Inception

Pim de Witte is CEO of Medal.tv, where gamers go to create memories when they can't be in the same place physically. In this episode, Pim talks about the company's core mission of creation and connection, the intense velocity at which the company is growing due to the extraordinary response of its users, and his plans to exponentially empower as many people as possible to create memories in the di...

Michael Selden is co-founder and CEO of Finless Foods , using ground-breaking plant and cell culture technology to create a future for seafood where the ocean thrives. In this episode, Michael talks with Managing Partner Mike Edelhart about the importance of starting out with a core team you can completely trust, how those experienced team players can be immensely helpful when working with the FDA...

Quincy Lee is CEO of Electric Era , the world’s most advanced storage systems for electric vehicle fast-charging stations. In this episode, Quincy talks about why he left long-time employer SpaceX to “come back to earth” and start this new company; the many cultural and technological challenges the world faces in transitioning to EV fueling; and how Electric Era will revolutionize the industry usi...

Melanie Travis is CEO of Andie, a swimwear brand made by women, for women. In this episode, Melanie talks about what it took to land the B round of an entrepreneur’s dreams, the surprising pros of having zero swimwear expertise when she started, and her not-so-distant plans for making Andie the go-to brand for women across the nation.

Sunny Han is CEO of Fulcrum , building groundbreaking technology to support a new resurgence of manufacturing growth. In this episode, Sunny recounts how being the son of a civil engineer and a computer scientist equipped him for a career in tech at a very young age, how his experience of online socializing allowed for an elevated level of thoughtfulness and networking, and how his unorthodox lead...

Aaron Albert is CEO and co-founder of Mine’d, a platform that connects consumers with mental health experts and a supportive community. In this episode, Aaron describes how a heart-wrenching breakup inspired him to start the company, the surprising ways that entrepreneurship has challenged him to learn and grow, and his hopes of Mine’d becoming the unifier of the entire emotional wellness space, p...

Tigran Sloyan is co-founder and CEO of  CodeSignal , the most advanced technical assessment solution on the market. In this episode, Tigran and Managing Partner Mike Edelhart have a lively conversation about everything from the first investor pitch jitters, to the recent radical democratization of education, to the exhilarating yet challenging experience of staying true to your...

Nicolas Heymann is CEO of Heritage Type and provides a next-generation web-based graphic tool that is launching soon. In this episode, Nicolas talks about the complex problem the company is striving to solve, how people that are intensely passionate about their work inspire and motivate him, and how the vibrant engagement from their ever-growing user community propels them forward and encourages t...

Maya Hardigan is CEO of Mae , a company providing pregnancy and postpartum support tailored to the needs of Black women. In this episode, Maya talks about the deeply disparate maternal services Black women receive in the US, how Mae is tackling the important role of curating culturally specific tools and resources to remedy this disparity, and her vision of becoming the go-to value-based supplemen...

Charles Rodenkirch is CEO of Sharper Sense , a company that enhances brain function by delivering wearable, targeted neural stimulation. In this episode, Dr. Rodenkirch talks about the fascinating science underlying their first product, a non-invasive patch that optimizes brain state for clear perception of vision, hearing, and touch. Mike and Charles also discuss the huge potential they see in us...

Guest Dhruv Agrawal is CEO of  Aether Biomedical , a medical robotics company with the goal of making bionics accessible to all. In this episode, Dhruv talks about the unique musculoskeletal biomechanics technology they use to enhance the relationship between humans and machines; their first product, Zeus, which is a revolutionary bionic hand for upper limb amputees; and their grand vision to...

Christopher Jane is CEO of Proper Good , a company making 90-second meals with clean ingredients delivered directly to your door. In this episode, Christopher talks about the innovative science behind their health-conscious, shelf-stable (and delicious) products; how their unique business model overcomes the many challenges of the retail food industry, and the huge opportunity he sees in expanding...

Oriana Papin-Zoghbi is CEO of AOA Dx, revolutionizing early diagnosis of ovarian cancer. In this episode, Oriana talks about the science behind their groundbreaking, first-of-its-kind liquid biopsy test; how the phenomenal relationship she has with her scientific collaborator has accelerated the quality and pace of their work; and the enormous potential she sees in using their method to incre...

Tal Brown is Co-Founder and CEO of  Zone7 , a data-driven AI system that helps coaches and athletes optimize for peak performance and forecast injury risk. In this episode, Tal talks about the powerful algorithms his team has developed to perfectly tune a body’s physical workload to stay in peak condition, the challenges (and benefits) of being the first company of its kind to market, and the...

Sana Alajmovic is CEO of Sigrid , a company transforming the way we prevent and treat chronic lifestyle diseases. In this episode, Sana explains the science behind their groundbreaking first product, an all-natural, tasteless white powder that reduces blood sugar and cholesterol levels while simultaneously promoting weight loss. She also delves into the powerful meaning behind the company’s name,...

Daniel Chait is CEO of Greenhouse and co-author of the book Talent Makers: How the best companies win through structured and inclusive hiring . In this episode, Daniel shares fascinating insights into Greenhouse's dynamic growth over the last nine years, the two surprising moments he realized they were on the road to true success, their latest $500 million investment from TPG Growth, and his hopes...

To celebrate the third anniversary of Inception, Managing Partner Mike Edelhart (the oldest partner at our funds) talks with Emi Gonzalez , the youngest partner at our funds, who focuses on biotech and healthcare investments. In this episode, Emi and Mike discuss the latest developments in the FemTech arena, the challenges of overcoming ingrained prejudice in the venture community, and the ways we...

Roozbeh Ghaffari is CEO of  Epicore Biosystems , developing wearable microfluidic solutions that measure hydration biomarkers, skin health, and physiology. The company’s first product is the  Gx Sweat Patch , a skin-like patch that pairs with an easy-to-use app to provide real-time and personalized recommendations for athletes to optimally hydrate and refuel after exercise. In this episo...

Caleb Polley is CEO of  Cubby , making smart beds that improve anxiety, sleep, and safety for people with cognitive disabilities such as Autism, Epilepsy, and Dementia. In this episode, Caleb shares how his close relationship with a childhood friend with Down syndrome contributed to his desire to start the company, the controversial public event that hijacked its original name, and the remark...

David Montiel is co-founder and CEO of BeelinguApp , empowering people to learn a new language by consuming content they love. In his conversation with Mike, David shares how his worldwide travels helped him identify a huge opportunity in language learning methodology, divulges the clever Kickstarter campaign strategy that resulted in 20,000 downloads in 15 days, and explains his ambitious and inn...

Sumit Sinha is CEO of Phable , an innovative at-home healthcare app simplifying life for both patients and doctors through monitoring, reminders, and doctor intervention. In his conversation with Mike, Sumit shares the compelling personal story of how his father's struggle with chronic disease inspired him to start his company; the problematic and complicated state of the Indian healthcare system;...

Ashish Rawat is CEO of Oga Fit , a fully interactive fitness platform where users get a boutique studio workout experience led by world-famous trainers from the comfort of their own homes. In this episode, Ashish talks about his frustrating personal search for an authentic, engaging virtual workout, explains how Oga uses groundbreaking technology to solve that very problem, and shares the company’...

Dr. Franziska Leonhardt is co-founder of Ave + Edam , creating personalized, clean, and vegan skincare backed by advanced technologies and dermatological expertise. In this episode, Franziska talks about the genesis of her first-of-its-kind approach to providing a completely unique skincare experience, the illuminating personal perspective she gained as a single mother and new entrepreneur startin...

Paul Chen is CEO and cofounder of Flourish Tech , a company teaching skills to build flourishing, healthy relationships. In this episode, Paul tells the deeply personal story of what inspired him to start his company, shares how they’re repackaging time-tested psychology tools to make empathy resources understandable and accessible, and explores the huge impact Flourish could have on the mental we...

Jean Anne Booth is CEO of  Unaliwear , producer of the first all-in-one, voice-controlled smartwatch designed to keep you connected, independent, active, and safe. In this episode, Jean Anne talks about the company’s unique and innovative perspective on providing personalized support for aging adults, the many challenges of VC fundraising in the SilverTech sector, and her grand plans for expa...