Born In Silicon Valley

Hosted by Match Relevant

Business Entrepreneurship

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100

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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About the show

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.

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60 recent

August 20, 2026Episode 25134 min

Why Nvidia Called This Founder

Want to know how AI is helping small business owners unlock millions in hidden value before they sell? Discover how Cory Hogan built Unbroker, an AI-native services firm that generated $13 billion in valuations in just six months. In this episode of Born in Silicon Valley, host Jake Aaron Villarreal sits down with Cory Hogan to discuss the massive shift happening on Main Street. With 10 million small business owners preparing to transfer trillions of dollars in wealth over the next decade, Unbroker is stepping in to ensure they get exactly what their life's work is worth. Cory shares his origin story, transitioning from a blue-collar background to scaling Y Combinator startups, and ultimately creating a conversational AI bot that values businesses in under 60 seconds. We explore the unit economics of bootstrapping a massive tech startup and why the human element is more critical than ever in an AI-driven world. Whether you are a startup founder looking for sustainable growth strategies or a business owner planning your future exit, this conversation delivers actionable insights on leveraging artificial intelligence to scale efficiently and hire the right talent based on skill and will. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 05:55 The Birth of Unbroker 11:51 AI's Role in Business Valuation 17:56 Navigating the Selling Process 23:35 Startup Strategies and Team Dynamics 29:47 Hiring in the Age of AI 35:55 Future of Unbroker and Closing Thoughts Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal leads the top AI recruitment firm in Silicon Valley, www.matchrelevant.com , uncovering stories of funded startups and going behind the scenes to tell their founders’ journeys. If you are growing an AI startup or have a great story to tell, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com

August 18, 2026Episode 25041 min

Never Miss A Customer Again

Missed phone calls are costing the restaurant industry millions of dollars every year, but conversational AI is completely changing the game. In this episode, we explore how cutting-edge voice technology is transforming front-of-house operations and recovering lost revenue for operators nationwide. Christian Wiens, CEO and Co-Founder of Loman AI, shares his journey from working in a beachside barbecue joint to developing the leading voice AI platform for the restaurant sector. He explains the immense operational challenges inherent in the industry and how an intelligent phone agent can seamlessly take orders, process payments, and integrate directly with existing POS systems. Beyond the technology, Christian provides a tactical masterclass on go-to-market strategies for B2B startup founders. From leveraging cold email and paid advertisements to building a powerful organic pipeline, he breaks down exactly what it takes to scale a software business in 2026. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Setup 04:56 Christian Wiens Introduces Lohman AI 06:32 Christian's Background and Entrepreneurial Journey 14:41 The Core Problem in Restaurant Phone Operations 17:10 How AI Solves Restaurant Call Misses 20:25 Surprising Customer Impact Stories 25:11 Customer Skepticism and AI Acceptance 32:19 Data Insights from Voice AI 37:32 Go-to-Market Strategies for AI Startups 44:22 The Role of Content and SEO in Growth 47:11 Hiring and Building an AI-Driven Team 50:12 Current Hiring and Growth at Lohman AI Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal leads the top AI recruitment firm in Silicon Valley, www.matchrelevant.com , uncovering stories of funded startups and going behind the scenes to tell their founders’ journeys. If you are growing an AI startup or have a great story to tell, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com

August 6, 2026Episode 24944 min

68 Hours For One Quote

Discover how artificial intelligence is quietly revolutionizing the five trillion dollar construction supply chain and accelerating the massive data center boom. In this episode, Forest Flager reveals how Parspec leverages agentic AI to cut quoting times from days to seconds, driving billions in electrical product sales. Since our last conversation, Parspec successfully secured a $31 million Series A and expanded its reach beyond electrical into mechanical and plumbing construction materials. Forest shares his insider perspective on how leading distributors are navigating modern procurement, overcoming manual workflow bottlenecks, and capturing new revenue in the rapidly growing data center market. Beyond the product, we dive deep into how Parspec has completely restructured its own engineering teams to maximize the 3x to 5x development speed unlocked by AI coding tools. Forest provides actionable advice for founders on building an AI forward company culture that rewards experimentation over hoarding knowledge. Whether you are building a venture backed startup, managing a global supply chain, or seeking ways to integrate AI into your daily operations, this conversation offers an unfiltered look at enterprise AI adoption that actually drives hard ROI. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Paraspect and AI in Construction 05:00 Expanding Product Offerings and Market Reach 09:46 The Role of AI in Procurement and Workflow Automation 15:04 Sales Strategy and Market Adoption 19:39 Trends in Data Center Construction and Procurement 24:49 Labor Dynamics in Data Center Construction 25:56 Enhancing Construction Efficiency with Real-Time Data 28:30 The Impact of AI on Startup Operations 32:36 Navigating the AI Talent Landscape 35:36 Fostering a Collaborative AI Culture 38:30 Personal AI Tools for Leadership 42:30 Future Directions and Team Expansion Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal leads the top AI recruitment firm in Silicon Valley, www.matchrelevant.com , uncovering stories of funded startups and going behind the scenes to tell their founders’ journeys. If you are growing an AI startup or have a great story to tell, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com

August 4, 2026Episode 24838 min

Stop Factory Blind Spots Now

Discover how physical artificial intelligence is transforming the manufacturing industry by giving the real world a voice and solving complex operational problems in record time. In this episode, Dave Copps, CEO of Worlds, reveals the groundbreaking shift from static data to live spatial models that allow factories to literally speak to their managers. We explore the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence in physical spaces, highlighting why the days of waiting years for operational technology to show a return on investment are officially over. Dave breaks down how his team deploys intelligent agents to turn environments into continuous streams of spatial data, ensuring safety and massive efficiency gains within just days. You will also learn about the rise of Forward Deployed Engineers and why insatiable curiosity combined with advanced tools like Claude is creating uniquely powerful developers. As companies pivot from simple automation to complex, multi-agent architectures, understanding this transition is crucial for any tech leader or startup founder looking to scale effectively. We also get an exclusive sneak peek into Iris, a revolutionary new system launching soon that enables a facility to communicate directly with its operators during critical events. Tune in to understand why bolting artificial intelligence onto existing software is obsolete and how building native, agentic ecosystems is the true future of enterprise technology. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Welcome Back 02:26 The Rapid Evolution of Physical AI 04:57 Transforming Manufacturing with Live Spatial Data 08:45 Operational Intelligence versus Traditional Dashboards 12:45 Drastically Reducing Time to Value 15:22 The Role of Forward Deployed Engineers 20:53 The Shift to Native Agentic Software 23:25 Delivering Health and Safety Outcomes 26:10 Augmenting Human Safety in the Workplace 28:46 Introducing Iris: Giving Environments a Voice 32:30 Fostering a Culture of Curiosity and Innovation 35:43 New Strategies for Interviewing Tech Talent 39:01 Open Roles and Career Growth at Worlds 42:28 How to Connect with Worlds and Conclusion Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal leads the top AI recruitment firm in Silicon Valley, www.matchrelevant.com , uncovering stories of funded startups and going behind the scenes to tell their founders’ journeys. If you are growing an AI startup or have a great story to tell, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com

July 31, 2026Episode 24739 min

Stop Using Basic AI Bots

Discover how AI is transforming enterprise contact centers from massive cost centers into intelligent command centers. Ali Merchant, CEO of Orvera AI, reveals how his bootstrapped voice AI platform is outperforming billion-dollar competitors with unprecedented resolution rates. With 18 years of experience building a 2000-person contact center firm, Ali shares his insider perspective on why context is the ultimate competitive advantage in generative AI. He breaks down how Orvera AI automates up to 84 percent of complex customer conversations, dramatically improving the lives of contact center leaders and shifting human agents to higher-value roles. This episode dives deep into the future of conversational AI in healthcare, the strategic decision to bootstrap rather than raise venture capital, and actionable hiring advice for startup founders scaling their sales teams. Whether you are building an AI startup or looking to optimize your enterprise operations, this conversation offers a masterclass in product-market fit and sustainable growth. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Ollie Merchant and Orvera AI 01:53 Ollie's Journey in Technology and AI 04:00 The Role of AI in Contact Centers 07:50 Use Cases of AI in Various Industries 12:38 Outperforming Competitors with Contextual Understanding 14:55 The Future of Voice AI and Market Competition 19:05 AI's Impact on Human Roles in Contact Centers 22:02 Bootstrapping vs. Raising Capital 24:44 Hiring Strategies for Growing Companies 36:11 Mainstream Adoption of AI Voice Technology 38:29 Future Roadmap for Orvera AI Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal leads the top AI recruitment firm in Silicon Valley, www.matchrelevant.com , uncovering stories of funded startups and going behind the scenes to tell their founders’ journeys. If you are growing an AI startup or have a great story to tell, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com

July 28, 2026Episode 24632 min

Why NASA Backed Space Copy

Ever wondered what it takes to build a manufacturing plant on the moon? Madison C. Feehan is revolutionizing the multi-billion dollar aerospace supply chain by creating rapidly deployable 3D printers that turn raw dirt and scrap into critical infrastructure. In this episode of Born in Silicon Valley, we sit down with the visionary founder and CEO of Space Copy. Starting her career with NASA at just sixteen years old, Madison has broken barriers in hard tech and lunar resource utilization. She walks us through the monumental challenges of expeditionary manufacturing and how her autonomous robotic systems operate in the most extreme environments, from remote disaster zones on Earth to the lunar surface. We dive deep into the fascinating realities of hard tech fundraising, the vital role of AI in streamlining small startup operations, and the ultimate roadmap for commercializing space exploration. Madison also unpacks how Space Copy achieves construction that is up to seventy percent cheaper and twenty percent faster than traditional methods, ultimately saving lives and pioneering a new frontier in human expansion. Chapters 00:00 Technical Difficulties and Introduction 03:07 Madison Feehan's Journey to Space Copy 05:11 Understanding Space Copy's Mission 08:21 Explaining Space Copy's Technology 11:31 Diverse Applications of Space Copy 12:27 Surprises in Building Space Copy 14:21 Exploring the Scale of 3D Printing Technology 16:32 Understanding the 3D Printing Process 18:57 Business Models in 3D Printing 21:16 Defining Competitive Moats in Hard Tech 25:31 Personal Journey and Milestones 27:56 The Role of AI in 3D Printing 31:16 Challenges of Fundraising in Hard Tech 33:52 Future Opportunities in Space Data Centers 35:51 Exciting Upcoming Launches and Projects 38:10 Building a Culture and Future Team Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal leads the top AI recruitment firm in Silicon Valley, www.matchrelevant.com , uncovering stories of funded startups and going behind the scenes to tell their founders’ journeys. If you are growing an AI startup or have a great story to tell, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com

July 23, 2026Episode 24529 min

Stop Wasting Time On Estimates

The construction industry has seen zero productivity growth in over fifty years, but one former US Congressman is using artificial intelligence to change that forever. Discover how Patrick Murphy built Togal.AI to compress weeks of manual blueprint estimating into a seamless process that takes mere seconds. Growing up in a family construction business and serving in Congress gave Patrick the unique perspective needed to revolutionize the real estate industry. In this episode, we dive deep into the archaic workflows of 2D plans, the incredible power of machine vision, and how artificial intelligence is finally bending the cost curve of building. Patrick also shares his high-level insights on building a remote-first tech startup and the striking similarities between political campaigns and MVP product launches. Whether you are scaling a venture-backed startup or fascinated by the future of automation in legacy industries, this conversation delivers massive value. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:00 From Construction to Politics 04:59 Transitioning from Politics to Business 10:46 The Role of AI in Construction 16:33 Challenges and Opportunities in AI Implementation 19:13 Building a Successful Startup 21:13 Hiring and Team Building in a Remote World 29:04 Growth and Future Opportunities Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal leads the top AI recruitment firm in Silicon Valley, www.matchrelevant.com , uncovering stories of funded startups and going behind the scenes to tell their founders’ journeys. If you are growing an AI startup or have a great story to tell, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com

July 14, 2026Episode 24440 min

Nobody Knows What's Running

Are your AI agents secretly compromising your production systems? Vincent Dermont, Co-Founder and Principal Engineer at Guild AI, reveals the unseen dangers of deploying autonomous AI and how to regain control before it is too late. In this episode of Born in Silicon Valley, we dive deep into the chaotic reality of AI integration in modern startups. Vincent shares his journey from building the early foundations of TikTok and engineering at Meta to solving the massive governance problem plaguing tech leaders today. We explore why companies desperately need an AI control plane to manage autonomous agents, the hidden costs of runaway token usage, and how builders can leverage artificial intelligence without sacrificing platform security. Whether you are an engineer trying to stay relevant or a founder scaling your tech stack, this conversation provides the tactical playbook you need for the future of enterprise AI. Discover what it actually takes to become an LLM whisperer, why traditional coding whiteboard interviews are dead, and how junior engineers are teaching industry veterans entirely new frameworks in the age of generative development. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Vincent Durmont and Guild AI 04:37 Vincent's Journey into Technology 07:17 The Birth of Guild AI 10:13 Guild AI's Control Plane Explained 14:05 Understanding the Market and Customer Needs 17:21 Balancing Security and Speed in AI Deployment 18:17 Navigating AI Adoption Challenges 21:10 The Evolving Role of Engineers in AI 23:53 Advice for Aspiring Engineers 26:34 Staying Relevant in a Changing Job Market 28:59 Practical Skills for AI Engineers 31:42 Optimizing AI Usage and Cost 35:40 Future Roadmap for AI Development 40:33 Hiring for the Future of AI Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal leads the top AI recruitment firm in Silicon Valley, www.matchrelevant.com , uncovering stories of funded startups and going behind the scenes to tell their founders’ journeys. If you are growing an AI startup or have a great story to tell, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com

July 9, 2026Episode 2431 hr 4 min

AI Has A Power Problem

AI is evolving faster than our power grids can handle, but what happens when the physical infrastructure can no longer keep pace? Join Jake Aaron Villarreal as he sits down with Scott Willis, President and CEO of Dartpoints, to uncover the hidden backbone of the artificial intelligence revolution: data centers. In this episode of Born in Silicon Valley, we dive deep into the physical realities of building and scaling technology. While software and silicon innovate at lightning speed, the infrastructure required to power them faces massive constraints, from supply chain delays to political headwinds. Scott reveals the critical differences between learning and inference workloads, explaining why inference is set to dominate the market by 2026. We explore the massive energy demands of modern tech, the surprising local economic benefits of data centers, and the intense challenges companies face when expanding into new communities. Whether you are curious about the future of energy, looking to build a career in technology, or wondering if data centers in space are a reality, this conversation provides essential insights into the foundation of our digital economy. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 01:08 Building Outside Silicon Valley: Why Dallas? 04:10 The Foundation of AI: Data Centers Explained 06:45 The Complexity of Modern Data Centers 10:30 The Biggest Risks in AI Infrastructure 13:22 Dartpoints' Growth Strategy 15:57 AI Inference vs. AI Learning Workloads 20:10 Power Grids and the AI Energy Crisis 30:15 The Massive Tech Infrastructure Talent Shortage 36:57 Trade Schools and Data Center Careers 40:54 Navigating Politics and Community Pushback 48:25 The Hidden Economic Benefits of Data Centers 55:54 Are Data Centers in Space a Reality? 1:00:25 Career Advice: Embracing AI and Taking Risks 1:06:52 The Future of Dartpoints and Hiring Needs 1:10:54 Final Thoughts and Outro Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal leads the top AI recruitment firm in Silicon Valley, www.matchrelevant.com , uncovering stories of funded startups and going behind the scenes to tell their founders’ journeys. If you are growing an AI startup or have a great story to tell, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com

July 2, 2026Episode 24247 min

Stop Your Revenue Leakage Now

AI is revolutionizing how private equity-backed startups scale, but revenue leakage is quietly costing them millions. Discover how deploying AI agents in your Go-To-Market strategy can slash manual quoting time by up to 90 percent and plug the gaps in your revenue operations. In this episode of Born in Silicon Valley, Jake Aaron Villarreal sits down with Miguel Vasconcelos, CEO and co-founder of TechTorch. They dive deep into the world of AI-driven digital transformation, specifically focusing on how mid-market companies and private equity portfolios are leveraging AI agents to automate the deal desk and streamline Go-To-Market workflows. Miguel shares his journey from Nike to founding TechTorch, revealing why traditional tech consulting models are broken and how outcome-based, agile AI deployment is the future. Learn the secrets to identifying revenue leakage, managing a global remote team of AI-native engineers, and why upskilling your workforce is critical to beating the AI hoarding trend. Chapters 00:00 Navigating the Talent War in AI 02:54 Miguel's Journey: From Portugal to Tech Torch 05:54 Identifying Market Gaps: The Birth of Tech Torch 08:36 Focusing on Go-to-Market Strategies 11:42 Unique Value Proposition: Blending Software and Services 14:31 Targeting Private Equity Backed Companies 17:43 Operational Pain Points in Revenue Management 25:47 The Transformative Power of AI in Business 28:08 Building Trust and Long-Term Relationships 29:32 Outcome-Based Approaches to Client Engagement 33:08 Identifying Key Stakeholders in Client Companies 35:40 Consultative Approaches to Problem Solving 38:47 Navigating Talent Acquisition in a Competitive Market 42:53 Upskilling and Knowledge Sharing Among Teams 48:43 Addressing AI Hoarding and Fostering Collaboration 50:42 Recruitment Strategies for Growing Teams 53:33 Future Hiring Needs and Opportunities Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal leads the top AI recruitment firm in Silicon Valley, www.matchrelevant.com , uncovering stories of funded startups and going behind the scenes to tell their founders’ journeys. If you are growing an AI startup or have a great story to tell, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com