Divot

Most founders follow advice that sets them up to fail.In this episode of Divot, we sit down with one of the most influential minds in startup history — Steve Blank.Before reshaping modern entrepreneurship, Steve co-founded E.piphany, a CRM company that went public in 1999 and soared to an $8 billion valuation. After multiple startups and hard-won lessons, he created the startup playbook that changed how companies are built — from customer discovery to the Lean Startup.Steve’s teachings are used at Stanford, Columbia, and Berkeley, adopted by Y Combinator, and taught in U.S. national security programs through his Hacking for Defense initiative. He’s helped thousands of founders avoid failure and build with truth instead of hype.This conversation is a masterclass in resilience, innovation, and clarity for any builder, founder, or operator.Follow Steve – X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/sgblankFollow Derek – X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/derekjandersenTimestamps:6:30: After 21 years of doing startups, deciding what was next10:39: What makes startup founders different14:11: “Adventure Capital” and how the entrepreneurial ecosystem has evolved18:43: Origin of the Lean Startup method and why it changed everything22:33: Why customer discovery is key to startup success29:34: How to choose what kind of startup to build32:45: Failure is the greatest teacher a founder can have35:29: Hubris and other company killers37:42: Why showing up more than most people counts for a lot39:17: Entrepreneurship is not a job. It’s a calling44:38: How AI is changing everything about how startups are built46:56: Making a dent in the universe with Lean LaunchPad, I-Corps, Hacking for Defense50:21: The three pillars of Lean and how they work together to drive entrepreneurial success52:58: Why smart founders don’t outsource customer discoveryEpisode Partner:SalesforceNo matter your team size or industry, Salesforce Starter Suite is your scalable CRM solution for growth. https://www.salesforce.com/form/signup/freetrial-salesforce-starter/?d=701ed000007ZTPhAAOFollow Divot:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DivotpodX (Twitter): https://twitter.com/divotdotorgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/divotdotorgTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divot.orgLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/divotdotorg/#SteveBlank #LeanStartup #E.piphany #StartupAdvice #CustomerDiscovery #Entrepreneurship #DivotPodcast #StartupFailure

Liz Wiseman, a leadership researcher and CEO of the Wiseman Group, is here to unlock the secrets of effective leadership. She shares her experience growing up in Silicon Valley and how it shaped her perspective on leadership. Discover the difference between diminishing and multiplying leaders, and why micromanagement stifles creativity. Wiseman highlights the vital role of 'impact players' who thrive in uncertainty. She emphasizes that fostering a culture of willingness and ownership can transform team dynamics and unleash potential.

His family lost their home, memories, and peace — in minutes. What came next would define his legacy. Rich Raddon, co-founder and co-CEO of ZEFR, opens up about losing everything in a wildfire — and what it taught him about rebuilding, resilience, and leading with heart.From sleeping in his office to supporting a 200-person team while navigating grief, Rich shares how tragedy transformed his leadership — and how ZEFR became a category leader in brand safety, working with billions of impressions across YouTube, TikTok, and Meta.We go deep on faith, therapy, family, purpose, and the mindset it takes to turn pain into clarity — and companies into movements.Follow Rich – X (Twitter): https://x.com/richraddonFollow Derek – X (Twitter): https://x.com/derekjandersenTimestamps:0:00 – The fire that changed everything3:00 – Evacuation, loss, and finding only ashes6:30 – Journals, photos, heirlooms: what was lost10:00 – Strangers, neighbors, and unexpected grace13:00 – The role of therapy and grief processing17:00 – Leading a startup while homeless21:00 – How pain forged a new leadership style26:00 – Rebuilding life in San Clemente30:00 – ZEFR’s rise in the brand safety space34:00 – YouTube, Meta, TikTok: managing billions of impressions38:00 – The emotional weight of impact42:00 – Rich’s personal framework for optimism and faith45:00 – What he hopes his kids will rememberEpisode Partners:NotionStartups get up to 6 months free of Notion with unlimited AI. Use code SGXNotion: https://ntn.so/startupGoogle CloudAccelerate your AI startup with Google for Startups Cloud Program: https://partners.startupgrind.com/partner/google-cloud/Follow Divot:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DivotpodX (Twitter): https://x.com/divotdotorgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/divotdotorgTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divot.orgLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/divotdotorg/#RichRaddon #StartupResilience #BrandSafety #Zephyr #Movieclips #WildfireRecovery #MentalHealthForFounders #FaithInBusiness #DivotPodcast

Navin Chaddha, Managing Partner of Mayfield Fund, shares insights from his impressive career backing tech startups like Lyft and Poshmark, driving over 40,000 jobs. He discusses the significance of investing in people over ideas, emphasizing compassion in leadership. Chaddha reflects on his journey from IIT Delhi to Silicon Valley, intertwining spirituality and capitalism. He also explores how AI reshapes entrepreneurship, enhances productivity, and creates new opportunities while advocating for resilience and learning from failures in the startup ecosystem.

What if the biggest problem in the NBA today was also the key to unlocking its future?In this episode, we sit down with Kirk Goldsberry — bestselling author of SprawlBall and Hoop Atlas, current University professor, former NBA strategist and ESPN analyst — to talk about how spatial analytics, Steph Curry, and the three-point revolution changed the game forever. And why it might be time to change it again.From his early days mapping court data to working with the Spurs, MIT, and Harvard, Kirk shares the inside story of how shot charts became mainstream, why he believes we need to rethink the corner three, and how the culture of basketball is shaped by math, emotion, and identity.We explore how rules evolve, why bigs might dominate the next era, and what the NBA must do to stay competitive, creative, and culturally relevant. If you're into basketball, analytics, or game-changing innovation, this is a must-watch.Follow Kirk – X (Twitter): https://x.com/kirkgoldsberryFollow Derek – X (Twitter): https://x.com/derekjandersenEpisode Partners:NotionStartups get up to 6 months free of Notion with unlimited AI. Use code SGXNotion: https://ntn.so/startupGoogle CloudAccelerate your AI startup with Google for Startups Cloud Program: https://partners.startupgrind.com/partner/google-cloud/Follow Divot:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DivotpodX (Twitter): https://x.com/divotdotorgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/divotdotorgTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divot.orgLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/divotdotorg/#KirkGoldsberry #NBAAnalytics #StephCurry #BasketballInnovation #ThreePointRevolution #ShotCharts #SprawlBall #HoopAtlas #DivotPodcast #SportsAnalytics

Josh Luber, co-founder of StockX and collectible toy brand Ghosts, dives into his fascinating journey from sneakers to creating a $4B platform. He discusses how storytelling, scarcity, and market data influence the hype economy. Josh explains the Dutch auction model that allows consumers to set prices, revolutionizing traditional pricing strategies. He shares insights on nostalgia in sneaker culture and how innovative collectible toys are transforming personal expression and community engagement in the collectibles market.

Shaun Neff, co-founder of Neff Headwear and branding wizard, illuminates his journey from selling beanies to partnering with stars like Kendall Jenner and Millie Bobby Brown. He shares insights into spotting breakout markets and building brands that resonate deeply with consumers. Neff emphasizes the importance of authenticity in celebrity partnerships, revealing how true enthusiasm outweighs financial incentives. With stories of launching innovative brands like Noise and rescuing Sun Bum, he showcases the power of storytelling in forging lasting brand connections.

Pejman Nozad, a powerful force in Silicon Valley and Forbes' #1 seed investor, recounts his incredible journey from washing cars with just $700 to investing in billion-dollar startups like Dropbox. He shares invaluable insights on building relationships in the venture capital world and outlines the strategies for identifying unicorn startups. Pejman also reflects on the lessons learned from a $500 million investment mistake involving Facebook. His story is a testament to resilience, networking, and the belief that anyone can break into the startup scene.

Justin Kan, co-founder of Twitch and a prominent entrepreneur, shares his journey from tech success to personal fulfillment. He discusses the disconnect between financial success and true happiness, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness and gratitude. The conversation delves into the challenges of building startups, navigating emotional landscapes, and the value of collaboration. Kan also reflects on how embracing discomfort and fostering connections can maintain a youthful mindset, ultimately advocating for inner peace over external achievements.

Doug Leone, a billionaire venture capitalist and former Global Managing Partner at Sequoia Capital, shares his inspiring journey from an Italian immigrant to a Silicon Valley leader. He discusses how early struggles foster resilience and highlights Sequoia’s collaborative culture. Doug recounts navigating the dot-com crisis, emphasizing the importance of empathy in VC-founder relationships. He reflects on mentorship's transformative power and advocates for deregulation to unleash entrepreneurial creativity. His insights blend personal growth with profound industry lessons.