In this episode, we dive into the unpredictable world of startups, where the only constant is change. Joining us is Jennifer Lewis, co-founder and CEO of Lex, a pioneering social app for the LGBTQ community. Jennifer shares her rollercoaster journey through the venture-backed startup landscape, a path filled with highs and lows, trials, and significant growth. Despite the notion that startups should be smooth sailing, Jennifer's experience tells a different story—one of persistence and resilience. She recounts the daunting challenges she faced while raising capital, which paradoxically energized her and her team to secure a substantial $5.6 million seed round. This episode reveals how coming close to failure can unveil a newfound strength and determination. We also take a personal look at Jennifer's background, tracing her unlikely path from her early years to becoming a leader in tech innovation. Her story is a testament to the unexpected turns life can take and the transformative power of embracing them. Tune in to gain insights into the gritty realities of startup life and the pivotal moments that can define a company's success.

What makes someone a successful founder? Is it how much revenue they're able to generate? How well they lead their company and their employees? How many investors they're able to land? Those all play a role ... but the real answer is probably more nuanced and certainly harder to pinpoint. When we look at any successful founder throughout history, it's natural to wonder how they got there. To wonder what made them different from the thousands of others who tried to walk the same path and failed. Today I get to talk to Ian Swanson, 3x venture-backed founder and current CEO of Protect AI. Ian has raised over $82M in venture capital throughout his career with two successful exits . In today's interview, we touch on all three of Ian's companies, sharing the ups, the downs, and the in-betweens of running a venture-backed company. Tune in to uncover the untold stories behind Ian's path to success and discover what sets him apart in the world of entrepreneurship.

Join us on a journey through the winding roads of entrepreneurship with our guest, Nancy Xu, the Founder & CEO of Moonhub. From her early days training for the U.S. math and physics team to her academic journey at Stanford and her stint as a software engineer at Facebook, Nancy seemed destined for academia. However, her passion for impactful ideas steered her towards entrepreneurship, leading her to start Moonhub, the pioneering AI-powered recruiter. With over $10 million raised in just two years, we explore how Nancy's background in AI research and building crucial relationships laid the foundation for Moonhub's success. Join us as we unravel the fascinating story of Nancy Xu raising millions from big named venture capitalists like Google Ventures and Khosla Ventures.