Shows
The NFX PodcastThe NFX Podcast w/ Alex Babin of HerculesAIHercules builds high-quality, enterprise-grade AI solutions based on data extraction, transformation, and verification, while integrating with enterprise systems and tools for maintenance and monitoring. Join NFX general partner James Currier and HerculesAI CEO Alex Babin talk about the latest breakthroughs in the AI space of enterprise companies.
Hercules builds high-quality, enterprise-grade AI solutions based on data extraction, transformation, and verification, while integrating with enterprise systems and tools for maintenance and monitoring.
Join NFX general partner James Currier and HerculesAI CEO Alex Babin talk about the latest breakthroughs in the AI space of enterprise companies.
(0:00) Introduction and...
2024-03-2035 min
The Yay - A Bay Area Theatre PodcastEpisode 280: Jonathan Spector & Ipsheeta FurtadoNorman is away, so Jake Fong (from Episodes 228 and 235) will take over the co-host seat. Our guests are playwrights Jonathan Spector and Ipsheeta Furtado (co-creator of NFX Theater, a new theatre company that Mike Tuton – also co-creator of NFX (Episode 271) talked about when he was on our show. They both talk about their start in theatre, what’s next with NFX Theatre and what their future looks like.
Ipsheeta’s Instagram contact is here: @_ipsheeta
John’s Instagram contact is here: @spectorama
You can also find out more about Jonathan Spector through his website: http://www.jonathanspector.org
You can check ou...
2024-01-201h 22
Everything MarketplacesMarketplace Operator & Investor Insights With Pete Flint From NFXThe Everything Marketplaces podcast is an audio version of our group chats. This episode is going back to one of our popular group chats that we had with Pete Flint, who's a Partner at NFX. NFX is a leading venture fund that's invested in 80+ marketplaces like DoorDash, Lyft, Poshmark, Outdoorsy, Incredible Health, and more. Prior to NFX, Pete was also the Founder & CEO of Trulia, which scaled to IPO and eventual merger with Zillow. Pete has some incredible operator & investor experience and is a top mind when it comes to marketplaces.
Pete on Twitter: h...
2024-01-1151 min
How They Invest: Tactics and Tools of the World's Best InvestorsHow To Invest In: Network Effects Businesses with NfX's James Currier“Every company is its own work of art, and the founder is the artist.” – James Currier
We explore network effects and investing in network effect businesses. We’re joined by James Currier, co-founder and general partner of NfX. We cover virality vs. network effects, tweaking rules and systems to take advantage of network effects, and network effects as a business strategy.
Explore the episode notes.
Search and down a transcript and find links to related books, interviews, lectures, and more: outlieracademy.com/57.
Chapters
(00:00:00) – Introduction
(00:01:58) – James’ background and journey to NfX
(00:07:50) – Defining network effects and why they are so powerful
(00:11:20) – Virality vs. network effect...
2024-01-1044 minThe Yay - A Bay Area Theatre PodcastEpisode 271: Mike TutonOur next guest is Michael Tuton, one of the four fantastic actors in The Engine of Our Disruptions, the play currently playing at Central Works. Mike does an amazing job as X-topher, the CEO and prime mover of the fictional company Bubbles. Mike is also a main fixture at Playground SF, where his plays have been prominently featured. Mike talks about his upbringing, his forays in advertising, how he brings those skills to theatre and where he sees himself in the future.
You can learn more about Mike’s theatre company, NFX Theater, on their website:
https://nfxtheater.substack.com
We...
2023-11-051h 45Everything MarketplacesMarketplace Investor Insights With James Currier From NFXThe Everything Marketplaces podcast is an audio version of our group chats. This episode is with James Currier, who's a Founding Partner at NFX. NFX is a leading venture fund that's invested in 80+ marketplaces like DoorDash, Lyft, Poshmark, Outdoorsy, Incredible Health, and more. James is a leading mind when it comes to both network effects & marketplaces and frequently publishes posts about them on the NFX blog.
James's blog posts: https://www.nfx.com/library/james-currier
James on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/jamescurrier
NFX: https://www.nfx.com
M...
2023-10-2749 min
The NFX Podcast#1 Phone A Friend: "Astronauts for Inner Space" with Raed KhawajaMorgan Beller calls up Raed Khawaja - CEO & Co-Founder at Open - to catch up and talk about the current movement around one's 'inner-space'. Open is a social space for meditation, movement, and practice — on and offline, who’s raised close to $15M to help friends be present together. They blend old and new to bring you to the here and now on their app, in person at their Venice Beach studio, and even in the sky on JetBlue airlines. Their hybrid method strengthens the mind-body connection. NFX operates as a pre-seed and seed stage VC that is transforming how true...
2023-07-2634 min
The NFX PodcastAI x Speed (Sunday Readouts)This is an essay readout using an AI voice clone of NFX general partner, James Currier. The AI revolution just ratcheted up the speed bar for startups. You think you’re moving fast enough. You’re not. Speed is the number one advantage of a startup. But now that generative AI here, your definition of speed has to increase 10x.
Read the full essay here - https://www.nfx.com/post/speed-and-ai
(0:00) Introduction to AI and its future implications
(1:16) NFX's perspective on generative AI
(2:16) The need for founders to move faster into the AI market
(3:39) The importance of rese...
2023-06-2508 min
Beta Podcast Latam#15: Qué es una startup? Modelos de negocio, distribución y defensibilidad0:00 - Intro
0:34 - ¿Qué es una startup?
12:38 - Modelos de negocios de las Top 100 startups de YCombinator
18:32 - Características de los mejores negocios
24:00 - Hardware vs Software
28:18 - Sobre la defensibilidad (moats)
39:37 - ¿Todas las startups pueden tener Network Effects?
49:34 - ¿Qué es más importante: El producto o la distribución?
56:19 - Crecimiento organico vs. pago. CAC y LTV
1:04:22 - Outro
Recursos:
- https://www.paulgraham.com/growth.html
- https...
2023-06-081h 05Beta Podcast Latam#15: Qué es una startup? Modelos de negocio, distribución y defensibilidad0:00 - Intro0:34 - ¿Qué es una startup?12:38 - Modelos de negocios de las Top 100 startups de YCombinator18:32 - Características de los mejores negocios24:00 - Hardware vs Software28:18 - Sobre la defensibilidad (moats)39:37 - ¿Todas las startups pueden tener Network Effects?49:34 - ¿Qué es más importante: El producto o la distribución?56:19 - Crecimiento organico vs. pago. CAC y LTV1:04:22 - OutroRecursos:- https://www.paulgraham.com/growth.html- https://www.nfx.com/post/network-effects-bible- https://www.nfx.com/masterclass Síguen...
2023-06-081h 05Beta Podcast Latam#12: Las startups de hace 2-3 años se sienten viejas, sobre el pitch/deck, billeteras digitales.Recursos:
- Material de NFX para fundraising: https://www.nfx.com/library/fundraising
- Reporte NFX de AI: https://www.nfx.com/post/generative-a...
- Latin America AI Club: https://www.laic.me/
-----
0:00 - Intro
2:32 - Brazil at Silicon Valley: de que se esta hablando?
5:19 - Los VCs solo buscan tendencias?
18:06 - Gráfica: Las inversiones de Y Combinator
22:36 - ¿No se han vuelto a crear grandes startups rentables?
29:55 - Los decks feos son los mejores de todos.
46:07 - No te enfoques en la competencia, enfócate en tu cliente.
51:30 - La gran oportunidad del Nearshoring
1:00:06 - El Boo...
2023-04-281h 19Beta Podcast Latam#12: Las startups de hace 2-3 años se sienten viejas, sobre el pitch/deck, billeteras digitales.Recursos:- Material de NFX para fundraising: https://www.nfx.com/library/fundraising- Reporte NFX de AI: https://www.nfx.com/post/generative-a...- Latin America AI Club: https://www.laic.me/-----0:00 - Intro2:32 - Brazil at Silicon Valley: de que se esta hablando?5:19 - Los VCs solo buscan tendencias?18:06 - Gráfica: Las inversiones de Y Combinator22:36 - ¿No se han vuelto a crear grandes startups rentables?29:55 - Los decks feos son los mejores de todos.46:07 - No te enfoques en la co...
2023-04-281h 19
Beta Podcast Latam#8: Updates! Ola de consolidación en Latam, el invierno de los fondos y cómo funciona un VC?0:00 - Intro
5:21 - Resultados Nubank
18:48 - Update y novedades en fundraising Startups
29:14 - Fundraising de fondos
35:13 - ¿Los fondos quiebran?
45:19 - Modelo de negocio de un VC
45:20 - Al reemplazara a los VCs?
51:17 - El valor de la confianza al invertir
57:46 - Reporte ALLVP sobre oportunidades en 2023
1:03:11 - La extinción del efectivo en Latam
1:08:09 - La nueva ola de cierres, ventas y fusiones en Latam
1:20:35 - Lo bueno de los happy hours
-----
Link a evento ALLVP & NFX en Bogotá (1 de Marzo de 2023)
https...
2023-02-241h 21Beta Podcast Latam#8: Updates! Ola de consolidación en Latam, el invierno de los fondos y cómo funciona un VC?0:00 - Intro5:21 - Resultados Nubank18:48 - Update y novedades en fundraising Startups29:14 - Fundraising de fondos35:13 - ¿Los fondos quiebran? 45:19 - Modelo de negocio de un VC45:20 - Al reemplazara a los VCs? 51:17 - El valor de la confianza al invertir57:46 - Reporte ALLVP sobre oportunidades en 20231:03:11 - La extinción del efectivo en Latam 1:08:09 - La nueva ola de cierres, ventas y fusiones en Latam 1:20:35 - Lo bueno de los happy hours-----Link a evento ALLVP & NFX en Bogotá (1 de Marzo de 2023)https...
2023-02-231h 20Beta Podcast Latam#4: Sobre oportunidades y startups, generative AI y contexto del Venture Capital en Latam00:00 - Intro
1:47 - Sam es capturado
10:35 - Crypto en latam
12:37 - Contexto politico en Latinoamerica
21:27 - Valoraciones diferenciadas Latam vs. USA
27:09 - Competencia y acceso a capital como ventaja competitiva
31:10 - Ventajas de emprender en latam
35:10 - Tipo de startups en Latam y concentración de ideas
42:36 - Sobre la oferta de VCs en Latam
53:26 - Mexico como caso de éxito construyendo VCs
55:57 - Generative AI
1:04:31 - AI en la música
1:13:03 - NFX apostando agresivamente en AI y la oportunidad para Latam
1:24:14 - Qué es Prod...
2022-12-161h 32Beta Podcast Latam#4: Sobre oportunidades y startups, generative AI y contexto del Venture Capital en Latam00:00 - Intro1:47 - Sam es capturado10:35 - Crypto en latam12:37 - Contexto politico en Latinoamerica21:27 - Valoraciones diferenciadas Latam vs. USA27:09 - Competencia y acceso a capital como ventaja competitiva31:10 - Ventajas de emprender en latam35:10 - Tipo de startups en Latam y concentración de ideas42:36 - Sobre la oferta de VCs en Latam53:26 - Mexico como caso de éxito construyendo VCs55:57 - Generative AI1:04:31 - AI en la música1:13:03 - NFX apostando agresivamente en AI y la oportunidad para Latam1:24:14 - Qué es Prod...
2022-12-161h 32
The NFX PodcastNFXBio: TechBio Platforms Developing a Universal Vaccine & Beating Treatment-Resistant CancerIn this episode, Nick Goldner and Jacob Glanville share their founder journeys and discuss platform technologies in biotech. They delve into the business models of Resistance Bio and Sentivax, strategies for infectious diseases, and the challenges of scientific entrepreneurship. The conversation shifts to fundraising experiences and understanding investor feedback, concluding with visions for the future of biotech.
In biology we have a saying: what doesn’t kill you mutates and tries again.
Cancer. Deadly viruses. These problems are so hard to tackle because the goalposts are always moving. Thanks to evolution, these diseases often outpace therapies and va...
2022-11-2251 min
The NFX PodcastEp. 6 - Case Studies: Network Effects In Action (NFX Masterclass)null
These are case studies and stories that outline network effects in the wild - it is a montage of how big tech companies like Trulia, Meta, Uber, and even Bitcoin navigate their defensibility over time. For the best experience of this episode, watch our case studies at nfx.com/masterclass or by searching on YouTube to get the visual side of these deep dives.
That was episode 6 of 11, from the Network effects masterclass. Stay tuned and subscribe as next up is Ep. 7 - Network Problems Demand Network Solutions, here on the NFX podcast.
This...
2022-11-1821 min
The NFX PodcastEp. 2 - The Underlying Properties Of Network Theory (NFX Masterclass)Unlearn what you thought you knew about network effects. This episode takes you to the very beginning and lays out network theory from square one. Listen in as James covers the basics of network principles to use as a launchpad for the rest of the course and see how your startup behaves as a network itself.
This is an abridged version of episode 2 from The Network Effects Masterclass, curated for audio and listening on the go. For the full video experience, transcripts, and recommended reading, join the free Network Effects Masterclass at - NFX.com/masterclass.
(0:00) Introduction to...
2022-10-1227 min
The NFX PodcastComing Soon: The Network Effects Masterclass [special audio edition]In this episode, James Currier delves into the significance of network effects, providing insights on their impact on startups and daily life. Also included is an introduction to a master class on network effects.
At NFX, we've spent over 20 years studying the power of network effects. As founders, we’ve built them into companies worth $10B+. As investors, we teach our founders these playbooks. Now we’re putting everything we know into an 11-episode Network Effects Masterclass, made for early-stage startup founders and their teams.
There will be a full video and transcript experience on NFX.com — but we...
2022-09-2202 min
Hola Mundo Tech#15 De fundadora a inversora, pasando por Amazon, Stanford, Y Combinator y el fondo de inversión NFX, con Anna Piñol🔥 Únete a la comunidad de Hola Mundo Tech y recibe cada semana contenido interesante y de calidad
🎯 Momentos clave
03:30 Por qué un MBA en Stanford
10:45 Montar una startup de fast delivery en US: el modelo de Jupiter
20:15 El cambio mental de fundadora a inversora
22:05 Su experiencia en Y Combinator
26:00 Fondos de inversión
29:00 El día a día de un inversor
31:00 Qué hace NFX
37:30 Los objetivos y la estructura interna de un VC como NFX
41:50 Las fases de inversión
43:10 Los perfiles de startups y emprendedores
50:00 Los exit
52:00 Qué les obsesiona a los VC
55:00 VC americanos vs patrios
57:20 La crisis que lle...
2022-09-131h 15
Cultura Surf PodcastA Nova onda na WEB3 dos Bodyboarders mais Surf do Brasil [NFX 2.0] Ep09 - T4Eles buscam os lugares mais difíceis do mar para estarem e pegar a onda mais casca que vier. Mas não só no mar, eles também tem revolucionado a forma de construção de comunidade de surfistas/bodyboarders.
A 4ª Temporada do Cultura Surf Podcast é um Oferecimento do Curso de Shaper Profissional
🔸Conhece nesse link: https://bit.ly/shaper-profissional🤘Use o Cupom: CULTURASURF e a 1ª prancha que desenhar será Fabricada pelo Thiago, DE GRAÇA!
Curso de Hidrodinâmica: 💥 https://bit.ly/prancha-magica
Tudo que você precisa Saber para Escolher a Melhor prancha para você! ...
2022-08-0441 min
The NFX PodcastNFXBio: Academia or Startup? A Decision Matrix for Future Scientist-FoundersIn this episode, guests Jennifer Dionne and Yaniv Erlich share their journey transitioning from academia to startups, including Yaniv's experience with MyHeritage and Eleven Therapeutics. They compare academia and startups, discuss career options post-PhD, and provide advice for PhDs considering starting a company. They also delve into translating academic experience to business, reflecting on their academic careers and realizations about entrepreneurship.
NFX Bio is committed to backing Scientist-Founders who are inspired to change the world. But there are far fewer scientists-Founders today than there should be. Instead, scientists often follow the path that academia paves for them: from graduate...
2022-07-2147 min
Street Stories Hosted by Earl WinfreyMusic By Earl Winfrey/NFXI bet you can't figure out what I'm saying. Hell I don't even know.Everything you hear is just Earl Winfrey alone with his 4 track recorder.
2022-01-1106 min
The NFX PodcastCrazy Until It’s Not: New Story Charity’s Bitcoin-Based Mortgages, NFTs, and 3D-Printed HomesIn this episode, Pete Flint chats with Brett Hagler about the recent activities and innovative strides of New Story. They delve into the company's origin, growth, and their mantra of pursuing innovative ideas. They discuss the influence of community on aspirations and New Story's culture and values. The conversation also covers the intersection of Web 3 and real estate financing, future plans, and the potential of NFTs for nonprofits.
Some problems are so big, they feel crazy to even try to solve them. Global homelessness, for example. 1.6 billion people today are living without adequate housing*. This represents a massive, underserved...
2021-12-1444 min
TGOG PODCASTClips / MERCY junto a NFX nos habla del TEMA y como esto MARCO en su CARRERA TGOG PODCAST🎙️🎵Clips #05
2021-12-0704 min
The NFX PodcastBuilding Confidence Networks In Latin AmericaIn this episode, James Currier chats with Antonio Rojas, discussing his role at LVP and their focus on LatAm. They delve into Antonio's investment experience, the importance of entrepreneurial networks in Mexico, and the impact of increasing valuations in LatAm. They also discuss international outreach, unique challenges, the rise of web 3, and the potential of investments to influence societal change.
NFX has been increasingly active in LatAm over the last few years, largely drawn there by an incredibly talented pool of Founders in the region. To understand the unique challenges and opportunities of LatAm, James talked with Antonia Rojas...
2021-11-1035 minThe NFX PodcastEynat Guez & Gigi Levy-Weiss on 7 Mental Shifts For Hiring NowIn this episode, Gigi Levy-Weiss converses with Eynat Guez about the effects of remote work on global hiring and company culture, the influence of a founder's personality on recruitment strategies, and the challenges in automating processes. They discuss the importance of early planning in startups, the potential impact of crypto on payroll, and the transition from founder to CEO. They also touch on balancing personal life with startup demands and the role of female leadership in tech.
The Covid pandemic removed barriers to global hiring and remote team building. It exposed startups, by necessity, to all-new solutions for growing...
2021-10-2857 min
The NFX PodcastCommunity-First Company Building with Cuy Sheffield & Micah JohnsonIn today's episode, NFX Partner Morgan Beller talks with Cuy Sheffield (head of crypto at Visa) and Micah Johnson (Bored Apes, CryptoPunks, and Aku and former professional baseball player) as they explore tactics for building community, no matter what industry you’re in. Listen to their conversation as they uncover why Founders can’t skip the community-building part anymore, as it’s essential to company building in today's ecosystem.
The next evolution of companies will be created in public with early customers, partners, and supporters. They’ll be community-owned and operated, building upon the playbooks created by early NFT and play...
2021-10-2147 min
Outliers with Daniel Scrivner: Explore the Greatest Innovators, Founders, and Investors#57 NfX: A Masterclass on Network Effects and Investing in Network Effect Businesses | James Currier, Co-Founder & General PartnerIn Episode #57, we explore network effects and investing in network effect businesses. We’re joined by James Currier, co-founder and general partner of NfX. We cover virality vs. network effects, tweaking rules and systems to take advantage of network effects, and network effects as a business strategy.
“Every company is its own work of art, and the founder is the artist.” – James Currier
EPISODE GUIDE (LINKS, QUOTES, NOTES, AND BOOKS MENTIONED)
https://www.danielscrivner.com/notes/james-currier1-outlier-academy-show-notes
FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT
https://www.danielscrivner.com/notes/james-currier-outlier-academy-transcript
CHAPTERS
This episode is our definitive guide to network effects and investing in network eff...
2021-10-1343 min
The NFX PodcastChoosing The Final Frontier: Launching a Rocket Company with Andy Lapsa of Stoke Space"We have all the technical and economic ingredients needed to build a massive economy in space. We’re not focused on Mars or the Moon, we’re singularly focused on building a space economy that makes life better on Earth.”Today NFX Partner Morgan Beller is joined by Andy Lapsa, Co-Founder & CEO of Stoke Space Technologies, a company building reusable second-stage rockets to seamlessly Earth and orbit. Founded in 2019 and based in Renton, Washington they have been focused on the reusability aspect of rocketry to make space access more available and frequent in our future lives. Lapsa was a form...
2021-08-0440 min
The NFX PodcastThe Founders' List: Status, Wealth, & Power: Network Effects Demand A New Social ContractThis is The Founders’ List – audio versions of essays from technology’s most important leaders, selected by the founder community.Network effect businesses are reshaping the world. Network effects are still the best and most powerful force we know to create persistent value for billions of people. However, we think that too little has been said about how society should adapt to these new network effect behemoths we’re helping create.NFX Partner James Currier outlines how the network economy works, and how power, wealth, and status all flow on the network. He then looks at the impl...
2021-07-3030 min
The NFX PodcastNFX Mashup: The SPAC MasterclassThis is an NFX Mashup, where we string thoughts from past episodes together under the same topic.Startups today have more options than ever before — much earlier in their life cycles — for entering the public markets. Founders are constantly looking for advice on how to think about traditional IPO vs. SPAC vs. direct listing — and how to even answer the question: Am I ready to be a public company?In this mashup, NFX Partner Pete Flint is joined by Eventbrite co-founder Kevin Hartz, Hippo founder Assaf Wand, and the IPO whisperer Lisa Buyer on their experience and adv...
2021-07-2920 min
The NFX PodcastMeet the Team Behind 'Stoner Cats' (NFT Animated Series from Mila Kunis & Friends)'Stoner Cats' is an adult animated series centered on five house cats who repeatedly save their beloved owner created by Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, and friends, including the creative forces behind Toy Story 2, Spider-Verse, Happy Feet, and Cryptokitties.Users will be able to buy Stoner Cats NFTs and can use those tokens to access the comedy cartoon online. The show will be an estimated five minutes long per episode. The tokens purchased will go toward funding future episodes of the series.Today we have part of the Stoner Cats founding team including Morgan Beller (NFX Partner...
2021-07-2350 min
The NFX PodcastMeet the Team Behind 'Stoner Cats' (NFT Animated Series from Mila Kunis & Friends)In this episode, Morgan Beller, Mack Flavelle, Lisa Sterbakov, and Maaria Bajwa discuss the use of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) and their application in the Stoner Katz Project. They delve into the benefits of NFTs for creators, the community aspect of the project, and the risks and potentials of using NFTs as access tokens. The conversation also touches on the impact of NFTs on Hollywood and the challenges of content selection in the industry.
'Stoner Cats' is an adult animated series centered on five house cats who repeatedly save their beloved owner created by Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, and friends...
2021-07-2350 min
The NFX PodcastThe Founders' List: Vitalik Buterin on Bitcoin Maximalism, Currency, and Platform Network EffectsThis is The Founders’ List – audio versions of essays from technology’s most important leaders, selected by the founder community.In this article (published in 2014) Ethereum creator Vitalik Buterin challenges the Bitcoin maximalist movement a few different ways. Bitcoin maximalists believe that all other digital currencies are inferior to Bitcoin. The idea that an environment of multiple competing cryptocurrencies is undesirable and that it is both righteous and inevitable that the Bitcoin currency comes to take a monopoly position in the cryptocurrency scene. Maximalists argue that a single road—or a single cryptocurrency—will have more value beca...
2021-07-2230 min
The NFX PodcastThe Founders' List: Vitalik Buterin on Bitcoin Maximalism, Currency, and Platform Network EffectsIn this episode, NFX delves into Bitcoin dominance, new crypto protocol creation, and the intricacies of side chains and Ethereum smart contracts. They explore network effects in a crypto economic context, discuss the downsides of side chains, and examine the power of currency network effects. The concept of US Beller stablecoin maximalism is explored, alongside Blockstream's funding strategies and Hayekian currency competition.
This is The Founders’ List – audio versions of essays from technology’s most important leaders, selected by the founder community.
In this article (published in 2014) Ethereum creator Vitalik Buterin challenges the Bitcoin maximalist movement a few di...
2021-07-2230 min
The NFX PodcastMaking Markets with Prof. Scott Duke Kominers (HBS) & James CurrierOver the past twenty years, tech entrepreneurs have created and captured enormous value by launching new marketplaces to the world. Today NFX Partner James Currier talks with Professor Scott Duke Kominers, who has been teaching the course 'Making Markets' along with other classes at Harvard Business School. With over 80 academic papers published, he is in the MBA Class of 1960 Associate Professor of Business Administration in the Entrepreneurial Management Unit, as well as a Faculty Affiliate of the Harvard Department of Economics, the Harvard Center of Mathematical Sciences & Applications, and a Research Economist at the National Bureau of Economic...
2021-07-1951 min
The NFX PodcastThe Founders' List: How VCs See Your KPIsThis is The Founders’ List – audio versions of essays from technology’s most important leaders, selected by the founder community.Everyone knows that KPIs are critical, but often Founders are not looking at KPIs from the right angle. As a General Partner at NFX, Gigi Levy-Weiss now asks three questions to every Founder he meets. Their responses speak volumes about their odds of success:- Do you diligently track KPIs?- What KPIs have you chosen to track?- Have you set appropriate goals based on your KPIs?Read the full NFX Essay...
2021-07-1708 min
The NFX PodcastThe Founders' List: The New Generation of Labor Marketplaces and the Future of WorkThis is The Founders’ List – audio versions of essays from technology’s most important leaders, selected by the founder community.When the economy eventually normalizes, demand for labor will recover, and work will recover, but the shifts in supply and demand will result in a new and sizable set of unmet market needs for job placement.Online marketplaces will be a critical tool in getting people back to work quickly, efficiently, and at scale. They will also enable new ways for people to build the skills they need to succeed, and for them to work in an inc...
2021-07-1517 min
The NFX PodcastThe Founders' List: The New Generation of Labor Marketplaces and the Future of WorkIn this episode, Pete Flint delves into the shifting landscape of the labor market, the rise of the talent economy, and the future of labor marketplaces. He explores topics such as verticalization, transaction ownership, job tenure and scarcity, reskilling, upskilling, and success factors for building labor marketplaces. He also discusses the transformative potential of labor marketplaces during a crisis and the current climate for building them.
This is The Founders’ List – audio versions of essays from technology’s most important leaders, selected by the founder community.
When the economy eventually normalizes, demand for labor will recover, and work w...
2021-07-1517 min
The NFX PodcastSeeing Growth in a Downturn with Eran Ben-Shushan & Gigi Levy-WeissIn this episode, Eran Ben-Shusham, a seasoned entrepreneur, shares his company's journey through a business model pivot. He discusses the critical role of speed, execution, and strong company culture during a crisis. The conversation also delves into the shift towards virtual events, dealing with new customer needs, and the challenges of scaling during a pivot. Additionally, Eran speaks on the emotional impact of a disappearing core business and the importance of maintaining company values throughout the transition.
In the face of a global pandemic and a financial meltdown, Founders are confronted with a new reality. If you are running...
2021-07-1244 minThe NFX PodcastThe Founders' List: 8 Skills Top Founders Master for Startup Fundraising (How VCs Negotiate)This is The Founders’ List – audio versions of essays from technology’s most important leaders, selected by the founder community.Fundraising is a learned skill – and VCs almost always have the upper hand because they deal with it all day, everyday. Over the years of founding, advising, and investing in companies, Gigi has learned that VCs are better at startup fundraising than entrepreneurs. In reality, knowing what to expect from VCs – the negotiation dynamics Founders are likely to encounter – is half the battle.Before you start communicating with VCs, take the time to learn how to detect and m...
2021-06-3013 min
The NFX PodcastThe Founders' List: 7 Principles of Game Design from Design GymThis is The Founders' List - audio versions of essays from technology’s most important leaders, selected by the founder community.Life is, by some measures, an infinite game, where the rules constantly change and winners turn into losers, and vice versa. This article is titled, “7 Principles of Game Design” and was written by The Design Gym - an NYC-based agency that has worked with top companies like Instagram, Netflix, Etsy, and many more.Setting up games, with clear goals and constraints helps focus our energies and efforts and can improve and clarify outcomes and motivate us to mov...
2021-06-2905 min
The NFX PodcastThe Founders' List: 7 Principles of Game Design from Design GymIn this NFX Podcast episode, the discussion centers on the importance and ubiquity of game design. The team delves into the principles of innovation, objectives, constraints, and success criteria in game design, followed by an exploration of reward systems, play's role, and competition in game design.
This is The Founders' List - audio versions of essays from technology’s most important leaders, selected by the founder community.
Life is, by some measures, an infinite game, where the rules constantly change and winners turn into losers, and vice versa. This article is titled, “7 Principles of Game Design” and was writ...
2021-06-2905 min
The NFX PodcastHow a Top Investor Sees the World with Saar GurIn this episode, James Currier converses with guest Saar Gur about his entrepreneurial journey in Silicon Valley. They discuss Saar's transition from entrepreneur to venture capitalist, his approach to investing, and the importance of emotional connection. They delve into Saar's successful investments in DoorDash and Patreon, the power of creators, and the potential in Patreon. The conversation also covers identifying investment opportunities through Reddit communities and crypto movements, characteristics of successful founders, and a case study on Ring's evolution.
Saar Gur is one of the best investors in Silicon Valley and has a gift of identifying the next big...
2021-06-2839 min
The NFX PodcastThe Founders' List: Shishir Mehrotra with an Inside Look at How YouTube Scaled (Rituals for Hypergrowth)This is The Founders' List - audio versions of essays from technology’s most important leaders, selected by the founder community.When Shishir Mehrotra left YouTube in 2014, a number of other company leaders wanted to understand how YouTube worked from the inside. He wrote this article summarizing their key rituals in a stage of hypergrowth. This article was originally published in 2015, but has since been expanded upon by Shishir.Read the full essay here - https://coda.io/@shishir/rituals-for-hypergrowth-an-inside-look-at-how-youtube-scaled
2021-06-1711 min
The NFX PodcastSuper Founders with Ali Tamaseb & James CurrierIn this episode, James Currier converses with guest Ali Tamaseb about his book "Super Founders", discussing the methodology and data collection process. They delve into the impact of socioeconomic diversity among founders, the correlation between success and academic or career history, and the venture capitalism game. Insights on overcoming narrative bias, the value of small failures, and the role of faith and adaptability in venture capitalism are also explored.
What started as a viral medium article from two years ago has now turned into 'Super Founders', a book on what data reveals about billion-dollar startups. Today on the NFX...
2021-06-1538 min
The NFX PodcastMajor Opportunities for Young Founders with Jon Levin, Dean of Stanford GSBIn this episode, Pete Flint talks with Jon Levin about the career prospects for the class of 2021, emerging industries, and trends for entrepreneurs. They delve into the evolution of entrepreneurship, the societal impact of business leaders, and the shifting landscape for startup founders. They also discuss capitalism, government roles, and Stanford Business School's new task force. Lastly, they reflect on lessons from Levin's tenure as a Dean and the future of education.
Stanford GSB Dean Jon Levin joins NFX Partner Pete Flint to discuss his perspective on new Founders entering the industry, how Stanford encourages its students to solve...
2021-06-1037 min
The NFX PodcastThe Insider Story of Waze with Noam BardinUnderlying Waze's journey is a little-known approach to product thinking, super-powerful data network effects, and a guiding north star metric. This is Waze's insider story, as told by their former CEO, Noam Bardin.NFX Partner Gigi Levy-Weiss recently sat down with Noam, where they discussed the step-by-step story of the company's growth, starting from their early days in 2008 with just 2,000 monthly active users, through being acquired by Google for $1B in 2013, and hitting 140M monthly active users at the time Noam stepped down in Feb 2021.Early-stage Founders are wise to study as many successful growth stories...
2021-06-021h 01
The NFX PodcastHeather Fernandez & Pete Flint on Startup Speed As A Public GoodIn this episode, Pete Flint, Heather Fernandez, and James Currier discuss the business model of Solve Health and its strategic approach to navigating through the pandemic. They analyze the complexities and opportunities in the American healthcare industry, the impact of regulations on innovation, and the importance of understanding supply and demand in healthcare marketplaces. The episode concludes with advice for young entrepreneurs interested in healthcare.
Speed is routinely acknowledged as a major advantage for startups. But startup speed is not sufficiently understood as an invaluable competency for society at large. Solv Health’s growth during the pandemic is a gr...
2021-05-2548 min
The NFX PodcastThe Founders' List: The Great Online Game by Packy McCormickIn this episode, Packy McCormick shares his insights into crypto's role in the online game, its intersection with the creator economy, and the potential of DAOs. The discussion also delves into game design principles, their application to the online game, and personal experiences in the meta game.
The Great Online Game is an infinite video game that plays out constantly across the internet. It uses many of the mechanics of a video game, but removes the boundaries. You’re no longer playing as an avatar in Fortnite or Roblox; you’re playing as yourself across Twitter, YouTube, Discords, work, proj...
2021-05-2120 min
The NFX PodcastThe IPO Whisperer Lise Buyer Talks Going PublicIn this episode, Pete Flint and guest Lise Buyer discuss the shift from private to public investments, the rise of mega rounds, and the appeal and risks of SPACs. They explore the impact of the Robin Hood generation on IPOs, the importance of transparency for public listings, and share Google's IPO story.
Lise Buyer, known as the IPO whisperer Pete Flint on the NFX Podcast to discuss all things taking a company public via traditional IPOs, Direct Listings, and SPACs.
Lise consulted on Trulia’s IPO in back in 2012 when Pete was CEO and Co-Founder. Previously, Ms Bu...
2021-05-1153 min
The NFX PodcastThe Founders' List: The Maker Protocol Whitepaper - MakerDAO's Multi-Collateral Dai (MCD) SystemIn this episode, guest Kristen O'Brien delves into the Maker Dow project and Dye stablecoin, explaining its protocol, collateral assets, and key external actors. Further discussions cover the Die Savings Rate, governance, risk mitigation, and emergency shutdowns. The future of the protocol and Dye stablecoin use cases are also explored.
In December 2017, the white paper introducing Maker and the original decentralized Dai Stablecoin System was published. It describes the exact design and features of the Dai launch, as well as a roadmap for the future of Dai. The Dai Stablecoin is a collateral-backed cryptocurrency whose value is stable relative to...
2021-05-1033 min
The NFX PodcastJulia & Kevin Hartz On Taking Eventbrite PublicJulia and Kevin Hartz co-founded Eventbrite, a website that allows users to create, share, and join events worldwide. In this episode of the NFX Podcast, the two join NFX Partner Pete Flint to discuss their founder journey, financing, fundraising, scaling, unicorn status, and a deep dive on the little-known details of taking a tech company public via SPAC.Launched in 2006 and headquartered in San Francisco, Eventbrite has navigated through the pandemic with a refocused strategy and a leaner cost base. In September of 2018, Julia took Eventbrite public, making her among the few women to lead the successful initial...
2021-05-0542 min
The NFX PodcastJulia & Kevin Hartz On Taking Eventbrite PublicIn this episode, guests Julia and Kevin Hartz join Kristen O'Brien and Pete Flint to discuss the prerequisites of going public, private vs public companies, and market trends. They delve into the world of SPACs, the process of selecting business partners, and the future of venture capital. The Hartz couple also shares insights on transitioning from executive to CEO, and reframing Eventbrite's business model.
Julia and Kevin Hartz co-founded Eventbrite, a website that allows users to create, share, and join events worldwide. In this episode of the NFX Podcast, the two join NFX Partner Pete Flint to discuss their...
2021-05-0542 min
Venture Unlocked: The playbook for venture capital managersPete Flint from NFX on network effects, VC as a platform, and how they think about fund sizes.Follow me @samirkaji for my ongoing thoughts on the private fund markets. Over the last decade, we’ve seen a surge of VC firms formed by those that spent their entire lives as entrepreneurs. NFX is one of those firms, and in 2016, ex-Trulia founder Pete Flint joined the firm as fourth partner bringing the experience of starting a company, taking it public, before ultimately being acquired by Zillow for $2.5B. This was a fun conversation, not only because of Pete’s insights and interesting background, but because of unique NFX is as a firm in the wa...
2021-05-0438 min
The NFX PodcastThe Founders' List: Mind the Moat: Notes on 7 Powers (written by Hamilton Helmer) from Flo Crivello (Founder & CEO Teamflow)null
This is The Founders' List - audio versions of essays from technology’s most important leaders, selected by the founder community.
We’ve recently published a podcast and essay focused on Hamilton Helmer’s 7 Powers book, regarded as a core insight behind the success of companies like Spotify, Netflix, Stripe, and Twilio.
For this episode of the Founders’ List, we’ll be sharing notes and personal thoughts on the book titled “Mind the Moat, a 7 Powers Review” by Flo Crivelo, Founder & CEO of TeamFlow.
Read Flo's essay here - https://florentcrivello.com/index.php/2018/0...
2021-04-3024 min
The NFX PodcastThe 7 Powers with Hamilton Helmer & Jeff LawsonIn this episode, James Currier, Jeff Lawson, and Hamilton Helmer delve into the importance of defensibility, the 7 Powers of strategy, and the role of inventiveness. They discuss network economies using Uber as a case study, examine scale economies, and explore the concept of Counter Positioning. They also discuss the challenges for incumbents adapting to new business models, the power of branding, and cornered resources. The episode ends with insights on process power and developing entrepreneurial power.
In this special NFX Podcast episode, Jeff Lawson (Co-Founder & CEO at Twilio) interviews Hamilton Helmer to analyze the 7 Powers, getting at the core...
2021-04-2936 min
The NFX PodcastThe CEO That Jeff Bezos Called “His Teacher” with Jeff Wilke & James CurrierIn this episode, James Currier converses with Jeff Wilke about Amazon's leadership principles, writing culture, and the role of software architecture. They delve into individuality in leadership, the power of authenticity in communication, and the importance of teaching. They also touch on Jeff's new venture, Rebuild Manufacturing.
Jeff Wilke (former CEO, Amazon's Worldwide Consumer Business) sheds light on a counter-intuitive driver behind unusual success: Focus on the inputs, not the outputs. Jeff shares the 3 drivers underlying the rise of Amazon, Prime, Alexa, and AWS, including:
1. "Mechanisms": Amazon's definition, two failure modes, and why they're harder to implement...
2021-04-2028 min
The NFX PodcastThe Founders' List: Gigi Levy-Weiss on "How VCs Think: The Psychology That Drives Investing Decisions"This is The Founders’ List – audio versions of essays from technology’s most important leaders, selected by the founder community."For a startup, understanding VCs’ mindsets is often as important as understanding the mindsets of your customers. With no capital most Founders will not win, so you’d better learn the language."VCs speak a different language, one that Founders must learn to be able to raise capital. Understand the psychological drivers and use them to evaluate your counterpart’s state of mind. And repeat the core narratives: we are low risk; we will be huge; others are i...
2021-04-1513 min
The NFX PodcastA Proposal to Jack & Zuck: Chris Anderson (ex-WIRED) & James Currier on Regulating Social MediaIn this episode, James Currier and Chris Anderson delve into the complexities of regulating social media, discussing the role of likes, extreme content, and the potential impact of nationalization on large companies like Facebook. They also explore the challenges faced by rapidly growing firms like Robinhood and address root algorithmic causes in tech companies.
The usual Silicon Valley response to regulation is to offer self-regulation instead — but only tech companies have the skills and speed to fix what they broke, unable to manage the influence over the public sphere they attained almost by accident.
Unless the few wh...
2021-04-1247 min
The NFX PodcastThe Founders' List: Letter to Amazon Employees from Jeff BezosThis is The Founders' List - audio versions of essays from technology’s most important leaders, selected by the founder community.Amazon's Jeff Bezos announced in February that he was stepping down as CEO of the e-commerce giant later this year. Bezos said he would transition to the executive chair of the company's board of directors and will focus on "new products and early initiatives. This is the letter he sent to all employees at Amazon.“Being the CEO of Amazon is a deep responsibility, and it’s consuming,” Bezos wrote in a letter to employe...
2021-03-0904 min
The NFX PodcastThe Founders' List: Berkshire Hathaway 2020 Annual Report from Warren BuffettThis is The Founders' List - audio versions of essays from technology’s most important leaders, selected by the founder community.Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.A, BRK.B) held its 2020 annual meeting of shareholders as a livestream-only event originating from its headquarters city of Omaha, Nebraska on May 2. This is the report from 2020 sent to all shareholders.This is the letter he sent to all shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.“The company’s sitting on about $150 billion in cash right now and it has $25 billion of earnings power, and Buffett has not found a lot to...
2021-03-0932 min
The NFX PodcastBJ Fogg on Tiny Habits for Startup Founders with James CurrierBJ Fogg is an American behavior scientist who is currently an Adjunct Professor at Stanford University and a New York Times best-selling author. He is the founder and director of the Behavior Design Lab.BJ Fogg and James Currier talk to uncover how startup Founders can create better systems, both within themselves and within their companies and communities, so they can level up what we’re doing and put more good into the world. They cover topics like behavior design in tech and tech companies, mindset for Founders, examples of companies doing these things well, and tiny habits fo...
2021-03-0155 min
The NFX PodcastThe Founders' List: The DoorDash Investment Memo from 2014This is The Founders' List - audio versions of essays from technology’s most important leaders, selected by the founder community.In the Summer of 2013, DoorDash had a dream of building a real-time local delivery network for local commerce. This episode is the reading of an internal memo by Sequoia Capital Partner Alfred Lin in 2014 focused on the market and business of DoorDash before their Series A partnership.DoorDash launched in Palo Alto, California in 2013. As of January 2020, it had the largest food delivery market share in the United States. DoorDash held its initial public offering on...
2021-02-2505 minThe NFX PodcastThe Founders' List: The DoorDash Investment Memo from 2014This is The Founders' List - audio versions of essays from technology’s most important leaders, selected by the founder community.In the Summer of 2013, DoorDash had a dream of building a real-time local delivery network for local commerce. This episode is the reading of an internal memo by Sequoia Capital Partner Alfred Lin in 2014 focused on the market and business of DoorDash before their Series A partnership.DoorDash launched in Palo Alto, California in 2013. As of January 2020, it had the largest food delivery market share in the United States. DoorDash held its initial public offering on...
2021-02-2505 min
The NFX PodcastStanford's "Touchy Feely" Course (For Startup Founders), with Carole Robin & James CurrierCarole has been in the business of helping leaders grow for over 35 years. Before she co-founded and became the Head of Programs of Leaders in Tech, she taught at the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) for 17 years, where she served as the Faculty Director of the Interpersonal Dynamics for High Performance Executives Program and Director of the Arbuckle Leadership Fellows program. Carole is well known for teaching the Interpersonal Dynamics course that most call the "Touchy Feely Class" (the most popular elective course at the GSB for over 45 years).Today NFX General Partner James Currier and Carole...
2021-02-2226 minThe NFX PodcastStanford's "Touchy Feely" Course (For Startup Founders), with Carole Robin & James CurrierCarole has been in the business of helping leaders grow for over 35 years. Before she co-founded and became the Head of Programs of Leaders in Tech, she taught at the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) for 17 years, where she served as the Faculty Director of the Interpersonal Dynamics for High Performance Executives Program and Director of the Arbuckle Leadership Fellows program. Carole is well known for teaching the Interpersonal Dynamics course that most call the "Touchy Feely Class" (the most popular elective course at the GSB for over 45 years).Today NFX General Partner James Currier and Carole...
2021-02-2226 min
The NFX PodcastVitalik Buterin on Space, Longevity, Mars & More ("The B- Side" with Morgan Beller)Today we’re releasing the B-Side of our conversation with Vitalik Buterin, highlighting what may look strangely different in the coming decades. Here’s what great Founders know that others do not: What seems weird today may actually be signal of an outsized opportunity ahead.Last week, Vitalik and I took a synchronous-but-separate walk together for 3 hours. I was in San Francisco at 4 pm and Vitalik was in Singapore at 8 am the next day, living in the future in more ways than one.Read the full NFX Essay here - https://www.nfx.com/post/vitalik-buterin-the-b-sides/
2021-02-1822 min
The NFX PodcastVitalik Buterin on The Revolt of the Public ("The A-Side" with Morgan Beller)Today we’re releasing the “A-Side” of a conversation with Vitalik Buterin, known as the creator of Ethereum and is a force behind much of the crypto movement. Vitalik shares his unique points of view on politics, crypto, Americanism, GameStop, and Wall Street Bets, Tesla, China, privacy, The Revolt of the Public, the decentralization of finance and so much more.But Vitalik is much more than just crypto. He is a close friend with a rare ability to see the present and future in a way few others do. With technology now at the forefront of societ...
2021-02-1648 min
The NFX PodcastThe Founders' List: Ashley Mayer on "It’s Okay That Your Startup Doesn’t Have a Communications Strategy"This is The Founders' List - audio versions of essays from technology’s most important leaders, selected by the founder community.Ashley Mayer is the Senior Director of Communications at the beauty company, Glossier. She is also an active startup investor (angel and scout). Ashley previously ran all things Marketing at Social Capital from 2015-2018, where she worked with founders spanning healthcare, aerospace, climate, fintech, enterprise and education. In this audio essay, Ashley demystifies what goes into building communications strategies from the bottom-up, and why tactics are your friends."Don’t trust that others will...
2021-02-1111 min
The NFX PodcastAdam Grant on Anti-Patterns of 10x Thinking with Pete Flint"Doubt what you know, be curious about what you don't, and update your views based on new data."NFX partner Pete Flint recently got together with organizational psychologist and bestselling author Adam Grant to discuss his new book, Think Again, about the counterintuitive and competitive advantages of rethinking.Adam and Pete share the frameworks for:- Rethinking vs. Contrarian Thinking- Techniques from the World’s Best Superforecasters- Jeff Bezos’s 2×2 Decision Framework- The Top Killers of Co-founder Relationships- Why Confident Humility Is A Founder Superpower- & more
2021-02-0440 minThe NFX PodcastAdam Grant on Anti-Patterns of 10x Thinking with Pete Flint"Doubt what you know, be curious about what you don't, and update your views based on new data."NFX partner Pete Flint recently got together with organizational psychologist and bestselling author Adam Grant to discuss his new book, Think Again, about the counterintuitive and competitive advantages of rethinking.Adam and Pete share the frameworks for:- Rethinking vs. Contrarian Thinking- Techniques from the World’s Best Superforecasters- Jeff Bezos’s 2×2 Decision Framework- The Top Killers of Co-founder Relationships- Why Confident Humility Is A Founder Superpower- & more
2021-02-0440 min
The NFX PodcastLaunching NFX Bio and The Rise of the Scientist FounderToday we're announcing NFX Bio, a new fund initiative led by some of biotech's most successful Founder/CEOs. Our mission is to back seed-stage companies building bio-platforms that solve the biggest challenges facing humanity.NFX Bio is led by Omri Amirav Drory, Ph.D., Founder/CEO of Genome Compiler (acquired by Twist Bioscience). Joining him on the Investment Committee is Emily LeProust, Ph.D., Co-Founder & CEO of Twist Bioscience (TWST - NASDAQ), as well as NFX GP's James Currier and Gigi Levy-Weiss.By combining software/data tech with biology, and by architecting businesses with a platform...
2021-02-0224 minThe NFX PodcastLaunching NFX Bio and The Rise of the Scientist FounderToday we're announcing NFX Bio, a new fund initiative led by some of biotech's most successful Founder/CEOs. Our mission is to back seed-stage companies building bio-platforms that solve the biggest challenges facing humanity.NFX Bio is led by Omri Amirav Drory, Ph.D., Founder/CEO of Genome Compiler (acquired by Twist Bioscience). Joining him on the Investment Committee is Emily LeProust, Ph.D., Co-Founder & CEO of Twist Bioscience (TWST - NASDAQ), as well as NFX GP's James Currier and Gigi Levy-Weiss.By combining software/data tech with biology, and by architecting businesses with a platform...
2021-02-0224 min
The NFX PodcastThe Founders' List: James Currier (General Partner at NFX) on "The Psychology of Startup Growth"This is The Founders' List - audio versions of essays from technology’s most important leaders, selected by the founder community.This essay was written and published by James Currier, General Partner at NFX. Read the full article here: https://www.nfx.com/post/psychology-startup-growth/
2021-01-2809 minThe NFX PodcastThe Founders' List: James Currier (General Partner at NFX) on "The Psychology of Startup Growth"This is The Founders' List - audio versions of essays from technology’s most important leaders, selected by the founder community.This essay was written and published by James Currier, General Partner at NFX. Read the full article here: https://www.nfx.com/post/psychology-startup-growth/
2021-01-2809 min
The NFX PodcastThe Founders' List: David Skok on "Scalable Pricing A Key Tool For SaaS Success" (Pricing Series)This is The Founders' List - audio versions of essays from technology’s most important leaders, selected by the founder community.Alongside our latest NFX Essay "The Hidden World of Pricing: Uber, Trulia, Etsy, Superhuman & More with Madhavan Ramanujam", we decided to release multiple supplemental pricing articles on The Founders' List.David Skok joined Matrix Partners as a General Partner in May 2001. He has a wealth of experience running companies. David started his first company in 1977 at age 22. Since then David has founded a total of four separate companies and performed one turn-around. Three of these co...
2021-01-2609 min
The NFX PodcastThe Pricing Masterclass with Madhavan Ramanujam & Pete FlintMadhavan Ramanujam is a legendary “pricing whisperer” among tech unicorns including Trulia, Etsy, Uber, Amazon, Evernote, and more. He is the author of 'Monetizing Innovation' and a partner at Simon-Kucher.Today, Madhavan and Pete (General Partner at NFX) are sharing the frameworks, tactics, and hidden truths Founders need to know about pricing - and how, when done correctly, it can dramatically lever-up growth. Madhavan and Pete discuss topics in the pricing world like how:- Pricing is a blindspot for startups.- How to Test Willingness-to-Pay- Acceptable, Expensive, or Prohibitively Expensive?- How...
2021-01-2542 min
The NFX PodcastThe Founders’ List: ‘The HP Way’ Speech by Dave Packard to Management (1960)This is The Founders’ List – audio versions of essays from technology’s most important leaders, selected by the founder community.In 1960, David Packard gave an informal speech to the managers at HP that wasn’t intended for the public to hear. The speech resurfaced during the merger talks between Hewlett-Packard and Compaq. Packard addressed the overarching question of 'why HP exists' and shares insights on how to manage effectively, financial responsibility, and much more for someone to absorb and have a successful career.You can find his speech in the book, 'The HP Way: How Bill Hewlett...
2021-01-1414 min
The NFX PodcastJeff Lawson on Ask Your Developer, with Pete FlintJeff Lawson, software developer turned CEO of Twilio, creates a new playbook for unleashing the full potential of software developers in any organization, showing how to help management utilize this coveted and valuable workforce to enable growth, solve a wide range of business problems, and drive digital transformation.General Partner at NFX Pete Flint talks with Jeff about his new book, his Twilio Founder Journey, running a public company through a recession, decision frameworks, and much more. Jeff's new book is released on Tuesday, January 12th and discusses how to use the creativity of code to solve business...
2021-01-1247 min
The NFX PodcastErik Torenberg & James Currier on being Citizens of the Internetnull
Erik Torenberg is an entrepreneur, investor, and most importantly a community builder. NFX General Partner James Currier connects with Erik on the intricacies of building online & offline communities, behavioral psychology of users, and useful tactics/frameworks for early-stage Founders to consider when building their company.
Erik is originally from New Jersey and studied economics at the University of Michigan. investments His portfolio includes Rappi, Scale, Nurx, Lattice, Omni, Long-Term Stock Exchange, Winnie, Carrot, Kite, Cover, and ~80 more. He is a son of Israeli and Colombian immigrants and has worked to invest in those ecosystems as well.
2020-12-2242 min
The NFX PodcastThe Unusual Signs of a Billion Dollar Company with Elad Gil & James Curriernull
Can your company be a Billion-dollar business? When we look inside the early days of companies like Stripe, Airbnb, Coinbase, Instacart & Square, what are the patterns that may shed light on how great Founders beat incredible odds?
In this episode of the NFX podcast, Elad Gil — one of the world's top angel investors in an astonishing number of Billion-dollar companies (Airbnb, Airtable, Anduril, Brex, Checkr, Coinbase, Flexport, Gitlab, Gusto, Instacart, Opendoor, PagerDuty, Pinterest, Samsara, Square, Stripe, & Wish) and cofounder of ColorGenomics— joins NFX partner James Currier to unearth what makes certain Founders and teams exponentially better.
2020-11-2335 min
The NFX PodcastFocus Superpowers with Nir Eyal & James Curriernull
All early-stage companies are in search of traction. It’s notable that the opposite of traction is distraction and top Founders have an inverse response to distraction. As the world around them gets more distracting, what they see is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to break out from their competitors and win.
NFX partner James Currier talks with Nir Eyal, former instructor at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business and author of the bestseller, “Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products.” 2013 His latest book, “Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life,” 2019 is out now.
Nir walks us...
2020-10-2045 min
The NFX PodcastThe Golden Age of Simulation with Chris Anderson & James Curriernull
On this episode of the NFX Podcast we have one of the most generative people in Silicon Valley, Chris Anderson. He was famously Editor in Chief at Wired for over a decade during an insanely influential time in tech. He also is an author of The Long Tail, Free, and Makers.
Chris has since founded 3DR, an American company headquartered in Berkeley, California that makes enterprise drone software for construction, engineering, and mining firms, along with government agencies.
In this episode, we cover:- How regulations need to catch up with technology...
2020-10-1435 min
The NFX PodcastApril Underwood shares the Product Thinking That Built Slack & Twitternull
Twitter and Slack are two of technology’s most talked-about companies. They are both category-defining products marked by hypergrowth, each amassing a large base of deeply loyal users and a valuation of more than $20B.
But Founders rarely get access to the product decisions being made behind the scenes, or the strategy and frameworks that guided them.
April Underwood was instrumental at both companies, first as Director of Product at Twitter and then as Chief Product Officer at Slack. She is a powerhouse product leader with an unusual depth of experience in growing both B2...
2020-07-141h 01
The NFX PodcastKeith Rabois on how Contrarians Think: The Early Days of Square, Yelp, & PayPalnull
In this episode of the NFX Podcast, Keith Rabois and James Currier examine the rule deviation behind some of technology's greatest startup feats — PayPal, Square, Yelp, and even Apple, Tesla, and SpaceX.
They discuss:- The 5 People You Spend the Most Time With: It's easy to be a contrarian. It's hard to be right. What are the environmental and psychological factors needed to really think for yourself?- The Extreme 1% of the Bell Curve: A framework for rule deviation that leads to invention, not replication.- Being a Founder is Like Chewing Glass: Th...
2020-06-301h 03
The NFX PodcastRahul Vohra shares the Frameworks Behind Superhuman (NFX Keynote Episode)null
Rahul is the founder and CEO of Superhuman where he and his team are building the fastest email experience in the world. Before Superhuman, Rahul founded Rapportive, which was acquired by LinkedIn in 2014.
We’re bringing you an NFX Keynote podcast that gives you a deep dive into Rahul Vohra’s mind. His strategic thinking on product-market fit is verging on legendary, and in this episode, Rahul shares his biggest learnings about customer onboarding, why products should be designed like games, and the frameworks he wants every founder to know about pricing and positioning.
www...
2020-06-1822 min
The NFX PodcastThe Google of Biology: Meet the Company that is Reading & Writing the Code of Lifenull
Biology is the new frontier.
At NFX, we’ve been investing in this space. And in this episode of the NFX podcast, we talk to Trevor Martin, the CEO and Co-Founder of Mammoth Biosciences, an NFX company, that is now the largest repository of CRISPR IP in the world. They are developing the Google of biology where they will help anyone find what they are looking for in the genome.
They are also working on a rapid COVID-19 test that uses CRISPR. Today we will talk about the cutting edge of what’s happening and...
2020-06-0942 min
The NFX PodcastJosh Elman & James Currier on the Arrival of the Next Social EraIn this episode, Kristin O'Brien, James Currier, and Josh Elman delve into the evolution of social media, its current state, and future opportunities. They share valuable advice for early-stage founders in social media startups, discuss the transition from Meerkat to House Party, and the growth of Discord. The conversation emphasizes the importance of humanity in technology, psychology in startup innovation, and constant product evolution.
Today Josh Elman & James Currier discuss the history of social media, where it is today, and the next wave of social companies that may be a result of the current lockdown situation. Due to the...
2020-05-0555 min
The NFX PodcastHow Reid Hoffman & James Currier See the Path Ahead for Founders during The Great ResetIn this episode, James Currier, Reid Hoffman, and Kristin O'Brien discuss decision-making strategies during layoffs, unlearning and adapting in crises, and post-crisis financing strategies. They also explore changes in human behavior due to the pandemic, startup opportunities in a changing landscape, and the future of work. The role of cultural entrepreneurship and Silicon Valley's pandemic response are also discussed.
Today Reid Hoffman & James Currier discuss the path ahead for Founders in a post-COVID world. What you need to learn and unlearn to get your company through a crisis, frameworks for the tough decisions Founders are facing today and the...
2020-04-1633 min
The NFX PodcastDavid Sacks shares how PayPal & Trulia Navigated DownturnsIn this episode, Kristin O'Brien, Pete Flint, and David Sacks discuss leading through challenging times, navigating disruption, and the importance of adaptability. They delve into crisis management, the economic impact on startups and VC investments, and the role of paranoia in survival. Insights on wartime CEOs and the response of Silicon Valley to COVID-19 are also shared. The episode concludes with potential long-term pandemic impacts, highlighting the rise of edtech and healthtech.
Today we’re talking with David Sacks & Pete Flint about how to lead a company through an unforeseen downturn, and what it takes to adapt and survive in...
2020-04-0745 min
The NFX PodcastStacy Brown-Philpot on Leading Startups Through UncertaintyIn this episode, Pete Flint chats with Stacey Brown-Philpot, CEO of Task Rabbit, about leadership, company culture, and handling crises. They delve into TaskRabbit's evolution, community engagement, marketplace balancing, and tackling disintermediation. They also discuss geographic expansion, pricing strategies, and their IKEA acquisition. Lastly, they explore the gig economy's evolution, its regulation, and the impact of the COVID crisis.
TaskRabbit invented the gig-economy in 2008 with a marketplace that matches freelance labor with local demand for everyday tasks. Stacy Brown-Philpot became CEO of TaskRabbit in 2016 and led the company through its acquisition by IKEA in 2017.
In this episode...
2020-03-1836 min
The NFX PodcastThe Founder List: The Psychology Of Startup Growth (James Currier, Partner at NFX)Growth comes from adopting the right psychology. The right mindset. From an approach you bring to your daily work consistently for years. In this episode of The NFX Podcast, James Currier shares the five hallmarks of high-performance growth psychology.
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To read our essay on the The Psychology Of Startup Growth, visit -https://www.nfx.com/post/psychology-startup-growth
To read more NFX Essays visit - www.nfx.com
2019-08-2200 min
The NFX PodcastThe Founder List: The Hidden Patterns to Great Startup Ideas (James Currier, Partner at NFX)In this episode, James Currier delves into the conceptualization and refinement of startup ideas. He introduces five key frameworks, including leveraging technological shifts and balancing market risk versus execution risk. The episode concludes with case studies on companies managing different risk types.
It’s often said that success is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. We disagree. This might be true at later stages, but at the initial stage of a startup, the core idea makes a huge difference. Small changes in your initial idea/direction will make a big difference to where you end up. In this episode of The NFX Po...
2019-08-2208 min
The NFX PodcastThe Founder List: 9 Habits of World Class Startups (James Currier, Partner at NFX)In this episode, James Currier delves into the fundamentals of running a successful startup. He discusses the nine habits of world-class startups and explores the power of storytelling with Morgan Beller. The conversation also touches on the "11 of 13" rule, the significance of language, the necessity to test and iterate, and how to spot major changes in crucial metrics.
Startups that grow into transformative companies do two things: (1) they nail the basics and (2) they cultivate the right habits (core operating principles). In this episode of The NFX Podcast, James Currier lists 9 habits that get investors to lean in and take...
2019-08-2209 min
The NFX PodcastManish Chandra (Founder & CEO) shares The Poshmark StoryIn this episode, Manish Chandra, founder of Poshmark, joins James Currier to discuss his experience building and scaling Poshmark. They delve into overcoming operational challenges, the importance of social commerce, and the company's unique business philosophy. The conversation also touches on fundraising, team development, and Poshmark's future plans.
They were rejected by 200+ investors. They were turned down by every single payment processor in the country. They discovered they were in violation of USPS regulations, and almost ran out of money.
Yet today, Poshmark is one of the most successful marketplaces of all time.
Be on...
2019-06-1849 min
Can We KeepIt Real Podcast Network-local youth sports, hiphop,battlerap trending topics.Emerson Kilgore Special Guest talking about RI football and flex401 football. Don’t miss it.Emerson Kilgore returns talking About the Flex Football advantage. 401 Flex is the RI league of NFX | National Flex Football™. Flex football is a unique high tempo, low impact hybrid football league that introduces players to the fundamentals of hands-only blocking in a non-tackle environment. Flex serves to fill the learning gap from flag football to tackle football by introducing the progression, skill development, energy and excitement. Flex football is 7 v 7 two man touch format for age divisions 7-9 and 9 v 9 two-man touch format for age divisions 11-15. Don’t miss any of it
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2019-05-0120 min
The NFX PodcastInside the Marketplace of Lyft with James Currier & Pete Flint (NFX Partners)In this episode, Pete Flint and James Currier discuss the Lyft IPO, comparing the ridesharing market to the airline industry and exploring Lyft's expansion into scooters. They delve into the future of autonomous vehicles, supply side innovation, and the influence of Wall Street on company strategies. They also touch on the importance of founders' control and Lyft's potential dominance in smaller markets.
Pete Flint & James Currier of NFX discuss Lyft's upcoming IPO, the defensibility of the ridesharing business model, and what Lyft should do next.
Check out our past Inside the Marketplace episode on Lyft here...
2019-03-2533 min