In this episode of The Venture Variety Show, Alastair Goldfisher talks with Doug Levin — founder of Black Duck Software, Harvard lecturer, startup advisor, investor, and author of Lessons from a Startup Life on Substack.
They explore how the post-ChatGPT boom has reshaped the startup world, why investors are drawn to small, nimble AI teams, and why product-market fit is a continuous process, not a one-and-done milestone. Doug also shares practical advice for founders on raising capital, avoiding common mistakes, and why you should always be thinking about your exit strategy.
Topics covered:
Startup lessons from Doug Levin’s entrepreneurial journey
How generative AI is fueling a wave of new companies
Fundraising strategies in today’s competitive venture market
The evolving role of AI product managers
Best practices for planning a successful exit
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Thank you for listening!
— Alastair