The 4 Biggest Execution Mistakes Founders Make

On the 17th of November OpenAI announced on their blog that Sam Altman was fired. This sent shockwaves throughout the startup ecosystem worldwide. What happened next was even more fireworks. Greg Brockman, the other co-founder was removed as president of the board then Mira Murati was appointed interim CEO. Greg quit as well as four other senior people. Investors including Microsoft has been in the dark and Mira Murati and has since tried to bring Sam and Greg back to OpenAI.  So what the hell is going on? Wading through the speculation craziness of the last week are Chris and Yaniv joined by special guest and friend of the pod Emil Michael, former Chief Business Officer at Uber. Was this because of AI safety from people with no skin in the game? An internal battle? What is to become of OpenAI? You DO NOT want to miss this episode! Episode Links: Checkout our recent episode on OpenAI DevDay 2023: https://www.tsp.show/reacts-ai-insiders-discuss-openai-devday-2023-everything-you-need-to-know/  The Pact  Honour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please: Follow, rate, and review us in your listening app Subscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early-access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe      Follow us on YouTube Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following  Key links The Startup Podcast is sponsored by Vanta. Vanta helps businesses get and stay compliant by automating up to 90% of the work for the most in demand compliance frameworks. With over 200 integrations, you can easily monitor and secure the tools your business relies on. Go to www.vanta.com/tsp  for 20% off their incredible offer. Follow us on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg   Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.show    Learn more about Chris and Yaniv Work 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/   Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/   Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/

20 Nov 202359min

How do you improve your mental health?  Today continues the important discussion we started with Mike Filbey, founder of Pepper and former co-founder of ButcherBox surrounding mental health. To help guide us on the ins and outs of founder mental health is expert coach Georgia Dienst. Georgia has spent her career working with high performance people at Google, Google X and Kernel. In this eye-opening conversation, Georgia sheds light on the formidable challenges founders face in maintaining their mental well-being within the demanding startup landscape. Drawing from her own experiences with burnout and her coaching insights, she unravels the complexities that often go unnoticed. 🌪️ Explore the key revelations: 🧠 Unmasking the Mental Health Epidemic: Founders, grappling with intense work demands, lack the crucial support needed for their mental health. 🤝 Untangling Founder Identity: Dive deep into the intricacies of how founder identities become inseparable from their companies, resulting in self-neglect and fragility. 🚨 Warning Signs: Recognize the early indicators of trouble, such as broken self-care promises and the dangerous link between self-care and company goals. 🧩 Mindset Matters: Uncover the prevalent mindset issues like imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and low self-worth haunting founders. 💼 Invest in Yourself: Georgia advocates for founders to treat themselves as equally vital resources, emphasizing the need for self-investment. 🌿 Holistic Well-being: Learn how basic self-care, coupled with guidance from a coach or therapist, can be a game-changer. Reach out for help early, not just when things are dire. 🤝 Coach's Corner: Understand the role of coaches in implementing support systems while addressing emotional challenges. Embark on this illuminating episode to empower yourself as a founder, discovering the tools and insights crucial for building resilience in the face of mental health challenges. Episode Links: Check out Georgia’s website: https://www.georgiadienst.com/  Explore the Mochary Method: https://mocharymethod.com/ The Pact  Honour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please: Follow, rate, and review us in your listening app Subscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early-access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe    Follow us on YouTube Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following  Key links The Startup Podcast is sponsored by Vanta. Vanta helps businesses get and stay compliant by automating up to 90% of the work for the most in demand compliance frameworks. With over 200 integrations, you can easily monitor and secure the tools your business relies on. Go to www.vanta.com/tsp for 20% off their incredible offer. Follow us on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg  Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.show  Learn more about Chris and Yaniv Work 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/  Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/  Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/

17 Nov 202349min

OpenAI DevDay 2023. A conference that sent reverberations throughout the startup ecosystem worldwide. Welcomed back on The Startup Podcast to discuss and debate it all are Jeremiah Owyang, general partner at Blitzscaling Ventures and founder of Lama Lounge, and Ben Parr, founder of Octane AI, AI Insiders deeply embedded in the Silicon Valley startup ecosystem. With Chris and Yaniv they explore the top takeaways from the OpenAI DevDay. From why GPT-4 Turbo is light-years better than GPT3.5, how to make your own super customized ChatGPT, to quality of life improvements for developers and tinkerers at home, interoperability, multi-modality, switching costs and more, this episode has it all! The quartet also share hot takes on the future of AI startups and what startups in the AI field should be thinking about doing right now! Stay on the pulse of AI, don't miss this episode. Episode Links: Check out Ben’s startup Octane AI: https://www.octaneai.com/ Reach out to Jeremiah at Blitzscaling Ventures on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jowyang/ Check out Chris’ GPT he created: https://www.chrissaad.com/startupai And his AI standalone app he’s currently building: https://www.getwingman.ai/   The Pact Honour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please: Follow, rate, and review us in your listening app Subscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early-access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Follow us on YouTube Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following Key links Follow us on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.show Learn more about Chris and Yaniv Work 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/

14 Nov 202352min

Brace yourself for a masterclass in app evolution as Andres Glusman, founder of DoWhatWorks shares 15 years of wisdom gained at Meetup, where experimentation was the key to their monumental growth.  Discover the hidden truth that most experiments fail, but when they succeed, the impact is colossal. The secret? Thoughtful experimentation. It's about testing specific hypotheses, not just throwing everything at the wall and hoping something sticks. Experiments go beyond correlation, establishing causation – the only way to truly gauge if your product changes are working. 📊 Statistical significance is crucial, but startups can dance on the edge of uncertainty to move faster and break new ground. And remember, every experiment carries downstream and upstream effects. Improvements in one metric might ripple through others, for better or worse. Interested in revolutionising your experiments? Andres suggests exploring tools like Optimizely and Adobe Target. He also explores how DoWhatWorks is changing the industry by allowing companies to learn from each other's experiments, turbocharging the learning curve and skyrocketing success rates. 🔧  🎙️ Don't miss this episode, where we decode the art of product experiments and learn the science behind app success. Episode Links: Checkout Andres’ company DoWhatWorks at dowhatworks.io  The Pact  Honour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please: Follow, rate, and review us in your listening app Subscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early-access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe    Follow us on YouTube Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following  Key links Follow us on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg  Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.show  Learn more about Chris and Yaniv Work 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/  Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/

8 Nov 202351min

Are you a product manager, wanting to become or know more about product management or hire one? Embark on a riveting expedition into the dynamic world of product management as Chris and Yaniv unveil the 17 extraordinary traits that catapult Product Managers to the pinnacle of success. 🎨 Picture this: Product Managers as the User Whisperers, tapping into the deepest needs and desires of their audience. 💡 They're not just guided by buzzwords but wield the power of common sense, keeping it simple and effective. 🖌️ The aesthetic gurus who can tell a visual story and understand the marriage of design and function. 💻 Tech-savvy visionaries, bridging the gap between code and creative vision. 📊 Number crunchers who navigate the sea of data and transform it into insights that shape the future. 🌟 And that's just the beginning! From diplomatic peacemakers to trend-spotters and marathon runners, these Product Managers are the unsung heroes behind your favorite products. 🎙️ Join us for this enlightening episode as we uncover the traits that set apart the best in the industry. Whether you're an aspiring Product Manager or simply curious about the magic behind your favorite products, this episode is a must-listen! Episode Links: Subscribe to Chris’ Newsletter where the concept of this episode originated: https://www.chrissaad.com/startupnewsletter  The Pact  Honour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please: Follow, rate, and review us in your listening app Subscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early-access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe    Follow us on YouTube Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following  Key links Follow us on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg  Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.show  Learn more about Chris and Yaniv Work 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/  Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/  Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/

4 Nov 202354min

🌟 Imagine sharing in the triumph and value of a startup's success! It's the magic potion that aligns every employee's heartbeat with the company's vision. Discover why options, with their tantalizing tax benefits, are the darlings of the startup universe but why they can also screw employees. In this week's electrifying episode of The Startup Podcast, we dive headfirst into the world of employee equity and ESOP with Jason Atkins, co-founder of Cake Equity - a startup that simplifies how startups and scaleups manage equity and stock options globally. 🔑 Startups play the long game, gifting options with a four-year vesting period and a tantalizingly extended expiration date. But, there's a catch - employees need to make their move to claim their stake. 📈 Early birds can score big with 1% equity, but the real treasure is in the communication and tracking tools to unlock its full potential. 🤝 Learn how equity acts as a powerful talent magnet and the secrets to keeping them hooked with timely updates. ❌ Watch out for warning signs of an equity scheme in peril: lack of transparency, communication, or support. A thriving startup culture thrives on shared ownership! 💻 Pro tip: Ditch the manual labor - unleash the true potential of equity with savvy software. 🚀🎙️ Tune in to this eye-opening episode, and master the art of employee equity, the driving force behind every startup's success story! Episode Links: Checkout the Cake Equity toolkit discussed in the episode https://www.cakeequity.com/equity-toolkit The Pact  Honour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please: Follow, rate, and review us in your listening app Subscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early-access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe    Follow us on YouTube Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following  Key links Follow us on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg  Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.show  Learn more about Chris and Yaniv Work 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/  Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/  Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/

26 Okt 202344min

How do you hire a PM? 💭 How do you empower product designers? 🙌 What is the Domain Dogma trap? 🤔 We’ve gone into the vault and polished another one of our most popular episodes. Marty Cagan joins Chris and Yaniv to discuss what he sees as the biggest risk to building a successful product. It’s not choosing the wrong problem, it’s building the wrong solution! Marty is as close as the world of product has to a public intellectual: after decades spent building impactful products at Hewlett-Packard, Netscape Communications, and eBay, Marty founded Silicon Valley Product Group to spread the best practices of product development in tech. His two books Inspired and Empowered have taught countless Product Managers and leaders how to build better products. In this episode, we discuss: Solution Risk and why it’s the biggest risk for most startups; Prototyping and the PM solution discovery toolkit; The Product Manager as CEO of the team; The power of including Engineers in product discovery; Empowered Product Designers; How to hire a PM; What to do if you find yourself in a feature team; The importance of coaching in developing Product Managers; Subject matter expertise and the Domain Dogma trap; Episode Links: This discussions in this episode were inspired by Marty’s blog post on solution risk: https://www.svpg.com/the-biggest-risk/ Learn more about Marty here: https://www.svpg.com/team/marty-cagan/ Read Marty’s book Inspired: https://www.svpg.com/books/inspired-how-to-create-tech-products-customers-love-2nd-edition/ Read Marty’s book Empowered:: https://www.svpg.com/books/empowered-ordinary-people-extraordinary-products/ Watch the original episode: https://www.tsp.show/guest-marty-cagan-the-biggest-risk-to-building-a-great-product/ The Pact Honour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please: Follow, rate, and review us in your listening app Subscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early-access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Follow us on YouTube Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following Key links Follow us on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.show Learn more about Chris and Yaniv Work 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/

19 Okt 20231h 1min

Gaza Strip. Events are evolving rapidly. The Startup Podcast is fortunate to be hosted by Chris and Yaniv who’s personal backgrounds provide a unique opportunity to share both sides of the Gaza War. This is a raw and unfiltered conversation. We hope this provides a balanced discussion in the midst of the current conversation. Our thoughts go out to all who have been touched by this tragedy. The Pact  Honour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please: Follow, rate, and review us in your listening app Subscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early-access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe    Follow us on YouTube Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following  Key links Follow us on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg  Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.show  Learn more about Chris and Yaniv Work 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/  Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/  Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/

13 Okt 202342min