Forward Thinking Founders
Business & Finance
About
Forward Thinking Founders is a founder podcast where we interview high potential founders from networks like Y Combinator, The Thiel Fellowship, Product Hunt, Twitter, etc. and brings to light what they're building for the world. Think of it like the opposite of How I Built This, where we interview founders before they are successful, then if they are, we have a moment in time we can look back on in the early days. Does the model work? Look at our early interviews and you'll have your answer.
Episodes
- 975 - Building The Whoop For Your Poop, with Scott Hickle (Throne)
Scott Hickle, co-founder and CEO of Throne Science , joins Forward Thinking Founders to talk about building the world's first hands-free gut health tracker — a clip-on toilet device that monitors digestive health, hydration, and prostate h…
- 974 - Creating A Marketplace For Student Athlete Babysitters w/ Meaghan Franks (Sport Sitters)
In this episode of Forward Thinking Founders, Mat Sherman sits down with Meaghan Franks, founder of Sport Sitters, a marketplace that connects college athletes with families for high-trust, high-energy babysitting. What started as an accid…
- 973 - Building The Camera The Captures Verifiably Real Photos w/ Kosuke July Hata (Roc Camera)
In this episode of Forward Thinking Founders, Mat chats with Kosuke July Hata , the founder behind the ROC Camera — a groundbreaking device built to take verifiably real photos in the age of AI. He shares how his background in robotics, au…
- 972 - Enabling Better Basketball Analytics Using Computer Vision w/ Bo Shaffer (Playswise)
In today’s episode of Forward Thinking Founders , Mat sits down with Bo Shaffer, founder and CEO of Playswise , a startup using computer vision and AI to unlock deep basketball analytics straight from broadcast footage. Bo played basketbal…
- 971 - Enabling Worldwide 7G Connectivity Via Space Lasers w/ Gulmohar Ahluwalia (Nyxara)
In this episode of Forward Thinking Founders, Mat Sherman sits down with Gulmohar Ahluwalia, founder & CEO of Nyxara — a company building a next-generation space-to-ground communications system using cloud-piercing lasers capable of delive…
- 970 - Using your Voice To Complete Complex Workflows On Your Computer w/ Connor Waslo (Caddy)
Mat Sherman catches up with Connor Waslo, co-founder/CEO of Caddy , a desktop voice interface that keeps you in flow by turning spoken intent into real work across tools like Linear, Slack, Calendar, Gmail, and Notion. Connor shares the or…
- 969 - The Marketplace Bringing Naps to Hotels w/ Jared Lerner (Nappr)
In this episode of Forward Thinking Founders , Mat Sherman chats with Jared Lerner, co-founder and CEO of Nappr , a marketplace redefining hotel stays by letting travelers book rooms for short, flexible durations. Jared shares how his own…
- 968 - Building Cursor for Mobile Apps W/ Mahdi Nouri (CatDoes)
In this episode of Forward Thinking Founders , Mat Sherman chats with Mahdi Nouri , co-founder and CEO of CatDoes , a no-code AI mobile app builder empowering anyone to create apps without writing code. Mahdi shares the story behind CatDoe…
- 967 - Controlling Your Phone With AI w/ Adam Cohen Hillel (Dafdef / AI Key)
In this episode of Forward Thinking Founders , Mat Sherman interviews Adam Cohen Hillel, co-founder of Dafdef, the company behind AI Key —a groundbreaking device that plugs into your phone and allows AI to directly control it. Adam discuss…
- 966 - Building AI Copilots To Slow Down Human Aging W/ Nikhil Yadala (Healome)
In this episode of Forward Thinking Founders , Mat Sherman talks with Nikhil Yadala, cofounder and CEO of Helome , a company building AI copilots to help people slow their aging. Nikhil shares how Helome uses advanced “aging clocks”, AI mo…
- Building Infra for Private, Sovereign, and User-aligned AI Systems w/ Will Preble (Covenant)
In this episode, we dive into one of the most pressing conversations in technology today: the balance between innovation and security in artificial intelligence. The discussion with Will Preble of Covenant Labs unpacks why maintaining cont…
- 964 - Cat Turner On Building Cursor for Complicated Billing Workflows (Autaly)
In this episode of Forward Thinking Founders, Mat Sherman interviews Cathleen Turner, founder of Autaly, a software company focused on improving logistics businesses by automating invoicing and cash flow management. Cathleen shares her uni…
- Building a Dating App Powered by AI W/ Jonathan Liu (Cupidly)
In this episode of Forward Thinking Founders, host Mat Sherman interviews Jonathan Liu, founder of Cupidly. They discuss Jonathan's journey from a young coder to a startup founder, his experiences with venture capital and bootstrapping, an…
- 962 - Building An Autonomous Golf Cart Network W/ Danny Minutillo (Nav Robotics)
In this conversation, Mat Sherman interviews Danny, the founder and CEO of Nav Robotics , about the innovative solutions his company is developing in the realm of autonomous transportation. They discuss the challenges and opportunities in…
- 961 - Gamifying Social Status by Combining Game Design and AI w/ Harvey Pratt (Simcluster)
In this conversation, Mat Sherman interviews Harvey Pratt, the founder and CEO of Simcluster , an AI video game that combines social networking with innovative gameplay mechanics. Harvey discusses the unique aspects of Simcluster, includin…
- 960 - The Power Of One Visit To Silicon Valley w/ Audrey Chen (Nosu)
In this conversation, Mat Sherman interviews Audrey Chen, co-founder of Nosu , about her journey from gaining a following on social media to launching a startup focused on streamlining hackathon ops. Audrey shares her experiences of going…
- 959 - One Man's Journey Of Breaking Into Silicon Valley From Ohio w/ Andrew Rea (Taxwire)
In this episode, Mat Sherman sits down with Andrew Rea, co-founder and CEO of Taxwire , to explore the transformative journey of entrepreneurship during the pandemic. Starting with the pivotal role of reinvention in challenging times, the…
- 958 - Creating A Masterful UX In A Crowded Field w/ Aleksandar Besarovic (Aimfox)
In this conversation, Mat Sherman interviews Aleksandar Besarovic, co-founder of Aimfox , a LinkedIn outreach tool. They discuss the journey of Aimfox, including its initial launch challenges, the importance of user feedback, and the strat…
- 957 - How AI Can Revolutionize Book Recommendations W/ John Busch (Iliad)
In this episode, Mat Sherman sits down with John Busch, founder of Iliad , an AI-powered book discovery platform designed to help readers uncover life-changing books. They dive into the challenges of current book recommendation systems, ho…
- 956 - How To Become The World's Most Active Angel Investor w/ Edward Lando (Pareto Holdings)
In this episode, Mat Sherman sits down with Edward Lando , one of the most prolific angel investors in the world, to explore the intricacies of early-stage investing. Edward shares his journey into angel investing, detailing his philosophy…
- 955 - Building The Personal Agentic Computing Stack w/ Simp4Satoshi (Truffle)
In this conversation, Mat Sherman interviews Simp4Satoshi of Truffle. Topics covered include: Discussion of Truffle, a device for local inference tied to humanoid robotics and personal intelligence. Insights from a unique upbringing in the…
- 954 - Building In The Age Of AI w/ Vidy Thatte
In this conversation, Mat Sherman and Vidy Thatte discuss the journey of building various products, the challenges faced in startups, and the impact of AI on creativity and storytelling. Vidy shares insights on his experiences with differe…
- 953 - Disrupting Docusign By Creating a Free E-Signature Platform w/ Marty Ringlein (Agree.com)
In this episode of Forward Thinking Founders, Mat Sherman interviews Marty Ringlein, cofounder of agree.com . They discuss the critical elements of growth, the importance of storytelling in sales, and the journey of launching Agree.com. Ma…
- 952 - Helping Founders Raise VC The Right Way w/ Stéphane Nasser
In this episode, Mat Sherman sits down with Stéphane Nasser to explore the evolution of OpenVC , a platform bridging the gap between founders and investors. Steph shares his personal journey—from living in Portugal to China—and reflects on…
- 951 - PK & Evan Einhorn (Loanscape) On Building Software To Work With Third Party Originators
In this episode, I interview Pramod Kollamparambil & Evan Einhorn, founders of Loanscape . Loanscape is the modern way to onboard, renew and monitor third party originators. I hope you enjoy this interview! ★ Support this podcast ★
- 950 - Aidan Gold, Partner at HyperGuap
From the HyperGuap website: Aidan built the HyperGuap VC syndicate and fund alongside Gali. Prior to that, Aidan was the Chief of Staff and managed investor relations at eGenesis, a biotech startup that has raised $260M+ to help solve the…
- 949 - Ryan Pace (Involio) On Enabling Verified Social Investing
Ryan Pace is the cofounder of Involio . Involio is the new home for traders across all markets to find and follow verified trades. ★ Support this podcast ★
- 948 - Christian Oswald (Rainf4ll) On Enabling The Digital Verification Of Physical Items
Christian Oswald is the founder of Rainf4ll . Having a Rainf4ll enabled item means that you can now have physical items that contain a digital certificate of authenticity, ownership, and event history that continues to grow over time. ★ Su…
- 947 - Danilo Dominici (LaundryBud) On Building Uber For Laundry
In this episode of Forward Thinking Founders, host Mat Sherman sits down with Danilo Dominici, the founder of LaundryBud. They discuss how Laundry Bud is revolutionizing the laundry industry by providing on-demand laundry services to time-…
- 946 - Brian Machado (Globe) On Running Applied AI Experiments
Brian Machado is the cofounder of Globe . Globe is running apploed AI experiments for making better tools for better robots. ★ Support this podcast ★
- 945 - Peter Costa (Baltu) On Helping Companies Develop Their Technical Workforce
Peter Costa is the cofounder of Baltu . Their mission is to empower workers in the modern economy by upskilling the worker, and accelerate the development of a skilled workforce. ★ Support this podcast ★
- 944 - Hunter Bjork (ISA) On Solving The World's Energy Problem
Hunter Bjork is the cofounder of ISA . ISA develops new sources of power that enable users to become energy independent. ★ Support this podcast ★
- 943 - Alex Shapiro (CanMonkey) On Enabling Smart Waste Management For Vacation Rentals
Alex Shapiro is the cofounder and CEO of CanMonkey . CanMonkey is streamlining waste management for your properties. Through their app-enabled network of CanRunner’s. We ensure trash cans are moved to the curb and back promptly on collecti…
- 942 - Collin Tayor (Revolute Robotics) On Building Robots Designed For Inspection And Surveillance
Collin Tayor is the cofounder and CEO of Revolute Robotics . Revolute builds the ultimate inspection and surveillance tool for confined spaces and complex environments. ★ Support this podcast ★
- 941 - Zach Roseman (Draftboard) On Open Sourcing Job Referrals
Zach Roseman is the founder of Draftboard . Draftboard is where companies publicly post what referral bonus they'll pay for a new hire and Scouts (referrers) compete to earn that referral bonus by scouring their networks for the best talen…
- 940 - Devo Harris (Adventr) On Enabling Interactive, Gamified AI-powered Video For Brands
Devo Harris is the founder of Adventr . With Adventr, viewers can control stories, link to anywhere on the web, purchase products, initiate text messages or phone calls, drive software and so much more, completely through the medium we all…
- 939 - Billy Jones (SaveNaturally) On Facilitating Instant Cost Savings on Natural Products
Billy Jones is the cofounder of SaveNaturally . SaveNaturally is where product manufacturers can get instant savings/coupons into customers’ hands intuitively for a better retail shopping experience. ★ Support this podcast ★
- 938 - Chris Kolb (HUM) On Building The Rideshare Platform That's Better To Drivers AND Riders
Chris Kolb is the founder of HUM . HUM is people a more people-centric rideshare platform. Their drivers get to keep 100% of their fares, and their passengers will never have to experience surge pricing. ★ Support this podcast ★
- 937 - Rae Lambert (River) On Turning Creator Audiences Into Connected Communities
Rae Lambert is the cofounder of River . River makes it easy to orchestrate fan-hosted meetups at scale with host vetting, community admin management, and fan-generated content. ★ Support this podcast ★
- 936 - Devan Sood (Orca) On Providing A New Way to Rent Flexibly Anywhere In The World
Devan Sood is the cofounder of Orca . Orc is a new way to rent flexibly anywhere in the world. Live between SF, NYC, Tulum, and more. ★ Support this podcast ★
- 935 - Royce Branning (ClearSpace) On Eliminating Digital Distractions
Royce Branning is the cofoudner of ClearSpace . ClearSpace lets you redesign your digital life and reduce your screen time. ★ Support this podcast ★
- 934 - Auren Hoffman (SafeGraph) On Building The Source Of Truth For Physical Places
Auren Hoffman is the CEO of SafeGraph . SafeGraph is the most accurate database of global points of interest, curated to power the most innovative applications, platforms, and analytics. ★ Support this podcast ★
- 933 - Cody James (Open X) On Enabling Anyone To Develop Skills In Aerospace, Manufacturing, & Engineering
Cody James is the founder of Open X . Open X enables anyone, from any background, to develop most advanced and sought-after skills in Aerospace, Manufacturing, Engineering, and more from the comfort of their home. ★ Support this podcast ★
- 932 - Ali Debow (swsh) On Deepening The Connections That Matter To You
Ali Debow is the cofounder of swsh . swsh is a social app to share your time with your friends - not your followers. ★ Support this podcast ★
- 931 - Davey Morse (Plexus) On Connecting People Through Thoughts
Davey Morse is the founder of Plexus . Plexus is the first online space where we’ve seen people share, not just finished thoughts, but unresolved thinking. No followers, no likes, no broadcasting, and no public profiles; just the feeling t…
- 930 - Parker Olson (Forij) On Creating a Superfood Granola Packed With Mushroom
Parker Olson is the founder of of Forij . Forij is a delicious superfood granola packed with hyperconcentrated mushroom extracts from the lion's mane and brown button! ★ Support this podcast ★
- 929 - Jason Kim (Ketl) On Building An Anonymous App For Founders And VCs
Jason Kim is is the founder of Ketl . Ketl is the new anonymous app for verified founders and VCs. ★ Support this podcast ★
- 928 - Jakob Greenfeld (Sales.co) On Getting Meetings Through Cold Emailing
Jakob Greenfeld is the founder of Sales.co. With Sales.co, get meetings with decision makers that are in the market for your product or service. ★ Support this podcast ★
- 927 - Augustus Doricko (Rainmaker) On Ending The Global Water Scarcity
Augustus Doricko is the cofounder of Rainmaker . Rainmaker will end global water scarcity through advanced cloud seeding and weather modification technologies. ★ Support this podcast ★
- 926 - Olivia Chu (CytoBay) On Building AI Facilitated Cancer Diagnosis
Olivia Chu is the cofounder of CytoBay . CytoBay is a platform company for AI facilitated cancer diagnosis using cytology specimens. Our staining methodology allows tumor marker expression and morphology to be evaluated on the same cytolog…