Two Adrians walk into a startup...

Adrian Spataru, Adrian Ispas
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Two entrepreneurs named Adrian with completely different approaches to building companies. One bootstrapped his way to success, the other raised venture capital and navigated the high-growth startup world. Each episode, they share raw, unfiltered conversations about the realities of entrepreneurship from opposite sides of the funding divide. Get insights you won't find anywhere else about what it really takes to build a business.

Episodes

  1. 11/18/2025

    Embracing Fear in Business: Lessons from Founders on Personal and Professional Growth

    Embracing Fear in Business: Lessons from Founders on Personal and Professional Growth In this episode, the two Adrians - one a VC-backed founder, the other a bootstrap founder - approach the topic of fear shaping their life as an entrepreneur. From childhood heights that led to daring parkour moves, to the anxieties of account keeping and the looming specter of disappointing investors, the Adrians dig deep into the emotional rollercoaster of building a company. They trade firsthand stories of paralyzing decisions—like firing a team member or risking precious resources on SEO—and reflect on how fear can sometimes act as both a brake and an accelerator for growth. What you’ll hear: Fear as a Driver for Action and Growth Regret, Reflection, and Learning Different Types of Pressure: Bootstrapping vs. VC Funding Decision-Making Under Fear Personal Growth Through Discomfort and Failure  You’ll hear how regret can haunt more than failure, why VC pressure feels different from bootstrapped stress, and how facing the scary parts of entrepreneurship can actually unlock new skills and resilience. Whether you’re struggling to hit "send" on that cold email or debating a risky business move, this episode reminds us that fear isn’t just a barrier—it’s often the signpost pointing toward our next big leap. Timestamps: 00:04:06 – Defining Fear in the Startup Context00:06:11 – Facing Fear of Failure and Disappointment00:08:11 – Fear as Motivation to Act00:11:04 – Regret vs. Inaction00:14:55 – Reflection and Progress through Mistakes00:15:18 – Comparing Risk Between Bootstrap vs VC00:19:06 – Building Solid Foundations Before Scaling00:19:45 – Pressure and Fear in Bootstrapping00:23:43 – Navigating Internal vs External Pressures00:25:06 – Overcoming Fear of Rejection and Healthy Discomfort00:26:09 – Using Fear as a Signal for Action00:27:42 – Personal Story: Facing Rejection Outside Business00:29:27 – Business Story: Public Speaking and Pitching00:32:14 – Embracing Negative Emotions for Growth00:33:39 – Long-Term Decisions and Missed Opportunities00:35:38 – Reversible vs Irreversible Decisions Adrian Spataru - Founder of Cleanvoice AIhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/spataru/https://cleanvoice.ai Adrian Ispas - Co-Founder & CEO of Vatis Techhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-ispashttps://vatis.tech

    36 min

  2. 10/21/2025

    When Passion Isn’t Enough: Startup Fails, Mental Plateaus, and Moving On

    When Passion Isn’t Enough: Startup Fails, Mental Plateaus, and Moving On In this episode, the two Adrians - one a VC-backed founder, the other a bootstrap founder - approach the topic of failure. From stories about failed investment pitches and learning new skills, to reflecting on the often lonely and painful process of entrepreneurship, both Adrians share personal anecdotes and practical insights. They explore how failure evolves from an emotional burden into a valuable signal for growth - and even a source of freedom. Along the way, there are laughs, candid admissions, and a real look at how resilience is built through repeated missteps. What you’ll hear: Understanding Failure: Definitions and Personal MeaningShades of Failure: Not Always BinaryThe Loneliness and Challenges of EntrepreneurshipFinding Freedom in FailureSumming Up: What Failure Means to Each AdrianIf you’re on the startup rollercoaster, remember: failure isn’t the end. It’s just feedback. Keep building, keep bouncing back, and let each “oops” push you forward. Timestamps: 00:00 - Early Business Failures and Lessons 04:02 - Struggles in Securing Funding 08:22 - Chess and Personal Growth 11:11 - Embracing Failure in Chess and Startups 15:32 - Entrepreneurship: Embracing Failure and Growth 17:53 - Rapid Personal Growth Through Entrepreneurship 20:54 - Soul-Crushing Experimentation Journey 23:53 - Navigating Uncharted Entrepreneurial Waters 28:10 - Embrace Freedom in Personal Narrative 30:00 - Defining Personal Failure Adrian Spataru - Founder of Cleanvoice AIhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/spataru/https://cleanvoice.ai Adrian Ispas - Co-Founder & CEO of Vatis Techhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-ispashttps://vatis.tech

    31 min

  3. 10/03/2025

    Dealing With Stress as a VC-Backed and Bootstrap Founder

    Dealing With Stress as a VC-Backed and Bootstrap Founder  Welcome back to “Two Adrians Walk Into a Startup…” In today’s episode, both Adrians - one a VC-backed founder and the other a bootstrapper - speak about the emotional rollercoaster of startup life, with a central focus on stress.  What you’ll hear: Morning routinesKeeping habits under pressureStress relief through sports or musicLessons from years of entrepreneurshipHow stress evolves over timeNew challenges that still lingerFrom looming product launches to investor expectations, product delays, and even the dreaded bureaucracy of bookkeeping—the founders unpack the everyday sources of pressure and share their personal (and sometimes unconventional) ways of coping. Timestamps: 00:00 - Managing Entrepreneurial Stress06:06 - From Stressful VC Start to Confidence07:33 - AI Revolutionizes Market Dynamics13:43 - Managing Startup Stress Tips16:17 - Morning Exercise Routine Origins19:03 - Stressful Startup Phase Experience20:56 - "Entrepreneurship and Energy"26:43 - Sports Relieve Stress30:15 - Maintaining Habits Under Stress33:03 - Rethinking Relaxation and Enjoyment36:30 - "Seeking Stress Management Tips" Adrian Spataru - Founder of Cleanvoice AIhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/spataru/https://cleanvoice.ai Adrian Ispas - Co-Founder & CEO of Vatis Techhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-ispashttps://vatis.tech

    38 min

  4. 09/17/2025

    Founder or Employee: Why I Chose the Harder Path

    Founder or Employee: Why I Chose the Harder Path Two founders. Two paths. One backed by venture capital, the other bootstrapped. This episode is about the personal motivations that drove Adrian and Adrian away from traditional employment and into entrepreneurship, discuss what life might look like if they hadn’t chosen the founder path, and recount the scrappy early days of their ventures. You'll hear candid stories about working multiple jobs, labeling data by hand, and the emotional rollercoaster of building tech from scratch when no one else believes in you. What you’ll hear: Early struggles: coding from scratch, endless data labeling, juggling side jobsThe emotional cost of solo vs. co-foundingFirst wins - realizing their tech could rival GoogleFundraising pressures: investors, hype, and the case for staying nicheThe lingering question: “What do I envy about the other path?”They reflect on pivotal moments - like the first time their product outperformed tech giants - and the unique pressures that come with each funding strategy. And, in a rare moment of honesty, both Adrians admit to a little bit of envy for the other’s path while uncovering some of the myths and conspiracies around startup success and venture capital. Timestamps:00:00 - Choosing Entrepreneurial Adventures Over Routine 04:24 - Startup Privilege and Opportunity Barriers 08:45 - Creating Vatis Tech: Solving Podcast Search 12:22 - Podcast Editing & Adobe Frustrations 16:57 - "Founding Vatis Tech with Trusted Allies" 20:24 - Early Data Labeling Challenges 22:42 - Balancing Execution with Limited Resources 25:57 - Competing with Industry Giants 29:14 - Investor Expectations vs. Startup Growth 32:29 - Logo Generation Project Marketing Insights 37:46 - "VC Bias in Business Books" 39:30 - "Zero to Solve" App Journey 42:37 - "Embrace Failure and Patience" Adrian Spataru - Founder of Cleanvoice AIhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/spataru/https://cleanvoice.ai Adrian Ispas - Co-Founder & CEO of Vatis Techhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-ispashttps://vatis.tech

    45 min

  5. 08/20/2025

    Would you take that check?

    Would you take that check again? Two founders. Two paths. One backed by venture capital, the other bootstrapped. This episode breaks down the tradeoffs of startup funding in today’s environment, where open-source tools and cheaper tech stacks have changed the rules. What you’ll hear: How modern stacks cut startup costsVC mentorship vs. hard-earned lessonsLean customer acquisition that actually worksFiltering advice to fit your modelWhy experience beats theory in practice The conversation pulls from real stories of juggling roles, messy early days, and the strange art of “vibe processing.” Conventional wisdom on scaling gets tested, and bootstrap founders will recognize why some popular playbooks simply don’t apply. Timestamps: 00:00:05 – Bootstrapping vs VC Funding 00:02:41 – Startup Risks vs Investment Strategies 00:08:14 – Challenges of Defining Ideal Customer Profile 00:11:01 – Challenges of VC-Backed Growth 00:14:41 – Building a Team from Recommendations 00:17:07 – Vibe Processing in Marketing Workloads 00:18:20 – Exit Expectations in Business Growth 00:19:08 – Exit Expectations and Humble Goals 00:20:17 – Building a Sustainable Business 00:22:20 – Learning Marketing for Startups 00:24:30 – Relevance of Business Books Today 00:26:29 – The Role of Books in Business Success 00:30:31 – Embracing Failure and Confidence Adrian Spataru - Founder of Cleanvoice AIhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/spataru/https://cleanvoice.ai Adrian Ispas - Co-Founder & CEO of Vatis Techhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-ispashttps://vatis.tech

    34 min
  • 5 Episodes

About

Two entrepreneurs named Adrian with completely different approaches to building companies. One bootstrapped his way to success, the other raised venture capital and navigated the high-growth startup world. Each episode, they share raw, unfiltered conversations about the realities of entrepreneurship from opposite sides of the funding divide. Get insights you won't find anywhere else about what it really takes to build a business.

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