The NFX Podcast

Hosted by NFX

Technology Investing

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Episodes

171

Latest episode

Jul 2026

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About the show

We believe creating something of true significance starts with seeing things others do not. NFX is a venture firm exclusively focused on pre-seed & seed stage startups.

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60 recent

July 29, 2026Episode 41 hr 41 min

The Product Intuition Behind $800M+ In Exits w/ Kamakshi Sivaramakrishnan

Kamakshi Sivaramakrishnan shares her journey from AdMob to founding Drawbridge and her subsequent transition to LinkedIn. She discusses the mobile advertising revolution, the success of AdMob during the iPhone launch, and its acquisition by Google. Kamakshi highlights Drawbridge's unique value proposition and the challenges of navigating ad tech regulations. She offers insights on customer relationships, board management, and acquisition processes. Kamakshi also delves into her transition to LinkedIn, founding Samooha, and the complexities of data collaboration. The episode concludes with advice for founders, especially female entrepreneurs, and the importance of empowering product teams.

July 16, 2026Episode 31 hr 6 min

How Running Out of Money Made DocSend a $165M Success w/ Russ Heddleston

Russ Heddleston, founder of DocSend, shares how nearly going bankrupt forced them to rethink everything—turning a failing startup into a product-led rocket ship that Dropbox bought for $165M. From spreadsheets of startup ideas, to the painful lessons of chasing enterprise sales, to doubling their prices and watching conversions skyrocket, Russ breaks down the hard truths behind building a breakout SaaS company. Plus: why he wishes he hadn’t sold, and what he’s doing differently with his next startup.

July 1, 20261 hr 7 min

How a $500 TV Ad Turned Credit Karma into a $7B Empire w/ Ken Lin

Ken Lin founded Credit Karma in 2007, bootstrapped through the recession, survived a near-shutdown by TransUnion, and ultimately sold to Intuit for $7.1B. In this episode, Ken shares how a $500 DIY TV ad broke their growth, why he avoided an IPO, the non-negotiables that mattered most in M&A, and where AI is taking personal finance next. A must-listen for any founder navigating scale, culture, and billion-dollar decisions.

June 11, 2026Episode 155 min

How Tracy Young Sold PlanGrid for $875M and Navigated Tragedy

Tracy Young, co-founder of PlanGrid, shares how her background in construction led to building one of the most successful startups in the space—culminating in an $875M acquisition by Autodesk. She dives into lessons learned on product-market fit, go-to-market strategy, and navigating founder relationships as the company scaled. Tracy also reflects on her time at Y Combinator, the fundraising process, and the emotional challenges of selling a company. Post-acquisition, she transitioned into coaching before founding her new startup, TigerEye. She discusses how AI, core values, and leadership growth are shaping this next chapter—and what she wishes more founders knew about resilience and reinvention.

May 30, 20248 min

Essay Readout: Stablecoins are Defense Tech by Morgan Beller

This is an essay readout using an AI voice clone of NFX general partner, Morgan Beller. Morgan navigates the world of stablecoins and defense tech, emphasizing the need for a synergy between regulators and stablecoin creators. She dives into the historical significance of the dollar's power and discusses how stablecoins could further propagate USD. The essay wraps up with insights on the role of stablecoin Founders in national defense and suggestions for a US digital dollar.

April 10, 2024Episode 17738 min

The Past, Present, and Future of Longevity w/ Joe Betts-LaCroix Alex Colville

In this episode, Omri Amirav-Drory (NFX), Joe Betts-LaCroix (Retro Bio), and Alex Colville (Age1) discuss the history, recent progress, and hurdles in the longevity industry, including the evaluation of potential founders and business risks. The discussion further encompasses the global fundraising potential and societal impact of the longevity sector, viewing aging as a disease, and the future of longevity drugs. Learn more at - https://nfx.com/bio

March 20, 2024Episode 17635 min

The NFX Podcast w/ Alex Babin of HerculesAI

Hercules builds high-quality, enterprise-grade AI solutions based on data extraction, transformation, and verification, while integrating with enterprise systems and tools for maintenance and monitoring. Join NFX general partner James Currier and HerculesAI CEO Alex Babin talk about the latest breakthroughs in the AI space of enterprise companies.

October 22, 2023Episode 17516 min

Essay Readout: Real Estate’s Hidden AI Revolution by Pete Flint

This is an essay readout using an AI voice clone of NFX general partner, Pete Flint. AI has the potential to smooth out many links in the real estate production chain and create a cascade that will close the productivity gap. This essay reveals what’s on the way and how founders can seize this opportunity. Read the full essay here - https://www.nfx.com/post/ai-revolution-proptech

July 26, 2023Episode 17434 min

#1 Phone A Friend: "Astronauts for Inner Space" with Raed Khawaja

Morgan Beller calls up Raed Khawaja - CEO & Co-Founder at Open - to catch up and talk about the current movement around one's 'inner-space'. Open is a social space for meditation, movement, and practice — on and offline, who’s raised close to $15M to help friends be present together. They blend old and new to bring you to the here and now on their app, in person at their Venice Beach studio, and even in the sky on JetBlue airlines. Their hybrid method strengthens the mind-body connection. NFX operates as a pre-seed and seed stage VC that is transforming how true innovators are funded - subscribe, share, and stay tuned for more episodes of 'Phone a Friend' with General Partner Morgan Beller.

July 23, 2023Episode 17318 min

Essay Readout: Generative Tech Begins by James Currier

This is an essay readout using an AI voice clone of NFX general partner, James Currier. Generative Tech is the next step in software. It’s a new level of human-machine partnership. It turns deep learning engines into collaborators to generate new content and ideas nearly like a human would. This area is so new, and moving so fast, you can have an advantage in your chosen area in a few months… for now.