Replay: Edu - What Is A Startup? An Antidote To Small Business Syndrome

All season, Chris and Yaniv have talked about the mindset that is needed to succeed at venture-backed startups. For the final episode of Season 1, we tie it all together with an analogy: tournament poker. It is amazing how many things poker and startups have in common, so in this episode we use the lens of poker to discuss the big picture of how to approach building a successful startup. We dive into each of the following aspects of commonality between poker and startup life: Iterative Cash-burning Making decisions based on uncertain information Progressive learning Resulting Relatively low probability of a successful outcome (and that’s OK!) We were inspired by the book Thinking in Bets, by former pro poker player Annie Duke. Follow the Startup Podcast on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-startup-pod/ Follow us on Twitter Yaniv Bernstein @ybernstein Chris Saad @chrissaad Please rate and Review The Startup Podcast on your podcast app. Ask questions for future Listener Q&A episodes: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-startup-podcast/id1612757016. Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5C6oN1uFj29A4jHZn57lNO. Listen on Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy84NjhlNWEwNC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw A bit about our hosts: Chris Saad: Independent Startup Advisor and Angel Investor, who helps startups and entrepreneurs fast-forward company’s growth. Chris consults on developer platforms & ecosystems, future of media, data portability, on-demand economy, and the Silicon Valley ecosystem. Visit http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ or connect with Chris on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Yaniv Bernstein: Founder and COO of Circular, a subscription e-commerce platform with sustainability at its heart. By focusing on customer experience while reducing waste and underutilization, Circular provides subscriptions to premium devices at affordable prices and with unmatched flexibility. Visit Circular https://www.nowcircular.com/ and connect with Yaniv on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/

21 Dec 202243min

Mike Scott is a serial entrepreneur who found himself working at a large tech unicorn when they acquired his business. As newly-minted Head of Product Partnerships, Mike has questions! Luckily, Yaniv and Chris have (some) answers. This ended up being a bit of a personal discussion and coaching session, and we thank Mike for opening up. In this Office Hours episode, topics discussed include: The transition from entrepreneur to employee. What is the Product Partnerships function? Measuring the impact of your function in a cross-functional setting. How “small business thinking” can help bigger companies move faster. The unique role and cadence of partnership functions at a product company. Moving from an enablement function to a value driver. Mike has an awesome podcast of his own, How To Be Moderately Successful: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/how-to-be-moderately-successful/id1535553116 Connect with Mike Scott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeadamscott/ Follow the Startup Podcast on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-startup-pod/ Follow us on Twitter Yaniv Bernstein @ybernstein Chris Saad @chrissaad Please rate and Review The Startup Podcast on your podcast app. Ask questions for future Listener Q&A episodes: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-startup-podcast/id1612757016. Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5C6oN1uFj29A4jHZn57lNO. Listen on Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy84NjhlNWEwNC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw A bit about our hosts: Chris Saad: Independent Startup Advisor and Angel Investor, who helps startups and entrepreneurs fast-forward company’s growth. Chris consults on developer platforms & ecosystems, future of media, data portability, on-demand economy, and the Silicon Valley ecosystem. Visit http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ or connect with Chris on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Yaniv Bernstein: Founder and COO of Circular, a subscription e-commerce platform with sustainability at its heart. By focusing on customer experience while reducing waste and underutilization, Circular provides subscriptions to premium devices at affordable prices and with unmatched flexibility. Visit Circular https://www.nowcircular.com/ and connect with Yaniv on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/

15 Dec 202236min

Alignment is about making sure that everybody in an organisation is working in such a way that their efforts build on each other, rather than cancelling out. If you’re not aligned, it doesn’t matter how hard you work—you’re not going to get anywhere. In this episode, Chris and Yaniv discuss: What does it mean to be aligned? Alignment at different levels and across different time spans Encouraging alignment at a cultural level Surfacing hidden assumptions The importance of writing things down Why meetings are important (yes, really!) Follow the Startup Podcast on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-startup-pod/ Follow us on Twitter Yaniv Bernstein @ybernstein Chris Saad @chrissaad Please rate and Review The Startup Podcast on your podcast app. Ask questions for future Listener Q&A episodes: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-startup-podcast/id1612757016. Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5C6oN1uFj29A4jHZn57lNO. Listen on Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy84NjhlNWEwNC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw A bit about our hosts: Chris Saad: Independent Startup Advisor and Angel Investor, who helps startups and entrepreneurs fast-forward company’s growth. Chris consults on developer platforms & ecosystems, future of media, data portability, on-demand economy, and the Silicon Valley ecosystem. Visit http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ or connect with Chris on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Yaniv Bernstein: Founder and COO of Circular, a subscription e-commerce platform with sustainability at its heart. By focusing on customer experience while reducing waste and underutilization, Circular provides subscriptions to premium devices at affordable prices and with unmatched flexibility. Visit Circular https://www.nowcircular.com/ and connect with Yaniv on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/

8 Dec 202235min

This bonus episode is a collaboration with Yan Kruger’s fantastic Growth Ripples podcast. Startups can survive a bad culture to achieve product-market fit, but once they reach the scale-up stage the effects of poor culture hinder growth. In this episode, Yan and Yaniv discuss what culture is, why it’s so important, and when is the right time to start investing in it. Why culture matters. What is culture? Common warning signs for a bad culture. What does it mean to design a culture? Why startups are like poker, making the transition to being a founder Connect with Yan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yankruger/ Yan’s Growth Ripples podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthdrOh5Ce439ppCwGHzovg Follow the Startup Podcast on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-startup-pod/ Follow us on Twitter Yaniv Bernstein @ybernstein Chris Saad @chrissaad Please rate and Review The Startup Podcast on your podcast app. Ask questions for future Listener Q&A episodes: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-startup-podcast/id1612757016. Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5C6oN1uFj29A4jHZn57lNO. Listen on Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy84NjhlNWEwNC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw A bit about our hosts: Chris Saad: Independent Startup Advisor and Angel Investor, who helps startups and entrepreneurs fast-forward company’s growth. Chris consults on developer platforms & ecosystems, future of media, data portability, on-demand economy, and the Silicon Valley ecosystem. Visit http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ or connect with Chris on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Yaniv Bernstein: Founder and COO of Circular, a subscription e-commerce platform with sustainability at its heart. By focusing on customer experience while reducing waste and underutilization, Circular provides subscriptions to premium devices at affordable prices and with unmatched flexibility. Visit Circular https://www.nowcircular.com/ and connect with Yaniv on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/

5 Dec 202220min

Most startups limp along with way too many priorities—and the lack of focus will kill them. Ruthless and deliberate prioritization and sequencing is *the* secret ingredient behind successful startups. In this episode, Chris and Yaniv tell you how to do it like the best, and how to avoid falling into many common traps. Why prioritization matters & the importance of focus. Why you can’t grow your way out of needing to prioritize. Why the first version of your product shouldn’t look like a small version of your ultimate vision. The three kinds of unfunded mandate. How to push back on an unfunded mandate from leadership. Prioritization & fundraising. Follow the Startup Podcast on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-startup-pod/ Follow us on Twitter Yaniv Bernstein @ybernstein Chris Saad @chrissaad Please rate and Review The Startup Podcast on your podcast app. Ask questions for future Listener Q&A episodes: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-startup-podcast/id1612757016. Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5C6oN1uFj29A4jHZn57lNO. Listen on Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy84NjhlNWEwNC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw A bit about our hosts: Chris Saad: Independent Startup Advisor and Angel Investor, who helps startups and entrepreneurs fast-forward company’s growth. Chris consults on developer platforms & ecosystems, future of media, data portability, on-demand economy, and the Silicon Valley ecosystem. Visit http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ or connect with Chris on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Yaniv Bernstein: Founder and COO of Circular, a subscription e-commerce platform with sustainability at its heart. By focusing on customer experience while reducing waste and underutilization, Circular provides subscriptions to premium devices at affordable prices and with unmatched flexibility. Visit Circular https://www.nowcircular.com/ and connect with Yaniv on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/

1 Dec 202244min

Emil Michael was Uber’s Chief Business Officer during the company’s glory years, and is one of the small handful of people who shaped the modern ridesharing economy. Emil is one of Silicon Valley’s most legendary business development people, and in this episode he shares some of his best tips about finding, evaluating, closing, and executing partnerships that will turbocharge your startup. As an added bonus, Chris and Emil share some stories from their early days of Uber, what made Uber’s culture special, how it’s been portrayed publicly, and how things have changes at Uber. https://www.emilmichael.com/ Follow the Startup Podcast on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-startup-pod/ Follow us on Twitter Yaniv Bernstein @ybernstein Chris Saad @chrissaad Please rate and Review The Startup Podcast on your podcast app. Ask questions for future Listener Q&A episodes: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-startup-podcast/id1612757016. Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5C6oN1uFj29A4jHZn57lNO. Listen on Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy84NjhlNWEwNC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw A bit about our hosts: Chris Saad: Independent Startup Advisor and Angel Investor, who helps startups and entrepreneurs fast-forward company’s growth. Chris consults on developer platforms & ecosystems, future of media, data portability, on-demand economy, and the Silicon Valley ecosystem. Visit http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ or connect with Chris on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Yaniv Bernstein: Founder and COO of Circular, a subscription e-commerce platform with sustainability at its heart. By focusing on customer experience while reducing waste and underutilization, Circular provides subscriptions to premium devices at affordable prices and with unmatched flexibility. Visit Circular https://www.nowcircular.com/ and connect with Yaniv on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/

24 Nov 202237min

It’s no secret that the investment environment has changed quite drastically in the last six months, and for many founders out there it has become much more difficult to raise the needed funds. We have recently had the privilege of speaking to two incredible investors: Jessy Wu from Afterwork Ventures, and the legendary Emil Michael, former Chief Business Officer of Uber. In this bonus episode, we asked each of them for their advice to founders on how to navigate the current fundraising environment. Follow the Startup Podcast on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-startup-pod/ Follow us on Twitter Yaniv Bernstein @ybernstein Chris Saad @chrissaad Please rate and Review The Startup Podcast on your podcast app. Ask questions for future Listener Q&A episodes: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-startup-podcast/id1612757016. Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5C6oN1uFj29A4jHZn57lNO. Listen on Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy84NjhlNWEwNC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw A bit about our hosts: Chris Saad: Independent Startup Advisor and Angel Investor, who helps startups and entrepreneurs fast-forward company’s growth. Chris consults on developer platforms & ecosystems, future of media, data portability, on-demand economy, and the Silicon Valley ecosystem. Visit http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ or connect with Chris on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Yaniv Bernstein: Founder and COO of Circular, a subscription e-commerce platform with sustainability at its heart. By focusing on customer experience while reducing waste and underutilization, Circular provides subscriptions to premium devices at affordable prices and with unmatched flexibility. Visit Circular https://www.nowcircular.com/ and connect with Yaniv on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/

21 Nov 202220min

Yaniv is joined by Jessy Wu, Investor at Afterwork Ventures, to talk about how excessive niceness in a startup ecosystem can turn toxic, and what can be done to fight back against it. This episode is the perfect mix of thoughtful, spicy, and actionable! Listen in as Yaniv and Jessy discuss: What is toxic niceness and why is it so bad? Diversity & Inclusion and toxic niceness. How toxic niceness stops founders getting the feedback they need. How to show courage and call a spade a spade. The reputational risks and rewards of speaking truth to power. Jessy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessyzwu/ Afterwork Ventures: https://www.afterwork.vc/ Follow the Startup Podcast on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-startup-pod/ Follow us on Twitter Yaniv Bernstein @ybernstein Chris Saad @chrissaad Please rate and Review The Startup Podcast on your podcast app. Ask questions for future Listener Q&A episodes: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-startup-podcast/id1612757016. Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5C6oN1uFj29A4jHZn57lNO. Listen on Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy84NjhlNWEwNC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw A bit about our hosts: Chris Saad: Independent Startup Advisor and Angel Investor, who helps startups and entrepreneurs fast-forward company’s growth. Chris consults on developer platforms & ecosystems, future of media, data portability, on-demand economy,  and the Silicon Valley ecosystem. Visit http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ or connect with Chris on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Yaniv Bernstein: Founder and COO of Circular, a subscription e-commerce platform with sustainability at its heart. By focusing on customer experience while reducing waste and underutilization, Circular provides subscriptions to premium devices at affordable prices and with unmatched flexibility. Visit Circular https://www.nowcircular.com/ and connect with Yaniv on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/

17 Nov 202238min