Founders in Arms

Jay Shah, founder of Poppy—a revolutionary screenless, AI-native phone for kids—shares his journey from creating BufferBox, acquired by Google, to crafting meaningful tech for children. He discusses the need for intentional design to enhance kids' interactions with technology and the challenges of hardware manufacturing. Jay also reflects on lessons learned as a second-time founder and the vibrant tech community in Waterloo. The role of Y Combinator and the future of AI in transforming startups are also key highlights of their engaging conversation.

Ryan Petersen, Co-founder and CEO of Flexport, dives into the complexities of the 104% tariffs imposed on Chinese imports. He discusses how companies are adapting to trade turmoil and the urgent need for innovative supply chain strategies. The conversation touches on the economic implications of protectionist policies and the evolving landscape of U.S.-China commerce. Petersen also sheds light on the role of creativity and flexibility in navigating economic challenges, making for a compelling exploration of global trade dynamics.

Sam Chaudhary, CEO of ClassDojo, discusses building a thriving educational platform used by over 50 million students. He reveals the unconventional strategy of focusing on consumer networks before monetization. Sam emphasizes the importance of viewing parents as primary customers and the profound impact of creating ‘cozy bubbles’ for children. The conversation dives into fostering independence, minimizing comparison, and leveraging the unique dynamics of small teams to enhance performance. His insights offer a fresh perspective on navigating and innovating in the education market.

Hiten Shah, founder of Crazy Egg and KISSmetrics, lends his expertise as he dives into Mercury's remarkable $300M Series C funding round. He and Raj Suri unpack how Mercury conquered basic user experience issues in banking to enhance customer satisfaction. They discuss strategic fundraising insights, the significance of transparent investor updates, and the overlooked power of design in financial products. This conversation offers entrepreneurs vital lessons on navigating fintech challenges and recognizing market opportunities in a highly competitive landscape.

Are we mentally prepared for what happens when intelligence becomes an abundant resource rather than a scarce one?Hosts Immad Akhund (Mercury CEO) and Raj Suri (Lima/Tribe co-founder) welcome back Paul Buchheit—Gmail creator and former Y Combinator partner—for our most requested follow-up episode. Together they dive into how exponentially increasing intelligence will transform our civilization, with Paul bringing his uniquely optimistic yet pragmatic perspective to the profound questions facing humanity.This wide-ranging conversation includes thought exercises like why the transition from scarcity to abundance creates an existential meaning crisis, how intelligence without intention changes our understanding of consciousness, and why current political systems may be fundamentally incompatible with AI-accelerated progress.This episode is essential listening for anyone seeking to understand how technology will reshape human experience. 

Auren Hoffman, a successful founder turned investor and co-founder of SafeGraph, shares his bold views on startup strategies. He argues that hiring executives might be the worst mistake for startups, favoring internal talent instead. Auren also discusses the importance of generous equity options for early employees and rethinking founder equity beyond four-year vesting. He critiques the common practices of VCs, revealing the discrepancies between their advice and actions, and advocates for innovation in compensation and funding approaches that challenge traditional norms.

Being small isn't a disadvantage—it's your superpower. Just one provocative sentiment from this episode that challenges conventional startup wisdom and delves into the mindset behind entrepreneurial success.Waseem Daher brings insights from his journey across three successful startups—KSplice (acquired by Oracle), Zulip (acquired by Dropbox), and now Pilot, where he recently transitioned from CEO to executive chair. Host Raj Suri, himself a multi-time founder, creates an environment where honest founder-to-founder exchange flourishes beyond the typical success narratives.The conversation unpacks frameworks such as the "David vs. Goliath" approach to competition, why unpopular decisions often signal good leadership, and how to maintain the delicate balance of the Stockdale paradox—confronting brutal facts while maintaining unwavering faith in eventual success. This episode offers rare insights into the psychological tools that sustain founders through years of uncertainty and challenge. The mental models discussed here apply beyond startups to any leadership position where resilience, decision-making, and maintaining perspective are crucial to success.

How do you build a sustainable AI business when investors are throwing money at anything with "AI" in the pitch deck? This episode brings together Jesse Zhang (Decagon AI CEO), Immad Akhund (Mercury CEO), and Raj Suri (Lima/Tribe co-founder) for a strategic conversation that centers on the business challenges of building an enterprise AI company that can sustain beyond the current hype cycle.Jesse reveals how AI moves beyond being a mere chatbot to become a "system of intelligence" that encodes complex business logic, creating moats for companies that implement it effectively. The conversation also explores the realities of implementation, adoption, and enterprise sales strategies that actually work.Technology founders, customer experience leaders, and investors will find this episode particularly illuminating as it bridges the gap between AI hype and practical implementation. Whether you're evaluating customer service AI, selling enterprise technology, or navigating fundraising, this conversation provides the strategic context and tactical insights needed to make better decisions.

Why do even the most sophisticated tech investors often shy away from biotech? It often seems like an impenetrable maze of regulations, clinical trials, and complex science.Enter Hannu Rajaniemi, who brings a refreshingly clear perspective to the world of biotech. As both the CEO of Helix Nanotechnologies and a bestselling science fiction author, he bridges the gap between cutting-edge science and practical business insights. In conversation with Mercury CEO Immad Akhund and Lima co-founder Raj Suri, Rajaniemi reveals the real dynamics shaping the future of medicine.The discussion unpacks several game-changing trends that every tech entrepreneur should understand: how AI reasoning models are revolutionizing research and development, why global competition is making traditional biotech business models obsolete, and what really matters when evaluating biotech investments. 

Hiten Shah, a serial entrepreneur known for his successful ventures like Crazy Egg and KISSmetrics, joins the conversation with Immad Akhund and Rajat Suri. They delve into the complexities of founder identity in large companies and share hard-won lessons on navigating acquisitions. The trio discusses the evolving AI landscape, the differences between venture-backed and bootstrapped startups, and the significance of aligning personal passions with business goals. Practical insights on customer choices and competitive strategies offer valuable wisdom for aspiring founders.