The Undefeated Underdogs

👉🏼 About the Guest:Ana Lorena Fábrega is an edupreneur, writer, and Chief Evangelist at Synthesis. Growing up, she attended ten schools in seven different countries. She then earned her BS in Childhood Education and Special Education from New York University and taught elementary school in New York, Boston, and Panama. Today, Ana Lorena writes online to over 200,000 readers about the promise of alternative education. You can follow her on Twitter at @anafabrega11.Order Ana's book, "The Learning Game"👉🏼 About the Host:Sharath is a founder, creator, and community builder. He is also a serial maker who built and shipped 15+ projects using no-code tools. His SaaS product Shoutout generated $30k ARR, which was sold to a UK-based product studio. Prev, Sharath worked for world-changing startups like Product Hunt and On Deck, where he helped build and nurture communities. He also grew his audience on Twitter from 200 to 22,000 using give-first principles and creating high-value content. Currently, he is the Head of Community +Brand at Threado, building a side project called GuestLab and runs a newsletter called YC Founder Stories alongside hosting this podcast.👉🏼 Description:Tune into this newest episode of the Undefeated Underdogs podcast where Ana and Sharath discuss the origins of education, its future, and Ana's newest book, "The Learning Game."Timestamps:00:00: Episode Highlight2:16: Introduction to Ana Lorena Fabrega3:01: Ana's experience of studying in 10 different schools across 7 countries10:40: Why Ana had to leave the education system to make an impact on education12:49: The history and origins of the modern-day school system20:57: The future of the school system31:29: How Synthesis brings its tutors to life34:28: The journey of going from teacher to edupreneur36:40: Ana's inspirations behind being an edupreneur40:24: Ana's work with David Perell47:31: The creative habits for writing55:41: Why do adults stop learning?1:03:22: Intro to "The Learning Game", Ana's new book1:10:26: How does the book emotionally connect to Ana? 1:13:44: Advice to parents who are unsure of the best education for their children1:19:33: Highlights of "The Learning Game"1:25:58: Post-book release euphoria1:29:10: Advice for Ana from 2019 and her playbook for self-belief1:34:00: Highs and lows of writing a full-fledged book1:39:54: Ana's best support system while writing "The Learning Game"1:42:18: Outro and closing thoughts👉🏼  Resources: Graphic on Learning: https://twitter.com/5harath/status/1673492670209990660?s=20Polina Marinova: https://twitter.com/polina_marinova?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5EauthorDavid Perell: https://perell.com/Seth Godin: https://seths.blog/"Creative Schools" by Ken Robinson: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Schools-Grassroots-Revolution-Transforming/dp/0143108069Synthesis Math Tutor: synthesis.com/math👉🏼 Where to find Ana Lorena Fabrega:Twitter: https://twitter.com/anafabrega11Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1ICCL5l_5iT8yDzSoYLUzQInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/msfab_learninglab/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ana-lorena-fabrega-32775768/Website: https://afabrega.com/Synthesis: https://go.synthesis.is/ana👉🏼 Where to find Sharath:Twitter: https://twitter.com/5harathYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@5harathWebsite: https://5harath.com/Newsletter: https://ycfounderstories.substack.com/

👉🏼 About the Guest:Schlaf is a Professional Transition Coach based in New York. He helps high performers in midlife manifest their next calling. He is also the creator of Where the Road Bends, a newsletter and podcast exploring personal evolutions and life transitions. In addition to being a girl dad, this is his life’s work.👉🏼 About the Host:Sharath is a founder, creator, and community builder. He is also a serial maker who built and shipped 15+ projects using no-code tools. His SaaS product Shoutout generates $30k ARR, which was sold to a UK-based product studio. Prev, Sharath worked for world-changing startups like Product Hunt and On Deck, where he helped build and nurture communities. He also grew his audience on Twitter from 200 to 20,000 using give-first principles and creating high-value content. Currently, he is the Head of Community at Threado and runs a newsletter called Sharath's CliffNotes alongside hosting this podcast.👉🏼 Description:Tune in as Sharath and Schlaf discuss how to stay present as a founder, stepping away from social media, and forming writing habits.Timestamps:00:00: Episode Highlight2:14: Introduction to Steve Schlafman3:18: Why Schlaf is taking a break from social media7:28: Achieving success and goals while being online12:21: How social media affects your work as a founder22:13: How to build a life without social media26:33: How to live in the present30:00: The scariness of being present32:15: How being present affects work and business35:23: What success and ambition mean48:30: What was Schlaf's experience like as a founder? What are his future plans?53:05: How and when did Schlaf shift from Tactical Schlaf to Philosophical Schlaf55:25: How did Schlaf start writing and what are his habits?1:02:25: Where do founders struggle - early-stage, scaling, or other?1:07:40: Outro and closing thoughts👉🏼 Where to find Steve Schlafman:Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/schlafInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/schlafLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schlaf/Website: https://www.schlaf.co/Newsletter and Podcast: https://wheretheroadbends.substack.com/👉🏼 Where to find Sharath:Twitter: https://twitter.com/5harathYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@5harathWebsite: https://5harath.com/Newsletter: https://5harath.substack.com/

Erica Schneider, an expert in content writing and editing, discusses the importance of editing in content creation. They explore the transition from writing to editing, strategies to overcome editing challenges, and the power of writing with authority. They also touch on using data to improve writing quality, building a personal platform, and the joy of reading with a child.

👉🏼 About the Guest:Jared Kleinert is the Founder/CEO of Offsite, the author of NETWORKING, a TED speaker, a 3-time award-winning author, and USA Today's "Most Connected Millennial". He was also a delegate to President Obama's 2013 Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Malaysia, author of multiple books including the "#1 Entrepreneurship Book of 2015", 2 Billion Under 20: How Millennials are Breaking Down Age Barriers and Changing The World (2015), 3 Billion Under 30 (2017), and "Networking: How To Meet Influential People, Deepen Relationships, and Become A Super-Connector" (2022), and TED@IBM speaker. If you're planning a team retreat, Offsite can save you time, money, and stress. Visit www.offsite.com to learn more!Offsite is on Product Hunt. Check the launch here: https://www.producthunt.com/posts/offsite👉🏼 About the Host:Sharath is a founder, creator, and community builder. He is also a serial maker who built and shipped 15+ projects using no-code tools. His SaaS product Shoutout generates $30k ARR, which was sold to a UK-based product studio. Prev, Sharath worked for world-changing startups like Product Hunt and On Deck, where he helped build and nurture communities. He also grew his audience on Twitter from 200 to 20,000 using give-first principles and creating high-value content. Currently, he is the Head of Community at Threado and runs a newsletter called Sharath's CliffNotes alongside hosting this podcast.👉🏼 Description:Tune in as Sharath and Jared discuss becoming an entrepreneur at a young age, the power of cold emailing, the advantages of being young today, and growing Offsite.Timestamps:00:00: Episode Highlight00:28: Introduction to Jared Kleinert, founder at Offsite and TED Speaker before the age of 202:13: How Jared's journey to becoming an entrepreneur started at 167:30: The influence and background of being a young entrepreneur - the why and the how10:46: How to cold email for success12:30: Cold outreach: annoying or ambitious?16:32: Advice for Gen Z on building their careers18:53: Founding a consulting business at 1823:28: How has working with role models at an early age impacted Jared's life?27:06: How to build peer and mentor networks?29:27: Lessons from community building31:56: Inspiration for writing 3 books before the age of 2533:48: Why young people hold more power than ever37:41: The advantage of being young in 202342:41: Managing comparison as a founder47:13: The story of building Offsite55:47: Difficulties of building Offsite59:41: Transitioning from a service business to a software business1:00:26: Next steps for Offsite1:03:18: Outro and closing thoughts👉🏼  Resources: Offsite: www.offsite.comOffsite Product Hunt Launch: https://www.producthunt.com/posts/offsiteJared's TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/jared_kleinert_why_millennials_today_hold_more_power_than_ever_beforeJared's Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jared-Kleinert/author/B00OH47AIA?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true👉🏼 Where to find Jared Kleinert:Twitter: https://twitter.com/jaredkleinertLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredkleinert/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jared.kleinert/👉🏼 Where to find Sharath:Twitter: https://twitter.com/5harathYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@5harathWebsite: https://5harath.com/Newsletter: https://5harath.substack.com/

👉🏼 About the Guest:Michelle Marceline is a co-founder at Typedream (W20), a no-code site, blog, and form builder, and a previous cofounder at Cotter. She's been featured on Forbes 30U30 2022, Build In Public with KP, and more!👉🏼 About the Host:Sharath is a founder, creator, and community builder. He is also a serial maker who built and shipped 15+ projects using no-code tools. His SaaS product Shoutout generates $30k ARR which was sold to a UK-based product studio. Prev, Sharath worked for world-changing startups like Product Hunt and On Deck, where he helped build and nurture communities. He also grew his audience on Twitter from 200 to 20,000 using give-first principles and creating high-value content. Currently, he is the Head of Community at Threado and runs a newsletter called Sharath's CliffNotes alongside hosting this podcast.👉🏼 Description:Listen in as Sharath and Michelle discuss founding Typedream (YC W20) with a co-founding team of 5, immigrant hunger, pivoting their startup repeatedly, and growing Typedream from 0 to N.Timestamps:00:00: Episode Highlight2:40: Introduction to Michelle, co-founder at Typedream (YC W20)3:46: Michelle's journey from immigrant to Green Card holder7:50: Typedream's founding story: 5 founders, from fintech to no-code builder15:38: Pivoting a company during Y Combinator: The ups and downs19:30: Starting up again as a team post-acquisition20:55: Typedream's Zero -> One Go-To-Market strategy23:08: Product Hunt's impact on growing Typedream27:28: Typedream's Build in Public Strategy30:02: Michelle's day-to-day as a non-technical founder33:14: The toughest part of being a founder34:54: Lessons learned as Typedream grows from One -> N36:43: Typedream's Creator Community and how it helps the company grow37:23: Does Building in Public help One -> N growth?39:02: Battle-tested Go-To-Market lessons42:42: Typedream's soft pivot into a content creator setup47:01: Outreach to Typedream's ideal creators: the how, why, and impacts49:07: Typedream's craziest creation stories50:35: Typedream's darkest hours52:07: Michelle's role models53:21: The importance of immigrant hunger in building56:50: Closing thoughts for founders58:13: Outro👉🏼  Resources: Shaan Puri: https://www.shaanpuri.com/Sam Parr: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parrsamMy First Million Podcast: https://www.mfmpod.com/👉🏼 Where to find Michelle Marceline:Twitter: https://twitter.com/michwirantonoLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-marcellineInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/michwirantono/Typedream (YC W20): https://typedream.com/👉🏼 Where to find Sharath:Twitter: https://twitter.com/5harathYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@5harathWebsite: https://5harath.com/Newsletter: https://5harath.substack.com/

👉🏼 About the Guest:Abhishek Kankani is the founder of Dyte (YC W21), building the future of real-time communication. He is on the Forbes 30 Under 30 and has been featured on GQ, Cup Noodles To Career, and Sequoia! Listen to his founder and career journey here.👉🏼 About the Host:Sharath is a founder, creator, and community builder. He is also a serial maker who built and shipped 15+ projects using no-code tools. His SaaS product Shoutout generates $30k ARR which was sold to a UK-based product studio. Prev, Sharath worked for world-changing startups like Product Hunt and On Deck, where he helped build and nurture communities. He also grew his audience on Twitter from 200 to 20,000 using give-first principles and creating high-value content. Currently, he is the Head of Community at Threado and runs a newsletter called Sharath's CliffNotes alongside hosting this podcast.👉🏼 Description:Listen in as Sharath and Abhishek discuss founding Dyte (YC W21) during the pandemic, communication in a remote world, and building conviction in yourself as a newbie founder.Dyte (YC W21) is building the future of real-time communication. Integrate programmable, and easily customizable live video and voice into your web, mobile, and desktop applications with just a few lines of code.Timestamps:00:00: Episode Highlight2:10: Introduction to Abhishek, founder at Dyte (YC W21)3:14: Dyte's backstory: founding, first customers, cofounders7:46: Creating Dyte: Drive and conviction as first-time founders15:02: Quitting full-time jobs for Dyte - pre-YC!18:50: Dyte's first MVP and finding the very first customer21:54: Dyte's journey: Zero -> YC -> One25:53: How to apply for YC pre-PMF35:08: Learnings from YC41:25: Dyte's mission and pivots from YC44:10: Prioritizing long-term product vision vs immediate customer needs48:15: Different methods of reaching PMF1:00:03: $12M in funding: Goals, targets, methods1:05:43: Ryan Hoover as a board member1:08:10: Handling competition in a crowded market1:12:58: Next steps and a pivot at Dyte1:14:47: Using Dyte as a non-technical builder1:16:37: Closing thoughts for founders1:19:24: Outro👉🏼 Where to find Abhishek Kankani:Twitter: https://twitter.com/KankaniAbhishekLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhishekkankaniInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/abhishekkankani/Dyte (YC W21): https://dyte.io/👉🏼 Where to find Sharath:Twitter: https://twitter.com/5harathYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@5harathWebsite: https://5harath.com/Newsletter: https://5harath.substack.com/

👉🏼 About the Guest:Adam Draper (Managing Director at Boost VC, Board Member at SkyBound) is a legacy in the venture capital world. One of the first VCs to jump into the world of crypto, he has a front-view seat into the future of tech. He's also the author of "Breakfast With Pops", the guide to venture capital for beginners.👉🏼 About the Host:Sharath is a founder, creator, and community builder. He is also a serial maker who built and shipped 15+ projects using no-code tools. His SaaS product Shoutout generates $30k ARR which was sold to a UK-based product studio. Prev, Sharath worked for world-changing startups like Product Hunt and On Deck, where he helped build and nurture communities. He also grew his audience on Twitter from 200 to 20,000 using give-first principles and creating high-value content. Currently, he is the Head of Community at Threado and runs a newsletter called Sharath's CliffNotes alongside hosting this podcast.👉🏼 Description:Listen in to hear Sharath and Adam talk about the importance of storytelling in startups, building conviction as a founder, and the importance of trust in the world of finance, startups, and VC. Timestamps:0:00 | Episode highlight01:14 | Intro to Adam Draper - the coolest VC in town7:00 | Boost VC logo - its origin story and meaning11:33 | Adam's book: "Breakfast with Pops" and why we need an intro to venture capital14:30 | Adam's adventures outside of his venture capital legacy21:20 | How Adam's unique venture capital talent helps founders26:35 | Why is storytelling so important in the world of startups and venture capital?28:16 | Non-obvious problems founders face35:05| Founder personality traits Boost VC looks for43:16 | How founders can build conviction in themselves and their work50:09 | Why VC is a service job54:45 | The importance of trust in the startup and VC world57:17 | Common mistakes by early-stage founders1:03:34 | What Adam looks for in a founder pitch1:13:40 | Adam's worst experience in venture capital1:22:08 | Rapid Fire 5: Crazy founder story, biggest miss by Boost VC, favorite investment, and more1:39:13 | Outro👉🏼 Resources:George Shultz, "Trust is the coin of the realm": https://www.hoover.org/research/trust-coin-realmTim Draper: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_DraperBill Draper: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Henry_Draper_IIIMark Andreessen: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_AndreessenShamez Kanji (Devonshire Partners):Make School: https://makeschool.org/Chris Dixon: https://cdixon.org/Brian Armstrong: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Armstrong_(businessman)Fred Wilson: https://avc.com/Launcher: https://www.launcherspace.com/Max Haot: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxhaot/MeasureX: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MeasurexBen Horowitz: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_HorowitzRadiant: https://www.radiantnuclear.com/Brayton Williams: https://www.linkedin.com/in/braytonwilliams👉🏼 Where to find Adam Draper:Twitter: https://twitter.com/AdamDraperLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adraperEmail: adam@boost.vcBoost VC: https://www.boost.vc/Book, "Breakfast With Pops": https://www.amazon.com/Breakfast-Pops-Venture-Capital-Handbook/dp/B0C1JHXTQF👉🏼 Where to find Sharath:Twitter: https://twitter.com/5harathYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@5harathWebsite: https://5harath.com/Newsletter: https://5harath.substack.com/

👉🏼 About the Guest:Dan Westgarth (COO at Deel, ex-Revolut, Expansion Capital) is the COO of Deel, building everything you need to scale a global team. Dan has been building businesses since he was 10 and is now breaking down international borders, allowing companies and workers across the world to come together.👉🏼 About the Host:Sharath is a founder, creator, and community builder. He is also a serial maker who built and shipped 15+ projects using no-code tools. His SaaS product Shoutout generates $30k ARR which was sold to a UK-based product studio. Prev, Sharath worked for world-changing startups like Product Hunt and On Deck, where he helped build and nurture communities. He also grew his audience on Twitter from 200 to 20,000 using give-first principles and creating high-value content. Currently, he is the Head of Community at Threado and runs a newsletter called Sharath's CliffNotes alongside hosting this podcast.👉🏼 Description:Tune in as Sharath and Dan discuss Dan's fintech career journey, the immigrant hustle, and his main customer-forward learnings.Timestamps:0:00 | Episode highlight00:30 | Intro to Dan Westgarth, COO at Deel1:37 | Schedule of a COO: Priorities, customer support, and more3:16 | How to prioritize a new project5:18 | Dan's first business at age 10: PlayStations, cell phones, and beyond7:28 | The best part about running any business9:35 | Business lessons from 10-year-old Dan12:36 | The immigrant hustle: How Dan got his hunger15:50 | How Deel is changing the world of immigration18:09 | Dan's journey to tech and COO at Deel20:10 | How to take care of your customers so they never leave21:51 | Going from Product Management to COO Learnings from both sides22:40 | What Product Management and Ops have in common24:06 | How networking helped Dan become COO at Deel26:13 | What COOs can learn from General Managers29:05 | Dan's learning frameworks to get info fast31:25 | How to shrug off imposter syndrome33:18 | Exciting updates at Deel: automating HR, reducing admin work36:00 | Advice for people breaking into tech38:30 | Outro👉🏼 Resources:Deel: http://deel.com/LegalPad: https://legalpad.io/👉🏼 Where to find Dan Westgarth:Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanWestgarthLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-westgarth-710650a4/👉🏼 Where to find Sharath:Twitter: https://twitter.com/5harathYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@5harathWebsite: https://5harath.com/Newsletter: https://5harath.substack.com/

Dr. Julie Gurner, a doctor of psychology and executive performance coach, shares her frameworks for creating urgency and reaching peak performance. She discusses her journey into executive coaching and the struggles faced by VC founders. The podcast also explores the science behind top-tier performance, maintaining confidence, and favorite book recommendations.

👉🏼 About the Guest:Aprilynne Alter (ex-Wall Street, published in Business Insider, FounderStory, The Tilt) is a content creator and YouTuber with 19K+ Twitter followers and 23K+ Youtube followers. She's an NFT maker and course maker, with courses teaching people how to create and popularize their YouTube channels according to their expertise.👉🏼 About the Host:Sharath is a founder, creator, and community builder. He is also a serial maker who built and shipped 15+ projects using no-code tools. His SaaS product Shoutout generates $30k ARR which was sold to a UK-based product studio. Prev, Sharath worked for world-changing startups like Product Hunt and On Deck, where he helped build and nurture communities. He also grew his audience on Twitter from 200 to 20,000 using give-first principles and creating high-value content. Currently, he is the Head of Community at Threado and runs a newsletter called Sharath's CliffNotes alongside hosting this podcast.👉🏼 Description:Tune in as Sharath and Aprilynne discuss pivoting from Wall Street to creating content, the building in public lifestyle, and the various YouTube tips and tricks that shot Aprilynne into popularity! Timestamps:0:00 | Episode highlight1:28 | Intro to Aprilynne Alter2:45 | How Ali Abdaal inspired Aprilynne to start on YouTube6:45 | The barriers to creating on YouTube: How Aprilynne overcame camera shyness, lack of editing skills, and no equipment10:45 | YouTube 101: Aprilynne's playbook17:00 | Aprilynne's favorite (free!) YouTube resources19:00 | How to become a creator with a full-time job23:30 | The important parts of YouTube: Editing, tools, and more28:06 | How becoming a creator changed Aprilynne's life32:31 | Downsides of ownership as a creator33:40 | Aprilynne's Creator Routine: How to plan, ideate, and record videos36:30 | How to get over creative blocks40:15 | Balancing creation and popularity statistics as a creator42:50 | Youtube 201: Setting prices, monetizing your channel, and more46:55 | How to get over limiting beliefs as a creator50:00 | The truth of YouTube shorts in the algorithm52:39 | Aprilynne's Building in Public secrets and methodology57:49 | The power of community as an indie maker1:01:10 | The unconventional way of growing on YouTube1:03:09 | Why YouTube wins out over other channels to grow a following1:06:40 | How to storyboard a YouTube video to make it super clear1:08:40 | Outro👉🏼 Resources:Ali Abdaal: https://aliabdaal.com/Cathrin Manning: https://cathrinmanning.com/Daniel Vassallo's Small Bets Community: https://dvassallo.gumroad.com/l/small-betsEdius Net - Editing videos: https://www.edius.net/info.html👉🏼 Where to find Aprilynne Alter:Twitter: https://twitter.com/AprilynneAlter/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprilynnealterTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aprilynnealterNFT Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@NFTsSimplified/videosPersonal Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AprilynneAlterWebsite: https://www.aprilynnealter.com/Why Aprilynne Alter Stopped NFT Content Even Though She Was Making Good Money: https://www.thetilt.com/content-entrepreneur/aprilynne-alter-nft-contentI launched an NFT collection with no experience and made 3 big mistakes. Here's what I should've done instead: https://www.businessinsider.com/launched-nft-no-experience-3-mistakes-not-to-make-2022-3?IR=TAprilynne Alter on Tenderfoot - a startup connecting students with internships: https://www.founderstory.io/aprilynne-alter-tenderfoot/👉🏼 Where to find Sharath:Twitter: https://twitter.com/5harathYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@5harathWebsite: https://5harath.com/Newsletter: https://5harath.substack.com/