Podcast
Venturing with Vishesh — Startup Founder Interviews on SaaS, AI, Fundraising & Venture Capital.
Hosted by Vishesh Duggar · EN
Venturing with Vishesh is a weekly founder interview podcast hosted by Vishesh Duggar (5× founder, ex-CTO at Vamstar). Each week Vishesh talks to SaaS founders, AI builders, and venture capitalists from the US, Europe and India — unpacking what almost broke their companies and how they turned it around. Real fundraising stories, GTM playbooks, product-market fit lessons, and the unglamorous side of building a startup. Guests backed by Y Combinator, Benchmark, a16z, and Sequoia. New episodes every week.
11episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
# 65 The Marketing Industry Solved Measurement. It Was Always the Wrong Problem. | Peter Grafe
5d ago01:03:42Tap to summarize# The Marketing Industry Solved Measurement. It Was Always the Wrong Problem.## Guest IntroductionI'm joined by Peter Grafe, Founder at BlueAlpha, the AI-native marketing hub built for performance marketing. A first-cohort data science graduate who turned down nothing to keep a Tesla internship, he spent four years building the measurement infrastructure that proved Tesla's paid media actually worked — then left to commercialize it for growth-stage companies.## Episode SummaryMost companies have solved measurement — and it still hasn't fixed their marketing. The real problem is the gap between a statistical model output and an action a marketing team can actually take. This episode traces how that insight was earned inside Tesla's demand machine and turned into a company built to close that gap for everyone else.## Key Points- 🔥 Why every ad platform is actively lying to you about which campaigns drove your sales- 💡 The counterintuitive discovery that proved Tesla's search ads were claiming credit for sales YouTube actually drove- 🎯 Why the marketing industry solved measurement and it was always the wrong problem- 🚀 The 'operating system for agents' thesis that turns dashboards into autonomous executions- 🧭 What a data scientist with zero sales experience learned the hard way about closing a deal- 🤖 The unconventional GTM play — creatine gummies, work trials, and leading with value before the pitch## Important Links- You can reach Peter Grafe at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ped-grafe/- Vishesh, your host at https://vishesh.space- Checkout BlueAlpha at https://bluealpha.ai- Hands hurt while you use the keyboard or mouse? https://tryneo.dev## Chapters0:00 - Introduction1:33 - How Peter and Scott Persinger connected at Frontier Tower SF3:45 - Writing a data science master's thesis while holding a Tesla internship simultaneously4:35 - From EMEA data scientist to leading Tesla's marketing measurement team7:33 - The moment Tesla flipped from supply-constrained to demand-constrained9:44 - The Elon paradox: no paid media becomes paid media when supply exceeds demand13:00 - Building the marketing data science function — as a team of one15:40 - How YouTube drove Tesla sales that Google Search was falsely claiming17:00 - Marketing mix models vs. incrementality testing explained without the jargon20:10 - What actually breaks when you lose Tesla's first-party data advantage23:51 - BlueAlpha's seven-agent performance marketing stack and the vision for 205028:35 - Using public ad transparency libraries and pixel-scraping for competitor intelligence32:08 - Why measurement solved the wrong problem: the measurement-to-action gap37:00 - How AI bridges data science outputs to decisions marketers can actually act on40:33 - First-time founder sales: what they got badly wrong and what fixed it45:38 - The intent scoring system, HubSpot automation, and creatine gummies as a GTM move53:02 - The work trial hiring process that generated Business Insider hate and better hires58:49 - Tool stack, on-site culture, and why BlueAlpha is building MCP-first1:01:20 - Biggest founder lessons, book recommendation, and where to find Peter
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#64 From $7 on a Pizza Box to a $16M Series A | Voice AI Startup Phonely | Will Bodewes
3w ago00:26:53Tap to summarizeI am joined today by Will Bodewes, founder and CEO at Phonely. Phonely uses AI to answer business phone calls so naturally that nine out of ten callers can't tell it's not human. They just raised sixteen million, and one of their customers replaced three hundred and fifty agents in a single month. Key Discussion Points:🔥 How a $7 idea on a pizza box turned into a $16M Series A funding round🤖 The surprising truth about AI-powered phone answering and its potential📈 The challenges of recruiting and hiring the right talent for a startup🚀 The importance of finding and solving hard problems to create a successful startup🤔 The limitations of fine-tune models in voice-based AI and what's next💡 The role of vertical AI and horizontal tech platforms in startup success📊 The current state of AI development and what to expect in the futureTimecodes:0:00 - Introduction2:30 - Founding Phonely and its AI-Powered Phone Answering Service4:21 - The Inspiration Behind Phonely and its First Customer6:03 - Investing in Other Startups and Partnerships7:17 - The Decision to Move Away from OpenAI and Develop Fine-Tuned Models9:05 - The Difference Between Horizontal and Vertical Tech10:25 - Scaling the Company and Organizational Changes11:32 - The Limitations of AI Models and Future Improvements12:47 - Marketing Strategy and AI Stack14:18 - Lessons Learned from Y Combinator15:10 - Current Challenges and Hiring Process16:40 - The Most Important Quality in a Candidate17:29 - Worst Advice from a VC19:07 - The Importance of Not Rushing into Raising Money or Releasing a Product19:45 - Family Support and Phonely's Progress20:20 - Transitioning from a Hardware to a Software Startup22:14 - Epic Failures and Lessons Learned24:07 - Scaling the Organization and Designing its Structure25:20 - How to Reach Will and Learn More About PhonelyImportant Links:You can reach Will Bodewes at https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-bodewesCheckout Phonely at https://phonely.aiVishesh, your host at https://vishesh.spaceHands hurt while you use the keyboard or mouse? https://tryneo.dev🎙️ Subscribe for more episodes!#Episode64 #VenturingWithVishesh #Startups #Entrepreneurship #startups #entrepreneurship #venturingwithvishesh
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#63 Throxy: The outbound company that ignored LinkedIn completely | Arnau Ayerbe
May 1300:25:30Tap to summarizeArnau Ayerbe left JP Morgan at 23 to build Throxy — an outbound company that ignores LinkedIn completely and sells into manufacturing, logistics, and construction using AI agents and human cold-callers. They just raised 6.2 million from Base10 after going through YC. Today we're getting into the contrarian bets, the co-founder dynamics of building with your best friend since age 14, and why he thinks SaaS is already dead.Key Discussion Points:🔥 How AI is revolutionizing sales processes and what it means for the future of sales teams🤖 The surprising benefits of taking a contrarian approach to sales and marketing📈 The importance of human capital in delivering results and driving revenue growth🚀 The challenges of scaling a startup and finding top-tier talent to drive innovation🌎 How location and hiring practices can impact the success of a sales development representative team💡 The need for a service-oriented approach to sales and the benefits of performance-based pricingTimecodes:0:00 - Introduction0:22 - Transition from Finance to Startup Life3:05 - The Mission of Throxy: Automating Sales4:25 - Building a Team: Co-founders and Early Projects6:20 - The Role of Human Cold Callers in Sales7:43 - Explaining Throxy: Service vs. Software9:02 - Targeting Non-Traditional Markets for Sales10:30 - The Importance of Human Touch in Automation11:32 - Fundraising Challenges and Investor Perspectives13:26 - Pricing Model: Performance-Based Revenue14:43 - Setting Up Operations in Cape Town15:55 - Lightning Round: Key Insights and Lessons17:33 - Overrated Advice from Y Combinator18:21 - Essential Tools for Startup Success20:09 - Learning from Mistakes: Early Missteps at Throxy22:05 - Current Challenges and Future Growth Plans23:50 - Conclusion and How to Connect with ThroxyImportant Links:You can reach Arnau Ayerbe at https://www.linkedin.com/in/arnau-ayerbeVishesh, your host at https://vishesh.spaceCheck out Throxy at https://throxy.comP.S. Hands hurt while you use the keyboard or mouse?https://tryneo.dev🎙️ Subscribe for more episodes!#Episode63 #VenturingWithVishesh #Startups #Entrepreneurship #startups #entrepreneurship #venturingwithvishesh
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#62 Synthetic Human as a Service | Krishna (Vasanth) Namasivayam
Apr 2300:36:04Tap to summarizeMy next guest, Krishna Namasivayam, is working on what he calls "Synthetic Human as a Service." After leading AI at Dropbox and Meta, he’s now building with the radical belief that we should simulate human behavior before we ship code, product, messaging, or anything really. In this episode, we break down his contrarian thinking on product, AI, hiring, and what it takes to launch in a greenfield market.Key Discussion Points:🔥 How simulating human behavior can revolutionize product development🤖 The surprising ways AI tools are empowering entrepreneurs to make better decisions📊 Why understanding user needs is crucial for startups, especially in hard-to-reach markets🚀 How to leverage synthetic humans to test and refine product ideas👥 The importance of hiring experienced talent to drive startup growth📈 Why misaligned incentives in tech companies can lead to products that miss the mark0:00 - Introduction & Why This Podcast0:45 - What Featurely Does (Human Behavior Simulation)3:44 - Key Use Cases: Product & Marketing Workflows5:55 - How Synthetic Users Interact With Products7:25 - Dogfooding Featurely Internally8:01 - Accuracy, Risks & Human Judgment in Simulation9:19 - Founder Journey: From Big Tech to Startup11:18 - Frugality & Hiring Through Reddit13:21 - Hiring Lessons & Talent Strategy16:14 - Why Most Products Fail (And Where Process Breaks)21:20 - Team Structure Without a PM26:15 - Ideal Startup Team Composition26:46 - Go-To-Market Strategy for a New Category28:29 - Reducing Time to Value for Users30:34 - Testing Messaging & Growth Experiments31:33 - Books, Advice & Founder Mindset34:32 - Closing & Where to Find FeaturelyImportant Links:You can reach Krishna (Vasanth) Namasivayam at https://www.linkedin.com/in/vasanthnamasivayamVishesh, your host at https://vishesh.spaceCheck out Featurely AI at https://featurely.aiP.S. If your hands hurt or you just hate using a keyboard or mouse, https://tryneo.dev
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#61 The Business of Being Different | Build An Inclusive Culture | Sara-Louise Ackrill
Mar 1901:07:32Tap to summarizeEpisode 61 with Sara-Louise Ackrill FRSA, Founding CEO at Wired Differently.My next guest is a therapist-turned-founder, Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and author of The ND Lovers Club. She runs Wired Differently — a 32-person company where 85% of the team is neurodivergent. We talked about founders who are building from exile, why psychological safety isn't a luxury that disappears under pressure, and what managing a team of neurodivergent people actually looks like in practice — and a lot more. Sara-Louise Ackrill.Key Discussion Points:🔥 Founders in exile: Creating businesses through fear and rejection🤝 The importance of confronting past workplace experiences for healthier leadership💡 How neurodiversity can impact entrepreneurship and innovation📈 The benefits of bootstrapping a business compared to seeking venture capital📊 Time management and energy mapping for neurodivergent entrepreneurs👥 Managing a neurodivergent team: Understanding individual needs and spoon theoryTimecodes:0:00 - Introduction1:00 - Understanding the Concept of "Founders in Exile"4:00 - Strategies for Overcoming Founder Vulnerability6:30 - Healing the "Exile Wound" While Running a Business9:00 - The Benefits of Bootstrapping vs. VC Funding12:00 - Building a Public Speaking Career from Scratch15:00 - The Impact of Neurodivergence on Public Speaking18:00 - Overview of Wired Differently and Its Services21:00 - The Role of Virtual Assistants in Supporting Neurodivergent Entrepreneurs25:00 - The Importance of Energy-Based Scheduling for Founders30:00 - Managing Context Switching in Entrepreneurial Tasks34:00 - Conducting an Energy Audit for Better Productivity38:00 - The Role of Psychological Safety in the Workplace41:00 - Adapting Management Styles for Neurodivergent Teams46:00 - The Dangers of Culture Fit in Hiring Practices50:00 - The Importance of Understanding Neurodiversity in Team Dynamics54:00 - The ND Lovers Club: Exploring Relationships and Neurodiversity57:00 - Final Thoughts on Effective Management and Team BuildingImportant Links:You can reach Sara-Louise Ackrill FRSA at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-louise-ackrillVishesh, your host at https://vishesh.spaceCheck out Wired Differently at https://www.wireddifferently.co.uk/And her book "The ND Lovers Club" at https://www.amazon.in/ND-Lovers-Club-Neurodivergent-Women-ebook/dp/B0DX8MM38FP.S. If you are writing on LinkedIn https://tryjerry.com🎙️ Subscribe for more episodes!#Episode61 #VenturingWithVishesh #Startups #Entrepreneurship #startups #entrepreneurship #venturingwithvishesh
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#60 Redefining AI Ethics | Current AI Blindspots | The A3 Model Explained | Vendan Kumararajah
Feb 1300:33:59Tap to summarizeToday's guest watched digital transformation projects fail for years. Not because the tech was broken — the governance was. The values had drifted. And nobody noticed until it was too late.So he did something unusual. He went back 2,000 years to Tamil philosophy — specifically a tradition called Saiva Siddhanta — and built a framework that treats ethics not as a compliance checkbox, but as the actual operating system. Vendan Kumararajah is a transformation architect, cybernetician, and the creator of something called the A3 Model. His new book "Navigating Complexity and System Challenges" makes a bold claim: that we can design AI systems that don't just follow ethical rules, but actually enact ethical intelligence in real time. So today we're going to unpack what the A3 Model actually is. And pressure-test it against real founder scenarios.Key Discussion Points:🔥 You can't have a dynamic system with a static rule-based.🤖 Static rules cannot evolve in a dynamic environment because there is distortion at every stage.🚨 Distortion is when the journey starts for a system.👥 Ethics, distortion, and agency as a self-regulating, self-evolving structure.📊 The ethical coherence is a red line because it shows the harm limits.💡 What looks like success may be actually a time bomb waiting to explode.🚨 The A3 model starts warning every time, regardless of what the KPIs are showing.Important Links:You can reach Vendan Kumararajah at https://www.linkedin.com/in/vendan-kumararajah-1049634Checkout his book, Navigating Complexity and System Challenges: Foundations for the A3 Modelat https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1919249303?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLEVishesh, your host at https://vishesh.spaceP.S. If you are writing on LinkedIn https://tryjerry.com
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#59 Unlocking the Potential of AI in Heavy Industries | Sama Carlos Samame
Feb 400:49:59Tap to summarizeThis episode is about what happens when you win — and still feel lost. My guest Sama went from hospital clown to cybersecurity founder to a successful exit. And on this episode we get into the stuff nobody talks about after an acquisition — the identity crisis, the scars, the 'now what.' We also unpack his clown mindset framework — this idea that failure is success — why he's now building AI to keep miners alive in Peru, and the two startups that failed before the one that worked. If you're a founder questioning your path, this one's going to hit.Key Discussion Points:🔥 How to identify and mitigate risks when applying AI in unexpected industries🤖 The surprising ways AI can improve safety in heavy industries like mining💡 What it takes to implement AI in complex industries🚀 How to navigate the challenges of applying AI in industries with limited digital infrastructure💻 The importance of understanding the unique needs and pain points of each industry when applying AITimecodes:0:00 - Introduction0:15 - Overview of Misty AI and Its Mission1:52 - The Importance of Safety in Mining6:28 - Identifying Buyer Personas in Heavy Industry11:30 - The Co-Founder Dating Phase: Finding the Right Partner14:52 - Insights from Clowning: Lessons for Founders24:36 - Embracing Failure: Lessons from Clowning26:38 - Previous Startups: Experiences and Learnings28:56 - Transitioning from Investor to Co-Founder31:51 - Reflections on the Exit from Boxee HQ37:58 - Understanding the Gap Between Startups and Enterprises40:47 - Strategies for First-Time Founders in Enterprise Sales42:20 - Advice for New Entrepreneurs: Enjoy the Journey43:07 - Balancing Family Life with Startup Challenges45:54 - Final Thoughts for Founders in Heavy Industry47:10 - How to Connect with Sama and Misty AIImportant Links:You can reach 🚁 Sama Carlos Samame at https://www.linkedin.com/in/samameVishesh, your host at https://vishesh.spaceCheckout MISTI AI at https://mistiai.comP.S. If you are writing on LinkedIn https://tryjerry.com
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#58 Cutting 512B Cloud Waste | Fundraising in Q1 2026 | Challenges for Desi Founders in Europe | Vikram Das
Jan 2300:52:26Tap to summarizeEpisode 58 with Vikram Das, Co-Founder & CEO at Yasu.I'm joined by Vikram Das, the Co-Founder & CEO of Yasu. Vikram spent two decades in the industry with stints at Cognizant, and AWS. He went from closing 50 million dollar cloud deals for AWS to walking into a room of 70 strangers in Amsterdam to find a Dutch co-founder he'd known for weeks, and they recently raised a little over 1 Million dollars to solve the exact problem he helped create! In this episode we talk about what does it take to build an AI Cloud Engineer, finding co-founder love and losing it, Challenges of being immigrant founder in Europe, Some of his learnings from their fundraising journey through all the bubble talk and more!Key Discussion Points:🔥 Fundraising is something that every founder is concerned about. Is it a necessary evil, or can you find alternative ways to secure funding?🤯 What are the unique challenges faced by Indian-origin founders in Europe, particularly in tech, and how can they overcome them?🚀 How can founders balance their mental health while navigating the startup journey, and what role does mindfulness play in this process?📈 What are the cultural differences between startup environments in Europe and India, and how can founders adapt to these differences?💡 Why is distribution the only key that is going to be, and how can founders prioritize it in their fundraising strategies?Timecodes:0:00 - Introduction2:15 - Discussing the Importance of Fundraising5:30 - Insights on Fundraising in the European Context8:45 - The Challenges of Fundraising for Founders12:00 - Navigating the Cloud Complexity in Startups15:20 - The Role of AI in Cloud Engineering18:30 - Team Building and Early Hiring Strategies21:00 - The Experience of Indian Founders in Europe24:15 - Balancing Startup Life with Personal Well-being27:30 - The Impact of Mental Health on Founders30:00 - The 996 Work Culture in European Startups33:15 - Exploring the Future of AI in Business36:00 - Building a Podcast as a Distribution Engine39:30 - The Journey of Transitioning from Corporate to Startup42:00 - Creating Content in a Saturated Market45:15 - The Importance of Authenticity in Content Creation48:30 - Final Thoughts and Future Plans51:00 - Closing Remarks and Next StepsImportant Links:You can reach Vikram Das at https://www.linkedin.com/in/dasvikramVishesh, your host at https://vishesh.spaceCheckout Yasu at https://yasu.cloudP.S. If you are writing on LinkedIn https://tryjerry.com🎙️ Subscribe for more episodes!#Episode58 #VenturingWithVishesh #Startups #Entrepreneurship #startups #entrepreneurship #venturingwithvishesh
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#57 Scaling a Marketplace Faster Than Competition | Ryan Kalisky
Jan 1600:45:35Tap to summarizeI'm joined by Ryan Kalisky, Co-Founder and CEO of WareMatch, a platform connecting suppliers and 3PL vendors globally. As a 26-year-old McGill finance grad, Ryan is trying to disrupt an unglamorous $1 plus trillion logistics industry. We explore the honest reality of early-stage marketplace building, the hacks they’ve used so far, and more.I am always excited to talk to marketplace founders, and listening to how WareMatch is building a 3PL marketplace should be gold for any founder building a marketplace!Key Discussion Points:🔥 How a finance degree led to a career in warehousing and logistics💡 The surprising opportunity that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic🤝 Building a network of medical supply companies and leveraging it for other opportunities📈 The gap in the 3PL quoting market and how WareMatch is addressing it🚀 The importance of building a strong team and outsourcing to the right people💻 The challenges of building software in an industry with complex regulations and certifications📊 How to create a user-friendly software solution that meets the needs of 3PL companiesTimecodes:0:00 - Introduction1:30 - Transition from Finance to Warehousing4:00 - The Impact of COVID on Supply Chains6:15 - Starting a Medical Supply Business9:00 - Building a Network in the Medical Supply Space11:30 - Identifying Gaps in the 3PL Market14:00 - The Concept of a Matchmaking Platform for Warehouses16:30 - The Importance of Team Dynamics in Startups19:00 - Finding the Right Technical Co-Founder21:30 - Challenges in the 3PL Industry24:00 - Overview of Third-Party Logistics (3PL)26:15 - The Bidding System for 3PLs28:00 - Marketing Solutions for Warehouses30:30 - Competing with Established Companies in the 3PL Space33:00 - Lessons Learned as a First-Time Founder35:30 - The Importance of User Feedback38:00 - Strategies for Building a Marketplace40:30 - Managing Team Dynamics and Personal Challenges42:00 - Conclusion and Future Plans43:30 - Where to Find More Information on WareMatchImportant Links:You can reach Ryan Kalisky at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kalisky-25bba21490625Vishesh, your host at https://vishesh.spaceCheckout WareMatch at https://www.warematch.com/P.S. If you are writing on LinkedIn https://tryjerry.com🎙️ Subscribe for more episodes!#Episode57 #VenturingWithVishesh #Startups #entrepreneurship #venturingwithvishesh
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#56 How you can reduce marketing cost by 10x | Lessons from an early exit | Saher Shodhan
Jan 800:56:53Tap to summarizeI'm joined by Saher Shodhan, founder of Thera Travel, a startup that's disrupting the healthcare industry by providing patients with access to affordable and high-quality medical care abroad. With a background in marketing and growth, Saher has leveraged AI tools to drive growth and reduce marketing costs by 10x. In this conversation, we dive deep into the challenges of building a successful startup, the role of AI in healthcare, and how Thera Travel is making a difference in people's lives.Key Discussion Points:🔥 What sparked the idea for Thera Travel and how Saher identified a problem in the healthcare system🚀 How Saher used AI tools to reduce marketing costs by 10x and drive growth🤖 The role of AI in healthcare and how Thera Travel is disrupting the industry💡 The importance of understanding government data and using it to drive business decisions📈 How Saher built a successful startup from scratch, from idea to exit in four yearsTimecodes:0:00 - Introduction0:36 - The Spark Behind TheraTravel4:45 - The Journey of a Solo Founder7:06 - Using AI for Marketing and Content Creation16:09 - The Truth Behind Startup Valuations19:51 - Navigating the Challenges of AI in Business22:10 - Lessons from the Traktion Journey24:12 - Finding the Right Acquirer for Your Startup36:45 - Evolving Advertising Strategies in 202642:28 - Rethinking Team Size as a Success Metric43:18 - The Reality of Fundraising Celebrations44:52 - Learning from Failures in Startup Growth48:24 - Selling Growth Strategies to Startups51:11 - Analyzing Competitor Success in Marketing52:46 - Recommended Reading for Founders54:45 - Closing Remarks and Contact InformationImportant Links:You can reach Saher Shodhan at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sahersVishesh, your host at https://vishesh.spaceCheckout Thera Travel at http://theratravel.co.uk/P.S. If you are writing on LinkedIn https://tryjerry.com🎙️ Subscribe for more episodes!#Episode56 #VenturingWithVishesh #Startups #Entrepreneurship
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