The Lobster Talks Podcast by Lobster Capital

Did you know that the US spent $200 billion on new manufacturing construction in 2023 alone? The manufacturing industry is booming, but it faces challenges in productivity and cost. That's where Dime comes in. In this episode of Lobster Talks, host Gabriel Jarrosson interviews Ashish Bajaj, co-founder of Dime, a startup revolutionizing how manufacturers manage their factories. Born and raised in Detroit, Ashish's unique background in finance and deep ties to the manufacturing industry led him to create Dime, a platform designed to modernize and streamline production processes. Ashish discusses the challenges manufacturers face with outdated software and manual processes, particularly in production scheduling and tracking. He shares how Dime's central nervous system for factories is solving these problems by automating these tasks, improving efficiency, and ultimately boosting productivity. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of technology and manufacturing, the challenges faced by American manufacturers, and how startups like Dime are leading the charge to modernize the industry. EPISODE IN A GLANCE -The Origin Story of Dime and the Manufacturing Landscape -The Growth of Manufacturing in the US and Dime's Role -What Dime Does and How It's Different from Other Solutions -The State of Manufacturing in China and the Importance of Productivity -Dime's Journey After Y Combinator and the Importance of Founder Mentality -The Psychology of Success in Startups -The Impact of Y Combinator on Founders -Dime's sales strategy and the importance of focusing on fundamentals of startup success -The challenges and opportunities of manufacturing in the US -Choosing the Right Headquarters -Staying Ahead in Manufacturing Tech -Book Recommendation: Principles by Ray Dalio -How to Connect with Dime ABOUT ASHISH BAJAJ Ashish is a co-founder @ Dime. He's a passionate Detroiter excited about building the tools that power the American Manufacturing renaissance. Before Dime, Ashish led the business operations and finance functions at a Series B Ghost Kitchen aggregator. Before that, he spent four years in finance, first as an Investment Banker at Rothschild, and then as an Investor at TPG. CONNECT WITH ASHISH BAJAJ Website → https://www.getdime.io/ LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/in/ashish-bajaj1 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/dime-manufacturing/ GRAB THE BOOK ASHISH RECOMMENDS → Principles by Ray Dalio, https://www.principles.com/ ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing." CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/ LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/ Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/ Tiktok → https://www.tiktok.com/@lobstercapital Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights.  Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

Did you know that changing a Twitter notification from "Elon tweeted" to "Elon just tweeted" once led to a gain of 800,000 users? In this episode of The Lobster Talks by Lobster Capital, host Gabriel Jarrosson interviews Neha Mittal, founder and CEO of YCombinator-backed Just Words. Neha shares her journey from leading growth at Twitter and Pinterest to starting her own company focused on AI-powered personalized messaging. She reveals how a simple copy change experiment at Twitter sparked the idea for Just Words and discusses the challenges she faced, including a co-founder breakup mid-Y Combinator. Neha explains how Just Words differs from existing A/B testing tools and email service providers by focusing on user-centricity and infinite content testing. She also provides insights into the company's future vision of hyper-personalized communication and the role of AI in revolutionizing marketing.  EPISODE IN A GLANCE -Meet Neha Mittal: Founder of Just Words -The Birth of Just Words: From Twitter to Pinterest -How Just Words Stands Out in a Crowded Market -Building the Future: Products and Vision of Just Words -Collaborating with Big Names: Grammarly and BeReal -Navigating Co-Founder Breakups: Lessons Learned -Finding the Right Co-Founder: Trust and Vision -Advice for Solo Founders: Trust Your Gut -Intuition in Business -Fundraising Challenges and Resilience -The Impact of YC and Community Support -Vision for Just Words -Book Recommendation → The Tao of Pooh Paperback by Benjamin Hoff ABOUT NEHA MITTAL Neha Mittal is the CEO & Co-founder of just words. She was the head of product for Retention & Growth at Pinterest and at Twitter. She also co-founded CityStructure and was the founding engineer at Sensorflow. She has also held product & engineering roles at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and Goldman Sachs. CONNECT WITH NEHA MITTAL Website → https://justwords.ai LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/in/neha01mittal LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/justwordsai/ GRAB THE BOOK NEHA RECOMMENDS: The Tao of Pooh Paperback  by Benjamin Hoff → https://a.co/d/dNPfw8G ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing." CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/ LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/ Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/ Tiktok → https://www.tiktok.com/@lobstercapital Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights.  Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

What if mining for valuable minerals could be done in space with a smaller environmental impact and at a lower cost?  In this episode of The Lobster Talks by Lobster Capital, Gabriel Jarrosson interviews Matt Gialich, the founder and CEO of AstroForge, a company focused on mining asteroids to extract valuable minerals in space at a lower cost and smaller carbon footprint than the current mining methods. Matt shares his journey from working at Bird Rides and the Jet Propulsion Lab to founding AstroForge, inspired by the challenges of sourcing platinum for microchips and the limitations of traditional space exploration. Matt discusses AstroForge's mission to make space resources accessible on Earth, revolutionize mining practices, and contribute to a cleaner economic impact. AstroForge's upcoming mission in November will be the first commercial deep space mission to identify a metallic asteroid, paving the way for a new era of space resource utilization. With a focus on speed, innovation, and environmental responsibility, AstroForge is poised to become a leader in the emerging field of asteroid mining. EPISODE IN A GLANCE -Introduction to Matt Gialich, CEO of AstroForge -AstroForge's Mission and Potential Uses for Mined Metals -Matt's journey from Bird Rides and JPL to founding AstroForge -The potential size and impact of AstroForge on the global mining industry and the environment -The "idiot rule" and AstroForge's innovative approach to cost reduction -The importance of speed in AstroForge's operations and how it's embedded in their team culture -The hardest part of asteroid mining and AstroForge's focus on developing refinery technology -How AstroForge selects target asteroids, prioritizing ore quality over size -Hiring challenges and the importance of passion and ownership within the AstroForge team -Details about AstroForge's upcoming November launch and the goals of the mission -Balancing fundraising and CEO responsibilities, the challenges Matt faces -Matt's key takeaway from Y Combinator and the importance of focusing on customers -Matt's unique perspective on the impact of books and quotes on his life ABOUT MATT GIALICH Matt Gialich is the CEO of AstroForge. An asteroid mining company that is the first company to have a commercial deep space mission. CONNECT WITH MATT GIALICH Website → https://www.astroforge.io/ LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-gialich/ LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/astroforge/ Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/astroforge.io/ X/Twitter → https://x.com/astroforge Email → matt@astroforge.com ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing." CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/ LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/ Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/ Tiktok → https://www.tiktok.com/@lobstercapital Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights.  Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

Is FinTech dead? With the rise of AI and recent industry shakeups, many are asking this question. But what if the most exciting days of FinTech are still ahead?  In this episode of Lobster Talks, host Gabriel Jarrosson interviews Daniel Kivatinos, a serial entrepreneur who has successfully navigated the highs and lows of the startup world. Daniel shares the story of building DrChrono, his first company, into a top 1% YC exit, and his insights on why he's now diving back into the complex and exciting world of FinTech with his new venture, JustPaid.io. The conversation dives into Daniel's experiences with Y Combinator, both in its early days and in its current, more structured form. He shares valuable advice on building a strong company culture, the importance of rapid iteration, and the crucial role of delegation in scaling a business. Daniel also discusses the evolving landscape of FinTech, the challenges and opportunities it presents, and why he believes it remains a vital industry with immense potential for disruption.  Join us as we dive into the future of FinTech, the power of Y Combinator community, and the lessons learned from building a top 1% YC exit. EPISODE IN A GLANCE - The Current State of FinTech and Opportunities for Disruption - Daniel's Perspective on Building a Company for the Long Haul - The Story of DrChrono's Journey to a Top 1% YC Exit - Why Y Combinator was Instrumental in DrChrono's Success - The Power of Hacker News and Early YC Community - The Evolution of YC and Its Modern Tools - Reconnecting with YC: A Second-Time Founder’s Perspective - The Value of Founder-to-Founder Support - Lobster Capital's Investment Thesis and Top 1% YC Exit - The Journey and Challenges of Building DrChrono - Scaling and Delegating for Success - Introducing JustPaid.io: Revolutionizing Revenue Collection - The Importance of Company Culture and Long-Term Vision - Closing Thoughts and Book Recommendations ABOUT DANIEL KIVATINOS Daniel is the cofounder and CEO of JustPaid.io (Y Combinator 2023) and cofounder and former COO of DrChrono (Y Combinator 2011, a top 1% YC exit). CONNECT WITH DANIEL Website → https://www.justpaid.io/ LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/kivatinos/ LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/justpaid/ GRAB THE BOOKS OF JIM COLLINS, THE AUTHOR DANIEL RECOMMENDS → https://www.jimcollins.com/books.html ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing." CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/ LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/ Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/ Tiktok → https://www.tiktok.com/@lobstercapital Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights.  Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

Have you ever considered pivoting your startup? What if you didn't even have a new idea lined up? In this episode of The Lobster Talks by Lobster Capital, we are joined by Ankur Rustagi, a serial entrepreneur with a background in trust and safety at tech giants like Facebook and Roblox. He founded Sero AI, a trust and safety platform, and then pivoted to Saatvy, a wellness platform focused on chronic conditions, after just ten months. This episode dives into Ankur's journey, exploring the challenges of building and selling a B2B SaaS solution in the trust and safety space, and the pivotal decision to change course. He shares his internal struggle, the impact on his co-founder, and the support he received from Y Combinator and investors. Ankur then reveals the unexpected path that led him to Saatvy, driven by a personal experience with chronic pain and a growing belief in the power of alternative medicine, particularly Ayurveda. Listen to this episode and gain valuable insights into the realities of startup pivoting, the importance of staying true to your convictions, and the potential for success in unexpected corners of the market. EPISODE IN A GLANCE -The Sero AI Journey: Ankur's motivation for founding Sero AI, aiming to improve trust and safety in the tech world -Challenges with Sero AI: Enterprise Sales and Internal Struggles -The Decision to Pivot: Ankur reveals the internal struggle and the decision to pivot away from Sero AI -The Emotional Journey: Dealing with Uncertainty and Maintaining Energy -Investor Conversations: How Ankur Communicated the Pivot to His Investors -The Birth of Saatvy: The Path from LLM Safety to Wellness -Saatvy's Approach: Authentic Ayurvedic Practitioners and Personalized Care -Co-Founder Dynamics: Navigating Tala's Departure and Maintaining a Positive Relationship -The Future of Saatvy: Raising Awareness and Expanding Access to Ayurvedic Care ABOUT ANKUR RUSTAGI Founder of Saatvy, whose mission is to take Ayurveda to 100M+ people with chronic conditions. Previously, Ankur empowered teams at Meta, Roblox and eBay to build AI solutions for elections and child safety. CONNECT WITH ANKUR RUSTAGI Website → https://saatvy.com LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/saatvy LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/anrustagi ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing." CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/ LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/ Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/ Tiktok → https://www.tiktok.com/@lobstercapital Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights.  Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

What if you rapidly iterate and test flight software for rockets, drones, or satellites just like game developers do?  In this episode of The Lobster Talks Podcast by Lobster Capital, we sit down with Daniel Driscoll, a former military officer turned software engineer, who is the CEO and co-founder of Elodin. Elodin is on a mission to revolutionize the aerospace industry by providing a flight software development platform that streamlines and accelerates the process of building, testing, and deploying software for everything that flies – from drones and missiles to satellites. Dan's journey is nothing short of fascinating. From his time at West Point and serving in Iraq to working at Electronic Arts (on the Sims 4!) and Salesforce, his diverse experiences have shaped his leadership style and fueled his passion for innovation. Drawing inspiration from the Unreal Engine used in game development, Elodin aims to be the go-to platform for aerospace engineers. It enables rapid iteration, collaboration, and high-fidelity simulation, making it easier and faster for companies of all sizes to develop cutting-edge flight software. With Elodin, the dream of space exploration is becoming more accessible than ever before. EPISODE IN A GLANCE -Dan's Background: Military, Gaming (Sims 4!), and Salesforce -Elodin's Mission: The 'Unreal Engine' for Aerospace -The Origin Story: From a Ukrainian Team Building Rockets to Partnering with AstroForge -Disrupting the Incumbents: How Elodin is Changing the Aerospace Development Culture -The Space Renaissance: Elodin's Role in the New Wave of Space Exploration -Exciting Upcoming Projects: Elodin's Software in Space by the End of the Year! -Advice for Founders: How to Identify and Solve Problems in Established Industries -Fundraising: The Pros and Cons of a 'Party Round' (and Why Elodin Chose It) -The Future of Elodin: Partnerships, Ambitious Goals, and a Focus on Making Space Accessible -Dan's Book Recommendation: 'Leaders Eat Last' by Simon Sinek ABOUT DANIEL DRISCOLL Daniel Driscoll is an accomplished leader with a robust software engineering and military leadership background. As the CEO and Co-founder of Elodin, he spearheads the development of innovative flight software platforms. Previously, he owned Tigris Digital, a veteran-owned tech business, and held key roles at M10, BitGo, RealtyShares, Salesforce, and Electronic Arts. Daniel holds a Master of Entertainment Technology from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He is skilled in people leadership & ambitious thinking. CONNECT WITH DANIEL DRISCOLL Website → https://elodin.systems LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/elodin-systems-inc LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/in/x46085 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/elodin.systems/ YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@elodin-sys X/Twitter → https://twitter.com/Elodinsystems GRAB THE BOOK DANIEL RECOMMENDS → Leaders Eat Last, by Simon Sinek, https://simonsinek.com/books/leaders-eat-last/ ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing." CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/ LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/ Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/ Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights.  Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

Overwhelmed by the back-and-forth negotiations and complexities of managing contracts when closing deals?  In this episode of Lobster Talks, host Gabriel Jarrosson dives deep into the world of startup contracts with Jake Stein, co-founder and CEO of Common Paper. Jake, a seasoned entrepreneur with two successful exits under his belt, candidly shares the challenges he faced with contract management in his previous ventures, which ultimately led him to create Common Paper. Jake unveils his company's unique approach: standardized contracts, available for free through an open-source model, coupled with powerful software that automates the entire process, from negotiation to payment. Gabriel, an investor himself, and Jake discuss the importance of building optionality into your business, both in terms of fundraising and selling. The conversation highlights the value of cultivating relationships with potential acquirers and understanding investor priorities. Jake also shares his perspective on the benefits of Y Combinator, particularly for fundraising and accessing a network of experienced entrepreneurs.  Get an insider's look at the benefits of Y Combinator and learn how Jake's journey can help you navigate your own startup path. Whether you're battling contract chaos or seeking wisdom from a successful founder, this episode is packed with valuable insights. Tune in now to transform your approach to startup legalities and gain a competitive edge. EPISODE IN A GLANCE -Meet Jake Stein and Discover the Story Behind Common Paper – Simplifying Startup Contracts -How Common Paper is Revolutionizing Startup Legal Agreements with Standardization & Automation -The Power of APIs in Modern Contract Management – A Revolution in Legal Tech -Niche Focus – Why Common Paper Specializes in B2B Software Agreements -Early Lessons from a Startup Founder – Why Immediate Value is Key to Success -The Unique Value of Common Paper – Open Source, Automated Contracts & Powerful Integrations -Building a Sustainable Open Source Business – The Common Paper Revenue Model -Beyond Fundraising – How Y Combinator Accelerates Startup Growth -Exit Strategies for Startups – Leveraging Relationships & Creating Optionality When Selling Your Business -Charlie Munger's Wisdom for Entrepreneurs – The Power of Deserving What You Want -The Future of Common Paper: AI and Contract Optimization ABOUT JAKE STEIN Jake Stein is co-founder and CEO of Common Paper. Previously, he was co-founder of RJMetrics (acquired by Magento, then Adobe) and Stitch (acquired by Talend). Before RJMetrics, Jake worked in venture capital, started a landscaping business in high school, and was the 44th-ranked table tennis player under 21 in New Jersey; achievements of which he is equally proud. CONNECT WITH JAKE STEIN Website → https://commonpaper.com/ LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakestein/ LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/common-paper/ Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/jakestein X/Twitter → https://x.com/jakestein X/Twitter → https://x.com/UseCommonPaper ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing." CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/ LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/ Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/ Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights.  Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

As AI models become more powerful and complex, how can startups accurately measure and monetize their usage? In this episode, Gabriel Jarrosson sits down with Peter Marton, co-founder and CEO of OpenMeter, to discuss how his company is revolutionizing the way AI startups bill their customers. OpenMeter provides an observability platform that enables usage-based billing for AI models, allowing companies to charge based on actual resource consumption rather than flat rates or estimates. Peter shares his journey from working at Uber to founding OpenMeter, the challenges they faced in building a scalable and accurate metering solution, and the impact their technology is having on the AI industry. EPISODE IN A GLANCE -Meet Peter Marton, OpenMeter Co-founder & CEO -Peter Marton's Journey: From Netflix to Stripe to OpenMeter -What is OpenMeter? Solving the Challenges of Usage-Based Billing -The Pain Points of Usage-Based Billing: A Developer's Perspective -OpenMeter's Evolution: From End-to-End Solutions to Core Metering -OpenMeter: Open Source for Transparency & Monetization -AI Integration: OpenMeter's Role in Cost Management for AI Companies -Understanding Metering: Real-Time, Auditable, and Persistent -From Idea to Funding: OpenMeter's Journey Through Y Combinator -Launching OpenMeter: Building Traction and Fundraising -From Hungary to Silicon Valley: Peter Marton's Personal Story -Building a Global Team: Managing Teams Across Time Zones -Fundraising Beyond Y Combinator: Securing Funding with Traction -The Power of Y Combinator: Beyond Demo Day Fundraising -OpenMeter's Future: Standardizing Metering and Future Goals ABOUT PETER MARTON Peter is the CEO and Co-founder of OpenMeter. With a background in observability and monetization, he previously worked on Netflix’s serverless infrastructure and Stripe’s usage and cost platform and co-founded an APM startup. CONNECT WITH PETER Website → https://openmeter.io/ LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/petermarton/ LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/openmeter YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbZ3O0-siPWXxiyfik7xJ_w X/Twitter → https://twitter.com/openmeter GRAB THE BOOK PETER RECOMMENDS → https://a.co/d/bbn82Ab The Developer Facing Startup: Alchemist Accelerator’s go-to-market playbook for early-stage developer-facing startups by Adam Frankl  ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing." CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/ LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/ Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/ Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights.  Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

How would you feel if a co-pilot could automatically optimize pricing for your retail business, maximizing profits while keeping customers happy? In this episode of The Lobster Talks by Lobster Capital, Gabriel Jarrosson sits down with Tanvi Surti, the co-founder and CEO of Luca, a pricing AI engine transforming how retailers approach pricing and promotions. Tanvi shares her journey from working on AI at Microsoft and leading Uber's unprofitable UberPool team to founding Luca. She explains how Luca uses machine learning to help retailers of all sizes make data-driven pricing decisions, taking into account factors like costs, competition, customer demand, and business objectives. Tanvi also discusses the lessons she learned at Y Combinator, the power of the YC community, and her perspective on fundraising. EPISODE IN A GLANCE -Introducing Tanvi Surti: Co-founder and CEO of Luca -Tanvi's Tech Background: From Microsoft to Uber Pool -The Problem Luca Solves: Revolutionizing Retail Pricing -Challenges and Opportunities in Retail Pricing -Luca's Solution to Online and Offline Retail Pricing -Machine Learning and Custom Models at Luca - The Power of AI -AI in the Back Office - Transforming Enterprise Solutions through Machine Learning -Y Combinator Experience and Fundraising Insights -Future of Luca and Personal Reflections ABOUT TANVI SURTI Tanvi is the co-founder and CEO of Luca, a pricing engine for retailers. Prior to Luca, Tanvi worked as a Product Exec at Uber where she co-led the pricing team. CONNECT WITH TANVI SURTI Website → https://www.askluca.com/ LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/lucasoftware/ LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanvisurti/ GRAB THE BOOK TANVI RECOMMENDS → Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl - https://a.co/d/84BSBgK ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing." CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/ LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/ Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/ Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights.  Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

What if fans could directly influence which players join their favorite college teams? Sounds crazy, right? Well, Luke Bogus, co-founder of FanCave, is making this a reality. Luke Bogus, co-founder and CEO of FanCave, is revolutionizing the world of college sports recruiting. FanCave turns superfans into recruiters for their favorite teams, bringing fans closer to the action while allowing them to compliantly support athletes via name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals. In this episode, Luke shares his journey from passionate Nebraska Cornhuskers fan to founder of a startup that enables fans to directly chat, react, and entice top recruits with NIL money to join their school. We explore how FanCave is capitalizing on recent regulatory changes, the power of founder conviction, and how Fancave is harnessing superfan energy to help athletes grow their fanbase and NIL value. EPISODE IN A GLANCE -Luke's Background: Learn about Luke's journey from Nebraska football fanatic to a tech product leader -From Huskers to FanCave: Discover how Luke's passion for sports and his experience in the tech world led to the creation of FanCave -The NIL Revolution and FanCave's Mission: Understand the regulatory changes driving the NIL movement  -FanCave's Impact on Recruiting: Learn how FanCave helps fans directly engage with top recruits, influencing their decisions with financial incentives and community support -FanCave's Early Success: FanCave's initial traction and the challenges of building a marketplace connecting fans and athletes -Uber Inspiration: Get insights into how FanCave is using Uber's early strategy to build a strong supply side to fuel fan engagement -Navigating a Regulatory Landscape: Learn how FanCave is navigating the complex and constantly evolving regulatory environment surrounding NIL -Web3 Potential: Explore the future possibilities of FanCave -Reaching Fans: Discover FanCave's strategy for engaging with college sports fans  -Internal Motivation: Gain insights into Luke's passion for college sports. -Finding Your Passion: Luke offers advice to aspiring entrepreneurs who are struggling to find a business idea that excites them -Fundraising Journey: Hear Luke's experiences and lessons learned from his oversubscribed fundraising round -Recommended Book: "Designing Your Life"  ABOUT LUKE BOGUS Luke Bogus is the Co-Founder of Fancave. Fancave is the startup that turns superfans into recruiters for their favorite teams. Before FanCave, Luke was Head of Product for Vial, a Series B life science tech startup, helping zero-to-one new clinical trial infrastructure that now generates millions in ARR. Prior, Luke was a Product Manager at Microsoft, and studied computer science and marketing at Nebraska's Raikes School. CONNECT WITH LUKE BOGUS Website → https://www.fancave.me/ X/Twitter → https://x.com/lukebogus X/Twitter → https://x.com/FanCaveTeam LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukebogus/ LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/fancave Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/luke.bogus/ Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/FanCaveTeam GRAB THE BOOK LUKE RECOMMENDS: Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life → https://a.co/d/iTmLI2R ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing." CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/ LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/ Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/