GROW by Good Combinator

Good Combinator

GROW by Good Combinator is the skills library for building AI-era ventures, products, and institutions. The flagship track is the Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) Certification — eight courses that take you from what an FDE is through running a practice as a founder. Each lesson pairs a working operator's method with a concrete artifact you can use the same day. Course 1: FDE Foundations is free. Hosted by Doug Liles, founder of Good Combinator and an elected Special District Commissioner in South Walton, Florida. New lessons drop Tuesdays. Start at goodcombinator.com/grow.

  1. 3d ago

    [Course 8 Lesson 8.8] Course 8 Mastery: Your 18-Month Practice Founder Plan - GROW by Good Combinator

    Your 18-month Practice Founder plan: the final capstone. In Lesson 8.8 of GROW Course 8 (FDE Practice Founder), Doug Liles works through it with you. An 18-month plan that turns everything in the track into an operating roadmap. What you'll take away - The capstone brief - The 18-month arc - Milestones Chapters (0:00) Cold open & the promise (7:34) The capstone brief (15:08) The 18-month arc (22:43) Milestones (30:17) Metrics (37:52) Self-scoring (45:26) The artifact & what to do Monday Study guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free) - https://fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessons/FDE_Lesson_8_8 Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced. Public release This full FDE Certification audio lesson is available publicly as part of GROW by Good Combinator. Continue in GROW Skills Library: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/library Episode metadata Show: GROW by Good Combinator Course: Course 8 - FDE Practice Founder Lesson: 8.8 Season/Episode: 8/8 Runtime: 53:01 Access label: public-full-lesson Source channel: spotify Source audio: app/lessons/assets/course-8/8.8/8.8 Audio Podcast.m4a Taxonomy: Domain=Practice Founder; Career stage=Founder; Skill level=Founder; Asset type=Capstone; Outcome=Found CRM events: course_started, lesson_completed, cert_enrolled Transcript and accessibility Final transcript required before launch: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/courses/course-8/lesson-8.8/transcript Accessibility requirement: reviewed audio, clear title, descriptive show notes, and transcript availability before launch. Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM and disclosed here. Credits Host: Doug Liles Producer: Good Combinator Audio: NotebookLM AI narration (disclosed)

    [Course 8 Lesson 8.8] Course 8 Mastery: Your 18-Month Practice Founder Plan - GROW by Good Combinator

  2. 4d ago

    [Course 8 Lesson 8.7] The Founder's Hiring Loop - GROW by Good Combinator

    The founder's hiring loop for building a practice that runs without you. In Lesson 8.7 of GROW Course 8 (FDE Practice Founder), Doug Liles works through it with you. A founder-level hiring loop that builds a bench, not just a hire. What you'll take away - Hiring as a founder - The loop - Bench building Chapters (0:00) Cold open & the promise (6:30) Hiring as a founder (13:01) The loop (19:32) Bench building (26:02) Onboarding to ownership (32:33) Scaling the loop (39:04) The artifact & what to do Monday Study guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free) - https://fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessons/FDE_Lesson_8_7 Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced. Public release This full FDE Certification audio lesson is available publicly as part of GROW by Good Combinator. Continue in GROW Skills Library: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/library Episode metadata Show: GROW by Good Combinator Course: Course 8 - FDE Practice Founder Lesson: 8.7 Season/Episode: 8/7 Runtime: 45:35 Access label: public-full-lesson Source channel: spotify Source audio: app/lessons/assets/course-8/8.7/8.7 Audio Podcast.m4a Taxonomy: Domain=Practice Founder; Career stage=Founder; Skill level=Founder; Asset type=Lesson; Outcome=Found CRM events: course_started, lesson_completed, cert_enrolled Transcript and accessibility Final transcript required before launch: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/courses/course-8/lesson-8.7/transcript Accessibility requirement: reviewed audio, clear title, descriptive show notes, and transcript availability before launch. Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM and disclosed here. Credits Host: Doug Liles Producer: Good Combinator Audio: NotebookLM AI narration (disclosed)

    [Course 8 Lesson 8.7] The Founder's Hiring Loop - GROW by Good Combinator

  3. 5d ago

    [Course 8 Lesson 8.6] The Founder-Layer Partner Agreement - GROW by Good Combinator

    The founder-layer partner agreement that protects the practice. In Lesson 8.6 of GROW Course 8 (FDE Practice Founder), Doug Liles works through it with you. The agreement terms a founder needs before scaling on partners. What you'll take away - Why it matters - Key terms - Protecting the practice Chapters (0:00) Cold open & the promise (6:41) Why it matters (13:23) Key terms (20:04) Protecting the practice (26:46) Negotiation (33:27) Red lines (40:09) The artifact & what to do Monday Study guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free) - https://fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessons/FDE_Lesson_8_6 Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced. Public release This full FDE Certification audio lesson is available publicly as part of GROW by Good Combinator. Continue in GROW Skills Library: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/library Episode metadata Show: GROW by Good Combinator Course: Course 8 - FDE Practice Founder Lesson: 8.6 Season/Episode: 8/6 Runtime: 46:51 Access label: public-full-lesson Source channel: spotify Source audio: app/lessons/assets/course-8/8.6/8.6 Audio Podcast.m4a Taxonomy: Domain=Practice Founder; Career stage=Founder; Skill level=Founder; Asset type=Lesson; Outcome=Found CRM events: course_started, lesson_completed, cert_enrolled Transcript and accessibility Final transcript required before launch: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/courses/course-8/lesson-8.6/transcript Accessibility requirement: reviewed audio, clear title, descriptive show notes, and transcript availability before launch. Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM and disclosed here. Credits Host: Doug Liles Producer: Good Combinator Audio: NotebookLM AI narration (disclosed)

    [Course 8 Lesson 8.6] The Founder-Layer Partner Agreement - GROW by Good Combinator

  4. 6d ago

    [Course 8 Lesson 8.5] FDE Practice Unit Economics & the 5-Line Tile - GROW by Good Combinator

    FDE practice unit economics and the 5-Line Tile. In Lesson 8.5 of GROW Course 8 (FDE Practice Founder), Doug Liles works through it with you. A one-tile model that tells you whether the practice actually makes money. What you'll take away - Why unit economics - The 5-Line Tile - Reading the tile Chapters (0:00) Cold open & the promise (6:17) Why unit economics (12:35) The 5-Line Tile (18:53) Reading the tile (25:10) Levers (31:28) Stress-testing (37:46) The artifact & what to do Monday Study guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free) - https://fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessons/FDE_Lesson_8_5 Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced. Public release This full FDE Certification audio lesson is available publicly as part of GROW by Good Combinator. Continue in GROW Skills Library: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/library Episode metadata Show: GROW by Good Combinator Course: Course 8 - FDE Practice Founder Lesson: 8.5 Season/Episode: 8/5 Runtime: 44:04 Access label: public-full-lesson Source channel: spotify Source audio: app/lessons/assets/course-8/8.5/8.5 Audio Podcast.m4a Taxonomy: Domain=Practice Founder; Career stage=Founder; Skill level=Founder; Asset type=Lesson; Outcome=Found CRM events: course_started, lesson_completed, cert_enrolled Transcript and accessibility Final transcript required before launch: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/courses/course-8/lesson-8.5/transcript Accessibility requirement: reviewed audio, clear title, descriptive show notes, and transcript availability before launch. Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM and disclosed here. Credits Host: Doug Liles Producer: Good Combinator Audio: NotebookLM AI narration (disclosed)

    [Course 8 Lesson 8.5] FDE Practice Unit Economics & the 5-Line Tile - GROW by Good Combinator

  5. Aug 5

    [Course 8 Lesson 8.4] Building the FDE Brand through Thought Leadership - GROW by Good Combinator

    Thought leadership as compounding distribution for an FDE practice. In Lesson 8.4 of GROW Course 8 (FDE Practice Founder), Doug Liles works through it with you. A thought-leadership engine that compounds into inbound demand. What you'll take away - Distribution as an asset - The content engine - Cadence Chapters (0:00) Cold open & the promise (5:41) Distribution as an asset (11:23) The content engine (17:05) Cadence (22:47) Proof over hype (28:29) Compounding (34:11) The artifact & what to do Monday Study guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free) - https://fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessons/FDE_Lesson_8_4 Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced. Public release This full FDE Certification audio lesson is available publicly as part of GROW by Good Combinator. Continue in GROW Skills Library: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/library Episode metadata Show: GROW by Good Combinator Course: Course 8 - FDE Practice Founder Lesson: 8.4 Season/Episode: 8/4 Runtime: 39:53 Access label: public-full-lesson Source channel: spotify Source audio: app/lessons/assets/course-8/8.4/8.4 Audio Podcast.m4a Taxonomy: Domain=Practice Founder; Career stage=Founder; Skill level=Founder; Asset type=Lesson; Outcome=Found CRM events: course_started, lesson_completed, cert_enrolled Transcript and accessibility Final transcript required before launch: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/courses/course-8/lesson-8.4/transcript Accessibility requirement: reviewed audio, clear title, descriptive show notes, and transcript availability before launch. Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM and disclosed here. Credits Host: Doug Liles Producer: Good Combinator Audio: NotebookLM AI narration (disclosed)

    [Course 8 Lesson 8.4] Building the FDE Brand through Thought Leadership - GROW by Good Combinator

  6. Aug 4

    [Course 8 Lesson 8.3] Selling FDE Services: Discovery-to-Signed-Pilot Funnel - GROW by Good Combinator

    The discovery-to-signed-pilot funnel for FDE services. In Lesson 8.3 of GROW Course 8 (FDE Practice Founder), Doug Liles works through it with you. A funnel that turns conversations into signed pilots predictably. What you'll take away - The funnel - Discovery - Proposal Chapters (0:00) Cold open & the promise (7:44) The funnel (15:28) Discovery (23:12) Proposal (30:56) Objection handling (38:40) Signed pilot (46:24) The artifact & what to do Monday Study guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free) - https://fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessons/FDE_Lesson_8_3 Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced. Public release This full FDE Certification audio lesson is available publicly as part of GROW by Good Combinator. Continue in GROW Skills Library: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/library Episode metadata Show: GROW by Good Combinator Course: Course 8 - FDE Practice Founder Lesson: 8.3 Season/Episode: 8/3 Runtime: 54:08 Access label: public-full-lesson Source channel: spotify Source audio: app/lessons/assets/course-8/8.3/8.3 Audio Podcast.m4a Taxonomy: Domain=Practice Founder; Career stage=Founder; Skill level=Founder; Asset type=Lesson; Outcome=Found CRM events: course_started, lesson_completed, cert_enrolled Transcript and accessibility Final transcript required before launch: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/courses/course-8/lesson-8.3/transcript Accessibility requirement: reviewed audio, clear title, descriptive show notes, and transcript availability before launch. Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM and disclosed here. Credits Host: Doug Liles Producer: Good Combinator Audio: NotebookLM AI narration (disclosed)

    [Course 8 Lesson 8.3] Selling FDE Services: Discovery-to-Signed-Pilot Funnel - GROW by Good Combinator

  7. Aug 3

    [Course 8 Lesson 8.2] Pricing the FDE Engagement - GROW by Good Combinator

    Price the FDE engagement with conformance pillars, not day rates. In Lesson 8.2 of GROW Course 8 (FDE Practice Founder), Doug Liles works through it with you. Pricing models that capture value instead of selling hours. What you'll take away - Why not day rates - Pricing models - Conformance pillars Chapters (0:00:00) Cold open & the promise (0:08:36) Why not day rates (0:17:13) Pricing models (0:25:50) Conformance pillars (0:34:26) Packaging (0:43:03) Defending price (0:51:40) The artifact & what to do Monday Study guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free) - https://fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessons/FDE_Lesson_8_2 Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced. Public release This full FDE Certification audio lesson is available publicly as part of GROW by Good Combinator. Continue in GROW Skills Library: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/library Episode metadata Show: GROW by Good Combinator Course: Course 8 - FDE Practice Founder Lesson: 8.2 Season/Episode: 8/2 Runtime: 1:00:17 Access label: public-full-lesson Source channel: spotify Source audio: app/lessons/assets/course-8/8.2/8.2 Audio Podcast.m4a Taxonomy: Domain=Practice Founder; Career stage=Founder; Skill level=Founder; Asset type=Lesson; Outcome=Found CRM events: course_started, lesson_completed, cert_enrolled Transcript and accessibility Final transcript required before launch: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/courses/course-8/lesson-8.2/transcript Accessibility requirement: reviewed audio, clear title, descriptive show notes, and transcript availability before launch. Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM and disclosed here. Credits Host: Doug Liles Producer: Good Combinator Audio: NotebookLM AI narration (disclosed)

    [Course 8 Lesson 8.2] Pricing the FDE Engagement - GROW by Good Combinator

  8. Aug 2

    [Course 8 Lesson 8.1] The Founder Identity: From Senior FDE to Practice CEO - GROW by Good Combinator

    From senior FDE to Practice CEO: the founder identity shift. In Lesson 8.1 of GROW Course 8 (FDE Practice Founder), Doug Liles works through it with you. The identity shift required to run a practice instead of a great engagement. What you'll take away - Operator vs. CEO - The identity shift - The Founder P&L Index Chapters (0:00) Cold open & the promise (7:20) Operator vs. CEO (14:41) The identity shift (22:01) The Founder P&L Index (29:22) Time reallocation (36:42) First moves (44:03) The artifact & what to do Monday Study guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free) - https://fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessons/FDE_Lesson_8_1 Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced. Public release This full FDE Certification audio lesson is available publicly as part of GROW by Good Combinator. Continue in GROW Skills Library: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/library Episode metadata Show: GROW by Good Combinator Course: Course 8 - FDE Practice Founder Lesson: 8.1 Season/Episode: 8/1 Runtime: 51:24 Access label: public-full-lesson Source channel: spotify Source audio: app/lessons/assets/course-8/8.1/8.1 Audio Podcast.m4a Taxonomy: Domain=Practice Founder; Career stage=Founder; Skill level=Founder; Asset type=Lesson; Outcome=Found CRM events: course_started, lesson_completed, cert_enrolled Transcript and accessibility Final transcript required before launch: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/courses/course-8/lesson-8.1/transcript Accessibility requirement: reviewed audio, clear title, descriptive show notes, and transcript availability before launch. Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM and disclosed here. Credits Host: Doug Liles Producer: Good Combinator Audio: NotebookLM AI narration (disclosed)

    [Course 8 Lesson 8.1] The Founder Identity: From Senior FDE to Practice CEO - GROW by Good Combinator
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About

GROW by Good Combinator is the skills library for building AI-era ventures, products, and institutions. The flagship track is the Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) Certification — eight courses that take you from what an FDE is through running a practice as a founder. Each lesson pairs a working operator's method with a concrete artifact you can use the same day. Course 1: FDE Foundations is free. Hosted by Doug Liles, founder of Good Combinator and an elected Special District Commissioner in South Walton, Florida. New lessons drop Tuesdays. Start at goodcombinator.com/grow.

Information

  • Creator
    Good Combinator
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    76
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Good Combinator
  • Show Website
    GROW by Good Combinator