Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share #104 Issac Evans— How a Series D CEO Found Product-Market Fit, Stays Self-Aware, and Survived His Bank Melting Dow
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
#104 Issac Evans— How a Series D CEO Found Product-Market Fit, Stays Self-Aware, and Survived His Bank Melting Dow
In this episode, Alisa Cohn interviews Isaac Evans, co-founder and CEO of Semgrep, a startup giving security tools directly to developers. Isaac shares his journey from conducting research at the U.S. Defense Department and MIT Lincoln Laboratory, where he explored binary exploitation bypasses, control-flow integrity, and novel hardware defenses on architectures like RISC-V, to founding and leading a fast-growing company at the forefront of developer security. A graduate of MIT with BS and MS degrees in EECS, Isaac also brings a deep curiosity for next-generation programming languages, secure-by-design frameworks, and the intersection of cryptography and public policy.
Together, Alisa and Isaac dive into the realities of startup leadership, the evolution of Semgrep’s business model, the value of feedback, and the transition from founder to CEO. Isaac offers candid insights on managing a growing team, navigating change, and staying grounded through self-awareness. The conversation also explores how AI is reshaping software development, concluding with advice and reflections for aspiring founders building companies in today’s fast-moving world.
Where to find Isaac:
- Semgrep
- X
Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction to Deep Conversations
(01:55) Exploring Love Languages in Relationships
(06:00) The Founding Insight of Semgrep
(10:06) Navigating Early Startup Challenges
(13:45) The Evolution of Semgrep's Business Model
(17:53) Handling Community Feedback and Criticism
(21:54) Crisis Management and Personal Growth
(25:46) The Importance of Feedback Culture
(33:20) Embracing Feedback as a Gift
(35:45) Shifting Leadership Styles
(38:32) The A-Plus Responsibilities of a CEO
(42:34) Navigating the Founder to CEO Transition
(46:46) Learning Through Experience
(50:32) The Challenge of Team Dynamics
(54:31) The Future of AI and Security
(59:28) Imposter Syndrome and Self-Awareness
(01:03) 15 Advice for Aspiring Founders
Connect with Alisa!
Follow Alisa Cohn on
- Instagram: @alisacohn
- Twitter: @alisacohn
- Facebook: facebook.com/alisa.cohn
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisacohn/
- Website: http://www.alisacohn.com
Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better)
Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon
View all episodes
By Alisa Cohn
4.9
6363 ratings
In this episode, Alisa Cohn interviews Isaac Evans, co-founder and CEO of Semgrep, a startup giving security tools directly to developers. Isaac shares his journey from conducting research at the U.S. Defense Department and MIT Lincoln Laboratory, where he explored binary exploitation bypasses, control-flow integrity, and novel hardware defenses on architectures like RISC-V, to founding and leading a fast-growing company at the forefront of developer security. A graduate of MIT with BS and MS degrees in EECS, Isaac also brings a deep curiosity for next-generation programming languages, secure-by-design frameworks, and the intersection of cryptography and public policy.
Together, Alisa and Isaac dive into the realities of startup leadership, the evolution of Semgrep’s business model, the value of feedback, and the transition from founder to CEO. Isaac offers candid insights on managing a growing team, navigating change, and staying grounded through self-awareness. The conversation also explores how AI is reshaping software development, concluding with advice and reflections for aspiring founders building companies in today’s fast-moving world.
Where to find Isaac:
- Semgrep
- X
Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction to Deep Conversations
(01:55) Exploring Love Languages in Relationships
(06:00) The Founding Insight of Semgrep
(10:06) Navigating Early Startup Challenges
(13:45) The Evolution of Semgrep's Business Model
(17:53) Handling Community Feedback and Criticism
(21:54) Crisis Management and Personal Growth
(25:46) The Importance of Feedback Culture
(33:20) Embracing Feedback as a Gift
(35:45) Shifting Leadership Styles
(38:32) The A-Plus Responsibilities of a CEO
(42:34) Navigating the Founder to CEO Transition
(46:46) Learning Through Experience
(50:32) The Challenge of Team Dynamics
(54:31) The Future of AI and Security
(59:28) Imposter Syndrome and Self-Awareness
(01:03) 15 Advice for Aspiring Founders
Connect with Alisa!
Follow Alisa Cohn on
- Instagram: @alisacohn
- Twitter: @alisacohn
- Facebook: facebook.com/alisa.cohn
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisacohn/
- Website: http://www.alisacohn.com
Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better)
Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon
More shows like From Start-Up to Grown-Up
View all
Acquired
4,584 Listeners
The Knowledge Project
2,683 Listeners
How I Built This with Guy Raz
30,238 Listeners
Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'Shaughnessy
2,320 Listeners
Founders
2,137 Listeners
Y Combinator Startup Podcast
228 Listeners
Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel
14,943 Listeners
My First Million
2,641 Listeners
Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques
806 Listeners
A Bit of Optimism
2,185 Listeners
The AI Daily Brief: Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis
594 Listeners
The Ben & Marc Show
120 Listeners
The Pragmatic Engineer
64 Listeners
Good Hang with Amy Poehler
10,105 Listeners
How I AI
145 Listeners