The Room Podcast

In this season’s finale of The Room Podcast, we're thrilled to chat with Neil Parikh, Co-Founder of Casper and current Co-Founder of Slingshot. Neil first disrupted the mattress industry by building Casper into a household name, pioneering the direct-to-consumer sleep revolution before taking the company public. Now, he's tackling an even bigger challenge with Slingshot, building a foundational AI model specifically designed for psychology and mental health therapy.In this episode, Neil takes us through his unconventional journey from medical school dropout to D2C pioneer, sharing the serendipitous moments that led to Casper's creation and the harsh realities of going public during a pandemic. We delve into the mental health crisis facing society, the limitations of current AI therapy approaches, and how Slingshot is training models on real-world human therapy data to create more effective interventions. Neil also opens up about his therapy journey, the power of taking nudges when they appear, and why he believes we're entering an era of unprecedented change that will reshape how we think about mental health access and self-actualization.(04:06) Where did Neil grow up and how has that shaped his view of the world?(04:54) Did Neil always think he was gonna become a founder?(06:06) Was entrepreneurship in the water at Brown like it is today at Stanford or Harvard?(07:38) What led to Neil's decision to drop out of medical school?(10:52) What did Neil do after dropping out of medical school?(14:20) What made Neil believe that VC was the right route for a mattress company in 2014?(16:44) What was the name before Casper?(18:46) What advice would Neil have for DTC founders during this current climate?(22:17) What did Neil learn from the later stages of fundraising and preparing for the IPO?(27:14) How did Slingshot become the idea for Neil's next exciting phase?(31:40) How did Neil get the confidence to take "the nudge"?(32:48) How is Neil thinking about data sources, model training, and ethical guardrails for psychology?(38:53) How is Neil's model specificity even better than using ChatGPT for therapy?(41:58) Who's the first person to say yes to backing Slingshot?(43:25) What does Neil think is next for Slingshot and what is he excited for?(44:55) What's next for Neil personally, and what is he excited for this year?(46:34) Who is a woman in Neil's life that has had a profound impact on himself and his career?For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on Instagram Follow us on TikTok Check out our guide to podcasting here! Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.**Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.WX Productions

Welcome back to another episode of The Room Podcast! This week, Madison and Claudia sit down with Alex Konrad, former Senior Editor at Forbes and now Founder of Upstarts Media. After a decade covering technology and venture capital at Forbes, where he pioneered coverage from the Midas List to the Cloud 100, Alex has launched his own media company focused on telling the stories of early-stage founders and companies challenging the status quo.Throughout this conversation, Alex shares insights from his front-row seat to some of tech's most defining moments, including interviews with industry leaders like Sam Altman and Mark Benioff. He discusses the evolution of media in the age of AI, his decision to bootstrap rather than raise venture funding, and his vision for building a community-first media company. Alex also reveals how his upbringing in New York City shaped his no-nonsense approach to tech reporting and why he believes the future of media lies in creating direct, authentic connections with audiences. Tune in for a fascinating look at the changing media landscape and what it takes to build a modern media company from the ground up.(03:52) Where did Alex grow up and how did that shape his view of the world?(04:49) Did Alex always think he would become a founder?(05:35) What was the story as an intern that Alex got printed?(07:57) When Alex reflects on his Forbes interviews with tech leaders like Satya Nadella and Sam Altman, which ones stand out most?(10:04) What has Alex learned about power, vision, or vulnerability from being in the room with industry giants?(12:10) Why has Legacy Media been struggling to build an authentic connection with the startup community?(13:27) How is Alex thinking about building a foundation with Upstarts that's going to build into a legacy as lasting as Forbes?(16:03) How is Alex going to be thinking about events as a complement to media?(17:30) Is Alex seeking venture dollars to get Upstarts off the ground?(19:52) If Blue Links are dead, how does Alex think building an audience for the future is going to shift with AI?(23:57) How is Alex using AI in his workflow from editorial decisions to distribution?(29:05) What's next for Upstarts and for Alex personally?(40:06) Who is a woman in Alex's life that has had a profound impact on him and his career?For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on Instagram Follow us on TikTok Check out our guide to podcasting here! Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.**Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.WX Productions

Welcome back to another episode of The Room Podcast! This week, we're excited to chat with Anna Kazlauskas, Co-Founder of Vana, a pioneering company creating an alternative to centralized AI monopolies. Vana uses crypto principles like ownership, incentives, and decentralization to build AI models that users collectively own and benefit from, empowering individuals to control their data while earning from its use.In this enlightening conversation, Anna takes us through her journey from growing up in cold places around the world to her time at MIT's AI lab, and how that led to her vision for data ownership. We explore fascinating concepts like Data DAOs (which Anna compares to labor unions for your data), the emergent "DataFi" category, and how Vana enables users to pool their data to create more powerful AI models than any company could build. Anna shares invaluable insights on fundraising across both crypto and AI spaces, emphasizing the importance of aligning with investors on long-term vision. Tune in for a glimpse into how the future of data ownership could revolutionize our relationship with technology.(00:00) Introduction(03:57) Where did Anna grow up, and how has that shaped her view of the world?(05:25) Did Anna always think she was going to become a founder?(06:58) How did Anna go from just building in general to building in a tech-forward way at MIT?(08:44) What research did Anna ultimately do during her time at MIT's CSAIL?(11:02) How did Anna's insight around the power of data lead to iAmbic, her YC batch 2018 startup?(14:21) How did Anna's experience at Celo shape her understanding of decentralization and data ownership?(16:52) How did Anna decide to start something again and commit to a five-to-ten-year journey?(18:14) Why should users care about Vana creating an alternative to centralized AI monopolies?(21:56) What kind of compensation models is Anna exploring for users who contribute their data?(24:30) To what extent does Anna feel big tech companies will start to empower users with their data to compete with the unionization DAO approach?(27:20) Who was the first person to say yes to investing in Anna?(31:30) How has Anna navigated constantly evolving her story and telling that to both customers and investors?(34:41) What are some of the product and company-wide milestones that Anna is excited about looking into 2025 and beyond?(37:19) What degree of technical feasibility, from a crypto native perspective, is Anna seeing from these builders?(39:15) What is something Anna is most excited for that Vana will be launching later this year?(41:13) Who is a woman in Anna's life that has had a profound impact on her and her career?For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on Instagram Follow us on TikTok Check out our guide to podcasting here! Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.**Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.WX Productions

Elia Wallen, the founder and CEO of Engine, shares his inspiring entrepreneurial journey from dropping out of college to building a $2.1 billion corporate travel platform. He dives into how Engine started as a side project and offers insights on the importance of a frictionless user experience, especially in a crowded market. Elia discusses the delicate balance between bootstrapping and fundraising, the impact of AI on travel booking, and the lessons learned from past ventures. His approach blends innovation with strong conviction and adaptability.

Matan Grinberg and Eno Reyes, co-founders of Factory, share their fascinating journey from Princeton classmates to launching a groundbreaking software development platform just days after reconnecting. They discuss how AI is reshaping development dynamics, shifting focus from coding to understanding and planning. The duo highlights the importance of collaboration and creativity while addressing enterprise challenges in adopting new technologies. With impressive funding backing them, they are at the forefront of an AI-native revolution, aiming to transform developer workflows.

This week, we're excited to speak with Tiancheng Lou, Co-Founder and CTO of Pony AI, a leading autonomous vehicle technology company that went public in November 2024. As a two-time Google Code Jam champion and former engineer at both Google X and Baidu's Autonomous Driving Division, Tiancheng brings exceptional technical expertise to his pioneering work in developing driverless technology with over 40 million kilometers of autonomous driving testing.In this episode, Tiancheng shares fascinating insights into the evolution of autonomous vehicle technology, explaining the difference between level two and level four autonomy and why highway driving is more challenging than city driving for AI. We explore Pony AI's virtual driver technology, their approach to commercialization, and how they're training AI through imitation learning and reinforcement learning in virtual environments. Tiancheng also offers valuable advice for founders on balancing technical ambition with market realities, the importance of finding the right co-founder with aligned visions, and why success can't be copied but failures can be avoided. Tune in for a deep dive into the future of transportation and the journey of building a billion-dollar autonomous technology company.(00:00) Introduction(04:09) Where did Tiancheng grow up, and how did that shape his view of the world?(04:43) Did Tiancheng always think he would become a founder?(05:11) How did Tiancheng's competitive programming background influence his approach to tech?(06:08) How did Tiancheng find out about these competitive programming competitions?(08:46) How did Tiancheng get into the autonomous vehicle space?(11:22) What advice would Tiancheng give listeners on how to break into the autonomous tech space?(13:16) What was the "aha moment' when Tiancheng realized he wanted to start Pony.ai?(14:54) What were the differences between the American and Chinese autonomous vehicle industries?(16:25) What is setting the new virtual driver technologies apart?(18:06) What sets the technologies for autonomous trucks and taxis apart from average consumer cars?(20:56) How do you prepare an autonomous car for unexpected events that may happen on the road?(23:24) When did Tiancheng first put an autonomous car on the road?(24:02) How have consumer reviews been of Pony.ai vehicles?(26:15) How does Pony.ai prioritize their developments?(29:23) Who was the first person to say yes to investing in Pony.ai?(31:02) What advice does Tiancheng have for first-time founders?\(32:30) How does Pony adapt to different regulatory environments across markets?(34:40) How important is mass production and scaling of autonomous vehicles to Pony.ai and the overall industry?(36:01) Are we now in the commercialization era of Robo Taxis?(37:05) Is there an amount of autonomous driving data or a certain metric that Pony.ai aims to collect?\(40:27) What are Tiancheng's thoughts on the future of AI?(42:03) What are Tiancheng's thoughts on Deep Seek?(43:41) What's the next market Pony.ai will be launching in, and what are their goals for global market expansion?(44:19) What's next for Tiancheng personally?(44:44) Who is a woman in Tiancheng's life that had a profound impact on him and his career?For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on Instagram Follow us on TikTok Check out our guide to podcasting here! Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.**Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.WX Productions

In this episode, we're joined by Alexa Grabell, Co-Founder and CEO of Pocus, a company revolutionizing how sales teams work by creating AI agents that supercharge sales representatives. Pocus has developed a suite of tools that combine internal and external data to help sales teams identify opportunities, prepare for calls, and close deals more effectively, generating over half a billion dollars in pipeline for their customers in a single quarter.During our conversation, Alexa shares her journey from consulting at KPMG to Stanford Business School and eventually founding Pocus with her co-founder, Isaac, through the Lean Launchpad program. She offers valuable insights on building a sales team, navigating design partnerships, fundraising strategies for B2B startups, and the evolving landscape of AI-powered sales tools. Alexa also candidly discusses the challenges of being a female founder, the importance of finding community among peer founders, and how her mother's entrepreneurial spirit influenced her own path. Whether you're building a sales team, raising capital, or are interested in how AI is transforming business workflows, this episode delivers practical wisdom from someone who's successfully navigated these waters.(00:00) Introduction(03:52) Where did Alexa grow up and how did that shape her view of the world?(05:12) Did Alexa always think she was going to become a founder?(06:26) How were Alexa's experiences at Vanderbilt and KPMG?(08:07) Why did Alexa choose to go to business school after college?(09:07) How did Alexa's time at GSB encourage her to try becoming a founder?(12:41) What was the moment that made Alexa want to start Pocus?(14:06) How did Alexa navigate conversations with peers to find the right fit for a business partner?(15:56) What is the core product of Pocus?(17:27) How did Pocus successfully sell its product in the beginning?(18:45) What advice does Alexa have for founders in the design partnership phase?(21:16) How is Pocus helping move data from "Point A" to "Point B"?(22:34) Who was the first person to say "yes" to investing in Pocus?(23:18) What's a fundraising hot-take that Alexa has?(24:08) What advice does Alexa have for B2B founders raising their A?(25:41) How is Poucs thinking about and utilizing AI?(27:41) What can go wrong when building a marketing team?(28:59) What advice does Alexa have for PLG or B2B founders who might not feel comfortable in sales?(30:15) How should founders be thinking about the AI sales tool space and the modern tech stack?(31:56) How has the necessary startup capital changed over time?(33:06) What was a moment in founding Pocus when things didn't go as planned?(35:59) How has the experience of being a woman founder changed over time?(40:22) What's coming up for Pocus and for Alexa?(41:13) Who is a woman that has a profound impact on Alexa and her career?For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on Instagram Follow us on TikTok Check out our guide to podcasting here! Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.**Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.WX Productions

Welcome back to another season of The Room Podcast! To kick off season 12, we are joined by Ryan Petersen, Founder and CEO of Flexport, the revolutionary digital freight forwarder transforming how goods move around the world. Launched in 2013, Flexport combines technology and logistics expertise to bring transparency and efficiency to the complex world of global trade, having grown to become the third-largest American company in the ocean freight industry.In this episode, Ryan takes us through his entrepreneurial journey, from his early days running an e-commerce business importing Chinese motorcycles to identifying the massive inefficiencies in international shipping that led to Flexport's creation. We dive into fascinating topics like building a company that combines tech talent with logistics veterans, navigating highly regulated international markets, and leveraging AI to transform an industry that still largely runs on email attachments. Ryan also shares valuable insights on fundraising strategies, responding to tariff changes, and maintaining resilience through unprecedented global disruptions like the pandemic and shipping crises. Tune in for a master class in spotting industry-wide inefficiencies and building a venture-scale business that's reshaping global trade.(00:00) Introduction(04:17) Where did Ryan grow up and how did that shape his view of the world?(06:08) Did Ryan always think he would become a founder?(07:30) What was Ryan's experience prior to Flexport, after Berkeley and Columbia?(13:05) What was it like doing business in China in the early 2000s?(16:447) How did Ryan go from observing inefficiencies to creating Flexport's first product?(20:11) What's Ryan's advice on when founders should say no to customers?(25:05) When did Ryan know to hire supply chain experts versus engineers?(27:20) Who was the first person to invest in the Flexport vision?(35:10) How did Flexport navigate the highly regulated logistics market early on?(37:19) What key tech bets shaped Flexport's path in the early days?(43:04) What's Ryan's view on AI in the logistics workforce?(49:44) How is Ryan thinking about the shifts in the US tariff market?(54:40) How has Ryan handled uncertainty as a founder through unprecedented times?(58:26) Who is a woman who has had a profound impact on Ryan and his career?For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on Instagram Follow us on TikTok Check out our guide to podcasting here! Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.**Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.WX Productions

In this special holiday episode of The Room Podcast, we sit down with Agatha Kluk and Sonia Farber, the co-founders of Kluk Farber Law (now part of Perkins Coie), a specialized law firm dedicated to supporting innovative founders and startups. Their firm provides strategic legal guidance to entrepreneurs navigating the complex landscape of building and scaling companies. This candid conversation takes us through the evolution of their practice, from its founding in 2017 to its strategic partnership with Perkins Coie. Throughout our discussion, we explore the intersection of law and entrepreneurship, highlighting how the right legal partnership can empower founders to achieve their vision. At its core, Kluk Farber Law provides comprehensive legal services tailored specifically for startups and emerging companies. Key topics in this episode include strategic guidance for company sales and earn-out negotiations, balancing tech automation with historically successful advisory services, and AI regulation and compliance considerations.(00:00) Introduction(05:07) Where did Agatha and Sonia grow up and how did that shape their view of the world?(07:10) Did Agatha and Sonia grow up thinking they would be founders and lawyers?(08:44) How did Agatha and Sonia find themselves at the intersection of law and tech?(12:24) How did Agatha and Sonia meet?(13:02) What made Agatha and Sonia want to work together?(19:29) What was the original goal of the firm that Agatha and Sonia started?(21:22) What is the most common pitfall founders face when fundraising from VCs and, what are some of the mistakes to look out for when selling your company?(23:48) Who or what is a memorable client or case that stands out from the first few years of working together?(29:17) What encouraged Agatha and Sonia to say yes when being acquired in 2022?(32:17) What is something that is not discussed enough when it comes to acquisition?(34:19) How is tech affecting the legal sector, specifically for Agatha and Sonia?(36:35) How do Agatha and Sonia feel about the current proposed AI regulations?(39:28) Do Agatha and Sonia fund or support the founding of a venture firm?(40:42) Are Agatha and Sonia bullish or bearish on first-time fund managers in today's market?(47:06) Who is a woman in Agatha and Sonia's lives that has had a profound impact on them and their careers?For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on Instagram Follow us on TikTok Check out our guide to podcasting here! Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.**Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.WX Productions

Welcome back to another episode of The Room Podcast! This week, we’re thrilled to chat with Wade Foster, CEO and Co-Founder of Zapier, the tool that’s revolutionized workflows by making automation accessible to anyone. Zapier helps businesses and individuals connect the apps they rely on, creating seamless integrations that save time and boost productivity.In this episode, Wade takes us through Zapier’s origins, its flagship no-code-needed automation platform, and how the company has carved out a niche as the go-to solution for streamlining business processes. We also dive into fascinating topics like growing a fully remote team before it was trendy, navigating the unique challenges of bootstrapping in a venture-driven world, and the surprising lessons Wade learned while literally counting telephone poles during a college internship. Tune in for insights on building impactful products, a behind-the-scenes look at Zapier's innovative culture, and a glimpse into what it takes to lead one of today’s most versatile SaaS companies.(00:00) Introduction(04:53) Where did Wade grow up and how did that shape his view of the world?(06:08) Did Wade always think he was going to become a founder?(07:01) How did Wade develop an interest in entrepreneurship?(09:58) Why was Wade's first internship so impactful?(12:31) How did Wade meet his cofounders and come up with the idea for Zapier?(14:24) How was Wade's experience at YC?(15:38) What lessons has Wade learned about marketing and sales tactics?(16:53) What advice does Wade have for founders entering YC to maximize their experience?(22:09) What were some moments when Wade realized they were onto something with Zapier?(22:42) What advice would Wade give to founders looking to grow in today's market conditions?(25:36) What's a memorable moment from the founding journey of Zapier?(27:08) How did Zapier scale while maintaining authenticity to its core values?(30:37) What is Zapier's core product?(32:07) How has the business model of Zapier scaled alongside the product?(35:24) What lessons has Wade learned on pricing and packaging B2B SaaS products?(37:58) How is Zapier thinking about the future of their business?(39:35) What is Zapier's view on how AI and automation are coming together?(42:57) What are some things Zapier customers can look forward to in 2025?(44:02) What is Wade personally excited about for the near future?(44:19) Who is a woman in Wade's life who has had a profound impact on him and his career?For The Room Podcast in your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.Follow us on Instagram Follow us on TikTok Check out our guide to podcasting here! Don't forget to subscribe to our channel on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music!Brought to you by Perkins Coie and Mercury.**Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.WX Productions