The Lobster Talks Podcast by Lobster Capital

Is your investment portfolio missing the "Michelin Star" of YC startup investing? Gabriel Jarrosson, the solo general partner at Lobster Capital, pulls back the curtain on his unique approach to investing in the very best Y Combinator (YC) companies. In this episode of the second season of Lobster Talks, Gabriel Jarrosson, a seasoned entrepreneur turned investor, shares his incredible journey from angel investing to founding Lobster Capital, a fund dedicated to backing the most promising YC startups. He unveils the secrets behind his exclusive access to high-profile deals, often co-investing alongside giants like Google Ventures and Bessemer Venture Partners. Gabriel's deep understanding of technology, entrepreneurial experience, and vast network make him a valuable partner for founders and a sought-after resource for investors. He shares his rigorous investment criteria, emphasizing the importance of early traction, scalability, and a founder's ability to articulate a clear vision for growth. Key Takeaways: -Lobster Capital's Focus: Lobster Capital specializes in funding the very best Y Combinator startups, a highly competitive space where early traction and scalability are paramount. -The Value of Early Traction: Gabriel highlights the importance of early traction and revenue as a key indicator of a startup's potential for success, emphasizing the need to invest in companies already demonstrating a clear path to growth. -Beyond Capital: Providing Value: Lobster Capital goes beyond simply writing checks, offering practical guidance on customer acquisition, sales, SEO, and more, drawing on Gabriel's own entrepreneurial experience and extensive network within the VC community. -YC as a Mark of Quality: Gabriel compares YC to a Michelin star rating for restaurants, highlighting the rigorous vetting process and high-quality founders that emerge from the program. -The Silicon Valley Advantage: Despite the rise of European startups, Gabriel argues that Silicon Valley remains the epicenter of innovation, and Y Combinator is the gold standard for early-stage tech companies. -The AI Boom: While acknowledging the increasing presence of AI startups within YC, Gabriel emphasizes the importance of filtering and selection, ensuring that Lobster Capital's portfolio encompasses a diverse range of promising ventures. EPISODE IN A GLANCE 00:00 Intro 00:20 Founding Story of Lobster Capital 01:13 Journey to Silicon Valley and Y Combinator 01:36 Challenges and Strategies in Y Combinator Investing 02:14 Building Lobster Capital's Brand and Fund 03:02 Focus on YC Startups and Unicorns 05:19 Gaining Access to YC Demo Day 06:46 Early Successes and Building Reputation 07:33 Providing Value Beyond Capital 14:32 Evaluating Startups at YC Demo Day 20:35 Evaluating Startup Growth Strategies 21:44 The Relevance of YC in 2024 22:44 YC's Shift and New Leadership 26:12 The AI Emphasis at YC 30:06 Investing in US vs. European Startups 31:48 The Future of European Startups 38:10 The Value Proposition of YC 42:18 The Michelin Star of Startup Investing 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

Are you a contractor working overseas? How do you navigate the complexities of cross-border payments? In this episode of Lobster Talks, host Gabriel Jarrosson dives into the world of cross-border payments with Eduardo de Leon, co-founder and Head of Product at Coba, a Y Combinator-backed fintech startup. Eduardo shares his journey from a software development background to launching Coba, a platform designed to empower contractors in Latin America by providing access to the US banking system and simplifying financial transactions between the US and Mexico. Eduardo reveals the origins of Coba, initially aimed at connecting talent with US companies. Through extensive user interviews, they uncovered a critical pain point: the need for financial services tailored to cross-border workers. This realization led to a pivotal shift in their business model, propelling them into the fintech industry and ultimately leading to their acceptance into Y Combinator. Eduardo talks about the challenges and opportunities of cross-border payments, the importance of understanding local markets, and how Coba is leveraging technology to bridge the gap between different economies.  He also shares insights on the decision-making process as a co-founder, the role of crypto in cross-border transactions, and the valuable lessons learned from their Y Combinator experience. EPISODE IN A GLANCE - Eduardo's Background and the Inspiration Behind Coba - Coba's Platform and Services for Contractors in Latin America - Pivoting the Business Model and Decision-Making as Co-Founders - The Cross-Border Payments Landscape and Focusing on the US-Mexico Corridor - Crypto's Role in Cross-Border Payments and Potential Integration with Coba - Coba's Experience with Y Combinator and Lessons Learned - Future Plans for Coba and Expanding Services - Book Recommendations: 'Hackers & Painters' and 'The Mythical Man-Month' ABOUT EDUARDO LOPEZ DE LEON Co-founder & Head of Product @ Coba. Previously to founding Coba.ai, Eduardo started IcaliaLabs.com operating from LatAm and working with US clients. He had the opportunity to work with fast-growing startups, corporates such as IBM, and big software factories such as Infosys. CS professor of Monterrey Tech. CONNECT WITH EDUARDO & COBA Website → https://coba.ai/ Eduardo's Website → https://edolopez.ai LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/elopezdeleon/ LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/cobaremote X/Twitter → https://x.com/edolopez X/Twitter → https://x.com/cobaremote YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@cobaremote Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/edolopez.io GRAB THE BOOKS EDUARDO RECOMMENDS: -Paul Graham's Hackers & Painters: Big Ideas from the Computer Age (https://a.co/d/3nccG3N)  -Fred Brooks' The Mythical Man-Month (https://a.co/d/ewA2lFy) 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 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