Puck Academy

Building AI-Powered 3D Creativity Tools with Bharat Vasan In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs welcomes Bharat Vasan, co-founder of Intangible, to discuss their development of a no-code 3D creation tool targeting filmmakers, game designers, and creative professionals. Intangible recently raised a $4 million seed round to simplify 3D content creation using AI. Bharat talks about his journey, including co-founding Basis Technologies and working with notable names like Charles Migos from Apple and Unity. They explore the challenges and opportunities in the film and games industries, the potential of AI, building a startup team, and maintaining work-life balance as an entrepreneur. Bharat and Jason also reminisce about their long history and shared experiences in the startup world. 

00:00 Introduction to Bharat Vasan and Intangible 

00:52 Bharat's Entrepreneurial Journey 

00:58 Discussion on Founding Companies 

01:26 State of the Film and Games Industries 

01:57 Introduction to The Next Next 

02:37 Reconnecting with Bharat 

03:34 Bharat's Background and Journey to the US 

05:11 Cultural Shocks and Career Beginnings 

05:38 Bharat's Experience in Silicon Valley 

08:54 The Importance of Co-founders 

12:40 Key Factors in Starting a Company 

17:15 Meeting Co-founder Charles Migos 

19:48 Challenges in the Film and Games Industries 

23:14 The Vision for Intangible 

28:47 AI Transforms Creative Processes 

29:35 The Role of Agents in AI 

31:17 Simplifying 3D Creative Tools 

33:48 AI's Impact on Production and Creativity 

37:40 The Future of AI in Creative Industries 

43:52 Building Intangible AI 

53:22 The Startup Grind and Co-Founder Dynamics 

57:37 Closing Thoughts and Future Outlook

Note: Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

Building HYBRD: Leveraging AI in Fitness App Development In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs chats with Matthew Ruiters and Ben Katz, co-founders of HYBRD, an innovative fitness tracking app for hybrid athletes. They discuss the unique approach of using AI for coding and development, their journey through Y Combinator, and the challenges and successes faced along the way. Topics include utilizing AI tools to empower non-technical founders, transitioning from a side project to a full-fledged company, and the future of fitness app development and marketing with AI. The conversation also touches on the implications of evolving AI tools for startup efficiency, competition, and employment. 

00:00 Introduction to The Next Next 

02:11 Meet the Guests: Ruiters and Ben 

03:03 What is HYBRD? 

04:10 The Origin Story of HYBRD 

09:37 Building the Prototype and Joining YC 

15:36 Leveraging AI for Development 

19:33 The Role of AI in Team Efficiency 

23:11 AI-Driven Workflow Enhancements 

24:04 The Role of Technical Founders 

25:13 Balancing Hustler and Hacker Dynamics 

25:46 Drawbacks and Challenges of AI Tools 

27:02 AI's Impact on Hiring and Competition 

29:29 Diving into AI Tools: Tips and Experiences 

35:47 Application-Only Launch Strategy 

37:24 Future Plans and Funding 

40:13 Marketing and Distribution Strategies 

43:28 Final Thoughts and Parting Words

Note: Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

Fostering AI Adoption: A Deep Dive with Melodi's Sara Remsen In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs talks with Sara Remsen, CEO and co-founder of Melodi, a startup helping AI companies improve their models with human feedback. They discuss Melodi's journey, AI's current transformative state, and its potential opportunities and hype. The conversation covers the rise of AI agents, the tools available for building them, the pros and cons of those tools, and the challenges companies face in developing in-house agents. Sara explains Melodi's role in measuring digital resolution rates for AI-powered chatbots, detailing their approach to improving customer interaction insights. The discussion also touches on Melodi's origin story and developmental journey, the impact of generative AI on traditional product feedback methods, and the future of AI integration in businesses. Towards the end, Sara shares practical advice for founders and established companies on incorporating AI thoughtfully and strategically. 

00:00 Introduction to Sara Remsen and Melodi 

00:20 Overview of the Episode's Topics 

01:24 Introduction to The Next Next Show 

02:03 Sara Remsen Joins the Conversation 

02:09 Challenges in Podcast Recording 

02:29 Sara's Background and Connection with Jason 

03:31 Founding Melodi and Its Mission 

03:40 Understanding Melodi's Functionality 

04:38 The Origin Story of Melodi 

08:05 Exploring RAG Systems 

14:52 Challenges and Opportunities with AI Agents 

24:53 The Future of AI and Digital Workforces 

27:07 Prioritizing Tool Sets and Tasks 

27:23 Melodi's Integration and Functionality 

28:22 Task Agnosticism and Monitoring 

28:46 Criteria for Melodi's Market Fit 

29:12 AI Maturity and Company Size 

29:31 Melodi's Ideal Customer Profile 

36:31 Challenges in the AI Market 

37:52 Future of Software and AI 

43:56 Melodi's Sales and Customer Acquisition 

45:42 Incorporating AI in Operations 

49:16 Advice for Founders and Companies 

52:56 Melodi's Future Plans 

54:23 Creative Uses of AI in Daily Life 

55:09 Conclusion and Farewell

Note: Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

Shawn Harris on Revolutionizing Project Management with AI In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs interviews Shawn Harris, co-founder and CEO of Coworked. Shawn shares how Coworked is transforming project management by leveraging AI, specifically with their flagship product, Harmony. The discussion delves into Coworked's journey from initial concept to their pivot based on market needs, leading to the development of an extensive agent-driven AI system. Shawn provides insights on the challenges and decisions involved in building their own agentic framework, the role of project managers, and the future landscape of AI in project management. The episode also touches on Shawn's perspective on the evolving role of founders and invites listeners, especially PMO leaders, to engage with Coworked's innovative solutions. 

00:00 Introduction to The Next Next 

00:29 The Birth of Coworked and Harmony 

01:47 Challenges in Project Management 

03:04 Meet Shawn Harris 

04:45 Understanding Harmony's Capabilities 

06:11 The Founding Story of Coworked 

12:38 Building the Agentic Framework 

16:07 Optimizing Project Management 

17:50 Technical Challenges and Solutions 

19:59 DIY vs. Off-the-Shelf Solutions 

23:26 Ensuring Reliability and Accuracy 

28:56 Overcoming Challenges in AI Development 

30:43 The Role of AI in Development and Resources 

31:41 Team Structure and AI Integration 

33:58 Human Involvement in AI Projects 

40:25 Market Penetration and Customer Engagement 

42:20 AI's Impact on Project Management 

48:33 Defensibility and Competition in AI 

56:16 Future of AI in Business and Entrepreneurship 

57:14 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Note: Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

Exploring AI Integration in Product Management with Paul Heayn In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs welcomes Paul Heayn, a product manager at Peapod Digital Labs, who has been integrating AI into his work. The conversation covers Paul's professional background, his journey with AI, and his hands-on experience with tools like ChatGPT and N8N. They discuss the challenges and potential of automating workflows, the future impact of AI on roles within startups, and how to effectively integrate AI into existing processes. The episode serves as a practical guide for anyone looking to incorporate AI tools into their professional workflows. 

00:00 Introduction to Today's Episode 

02:22 Paul Heayn's Background and AI Journey 

03:32 Exploring AI Tools and Applications 

07:48 Challenges and Learnings in AI Implementation 

08:38 Future Prospects and Personal Reflections 

17:18 Navigating AI Tools and Resources 

21:02 Debating the Best Approach to Learning AI 

27:16 The Programming Genie Concept 

27:44 Challenges in Character Development 

28:22 Automation in Various Professions 

28:52 Building Personal Software Solutions 

30:19 Future of Vendor-Sold Software 

31:24 AI's Impact on Job Roles 

34:56 Choosing the Right AI Tools 

42:16 Practical Coding Tools and Automation 

46:11 Final Thoughts and Future Plans

Note: Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

Navigating Ambition, Family, and AI with Brian Balfour of Reforge In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs speaks with Brian Balfour, founder and CEO of Reforge. The episode covers Brian’s entrepreneurial journey, including his time at Viximo and HubSpot, and the challenges and strategies he employed in building Reforge since 2016. Brian shares insights on balancing being a venture-backed founder and a dad, embracing and managing ambition healthily, and the transformative impact of AI on product teams. The conversation delves into Reforge’s pivot to incorporating AI, its acquisition of Monterey.ai, and the future implications of AI on startup building and venture capital. Jason and Brian also discuss the evolving landscape of AI tools and the importance of being on the front lines of technology adoption. 

00:00 Introduction to Brian Balfour 

00:31 Brian's Early Ventures and Reforge 

00:46 Balancing Ambition and Family 

00:56 The Role of AI in Reforge 

02:03 The Next Next: A Learning Journey 

02:44 Brian's Entrepreneurial Journey 

05:29 The Impact of Family on Ambition 

06:48 Navigating Challenges and Opportunities 

22:59 AI's Disruption in Education and Product Teams 

32:08 Transitioning to AI Native Product Teams 

32:42 Building vs. Acquiring AI Products 

33:24 Utilizing AI in Training and Content Creation 

38:31 Impact of AI on Team Structure and Efficiency 

41:24 Future of Startups and AI 

47:53 Venture Capital and Startup Culture 

50:17 Navigating AI Tools and Automation 

52:03 Advice and Future Plans 

01:02:27 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Note: Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

AI and Parenting: Revolutionizing Child Behavioral Therapy with Mady Mantha In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs interviews Mady Mantha, co-founder and CTO of Happypillar, a digital therapeutic application that delivers evidence-based behavioral interventions to families using AI. Mady shares her extensive background in product and machine learning engineering and details her journey from developing conversational AI at Sirius and Walmart to building Happypillar. They discuss how Happypillar uses AI to make parenting easier by providing scaled therapeutic support, the roles of human expertise in AI development, the evolving AI landscape, and the intersection of AI with startup building, funding, and human roles. The conversation also explores the implications of AI on team structures in engineering, marketing, and competitive dynamics. Mady highlights the importance of domain expertise and distribution as moats and provides insight into future expansions for Happypillar. 

00:00 Introduction to Mady Mantha and Happypillar 

02:41 The Role of AI in Modern Startups 

04:45 Building Happypillar: The Journey and Challenges 

07:35 AI's Impact on Behavioral Interventions 

12:23 Iterative Development and AI Integration 

21:14 AI Native Startups vs Traditional Startups 

25:39 Therapist Integration in AI 

26:51 Scaling Therapy Services with AI 

27:32 Personalization in Therapy 

29:17 AI's Impact on Internal Processes 

31:39 AI in Coding and Team Dynamics 

34:23 Future of Junior Engineers 

36:45 Fundraising and Bootstrapping 

38:34 Marketing and AI Tools 

40:01 Human vs. AI in Sensitive Areas 

43:04 Competitive Landscape and Moats 

45:28 Open Source and Innovation 

46:20 Future Plans for Happy Pillar 

47:37 Call to Action and Conclusion

Note: Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

Building a Balanced Business: Mike Salguero on Scaling ButcherBox Thoughtfully 

In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs interviews Mike Salguero, founder and CEO of ButcherBox. They discuss Mike's journey from the failure of his first startup, CustomMade, to the success of ButcherBox, a direct-to-consumer meat delivery service that now boasts over $500 million in revenue without raising outside capital. The conversation explores the importance of maintaining a work-life balance, the challenges of scaling a business independently, and the role of AI in enhancing customer experience. Mike shares insights on how to build a company that aligns with one's lifestyle goals while addressing broader industry challenges, such as worker welfare and sustainable meat production. 

00:00 Introduction to Mike Salguero and ButcherBox 

01:15 Mike's Journey from CustomMade to ButcherBox 

03:01 Balancing Family and Business 

03:33 The Role of AI in ButcherBox 

05:35 Building ButcherBox: Philosophy and Growth 

07:46 Lessons from CustomMade 

11:14 Launching ButcherBox 

20:33 The Growth and Challenges of ButcherBox 

27:38 The Power of Saying No 28:18 Balancing Personal and Professional Life 

29:43 The Importance of CEO Forums 

31:34 The Plate-Spinning Analogy 

33:06 Golden Plates: Health, Relationships, and Kids 

34:41 Navigating Financial Independence 

37:24 Reviving the Founder Mindset 

40:04 Empowering Your Executive Team 

45:20 Challenges in the Meat Industry 

50:51 The Future Vision for ButcherBox 

54:07 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Note: Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

This episode of 'The Next Next' features Chris Savage, co-founder and CEO of Wistia, a video marketing and analytics platform. Host Jason Jacobs explores Chris's journey in establishing Wistia in 2006 with Brendan Schwartz, navigating its growth into a multi-million dollar business, and making the critical decision to maintain company independence by taking on debt to buy back equity. Chris shares insights on running a profitable business, handling external growth advice, and staying focused. Post-pandemic transitions to remote work, the reintroduction of equity, and the integration of AI into Wistia are also discussed. Additionally, Jason shares his idea for a potential series called 'Fogey Founders,' and Chris offers valuable advice on leveraging video content for podcasts. 

00:00 Introduction to Chris Savage and Wistia 

00:44 The Journey of Wistia: Early Challenges and Decisions 

01:27 Personal Insights and AI Integration 

01:56 Host's Personal Journey and Goals 

02:32 Chris Savage Joins the Conversation 

03:14 Balancing Family and Ambitious Goals 

05:05 Wistia's Growth and Key Insights 

07:15 Navigating Financial Decisions and Market Challenges 

24:05 Reflecting on Stress and Family Dynamics 

29:41 Balancing Remote Work and Team Dynamics 

30:08 Navigating Remote Hiring Challenges 

30:47 Adapting to Remote Work Systems 

31:14 In-Person Collaboration and Planning 

34:05 The Impact of AI on Business Operations 

35:13 AI-Driven Product Enhancements 

39:58 AI in Internal Operations 

43:41 Future of Work and AI Integration 

50:13 Exploring New Content Creation Strategies 

55:35 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Note: Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs interviews Sahil Lavingia, founder and CEO of Gumroad and the newly established company, Antiwork. They discuss Sahil's journey from being employee #2 at Pinterest to founding Gumroad, and now venturing into promoting flexible work arrangements and leveraging AI to automate business processes. Sahil shares his insights on the transformative impact of AI in the software industry, his approach to building and scaling companies, and his vision for the future of work. The conversation also delves into how AI is altering traditional employment structures and what this means for venture capital, enterprise software, and individual productivity. Tune in for an enriching discussion on embracing change, optimizing for efficiency, and staying adaptable in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.

00:00 Introduction to Sahil Lavingia

00:31 Sahil's Early Career and Gumroad's Evolution

00:59 The Shift to AI and New Business Models

03:58 Personal Reflections and Work-Life Balance

10:00 The Impact of AI on Software Development

21:04 Future of Work and AI Integration

36:48 Project-Based Work and AI Efficiency

40:22 AI's Superiority in Software Engineering

40:59 The Efficiency of AI in Learning and Documentation

42:17 Understanding Tokens and AI Context Windows

44:09 The Future of AI in Software Development

44:25 AI's Impact on Different Professions

47:38 The Role of AI in Sales and Marketing

53:37 The Evolution of Software and Open Source

55:05 The Future of Venture Capital and Software

01:00:01 Building Efficient Workflows with AI

01:14:29 Concluding Thoughts and Future Directions

Note: Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).