Layer Zero

In this episode, I sit down with Landon Campbell, General Manager of Drive Capital’s Chicago office, to unpack why the Midwest is having a tech moment. We explore how the startup scene in cities like Chicago is shifting rapidly, what’s pulling Big Tech inland, and why the next wave of innovation in quantum, healthcare, AI, and more might come from the middle of the map. If you're curious about...

In this episode, I sit down with Ann Miura-Ko, co-founder of Floodgate and one of the most respected early-stage investors in Silicon Valley. We explore what authenticity really looks like in a founder, how technical builders can develop the softer skills that drive long-term success, and Floodgate’s powerful thesis around “Prime Movers”. Ann shares wisdom on storytelling, team-building, and what...

In this episode, I chat with Teddy Solomon, co-founder and CEO of Fizz — the viral, anonymous social app taking over college campuses! With $42M raised and presence on 350+ campuses, Fizz is redefining Gen-Z social with raw, unfiltered community. We dive into how they’ve scaled so fast, why anonymity is their superpower, and what’s next as they roll out new features and expand beyond college. If y...

In this episode, I sit down with Jake O’Shea, Principal at Antler and one of the sharpest thinkers on early-stage venture strategy. We dive into how founders can build real moats in a world where speed is everything, why GTM is the new product, and how momentum can become its own form of defensibility. Jake shares candid insights from working with dozens of startups globally—and what he’s seeing i...

In this episode, I sit down with Brad Feld, cofounder of Techstars and Foundry Group, and one of the most respected voices in early-stage venture. We talk about what’s changed—and what hasn’t—over his 25+ years in tech, the real ingredients behind lasting entrepreneurship networks, and why timing and emotional resilience matter more than most founders think. Brad shares hard-won lessons about Givi...

In this episode, I chat with Gopal Raman — former Deployed Engineer at Retool, one of the fastest-growing companies in developer tooling, and now a Principal at South Park Commons. We dive into what makes a great founder today, why speed is a defining trait of modern builders, and how to separate durable AI tools from fleeting hype. Gopal shares lessons from working hands-on with startups at the f...

In this episode, I sit down with Hank Couture—early employee at DoorDash, former COO of Fanatics Sportsbook, founder of Leapyear (startup accelerator), and partner at Lightbank. With experience scaling companies from ground zero, Hank breaks down how product-led growth and go-to-market strategies are evolving, why video and voice interfaces represent the next frontier of user experience, and the b...

In this episode, I sit down with Michael Giardino, founder of Oleve—a company on a mission to build the Seal Team Six of consumer startups. With $6M in ARR just months after launch, Michael breaks down how they’ve moved so fast, why lean execution still wins in the AI era, and what it takes to build a top-tier operator culture. We dive into scaling without bloat, how AI actually fits into real-wor...

In this episode, I chat with Tess Hatch, former partner at Bessemer Venture Partners and current Managing Director at Stifel Venture Bank , about the future of frontier tech and how the landscape is shifting. We dig into the red flags she watches for in early-stage deep tech, how AI is reshaping the defense and aerospace sectors, and why debt vs. equity financing matters more than ever in capital-...

In this episode, I chat with Drew Wandzilak, Co-Lead of the Strategic Tech Fund at Alumni Ventures, about the intersection of AI, infrastructure, and energy. We unpack what AI’s growing appetite means for the physical world, from grid stress to data center bottlenecks, and where real opportunity lies for startups. Get the inside scoop on how one of Alumni Ventures' investors is thinking about...

In this episode, I sit down with Rohan Kamalakantha , Strategic Projects Lead at Mercor , to unpack how the company became one of the fastest-growing startups globally ($1M - $100M in ARR in 11 months ) . We dive into Mercor’s unique approaches and internal velocity and how a lean team with ruthless focus can outpace the market. Rohan shares what sets Mercor apart in the AI talent space, and how t...