The Social Radars

Jen Herbach, Founder and CEO of Adventris Pharmaceuticals, is on a mission to revolutionize cancer treatment with innovative vaccines targeting the KRAS mutation. She shares how her experience at Y Combinator reshaped her approach, emphasizing hands-on leadership and accountability in her team. Jen outlines the exciting potential of cancer vaccines for prevention, particularly in localized pancreatic cancer. She also reveals the delicate balance of investor relations and decision-making power that has shaped Adventris's journey.

Andy Lapsa, Founder and CEO of Stoke Space, is revolutionizing space travel with fully reusable rockets. He discusses the mission to make space transportation as routine as air travel, emphasizing the cost savings and efficiency of reusability. Andy shares insights into the company's growth, his journey since founding in 2019, and how reusing rocket stages has transformed flight rates. He also delves into the balance between opportunism and focus for founders, highlighting the importance of ownership and urgency in startup success.

Emmett Shear, co-founder of Twitch and now CEO of Softmax, shares his innovative 'founder mode' approach to leadership. He discusses his pivot from OpenAI to launching Softmax, which focuses on AI alignment. Emmett dives deep into training AI agents to understand their collective roles and emphasizes the importance of building a virtuous, flourishing AI. He also highlights the significance of communication and org design in shaping product outcomes, ensuring decisions are synchronized across teams.

Christina Cacioppo, Founder and CEO of Vanta, shares insights on navigating the challenges of building trust and compliance in business. She delves into 'Founder Mode' and her unconventional choice to delay fundraising until Vanta achieved $100 million in ARR, defying traditional VC expectations. Christina discusses the early days of transforming spreadsheets into viable products and the balance of delegation versus control as a leader. Her experiences emphasize the importance of intuition in decision-making and the rewarding nature of enjoying the entrepreneurial journey.

Kashish Gupta, co-founder and co-CEO of Hightouch, shares insights from his journey in building a data and AI platform for marketers. He emphasizes the unique risks founders can take, which are often pivotal for innovation. The discussion covers the importance of co-founder dynamics and transparent leadership, especially during challenging times. Kashish also reflects on leveraging customer insights to pivot strategies, demonstrating how data-informed decisions can redefine marketing practices, particularly for enterprise clients.

Paul Gross, CEO of Remora Carbon, shares his innovative journey in capturing carbon emissions from vehicles. He discusses the groundbreaking technology aimed at purifying emissions from semi-trucks and the challenges of scaling this solution. Paul highlights his entrepreneurial motivations, driven by concerns over CO2 shortages in breweries, and the importance of teamwork. He also dives into delegation strategies in leadership and the intricate balance of empowerment and oversight while navigating growth as a young founder in a competitive industry.

Join Chris Best, the founder and CEO of Substack, as he shares the platform's compelling origin story and his encounters with Elon Musk. He delves into the birth of a newsletter model aimed at empowering independent creators and contrasts the unique mindset of founders with that of hired managers. Chris reflects on the challenges of navigating digital landscapes, including censorship and changing social media dynamics, while emphasizing persistence and core values like free speech. Discover the diverse user base that makes Substack a vibrant space for podcasters and writers alike!

Jake Heller, Founder and CEO of Casetext, shares his journey in transforming legal technology and navigating through multiple pivots over ten years. He reveals how an intensive weekend of experimentation with GPT-4 led to a groundbreaking change in direction for the company. Heller discusses the challenges of steering a well-established team towards innovation, the importance of collaboration with OpenAI, and the emotional milestones tied to a successful exit. The conversation highlights how modern solutions can dramatically improve legal research and client representation.

In this engaging conversation, Brian Chesky, the visionary founder and CEO of Airbnb, shares insights on navigating leadership in turbulent times. He discusses the concept of 'founder mode', emphasizing the balance between personal vision and operational involvement. Chesky also advocates for direct engagement with teams, challenging traditional CEO practices. He highlights how a founder's unique experiences shape their leadership style and offers valuable strategies for overcoming the distinct challenges faced while scaling a business, especially post-pandemic.

Garry Tan, the President & CEO of Y Combinator, dives into the transformative 'Founder Mode' event he organized for YC alumni. He highlights how AI is revolutionizing the startup landscape, enabling founders to thrive with smaller teams and innovative tools. Tan shares insights on the evolving dynamics of startup funding and the significant opportunities it presents. He also reflects on the journey of leadership for founders, emphasizing the balance between hands-on involvement and fostering a positive company culture.