This is how James raised $24 million and reached 20 million users for his startup, Command AI, with contrarian ideas.📚 1,800 Pitch Decks (Free) → deck-database.carrd.coFollow James's journey:🐦 X → x.com/dazzeloid💼 LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/james-evans-7086b3126🚀 Startup → command.aiFollow us:🎥 YouTube → youtube.com/@foundingjourney📝 Newsletter → join.foundingjourney.com📈 Founder Membership → upgrade.foundingjourney.com💼 LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/michael-houckFounder Journey(01:00) — James’s founder origin story(04:04) — Command AI origin story(25:15) — Gaining conviction to build Command AIFounder Mindset(06:39) — Recognizing pivot opportunities(08:23) — The overrated nature of creating new categories(11:06) — The myth of necessitating truly new creationsGrowth Strategies(15:17) — Engaging in activities that probably don’t scale(22:37) — Can anyone become a founder?(41:53) — Prioritization strategies for foundersNetworking & Resources(29:18) — Effectively using the YC experience(33:07) — Using Loom as a fundraising cheat code(35:53) — Well-designed decks vs. substance(39:10) — James’ angel investing learnings(44:03) — Securing big logos earlyRapid Fire(47:25) — Recommended investors?(48:33) — Advice for first-time founders?(49:08) — Favorite SaaS tools?(50:03) — One change you’d make in startups?

This is how Zayd Ali sold his first company in high school and immediately started a new one in AI, called Valley, that has raised over $3 million already.📚 1,800 Pitch Decks (Free) → deck-database.carrd.coFollow Zayd's journey:🐦 X → x.com/zaydsyedali💼 LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/zayd-syed-ali-4201101a9🚀 Startup → joinvalley.coFollow us:🎥 YouTube → youtube.com/@foundingjourney📝 Newsletter → join.foundingjourney.com📈 Founder Membership → upgrade.foundingjourney.com💼 LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/michael-houckFounder's Journey(01:19) — Selling a company in high school(07:03) — The feeling after selling a company(09:09) — Community accelerator programs(21:30) — Bootstrapped vs. venture-backed startups(34:58) — Selling before building(52:34) — Risk of startup life in your 20sThe Art of Pivoting(14:51) — Executing a pivot(17:39) — Advice for reluctant founders(18:54) — Founder market fit & "why now"Investor Dynamics(23:11) — High-profile investors’ impact(24:52) — High energy in investor meetings(28:23) — Creating urgency for investors(38:03) — Investor response to customer LOIs(38:47) — Pre-read deck strategy(41:45) — Analyst to partner transition(44:01) — Anticipating investor pushbacks(45:10) — Avoiding introductions from investors who passed(47:30) — Challenges for AI startups(50:44) — Raising in a hot marketRapid Fire(54:56) — Who's an investor you'd recommend?(55:47) — One thing you'd change about startups?(56:44) — Advice for first-time founders?(57:38) — Something you believe that most disagree with?

This is how Dara sold his first startup to build an AI that can clone anyone online, and raised funding from Keith Rabois for it.📚 1,800 Pitch Decks (Free) → deck-database.carrd.coFollow Dara's journey:🐦 X → x.com/daraladje💼 LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/dara-ladjevardian🚀 Startup → delphi.aiFollow us:🎥 YouTube → youtube.com/@foundingjourney📝 Newsletter → join.foundingjourney.com📈 Founder Membership → upgrade.foundingjourney.com💼 LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/michael-houckFounder Journey(00:56) — Dara's grandfather(03:45) — Dara's first encounter with LLMs(06:04) — Launching Friday: Dara's first company(08:10) — The Friday acquisition journey(08:54) — Working at OpenStore post-acquisition(48:03) — Lessons from building FridayCo-founder Dynamics(09:38) — Choosing the right co-founder(12:01) — Transitioning from solo to co-founder(13:58) — Co-founders: bootstrapped vs. VC-backed companiesMarketing & Positioning(14:49) — Positioning Delphi(21:01) — Delphi's product roadmap(23:38) — PLG growth strategy(26:30) — Testing paid marketing channels(27:30) — Differentiating in the age of AI(33:35) — Dara's vision for building Delphi(37:27) — Attracting talent to your companyMentorship & Investment(18:38) — Pitching Delphi to Founders Fund(38:16) — The importance of mentorship(40:21) — Lessons from Keith Rabois(41:51) — Effects of high-profile investors(42:57) — Why Keith Rabois invested in Dara(43:55) — Securing well-respected angels(44:44) — Dara’s fundraising tips(47:00) — Recognizing the need for VC backingAdditional Insights(29:18) — Future role of creators(31:02) — Future role of founders(35:26) — Passion as a priority in startups(49:35) — Niche focus vs. broad targetingRapid Fire(51:54) — Who's an investor you'd recommend?(52:32) — One thing you'd change about startups?(53:14) — Advice for first-time founders?(53:53) — Something you believe that most disagree with?

After landing dream jobs at Facebook and Google, Andrew Yeung realized that he wasn’t fulfilled. When he moved to NYC, he wanted to meet people so he started hosting events. Those events unexpectedly turned into a successful startup...In our conversation, we discuss:Transitioning to Startups(01:03) — Transition from big tech to startups(09:05) — Finding time for the non-founder parts of life(10:45) — Leveraging the founder community(12:35) — Getting connected to a Lyft Co-founder(21:09) — Giving up alcoholImmigrant Founders(17:11) — Extraordinary Alien Visa(19:27) — Why immigrants are frequent foundersGrowth & Press(23:48) — Accidentally creating a business opportunity(25:24) — Building trust(26:50) — Andrew’s growth flywheel(34:42) — Advantages of getting press(36:41) — Avoiding traditional media’s downsides(40:14) — Traditional media vs. social mediaEvents & Engagement(45:34) — Weighing if founders should host events(47:25) — Making an event attractive to sponsors(49:38) — When founders should sponsor events(50:47) — When founders should attend eventsAndrew’s Businesses(53:19) — Engineering serendipitous connections(54:55) — Weighing fundraising for Fibe(55:52) — Investing in startups(59:16) — Unexpected learnings from founder lifeRapid Fire(1:01:26) — Who's an investor you'd recommend?(1:02:18) — One thing you'd change about startups?(1:04:15) — Advice for first-time founders?(1:04:41) — Something you believe that most disagree with?Where you can find Andrew and Fibe:X → x.com/andruyeungLinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/andyeungStartup → meetfibe.comWhere you can find Michael Houck:Newsletter → join.foundingjourney.comFounder Membership → upgrade.foundingjourney.comLinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/michael-houck

Sam is the co-founder and CEO of Levels. He’s raised $67M from investors, including a16z, and he even helped turn one of his co-founders into an influencer with nearly a million followers. In this conversation we cover:Startup Journey(01:24) — How Sam almost didn't become an entrepreneur(05:46) — Sam's companies before Levels(09:45) — Early entrepreneurial lessons learnedCustomer Insights(17:19) — Importance of understanding customers(21:12) — Customers are directionally correct(22:48) — Engaging with customersPR & Community(11:59) — Power of PR for startups(27:20) — Building community at Levels(29:16) — Community as a growth strategyContent & SEO(30:37) — Levels' SEO strategy(33:25) — Focusing content efforts(35:18) — Content as a hiring tool(41:24) — Measuring influencer ROI(58:14) — Creator partnerships insights(59:13) — Increasing content breakthroughs(1:02:38) — Pursuing a viral content strategy(1:04:25) — Value of follower countMarket Positioning & Growth(53:42) — Carving a niche in a crowded market(56:11) — Sustaining growth over time(1:06:04) — Selling before launching(1:08:25) — Finding product-market fitNetworking & Efficiency(1:11:13) — Building a broader network(1:14:28) — Network theory for investors(1:16:20) — Creating systems & delegation(1:01:15) — Time management in growthRapid Fire(1:18:15) — Who's an investor you'd recommend?(1:18:48) — One thing you'd change about startups?(1:20:17) — Advice for first-time founders?(1:20:28) — Something you believe that most disagree with?Where you can find Sam and Levels:X → x.com/SamCorcosLinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/samcorcosStartup → levels.comWhere you can find Michael Houck:Newsletter → join.foundingjourney.comFounder Membership → upgrade.foundingjourney.comLinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/michael-houck