Layer Zero

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.

Tamar Yehoshua, former Chief Product Officer at Slack, shares her insights on building generational companies. She discusses the critical role of customer focus as companies grow, emphasizing the need to adapt feedback processes. Tamar also explores how AI is reshaping project management and highlights the importance of user-centric design in enterprise software. Furthermore, she delves into the qualities that define an ideal founder, advocating for tenacity and a growth mindset to thrive in today's tech landscape.

Samir Kaul, Founding Partner and Managing Director at Khosla Ventures, is a veteran investor in transformative innovations like AI and sustainability. He shares insights on betting early on breakthrough technologies and the psychology behind high-agency entrepreneurs. The conversation dives into the potential of deep tech in emerging markets, the underfunded areas like fusion energy, and how AI can revolutionize traditional industries. Kaul emphasizes the unique challenges faced by hard science companies as they navigate go-to-market strategies.

I had an insightful conversation with Jason Shuman, General Partner at Primary Venture Partners and Forbes 30U30, where we dove deep into how he’s helping reshape the venture capital landscape, especially through a uniquely hands-on approach to supporting early-stage founders. We explored the evolution of DTC businesses (where Jason has deep roots as a founder himself), the operational challenges most commonly facing startups today, and why Primary’s model, where the operations team outnumbers the investment team, is a game-changer. If you're building in DTC, raising capital, or rethinking what modern VC partnerships should look like, you won’t want to miss this one.

I caught up with Bradley Tusk, founder of Tusk Ventures, to talk about how regulation is reshaping the VC landscape, and how he's actively working to bring mobile voting to the mainstream. We also got into his perspective on the coming wave of AI regulation, and why it matters now in the AI race. Finally, Bradley shared stories from putting together Bloomberg’s mayoral campaign and launching Ivory Gaming Acquisition Corp on the NASDAQ. If you're curious about the intersection of tech, policy, and early-stage investing, this one's for you.

I had a great conversation with Lily Lyman, partner at Underscore VC, where we dug into the current state of the startup and venture scene in Boston... what makes it unique, what’s changing, and what founders should know. We also talked about how she evaluates early-stage companies, the GTM challenges she sees most often, and how founders can navigate them in today’s market. Finally, Lily shared reflections from her time scaling new products at Facebook to 100M new users in 4 years and how that experience shaped her perspective on product, growth, and leadership. If you're curious about venture capital, early-stage company building, or how global trends are shaping the next wave of innovation, this one’s for you.

I had the change to speak with Zach Lloyd, founder of Warp, to unpack how he’s rethinking one of the most foundational tools in software... the TERMINAL. We talk about how Warp is different from the traditional command line, why it matters for modern developers, and what it takes to build a tool that engineers actually love using.We also dive into how Zach has approached go-to-market for Warp... from building in public to creating a product-led motion around a category that hasn't changed in decades. And we revisit his time at Google, where he led engineering for Docs and Sheets, and how that experience shaped his approach to product, scale, and engineering culture.If you’re interested in dev tools, GTM strategy, or what it looks like to build truly novel software, you will enjoy this!

In this episode, I sit down with Landon Campbell, General Manager of Drive Capital’s Chicago office, to unpack why the Midwest is having a tech moment. We explore how the startup scene in cities like Chicago is shifting rapidly, what’s pulling Big Tech inland, and why the next wave of innovation in quantum, healthcare, AI, and more might come from the middle of the map. If you're curious about what’s happening beyond the coasts, this conversation is a must-listen.

Ann Miura-Ko, co-founder of Floodgate and a prominent early-stage investor in Silicon Valley, discusses the essence of authenticity in founders. She highlights the critical need for technical builders to enhance their soft skills for lasting success. The conversation also delves into her investment philosophy centered on 'Prime Movers' and shares insights on effective storytelling, team dynamics, and essential traits she seeks before investing. Ann's reflections on the evolving landscape of venture capital and the implications of generative AI add depth to this engaging discussion.