In this raw and deeply human conversation, I sit down with Yael Daniely, a seasoned startup psychologist, co-founder, therapist, and founder of one of the world’s only clinical practices dedicated to the emotional well-being of startup leaders.

Yael joins me from Israel in the middle of a war zone, where the urgency of her message becomes even more profound. Together, we explore what founders rarely talk about publicly: emotional fatigue, burnout, the silent strain on co-founder relationships, and the psychological toll of building a startup when your identity is wrapped up in its success or failure.

Drawing from her work with over 400 founders and leadership teams around the world, Yael breaks down:

• Why startup life often mimics survival mode and how to manage it
• The unconscious emotional drivers behind decision-making and leadership fatigue
• How dysfunctional co-founder dynamics quietly derail 65% of startups
• Why psychological contracts matter as much as shareholder agreements
• The overlooked link between childhood experience and startup behavior
• What founder burnout really looks like and how to recover from it holistically

As Yael puts it, “High-growth startups require high-growth founders.” This episode is an honest, moving reflection on what it really takes to survive and thrive as a startup leader, especially during times of extreme uncertainty.

In this episode of Startup Builders and Backers, I sat down with Rahul Baig, Head of Venture Capital and Growth Equity Coverage at Wells Fargo, for one of the most wide-ranging and insightful conversations I’ve had this year.

We discuss the seismic shifts occurring across the tech landscape, particularly how AI is driving a new cycle of investment, innovation, and disruption. With $200 billion already invested in AI infrastructure and more to come, Rahul breaks down why this moment feels different from anything we've seen before—more accessible, more transformative, and, in many ways, more challenging.

We also talk about the slowdown in software growth, the short-term pressure on IT budgets, and how the most innovative companies are leveraging AI not just to survive, but to innovate faster and extend their competitive edge. Rahul also shared his views on the state of venture capital, the consolidation of VC firms, and why traditional players are regaining dominance.

For founders, this episode is packed with candid insights. Rahul pulls no punches when discussing what it takes to get funded today, what investors are looking for, and why financial discipline and real-world use cases are now non-negotiables. If you’re still clinging to a “raise at all costs” mindset, this is the wake-up call you didn’t know you needed.

🎧 In this conversation, we cover:

• How AI is reshaping the rules of the game for software and infrastructure
• Why 55,000 venture-backed companies is a sign of overinvestment, not progress
• What it now takes to go public and why the IPO bar is higher than ever
• Why the next generation of great startups will emerge from this tougher environment
• The impact of geopolitical tensions, rate shifts, and investor risk appetite on capital markets

If you're a founder, investor, or just trying to make sense of where tech is headed next, this one’s for you. You can find Rahul on LinkedIn, and as always, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the conversation.

In this episode of Startup Builders & Backers, we sit down with Jeff Butler, General Manager of Cask Canada, for a candid conversation on what it really takes to launch and grow a high-performing tech consultancy in today's evolving enterprise landscape. In just over a year, Jeff helped Cask Canada scale to 25 employees and win 11 major clients, all while navigating a crowded implementation partner market, the complexity of ServiceNow, and the growing expectations of Canadian enterprises.

We explore how authenticity, trust, and relentless focus on value have been key to Cask’s success. Jeff reflects on lessons from the dot-com era, the power of genuine client relationships, and why every implementation is more about outcomes than technology alone.

From the rise of AI-enhanced platforms to growing demand for local partnerships, we cover emerging trends reshaping the ServiceNow ecosystem. Jeff also discusses the increasing role of automation, the future of implementation services, and why the best consultants push back instead of simply checking boxes.

If you're building in the enterprise tech space, thinking about platform partnerships, or just want to understand what it takes to lead with heart in a technical world, this episode is for you.