From Serial Founder to AI Super Connector — Andrew D’Souza on Building Boardy Andrew D’Souza has launched and scaled companies through market booms and busts — but his newest venture, Boardy, could change the way opportunity flows forever. This AI-driven “Super Connector” helps you get the right introduction at the right time — and investors are betting big, with $11M raised in under a year.

In this episode of Human Unicorn, you’ll discover:

• How to turn warm introductions into an unstoppable advantage
• Why AI could rewrite the rules of networking and deal-making
• The playbook for lightning-fast fundraising (without burning relationships)
• Lessons from past ventures that shaped Boardy’s vision and strategy

Whether you’re a founder chasing your big break, an investor scouting the next unicorn, or simply curious about the future of connections, this is your inside look at the making of an AI-first network.

Learn more about Boardy: https://www.boardy.ai/

🎙️ Scott Belsky — From Adobe to A24: Designing the Future of Creativity and Storytelling

In this episode of The Human Unicorn, Nihal Mehta sit down with Scott Belsky, one of the defining minds at the intersection of technology, design, and culture.

Scott is the founder of Behance, which was acquired by Adobe in 2012. After a stint at Benchmark Capital, he returned to Adobe as Chief Product Officer (2017–2022) and later served as Chief Strategy Officer and EVP of Design & Emerging Products, playing a pivotal role in launching Creative Cloud and Adobe Firefly.

As of January 2025, Scott has taken on a new role as Partner and Head of Technology & Innovation at A24, where he leads A24 Labs, a stealth initiative focused on reimagining tools for storytellers and creators in film and entertainment.

In this conversation, we explore:

• How Scott helped scale Adobe’s creative suite into an AI-forward platform
• What A24 Labs is doing to reshape the intersection of cinema and technology
• Lessons from backing generational companies like Airbnb, Pinterest, and Warby Parker
• His philosophy on building products that serve creators first

Scott doesn’t just build products — he builds ecosystems that empower creatives to lead industries. This episode is a rare look inside the mind of someone shaping the tools and the taste of our generation.

🦄 For founders, filmmakers, and anyone obsessed with building creative futures — this one’s unmissable.

🎙️ Human Unicorn Podcast — Episode Title:

"Conviction Over Consensus: Rebecca Kaden on Backing What Others Miss"

📄 Episode Description:

In this episode of Human Unicorn, Nihal Mehta talks with Rebecca Kaden, General Partner at Union Square Ventures, about how to spot — and stick with — breakthrough ideas before they’re obvious.

Rebecca shares how her path from journalism to VC shaped her investment lens, what it takes for a company to be truly venture scale in 2025, and why some of the most transformative businesses don’t look like obvious winners at the start.

They explore:

• How she defines "venture scale" today: speed, markets, and return potential
• The difference between consensus picks and conviction bets
• What founders should know before pitching USV
• Lessons from early investments in companies like Etsy, Carta, and Helium
• Why storytelling and point-of-view matter more than ever in crowded markets

If you're a founder looking to raise — or an investor sharpening your filter — this episode delivers real insight into how top-tier VC decisions get made.

🎙️ The Human Unicorn Podcast | Episode: Mike Mignano — Building the Future of Creativity with AI

This week, Nihal Mehta welcomes Mike Mignano — co-founder of Anchor, former Head of Talk Audio at Spotify, partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, and now co-founder of Oboe, a groundbreaking new company reimagining how we create using AI.

Mike shares his unique perspective as both a repeat founder and investor on the frontlines of the creator economy and artificial intelligence. In this episode, we dive into:

• Why Mike launched Oboe to reinvent creative tools for the AI-native generation
• The evolution from audio platforms to multimodal AI
• What AI will actually mean for artists, storytellers, and everyday creators
• The “missing layer” in consumer creative software
• What kind of founders and ideas he's backing at Lightspeed

If you're thinking about building in AI, creator tech, or the next wave of human expression — this episode is your playbook.

—

Hosted by Nihal Mehta

On this episode of The Human Unicorn, we sit down with Farhan Thawar, Head of Engineering at Shopify, where he leads thousands of engineers powering one of the world’s biggest commerce platforms. Farhan shares how he scales teams without losing speed, the real-world impact of AI coding tools, and why Claude, OpenAI, and other LLMs are changing how software gets built. Tune in for practical hacks, surprising insights, and a rare look at how top engineering minds are adapting to the AI era.

In this episode, Nihal Mehta welcomes Brian Stempeck, former Chief Strategy Officer at The Trade Desk and now Co-Founder & CEO of Evertune, for a candid conversation on scaling category-defining companies, building enduring cultures, and navigating the next wave of AI innovation.

Brian shares his journey from being employee #8 at The Trade Desk—where he helped take the company from pre-revenue to a multi-billion dollar IPO—to launching Evertune, a startup reimagining how brands optimize for AI-native search.

Topics covered include:

• The strategic decision to empower, not displace, agencies—and why it worked
• Scaling from $0 to $800M+ in revenue: lessons from the front lines
• Preserving culture during hypergrowth (and why wall slogans don’t cut it)
• How introversion can be a superpower in sales and leadership
• The rise of AI-generated search traffic—and what it means for brands
• Building with integrity, trust, and long-term ambition

A must-listen for founders, operators, and investors focused on B2B SaaS, ad tech, or AI.

In this episode, Nihal Mehta welcomes Brian Stempeck, former Chief Strategy Officer at The Trade Desk and now Co-Founder & CEO of Evertune, for a candid conversation on scaling category-defining companies, building enduring cultures, and navigating the next wave of AI innovation.

Brian shares his journey from being employee #8 at The Trade Desk—where he helped take the company from pre-revenue to a multi-billion dollar IPO—to launching Evertune, a startup reimagining how brands optimize for AI-native search.

Topics covered include:

• The strategic decision to empower, not displace, agencies—and why it worked
• Scaling from $0 to $800M+ in revenue: lessons from the front lines
• Preserving culture during hypergrowth (and why wall slogans don’t cut it)
• How introversion can be a superpower in sales and leadership
• The rise of AI-generated search traffic—and what it means for brands
• Building with integrity, trust, and long-term ambition

A must-listen for founders, operators, and investors focused on B2B SaaS, ad tech, or AI.

Oisin Hanrahan (Co-Founder, Handy & Keychain CEO)From founding Handy to leading one of the biggest players in home services—this journey’s been all about vision, grit, and execution.I joined @Nihal Mehta on The Human Unicorn Podcast to talk about scaling startups, navigating tough markets, and what I’ve learned from building and leading at the intersection of tech and operations.If you’re a founder, operator, or just love a good business story—you’ll want to check this one out:

Payal Kadakia (Founder & CEO, ClassPass) – Reinventing Wellness & Building Billion-Dollar Grit

How do you turn a passion for dance into a global fitness platform? Payal Kadakia, founder and CEO of ClassPass, shares her journey from corporate life to creating one of the most influential wellness brands in the world. In this episode, she opens up about the pivots that changed everything, staying true to your mission, and building resilience as a first-time founder.

🔹 Turning a side hustle into a billion-dollar business 🔹 Lessons from the early pivots of ClassPass 🔹 Redefining success on your own terms

🎧 Tune in for an inspiring look at purpose-driven entrepreneurship.

Payal Kadakia (Founder & CEO, ClassPass) – Reinventing Wellness & Building Billion-Dollar Grit

How do you turn a passion for dance into a global fitness platform? Payal Kadakia, founder and CEO of ClassPass, shares her journey from corporate life to creating one of the most influential wellness brands in the world. In this episode, she opens up about the pivots that changed everything, staying true to your mission, and building resilience as a first-time founder.

🔹 Turning a side hustle into a billion-dollar business 🔹 Lessons from the early pivots of ClassPass 🔹 Redefining success on your own terms

🎧 Tune in for an inspiring look at purpose-driven entrepreneurship.