#StartupsUnedited

Jorge Soto
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#StartupsUnedited is a long-running podcast founded by Jorge Soto in 2015, originally recorded out of his San Francisco apartment and now evolved into a modern founder-led media platform. The show features interviews, roundtables, and live conversations with top entrepreneurs, operators, investors, and GTM leaders. New episodes are released regularly, covering what actually works in building, scaling, and surviving startups - no fluff, just real conversations and timeless insights.

  1. EP 99 - This Investor Explains Why Most AI Startups Will Fail Without Context

    1 DAY AGO

    EP 99 - This Investor Explains Why Most AI Startups Will Fail Without Context

    In this episode of #StartupsUnedited, I sit down with Vignesh Ravikumar, Partner at Sierra Ventures, to break down what actually matters in building and scaling startups in the AI era.They go deep on:-Why AI gets you 80% of the way, but not the last mile-The rise of “systems of context” as the real competitive moat-How founders should think about moats in 2026 and beyond-What separates elite startup teams from everyone else-Why hiring the right early team dramatically increases success odds-The truth about AI replacing SaaS (and where it won’t)-How great founders sell vision to attract top talent, customers, and investorsVignesh also shares tactical frameworks for:-Building defensible AI products-Creating trust in AI systems-Scaling from product #1 to multi-product companiesIf you're a founder, operator, or investor trying to understand what actually wins in the AI era, this episode is a must-watch.🔥 Key Takeaways-AI is powerful, but context + decision-making data is the real moat-Great founders don’t sell ideas, they sell belief-Early team quality is one of the strongest predictors of success-The future of AI apps depends on capturing human decision logic-Winning startups will move fast AND build compounding products👇 Connect with Vignesh RavikumarSierra Ventures: https://www.sierraventures.comPodcast: Unpacked (UNPAK3D)LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/vravikumar1🚀 About #StartupsUnedited#StartupsUnedited is hosted by Jorge Soto and features real, unfiltered conversations with founders, operators, and investors building the future.👉 Watch the full episode and drop your biggest takeaway in the comments

    25 min
  2. EP 98 - The Rise of Indie Startups: How AI Is Rewriting the Rules of Building Companies

    1 DAY AGO

    EP 98 - The Rise of Indie Startups: How AI Is Rewriting the Rules of Building Companies

    In this episode of #StartupsUnedited, I sit down with serial entrepreneur Jonathan Friedman to break down how AI is fundamentally changing how startups are built, funded, and scaled.Jonathan shares his journey from building companies like DemoStack to rethinking the entire startup playbook - and why the traditional VC-backed model may no longer be the default path for ambitious founders.We dive into:The rise of the “indie startup” model - small teams, big ambitions, minimal fundingWhy AI + modern infrastructure are eliminating the need for large, bloated teamsHow product experience is becoming more important than featuresWhat happens when anyone can build software (even non-technical founders)The hidden cost of speed - and how founders can stay grounded in an accelerating worldWhy attention, creativity, and taste are becoming the new competitive advantagesJonathan also shares deeply personal insights on burnout, travel, and finding clarity outside the startup grind, and why stepping away might be the most powerful move a founder can make.If you're a founder, operator, or investor trying to understand what building a company looks like in the AI era - this is a must-listen.

    28 min
  3. EP 97 - SDRs Are NOT Dead: How Top Teams Are Winning in the Age of AI

    18 MAR

    EP 97 - SDRs Are NOT Dead: How Top Teams Are Winning in the Age of AI

    Is sales development dead in the age of AI? Not even close.In this episode of #StartupsUnedited, I sit down with John Moore, Head of Business Development at Cimulate (now part of Salesforce), to break down what actually works in modern outbound sales. While most teams are chasing AI tools, John is quietly building one of the highest-performing SDR/BDR teams in today’s market - proving that fundamentals, discipline, and smart execution still win. 👉 In this episode, you’ll learn: Why SDRs and BDRs are still critical in 2026 The exact traits of top-performing sales development reps How to balance personalization vs. scale in outbound Why most SDR teams fail (and how to fix it) Cold calling strategies that actually convert today The habits that separate elite reps from average ones How great sales leaders coach - not just manage If you're a founder, sales leader, SDR, or building a GTM team, this is a must-watch. ⚡ KEY MOMENTS 00:00 – Intro to #StartupsUnedited01:00 – John Moore’s journey into sales 05:30 – What makes a great SDR in today’s AI-driven world 10:00 – Habits of top-performing BDRs 14:00 – Personalization vs scale (critical outbound strategy) 18:00 – What great SDR leaders do differently 25:00 – Building high-performing sales teams 🎯 WHO THIS IS FOR SDRs / BDRs trying to stand out Founders building outbound motion Sales leaders scaling teams Anyone navigating AI + sales If you’re building or scaling a GTM team, subscribe for more real conversations with operators in the trenches. Follow me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/startupjorge/ Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/startupjorge

    28 min
  4. EP 96 - “AI Agents Will Replace Jobs” - DataGrail CEO on Privacy, Shadow AI & Startup Growth

    18 MAR

    EP 96 - “AI Agents Will Replace Jobs” - DataGrail CEO on Privacy, Shadow AI & Startup Growth

    In this episode of #StartupsUnedited, I sit down with Daniel Barber, Co-Founder & CEO of DataGrail, for a candid conversation on AI agents, data privacy, shadow AI, startup leadership, and what it really takes to build a SaaS company in a rapidly changing market. Daniel breaks down how AI is reshaping hiring, privacy operations, and the future of work, why shadow AI is becoming one of the biggest risks inside modern organizations, and how DataGrail is helping companies manage privacy in a world filled with SaaS sprawl, automation, and evolving regulation. This episode covers: How AI agents are already replacing certain jobs Why privacy teams may soon spend more on AI workflows than headcount The rise of shadow AI and hidden risk inside organizations What founder-CEOs get wrong when building in complex markets How DataGrail is thinking about responsible AI adoption internally The future of privacy, compliance, and AI-powered business operations If you're a startup founder, SaaS operator, privacy leader, security professional, or AI builder, this conversation is packed with real insight on where the market is heading. Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations with founders, operators, and builders on #StartupsUnedited. #StartupsUnedited #JorgeSoto #DanielBarber #DataGrail #AI #AIAgents #DataPrivacy #PrivacyCompliance #ShadowAI #SaaS #StartupFounder #Cybersecurity #FutureOfWork #B2BSoftware Follow me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/startupjorge/ Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/startupjorge

    21 min
  5. EP 95 - Why Partnerships Are the New GTM Moat in AI SaaS | Sean Kester on VC & Founder Strategy

    11 MAR

    EP 95 - Why Partnerships Are the New GTM Moat in AI SaaS | Sean Kester on VC & Founder Strategy

    What do founders, CROs, and go-to-market leaders keep getting wrong about partnerships? In this episode, I sit down with Sean Kester to break down why partnerships are no longer a side channel in B2B SaaS - they are becoming a real competitive moat, especially in an AI-driven market where product advantages are getting compressed fast. Sean shares hard-earned lessons from building in SaaS, scaling go-to-market motions, and now working closely with startups through venture capital. This conversation covers how founders should think about partner-led growth, GTM fit, product-market fit, AI leverage, capital efficiency, founder-market fit, and what investors actually want to see in 2026. If you’re a startup founder, CRO, VP of Sales, product marketer, VC-backed operator, or SaaS leader, this episode will help you rethink how you build durable growth. What you’ll learn in this episode: Why partnerships should be architected early, not added later The biggest myth founders believe about partner channels Why “signing the right logo” rarely creates real revenue What true partner enablement looks like in B2B SaaS Why product-market fit alone is no longer enough What go-to-market fit looks like in the AI era How VCs are evaluating startups differently now Why founders need revenue systems, not just revenue How AI is changing startup operations, valuation, and team design What separates strong founders from everyone else in today’s market Key topics: partnerships, partner enablement, channel sales, co-selling, B2B SaaS, startup growth, venture capital, AI startups, go-to-market strategy, GTM fit, product-market fit, founder advice, sales leadership, CRO strategy, startup fundraising, revenue systems, capital efficiency, founder-market fit Who should watch: B2B startup founders SaaS CEOs CROs and revenue leaders Product marketers Partnership leaders VC-backed operators Early-stage startup teams Anyone building in AI and GTM If you’re trying to build a modern SaaS company in a world where AI is changing everything, this is a conversation worth watching. #Partnerships #B2BSaaS #StartupGrowth #VentureCapital #AIStartups #GTM #SalesLeadership #FounderAdvice #ProductMarketFit #ChannelSales #PartnerEnablement #SaaS #RevenueGrowth #VC #SalesLoft

    23 min
  6. EP 94 - Can Traditional SaaS Survive the AI Era? Craig Rosenberg’s Brutally Honest Take (Scale VP)

    4 MAR

    EP 94 - Can Traditional SaaS Survive the AI Era? Craig Rosenberg’s Brutally Honest Take (Scale VP)

    Is traditional SaaS dead… or just in a survival era? In this episode of #StartupsUnedited, I sit down with Craig Rosenberg (Chief Platform Officer, Scale Venture Partners) - aka the “funnelholic” and co-host of The Transaction - to break down what’s actually happening in B2B software right now. Craig’s take: it’s not just “AI.” It’s AI + the weirdest buying environment in years + changing buyer behavior - and together it feels… “nuclear.” We get into: Why so many “traditional SaaS” companies went from ~40% growth to ~15–20% The real reason Salesforce, Marketo, Gong, Outreach aren’t getting ripped out (yet) The hidden truth: most teams still run an 80% traditional SaaS stack Why AI is winning in low-risk workflows (account research, messaging, data) Why AI SDRs aren’t mainstream - and where they do make sense (inbound) The Intercom + Finn blueprint: ship AI without nuking your legacy brand What changes when buyers feel like their job is on the line: “make sure it works.” The uncomfortable reality: CAC is going up and you can’t hand-wave AI competitors away If you’re a founder, GTM leader, or investor trying to separate AI hype from GTM reality — this is the episode. Subscribe for more conversations with the best GTM minds: #StartupsUneditedComment: What’s one AI workflow you’re actually using weekly — and what’s still hype? #AI #SaaS #Sales #GTM #B2B #Startups #VentureCapital #Revenue #SalesTech #ScaleVenturePartners #Intercom #Gong #Salesforce #Outreach

    28 min
  7. EP 93 - How AI Is Changing Venture Capital, Founder Judgment & Go-To-Market | Brian Wong (ASCII Ventures)

    24 FEB

    EP 93 - How AI Is Changing Venture Capital, Founder Judgment & Go-To-Market | Brian Wong (ASCII Ventures)

    In this episode of Startups Unedited, I sit down with Brian Wong, General Partner at ASCII Ventures, to break down how AI is fundamentally reshaping venture capital, startup defensibility, and what investors actually look for in founders today.Brian has lived both sides of the table - scaling and exiting venture-backed startups, then raising a fund focused on what he calls “boring tech”: overlooked, behind-the-scenes businesses with real staying power. In a world where products can be vibe-coded and technical moats are disappearing, Brian explains why judgment, coachability, and go-to-market execution are now the true competitive advantages.We cover:Why AI is destroying traditional technical moatsWhat is and isn’t “vibe-codable” in 2026How venture valuations are being completely re-writtenWhy GTM and domain expertise matter more than codeThe biggest red flags Brian sees when founders pitchCoachability as the #1 predictor of founder successHow investors really think about accountabilityWhy first-time founders should avoid VCs in their first roundHow to raise your first $250K the right wayWhat founders get wrong about “bad VCs”This episode is a must-watch for:First-time foundersOperators navigating AI disruptionBuilders raising capital in 2026GTM-focused leaders and non-technical founders📌 Learn more about Brian & ASCII Ventures:Website: https://ascii.vcConnect with Brian on LinkedInIf this episode resonated, like, subscribe, and share it with another founder who’s building in today’s AI-driven market.

    25 min
  8. EP - 92 AI Is Killing Jobs, But Saving Meaning? Anthony Kennada on Brand, Identity, & The Future

    18 FEB

    EP - 92 AI Is Killing Jobs, But Saving Meaning? Anthony Kennada on Brand, Identity, & The Future

    In this episode of #StartupsUnedited, I sit down with Anthony Kennada, Co-Founder & CEO of Goldenhour, for a wide-ranging, deeply human conversation about AI, identity, work, and what actually matters next.This isn’t another surface-level AI or go-to-market playbook.It’s a real discussion about what happens when:80–90% of knowledge work gets automatedMarketing ops, testing, and optimization are handled by machinesSoftware creation is radically democratizedAnd founders, CMOs, and operators are forced to ask: “Who am I without my job?”Anthony breaks down why brand, storytelling, creativity, and community are becoming the last true moats in B2B — and why the future of marketing looks far more human, emotional, and purpose-driven than most people expect.In this episode, we cover:Why AI will automate most marketing - and why that’s actually good newsThe coming identity crisis for knowledge workersHow brand becomes the primary differentiator in a world of AI parityWhy the old B2B playbooks no longer workWhat CMOs should actually prioritize in the next 12–24 monthsWhy events, storytelling, and community are resurgingHow founders should think about meaning, wellness, and work in a post-AI worldIf you’re a founder, CMO, marketer, or operator trying to navigate AI without losing your soul - this conversation will challenge how you think about work, brand, and what it really means to build something that lasts.🎧 Listen now - and join the conversation in the comments.

    28 min
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About

#StartupsUnedited is a long-running podcast founded by Jorge Soto in 2015, originally recorded out of his San Francisco apartment and now evolved into a modern founder-led media platform. The show features interviews, roundtables, and live conversations with top entrepreneurs, operators, investors, and GTM leaders. New episodes are released regularly, covering what actually works in building, scaling, and surviving startups - no fluff, just real conversations and timeless insights.

Information

  • Creator
    Jorge Soto
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    96
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jorge Soto
  • Show Website
    #StartupsUnedited