Founders in Arms

Jesse Tinsley, a seasoned entrepreneur and CEO of Recruiter.com, shares his unique approach to making unprofitable startups profitable quickly. He discusses his acquisition strategy, including recent moves like buying Bench Accounting and his bid for TikTok. Tinsley illuminates the challenges of navigating startup salaries and the necessity for innovative compensation strategies in a volatile market. He also emphasizes the importance of understanding employee motivation and the dynamics of M&A for entrepreneurs, offering invaluable insights for founders.

Join Immad Akhund and Raj Suri as they dive deep into the implications of DeepSeek and the rapidly evolving AI landscape with Richard Price, founder and CEO of Academia.edu. The conversation explores the fascinating shift in AI development costs, with DeepSeek challenging assumptions about the resources needed to build frontier models. Richard shares insights about Academia.edu's work applying AI to academic research, while the trio discusses the geopolitical dynamics between China and the US in the AI race. Through candid exchanges about synthetic data generation, regulatory challenges, and the future of human-AI integration, this episode offers a unique perspective on the advancing AI frontier from three tech leaders at the intersection of startups and artificial intelligence.

Join Raj Suri as he sits down with Jeevan Kalanithi, co-founder and CEO of OpenSpace AI, to explore the revolutionary impact of computer vision technology in construction and beyond. From his early days at MIT Media Lab to founding innovative startups, Jeevan shares insights on how OpenSpace is transforming construction site management through spatial AI and 360-degree documentation. Discover why Jeevan believes we're still in the early stages of a camera revolution that will reshape how we interact with physical spaces. Whether you're interested in AI, tech for the physical world, or the future of spatial computing, this episode offers a compelling look at how computer vision is becoming an invisible but essential part of our world.

Dive into the shifting relationship between technology and politics as experts discuss the implications of a partisan tech landscape. Explore the concept of monopolies among giants like Google and Apple, and the tension this creates in democracy. The conversation highlights the evolving power dynamics in startups and the increasing influence of AI. Learn valuable lessons on fundraising, market selection, and the emotional journey of founders navigating these tumultuous waters.

In this insightful discussion, Edward Woodford, founder of ZeroHash and expert in crypto infrastructure, shares his journey as a British entrepreneur in America. He delves into the complexities of launching crypto and stablecoin products amid varying global regulations. Woodford emphasizes the emotional landscape for founders during market volatility and the critical nature of engaging with policymakers. He also sheds light on the delicate balance between autonomy and regulation, exploring the implications of recent policy changes in the stablecoin industry.

Dilan Dane, a serial founder and biohacking enthusiast, shares his fascinating journey from war-torn Sri Lanka to MIT. He discusses the intersection of longevity science and space exploration, emphasizing how technology can extend human life. Dane delves into biohacking techniques, including supplements like rapamycin, to enhance health. The conversation also highlights the role of AI in wellness coaching, merging human connection with technological advancements, and touches on the philosophical implications of our evolving relationship with AI and robotics.

Join Immad Akhund and Raj Suri as they dive deep with John Bicket, co-founder and CTO of Samsara and previously Meraki, into the rare feat of building two successful hardware-software companies. From turning MIT research into a cloud networking pioneer at Meraki to revolutionizing fleet operations at Samsara, John shares candid insights about the existential challenges of serial entrepreneurship, the discipline of testing product-market fit, and how to scale company culture while staying ruthlessly focused on customer impact. The conversation offers a unique window into what it takes to spot technological waves early and build enduring businesses in the challenging hardware-software space.Connect with us on Tribe:https://trbcht.com/invites/WmHNjar5ZN

In this episode of Founders in Arms, Immad and Raj sit down with Daniel Kivatinos, founder of JustPaid and DrChrono. The group starts by sharing their startup war stories, including Raj's shocking tale of an intern-turned-criminal and Daniel's unconventional recruitment of a Chipotle employee. The discussion then delves into the complexities of healthcare in America, sparked by recent news of the UnitedHealth CEO shooting, before transitioning into valuable insights about the M&A process. Daniel shares his experience selling DrChrono after 14 years, exploring the challenges of startup acquisitions, the role of investment bankers, and the evolving landscape of startup resources and information available to founders today.Connect with us on Tribe:https://trbcht.com/invites/WmHNjar5ZN

In this wide-ranging conversation with Box CEO Aaron Levie, Immad and Raj dive deep into the intersection of technology, politics, and regulation. Levie shares candid insights about quiet quitting, what’s real about AI and crypto, and his thought-provoking views on government regulation. They explore the potential of DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) and the delicate balance between regulatory oversight and technological progress. Want to join the conversation? Connect with us on Tribe:https://trbcht.com/invites/WmHNjar5ZN

In this episode of Founders in Arms, Raj sits down solo with Leonard Speiser, co-founder of Clover, to explore the intricacies of building and scaling hardware startups. Speiser shares the remarkable story of how Clover achieved what seemed impossible: developing enterprise-grade payment hardware from concept to production in just nine months, eventually processing over $300 billion in payments. He discusses the innovative acquisition structure with KKR that allowed Clover to maintain startup agility while leveraging enterprise distribution, offering valuable insights for founders navigating corporate partnerships. Through candid discussions about hardware challenges, fundraising difficulties, and creative business models, this episode offers a masterclass in building transformative technology companies through unconventional paths.Want to join the conversation? Connect with us on Tribe:https://trbcht.com/invites/WmHNjar5ZN