The Startup Podcast

Discover the different stages of fundraising in startups and the significance of each stage. Learn about building a well-rounded team and overcoming execution challenges. Understand the concept of traction and its relationship with growth. Explore the A, B, Z framework for startup goals and the importance of balancing vision with pragmatism.

There is only one Silicon Valley. Countries around the world have tried and continue to attempt to recreate the magic of Sandhill Road. But there will be only one Silicon Valley. So what can different startup ecosystems do to emulate the success of Silicon Valley? This week on The Startup Podcast, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein dive into the key tenants on creating your own Silicon Valley.  What marketplaces do NOT work Why governments need to focus on only ONE place to strive for ecosystem success and change taxes to persuade foreigners to move How to capitalise on your area’s natural advantages How to elevate expatriates How to take big bets effectively  Government. Education. Economics. AI. This podcast covers it all and more.  Whether you’re a government official, startup founder or operator or someone interested in the startup landscape, this episode is a goldmine for opportunities to make your startup and startup ecosystem a global force.     The 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 app Follow us on YouTube Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following  Key links Follow us on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg  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/

The tech industry has evolved immensely in 2023. It’s time Chris and Yaniv answers the burning questions of startup operators in The Startup Podcast community. This Q&A episode they explore:  Everyone always talks about how you must continue iterating on a product. Does there ever come a point where there is over iteration? Is there a way of telling when you’ve hit that point where you’ve effectively solved the problems but are now making new problems? Is a problem ever truly solved? Is Web3 dead? Was it a problem in search of a solution? An oversold ape, NFT bought for Dogecoin perhaps? What are your suggestions about reaching out to Angels or VC when you are shit scared and an introvert? I’ve been here for 4 years, moved from Silicon Valley, originally from India. This country is going on a steady path of decline. Like most of Europe, tall Poppy syndrome is rife. GDP has flatlined for 10 years, and innovation is met with severe resistance. There is a massive entitlement culture and so on. The younger generation have a doomer mindset and resorts to victimhood instead of using hardship as a learning process. There’s also a culture of toxic positivity all around where any constructive or negative opinions seem to be frowned upon. I’m happy with my life in Australia, but definitely a bit concerned with the future of this great nation. Is Australia declining? Can anything be done to reboot GDP growth? Thanks to Aidan, Nick, Reese and Aswan for your questions. *Get your question in for our next Q&A episode:* https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A  The 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 app Follow us on YouTube Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following  Key links Follow us on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg  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/

🚨Twitter Rebrands to X 🚨 Elon Musk wants to blow up the Twitter brand & replace it with 'X' - but why? Listen to this bonus episode of The Startup Podcast, hosted by Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein to hear their 🌶️🌶️🌶️ takes!  The 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 app Follow us on YouTube Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following  Key links Follow us on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg  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/ 

Rules are meant to be broken! You wouldn’t be building startups if you were a complete rule follower. In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein discuss all the times when you should IGNORE their advice! Together they cover common themes that regularly appear in episodes: Don’t listen to VCs Don’t compromise on your vision Don’t build B2B when you’re trying to build B2C Don’t build a technology-backed services company Along the way they also sprinkle key insights such as “data in context is information. Information in context is knowledge. Knowledge in context is wisdom”. Whether this is your first time listening to The Startup Podcast, or you’ve held with baited breath week-to-week for the next episode from the beginning, learning when to break the rules is almost as important as learning the rules.  Enjoy! Episode Links Listen to episode 2- Edu: Early Ideation - Your Idea is Worthless: https://www.tsp.show/edu-early-ideation-your-idea-is-worthless/ Listen to the episode featuring Kyle Poyar, Accelerate Sales with Product Led Growth: https://www.tsp.show/guest-kyle-poyar-accelerate-sales-with-product-led-growth/    The 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 app Follow us on YouTube Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following  Key links Follow us on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg  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/ 

We have a special episode for you all this week! This week we’re putting our own advice to use! We have repolished one of our most popular episodes with our new style jam-packed with information to get your company off the ground and steer away from small business syndrome. What is the difference between a Silicon Valley-style tech startup and a regular small business? In this episode of The Startup Podcast Chris and Yaniv unpack the many ways people misunderstand what makes startups different to other businesses, and what goes wrong when those differences are ignored. Enjoy! Episode Links Listen to the original episode: https://www.tsp.show/edu-what-is-a-startup-an-antidote-to-small-business-syndrome/ Paul Graham’s essays on how to start a startup http://www.paulgraham.com/start.html and what startups are really like http://www.paulgraham.com/really.html   The 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 app Follow us on YouTube Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following  Key links Follow us on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg  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/

Introducing Mid Capital! This week on The Startup Podcast Chris and Yaniv wanted to switch it up and show how to navigate the fundraising VC discussions via roleplay. That’s right! We think Yaniv has found his calling as an actor as he performs as the VC and Chris is the founder pitching. This episode is jam-packed with ways to respond to questions, read the signs and maintain a level of self-belief  and confidence that the right investors are out there for you. Not every VC firm will be investing in the same types of business as you, their risk profiles may be vastly different and that’s okay! What you need to have as a founder fundraising is the conviction, clarity and understanding of the true nature of the world - where there is infinite resources, billions of people and trillions of dollars. It is hard but all you need to do is find your people! It’s a big call but we believe this is our best episode yet! 🔥🔥🔥 PSA: No VC’s were harmed in the recording of this episode. Enjoy! The 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 app Follow us on YouTube Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following  Key links Follow us on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg  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/

🚨🚨TAKEOVER ALERT! 🚨🚨 Today we’re excited to share with you an episode from one of our favourite podcasts - The Sachin and Adam Show. Each episode, Sachin and Adam host a fascinating guest from the tech industry - plenty of podcasts do that! But what separates The Sachin and Adam Show from the rest is the skill of the interviewers blending the professional with the personal in a way that really makes you feel like you’re getting to know everyone of their guests!   We chose to share with you Maxine Minter’s episode. Maxine is founder and general partner at Co Ventures. Maxine shares everything she’s learnt from her fascinating and unorthodox journey as a lawyer, founder, coach, mentor and investor. We love the Sachin and Adam Show and are sure you will too. Enjoy! Episode Links Checkout Maxine’s Fund Co Ventures: https://www.aprildunford.com/ Follow Maxine on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxine-minter-06011951/  Checkout Maxine’s Startup Co Lab: https://www.the-colab.co/  Checkout The Sachin and Adam Show: https://linktr.ee/TheSachinandAdamShow  The 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 app Follow us on YouTube Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following  Key links Follow us on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg  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/

Product positioning will make or break your startup. Go toe-to-toe with multinational trillion-dollar behemoths and the likelihood of success is minute. Restructure your approach to target a different group and you could one-day be the industry-leader yourselves. Researched ways on how to develop your product position and still feel stuck? Don’t fret! Yaniv and Chris are back this week with a super special guest - April Dunford, author of “Obviously Awesome: How to Nail Product Positioning so Customers Get it, Buy it, Love it” and podcast host “Positioning with April Dunford”. Sit back and get ready to take some notes as April, Chris and Yaniv break down product positioning for startup. Along the way she shares the concept of positioning baggage, the three styles of product positioning from her book, why product market fit is not a useful thing for startups - just a vibe created by VC, discuss examples of Salesforce and Snowflake and share snippets from Jack Trout’s Positioning the Battle for Your Mind and Peter Thiel’s Zero to One. There is so much to learn from this episode we highly recommend listening to it twice! Episode Links Order April’s book “Obviously Awesome: How to Nail Product Positioning so Customers Get it, Buy It, Love it”: https://www.amazon.com.au/Obviously-Awesome-Product-Positioning-Customers/dp/1999023005/  Checkout April’s website: https://www.aprildunford.com/ Listen to April’s podcast “Positioning with April Dunford”: https://www.positioning.show/ Follow April on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprildunford/  Follow April on Twitter: @aprildunford The 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 app Follow us on YouTube Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following  Key links The Startup Podcast is sponsored by UntilNow, a next-generation agency and venture studio https://www.untilnow.com.au/  Follow us on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg  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/

Saying NO takes clarity of thinking. It requires personal conviction and above all else, requires courage. For weeks, Chris and Yaniv have discussed solutions to the symptoms of chronically saying yes: lack of polish, growth, self-serve and appropriate prioritisation. They’ve spoken to special guests about the 10 Commandments of Planning, understanding the 7 Deadly Sins of Startups, developing strategies, focus and culture and learning the difference between traction and distraction. But there comes a point when someone, somewhere in the organisation has to have the courage to stop the overcommitment and say “NO”. Say “NO” to your leadership, “NO” to your customers and “NO” to your distractions. Feeling powerless and unable to take the first step to saying “NO”? Chris and Yaniv have your back in this week’s episode of The Startup Podcast. From learning how saying “NO” is an unknown superpower in startups, to discussing how toxic niceness and ruinous empathy is destroying companies to understanding Consequence Education this episode is a must for all startup founders, operators, investors and consultants to realign with their North Star and principles. Listen to hear how saying “NO” can provide surprising consequences now!  Episode Links Checkout one of Yaniv’s favourite leadership books-  “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team” by Patrick Lencioni https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-five-dysfunctions-of-a-team-patrick-m-lencioni/book/9781118118757.html?source=pla&gclid=CjwKCAjwv8qkBhAnEiwAkY-ahia4LKfiNFbKOZXCBDvPlt9naiza4TIqJTmV3MizJv8Zre5_-rGO_BoC6OEQAvD_BwE  The 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 app Follow us on YouTube Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following  Key links The Startup Podcast is sponsored by UntilNow, a next-generation agency and venture studio https://www.untilnow.com.au/  Follow us on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg  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/