We Live to Build

Have you ever received terrible advice from a "successful" investor or mentor? In this episode, Igor Taber explains why taking advice from VCs who built companies a decade ago might actually destroy your startup. Because the market has drastically changed, relying on outdated experience makes these investors "credible and wrong"—the most dangerous combination in the startup world. We also dive into the insane $1.7 trillion AI investment bubble , why giving non-technical founders AI coding tools is like giving them a bazooka , and the truth about how top VC firms actually generate deal flow through cold outreach. Finally, Igor breaks down the three ways to build a venture firm and why being humble is the ultimate survival skill in a market where nobody truly knows the future. Check out the company: https://cortical.vc

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📚 NETWORK BEFORE YOU NEED IT (6 LESSONS THAT MADE SEAN $15M)

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▶ Get my eBook free - https://welivetobuild.com/network

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📈 WORK WITH ME

-----------------------------------

▶ Buy 300 Lessons From 300 Founders: https://welivetobuild.com/300-lessons-ebook

▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://welivetobuild.com/book-a-call

▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising

▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/sponsorship

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👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN

---------------------------------------------

▶ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot

▶ Inquiries: [email protected]

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🕒 CHAPTERS

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00:00 - Why "Credible and Wrong" Kills Companies

00:43 - The 3 Ways to Build a VC Firm

02:20 - Do VCs Actually Cold Call Founders?

08:00 - The $1.7 Trillion AI Investment Bubble

11:00 - Vibe Coding & The Bazooka Problem

17:28 - Why Outdated Founder Experience is Dangerous

20:00 - How VCs Raise Their Own Funds

23:50 - Angel Investing vs. VC Funds

29:11 - The Most Important Lesson in Venture Capital

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you do great work but struggle to consistently get referrals? In this episode, Bill Cates breaks down the exact psychology of borrowed trust and why simply doing a good job doesn't automatically make you referable. We discuss the Triangle of Trust, how to actively train your network to recognize your ideal clients, and why using 1-minute case studies is the ultimate follow-up strategy to stay top of mind. We also dive into why vague intentions produce vague results, the danger of name-dropping irrelevant big clients to win business, and why the old advice of only hire people you'd have a beer with is actually destroying your team's potential. Plus, Bill shares a legendary Vince Lombardi quote that will completely change how you manage your energy and mindset as an entrepreneur. Check out the company: https://billcates.com

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📚 NETWORK BEFORE YOU NEED IT (6 LESSONS THAT MADE SEAN $15M)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

▶ Get my eBook free - https://welivetobuild.com/network

-----------------------------------

📈 WORK WITH ME

-----------------------------------

▶ Buy 300 Lessons From 300 Founders: https://welivetobuild.com/300-lessons-ebook

▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://welivetobuild.com/book-a-call

▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising

▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/sponsorship

---------------------------------------------

👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN

---------------------------------------------

▶ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot

▶ Inquiries: [email protected]

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🕒 CHAPTERS

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00:00 - The Power of Borrowed Trust

01:45 - How Sean Built a 100% Referral Business

04:47 - Should You Pay Commissions for Referrals?

08:02 - How to Actually Become Referable

11:47 - The 1-Minute Case Study Strategy

13:18 - Sean's AI Content Engine Strategy

16:25 - Why Radical Relevance is Everything

22:50 - Vague Intentions Produce Vague Results

26:46 - The Mistake of Hiring People Like You

30:06 - Fatigue Makes Cowards of Us All

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you've ever felt drained, exhausted, or frustrated by traditional networking events, you aren't alone. In this episode, Davide Cannarozzi explains why showing up to a random event without a clear strategy is a massive waste of your time and energy. Instead of treating networking as a casual interaction, Davide reveals why the most elite networkers treat relationship-building like being a diplomat or a spy—using intense planning, research, and flashcards to connect with the right people.We break down the critical differences between "random," "utilitarian," "intentional," and "serendipity" networking, and why you must build networking as an infrastructure for your life rather than a one-off chore. We also dive into the dangers of building a business without a clear vision or a mentor, and how that exact lack of self-awareness led to a grueling half-a-million-dollar loss in my own tech startup journey. Finally, we explore how to manage Dunbar's number in a world where technology connects us to thousands, and why you must "prune" your network just like the brain prunes unused synapses. Check out the company: https://rif.ventures

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📚 NETWORK BEFORE YOU NEED IT (6 LESSONS THAT MADE SEAN $15M)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

▶ Get my eBook free - https://welivetobuild.com/network

-----------------------------------

📈 WORK WITH ME

-----------------------------------

▶ Buy 300 Lessons From 300 Founders: https://welivetobuild.com/300-lessons-ebook

▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://welivetobuild.com/book-a-call

▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising

▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/sponsorship

---------------------------------------------

👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN

---------------------------------------------

▶ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot

▶ Inquiries: [email protected]

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🕒 CHAPTERS

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00:00 - Why Networking Feels So Exhausting

04:40 - Why Sean Ignored Networking at a Recent Event

06:36 - The 4 Types of Networking Explained

09:14 - Sean’s $500,000 Startup Mistake

13:36 - The Critical Importance of Mentorship

15:08 - Using a Podcast for Intentional Networking

16:14 - Davide’s MBA Cleantech Hustle

26:50 - Technology, Dunbar’s Number, and Brain Synapses

30:46 - Why You Should Treat Networking Like a Spy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever been to an event where the person you're talking to is just looking past you for their next "lead"?. In this episode, Charles Lee breaks down why treating human connection like a transactional sales funnel will ultimately hold you back. We explore how genuine business flows naturally from authentic relationships, why you need to stop asking boring questions like "what do you do?", and how to cultivate deep curiosity about others. Charles shares a story of how a free, rainy-day speaking gig led to a 15-year relationship with one of his biggest clients , and we discuss the psychology of eye contact, body language, and the dreaded "resting thinking face". Finally, we tackle the ultimate question every driven entrepreneur must ask themselves: when it's all said and done, how much is enough?. Check out the company: https://ideation.com

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📚 NETWORK BEFORE YOU NEED IT (6 LESSONS THAT MADE SEAN $15M)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

▶ Get my eBook free - https://welivetobuild.com/network

-----------------------------------

📈 WORK WITH ME

-----------------------------------

▶ Buy 300 Lessons From 300 Founders: https://welivetobuild.com/300-lessons-ebook

▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://welivetobuild.com/book-a-call

▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising

▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/sponsorship

---------------------------------------------

👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN

---------------------------------------------

▶ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot

▶ Inquiries: [email protected]

---------------------------

🕒 CHAPTERS

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00:00 - Business Flows From Relationships

01:18 - How One Free Panel Led to a 15-Year Client

03:42 - The Power of Genuine Curiosity

06:48 - Why Remembering Names and Details Matters

09:23 - Eye Contact and the "Resting Thinking Face"

11:13 - Public Speaking and Facilitation

13:02 - Expressing Gratitude to Your Network

14:55 - Why Sean Stopped Going to Networking Events

17:37 - Making a Lifelong Mentor in China

19:34 - What Matters Most & "How Much is Enough?"

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are your AI inference costs starting to eat into your startup's budget? In this episode, I sit down with Rob May to discuss the impending shift in the AI industry: moving from massive, expensive frontier models to optimized, task-specific workflows. Rob explains why using a massive model for a simple task is like paying an astrophysicist to balance your checkbook, and how routing requests to smaller models can significantly cut down on your token spend. We also dive into the realities of startup hiring, including why executives must network for talent months in advance and how "experienced" corporate hires can completely derail your early-stage systems. Finally, Rob shares his ultimate advice for founders: why cozying up to massive markets is the best way to de-risk your business. Check out the company: https://neuromatic.com

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📚 NETWORK BEFORE YOU NEED IT (6 LESSONS THAT MADE SEAN $15M)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Get my brand new eBook free - https://welivetobuild.com/network

-----------------------------------

📈 WORK WITH ME

-----------------------------------

▶ Buy 300 Lessons From 300 Founders: https://welivetobuild.com/300-lessons-ebook

▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://welivetobuild.com/book-a-call

▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising

▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/sponsorship

---------------------------------------------

👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN

---------------------------------------------

▶ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot

▶ Inquiries: [email protected]

---------------------------

🕒 CHAPTERS

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00:00 - Why Founders Must Network Before Hiring

03:45 - The $30,000 Corporate Hiring Mistake

06:20 - Selling to IT Professionals vs. Sales Teams

08:15 - The Alex Hormozi Free Content Strategy

10:50 - How to Reduce High AI Inference Costs

13:30 - Tasks vs. Models: The Future of AI

16:45 - Moving AI Workflows to Microservices

21:10 - The "Big Market" Secret to Entrepreneurship

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does having ADHD make you a better entrepreneur? Transformation artist and former actress Helen Millar believes her neurodivergence is actually her greatest superpower. In this episode, Helen reveals why the ADHD brain's high risk tolerance and elite pattern recognition give founders a massive edge in business. We explore how to trust your deepest intuition, why playing small is the most dangerous thing you can do, and why having the wrong support system is worse than having none at all. Helen also shares her wildly unorthodox approach to networking , and why she walked away from a successful acting career to maintain her integrity. Plus, we finally uncover the psychological truth behind "Resting Bitch Face" and why it’s actually a sign of intense, ADHD-driven deep listening. Check out the company: https://hearthealer.co.uk

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📚 NETWORK BEFORE YOU NEED IT (6 LESSONS THAT MADE SEAN $15M)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Get my brand new eBook free - https://welivetobuild.com/network

-----------------------------------

📈 WORK WITH ME

-----------------------------------

▶ Buy 300 Lessons From 300 Founders: https://welivetobuild.com/300-lessons-ebook

▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://welivetobuild.com/book-a-call

▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising

▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/sponsorship

---------------------------------------------

👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN

---------------------------------------------

▶ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot

▶ Inquiries: [email protected]

---------------------------

🕒 CHAPTERS

---------------------------

00:00 - The Secret ADHD Advantage

01:47 - Trusting Your Intuition & Playing Big

03:40 - Spotting Fake Support Systems

06:14 - The "Piss Up in a Brewery" Networking Guide

08:40 - How to Get Noticed When You're a "Nobody"

10:38 - The Art of Being Interested (Not Just Interesting)

14:06 - Don't Be a Slave to Your Business

16:56 - Why I Walked Away From Acting

18:12 - The Dark Side of Media Manipulation

21:50 - How to Become a Transformation Artist

26:54 - The Truth About "Resting Bitch Face" and ADHD

30:00 - Becoming a Master of Meaning

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For our 300th episode, the podcast is officially rebranding to focus on business networking! To celebrate, I brought on my very first mentor, Meir Simhi. Years ago in China, Meir helped me realize my true value in networking, which eventually led to me generating $15 million in crypto fundraising sales.In this episode, Meir breaks down his new "Product Theory" and why asking "what to sell" is the wrong question. We deconstruct my new business idea (feeding your frustrations to your dog) and explore the true definition of a market. Check out the company: https://brandmasters.io

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📚 NETWORK BEFORE YOU NEED IT (6 LESSONS THAT MADE SEAN $15M)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

▶ Get my eBook free - https://welivetobuild.com/network

-----------------------------------

📈 WORK WITH ME

-----------------------------------

▶ Buy 300 Lessons From 300 Founders: https://welivetobuild.com/300-lessons-ebook

▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://welivetobuild.com/book-a-call

▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising

▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/sponsorship

---------------------------------------------

👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN

---------------------------------------------

▶ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot

▶ Inquiries: [email protected]

---------------------------

🕒 CHAPTERS

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00:00 - Episode 300 & The Business Networking Rebrand

02:37 - The Loneliest Part of Entrepreneurship

05:08 - Why Chasing Respect Repels People

09:02 - How Meir Mentored Sean in China

15:47 - The WeChat Course Failure

19:10 - How Networking Made Sean $15 Million in Crypto

23:51 - Why E-Commerce is Just "Commerce" Now

26:24 - "The Product Theory": How to Decide What to Sell

36:21 - Deconstructing Sean's "Dog Treat" Business Idea

46:55 - The 4 Axes of Defining a Market

54:26 - Why Shenzhen, China is the Future

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you obsessed with self-improvement? Mental performance coach and former Wall Street hedge fund manager Evan Marks argues that constantly trying to "fix" yourself actually takes you further away from who you really are. In this episode, Evan explains why he completely rejects "positive psychology" in favor of "opportunistic reality". He trains high-achievers to treat their negative emotions as data and be ready for chaos like a "jaguar in the brush". Check out the company: https://m1performancegroup.com

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📚 NETWORK BEFORE YOU NEED IT (6 LESSONS THAT MADE SEAN $15M)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

▶ Get my eBook free - https://welivetobuild.com/network

-----------------------------------

📈 WORK WITH ME

-----------------------------------

▶ Buy 300 Lessons From 300 Founders: https://welivetobuild.com/300-lessons-ebook

▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://welivetobuild.com/book-a-call

▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising

▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/sponsorship

---------------------------------------------

👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN

---------------------------------------------

▶ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot

▶ Inquiries: [email protected]

---------------------------

🕒 CHAPTERS

---------------------------

00:00 - The Fear of Regret

00:26 - The Hardest Part of Being an Entrepreneur

01:21 - Reinventing Yourself at 46

03:06 - The Fear of Failure vs. Regret

04:39 - Wall Street Stress & Uncertainty

05:46 - Why Positive Psychology is Fluff

10:50 - Why Self-Improvement is Ruining You

12:10 - How to Build Trust and Be Vulnerable

13:35 - Gen Z, Masculinity, & Coaching the Elite

15:20 - Does Trauma Create High Achievers?

20:18 - The Pain of Denial & Ignorance

22:30 - The "Leaf vs. Root" Metaphor

23:51 - Losing Purpose After a Big Exit

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it actually mean when a venture capitalist says they "don't have conviction" in your startup? Vaughn Crowe, an investor at MVP Capital , explains why VCs struggle to give founders honest feedback and what that dreaded rejection phrase really translates to. In this interview, Vaughn reveals how he sniffs out scammers versus real entrepreneurs by evaluating their true desire to build a big business. We discuss why having a massive advisory board at the pre-seed stage can be a major red flag , and whether founders should take a salary from their funding or bootstrap completely. Plus, he explains why leading your first VC meeting with a pitch deck is a fatal flaw and what you should do instead. Check out the company: https://nvpcapital.com

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📚 NETWORK BEFORE YOU NEED IT (6 LESSONS THAT MADE SEAN $15M)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

▶ Get my eBook free - https://welivetobuild.com/network

-----------------------------------

📈 WORK WITH ME

-----------------------------------

▶ Buy 300 Lessons From 300 Founders: https://welivetobuild.com/300-lessons-ebook

▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://welivetobuild.com/book-a-call

▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising

▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/sponsorship

---------------------------------------------

👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN

---------------------------------------------

▶ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot

▶ Inquiries: [email protected]

---------------------------

🕒 CHAPTERS

---------------------------

00:00 - How VCs Spot Fake Founders & Scammers

03:37 - Should You Hide Competing Term Sheets from VCs?

09:30 - Why Advisory Boards are a Red Flag for Early Startups

17:54 - Should Founders Take a Salary?

21:50 - Do Founders Still Need VCs in the Age of AI?

24:26 - Why VCs Won't Give You Honest Feedback

30:00 - The Real Meaning of "I Don't Have Conviction"

34:30 - Never Open a VC Meeting With a Pitch Deck

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you getting thousands of views on your YouTube Shorts but struggling to turn them into loyal subscribers or paying clients? Ben Pines, who helped scale Elementor from $0 to $100M ARR, explains exactly why your social media strategy is falling flat and how to fix it. In this live "workshop" style episode, Ben and Sean deconstruct Sean’s own content strategy. They discuss why AI has completely killed generic SEO content, why short-form video often leads to "empty views," and the secret to transitioning from a generic content creator to a highly paid trusted advisor. Ben reveals how to use the "Ezra Klein Method" to turn your content into a deep, problem-solving engine that naturally attracts your ideal audience. Check out the company: https://benpines.com

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📚 NETWORK BEFORE YOU NEED IT (6 LESSONS THAT MADE SEAN $15M)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

▶ Get my eBook free - https://welivetobuild.com/network

-----------------------------------

📈 WORK WITH ME

-----------------------------------

▶ Buy 300 Lessons From 300 Founders: https://welivetobuild.com/300-lessons-ebook

▶ Book a Paid Advisory Session: https://welivetobuild.com/book-a-call

▶ Startup Fundraising: https://welivetobuild.com/fundraising

▶ Sponsor the Channel: https://www.welivetobuild.com/sponsorship

---------------------------------------------

👀 CONNECT WITH SEAN

---------------------------------------------

▶ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/seanweisbrot

▶ Inquiries: [email protected]

---------------------------

🕒 CHAPTERS

---------------------------

00:00 - Why You're Getting Views but No Subscribers

01:45 - Deconstructing a Failing Content Strategy

03:40 - The Golden Rule of Content: What Pays the Rent?

08:35 - Why "Curiosity" is Killing Your Podcast

12:40 - How to Tie Your Content Directly to Your Business

18:00 - Why AI Has Ruined Generic SEO Content

19:25 - The "Ezra Klein" Method for Building True Authority

22:50 - Stop Pretending You Know Everything

26:30 - Flip the Script: Solve Client Problems Live

38:30 - The Truth About YouTube Shorts & Distribution

43:30 - Elementor’s $100M Lesson: You Need a Bigger Story

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.