In this episode of The Silicon Valley Podcast, we’re joined by Hussein Fazal, serial entrepreneur, investor, and the visionary behind Super.com (formerly SnapCommerce). With a track record that includes founding AdParlor (acquired by AdKnowledge), Hussein brings a wealth of insight into what it takes to build, pivot, and scale tech companies to massive success.

Over the last eight years, Hussein has led Super.com through several strategic pivots—one of which transformed the company’s trajectory toward unicorn status. In this conversation, he shares how to balance data with instinct, why high-profile investors can be both a blessing and a challenge, and how building the right organizational structure has helped his teams stay aligned and motivated.

🔍 In This Episode, We Cover:

Hussein’s entrepreneurial journey: From AdParlor to Super.com

Lessons learned from early career experiences that shaped his leadership style

The pivotal moment when he realized Super.com could become a unicorn

The balance of gut feeling vs. data in company pivots

The role of celebrity investors and how they’ve influenced the business

Why Super.com chose not to build a member community—and what others can learn from that

How early customer feedback shaped Super.com’s direction

A framework for gathering and acting on customer insights

Product expansion vs. market penetration—how to decide what to focus on

Why every founder should consider a CEO coach—and how to choose one

The creation and impact of “mission-aligned teams” at Super.com

How to introduce alternative org structures and guide teams through change

Resilience during existential challenges—and Hussein’s personal mindset

Tips for founders looking to bring celebrities onto their cap table

A leadership lesson learned the hard way—and how you can avoid it

🔗 Learn More About Hussein Fazal and Super.com:

LinkedIn: Hussein Fazal

Company: Super.com

💬 Quote from Hussein:

“You can pivot 100 times, but if you don’t listen to your customers, you’ll miss the one pivot that could change everything.”

⚠️ Disclaimer:

The views expressed on this podcast are for informational purposes only and not financial or legal advice. Consult with a professional for your specific situation.

 The views expressed are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Finalis Inc. or Finalis Securities LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

#startups #siliconvalley #technology #super.com #stephcurry

Guest: Matthew Le Merle, CEO & Managing Partner, Blockchain Coinvestors

About the Guest: Matthew Le Merle is a leading figure in early-stage venture capital, having previously managed Keiretsu, the world's largest angel network. In 2014, he made a strategic pivot into the digital asset space, co-founding Blockchain Coinvestors. The firm is now dedicated to the vision that digital monies, commodities, and assets are inevitable, and all of the world's financial infrastructure must be upgraded. With investment strategies now in their 12th year, Blockchain Coinvestors has backed a combined portfolio of over 1,250 blockchain companies and projects, including more than 110 blockchain unicorns.

Join us for a deep dive with Matthew Le Merle as he shares the strategic insights that drove his firm into blockchain investing over a decade ago. We explore the massive shift toward digital assets, the unique mechanics of the fund-of-funds model, and the critical role of tokenomics in the crypto ecosystem.

Key Discussion Points:

Learn more about Matthew and Blockchain Coinvestors at www.BlockchainCoinvestors.com

Guest: Dan Fineberg, CTO and Co-founder, The Fusion Syndicate

About the Guest: Dan Fineberg is a veteran technologist with over 40 years of experience working at the intersection of technology and marketing, including leadership roles at Intel Corp. and FEI Co. As CTO of The Fusion Syndicate, Dan now specializes in leveraging emerging technologies, particularly generative AI, to accelerate content productivity and drive measurable business results for customers.

Many organizations are still viewing AI as a simple tool for generating text with a prompt. Dan Fineberg breaks down why that's the biggest misconception and shows us how to transition from basic experimentation to a reliable, scalable system that dramatically improves content production and delivers significant ROI.

Key Discussion Points:

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are for informational purposes only. They do not constitute financial or legal advice, nor do they necessarily reflect the views of Finalis Inc. or Finalis Securities LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

Guest: Alex Dantas, CEO of Circuit Launch and Mechlabs

Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrfdantas/

Alex Dantas is the CEO of two organizations that define the hardware and robotics ecosystem in the San Francisco Bay Area:

This episode supports "Giving Hope to People in Need," a charitable initiative led by The Silicon Valley Podcast. Your donation helps the following charities:

Donation link Donate to "Giving Hope to People in Need", led by The Silicon Valley Podcast

The views expressed in this podcast are for informational purposes only. They do not constitute financial or legal advice, nor do they necessarily reflect the views of Finalis Inc. or Finalis Securities LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

#robotics #siliconvalley #startups #ai #machines

Guest: Doug Merritt – CEO of Aviatrix, former CEO of Splunk

In this episode, we sit down with Doug Merritt, one of the most respected leaders in enterprise technology. Doug discusses the emotional journey of stepping down from a CEO role, what pulled him back into leadership at Aviatrix, and how AI is reshaping companies, cloud security, and competitive strategy.

We explore how organizations can stay secure and agile in a rapidly evolving tech landscape, and Doug shares leadership lessons drawn from his lifelong involvement in athletics.

Whether you're a founder, executive, or technologist, this episode offers valuable insight into the intersection of AI, leadership, and organizational resilience.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-m-33169/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are for informational purposes only. They do not constitute financial or legal advice, nor do they necessarily reflect the views of Finalis Inc. or Finalis Securities LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

Guest: Dr. Bijna Kotak Dasani, Founder of ArthAum Group

Dr. Bijna Kotak Dasani is a global leader in venture capital, strategic partnerships, and capital formation. As the Founder of ArthAum Group, she has built a firm that helps funds and companies scale smarter—through tailored launch strategies, operational excellence, and global investor networks.

In this episode, Dr. Bijna shares her journey from financial services leadership into founding ArthAum Group, and offers practical insights for fund managers, entrepreneurs, and investors navigating today’s fast-moving venture capital markets.

We cover:

Finally, Dr. Bijna explains what differentiates ArthAum Group from other firms, and how fund managers or companies can best connect with her team.

About the Guest

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial or legal advice. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Finalis Inc. or Finalis Securities LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

#venturecapital #fundoffunds #siliconvalley #tech #investing

Guest: Tim Koller, Partner at McKinsey & Company and Co-Author of Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies

For over three decades, Valuation has been the definitive guide to corporate value creation. Called “the best practitioners’ guide to valuation” by the Financial Times and one of “the most influential contemporary books about the world economy” by The Economist, the book has sold over one million copies worldwide.

Now in its 8th edition, Tim Koller and his co-authors bring fresh insights on AI, sustainability, digital transformation, and geopolitics—helping business leaders sharpen their decision-making and balance long-term value creation with the pressures of today’s markets.

In this episode, Tim shares:

Tim also reflects on 35 years of writing Valuation, explaining why timeless principles of growth, innovation, and long-term orientation matter more than ever in both stable and volatile times.

About the Guest

Resources & Links

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial or legal advice. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Finalis Inc. or Finalis Securities LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

Guest: Lori Rosenkopf – Vice Dean of Entrepreneurship, Wharton School

Lori Rosenkopf is the Vice Dean of Entrepreneurship and the Simon and Midge Palley Professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. As Wharton’s Faculty Director for Venture Lab, she supports student entrepreneurs across the university.

She previously served as Vice Dean and Director of Wharton’s 2,500-student Undergraduate Division from 2013 to 2019, where she introduced a new curriculum, expanded career pathways, and created more opportunities for students. Her research and teaching draw from her background in systems engineering and social science, with a focus on networks and learning in knowledge industries. With deep connections to Wharton alumni and a sharp understanding of millennial and Gen Z aspirations, Lori brings a unique perspective on the future of entrepreneurship.

The views expressed in this podcast are Lori’s own and are for informational purposes only. They do not constitute financial or legal advice, nor do they necessarily reflect the views of Finalis Inc. or Finalis Securities LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

Jeff Kafka

Bay Area entrepreneur, cybersecurity startup founder, and medical device/supply chain import partner. Internationally renowned professional kiteboarder and big wave safety expert.

Brian Rogers

Design and business thinker, expert in AI/ML, IoT, big data, fintech, and platform development. Author of patents, guest lecturer, and industry leader in blockchain.

In this episode, we dive deep into how technology, infrastructure, and strong personal networks converge to drive capital and growth in sectors from medical devices to public works. We speak with Jeff Kafka, the founder behind the famous Silicon Valley kite surfing pitch events, about the value of relationships in business growth, and with Brian Rogers, an expert in AI, IoT, and digital transformation, about the future of finance and government partnerships. We explore how their new venture, Storyboard Capital, focuses on opportunities in areas typically ignored by traditional tech investors.

Disclaimer

The views expressed on this podcast are for informational purposes only and not financial or legal advice. Consult with a professional for your specific situation and do not necessarily reflect the views of Finalis Inc. or Finalis Securities LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

Guest: Waseem Daher – Founder & Executive Chairman of Pilot

Waseem Daher is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Pilot, a modern finance team offering bookkeeping, tax, and CFO services for startups, e-commerce businesses, and professional services firms. Backed by Sequoia Capital and Bezos Expeditions, Pilot has become the go-to back office solution for growing companies.

An engineer by training and a serial entrepreneur, Waseem previously co-founded Ksplice (acquired by Oracle) and Zulip (acquired by Dropbox). He now combines his experience as a three-time founder with insights into startup finance, scaling, and leadership. Beyond Pilot, Waseem writes regularly about building startups on LinkedIn and in his newsletter, Startup Real Talk.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are my own and are for informational purposes only. They do not constitute financial or legal advice, nor do they necessarily reflect the views of Finalis Inc. or Finalis Securities LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.