TechCrunch's Found podcast, which has been bringing listeners the stories behind startups since April 2022, aired its latest episode today.
I've been a host of Found since November 2022, and in that time I've spoken to over 75 founders about the startups they're building. These founders hail from many different backgrounds and are building in sectors ranging from AI to climate to ecommerce to higher education and everything in between.
Now that the show is no longer bringing you new episodes, I decided to revisit some of my favorite episodes.
You may notice a theme in many of these. The best founders to talk to didn't mention our product full time and didn't make big claims about their company or their business. Instead, Many of these founders offered a vivid account of both building their companies and the trials and tribulations of startup life.
The 15 episodes below are some of my favorites that I've been a part of. These episodes are listed in reverse chronological order of when they were published, contrary to my actual ranking.
Guest: Howie Liu Co-Founder and CEO; Airtable
What the company does: A no-code app platform
Episode Pub Date: October 22 2024
Why is it a favorite? Liu enjoyed talking to him. Airtable has an interesting story, and Liu tells it well. The fact that the app's design is inspired by one of Liu's favorite animated characters tells you all you need to know about the tone of this conversation.
Guest: Cohere, Co-founder Nick Frosst
What the company does: Enterprise AI
Episode Pub Date: August 8 2024
Why is it a favorite? There is a lot of hyperbole and exaggeration in the AI startup market today. Frosst is not tenacious. It's refreshing to talk to an AI founder who knows both of their stuff, but can recognize what's being sold in the AI space and how their own company is hyped.
Guest: Tade Oyerinde chancellor Campus
What the company does: Accredited online community college
Episode Pub Date: July 18 2024
Why is it a favorite? Most of the startup ecosystem is founders looking for old ideas iteratively. Although this approach is both valid and often profitable, It's not always interesting. Campus is one of the few (non-climate sensitive) companies I've talked to this year that is doing something truly unique.
Guest: Nicolas Green, Co-Founder and CEO of Thrive Market
What the company does: A membership-based online health grocery platform
Episode Pub Date: April 2 The year 2024
Why is it a favorite? Thrive Market can target its online marketplace of healthy snacks and groceries to the type of customers they have access to. But it didn't make for a good story. In addition, Learning about the logistics of an online grocery store that opened before Covid was fascinating — even for someone like me who isn't obsessed with grocery logistics.
Guest: Rebecca Hu; Co-Founder Glacier
What the company does: Reusable robots
Episode Pub Date: March 12 2024
Why is it a favorite? Glacier's approach to training computer vision to isolate recycling robots is reduction; reuse; It seems like a glimpse into the future of recycling. Hu has some interesting anecdotes about building an AI company in the age of AI. Also, robots have names.
Guest: Beatrice Dixon, Co-Founder and CEO, The Honey Pot (acquired by Compass Diversified)
What the company does: Period hygiene products
Episode Pub Date: February 6 2024
Why is it a favorite? The story of The Honey Pot's founding is a fascinating one, and Dixon is the storyteller. This episode also shows you the sheer grit of getting a business off the ground, but also the sweet reward at the end of all the work.
Guest: Ben Goodwin, co-founder and CEO of Olipop
What the company does: Prebiotic soda
Episode Pub Date: January 24 2024
Why is it a favorite? Olipop is a wild company to follow as the gut-healthy soda market has exploded in recent years. Goodwin was a pleasure to talk to. Despite being the CEO, he still shapes all the flavors of the brand himself. He took us while drinking coffee from a wine glass. That gives you an idea of how it went down.
Guest: Neil Batlivala
What the company does: Connecting underserved communities to high-quality care.
Episode Pub Date: November 28 2023
Why is it a favorite? Batlivala cracked the code on tapping government resources to help a startup make more impact. Batlivala and his work with the Pair Team are a bright spot in the startup ecosystem as his company works to improve the lives of vulnerable people in the U.S. who are often overlooked by big tech.
Guest: Abhi Ramesh, founder and CEO of Misfits Market
What the company does: Online grocery store of ugly goods and packaged goods
Episode Pub Date: October 31 2024
Why is it a favorite? Ramesh is incredibly candid about the story behind Misfits Market's founding and all the challenges he faced to get the company off the ground. This episode was also recorded shortly after Misfits bought rival Imperfect Foods, so there's also a lot of useful information on how the companies merged.
Guest: Graham Hine Co-Founder and Director; ePlant (former CEO)
What it does: AI sensors are used to monitor tree health.
Episode Pub Date: September 5 2023
Why is it a favorite? This startup uses AI to talk to trees. Hine is not your typical Silicon Valley founder; In a good way. Tree health—talking to a company that is solving a big problem is fun, but very fun. Find out and listen to Hines' favorite plant, too.
Guest: Rebecca Rosenberg, Founder and CEO, ReBokeh
What the company does: Assistive technology for the visually impaired
Episode Pub Date: August 1 2023
Why is it my favorite? People with disabilities are often completely ignored by technological innovation, so it's great to hear from a founder who's creating transformative technology for the visually impaired and doing so in a way that's rooted in his personal experience. Rosenberg is wise beyond her years.
Guest: Kamakshi Sivaramakrishnan Founder and CEO; Samooha (now part of Snowflake)
What it does: Secure data collaboration
Episode Pub Date: May 16 2023
Why is it a favorite? Sivaramakrishnan is a force to be reckoned with in the tech world. While she was preparing to give birth in the hospital, she signed the documents to sell her first startup and later sold another startup. There is a lot to learn from this.
Guest: Ben Lamm, Founder and CEO of Colossal Biosciences
What it does: Conservation of endangered species to revive them.
Episode Pub Date: March 21 2023
Why is it a favorite? I'll end this episode assuming you've completed this episode while you're confused as to why a tech startup is looking to bring the giant wool plant back to life. Lamm is a compelling speaker and the science behind the company is endlessly fascinating.
Guest: Matt Rogers, founder and CEO
What the company does: Food composting and recycling at home
Episode Pub Date: March 7 2023
Why is it a favorite? Roger has an impressive background before starting Mill, including working on the original iPhone and founding the Nest smart thermometer company. Rogers is hilarious and his quips and anecdotes alone make this worth your time.
Guest: Mir Hwang, Founder and CEO of GigFinesse
What the company does: Gig-booking software
Episode Release Date: January 17 2023
Why is it a favorite? Hwang is a fascinating founder. From pretending to be his own booker to building this business out of someone else's dorm room. Lots of fun stories gathered here. In addition, GigFinesse's gig-booking tool is pretty cool on its own.