Sheel Mohnot, founder of BTV Ventures and 500 FinTech, shares his insights on the rapidly evolving fintech landscape and its implications for new entrepreneurs. He discusses India's entrepreneurial spirit, highlighting the influences of Ratan Tata and the opportunities arising from a growing middle class. The conversation dives into the significance of innovation in banking and the unique advantages of India's tech talent pool. Additionally, Mohnot emphasizes the importance of building a social media audience for startups to enhance growth and investor relations.

Immad and Raj sit down with Martin Basiri, co-founder and former CEO of ApplyBoard and current CEO of Passage, for a conversation that delves deep into the world of education technology and immigration. Martin shares insights on the challenges and opportunities present in the education sector, discussing ApplyBoard's unique business model and the impact it has had on international students. They examine the current state of higher education, the importance of immigration for economic growth in countries like Canada and the US, and the potential for innovation in ed-tech and the obstacles faced by entrepreneurs in this space. The conversation offers a thought-provoking look at the future of education and the role of technology in shaping it.Want to join the conversation? Connect with us on Tribe:https://trbcht.com/invites/WmHNjar5ZN

Immad and Raj sit down with Paul English, the co-founder and former CTO of Kayak, for a deep dive into consumer tech startups. Paul shared some fascinating insights from his entrepreneurial journey, including building capital-efficient companies, leveraging AI to boost productivity, and the future of AR glasses and wearables. In addition, Paul shares why he believes founders should run both for-profit and non-profit ventures, and how he manages to balance multiple projects while maintaining low stress levels. The conversation features a bounty of practical advice and valuable lessons for young founders.Want to join the conversation? Connect with us on Tribe:https://trbcht.com/invites/WmHNjar5ZN

Dive into the world of AI as the hosts discuss OpenAI's new model with remarkable reasoning skills and its potential in vertical markets. They navigate the challenges of remote work sparked by Amazon's decision to bring employees back full-time, contrasting this with flexible approaches at other tech companies. The conversation also highlights innovative indoor recreational facilities aimed at fostering socialization and activity in urban areas, reflecting on how these changes influence local economies and consumer behaviors.

Paul Buchheit, the creator of Gmail and a Y Combinator partner, shares valuable insights on the evolution of AI and the future of large language models. He discusses the importance of data quality and the challenges facing AI training methods. Buchheit explores the potential for open-source AI to disrupt centralized power, and the implications for advertising and healthcare. He also delves into the power of narrative in shaping societal beliefs and the critical need for entrepreneurs to reflect on their own stories and seek disconfirming evidence to refine their narratives.

Immad and Raj are joined by special guest Greg Isenberg (Late Checkout) to discuss the recent buzz around "founder mode" and debate the merits of VC-backing in startup. Greg provides insights from his experiences building multiple businesses, sharing where he’s seen other ‘modes’ and highlighting the freedom and financial benefits of avoiding VC funding. Whether you're a founder weighing funding options or interested in startup strategy, this episode offers a thought-provoking look at different modes of building and scaling businesses in today's tech landscape.Want to join the conversation? Connect with us on Tribe:https://trbcht.com/invites/WmHNjar5ZNListen to the Startup Ideas Podcast with Greg Isenberg here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-startup-ideas-podcast/id1593424985 Read Raj’s essay, “How to Grow Your Startup while being Cash-Flow Positive,” here: https://rajatsuri.substack.com/p/how-to-grow-your-startup-while-beingRead "Founder Mode" here:https://paulgraham.com/foundermode.html

Today on Founders in Arms, Immad and Raj explore two of the largest stories in startup this week: The arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov, and what Nvidia’s latest earnings report indicates about the future of AI. Immad and Raj debate the complexities of free speech, encryption, and international regulations for tech companies that Durov’s arrest has raised; before turning their attention toward AI to discuss whether we're in an AI bubble, how the technology might impact productivity across various industries, and whether incumbents or startups will play the greatest role in AI’s long-term development. Tune in to hear Immad and Raj’s expert insights on how these stories affect founders today.Want to join the conversation? Connect with us on Tribe:https://trbcht.com/invites/WmHNjar5ZN

In the debut episode of "Founders in Arms," Immad Akhund (Mercury) and Raj Suri (Lima, Presto, and Lyft) explore the growing impact of regulatory capture on startups in Silicon Valley. They discuss how tech's focus has shifted to more regulated spaces like deep tech, fintech, and AI, examining both the challenges and opportunities for startups in these areas. The hosts analyze the current political climate's effect on tech regulation and share advice for entrepreneurs considering regulated spaces and an invitation for listener engagement in future discussions. Tune in for a better understanding of how regulatory capture will affect startups into the future.

In this episode of the Curiosity Podcast, Immad and Raj interview Bill Guttentag for a discussion on the evolution of the film industry. Bill is an award-winning writer and producer, best known for his films You Don’t Have to Die, Nanking, and Crime & Punishment. The conversation explores the creative process, how new technology will impact tomorrow’s movies, the financial landscape behind the film industry, and why powerful storytelling has remained central to great filmmaking. Tune in for an in-depth discussion on the challenges and rewards of creative expression.[00:00:00] Introduction[00:06:49] Documentary Filmmaking[00:13:43] Programming[00:17:24] The future of filmmaking[00:24:51] Art and Award Shows[00:28:28] Movie theaters[00:29:30] Different roles in filmmaking[00:34:26] Budgeting time in filmmaking[00:37:01] Recent Work and Creative Process[00:41:30] Funding creative film projects[00:44:16] Dealing with rejection[00:47:28] Building community[00:52:41] Filmmaking and startups[00:54:12] Evolution of filmmaking technology

Leadership expert and author Gautam Mukunda joins Immad and Raj for an in-depth discussion on the systems that determine leaders in business and politics. Gautam shares what makes a great leader, touching on leadership in both business and politics. They dissect observable patterns on leadership that can give us insight into the upcoming U.S. presidential election, as well as the qualities of a good president and the current political landscape. Tune in to gain insights on the systems that govern leadership and decision-making in crucial situations.