The Peel with Turner Novak

Sahill Poddar, Co-founder and CEO of Parafin, transitioned from a career in particle physics at CERN to revolutionizing SMB lending with AI. He shares insights on overcoming the challenges of traditional banking for small businesses, particularly in the gig economy. Poddar discusses how data-driven solutions helped secure big names like DoorDash as clients. He also draws parallels between machine learning in physics and Fintech, emphasizing the importance of innovation and customer understanding in modern lending.

Garrett Lord, Co-founder and CEO of Handshake, shares his journey from sleeping in parking lots to leading a revolutionary career platform for Gen Z. He discusses Handshake's explosive growth, surpassing LinkedIn in young user engagement. The conversation dives into the future of AI in hiring, the importance of building a three-sided marketplace, and how to scale effectively while prioritizing skills. Garrett also reveals the challenges he faced early on, including creative customer outreach and the significant role of university partnerships in connecting young professionals.

Jake Cooper, Founder of Railway, dives into the toughest challenges in developer tools and the critical role of robust backend infrastructure, especially as AI demands escalate. He discusses strategic choices like build vs buy in AI software and Railway's bold forays into creating their own data centers. With unique onboarding and a focus on problem-solving, Jake emphasizes the importance of balancing work culture and efficiency, all while enabling creators to monetize their backend templates. Insightful and inspiring, it's a roadmap for innovation in tech.

In this engaging discussion, Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress and Automattic, reflects on building a platform that now powers 43% of the internet. He dives into the philosophy of open source, emphasizing its long-term benefits and discussing how Automattic was among the first SaaS companies. Mullenweg shares insights on community building, lessons from Disney on optimism, and the evolution of coding in the age of AI. He also touches on the importance of philanthropy within the tech industry and innovative employee equity models.

Grant Lee, Co-founder and CEO of Gamma, an innovative AI-powered presentation platform, discusses how they transformed presentations by focusing on narratives over designs. He shares their incredible growth story, reaching $50M ARR and 50M users with just 30 employees. Grant emphasizes the importance of hiring full-stack generalists and maintaining a creative company culture without the pressures of Silicon Valley norms. The podcast also dives into Gamma's unique approach to AI, which enhances product development while keeping a strong connection with their user community.

Ryan Sachtjen, Co-founder and CEO of Threeflow, dives into the colossal $2 trillion employee benefits market, uncovering how smaller companies can leverage their position against giants. He shares insights on the importance of brokers, the evolving role of AI in insurance, and his personal story of resilience while launching his startup amidst his wife's health crisis. The discussion also touches on innovative fundraising strategies, the impact of data normalization, and key qualities needed for success in the rapidly evolving insurance landscape.

Samir Kaji, Co-founder and CEO of Allocate, dives into the evolving landscape of private markets. He highlights the surge in private investment firms and the hurdles new venture funds face in raising capital. The conversation touches on the critical role of secondaries in enhancing liquidity and how AI is transforming the evaluation of fund managers. Kaji also discusses effective strategies for emerging managers to differentiate themselves and the complexities of navigating triple-layered SPVs. It's a rich exploration of innovation and adaptation in today's venture capital world.

Anamitra Banerji, Co-founder of Afore Capital and the first PM at Twitter, dives into the evolving landscape of pre-seed funding. He shares insights on how Afore identifies potential in founders before they have a product, emphasizing resilience and obsession as key traits. The conversation explores strategies for skipping the Seed round in favor of a Series A and the impact of AI on venture capital. Anamitra also discusses the challenges of fundraising and the importance of strong founder relationships in today’s competitive ecosystem.

Eric Vishria, General Partner at Benchmark Capital, dives into the world of rapid growth startups, particularly those hitting $100 million ARR in just a year, thanks to AI. He emphasizes the critical role storytelling plays in attracting investors, arguing that the best communicators often win in the competitive landscape. The discussion also covers the evolution of successful founder archetypes, parallels between tech booms, and the dynamic nature of venture capital today. Eric's insights illuminate how innovation continues to drive the future of investment.

Sanjit Biswas, Co-founder and CEO of Samsara, shares insights from his journey building two unicorns in the hardware space. He discusses how Samsara uses AI to improve physical operations, preventing over 200,000 deaths annually. The conversation dives into the importance of a customer-first approach over product-first thinking. Sanjit reflects on the challenges of hardware innovation, understanding product-market fit, and the power of customer feedback loops. Plus, get a glimpse into his experiences from Meraki's billion-dollar sale to Cisco.