
The Startup Podcast
A guide to the unique mindset and approach that drives Silicon Valley style disruption.
Build product, raise money, and scale your startup like the best. TSP hosts Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein share practical advice based on decades of experience at Google, Uber, and their own startups.
Latest episodes

Apr 24, 2025 • 39min
Insiders React: China Retaliates Against NVIDIA Embargo + US Startups in Crisis, Google Faces Legal Heat
Huawei has just announced a new AI chip—does this mean tariffs accelerating Chinese innovation? This week, Chris Saad, Yaniv Bernstein, and guest Amir Shevat dig into how the AI trade war and tech monopolies are reshaping the global startup landscape. Plus, on a lighter note: why Sam Altman says politeness in AI prompts is surprisingly expensive.In this episode, you will:Break down how China’s Huawei is pushing out a homegrown AI chip — and why US tariffs might be backfiringHear why US arrogance may be accelerating China’s rise in AI innovation, not slowing itLearn how tariffs are hurting startups — from hardware costs to startups skipping Delaware altogetherDebate Google’s antitrust showdown: are they abusing market power or just defending their turf?Explore why Perplexity AI is fighting for “choice” — and why it's really about distributionConsider whether saying “please” to ChatGPT actually improves responses — and keeps you off the robot hit listLaugh (or cry) as the team wrestles with whether our political system is just “dumb,” or already boiling overThe Pact Honour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early-access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following Key linksThe Startup Podcast is sponsored by Vanta. Vanta helps businesses get and stay compliant by automating up to 90% of the work for the most in demand compliance frameworks. With over 200 integrations, you can easily monitor and secure the tools your business relies on. For a limited-time offer of US$1,000 off, go to www.vanta.com/tsp.Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.show Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurContent Strategist: Carolina Franco https://www.linkedin.com/in/francocarolina/Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/

Apr 21, 2025 • 53min
Next-Gen Founders: Startups in the Age of AI (Edu)
Is AI making startups easier—or just changing the rules of the game?In a world where execution is cheap and accessible, building a successful startup is more competitive than ever. In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein unpack the reality of every business having access to the same AI-driven tools, what makes a startup successful in this landscape, and how to quickly adapt in the breakneck pace of business evolution.In this episode, you will:Understand why execution is no longer your moat—and what replaces itLearn how to sharpen your strategic vision and apply “wisdom at speed”Discover why leadership, sales, and hiring matter more than everExplore what it takes to master the human-AI interface—and gain an edgeDesign processes that eliminate bottlenecks and boost iteration speedBuild a defensible moat using data, niche AI models, and brandRealize how team quality becomes your true multiplier in the AI ageThe Pact Honour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early-access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following Key linksThe Startup Podcast is sponsored by Vanta. Vanta helps businesses get and stay compliant by automating up to 90% of the work for the most in demand compliance frameworks. With over 200 integrations, you can easily monitor and secure the tools your business relies on. For a limited-time offer of US$1,000 off, go to www.vanta.com/tsp.Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.show Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurContent Strategist: Carolina Franco https://www.linkedin.com/in/francocarolina/Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/

Apr 17, 2025 • 44min
Insiders React: Meta's Whistleblower Bombshell + NVIDIA's $500B AI Investment, OpenAI’s New GPT-4.1
In this episode of The Startup Podcast, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein react to former Meta executive Sarah Wynn-Williams’ jaw-dropping testimony in front of the US Senate Judiciary Committee. She alleges Facebook put profits above all else—including the mental health of young users and even national security.Plus, we discuss the political theater of NVIDIA's $500B commitment to US AI infrastructure, the All-In Podcast's unexpected showdown between billionaires and policy heavyweights, and briefly touching on OpenAI’s latest drop: the GPT-4.1 model.In this episode, you will;• Discover what the whistleblower claims Meta did to manipulate teen users• Understand the China connection and how censorship tools allegedly fit in• Hear why the hosts compare Meta’s behavior to the tobacco industry• Learn how this trial could reshape public and legal perception of Big Tech• Analyze whether NVIDIA’s $500B “AI in America” move is genuine or political theater• Break down Ezra Klein and Larry Summers’ takedown of the All-In bros• Explore OpenAI’s GPT-4.1 model and what it means for the future of software engineering• Reflect on whether personal AI agents like ChatGPT are becoming too indispensable to switch away from• Learn if AI just a buzzword — or the key to survival in a volatile startup landscapeThe Pact Honour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early-access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following Key linksThe Startup Podcast is sponsored by Vanta. Vanta helps businesses get and stay compliant by automating up to 90% of the work for the most in demand compliance frameworks. With over 200 integrations, you can easily monitor and secure the tools your business relies on. For a limited-time offer of US$1,000 off, go to www.vanta.com/tsp.Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.show Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurContent Strategist: Carolina Franco https://www.linkedin.com/in/francocarolina/Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/

Apr 14, 2025 • 55min
Replay: Raising Capital at Seed - 5 Ways to De-Risk Your Round (Edu)
Unlock the secrets of raising a seed round with expert strategies! Discover the true meaning of a seed round and the five critical areas to de-risk your funding efforts. Unearth common misconceptions around traction versus revenue. Learn how to ensure your valuation truly reflects your startup's potential. Get insider tips on pitching to investors and the importance of building relationships with those who share your vision. This is a must-listen for any entrepreneur looking to secure funding successfully!

Apr 10, 2025 • 39min
Insiders React: Trump's Tariff Meltdown + Startup Valuations Crash, Shopify Goes Full AI
Is AI just a buzzword — or the key to survival in a volatile startup landscape?In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein break down Donald Trump’s shocking “Liberation Day” tariffs and the ripple effect it could have on the global economy — and on your startup.As fears of a recession mount and market uncertainty grows, we explore what founders need to do to weather the storm, protect their valuations, and rethink growth strategies in turbulent times.Plus, we dive deep into Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke’s viral internal memo that sets bold new expectations for AI adoption across the company. What can you learn from Shopify’s AI playbook, and how should you apply it inside your own early-stage startup?In this episode, you will:Understand how Trump’s tariffs could trigger a global trust crisis and slow startup growth.Learn why “multiple compression” will likely shrink your valuation — even if you're early-stage.Discover how to reposition your startup’s narrative in a world hungry for efficiency.Get the inside scoop on Shopify’s viral AI memo — and what it means for founders.Adopt a founder mindset that treats AI use as mandatory, not optional.Explore practical ways to prototype, launch, and scale with minimal team size.Avoid common mistakes in relying too heavily — or too little — on AI tools.The PactHonour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List at https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribeSecure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/Follow us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@startup-podcastGive us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following.Key linksThe Startup Podcast is sponsored by Vanta. Vanta helps businesses get and stay compliant by automating up to 90% of the work for the most in demand compliance frameworks. With over 200 integrations, you can easily monitor and secure the tools your business relies on. For a limited-time offer of US$1,000 off, go to www.vanta.com/tsp.Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2AThe Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.showLearn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/CreditsEditor: Justin McArthurContent Strategist: Carolina Franco Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang

Apr 7, 2025 • 46min
Strategic Communications – Why PR Alone Won’t Drive Business Growth w/ Jessy Wu (Edu)
Is your startup’s PR strategy just a vanity exercise? Most founders make the mistake of announcing fundraising rounds like it’s a badge of honor, hoping for instant traction and credibility. But here's the truth: if you're chasing headlines without a strategy, you're wasting money.In this episode, Yaniv Bernstein and Jessy Wu, founder of Encour, dive deep into the art of strategic communications and why most startups approach PR all wrong. Jessie shares her journey from VC to PR mastermind, revealing why effective PR starts with a business objective not just getting featured in big-name publications.In this episode, you will:Learn why most fundraising announcements fall flat and fail to deliver ROI.Understand the difference between vanity PR and strategic communications.Discover Jessy's proven framework for building authority and influence.Find out why PR campaigns should never be confined to a single channel.Learn how to turn a fundraising announcement into a strategic, multi-channel campaign.Understand why attribution is so difficult in PR and how to work around it.Explore the importance of aligning your PR efforts with clear business objectives.The PactHonour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List at https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribeSecure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/Follow us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@startup-podcastGive us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following.Key linksThe Startup Podcast is sponsored by Vanta. Vanta helps businesses get and stay compliant by automating up to 90% of the work for the most in demand compliance frameworks. With over 200 integrations, you can easily monitor and secure the tools your business relies on. For a limited-time offer of US$1,000 off, go to www.vanta.com/tsp.Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2AThe Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.showLearn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/CreditsEditor: Justin McArthurContent Strategist: Carolina Franco https://www.linkedin.com/in/francocarolina/Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang

Apr 3, 2025 • 1h 5min
Insiders React: Google Just Killed SEO + OpenAI’s $40B Raise, AI’s Copyright Crisis
Is Google about to kill SEO forever? Why did OpenAI just raise $40 billion? And is the AI bubble about to burst?The AI arms race is heating up, and the biggest players are making moves that could change everything. But what does this mean for creators, businesses, and the future of search?In this episode, Chris and Yaniv are joined by Hooman Radfar, founder and CEO at Collective, to break down the latest developments in the AI landscape. They dive deep into Google's AI-powered search transformation, OpenAI's massive $40 billion raise, the escalating debate over AI-generated art theft, and the looming question: is the AI bubble about to pop?In this episode, you will:Discover how Google’s AI overhaul could spell the end of SEO as we know it.Learn why OpenAI just raised an astonishing $40 billion and what they plan to do with it.Understand the new breakthroughs in AI image generation and how they’re disrupting creative industries.Explore the growing controversy over AI-generated art and whether it's infringing on real artists’ work.Examine why investors are getting nervous about a potential AI bubble.Analyze the implications of Google and OpenAI’s escalating rivalry.Get Insights on what these shifts mean for founders, creators, and the future of business.The PactHonour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List at https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribeSecure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/Follow us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@startup-podcastGive us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following.Key linksThe Startup Podcast is sponsored by Vanta. Vanta helps businesses get and stay compliant by automating up to 90% of the work for the most in demand compliance frameworks. With over 200 integrations, you can easily monitor and secure the tools your business relies on. For a limited-time offer of US$1,000 off, go to www.vanta.com/tsp.Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2AThe Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.showLearn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/CreditsEditor: Justin McArthurContent Strategist: Carolina Franco Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang

Mar 31, 2025 • 1h 1min
Replay: Scaling Sales - Insider Secrets w/ Rippling's Matt Loop and Matt Plank (Edu)
Do you really understand sales? Learn how great startups grow from founder led origins to dynamic regional teams while maintaining a shared company DNA.In this episode, sales team hyper-scalers Matt Loop (Rippling, Slack, LinkedIn, Salesforce) and Matt Plank (Rippling, Zenefits) explain how to build a sales team that doesn't suck.Matt, Matt, and Yaniv discuss: Culture Club: Why early stage founder-led sales should give way to a scalable sales team aligned around your company culture. Going Global: The importance of understanding local markets and maintaining effective communication and trust within the team as your startup expands internationally. Ripple Effects: How sales and product teams collaborate at Rippling to deliver on their goal – automating back-office work so that other companies can focus on their core missions.The PactHonour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please: Follow, rate, and review us in your listening app Subscribe to the TSP Mailing List at https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@startup-podcast Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following. Key links The Startup Podcast is sponsored by Rippling. Rippling is a single all-in-one platform for your global workforce, covering HR, IT, payroll, expenses, and more. For a TSP listener offer of 3 months free, go to www.rippling.com/tsp. Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.show Learn more about Chris and Yaniv Work 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/CreditsEditor: Justin McArthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang

Mar 27, 2025 • 52min
Insiders React: Google’s $32B Cloud Power Grab + Altman: AI Now Beats Humans, 23andMe Collapses, Fake AI CEOs
Are we on the brink of an AI revolution that will fundamentally reshape society? Or are we overestimating the impact of these new technologies?In this episode, Chris Saad and Michael Jones, General Partner at Science Startup Studio in LA, explore the latest developments in AI, biotech, and tech industry M&A, unpacking their implications for business, ethics, and the future of human-AI interaction.In this episode, you will:Analyze the factors behind 23andMe's bankruptcy and what it means for biotech startupsExplore how Google's $32 billion Wiz acquisition signals a return of big tech M&AExamine the growing threat of AI impersonation and its potential for fraudUnpack key insights from Sam Altman on AI's impact on empathy, art, and scientific researchConsider how humans perceive and value AI-generated content differently from human creationsDebate the potential emergence of a separate "machine economy"Reflect on the ethical implications of AI outperforming humans in medical diagnosisThe PactHonour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List at https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribeSecure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/Follow us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@startup-podcastGive us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following.Key linksThe Startup Podcast is sponsored by Vanta. Vanta helps businesses get and stay compliant by automating up to 90% of the work for the most in demand compliance frameworks. With over 200 integrations, you can easily monitor and secure the tools your business relies on. For a limited-time offer of US$1,000 off, go to www.vanta.com/tsp.Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2AThe Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.showLearn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/CreditsEditor: Justin McArthurContent Strategist: Carolina Franco Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang

Mar 24, 2025 • 43min
Kill Your Customers – The Doom Funnel That’s Hurting Your Startup (Edu)
Are you a startup founder considering a partnership with a big player in your industry? Before you sign that deal, you might want to think twice. In this eye-opening episode we dive deep into the dangers of partnering with or selling to incumbents when you're trying to disrupt an industry.Chris and Yaniv explore the concept of "killing your customers" not literally, of course, but in the sense of disrupting the very companies you might be tempted to partner with. They break down the "funnel of doom" that many startups fall into when pursuing B2B2C partnerships, and explain why going direct to end users is often the better strategy for truly innovative products.In this episode, you will:Discover the 10 steps of the "funnel of doom" for B2B2C partnershipsLearn why incumbents often struggle to understand and implement disruptive innovationsUnderstand the importance of owning your user relationships and dataExplore real-world case studies of successful direct-to-consumer disruptorsDebate the limitations of white-label and B2B business modelsGain insights on how to avoid common startup pitfalls when choosing a go-to-market strategyRecognize the value of iterating quickly and maintaining control over your productLinks mentioned in the EP:https://www.tsp.show/edu-b2c-vs-b2b2c-driving-direct-disruption-w-matt-holme/ B2B vs B2C comparison Table:https://docs.google.com/document/d/11ICK-KmnPJgzfQC1wkxz6Tf-l69pUptmk1QyKH9QB9M/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.1izb56alryedThe PactHonour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List at https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribeSecure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/Follow us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@startup-podcastGive us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following.Key linksThe Startup Podcast is sponsored by Vanta. Vanta helps businesses get and stay compliant by automating up to 90% of the work for the most in demand compliance frameworks. With over 200 integrations, you can easily monitor and secure the tools your business relies on. For a limited-time offer of US$1,000 off, go to www.vanta.com/tsp.Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2AThe Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.showLearn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/CreditsEditor: Justin McArthurContent Strategist: Carolina Franco https://www.linkedin.com/in/francocarolina/Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang
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