Sachin and Adam

Today we’re joined by John Kim, co-founder and CEO of Paraform—a startup reshaping how companies hire through a fast-growing recruiter marketplace. He shares Paraform’s journey from early struggles to raising a $20M Series A, and reflects on his growth as a leader, along with the company’s vision to expand across industries and deepen AI integration.

This conversation matters because it reveals what it really takes to scale a marketplace, build trust with users, and win in one of tech’s most competitive battlegrounds: hiring.

We dive into:

• Early startup experience
• Customer referrals drove investor interest
• Recruiter marketplace for top-tier hiring
• Matches companies with external headhunters
• AI-powered recruiter performance and matching
• 7-figure earnings possible for recruiters
• AI assists recruiters, not replaces them
• Founder goal: master the hiring craft
• “Scaling is hiring people who hire”
• Building tools for recruiter entrepreneurship
• Marketplace designed for global scalability

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

00:26 Startup Growth and Office Expansion

01:27 Series A Funding Announcement

01:48 The Journey to Series A

03:13 Customer Success Stories

07:22 Elevator Pitch and Recruiting Edge

09:55 Vanta Ad

11:34 Building the Marketplace

12:34 Personal Background and Experiences

15:05 Rapid Company Growth

15:41 Overcoming Early Challenges

20:17 Go-to-Market Strategies

24:02 Navigating a Hot Market

24:29 The Talent War: Changes in Recruiting

25:34 AI's Impact on Work and Salaries

26:52 The Future Role of Recruiters

28:25 Cultural Fit in Talent Acquisition

30:44 In-House vs. External Recruiters

33:34 Different Approaches to Recruiting

36:37 Sustainability of Current Hiring Practices

39:21 Personal Growth and Leadership

44:29 Future Goals and Vision

The future of hiring with AI and trust-driven workflows is here. #AI #Startups #Paraform #TechFounders

About us

We are two best friends, trying to build a community around in-depth interviews and short documentaries with the best minds in technology and startups. Through bold storytelling and candid conversations, we explore how visionary thinkers are shaping the future. The best way to support is subscribing, truly it makes all the difference for us 💙

Today we’re joined by Pasha and Pennie - second-time founders and the minds behind @a1base, a breakout @ycombinator startup giving AI agents real-world identities like phone numbers, emails, and Slack handles.

This conversation matters because it tackles one of the most important missing pieces in AI: identity and trust.

We’re moving beyond flashy demos - into a world where agents don’t just generate, they participate.

We dive into:

- Why agents need a phone number

- Building Twilio for AI

- Startup mistakes they’ll never repeat

- Why “looking legit” slows you down

- Speed, soul, and real execution

- Trust, safety & agent messaging

- What YC still gets right

- SF ambition vs. cynicism

- Winning in the agent era

- Infra for agents, not apps

00:00 Introduction to YC and Founders' Ambitions

00:24 The Birth of A1 Base: From Idea to YC

02:21 Personal Histories: Clues to Becoming Founders

08:42 Lessons from Forage: Mistakes and Learnings

10:46 Vanta Ad

13:40 Building with Intentionality in the Age of AI

24:41 AI Agents and Human Communication

25:41 The Role of Y Combinator

26:09 Cultural and Strategic Benefits of YC

27:43 Silicon Valley's Unique Culture

29:07 AI Agents in Real-World Applications

35:03 Building Trust in AI Agents

40:54 Challenges and Optimism in AI Development

47:08 Future of AI Agents and Company Goals

48:44 Conclusion and Podcast Wrap-Up

This isn’t just about bots in group chats - it’s about reshaping how software works with people. The agent era has begun.#AI #Startups #YCombinator #a1base #AIagents #SachinandAdamShow #MessagingInfra #AIInfrastructure #TechFounders

About us

We are two best friends, trying to build a community around in-depth interviews and short documentaries with the best minds in technology and startups. Through bold storytelling and candid conversations, we explore how visionary thinkers are shaping the future. The best way to support is subscribing, truly it makes all the difference for us 💙

Anna Podolsky turned a home-cooked meal for her dog into one of Australia’s fastest-growing startups. In this episode, she shares how Lyka scaled from her kitchen to a 400-person team and hundreds of millions in revenue.

We dive into mission-driven leadership, operational complexity, and the mindset behind building a generational company. If you care about startups, pets, or building with purpose - this one’s for you.

00:00 Introduction

02:02 Anna's Background and Early Influences

03:24 Building and Leading a Team

06:54 Operational Complexities and Growth

09:23 Vanta Ad

12:36 Navigating Supply and Demand

16:30 Lessons from Consulting to Entrepreneurship

23:04 Empowering Teams for Success

24:04 Day-to-Day Life of a CEO

25:21 Mission and Culture: Keys to Success

27:05 The Importance of Brand and Marketing

29:37 Personal Growth and Leadership

32:27 Balancing Work and Personal Life

36:20 The Drive Behind the Mission

38:53 Working with a Partner

42:56 Final Thoughts and Reflections

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Thanks to Vanta for the episode sponsorship. Our audience gets a special $1,000 off Vanta through our promo: https://www.vanta.com/sachinandadam

Vanta automates compliance for global frameworks like ISO 27001 and SOC 2 and, the latest Australian frameworks like CPS 234 or Essential 8, saving you time and money.

Over 8,000 global companies like Atlassian, Handle, FireAnt, and Tactiq.io use Vanta to manage risk and prove security in real time.

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JOIN OUR COMMUNITYLinkedIn 🚀: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-sachin-and-adam-show

🐦 X: https://x.com/Sachin_and_Adam

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sachinandadam/

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3M29tMFbZ4mtzJbcRNY3N6?si=731f376e2ddf4d34iTunes:

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-sachin-and-adam-show/id1462522364

About us

We are two best friends, trying to build a community around in-depth interviews and short documentaries with the best minds in technology and startups.

Through bold storytelling and candid conversations, we explore how visionary thinkers are shaping the future. The best way to support is subscribing, truly it makes all the difference for us 💙

On today’s episode, we sit down with Charlie Gearside, co-founder of Eucalyptus - one of Australia’s fastest-growing healthtech companies, recently valued at $560 million. After 6 intense years building alongside three close friends, Charlie made the rare move: he walked away.

We explore:

- Why he left Eucalyptus at its peak

- The personal toll of startup life and how therapy helped

- Australia’s cost of living crisis and housing affordability

- The rise of equity as a new wealth path for young Australians

- How culture, media, and politics are shaping our economic future

- Charlie’s vision for Australia — and why he’s turning to content to tell it

This episode is honest, vulnerable, and sharp. If you're a founder, creator, or someone wondering *what’s next for Australia*, this one’s for you.

---

Thanks to Vanta for the episode sponsorship. Our audience gets a special $1,000 off Vanta through our promo:

(https://www.vanta.com/sachinandadam)

Vanta automates compliance for global frameworks like ISO 27001 and SOC 2 and, the latest Australian frameworks like CPS 234 or Essential 8, saving you time and money.

Over 8,000 global companies like Atlassian, Handle, FireAnt, and Tactiq.io use Vanta to manage risk and prove security in real time.

00:00 Introduction

00:29 Charlie's Exit from Eucalyptus

01:03 Startup Insights and Equity

01:25 Audience Engagement and Subscription Drive

02:03 Charlie's New Journey and Reflections

04:59 Challenges and Burnout

12:05 Vanta Ad

12:42 Therapy and Self-Discovery

22:01 Australian Startup Ecosystem

22:46 Vision for Australia's Future

30:59 Media's Role in Startup Culture

31:27 Optimism in Tech Journalism

32:24 Challenges for Australian Startups

34:39 Deep Tech and Investment in Australia

36:17 The Brain Drain Dilemma

38:47 Economic and Cultural Impacts

43:20 Encouraging Entrepreneurship

52:41 Balancing Personal Life and Entrepreneurship

55:28 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

57:47 Future Visions and Political Aspirations

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

LinkedIn 🚀: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-sachin-and-adam-show

🐦 X: https://x.com/Sachin_and_Adam

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sachinandadam/

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3M29tMFbZ4mtzJbcRNY3N6?si=731f376e2ddf4d34

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-sachin-and-adam-show/id1462522364

About us

We are two best friends, trying to build a community around in-depth interviews and short documentaries with the best minds in technology and startups. Through bold storytelling and candid conversations, we explore how visionary thinkers are shaping the future. The best way to support is subscribing, truly it makes all the difference for us 💙

We're trying something different. We’re testing a new format this week on the The Sachin and Adam Show - a deeper discussion on the forces driving the tech industry right now.

It's been a bit challenging to serve our community best when every episode is only covering 1 person’s story. So we’re trying something new: open conversations on the trends that matter + a bit more personality and BTS.

This week? Unpacking the rise of the "Design-Founder Era".

Why? Because when everyone can build with AI, taste becomes your moat.

With Jony Ive teaming up with OpenAI, and folks like Aaron Epstein (Y Combinator) and Brian Chesky calling for more design-led companies, this movement is heating up.

We also;

- introduce our Head of Media Tom Duffy, who's been working BTS all year to help us create the best tech media in Australia.

- reveal more about our company in beta, which will be launched this year 👀 (we can't wait to share more).

It's a new format for us and we really enjoyed creating it. It's our mission to best serve founders and operators in the tech ecosystem - so let us know what you think! What should we cover next?

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

01:40 Meet Tom: The Man Behind the Scenes

03:00 Tom's Journey to Joining the Team

05:53 The Startup Culture and Young Talent

08:30 Zeller Ad12:04 The Importance of High Taste Designers

13:57 OpenAI and the Future of AI Technology

21:23 What Influences Sachin and Adam?

24:15 Seeking Contextual Business Advice

26:34 Risk Perception and Venture Capital

31:32 KC Ventures Ad

36:33 The Importance of Speed and Ambition

41:29 Balancing Media and Product Development

47:09 Exciting Goals and Future Plans

—

Thanks to our sponsors Zeller and KC Ventures.

Zeller is building the financial stack to help startups scale, called Zeller for Startups. ⁠https://www.myzeller.com/startups⁠. Every founder unlocks exclusive rewards and offers when you use Zeller for Startups — including a high-interest savings account, 12-month free access to Zeller Corporate Cards and expense management, and discounts on amazing partner solutions from Employment Hero, Xero, and Pop Business.

KC Ventures helps Australian startups scale by providing strategic financial advice. You can find KC Ventures at http://kcventures.com.au/ or message their founder Luke Rix on Linkedin to get in contact directly.

—

Cuttable founders Jack and Sam are the unlikely duo behind one of Australia’s most exciting AI startups - one is a former agency creative, the other sold A Cloud Guru to Pluralsight for $2B in 2021. Together, they’re using AI to bring creative craftsmanship back to advertising.

Why this conversation is important? Jack and Sam are rethinking how ads get made in an AI-saturated world. With one foot in old-school storytelling and the other in frontier tech, they offer a blueprint for what creative work looks like in the future.

What Jack and Sam reveal in this episode:

- How Sam’s $2B exit and Jack’s Mad Men-like childhood made them an unlikely but compatible duo

- The emotional advice Jack’s dad gave him that still drives him today- How Sam’s volatile childhood made him risk-averse

- Why most AI-generated ads look like catalog junk (and how Cuttable was born)

- Their competitive edge over startups like @Icon

- Why creative humans will remain the highest leverage

---

Thanks to our sponsors Zeller and KC Ventures.

Zeller is building the financial stack to help startups scale, called Zeller for Startups. https://www.myzeller.com/startups. Every founder unlocks exclusive rewards and offers when you use Zeller for Startups — including a high-interest savings account, 12-month free access to Zeller Corporate Cards and expense management, and discounts on amazing partner solutions from Employment Hero, Xero, and Pop Business.

KC Ventures helps Australian startups scale by providing strategic financial advice. You can find KC Ventures at http://kcventures.com.au/ or message their founder Luke Rix on Linkedin to get in contact directly.

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Enjoyed this video? You may like our most recent documentary on Relevance AI - an Aussie startup in the global AI agent race https://youtu.be/oanG_oIYU7Q?si=8VKA2OzW-jV4SINW

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:54 The Unlikely Duo

04:34 Sam's Journey from Tech Training to Advertising

09:44 Zeller Ad

11:13 Jack's Advertising Roots

14:10 The Evolution of Advertising

19:10 The Birth of Cuttable

31:17 Redefining Customer Mindset

31:53 Testing Theories with SMBs

32:22 Merging Industries and Building Vision

32:32 KC Ventures Ad33:24 Challenges in Advertising

34:01 The Importance of Quality in Ads

36:45 Balancing Quality and Quantity

37:09 Philosophy and Product Development

43:40 The Role of AI in Advertising

49:54 Recruiting Talent for Innovation

58:26 Staying Hungry and Passionate

01:03:00 Conclusion and Call to Action

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

LinkedIn 🚀: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-sachin-and-adam-show🐦 X: https://x.com/Sachin_and_Adam📸

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/sachinandadam/LISTEN TO THE SHOW

Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/3M29tMFbZ4mtzJbcRNY3N6?si=731f376e2ddf4d34iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-sachin-and-adam-show/id1462522364

About us

We are two best friends, trying to build a community around in-depth interviews and short documentaries with the best minds in technology and startups. Through bold storytelling and candid conversations, we explore how visionary thinkers are shaping the future. The best way to support is subscribing, truly it makes all the difference for us 💙

Mina Radhakrishnan was Uber’s first Head of Product in 2011 (employee #20), after working at both Google and Goldman Sachs, and was also the co-founder of Different - a VC-backed startup that raised millions and scaled fast before shutting down.

Now, she’s building solo with AI as her co-founder.

In this episode, she shares an unfiltered look into the highs and lows of building at the edge of tech:

- What it was really like working with Travis Kalanick at Uber

- The hard lessons from shutting down Different - and how she bounced back

- Why AI is changing how we build companies - and who should build them

- Her hot takes on junior engineers, bootcamps, and the future of coding

- How Uber shaped her mindset on speed, intensity, and product culture- Building a solo startup today - with AI as her full team

- The mistakes founders make when acting like big companies- Why Australian startups need more pay-it-forward culture

One of our most candid and insightful episodes yet - a must-watch for anyone building in tech.Like this video?

You might also enjoy our interview with 21-year old CEO, Liam Millward, of $100M startup, Instant. https://open.spotify.com/episode/5WgEElgBuyz3I1fvDXPAwA?si=6cb7c19e875548cf

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:12 Help us get to 15k subscribers!!

01:46 Vibe-coding & Back to Building

03:12 The Future of Software Engineering

05:40 Mina Career Journey

07:57 Zeller Ad

15:03 Reflections on the Tech Industry

19:58 Lessons from Uber and Working with Travis Kalanick

23:00 Working with Intensity: The Travis Effect

25:13 Uber's Legacy and Personal Growth

27:20 Advice for Aspiring Founders

30:11 The Role of AI in Modern Startups

31:03 Emotional Challenges of Founding a Startup

32:38 KC Ventures Ad

33:46 The Importance of Curiosity and Learning

35:33 Building a Company in the Age of AI

41:27 Improving Australian Startup Culture

45:15 Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts

-

Thanks to our sponsors Zeller and KC Ventures.

Zeller is building the financial stack to help startups scale, called Zeller for Startups. Every founder unlocks exclusive rewards and offers when you use Zeller for Startups - including a high-interest savings account, 12-month free access to Zeller Corporate Cards and expense management, and discounts on amazing partner solutions from Employment Hero, Xero, and Pop Business.

https://www.myzeller.com/startups

KC Ventures helps Australian startups scale by providing strategic financial advice. You can find KC Ventures at http://kcventures.com.au/ or message their founder Luke Rix on Linkedin to get in contact directly.

-

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

LinkedIn 🚀: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-sachin-and-adam-show

🐦 X: https://x.com/Sachin_and_Adam📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sachinandadam/

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3M29tMFbZ4mtzJbcRNY3N6?si=731f376e2ddf4d34

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-sachin-and-adam-show/id1462522364

About us

We are two best friends, trying to build a community around in-depth interviews and short documentaries with the best minds in technology and startups. Through bold storytelling and candid conversations, we explore how visionary thinkers are shaping the future. The best way to support is subscribing, truly it makes all the difference for us 💙

Liam Millward is the 21-year-old co-founder and CEO of Instant — one of the fastest-growing startups in Australia valued at $100M. In this episode, he reveals how he went from dodging WeWork rent at 17 to raising $18 million in just 10 days at 21.

We dive deep into Liam’s wild founder journey:

- How he scaled Instant to millions in revenue with zero pitch deck

-The real story behind their lightning-fast Series A raise

- Why momentum solves every issue — and how to create it

- Why every person at Instant has a revenue target (including engineers)

- His unconventional hiring strategy, leadership style, and obsession with speed

- Expanding into the US and building AI-powered marketing tools- What drives him to prove people wrong — and what it takes to win

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Rapid Growth

00:08 Liam Millward's Entrepreneurial Journey

00:38 Challenges and Proving Doubters Wrong

01:37 Fundraising and Expansion

02:12 Podcast Interview Begins

02:29 Scaling the Company

03:18 Revenue Obsession and Company Culture

04:48 Fundraising Strategies and Investor Relations

08:10 Zeller Ad

11:25 Driving Momentum and Setting Goals

21:09 Leadership and Personal Drive

28:27 KC Ventures Ad

28:58 Optimal Timing for Founders

29:19 Managing Founder Psychology

31:43 Hiring and Talent Strategy

33:32 Scaling and Product Expansion

36:01 Global Expansion Challenges

37:47 Revenue Obsession and AI Integration

48:52 Operational Efficiency and Team Focus

53:14 Leadership and Decision Making

59:33 Future Goals and Reflections

--

Thanks to our sponsors Zeller and KC Ventures. Zeller is building the financial stack to help startups scale, called Zeller for Startups.

Every founder unlocks exclusive rewards and offers when you use Zeller for Startups — including a high-interest savings account, 12-month free access to Zeller Corporate Cards and expense management, and discounts on amazing partner solutions from Employment Hero, Xero, and Pop Business.

https://www.myzeller.com/startups

KC Ventures helps Australian startups scale by providing strategic financial advice. You can find KC Ventures at http://kcventures.com.au/ or message their founder Luke Rix on Linkedin to get in contact directly.

--

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

LinkedIn 🚀: / the-sachin-and-adam-show

📸 Instagram: / sachinandadam 🐦 X: https://x.com/Sachin_and_Adam

🎵 TikTok: sachinandadam

Today we’re joined by Max Marchione — a close friend and ambitious founder disrupting healthcare through AI, data aggregation, and radical prevention to make personalised medicine accessible to everyone.

This conversation is important because it explores one of the few industries left untouched by true innovation — healthcare. Despite its scale, it’s still waiting for its defining startup moment.

We dive into:

- Why healthcare is still waiting for its defining startup

- How Superpower raised $30M to make prevention mainstream

- The vision: AI doctors, not human ones

- Building for the world vs. building for VCs

- The danger of consensus thinking and advice

- Making $50K concierge care available for $500

- Sacrifice, fear, and living below the office

- What sets elite investors and teams apart

- Underpriced talent, content, and 10x growth bets

- Why dreaming bigger is the only option

This isn’t just about building a startup — it’s about reinventing a system that impacts everyone.

00:00 Intro

02:05 Podcast Introduction and Catching Up

02:25 Reflecting on the Journey and Future Plans

03:04 Insights on Fundraising and Investor Relations

04:18 Challenges and Strategies in Building a Startup

05:41 The Role of AI in Transforming Healthcare

08:33 Zeller Ad

10:06 Proving and Discarding Beliefs in Healthcare

11:55 Constructing Superpower's Funding Round

15:00 Setting Ambitious Goals for the Future

16:34 Product Vision and Consumer Impact

18:53 Balancing Focus and Expansion

20:56 Superpower's Branding

24:16 Operational Challenges and Growth Strategies

27:01 Betting on the Right Growth Levers

28:18 Top-Down and Bottom-Up Growth Strategies

29:13 KC Ventures Ad

30:05 The Importance of Risk in Business

31:16 How does Max Balance Ambition and Happiness?

33:01 Tips For Hiring and Identifying Talent

36:16 Personal Sacrifices and Priorities

37:09 Discarding Old Beliefs

38:48 How Max Learnt to Overcome Fear and Take Action

40:11 Changing Self-Talk and Personal Narratives

43:00 New Learning and Growth Methods

47:28 The Future of AI and Human Relationships

53:06 Final Thoughts and Accountability

-Thanks to our sponsors Zeller and KC Ventures. Zeller is building the financial stack to help startups scale, called Zeller for Startups. Join the waitlist at https://www.myzeller.com/startups to be eligible for a $100 cash bonus.

KC Ventures helps Australian startups scale by providing strategic financial advice. You can find KC Ventures at http://kcventures.com.au/ or message their founder Luke Rix on Linkedin to get in contact directly.

Check out more of Max's work including learnings on the journey of building a $100B company, hobbies, life hacks and more at maxmarchione.com

Alex Valente is the founder of Redactive, an AI security startup helping enterprises control who can access sensitive data. Redactive ensures permissioning is done right—so companies can safely adopt tools like Copilot and AI agents without leaking internal documents, exposing secrets, or creating massive security risks.

This episode is for anyone building or working with AI—especially in enterprise, security, or early-stage startups. If you're thinking about AI adoption, data risks, or how to take a product global, Alex shares hard-won insight, sharp takes, and a few great stories along the way.

Thanks to our sponsors Zeller and KC Ventures.

Zeller is building the financial stack to help startups scale, called Zeller for Startups. Join the waitlist at https://www.myzeller.com/startups to be eligible for a $100 cash bonus.

KC Ventures helps Australian startups scale by providing strategic financial advice. You can find KC Ventures at http://kcventures.com.au/ or message their founder Luke Rix on Linkedin to get in contact directly.

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00:00 Introduction

02:05 The Bull Case for Europe

05:03 Moving to San Francisco: Opportunities and Challenges

06:28 Redactive's Mission and Vision

07:25 The Importance of Exporting Australian Engineering

15:03 Early Life and Career Path

21:39 The Future of AI and Software

28:13 Enterprise AI Adoption Challenges

33:23 The Pitfalls of Relying on a Single Vendor

34:05 The Importance of Agility and Grit in Founders

35:51 Commerciality and Interdisciplinary Respect

38:23 Identifying and Improving Weak Points

41:05 The Reality of Moats in Modern Business

49:20 Security Threats in the Age of AI53:39 Building a High-Performance Culture

57:23 Strategic Bets and Market Predictions

1:01:00 Reflections and Future Plans

--

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

LinkedIn 🚀: / the-sachin-and-adam-show

📸 Instagram: / sachinandadam

🐦 X: https://x.com/Sachin_and_Adam

🎵 TikTok: sachinandadam

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3M29tMFbZ4mtzJbcRNY3N6?si=3ba0457fb1974595