The Venture Podcast

Peter Kazanjy is the author of Founding Sales, the most recommended sales book for founders.Peter goes into:Founder-led salesHow AI is changing go-to-market What ambitious young people should optimize for in the age of AIWe also dive into two case studies: Claudeforce and who owns the customer when AI becomes the interface to software, and NVIDIA’s acquisition of Hugging Face and why owning critical layers of the AI stack matters.

At 23, James Flynn became one of the youngest partners in Sequoia Capital's history and has spent the last two years investing on the growth team. James goes into:What actually impresses top-tier VCsHow to decide between being an operator vs. an investorThe AI opportunities he believes are larger than most people think

Mike Fata co-founded Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods in 1998 and helped lead the company through its $419M sale to Tilray. Today he spends his time investing in, advising, and mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs.We tend to interview a lot of people in tech, so it was refreshing to hear a different perspective from someone in the CPG space. Mike goes into:His mindset shift on the importance of personal brand buildingWhat success has looked like inside portfolio companies like Mid-Day SquaresHow to effectively test and bring a CPG product to marketWhy delayed gratification is still the ultimate advantage in businessWhat separates great founders from everyone else

After 15 years of running at full speed, Scott Barker recently sold everything he owns to travel the world. We’ve had a lot of founders on the show, but very few are willing to talk openly about the cost of chasing big goals for long periods of time.Scott is the co-founder of GTMfund, an early-stage venture firm backed by 350+ top GTM leaders. In this conversation, Scott talks candidly about:The mentality that made him successful - but also nearly destroyed himHow easy it is to lose yourself in constant achievementWhat finally made him walk away from the life he builtHis learnings from a career in tech and VCHow ambitious people can build a great career without burning themselves out

Elaine Dai is a Partner at Alt Capital, a new venture firm founded by Jack Altman that backs ambitious founders in AI and enterprise software. In this episode, we dive into Elaine’s journey from Harvard to Microsoft, Norwest, and now Alt, where she helps lead a $275M second fund focused on AI-native companies and category-defining startups.Elaine shares what it takes to recognize outlier founders, how she evaluates “slope over snapshot,” and why the best VCs act as invited guests rather than helicopter investors. She also reflects on risk-taking, the immigrant mindset, and why being in San Francisco compounds serendipity.We also cover:Why “AI-native” beats “AI-wrapper” startupsHow to find (and stress-test) the right co-founderPractical advice for breaking into VC without a traditional backgroundThe hardest parts of conviction, patience, and playing the long game

From repairing semi trucks in Alberta, Canada to shaping breakthrough research at Google DeepMind, and now closing a $10 million raise for his applied-AI startup Maneva - Rae's journey is a master-class in turning technical insight and passion into business impact.In our latest (and most technical) episode of The Venture Podcast, we unpack:- How hands-on engineering roots still guide Rae's product decisions- A few massive lessons learned at DeepMind that every founder should steal- Why Applied AI is where the real value livesIf you lead, build, or invest or in AI, Rae's journey and insights shared will likely be of great value to you.

Eric Jorgenson is the bestselling author of The Almanack of Naval Ravikant and CEO of Scribe Media. In this episode, we dive deep into agency, accountability, and the mindset behind doing truly original work. Eric shares the viral story behind how he turned a single tweet into a life-changing book project, what it really means to be “high agency,” and how he unexpectedly became CEO of a company he helped rescue from bankruptcy.We also cover:How to build “luck surface area”Pulling back the curtains on the venture capital industryThe secrets to wealth and happiness And how to navigate your 20s with clarity and ambition

In this episode we sit down with Michael Perry, founder of Kit (acquired by Shopify) and current CEO of Maple. Michael shares the truth about his 20-year entrepreneurial journey—from selling cars and living on food stamps to building products used by millions. We dive deep into his early hustle, the pain behind building startups, and the importance of authenticity.

Robbie Bent is the CEO and co-founder of Othership—a venture that reimagines wellness with guided sauna and ice bath experiences. His story offers thoughtful insights on product design, building and scaling a brick-and-mortar business, and creating spaces that foster meaningful relationships. We’re excited to share his perspective with you—enjoy the conversation.

200 VCs wanted to get into Lumen Orbit (YC S24)'s seed round! Over the holidays, James Moffat and I had the pleasure of sitting down with Lumen's Co-Founder and CEO, Philip Johnston. Drawing on his experience as a former Harvard University class president, McKinsey & Company consultant, and entrepreneur with a successful exit, Philip is now turning his focus to the stars. His mission? To revolutionize computing with solar-powered, orbit-based data centers that could redefine energy efficiency and scalability for AI. Key Takeaways: 1. Be bold: The biggest opportunities often lie in “zero-billion dollar markets”—industries that barely exist today but have massive potential, like computing in space. These untapped frontiers, often adjacent to big markets, are where transformative breakthroughs and category-defining companies are born. 2. Falling Launch Costs Are a Game-Changer: Rockets like Starship will make getting mass into orbit 100x cheaper, unlocking opportunities like space-based data centers and other frontier innovations. 3. First-Principles Thinking Wins: LumenOrbit tackles challenges by reducing them to their core engineering problems—like designing lightweight, cost-effective radiators capable of dissipating heat in the vacuum of space, a fundamental hurdle for high-energy applications. 4. New Industries Offer Rapid Expertise: In emerging fields like AI and space tech, focused effort can make you an expert in months. Aspiring entrepreneurs and new grads should target fast-growing industries with room for newcomers.