The NFX Podcast

Tracy Young, co-founder of PlanGrid, shares how her background in construction led to building one of the most successful startups in the space—culminating in an $875M acquisition by Autodesk. She dives into lessons learned on product-market fit, go-to-market strategy, and navigating founder relationships as the company scaled. Tracy also reflects on her time at Y Combinator, the fundraising process, and the emotional challenges of selling a company. Post-acquisition, she transitioned into coaching before founding her new startup, TigerEye. She discusses how AI, core values, and leadership growth are shaping this next chapter—and what she wishes more founders knew about resilience and reinvention. (0:00) Introduction to Tracy Young (0:04) Tracy Young's background and early career (2:39) Lessons learned from construction industry (5:33) Founding of PlanGrid (8:03) Experience with Y Combinator and early product market fit (13:18) Sales strategies and early adoption (18:23) Fundraising advice and managing executive leadership (22:42) Focus areas and executive relationship red flags as PlanGrid scaled (25:11) Importance of firing quickly and Tracy stepping down (26:46) M&A with Autodesk and growth challenges (31:00) Board's perspective on acquisition and independence (35:20) Leadership changes and maximizing M&A options (41:40) Post-acquisition experience and transition to coaching (44:12) Founding Tiger Eye and establishing core values (47:36) Balancing work and family with wholeheartedness (49:01) Adhering to core values during financial stress (51:10) Future of TigerEye and AI's impact (52:44) Reflections on leadership growth and redefining success (55:13) Closing remarks

Explore the intriguing connection between stablecoins and national defense technology. The discussion highlights the vital collaboration needed between regulators and stablecoin creators to enhance financial security. Dive into the historical dominance of the dollar and how stablecoins could amplify its influence in a digital world. Insights on creating a U.S. digital dollar and the unique role of stablecoin founders in safeguarding national interests round out this enlightening conversation.

Two experts in the longevity industry, Joe Betts-LaCroix and Alex Colville, discuss the past, present, and future of longevity including evaluating founders, societal impacts, and the business case for longevity drugs. They explore challenges in FDA approval, risks in the biotech industry, and misconceptions surrounding longevity.

Alex Babin, CEO and co-founder of Hercules AI, dives into the transformative power of AI in the enterprise sector. He shares the journey of Hercules AI and its mission to revolutionize workflows with AI-powered virtual workers. The discussion highlights challenges in integrating AI into existing systems, the innovative 'Rosetta Stone' tool for data transformation, and a unique SaaS pricing model. Babin also offers insights into the competitive landscape of AI, particularly the ongoing battle between Google and OpenAI, along with predictions for the future of the market.

Discover how AI is revolutionizing the real estate industry by digitizing processes like zoning and permitting. Unlock the potential for startups to boost productivity and reduce environmental impact through innovative applications of AI. Learn about the emerging trends in construction efficiency, as well as the opportunities in data access for B2B firms. The discussion also dives into the concept of AI co-piloting in various industries, highlighting overlooked prospects for founders in the evolving landscape.

Raed Khawaja, CEO and Co-founder of Open, is a passionate advocate for mindfulness and wellness practices. He shares insights on the evolving concept of 'inner-space' and the importance of community in meditation. The conversation dives into the delicate balance between fear and excitement in personal growth, and Raed explores how traditional coping methods are being replaced with modern wellness strategies. Their hybrid approach blends technology with ancient practices, making mindfulness accessible to all.

Discover how generative tech is revolutionizing human-machine collaboration to create content. Delve into the transformative power of AI and its rapid advancements. Learn about the balance between innovation and societal responsibility for founders. Explore the significance of hyper-local data and the shift from curation to creation. Innovations in generative technology promise unique opportunities for growth. Get insights on navigating the evolving landscape of this cutting-edge field.

The podcast discusses the Generative Tech revolution and its impact on various industries. It explores the three waves of successful generative tech startups and identifies emerging winners in this space.

This is an essay readout using an AI voice clone of NFX general partner, James Currier. The AI revolution just ratcheted up the speed bar for startups. You think you’re moving fast enough. You’re not. Speed is the number one advantage of a startup. But now that generative AI here, your definition of speed has to increase 10x. Read the full essay here - https://www.nfx.com/post/speed-and-ai (0:00) Introduction to AI and its future implications (1:16) NFX's perspective on generative AI (2:16) The need for founders to move faster into the AI market (3:39) The importance of resetting speed benchmarks (4:37) The new speed bar for product launches with generative AI (4:59) Advice for founders to adopt a faster mindset (7:56) Conclusion: The importance of a fast mindset in the age of AI (8:11) Feedback request and how to subscribe to the NFX podcast

There’s a concept in network theory called Preferential Attachment. When one node gets ahead, it attracts more resources, and more attention. It's a snowball effect. PR for your company works the same way. Once you become the biggest node, more resources flow to you. Today, NFX General Partner James Currier sits down with Vijay Chattha, founder of PR agency VSC to reveal how to build that attention flywheel. VSC has worked with NFX unicorn companies like Mammoth Biosciences, Poshmark, and Outdoorsy, to build attention and momentum from the ground up. (0:00) Introduction and Background of Vijay Chattha (5:06) Vijay Chattha's Approach to PR and Criteria for Representing Companies (10:41) The Importance of a Company's Storytelling Runway and Marketability (19:26) Authenticity, Audience Understanding, and the Role of Journalists in Today's Media Landscape (25:28) Setting Goals and Audience Targeting for Seed Stage Startups (30:40) Case Study: Successful PR Strategy with Mammoth Biosciences and the Concept of Preferred Attachment in PR (37:44) The Role of Funding in Storytelling and Strategies for Early-Stage Startups (43:19) Risks and Rewards of Founders Using Social Media and Choosing the Right Medium for Communication (47:10) Common Mistakes Founders Make in Communication and the Shifting Landscape of Media Coverage (51:15) When to Hire a PR Firm and the Role of Investors in PR and Storytelling