The NFX Podcast

Kamakshi Sivaramakrishnan, founder of Drawbridge and Samooha, shares her impressive journey from AdMob to LinkedIn. She dives into the explosive growth of mobile advertising during the iPhone launch and what it took to navigate the acquisition by Google. Kamakshi discusses challenges in ad tech regulation and the importance of strong customer relationships. Her insights on empowering product teams and advice for female entrepreneurs are particularly inspiring, as she reflects on the balance between leadership and personal decisions in her career.

Russ Heddleston, founder of DocSend, shares his incredible journey from the brink of bankruptcy to a $165M acquisition by Dropbox. He dives into the painful lessons learned from chasing enterprise sales and the surprising success of a self-serve model. Russ also discusses strategic pricing changes that skyrocketed conversions, the emotional complexities of selling his company, and what he wishes he had done differently. Now, he's focused on his new venture, Distill, with a fresh perspective on innovation and growth.

Ken Lin, the founder and former CEO of Credit Karma, opens up about his remarkable journey from bootstrapping during the recession to a $7B acquisition by Intuit. He shares the story behind a game-changing $500 DIY TV ad and the pivotal strategy shifts that shaped the company. Lin sheds light on navigating tough partnerships, why he opted out of an IPO, and his insights on AI's future impact on personal finance. A fascinating exploration of resilience, innovative marketing, and ethical business practices awaits!

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.