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In this episode, James Evans, co-founder of Command AI (acq by Amplitude), shares his entrepreneurial journey- from childhood ambitions to launching a startup in college and scaling it through YC. He talks about turning a side project into a venture-backed company, navigating the startup grind, and eventually getting acquired by Amplitude. James breaks down the realities of startup life, including hiring, sales vs. product-led growth, and the psychological weight of being a founder. He also walks through the acquisition process, post-acquisition integration, and how he’s continuing to grow in a new role. This episode is packed with candid insight into early-stage building, decision-making, and what comes after the “win.”

00:00 Starting a Company: The Myth vs. Reality
00:08 Interview with James Evans: Early Life and Entrepreneurial Aspirations
01:41 College Days: The Birth of Command AI
02:50 From Side Project to Startup
04:31 Entering Private Equity After Graduation
05:34 The YC Experience and Why Speed Matters
13:26 Marketing and Growth: What Actually Works
16:32 Conserving Innovation and Picking the Right Bets
16:54 Remote Work as a Strategic Choice
17:48 Marketing: From Popups to Planes
19:17 Avoiding Overthinking and Moving Fast
20:30 Angel Investing and Operating Insights
22:38 Hiring, Firing, and Early Team Building
26:02 The Amplitude Acquisition: How It Happened
30:14 After the Exit: Integration and Personal Growth

Connect with Paige 🌱💜

Behind Genius Ventures blog | https://www.behindgeniusventures.com/

Personal Blog | https://paigefinndoherty.com/

Twitter | https://x.com/paigefinnn

Links
🔗 James Evans – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesbevans/
🔗 CommandBar – https://www.commandbar.com/
🔗 Y Combinator – https://www.ycombinator.com/
🔗 Amplitude – https://amplitude.com/

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Hi everyone! In this episode, I’m doing something a little different — walking you through the three phases of self-publishing my first book, Seed to Harvest, a children’s book about venture capital. I’ll share the full behind-the-scenes: how I came up with the idea, what the writing and publishing process looked like, how much money I made (real numbers!), and how this book helped launch Behind Genius Ventures.
In this episode, I cover:

• How to validate book ideas like a startup
• What it actually costs to publish a book (and how I crowdfunded it)
• How writing Seed to Harvest helped me raise a $5M venture fund
• How being online (especially on Twitter) played a major role in all of this
• What I’d do differently next time

Whether you’re curious about writing a book, starting a fund, or just love a good build-in-public story, I hope this helps you take the leap on your own creative project.

📍Follow me:
Twitter (X): @paigefinnn
Email: paige@behindgeniusventures.com
Website: behindgeniusventures.com
Book: Seed to Harvest: A Simple Explanation of Venture Capital available on Amazon

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Tom McLeod isn’t your typical founder or investor.
He bootstrapped a SaaS to 100k users, built a League of Legends app used by millions, sold it to Tencent, and now backs businesses at the intersection of identity, community, and cashflow. Think: car clubs, not cloud infra.
In this episode of Seed to Harvest, Tom breaks down:
• The 3 founder archetypes he’s seen across cycles
• Why he hires founders (even though they always leave)
• What he learned going from bootstrapped to venture-backed
• How he thinks about underwriting non-venture-scale returns
It’s a fresh take for anyone rethinking capital models or scouting overlooked operator talent.

Connect with Paige 🌱💜
Behind Genius Ventures blog - https://www.behindgeniusventures.com/
Personal Blog - https://paigefinndoherty.com/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/paigefinnn
Connect with Tom 🌱💜
Email- Tom@saltwater.com
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/tmcleod/?hl=en
Twitter- https://x.com/tmcleod3?lang=en

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In this special series of 'What It Takes,' Paige and analyst Chinwuba interview founders who have sold their companies for more than $1B. Our first episode features Mark Weiss and Jeff Weiss, the founders of NJOY, a billion-dollar e-cigarette company. They dive into the entrepreneurial journey, starting from their upbringing in a family of lawyers and athletes to the unique inception of NJOY after discovering electronic cigarettes through a mentor.

Mark explains the challenges NJOY faced, including the legal battles with the FDA, which they successfully overcame, allowing them to pioneer in the e-cigarette market. Jeff shares insights into the company's significant pivots, financial struggles, and eventual recovery post-bankruptcy.

They also discuss substantial investments from prominent figures like Peter Thiel and Sean Parker, navigating regulatory hurdles, and NJOY's eventual acquisition by Altria.

The episode highlights lessons learned, the importance of adaptability, and reflects on the rewarding yet turbulent journey of building a groundbreaking company.

Connect with Paige and Chinwuba 🌱💜
Behind Genius Ventures blog | https://www.behindgeniusventures.com/
Personal Blog | https://paigefinndoherty.com/
Twitter | https://twitter.com/paigefinnn
Linkedin | https://www.linkedin.com/in/chinwubaezesike/

00:00 Introduction to the Series and Guests
00:32 Growing Up in a Big Family
02:36 The Birth of NJOY
06:08 Early Challenges and Breakthroughs
12:50 Legal Battles with the FDA
20:48 Financing and Growth
23:16 The Rise of NJOY
24:13 Challenges Leading to Bankruptcy
25:23 The Pivot to Flavors and Nicotine Salts
27:08 The Bankruptcy and Downsizing
28:09 The Struggle with Investors and Market Share
30:42 Emotional and Strategic Reflections
33:15 Reemergence and Fresh Start
39:24 Acquisition by Altria
42:54 Lessons Learned and Final Thoughts

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In this episode of 'Seed to Harvest,' hosted by Paige Finn Doherty, delve into the intricate world of Broadway with five-time Tony Award-winning Broadway producer, Sue Gilad. Sue shares her journey from a childhood love of theater to becoming a major Broadway producer. She offers a detailed look at the production process, including the roles behind-the-scenes, financing, and the impact of COVID-19 on the Broadway industry. Highlights include the making of 'Moulin Rouge! The Musical,' insights into fundraising and producing, and the excitement of winning a Tony Award. Tune in to learn about the business side of bringing Broadway magic to life and the similarities between venture capital and Broadway production.

Connect with Paige 🌱💜
Behind Genius Ventures blog | https://www.behindgeniusventures.com/
Personal Blog | https://paigefinndoherty.com/
Twitter | https://twitter.com/paigefinnn

00:00 Introduction and Special Guest Announcement

00:53 Sue Gilad's Early Love for Theater

02:35 Behind the Scenes of Broadway Productions

04:18 The Business Side of Broadway

08:21 The Journey of Moulin Rouge! The Musical

13:20 Impact of COVID-19 on Broadway

16:31 Role and Responsibilities of a Broadway Producer

19:31 Producing Shows in the UK vs. Broadway

21:00 The Unpredictability of Producing Shows

21:22 Discovering New Productions

22:18 Fundraising for Theatre

22:52 The Risks and Rewards of Investing in Theatre

26:13 The Thrill of Winning a Tony

30:32 Industry Jargon and Favorite Tools

34:40 Navigating Age and Success in the Industry

39:17 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Moulin Rouge! The Musical
https://moulinrougemusical.com

The Outsiders Musical (including upcoming tour dates)
https://outsidersmusical.com

Broadway.com (for general show info, tickets, and news)
https://www.broadway.com

TKTS Discount Tickets (for half-price Broadway tickets)
https://www.tdf.org/discount-ticket-programs/tkts-by-tdf

BroadwaySF (for touring Broadway productions in SF)
https://www.broadwaysf.com

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From Mold Toxicity to Million Dollar Startup: Ariana Thacker's Inspiring Journey with MoldCo

In this episode of 'Seed to Harvest,' host Paige Finn Doherty welcomes back Ariana Thacker of MoldCo. They discuss Ariana's journey from discovering toxic mold in her home while running Conscience VC to founding MoldCo, a healthcare platform tackling mold toxicity. Ariana shares her personal health struggles, the deep research into mold-related toxicity, her innovative healthcare solutions, and raising a $3 million pre-seed round. They also delve into the misconceptions about mold, the process of treating mold toxicity, and the importance of having a resilient and value-driven approach in building a startup.

A call to action for those who might be affected by Mold Toxicity: MoldCo is now available in Texas and Florida, with a planned nationwide rollout by the end of the year. If you or someone you know is affected by Mold Toxicity, Ariana recommends signing up on MoldCo's waitlist at moldco.com and ordering a $99 MoldCo Standard lab Panel to get clarity on your symptoms.

https://access.moldco.com/labs

00:00 Welcome Back to Seed to Harvest

00:36 Ariana's Mold Journey Begins

01:22 Discovering the Mold Problem

06:14 Meeting the Messiah of Mold

08:21 Launching MoldCo

13:42 Understanding Mold Illness

16:44 The Science Behind Mold Illness

20:50 The Role of AI in Mold Research

25:42 Personal Values and Company Culture

36:36 Reflections and Future Plans

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The Technical Storyteller: A Founder Archetype

In our April 2024 Fund II launch, featured in Fortune magazine, we made it clear that we back the best storytellers. Some might assume that when we say “storytellers,” we mean people who are skilled at talking. But in our view, storytelling is far more about listening and deeply understanding context. The best storytellers help us see the invisible — they show us the unseen paths to success.

To expand on this thesis, we want to dive deeper into the type of storyteller we believe in: the technical storyteller. This founder archetype combines technical expertise with the ability to narrate a compelling vision, while adapting to the complexities of their landscape.

In this short solo episode, I'll cover:

• What is a Technical Storyteller?
• A Metaphor: Building and Navigating a Vehicle
• Why the Landscape Matters Most
• Are technical storytellers born or made?
  You can also read more at https://www.behindgeniusventures.com/post/technical-storyteller
  
  

We'll be publishing our next episode soon, welcome back!

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Today, I am joined by Ben Lerer, the Managing Partner at Lerer Hippeau, an early stage venture firm based in New York that invests in iconic companies that rattle the status quo. Ben shares insights into his journey from founding digital media company Group Nine Media, including the creation of Thrillist, to transitioning into full-time investing after selling his business. Ben highlights how his background in media and operating companies influences his approach to venture capital, emphasizing the excitement, challenges, and rewards of being on the investor side of the table.

Seed to Harvest is a podcast focused on stories & tactics from a diverse array of investors, founders, and creators, hosted by Paige Finn Doherty, a founding partner at Behind Genius Ventures and author of Seed to Harvest, an illustrated children's book for adults.

Connect with Paige 🌱💜

Behind Genius Ventures blog | https://www.behindgeniusventures.com/

Personal Blog | https://paigefinndoherty.com/

Twitter | https://twitter.com/paigefinnn

00:00 Welcome to Seed To Harvest: Ben Lerer
02:02 becoming a full-time investor
04:40 challenges with a growing company
06:25 investing more into fund l
08:22 intuition changing from qualitative to quantitative
10:28 the trick of this market
12:32 Ben’s founder process
15:28 delineating a good design from a great design
18:37 lessons learned from Bob Pittman
22:37 what Ben been learning recently

Show notes:
Ben Lerer | https://twitter.com/benjlerer?lang=en

Lerer Hippeau | https://www.lererhippeau.com/

Group Nine Media | https://twitter.com/groupninemedia?lang=en

Thrillist | https://www.thrillist.com/

Bob Pittman | https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-pittman/

POPSUGAR | https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment

Brian Sugar | https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansugar/

Sugar Capital | https://sugarcap.com/

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