Shows
Inside The Silicon MindAnthony Lye: Why AI Will Crush Complacent SaaS Businesses & How Silicon Valley Winners Stay AheadAnthony Lye, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairman of the Board at Quid, joins Firas Sozan to break down Silicon Valley disruption cycles and why AI is reshaping SaaS and services. You will learn how incumbents get blindsided, why distribution often beats pure technology, and how leaders build systems to test, adjust, and challenge assumptions fast.
Episode Description:
In Silicon Valley, success is rented, and the rent is due every day. Anthony shares a 30 year perspective on tech cycles, the mindset that helps founders survive disruption, and why staying current is non negotiable.
2026-02-2451 min
Inside The Silicon MindStartup Advice: Founder-Friendly VC Lessons & the AI Data Shift with Vaibhav NadgaudaIn this episode, Vaibhav Nadgauda, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of App Orchid, Inc., shares an operator to venture capital journey, how they built a founder friendly investing approach, and what changed when they stepped in as CEO after a founder’s passing. You will learn how VC fundraising works at the fund level, how to think about pivots and team quality, and why the enterprise AI wave is forcing a rethink of the data stack.
Episode Description
What does founder friendly venture capital actually look like in practice, especially when the investor has lived the...
2026-02-1740 min
Inside The Silicon MindShift Left FinOps, Predict Cloud Costs Before You Ship Code with Hassan Khajeh-HosseiniHassan Khajeh-Hosseini, the founder of Infracost, joins Firas Sozan to break down shift left FinOps, cloud cost prevention, and how engineers can understand cloud spend before code reaches production.
Episode Description
Cloud cost optimization is still a mess, not because teams do not care, but because most tools start from the bill. By the time you see spend in a dashboard, the code is already in production and the waste is already happening.
In this episode, Hassan Khajeh-Hosseini, the founder of Infracost, explains shift left FinOps, a practical approach that ru...
2026-02-101h 05
Inside The Silicon MindStartup Advice & Strategy: A Snowflake Insider’s Framework for Equity & Risk with Jonathan ClaybaughJonathan Claybaugh, Former Principal Infrastructure Engineer at Snowflake, shares how to evaluate a startup before joining, including equity math, market size, and the mindset required to stay through the grind.
Episode Description:
What does it actually take to join the right startup early, and build enough upside to work by choice, not necessity?
In this episode, Jonathan walks through his journey as an early employee at Snowflake, joining as the 13th hire before any customers existed. He explains the signals that made the opportunity feel real, including repeatable revenue growth, re...
2026-02-0353 min
Inside The Silicon MindAI Agents, Intent, and Testing: What Engineering Looks Like Now with Leonid IgolnikFiras Sozan sits down with Leonid Igolnik, Chief Technology Officer at Clari, to unpack what AI agents are, and how AI is changing software engineering, hiring, and the fundamentals of building reliable systems. You will learn why intent expression matters, why testing is becoming the guardrail for non-deterministic outputs, and how agents will depend on context, not just data.
Episode Description:
AI is a new level of abstraction, but the hype is running ahead of clarity. In this conversation, we break down what that means for engineers, leaders, and founders trying to build and o...
2026-01-2754 min
Inside The Silicon MindVenture Capital vs Private Equity, EBITDA vs Enterprise Value with Clark GolestaniClark Golestani, Founding Managing Director at K2 Access Fund joins Firas Sozan to unpack venture capital vs private equity, and how founders can manage cash runway, spot bubbles, and think clearly inside the AI hype cycle. You will learn how investors weigh EBITDA vs enterprise value, why time is leverage in fundraising, and how to avoid the hidden failure modes of hypergrowth.
Episode Description:
Clark Golestani has lived through market cycles that reshape capital, and in this conversation he turns those lessons into a clear framework founders can use.
You will hear h...
2026-01-201h 08
Inside The Silicon MindAI Recruiting with Joseph Doyle: How to Hire Engineers for Potential Not NoiseJoseph Doyle breaks down how AI is changing recruiting and tech hiring, and what to optimize for when resumes and applications are getting noisier. You will learn how to improve candidate experience, screen for growth mindset, and design a hiring process that actually predicts performance.
Episode Description
AI recruiting is moving fast, but most interview processes have not caught up. In this episode, Joseph Doyle shares what he is seeing in the market and how hiring teams can adapt without lowering the bar or burning candidates out.
We talk about building a s...
2026-01-1349 min
Inside The Silicon MindWhat Great Founders Understand About Risk, Teams, and Timing | Arvind Sodhani | Ep 21In this episode of Inside the Silicon Mind, Arvind Sodhani, former President of Intel Capital, shares insights from decades at the center of Silicon Valley venture capital and global technology innovation. Arvind discusses how Intel Capital helped fuel entrepreneurship, how investors assess risk, and what it takes to build companies that last.
He explores the mindset of successful founders, the importance of strong startup teams, and the lessons learned from some of the world’s most impactful entrepreneurs. Arvind also dives into how AI is reshaping future business models and what that means for founders building in to...
2026-01-0649 min
Inside The Silicon MindWhy Snowflake Won: Culture, Security, and Customer Obsession | Justin Fitzhugh | Ep 20In this episode of Inside the Silicon Mind, Justin Fitzhugh, former VP of Engineering at Snowflake, shares an inside look at what it takes to lead engineering teams through hypergrowth at one of the most successful data companies of the decade. Justin reflects on Snowflake’s explosive rise, the hard lessons from Instart Logic, and why great companies win by staying relentlessly focused on customer needs, product excellence, and scalable engineering.
Justin breaks down the cultural principles that helped Snowflake grow fast without breaking, the crucial role of security in a rapidly expanding organization, and what engineering le...
2025-12-3039 min
Inside The Silicon MindWhy AI Is Breaking Our Trust And How to Fix It | Gidi Cohen | Ep 19In this episode of Inside the Silicon Mind, Gidi Cohen, CEO of BonFy.ai and seasoned cybersecurity leader, unpacks how AI is reshaping trust, risk, and security in a world where threats are increasingly invisible.
Drawing from his deep military background, Gidi explains why mission-driven leadership, courage, and conviction are more critical than ever as founders face unprecedented complexity. He breaks down the emerging risks of AI - hallucinations, data leakage, compliance failures - and why security must be designed into every layer of technology from day one.
This conversation explores how to balance customer...
2025-12-2357 min
Inside The Silicon MindThe Truth About Startup Acquisitions | Varun Badhwar | Ep 18In this episode, Varun Badhwar, a seasoned entrepreneur in cybersecurity, shares his insights on building successful companies, the dynamics of mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and the impact of AI on the industry. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on creating great products and companies rather than merely aiming for acquisition.
Varun discusses the lessons learned from his experiences in M&A, the misconceptions founders have about the process, and the significance of integrity in leadership. He also explores the evolving landscape of software development in the age of AI and the challenges founders face today.
2025-12-1651 min
Inside The Silicon MindWhy Founders Fail and The Investors Who See it Coming | David Hornik | Ep 17In this episode of Inside the Silicon Mind, David Hornik, Founder of Lobby Capital and long-time venture capitalist, pulls back the curtain on what truly drives great investing - relationships, empathy, and trust.
From the creation of The Lobby gathering to building Lobby Capital, David shares how the most successful investors don’t just fund companies - they build enduring partnerships. He discusses how the AI boom is reshaping venture capital, why sustainable competitive advantage matters more than hype, and what red flags he watches for in early-stage founders.
This conversation goes beyond term sheets...
2025-12-0952 min
Inside The Silicon MindThis is What Happens When AI Finally Moves into Real-World Production | Rob Bearden | Ep 16In this episode of Inside the Silicon Mind, Rob Bearden, Co-founder and CEO of Sema4.ai, shares how AI is transforming the very rhythm of company-building. He explains why speed, trust, and people remain the ultimate differentiators - even as AI agents begin automating knowledge work at scale.
Rob unpacks the evolution of enterprise AI adoption, the barriers that slow transformation, and why resilient teams and data-driven governance are critical to long-term success. The conversation explores how AI is reshaping global productivity, wealth creation, and the role of software engineers in this new era - along with...
2025-12-021h 39
Inside The Silicon MindThe Rise of Deepfakes: Can We Still Trust What We See and Hear? | Ross Lazerowitz Ep 15In this episode of Inside the Silicon Mind, Ross Lazerowitz, Co-founder and CEO of Mirage Security, explores how AI is reshaping cybersecurity, identity, and trust. From deepfakes to social engineering, Ross reveals how attackers are weaponizing generative AI - and what it will take to defend against the next wave of deception.
He also opens up about the emotional realities of founder life: navigating fundraising pressure, managing uncertainty, and staying grounded in a saturated market. The conversation dives into founder-market fit, first-principles engineering, and how to build credibility and trust in a fast-moving tech landscape.
...
2025-11-2550 min
Inside The Silicon MindThe New Rules of Building Great Companies | Jason Eubanks & Srinivas Bandi | Ep 14In this episode, Jason Eubanks and Srinivas Bandi, co-founders of Aurasell, discuss their journey in building an AI-driven go-to-market platform. They share insights on the impact of AI on business, the importance of a first principles approach, and how they are transforming sales processes. The conversation also touches on the significance of coaching, company culture, and their vision for the future of Aurasell.
Episode Highlights:
00:00 Founding Aurasell: The Journey Begins
02:55 AI Revolution: Transforming Go-to-Market Strategies
06:02 Disrupting Legacy Systems: A First Principles Approach
09:02 The Challenges of Tool Sprawl i...
2025-11-181h 36
Inside The Silicon MindThe Next Cyber War Will Be Fought by AI | Zakir Durumeric | Ep 13In this episode of Inside the Silicon Mind, Zakir Durumeric, Co-founder and CEO of Censys, shares how he went from academic research at the University of Michigan to building one of the world’s leading internet security companies. He recounts the creation of ZMAP, a groundbreaking tool that made large-scale internet scanning possible, and how Censys now helps governments and enterprises uncover hidden risks in real time.
Zakir dives into the evolving role of AI in cybersecurity - automating detection, exposing new attack surfaces, and reshaping how engineers think about defense. The conversation explores first-principles thinking, the ba...
2025-11-1156 min
Inside The Silicon MindThe Hard Truth About Building Startups in the AI Age | Rick Caccia | Ep 12In this episode of Inside the Silicon Mind, Rick Caccia, CEO and Co-Founder of Witness AI, unpacks the fast-emerging world of AI security - and why traditional defense models no longer work. Drawing on decades at Palo Alto Networks, Google, and Symantec, Rick reveals how enterprises can move from blocking innovation to enabling it safely.
He shares how Witness AI built “invisible training wheels” that let employees harness generative AI without leaking sensitive data, and why the future of cybersecurity lies in intention-based security rather than static data scanning. The conversation explores how security teams must unlearn old...
2025-11-0459 min
Inside The Silicon MindThe Discipline Required to Build Great Companies | Bob Muglia | Ep 11In this episode of Inside the Silicon Mind, former Microsoft executive and Snowflake CEO Bob Muglia takes us behind the scenes of the Microsoft antitrust case - a defining moment that reshaped the global tech industry. He reveals what it was like working directly with Bill Gates, how the case transformed Microsoft’s culture, and why discipline and customer-centricity became his core leadership principles.
Bob shares untold stories from Microsoft’s rise, the lessons that powered Snowflake’s record-breaking success, and his perspective on today’s shift from SaaS to AI-driven, agentic software. The conversation is a mastercl...
2025-10-281h 30
Inside The Silicon MindHow AI Is Rewiring the Way We Work | Spence Green | Ep 10In this episode of Inside the Silicon Mind, Spence Green - CEO and co-founder of LILT - unpacks how AI is transforming not just software, but leadership itself. From his journey building an AI-first language company to working with Fortune 500 enterprises, Spence argues that today’s most effective leaders are player-coaches - deeply hands-on, close to the work, and fluent in both technology and people.
He explores how language sits at the core of every global business, why enterprise innovation so often stalls inside large organizations, and how AI is reshaping workflows, recruiting, and decision-making at every le...
2025-10-2149 min
Inside The Silicon MindThe Truth About AI, Creativity & Human Intelligence | Curtis Northcutt | Ep 9In this episode, Curtis Northcutt, PhD - Founder and CEO of CleanLab - explores how AI is reshaping human cognition, creativity, and trust. From his early research at MIT to pioneering Confident Learning, Curtis shares how CleanLab tackles one of AI’s biggest challenges: bad data and unreliable outputs. He reflects on the parallels between music and machine learning, the impact of parenting and environment on future generations, and how over-reliance on AI could erode human cognitive abilities.
This conversation dives deep into the intersection of intelligence - human and artificial - revealing how self-awareness, cognitive filtering, an...
2025-10-141h 08
Inside The Silicon MindThe Arms Race of AI Defending the Digital Future | Jake Seid | Ep 8In this episode, Jake Seid, Co-founder and General Partner at Ballistic Ventures, shares how AI is reshaping the cybersecurity landscape - creating an escalating arms race between attackers and defenders. He discusses the rise of synthetic media, the growing threat of social engineering, and why strong cyber hygiene is still the first line of defense.
Drawing from two decades in venture capital, Jake also reflects on his journey from launching Lightspeed Venture Partners to building Ballistic Ventures, a firm dedicated to empowering cybersecurity founders. He explores how to identify breakout markets, what defines a great founder, and...
2025-10-0748 min
Inside The Silicon MindHow Founders Can Build Companies That Last | Clement Pang | Ep 7In this episode of Inside the Silicon Mind, we sit down with Clement Pang - serial entrepreneur, investor, and Co-Founder of Wavefront ($400M exit) - to unpack how AI is reshaping the future of startups and software engineering. From his early career at Google to building and scaling companies, Clement shares what it really takes to go from engineer to founder in today’s shifting landscape.
We dive into why AI represents the next “cloud-level” disruption, the discipline required to build enduring products, and how creativity, customer obsession, and storytelling separate lasting companies from short-lived hype. Clement also r...
2025-09-301h 15
Inside The Silicon MindPassion, Discipline, and the Hard Lessons Every Founder Must Learn | Mario Duarte | Ep 6In this episode, Mario Duarte shares his extensive experience in cybersecurity and risk management, detailing his journey from being a key player at Snowflake to his current role at Aembit. He discusses the importance of building a strong security culture, the architectural innovations that made Snowflake successful, and the critical role of security in business. Mario also delves into his investment philosophy, emphasizing the significance of understanding the founders and their vision, and the challenges faced by startups in the tech industry.
Key talking points:
The importance of a strong security culture in tech c...
2025-09-231h 00
Inside The Silicon MindThe Future of Jobs in an AI World | Eno Reyes | Ep 5In this episode, Firas Sozan speaks with Eno Reyes about how AI is reshaping the future of software engineering. They unpack the narrative that AI might replace engineers, highlighting instead how the role is evolving - with human skills like systems thinking, problem framing, and communication becoming more important than ever.
The conversation explores the rise of generalist roles, the need for engineers to master AI tools, and the impact of automation on productivity and the software development lifecycle. Eno also shares the vision behind his company, Factory, which tackles challenges in integration, security, and legacy code.
2025-09-1656 min
Inside The Silicon MindHow AI is Changing Cybersecurity Forever | Aleksandr Yampolskiy | Ep 4In this episode, Dr. Aleksandr Yampolskiy shares the story behind founding SecurityScorecard, a company focused on quantifying cyber risk and strengthening supply chain security. He discusses the growing importance of understanding third-party risks, the evolving role of AI in cybersecurity, and the lessons learned from building a data-driven security business.
The conversation also explores leadership and startup dynamics - from creating deliberate communication channels as teams scale, to navigating the challenges of hiring, funding rounds, and maintaining strong co-founder relationships. Dr. Yampolskiy emphasizes the value of collaboration, company culture, and leadership resilience, while also underscoring the need...
2025-09-0940 min
Inside The Silicon MindBeyond Product Market Fit: What Really Matters | Abby Kearns | Ep 3In this episode, Abby Kearns draws on her deep experience in the tech industry to explore the impact of AI on venture capital, startup building, and the evolving roles within engineering and DevOps. She emphasizes the importance of adapting to market shifts, fostering disruption within companies, and cultivating strong, growth-minded teams.
The conversation ranges from the merits and risks of stealth mode to the urgency of early market entry, the value of marketing intelligence in the AI era, and the dynamics between founders, investors, and exit strategies. Abby also reflects on the skills future tech professionals will...
2025-09-021h 01
Inside The Silicon MindWhy Software Needs to be Perfect | Surag Patel | Ep 2In this episode, Surag Patel, co-founder and CEO of Pixee, shares his journey through the startup world, highlighting the value of mentorship, hands-on learning in Silicon Valley, and the challenges of building a company around software security. He introduces the innovative idea of an autonomous product security engineer and explains the principles that guide Pixee’s mission to make security seamless for developers.
The conversation also explores the rapid rise of AI, its impact on security and developer productivity, and the broader implications for businesses. Surag reflects on the realities of fundraising, the importance of building for ou...
2025-09-021h 14
Inside The Silicon MindThe Truth About AI Replacing Software Engineers | Scott Dietzen | Ep 1In this episode, Scott Dietzen, a seasoned entrepreneur and tech leader, shares insights from his journey across multiple technology companies. He explores the role of optimism in entrepreneurship, the evolution of cloud technology, and the transformative impact of AI on software engineering and beyond.
Scott discusses both the opportunities and disruptions AI brings—highlighting its potential in fields like medicine, the ongoing need for human programmers, and its economic implications. Drawing from his experience at Pure Storage and other ventures, he emphasizes the value of strong design partnerships, building and sustaining company culture, and navigating the shift fr...
2025-09-021h 13
Inside The Silicon MindInside the Silicon Mind - TrailerInside the Silicon Mind is the podcast that brings you an exclusive and unique glimpse into the minds of the most outstanding founders and investors in Silicon Valley. Immerse yourself in captivating conversations with visionary founders, influential thought leaders, and venture capital investors as they explore groundbreaking ideas. Gain an exclusive opportunity to glean insights from the creators shaping tomorrow's technology landscape.
Podcast Links:
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2025-08-2902 min