

The {Closed} Session
Tom Chavez, Vivek Vaidya, super{set}
Building a company from scratch is soul-sucking and mind-numbingly hard - but it’s the best thing ever.
We know this because we’ve built a couple ourselves - and we’re building a lot more right now.
We’ve made a lot of money for our employees, our shareholders, ourselves - we’re proud of that - and that’s why we want to talk about how it’s done.
Join us - Tom Chavez and Vivek Vaidya - in The Closed Session, where we reveal all the joys and sorrows of company building. From the guttermost to the uttermost, we’re not going to hold back.
We know this because we’ve built a couple ourselves - and we’re building a lot more right now.
We’ve made a lot of money for our employees, our shareholders, ourselves - we’re proud of that - and that’s why we want to talk about how it’s done.
Join us - Tom Chavez and Vivek Vaidya - in The Closed Session, where we reveal all the joys and sorrows of company building. From the guttermost to the uttermost, we’re not going to hold back.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 6, 2025 • 41min
How AI is rewriting startup growth playbooks
Most AI pilots fail because founders are retrofitting old playbooks instead of rebuilding revenue architecture. Mark Roberge, founding CRO at HubSpot who scaled from $0 to $100M revenue, breaks down how AI compresses traditional sales cycles and transforms go-to-market execution. He reveals why selling time will jump from 25% to 75% of a rep's week, how AI enables real-time ICP refinement and account targeting, and why sustainable moats now depend on owning the point of work rather than systems of record.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sep 15, 2025 • 39min
Growth lessons from consumer tech operator‑investor
Most vertical AI companies fail because they're building features, not businesses. Rachel ten Brink, GP at Red Bike Capital and former Scentbird co-founder (scaled to 500K+ subscribers, $29M raised), breaks down how to build defensible vertical AI that survives the regulatory gauntlet. She reveals her operator's test for distinguishing product businesses from services wrappers, explains how winning data network effects emerge from proprietary processing of public data, and shares the specific go-to-market playbook that works for enterprise AI sales cycles.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sep 3, 2025 • 6min
Is AI in Investment Banking a Replacement or Revolution?
Most AI adoption in finance is just automation theater—real transformation requires rethinking entire workflows. George Lee, former CTO and M&A head at Goldman Sachs, explains why AI won't replace bankers but will compress deal cycle times from weeks to days. He breaks down how junior talent using AI companions can eliminate rote tasks while expanding analytical surface area, and why the "Boyle's law" principle means human capital will always find new problems to solve for clients.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sep 2, 2025 • 28min
How AI Transforms Different Corners of Earth
Most AI investment flows to infrastructure while founders ignore energy constraints that will determine who survives. George Lee, Co-Head of Goldman Sachs Global Institute, breaks down the bottlenecks choking AI deployment from silicon to grid capacity.George reveals flexible demand management frameworks that could unlock 75-125 gigawatts of slack capacity, eliminating energy bottlenecks. He and Tom go on to discuss why Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds are building strategic energy advantages, and how nondeterministic AI systems require continuous sampling protocols.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 19, 2025 • 39min
Common threads through 25 years of VC investing
AI startups fail because founders obsess over models, not company building. Harrison Miller is a former VP/GM from Amazon.com’s early years, and former MD of Summit Partners, which over 40+ years has invested $40B in more than 550 tech companies. He explains why execution, not algorithms, determines survival.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 25, 2024 • 1h 4min
The Brothers Chavez In Conversation: Tom & Marty Chavez on AI, Investing, + More
In this engaging conversation, Marty Chavez, Partner and Vice Chairman at Sixth Street and former CFO of Goldman Sachs, joins his brother Tom, Founding General Partner at super{set}. They explore the dynamics of their sibling relationship, share insights on the evolving landscape of AI and investing, and discuss the importance of talent development in startups. Marty reflects on his personal journey as an LGBTQ individual in finance, addressing representation and the accountability of social media. Expect a mix of humor and profound insights!

Apr 26, 2024 • 59min
super{set} Celebrates First Exit: LiveRamp Acquires Habu for $200M
Matt Kilmartin and Mike Moreau, co-founders of Habu, share their journey from inception to $200M acquisition by LiveRamp. They discuss early sales strategies, team dynamics, emotional challenges of exit, and importance of diversity in team building. They highlight innovation, humility, and the seamless integration of Habu into LiveRamp.

Mar 28, 2024 • 43min
super{set} Fund II: Intensifying Our Serial Focus on Data+AI Company Building
Announcing super{set} Fund II to invest in data+AI startups at inception. Jeremy Klein shares insights on fund raising and company building strategies. Discussion on evolving data+AI industry, market opportunities, and strategic approaches. Highlight on collaboration, autonomy, and equity for co-founders. Exploring challenges in B2B software company building and success stories at SuperSet.

Feb 7, 2024 • 51min
Creating a People-First Performance Culture for Startups
Talent and career development in startups is typically nonexistent - so at super{set}, we're changing that. While a startup’s opportunities for rapid growth and trial by fire are incredible, we believe startup employees can still benefit from intentional mentorship and development. No - it's not about bringing in professional coaches who lack hands-on company-building expertise. And no, it's more than advice from the balcony unmarried to what life is actually like in the startup trenches.Joining Tom and Vivek in the studio are the first graduates of super{set}’s coaching program for its employees: Jen D’Amico (Head of Business Development at Ketch), Anupam Gupta (Head of Customer Success at Ketch), and Ted Flanagan (Chief Customer Officer at Habu, recently Acquired by LiveRamp). How can startups improve outcomes by becoming more self-aware and assessing strengths and development areas better? How can entrepreneurs create the soil conditions for their employees to perform, even within the fast-paced startup environment? What advice do Jen, Anupam, and Ted have for startup employees - and the founders at the helm - around the globe? Join us in the first episode of Season 5 of The {Closed} Session!Listen (or watch) all episodes of The {Closed} Session at www.theclosedsession.comLearn more about Ketch at www.ketch.comLearn more about Habu (acquired by LiveRamp) at www.habu.comLearn more about super{set} - including co-founding with us and open roles across our portfolio of companies - at www.superset.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dec 20, 2023 • 35min
Rachel Gollub on Engineering, Entrepreneurship & Leading Healthcare AI
Rachel Gollub, a distinguished engineer and entrepreneur, shares her journey from Java to healthcare AI. She discusses building successful teams, bouncing back from failures, and the future of technology in patient care. From her experience with tech luminaries to integrating advanced technologies, Rachel's insights on adaptability and innovation make this episode a must-listen for tech enthusiasts.