Born In Silicon Valley
Born In Silicon Valley is a podcast that features founders’ stories. Each episode highlights the journey of success, pivots, and what entrepreneurs have learned when building from the ground up. Host Jake Aaron Villarreal interviews founders, discussing their struggles, triumphs, and their progress along the way. Listeners will gain insight into leadership and the operations of a startup. This podcast is supported by Match Relevant, a company that helps startups find top talent to grow their businesses.
Episodes

Thursday Aug 01, 2024
Thursday Aug 01, 2024
In this episode, we sit down with Julian Rodriguez, Founder and CEO of Momento AI, a pioneering company redefining AI interaction with their groundbreaking cloning platform. Julian shares his journey from working at various tech companies to founding Momento AI, where users can create their very own digital twins for enhanced engagement and interaction.
Julian discusses the unique features of Momento AI, including how it allows creators to clone themselves and engage in real conversations 24/7. Learn about the technology behind AI clones, the potential applications in different industries, and how Momento AI is empowering creators and businesses to connect with their audiences in innovative ways.
Discover the future of AI interaction and digital cloning as Julian shares insights on the importance of personalized AI experiences and how Momento AI is making it easier for individuals and companies to leverage AI technology for better engagement and monetization. This episode is packed with valuable insights for anyone interested in AI, digital interaction, and the future of technology.
This show is supported by www.matchrelevant.com. A company that helps venture-backed Startups find the best people available in the market, who have the skills, experience, and desire to grow. With over a decade of experience in recruitment across multiple domains, they give people career options to choose from in their career journey.

Tuesday Jul 30, 2024
Tuesday Jul 30, 2024
In this episode, we sit down with David McFarland, Founder and CEO of Coterie Insurance, a company dedicated to simplifying small business insurance. David shares his journey from his extensive actuarial background to creating a revolutionary insurtech company that is making it easier and faster for small businesses to get insured.
David discusses the unique features of Coterie Insurance, including how it uses data-backed underwriting to provide accurate pricing and a seamless submission-to-bind experience in less than one minute. Learn about the technology and innovation behind Coterie Insurance and how it is transforming the insurance industry for small businesses across all 50 states.
Discover insights on the challenges and opportunities in the insurtech space, and how Coterie Insurance is addressing the needs of small business owners with a partnership-based approach. This episode is packed with valuable information for anyone interested in insurance, technology, and small business solutions.
This show is supported by www.matchrelevant.com. A company that helps venture-backed Startups find the best people available in the market, who have the skills, experience, and desire to grow. With over a decade of experience in recruitment across multiple domains, they give people career options to choose from in their career journey.

Tuesday Jul 23, 2024
Tuesday Jul 23, 2024
In this episode, we sit down with Jason Alvarez-Cohen, Co-founder and CEO of Popl, the leading digital business card platform for teams and individuals. Jason shares his entrepreneurial journey, from his early experiences to building Popl, a company that has transformed the way professionals share contact information and generate leads.
Discover how Popl's innovative platform, backed by Y Combinator, leverages mobile apps, QR codes, and smart products to simplify digital identity and enhance networking for professionals worldwide. Jason delves into the challenges and opportunities in the digital business card industry and how Popl is poised to shape the future of professional networking.
Learn about the unique features of Popl that make it the go-to solution for modern professionals looking to streamline their networking efforts and create meaningful connections. Whether you are an entrepreneur, business leader, or networking enthusiast, this episode offers valuable insights and practical advice from one of the industry's most forward-thinking leaders.
This show is supported by www.matchrelevant.com. A company that helps venture-backed Startups find the best people available in the market, who have the skills, experience, and desire to grow. With over a decade of experience in recruitment across multiple domains, they give people career options to choose from in their career journey.

Thursday Jul 18, 2024
Thursday Jul 18, 2024
In this episode, we dive into the world of cloud cost management with Asim Razzaq, Co-founder and CEO of Yotascale. With a background as the former Head of Platform Engineering at PayPal, Asim brings a wealth of experience and insights into how Yotascale is revolutionizing cloud cost management. Yotascale is trusted by top companies like Zoom, Hulu, and Okta for its dynamic cloud cost management solutions that empower engineering teams to take active ownership of their cloud costs.
Asim shares his journey from PayPal to founding Yotascale, the challenges he faced, and the innovative solutions Yotascale offers to tackle cloud cost inefficiencies. Learn how Yotascale's platform provides unmatched cloud observability, predictability, and efficiency, making it a leader in the cloud cost management space.
Join us for an insightful conversation on cloud cost optimization, the importance of collaboration between engineering and finance teams, and the future of cloud infrastructure management.
This show is supported by www.matchrelevant.com. A company that helps venture-backed Startups find the best people available in the market, who have the skills, experience, and desire to grow. With over a decade of experience in recruitment across multiple domains, they give people career options to choose from in their career journey.

Tuesday Jul 16, 2024
Tuesday Jul 16, 2024
In this episode, we sit down with Amr Awadallah, Founder and CEO of Vectara, a leading generative AI platform. With over 25 years of experience in scalable systems, big data, and AI, Amr shares his journey from Yahoo and Google Cloud to founding Vectara. Discover how Vectara is transforming the generative AI landscape by providing a trusted platform for business data, addressing challenges like hallucinations, bias, copyright infringement, and data privacy.
Amr discusses the evolution of AI technology, the importance of responsible AI practices, and how Vectara is positioned to lead the way in GenAI solutions. Learn about the innovative solutions Vectara offers, including Retrieval Augmented Generation-as-a-Service (RAGaaS), and how it helps businesses integrate conversational AI and question-answering capabilities seamlessly.
Don't miss this insightful conversation with a visionary leader who is shaping the future of AI and business data integration.
This show is supported by www.matchrelevant.com. A company that helps venture-backed Startups find the best people available in the market, who have the skills, experience, and desire to grow. With over a decade of experience in recruitment across multiple domains, they give people career options to choose from in their career journey.

Tuesday Jul 09, 2024
Tuesday Jul 09, 2024
Join us in this episode as we chat with Pardis Noorzad, Founder and CEO of General Folders, a company specializing in B2B data collaboration services. Pardis shares her journey from working at top tech companies like Carbon Health and Twitter to founding General Folders. Learn how General Folders is transforming the way businesses handle data transfer and collaboration, ensuring secure and efficient data logistics.
Pardis delves into the challenges and opportunities in the B2B SaaS space, the importance of data sharing in today's digital landscape, and how General Folders is positioned to lead the way. Discover the innovative solutions that General Folders offers to simplify and enhance cross-company data collaboration.
Don't miss this insightful conversation with a leader in the tech industry who is paving the way for the future of data logistics.
This show is supported by www.matchrelevant.com. A company that helps venture-backed Startups find the best people available in the market, who have the skills, experience, and desire to grow. With over a decade of experience in recruitment across multiple domains, they give people career options to choose from in their career journey.

Thursday Jul 04, 2024
Thursday Jul 04, 2024
In this episode, we sit down with Mike Adams, Founder & Chief Innovation Officer of Grain, to discuss how his company is transforming the way businesses handle virtual meetings. Grain leverages AI-powered technology to record, analyze, and derive insights from customer conversations, helping teams close more deals and better understand their clients.
Mike shares his journey from co-founding MissionU, a Zoom-based university acquired by WeWork, to creating Grain amidst the rise of remote work and remote selling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn how Grain's innovative platform is positioned perfectly to capitalize on the increasing importance of conversation data and how it continues to grow with the rise of large language models.
Tune in to discover the future of meeting intelligence, the impact of AI on remote work, and how Grain is helping businesses stay ahead in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
This show is supported by www.matchrelevant.com. A company that helps venture-backed Startups find the best people available in the market, who have the skills, experience, and desire to grow. With over a decade of experience in recruitment across multiple domains, they give people career options to choose from in their career journey.

Tuesday Jul 02, 2024
Tuesday Jul 02, 2024
Join us in this exciting episode as we sit down with Barrett Ames, Co-Founder of BotBuilt and Adjunct Professor at Duke University. Barrett shares his journey from academia to entrepreneurship, leading the way in integrating robotics and AI into the construction industry.
At BotBuilt, Barrett and his team are on a mission to revolutionize the way homes are built. Using state-of-the-art robotics, AI, and computer vision, BotBuilt creates construction components with robotic precision. These innovations not only make framing up to 5 times faster but also contribute to safer job sites and sustainable building practices.
In this episode, Barrett discusses the challenges and triumphs of bringing cutting-edge technology into a traditional industry, the future of construction, and how BotBuilt is addressing the global housing crisis.
Don't miss this insightful conversation on the intersection of technology and construction, and how robotics can transform the way we build our homes.
This show is supported by www.matchrelevant.com. A company that helps venture-backed Startups find the best people available in the market, who have the skills, experience, and desire to grow. With over a decade of experience in recruitment across multiple domains, they give people career options to choose from in their career journey.

Friday Jun 28, 2024
Friday Jun 28, 2024
Welcome to our newest episode where we sit down with Anna Berger, the innovative Founder and CEO of Trayd, a company redefining payroll in the construction industry. Anna shares her journey from her roots in marketing to spearheading a tech-driven revolution in construction payroll solutions.
Trayd is transforming how commercial real estate subcontractors manage their workforce, incorporating cutting-edge time-tracking tools and payroll automation to facilitate Earned Wage Access. Anna discusses the challenges and triumphs of implementing technology in a traditionally non-tech industry, and how Trayd is not just changing operations but also impacting lives by providing same-day pay to workers.
Listeners will gain insights into the unique aspects of managing a tech startup in the construction sector, the importance of user-focused design, and the future of workplace technology.
This show is supported by www.matchrelevant.com. A company that helps venture-backed Startups find the best people available in the market, who have the skills, experience, and desire to grow. With over a decade of experience in recruitment across multiple domains, they give people career options to choose from in their career journey.

Monday Jun 24, 2024
Monday Jun 24, 2024
In today's episode, we're honored to host Cheryl Sew Hoy, the visionary CEO & Founder of Tiny Health, a pioneering platform at the forefront of gut microbiome testing for the entire family, utilizing the latest in shotgun metagenomic sequencing.
With an illustrious background that spans across various sectors—from technology to healthcare—Cheryl shares her inspiring journey into the realm of health tech and the inception of Tiny Health. This innovative company seeks to empower families by providing crucial insights into gut health during the critical first 1,000 days of a baby's life, addressing the root cause of escalating chronic conditions among children today.
Cheryl delves into the science behind Tiny Health's state-of-the-art microbiome tests, the role of AI in generating personalized health recommendations, and the potential for early interventions to foster a healthier next generation. Additionally, she reflects on her passion for leveraging technology to improve health outcomes and the challenges and triumphs of bringing Tiny Health to the market.
Join us as we explore the groundbreaking work of Tiny Health and Cheryl's mission to enhance the well-being of families worldwide through advanced microbiome insights.
This show is supported by www.matchrelevant.com. A company that helps venture-backed Startups find the best people available in the market, who have the skills, experience, and desire to grow. With over a decade of experience in recruitment across multiple domains, they give people career options to choose from in their career journey.