Forward Thinking Founders

In this episode of Forward Thinking Founders, Mat chats with Kosuke July Hata, the founder behind the ROC Camera — a groundbreaking device built to take verifiably real photos in the age of AI.He shares how his background in robotics, autonomous vehicles, and flying cars at Kitty Hawk shaped his belief that “impossible things are buildable with enough time,” and how that mindset led him to create a camera that can cryptographically prove an image was captured by a real sensor, in a real moment, by a real human.We dive into:Why AI-generated “image slop” is eroding trust onlineHow ROC uses sensor attestation + zero-knowledge proofs to verify authenticityUse cases from journalism to robotics to combating “this is AI” accusationsWhat it takes to build hardware in a world dominated by softwareWhy early adopters include cryptography engineers and AI-conscious creatorsJuly’s thoughts on SF, outrageous ideas, and building hard tech todayIf you care about the future of photography, data provenance, or restoring trust to the internet, this is a must-listen conversation.Learn more at roc.camera and follow July at @0xjuly. ★ Support this podcast ★

In today’s episode of Forward Thinking Founders, Mat sits down with Bo Shaffer, founder and CEO of Playswise, a startup using computer vision and AI to unlock deep basketball analytics straight from broadcast footage. Bo played basketball at Duke, and she saw firsthand how much of the sport still relies on slow, manual film review. Playswise is her attempt to change that — bringing NBA-level insights to any team, coach, or player by automating detection, tracking, and advanced breakdowns using modern AI models.In the conversation, we get into Bo’s path from college basketball to tech, how AI can transform scouting and player development, why legacy tools like Hudl and Synergy are ripe for disruption, and what the future of automated sports analytics could look like. We also talk about AI agents, staying on top of rapid AI progress, and what it means to build an AI-native company in an industry that hasn’t kept up.If you’re interested in sports, AI, or the intersection of the two, you’ll enjoy this one.Timestamps:00:01 – Intro + Welcoming Bo Shaffer00:30 – What Playswise is and why it matters01:19 – Bo’s background at Duke + how she got into AI02:42 – Discovering tech and realizing the basketball world is still manual03:55 – How the internet (Twitter, open source) helps her build05:13 – Staying focused while AI evolves so fast07:06 – How she trains the models and improves accuracy08:19 – What training looks like behind the scenes09:41 – Coaches’ reactions + existing tools in the space10:57 – Thoughts on AI agents and future tech12:24 – Are agents real or still early hype?14:02 – College years, Zoom era, and seeing AI rise16:17 – Her big goals for Playswise over the next few years17:35 – Why legacy systems like Hudl/Synergy are outdated18:21 – The accuracy problem in today’s sports tools19:08 – Where to find Bo + Playswise online ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of Forward Thinking Founders, Mat Sherman sits down with Gulmohar Ahluwalia, founder & CEO of Nyxara — a company building a next-generation space-to-ground communications system using cloud-piercing lasers capable of delivering terabits per second. Imagine downloading all of Netflix in five seconds. That’s the world Nyxara aims to unlock.Gulmohar walks through her path from aspiring astronaut to electrical engineer to telecom expert, and how seeing firsthand the limits of today’s 5G and RF-based networks pushed her toward free-space optical communication. She breaks down, in simple terms, why Starlink and other systems can’t get laser signals through clouds, why RF spectrum is physically tapped out, and why optical frequencies represent the next uncongested frontier for 6G-class internet.She then explains Nyxara’s core breakthrough: using an ultra-high-frequency ground laser to create a “hollow channel” through cloud and fog layers, allowing satellites to send and receive massive data loads reliably — effectively creating a portable, dynamic, distributed network layer in space.Mat and Gulmohar explore:How she broke a world-changing vision into buildable stepsWhy she left Australia for San Francisco, and how the pace, talent density, and serendipity changed everythingThe hardware and optics ecosystem inside Founders IncWhat a typical day looks like for her — ultramarathon training, deep focus mornings, customer calls, and fundraisingHow Nyxara fits into her broader belief that humanity needs four pillars (vessels, fuel, food/water, and communications) to eventually leave EarthWhy she hopes one day fiber optic cables will be remembered like floppy disksGulmohar closes by sharing where to follow her work: X, Substack, LinkedIn, and the Nyxara newsletter.If you’re into frontier tech, laser communications, AI-ready infrastructure, or ambitious founder journeys, this is one you’ll want to hear. ★ Support this podcast ★

Mat Sherman catches up with Connor Waslo, co-founder/CEO of Caddy, a desktop voice interface that keeps you in flow by turning spoken intent into real work across tools like Linear, Slack, Calendar, Gmail, and Notion. Connor shares the origin story with cofounder Rajiv, hard pivots, and craft standards for their private beta. They compare SF’s tech gravity with New York, reflect on learnings from Loom through acquisition, and talk about how YC’s time pressure reshapes execution from September to Demo Day. You’ll hear concrete use cases—function-key capture, automatic screenshots and tickets, calendar creation—plus takes on context, tone, and why video + AI is earlier, better, and scarier than most realize. They close with founder routines, community, and a billboard-ready reminder: who you work with matters most.Time Stamps:00:00 Introduction and Backstory: How Mat and Connor First Met  01:05 What Caddy Is and How It Works  03:15 The Origin Story: Loom Pain Points, Prototypes, and Pivot Hell  05:41 Lessons From Loom and Transitioning to Founder Life  08:25 Moving to SF for Y Combinator  09:53 SF vs. NYC: Tech Density and Culture  12:49 Inside YC: Speed, Pressure, and Company-Building  15:12 Building in a Fast-Moving AI World  16:59 Current Use Cases, Private Beta, and Product Direction  19:52 Long-Term Vision: Context, Tone, and the Future of Work  26:07 What’s Emerging in SF: AI Video and New Frontiers  28:15 A Day in the Life of a YC Founder  32:05 Launch Plans: Waitlist, Beta Access, and Community  34:00 The Billboard Question: Connor’s Final Message  36:08 Closing Thoughts ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of Forward Thinking Founders, Mat Sherman chats with Jared Lerner, co-founder and CEO of Nappr, a marketplace redefining hotel stays by letting travelers book rooms for short, flexible durations. Jared shares how his own struggles with sleep sparked the idea, what it takes to build trust with hotels, and how Napper attracts both travelers and partners. They dive into Napper’s booking experience, marketing approach, and the differences between building in New York versus San Francisco. Jared also teases what’s next — from expanding hotel partnerships to launching a consumer hosting platform.00:00 Introduction to Nappr02:28 Understanding the Nappr Experience05:05 The Founding Story and Mission07:56 Navigating the Booking Process10:49 Marketing Strategies and Brand Awareness12:57 The Startup Scene: New York vs. San Francisco18:31 Future Growth and Expansion Plans ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of Forward Thinking Founders, Mat Sherman chats with Mahdi Nouri, co-founder and CEO of CatDoes, a no-code AI mobile app builder empowering anyone to create apps without writing code. Mahdi shares the story behind CatDoes, the product decisions that shaped its growth, and how he’s navigating the fast-changing AI landscape. They discuss what it takes to build a startup from Germany, how it compares to Silicon Valley, and why accessibility and user experience are central to CatDoes’ mission. Mahdi also offers a glimpse into the future of AI-powered app creation and how CatDoes is making software building radically easier for everyone. ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of Forward Thinking Founders, Mat Sherman interviews Adam Cohen Hillel, co-founder of Dafdef, the company behind AI Key—a groundbreaking device that plugs into your phone and allows AI to directly control it. Adam discusses the development journey of AI Key, the importance of privacy and security, and the potential future applications of their technology. The conversation highlights the intersection of personal AI and user experience, emphasizing the need for a consumer-friendly approach in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.00:00 Introduction to DafDef and AI Key04:44The Technology Behind AI Key10:06 Development Journey and Background16:52 Use Cases and Future Applications26:28 Vision for the Future of Personal AI ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of Forward Thinking Founders, Mat Sherman talks with Nikhil Yadala, cofounder and CEO of Helome, a company building AI copilots to help people slow their aging. Nikhil shares how Helome uses advanced “aging clocks”, AI models trained on blood biomarkers, to measure biological age and guide people toward healthier, longer lives.We explore his decade-long journey from mathematician to longevity founder, why he believes measuring aging is harder than curing it, and how he built an open-source AI assistant called Longevity GPT to make personalized health insights accessible to anyone, anywhere.Nikhil also opens up about moving from India to San Francisco, what the Bay Area’s startup culture taught him, and his candid take on Brian Johnson’s Blueprint experiment.Topics covered:What biological age really meansThe science behind AI-powered aging clocksHow Helome helps people test and track longevity markersLessons from building in the longevity spaceWhy SF accelerates founders faster than anywhere elseLearn more about Helome at helome.one and try Longevity GPT at asklongevitygpt.com. ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode, we dive into one of the most pressing conversations in technology today: the balance between innovation and security in artificial intelligence. The discussion with Will Preble of Covenant Labs unpacks why maintaining control over AI models is critical, the looming risks tied to data security, and the potential fallout of compromised systems. From the threat of economic instability to the need for transparency and collaboration, this episode explores the stakes of AI’s rapid rise.Key Takeaways:Control over AI models is essential for long-term stability.Data security remains one of the biggest vulnerabilities in AI.Hacking risks could have devastating economic consequences.OpenAI and similar technologies must be protected with robust safeguards.Compromised AI has the power to destabilize global markets.Society must better understand AI’s influence on our lives and economies.A delicate balance is needed between advancing innovation and ensuring security.Collaboration and transparency are crucial to building trust.Proactive strategies are necessary to reduce risks before they spiral. ★ Support this podcast ★

Cathleen Turner, founder of Autaly, shares her innovative journey in automating invoicing for logistics businesses. She discusses tackling complex billing workflows and lessons learned from her fintech background. Cathleen also emphasizes the importance of networking on platforms like X for startup success. Balancing work and personal life is another key topic, touching on her hobbies and their role in fostering connections. This engaging conversation delves into the challenges and triumphs unique to the logistics industry.