Shows
Founders in Motion$20M Valuation to Zero: A Candid Failure Story | Robert Huynh, NookRobert Huynh built Nook, a blue-collar job marketplace in Vietnam, through Y Combinator. He hit 50,000 users, raised at a $20M valuation, then watched it all crumble. This is his brutally honest post-mortem.In this raw conversation, Robert reveals:The growth hack that got 50K users FASTWhy a $20M valuation couldn't fix broken unit economicsThe cultural blindspots that killed the businessHow to tell your team you're shutting downHis mental health struggles during the crisisWhy co-founder selection makes or breaks everything2025-05-2931 min
Founders in MotionTurning Scrap Into Product—How This Creative Built a Brand | Ben Wood, WipWrkBen Wood, co-founder of Waste in Progress, joins us to talk about how a random old tent sparked a design business built on upcycling, sustainability, and community partnerships. In this episode, we explore how creative founders can scale impact, balance craft with cash flow, and turn circular design into a viable business model—without burning out. Whether you're building a mission-led brand or bootstrapping a product business, this one’s for you⏱️ Chapters:00:00 - Introduction to WipWrk and Textile Upcycling01:25 - Backstory: How WipWrk Was Born02:51 - First Product: Chalk Bags for Rock Climbers04:33 - Partners...2025-05-1528 min
Founders in MotionHow She Built One of Vietnam’s Fastest-Growing Fintechs | Nhi Nguyen, MaiMoneyHow do you build a fintech startup in Vietnam—where regulation is murky and trust in new financial products is low? In this episode of Founders in Motion, we sit down with Nhi Nguyen, CEO of MaiMoney, to talk about her journey from personal frustration to building a platform that now manages over $2M in investments and serves thousands of everyday users.If you're into emerging markets, fintech innovation, or female founder stories, this one’s for you.⏱️ Chapters:00:00 – Intro & Why Banks Aren’t Enough01:00 – How Vietnamese People Invest Today02:00 – Viet...2025-05-0127 min
Founders in MotionHow I QUIT my job in private equity to build a yogurt company with my best friend | Kiki, Elan, Beny YogurtQuit your job to start food brand? Build in public? Grow 10k followers in months? That’s exactly what Kiki and Elan did. These Stanford besties left private equity and big tech to launch Beny Yogurt. From co-founder dynamics to pop-up strategies and shelf-life nightmares, this convo is startup gold (and a whole lot of fun).⏱️ Chapters:00:00 - Intro01:30 - From Gut Issues to Yogurt Mission04:00 - Why Most Yogurt Isn’t Probiotic06:00 - The Bet on Friendship and a Bold Idea09:00 - Social Media Moment That Changed Everything12:30 - Building in Public: Perks & Pressure15:30 - Growing...2025-04-1730 min
Founders in MotionFrom Idea to $800K Pre-Seed Funding: How I Funded My AI Fashion Tech Dream | Nate Spiteri, ShopfrontIn this episode, Nate Spiteri, co-founder of Shopfront, shares his experience raising $800K for an AI-powered secondhand fashion tool — including what it’s like to pitch 1,000 investors and close a round over Christmas (while getting engaged). We talk founder resilience, the power of accelerators like Antler, and the future of sustainable resale. If you're fundraising or building in ecomm, this one’s for you.⏱️ Chapters:00:00 – Intro01:05 – Nate's Antler experience + meeting his cofounder 02:31 – From marketplace idea to AI-powered seller tools 04:08 – How Shopfront actually works 05:00 – The value of accelerators for first-time founders 07:30 – Fundraising during Christmas09:07 – How N...2025-04-0328 min
Founders in MotionThe Future of Crypto, DeFi Lending: An Inside Look with a Serial Founder | Nam Vuong, Spine FinanceIn this episode of Founders In Motion, we dive into the world of crypto with Nam Vuong, the founder of Spine Finance. We break down:✅ Building the best performing use store with over $70 Million in total value locked✅ The challenges of bringing crypto to the masses✅ Building narratives in crypto (e.g., Real World Assets)✅ How Spine Finance is bringing fixed rates to the volatile crypto lending marketIf you're into crypto, DeFi, or Web3 innovation, this episode is a must-watch! 🚀⏱️ Chapters:00:00 Intro 00:35 Nam's crypto origin story 03...2025-03-2036 min
Founders in MotionHow Open-Source LLMs Are Shaping Software Development | Selina Li, gymii.aiIn this episode of Founders in Motion, we dive into the startup journey of Selina Li, founder of Gymii.ai, an AI-powered nutrition tracking platform revolutionizing the way we log food. As a former pro golfer turned AI founder, Selina shares how she built her MVP in just 2 months, the power of open-source LLMs in software development, and the real struggles of bootstrapping a tech startup.Whether you’re an early-stage founder, an aspiring entrepreneur, or an avid listener of startup journeys, this episode is packed with insights on AI, building in in the consumer space, and fi...2025-03-0626 min
Founders in MotionInside the GenZ Marketing Agency that's Changing Influencer Marketing | Abby Huang, Dime.IncAbby Huang, founder of Dime Inc., joins Founders In Motion for her first-ever podcast appearance. Dime is a marketing agency that has helped brands like Casetify, Lulu’s, ByteDance, and more connect with Gen Z consumers. Abby shares insights on Xiaohongshu, social media trends, landing her first big brand deal, and iterating on Dime’s products⏱️ Chapters:00:00 Intro 00:20 What is Dime? 01:02 Effective Marketing to Gen Z 05:35 Building ambassador networks for brand growth 08:54 XiaoHongShu and TikTok marketing strategies 13:00 Expert advice for early-stage brands 14:42 How Dime started and scaled 18:02 Finding product-market fit and success 26:59 Being a...2025-02-2037 min
On Change with Petro du Pisani#031 Intentional Interludes | Thea WeeksPausing with Purpose: Giving back, Parenthood, and Resilience.
Episode 5 of a series of podcasts on taking conscious breaks from work.
In this episode, Petro du Pisani speaks to Thea Weeks who shares her transformative journey of taking three significant career breaks. In her breaks, Thea worked for an NGO for 5 years, focused on her new baby, and had to adapt to life and work after losing hearing in one ear.
Thea offers deep insights into the motivations behind each break, how she prepared, and the challenges she faced both personally and professionally.
Throughout the...2024-09-1247 min
Matrix PodcastsESG: Global - What’s Your Beef?In this podcast, Jamas Hodivala KC discusses with his guests Théa Bounfour and Jean-Philippe Fogle a money laundering complaint filed with prosecutors by the French NGO, Sherpa, alleging that banks are laundering the proceeds of environmental crimes committed by large Brazilian cattle companies.2024-02-2742 min