Episodes

In this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Cody Anderson — early employee at Carta, investor, limited partner, and now the founder of Tommy — a startup revolutionizing shared homeownership. Cody shares his journey from growing up in a small business family in Minneapolis to building a career at Carta, why he believes co-ownership is the future of real estate, and what it really takes to start your own company today. We also dive deep into the realities of founder life, angel investi...

How I Hacked College Admissions to get Into Top schools! description In this episode of Fundsandfounders, we sit down with Anthony Berryhill, the founder of Elite College Hacker, to discuss the insider secrets of elite college admissions. Anthony shares his personal journey from growing up in New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward to getting into Stanford and Yale, and how he now helps students from diverse backgrounds navigate the college admissions process. 🔹 How do top schools really choose applica...

In this episode of Funds & Founders, we sit down with Ansh, co-founder of Quickreel, the AI-driven platform that helps content creators, brands, and marketers transform long-form videos into viral short-form clips. We dive deep into his entrepreneurial journey — from selling stickers in second grade to building a SaaS product with over 100K users. He shares his growth mindset, the ups and downs of building a startup, fundraising stories, and how Quickly stands out in the crowded content creatio...

**From delivering newspapers in 4th grade to raising millions for real estate and co-founding a thriving co-working space—James Wahba’s journey is nothing short of inspiring.**🚀 In this episode of Funds & Founders, James shares: ✅ How his childhood paper route taught him business fundamentals 📈 ✅ Raising $13M at 25 for real estate development 🏗️ ✅ Building one of NYC’s most iconic co-working spaces 🚀 ✅ Lessons from working alongside startups like Uber, Instacart, Stripe, Airbnb ✅ Why co-fou...

In this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Rajesh Sawhney—a seasoned investor, advisor, and the founder & CEO of GSF—who’s backed over 135 companies. Rajesh shares deep insights on what first-time founders need to know, the art of achieving product–market fit, and the unique dynamics of the Indian startup ecosystem. Whether you’re just starting out or already deep in your entrepreneurial journey, Rajesh’s practical advice on early validation, team building, and strategic execution i...

In this episode of Funds and Founders, we welcome back Justin, founder of Fantasy Elect, a cutting-edge political gaming startup. Justin dives into his journey over the past year, tackling fundraising challenges, optimizing user acquisition, and building a trust-driven remote team. Gain actionable insights on scaling a startup in the political arena and preparing for upcoming elections. Learn how Justin: Navigated fundraising in a volatile market Tailored user acquisition for B2B and B2C Leve...

In this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Garrett and Brian from Lucid, a consulting firm specializing in pitch decks and brand clarity. Garrett and Brian share how they combined their complementary skill sets—spanning design, operations, and growth—to help founders overcome the challenge of communicating complex ideas simply. Learn how they: Refined their own co-founder “dating” process before teaming up Developed a framework for uncovering a company’s true mission, vision, and...

In this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Moby, a seasoned paid ads specialist who helps startups and established businesses alike accelerate their growth through strategic advertising. Moby shares his journey and dives deep into: Determining the right time to start running paid ads—and why timing is crucial Choosing between Google, LinkedIn, Facebook, and other platforms based on your audience Understanding key metrics like CTR and conversion rates to gauge campaign success Cr...

In this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Aaron, a performance coach who helps founders and entrepreneurs optimize their business execution through OKRs (Objectives and Key Results). Aaron shares deep insights on goal setting, prioritization, and creating effective business frameworks. Learn how Aaron: - Helps founders set realistic yet ambitious 12-month goals - Creates frameworks for breaking down long-term vision into actionable steps - Guides teams in implementing effective...

In this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with John Davison, founder of StartupLandia, a hybrid venture studio and development shop. John shares his journey from being a Bay Area engineer to helping early-stage founders build sustainable products. Learn how John: Helps founders validate ideas before writing code Reduces engineering costs through strategic tool selection Navigates the impact of AI on product development Structures development teams for optimal efficiency Balances te...

In this episode, we sit down with Preeya, COO of Beehive, to discuss her journey from being a VP at a large tech company to joining Beehive as employee. Learn how she helped scale the company from seed stage to Series B, growing from 8 to 80+ employees. Priya shares insights on startup operations, remote work culture, board management, and making the leap from big tech to early-stage startups. Priya shares how she: Transitioned from a VP role to an early-stage startup Helped scale Beehive fro...

In this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Dean Elazab, a former big law attorney who now helps startups navigate the legal landscape. Dean shares insights from both sides of the table, having built and sold his own startup before becoming a lawyer. Learn how Dean: Guides founders through critical legal decisions Helps protect founder & employee equity Navigates complex term sheets and financing rounds Demystifies preferred stock and liquidation preferences Creates founder-fri...

In this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Damian Longoria, founder of Hubble - a marketplace connecting artists with live event opportunities. From sleeping in his car to building a music tech startup, Damian shares his journey with raw honesty. Learn how Damian: Discovered problems in the music industry through event organizing Navigated early development setbacks with offshore teams Approaches building without technical co-founders Balances vision with practical execution V...

In this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Sarthak Kaul, founder at GigPay and host of the True Calling podcast. Sarthak shares his unique perspective on finding purpose in the startup world and why the 0-to-1 journey keeps calling him back. Learn how Sarthak: Transitioned from VC in Singapore to startup operations Built and managed remote teams across continents Launched a successful podcast exploring purpose and calling Approaches product development and team management Bala...

Subscribe here https://newsletter.fundsandfounder.com/subscribe In this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Ash, co-founder of Wolf.xyz, who recently closed their Series A round. Ash shares his journey from building a successful staffing platform in Chile to his current venture in B2B SaaS. Learn how Ash: Built and scaled a staffing platform to cover one-third of Santiago Navigated international markets between Chile and the US Turned a product failure into a successful exit Ma...

Subscribe here https://newsletter.fundsandfounder.com/subscribe In this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Sarah Loretta, a former nonprofit worker turned digital architect. Sarah shares her journey from making $40K at a nonprofit to building a successful digital systems business through Notion templates and consulting. Learn how Sarah: - Started freelancing with no website or business plan - Landed 40 clients in her first 6 months through strategic networking - Turned a $47 No...

Subscribe here https://newsletter.fundsandfounder.com/subscribe In this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Joshua Rosario, founder of J.Rozario, also has a luxury custom shoe brand. Joshua shares his journey from a shoe enthusiast with over 500 pairs to launching his own high-end shoe company. Learn how Joshua: - Turned his passion for quality footwear into a business - Navigates the challenges of educating customers about craftsmanship - Uses innovative hand-painting technique...

Subscribe here https://newsletter.fundsandfounder.com/subscribe In this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Becca, co-founder and COO of Workweek, a rapidly growing B2B media company. Becca shares her journey from customer success roles to building a multi-million dollar media business. Learn how Becca: - Transitioned from The Hustle to co-founding Workweek - Built a portfolio of niche B2B media brands - Leverages the "knowledge expert paradox" to create valuable content - Manag...

Subscribe here https://newsletter.fundsandfounder.com/subscribe In this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Brennan Bliss, CEO of Propellic, a digital marketing agency specializing in SEO for the travel industry. Brennan shares his journey from building websites as a teenager to running a multi-million dollar agency. Learn how Brennan: - Started his entrepreneurial journey at 13 years old - Scaled his agency to 25 team members - Niched down to focus on the travel industry - Mana...

Subscribe here https://newsletter.fundsandfounder.com/subscribe In this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Tomer, a former structural engineer turned serial entrepreneur. Tomer shares his journey from designing skyscrapers to building multiple successful businesses, including an e-commerce brand, a virtual staffing agency, and an innovative product company. Learn how Tomer: - Transitioned from a 9-to-5 job to entrepreneurship - Built a 7-figure e-commerce business - Successfull...

Subscribe here https://newsletter.fundsandfounder.com/subscribe In this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Jon, former CEO of Hyperlinks Media and current organizer of Tiny Talks in Austin. Jon shares his journey from starting an SEO blog in high school to building and selling a successful digital marketing agency, and eventually launching a community-driven event series. Learn how Jon: - Built a 7-figure SEO agency from his dorm room - Pivoted to content marketing and affiliate ...

Subscribe here https://newsletter.fundsandfounder.com/subscribe In this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Ryan Atkinson, CEO and co-founder of Spacebar Visuals. Ryan shares his journey from working at an aquatic center to becoming a growth specialist at HubSpot, and eventually launching his own successful video production agency. Learn how Ryan: - Started multiple podcasts to network with entrepreneurs - Built a 6-figure agency in less than a year - Uses cold outreach to land ...

Subscribe here https://newsletter.fundsandfounder.com/subscribe In this captivating episode of Funds and Founders, Catalin, co-founder and CEO of Linnify, joins us to discuss his journey as a serial entrepreneur and product development expert. Catalin shares valuable lessons from his experiences with previous startups and offers advice on avoiding "shiny object syndrome" while staying focused on long-term goals. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or an established founder, this episode is pa...

Subscribe here https://newsletter.fundsandfounder.com/subscribe Join us as we sit down with Hunter Burkey, Partner at Next Level Valet and CEO of Next Level Security. Hunter shares his incredible journey from living in his car to building two successful businesses in Austin, TX. 👉Hunter's early struggles and how he turned his life around 👉The birth of Next Level Valet and its rapid growth 👉Expanding into security services during COVID-19 👉Challenges of scaling a business and managing 300+ e...