Very First Win

Goanna Capital

Success doesn't start with a headline. It starts with a first win. Very First Win takes you inside the exact moment top founders, investors, and operators realized they could actually make it. Each episode unpacks the deal, decision, or breakthrough that changed everything, and what that moment taught them. Hosted by Rob Hilmer of Goanna Capital, with guests spanning founders, investors, and industry leaders shaping what comes next. New episodes weekly.

Episodes

  1. May 7

    a16z Partner Flew to London on 90 Minutes Notice to Win This $11B Deal

    ElevenLabs is now an $11B company. Three years ago, a16z's Bryan Kim flew from San Francisco to London on 90 minutes notice to win the Series A. He packed in a minute, got his assistant to book the flight, landed, met the founder for lunch, and signed the term sheet on a piece of paper. Four hours on the ground. Then he flew home. In this episode of Very First Win, BK walks host Robert Hilmer through how it actually went down, and the principle he credits for making the call: "If it's worth doing, always ask yourself, what is a strong form of it?" Bryan "BK" Kim is a Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, where he leads early-stage consumer and AI application investments. His portfolio includes ElevenLabs, Captions (now Mirage AI), Cluely, BeReal, Partiful, and Function Health. In this episode: 00:00 The flight to London 00:36 Intro: Welcome to Very First Win 01:22 What BK invests in at a16z 02:12 Jensen's "five-layer cake" and where AI value is created 04:43 Chatbots vs agents and what's actually changing 05:55 The very first win: leading ElevenLabs' Series A 07:30 The decision to fly to London 08:50 Signing on a piece of paper 09:34 Why "what is a strong form of this?" is BK's mental model 10:35 Closing thoughts Very First Win is a podcast hosted by Robert Hilmer, founder of Goanna Capital. Each episode features top investors and operators sharing the story of a defining win and the lessons behind it. Goanna Capital is a global multi-strategy private markets investment firm and shareholder of companies including Anthropic, SpaceX, Canva, Neuralink, Databricks, Ramp, Rippling, and OpenAI. Subscribe for more conversations with the people behind venture's most important deals. Listen to Very First Win: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GoannaCapital Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0cTzEJW3juIZEBnyswNl9c?si=bfb732637e434b12 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/very-first-win/id1896315027 Follow Robert Hilmer: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roberthilmer/ Follow Bryan Kim: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirbyman/ #ElevenLabs #a16z #VentureCapital #AI #BryanKim #ConsumerAI #Startups #Podcast

    11 min
  2. Apr 30

    He Was 7 Years Too Early. Then AI Exploded | Andrew Antos, Klarity AI

    In 2017, Andrew Antos founded Klarity AI, an artificial intelligence company built years before ChatGPT, before the AI boom, and before most people believed AI could actually work in production. Then he waited. For 7 years, Andrew kept building while the rest of the world ignored AI. Customers were skeptical. The market didn't exist yet. Most founders in his position would have pivoted, quit, or burned out, and many did. Then AI exploded. And everything Andrew had quietly built for 7 years suddenly made sense. This is the story of what it actually takes to be too early, and survive long enough to be right. In this conversation, Andrew shares:- What it looked like building an AI company in 2017, when no one cared- The hardest stretch of the 7-year climb, and what kept him going when momentum disappeared- Why "too early" is often a bigger advantage than founders realize- The daily habits that compound into breakthroughs- His honest advice for founders building in markets that don't exist yet If you've ever wondered whether you're ahead of the curve or just lost in the woods, watch this one to the end. 💬 Have you ever been "too early" to something? Setback, or hidden advantage? Drop a comment. 🔔 Subscribe for more founder stories, investor conversations, and lessons from people building at the edge. About Andrew Antos:Andrew Antos is the founder of Klarity AI, an AI company he started in 2017, years before the AI boom transformed the industry. #AndrewAntos #KlarityAI #AIStartup #FounderStory #StartupJourney #EntrepreneurMindset #DailyProgress #GrowthMindset #BuildingInPublic #StartupLessons

    16 min
  3. Apr 23

    The Secret to Follow-Up Success That Led Ryan Serhant to Sell a Multi-Million Dollar Apartment

    Most real estate stories end with a closing; ‪@RyanSerhant‬'s Very First Win begins with a prank call, a last-minute Paris trip, and a deal that seemed impossible - yet changed his entire career. His willingness to follow up relentlessly transformed a random phone call into a $8.3 million sale, all while navigating international scams, con artists, and the chaos of NYC real estate.In this episode, Ryan peels back the curtain on how that wild deal unfolded, from the moment he picked up that prank call to closing the deal in person with cash, all amidst international intrigue and late-night plane rides. You'll discover the key mindset shifts that let him turn seemingly impossible situations into wins, regardless of the risks. Ryan shares his approach to following up, knowing when to push and when to fold, and why persistence, paired with a smart approach to rejection, is the secret sauce behind his success.We break down why follow-up is your most powerful sales tool. Ryan’s insights aren’t just about closing deals, they’re about transforming your entire approach to sales, negotiations, and grit. If you’ve ever wondered how a story that sounds like a Hollywood script can be your real-life blueprint, this episode unlocks the mindset, tactics, and relentless follow-up strategies that turn even the wildest opportunities into lifelong wins.Perfect for entrepreneurs, salespeople, and anyone chasing that big break, this episode will inspire you to think bigger, follow longer, and never give up.Your next win might just start with one phone call. Are you ready?

    22 min

About

Success doesn't start with a headline. It starts with a first win. Very First Win takes you inside the exact moment top founders, investors, and operators realized they could actually make it. Each episode unpacks the deal, decision, or breakthrough that changed everything, and what that moment taught them. Hosted by Rob Hilmer of Goanna Capital, with guests spanning founders, investors, and industry leaders shaping what comes next. New episodes weekly.