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

(YC W22) Cotera Founder, Tom Firth: Getting Into YC & Hitting PMF 16.12.2025 40:03

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: Tom Firth, Founder of Cotera https://www.linkedin.com/in/tdfirth/

Building A Unicorn: Chargebee's Co-Founder, Krish Subramanian & CMO, Guy Marion (formerly Brightback Founder, sold to Chargebee): hitting PMF, idea to 1st dollar & decision to exit 09.12.2025 40:34

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: Krish Subramanian, Founder - Chargebee - https://www.linkedin.com/in/krishs/ Guy Marion, CMO - Chargebee-...

Amazon Invested In Glacier; This Is Their Founder's Story, Rebecca Hu-Thrams 04.12.2025 34:37

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: Rebecca Hu, Founder of Glacier Robotics https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccabhu

(2000+ investments) Dave Lambert, Managing Director at RSCM, Shares Traits of Successful Founders 02.12.2025 35:24

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: Dave Lambert, Founder of Right Side Capital Management https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidlambert55/

($100M raised) RetailNext Founder, Alexei Agratchev: Earned Insights From 18-Years (funding, growth, & scaling) 19.11.2025 31:00

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: Alexei Agratchev, Founder of RetailNext https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexeiagratchev/

(YC S21) $10M ARR, Storylane Founder, Nalin Senthamil: PMF Unlock - Are Prospects Interrupting You? 12.11.2025 24:59

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: Nalin Senthamil, Founder of Storylane https://www.linkedin.com/in/nalinpradeep

(YC S23) Gleam Founder, Oliver Keh: Investigative Journalist Approach To PMF 06.11.2025 24:23

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: Oliver Keh, Founder of Gleam https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-keh COMPANY: https://joingleam.com/ Gle...

(YC W21) Sold to Dropbox, Promoted.ai's Founder, Andrew Yates: GTM Lessons Learned & Deciding What To Build 04.11.2025 28:25

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: Andrew Yates, Founder of Dropbox, Promoted.ai https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-yates-0217a985

Roo Capital's Founder, Nate DaPore: Most VCs Are Like Seagulls, Is This The Future of Platform? 30.10.2025 29:24

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: Nate DaPore, Founder of Roo Capital https://www.linkedin.com/in/natedapore/

(YC F25) Denied 6x By YC: Hyperspell's Founder, Conor Brennan-Burke: Your Startup Is Not About You 28.10.2025 32:29

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: Conor Brennan-Burke, Founder of Hyperspell (YC F25) https://www.linkedin.com/in/conorbrennanburke

a16z Partner Interview, Seema Amble: 3 things she looks for in early-stage startups, how to get a meeting with her, & more 23.10.2025 32:36

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: Seema Amble, Partner at Andreessen Horowitz https://www.linkedin.com/in/seema-amble-b404126/

($70M+ Raised) Future Family Founder, Claire Tomkins: Surprising Key To Fundraising, Journey To PMF 16.10.2025 33:09

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: Claire Tomkins, Founder of Future Family https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-tomkins-b122422/

($55M Raised) Benchmark & Mayfield Invested; Sema4.ai's Founder, Ram Venkatesh: Getting Early Conviction, Hitting PMF & Raising $55M 14.10.2025 35:11

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. VC PROFILE: Ram Venkatesh, Founder of Sema4.ai https://www.linkedin.com/in/ram-venkatesh-34166/

a16z Invested; $55M Raised, CYGNVS' Founder, Arvind Parthasarathi, why you must first define PMF & how to raise from top VC 09.10.2025 30:42

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: Arvind Parthasarathi https://www.linkedin.com/in/arvindparthasarathi/

YC Founder & Thiel Fellow; Arist's Founder, Michael loffe: selling to enterprises, PMF, & articulating $100M to VCs 07.10.2025 30:08

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: Micahel loffe, Founder of Arist https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelaioffe/

$13B VC; Promod Haque, Former Managing Partner at Norwest; Learning From 35 Years of Investing 01.10.2025 48:21

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: Promod Haque https://www.linkedin.com/in/promodhaque/

VCs Don't Know The Future; $55M Raised, Radical.ai's Founder, Joseph Krause Shares His Story 25.09.2025 47:06

Get 1-year free of Auth0 (authentication and authorization platform)--> 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: Joseph Krause https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephfkrause/

[Pitch] ex Lightspeed VC & Founder of Meshly.ai: Mercedes Bent & Sandra Bustos Real VC Pitch 23.09.2025 40:55

EPISODE DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE What does a real pitch in Silicon Valley look like? This might be as close as you can get without being here yourself! VC PROFILE Mercedes Bent, ex Lightspeed Ventures, Partner https://www.linkedin.com/in/mercedesbent/ FOUNDER PROFILE: Sandra Bustos, Founder of Meshly.ai https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandrabustos/ 🤔 VCs not responding to you? I’ll review your deck & send...

$30M Seed; Largest Seed In YC History? (YC S24) Wordware's, Founder, Robert Chandler, Journey To PMF & Getting Funded 18.09.2025 48:29

In this episode, Robert, co-founder of Wordware, shares the story of turning a sauna brainstorm into one of the largest seed rounds in YC history. He walks us through the early pivots, the highs and lows of YC interviews, and how a viral Twitter Roast fueled their momentum. This is a raw look at conviction, timing, and how founders can compound small wins into historic outcomes. FOUNDER PROFILE: R...

(YC W25) How To Nail Your YC (or any VC) Interview; Nitrode's Founder, Ben Kim 17.09.2025 35:14

FOUNDER PROFILE: Ben Kim, Nitrode's Co-Founder https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-yoonsung-kim/ 🎙️ 7 Most Interesting Moments Michael Seibel’s brutally honest feedback in interviews—pushing them to scrap lines and “cut the crap.” Pivoting right before their YC interview and getting challenged on whether their new idea could ever reach a billion-dollar outcome. The week-long sprint to build a demo aft...

Nailing PG's 10% WoW Goal, Getting Accepted to YC; David Head, Founder of Endorsed.ai 16.09.2025 37:05

🔑 7 Most Interesting Moments David shares how his first YC application was rejected despite 10% week-over-week growth. The surprising reason they later got accepted: adding two technical co-founders even while growth was flat. Insights into what YC actually values (team, determination, big market) vs. what most founders think matters. A pivotal YC interview moment where David “flipped a switch” a...

Real Pitch of a $2B VC, Cybersecurity Founder, Ajay Gulati & Sierra Ventures's Partner Vignesh Ravikumar 10.09.2025 49:30

What's it like to pitch an actual VC in Silicon Valley? We recorded a real one to show you :) This was not scripted and it was the first time the pitched this VC! Vignesh Ravikumar Partner at Sierra Ventures https://www.linkedin.com/in/vravikumar1/ Ajay Gulati Founder of Kitecyber https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajaygulaticloud/ 🤔 VCs not responding to you? I’ll review your deck & send you a detailed...

a16z Invested; $231M Raised Sub 2-years; Decagon's Founder, Jesse Zhang & Amex Ventures's Managing Director, Kevin Weber; Building & Funding Unicorns 09.09.2025 52:09

How to build a unicorn in under 2-years? Not exactly a step-by-step playbook, but you will learn something from a founder who actually did it! You will also hear a VC's perspective from Kevin Weber, Managing Director at Amex Ventures! Boom. Jesse Zhang Founder & CEO of Decagon https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejessezhang/ Kevin Weber Managing Director at Amex Ventures https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevi...

YC S24 -Accepted After 3:00am Interview, Hitting PMF Via Onboarding Research? 02.09.2025 43:03

Will, Founder of Phonely, shares his raw journey into Y Combinator—including sleeping in his car before a 3AM interview. He reveals how founders should interpret investor rejections, the real path to product-market fit, and top lessons a long the way. A must-listen for anyone navigating the early-stage PMF journey or getting funded! Will Bodewes https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-bodewes/ 🤔 VCs...

Accepted to YC, no product, website, or co-founder: Coval's CEO, Brooke Hopkins; PMF & funding journey 26.08.2025 44:15

EPISODE DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE What really matters when applying to YC? How to get your first $1 top learnings from fundraising FOUNDER PROFILE: Brooke Hopkins https://www.linkedin.com/in/bnhop/ 🤔 VCs not responding to you? I’ll review your deck & send you a detailed video with my actionable recommendations: Submit here: https://airtable.com/appBXetKIMsy5r3bE/pagQlrExmVx38bk6W/form