The Peel with Turner Novak

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.

Michael Kim, Founder of Cendana Capital, shares his insights into the world of venture capital. He discusses the critical traits of successful investors and how Cendana conducts due diligence on fund managers. Michael introduces his '60x rule' for returns and explains the competitive dynamics between seed and multi-stage funds. He also reveals how AI is reshaping fund management and why secondaries are crucial for early-stage ventures. Plus, he shares personal stories, including his challenging early days and his surprising hobby as a top gamer in Call of Duty.

In this engaging discussion, Mike Vichich, Co-founder and CEO of Pursuit, shares his insights on navigating public sector revenue streams. He delves into how AI is reshaping business models and government interactions, emphasizing the strange irony of rules designed to save taxpayer money actually leading to waste. Mike recounts his incredible journey with Wisely, transforming from a near-bankrupt startup to a $187 million exit while tackling hiring challenges and the dynamics of disagreement in teams. He also touches on the unique landscape of building startups in the Midwest.

Sam Ross, Co-founder and CEO of Numeral, shares insights from his impressive background in startup growth, including his experiences with early Facebook advertising. He discusses identifying business ideas through strong demand and the importance of establishing early social proof. Ross highlights why hiring a growth marketer first may not be ideal and shares how he raised Numeral's Series A in just four days. The conversation also delves into the complexities of sales tax and how AI is being leveraged to simplify tax compliance for businesses.

Spenser Skates dives into the pivotal role of data in product design and company growth. He shares insights on navigating the challenges of AI in B2B SaaS, the journey from startup to a $300M ARR, and the nuances of scaling while maintaining a vibrant company culture. The conversation also touches on strategic acquisitions, the significance of a strong board, and lessons learned during Amplitude's IPO. Plus, discover what people often misinterpret about Founder Mode and the importance of responsive software in today’s market.

Dan Lorenc, Co-founder and CEO of Chainguard, dives deep into the world of open source software security. He shares insights on the vulnerabilities that have emerged as open source gained popularity and discusses the impending threats of major cyber attacks. Lorenc also reveals how Chainguard scaled from zero to $40 million in two years, emphasizing the critical role of sales strategies. Additionally, he explores cloud computing's evolution, the complexities of software supply chains, and the potential impact of AI on software security.