The Building Blocks Podcast

By Daivik Goel

This podcast is focused on finding out what the next generation of products is going to look like!

We plan to dive into all the spaces you may have already heard of: Web3, Blockchain, Crypto, AI, Ma... more

· Technology

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FAQs about The Building Blocks Podcast:

How many episodes does The Building Blocks Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 36 episodes available.

The Building Blocks Podcast episodes:

March 04, 2025 A $152M Bet on Human Connection | Kris Rudeegraap | Sendoso
In this episode of Building Blocks, we dive deep with Kris Rudeegraap, Co-founder and CEO of Sendoso, an AI-enhanced gifting platform that's revolutionizing how companies build authentic connections with customers and prospects. From selling mistletoe as a kid to building a company that's raised $152M in venture funding, Kris shares his entrepreneurial journey and insights on scaling both software and physical operations globally.Guest: Kris RudeegraapLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rudeegraap/Connect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivikFollow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpodTopics:0:00: Introduction2:40: Early entrepreneurial experiences and Silicon Valley influence8:15: Building Sendoso and validating the initial concept14:30: Scaling marketplace operations and warehouse logistics21:45: The Alyce acquisition and consolidation in the gifting space27:30: Relocating HQ from San Francisco to Phoenix33:15: Balancing AI automation with human connection39:40: Managing global operations and quality control45:20: Integration strategy and partnerships51:35: Book Recommendations53:00: Future of Sendoso and AI innovation#B2BSales #Entrepreneurship #StartupLife #PhysicalOperations #AIInnovation #BuildingBlocksPodcast #podcast
...more
37min
February 11, 2025 Connecting the World Through Digital Dollars | Emre Ertan | Cenoa
In this episode of Building Blocks, we sit down with Emre Ertan, co-founder and co-CEO of Cenoa, a borderless super wallet revolutionizing how people in emerging markets access digital dollars. Previously the CPO/CTO at Getir where he scaled the engineering team from 80 to 400 people, Emre shares his journey from a small town in Turkey to Silicon Valley, and how that experience shaped his vision for democratizing financial access globally. He discusses Cenoa's explosive growth in Nigeria (50K+ signups in first month), their innovative approach to simplifying blockchain technology for everyday users, and his perspectives on building compliant fintech products across 40+ markets.Check out Cenoa: https://www.cenoa.com/Guest: Emre ErtanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eertan/Connect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivikFollow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpodTopics:0:00: Introduction2:40: Early entrepreneurial journey and Silicon Valley inspiration13:20: Experience scaling product and engineering at Getir19:40: Building Cenoa and addressing emerging market pain points28:15: Achieving rapid growth in Nigeria35:30: Balancing technical sophistication with user simplicity42:45: Navigating regulatory environments across markets48:20: Future plans for US dollar-based debit cards and financing51:35: Book Recommendations53:00: Vision for Cenoa's future#Fintech #Blockchain #EmergingMarkets #StartupLife #FinancialInclusion #ProductDevelopment #BuildingBlocksPodcast #podcast
...more
56min
December 15, 2024 Shipping Software Fast Without Losing Code Quality | Shrikant Latkar | Baserock.AI
In this episode of Building Blocks, we dive deep with Shrikant Latkar, co-founder of BaseRock.ai and former CMO of InMobi.
With over two decades of experience spanning from large enterprises to startups, Shrikant shares his journey from engineering to marketing leadership, and now to revolutionizing software testing through AI.
He offers valuable insights on transitioning from 200,000-person companies to solo entrepreneurship, building and selling Oust Labs (acquired by Betterplace), and his current mission to transform QA with BaseRock.ai.
Guest: Shrikant Latkar
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shrikantlatkar/
Connect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivik
Follow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpod
Topics:
0:00: Introduction
2:40: Shrikant's early days in technology
8:30: Journey from large enterprises to startups
15:20: Building and scaling BaseRock.ai
23:45: The evolution of software testing and AI
29:30: Building Oust Labs and path to acquisition
35:15: Marketing leadership at InMobi
41:30: Growth strategies in the AI era
46:50: The future of B2B sales and marketing
51:35: Book Recommendation - The First 90 Days
53:00: BaseRock's roadmap and future plans
#SoftwareTesting #AI #Entrepreneurship #ProductManagement #Marketing #StartupLife #BuildingBlocksPodcast #podcast
...more
51min
December 03, 2024 Creating Disruption in Traditional Healthcare | Michelle Stephens | Felt
In this episode of Building Blocks, we're joined by Michelle Stephens, Chief Revenue Officer at Felt and a pioneer in healthcare technology. With a unique journey from pediatric nursing to tech entrepreneurship, Michelle shares her invaluable insights on bridging the gap between clinical care and technological innovation. She discusses her experience co-founding Oath Care, a digital health platform leveraging AI for maternal and child healthcare, and her groundbreaking research on childhood stress and autonomic nervous system reactivity. Michelle also opens up about her current work at Felt, the "ultimate care API," and her mission to transform healthcare delivery through technology.
Guest: Michelle Stephens, PhD, CPNP, RN
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-michelle-stephens/
Connect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivik
Follow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpod
Topics:
0:00: Introduction
4:15: Michelle's journey from nursing to entrepreneurship
12:30: Research on childhood stress and healthcare outcomes
19:45: Building Oath Care and lessons learned
28:40: The vision behind Felt and transforming healthcare delivery
35:20: Bridging clinical expertise with technology
42:15: The role of faith in technology (Acts 17 Collective)
48:30: The future of healthcare technology
51:35: Book Recommendation
53:00: What's next for Michelle
#HealthTech #Healthcare #Entrepreneurship #DigitalHealth #Innovation #BuildingBlocksPodcast #podcast
...more
52min
November 19, 2024 Enabling New Use Cases with Real Time Streaming | Paul Dudley | Streamkap
In this episode of Building Blocks, we dive deep into the world of real-time data streaming with Paul Dudley, Co-founder and CEO of Streamkap.
Having previously founded Gravity (acquired in 2022) and held leadership roles at BrightEdge and NetBase Solutions, Paul shares his journey from physics graduate to data infrastructure entrepreneur.
He offers valuable insights on modernizing data streaming, the evolution of real-time data needs, and building developer-friendly tools that simplify complex technologies.
Check out Streamkap: http://streamkap.com
Guest: Paul Dudley
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauldudley/
Connect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivik
Follow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpod
Topics:
0:00: Introduction
2:40: Paul's journey into entrepreneurship
8:15: Early experiences with NLP before LLMs at NetBase
14:30: Scaling BrightEdge from single-digit millions to $100M
21:45: The founding story of Streamkap
28:30: Understanding Change Data Capture (CDC) and its importance
35:20: Real-time data's role in modern applications
41:15: The intersection of streaming data and AI
46:30: Building and scaling a technical team
51:35: Book recommendations and sci-fi's relevance to tech
54:00: Future plans for Streamkap
#DataStreaming #RealTimeData #TechStartup #DataInfrastructure #Entrepreneurship #BuildingBlocksPodcast #podcast
...more
53min
November 05, 2024 Defining New Industries Through Marketing | Vijay Koduri | Sizzle.gg
In this episode of Building Blocks, we dive deep with Vijay Koduri, co-founder and CEO of Sizzle.gg, an AI-driven platform revolutionizing gaming highlights and esports content creation.
From his early days witnessing the birth of the internet to leading marketing at Google Wallet and Adyen, Vijay shares his fascinating journey through tech's evolution.
He offers valuable insights on building trust in fintech, leveraging community for growth, and his current mission of transforming how gaming content is created and shared.
Learn more about Sizzle: https://sizzle.gg/
Guest: Vijay Koduri
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vijay-koduri-92936/
Connect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivik
Follow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpod
Topics:
0:00: Introduction
2:40: Vijay's journey from the early internet days
15:20: Experience at Google Wallet and marketing strategy
24:30: Building trust and community at Adyen
31:45: The birth of Sizzle.gg and AI in gaming
38:50: Navigating partnerships with esports leagues
43:15: The future of AI-driven content creation
48:30: Growth strategies and funding plans
51:35: Book Recommendation - The Science of Selling
...more
54min
October 22, 2024 Transforming Customer Education using AI | Neel Balar | Clueso (YC W23)
In this episode of Building Blocks, we dive deep into the world of AI-powered content creation with Neel Balar, co-founder of Clueso.
Neel shares his journey from IIT Madras to Y Combinator, and how he pivoted from his initial startup idea to building Clueso, a platform that transforms screen recordings into polished video tutorials and documentation.
He offers valuable insights on product development, customer acquisition, and scaling a global SaaS business.
Check out Clueso: https://www.clueso.io/
Guest: Neel Balar
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neelbalar7/
Connect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivik
Follow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpod
Topics:
0:00: Introduction
2:40: Neel's journey into entrepreneurship
8:15: The pivot from Desklamp to Clueso
15:30: Building and scaling Clueso
23:00: Integrating AI models into the product
29:45: Growth strategies and customer acquisition
36:20: Balancing global markets and customer support
44:10: The importance of customer experience for startups
50:30: Clueso's vision and future plans
55:45: Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs
59:30: Next steps for Clueso
#aicontentcreation #Entrepreneurship #ProductDevelopment #SaaS #YCombinator #StartupLife #BuildingBlocksPodcast #podcast
...more
1h 5min
October 08, 2024 Going 0-1 on a New Trusted Travel Network | Bo Abrams | Founder of Kommu
In this episode of Building Blocks, we dive into the world of trust-based home-sharing with Bo Abrams, Co-Founder of Kommu.
Bo shares his journey from finance to entrepreneurship and how he's reimagining travel accommodations through a unique social networking lens.
He discusses Kommu's innovative approach to connecting travelers with trusted hosts, the challenges of building a two-sided marketplace, and his vision for the future of home-sharing.
Check started on Kommu today: https://www.gokommu.com/
Guest: Bo Abrams
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bo-abrams/
Connect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivik
Follow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpod
Topics:
0:00: Introduction
2:40: Bo's background and journey into entrepreneurship
9:30: The inspiration behind Kommu
15:45: Kommu's trust-based model and market differentiation
23:00: Challenges of building a two-sided marketplace
29:30: Kommu's business model and monetization strategy
35:00: Future of home-sharing and Kommu's vision
41:15: B2B opportunities for Kommu
46:30: Book recommendations and wrap-up
...more
49min
September 17, 2024 The Intersection of Great Product Design and AI | Isabella Reed | CamelAI (YC W24)
In this episode of Building Blocks, we explore the cutting-edge world of AI-powered software integration with Isabella Reed, co-founder of CamelAI, a Y Combinator-backed platform that allows users to chat with their entire software stack.
Isabella shares her journey from working in senior sales and growth roles to co-founding a startup that's revolutionizing how we interact with our digital tools. She discusses the challenges of pivoting from QA testing to a comprehensive AI chat interface, and how CamelAI is making complex software interactions more intuitive and accessible.
Learn how this YC alum is navigating the rapidly evolving AI landscape and building a product that could reshape our daily digital interactions.
Sign up for CamelAI's beta now: https://www.camelai.com/
Guest: Isabella Reed
Company: CamelAI
Connect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivik
Follow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpod
Topics:
0:00: Introduction
3:20: Isabella's transition from corporate roles to entrepreneurship
8:40: The genesis of CamelAI and Y Combinator experience
14:15: CamelAI's evolution from qaml to a comprehensive AI chat interface
20:30: Balancing B2B and B2C use cases in product development
26:45: The appeal of chat interfaces and the future of UI design
32:10: Key takeaways from Y Combinator and crucial startup advice
38:25: Growth strategies and showcasing platform value
44:50: The challenges and opportunities in the AI landscape
50:15: Book recommendations and insights from "Billion Dollar Whale"
53:30: Future plans for CamelAI and closing thoughts
...more
50min
September 03, 2024 The Power of Software to Transform Industries | Venkat Sakamuri | Stayflexi (YC W21)
In this episode of Building Blocks, we dive deep into the world of hospitality tech with Venkat Sakamuri, co-founder of Stayflexi, a Y Combinator-backed modern operating system for hotels and vacation rentals.
Venkat shares his journey from working on core database technology at Oracle to revolutionizing the hospitality industry. He discusses the challenges of building a comprehensive platform that caters to both independent hotels and vacation rentals, and how Stayflexi is leveling the playing field for small and mid-tier properties.
Learn how this YC alum is disrupting the hospitality tech space and scaling to over 30,000 properties across 15 countries.
Guest: Venkat Sakamuri
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/venkatsakamuri/
Company: Stayflexi (https://www.stayflexi.com/)
Connect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivik
Follow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpod
Topics:
0:00: Introduction
2:40: Venkat's transition from Oracle to hospitality tech
7:15: The genesis of Stayflexi and Y Combinator experience
12:30: Stayflexi's unique approach to property management systems
18:45: The launch of Empower tool and its impact on small hotels
24:00: Stayflexi's four-hub structure and product philosophy
29:15: Scaling strategies and navigating the COVID-19 pandemic
35:30: The role of passion and communication in startup success
41:00: Venkat's approach to sales and marketing as a technical founder
46:15: Future plans for Stayflexi and industry disruption
51:35: Book recommendations
53:00: Closing thoughts
...more
33min

FAQs about The Building Blocks Podcast:

How many episodes does The Building Blocks Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 36 episodes available.