The Startup Podcast

• Grow Your Startup Fast and Effectively w/ Roblox's Former Tech Chief, Keith V. Lucas

  In the startup world, speed is everything.  But too many founders confuse busyness with velocity, mistaking frantic activity for real momentum.In this episode, Chris and Yaniv are joined by Keith Lucas, former product and engineering leader at Roblox, to unpack what speed actually means—and how to build it into your startup from day one.They explore why alignment, culture, and cadence matter more than hustle, and how Keith's “Inspire, Align, Amplify” framework can unlock lasting execution velocity.In this episode, you will:Understand why "busyness" is a dangerous red herring that kills real progressLearn how to define speed as strategic value delivered to users, not activityExplore how culture acts as the "fat tires" that enable rapid startup momentumApply Keith’s "Inspire, Align, Amplify" framework to build cohesive, fast-moving teamsIdentify common founder traps, from toxic niceness to decision paralysisDesign company values that actually shape behaviorDiscover why realized culture drives execution speedThe Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/  Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/  Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/  Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/

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• Insiders React: Microsoft Launches GitHub Spark + US Govt Bans "Woke AI", YouTube to Restrict Kids' Accounts

  Is GitHub Spark the future of AI software building? Startups looking to use “vibe coding” often face janky tools and broken promises. Microsoft's latest IDE, however, has serious potential to be the industry breakthrough that addresses the agonizing issues developers face.In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein unpack Microsoft’s latest attempt to win back developer mindshare with the launch of GitHub Spark, a cloud-based, AI-enhanced IDE. They debate whether Spark is an MVP for building micro-apps or a Trojan horse for a more ambitious plan to dominate developer workflows.Plus, the hosts dive into Trump’s executive order on “woke AI,” Coinbase’s bold relaunch of Base as a social platform, and YouTube’s machine-learning age verification for teens.In this episode, you will:Explore what GitHub Spark is and why it matters for the future of AI-powered software developmentUnderstand Microsoft’s positioning strategy and why it might be hiding bigger ambitionsCompare Spark to tools like Cursor, Claude Code, and WindsurfLearn how Trump’s executive order frames “neutral AI” and why it’s likely political theaterAssess whether Coinbase’s “Base App” is crypto’s answer to YouTube and TwitterDiscover the implications of YouTube’s new AI-based teen detection systemDebate the real risks and rewards of AI regulation and social media safetyThe Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/  Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/  Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/  Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/

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• Listener Q&A – Should You Use AI to Build Your MVP? Plus: Building Your Perfect Team, Breaking Startup Rules & More (Edu)

  AI is changing how we build startups, but how can founders leverage it without their product becoming slop?Too many early-stage entrepreneurs believe that faster prototyping automatically leads to better products. In reality, rushing to “ship something” can destroy product-market fit before it’s even tested.In this Q&A episode, Yaniv Bernstein (ex-Google, ex-Airtasker) and Chris Saad (former Head of Product at Uber) answer your burning questions about startup strategy, from hiring and product design to breaking industry rules. They reveal how to separate real innovation from AI-washing and why “contrarian and right” is the only strategy that works.In this episode:Discover which AI-adjacent startup opportunities are attracting real investor interest (and which ones to avoid)Learn how to rethink your MVP strategy in an AI-powered world without falling into the “build fast, fail fast” trapUnderstand when and how to break conventional startup rules to gain a genuine competitive edgeAvoid the most common hiring mistakes founders make, including the “warm body” trap and hiring the wrong senior execsIdentify the difference between a great product manager and a glorified project manager (and when to hire one)The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/

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• Insiders React: Uber's New Response to Waymo + ChatGPT’s New Super Agent & OpenAI’s Chaotic Company Culture

  Is Uber’s gamble on RoboTaxis a brilliant move, or the end of its asset-light magic? And what’s really going on inside OpenAI as it races to dominate AI?Many founders assume hypergrowth companies are perfectly coordinated machines, but the reality is far messier. From billion-dollar GPU costs to chaotic product launches, there’s a lot for entrepreneurs to learn from how these giants operate.Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein break down Uber’s 20,000-car RoboTaxi deal with Lucid and Nuro, and delve into what it means for the future of ride-hailing. They also discuss OpenAI’s new ChatGPT Agent, the company’s internal culture, and why GPU costs might be the most important factor shaping the AI race.In this episode:Understand why Uber is moving away from its asset-light model to own RoboTaxisDiscover how Uber plans to compete with Waymo, Tesla, and other autonomous vehicle playersLearn the economics of hybrid fleets—and why surge pricing is still criticalUnpack OpenAI’s confusing product lineup and what it reveals about their cultureEvaluate why GPU costs dominate OpenAI’s strategic decisionsExplore the risks of AI agents acting autonomously—and why reliability is still a huge issueTake away lessons founders can apply when scaling teams and managing chaotic hypergrowthThe Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/  Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/  Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/  Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/

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• Two Simple Principles to Get Your Startup Noticed, and How to Apply Them (w/ Product Hunt CEO Rajiv Ayyangar)

  Getting noticed is harder than ever, but Rajiv Ayyangar (CEO, Product Hunt) says most startups fail for a surprisingly simple reason: lack of clarity and velocity.In this episode of The Startup Podcast, Rajiv explains what separates breakout startups from the thousands that never gain traction. Drawing on insights from hundreds of Product Hunt launches, Rajiv shares how to craft a tagline that resonates, why launching early (and often) is critical, and how velocity builds a powerful feedback flywheel that accelerates growth.He also shares what Product Hunt’s biggest winners did differently, why clarity forces better product thinking, and how AI tools are changing the speed of iteration, giving today’s founders a unique advantage if they use them correctly.In this episode:Learn why clarity beats hype every timeHow to craft a tagline that drives viral tractionWhy velocity builds trust and better user feedbackThe power of launching early (and re-launching often)Lessons from Notion, Superbase & other Product Hunt standoutsWhether you’re planning your first launch or trying to reignite growth, this conversation is packed with actionable lessons for founders who want to stand out.The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/  Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/  Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/  Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/

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