First Builders

David Hoang, VP of Design at Atlassian and a seasoned design leader with experience at Webflow and Replit, shares insights on building impactful design infrastructures. He discusses the critical timing for hiring a first designer and the importance of authenticity in a founder's voice. David emphasizes how design should drive growth rather than be an afterthought and highlights lessons from his diverse experiences in tech companies. With a focus on user-centered design, he explores the future of design amidst AI advancements and the need for resilience in leadership.

How does a doctor become a startup founder? Danish Nagda, Co-Founder & CEO of Rezilient, joins First Builders to share his journey from the hospital floor to reimagining how care is delivered for high-risk patients.Danish left medicine to co-found Rezilient, a virtual-first care platform connecting patients to their providers in ways traditional systems can’t. He’s also the host of Uncanny Valley, where he explores the real stories of founders and innovators breaking into tech.In this episode, Danish shares:– Why being an outsider in Silicon Valley became his advantage– How adaptability shaped Rezilient’s growth through market shifts– Lessons on founder-led sales and building a personal brand– The co-founder dynamics that keep his company strongIt’s a conversation about identity, conviction, and building boldly—inside and outside of Silicon Valley.Follow Danish NagdaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danishnagdaCompany: https://www.rezilienthealth.comPodcast: Uncanny ValleyMake sure you follow us on all our social channels below and watch full episodes on YouTube.Subscribe to our newsletter to get new episode drops in your inbox.Your HostsAmber & RachelInstagram: @thecouncilcapitalTwitter/X: @first_builders_LinkedIn: The CouncilTikTok: @firstbuilderspodShow NotesDanish’s path from medicine to co-founding RezilientBreaking into tech as an outsider and building credibilityFounder-led sales and personal branding for early-stage leadersLessons on co-founder alignment, scaling, and team building

Cecilia Ziniti, CEO of GC AI and former General Counsel at multiple high-growth companies, shares her fascinating journey from law to AI leadership. She discusses recognizing the perfect moment for innovation in legaltech and the essential mindset shifts for aspiring startup founders. The importance of team building and risk management in the AI landscape is highlighted, alongside insights on product-market fit within legacy industries. Her unique blend of legal and tech experience proves to be a powerful catalyst for success in this evolving field.

What happens when a high-growth operator turns founder—and builds a company rooted in personal mission? Koby Conrad, solo founder and CEO of Sunflower, joins First Builders to share his journey from Rupa Health’s go-to-market lead to creating a digital recovery platform for the 1.2 billion people affected by addiction.A former zero-to-one standout at Rupa Health, Koby helped scale the company from a $22M valuation to a life-changing acquisition. Now he’s bringing those lessons—and his own seven years of sobriety—into building Sunflower, a mobile-first addiction recovery app grounded in emotional resonance, habit loops, and community design.In this episode, Koby unpacks:– The early signals he trusted to launch Sunflower– What he learned about growth, management, and mindset at Rupa– How he raised capital pre-launch and built in public– Why being a solo, non-technical founder didn’t stop himIt’s a story about identity, scale, sobriety—and how the best builders are the ones who stay close to the problem.Follow Koby ConradLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kobychaseconradTwitter: https://twitter.com/kobychaseCompany: https://www.joinsunflower.comBook: https://channelsofgrowth.comMake sure you follow us on all our social channels below and watch full episodes on YouTube! Subscribe to our newsletter to get new episode drops in your inbox.Your HostsAmber & RachelInstagram: @thecouncilcapitalTwitter/X: @first_builders_LinkedIn: The CouncilTikTok: @firstbuilderspodShow NotesKoby’s path from Rupa Health to solo founder of SunflowerLessons on startup growth, hiring, and building high-slope teamsInside Sunflower: AI-powered habit tracking, CBT prompts, and community-driven recoveryVulnerability and leadership: staying grounded while scalingBook Mentioned: The Mom Test by Rob FitzpatrickKoby’s book: Channels of GrowthVisit: https://www.joinsunflower.com

Dan Perez is no stranger to high-stakes decisions. From walking away from an Oxford PhD program to scaling a digital health company through one of the most successful IPOs in recent years, Dan’s story is a masterclass in vision, conviction, and long-term thinking.In this episode of First Builders, Dan joins Amber and Rachel to unpack the origin story of Hinge Health—a digital MSK care platform now serving over 20 million lives and generating nearly $400M in ARR. They dig into what made Hinge stand out in a noisy category, how he and co-founder Gabriel Mecklenburg kept their partnership strong across a decade of scale, and why Dan believes great leadership is about playing the long game.They also explore:– The strategy behind going public in a tough market– The evolution of AI-powered care models– The frameworks Dan uses for internal bets and efficiency– Lessons on co-founder dynamics and intentional leadershipWhether you’re building in digital health or just trying to scale with clarity, Dan’s story is packed with insight.Follow Dan PerezLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielaperezCompany: https://www.hingehealth.comMake sure you follow us on all our social channels below and watch full episodes on YouTube!Subscribe to our newsletter to get new episode drops in your inbox.Your Hosts:Amber & RachelInstagram: @thecouncilcapitalTwitter/X: @first_builders_LinkedIn: The CouncilTikTok: @firstbuilderspodShow Notes:Hinge Health IPO Coverage (2025): $400M ARR, 81% gross margin, 20M+ lives supported - Hinge Health files for IPO, riding strong ARR and MSK growth (Bloomberg News) (SEC filing)Co-founder dynamics and long-term startup partnershipsBooks mentioned:Competition Demystified by Bruce GreenwaldHigh Output Management by Andrew Grove Innovator's Prescription by Clayton Christensen

In this July 4th special, we’re taking a quick pause from new interviews to celebrate the sparks that launched First Builders. This 20-minute highlight reel brings together some of the most powerful moments from our first month of guests.You’ll hear:– Maia Bittner on resilience and scaling post-acquisition– Nathan Baschez on frameworks, writing, and building in public– Jason Prestinario on taking on healthcare giants– Rohini Pandhi on scaling product and platform from the ground upIt’s a short and energizing listen—perfect for a holiday walk or weekend recharge. Thanks for building with us so far—we’re just getting started.Featured Guest• Maia Bittner – Co-founder of Pinch, angel investor, and early team member at ChimeFollow: @maiab• Nathan Baschez – Co-founder of Every, writer, and early-stage operatorFollow: @nathanbaschez• Jason Prestinario – CEO of Particle HealthFollow: @particlehealth• Rohini Pandhi – Product and platform leader, advisor, and operatorFollow: @rohini_pandhiMake sure you follow us on all our social channels below and watch full episodes on YouTube!Subscribe to our newsletter to get new episode drops in your inbox.Your HostsAmber & RachelInstagram: @thecouncilcapitalTwitter/X: @first_builders_LinkedIn: The CouncilTikTok: @firstbuilderspod

In this episode, we sit down with Maia Bittner—a three-time founder, angel investor, and early team member at Chime—to explore the arc of a builder’s journey from zero to IPO. Maia shares how she co-founded Pinch to improve financial stability for millennials, scaled at Chime after the acquisition, and has since become a backer of new founders as an investor at XFactor Ventures.We dive into the uncommon paths to co-founder status, what made Pinch “acquirable,” and how Maia’s product instincts shaped user love across all her startups. She reflects on building with values, staying post-acquisition, and developing emotional resilience in hypergrowth environments.A must-listen for anyone building in the messy middle or wondering what it takes to be a First Builder in today’s market.Follow Maia BittnerTwitter: @maiabWebsite: https://www.xfactor.ventures/teamMake sure you follow us on all our social channels below and watch full episodes on YouTube!Subscribe to our newsletter to get new episode drops in your inbox.Your Hosts:Amber & RachelInstagram: @thecouncilcapitalTwitter/X: @first_builders_LinkedIn: The CouncilTikTok: @firstbuilderspodShow Notes:Chime’s June 2025 IPO Coverage: Chime almost died in 2016, turned down by 100 VCs — today it IPO’d at $14.5BXFactor Ventures – Maia Bittner’s Investment Work: XFactor Ventures TeamOlin College – Maia’s Alma Mater: Olin College of Engineering

In this episode, we sit down with Jason Prestinario—Particle Health CEO of and former leader at Komodo Heath and Palantir Technologies —for a candid conversation about building in one of the most complex and regulated sectors in the world: healthcare. Jason talks about the difference between “product thinking” and “patient thinking,” why bundling in hospital systems leads to poor outcomes, and how startups can find leverage in a space dominated by incumbents.We also discuss the bold legal action Particle Health is taking against Epic Systems, and what it means to push for interoperability when it’s actively being blocked. This episode is a must-listen for anyone reimagining care delivery—or navigating systems designed to resist innovation.Follow Jason PrestinarioCompany: Particle Health Make sure you follow us on all our social channels below and watch full episodes on YouTube! Subscribe to our newsletter to get new episode drops in your inbox.Your Hosts:Amber & Rachel Instagram: @thecouncilcapitalTwitter/X: @first_builders_LinkedIn: The CouncilTikTok: @firstbuilderspodShow Notes:What Does HHS’ Restructuring Mean for Interoperability In HealthcareEpic Blocked over 420,000 Americans' Health Records from Doctors for Seven MonthsBook MentionedRange: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein 

In this episode, we sit down with Nathan Baschez—founder of Lex, former co-founder of Every, founding team at Substack, and creator of Divinations—to unpack how he thinks about building internet-native businesses. Nathan shares the operating principles behind virality, the power of writing as leverage, and why product intuition matters more than process in the earliest startup moments. We also explore what it takes to build ideas in public—and how to know when one is worth chasing.Make sure you follow us on all our social channels below and watch full episodes on YouTube!Subscribe to our newsletter to get new episode drops in your inbox.Your Hosts:Amber & RachelInstagram: @thecouncilcapitalTwitter/X: @first_builders_LinkedIn: The CouncilTikTok: @firstbuilderspod

In this episode, we’re joined by Rohini Pandhi—Head of Expansion at Mercury, former product leader at Square (Block), and current partner at Transparent Collective. We explore how Rohini identified Square and Mercury early on as accelerating environments dense with opportunity, why narrative is a core tool in both product and venture, and what it means to be a true “First Builder.”Disclaimer: Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Business banking services provided through Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC. Personal banking services provided through Choice Financial Group; Member FDIC.Make sure you follow us on all our social channels below and watch full episodes on YouTube!Subscribe to our newsletter to get new episode drops in your inbox.Your Hosts:Amber & RachelInstagram: @thecouncilcapitalTwitter/X: @first_builders_LinkedIn: The CouncilTikTok: @firstbuilderspod