While the world is obsessed with AI autocomplete, a new breed of YC founders is building a future where one developer manages ten AI agents in parallel.

In this episode, I sit down with Kiet, co-founder of Superset (YC P26), to discuss the massive shift from writing code to orchestrating swarms of agents. We dive into why traditional IDEs like Cursor are failing the agentic era and how "worktrees" are the secret to scaling your output.

What you will learn:

• Why the role of a developer has shifted from "Writer" to "Editor" to "Orchestrator."
• The technical limitations of current IDEs when running multiple agents.
• How to use Git worktrees to give every AI agent its own isolated environment.
• The future of "Intent" and how tools like Linear will integrate directly into the code.
• Why "human-in-the-loop" is the current meta, and where it goes next.

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Cursor Becomes Secondary

00:51 YC Roaster Ad Break

01:35 Podcast Welcome And Setup

02:41 Meet Superset And The Problem

05:12 Why Cursor No Longer Fits

07:13 Superset Parallel Workspaces

10:32 Go To Market And Growth

14:50 Staying Relevant In Fast AI

16:29 Invariants And Agent Future

20:53 Building Primitives Now

24:13 Linear And Task Systems Debate

27:12 APIs And Defensibility

28:41 YC Shoutouts And Whats Next

30:11 YC Records And AI Boom

31:43 AI Adoption Gap Outside SF

32:30 YC Cycle Compresses With Agents

10:32 Should YC Be One Month

35:50 Second Time In YC

37:18 Why Repeat Founders Return

41:13 YC Confidence And Mentorship

46:00 Leaving A Startup To Start Superset

48:08 Team First Thesis For Superset

53:11 Risk Taking And Fear Setting

56:49 Superset Plug And Farewell

🎧 Listen on the go: 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP 

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm 

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercap

This Lobster Talks episode is brought to you by YC Roaster, a free tool helping founders improve their YC applications. 

🔗 https://ycroaster.com

Conor and Manu didn’t check a single "consensus" box: they were in their 30s, didn't come from FAANG, and were rejected by YC multiple times. Yet, Connor became the "star" of his batch by doing the opposite of what most PR firms advise: he leaned into the mess. He posted about sleeping in closets, being neurodivergent, and the "vibe" of his team.

Authenticity isn't just a "nice to have" for your personal brand; it’s a filter for your cap table. By being brutally honest about the grittiness of the journey, you repel the "fair-weather" investors and attract the ones who actually understand that startups are mostly a series of controlled fires.

In this episode, we sit down with Conor from Hyper Spell (YC F25) to discuss the "star" founder's journey, the brutal reality of YC rejections, and why the future of sales belongs to agents, not humans.

What you’ll learn:

• Why Hyper Spell refunded all its customers to pivot just months before YC.
• How to optimize your technical documentation for "Agentic Discovery."
• The "Slope vs. Intercept" framework for hiring wizards over Ivy League grads.
• Why authenticity and "vibe" are the ultimate trust-builders in Silicon Valley.
• The "Agent-to-Agent" hiring process that ignores resumes entirely.

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

00:00 Resilience Mindset

00:37 YC Roaster Sponsor

01:21 Podcast Warm Welcome

01:57 Why YC Community

04:58 Hyperspell Explained

05:33 Origin Story Pivot

09:29 Pivot Timing YC

11:03 YC Rejections Lessons

00:00 No Means Not Yet

14:19 Authenticity Builds Brand

15:52 Breaking Founder Myths

19:23 Being Real Online

21:16 Unique Founder Stories

26:22 Twitter and Customers

27:53 Authenticity Builds Trust

29:44 Overdelivering for Customers

32:45 Humans Still Decide

36:44 Selling to Agents Playbook

39:01 Building for Agent UX

43:29 Agent Hiring Meritocracy

48:00 Choosing the Right Cofounder

53:57 Hyper Spell Roadmap

56:01 Closing Thanks and Wrap

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercap

This Lobster Talks episode is brought to you by YC Roaster, a free tool helping founders improve their YC applications. 

🔗 https://ycroaster.com

Most founders are told to avoid the Student Information System (SIS) market because it's "too sticky" and dominated by giants like PowerSchool.

In this episode, Noah (Founder of Scout, YC W25) explains how they are using AI-native compliance to wedge into the "School OS" market and why the future of education looks nothing like the traditional classroom.

What you’ll learn:

- Why Private Equity buying your competitor is a massive "Buy" signal for your startup.

- The "Wedge" Strategy: Why Scout chose online hybrid schools in California.

- How to overcome intense Imposter Syndrome during the first week of Y Combinator.

- The Sneaker Bot Origin: Why YC loves founders who "hacked" systems as kids.

- Managing the "Post-YC Slump" and building a 20-year sustainable business.

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters:

00:00 YC Investor Boost

00:49 Free YC Roaster Plug

01:34 EdTech Market Shakeup

02:16 What Scout Builds

03:05 PowerSchool Deal Timing

03:48 From Wedge to SIS

06:56 Beating Switching Costs

09:52 Niche Beachhead Strategy

11:00 First Real Customer Signal

13:41 Future of Schooling Bet

16:31 Why Based in New York

19:50 NYC Talent Network Edge

22:11 Sneaker Bot Origins

24:33 Building the Supreme Bot

25:38 Hacking Systems Mindset

26:30 Spotting System Hacks

27:24 Waffles and Tooth Bonds

28:59 Getting Into YC

30:31 Imposter Syndrome Reset

34:23 YC Lessons That Stick

34:50 Going Big in EdTech

39:37 The Post YC Slump

42:54 From Demo Day to Customers

45:42 YC Stamp for Investors

47:21 Rapid Fire and Wrap

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercap

This Lobster Talks episode is brought to you by YC Roaster, a free tool helping founders improve their YC applications.

🔗 https://ycroaster.com

We’re seeing valuations hit $100M before founders even finish their slide decks. Is this a peak or just the new baseline?

In this episode of The Lobster Talks, we debrief the W26 Demo Day. We go behind the scenes on the "Agentic" boom, why hardware is suddenly the hottest play in the valley, and the real math behind why YC startups are worth 4x more than their peers.

What you’ll learn:

• Why 10+ companies in this batch raised at $100M+ valuations.
• The truth about the "1% acceptance rate" (and how to skip the line).
• How a consumer hardware startup hit $27M ARR during the batch.
• Why "Open Claw" changed the game for AI agent startups.
• The blurring lines between Seed and Series A rounds.

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters:

00:00 Faster Exits Thesis

00:30 YC Roaster Plug

01:14 Winter 2026 Debrief

01:59 Record Growth Metrics

03:17 Revenue And Acceptance

06:44 Why YC Still Pays

07:42 100M Valuation Surge

11:23 Seed Series A Blur

14:49 Skipping Series A

19:47 AI Agents Narrative

22:35 Why YC Still Wins

23:22 Post Claude Demo Day Shift

24:43 Seed FOMO And Valuation Surge

25:40 Why Exits Keep Getting Bigger

27:33 Big Tech Acquisition Logic

34:10 Talent Scarcity Drives M&A

36:37 Breaking Down 27M ARR

38:50 Consumer AI Notetaker Bet

43:00 Wrap Up And Where To Follow

🎧 Listen on the go: 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP 

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm 

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercap

This Lobster Talks episode is brought to you by YC Roaster, a free tool helping founders improve their YC applications. 

🔗 https://ycroaster.com

9 years later, he came back… second company, second batch, $10M seed closed in 3 days. Dalton told him: "Don't overlearn."

Quang is the founder of Vybe, a YC W25 company building the internal app layer for the AI era. Before that: Plato, a mentorship platform for engineers he grew to 70 people, raised $22M for, and sold to Coda, where he worked as a GM before quitting to start over. 

In this conversation, we go deep on what it actually means to be a second-time YC founder: the overcorrections, the traps, and what's genuinely different about YC today vs. 2016.

In this episode, you'll learn:

→ Why hiring zero people after raising $10M was the wrong overcorrection, and when Quang finally figured that out

→ How selling before the product was ready backfired, and what First Round's Liz told him to do instead

→ YC's self-fulfilling prophecy: how the program became a distribution machine, and why seed rounds that took 3 weeks in 2016 now close in 3 days

→ Why Vybe is quietly pivoting from "build internal apps" to "agents that use those apps", and what inspired it

→ The three-component PMF framework First Round runs with every portfolio company (and where most founders skip straight to step 3)

Chapters:

00:00 Raising First 150K

00:30 YC Roaster Sponsor

01:14 Meet Quang Twice YC

02:03 Discovering YC In France

05:37 Slack Bot Breakthrough

06:34 Product Hunt To YC Interview

07:49 Silicon Valley Network Effect

13:47 Why Expense Reports Question

15:59 Getting The Acceptance Call

17:02 Moving To Mountain View

18:46 Building Bots In YC

20:31 Pivot To Plato Mentorship

22:02 Acquired By Coda

22:49 Coda Vs Retool Pain

26:37 Replit Agent Sparks Vibe

27:33 Internal Apps Are Still Hard

28:52 Quitting Coda For Vibe

29:00 Co Founder Wealthfront Pain

30:07 Back To Y Combinator

30:26 Avoiding Overcorrection Traps

31:48 Hiring Lessons And Rebound

34:33 Selling Too Early Too Hard

37:39 Five Customers Before Scale

39:17 Product Market Fit Framework

42:08 Claude Code Threat Or Tailwind

44:52 Open Claude And Apps Disappear

46:46 Vibe Agents And Integrations

49:10 YC Then Vs Now

55:49 Wrap Up And Subscribe

—

🦞 Lobster Talks is the YC insider podcast for investors. New episodes weekly.

Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss the next one.

Listen on the go:

🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

🎧 Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

More from Lobster Capital:

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercap

🌐 Website: https://lobstercap.com

This Lobster Talks episode is brought to you by YC Roaster, a free tool helping founders improve their YC applications. 

🔗 https://ycroaster.com

Koby Conrad (CEO of Sunflower) joins the show to discuss why he’s betting his career on solving addiction using AI. 

After a successful exit at Rupa Health, Koby moved to Buenos Aires with nothing but a backpack to "vibe code" the future of sobriety. 

In this episode, we dive into the "no-meeting" SAFE phenomenon, why SaaS moats are dying, and how Sunflower reached $1M ARR in record time.

What you will learn:

• Why the "Wellness" category is a trap for serious founders.
• How to raise capital in "emotionally difficult" or stigmatized markets.
• The strategy behind giving away software for free to monetize physical "atoms."
• Inside the YC Fall 25 batch: What has changed since 2019.
• Why AI sponsors are actually more effective for lonely users than human ones.

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters: 

00:00 Choosing Mission Over Money

00:30 YC Roaster Sponsor Break

01:14 Why Addiction Is Underserved

02:08 What Sunflower Builds

03:24 Fundraising In A Stigmatized Market

05:14 Why Not A Wellness App

08:00 Stigma Parallels And Founder Backstory

10:37 YC Twice And The Compounding Effect

13:59 No Meeting SAFEs And Investor Alpha

18:31 Limits Of AI In Recovery

22:06 From Subscriptions To Clinics

28:14 Distribution Moats And Community

30:27 Community Network Moats

31:21 Software Is Not The Moat

31:57 B2B Pilots And Revenue Paths

33:18 Finding Product Model Fit

34:56 Why Start Over For Addiction

37:01 Backpack Minimalism Reset

39:24 Garry Tan As Group Partner

43:04 Rapid Fire AI Predictions

43:45 Gambling Addiction Rabbit Hole

46:34 AI Across Healthcare And Ash

50:59 Smarter Than The Robot

51:53 Where To Find Sunflower

🎧 Listen on the go: 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP 

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm 

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercap

This Lobster Talks episode is brought to you by YC Roaster, a free tool helping founders improve their YC applications. 

🔗 https://ycroaster.com

In this episode, we sit down with August Chen, founder of Hazel (YC W24), to discuss why he left Palantir to tackle the antiquated world of government procurement. We dive into the "missionary vs. mercenary" mindset, the reality of the 1% acceptance rate at YC, and why the "death of the paper-pusher" is the greatest opportunity in VC today.

What you’ll learn:

• Why 50% of small businesses have abandoned government contracts.
• The Palantir playbook: How to "deploy yourself" into a customer's workflow.
• Why selling to the Government requires a "hierarchy of needs" approach.
• The pivot from B2B2G to direct B2G: When the mission stays, but the product moves.
• How AI is turning months of RFP paperwork into seconds of work.
• Predictions for the "DOGE" era and the future of civil servant tech stacks.

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters: 

00:00 Million Dollar Toilet Problem

00:39 YC Roaster Ad Break

01:22 Why Gov Procurement Lags

02:50 Broken Systems Examples

04:05 Inside Procurement Tech Stack

05:30 Palantir Lessons On Procurement

07:29 YC Pivot To B2G

11:36 Selling To Government Reality

17:22 Scaling A Small Sales Team

21:29 AI For Deterministic Compliance

25:15 Workflow First AI Second

26:00 Vendor Search Enrichment

26:18 Drafting Requirements Fast

26:36 Evaluation Notes Assistant

27:04 Safety and Tesla Analogy

28:35 Scope Review Guardrails

30:29 Palantir Patience Lessons

32:36 Hair on Fire Problems

33:57 Fast Pilots and Features

36:07 Overcoming Trust Deficit

39:04 Why the Name Hazel

41:50 Predictions Rapid Fire

43:58 Procurement Jobs Future

45:32 Investor Takeaway and Wra

“🎧 Listen on the go: 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP 

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm 

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercap

This Lobster Talks episode is brought to you by YC Roaster, a free tool helping founders improve their YC applications. 

🔗 https://ycroaster.com

In this episode, I sit down with Grant Shaddick, founder of Tella (YC W20), the video tool that has quietly taken over the YC ecosystem. We dive into the grit required to build a category leader, why they chose to stay lean while others over-raised, and how AI is finally killing the "video editing" bottleneck.

What you’ll learn:

• Why "boring" infrastructure often outperforms "hype" AI startups.
• The reality of the startup "Valley of Death" and how to survive it.
• Why a high valuation can actually be a founder's biggest trap.
• The future of agentic video editing: from tools to outcomes.
• The secret behind Tella’s viral adoption among YC founders.

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters:

00:00 The Big Vision: Make Video Creation Effortless

00:35 Sponsor Break: YC Roaster — Free YC Application Feedback

01:19 Podcast Intro: Why Tella Is a Quiet YC Power Tool

02:28 What Tella Is: The All‑in‑One Screen Recorder

04:38 From “Loom Competitor” to Polished Production Value

07:43 Why YC Founders Keep Choosing Tella

10:51 Async Video vs Meetings: The Future of Work?

15:23 Beyond Loom: One Tool for Every Company Video

18:25 AI + Video: Auto Layouts and Editing Without Editing

24:21 How Close Are We to Fully Autonomous Video Editing?

25:58 Why Video Is So Unforgiving: Trust Dies When Recordings Break

27:50 AI Can’t Save a Broken Capture (Yet): The Gap vs Text Generation

29:12 Generative AI as a “Bandage”: Fixing Mistakes After the Fact

30:21 Desktop/Web Video Creators Are Underserved (and AI Changes That)

31:24 From Whisper Dictation to “Fix My Delivery”: The Future of AI Video

32:20 YC 2020 to PMF: Staying Lean, Scrappy, and Not Getting Ahead of Yourself

36:26 How to Not Quit: Stubbornness, Small Wins, and Solving Hard Problems

39:16 The Rendering-Bug Breakthrough: Quality Fixes That Unlocked Growth

42:01 Fundraising Discipline: Valuation Pressure vs Runway and Focus

47:30 Wrap-Up: Try Tella + Where to Find the Team

🎧 Listen on the go: 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP 

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm 

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercap

This Lobster Talks episode is brought to you by YC Roaster, a free tool helping founders improve their YC applications. 

🔗 https://ycroaster.com

And it’s not about your TAM. It’s not about your pitch. It’s about how you use AI to build.

In this episode of Lobster Talks, we break down YC’s newest application change, the rise of coding agents like Claude Code, and what this signals about where startup building, and venture capital is heading next.

We also go deep on YC Roaster, Lobster Capital’s new initiative helping founders improve their YC applications using AI + YC alumni review.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

- Why YC’s new “coding agent session” question is a founder filter

- How vibe coding is becoming table stakes in 2026

- What 20,000 YC applications really signal about global founders

- Why traction keeps rising as the YC acceptance bar

- How smart VCs are building internal tools and why most aren’t

- Why the best founders and funds pivot fast

This is a behind-the-scenes look at how YC evaluates builders today.

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters:

00:00 Claude Code Is Addictive: Why Everyone’s Vibe Coding Now

00:44 Sponsor Break: YC Roaster - Free, Brutally Honest YC Application Feedback

01:27 Welcome to Lobster Talks: What’s New in the YC World

02:00 How YC Roaster Was Built (Fast) + How the AI→Alumni Review Flow Works

03:37 Launch Results: Hundreds of Apps, MVP Bugs, and the V2 Relaunch Plan

06:23 What Applicants Look Like: Quality Spread, Global Submissions, and Reviewer Time Sinks

11:29 Why Build YC Roaster: Lobster’s “Helpful Fund” Flywheel + VCs Who Ship

14:20 YC’s New Application Question: Submit a Coding Agent Session You’re Proud Of

15:06 What YC Is Really Testing: Technical Bar, AI Fluency, and Advanced Agent Workflows

22:42 Founder vs Idea: Pivot Culture, Proof-of-Work, and How AI Changes Evaluation

27:06 VCs Need Tools Too: Internal Engineering, Interactive Marketing, and Fund Differentiation

29:28 YC Request for Startups: 2026 Themes - Agents, Stablecoins, GovTech, Spatial/Robotics

31:33 Wrap-Up: Subscribe, Reviews, and Next Week’s YC Founder

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercap

Max Berthelot and Lucis are rewriting that script by turning longitudinal blood data into a high-margin, preventive software play.

In this episode, we sit down with Max Berthelot, founder of Lucis (YC S25), to discuss why "Function Health for Europe" is one of the most compelling arbitrage opportunities in the venture world.

We dive into the cultural shift of paying for health in Europe, the technical challenge of scaling doctor-supervised AI, and the relentless execution required to expand across five countries in record time.

What you’ll learn:

- Why blood data is the "Gold Rush" of the next decade.

- The YC strategy for conquering fragmented European markets.

- How to maintain "San Francisco Velocity" while based in Paris.

- Why AI + Wearables are currently overhyped (and what's missing).

- The 5-day fundraising sprint: How Lucis closed their round during YC.

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Preventive Health and Function Health

00:45 Welcome to Lobster Talks Podcast

01:32 Meet Max Berthelot and Lucis

02:23 The Importance of Longitudinal Health Tracking

05:02 Challenges and Opportunities in European Healthcare

09:14 The YC Experience and Decision to Stay in Europe

12:54 Maintaining YC Culture in Europe

18:13 The Role of AI in Healthcare

22:14 Expansion Across Europe

23:00 International Expansion Playbook

23:53 Challenges in European Market

25:35 Relentless Execution and Metrics

28:35 Trends in YC Healthcare Startups

32:22 Fundraising Journey and AI Impact

36:11 Overhyped Trends in Health Tech

39:20 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercap

In this episode, YC-backed Cerrion CEO Karim Saleh explains why industrial computer vision is one of YC’s most underrated AI wedges, and why it can beat flashier “copilot” markets on sheer dollar-weight and defensibility.

Karim breaks down how Cerrion deploys camera-based AI agents to detect production issues in real time, why manufacturing is a $20T opportunity, and what most investors get wrong about selling into factories. If you’re building “real-world AI,” this is the playbook… from five paid pilots before code to scaling via workflows, not dashboards.

What you’ll learn:

• Why YC keeps funding industrial computer vision (even across hype cycles)
• The technical truth: every factory is different… and why VLMs change the game
• The go-to-market wedge that wins: small scope → fast ROI → expansion (NRR)
• How Cerrion embeds into daily factory workflows (shift meetings, handovers, owners)
• The biggest investor myth about manufacturing sales cycles, and the real unlock
• Why competition-heavy AI markets are a trap (and what to build instead)

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to the Manufacturing Market Opportunity

00:38 Welcome to Lobster Talks

01:11 Introducing Karim Saleh and Cerrion

02:16 The Evolution of AI in Manufacturing

03:47 Challenges and Solutions in Industrial AI

05:40 The Impact of US Reindustrialization

08:44 Customer Success and Expansion Strategies

15:44 Fundraising and Market Trends

26:07 Future of Industrial AI and YC Insights

36:07 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercap

In this episode of Lobster Talks, Katon Luaces (YC ’24) breaks down how PointOne built an “AI time platform” for law firms, why “hard thing first” compounds, and what investors routinely misread about early traction vs. real product validation.

You’ll learn:

- Why “why now” is the only filter that matters for AI startups

- How PointOne got early users fast with aggressive cold outbound

- The “hard thing first” strategy—and why it creates real moats

- The truth: early traction validates the problem, retention validates the solution

- How to sell AI into skeptical industries with “stepping-stone” adoption

- Why AI law firms are real… but “one law firm in the future” is unlikely

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: The Importance of Long-Term Customer Retention

00:33 Welcome to Lobster Talks: Featuring Katon Luaces

01:09 Introducing PointOne: Revolutionizing Time Tracking for Law Firms

01:54 The Magic of Technology: Making the Impossible Possible

02:46 The YC Journey: From Idea to Execution

03:59 Balancing Technology and Market Demand

05:52 Navigating YC: Maximizing Traction and Growth

07:29 Building a Complex Product: Challenges and Strategies

11:51 Post-YC Growth: From Zero to Exponential

13:18 The Philosophy of Tackling the Hardest Problems First

16:35 The Reality of Startup Life: Persistence and Iteration

21:22 Selling AI to a Traditional Industry: Overcoming Resistance

26:31 Innovative Business Models in Law Firms

27:06 Impact of AI on Legal Practice

28:07 AI Tools and Job Transformation

30:31 Competing with AI in Legal Services

31:59 Challenges and Opportunities for AI Law Firms

35:17 Future of AI in Legal and Other Sectors

37:41 YC's Role in AI Legal Startups

41:52 Overhyped and Underpriced AI Investments

47:19 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercap

Motives is a YC Summer ’25 company that does it in a day, and is doing it the hard way: with real humans, not synthetic personas.

In this episode of Lobster Talks, we sit down with Sean (Motives, YC S25) to unpack how AI-native companies are replacing legacy services, why YC is doubling down on agents, and the real tradeoffs of building outside San Francisco.

You’ll learn:

• Why Motives can run focus-group-grade research in 1–2 days vs 6–8 weeks
• The truth about synthetic users vs real humans (and where each wins)
• YC’s real “secret” (spoiler: it’s not a secret) and why it maps perfectly to agents
• The underrated founder problem: sales vs customer success once you have traction
• Why “unlimited research” pricing can create addiction-level usage
• London vs SF: customer density, talent economics, and survivability as a founder
• 
  

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Motives: Revolutionizing Consumer Research with AI

00:31 Welcome to Lobster Talks: Meet Sean from Motives

01:01 Deep Dive into Motives: How It Works and Its Advantages

01:49 The Evolution of Market Research: From Traditional to AI-Powered

03:52 Comparing Human and AI-Driven Consumer Research

09:58 The YC Experience: Building AI-Native Businesses

14:57 Challenges and Strategies for AI Startups

24:07 Sales and Customer Success in AI Agent Businesses

28:10 Reflecting on Client Payments and Capital

28:35 Testing the Unlimited Plan

28:57 Challenges and Learnings from AI Research

32:14 Quality Control and Automation

34:36 The Importance of Customer Feedback

36:20 Choosing London Over San Francisco

38:16 Advantages of Being in London

44:02 Balancing Work and Personal Life

47:38 Cultural Differences in Tech

52:40 Final Thoughts and Reflections

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercap

That’s the vibe heading into 2026. Speed is up, liquidity is thawing, and AI is compressing timelines across YC and the broader venture market.

In this episode of The Lobster Talks, we recap Lobster Capital’s breakout 2025, unpack why seed → Series A is getting cut in half, and lay out the sharpest 2026 prediction: the liquidity cycle is coming back… via IPOs, M&A, secondaries, and “creative” acquihires. We also dig into the counter-trend: as AI floods everything, founders are building real-world, tangible products that pull people off screens… Powered by AI, Not anti-AI.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why seed → Series A is moving from 18–24 months to ~9 months in top YC companies
• How a YC-backed company can go 0 → $10M ARR in ~14 months and keep growing 40% MoM
• Why DPI + liquidity is the only KPI LPs ultimately care about
• The new playbook: VC + PE strategies converging as AI makes roll-ups and efficiency leaps inevitable
• The “opposite reaction” to AI: hardware + real-life communities powered by AI agents
• What’s showing up in Winter 2026: robotics, hardware, and a surprising wave of space tech

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Cold Open

00:46 Welcome to The Lobster Talks

01:16 Recap of 2025 Achievements

02:19 Series A Success and Future Predictions

07:50 The Importance of Liquidity in VC

09:35 AI's Transformational Impact

18:58 The Role of YC and Future Outlook

21:45 AI Note Taker: A Physical Product in 2026

22:36 Digital Detox: Reconnecting with the Real World

23:59 Lobster Capital's Portfolio: RealRoots and Sunflower

28:15 The Rise of Robotics and Space Tech in 2026

31:39 YC's Moonshot Investments and Future Prospects

34:27 Reflections on YC's Evolution and Success

37:40 Upcoming YC Demo Day and New Group Partners

39:21 Conclusion and Future Episodes

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercap

This episode goes inside Vulcan Technology, a YC startup using AI to map every law and regulation in America, undercut Deloitte and McKinsey, and turn a $4T regulatory burden into a trillion-dollar software market. We talk about Virginia’s $24K cheaper homes, destroying the Big Four with code, how to actually sell into government, and why most “AI for gov” plays are doomed from day one.

You’ll learn:

• How Vulcan uses AI to analyze entire regulatory codes and show what can’t change, what can change, and what must change.
• The Virginia case study: how building code streamlining translated into ~$24,000 less per new home without touching safety.
• Why both red and blue states are leaning into AI for regulation, and how YC founders are navigating the politics.
• What investors get wrong about govtech, ARR, and how to value AI consultancies selling into the state.
• How Tanner sold to a state government 10 days after incorporation and then raised one of the biggest seeds of his YC batch.
• What’s overhyped in AI infra, what’s inevitable, and how to avoid building a “solution in search of a problem” in govtech.

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction: The Challenges of Government Contracts

00:51 Sponsorship Message from Stable

01:51 Introducing Tanner Jones and Vulcan Technology

02:33 The Vision: AI in Government Consulting

06:20 Case Study: Virginia's Regulatory Overhaul

12:26 Bipartisan Appeal of AI Solutions

17:34 Behind the Scenes at Y Combinator

22:28 Navigating Government Sales and Investor Relations

24:51 Scientific Innovation and Emergence of New Companies

25:15 Palantir and Anduril's Impact on Intelligence Agencies

25:37 Targeting Regulatory Agencies and Market Size

26:10 Challenges and Opportunities in Government Contracts

27:37 Passion for Government Reform

28:25 Investor Interest in Govtech and AI

29:30 Challenges for Govtech Startups

32:26 Understanding Government Incentives

34:06 Metrics for Success in Govtech

42:31 Future of AI in Government

46:09 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercap

This podcast episode is sponsored by Stable. Click here to sign up for a virtual address: 

https://dashboard.usestable.com/onboard/begin?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=influencer_lobster&promoCode=lobster50

In this episode of Lobster Talks, Raymond Lee (Twill, YC) sits down with John Ferrara, solo founder of Juxta (YC S25), who’s building a Universal Positioning System... a no-hardware GPS alternative that works indoors, underground, and anywhere humans or machines move.

We break down the tech, the wedge into logistics and defense, and how he raised $5M at a $40M cap in ~48 hours as a 21-year-old solo founder straight out of YC.

You’ll learn:

- Why 90% of location data on Earth is currently invisible — and why that’s such a big deal.

- How Juxta uses IMUs, 3D simulations, and “synthetic fingerprinting” to localize devices without satellites or beacons.

- Real use cases across logistics, warehouses, defense, and hospitals — and why these buyers are leaning in.

- How deeptech founders should think about tech risk vs market risk when pitching VCs.

- What it’s like to go through YC S25 as a solo founder, and why so many deeptech founders end up solo.

- The inside story on raising a fast, oversubscribed round from CRV, PG, SV Angel, Liquid 2, and more.

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to GPS-Denied Spaces

00:44 Sponsor Message: Stable

01:45 Welcome to Lobster Talks Podcast

02:10 Meet Jonathan Ferrara from Juxta

03:39 Understanding Juxta's Technology

08:50 Applications and Use Cases of Juxta

10:34 Onboarding Process for Juxta

15:37 Competitors and Market Landscape

25:27 Deep Tech and Solo Founders in YC

34:47 Solo Founders and the Victim Complex

35:15 The YC Experience and Going Solo

37:18 Support Systems and Coping Mechanisms

40:23 Raising Funds as a Solo Founder

44:25 Choosing the Right Investors

56:17 Vision for the Future

59:05 Conclusion and Contact Information

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercap

This podcast episode is sponsored by Stable. Click here to sign up for a virtual address:

https://dashboard.usestable.com/onboard/begin?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=influencer_lobster&promoCode=lobster50

Fernando from Beluga Labs explains how AI moves tax planning from “black box” to one-click, year-round optimization, starting with the messiest edge case: content creators.

In today’s episode, Nikki hosts Fernando (Beluga Labs, YC S24) on building AI-first tax planning for creators, why they pivoted in-batch, and how YC’s “light cone” advice shaped a focused GTM.

We cover messy creator income, quarterly taxes, line-by-line deductions, and fundraising with discipline…not vibes.

You’ll learn:

- Why creators are the hardest (and best) wedge for tax software

- How YC’s niche-first “light cone” shaped Beluga’s roadmap

- The two biggest ways creators lose money on taxes (and how to stop it)

- What a 3-star → 10-star tax UX looks like (from “not going to jail” to one-click refunds)

- Fundraising discipline: setting milestone-based use of proceeds

- The creator economy reality: followers ≠ revenue; niche and brand matter more

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to AI-Powered Tax Planning

00:21 Stable: A Solution for Business Addresses

01:21 Welcome to Lobster Talk Podcast

01:40 Meet Fernando from Beluga Labs

02:03 Fernando's Journey to Entrepreneurship

05:14 Beluga Labs: Revolutionizing Tax Planning

06:32 The Pivot to Tax Solutions

11:56 The YC Experience and Support

16:32 Exploring Other Opportunities

19:20 The Future of Content Creation

21:50 Key Industry Insights and Data

24:14 The Financial Reality of Content Creators

24:43 Maximizing Income Through Investments

25:19 The Value Proposition of Tax Solutions

25:53 Streamlining Tax Filing for Creators

27:42 Aggressive Tax Savings Strategies

31:45 Future Plans and Expansion

36:59 Fundraising and Business Growth

43:19 Final Thoughts and Advice

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercap

This podcast episode is sponsored by Stable. Click here to sign up for a virtual address:

https://dashboard.usestable.com/onboard/begin?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=influencer_lobster&promoCode=lobster50

Simple AI started as a consumer assistant that people used to troll their friends—and turned into a phone agent platform that’s replacing entire call centers.

In this episode of The Lobster Talks, I sit down with Cat, founder of Simple AI and former YC product lead behind Startup School and YC’s co-founder matching tools. We go deep on the real difference between a business and a startup, why YC went all-in on AI before the rest of the market, and how voice agents are quietly becoming the most valuable “employee” in the building.

You’ll hear how a side-project consumer app turned into inbound from enterprises like Omaha Steaks, why B2B isn’t boring when the hair is really on fire, and what the future looks like when calling a business means talking to an AI that actually solves your problem.

In this episode, we cover:

• How Cat went from building Startup School at YC to founding Simple AI
• Why “making money” isn’t enough to call something a startup—and why tech-enabled scale still matters
• The origin story of Simple AI: consumer assistant, prank calls, and the first “holy sh*t” user feedback
• How large enterprises are using voice agents today for inbound sales, support, and real revenue lift
• Why high-quality, high-conversion calls beat “cheap” AI—and how Simple AI thinks about upsell and A/B testing
• B2C vs B2B in voice AI, YC’s early bet on LLMs, and whether this is a winner-take-most market

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters:

00:00 The Power of Voice AI: Pranks and Beyond

00:34 Sponsor Message: Stable - Your Virtual Business Address

01:34 Introduction to Lobster Talks and Today's Guest

01:41 Meet Cat from Simple AI

01:55 Cat's Journey at YC and the Birth of Simple AI

02:46 Building Tools for Founders at YC

04:25 The Distinction Between Business and Startup

05:49 The Role of Technology in Startup Scalability

09:03 The Visionary Leap into Voice AI

10:58 The Early Days of AI and YC's Influence

15:58 The Consumer Focus of Simple AI

17:49 Real-World Applications of Simple AI

21:00 How Simple AI Works: Practical Examples

22:44 The Power of Simple AI: No Marketing Needed

22:58 Celebrity Endorsement: Reese Witherspoon's Favorite AI

23:41 How Simple AI Benefits Businesses

24:03 AI in Call Centers: A Game Changer

24:39 The Omaha Steaks Case Study

25:45 AI vs. Human: The Upsell Advantage

26:15 Seasonal Workforce Challenges Solved by AI

27:47 The Future of AI in Sales and Support

31:57 The Synergy Between B2C and B2B Products

34:10 The Potential of Voice AI in B2C

44:08 The Competitive Landscape of Voice AI

45:51 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercap

This podcast episode is sponsored by Stable. Click here to sign up for a virtual address: 

https://dashboard.usestable.com/onboard/begin?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=influencer_lobster&promoCode=lobster50

If you care about where early-stage markets are really going, this is your field report.

In this episode of The Lobster Talks Podcast, we break down YC F25 Demo Day just hours after it wrapped. 

We walk through the real themes behind the noise: AI as default, healthcare and finance getting rebuilt, deeptech and defense going mainstream, and why some YC valuations are starting to look… ambitious. 

We also dig into Absurd (AI launch videos as a service), whether AI-powered services can be truly venture-backable, and what a $200M YC seed round means for fund math and future returns.

You’ll learn:

• Why “every startup is an AI startup” is no longer a hot take, it’s table stakes.
• 
  
• The under-discussed YC F25 trends: healthcare, financial services, “AI for the real world,” and deeptech/hardware.
• 
  
• How AI-enabled service providers like Absurd are rewriting the rules on what’s considered “venture-backable.”
• 
  
• The inside view on a YC F25 drone company raising at ~$200M and what that implies for fund-return math.
• 
  
• How YC valuations have quietly crept back up post-2023, and what that means if you’re raising or investing.
• 
  
• Why narrative, defense, space, and truly hard tech (Starcloud, Astroforge, Array Labs, Harper, etc.) are shifting what “normal” outcomes look like.
• 
  

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction: Surprising Valuations and Market Dynamics

00:54 Sponsor Message: Stable's Business Address Solution

01:54 Welcome to Lobster Talks Podcast

02:45 Recap of YC F25 Demo Day

03:56 Diverse Categories in YC F25 Batch

05:31 AI's Impact on Various Industries

06:26 Deep Tech and Hardware Innovations

07:23 Consumer Startups in YC F25

09:53 The Rise of AI-Enabled Service Providers

16:11 Debate: Service Providers and Venture Backed Outcomes

22:44 Scaling Ad Production Challenges

23:11 The Future of Video Content

23:58 Absurd Valuations in YC Companies

24:21 Drone Company with a $200M Valuation

25:59 Investment Returns and Valuation Math

28:47 High Valuations and Market Trends

36:43 Ambitious YC Startups and Their Potential

39:17 The Cycle of YC Valuations

42:50 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercap

This podcast episode is sponsored by Stable. Click here to sign up for a virtual address: 

https://dashboard.usestable.com/onboard/begin?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=influencer_lobster&promoCode=lobster50

This is a builder’s story: fast pivots, AI-native product, and a bold bet to scale from Berlin, not SF.

In this episode, Chia, co-founder & CTO of HeRA breaks down how they pivoted into AI motion design, grew to hundreds of thousands of users, and why they’re betting on an onsite Berlin team post-YC.

We cover PMF vs. virality, the UI/UX of AI video, the Figma vs. Adobe playbook, and how HeRA wants to power every SaaS launch video.

You’ll learn:

- Why the motion graphics wedge beat “all-in-one” AI video editors

- The YC pivot moment: prototype in two days → interview in a week

- Berlin vs. SF: talent, costs, and staying plugged into the Valley

- PMF litmus test for AI video: “1 min product video in less than 30 minutes”

- How HeRA generates code to animate motion (and why time makes it hard)

- The Figma analogy: AI-native UX vs. legacy add-ons—and why Adobe should worry

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters

00:00 The Origin of Hera: From Video Editor to Motion Graphics

00:29 Sponsorship Message: Stable's Virtual Address Service

01:28 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

02:07 Chia's Journey with YC and Hera's Evolution

02:51 The Birth of Hera's Core Idea

05:25 Decision to Move Back to Berlin

14:53 Technical Insights: How Hera Works

19:46 Marketing Success and Product Market Fit

25:00 Creating Continuous Motion Graphics

25:22 Challenges in Long Video Generation

27:55 Competing with Adobe After Effects

30:28 The Future of Motion Graphics with AI

31:20 Collaborative Features and Market Vision

36:38 Trends in AI and Video Creation

43:23 Hera's Impact on the Industry

48:32 Closing Remarks and Future Outlook

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercap

This podcast episode is sponsored by Stable. Click here to sign up for a virtual address:

https://dashboard.usestable.com/onboard/begin?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=influencer_lobster&promoCode=lobster50

From AI-native banks and eBay killers to fusion reactors in space and crowdsourced drug discovery, this episode is a pre–Demo Day breakdown of YC’s Fall ’25 batch. We go category by category (B2B, Consumer, Fintech, Healthcare, Industrial/Real Estate) and call our shots before founders hit the stage. No hindsight bias, just real-time conviction.

In this episode, we cover:

- Why AI video tool Waffer might become the Canva of motion, not just another Sora clone.

- How Sorce hit 500k+ users and got Drew Houston to Venmo them a $200K angel check.

- The AI-native consumer plays: SellRaze (the “AI eBay”) and Sunflower (sobriety companion that actually prevents relapse).

- Fintech 2.0 with Selfin (AI bank aggregator) and Fernstone (AI-powered insurance brokerage in a Berkshire-sized market).

- Wild upside in healthcare and deeptech: Exonic’s crowdsourced drug discovery and LunaBill’s AI phone agents for U.S. healthcare billing.

- The industrial moonshots: Axial Composites’ next-gen carbon fiber and Zephyr Fusion’s bid to do fusion… in orbit.

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters:

00:00 The Crazy Story of Sorce's Founding

00:56 Introducing Stable: The Business Address Solution

01:56 Welcome to Lobster Talks: Fall 25 Demo Day Preview

03:28 Diving into B2B Startups: Laurie's Top Pick

08:43 Exploring B2B Startups:Gabriel's Top Pick

16:31 Consumer Startups: Laurie's Favorite Pick

21:09 Consumer Startups: Gabriel's Top Pick

25:10 FinTech Startups: Laurie's Top Pick

28:43 AI Native Banking Revolution

29:45 AI in Insurance: Fernstone's Disruption

32:01 Healthcare Innovations: Exonic and LunaBill

38:21 Industrial and Real Estate Picks

42:21 Fusion Energy in Space: Zephyr Fusion

47:17 YC's Hardware and Deep Tech Push

50:36 Demo Day and Final Thoughts

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercap

This podcast episode is sponsored by Stable. Click here to sign up for a virtual address:

https://dashboard.usestable.com/onboard/begin?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=influencer_lobster&promoCode=lobster50

In this episode, we dive deep into how Aegis, a Y Combinator startup, is using AI agents to help healthcare providers recover billions lost to claim denials. Founder Ong shares his journey from Calcutta to Carnegie Mellon to YC, the inside story of getting into YC at the last minute, and how his team is tackling one of healthcare’s most entrenched problems.

What you’ll learn:

- How YC companies are attacking trillion-dollar industries with AI

- Why healthcare loses $260B a year to denied insurance claims

- The hidden incentives driving insurers to deny payments

- How Aegis built real traction in just 10 weeks

- What YC really teaches founders beyond the playbook

- The power of the YC network and why it still compounds after demo day

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters:

00:00 The YC Application Journey

00:48 Introducing Krishang from Aegis

01:21 Krishang's Entrepreneurial Background

02:30 The Birth of Aegis

04:53 The Power of YC Content

07:03 Getting into YC: The Application Process

10:00 The YC Batch Experience

14:25 Maintaining Momentum Post-YC

17:59 Advice for Aspiring YC Applicants

19:09 Tackling the Healthcare Industry

21:41 Targeting Medical Billing Companies

22:07 AI in Insurance: A Growing Challenge

22:21 The Impact on Hospitals

24:31 Investor Perspectives on AI in Healthcare

26:48 Strategies for Success in Healthcare Startups

33:12 The YC Advantage

33:49 The Power of the YC Network

38:14 Silicon Valley's Collaborative Ecosystem

39:58 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson

In this episode, we go deep on YC as an ambition amplifier, pivot mechanics under real pressure, price vs. TAM strategy, and why launch videos (done right) are still YC’s most underrated distribution hack.

You’ll learn:

• How a 90-minute YC application (and one-take demo) still cleared the bar
• The precise wedge: vertically owning entities + automating back office with AI
• Why “someone else’s margin is your opportunity” actually maps to EOR
• Pricing strategy: undercut to expand TAM vs. match to maximize margin
• How YC Launch video distribution compresses customer discovery into days
• The pitfalls: agent reliability, compliance debt, and scaling beyond the batch

Chapters

00:00 The Last-Minute Application Rush

00:42 Welcome to Lobster Talks

01:07 Introducing Shor: Reinventing Global Payroll

02:38 The YC Experience: A Rollercoaster Journey

05:02 The Pivot: From Stablecoin Infra to EOR

10:29 Bootstrapping Challenges and Lessons Learned

18:00 The Unexpected Turn: Applying to YC Again

23:27 Competing with Deel and Rippling

27:07 Understanding Reseller Margins and Fees

27:27 Deel's Automation and Disruption in Entity Management

27:46 Setting Up Entities in High-Traffic Countries

28:49 Challenges and Regulatory Issues in Global Payroll

30:06 AI Agents Revolutionizing EOR Operations

32:33 Pricing Strategy and Market Expansion

40:11 The Power of Launch Videos in YC

44:07 The Role of Influencers in Marketing

48:07 Future Challenges and Customer Acquisition

51:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson

In this YC-insider conversation, Neha (co-founder of April) breaks down how a narrow, vertical agent can outperform “do-everything” assistants, why dogfooding—not retention dashboards—built their product moat, and what a screen-lite future means for founders and operators. We also cover YC batch dynamics in a crowded voice category, Demo Day strategy, and the roadmap to a true “voice OS.”

What you’ll learn:

- Why narrowing scope (email + calendar first) beats generalist agents for real outcomes

- The dogfood standard: building to a founder’s own bar, then scaling

- How YC treats multiple “competing” companies—and why that can help you ship faster

- Demo Day tactics: being live, iterating weekly, and selling the founder, not the fantasy

- Voice vs. screens: trust, closed-loop execution, and the path to screenless workflows

- April’s roadmap: LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Slack, Notion—and verticalizing for sales & investors

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to April: The AI Voice Assistant

00:24 Welcome to Lobster Talks: Meet Neha from April

01:12 Diving into April's Features and Use Cases

02:46 The Journey of Building April

03:58 Challenges and Successes in the Voice AI Space

05:36 The Future of Voice AI and Investor Insights

07:37 YC Experience and Investor Reactions

08:47 The Competitive Landscape and Collaboration

12:25 The Role of YC and the Voice AI Market

20:08 The Vision for a Screenless Future

23:06 Preparing for YC Demo Day

25:38 The Importance of Execution in Business

26:16 Advice for Startups: Ship Quickly and Get Feedback

26:50 Future Integrations and Features

28:37 Challenges and Strategies During YC Journey

32:31 Maintaining Momentum Post-YC

33:20 Mental Resilience and Personal Well-being

38:10 Exciting Future Plans for April

40:17 Predictions and Insights on AI Assistants

41:09 Lessons from Zoho and Book Recommendations

43:23 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercap

Today I sit down with Hunter Leath (ARL) to unpack how a decade inside AWS + Netflix revealed a gap the hyperscalers won’t close: developers want storage that feels local, scales like S3, and doesn’t nuke the budget. We get into: YC as confidence engine, moving a family to SF, rebuilding for speed, why AWS won’t copy this, and why the file system—not object storage—becomes AI’s universal interface.

You’ll learn

-Why the clouds won’t ship a product that cannibalizes billions in revenue

-The architecture that makes ARL 30× faster and up to 90% cheaper

-How to catch customers exactly when new AI workloads start (the real ICP)

-Post-batch velocity: how SF energy kills the YC slump

-Why “serverless everything” needs a serverless disk to persist state

-The contrarian bet: the file system is the future data interface for AI

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters

00:00 The Risk of Leaving Big Tech

00:33 Introducing Hunter Leh and Aril

01:32 Hunter's Journey from AWS to Netflix

02:47 The Birth of Aril

06:55 Challenges and Insights from YC

07:26 The Solo Founder Experience

19:39 Building and Launching Aril

21:01 Go-to-Market Strategy and Customer Acquisition

24:04 The AI Industry's Growing Demand

24:49 Fundraising Journey and Investor Insights

26:35 AWS and Market Dynamics

29:17 Innovations in Data Storage

36:23 Maintaining Momentum Post-YC

38:27 Future Predictions in Data Infrastructure

42:22 Contrarian Views on AI and Data Storage

44:20 Conclusion and Contact Information

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson

In this episode, we cover Lobster Capital updates (first Series A, first DPI), how we decide follow-ons from an insider vantage point, the rise of “seed-strapping,” Coinbase Ventures x YC’s RFS on Fintech 3.0, and why stablecoins + AI agents may be the next real on-chain wedge. We also unpack YC’s Early Decision—who it actually benefits—and what to expect heading into the next Demo Day.

You’ll learn:

Why seed has asymmetric leverage (and why top YC teams don’t optimize for dollars)

How we evaluate follow-ons: revenue quality, NRR, churn, hiring, and real signal vs noise

CVCs at Series A: when specialization beats the “Tier-1” logo

“Seed-strapping”: profitability at seed, and why some teams skip A entirely

Coinbase Ventures x YC’s Fintech 3.0 RFS and the stablecoin/AI-agent stack

YC Early Decision: who it helps (hardware/bio) and how YC captures talent earlier

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Investing Insights

00:23 Welcome to Lobster Talks

00:45 Lobster Capital Updates

03:16 Series A Graduation Rates

04:08 Fund Strategy and Follow-Ons

05:38 YC Companies and Profitability

10:33 Fundraising and Strategic Alliances

17:28 Crypto and FinTech 3.0

25:23 Global Currency Dynamics

26:20 The Rise of Stablecoins

27:27 AI and Crypto Synergy

32:03 Speculative Trading and Meme Coins

38:42 YC's Early Decision Program

44:01 The Future of YC and Startup Ecosystem

51:04 Conclusion and Upcoming Content

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson

In this YC-insider episode, we unpack Flywheel AI’s “Waymo for excavators” strategy: retrofit any machine in hours, deliver value with tele-op now, and use that profitably collected data to train autonomy later. We get into labor shortages, safety economics (OSHA penalties), competitor traps (drive-by-wire only), and how to actually do hardware at YC in 90 days without getting stuck in pilot hell.

You’ll learn

Why construction’s bottleneck is skilled operators — and how tele-op removes it

The dangerous blind-spot reality on sites and the true cost of safety incidents

Flywheel’s retrofit + single-screen UX that works on any excavator brand/size

The autonomy roadmap: camera-only stack, data flywheel, edge-case capture

How to win data rights on site (be the only retrofit, own the dataset)

The YC hardware playbook: sell first, build last; parallelize to kill lead-time

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters:

00:00 From Sandbox to Real Excavator: The Journey Begins

00:20 Introducing Flywheel AI: Revolutionizing Excavators

01:49 The Labor Shortage Crisis in Construction

03:51 The Dangers of Operating Excavators

05:58 Teleoperation: Enhancing Safety and Efficiency

11:28 The Path to Autonomous Excavators

16:34 Competing in the Autonomous Excavator Market

22:26 Demo Day: Bringing an Excavator to YC

24:37 Returning the Excavator

24:47 Demo Day Setup and Reactions

26:04 Autonomy and Data Training

26:38 Joining YC and Initial Thoughts

28:03 YC's Impact on Hardware Startups

29:18 Building and Iterating Hardware

33:13 Advice for Hardware Startups

34:49 Final Thoughts and Reflections

45:03 Accelerating Iteration Cycles

48:38 Conclusion and Contact Information

Summary: In this YC-insider episode, Dorothy Li (RealRoots) breaks down how AI-powered friendship matchmaking turned into real traction across 80+ cities. We unpack the demo day shock, the stigma shift (friendship ≈ dating 10 years ago), and the manual-to-AI playbook that de-risks consumer. We also cover investor blind spots, GTM math (cold DMs → paid), and why cofounder fit is a “you’ll know in 10 seconds” decision.

You’ll learn:

-Why “consumer is back” at YC—and how RealRoots rode a stigma shift

-The manual-first, AI-next method that actually finds PMF

-How 2–3k cold DMs converted to 11% paid ($20) and seeded the funnel

-The marketplace + AI stack behind curated IRL events at scale

-Investor pattern errors: scar tissue vs. behavior/tech inflections

-Co-founder tactics, hiring posture, and sustainable pace vs. 9-9-6

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to RealRoots and Demo Day Success

00:48 Meet Dorothy Li: Founder of RealRoots

01:32 The Problem of Loneliness and Finding Community

02:43 How RealRoots Uses AI to Build Friendships

04:02 Expansion and Success of RealRoots

08:07 The YC Experience and Its Impact

17:39 Overcoming Stigma and Building for the Future

29:27 Investor Hesitations and Scar Tissue

30:12 Challenges in the Friendship App Space

30:59 The Concept of 'Targets' in Startups

32:04 The Importance of Consumer Behavior and Technology Changes

33:04 Co-Founder Story: Meeting Through RealRoots

36:16 Manual Efforts in Early Startup Stages

38:49 The Impact of a Co-Founder

39:45 Work-Life Balance in Startups

44:18 YC's Focus on Younger Founders

48:21 Validating Your Startup Idea

55:09 Customer Acquisition Strategies

56:30 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson

Fresh off YC Demo Day, Robert Lukoszko (Stormy AI) breaks down the pivot, the fundraising blitz, and how agencies are replacing hours of scrolling with autonomous outreach. We get into model-proof moats, why micro-creators beat celebrity accounts, and the coming wave of AI-generated influencers.

You’ll learn:

How a YC pivot formed around a founder’s own pain (and real demand)

The playbook: sourcing, outreach, negotiation, and QA with AI agents

Why “every better model makes us stronger” is the right moat test

Micro vs. macro creators: what actually converts in 2025

The next act: AI-native UGC, personalization, and brand-owned AI faces

Tactical Demo Day lessons: energy + social proof = signed checks

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Cold Open

00:13 Welcome to Lobster Talks

00:37 Demo Day Insights

03:05 The Journey of Stormy AI

04:39 From Viral Demos to YC Acceptance

07:35 Pivoting to Stormy AI

09:41 Automating Influencer Marketing

18:39 The Future of Influencer Marketing

19:50 AI and UGC: The Future of Influencer Marketing

20:11 The Rise of AI Influencers

20:41 AI-Generated Content vs. Human Content

21:05 The Makeup Industry and AI Influencers

22:26 The Shift to Micro-Influencers

23:23 Emerging Platforms and the Decline of Meta

25:22 The Future of AI in Content Creation

28:58 Preparing for an AI-Driven Future

31:46 Building a Moat in the AI Industry

34:54 The Importance of Vision and Customer Interaction

38:16 Stormy AI: Current and Future Plans

39:20 Conclusion and Call to Action

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson

In this fast, tactical deep-dive, we unpack HumanLayer’s origin story (from failed data tools to paid customers in a week), why frameworks lag real production apps, and the workflow that lets AI agents ship in complex codebases. We cover research-plan-implement loops, context engineering, team process, and how “specs become the new code.”

You’ll learn

- How HumanLayer emerged from a SQL “janitor” agent that needed human approvals

- The YC grind as a solo founder and closing first revenue in a week

- Why horizontal AI dev tools are hard — and how top 1% teams actually build

- Context engineering 101: research → plan → implement, and why it beats vibe coding

- How to review plans, not code, to scale quality across a team

Where headless agents win first — and why culture, not models, is the bottleneck.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Cold Open

00:21 Welcome to Lobster Talks

00:47 Guest Introduction and Background

01:12 Early Startup Journey

01:35 Building the AI Agent

02:18 Challenges and Pivots

03:52 Solo Founder Experience

05:28 The Importance of Data Tools

11:20 YC Experience and Revenue

13:59 Building for the 1% vs. 99%

23:50 Exploring New Ideas

25:18 Exploring Cloud Code SDK

25:34 Building Experiments with Claude

26:05 Challenges and Learnings

26:49 Insights from AI Engineering Talks

28:22 The Future of Coding with AI

30:22 Context Engineering and Workflow

32:19 Product Development and Customization

38:22 Scaling AI in Teams

48:10 Exciting Future Prospects

50:42 Conclusion and Farewell

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Show Notes & Resources:

• 14min Youtube video on wielding coding agents: https://hlyr.dev/ace

• Blog post version - https://github.com/humanlayer/advanced-context-engineering-for-coding-agents/blob/main/ace-fca.md

• Sign up for codelayer beta: https://humanlayer.dev/code

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson

In this fast, founder-first debrief, we break down what actually happened at the latest YC Demo Day: the subtle format changes (that matter), why the one-minute pitch is only the opener, and how deals really get done. We cover the batch’s AI/devtools tilt, the contrarian bets in defense and hardware, and why early traction remains the single best predictor at seed. We also unpack portfolio construction, conversion-rate dynamics inside YC, and what support looks like after the cameras stop.

You’ll learn:

- The real Demo Day mechanics: tranches, chat apps, long breaks for dealmaking

- Why some hot rounds are already full and what to do about it

- How to win YC deals: first-meeting decisions, 24–48h timelines, and prep work

- The $9M+ ARR investment we made—and why traction beats narrative

- Why we’re now backing deeptech/hardware (missiles vs drones, autonomous excavators)

- Portfolio strategy: aiming for the fund returner, not spray-and-pray

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Demo Day Overview

00:15 Behind the Scenes of Demo Day

01:03 Changes and Improvements at YC Demo Day

03:11 Investor Insights and Strategies

04:23 Engaging with YC Startups

06:35 The Importance of Early Traction

09:49 Demo Day Pitch Dynamics

13:42 Fundraising Conversations and Strategies

18:07 Lobster Capital's Investment Approach

21:54 Portfolio Construction and Future Prospects

27:02 AI and Dev Tools: A Crowded Space

27:39 Challenges in Identifying Winners

28:48 Customer Acquisition: The Key to Success

29:57 The Importance of Traction

33:32 Investing in Deep Tech and Hardware

39:24 Evaluating Flywheel's Potential

45:46 Supporting Startups Post-Demo Day

50:09 Looking Ahead: The Never-Ending Cycle

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson

In this Lobster Talks episode, Ingo Boegemann, co-founder/CEO of truemetrics, breaks down how sensor fusion + mission intelligence turn messy building entrances, courtyards, and wrong pins into precise, repeatable delivery actions. We go deep on Europe vs. US GTM, GDPR constraints (and why the US may unlock even more value), landing whales like GLS, and the unscalable POC that unlocked scale.

You’ll learn

• Why “a generic geocode is just the starting point” — and how to map entrances that actually work
• The POC → pilot → rollout playbook (and why Truemetrics charges for POCs)
• How to integrate via SDK without slowing ops — and show value before engineering lifts a finger
• Europe vs. US: privacy ceilings, data linking, and why boots-on-the-ground still wins enterprise sales
• The real driver bottleneck: pressure, compliance, and turning best drivers’ tacit knowledge into software
• The long game: building a data moat for autonomous last-meter delivery

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Last Meter Delivery

01:07 Meet Ingo Boegemann: The Journey to Truemetrics

02:15 From Surfboards to Sensor Fusion

05:04 Challenges and Realizations in Delivery Solutions

06:47 European vs. US Market Dynamics

11:42 The Path to Scaling in North America

19:02 Innovative Solutions for Delivery Logistics

21:37 How Truemetrics Technology Works

26:36 Magnetic Field Intensity and Machine Learning Models

27:29 Challenges in Courier Data Integration

29:52 Sales Process and Proof of Concept

32:08 Logistics Industry Vulnerabilities

35:42 Future of Autonomous Deliveries

38:30 Data-Driven Delivery Solutions

48:31 Closing Remarks and Contact Information

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson

In this episode, we dive deep with James, YC W25 founder of Artificial Societies — a wildly ambitious startup that simulates entire groups of humans using AI personas to predict how messages spread, markets react, and products succeed (or fail). From simulating 1,000 VCs to get into YC… to replacing $20,000 market research surveys, this conversation is a masterclass in founder execution, behavioral science, and AI-first GTM strategy.

What you’ll learn:

• How Artificial Societies works (and how founders are really using it today)

• Why traditional A/B testing and market research are broken

• Product-led growth lessons from 15,000+ activated users

• The surprising YC tricks James used to get into the batch

• Practical ways AI can upgrade your messaging, GTM, and PMF search

• The future of simulating entire economies (and why we’re not there yet)

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters:

00:00 Simulating Investors: The Early Days

00:27 Introducing Artificial Societies

00:48 Journey to YC and Beyond

01:06 How Artificial Societies Works

03:02 The Science Behind Social Influence

05:27 Technical Insights and Applications

17:28 James' Personal Journey

22:29 Building and Growing the Startup

24:50 Using Internal Tools for Optimization

27:38 The Evolution of A/B Testing with AI

29:41 Challenges in Market Research

33:14 AI's Role in Market Research

34:40 Balancing Customer Feedback and Product Vision

42:55 Future Predictions and AI Capabilities

47:48 Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCahCIZ9KfmeK4rLosGNYpdg

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson

In this episode of Lobster Talks, Laurie and I break down Y Combinator’s newest RFS — from retraining workers for the AI economy to video generation as a computing primitive. We debate the real opportunities, the traps, and how these trends could reshape the startup ecosystem.

What you’ll learn:

- Why YC’s RFS is one of the best ways to predict upcoming demo day winners

- The massive opportunity in retraining workers for the AI economy

- Why video generation is shifting from an output to a primitive

- How AI-native startups could disrupt giants like Salesforce

- Whether 10-person $100B companies are actually possible

- The risks, politics, and second-order effects of LLMs in government

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction: The Value of Customer Money

00:26 Y Combinator's Request for Startups

01:14 AI and Worker Retraining

02:30 The Future of Semiconductors and Deep Tech

04:34 AR, VR, and AI in Training

09:02 Video Generation: The Next Frontier

16:12 The First 10-Person $100 Billion Company

22:31 The Future of Small Teams and Fundraising

24:03 Challenges and Opportunities in Multi-Agent Systems

28:12 AI Native Enterprise Software

34:39 Using AI to Revolutionize Government Consulting

41:24 Conclusion and Upcoming Events

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson

That’s exactly what Daniel Farrell did with Onlook, an open-source AI-powered visual editor for code. From crashing Chrome extensions to crashing Hacker News, Daniel takes us through how he and his co-founder built momentum, community, and virality from nothing.

In this fast, founder-first conversation, we cover:

• How Onlook went from prototype to #1 GitHub repo

• Why Hacker News beat Product Hunt for traction

• The real benefits and tradeoffs of going open source

• How open source GTM can win enterprise customers

• What most people misunderstand about AI and design• Why taste, story, and community still matter more than code

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

00:00 The Most Trending Repo in the World

00:16 Meet Daniel Farrell: Co-Founder of Onlook

00:59 The Vision Behind Onlook

01:57 Building the Prototype and Early Challenges

04:55 Finding the Perfect Co-Founder

11:57 The Open Source Journey

14:49 The Hacker News Effect

16:47 Global Impact and Community Building

19:40 The Importance of Open Source

24:31 Challenges of Maintaining a Community

25:00 Open Source Success Stories

25:21 The Super Base Playbook

26:33 Advantages of Open Source for Enterprises

33:42 Impact of AI on Design and Marketing Teams

42:25 Future Bets and Bold Predictions

48:00 Where to Find Onlook and Final Thoughts

Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson

Ben Collins, co-founder of Woz, joins Gabriel to unpack how his AI platform helps anyone — even non-technical founders — build full-stack software businesses. From betting against vertical SaaS to designing an AI cofounder you can trust, this conversation is a tactical deep dive into where startup creation is headed.

🔍 In this episode:

Why Woz pivoted away from a holding company model

What most AI-first code tools get totally wrong

How mobile-first enables higher quality standards

A unique approach to betting on future AI capability curves

The real reason most AI startups are failing users

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

⏱ Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Scaling and Bottlenecks

00:18 Introducing Ben Collins and Woz

01:04 The Vision Behind Woz

03:43 The Founding Story

06:06 The Shift to a Platform Approach

08:53 Navigating the Competitive Landscape

12:39 Philosophical and Strategic Insights

17:02 The Mobile-First Strategy

25:34 The Journey to Product-Market Fit

27:15 Navigating Rapid Technological Changes

32:21 The Impact of Y Combinator

35:00 AI's Role in Scaling Service Businesses

36:42 Challenges for Non-Technical Founders

39:13 Bold Predictions and Future Bets

45:02 Exciting Announcements and Closing Thoughts

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson

From geopolitical risk to deep tech traction, we unpack how YC startups are shaping the future — and why top seed investors are scrambling to keep up. We also reveal how internal partner dynamics at YC shape which billion-dollar startups get funded.

🎙 This is your tactical, insider breakdown of what’s next for the world’s most important startup accelerator.

What you’ll learn:

* Why YC is going all-in on defense, energy, and hardware

* How LOIs and demo day results work for hardtech startups

* The “too late” moment for most seed investors trying to access YC deals

* Why YC group partners matter — and how to track them

* What the NextView “existential crisis” blog means for the seed market

* Which partners are shaping the S25 batch behind the scenes

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters00:00 First Impressions and Initial Skepticism

00:36 Welcome to the Podcast

00:52 YC's New Request for Startups

01:57 YC's Hardware and Industrial Focus

07:08 The Importance of Energy and Defense

08:26 Political and Regulatory Considerations

14:27 Investing in Deep Tech and Hardware

20:15 Challenges in Seed Investing

21:25 The Impact of YC on Seed Investing

22:24 The YC Network and Its Influence

23:35 Challenges and Opportunities for Non-YC Investors

24:25 The Journey of Investing in YC

25:42 The Importance of Timing in YC Investments

29:39 Changes in YC Leadership

33:42 The Role of Group Partners in YC

37:35 Personal Experiences with YC Group Partners

39:30 Conclusion and Next Steps

🎧 Listen on the go:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAPApple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMmMy other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson

Summary:

In this episode of Lobster Talks, Gabriel sits down with David Yu, co-founder of YouLearn — the YC-backed AI tutor that transforms PDFs, class recordings, and YouTube videos into quizzes, notes, and a personal tutor. From a dorm-room side project to a viral social growth engine, this episode is packed with tactics, conviction, and bold bets on the future of learning.

You’ll learn:

How YouLearn hit 10,000 users in 24 hours from a single post

The exact tactics they used to blow up on Instagram and TikTok

Why most AI tools in education fail — and how YouLearn avoids it

The truth about retention, virality, and real product usage

How David thinks about AI hallucinations and data safety

What learning could look like in 2030 with Neuralink, glasses, and beyond

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters:

00:00 Viral Launch on Social Media

00:20 Introduction to YouLearn

00:47 Meet the Founder: David Yu

01:09 The Birth of YouLearn

02:37 Early Challenges and Successes

05:09 Going Viral Again

05:45 Handling Rapid Growth

08:14 Maintaining Motivation

10:53 The Importance of Co-Founders

12:00 Transition to Full-Time

15:30 Iterating on the Product

18:36 Joining Y Combinator

21:04 Investor Skepticism Towards YC

21:49 Misconceptions About Joining YC

22:33 Right and Wrong Reasons to Join YC

23:28 Maximizing YC Experience

25:08 Navigating YC with Existing Revenue

30:26 AI's Role in Education

31:48 Future of Learning with AI

34:05 Misconceptions About AI in Learning

35:10 The Evolution of Learning Tools

40:26 Final Thoughts and Future Prospects

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4m2K7ah

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson

Nizar Abi Zaher, founder of Zero, is building the AI-native email client that reads, replies, filters, and organizes without you lifting a finger. In this tactical, fast-paced conversation, we explore his path from Cal.com engineer to YC founder — and how he's going head-to-head with Superhuman.

From open-source strategies to voice-powered inboxes, Nizar breaks down how Zero is redefining email — and what it takes to ship fast, build in public, and stay top of mind.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why Zero was built around what people hate

• How YC pushed them to launch before they were ready

• How being open-source accelerates product velocity

• What Superhuman got wrong — and what Zero does better

• How social presence became their biggest moat

• What email looks like in 5 years (hint: voice + AI agents)

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Zero: The AI-Powered Email Client

00:42 Meet the Founder: Nazar's Journey

01:24 The Problem with Email and Zero's Solution

02:56 Differentiating from Competitors

05:21 Rapid Development and Open Source Benefits

11:08 The Importance of Social Media Presence

14:57 Strategies for Effective Social Media Use

21:26 The Value of Authenticity on Social Media

24:07 The Importance of Onboarding

27:02 Launching and Iterating Quickly

29:31 Voice and Email Innovations

32:42 The Future of Email

40:57 The YC Experience and Final Thoughts

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4m2K7ah

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson

Dakotah Rice didn’t build AI tools for the industry. He built an AI-first insurance company — and now Harper is scaling faster than they can handle.

In this episode, Dakotah shares how Harper went from kitchen-table experiments to a high-growth, fully autonomous insurance brokerage. He breaks down the real bottlenecks, the AI architecture behind their workflows, and the bold bets that could reshape an entire industry.

What you’ll learn:

Why Harper ditched SaaS and chose vertical integration

How to embed engineers directly in operational workflows

The underrated bottlenecks to AI-first company scaling

Why relationships are overrated in insurtech

How to build trust with real-world customers — without mentioning AI

The real limits (and future) of fully autonomous firms

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Harper and Dakota Rice

00:38 Dakota's Background and Harper's Mission

02:13 Challenges and Pivots in Building Harper

04:29 Entering Y Combinator and Scaling Up

06:19 The Importance of Workflow Understanding

13:17 Lessons from Past Failures

18:34 Vision for AI in the Future

21:51 Building Complex AI Systems

22:49 Human Element in AI Services

23:53 Customer Perception of AI

27:37 Scaling Challenges and Solutions

35:14 AI's Role in Future Business Models

37:58 Future Predictions and Industry Insights

42:46 Conclusion and Contact Information

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4m2K7ah

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Lobster Talks, Gabriel sits down with Kevin Wu, founder of Leaping AI, to unpack how voice-powered AI is automating 50–70% of repetitive support calls, self-optimizing over time, and achieving 90% customer satisfaction. We dive into the origin story, technical stack, ROI metrics, human-in-the-loop safeguards, and bold predictions for 2030.

You’ll learn:

How Leaping AI began: from BCG ideation to the first major enterprise customer

The differentiator: combining voice AI with evaluation and self-optimization modules

Managing edge cases and human fallback to maintain 90% satisfaction

Tech stack overview: orchestration layer, Twilio, multiple TTS/ASR providers, LLMs

Calculating ROI and setting realistic metrics with weekly check-ins

Future bets: AI vs. human empathy, integration challenges, market structure by 2030

Practical advice for CX leaders overwhelmed by AI hype

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Leaping AI with Kevin Wu

00:59 Kevin Wu's Journey and Inspiration

02:10 Winning the First Customer

02:41 Leaping AI's Unique Selling Points

03:59 Self-Improving AI Agents

05:17 Handling Edge Cases and Human Involvement

06:32 Early Days and First AI Call

07:33 Challenges and Continuous Improvement

09:00 Market Position and Competitor Insights

13:47 Customer Metrics and ROI

17:18 Technical Stack and Partnerships

19:09 Sponsor Message and Text-to-Speech Choices

19:32 The Best AI Voice Provider: Does It Exist?

21:10 Challenges in Voice AI for Sales

23:31 Implementing AI in Customer Support

25:37 Customer Reactions to AI

29:32 Future Predictions for AI in Customer Service

37:45 Getting Started with AI in Customer Service

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4m2K7ah

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson

That’s exactly what Prady Modukuru is building at Sync—an AI company making video editing fully editable in post-production. No more re-recording. Just fix it like text.

In this high-velocity episode of Lobster Talks, we go deep on Sync’s origin story, how Prady and his team ship insanely fast, and why their AI-powered content tools are poised to redefine modern storytelling. It's a masterclass in product, research, and distribution.

🔑 You’ll learn:

Why the future of video is editable—not generative

How Sync’s AI makes lip-sync edits invisible

The secret to shipping faster than anyone else in YC

What most AI startups get wrong about growth

How content became Sync’s unfair advantage

The risks—and responsibilities—of powerful AI models

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Lobster Talks

00:05 Meet Prade Moku and Sync

00:48 How Sync Revolutionizes Video Editing

02:49 The Journey and Growth of Sync

06:44 The Importance of Speed and Culture

12:44 Content Strategy and Its Impact

23:23 AI Modified vs. AI Generated Videos

25:43 Future of Video Editing

25:57 Challenges in Human Editing

27:55 AI in Video Production

28:18 Common Mistakes in AI Video Companies

30:58 Organic vs Paid Content

32:00 Content Creation and Distribution

38:10 Future of Small Content Teams

41:56 Risks and Ethical Concerns

49:21 Exciting Developments at Sync

50:34 Conclusion and Farewell

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4m2K7ah

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson

We explore YC's most AI-heavy cohort, debate sky-high valuations, and uncover what separates a good startup from a breakout unicorn.

You’ll learn:

Why YC Spring 25 had a record 0.8% acceptance rate

What caused Demo Day chaos at the YC office

How to evaluate traction vs hype in early AI startups

Why some investors are restructuring funds just to get into YC

How to get allocation in oversubscribed rounds

Gabriel’s method for revenue due diligence during Demo Day

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to Lobster Talks: Behind the Scenes of YC Spring 25 Demo Day

00:21 The Unique Challenges of This Year's Demo Day

02:50 Impressive Stats and Trends from the Spring Batch

04:30 The Growing Influence of AI in YC Startups

09:03 Investor Insights and Revenue Due Diligence

15:33 Evaluating Founders and Early Traction

18:07 The Darwinian Approach to Startup Evolution

18:41 Revenue as the Ultimate Proof of Success

21:13 Navigating Competition and Investor Strategies

21:48 The European Angle and Hot Deals

23:12 Valuation Challenges and Investor Decisions

25:27 The Role of Media and Networking in Investment

26:40 High Valuations and Future Growth

32:16 Follow-On Strategies and Growth Metrics

35:22 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4m2K7ah

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCahCIZ9KfmeK4rLosGNYpdg

In this founder-first, no-fluff conversation, George Simons breaks down how SoloSuit is dismantling a $3.5B legal industry — one lawsuit at a time. From bootstrapped beginnings and courtroom chaos to SEO-powered growth and AI-driven debt settlement, this episode is a crash course in building a business with compounding advantages and real-world impact.

What you’ll learn:

Why 90% of debt lawsuits are lost by default — and how SoloSuit flips the script

How George bootstrapped his first product in law school using free court data

The tactical role of SEO, YouTube, and content marketing in scaling user acquisition

How AI is being used to mediate settlements and unlock trust in the legal system

The business model shift that brought both debtors and collectors onto the same platform

Why growing “slow and steady” might be the best path to building a unicorn

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to The Lobster Talks

00:29 Introducing George Simons and Solo Suit

00:54 How Solo Suit Helps Consumers

02:52 The Evolution of Solo Suit's Services

04:08 The Legal Landscape and Solo Suit's Impact

07:20 Solo Suit's $4,700 Giveaway

09:55 Navigating Legal Challenges and Building Relationships

16:58 Customer Acquisition Strategies

25:02 Early Success and First Customers

25:29 Implementing Payment Systems

26:49 Growth and Customer Base Expansion

28:42 Business Strategy and Philosophy

30:06 Sustaining and Scaling the Business

36:52 Future Vision and AI Integration

42:01 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4m2K7ah

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

In this fast-paced Lobster Talks roundtable, Gabriel Jarrosson sits down with Samraaj Bath (Ion Design) and Agree Ahmed (Flowglad) to unpack “Vibe Coding”—the AI-powered workflow that lets designers, PMs, and marketers iterate on real code. They clash over misconceptions, debate the future of frontend engineers, spin our Hot Take Wheel, and stake bold predictions on where AI will reshape product teams.

In this episode you’ll learn:

Why “non-technical” teams touching code isn’t what you think

The real risks and rewards of design-first velocity

How AI is the “combine-tractor” moment for software engineers

Whether VCs should demand a design audit before writing checks

The one debate you need to have about skipping design thinking

Bold “Future Bets” on the next must-have AI design workflow

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

00:00 Introduction to No-Code Revolution

00:29 Meet the Experts: Samra and Agree

03:02 Debating Vibe Coding and Non-Technical Teams

04:47 Engineering Principles and AI's Impact

09:15 The Future of Vibe Coding in Organizations

11:19 AI-Driven Changes in Team Dynamics

14:33 Challenges and Opportunities in AI Tooling

19:44 The Role of Designers in an AI-First World

28:23 The Future of Design Roles in Startups

31:33 Hot Take Wheel: No-Code Tools and Front-End Engineers

33:38 VCs and Design Audits: A Necessary Step?

36:36 Vibe Coding and Startup Defensibility

44:45 Future Bets: AI-Driven Design Workflows

52:01 Closing Thoughts and Where to Find Us

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4m2K7ah

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

In this episode of Lobster Talks, Gabriel debriefs Laurie on YC’s quarterly Request for Startups focused on AI agents. From “full-stack” AI challengers to personal assistants that go from to-do lists to done lists, we unpack the highs, the lows, and the hidden opportunities for founders and investors alike.

What you’ll learn:

How “full-stack” AI companies can out-muscle incumbent software tools

Why AI agents like DeepResearch are already saving you a day’s work in an hour

The vision for a true AI personal assistant that manages your calendar, emails, and travel

Why voice interfaces (Super Whisper, Willow) are the dark horse for mainstream AI adoption

How big players (OpenAI, Apple, Google) threaten—and sometimes stimulate—new startups

The one metric (hint: $1M ARR) that de-risks AI investments in 2025

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview

00:20 Diving into the Latest YC Request for Startups

00:48 The Year of AI Agents

01:10 Full Stack AI Companies

02:11 Historical RFS and AI Personal Assistants

05:21 Voice Interfaces and AI Tools

07:16 Challenges and Opportunities in AI Startups

14:14 Verticalization and Specialized AI Models

30:30 Investor Perspectives and Metrics

36:23 Conclusion and Next Steps

In this episode, we chat with Ghita Alami, founder of Zero Entropy, about her company's groundbreaking approach to rebuilding search systems for AI agents. Learn about early chaos theory, tactical product insights, and the future of intelligent retrieval systems.

00:00 Introduction to AI Retrieval Systems

00:07 Meet the Founder of Zero Entropy

00:43 Building a High Accuracy Search Engine

01:17 Challenges and Solutions in AI Retrieval

02:34 Specific Use Cases and Examples

08:09 Evaluating and Improving AI Systems

12:02 YC Experience and Building Zero Entropy

20:35 Technical Deep Dive: Measuring Accuracy

22:50 Challenges of Internet Search

23:33 Evaluating Retrieval Systems

24:02 Improving Recall and Precision

25:03 Advice for Founders on Search Issues

26:11 Leveraging LLMs in Tech Stacks

27:28 Staying Relevant in a Rapidly Changing AI Landscape

What if the next leap in chip manufacturing didn't come from a trillion-dollar company — but from two founders building a compact particle accelerator in Berkeley?

In this episode of Lobster Talks, Gabriel Jarrosson sits down with Rohan Karthik and Daniel Vega, the founders of Inversion Semiconductor, a YC-backed deeptech startup building a radically new lithography machine. Their tech promises to manufacture the world’s most powerful chips — 15x faster than anything out there — and reshore advanced chipmaking to the U.S. for the first time in decades.

We get into:

How they shrunk a particle accelerator 1000×

Why ASML can’t (and won’t) build this

Fundraising for a moonshot in deeptech

The gap between U.S. and European startup ecosystems

Predictions on photonics, quantum computing, and the post-Moore’s Law era

Whether you’re a founder, investor, engineer, or just deeptech-curious — this episode is a wild ride through physics, ambition, and the future of chips.

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction

00:37 Meet the Founders: Rohan and Daniel

00:57 The Technology Behind Inversion

02:19 Why ASML Isn't Doing This

05:16 Backgrounds: From ARM to Particle Accelerators

08:44 The Inception of the Idea

12:52 Exploring Other Applications

15:54 Early Struggles and the Path to Validation

21:42 Why Build in the US?

24:49 Comparing Talent in Europe and the US

25:43 Challenges in European Investment

28:45 The YC Experience for Deep Tech Startups

35:02 Building Advanced Semiconductor Tools in the US

45:11 Future Predictions for Chip Technology

47:07 Conclusion and Farewell

🔗 LINKS

Inversion Semiconductor: https://inversionsemi.com

Follow Gabriel: https://twitter.com/gabjarrosson

#Semiconductors #DeepTech #YC #HardwareStartups #ASML #Chips #Photonics #QuantumComputing #MooresLaw #StartupPodcast

00:00 Introduction

00:20 Meet Stef

00:34 Zero G Manufacturing

01:43 Challenges and Opportunities

05:38 Returning from Space

08:37 Future of Space Manufacturing

16:07 The Journey of Reditus Space

18:23 Upcoming Mission

20:38 Risk Mitigation

21:20 Economics

22:45 Reusability

25:43 Reentry

31:13 Future of Space Manufacturing

35:29 Human Presence in Space

37:50 Book Rec

00:00 Intro

00:51 Current Funding Landscape and Market Uncertainty

01:55 The Resilience of YC Startups

07:32 The Importance of Founder Passion and Connection

17:53 The Role of Pivots in Startup Success

22:55 Evaluating AI Investments and Technical Moats

28:56 The Power of Content and Personal Branding

33:41 Conclusion

They share the raw and incredible story of how they went from nearly homeless right before YC to raising $6.3M, signing $86.5M in commercial contracts, and securing $1B+ in LOIs—all before launching their first mission to space.

We cover:

How they pitched an insanely hard idea and actually built it

The truth about LOIs and how they converted them into binding contracts

YC’s impact on hardware companies

How they managed product, sales, and investor traction simultaneously—while not sleeping 🧠💥

Whether you're a founder, investor, or just obsessed with space, this episode is a masterclass in grit, hardtech, and startup survival.

00:00 Introduction to Spaceium

00:25 Meet the Founders: Ashi and Reza

00:44 Spaceium's Revolutionary Space Stations

01:56 Challenges and Innovations in Space Refueling

04:02 The Dual Mission: Refueling and Repairing

05:13 Competing with SpaceX?

06:24 From Homeless to YC Success

08:59 The Power of LOIs and Contracts

11:42 The YC Experience and Building Hardware

20:00 Building Hardware in the US

20:45 Managing Customer Expectations

22:40 From LOIs to Binding Contracts

24:06 Setting Timelines for Startups

26:38 Pricing Strategies for Unbuilt Products

29:11 Upcoming Missions and Exciting Developments

30:58 Challenges and Rewards of Building Hard Tech

32:55 Book Recommendations and Final Thoughts

36:21 Where to Follow and Contact Us

00:50 - 01:23 What's StarCloud?

1:23 - 02:05 Why GPUs in Space?

02:05 - 03:35 Abundant Energy

03:35 - 05:50 Why No One Did It Before

05:50 - 07:30 Starship Economics

07:30 - 08:50 Philip’s Background

08:50 - 10:00 Can Anyone Start a Space Company?

10:00 - 12:30 Building in Space

12:30 - 13:20 Does Space Solar Affect Earth?

13:20 - 17:00 Raising an $11M Seed Round

17:00 - 19:00 Spending Habits

19:00 - 20:00 Hiring at StarCloud

20:00 - 21:00 Relocating

21:00 - 24:15 Hard vs. Easy Startups

24:15 - 25:35 Skepticism & Critics

25:35 - 27:00 The Rebrand

27:00 - 29:25 Next Steps

29:25 - 30:25 Book Recommendations

30:25 - 30:56 Closing Thought

In this episode of The Lobster Talks, we sit down with Philip Johnston, Founder & CEO of Starcloud (formerly Lumen Orbit). He’s on a groundbreaking mission to build massive GPU data centers in outer space—tapping into abundant solar energy, sidestepping Earth’s power constraints, and completely rethinking what’s possible for cloud computing.

Listen in as we explore:

• How Starcloud plans to harness orbital launch cost drops (thanks, Starship!)

• Why running GPUs in space could transform data processing

• The challenges and breakthroughs of launching a next-gen satellite

• Raising a massive seed round—oversubscribed by top VCs

If you’re curious about the frontier of hardware, AI, and space tech, don’t miss this deep dive into the future of data centers… in orbit!

Enjoying the show?

Give us a like, subscribe for more founder spotlights, and stay tuned for the next episode of The Lobster Talks by Lobster Capital!

We Discuss

• His journey from founding companies to investing in startups and funds

• How he analyzes opportunities—both as an angel and as an LP

• Why Europe’s startup ecosystem has potential (despite U.S. dominance)

• The “checklist” he uses before writing any check

• His return to building and operating a startup

Johannes also shares practical insights on aligning incentives, navigating illiquidity, and scouting for that elusive 100x return. If you found this conversation helpful, like this video, subscribe to the channel, and let us know your biggest takeaway in the comments!

Timestamps

0:00 Introduction & Johannes’s Background

2:13 From Founder to Angel Investor to LP

8:47 How He Picks Funds & Why Differentiated Deal Flow Matters

14:10 Europe vs. U.S.: The Opportunity Gap

20:56 Rules for Investing (And When to Break Them)

24:32 Why Johannes Is Returning as CEO

27:45 Key Takeaways & Wrap-Up

Thanks for tuning in, and we’ll see you next time on The Lobster Talks!

Key Topics We Cover

• Why Carbon Compliance Matters – How certifications unlock massive revenue opportunities for developers building solar facilities, renewable fuels, data centers, and more.

• Building Offstream – How Varsha’s firsthand frustration with manual reporting led to the idea for Offstream and eventually landed them in Y Combinator’s Summer 24 batch.

• The Power of AI in Compliance – Where AI can streamline complex data extraction and predictive recommendations, transforming what was once a major bottleneck.

• Balancing Big Ambitions & Personal Growth – Varsha’s views on mentorship, coaching, and staying motivated by celebrating “the gain” while striving for big goals.

• Life after YC – Why Offstream chose Denver over the Bay Area, current product milestones, and what’s next on their roadmap.

If you’re a founder exploring hard-to-automate niches, or just curious about how AI is reshaping climate tech, this episode is for you.

Timestamps

0:00 Introduction & How Gabriel Met Varsha

3:18 The Spark Behind Offstream (Vanta for Carbon Compliance)

6:35 Navigating YC & Key Takeaways

10:42 The Role of AI in Streamlining Carbon Credits

14:50 Personal Mentors, Coaching & Founders’ Mentality

20:11 Real-Time Data & AI Agents in Sustainability Projects

24:18 Denver Headquarters & Future of Offstream

28:40 Pricing Challenges & Industry Partnerships

32:00 Recommended Reading: The Gap and the Gain + Lean In

34:22 Where to Connect & Final Thoughts

Enjoy the conversation? Like, Subscribe, and turn on Notifications so you don’t miss any future episodes of The Lobster Talks! And if you’re on a podcast platform, drop us a 5-star rating.

Connect with Offstream:

Website: https://useoffstream.com/

LinkedIn: Varsha’s Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/varsha-ramesh/

Thanks for watching! Feel free to leave questions or comments below.

• 2007: Wayne became a Y Combinator founder in one of the earliest cohorts, quickly landing a Google acquisition that evolved into Google Slides.

• A Decade at Google: He stayed on to help grow G Suite, diving into AI and shaping how millions of users collaborate online.

• Startup #2 & Another Exit: After co-founding a second company with Google’s former CHRO, he returned to YC as a Visiting Group Partner to coach a new generation of founders.

• Today: Wayne is back to building as founder/CEO of Orgorg.com, a toolset for seamless team management and productivity, integrating AI under the hood.

We talk early YC days, Google’s culture of innovation, what it’s really like behind the scenes as a YC Partner, and why Wayne ultimately returned to his roots as a builder. If you’re curious about AI’s impact on future jobs, or just want insider knowledge on startup growth, this is a must-listen.

Key Discussion Points

• The magic (and myths) of the very first YC cohorts

• Lessons from building Google Slides and leading teams inside Big Tech

• Why AI is more than just a buzzword—and how Wayne is weaving it into Orgorg.com

• Life as a YC Visiting Group Partner—what founders should really know

• Embracing your inner builder: how Wayne found his true passion in startup creation

Enjoy the episode? Subscribe, give us a 5-star rating, and share your favorite part in the comments!

Timestamps

0:00 Welcome & Wayne’s Background

4:17 Early YC Days (2007)

9:32 Google Acquisition & Lessons Learned

14:45 AI at Google & Future of Work

22:10 From Founder to Visiting YC Group Partner

28:55 Building Orgorg.com & Founder Insights

38:16 Balancing Family & Startup Life

43:00 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Thanks for tuning in to The Lobster Talks!

From hardware breakthroughs and AI-powered agents to the “DocuSign 2.0” and data centers of the future, YC’s RFS signals a shift into deeper, more technical territory. We dig into how founders can stand out, the importance of iterating fast, and what investors should consider in this fast-moving AI landscape.

Topics Covered

• Why YC introduced a new RFS so soon and what it means for AI startups

• The rise of AI agents and how they’re transforming business operations

• Hardware vs. software innovation—and the traction investors want to see

• Evaluating top-tier technical founders when speed is everything

• Why YC remains the go-to launchpad for AI-driven companies

Enjoy the conversation, and if you find it valuable:

1. Subscribe to the channel for more insights on AI and startup investing.
2. Like & Share this video with fellow founders and investors.
3. Leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform—it really helps!

Thanks for tuning in, and we’ll catch you on the next episode of The Lobster Talks!

Together, we dive into:

Why making $150k didn’t guarantee long-term success—and why he walked away

How opportunity cost shapes big pivots and investment decisions

The realities of pivoting after 18 months—from the heartbreak to the breakthroughs

What Jason learned at Robinhood’s Trust & Safety team and turned into Finic’s secret sauce

The future of AI-powered fintech and how it’s set to solve financial crime once and for all

Whether you’re a founder stuck in the “idea maze” or a fintech enthusiast curious about AI’s next frontier, Jason’s story is packed with real talk, razor-sharp insights, and a fresh perspective on turning roadblocks into rocket fuel.

Don’t miss this masterclass on knowing when to pivot—and when to go all in.

Chapters

0:00 Intro to Lobster Talks

1:15 Jason’s background: From Robinhood to Finic

5:22 Building an internal tool into a new startup idea

8:48 The $150k revenue trap and facing the pivot decision

13:00 The role of “opportunity cost” in startup success

16:35 Surviving mental hurdles and ego hits

20:59 Why pivoting can be smarter than “toughing it out”

24:14 The future of AI in financial fraud prevention

28:55 YC lessons, founder communities, and staying resilient

33:40 Final thoughts & where to connect with Jason

Enjoyed the episode? Hit the like button, subscribe for more high-level startup insights, and let us know your thoughts or questions in the comments below!

Stay tuned for more conversations with trailblazing founders sharing the raw truths behind their success—and failure—stories. Don’t forget to subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode!

Thanks for watching! If this conversation sparked new ideas, share it with a friend who might need some startup inspiration.

Chapters

0:00 Introduction & How Jiga Got Started

3:20 Building a WordPress MVP & Getting Early Revenue

6:45 Pivoting from Transaction Model to SaaS (and Back)

10:02 Staying Scrappy Through Challenges & Hitting Walls

14:15 How AI Boosted Margins & Automates Ops

17:40 Surviving the Early “No Revenue” Stage

21:30 Lessons from the Israeli Startup Scene & YC Community

25:51 Why Being Humble Matters (Even During Success)

29:14 Jiga’s Vision for the Future & Final Takeaways

Enjoying the conversation?

• Subscribe for more founder interviews
• Drop a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
• Share your biggest takeaway in the comments!

Thanks for watching!

Chapters

0:00 – Introduction

1:12 – Reflecting on Lobster Capital’s Milestones in 2024

4:39 – Inside YC’s Four Batches per Year

9:55 – AI’s Acceleration & the Push Toward AGI

14:02 – Revenue Traction vs. Defensibility: Key Investing Criteria

18:47 – Shifts in Seed, Series A, and Beyond

23:15 – Potential Exit Strategies & Secondary Markets

27:44 – The Future of European Startups vs. Silicon Valley

31:58 – Closing Thoughts & What’s Next for 2025

Enjoying Lobster Talks?

• Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more startup insights
• Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
• Follow us on social for behind-the-scenes updates

What You’ll Learn

- The early product decisions that fueled explosive, profitable growth

- How Baubap uses AI to underwrite loans and keep default rates low

- Why building core systems from scratch can create a massive competitive edge

- Navigating funding, profitability, and future expansion plans (including a regional banking license!)

- Lessons learned from YC, plus powerful advice for fellow entrepreneurs

If you’re fascinated by fintech, AI, or just want an inside look at an incredible founder journey, you don’t want to miss this!

Enjoying the conversation?

Hit Subscribe, drop a Like, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode of The Lobster Talks!

🚀 Welcome to the latest episode of the Lobster Talks podcast by Lobster Capital! In this episode, Gabriel sits down with Valentin Sulzer, founder of Ionworks, a revolutionary startup transforming battery innovation through cutting-edge software.

🔋 Batteries are critical to powering the 21st century—from EVs to satellites, and even electric planes. Valentin explains how Ionworks accelerates battery development by simulating advanced designs in software, eliminating the need for costly and time-consuming physical prototypes. Discover how their solution is changing the game for industries, from automotive to aerospace.

💡 Valentin also shares insights from his journey, including:

The evolution of Ionworks from the open-source PyBAM project

His experience as a YC Summer '24 founder

The future of batteries and AI’s role in enabling innovation

🔥 Whether you're a founder, an investor, or someone curious about the tech shaping the future, this episode is packed with insights you can’t miss.

🔗 Links Mentioned:

Learn more about Ionworks: https://www.ionworks.com/

Connect with Valentin Sulzer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valentinsulzer/

✨ Don’t forget to subscribe to the Lobster Talks podcast for more inspiring stories from successful YC founders!

00:00 Welcome to the Lobster Talks Podcast

00:21 First In-Person Demo Day Since 2019

02:42 The Impact of Smaller Batches

05:33 AI's Role in Startup Growth

08:12 Developer Tools and YC's Focus

12:32 Investing in the Future of AI

23:20 YC's Request for Startups

28:40 Lobster Capital's Investment Strategy

31:50 Looking Ahead to Future Batches

35:11 Conclusion and Farewell

In this episode, Gabriel Jarrosson dives into the evolving world of venture capital, focusing on emerging trends and the unique opportunities within the Y Combinator ecosystem. He shares his excitement about AI's prominence in the upcoming YC batch, emphasizing the importance of real-world problem-solving and revenue generation. Gabriel also discusses the positive implications of YC's move to four batches a year, including improved mentorship, media exposure, and deal flow for investors like Lobster Capital. 

The conversation also highlights the significance of B2B software in YC's portfolio, exploring the reasons behind its dominance and the continued importance of B2C innovation. Gabriel's data-driven approach and belief in YC as a distinct asset class further illuminate Lobster Capital's investment strategy. He concludes with his optimistic predictions for the future of YC and venture capital as a whole. Don't miss this episode for valuable insights and a glimpse into the dynamic world of startups and investments.

EPISODE IN A GLANCE

00:00 Y Combinator's Latest News (Demo Day, 4 batches per year, and the rise of AI)

05:21 The Y Combinator Network: Impact and De-risking Investments

11:30 The Shift Toward B2B Software and Fintech in YC's Unicorn Portfolio

13:57 The Future of Venture Capital: AI, Impact Investing, and New Models

17:53 Lobster Capital's Focus on Early Traction and Strategy

23:46 The Importance of the YC Ecosystem: An Asset Class in Itself

ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON

Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing."

CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital

Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/

Tiktok → https://www.tiktok.com/@lobstercapital

Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights. 

Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

In this episode of The Lobster Talks Podcast, we dive into the inspiring founder journey of Madeleine D'Angelo. Starting with a background in art history, Madeleine shares how she found her way into the tech world and built Arthena, a company that brought quantitative reasoning and pricing to the art market. We'll hear about her experience at Y Combinator, the challenges she faced along the way, and ultimately, the decision to sell Arthena to Masterworks. Madeleine also gives us a glimpse into her new venture, The Barker Price, where she's applying AI to the insurance industry. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of art, technology, and entrepreneurship.

EPISODE IN A GLANCE

00:00 Introduction to Madelaine D'Angelo and Arthena

02:08 The Founding Story: Bringing Math and AI to the Art Market

04:55 YC's Impact on Arthena's Growth

09:22 Madeleine's New Venture: AI Pricing for Insurance

15:25 The Exit: Arthena's Acquisition by Masterworks

24:05 What Excites Madelaine About Her New Venture

26:34 Book/Quote That Impacted Madelaine's Life

ABOUT MADELAINE D'ANGELO

Madeleine D'Angelo is a serial entrepreneur with a passion for blending art and technology. Co-founder of Arthena, she revolutionized the art market by introducing quantitative analysis and machine learning to art valuation. After a successful exit to Masterworks, Madeleine embarked on a new venture, The Barker Price, applying AI to the insurance industry. Driven by a love for problem-solving and a fascination with data, Madeleine is a force to be reckoned with in the tech world.

CONNECT WITH MADELAINE D'ANGELO

Email → madelaine@thebarkerprice.com

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/madelaine-d-angelo-b3508816/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebarkerprice/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/arthena/

GRAB THE BOOK MADELAINE RECOMMENDS → Shackleton's Way: Leadership Lessons from the Great Antarctic Explorer https://a.co/d/3XYcKJi

ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON

Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing."

CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital

Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/

Tiktok → https://www.tiktok.com/@lobstercapital

Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights. 

Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

Join Gabriel Jarrosson, General Partner of Lobster Capital, as he talks with Dimitris Fotis Sakellariou and Kris Pahuja, the co-founders of Piramidal, a Y Combinator company building a groundbreaking AI model for brainwaves. Learn about their journey from academic research to building a business, the challenges they face in this complex space, and how Y Combinator has helped them accelerate their growth. 

Key Takeaways:

-Piramidal's unique approach: They are building a foundational AI model for EEG brainwaves to translate them into actionable insights for humans.

-Addressing a major need: They aim to improve the analysis and interpretation of brainwaves to better diagnose neurological disorders and support well-being.

-Challenges of AI in Neuroscience: Data collection and annotation are major hurdles, as brainwave data is more complex and sensitive than other types of AI data.

-Y Combinator's impact: YC has played a crucial role in refining their business model, connecting with experts, and accelerating their growth.

-The future of Piramidal: They plan to expand their model to incorporate other biosignals (like heart rate, sleep data) and create personalized AI solutions for individuals.

EPISODE IN A GLANCE

-Introduction and Piramidal's Mission

-The Origin Story and Building a Brainwave AI Model

-Business Model and Early Discussions

-Joining Y Combinator and Early Startup Journey

-Technical and Business Challenges with Brainwave Data

-Data Access and Importance of Partnerships

-Y Combinator's View and Advice for Piramidal

-Fundraising Challenges and Success

-Finding Investors for Moonshot Ideas

-Key Takeaways from Fundraising Process

-Future Vision: Beyond EEG

-Potential Synergies with Neuralink

-Piramidal's Approach vs. Neuralink's Technology

-Contact Information and Concluding Remarks

ABOUT DIMITRI SAKELLARIOU & KRIS PAHUJA

Dimitris holds a PhD in Neuroengineering and AI, and has conducted EEG research for 12 years at St Thomas' Hospital and King's College London. Additionally, brings four years of experience in shipping to production deep learning products for pharma and healthcare clients, as a Lead at IQVIA.

Kris is an expert in product and strategy, with significant roles at Google and Spotify. Led the content detection tool initiative at Spotify and drove Chrome OS's expansion into the healthcare market.

CONNECT WITH DIMITRI SAKELLARIOU & KRIS PAHUJA

Website → https://piramidal.ai/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/sacellarius/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/kris-pahuja-a59a905b/

Email → dimitris@piramidal.ai, kris@piramidal.ai, info@piramidal.ai, & founders@piramidal.ai. 

GRAB THE BOOK KRIS RECOMMENDS Neuromancer by William Gibson → https://a.co/d/aBASwBv

ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON

Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing."

CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital

Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/

Tiktok → https://www.tiktok.com/@lobstercapital

Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights. 

Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

Join Gabriel Jarrosson, General Partner of Lobster Capital, as he shares his insights on a successful investment in Baubap, a Y Combinator graduate disrupting the financial landscape in Mexico. Gabriel delves into why he invested in Baubap, highlighting their innovative approach to microloans and their impressive early traction. He also reveals the outcome of the investment, demonstrating how Baubap has become a thriving company with a valuation exceeding $1 billion.

This episode explores why Y Combinator is a powerful asset class for investors and how to maximize your chances of co-investing in top YC companies. Gabriel outlines Lobster Capital's investment criteria, focusing on the importance of early traction and identifying companies with a distinct "YC premium." He explains how Lobster Capital provides investors with access to these top-performing YC companies and shares valuable insights for those looking to invest in this exciting space.

Key Takeaways:

-Y Combinator is a powerful asset class. YC companies have a high rate of success, with 5-6% becoming unicorns and 39% raising Series A funding.

-Early traction is crucial. Investing in companies with strong early traction can mitigate execution risk and lead to higher returns.

-Lobster Capital focuses on the top 10% of YC companies. Gabriel only invests in YC companies with the most impressive early traction and growth.

-Co-investing is a valuable strategy for accessing top YC companies. Investors can gain access to these companies through funds like Lobster Capital, which have a proven track record.

-Corporate social responsibility can drive positive returns. Baubap's commitment to financial education and customer care has translated into better results and a more sustainable business model.

EPISODE IN A GLANCE

00:51 Baubap's innovative approach to microloans and their data-driven model

01:41 Baubap's Speed of Loan Approval

02:16 The High Delinquency Rate in Microfinance

03:15 The importance of early traction in startups and the "YC premium"

05:41 Lobster Capital's investment strategy, focusing on top-performing YC companies and growth potential

08:15 Baubap's Valuation and Rapid Growth

10:30 The Importance of Traction Over Valuation

11:53 Baubap's social responsibility and financial education approach

16:28 Lobster Capital's commitment to social impact and helping founders create a better future

17:53 The impact of Y Combinator's program on Baubap's rapid growth

18:40 The 'Maniacal Sense of Urgency' Instilled by Y Combinator

20:39 Why Y Combinator is a valuable asset class and how it influences Lobster Capital's investment decisions

24:12 How investors can gain access to top YC companies and the benefits of co-investing

24:14 Advice for Investors Seeking to Invest in Top YC Companies

ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON

Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing."

CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital

Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/

Tiktok → https://www.tiktok.com/@lobstercapital

Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights. 

Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

This episode takes you inside the story of Torch, a company revolutionizing professional development with a unique blend of coaching, software, and behavioral science. Co-founders Cameron Yarbrough and Keegan Walden, both veterans of the psychology and coaching world, share their journey from meeting at a psychotherapy training program to building a successful startup that has raised over $80 million in funding.

They reveal the key ingredients behind their success: a shared passion for leadership development, a data-driven approach to coaching, and the invaluable experience of going through Y Combinator. But they also candidly discuss the challenges they faced, particularly the emotional toll of building a business and the importance of self-awareness and mindfulness for founders.

This episode is filled with insightful advice for entrepreneurs and investors alike. Listen in to discover the power of effective coaching, the hidden “secrets” of the Y Combinator program, and the importance of personal development for navigating the complex world of startups.

EPISODE IN A GLANCE

-Introduction of Cameron and Keegan and Torch's Mission

-How the Founders Met and Their Shared Background

-The Catalyst for Starting Torch

-The Story of How the Founders Reconnected

-The Value of T-Groups and Its Impact on the Founders

-The Early Days of Torch and the Decision to Apply to Y Combinator

-Joining Y Combinator and the Importance of a Tech Co-Founder

-Fundraising and the Impact of Rapid Growth

-Keegan's Departure from Torch and the Co-Founder's Dilemma

-The Importance of Addressing Burnout and Personal Growth as a Founder

-The Impact of Work on Family Life

-The Co-Founder's Dilemma

-Transitioning Leadership Roles

-The Role of Coaching in Leadership

-Reflections on Y Combinator

-The Importance of Self-Awareness for Founders

ABOUT CAMERON YARBROUGH AND KEEGAN WALDEN

Cameron is the co-founder and CEO of Torch, a company that provides professional development services to organizations through a combination of coaching, software, and behavioral science. He has a background as a psychotherapist and executive coach, working with notable tech founders like Garry Tan and Steve Huffman.

Keegan is the co-founder of Torch and a psychologist who specializes in leadership development. He has a PhD and brings a deep understanding of the psychology of human behavior and its impact on success.

CONNECT WITH CAMERON YARBROUGH AND KEEGAN WALDEN

Website → https://torch.io/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-yarbrough-60579948/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/keegan-walden-ph-d-672ab9101/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/torch-labs

ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON

Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing."

CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital

Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/

Tiktok → https://www.tiktok.com/@lobstercapital

Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights. 

Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

Gabriel Jarrosson, the solo general partner at Lobster Capital, pulls back the curtain on his unique approach to investing in the very best Y Combinator (YC) companies.

In this episode of the second season of Lobster Talks, Gabriel Jarrosson, a seasoned entrepreneur turned investor, shares his incredible journey from angel investing to founding Lobster Capital, a fund dedicated to backing the most promising YC startups. He unveils the secrets behind his exclusive access to high-profile deals, often co-investing alongside giants like Google Ventures and Bessemer Venture Partners. Gabriel's deep understanding of technology, entrepreneurial experience, and vast network make him a valuable partner for founders and a sought-after resource for investors. He shares his rigorous investment criteria, emphasizing the importance of early traction, scalability, and a founder's ability to articulate a clear vision for growth.

Key Takeaways:

-Lobster Capital's Focus: Lobster Capital specializes in funding the very best Y Combinator startups, a highly competitive space where early traction and scalability are paramount.

-The Value of Early Traction: Gabriel highlights the importance of early traction and revenue as a key indicator of a startup's potential for success, emphasizing the need to invest in companies already demonstrating a clear path to growth.

-Beyond Capital: Providing Value: Lobster Capital goes beyond simply writing checks, offering practical guidance on customer acquisition, sales, SEO, and more, drawing on Gabriel's own entrepreneurial experience and extensive network within the VC community.

-YC as a Mark of Quality: Gabriel compares YC to a Michelin star rating for restaurants, highlighting the rigorous vetting process and high-quality founders that emerge from the program.

-The Silicon Valley Advantage: Despite the rise of European startups, Gabriel argues that Silicon Valley remains the epicenter of innovation, and Y Combinator is the gold standard for early-stage tech companies.

-The AI Boom: While acknowledging the increasing presence of AI startups within YC, Gabriel emphasizes the importance of filtering and selection, ensuring that Lobster Capital's portfolio encompasses a diverse range of promising ventures.

EPISODE IN A GLANCE

00:00 Intro

00:20 Founding Story of Lobster Capital

01:13 Journey to Silicon Valley and Y Combinator

01:36 Challenges and Strategies in Y Combinator Investing

02:14 Building Lobster Capital's Brand and Fund

03:02 Focus on YC Startups and Unicorns

05:19 Gaining Access to YC Demo Day

06:46 Early Successes and Building Reputation

07:33 Providing Value Beyond Capital

14:32 Evaluating Startups at YC Demo Day

20:35 Evaluating Startup Growth Strategies

21:44 The Relevance of YC in 2024

22:44 YC's Shift and New Leadership

26:12 The AI Emphasis at YC

30:06 Investing in US vs. European Startups

31:48 The Future of European Startups

38:10 The Value Proposition of YC

42:18 The Michelin Star of Startup Investing

ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON

Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing."

CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital

Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/

Tiktok → https://www.tiktok.com/@lobstercapital

Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights.

Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

In this episode of Lobster Talks, host Gabriel Jarrosson dives into the world of cross-border payments with Eduardo de Leon, co-founder and Head of Product at Coba, a Y Combinator-backed fintech startup. Eduardo shares his journey from a software development background to launching Coba, a platform designed to empower contractors in Latin America by providing access to the US banking system and simplifying financial transactions between the US and Mexico.

Eduardo reveals the origins of Coba, initially aimed at connecting talent with US companies. Through extensive user interviews, they uncovered a critical pain point: the need for financial services tailored to cross-border workers. This realization led to a pivotal shift in their business model, propelling them into the fintech industry and ultimately leading to their acceptance into Y Combinator. Eduardo talks about the challenges and opportunities of cross-border payments, the importance of understanding local markets, and how Coba is leveraging technology to bridge the gap between different economies. 

He also shares insights on the decision-making process as a co-founder, the role of crypto in cross-border transactions, and the valuable lessons learned from their Y Combinator experience.

EPISODE IN A GLANCE

- Eduardo's Background and the Inspiration Behind Coba

- Coba's Platform and Services for Contractors in Latin America

- Pivoting the Business Model and Decision-Making as Co-Founders

- The Cross-Border Payments Landscape and Focusing on the US-Mexico Corridor

- Crypto's Role in Cross-Border Payments and Potential Integration with Coba

- Coba's Experience with Y Combinator and Lessons Learned

- Future Plans for Coba and Expanding Services

- Book Recommendations: 'Hackers & Painters' and 'The Mythical Man-Month'

ABOUT EDUARDO LOPEZ DE LEON

Co-founder & Head of Product @ Coba. Previously to founding Coba.ai, Eduardo started IcaliaLabs.com operating from LatAm and working with US clients. He had the opportunity to work with fast-growing startups, corporates such as IBM, and big software factories such as Infosys. CS professor of Monterrey Tech.

CONNECT WITH EDUARDO & COBA

Website → https://coba.ai/

Eduardo's Website → https://edolopez.ai

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/elopezdeleon/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/cobaremote

X/Twitter → https://x.com/edolopez

X/Twitter → https://x.com/cobaremote

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@cobaremote

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/edolopez.io

GRAB THE BOOKS EDUARDO RECOMMENDS:

-Paul Graham's Hackers & Painters: Big Ideas from the Computer Age (https://a.co/d/3nccG3N) 

-Fred Brooks' The Mythical Man-Month (https://a.co/d/ewA2lFy)

ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON

Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing."

CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital

Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/

Tiktok → https://www.tiktok.com/@lobstercapital

Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights. 

Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

In this episode of Lobster Talks, host Gabriel Jarrosson interviews Ashish Bajaj, co-founder of Dime, a startup revolutionizing how manufacturers manage their factories. Born and raised in Detroit, Ashish's unique background in finance and deep ties to the manufacturing industry led him to create Dime, a platform designed to modernize and streamline production processes.

Ashish discusses the challenges manufacturers face with outdated software and manual processes, particularly in production scheduling and tracking. He shares how Dime's central nervous system for factories is solving these problems by automating these tasks, improving efficiency, and ultimately boosting productivity.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of technology and manufacturing, the challenges faced by American manufacturers, and how startups like Dime are leading the charge to modernize the industry.

EPISODE IN A GLANCE

-The Origin Story of Dime and the Manufacturing Landscape

-The Growth of Manufacturing in the US and Dime's Role

-What Dime Does and How It's Different from Other Solutions

-The State of Manufacturing in China and the Importance of Productivity

-Dime's Journey After Y Combinator and the Importance of Founder Mentality

-The Psychology of Success in Startups

-The Impact of Y Combinator on Founders

-Dime's sales strategy and the importance of focusing on fundamentals of startup success

-The challenges and opportunities of manufacturing in the US

-Choosing the Right Headquarters

-Staying Ahead in Manufacturing Tech

-Book Recommendation: Principles by Ray Dalio

-How to Connect with Dime

ABOUT ASHISH BAJAJ

Ashish is a co-founder @ Dime. He's a passionate Detroiter excited about building the tools that power the American Manufacturing renaissance. Before Dime, Ashish led the business operations and finance functions at a Series B Ghost Kitchen aggregator. Before that, he spent four years in finance, first as an Investment Banker at Rothschild, and then as an Investor at TPG.

CONNECT WITH ASHISH BAJAJ

Website → https://www.getdime.io/

LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/in/ashish-bajaj1

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/dime-manufacturing/

GRAB THE BOOK ASHISH RECOMMENDS → Principles by Ray Dalio, https://www.principles.com/

ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON

Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing."

CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital

Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/

Tiktok → https://www.tiktok.com/@lobstercapital

Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights. 

Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

In this episode of The Lobster Talks by Lobster Capital, host Gabriel Jarrosson interviews Neha Mittal, founder and CEO of YCombinator-backed Just Words. Neha shares her journey from leading growth at Twitter and Pinterest to starting her own company focused on AI-powered personalized messaging. She reveals how a simple copy change experiment at Twitter sparked the idea for Just Words and discusses the challenges she faced, including a co-founder breakup mid-Y Combinator. Neha explains how Just Words differs from existing A/B testing tools and email service providers by focusing on user-centricity and infinite content testing. She also provides insights into the company's future vision of hyper-personalized communication and the role of AI in revolutionizing marketing. 

EPISODE IN A GLANCE

-Meet Neha Mittal: Founder of Just Words

-The Birth of Just Words: From Twitter to Pinterest

-How Just Words Stands Out in a Crowded Market

-Building the Future: Products and Vision of Just Words

-Collaborating with Big Names: Grammarly and BeReal

-Navigating Co-Founder Breakups: Lessons Learned

-Finding the Right Co-Founder: Trust and Vision

-Advice for Solo Founders: Trust Your Gut

-Intuition in Business

-Fundraising Challenges and Resilience

-The Impact of YC and Community Support

-Vision for Just Words

-Book Recommendation → The Tao of Pooh Paperback by Benjamin Hoff

ABOUT NEHA MITTAL

Neha Mittal is the CEO & Co-founder of just words. She was the head of product for Retention & Growth at Pinterest and at Twitter. She also co-founded CityStructure and was the founding engineer at Sensorflow. She has also held product & engineering roles at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and Goldman Sachs.

CONNECT WITH NEHA MITTAL

Website → https://justwords.ai

LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/in/neha01mittal

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/justwordsai/

GRAB THE BOOK NEHA RECOMMENDS: The Tao of Pooh Paperback 

by Benjamin Hoff → https://a.co/d/dNPfw8G

ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON

Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing."

CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital

Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/

Tiktok → https://www.tiktok.com/@lobstercapital

Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights. 

Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

In this episode of The Lobster Talks by Lobster Capital, Gabriel Jarrosson interviews Matt Gialich, the founder and CEO of AstroForge, a company focused on mining asteroids to extract valuable minerals in space at a lower cost and smaller carbon footprint than the current mining methods. Matt shares his journey from working at Bird Rides and the Jet Propulsion Lab to founding AstroForge, inspired by the challenges of sourcing platinum for microchips and the limitations of traditional space exploration. Matt discusses AstroForge's mission to make space resources accessible on Earth, revolutionize mining practices, and contribute to a cleaner economic impact. AstroForge's upcoming mission in November will be the first commercial deep space mission to identify a metallic asteroid, paving the way for a new era of space resource utilization. With a focus on speed, innovation, and environmental responsibility, AstroForge is poised to become a leader in the emerging field of asteroid mining.

EPISODE IN A GLANCE

-Introduction to Matt Gialich, CEO of AstroForge

-AstroForge's Mission and Potential Uses for Mined Metals

-Matt's journey from Bird Rides and JPL to founding AstroForge

-The potential size and impact of AstroForge on the global mining industry and the environment

-The "idiot rule" and AstroForge's innovative approach to cost reduction

-The importance of speed in AstroForge's operations and how it's embedded in their team culture

-The hardest part of asteroid mining and AstroForge's focus on developing refinery technology

-How AstroForge selects target asteroids, prioritizing ore quality over size

-Hiring challenges and the importance of passion and ownership within the AstroForge team

-Details about AstroForge's upcoming November launch and the goals of the mission

-Balancing fundraising and CEO responsibilities, the challenges Matt faces

-Matt's key takeaway from Y Combinator and the importance of focusing on customers

-Matt's unique perspective on the impact of books and quotes on his life

ABOUT MATT GIALICH

Matt Gialich is the CEO of AstroForge. An asteroid mining company that is the first company to have a commercial deep space mission.

CONNECT WITH MATT GIALICH

Website → https://www.astroforge.io/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-gialich/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/astroforge/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/astroforge.io/

X/Twitter → https://x.com/astroforge

Email → matt@astroforge.com

ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON

Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing."

CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital

Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/

Tiktok → https://www.tiktok.com/@lobstercapital

Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights. 

Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

In this episode of Lobster Talks, host Gabriel Jarrosson interviews Daniel Kivatinos, a serial entrepreneur who has successfully navigated the highs and lows of the startup world. Daniel shares the story of building DrChrono, his first company, into a top 1% YC exit, and his insights on why he's now diving back into the complex and exciting world of FinTech with his new venture, JustPaid.io.

The conversation dives into Daniel's experiences with Y Combinator, both in its early days and in its current, more structured form. He shares valuable advice on building a strong company culture, the importance of rapid iteration, and the crucial role of delegation in scaling a business. Daniel also discusses the evolving landscape of FinTech, the challenges and opportunities it presents, and why he believes it remains a vital industry with immense potential for disruption. 

Join us as we dive into the future of FinTech, the power of Y Combinator community, and the lessons learned from building a top 1% YC exit.

EPISODE IN A GLANCE

- The Current State of FinTech and Opportunities for Disruption

- Daniel's Perspective on Building a Company for the Long Haul

- The Story of DrChrono's Journey to a Top 1% YC Exit

- Why Y Combinator was Instrumental in DrChrono's Success

- The Power of Hacker News and Early YC Community

- The Evolution of YC and Its Modern Tools

- Reconnecting with YC: A Second-Time Founder’s Perspective

- The Value of Founder-to-Founder Support

- Lobster Capital's Investment Thesis and Top 1% YC Exit

- The Journey and Challenges of Building DrChrono

- Scaling and Delegating for Success

- Introducing JustPaid.io: Revolutionizing Revenue Collection

- The Importance of Company Culture and Long-Term Vision

- Closing Thoughts and Book Recommendations

ABOUT DANIEL KIVATINOS

Daniel is the cofounder and CEO of JustPaid.io (Y Combinator 2023) and cofounder and former COO of DrChrono (Y Combinator 2011, a top 1% YC exit).

CONNECT WITH DANIEL

Website → https://www.justpaid.io/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/kivatinos/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/justpaid/

GRAB THE BOOKS OF JIM COLLINS, THE AUTHOR DANIEL RECOMMENDS → https://www.jimcollins.com/books.html

ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON

Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing."

CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital

Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/

Tiktok → https://www.tiktok.com/@lobstercapital

Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights. 

Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

In this episode of The Lobster Talks by Lobster Capital, we are joined by Ankur Rustagi, a serial entrepreneur with a background in trust and safety at tech giants like Facebook and Roblox. He founded Sero AI, a trust and safety platform, and then pivoted to Saatvy, a wellness platform focused on chronic conditions, after just ten months. This episode dives into Ankur's journey, exploring the challenges of building and selling a B2B SaaS solution in the trust and safety space, and the pivotal decision to change course. He shares his internal struggle, the impact on his co-founder, and the support he received from Y Combinator and investors. Ankur then reveals the unexpected path that led him to Saatvy, driven by a personal experience with chronic pain and a growing belief in the power of alternative medicine, particularly Ayurveda.

Listen to this episode and gain valuable insights into the realities of startup pivoting, the importance of staying true to your convictions, and the potential for success in unexpected corners of the market.

EPISODE IN A GLANCE

-The Sero AI Journey: Ankur's motivation for founding Sero AI, aiming to improve trust and safety in the tech world

-Challenges with Sero AI: Enterprise Sales and Internal Struggles

-The Decision to Pivot: Ankur reveals the internal struggle and the decision to pivot away from Sero AI

-The Emotional Journey: Dealing with Uncertainty and Maintaining Energy

-Investor Conversations: How Ankur Communicated the Pivot to His Investors

-The Birth of Saatvy: The Path from LLM Safety to Wellness

-Saatvy's Approach: Authentic Ayurvedic Practitioners and Personalized Care

-Co-Founder Dynamics: Navigating Tala's Departure and Maintaining a Positive Relationship

-The Future of Saatvy: Raising Awareness and Expanding Access to Ayurvedic Care

ABOUT ANKUR RUSTAGI

Founder of Saatvy, whose mission is to take Ayurveda to 100M+ people with chronic conditions. Previously, Ankur empowered teams at Meta, Roblox and eBay to build AI solutions for elections and child safety.

CONNECT WITH ANKUR RUSTAGI

Website → https://saatvy.com

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/saatvy

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/anrustagi

ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON

Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing."

CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital

Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/

Tiktok → https://www.tiktok.com/@lobstercapital

Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights. 

Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

In this episode of The Lobster Talks Podcast by Lobster Capital, we sit down with Daniel Driscoll, a former military officer turned software engineer, who is the CEO and co-founder of Elodin. Elodin is on a mission to revolutionize the aerospace industry by providing a flight software development platform that streamlines and accelerates the process of building, testing, and deploying software for everything that flies – from drones and missiles to satellites.

Dan's journey is nothing short of fascinating. From his time at West Point and serving in Iraq to working at Electronic Arts (on the Sims 4!) and Salesforce, his diverse experiences have shaped his leadership style and fueled his passion for innovation.

Drawing inspiration from the Unreal Engine used in game development, Elodin aims to be the go-to platform for aerospace engineers. It enables rapid iteration, collaboration, and high-fidelity simulation, making it easier and faster for companies of all sizes to develop cutting-edge flight software. With Elodin, the dream of space exploration is becoming more accessible than ever before.

EPISODE IN A GLANCE

-Dan's Background: Military, Gaming (Sims 4!), and Salesforce

-Elodin's Mission: The 'Unreal Engine' for Aerospace

-The Origin Story: From a Ukrainian Team Building Rockets to Partnering with AstroForge

-Disrupting the Incumbents: How Elodin is Changing the Aerospace Development Culture

-The Space Renaissance: Elodin's Role in the New Wave of Space Exploration

-Exciting Upcoming Projects: Elodin's Software in Space by the End of the Year!

-Advice for Founders: How to Identify and Solve Problems in Established Industries

-Fundraising: The Pros and Cons of a 'Party Round' (and Why Elodin Chose It)

-The Future of Elodin: Partnerships, Ambitious Goals, and a Focus on Making Space Accessible

-Dan's Book Recommendation: 'Leaders Eat Last' by Simon Sinek

ABOUT DANIEL DRISCOLL

Daniel Driscoll is an accomplished leader with a robust software engineering and military leadership background. As the CEO and Co-founder of Elodin, he spearheads the development of innovative flight software platforms. Previously, he owned Tigris Digital, a veteran-owned tech business, and held key roles at M10, BitGo, RealtyShares, Salesforce, and Electronic Arts. Daniel holds a Master of Entertainment Technology from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He is skilled in people leadership & ambitious thinking.

CONNECT WITH DANIEL DRISCOLL

Website → https://elodin.systems

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/elodin-systems-inc

LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/in/x46085

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/elodin.systems/

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@elodin-sys

X/Twitter → https://twitter.com/Elodinsystems

GRAB THE BOOK DANIEL RECOMMENDS → Leaders Eat Last, by Simon Sinek, https://simonsinek.com/books/leaders-eat-last/

ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON

Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing."

CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital

Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/

Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights. 

Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

In this episode of Lobster Talks, host Gabriel Jarrosson dives deep into the world of startup contracts with Jake Stein, co-founder and CEO of Common Paper. Jake, a seasoned entrepreneur with two successful exits under his belt, candidly shares the challenges he faced with contract management in his previous ventures, which ultimately led him to create Common Paper. Jake unveils his company's unique approach: standardized contracts, available for free through an open-source model, coupled with powerful software that automates the entire process, from negotiation to payment. Gabriel, an investor himself, and Jake discuss the importance of building optionality into your business, both in terms of fundraising and selling. The conversation highlights the value of cultivating relationships with potential acquirers and understanding investor priorities. Jake also shares his perspective on the benefits of Y Combinator, particularly for fundraising and accessing a network of experienced entrepreneurs. 

Get an insider's look at the benefits of Y Combinator and learn how Jake's journey can help you navigate your own startup path. Whether you're battling contract chaos or seeking wisdom from a successful founder, this episode is packed with valuable insights. Tune in now to transform your approach to startup legalities and gain a competitive edge.

EPISODE IN A GLANCE

-Meet Jake Stein and Discover the Story Behind Common Paper – Simplifying Startup Contracts

-How Common Paper is Revolutionizing Startup Legal Agreements with Standardization & Automation

-The Power of APIs in Modern Contract Management – A Revolution in Legal Tech

-Niche Focus – Why Common Paper Specializes in B2B Software Agreements

-Early Lessons from a Startup Founder – Why Immediate Value is Key to Success

-The Unique Value of Common Paper – Open Source, Automated Contracts & Powerful Integrations

-Building a Sustainable Open Source Business – The Common Paper Revenue Model

-Beyond Fundraising – How Y Combinator Accelerates Startup Growth

-Exit Strategies for Startups – Leveraging Relationships & Creating Optionality When Selling Your Business

-Charlie Munger's Wisdom for Entrepreneurs – The Power of Deserving What You Want

-The Future of Common Paper: AI and Contract Optimization

ABOUT JAKE STEIN

Jake Stein is co-founder and CEO of Common Paper. Previously, he was co-founder of RJMetrics (acquired by Magento, then Adobe) and Stitch (acquired by Talend). Before RJMetrics, Jake worked in venture capital, started a landscaping business in high school, and was the 44th-ranked table tennis player under 21 in New Jersey; achievements of which he is equally proud.

CONNECT WITH JAKE STEIN

Website → https://commonpaper.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakestein/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/common-paper/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/jakestein

X/Twitter → https://x.com/jakestein

X/Twitter → https://x.com/UseCommonPaper

ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON

Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing."

CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital

Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/

Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights. 

Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

In this episode, Gabriel Jarrosson sits down with Peter Marton, co-founder and CEO of OpenMeter, to discuss how his company is revolutionizing the way AI startups bill their customers. OpenMeter provides an observability platform that enables usage-based billing for AI models, allowing companies to charge based on actual resource consumption rather than flat rates or estimates. Peter shares his journey from working at Uber to founding OpenMeter, the challenges they faced in building a scalable and accurate metering solution, and the impact their technology is having on the AI industry.

EPISODE IN A GLANCE

-Meet Peter Marton, OpenMeter Co-founder & CEO

-Peter Marton's Journey: From Netflix to Stripe to OpenMeter

-What is OpenMeter? Solving the Challenges of Usage-Based Billing

-The Pain Points of Usage-Based Billing: A Developer's Perspective

-OpenMeter's Evolution: From End-to-End Solutions to Core Metering

-OpenMeter: Open Source for Transparency & Monetization

-AI Integration: OpenMeter's Role in Cost Management for AI Companies

-Understanding Metering: Real-Time, Auditable, and Persistent

-From Idea to Funding: OpenMeter's Journey Through Y Combinator

-Launching OpenMeter: Building Traction and Fundraising

-From Hungary to Silicon Valley: Peter Marton's Personal Story

-Building a Global Team: Managing Teams Across Time Zones

-Fundraising Beyond Y Combinator: Securing Funding with Traction

-The Power of Y Combinator: Beyond Demo Day Fundraising

-OpenMeter's Future: Standardizing Metering and Future Goals

ABOUT PETER MARTON

Peter is the CEO and Co-founder of OpenMeter. With a background in observability and monetization, he previously worked on Netflix’s serverless infrastructure and Stripe’s usage and cost platform and co-founded an APM startup.

CONNECT WITH PETER

Website → https://openmeter.io/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/petermarton/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/openmeter

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbZ3O0-siPWXxiyfik7xJ_w

X/Twitter → https://twitter.com/openmeter

GRAB THE BOOK PETER RECOMMENDS → https://a.co/d/bbn82Ab

The Developer Facing Startup: Alchemist Accelerator’s go-to-market playbook for early-stage developer-facing startups by Adam Frankl 

ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON

Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing."

CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital

Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/

Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights. 

Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

In this episode of The Lobster Talks by Lobster Capital, Gabriel Jarrosson sits down with Tanvi Surti, the co-founder and CEO of Luca, a pricing AI engine transforming how retailers approach pricing and promotions. Tanvi shares her journey from working on AI at Microsoft and leading Uber's unprofitable UberPool team to founding Luca. She explains how Luca uses machine learning to help retailers of all sizes make data-driven pricing decisions, taking into account factors like costs, competition, customer demand, and business objectives. Tanvi also discusses the lessons she learned at Y Combinator, the power of the YC community, and her perspective on fundraising.

EPISODE IN A GLANCE

-Introducing Tanvi Surti: Co-founder and CEO of Luca

-Tanvi's Tech Background: From Microsoft to Uber Pool

-The Problem Luca Solves: Revolutionizing Retail Pricing

-Challenges and Opportunities in Retail Pricing

-Luca's Solution to Online and Offline Retail Pricing

-Machine Learning and Custom Models at Luca - The Power of AI

-AI in the Back Office - Transforming Enterprise Solutions through Machine Learning

-Y Combinator Experience and Fundraising Insights

-Future of Luca and Personal Reflections

ABOUT TANVI SURTI

Tanvi is the co-founder and CEO of Luca, a pricing engine for retailers. Prior to Luca, Tanvi worked as a Product Exec at Uber where she co-led the pricing team.

CONNECT WITH TANVI SURTI

Website → https://www.askluca.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/lucasoftware/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanvisurti/

GRAB THE BOOK TANVI RECOMMENDS → Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl - https://a.co/d/84BSBgK

ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON

Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing."

CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital

Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/

Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights. 

Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

Luke Bogus, co-founder and CEO of FanCave, is revolutionizing the world of college sports recruiting. FanCave turns superfans into recruiters for their favorite teams, bringing fans closer to the action while allowing them to compliantly support athletes via name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals. In this episode, Luke shares his journey from passionate Nebraska Cornhuskers fan to founder of a startup that enables fans to directly chat, react, and entice top recruits with NIL money to join their school. We explore how FanCave is capitalizing on recent regulatory changes, the power of founder conviction, and how Fancave is harnessing superfan energy to help athletes grow their fanbase and NIL value.

EPISODE IN A GLANCE

-Luke's Background: Learn about Luke's journey from Nebraska football fanatic to a tech product leader

-From Huskers to FanCave: Discover how Luke's passion for sports and his experience in the tech world led to the creation of FanCave

-The NIL Revolution and FanCave's Mission: Understand the regulatory changes driving the NIL movement 

-FanCave's Impact on Recruiting: Learn how FanCave helps fans directly engage with top recruits, influencing their decisions with financial incentives and community support

-FanCave's Early Success: FanCave's initial traction and the challenges of building a marketplace connecting fans and athletes

-Uber Inspiration: Get insights into how FanCave is using Uber's early strategy to build a strong supply side to fuel fan engagement

-Navigating a Regulatory Landscape: Learn how FanCave is navigating the complex and constantly evolving regulatory environment surrounding NIL

-Web3 Potential: Explore the future possibilities of FanCave

-Reaching Fans: Discover FanCave's strategy for engaging with college sports fans 

-Internal Motivation: Gain insights into Luke's passion for college sports.

-Finding Your Passion: Luke offers advice to aspiring entrepreneurs who are struggling to find a business idea that excites them

-Fundraising Journey: Hear Luke's experiences and lessons learned from his oversubscribed fundraising round

-Recommended Book: "Designing Your Life" 

ABOUT LUKE BOGUS

Luke Bogus is the Co-Founder of Fancave. Fancave is the startup that turns superfans into recruiters for their favorite teams. Before FanCave, Luke was Head of Product for Vial, a Series B life science tech startup, helping zero-to-one new clinical trial infrastructure that now generates millions in ARR. Prior, Luke was a Product Manager at Microsoft, and studied computer science and marketing at Nebraska's Raikes School.

CONNECT WITH LUKE BOGUS

Website → https://www.fancave.me/

X/Twitter → https://x.com/lukebogus

X/Twitter → https://x.com/FanCaveTeam

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukebogus/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/fancave

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/luke.bogus/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/FanCaveTeam

GRAB THE BOOK LUKE RECOMMENDS: Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life → https://a.co/d/iTmLI2R

ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON

Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing."

CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital

Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/

This is the vision that Dillon Nys, founder of Celest, is pursuing with Dart and Flutter.

In this episode of The Lobster Talks Podcast by Lobster Capital, we sit down with Dillon Nys, the founder of Celest, a startup that aims to make Dart the go-to language for full-stack development. Dillon shares his journey from studying environmental engineering to becoming a Flutter expert at AWS, where he played a key role in developing the Amplify Flutter framework.

Driven by his passion for Dart and Flutter, Dillon left AWS to create Celest, a platform that empowers developers to build applications using Dart across multiple platforms, including the cloud. Throughout the conversation, Dillon provides insights into the future of cross-platform development, the challenges of being a solo founder, and the invaluable lessons he learned during his time at Y Combinator.

EPISODE IN A GLANCE

-Introduction & Dillon's Background: From environmental engineering to discovering Flutter and Dart, Dillon's unconventional path into software development.

-The Birth of Celest: The inspiration and vision behind Celest: empowering Flutter developers to build for any screen.

-The Multi-Screen Future: Discussing the rise of multi-device experiences and how Flutter and Celest are positioned to play a key role in this evolving landscape.

-Y Combinator Experience: Dillon shares his experience as a solo founder in the YC program, highlighting the challenges and rewards.

-Solo Founder Dynamics: Challenges and Strategies

-Staying Motivated & Building a Strong Foundation: The importance of perseverance, finding your purpose, and building a support network for long-term success.

-Personal Inspiration & Book Recommendation: Dillon shares the book that has significantly impacted his life and approach to work: "Ishmael" by Daniel Quinn

ABOUT DILLON NYS

Dillon previously worked at AWS where he led development of the Amplify Flutter framework, bridging the gap for Flutter developers to build for the cloud. He saw how Flutter developers wanted to use Dart for their entire application stack, including their backend and infrastructure. So he left AWS and created Celest to fill the gap in this growing community and solve a personal pain point he'd had for many years.

CONNECT WITH DILLON NYS

Website → https://celest.dev/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/dillon-nys

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/celest-dev/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/dillonnys

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfz6AkB46TqsInqA8PcJvTA

Twitter → https://twitter.com/celest_dev

Twitter → https://twitter.com/dillonthedev

GRAB THE BOOK DILLON NYS RECOMMENDS → https://a.co/d/a6CNDp9

ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON

Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing."

CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital

Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/

Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights. 

Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

In this episode of The Lobster Talks podcast by Lobster Capital, Adrian Parlow, co-founder and CEO of PointOne, shares his unconventional journey from pursuing a career in corporate law to becoming a startup founder in the legal tech space. Adrian's story highlights the importance of customer discovery and truly understanding the pain points of your target audience. He reveals how interviewing 100 lawyers led to the creation of PointOne, a platform that automates the tedious task of timekeeping for legal professionals. Adrian also provides a thought-provoking perspective on the transformative impact of AI on the legal industry and offers valuable advice on effective fundraising strategies.

EPISODE IN A GLANCE

-From Law to Startups: Adrian's unconventional journey from aspiring corporate lawyer to passionate entrepreneur.

-The Birth of PointOne: Discovering the power of AI to revolutionize legal timekeeping and billing practices

-Customer Discovery Masterclass: How interviewing 100 lawyers helped identify pain points and shape PointOne's solution.

-AI Transforming the Legal Sector: Exploring the impact of AI on lawyers' roles and the potential for industry-wide disruption

-Automating Timekeeping: PointOne's solution for eliminating the tedious task of manual timekeeping for lawyers.

-Y Combinator Experience: How YC accelerated PointOne's growth and provided invaluable support.

-Fundraising Strategies: Adrian shares his insights and tactics for effective fundraising and capturing investor interest

ABOUT ADRIAN PARLOW

Adrian Parlow is the Co-founder & CEO of PointOne. Previously a corporate lawyer at Fenwick & West, doing financings and acquisitions for companies like Robinhood, Stripe and SentinelOne. Founded PointOne to automate manual admin processes for lawyers.

CONNECT WITH ADRIAN PARLOW

Website → https://pointone.ai/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianparlow/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/pointoneai/

X → https://twitter.com/aparlow

GRAB THE BOOK ADRIAN RECOMMENDS → https://www.momtestbook.com/

ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON

Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing."

CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital

Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/

Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights. 

Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

Join us on this episode of The Lobster Talks podcast as we go behind the scenes with Piero Nunez del Risco, founder of Pana – the YC-backed fintech revolutionizing banking for underserved immigrants and those with cross-border financial needs.

Discover how Pana is building trust within the Hispanic community by understanding their unique cultural nuances. Piero reveals the challenges they've tackled to achieve impressive growth, from enabling banking access for the unbanked to facilitating seamless cross-border transactions.

He also shares his entrepreneurial journey through Y Combinator, detailing how the program propelled Pana's fundraising and ambitious expansion plans to transform banking across the Americas. 

EPISODE IN A GLANCE

-What is Pana? Introducing Pana, a digital bank on a mission to revolutionize US Hispanic banking and provide accessible financial services for the underbanked community.

-Piero's Journey as a Founder: From media to FinTech startup founder, Piero shares his background and the pivotal moment that led him to launch Pana, a solution addressing the challenges of cross-border banking.

-Taking the Leap: Piero delves into the courage and mindset required to transition from a stable career to the world of entrepreneurship.

-Pana's Mission: Discover how Pana is tackling financial inclusion for immigrants and providing essential tools like remittances and accessible bank accounts.

-Expanding Horizons: Explore Pana's vision for a seamless banking experience across borders, connecting Latin America and the US.

-Customer Primacy: Learn how Pana achieved customer primacy by focusing on user needs and building trust within the US Hispanic community.

-Pana & Y Combinator: Piero shares his experience with Y Combinator, navigating fundraising challenges and the importance of building a resilient startup.

-The Value of the YC Community

-Pana's Growth & Future: Get insights into Pana's current growth trajectory, its product roadmap, and the vision for the future of cross-border financial solutions.

-Book Recommendation: Piero recommends "The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield

ABOUT PIERO NUNEZ DEL RISCO

Piero is the Co-Founder and CEO of Pana, a Y Combinator-backed challenger bank for the cross-border economy, Piero leads Pana’s team on a mission to provide accessible, affordable, and convenient financial services to millions of people who move money across borders. With expertise in new business development, process improvement, and analytical skills, he leads a talented and diverse team of product, design, engineering, and analytics professionals to deliver innovative and user-centric digital solutions that meet the needs and expectations of their customers.

CONNECT WITH PIERO

Website → https://www.joinpana.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/yanpieronunez/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/panaapp/ 

GRAB THE BOOK PIERO RECOMMENDS → 

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield - https://a.co/d/dCAWDDx

ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON

Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing."

CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital

Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/

Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights. 

Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

Laduram Vishnoi, CEO of Middleware, experienced this firsthand. Skyrocketing cloud costs are a major pain point for many companies, with some facing bills in the millions. Frustrated by the limitations and expense of existing observability tools, he decided to build a better solution.

Middleware is an observability platform designed with the complexities of modern cloud environments in mind. In this episode, Laduram shares his startup journey, including how he bootstrapped Middleware, leveraging his own capital and a talented team in India, the unique challenges and solutions for managing a distributed workforce, his experience navigating Y Combinator and tips for aspiring founders and how he impressively raised $6.5M in seed funding, even during a turbulent market

If you're grappling with cloud monitoring costs, or are simply fascinated by the startup world, this episode is a must-listen!

EPISODE IN A GLANCE

-What is Middleware?

-Laduram's background and founding story

-Managing a distributed team across time zones

-Laduram's experience with Y Combinator

-How to get into Y Combinator

-Secrets to successful fundraising for startups

-Middleware's progress and future plans with AI

-"Show me your friends and I will show you your future": Books and quotes that inspire Laduram

ABOUT LADURAM VISHNOI

Laduram Vishnoi is the founder and CEO of Middleware, an observability platform for cloud-native and microservices applications. Originally from India, he moved to San Francisco in 2016 to run his previous company, Acquire, which he grew to over 200 people and raised $57 million. Frustrated by the lack of affordable observability tools at Acquire, Laduram bootstrapped Middleware by investing his own money and building an initial team of 15-20 engineers in India. After a year of development, he went through Y Combinator's Winter 2023 batch, raising an impressive $6.5 million seed round amidst the Silicon Valley Bank crisis. Laduram's unique approach to distributed teams, fundraising strategies, and vision for AI-driven observability position Middleware as an innovative player transforming cloud monitoring.

CONNECT WITH LADURAM

Website → https://middleware.io/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/laduramvishnoi/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/middleware-labs/

GRAB THE BOOK LADURAM RECOMMENDS 

The Courage to Be Disliked → https://a.co/d/bP19SBS

The Power of Your Subconscious Mind → https://a.co/d/8we0Ki2

ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON

Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing."

CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital

Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/

Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights. 

Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

Trayd, the startup co-founded by Anna Berger, is making this a reality. 

Trayd is on a mission to bring fast, same-day pay to the construction industry. In this episode, discover how Anna Berger's own frustrations with outdated payroll systems led her to create a revolutionary solution. Learn about her journey of convincing a skeptical co-founder, navigating Y Combinator, and securing those crucial early wins. Plus, gain insights into her fundraising strategies, the story behind her "Believe the no, don't believe the why" advice and her vision for simplifying construction payroll for everyone. 

EPISODE IN A GLANCE

-Introducing Anna Berger, Co-founder of Trayd:The Startup for Same-Day Construction Pay

-Anna's personal connection to the construction industry and the initial spark for Trayd

-The massive reliance on paper payroll in construction sites

-Building a Team: How Anna convinced her best friend to join as a co-founder during an Italian adventure

-The Art of Convincing: Startup Pitching, Y Combinator, and Early Wins

-Startup Mindset: Resilience, Rejection, and Handling Doubters

-The Struggle of Letting Go: A Founder's Journey

-Pre-Funding Success: Letters of Intent (LOIs) and Early Traction

-Y Combinator: The Accelerator Experience for Trayd

-Overcoming Fundraising Rejection: Startup Persistence and Believing in Your Vision

-Solving the Construction Labor Shortage, Gig Economy Trends, and Fast Pay

-Fundraising Tips for Construction Tech Startups (Pitching to Investors)

-Startup Wisdom: Embracing Risk-Taking and Potential Rewards

Don't miss this episode that takes you inside the mind of a trailblazer reshaping the construction payroll landscape. Gain insights into Anna's entrepreneurial journey, her unwavering resilience, and her mission to empower the construction workforce through innovation.

ABOUT ANNA BERGER

Anna Berger is the co-founder and CEO of Trayd, a construction payroll platform designed for instant pay. Growing up in a family steeped in the construction industry, Anna recognized firsthand the frustrations and inefficiencies plaguing both contractors and workers. Driven by a deep understanding of her customers' needs, Anna embarked on a mission to streamline payroll operations and attract talent through faster payments. With unwavering resilience and a knack for convincing others to join her cause, Anna secured early support and letters of intent, paving the way for Trayd's acceptance into the prestigious Y Combinator program. At the heart of Anna's vision lies a commitment to empowering the construction workforce and fostering career growth within the trades, ultimately elevating the lives of hardworking individuals.

CONNECT WITH ANNA BERGER AND LEARN MORE ABOUT TRAYD

Website → https://www.buildtrayd.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/annajberger/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/traydinc/

Instagram → https://twitter.com/annajberger3Z

Twitter → https://twitter.com/annajberger3

TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@annajber

ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON

Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing."

CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital

Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/

Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights. 

Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

Isaac and Joel Philips, the founders of Siglo, share their inspiring journey of creating a revolutionary internet service provider (ISP) that's making a real difference in people's lives. In this thought-provoking episode of The Lobster Talks podcast by Lobster Capital, the Philips brothers discuss how they identified a significant gap in internet connectivity across Latin America and their innovative approach to solving it. From their early days of going door-to-door to sell their service to overcoming numerous challenges along the way, Isaac and Joel offer a candid look into the world of entrepreneurship and the relentless pursuit of their vision.

Tune in to The Lobster Talks for more episodes that bring you closer to the bold thinkers and innovators of our time. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform!

EPISODE IN A GLANCE

00:29 Introduction to Siglo and its Founders

03:41 The Innovative Technology Behind Siglo

05:09 The Revolutionary Approach: Pay-as-You-Go Internet Service

15:01 Challenges and Overcoming Adversity: The Journey of Siglo

25:58 Siglo's Strategic Moves, Business Model and Growth Strategy

31:23 Siglo's Y Combinator Experience

32:10 The Global Stage and Networking Power of YC

34:48 The Future Vision for Siglo 

38:50 Balancing Reality and Vision

40:39 How to find Siglo

ABOUT GUESTS

Joel & Isaac Philips are the brothers behind Siglo the startup that provides internet access at an affordable price and pay-as-you-go in Latam.

CONNECT WITH JOEL AND FIND MORE ABOUT SIGLO:

joel@siglo.com

Website → https://siglo.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelwp/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaacphillips/

X/Twitter → https://twitter.com/joelwp

ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON

Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing."

CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital

Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/

Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights. 

Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

On this episode of The Lobster Talks by Lobster Capital, Gabriel Jarrosson dives into the story of Alexey Nikityuk, founder of Maroo, the platform simplifying event management for everyone. Alexey shares his unusual path from corporate finance to the events industry, how Maroo tackles the pain points of planning (including those sky-high costs!) and the pivots that fueled his startup's growth. Get ready to be inspired by this tale of innovation and resilience.

EPISODE IN A GLANCE

00:36 The Maroo Story: Meet Alexey and learn how he swapped finance for event revolutionizing

02:37 Maroo's Birth: The idea that sparked it all, and the shift from weddings to the broader event landscape.

03:46 The Y Combinator Rollercoaster: Challenges, rejections, and the ultimate acceptance into a top accelerator.

09:44 The Power of Asking: Leveraging Connections and Negotiation

14:44 Pivots & Progress: Why Maroo moved away from BNPL, and how their payment system was born

24:41 Pivot or Persevere? Alexey's wisdom on when to change course and the role of customer feedback

31:30 The YC Experience: Insights and Impact

38:26 What's Next? AI-powered features and Maroo's vision for the event planning ecosystem

41:41 Lessons from failure, Alexey's favorite resources, and how to connect

ABOUT ALEXEY NIKITYUK

Alex is the Founder & CEO of Maroo, an operating system for the events industry in the United States. Alex launched the company in 2020, was accepted to YC S21 batch, and raised $4M of capital. Alex and his team scaled the company to $220M GMV and almost 10,000 businesses on the platform. Before that, Alex was at Revolut where he led the FP&A team and helped to close our $500M Series D round. Prior to his startup journey, Alex had a successful international career at Procter & Gamble and General Electric where he worked globally in various corporate finance roles.

CONNECT WITH ALEXEY NIKITYUK

Website → www.maroo.us

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexeynikityuk/

GRAB THE BOOKS ALEXEY RECOMMENDS → 

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck → https://a.co/d/bX3yoX3

Lenny's Newsletter Book → https://lennyswag.com/products/vol-1

ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON

Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing."

CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@lobstercapital

Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/

Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights. 

Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

BoldVoice founder Anada Lakra knows this challenge firsthand, and she's here to share how it inspired a solution.

Join host Gabriel Jarrosson for the debut episode of The Lobster Talks as he interviews Anada Lakra, co-founder and CEO of BoldVoice. Discover how this AI-powered app is revolutionizing English pronunciation training for non-native speakers. Learn about Anada's journey from immigrant to entrepreneur, the unique technology behind BoldVoice, and gain insights into building a successful startup with Y Combinator. This is a startup with the perfect origin story!

EPISODE IN A GLANCE

00:38 How a Non-Native Speaker Built BoldVoice to Improve Your Accent

01:07 The Accent Challenge: How BoldVoice Helps Non-Native Speakers in the US

03:40 BoldVoice: Personal Story + AI for Better English Pronunciation

08:18 How BoldVoice transforms accent training

11:40 Transform Your Accent with BoldVoice: Your "Mouth Gym"

14:08 Startup Success Secrets: Anada's Advice on Fundraising & Hiring

18:38 Build with Customers & Get a Hollywood Accent Coach (Inside BoldVoice)

23:18 Y Combinator Success: Lessons for Startup Founders

32:46 The Do's and Don'ts for Fundta

36:55 The Future of BoldVoice + Fundraising Tips for Entrepreneurs

ABOUT ANADA LAKRA

Anada Lakra is the Co-founder and CEO of BoldVoice. BoldVoice is an AI-powered app that helps non-native English speakers improve their pronunciation and confidence in English, with videos from Hollywood accent coaches and instant AI feedback. Backed by Y Combinator, BoldVoice has been recognized as a top EdTech company by Forbes, and is in the top 100 Education apps on the Apple App Store with over a million global downloads. Before BoldVoice, Anada was a product leader at McKinsey, Peloton, and other high-growth companies. She graduated from Yale University and Harvard Business School, and was named a Forbes 30 Under 30 in Education.

CONNECT WITH ANADA LAKRA

Website → https://www.boldvoice.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/boldvoice/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/anadalakra/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/boldvoiceapp/

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/c/BoldVoiceAmericanAccentCoaching

TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@boldvoiceapp

GRAB THE BOOK ANADA RECOMMENDS → https://a.co/d/5olk5L0

ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON

Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing."

CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON

Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/

Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights. 

Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155

In this episode of Lobster Talks, I sit down with Adish Jain, co-founder of Mosaic, the YC startup rethinking how creators edit video. We talk about Mosaic’s agentic canvas approach, why timelines are becoming optional, and how AI will bring millions of new creators into the fold.

You’ll learn:

- Why timelines are a relic — and what replaces them

- How agent-powered editing can cut 12-hour renders to seconds

- The human-in-the-loop design challenge for AI video tools

- How Mosaic balances speed, control, and creativity

- Why fully autonomous editing is closer than you think

- The contrarian bet that could reshape the editing industry

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters:

00:00 Reimagining Video Editing in the AI Era

00:37 Introduction to Mosaic and Its Vision

01:21 Challenges and Innovations in AI Video Editing

03:22 The Future of Autonomous Video Editing

08:18 The Inspiration Behind Mosaic

12:36 Building and Marketing Mosaic

17:43 Navigating User Expectations and Product Development

23:40 Debating the Perfection of AI

23:54 Utility of AI in Video Editing

24:48 Future of AI Agents in Video Editing

26:35 The Rise of Content Creators

27:43 Competing in a Saturated Market

30:04 Generative AI and Video Editing

33:14 Revolutionizing Video Editing with Mosaic

37:33 The Future of Video Editing

44:18 Exciting Developments at Mosaic

45:46 Conclusion and Farewell

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson

About the Show

Get the inside scoop on building a successful startup! The Lobster Talks Podcast delivers no-nonsense, battle-tested strategies and advice directly from founders who've made it happen. This is your weekly dose of real-world startup wisdom.

In Each Episode You'll Discover:

• Fundraising strategies that go beyond the textbook
• Secrets to overcoming common growth obstacles
• Hard-earned lessons to save you time and money
• Actionable startup tactics you can use today

Who Should Listen:

• Founders ready to accelerate their startup journey
• Entrepreneurs eager to learn from those who've been there
• Anyone seeking the unfiltered truth about startup life

Subscribe to The Lobster Talks Podcast and join us every Friday for a fresh dose of startup survival tactics.

Follow Lobster Capital on your favorite social channels for bonus insights and exclusive updates!

ABOUT GABRIEL JARROSSON

Gabriel Jarrosson is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the startup space and the General Partner of Lobster Capital. He has invested over $25M in Y Combinator startups. Having sold three of his own startups, he shares his expertise in his books "My Investor Secrets" and "Investing in Startups: x100 or Nothing."

CONNECT WITH GABRIEL JARROSSON

Website → https://www.lobstercap.com/

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrieljarrosson/

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lobstercapital/

Stay ahead of the game with the latest startup insights. 

Subscribe to our newsletter for startup updates and actionable insights → https://lobstercap.ck.page/c34c61a155