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
Monday Jun 24, 2024
Monday Jun 24, 2024
In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Aaron J. Horowitz, the dynamic Founder and CEO of Empath Labs, formerly known as Sproutel. Aaron shares his deeply personal journey from a childhood filled with daily injections due to Human Growth Hormone Deficiency to leading a groundbreaking health-tech company dedicated to transforming pediatric care through play and empathy.
Empath Labs is at the forefront of designing innovative solutions that drive medication compliance and empower young patients and their families. With a mission to make healthcare more human, Aaron and his team have touched the lives of over 130,000 children worldwide, earning accolades such as two TIME Best Invention of the Year awards and 12 patents in pediatrics.
Discover how Aaron's experiences have fueled his passion for improving the patient experience for children, the challenges and successes of pioneering in the health-tech space, and the impact of Empath Labs' work on families dealing with pediatric illnesses.
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 this episode, we dive deep into the world of extended reality (XR) and artificial intelligence (AI) with Sorob Louie, a visionary entrepreneur and the technical force behind SAAG and VirtuLabs. Louie shares his extensive experience in bridging the gap between complex technological concepts and user-friendly applications, highlighting his journey from leading roles in various software companies to founding and co-founding groundbreaking startups.
Discover how Sorob's passion for innovation and his commitment to excellence have led to creating immersive experiences and AI solutions for some of the biggest names in the industry, including Apple, Google, Nike, Samsung, Meta, and Salesforce. With expertise ranging from DevOps and automation to programming and 3D/2D development, Louie's work is at the forefront of transforming how we interact with technology.
Join us as Sorob Louie discusses the challenges and rewards of pushing the boundaries of XR and AI, his insights into the future of technology, and his advice for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to make their mark in the tech world.
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
Join us in this exciting episode as we delve into the entrepreneurial journey of Alex Nikityuk, the visionary Founder and CEO of Maroo, a groundbreaking company that's transforming how payments are processed in the event and wedding industry. Discover the challenges and triumphs of creating a platform that not only simplifies transactions but also enhances the experience for event professionals and their clients.
From his early days at Revolut, where he played a pivotal role in their monumental Series D funding round, to his incredible personal journey of relocating 17 times across the globe, Alex shares invaluable insights on resilience, innovation, and the power of a clear vision.
Maroo, a Y Combinator S21 graduate, is not just a business; it's a mission to empower event professionals with tools that foster growth and client satisfaction. In this episode, Alex discusses the inspiration behind Maroo, the importance of customer-centric solutions, and his advice for aspiring entrepreneurs navigating the complex landscape of startups.
This episode is a treasure trove for anyone interested in fintech, entrepreneurship, and the future of payments in the event industry.
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 dive into the world of data integration with Ghalib Suleiman, the visionary CEO and Co-Founder of Polytomic, the company redefining how businesses manage and synchronize their data across multiple platforms. Polytomic’s innovative "Anywhere ETL" approach allows for seamless data movement, making it a game-changer for businesses seeking efficiency in handling their data assets.
Ghalib shares his insights on the challenges of data silos, the inspiration behind Polytomic, and the company's journey through the competitive landscape of tech startups. With a robust platform that caters to dynamic data integration needs, Polytomic is empowering companies to leverage their data more effectively, making informed decisions, and enhancing operational workflows.
This episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in the future of data management, the evolution of ETL technology, and the story of a startup striving to make a significant impact in the tech industry.
Join us as we explore the intersection of innovation, data, and entrepreneurship with Ghalib Suleiman and discover how Polytomic is setting new standards for 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.
Monday Jun 24, 2024
Monday Jun 24, 2024
Join us in this insightful episode as we sit down with Damola Ogundipe, CEO of Plural, a groundbreaking software platform revolutionizing how government relations and advocacy teams shape public policy. Discover how Plural's innovative use of data and technology empowers organizations to influence and shape public policy on a global scale.
Damola shares his journey from conceptualizing Plural to becoming a pivotal tool for leading organizations like Google, Comcast, and The Nature Conservancy. Learn about the challenges he faced in the tech startup space, Plural's mission to democratize access to public policy information, and how the platform fosters collaboration among advocacy teams.
This episode is a deep dive into the intersection of technology, public policy, and advocacy. Whether you're an entrepreneur, policy professional, or just passionate about making a difference, Damola's story and Plural's vision are bound to inspire.
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 this groundbreaking episode, we're joined by Jennifer Henderson, the visionary Founder & CEO of Tilt, a company that's revolutionizing how leave is managed in the workplace. Dive into Jennifer's journey from identifying a gap in the leave management process to founding Tilt, a platform that brings compassion and efficiency to employee leave.
Discover how Tilt is challenging the status quo by providing a seamless leave experience for both employers and employees. Jennifer shares her insights on the importance of supporting employees through life's inevitable events and how Tilt is making this support systematic and scalable.
Learn about the challenges and triumphs of building a tech company aimed at humanizing HR processes, and get Jennifer's perspective on the future of work-life integration. This episode is a must-watch for entrepreneurs, HR professionals, and anyone interested in how technology can create more empathetic workplaces.
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
Join us in an inspiring session with Heather Udo, the founder and CEO of Shoppable®, as we explore the innovative world of e-commerce and digital shopping solutions. With over 15 years of experience in the e-commerce and media industry, Heather shares her journey of creating Shoppable®, a platform that enables seamless shopping experiences directly from media content.
Discover how Shoppable® is empowering brands, retailers, creators, and publishers to integrate commerce anywhere consumers engage with products. Heather discusses the technology behind Shoppable®, including its patented universal checkout system, and how it's revolutionizing the way we think about online shopping. From winning prestigious awards to partnering with global brands like L'Oreal, Shoppable® stands at the forefront of e-commerce innovation.
Heather also shares her insights on the future of digital commerce, the importance of customer-centric experiences, and her vision for Shoppable®. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a tech enthusiast, or just curious about the future of online shopping, this episode is packed with valuable insights and stories of innovation.
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 this episode, we dive deep into the world of fintech with Austin Talley, the visionary Founder & CEO of Everyware, a leading company in customer engagement, billing, and payments based in Austin, Texas. With a rich background that spans over 20 years in leadership, sales, and technological innovation, Austin shares his insights on the future of payments, the importance of customer engagement, and the journey of transforming Everyware into a fintech powerhouse.
Discover how Everyware is setting a new standard in the payments industry by integrating cutting-edge technology with real-time customer communication. Austin discusses the challenges of navigating the fintech landscape, the impact of Everyware's solutions across various industries, and his passion for building a performance-driven company culture.
Join us as Austin also reflects on his transition from a distinguished career in the US Navy to pioneering change in the fintech world, highlighting the lessons learned, and the strategies that have fueled Everyware's success.
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 this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of artificial intelligence in engineering with Daniel Bin Zhang, the visionary founder and CEO of Intelligent Project Solutions (IPS). Discover how Daniel's passion for transforming engineering practices with AI has led to groundbreaking solutions for the process industry. From leveraging deep learning and computer vision to natural language processing, IPS is at the forefront of automating engineering processes, enhancing knowledge management, and enabling unprecedented productivity gains.
Daniel shares his insights on the challenges and rewards of integrating AI into traditional industries, the future of engineering, and his journey from a software engineer to an entrepreneur reshaping the engineering landscape. Learn about the inception of IPS, its mission to engineer with intelligence, and how it's helping companies navigate their digital transformation journey.
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
Join us as we sit down with Jason Vego, the visionary CEO & Co-Founder of Bevz, a pioneering SaaS platform dedicated to transforming convenience stores. Discover how Jason's passion for solving complex problems and his commitment to empowering small businesses led to the creation of Bevz. This episode dives deep into the challenges and triumphs of modernizing the traditional convenience store industry, providing technology, data, and support to over 150k stores nationwide.
Learn about the genesis of Bevz, its journey through the Techstars accelerator, and how it's shaping the future of retail with strategic partnerships with industry giants like Anheuser-Busch. Jason shares his insights on building a strong company culture, the importance of empathy in leadership, and his relentless pursuit of innovation.
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.