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…
OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Agent, merging its ‘Deep Research’ and ‘Operator’ tools into a single system capable of both gathering information and taking action online. Is this fusion worth the risk? Chris and Yaniv explore the promise and pitfalls of AI agents that can act autonomously, questioning whether reliability issues…
Uber has made its biggest shift in years by investing in 20,000 Lucid vehicles powered by Nuro’s NVIDIA-backed self-driving tech. Once known for its “asset-light” model, Uber is now taking ownership of a massive RoboTaxi fleet. In this clip, Chris Saad (ex-Uber exec) and Yaniv Bernstein break down what this…
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…
Huge news! AI coding tools don't necessarily make tasks faster to complete, with a new study showing that senior engineers are 19% slower on complex tasks when using AI tools. Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein explore why AI often creates cognitive overhead for experienced developers, how junior engineers benefit differently,…
AI coding tools don't necessarily make tasks faster to complete, with a new study showing that senior engineers are 19% slower on complex tasks when using AI tools. Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein explore why AI often creates cognitive overhead for experienced developers, how junior engineers benefit differently, and what…
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…
Intel’s CEO just admitted it’s too late for them in the high-end AI chip race, shifting focus to edge AI instead. Meanwhile, NVIDIA has quietly reopened its $10B China market despite U.S. export controls. Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein dive into Intel’s surprising honesty, why admitting defeat might actually be…
The $3B Windsurf acquisition by OpenAI just fell apart, and Google swooped in to cherry-pick the top talent. The result? Angry employees left behind and another brutal reminder of how messy Silicon Valley’s AI talent wars have become. Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein discuss why big tech is abandoning traditional…
Is Apple falling behind in the AI race? A top AI executive just jumped ship to join Meta’s 'superintelligence' division, and it’s raising serious questions about Apple’s innovation strategy. In this clip, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein break down why Apple’s conservative, privacy-first approach may be holding it back, and…
Elon Musk’s latest Grok AI model is back in the headlines, this time for some wild behavior. Not only has it been spouting inflammatory remarks, but it reportedly checks Elon’s own tweets before answering user questions. Here, Chris and Yaniv debate whether Grok is a serious AI contender or just…
Is Apple losing its edge in the AI race? And what does it mean for startups when big tech strip-mines entire companies for talent? Many early entrepreneurs believe giant tech firms are unbeatable, but this episode reveals how even industry leaders can stumble, and what founders can learn from their…
Can you really build and launch a startup without writing code (or knowing how to)? As AI tools promise lightning-fast product development, many founders still fall into old traps: over-validating, under-executing, or waiting too long for a technical cofounder. In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein are joined by…
Can you really build and launch a startup without writing code (or knowing how to)? As AI tools promise lightning-fast product development, many founders still fall into old traps: over-validating, under-executing, or waiting too long for a technical cofounder. In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein are joined by…
Figma’s S-1 filing is out, and it’s packed with insights for anyone building a SaaS business. With $750M in annual revenue, 450K paying customers, and 132% net revenue retention, Figma’s IPO is shaping up to be a major milestone for product-led growth. In this segment, Chris and Shira break down…
Elon Musk has officially launched the “America Party,” signaling a full pivot into politics. But is this just another billionaire side project, or a strategic move that could reshape tech’s role in US politics? In this clip from The Startup Podcast, Chris Saad and Shira Lazar break down what Musk's…
YouTube is taking a hard stance on AI-generated “slop” content. Channels using mass-produced AI videos may now lose monetization privileges under its updated partner program rules. Chris and Shira unpack the policy, the creator backlash, and the deeper implications for the future of content creation. Is this a necessary guardrail…
Robinhood and SoFi are giving retail investors a new way to “own” pre-IPO shares in giants like SpaceX and OpenAI. But these aren’t traditional shares, but tokenized representations with major legal and structural gray areas. In this clip, Chris and Shira break down how the model works, why it’s controversial,…
Sequoia Capital is facing intense backlash after one of its partners made inflammatory comments on X (formerly Twitter). The incident has ignited a wider conversation about bigotry, values, and accountability in tech leadership. In this clip, Chris and Shira analyze what the scandal reveals about Silicon Valley’s shifting moral compass,…
Is Silicon Valley building the future or just trying to rule it? From Elon Musk’s new political party to retail investors buying fake OpenAI stock, the startup world is getting weirder, faster. In this episode, Chris Saad and Shira Lazar break down a massive week in tech, politics, and startup…
Is Silicon Valley building the future or just trying to rule it? From Elon Musk’s new political party to retail investors buying fake OpenAI stock, the startup world is getting weirder, faster. In this episode, Chris Saad and Shira Lazar break down a massive week in tech, politics, and startup…
Are you sure your startup should be raising venture capital? Most founders assume VC is the goal, but for many it's the wrong fuel entirely. In this episode, we bust that myth wide open. Join hosts Yaniv Bernstein and Chris Saad as they chat with Amir Shevat, General Partner at…
Are you sure your startup should be raising venture capital? Most founders assume VC is the goal, but for many it's the wrong fuel entirely. In this episode, we bust that myth wide open. Join hosts Yaniv Bernstein and Chris Saad as they chat with Amir Shevat, General Partner at…
Grammarly just acquired Superhuman and previously snapped up Coda. But why is a grammar-checking tool buying up email and productivity apps? Chris and Yaniv dig into Grammarly’s big-picture strategy: to transform from a passive browser extension into a full-stack AI productivity suite. Is this a defensive move against LLM commoditization?…