The Startup Podcast

Is AI making startups easier—or just changing the rules of the game?

In a world where execution is cheap and accessible, building a successful startup is more competitive than ever.

In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein unpack the reality of every business having access to the same AI-driven tools, what makes a startup successful in this landscape, and how to quickly adapt in the breakneck pace of business evolution.

In thi...

In this episode of The Startup Podcast, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein react to former Meta executive Sarah Wynn-Williams’ jaw-dropping testimony in front of the US Senate Judiciary Committee. She alleges Facebook put profits above all else—including the mental health of young users and even national security.

Plus, we discuss the political theater of NVIDIA's $500B commitment to US AI infrastructure, the All-In Podcast's unexpected...

Ready to raise your seed round but unsure how to de-risk for investors? Discover strategies to avoid pitfalls and secure early-stage funding confidently.

In this week's episode, our experts hosts Yaniv Bernstein and Chris Saad explore:

• What a seed round truly entails
• 5 areas you need to de-risk your seed round
• Common misconceptions and mistakes founders make
• Why traction is not the same as revenue
• How to ensure your valuation r...

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 strat...

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 startup...

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...

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...

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 wi...

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 m...

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 c...

[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 t...

Is the stock market's recent nosedive just the beginning of a larger economic shift? As tariffs and political uncertainty rock Wall Street, tech giants like Apple are facing unexpected hurdles in the AI race. Meanwhile, an old internet favorite is poised for a surprising comeback.

In this episode, Yaniv Bernstein and Chris Saad dive into the turbulent world of tech, finance, and politics. They explore the reasons behind the ...

Are you struggling to understand how marketing fits into a product-led company? You're not alone. Many marketers wonder if their role becomes less important when product takes the lead. But what if the opposite were true?

In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein explore the evolving role of marketing in product-led organizations. They discuss how marketing can become even more critical by aligning closely with product...

Are you ready for AI that sounds indistinguishable from a human? The future is arriving faster than you might think.

In this episode, Chris and Yaniv dive into the latest developments in AI, from NVIDIA's blockbuster earnings to Amazon's new AI-powered Alexa to eerily realistic voice models that left Chris feeling emotional. They explore the economic impacts rippling through the tech industry and beyond.

In this episo...

Have you ever left a VC meeting feeling confused about the feedback you received? Are you tired of trying to decipher cryptic responses from potential investors?

In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein dive into the world of venture capital communication, breaking down common phrases VCs use and what they really mean. Drawing inspiration from a LinkedIn post by YC alum Nilay Modi, they explore the subtle (and not-so-subtle) ...

Are you prepared for a world where robots collaborate seamlessly, AI agents communicate in their own language, and quantum computers solve complex problems in minutes? The future is arriving faster than you might think.

In this episode, Chris and Yaniv explore the latest breakthroughs in AI, robotics, and quantum computing that are pushing the boundaries of what's possible. From Microsoft's groundbreaking quantum chip to humanoid ro...

Is your startup struggling to ship new features? Are you constantly putting out fires instead of innovating? You might be drowning in technical debt without even realizing it.

In this eye-opening episode, Yaniv Bernstein and Chris Saad demystify the often misunderstood concept of technical debt and its crucial role in startup success.

In this episode, you will:

• Discover what technical debt really is and why it's inevi...

Are you prepared for a world where humanoid robots work alongside us? It's not science fiction anymore – it's happening now, and faster than you might think.

In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein dive into the latest developments in robotics, AI, and the changing landscape of work and entrepreneurship. They explore how major tech companies are investing heavily in humanoid robots and what it means for the future of...

Are your meetings a productivity black hole? You're not alone. In the world of product management, meetings can make or break your team's success. But what if you could transform these time-sinks into powerful tools for alignment, decision-making, and innovation?

In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein dive deep into the art and science of effective meetings. They explore common pitfalls, share battle-tested strategies, and ...