Startups Decoded

OpenAI’s latest “Zapier-killer” headlines were sobering, but Adam Robinson already did the unthinkable: he removed every human from RB2B, a $6M ARR SaaS, for seven days and let AI agents run sales, support, and onboarding, zero intervention. The outcome? Revenue growth held (+4%/mo), 96.6% answer accuracy in sales chats, and 89% support resolution with no customer meltdowns. In this conversation,...

Send us a text How LLMs are rewriting application security: less false positives, faster triage, and real-world founder playbooks. Founders are sprinting on AI—attackers are too. Traditional security tools drown teams in alerts and miss the real threats.  In this episode, Almanax founder & CEO Francesco Piccoli breaks down AI-native application security: how LLMs detect logic bugs legacy...

Send us a text In this episode of Startups Decoded , Andy Walsh talks with Charlie Hills, a global leader in LinkedIn growth strategy. AI is rewriting LinkedIn, and Charlie Hills has the receipts. In 466 days, he went from zero to 100k+ followers and ranked #1 worldwide for LinkedIn Growth. We break down the exact AI-led playbook: repeatable content systems, scroll-stopping visuals, audience targe...

Send us a text Algorithms are wringing creators dry. In this inspiring S2 episode, Linktree co-founder & CCO Nick Humphreys ($167M raised; 70M+ users) lays out the new playbook: AI that amplifies your voice, owning your audience over chasing vanity metrics, and revenue that holds when the feed goes quiet.  If you’re rebuilding your 2025 content stack, start here. Subscribe now Nick Humphr...

Send us a text In the Season 2 opener of Startups Decoded , host Andy Walsh sits down with Mike Jones, General Partner at Science Inc., the venture studio and fund behind household names like Dollar Shave Club, Liquid Death, and PlayVS. With more than $1.3 billion in exits and angel investments including Scopely, GoodReads, and Maker Studios, Mike has seen what separates billion-dollar companies f...

Send us a text In this episode of Startups Decoded , I sit down with Joseph Lee, founder and CEO of Supademo, to talk about the real founder’s journey behind raising capital and the tradeoffs that come with it. Joseph shares how past experiences with over-capitalization shaped the way he thinks about growth today, and why staying true to vision matters more than chasing VC expectations. We dig int...

Send us a text In this episode of Startups Decoded , host Andy Walsh sits down with Malcolm Buick, Partner & Chief Creative Officer at Athletics and a seasoned creative director, to unpack how design drives startup growth.  From his journey through music and branding to building global identities for brands like IBM, Nike, Google Chrome, Major League Soccer, and MoMA, Malcolm explores how...

Send us a text In this episode of Startups Decoded , Andy Walsh sits down with Jay Erickson, Chief Innovation Officer and co-founder of Modus, to explore why most digital strategies are already outdated, and how to fix them. They dive into emergent strategy: a flexible, human-centered approach to navigating today’s breakneck pace of change. Drawing on systems thinking, design, and culture, Jay sha...

Send us a text Summary In this episode of Startups Decoded, host Andy Walsh speaks with Zoya Lehrer, founder of Orgo, about the challenges and opportunities in the startup landscape, particularly in the realm of product development and parenting logistics.  Zoya shares her personal journey from immigrating to the U.S. to launching her business, which aims to streamline the logistics of youth...

Send us a text In this episode of Startups Decoded , Andy Walsh sits down with Adrian Fagerlund, Co-Founder and CRO of Linkby, a performance PR platform connecting advertisers with premium publishers. They explore Adrian’s unconventional path, the evolution of content commerce, and the systems Linkby used to scale globally without breaking. From team building and capital efficiency to culture and...

Send us a text Most startup advice focuses on product, pitch, and traction. But there’s one skill that fuels them all: trusted relationships. In this episode of Startups Decoded , Andy Walsh sits down with David R. Homan, master connector, strategic advisor, and author of Orchestrating Connection , to explore how founders build the kind of trust that drives real outcomes. We cover: How to network...

Send us a text Discover how effective storytelling captivates investors and builds a compelling personal brand.  Join us as we unpack the strategies founders and leaders use to craft narratives that drive investment and inspire action. Whether you're looking to secure funding, attract customers, or refine your startup’s story, this episode is packed with actionable insights to elevate your br...

Send us a text In this episode of Startups Decoded , Michael Landers shares why culture isn’t just an HR function; it’s a startup’s competitive edge.  We’ll explore how founders can intentionally shape company culture from day one, avoid common leadership pitfalls, and navigate cross-cultural challenges as they scale globally. Key discussion points: Why culture is the foundation of startup su...

Send us a text Many founders are chasing scale, but at what cost?  In this episode, Leila Lahbabi shares how purpose-driven leaders can grow thriving companies without burning out or losing themselves in the process. We explore the real tension between being a present parent and an ambitious entrepreneur, and how to build high-performing teams that unlock freedom rather than dependence. Leila...

Send us a text Matthew Burris joins Startups Decoded to unpack how venture studios are evolving from a misunderstood startup model into a formal, fundable asset class. We explore what’s missing from today’s narrative, the standards being built behind the scenes, and what it will take to legitimize venture studios in the eyes of institutional capital. This is a conversation about quality, vision, a...

Send us a text In this episode of Startups Decoded, Kevin Jurovich (Founder & CEO of Hubble) joins me to unpack the raw, early-stage lessons no one talks about enough: compromise, confusion, burnout, and the clarity that comes after blowing it all up and starting again. From an NFL career, to winging it and rebuilding from scratch, to embracing paid consulting and learning how to truly see peo...

Send us a text In this episode, we explore why the best founders don’t wait for perfect plans—they launch, learn, and build in public.  From early growth hacks to fast feedback loops and sales that start before the product’s finished, we unpack what it really takes to grow quickly and stay ahead. If you're stuck planning instead of building, this one will light a fire. Cory Blumenfeld Cory Bl...

Send us a text Angel investors are no longer just writing checks – they’re becoming strategic advisors, board members, and even fractional executives.  But how do founders attract the right angel investors who bring more than money to the table? Tony Kula Tony Kula is a seasoned entrepreneur with over three decades of experience in the communications sector. He has successfully founded and ex...

Send us a text Chris Tottman, Founding General Partner at Notion Capital, shares how collaboration between radically different thinkers — founders, investors, and operators — creates force-multiplying outcomes.  This episode explores why the best startups aren't built solo, how pattern recognition meets founder intuition, and why energy alignment matters more than experience at early stages....

Send us a text Venture Studios are evolving, and Nobody Studios is at the forefront of building AI-native startups.  In this episode, we explore how AI is redefining startup-building strategies, workflows, and execution. Mark S. McNally shares insights on what it takes to run an AI-driven venture studio and why founders must rethink their approach to leadership, decision-making, and company g...

Send us a text The best VCs aren’t just writing checks, they’re building products . In this episode, I sit down with Jason Shuman , General Partner at Primary Ventures , to explore how modern venture firms are evolving, from thesis-driven investors to full-stack operators. Jason shares an inside look at fundraising in today’s market, what their next fund aims to do differently, and how Primary’s t...

Send us a text Bringing people together is an art, and a strategy. In this episode, I sit down with Madelaine Czufin , founder of EOLO , to break down what it takes to build events and communities that truly drive impact. We cover: How to build a network that activates around your brand Creating real ROI from events, not just a buzz The power of mindful networking (why it isn’t as intimidating as...

Send us a text In this episode, we talk to Majd Alaily, founder of Ruya Advisory, a consultancy that helps startups turn visionary ideas into thriving businesses. With 15+ years of experience in digital innovation, strategy, and product development, Majd shares valuable insights on navigating the startup journey. We talk about building the right tech stack, choosing the right platform, and standin...

Send us a text In this episode of Startups Decoded, I’m joined by Mike MacCombie, partner at Generous Ventures, a NYC-based VC fund known for investing in founders who build with behavioral design in mind. We explore how human behavior shapes startup success and dive deep into the subtle forces that guide (and misguide) founder decisions, from social anchoring to pattern recognition, from framewor...

Send us a text In this episode, I sit down with Ben Yoskovitz, founding partner at Highline Beta, to explore the intersection of product, analytics, and venture studios. We dive into: How data-driven decision-making fuels startup growth The role of venture studios in corporate innovation Lessons from Go-Instant’s journey to acquisition by Salesforce Why startups and enterprises must bridge the gap...