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Artwork for The Founder Initiative

The Founder Initiative

Adam ODonnell
Venture Capital
Product-Market Fit
Y Combinator
Fawn
Silicon Valley
Fundraising
Advertising Technology
Cofactory
Children
Funding Framework
Lucidlink
Neubird
Rinse
Ai-Powered Billing and Revenue Automation
Investing
500 Global
Covid-19
Data Science
Seed Funding
Entrepreneurship

Helping founders hit PMF, get funded & drive durable growth through podcasting & buyer events (Formerly TheTop.VC)

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes190Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TechnologyInvestingBusiness

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Artwork for The Founder Initiative

Latest Episodes

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Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focu... more

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focu... more

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focu... more

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Recent Guests

Oliver Keh
Founder of Gleam and Y Combinator participant
Gleam
Episode: (YC S23) Gleam Founder, Oliver Keh: Investigative Journalist Approach To PMF
Arvind Parthasarathi
Founder of Cygnvs and experienced entrepreneur
Cygnvs
Episode: a16z Invested; $55M Raised, CYGNVS' Founder, Arvind Parthasarathi, why you must first define PMF & how to raise from top VC
Sandra Bustos
Founder of Meshly with over 10 years of experience as a GTM operator
Meshly
Episode: [Pitch] ex Lightspeed VC & Founder of Meshly.ai: Mercedes Bent & Sandra Bustos Real VC Pitch
Mercedes Bent
Former partner at Lightspeed Ventures, has extensive experience in consumer startups and venture capital
Lightspeed Ventures
Episode: [Pitch] ex Lightspeed VC & Founder of Meshly.ai: Mercedes Bent & Sandra Bustos Real VC Pitch
Ben Kim
Founder of Nitrode, an AI game development engine.
Nitrode
Episode: (YC W25) How To Nail Your YC (or any VC) Interview; Nitrode's Founder, Ben Kim
Jesse Zhang
Co-founder and CEO of Decagon, a company building AI customer service agents
Decagon
Episode: a16z Invested; $231M Raised Sub 2-years; Decagon's Founder, Jesse Zhang & Amex Ventures's Managing Director, Kevin Weber; Building & Funding Unicorns
Kevin Weber
Managing director of Amex Ventures, focused on early stage investments in enterprise software
Amex Ventures
Episode: a16z Invested; $231M Raised Sub 2-years; Decagon's Founder, Jesse Zhang & Amex Ventures's Managing Director, Kevin Weber; Building & Funding Unicorns
Steven Wang
Co-Founder of Dubb and former Harvard student.
Dubb
Episode: Harvard Dropout Builds Fastest Fintech App To Hit 1M Downloads, Raises $47M; Steven Wang, Co-Founder of dub
Sarthak Goel
Founder of Invoid, an Indian startup in the KYC automation industry
Invoid
Episode: (YC W21) Indian Startup Denied 3x by YC, Accepted 4th; Sarthak Goel, Founder of Invoid

Host

Adam O'Donnell
Host of The Founder Initiative

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 30 ratings
  • Full of of golden nuggets!!

    Fantastic podcast for anyone raising! So many great insights in all the episodes. Highly recommended

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ibrotzky
    Canada3 years ago
  • A must for first-time founders

    Extracting the most valuable advice from VCs and tech executives has helped shape my decision-making and saved me time as a first-time founder.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    c_huie
    United States5 years ago
  • Great content at a perfect length

    Just started listening to Adam’s podcast recently and can’t stop listening. He interviews a plethora of successful people, each with their own unique background, at a length that allows me to listen to a few or just one when I’m on the go. Looking forward to more!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jgrumby
    United States5 years ago
  • Adam is one of a kind

    Been listening to Adan’s work for about two years now and love it. He’s got a to the point approach that works so well to give you the top info in bite sized chunks. I’m a big fan

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JsosoSoto
    United States5 years ago
  • Tactical insights & top guests

    Adam does a great job of finding top VCs and CEOs that have been there before. I like how each episode is under 15-minutes and about one unconventional tactic or trend. Great stuff.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ikshit Pant
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Reviewers commend the quality of guests and their expert advice.
Listeners appreciate the concise format that delivers actionable insights rapidly.
Many consider the insights shared as invaluable for navigating fundraising and startup challenges.
Feedback highlights the podcast's appeal for busy entrepreneurs in need of quick information.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#187
Indonesia/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

(YC S21) $10M ARR, Storylane Founder, Nalin Senthamil: PMF Unlock - Are Prospects Interrupting You?
Q: What advice would you give to someone who's not yet excited but are trying to make decisions?
Try to pitch what you're going to put on your website simply, and refine that based on the responses you receive from potential customers.
(YC S21) $10M ARR, Storylane Founder, Nalin Senthamil: PMF Unlock - Are Prospects Interrupting You?
Q: What was one of the things that helped you know it was an actual thing?
Real feedback and validation came from customers expressing a desire to use the product and then ultimately paying for it.
(YC S21) $10M ARR, Storylane Founder, Nalin Senthamil: PMF Unlock - Are Prospects Interrupting You?
Q: What was the single biggest learning that you had from the idea phase to first dollar?
The most significant learning was that the real validation comes when a customer swipes their credit card and pays, as opposed to just expressing interest.
a16z Partner Interview, Seema Amble: 3 things she looks for in early-stage startups, how to get a meeting with her, & more
Q: What's the biggest thing, your biggest advice for a founder trying to reach out to you for the first time?
If there's very impressive metrics, we will take the meeting; themes matter so send it to the right person; social proof matters.
a16z Partner Interview, Seema Amble: 3 things she looks for in early-stage startups, how to get a meeting with her, & more
Q: What would be a key thing that you look for in an early stage startup?
I'm looking for customers, hiring ability, and the founder's velocity in learning and executing.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Founder Initiative

What is The Founder Initiative about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focused on empowering founders, the episodes feature conversations with successful entrepreneurs and investors who share valuable insights on achieving product-market fit (PMF) and raising funds in the competitive startup landscape. The discussions often highlight not just the challenges of starting a venture but also unconventional strategies and experiences that shape the journey of building a startup. Notably, the episodes are concise, often under 15 minutes, delivering actionable advice in a digestible format, catering especially to busy entrepreneurs looking for quick yet impactful insights.

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How many listeners does The Founder Initiative get?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Founder Initiative?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Founder Initiative:

1. The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch
2. Uncapped with Jack Altman
3. Acquired
4. All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg

How many episodes of The Founder Initiative are there?

The Founder Initiative launched 5 years ago and published 190 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Founder Initiative?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Founder Initiative?

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What guests have appeared on The Founder Initiative?

Recent guests on The Founder Initiative include:

1. Oliver Keh
2. Arvind Parthasarathi
3. Sandra Bustos
4. Mercedes Bent
5. Ben Kim
6. Jesse Zhang
7. Kevin Weber
8. Steven Wang

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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