Adam ODonnell

The Founder Initiative

Technology EN ↓ 219 episodes

Helping founders hit PMF, get funded & drive durable growth through podcasting & buyer events(Formerly TheTop. VC)

Author

Adam ODonnell

Episodes

($23M raised) Namespace Founder, Hugo Santos: #1 Startup Insight – Why Trust and Network Are the Real Infrastructure for Product-Market Fit and Fundraising Success (Backed by NEA & Susa Ventures) 24.06.2026 31:54

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX. FOUNDER PROFILE: Hugo Santos, Founder of Namespace https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugomgsantos/ - Namespace, founded by Hugo Sa...

$100M Security Problems: 4 AI Cybersecurity Startups Pitch Tonic AI CSO Robert Lowry ( 09.06.2026 16:38

In this special Founder Initiative pitch episode, four cybersecurity founders pitch their startups live to Robert Lowry, CSO of Tonic AI and former security leader at organizations including NASDAQ and the Federal Reserve Bank. Robert Lowry- https://www.linkedin.com/in/lowryrobert/ The conversation covers some of the biggest emerging enterprise security challenges around AI agents, shadow AI, runt...

($70M+ raised) DOSS Founder, Wiley Jones: How to actually build an AI native company (don't miss this one) 03.06.2026 36:56

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX. FOUNDER PROFILE: Wiley Jones, Founder of DOSS https://www.linkedin.com/in/wileycwjones/

($22M Raised) Sequoia India & Naval Ravikant-Backed TrueFoundry Founder Nikunj Bajaj: Balancing Short-Term Execution with Long-Term Vision 27.05.2026 33:45

- TrueFoundry, founded by Nikunj Bajaj, is an AI infrastructure company building an "AI Gateway" that helps enterprises build, ship, and govern agentic AI applications, focusing on observability and governance for AI agents. - The company has raised over $22 million, with pre-seed investment from Sequoia and India Capital, and Series A led by Intel Capital; notable angel investors include Naval Ra...

($22.5M raised) Koah Labs Founder, Mike Choi: Internal Squad Operating System, Why End User Experience is the North Star for AI Ad Networks 20.05.2026 25:35

Sponsored by Chargebee, subscription and revenue management → check out their startup offer: https://www.chargebee.com/startups Mike Choi, Founder of Koah Labs https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikejschoi/ - Koah Labs, founded by Mike Choi, is an AI-native ad network that helps AI applications monetize through sponsored experiences, focusing on tasteful ad integration for end users. - The company was in...

($650M+ raised) Temporal Founder, Samar Abbas: #1 Startup Insight – Give the Problem a Name Before You Solve It (Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia, Index Ventures, Sequoia invested). 06.05.2026 27:01

Sponsored by Chargebee, subscription and revenue management → check out their startup offer: https://www.chargebee.com/startups - Samar Abbas, Founder of temporal.io https://www.linkedin.com/in/samar-abbas-381997/ - Samar Abbas, co-founder of Temporal.io, shares the journey of building an open-source platform that ensures durable execution of code, allowing developers to focus on business logic...

($30M raised) Kintsugi Founder, Jeff Gibson: Building “Boring” Fintech for Global Tax Compliance—Why Trust and Customer Support Win in Massive, Overlooked Markets 29.04.2026 23:36

Sponsored by Chargebee, subscription and revenue management → check out their startup offer: https://www.chargebee.com/startups Jeff Gibson, Founder of Kintsugi https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffgibsonsf/?utm_source=chatgpt.com - Kintsugi, founded by Jeff Gibson, provides an AI-driven platform that automates global indirect tax compliance (VAT, GST, sales tax, etc.) for internet businesses, handling...

($5M+ raised) Lava's Founder, Mitchell Jones: #1 Startup Insight – The Power of Iteration, Tracking Micro Signals, and Staying True to Your ICP 23.04.2026 42:21

- Lava, founded by Mitchell Jones, makes it easy for businesses to adopt AI-driven, measurement-based pricing, helping companies track usage and convert it into flexible pricing plans. - Mitchell emphasizes constant iteration on the elevator pitch and product, using customer feedback and discovery calls to refine both messaging and features. - The company’s core insight is that traditional seat-...

(YC W25) FuseAI's Founder, Saurav Bubber: How to deliver a 10x improvement in of the most crowded markets 22.04.2026 29:37

Thank you Auth0 for Startups, a sponsor of TFI Checkout their → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX. FOUNDER PROFILE: Saurav Bubber, Founder of FuseAI https://www.linkedin.com/in/sauravbubber/

($105M+ raised) Rocketlane Founder, Srikrishnan Ganesan: #1 Startup Insight – How Relentless Prospect Interviews and a Unique Go-to-Market Unlocked PMF 09.04.2026 42:51

- Rocketlane, founded by Srikrishnan Ganesan, spent its first year deeply researching the professional services automation (PSA) space, interviewing over 170 prospects and building conviction around unmet needs for customer-facing project management. - The team identified a key pain point: companies struggled with the gap between contracted and live ARR, making effective onboarding and project del...

($300M raised) Nile Founder, Pankaj Patel: #1 Startup Insight – Simplicity is Innovation: How Disrupting Enterprise Networking Might Mean Unlearning Decades of Complexity 01.04.2026 46:54

Sponsored by Chargebee, subscription and revenue management → check out their startup offer: https://www.chargebee.com/startups Pankaj Patel, Founder of Nile https://www.linkedin.com/in/pankajpspatel/

Forum Ventures Managing Partner, Jonah Midanik: #1 Startup Insight – Why Fundraising Is a Game, Valuations Are Made Up, and Seeing Past the Pitch to Find Venture-Scale Outcomes 25.03.2026 30:40

Sponsored by Chargebee, subscription and revenue management → check out their startup offer: https://www.chargebee.com/startups Jonah Midanik, Managing Partner of Forum Ventures https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonahmidanik/

($150M raised) Sendoso Founder, Kris Rudeegraap: #1 Startup Insight – Don’t Let Early Pricing Give You False Product-Market Fit 18.03.2026 29:55

Sponsored by Chargebee, subscription and revenue management → check out their startup offer: https://www.chargebee.com/startups Kris Rudeegraap, Founder of Sendoso https://www.linkedin.com/in/rudeegraap

($20M raised) Quanta Founder, Helen Hastings: #1 Startup Insight – Your Scariest Customers Are Actually the Best Ones 12.03.2026 36:15

Sponsored by Chargebee, subscription and revenue management → Founders, check out their upcoming $100k buyer pitch at Fort Mason in San Francisco: https://luma.com/beelieve Helen Hastings, Founder of Quanta https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenbhastings/

($110M raised) Augment Founder, Harish Abbott: #1 Startup Advice - Are You A Better Seeker of Truth Than Your Competitors? 05.03.2026 36:56

Sponsored by Chargebee, subscription and revenue management → check out their startup offer: https://www.chargebee.com/startups Harish Abbott, Founder of Augment https://www.linkedin.com/in/habbott/

($70M raised) Craft Founder, Ilya Levtov: Pivot Decision, Top Funding Insights, and Journey to PMF 05.03.2026 30:11

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX. FOUNDER PROFILE: Ilya Levtov, Founder of Craft https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilya-levtov/

(YC S21) Baubap Founder, Roberto Salcedo: Gratitude As A Growth Strategy, Insights Raising $100M+ 18.02.2026 33:56

Sponsored by Chargebee, subscription and revenue management → check out their startup offer: https://www.chargebee.com/startups Roberto Salcedo, Founder of Baubap https://www.linkedin.com/in/roberto-salcedo-nieto/?originalSubdomain=mx

($20M+ Raised) UneeQ Digital Humans Founder, Danny Tomsett: Enjoying The Journey, Two Phases of Fundraising & Making A Massive Pivot 13.02.2026 32:12

Danny Tomsett, Founder of UneeQ Digital Humans https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-tomsett/"

($2.4B AUM) Amplify Partners Founder, Sunil Dhaliwal: Difference Between Investments & Passing, Startup Investing In 10 Years 11.02.2026 38:10

Sponsored by Chargebee, subscription and revenue management → check out their startup offer: https://www.chargebee.com/startups Sunil Dhaliwal, General Partner of Amplify Partners https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunildhaliwal/

Sequoia Led $75M Series B, Serval's Founder, Jake Stauch, Shares His Journey to PMF & Raising $127M 04.02.2026 46:41

Sponsored by Chargebee, subscription and revenue management → check out their startup offer: https://www.chargebee.com/startups Jake Stauch, Founder of Serval https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakestauch/

(YC S25) Phases’s Founder, James Wall: IRL, Donuts & A Rental Car To Hit PMF? 29.01.2026 37:39

Sponsored by Chargebee, subscription and revenue management → check out their startup offer: https://www.chargebee.com/startups James Wall, Founder of Phases.ai https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-m-wall/

($80M raised) Spellbook Founder, Scott Stevenson: 30k Waitlist Signups in 3 Months & The True Discipline of PMF 21.01.2026 41:36

Sponsored by Chargebee, subscription and revenue management → check out their startup offer: https://www.chargebee.com/startups FOUNDER PROFILE: Scott Stevenson, Founder of Spellbook https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottas

($70M+ Raised) Merge Founder, Gil Feig: Nailing Customer Discovery Interview To Hit PMF Faster 14.01.2026 30:41

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX. FOUNDER PROFILE: Gil Feig, Founder of Merge https://www.linkedin.com/in/gilfeig/

($25M raised) Indomo Founder, Rick Bente: Estimating Value Milestones, Raising $25M, and more 08.01.2026 29:31

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX. FOUNDER PROFILE: Rick Bente, Founder of Indomo https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-bente/

(Silicon Valley Investor) Platform Venture Studio's Founder, Jeremy Burton: Why Now Is The Time To Build A Marketplace Startup 17.12.2025 31:32

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX. VC PROFILE: Jeremy Burton, Founder of Platform Venture Studio https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremymburton