This Week in Startups

Jack Kramer and Nick Martell, co-hosts of Robinhood Snacks, bring millennial perspectives to finance. They dive into the impact of Coronavirus on public markets, weighing if the situation is dire or manageable. The duo discusses Bob Iger’s departure from Disney and whether it's a buy or sell for the company. They define 'Cult Stocks' and talk about how millennials and Gen-Z are making investment choices influenced by current events. With a mix of humor and insights, they keep finance engaging and relatable!

Sarah Tavel, Partner at Benchmark, shares her journey from operator to investor, highlighting her unique recruitment by Peter Fenton. She discusses the importance of disrupting VC gender norms from within and elaborates on her personal investments in companies like Calm and Pinterest. Tavel also tackles the nuances of transitioning from the stressful life of an operator to the anxiety of investing, while exploring the cultural contrasts between New Yorkers and West Coasters, and the challenges faced in the competitive world of venture capital.

Anthemos Georgiades is the CEO and co-founder of Zumper, dedicated to simplifying the apartment rental process. He discusses Zumper's journey from concept to a thriving marketplace, including its monetization strategies and partnerships with platforms like Facebook. Anthemos shares insights on the impact of Airbnb on rental markets and the importance of diversifying revenue streams. He also explores innovative housing solutions like co-living spaces, addressing the challenges of urban living and the evolving needs of renters.

Wade Foster, CEO of Zapier, and Monique Woodard, an early-stage investor, dive into a range of pressing tech topics. They tackle the tension between tech journalists and founders, discussing how alternative media like podcasts empower voices. The duo also explores Kickstarter's unionization efforts, the challenges faced by Blue Apron following its plummet, and Lambda School's controversial reputation. Additionally, they analyze how Twitter's methods for combatting fake news might evolve, and the significance of the aging demographic in startup innovation.

George Zachary, General Partner at CRV, reflects on his venture capital career and pivotal moments, including passing on Google and backing Zip2 with Elon Musk. He shares insights on the evolution of leadership styles in tech and the challenging journey of VCs. Zachary discusses recent health scares that shifted his focus to health-tech innovation, the ethical implications of CRISPR and 'designer babies,' and the need for transparency in the healthcare system. They also explore the rise of lab-grown seafood and the potential impacts of the coronavirus.

David Heinemeier Hansson, co-founder of Basecamp and creator of Ruby on Rails, shares his bold views on the future of work and capitalism. He discusses the shift to remote work, questioning old definitions of productivity and the negative impact of long commutes. David advocates for higher wages, critiques the gig economy, and explores Denmark's effective education and healthcare systems as models for change in America. The conversation dives into big tech monopolies, the ethics of billionaires, and the importance of user privacy in digital communication.

Laura Huang, a Harvard Business School professor and author of "Edge: Turning Adversity into Advantage," dives into transforming challenges into strengths. She discusses structural biases in tech that affect female entrepreneurs and how to leverage negative perceptions to demonstrate value. Huang emphasizes the importance of emotional resilience, sharing her thoughts on dealing with bitterness versus growth. Listeners can also learn about the power of connection in overcoming disadvantages and the significance of self-empowerment in the face of systemic challenges.

Dan Rose, Chairman at Coatue Management and former key player at Amazon and Facebook, shares captivating insider stories. He discusses his early internship at Amazon and working under Jeff Bezos, including the company's culture and pivotal moments like the development of the Kindle. Dan reflects on his experience at Facebook, including the early days of the News Feed and key investment decisions. With over 100 angel investments, he reveals essential traits that make successful founders and provides insights on how to navigate the evolving startup landscape.

In this conversation with Dr. Brian Moore, CEO of Orreco, delve into the world of elite athlete performance optimization through blood analysis and biomarkers. Brian explains how inflammation monitoring is revolutionizing recovery strategies and why personalized data is key to driving athlete success. He also discusses the intricate balance between nutrition, sleep, and training for enhanced results. Discover the ethical implications surrounding performance enhancements and how innovations like glucose monitoring are shaping the future of sports.

Sachin Monga, Co-founder and CEO of Cocoon, teamed up with Alex Cornell, its designer and former Facebook Live team member, to create a private social networking app. They discuss their motivation for building an intimate platform amid privacy concerns in social media. The duo shares insights on the importance of a strong domain name for trust, the challenges of competing with giants, and their unique ad-free monetization model. Innovative features like virtual acknowledgments aim to deepen friendships, showing their commitment to fostering authentic connections.