25) Why customer insights should shape business decisions, not pre-set playbooks.(27:19) The role of execution in validating strategy and driving competitive advantage.(30:33) Competition is a sign of success — embrace it as part of growth.(37:45) AI application releases need control; rolling back and adjusting prompts is essential.(43:04) The importance of maintaining innovation speed while ensuring software reliability.(47:50) How feature flagging and controlled rollouts help companies move fast without breaking things.(51:49) Longevity in business requires discipline — prioritize fitness, diet and personal time with the same intensity as work.Resources Mentioned:Dan Rogershttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-rogers-a1717a/LaunchDarkly | LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/launchdarkly/LaunchDarkly | Websitehttps://www.launchdarkly.comThis episode is brought to you by:Leverage community-led growth to skyrocket your business. “From Grassroots to Greatness” by author Lloyed Lobo will help you master 13 game-changing rules from some of the most iconic brands in the world — like Apple, Atlassian, CrossFit, Harley-Davidson, HubSpot, Red Bull and many more — to attract superfans of your own that will propel you to new heights. Grab your copy today at FromGrassrootsToGreatness.com.Each year the US and Canadian governments provide more than $20 billion in R&D tax credits and innovation incentives to fund businesses. But the application process is cumbersome, prone to costly audits and receiving the money can take as long as 16 months. Boast automates this process, enabling companies to get more money faster without the paperwork and audit risk. We don’t get paid until you do! Find out if you qualify today at https://Boast.AI.Launch Academy is one of the top global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada's Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch's programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://LaunchAcademy.ca.Content Allies helps B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. We recommend them to any B2B company that is looking to launch or streamline its podcast production. Learn more at https://contentallies.com.#Leadership #StartupGrowth #SoftwareDevelopment #Product #Marketing #Innovation #StartUp #GenerativeAI #AI

The companies that win the next decade won’t just adopt AI — they’ll redesign how work gets done from the ground up. Daniel Saks, CEO and Co-Founder of Landbase, returns to share lessons learned from scaling two companies across two major technology waves. Daniel explores how the path from SaaS to agentic AI is not just a shift in tools, but a complete rethinking of how businesses operate, compete and grow.Specifically, Daniel discusses:(03:35) Daniel had early conviction in SaaS and saw it reshape business.(07:48) How his approach today targets SMBs, and not enterprises.(10:04) The intense competition in AI and how Landbase differentiates through deep talent, data, and execution.(16:34) Why the infrastructure war in AI mirrors the early cloud era.(19:53) AI can replace outdated service-based businesses.(21:24) “Reclaim your day” reflects Landbase’s mission to let humans focus on creative, high-value work.(23:39) Why value creation and timing still win deals — regardless of the tech wave.(28:41) Relevance beats personalization in outbound.(30:36) Why “move fast and break things” doesn’t work in a world demanding trust, values and governance.(36:26) AI will run on autopilot — with humans in control.Resources Mentioned:Daniel Sakshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/danielsaks/Landbase | LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/landbase/Landbase | Websitehttps://www.landbase.com/This episode is brought to you by:Leverage community-led growth to skyrocket your business. “From Grassroots to Greatness” by author Lloyed Lobo will help you master 13 game-changing rules from some of the most iconic brands in the world — like Apple, Atlassian, CrossFit, Harley-Davidson, HubSpot, Red Bull and many more — to attract superfans of your own that will propel you to new heights. Grab your copy today at FromGrassrootsToGreatness.com.Each year the US and Canadian governments provide more than $20 billion in R&D tax credits and innovation incentives to fund businesses. But the application process is cumbersome, prone to costly audits, and receiving the money can take as long as 16 months. Boast automates this process, enabling companies to get more money faster without the paperwork and audit risk. We don’t get paid until you do! Find out if you qualify today at https://Boast.AI.Launch Academy is one of the top global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada's Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch's programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://LaunchAcademy.ca.Content Allies helps B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. We recommend them to any B2B company that is looking to launch or streamline its podcast production. Learn more at https://contentallies.com.#AgenticAI #SaaS #ArtificialIntelligence #DataDriven #Product #Marketing #Innovation #StartUp #GenerativeAI #AI

Venture capital isn’t just about funding — it’s about making the right bets at the right time. Nick Washburn, Senior Managing Director of Intel Capital, shares insights on founder-investor dynamics, venture capital strategies and the evolving landscape of AI-driven business models. Specifically, Nick discusses:(03:34) The move from law to venture capital.(10:46) Companies are bought, not sold — startups must plan ahead for acquisition.(15:47) Product-market fit sparks growth, but scaling is the real test.(19:55) Investing without deep market knowledge leads to failure.(26:01) Data pipeline optimization is costly but crucial.(33:20) AI growth looks impressive, but true revenue quality is uncertain.(44:13) The last mile — packaging, experience and distribution — matters most.(56:19) There’s no single playbook — success depends on product and buyers.(01:23:59) Building genuine investor relationships starts with patience and an open mind.  Resources Mentioned:Nick Washburnhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-washburn-32216226/Intel Capitalhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/intelcapital/National Venture Capital Associationhttps://nvca.orgKauffman Fellows Programhttps://www.kauffmanfellows.orgIntel Capitalhttps://www.intelcapital.comThis episode is brought to you by:Leverage community-led growth to skyrocket your business. “From Grassroots to Greatness” by author Lloyed Lobo will help you master 13 game-changing rules from some of the most iconic brands in the world — like Apple, Atlassian, CrossFit, Harley-Davidson, HubSpot, Red Bull and many more — to attract superfans of your own that will propel you to new heights. Grab your copy today at FromGrassrootsToGreatness.comEach year the U.S. and Canadian governments provide more than $20 billion in R&D tax credits and innovation incentives to fund businesses. But the application process is cumbersome, prone to costly audits, and receiving the money can take as long as 16 months. Boast automates this process, enabling companies to get more money faster without the paperwork and audit risk. We don’t get paid until you do! Find out if you qualify today at https://Boast.AILaunch Academy is one of the top global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada's Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch's programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://LaunchAcademy.caContent Allies helps B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. We recommend them to any B2B company that is looking to launch or streamline its podcast production. Learn more at https://contentallies.com#VentureCapital #Entrepreneurship #CloudInfrastructure #Product #Marketing #Innovation #StartUp #GenerativeAI #AI

In this discussion, SC Moatti, Managing Partner of Mighty Capital and former product builder at Siebel Systems and Meta, shares her insights on the pivotal role of product managers in today's data-driven landscape. She explores how AI is transforming product development and reshaping patents and copyrights. SC raises intriguing questions about AI's impact on ownership, likening it to a Napster moment. She also highlights trends in AI-native companies and discusses the evolving responsibilities of product managers in this new era.

Building wealth isn’t just about working harder — it’s about working smarter. In this episode, Scott D. Clary, Founder and Host of Success Story Podcast, shares his journey in entrepreneurship, personal branding and wealth creation. He explains how building a personal brand can serve as a competitive advantage in an era where AI is reshaping industries and commoditizing work. With a social media following of over 1.7 million and an extensive email subscriber base, Scott breaks down the frameworks that helped him scale his influence and business.Specifically, Scott discusses:(04:09) A personal brand is a product — built on your ideas, experiences and expertise.(06:48) Shift from stability to agency for financial freedom.(16:07) Video content fuels organic growth and audience trust.(19:27) Niche content builds stronger, more engaged communities.(26:52) Mastery comes from repetition — put in the reps, learn and refine over time.(36:50) The best entrepreneurs solve niche problems they’ve lived and understand deeply.(41:00) Wealth grows in four stages: job, freelance, product and system.(50:26) Growth starts with questioning everything, even yourself.(01:24:49) Reverse engineer success by studying those who’ve done it.  Resources Mentioned:Scott D. Clary -https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottdclary/Success Story Podcast | LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/company/success-story-podcast/Success Story Podcast | Website -https://www.successstorypodcast.com/Personal.ai -https://www.personal.ai/This episode is brought to you by:Leverage community-led growth to skyrocket your business. “From Grassroots to Greatness” by author Lloyed Lobo will help you master 13 game-changing rules from some of the most iconic brands in the world — like Apple, Atlassian, CrossFit, Harley-Davidson, HubSpot, Red Bull and many more — to attract superfans of your own that will propel you to new heights. Grab your copy today at FromGrassrootsToGreatness.com.Each year the US and Canadian governments provide more than $20 billion in R&D tax credits and innovation incentives to fund businesses. But the application process is cumbersome, prone to costly audits, and receiving the money can take as long as 16 months. Boast automates this process, enabling companies to get more money faster without the paperwork and audit risk. We don’t get paid until you do! Find out if you qualify today at https://Boast.AI.Launch Academy is one of the top global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada's Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch's programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://LaunchAcademy.ca.Content Allies helps B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. We recommend them to any B2B company that is looking to launch or streamline its podcast production. Learn more at https://contentallies.com.#Entrepreneurship #WealthCreation #ContentStrategy #Product #Marketing #Innovation #Startup #GenerativeAI #AI

Joseph Thompson, Co-founder and COO of Kits.com, shares his journey in building a thriving optical brand. He discusses the evolution of branding strategies, emphasizing the power of customer insights and micro-influencers. Joseph explains how authentic connections and community-driven campaigns have fueled growth. He also explores the impact of AI and AR on the future of marketing, particularly in eyewear, and highlights the importance of removing barriers for customer engagement. Get ready for some game-changing insights!

Think marketing to developers is all about hoodies and hackathons? Think again. As the developer-led economy is poised to grow to a TRILLION dollars, companies that offer products for developers must refocus to a business-to-developer (B2D) model as developers become not only users of products, but key purchase influencers. In this episode, Nnamdi Iregbulem, Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, Joyce Lin, Head of Developer Relations at Viam, and Caroline Lewko, CEO of Revere Communications, reveal actionable insights for building and scaling developer relations programs that drive adoption, loyalty, and growth in a developer-led economy. Specifically, you’ll learn:How to get developers to adopt and build on your platform – from APIs and SDKs to advanced ML and DevOps tools.What it takes to deliver an exceptional Developer Experience (DX) – aligning marketing and product teams to meet the unique needs of developers.Key ingredients of a winning Developer Relations program – from onboarding to advocacy and retention.How to stand out through community engagement – turning developers into loyal evangelists for your platform.Resources Mentioned:Nnamdi Iregbulem -https://www.linkedin.com/in/nnamdiiregbulem/Joyce Lin -https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyce-lin/Caroline Lewko -https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinelewko/Lightspeed Venture Partners | LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightspeed-venture-partners/Lightspeed Venture Partners | Website -https://lsvp.com/Viam | LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/company/viaminc/Viam | Website -https://www.viam.com/Revere Communications - https://www.reverecommunications.com/Tyler Jewell’s research on developer-led markets -https://tylerjewell.substack.com/p/the-developer-led-landscape-20-08-28Stack Overflow Developer Survey -https://survey.stackoverflow.com/2024/GitLab’s “Everyone Can Contribute” philosophy -https://gitlab.com/“Developer Relations: How to Build and Grow a Successful DevRel Program” by Caroline Lewko and James Parton - https://www.devrel.agency/bookThis episode is brought to you by:Leverage community-led growth to skyrocket your business. “From Grassroots to Greatness” by author Lloyed Lobo will help you master 13 game-changing rules from some of the most iconic brands in the world — like Apple, Atlassian, CrossFit, Harley-Davidson, HubSpot, Red Bull and many more — to attract superfans of your own that will propel you to new heights. Grab your copy today at FromGrassrootsToGreatness.com.Each year the US and Canadian governments provide more than $20 billion in R&D tax credits and innovation incentives to fund businesses. But the application process is cumbersome, prone to costly audits, and receiving the money can take as long as 16 months. Boast automates this process, enabling companies to get more money faster without the paperwork and audit risk. We don’t get paid until you do! Find out if you qualify today at https://Boast.AI.Launch Academy is one of the top global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada’s Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch’s programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://LaunchAcademy.ca.Content Allies helps B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. We recommend them to any B2B company that is looking to launch or streamline its podcast production. Learn more at https://contentallies.com.#DeveloperRelations #BusinessToDeveloper #B2D #Product #Marketing #Innovation #Startup #GenerativeAI #AI

Farhan Thawar, VP and Head of Engineering at Shopify, reflects on the evolution of remote work, hiring strategies and the role of artificial intelligence in engineering. Farhan shares insights drawn from his extensive experience, including founding and scaling startups and contributing to shaping Shopify’s engineering culture.Farhan discusses:00:00 - Intro00:35 - The evolution of remote work05:41 - How Shopify integrates in-person connections08:03 - Why structured in-office experiences benefit early talent11:32 - Building trust in remote or hybrid work environments12:30 - How Farhan leverages the advantages of remote work13:35 - How to apply Shopify’s best practices to other companies17:26 - Hiring generalists over specialists in early-stage companies27:45 - How to set meaningful professional goals35:18 - Why Shopify is hiring a thousand interns in 202538:23 - How Shopify is using AI in hiring43:30 - How AI is transforming pair programming and coding interviews48:09 - Cybersecurity todayResources Mentioned:Farhan Thawar -https://www.linkedin.com/in/fnthawar/Shopify | LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/company/shopify/Shopify careers -https://www.shopify.com/careersThis episode is brought to you by:Leverage community-led growth to skyrocket your business. From Grassroots to Greatness by author Lloyed Lobo will help you master 13 game-changing rules from some of the most iconic brands in the world — like Apple, Atlassian, CrossFit, Harley-Davidson, HubSpot, Red Bull and many more — to attract superfans of your own that will propel you to new heights. Grab your copy today at FromGrassrootsToGreatness.comEach year the U.S. and Canadian governments provide more than $20 billion in R&D tax credits and innovation incentives to fund businesses. But the application process is cumbersome, prone to costly audits, and receiving the money can take as long as 16 months. Boast automates this process, enabling companies to get more money faster without the paperwork and audit risk. We don’t get paid until you do! Find out if you qualify today at https://Boast.AILaunch Academy is one of the top global tech hubs for international entrepreneurs and a designated organization for Canada's Startup Visa. Since 2012, Launch has worked with more than 6,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, of which 300 have grown their startups to seed and Series A stage and raised over $2 billion in funding. To learn more about Launch's programs or the Canadian Startup Visa, visit https://LaunchAcademy.caContent Allies helps B2B companies build revenue-generating podcasts. We recommend them to any B2B company that is looking to launch or streamline its podcast production. Learn more at https://contentallies.com#RemoteWork #HybridWork #EngineeringLeadership #Product #Marketing #Innovation #Startup #GenerativeAI #AI