Layer Zero

I sat down with Delian Asparouhov, Partner at Founders Fund and Co-Founder & President of Varda Space Industries, for a conversation on what it takes to build at the intersection of frontier manufacturing and venture capital. Delian’s dual role, backing high-stakes tech at one of the most influential funds while also building a company that’s sending factories into orbit, gives him a rare advantage on both sides of the equation.In this episode, we explored how Varda is is building a new era in space tech, how Delian thinks about sourcing and backing transformational companies at Founders Fund, and more. If you’re curious about what happens when you combine venture capital, deep tech, and space-age manufacturing, this episode is for you.

I sat down with Joseph Krause, Co-Founder and CEO of Radical AI, for a deep dive into how artificial intelligence is reshaping the future of scientific discovery. Radical AI is building autonomous, AI-driven research systems, what Joseph calls “self-driving labs,” that accelerate the discovery of new materials and breakthroughs across industries. Backed by over $55 million in funding by Nvidia and more, his team is merging deep tech, data, and science to fundamentally change how innovation happens.In this episode, we explored how Radical AI approaches experimentation and learning, what it takes to build infrastructure at the intersection of AI and materials science, and how Joseph thinks about long-term impact and risk in a field evolving faster than ever. We also talked about the broader implications of AI for research, creativity, and progress itself.If you’re interested in where deep tech meets real-world innovation, and how AI can accelerate the pace of discovery, this one’s for you.

In this engaging discussion, Michele Griffin, the founder of Premier GTM and ex-partner at a16z, shares her expertise on go-to-market strategies for AI-native startups. She emphasizes the importance of visibility for founders in gaining trust and traction. Michele highlights how AI tools can streamline sales processes and enhance messaging. She also offers insights on effective LinkedIn usage and the evolving roles in sales, predicting a shift towards more technical resources and service-led strategies for deeper engagement.

I sat down with Charles Hudson, Founder and Managing Partner of Precursor Ventures, one of the most respected early-stage funds in venture capital. Charles has built Precursor on a set of unorthodox ideas, from how he sources founders to how he supports them, and it’s worked. In this episode, we explored why going against the grain has been central to his success, the philosophy behind Precursor’s early bets, and how he evaluates founders at the earliest stages. We also got into what’s changing and what’s not in today’s VC landscape.If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to back founders before the rest of the world sees it, this one’s for you.Thank you to Puddle for sponsoring this episode! Puddle is helping talented people find the best jobs: one interview, pass and get matched!

I sat down with Max Marchione, Co-Founder of Superpower, the AI health company helping humans live longer. Backed by Giannis Antetokounmpo, Vanessa Hudgens, and other leading investors, Superpower has raised over $30M and is scaling fast.We talked about the culture and principles that drive Superpower’s growth, how Max builds teams around clarity and ambition, and the lessons he’s learned from years of company-building. Max also shared what’s next for Superpower as they push the boundaries of AI-driven longevity and personal health.If you’re interested in the intersection of health, AI, and company-building, or want to hear how culture compounds in startups, this one’s a must-listen.Thank you to Puddle for sponsoring this episode! Puddle is helping talented people find the best jobs: one interview, pass and get matched!

I sat down with Vanessa, former Partner at NEA where she invested in both B2B and B2C companies and an operator who held leadership roles at Twilio and Box, for a wide-ranging conversation on the state of consumer tech.In this episode, we explored how AI is reshaping the consumer landscape, what defensibility looks like in a world of fast-moving competitors, and the behavioral shifts founders should be paying attention to. Vanessa also shared her perspective on the evolution of the job market, how consumer startups can adapt to changing dynamics, and which trends she believes are more hype than substance.If you’re building or investing in the next wave of consumer products, this one is full of insights from someone who’s seen both sides of the table.Thanks Zephyr Technologies for sponsoring!

I sat down with Jimmy Yun, Principal at 8VC, for a conversation on how he approaches partnering with founders in enterprise software and frontier technology. At 8VC, Jimmy also plays a key role in the firm’s Build, a model focused not just on investing in great companies, but helping to create them from the ground up.In this episode, we explored how Jimmy evaluates opportunities at the edge of enterprise and frontier markets, the principles that guide his own approach to investing, and how 8VC’s Build strategy shapes the companies they back. We also dug into the unique challenges and opportunities founders face in these spaces, and where Jimmy sees the most exciting opportunities to build today.If you want a look into how top-tier investors think about both backing and building companies from day one, this episode is a must-listen.

I sat down with Wesley Tian, founder of Aragon AI, for a conversation on what it takes to scale a breakout AI company at record speed. Aragon develops AI-generated headshots and has grown to over $10M in annualized revenue within just two years, a rare trajectory in the consumer AI space.In this episode, Wesley shared how Aragon found product–market fit, the strategies that fueled its rapid growth, and what he’s learning as one of the few founders operating at this scale in AI today. We also dug into the challenges of building in a fast-moving market, and how Aragon plans to stay ahead as AI adoption accelerates.If you’re curious about what hypergrowth in consumer AI really looks like, this is an inside look you won’t want to miss.Special thanks to Yasin Ehsan and Headstarter for sponsoring this episode!

I sat down with Adam Draper, Founder and Managing Director of Boost VC, for a conversation on what it means to invest at the very edge of technology. Since starting Boost, Adam has backed frontier founders in crypto, deep tech, and beyond, often years before these spaces went mainstream.In this episode, we explored the unique lens through which Boost operates, how Adam first discovered crypto and leaned into one of the most disruptive shifts of our time, and why some of his riskiest early investments ended up defining categories. We also got into how he built Boost to stay at the forefront of venture, and what he’s seeing now in the next wave of breakthrough companies.If you’re curious about how bold bets get made and what it takes to stay ahead of the curve in deep tech, this one is a must-listen.

I sat down with Kyle Stanford, Director of U.S. Venture Capital Research at PitchBook, for a conversation on what the data really says about today’s venture landscape. Kyle has a front-row seat to the numbers that shape how investors, founders, and markets think... from unexpected shifts in U.S. venture activity to the statistics driving AI’s explosive growth.In this episode, we unpack the surprising trends behind the headlines, where the data tells a different story than conventional wisdom, and how Kyle sees the venture and AI markets evolving from here.