Farouk Ismail, Co-founder of Slice, joins us to discuss the journey from bootstrapping his startup to raising a massive $7.5 million seed round. Farouk shares candid insights on the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, the importance of risk management, and invaluable lessons learned from navigating a global pandemic. Tune in for actionable advice and inspiration for aspiring founders. Links ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sponsors Slice: https://www.slicegroup.co/ Zed Law: https://www.zed.law/ Timestamps 00:00 Trailer 00:41 Welcome to the Studio: Catching Up with an Old Friend 01:20 The Journey of Slice: From Inception to Public Recognition 04:21 Bootstrapping Slice: The Early Days and MVP 06:37 Slice 07:25 Surviving COVID: A Hail Mary Expansion to the US 19:50 Balancing Risk and Reward: Lessons from the Journey 24:44 Balancing Aggression and Building a Good Company 25:00 Embracing Risk and Reward 25:51 The Story of SoftBank's Masayoshi Son 27:11 The Importance of High Conviction Portfolios 27:50 Going All In: The Entrepreneur's Journey 29:00 Zed Law 29:35 Raising Capital: The 17.5 Million Seed Round 31:30 Finding the Right Investors 36:09 Evolving as a Founder and CEO 40:50 Instilling Company Culture and Principles 46:56 Recommended Resources for Founders 48:56 Podcast Wrap-Up and Final Thoughts About us We tell the raw stories of the world’s tech leaders, by asking the vulnerable questions that no one else does. Guests have included former Prime Ministers, unicorn tech founders and the world’s top investors. Join us for these interviews and get a real behind the scenes look into 25 year old best friends building the company of their dreams.

We interviewed David Brillembourg Jr. of Dune Ventures. David dropped out of NYU at 18 to join Galaxy Digital. He joined as employee number 5 and left when it was in the billions of market cap. After Galaxy Digital, at just 21 he started his own venture fund, Dune Ventures. Dune invests in the best founders in the video games industry. David shares his invaluable insights on venture capital, the impact of immersive video games, the importance of independent and creative thinking, and his own entrepreneurial journey, from dropping out of NYU to founding a venture fund. Along the way, he delves into the cultural differences between New York and San Francisco, his views on the future of Web3 and VR, and the critical balance between creativity and commercial success in the gaming industry. Links ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sponsors Slice: https://www.slicegroup.co/ Zed Law: https://www.zed.law/ Timestamps 00:00 Trailer 00:36 The Aesthetic Influence of New York 02:07 Entrepreneurial Journey and Philosophy 03:53 Impact of Background and Crypto 06:27 Early Career and Risk-Taking 08:43 Slice 15:02 Starting Dune Ventures 16:32 The Fascination with Gaming 22:59 Innovations in Gaming Business Models 26:11 Zed Law 27:37 Scaling Gaming Investments 27:58 Identifying Great Talent in Gaming 29:30 Balancing Creativity and Commercial Success 30:58 Portfolio Construction in Gaming 32:44 Non-Competitive Investment Strategy 35:01 Exploring New Markets and Opportunities About us We tell the raw stories of the world’s tech leaders, by asking the vulnerable questions that no one else does. Guests have included former Prime Ministers, unicorn tech founders and the world’s top investors. Join us for these interviews and get a real behind the scenes look into 25 year old best friends building the company of their dreams.

In this episode, join Siobhan, an innovative leader in workforce intelligence, as she discusses the transformative power of AI, her entrepreneurial journey, and how she's balancing work and personal life. From starting a baking business at 13 to building a billion-dollar company, Siobhan shares her unique insights on building in the era of AI, the principles of enterprise sales, and her relentless drive to make an impact. Links ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sponsors Slice: https://www.slicegroup.co/ Zed Law: https://www.zed.law/ Timestamps 00:00 Trailer 00:32 Meeting Siobhan in New York 01:03 Siobhan's Personal Drive and Energy 02:39 Building a Big Company in New York 04:22 The Importance of Workforce Strategy 06:20 Challenges and Innovations in Workforce Management 07:17 The Role of AI in Workforce Transformation 16:30 Personal Reflections and Work-Life Balance 21:11 Day Theming and Time Blocking 22:04 Leveraging AI for Productivity 23:11 Mastering Enterprise Sales 25:53 Strategic Hiring and Workforce Optimization 28:07 Building a Community and Distribution Strategy 34:33 Balancing Parenthood and Entrepreneurship 38:04 Final Thoughts and Reflections About us We tell the raw stories of the world’s tech leaders, by asking the vulnerable questions that no one else does. Guests have included former Prime Ministers, unicorn tech founders and the world’s top investors. Join us for these interviews and get a real behind the scenes look into 25 year old best friends building the company of their dreams.

Jamie Beaton, the founder of Crimson Education, shares insights from building his billion-dollar college admissions counseling company while earning 10 degrees. He discusses the importance of risk mitigation for long-term success and how his upbringing shaped his entrepreneurial drive. Jamie emphasizes the need to challenge educational norms and master time management for intense academic pursuits. He also highlights the significance of elite universities in networking and shares inspiring student success stories that showcase the real-world impact of effective educational strategies.

Chris Hladczuk, a driven 26-year-old startup founder, dives into his rapid rise to leadership as a Chief Revenue Officer. He shares his controversial views on work-life balance and the sacrifices behind his success. Chris discusses the transformative shift from traditional SaaS to AI-powered services, emphasizing tactical sales strategies and the need for a cohesive team culture. Listeners gain insights into his new venture, the importance of adaptability, and how historical business strategies continue to shape modern entrepreneurship.

Cindy Bi, a distinguished investor known for backing 14 unicorns, shares her invaluable journey in the tech industry. She discusses spotting great founders, her swift investment strategies, and the serendipity inherent in Silicon Valley. Cindy emphasizes the power of community and authentic connections in investment, as well as the immigrant mentality that fuels entrepreneurial success. Her anecdotes reveal how embracing adversity can lead to remarkable opportunities, providing crucial insights for aspiring investors and founders alike.

In this episode, we interview Jason Yeager, a rapidly growing tech comedian and influencer. Jason discusses his strategic approach to content creation, the inspiration behind his viral videos, and the unique aspects of being a creator in the tech space, particularly in San Francisco. We also delve into topics like distribution-first company strategies, the challenges faced by tech founders, and the importance of understanding your audience. Don't miss Jason's live breakdown of one of his viral videos! Links ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sponsors Slice: https://www.slicegroup.co/ Zed Law: https://www.zed.law/ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Jason Yeager 00:39 Exploring Founders Inc. 01:36 Jason's Strategic Approach to Content Creation 03:06 The Truths Behind Jason's Viral Content 07:14 The Role of Privilege in Tech 08:22 Slice 09:10 Imposter Syndrome and Networking Hacks 16:48 Building a Distribution-First Company 20:24 Analyzing a Viral Video 24:11 The Viral Video Strategy 24:47 Posting Frequency vs. Quality 25:21 Jumping on Trends 25:42 Creating Engaging Content 27:17 Building a Sustainable Brand 28:19 Leveraging Distribution and Partnerships 28:42 Zed Law 29:22 The Value of High-Quality Followers 32:49 The Impact of Recognition 38:42 The Importance of Focus in Content Creation 40:20 Overrated and Underrated Aspects of SF 41:59 Conclusion and Future Plans 42:32 Outro About us We tell the raw stories of the world’s tech leaders, by asking the vulnerable questions that no one else does. Guests have included former Prime Ministers, unicorn tech founders and the world’s top investors. Join us for these interviews and get a real behind the scenes look into 25 year old best friends building the company of their dreams.

In this episode, we interview Ed Husic, Australia's Minister for Industry and Science. We discuss his perspective on technology, government investments, and the nation's innovation landscape. From the importance of AI safety to the $1 billion PsiQuantum deal, Husic shares his vision for the future of Australia's tech industry. Links ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sponsors Slice: https://www.slicegroup.co/ Zed Law: https://www.zed.law/ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Ed Husic 00:43 Ed Husic's Background and Heritage 02:48 Impact of Technology on Workers 05:58 Government's Role in Technology 08:03 Slice 08:50 AI Safety and Regulation 14:38 PsyQuantum Investment Decision 20:48 Future Government Interventions 27:56 Community Insights and Government Challenges 28:52 Zed Law 29:26 Embracing Failure and Innovation 30:41 Championing Australian Ideas 33:00 The Role of Government in Innovation 35:11 Highlighting Australian Startups 42:21 Challenges in Capital and Talent 45:41 A Day in the Life of a Minister 48:48 Closing Remarks and Future Prospects About us We tell the raw stories of the world’s tech leaders, by asking the vulnerable questions that no one else does. Guests have included former Prime Ministers, unicorn tech founders and the world’s top investors. Join us for these interviews and get a real behind the scenes look into 25 year old best friends building the company of their dreams.

This week we talk with Jessy Wu. Jessy recently left her role as Partner at Afterwork Ventures to start her own communications agency. We dive into the announcement of her company and what she's learned as an investor. Links ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sponsors Slice: https://www.slicegroup.co/ Zed Law: https://www.zed.law/ About us We tell the raw stories of the world’s tech leaders, by asking the vulnerable questions that no one else does. Guests have included former Prime Ministers, unicorn tech founders and the world’s top investors. Join us for these interviews and get a real behind the scenes look into 25 year old best friends building the company of their dreams.

This week we chatted with Elli Hanson, an investor at Side Stage Ventures and formerly the founder of two consumer brands. We delved into all things brand, marketing and Australian venture capital with her. Links ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sponsors Vanta: vanta.com/kindling Zed Law: https://www.zed.law/ About us We tell the raw stories of the world’s tech leaders, by asking the vulnerable questions that no one else does. Guests have included former Prime Ministers, unicorn tech founders and the world’s top investors. Join us for these interviews and get a real behind the scenes look into 25 year old best friends building the company of their dreams.