Jake & JZ

It’s the end of Season 1 for Jake & JZ! In this mini episode, we announce that we’re taking a break to publish our new book Click and launch some other cool projects.Shoot, we gave away the content of the episode in the show notes! Still, it’s worth tuning in to hear our conversation about:Jake’s new Elgato teleprompter (not an ad)The iContact Camera (also not an ad)Baby Mama and the gift of uninterrupted eye contactWhy human visual perception is a predictionWhy Zoom calls are so exhaustingVisual ASMRIf you have ideas or requests for Season 2, please send us an email at hey@jakeandjz.com. We’d love to hear from you!Thanks for listening and watching, and we’ll see you soon.📩 Subscribe to our newsletter at JakeAndJZ.com💸 Learn more about our seed fund at Character Capital🥸 Find Jake on LinkedIn and X🤠 Find JZ on LinkedIn Blue Sky and X

The hosts dive into the crucial topic of maintaining freedom of movement in startups, stressing agility over premature commitments. They discuss how startups often outmaneuver established companies by leveraging unique advantages. Innovations in sleep technology, like the Eight Sleep mattress, are explored alongside personal anecdotes about sleep routines. They humorously navigate caffeine habits and share experiences recording their audiobook, highlighting creative collaboration amidst challenges. Throughout, the blend of personal stories and sharp insights keeps the conversation lively.

Eli Blee-Goldman, co-founder and partner at Character Capital, shares insights on the rapid evolution of AI and its implications for startups. He discusses the stir created by the launch of DeepSeek R1, highlighting its impact and the shift in the AI landscape. Eli also talks about their latest investments and the diverse types of AI founders emerging today. The conversation underscores the balance between swift innovation and strategic focus, especially in integrating AI into business effectively.

Eli Blee-Goldman, co-founder and partner at Character Capital, dives deep into the world of AI and its implications for startups. He shares predictions about how AI advancements will reshape product design and development. The conversation emphasizes the critical role of human agency in an AGI future and discusses the tension between competition and ethics in AI growth. Eli also reflects on the transformative power of design sprints, enhancing product alignment with user needs, and the evolving nature of meaningful work in tech.

10 years ago, we learned how caffeine really works, and it changed how we use, consume, and enjoy coffee. Tune in for a Jake & JZ deep dive on caffeine — from working with Blue Bottle, to our current coffee routines, to insights and tactics for making the most of this wonderful substance.On episode 14 of Jake & JZ, we talked about:How caffeine really worksLearning about caffeine from Ryan Brown at Blue Bottle CoffeeGoing deeper for Make TimeTwo surprising caffeine insightsTwo helpful coffee tacticsJZ’s favorite coffee maker: The OXO BrewJake’s espresso machine: The Breville BES870XLBoon Boona CoffeeA great book: Deskbound by Kelly Starrett (not about caffeine, still great)And much moreHave a question for us? Send it to hey@jakeandjz.com and we’ll answer it on the show.📩 Get an email about every episode at JakeAndJZ.com💸 Learn more about our seed fund at Character Capital🥸 Find Jake on LinkedIn and X🤠 Find JZ on LinkedIn, X, and Blue Sky

We wrote a new book!!! It’s called Click and it’s all about the Foundation Sprint, our new 2-day method for kicking off big projects!We are SUPER excited to share it with you all, and this week’s episode is a deep dive into the process of writing the book and how it fits into our investing strategy.Learn more about the book at theclickbook.comOn episode 13 of Jake & JZ, we talked about:How to get early access to ClickThe history of the Foundation SprintBooks that inspired us: Psychology of Money, Power of Habit, Building a Storybrand, The Heath Brothers’ booksWhat we look for when we investWhy we had to share the Foundation SprintHave a question for us? Send it to hey@jakeandjz.com and we’ll answer on the show.📩 Get an email about every episode at JakeAndJZ.com💸 Learn more about our seed fund at Character Capital🥸 Find Jake on LinkedIn and X🤠 Find JZ on LinkedIn, Blue Sky and X

The latest discussion dives deep into Character Labs, a structured accelerator for AI founders aimed at achieving product-market fit. It explores the thrilling moment when products resonate with customers and emphasizes the importance of customer-centric development. The role of AI in revolutionizing prototyping is highlighted, showcasing efficiency in simulations. Additionally, the conversation touches on navigating hypotheses and the power of collaborative learning in the startup journey.

Dive into the world of essential reads that tackle uncertainty and sharpen focus. Discover how 'Getting Real' emphasizes building meaningful products and avoiding mediocrity. Explore strategic insights from 'Good Strategy, Bad Strategy' to gain a competitive edge. Uncover the necessity of deep focus with Cal Newport’s 'Deep Work' in our distraction-filled culture. Learn why every business should have an enemy and hear fascinating stories from the early days of successful startups. Join a lively discussion filled with literary insights and practical lessons!

Jake gets a bit vulnerable and talks about Perfection Anxiety, which he’s struggled with since childhood. If you ever feel stuck, or worry your work won’t be good enough, be sure to check out this episode — we share a BUNCH of concrete tactics for overcoming Perfection Anxiety and getting started.On episode 10 of Jake & JZ, we also talked about:How to run two sprints in one weekWinter in the Pacific NorthwestWhy discipline doesn’t workWorking at newspapersA great podcast episode: Starbucks on AcquiredA great newsletter: Spyglass by M.G. SieglerHave a question for us? Send it to hey@jakeandjz.com and we’ll answer it on the show.📩 Get an email about every episode at JakeAndJZ.com💸 Learn more about our seed fund at Character Capital🥸 Find Jake on LinkedIn and X🤠 Find JZ on LinkedIn, Bluesky, and X

This episode is about our SINGLE BEST technique for avoiding distraction every day. In part two of our mini series on Make Time, Jake describes the Distraction-Free iPhone — which he started doing 10 years ago!! If you’re looking for a simple, powerful way to block distraction (ESPECIALLY after episode 8’s discussion of the Highlight Method), be sure to tune in.On episode 9 of Jake & JZ, we also talked about:Lord Nelson and the importance of proper provisioningAttention ResidueWhy Jake deleted all the distracting apps from his phone (and what’s left)JZ’s experience with a Distraction-Free Phone (and what’s NOT on his phone today)Why LinkedIn is an adult websiteTreating colleagues as friendsA great app: How We FeelA great Netflix series: Starting 5Have a question for us? Send it to hey@jakeandjz.com and we’ll answer it on the show.📩 Get an email about every episode at JakeAndJZ.com💸 Learn more about our seed fund at Character Capital🥸 Find Jake on LinkedIn and X🤠 Find JZ on LinkedIn, Bluesky, and X