From Idea to Series B: The Making of a Successful Startup

In this episode of Startup Success, we dive into the incredible entrepreneurial journey of Russ d’Sa, Co-Founder and CEO of LiveKit, a startup that evolved from a pandemic side project into an open-source development stack that powers real-time AI. The wildly varied use cases for LiveKit’s technology range from voice conversations with ChatGPT to saving lives on 911 emergency calls.It's a fascinating listen that spotlights the broad range of services we use every day that are now powered by AI!Russ shares:How he and his co-founder navigated unexpected twists, including scaling their open source project that went viral on GitHub and pivoting to a business model they were genuinely passionate aboutWhy taking the to time learn what customers really want was essential to LiveKit’s success and the lessons there for other foundersThe lightbulb moment when he realized his team was building “core infrastructure for the future of where computing is going”A must-listen for aspiring and seasoned founders, Russ shares key lessons he learned along his winding path to startup success. Tune in to learn how LiveKit is revolutionizing real-time communication and empowering developers worldwide.----Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn! 

In this episode of Startup Success, host Kate Adams sits down with Vlad Voroninski, CEO and co-founder of Helm.ai, an AI software startup that is developing the world's safest and most advanced autonomous driving systems at scale. Vlad gives us a fascinating look into Helm.ai's innovative approach to addressing previously unsolved problems in the self-driving car space, detailing how his company leverages unsupervised learning and generative AI to create scalable, robust solutions for real-time autonomous vehicle operations. We explore:Helm.ai’s bold approach to fundraising that paid off bigHow Vlad's academic background in applied mathematics helped him create technology that is transforming the automotive industryHow he knew it was the right time to finally launch his own companyThe technology that got them a foot in the door at major automakers and a sneak peek at Helm.ai’s partnership with Honda Join us for a deep dive into the challenges and breakthroughs in the autonomous driving field and discover what sets Helm.ai apart from its competitors in this fast-moving space. ----Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn! 

What if the powerful nutritional compounds in breast milk could be harnessed to improve the health of people of all ages? Today, we’re sitting down with Laura Katz, CEO and founder of Helaina, a groundbreaking biotech startup that’s pushing the boundaries of what food can do for health. Helaina’s technology platform replicates functional proteins found in the human body, making them available as new nutrients that enhance immunity, gut health, and cognitive function.Laura shares her fascinating journey from a food scientist, who initially didn't even know what a venture capitalist was, to pioneering a new era of nutrition and raising $83 million in funding.Our conversation touches on:Lessons Laura learned from her hard-fought fundraising successesThe hardest part of being a founder and why it surprised herLaura’s methodology for turning her vision into a realityThe challenges of being a solo founder and starting a company in the biotech spaceThe tremendous value of having a mentor and a supportive networkGet ready to be inspired by Laura's incredible story of innovation and persistence as she brings the future of health to life—one protein at a time.----Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn! 

What if your inspiration for starting a company came from solving a problem you experienced first-hand as an engineer at a tech giant like Uber?  In this episode, we welcome Anish Dhar, Co-Founder and CEO of Cortex, to share his incredible journey from an engineer at Uber to founding Cortex, the internal developer portal that addresses a massive gap in engineering processes and recently raised a $60M Series C round.Anish reflects on how he and his co-founders identified a critical pain point that they knew countless engineers experienced but no one had tried to solve yet. Being “close to the pain” motivated them and was a huge factor in their startup’s fundraising success.Our expansive discussion touches on:What VCs are looking for at Seed, Series A and beyondAnish’s experience applying (and getting rejected the first time) at Y Combinator and how persistence paid offWhy being close to the pain point your product is trying to solve gives founders an advantageThe engineering challenges that inspired CortexIn Anish’s words, starting a company is “truly one of the most gratifying and impactful experiences that you can have. It's painful, but it's worth it!”Don’t miss Anish's story of innovation, resilience, and building a product that’s transforming the way engineers manage complex systems.----Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn! 

For startups, even software startups, figuring out what is worth patenting is one of the most important moves a founder needs to make.That’s where our guest today comes in. Jeff Schox, Founding Partner and Patent Attorney at Schox Patent Group, is a patent expert who’s helped hundreds of very successful startups navigate this rocky terrain.Jeff joins us to give startup founders a basic primer on everything they need to know about patents – an often misunderstood and overlooked area. Right off the bat, Jeff dispels the three biggest myths about startup patents (1. Software isn't patentable / 2. If we can't enforce the patent, it doesn't have value / 3. The biggest costs of a patent portfolio are the legal fees). And he explains how startups can take a strategic approach to patent filing that safeguards future innovation and fuels future growth.We also discuss:All the key components around patents a founder must knowThe value of filing a provisional patent, especially for startupsWhy determining the valuation of patents is so trickyHow a good patent attorney’s key role is strategic partnerThe strict deadline after which you can never pursue a patentThis episode is truly a must-listen as it gives founders valuable knowledge on patents and patent strategies for ensuring long-term success.----Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn! 

We explore some weighty questions on this episode of Startup Success, including:What would the world look like if half the venture capital dollars were in women-led funds? Is VC funding the golden ticket or just another hurdle for startups? How do we overcome the biggest limiting factor to success – ourselves?Why is the bulk of venture capital still not in the hands of women?Sutian Dong, Partner at Multitudes and a pivotal figure in venture capital, joins us to tackle these topics and to share profound insights on the dynamics that guide VC’s decision making process, how that impacts startups, and why she started her own fund.Known for her work supporting female founders and investors, Sutian is the founder of Global Women in VC, the world’s largest global community for women in venture capital. Her firm, Multitudes, is built on the thesis that the next generation of innovation will be different than the last, and they invest in and incubate projects that explore the edge of human consciousness.Join us for this enlightening discussion on the future of investing, the value of diverse perspectives, and the strategic decisions every founder should consider.----Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn! 

To celebrate the 100th episode of Startup Success, we have two exceptional guests: Peter Reinhardt, CEO and co-founder of Charm Industrial (and the former co-founder/CEO of Segment), and Jeff Burkland, CEO and founder of Burkland.Peter and Jeff take us behind the scenes of Segment, the hugely successful startup that was acquired by Twilio for $3.2 billion in 2020. They recount their time working together at Segment, where Jeff came on board early as the fractional CFO.Jeff and Peter candidly discuss:How Peter overcame the early stage challenges that almost ended SegmentThe struggle to find product-market fitJeff’s take on what makes a great fundraising pitch (and why Peter is a natural)The pricing model that was a game-changer for SegmentFinally, Peter touches on his latest venture Charm Industrial, a carbon removal technology startup that raised  $100 million last year and has a long list of renowned US companies as customers. Tune in for practical advice, insightful stories, and real-world lessons learned from their startup experiences. Whether you're in the early stages of your startup or looking to scale, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways!----Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn! 

In the rapidly evolving world of AI, standing out requires more than just innovation; it demands leadership and a clear vision. Enter Lin Qiao, the driving force behind Fireworks AI, who is redefining the limitations of speed, value and scale in generative AI.With a $52M Series B secured earlier this summer, Fireworks AI has quickly become a major player after launching their public platform just one year ago. Lin, their CEO and Co-Founder, joins us to share the invaluable lessons she’s learned along her journey from leading Meta’s AI platform development team to founding an industry-disrupting startup.We explore:Fireworks AI’s customer obsessed culture and deep belief that “if our customers are successful, we will be successful”  How their product iterations flowed organically from their customers’ evolving needsWhy moving fast and prioritizing for speed is key to their successWhere AI is headed as it becomes more sophisticated and the industry maturesLin offers advice for founders on everything from how to avoid the “paralysis of analysis” in decision-making to strategies for driving down the cost of AI. Don't miss this insightful conversation with one of the leading voices in AI innovation.For more information about Fireworks AI, visit fireworks.ai.----Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn! 

Amid high interest rates and election uncertainty, navigating the startup landscape has never been more challenging. Fortunately, our special guest, Steve Lord, is here to offer a broader perspective that may help ease your mind.As a member of Burkland’s Leadership Team, Steve serves as Managing Director of Service Delivery and Chief Knowledge Officer. Steve has been in the trenches for a while and his knowledge of the startup and venture capital ecosystem runs deep.He joins us today to discuss the current state of the startup and venture capital ecosystems and what to expect as we progress through 2024.Steve expands on:The macro factors that are making the startup landscape and fundraising more difficult right nowThe pros and cons of using Venture Debt to extend your cash runwayWhy a rigorous due diligence process that addresses all the “Gotchas” is a good thing for your startupFinding investors who are allies and who can make your company betterThe value of delegating to subject matter experts so you can stay focused on your productThe cyclical nature of VC funding and the strategic responses startups can take Tune in for practical tips on how to survive and even thrive in today’s startup environment. ----Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn! 

In this episode of Startup Success, we welcome Jaclyn Chen, Co-Founder and CEO at Benepass, a platform that solves real-world pain points for both employees and employers in the benefits space.Jacyln dives into her experience working with Y Combinator early on and how she approached fundraising during very different economic climates. And she shares some truly great advice for fellow startup founders!Highlights from our discussion include: Strategies that increase your odds of securing fundingThe parallels between enterprise sales and raising venture capitalThe evolution of the founder role from selling the vision to building a team and scaling the companyIdeas on how founders can make the due diligence process more seamless for VCsThis episode is packed with valuable insights for early-stage startup founders looking for a competitive edge. ----Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn!