The Jason Cavness Experience

Jason Cavness

The Jason Cavness Experience is where I talk to entrepreneurs and other interesting people.

  1. 1d ago

    Why AI Sales Should Make Selling More Human with Swetha Puvvada

    AI sales is often framed as replacement. Swetha Puvvada sees it differently: the real opportunity is using AI to remove the busy work so sellers can get back to listening, understanding pain, and having better conversations. Swetha is Head of Product & Growth at Teameight, an AI SaaS company building an augmentation platform for sales teams. We talk about product, GTM, customer feedback, career growth, mountaineering, and how she went from early-career intern to owning product and go-to-market inside a startup.  We also discuss: • Why AI should augment sales instead of replacing sellers  • How Teameight helps ramp new sellers faster • Why negative customer feedback is useful when it is specific • What makes someone a good salesperson • How Swetha moved from internship to Head of Product and GTM • Why younger talent needs broader product and systems thinking • How mountaineering teaches trust, risk, and preparation  • Being one of the few women in tech and mountaineering • Why taking opportunities matters more than waiting for permission  Swetha links LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/swetha-puvvada/ Teameight: https://www.teameight.ai/ Jason links https://linktr.ee/admin

    1h 42m

  2. Jun 16

    The Roti Robot Problem with Komal Kashiramka

    Fresh roti is simple to eat and hard to automate. Komal Kashiramka is building Poshan, a robotics company developing next-generation kitchen appliances, starting with an automatic roti maker designed to create soft roti that lasts for hours. Komal shares how she moved from Microsoft and Meta into entrepreneurship. Why hardware requires a different level of patience than software and what founders can learn from customer discovery, AI, parenting, and building something people will trust in their kitchens.  We also discuss:  • Why soft roti is the real product challenge  • Building a hardware company in the R&D phase • What AI changes for junior engineers • Why fundamentals still matter in software • Leaving corporate life without having everything figured out • Startup 425 and Seattle Public Library business resources • Raising kids while building a company • RotiTales and making roti easier to understand  Komal  links Poshan Website: https://poshan.us/ Poshan LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/poshan-inc RotiTales Website: https://rotitales.com/ RotiTales Instagram: https://instagram.com/rotitales RotiTales LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/rotitales/ RotiTales Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rotitales RotiTales YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@rotitales Jason links Jason's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/admin Jason's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncavness/ YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGsw6kzZE40sSUZgoStVaJw?sub_confirmation=1

    1h 44m

  3. Jun 9

    How Grief Becomes Art with Eden Marryshow

    Most people run from grief. Eden Marryshow turned it into a film. In this conversation, Eden breaks down the emotional process behind filmmaking, storytelling, creativity, and why the best art usually comes from the most personal places. We talk about losing family, directing actors, independent filmmaking, community, and the long path creators take back to who they were before the world told them to stop creating. This episode is also a masterclass on storytelling itself from Star Wars and Scorsese to creative discipline, ego, collaboration, and why limitations often produce better art than unlimited budgets.  We also discuss: • Why most people know who they are by age six • The connection between grief and creativity  • Directing actors without ego • Why independent creators have to learn everything • The psychology behind great storytelling • Rocky, Star Wars, Goodfellas, and favorite films  • Why "story is king" in filmmaking • How schools often suppress creativity  • Building community through storytelling • NFL talk, Giants football, and leadership Guest links Instagram: @edenmarryshow Email: 511eden@gmail.com Jason Linktree https://linktr.ee/admin

    2h 24m

  4. Jun 2

    Most Entrepreneurs Should Quit — Nathan Kaiser

    Entrepreneurship isn't freedom it's volatility, pressure, and constant uncertainty. Nathan Kaiser built 2bar Spirits by embracing that reality, not ignoring it. He breaks down why most people shouldn't start companies, what actually keeps a business alive, and how constraints, not capital, create better outcomes. This is a raw look at building something real in a crowded, unforgiving industry.  We also discuss: • Why starting a company is usually the wrong financial move  • How constraint beats capital in building a business • The myth of overnight success (and the Tito's example) • Why focus wins over product expansion • The real role of rejection in sales and growth • How long-term thinking applies to both whiskey and life Nathan Kaiser LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nckaiser/ 2bar Spirits: http://2barspirits.com Email: info@2barspirits.com Jason links LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncavness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejasoncavnessexperience/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jasoncavness Podcast: https://www.thejasoncavnessexperience.com Website: www.cavness.io

    3h 16m

  5. May 26

    Why Most Founders Mismanage Money — Morgan Rogers

    Most founders don't fail because of bad ideas. They fail because they run out of moneyand don't know why. In this episode of The Jason Cavness Experience, I sit down with Morgan Rogers from NOW CFO to break down what actually happens inside companies when the financial side isn't dialed in. Morgan works with founders, operators, and investors every day cleaning up messy books, preparing companies for fundraising, and helping them avoid decisions that quietly destroy businesses. She's helped scale a Seattle office by over 500% and has seen the same pattern over and over again. But the real story is this: Most founders don't understand their numbersand it costs them everything. We get into the uncomfortable truth: cash flow problems, bad assumptions, and delayed decisions kill more companies than competition ever will. This is a video podcast available on YouTube and podcast platforms.  What We Talked About • Why cash in your bank account doesn't mean you're profitable • The difference between a bookkeeper, controller, and CFO • When startups should actually bring in financial help • The hidden cost of messy books • Why most founders wait too long to fix financial problems • How to prepare for fundraising the right way • Why networking (done right) drives real revenue • Scaling a business development engine • When to shut down vs keep pushing forward Connect with Morgan Rogers LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgan-rogers-64a83768/ Email: mrogers@nowcfo.com Website: https://www.nowcfo.com/ Connect with Jason Cavness LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncavness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejasoncavnessexperience/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jasoncavness Podcast: https://www.thejasoncavnessexperience.com Military Creator Con I'll be speaking at Military Creator Con on leveraging content to create opportunities. Sign up here: https://bit.ly/speaker_jason_cavness_social Power Note Profit is opinion. Cash flow is reality.

    1h 41m

  6. May 19

    How Founders Actually Build Momentum with Nick Hughes

    From a failed startup to launching Founders Live across 155 cities and 58 countries, Nick explains what founders really need early on: community, storytelling, validation, and consistent action. He also breaks down why most people wait too long to start, how 99-second pitches force clarity, and what he's learned traveling through startup ecosystems around the world. Nick also shares how Founders Live evolved from a simple Seattle pitch event into a global founder marketplace connecting startups with legal, development, hiring, and growth resources. We also discuss: • Why founders overthink getting started • How storytelling creates startup momentum • Building startup ecosystems outside Silicon Valley • Why the crowd votes at Founders Live • Lessons from running communities across 58 countries • What startup culture looks like in Africa and Southeast Asia • The future of Founders Live's marketplace model • Running a global remote-first company • Nick's upcoming 90-day Africa tour • Why entrepreneurship is a universal human drive   Nick Hughes LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jnickhughes/ Nick Hughes Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/jnickhughes/ Founders Live  https://www.founderslive.com/ Jason Links  https://linktr.ee/admin Also check out The Jason Cavness Experience Deep Tech Demo Day during Seattle Deep Tech Week. A showcase bringing together founders, investors, operators, and emerging deep tech startups across the Seattle ecosystem.  https://www.deep-tech-week.com/seattle-2026/events/the-jason-cavness-experience-deep-tech-demo-day-part-of-seattle-deep-tech-week

    2h 36m

  7. May 12

    Why Most Teams Are Broken — Mimi Nguyen

    Most teams don't fail because of strategy. They fail because people can't align. In this episode of The Jason Cavness Experience, I sit down with Mimi Nguyen to break down why teams struggle to work together and what actually fixes it. Mimi has lived across Vietnam, the United States, and Malaysia, and brings a rare perspective on culture, communication, and decision-making. She's led initiatives that drove a $7M+ uplift and achieved 90% product adoption. But the real story is how she got teams to stop working against each other. We get into the uncomfortable truth: misaligned incentives, poor communication, and lack of trust kill more progress than bad ideas ever will.  This is a video podcast available on YouTube and podcast platforms. What We Talked About • Why most teams are misaligned from the start • The real reason projects fail inside companies • How Mimi aligned marketing, sales, and operations • The $7M+ uplift project breakdown • Driving 90% adoption through behavior change • Why trust is harder than data • Data vs intuition in decision-making • The limits of AI in data science • Cultural intelligence as a competitive advantage • Living and working across Vietnam, Malaysia, and the U.S.  • Fear of putting yourself out there and staying private Connect with Mimi Nguyen  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mimin11/ Connect with Jason Cavness  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncavness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejasoncavnessexperience/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jasoncavness Podcast: https://www.thejasoncavnessexperience.com Military Creator Con  I'll be speaking at Military Creator Con on leveraging content to create opportunities.  Sign up here: https://bit.ly/speaker_jason_cavness_social Power Note Alignment beats intelligence. Every time.

    1h 37m

  8. May 5

    Why Small Businesses Struggle — Hugo Nicolas

    Most small businesses don't fail because of bad ideas. They fail because they don't understand the system. In this episode of The Jason Cavness Experience, I sit down with Hugo Nicolas from Washington State's Office for Regulatory Innovation and Assistance (ORIA) to break down what actually stops businesses from growing. Hugo went from a small village in Mexico to helping thousands of business owners navigate permits, licenses, and government processes. He's seen firsthand where people get stuck and it's not where most think.  We get into the real problems: confusing regulations, lack of awareness, and why too many founders ignore the "unsexy" parts of business until it's too late. If you're building a business or thinking about itT his episode will save you time, money, and frustration. This is a video podcast available on YouTube and podcast platforms.  What We Talked About • Why most small businesses fail (and it's not the idea) • The hidden cost of ignoring permits and regulations • Hugo's journey from undocumented immigrant to state leader • The biggest mistakes new business owners make • Why business structure matters more than you think • How to navigate government without wasting time • Free resources most entrepreneurs never use • The power of resilience and adapting fast Connect with Hugo Nicolas LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugo-nicolas-17357052/  Website: https://www.oria.wa.gov/site/alias__oria/368/Home.aspx Connect with Jason Cavness  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncavness  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejasoncavnessexperience/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jasoncavness Podcast: https://www.thejasoncavnessexperience.com Military Creator Con I'll be speaking at Military Creator Con on how to leverage content to create opportunities. Sign up: https://bit.ly/speaker_jason_cavness_social Power Note The difference between struggling and scaling is not effort. it's knowing how to navigate the system.

    1h 30m
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5
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104 Ratings

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The Jason Cavness Experience is where I talk to entrepreneurs and other interesting people.

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