Founders in Arms

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.

In a world where distinguishing between reality and generative AI is becoming increasingly more difficult, how can we protect ourselves from being influenced by hyper-realistic reproductions of an individual’s voice and likeness? Ben Colman, Co-Founder and CEO of Reality Defender, shares how their technology is currently being used to detect generative AI and how this new trend will impact tomorrow’s world. This conversation covers how AI is being used for misinformation, criminal activities, and election interference, and how we can avoid falling victim to a clever deep-fake created for malicious purposes.

Miles Taylor, former chief of staff of the Department of Homeland Security, joins Immad and Raj for a discussion on emerging technologies and national security. They discuss whether AI will be a useful tool or existential threat to national security and American Democracy, and explore how this new technology is already affecting the 2024 election. This conversation also covers a variety of public policy topics, including immigration reform and ranked choice voting. Tune in for an inside look at the state of American politics in 2024 and the future we are heading toward.[00:00:00] Introduction[00:04:26] Miles’ Early Career[00:09:54] Time at the DHS.[00:13:37] National security priorities[00:16:05] The future of democracy[00:17:58] The future of national security[00:23:52] US foreign policy implications[00:27:46] Current political climate in the US[00:34:31] Ranked Choice Voting and Proportional Representation[00:43:54] Immigration laws and security[00:53:17] 2024 Election possible outcomes[00:55:20] Immigration bill bipartisan struggles