EPISODE 58

Eric Ries, creator of the Lean Startup methodology and author of the new book Incorruptible, joins Kevin and Jason for a conversation about what happens after a company starts working — and why success makes you a target, not safer. Eric explains why 80% of founders are no longer CEO three years after IPO, walks through the Saul Price story behind FedMart and Costco as a real A/B test in business history, and unpacks his formula of ethos plus integrity for building companies that survive their own success. He shares the inside story of helping Anthropic set up its governance structure, why standard "best practices" are often value-destroying, and gives founders tactical moves they can make from day one — from choosing their fiduciary commitments to defending against financial gravity. A sharp, sometimes uncomfortable look at why so many great companies drift away from what made them special, and how a few exceptions manage not to.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Cold open: Success makes you a target

02:49 – Jason's startup corruption story

05:18 – The founder's wake and the 80% statistic

09:40 – Why "corruption" is the right word

16:01 – Companies as superorganisms: you don't own what you birth

18:38 – The legend of Sol Price, FedMart, and Costco

25:52 – The formula: ethos plus integrity

28:30 – Tactical moves for early-stage founders

34:34 – Anthropic, the Pentagon, and the $200M decision

38:29 – What Eric used to believe that he no longer believes

40:59 – Where to find Eric and the book

LINKS

Connect with Eric Ries

incorruptible.co • LinkedIn • X/Twitter

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Connect with Kevin

LinkedIn • X/Twitter

Connect with Jason

LinkedIn • X/Twitter