The Nichole Wischoff Podcast

Construction is one of the least productive industries in the world — slower, more expensive, and more broken every year.In this episode, we sit down with Alex, founder of an AI-native construction company that just raised a $12M seed round led by Andreessen Horowitz, to talk about why traditional construction fails  and how AI can finally fix it.00:00 – $12M seed round & why this company came out of nowhere01:30 – Alex’s background: from software to heavy industry03:30 – Why building large projects in the US keeps getting worse05:00 – How industrial construction actually works (developers, EPCs, GCs)06:40 – The real problem: incentives, finance, and cost-plus contracts09:20 – Why change orders are where construction companies make money11:00 – How AI removes risk instead of just “adding software”13:30 – Automating design to eliminate ambiguity before construction starts16:00 – Why doing 10,000 design iterations changes everything18:30 – Why selling software to GCs doesn’t fix productivity21:00 – Why this company chose to be the GC, not a tool vendor23:30 – Lessons from failed vertical construction startups (Katara, prefab)26:30 – Who their customers are: data centers, mining, manufacturing29:30 – How fast AI-native construction could actually get32:30 – Why construction should be treated like a software problem35:00 – Hiring plans & building a multidisciplinary team37:30 – The long-term vision: rebuilding the physical world fasterRho Website - https://www.rho.co/PublicWebsite - https://public.com/Alex Modonhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/alexmodon/Nichole wischoffhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholewischoff/

Meet Paces, the startup building the largest permitting and power-availability dataset in the United States — enabling developers, data-center builders, and renewable-energy players to move faster than ever.From automating 80%+ of the energy-development workflow to unlocking hidden power on the grid, Paces is quietly shaping trillions of dollars worth of energy infrastructure.00:00 – Why America Has 28,000 Permitting Jurisdictions01:12 – How Paces Began: The Origin Story03:40 – Early Problems in Renewable Development06:30 – Why Paces Joined YC08:55 – Building the Largest Permitting Dataset in the US11:20 – Scraping, Cleaning & Using LLMs for Zoning Laws14:05 – Finding Power on the Grid (and why it got harder)16:50 – Transformer Shortages & Multi-Million-Dollar Deposits19:40 – Data Centers vs Utilities: The New Reality22:15 – Can Clean Energy Actually Power AI?24:30 – Solar + Batteries vs Gas vs Nuclear for Speed27:00 – The True Bottleneck: Capital & Supply Chain Timing29:10 – How Startups Can Innovate in Energy Hardware32:45 – The One-Person Billion Dollar Power Company36:00 – Automating 80% of Energy Development38:10 – Future of Energy, AI & Infrastructure40:00 – How to Contact Paces / HiringThe Electric Slidehttps://www.notboring.co/p/the-electric-slideRho Website - https://www.rho.co/PublicWebsite - https://public.com/James McWalterhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesmcwalter/Nichole wischoffhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholewischoff/

In today’s episode, we sit down with Jacob, co-founder & CEO of NewLimit, a company that has raised $247M to push the frontier of aging science  from epigenetic reprogramming to AI-driven drug discovery.We dive deep into how NewLimit plans to restore youthful function in human cells, what’s actually possible with aging reversal, how AI accelerates drug discovery, why GLP-1s changed the game, and whether there’s a real chance that none of this works.If you're curious about biology, longevity, AI in drug discovery, or what it takes to build a $1.5B+ biotech startup from scratch this episode is a must-watch.Timestamps00:00 – 00:58 How epigenetic reprogramming works & why aging might be reversible00:58 – 01:03 How big AI models changed biotech01:03 – 02:21 NewLimit’s origin story — Jacob, Brian Armstrong & Blake Byers02:22 – 05:20 Early breakthroughs, skeptical experiments & why results surprised them05:20 – 08:25 Choosing the first targets: liver, immunity & where aging hits hardest08:25 – 11:35 AI in drug discovery — protein language models, predicting experiments, and cutting years of R&D11:35 – 14:10 What medicines could actually make us “feel” younger?14:10 – 16:15 Diseases of aging vs. problems that hit everyone after 2516:15 – 19:10 How biotech actually works — discovery → development → commercialization19:10 – 21:00 Why Eli Lilly invested & how a drug goes to market21:00 – 23:30 How close NewLimit is to human trials23:30 – 25:50 What needs to happen before a drug ever touches a human25:50 – 27:45 Phase 1, 2, 3 trials explained simply27:45 – 29:20 Building the team: from 5 scientists to a world-class 40-person biotech29:20 – 31:20 Why staying small is a superpower in biotech31:20 – 33:10 Fundraising: why aging reversal needs $200M+ instead of $5M33:10 – 35:10 Is there a chance they discover nothing? Startup-like risk in drug discovery35:10 – 38:02 What Jacob is most excited about: GLP-1s, diagnostics, AI & the future of health38:02 – 38:30 How to get in touch + final thoughtsRho Website - https://www.rho.co/PublicWebsite - https://public.com/Jacob Kimmelhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-kimmel/Nichole wischoffhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholewischoff/

Today’s guest is Max, the founder & CEO of Superpower, one of the fastest-growing AI-driven healthcare companies in the U.S.His journey started with years of unresolved health issues insomnia, migraines, surgeries, and doctors who couldn’t find the cause. That experience exposed him to elite $100,000+ precision medicine and eventually sparked the idea behind Superpower: Using AI to bring world-class healthcare to everyone for just $199/year.In this episode, Max breaks down how Superpower is building a parallel healthcare system, why 100 million Americans are pre-diabetic, how hormones are collapsing for both men and women, and why AI can now outperform doctors in creating personalized health protocols00:00 — Intro: Max’s mission & America’s health crisis01:05 — Max’s personal health struggles & early obsession with medicine03:40 — Discovery of elite doctors & the $100k healthcare model05:10 — ChatGPT moment: AI unlocking elite healthcare for all07:50 — Meeting co-founders & building the company10:20 — Early days, early mistakes & 2022 origin story13:05 — What Superpower does today: 100+ biomarker tests16:40 — AI protocols vs. doctors19:00 — Common issues: metabolism, hormones, lipids23:00 — Integrating CGMs, wearables & real-time insights25:40 — Behind the scenes: full-stack healthcare infrastructure29:50 — Marketing: Meta ads, virality & the “Healthiest Hoodie”33:05 — Why competitors help their growth35:10 — The hard part of healthcare + regulations41:20 — Two healthcare systems: sick care & optimization45:30 — Seed & Series A fundraising story48:00 — What customers get today for $19950:10 — Hiring insanely brilliant talent52:10 — Market size: building a $300B company55:00 — Closing thoughtsRho Website - https://www.rho.co/PublicWebsite - https://public.com/Superpower.comWebsite - https://superpower.com/Max Marchione https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxmarchione/

This episode features an in-depth conversation with Zack Peng, founder and CEO of Seel, discussing the company's remarkable journey from a software engineering background to building an eight-figure revenue AI-enabled service platform. The discussion explores Seel's evolution in the e-commerce returns management space, tackling the significant problem where merchants spend 25% of GMV on returns, refunds, and post-purchase services. Zack shares candid insights about early technical challenges, operating at -200% contribution margins, discovering surprising behavioral signals like the impact of human models in product images on return rates, and the strategic transition from SMB to enterprise clients. The conversation covers founding philosophy, product-market fit discovery, the advantages of AI-enabled services over traditional SaaS models, scaling from minimal revenue to approaching nine figures with a lean team of 30 people, and contrarian views on the future of agentic shopping in e-commerce. Zack discusses how Seel uses proprietary underwriting algorithms with hundreds of signals to predict return probability, enabling merchants to offer risk-free shopping experiences while protecting their margins.00:00:00 - Intro00:00:42 - Pre-Seel career and algorithmic underwriting origins00:01:29 - Early experimentation and proof of concepts00:02:25 - Discovery of e-commerce returns opportunity00:03:21 - Early algorithm development and behavioral insights00:05:22 - Business model evolution and AI-enabled services00:07:20 - Building vertical-specific applications at scale00:09:21 - Growth strategy: SMB to enterprise transition00:11:46 - Founder-led sales and learning enterprise motion00:13:29 - Building with modern technology and lessons learned00:15:13 - Current product offering and value proposition00:18:22 - Team growth and hiring across functions00:20:30 - Ideal customer profile and market positioning00:21:42 - Future of e-commerce and agentic shopping00:24:50 - Closing thoughtsSEELWebsite - https://www.seel.com/Zack PengLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackpeng/

Malory McLemore, Co-Founder and CEO of Stell Engineering, discusses her career path from aerospace engineer at Airbus and Raytheon to founding a venture-backed defense technology startup that is revolutionizing the way the aerospace and defense industry manages digital engineering requirements.In this episode, Mallory reveals:- The frustrations that led her from the factory floor to Harvard Business School- How Anduril inspired her to start Stell Engineering- Navigating government contracts and achieving Authority to Operate (ATO)- Why developer tools for hardware engineering is a $10B market opportunity- Building a dual-use strategy serving both DoD and prime contractors00:00 - Introduction & Welcome00:31 - Background and Origin Story00:45 - Early Career in Aerospace Engineering01:27 - Challenges in the Defense Industry01:54 - Decision to Pursue Business School02:26 - Discovering Defense Tech Startups02:51 - Internship Experience03:16 - Meeting the Co-Founder03:51 - Working at a High-Growth Defense Company04:35 - Starting Stell Engineering06:13 - The Problem They're Solving07:15 - Product Vision and Strategy08:29 - Navigating Government Sales08:51 - Going Enterprise and Dual-Use Strategy09:10 - Current Customer Base10:13 - Marketing Strategy10:50 - Sales Cycle Timeline11:00 - Team Structure and Hiring11:30 - Go-To-Market Strategy12:09 - Product-Led Growth Approach12:17 - Cybersecurity Requirements12:40 - Major Milestone Achievement14:25 - AI in Regulated Industries15:30 - Building Practical Solutions17:25 - Company Culture18:15 - Hiring and Open Positions19:52 - Key Roles Hiring For20:11 - Future Hiring Plans20:37 - Future Market Outlook21:11 - Industry Predictions21:32 - Investment Thesis22:00 - Closing Thoughts & Contact InfoSTELL ENGINEERINGWebsite - https://www.stell-engineering.com/Malory McLemoreLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/malorymclemore/

This week I sat down for conversation with Postscript Founder/CEO Adam Turner as he shares his remarkable journey from selling solar panels door-to-door to building a venture-backed tech powerhouse. Adam candidly discusses the early struggles of startup life, including living in questionable apartments and surviving on Costco corn dogs, before revealing the strategic moves that led to Postscript's acceptance into Y-Combinator and their path to generating significant revenue.The episode dives deep into the brutal realities of competing in a cutthroat tech market, including shocking stories of competitors offering $100,000 to poach customers and the critical importance of early hiring decisions. Adam provides invaluable insights on startup growth, the future of mobile marketing, and the delicate balance between profitability and fundraising.00:00 Introduction and Early Challenges00:28 Interview with Adam: Background and Early Career00:51 Founding the First Startup04:01 Lessons Learned and Moving Forward04:54 The Birth of Postscript06:40 YC Experience and Early Growth12:27 Navigating the Competitive Market18:45 Fundraising Journey22:00 Impact of AI and Future Plans26:22 Reflections and Final Thoughts

Ryan Serhant, a successful NYC real estate broker and TV personality, shares his journey from a struggling actor to a real estate mogul. He reflects on his father's tough love that pushed him to avoid 'survival jobs' and how his quirky purple Vespa marked his early days. The discussion reveals how COVID-19 unexpectedly became a catalyst for launching his own brokerage. Ryan also candidly addresses personal challenges, including battling the 'Friday scaries' and the importance of finding balance between being a 'human being' and a 'human doing.'

This week I sat down with Justin Lopas—Co-Founder/COO of Base Power—a former SpaceX and Anduril engineer who shares incredible stories from the early days of Starship development in Boca Chica. He speaks on how his team ingeniously leveraged water tower construction techniques to build rockets, transforming an empty field into what would become Starbase.The discussion also explores the critical relationship between energy access and human prosperity, leading to Justin's current mission with Base—Revolutionizing grid storage. He provides unique insights into the challenges of American manufacturing, how Texas has become the perfect testing ground for grid innovation, and the war for manufacturing between the US and China.00:47 Meet Justin Lopez: Co-Founder of Base Power Company01:33 Justin's Journey: From SpaceX to Anduril09:04 The Birth of Base Power Company11:10 Base Power's Vision and Strategy15:49 Why Texas? Strategic Insights19:50 Funding and Scaling Challenges22:35 The Future of Manufacturing in the U.S.29:56 Training and Workforce Development31:42 The Role of AI in Energy Solutions33:16 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode, Adam Goldstein (Founder/CEO Archer Aviation) shares his extraordinary journey from witnessing 9/11 as a young investment banker, to founding Archer Aviation, a pioneering electric aircraft company. After experiencing the tragic events of September 11th firsthand, Goldstein navigated through six failed startups before building a successful company, learning invaluable lessons about product-market fit and sustainable business models along the way.The conversation takes a dramatic turn as Goldstein reveals the intense legal battle with Boeing—That nearly destroyed Archer Aviation before its IPO—Offering rare insights into high-stakes corporate litigation. He also discusses how the Russia-Ukraine war exposed opportunities in modern defense, leading to Archer's strategic pivot into autonomous military solutions. Throughout the episode, Goldstein shares fascinating details about raising $2 billion for a flying car startup and why tackling massive, world-changing problems can actually be easier than building smaller companies.00:00 Introduction and Host Welcome00:41 Meet Adam Goldstein: From Finance to Tech01:43 The Birth of Vettery02:54 Investment Banking and 9/11 Experience04:36 Lessons from the Hedge Fund World06:44 Building and Scaling Vetteri11:24 The Acquisition of Vettery15:26 Founding Archer: A New Venture19:27 The Challenge of Raising Capital]19:47 Navigating the eVTOL Industry21:20 Building a Credible Team22:30 The Impact of COVID-1923:12 Securing Initial Funding24:40 Developing the First Prototype24:53 Entering the SPAC Market29:18 The Boeing Lawsuit32:38 Future Prospects and Defense Opportunities36:06 Conclusion and Final Thoughts