Shows
Demo Day PodcastMark Mullen: Why VC Success is BrokenWhat does it really mean to “succeed” as a founder or a VC? In this episode of Demo Day, we sit down with Mark Mullen, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Bonfire Ventures, to explore the realities behind startup success, venture capital, and what it takes to build a high-performing team in today’s market.Mark opens up about the unrealistic expectations in venture capital, why selling a company for $11M can be celebrated in some industries but deemed a failure in VC, and how the focus on founder personalities has shifted startup culture. He also s...
2025-09-221h 07
Demo Day PodcastThe Simple Rule That Predicts Founder Success with Santhosh DevatiIn this episode of Demo Day, Sean Goldfaden interviews venture capitalist and angel investor Santhosh Devati (Managing Parter at Anamika Ventures) about the secret to building lasting success. Santhosh, a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience, shares the unconventional philosophy that has guided his career and his investment decisions.Santhosh reveals why he believes in "giving without expectations" and explains how focusing on helping others can lead to "wealth as a byproduct." He also dives deep into the art of making the right investment, the common mistakes new investors make, and the major tech trends he's...
2025-09-081h 20
Demo Day PodcastDavid Yi on Why VC is DyingIs venture capital dead? According to VC David Yi, the answer is more complex than you think. In this eye-opening conversation with host Sean Goldfaden, David, a veteran founder and investor, reveals why the traditional VC model is "dying" and what will replace it.David, the general partner of Ethos Fund, shares his incredible life journey—from his time in the Peace Corps to a life-altering car accident—that shaped his unique "third culture" investment philosophy. He explains how this approach helps him find and fund the most innovative entrepreneurs from Southeast Asia and beyond, all while chal...
2025-08-181h 20
Demo Day PodcastThe Secret That Took Netflix to the Top with Petra GriffithWhat if the real secret behind Netflix’s success wasn’t movies… but data?In this episode of Demo Day, Sean Goldfaden sits down with Petra Griffith, Managing Director at Wedbush Ventures and a former product leader at Netflix and Yahoo, to uncover the hidden strategies that helped Netflix rise to the top—and the lessons every founder needs to know.Petra shares:- How Netflix became a data company (and why most startups overlook this advantage)- The traits great founders share and the red flags that make VCs say no- Why ma...
2025-07-211h 05
Demo Day PodcastThe Mindset Behind Every Great Founder with Kevin MooreFrom humble beginnings in Tulsa to launching his own venture capital firm, Kevin Moore’s story is one of resilience, grit, and vision.In this episode of Demo Day, host Sean Goldfaden sits down with Kevin Moore, Managing Partner at Serac Ventures, to uncover the mindset, habits, and experiences that helped him go from engineer to successful VC — and what every founder and aspiring fund manager needs to hear.- Learn how Kevin turned fear into fuel- Why “doing what you know” leads to real progress- What most first-time VCs get wrong ab...
2025-06-231h 19
Demo Day PodcastHow to Pick the Right Investor with Jeff BocanIn this episode of Demo Day, host Sean Goldfaden sits down with Jeff Bocan, Partner at Okapi Venture Capital, to dive deep into the founder-investor dynamic, red flags to watch for, and what truly sets top-performing startups apart. 🚨 Founders: Are you doing due diligence on your investors? Jeff shares a wild story about a founder who raised a Series A just to remove a toxic investor—and why failing to check references on VCs is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. This conversation covers: 1. The #1 trait Jeff looks for in founde...
2025-05-051h 08
Demo Day PodcastThe #1 Habit that Predicts Founder Success with TX ZhuoWhat’s the one trait that separates successful startups from the rest?According to TX Zhuo—Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Fika Ventures—it’s not pedigree, pitch decks, or market size. It’s founder responsiveness. In this episode of Demo Day, TX reveals the surprising results of a study across 94 portfolio companies, and why the speed of your email replies might be a signal of much more than just efficiency.Sean Goldfaden sits down with TX to talk about:- How TX turned personal tragedy into a multimillion-dollar startup- His transition...
2025-04-2159 min
Demo Day PodcastWhy Most Founders Fail with Marlon NicholsWhat makes a great founder? How do VCs really decide who to back?In this episode of Demo Day, host Sean Goldfaden sits down with Marlon Nichols, Managing Partner at MaC Venture Capital, to explore what separates good founders from great ones, the mindset of successful venture capitalists, and the hidden power of community-driven events like CultureHouse and LA Tech Week.Marlon breaks down the qualities he looks for when investing—including “repeat exceptionalism,” founder resilience, domain expertise, salesmanship, and more. Plus, he opens up about navigating blind spots, evolving Mac’s investment strategy, and what it...
2025-04-071h 01
Demo Day PodcastThe Keys To Becoming A Successful Founder with Laurent GrillWelcome to the Demo Day Podcast – Your Inside Look at Venture Capital & StartupsHosted by Sean Goldfaden of Coefficient Labs, Demo Day brings you in-depth conversations with top venture capitalists, startup founders, and industry leaders to demystify the world of VC, fundraising, and startup growth.Each episode delivers insider insights on raising capital, navigating the founder journey, scaling businesses, and the future of tech, AI, and innovation. Whether you're an entrepreneur, investor, or startup enthusiast, this podcast gives you a front-row seat to...
2025-03-241h 01
Master Minds by Sway VenturesExtend Runway & Grow with Sean Goldfaden at CoEfficient LabsAn Interview with Sean Golfaden from CoEfficient Labs on “growth hacking.” The divide between traditional agencies and growth hacking firms, disruptive ideas & differentiation for shortening sales cycles, expanding pipelines, improving closure rates as well as suggestions / recommendations on what to do right now.
2020-05-2218 min
Demo Day PodcastBest of Demo Day- Tips and Inspiration You Need to Power Through Difficult TimesOn this special episode of Demo Day, we review some of the best moments from Season 1 and Season 2 to give you some of the best advice to power through these difficult times.Overcoming ChallengesMike SuBrendan RogersEric NetschDan FlaneganSean GoldfadenObi Onyejekwe Comradery of VCs and CEOsLuke ArmourDavid TurkellAnthony KelaniWellness TipsAbha NathCarolyn Yashari BecherBrian GarrettMiki ReynoldsBen Smith
2020-04-0632 minDemo Day PodcastEP: 020 - Sean Goldfaden - Founder & CEO - CoEfficient Labs - Part 2In today's special show, we turn the camera around on ourselves. Today we hear Sean’s story. Sean is a southern California native who launched his entrepreneurial career in 3rd grade; went on to win the University of Miami’s Business Competition, and now runs CoEfficient Labs, a top User Acquisition team in Los Angeles, and the proud squad behind Demo Day. We hope you enjoy this special 2-part episode on our founder, Sean. This will be the season one finale. Watch the videohttp://bit.ly/demoday_19_pcChe...
2019-11-251h 03Demo Day PodcastEP: 019 - Sean Goldfaden - Founder & CEO - CoEfficient Labs - Part 1In today's special show, we turn the camera around on ourselves. Today we hear Sean’s story. Sean is a southern California native who launched his entrepreneurial career in 3rd grade; went on to win the University of Miami’s Business Competition, and now runs CoEfficient Labs, a top User Acquisition team in Los Angeles, and the proud squad behind Demo Day. We hope you enjoy this special 2-part episode on our founder, Sean. This will be the season one finale. Watch the videohttp://bit.ly/demoday_19_pcChe...
2019-11-161h 04
Chancebending with Ben Smith#36: 2019 Growth Hacking Strategy with Sean Goldfaden of CoEfficient LabsSo much actionable info in this one! We sat down with Sean Goldfaden of CoEfficient Labs here in LA. We dive in and talk about how the smartest "growth hackers" in the world are operating in 2019. Learn what's hot, how to measure, who to read, how to test and a lot more.There is a TON of detailed, actionable advice in here for how to grow your audience and business. -Ben---LINKSTo see if you have a Facebook...
2019-02-2500 min
Sessions Podcast003 - Social Media Warfare with Sean GoldfadenWhen it comes to Snapchat, "the slow-cooker is on, and when the buzzer beeps, it’s full on war with Facebook.” Oh, snap. We sit down with Sean Goldfaden, CEO of CoEfficient Labs, to discuss the two apps that lead social. What moves will they be making to improve their platforms? How will this change the marketing, branding, and advertising landscapes?
2016-06-2800 min