Insiders React: Trump's Tariff Meltdown + Startup Valuations Crash, Shopify Goes Full AI
Is AI just a buzzword — or the key to survival in a volatile startup landscape?In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein break down Donald Trump’s shocking “Liberation Day” tariffs and the ripple effect it could have on the global economy — and on your startup.As fears of a recession mount and market uncertainty grows, we explore what founders need to do to weather the storm, protect their valuations, and rethink growth strategies in turbulent times.Plus, we dive deep into Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke’s viral internal memo that sets bold new expectations for AI adoption across the company. What can you learn from Shopify’s AI playbook, and how should you apply it inside your own early-stage startup?In this episode, you will:Understand how Trump’s tariffs could trigger a global trust crisis and slow startup growth.Learn why “multiple compression” will likely shrink your valuation — even if you're early-stage.Discover how to reposition your startup’s narrative in a world hungry for efficiency.Get the inside scoop on Shopify’s viral AI memo — and what it means for founders.Adopt a founder mindset that treats AI use as mandatory, not optional.Explore practical ways to prototype, launch, and scale with minimal team size.Avoid common mistakes in relying too heavily — or too little — on AI tools.The PactHonour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List at https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribeSecure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/Follow us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@startup-podcastGive us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following.Key linksThe 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. For a limited-time offer of US$1,000 off, go to www.vanta.com/tsp.Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2AThe Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.showLearn more about Chris and YanivWork 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/CreditsEditor: Justin McArthurContent Strategist: Carolina Franco Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang
10 Apr 38min
Strategic Communications – Why PR Alone Won’t Drive Business Growth w/ Jessy Wu (Edu)
Is your startup’s PR strategy just a vanity exercise? Most founders make the mistake of announcing fundraising rounds like it’s a badge of honor, hoping for instant traction and credibility. But here's the truth: if you're chasing headlines without a strategy, you're wasting money.In this episode, Yaniv Bernstein and Jessy Wu, founder of Encour, dive deep into the art of strategic communications and why most startups approach PR all wrong. Jessie shares her journey from VC to PR mastermind, revealing why effective PR starts with a business objective not just getting featured in big-name publications.In this episode, you will:Learn why most fundraising announcements fall flat and fail to deliver ROI.Understand the difference between vanity PR and strategic communications.Discover Jessy's proven framework for building authority and influence.Find out why PR campaigns should never be confined to a single channel.Learn how to turn a fundraising announcement into a strategic, multi-channel campaign.Understand why attribution is so difficult in PR and how to work around it.Explore the importance of aligning your PR efforts with clear business objectives.The PactHonour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List at https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribeSecure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/Follow us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@startup-podcastGive us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following.Key linksThe 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. For a limited-time offer of US$1,000 off, go to www.vanta.com/tsp.Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2AThe Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.showLearn more about Chris and YanivWork 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/CreditsEditor: Justin McArthurContent Strategist: Carolina Franco https://www.linkedin.com/in/francocarolina/Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang
7 Apr 45min
Insiders React: Google Just Killed SEO + OpenAI’s $40B Raise, AI’s Copyright Crisis
Is Google about to kill SEO forever? Why did OpenAI just raise $40 billion? And is the AI bubble about to burst?The AI arms race is heating up, and the biggest players are making moves that could change everything. But what does this mean for creators, businesses, and the future of search?In this episode, Chris and Yaniv are joined by Hooman Radfar, founder and CEO at Collective, to break down the latest developments in the AI landscape. They dive deep into Google's AI-powered search transformation, OpenAI's massive $40 billion raise, the escalating debate over AI-generated art theft, and the looming question: is the AI bubble about to pop?In this episode, you will:Discover how Google’s AI overhaul could spell the end of SEO as we know it.Learn why OpenAI just raised an astonishing $40 billion and what they plan to do with it.Understand the new breakthroughs in AI image generation and how they’re disrupting creative industries.Explore the growing controversy over AI-generated art and whether it's infringing on real artists’ work.Examine why investors are getting nervous about a potential AI bubble.Analyze the implications of Google and OpenAI’s escalating rivalry.Get Insights on what these shifts mean for founders, creators, and the future of business.The PactHonour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List at https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribeSecure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/Follow us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@startup-podcastGive us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following.Key linksThe 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. For a limited-time offer of US$1,000 off, go to www.vanta.com/tsp.Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2AThe Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.showLearn more about Chris and YanivWork 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/CreditsEditor: Justin McArthurContent Strategist: Carolina Franco Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang
3 Apr 1h 4min
Replay: Scaling Sales - Insider Secrets w/ Rippling's Matt Loop and Matt Plank (Edu)
Do you really understand sales? Learn how great startups grow from founder led origins to dynamic regional teams while maintaining a shared company DNA.In this episode, sales team hyper-scalers Matt Loop (Rippling, Slack, LinkedIn, Salesforce) and Matt Plank (Rippling, Zenefits) explain how to build a sales team that doesn't suck.Matt, Matt, and Yaniv discuss: Culture Club: Why early stage founder-led sales should give way to a scalable sales team aligned around your company culture. Going Global: The importance of understanding local markets and maintaining effective communication and trust within the team as your startup expands internationally. Ripple Effects: How sales and product teams collaborate at Rippling to deliver on their goal – automating back-office work so that other companies can focus on their core missions.The PactHonour 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 at https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@startup-podcast Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following. Key links The Startup Podcast is sponsored by Rippling. Rippling is a single all-in-one platform for your global workforce, covering HR, IT, payroll, expenses, and more. For a TSP listener offer of 3 months free, go to www.rippling.com/tsp. 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/CreditsEditor: Justin McArthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang
31 Mars 1h 1min
Insiders React: Google’s $32B Cloud Power Grab + Altman: AI Now Beats Humans, 23andMe Collapses, Fake AI CEOs
Are we on the brink of an AI revolution that will fundamentally reshape society? Or are we overestimating the impact of these new technologies?In this episode, Chris Saad and Michael Jones, General Partner at Science Startup Studio in LA, explore the latest developments in AI, biotech, and tech industry M&A, unpacking their implications for business, ethics, and the future of human-AI interaction.In this episode, you will:Analyze the factors behind 23andMe's bankruptcy and what it means for biotech startupsExplore how Google's $32 billion Wiz acquisition signals a return of big tech M&AExamine the growing threat of AI impersonation and its potential for fraudUnpack key insights from Sam Altman on AI's impact on empathy, art, and scientific researchConsider how humans perceive and value AI-generated content differently from human creationsDebate the potential emergence of a separate "machine economy"Reflect on the ethical implications of AI outperforming humans in medical diagnosisThe PactHonour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List at https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribeSecure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/Follow us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@startup-podcastGive us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following.Key linksThe 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. For a limited-time offer of US$1,000 off, go to www.vanta.com/tsp.Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2AThe Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.showLearn more about Chris and YanivWork 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/CreditsEditor: Justin McArthurContent Strategist: Carolina Franco Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang
27 Mars 52min
Kill Your Customers – The Doom Funnel That’s Hurting Your Startup (Edu)
Are you a startup founder considering a partnership with a big player in your industry? Before you sign that deal, you might want to think twice. In this eye-opening episode we dive deep into the dangers of partnering with or selling to incumbents when you're trying to disrupt an industry.Chris and Yaniv explore the concept of "killing your customers" not literally, of course, but in the sense of disrupting the very companies you might be tempted to partner with. They break down the "funnel of doom" that many startups fall into when pursuing B2B2C partnerships, and explain why going direct to end users is often the better strategy for truly innovative products.In this episode, you will:Discover the 10 steps of the "funnel of doom" for B2B2C partnershipsLearn why incumbents often struggle to understand and implement disruptive innovationsUnderstand the importance of owning your user relationships and dataExplore real-world case studies of successful direct-to-consumer disruptorsDebate the limitations of white-label and B2B business modelsGain insights on how to avoid common startup pitfalls when choosing a go-to-market strategyRecognize the value of iterating quickly and maintaining control over your productLinks mentioned in the EP:https://www.tsp.show/edu-b2c-vs-b2b2c-driving-direct-disruption-w-matt-holme/ B2B vs B2C comparison Table:https://docs.google.com/document/d/11ICK-KmnPJgzfQC1wkxz6Tf-l69pUptmk1QyKH9QB9M/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.1izb56alryedThe PactHonour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List at https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribeSecure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/Follow us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@startup-podcastGive us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following.Key linksThe 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. For a limited-time offer of US$1,000 off, go to www.vanta.com/tsp.Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2AThe Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.showLearn more about Chris and YanivWork 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/CreditsEditor: Justin McArthurContent Strategist: Carolina Franco https://www.linkedin.com/in/francocarolina/Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang
24 Mars 42min
Insiders React: Google's New Robotics Division + OpenAI Tries to Block DeepSeek, Rippling/Deel Corporate Espionage
Are tech companies resorting to corporate espionage in the cutthroat world of AI? Is the US losing its grip on global tech dominance? Yaniv, Chris, and Elli explore the shocking lawsuit between former podcast sponsors Rippling and Deel, where allegations of corporate spying have surfaced. They also examine OpenAI's controversial call to ban Chinese rival DeepSeek, and what it reveals about the shifting landscape of AI competition and geopolitics.In this episode, you will:Uncover the details of alleged corporate espionage between HR tech rivalsAnalyze the geopolitical implications of OpenAI's attempt to ban a Chinese competitorExplore groundbreaking developments in robotics from Google and NVIDIAUnderstand why 2025 is poised to be a pivotal year for humanoid robotsLearn about the "great race" to unify company data for AI applicationsDiscuss the changing dynamics of global tech leadership between the US and ChinaConsider the privacy implications of AI-powered data aggregationThe PactHonour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List at https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribeSecure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/Follow us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@startup-podcastGive us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following.Key linksThe 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. For a limited-time offer of US$1,000 off, go to www.vanta.com/tsp.Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2AThe Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.showLearn more about Chris and YanivWork 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/CreditsEditor: Justin McArthurContent Strategist: Carolina Franco Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang
20 Mars 52min
Replay: Getting Good At Operations - Optimise Your Startup (Edu)
[This episode was originally published on June 25, 2024.]Why is optimizing your ops crucial for startup success? Learn how your business can better bridge the gap between software and operations.On today's show, Chris and Yaniv discuss:Up And Atom: Understanding the difference between 'typical business' ops and 'product enablement' ops, including the Uber concept of 'bits and atoms'.Top of the Ops: Creating a specialized department that emphasizes continuous improvement and self-renewal, including integrating product operations roles for better collaboration. Monkey See, Monkey Do: Ensuring your ops are efficient by setting clear job descriptions, KPIs, and playbooks.Tune in for an episode packed with concrete, actionable advice for founders looking to scale their operations and ensure the smooth running of their businesses.The PactHonour The Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List at https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@startup-podcastGive us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following. Key linksThe 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. For a limited-time offer of US$1,000 off, go to www.vanta.com/tsp.The Startup Podcast is sponsored by Trilligent. Trilligent is your startup's one-stop-shop for regulatory, PR, and international expansion advisory. Their unique startup-friendly offering is essential for any startup looking to go beyond their home shores or deal with complex regulatory environments. Go to https://trilligent.com and book a call with their COO Laura to learn more – tell her we sent you!The Startup Podcast is sponsored by Rippling. Rippling is a single all-in-one platform for your global workforce, covering HR, IT, payroll, expenses, and more. For a TSP listener offer of 3 months free, go to www.rippling.com/tsp.Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2AThe Startup Podcast website: https://tsp.show Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 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/CreditsEditor: Justin McArthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang
17 Mars 43min
