Early Days

Car
  • 5.0 (1)
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

In Early Days, we dive into the early stage—and often chaotic—world of first-time founders. Each episode unpacks the pivotal decisions, unforeseen challenges, and valuable lessons learned along the way, featuring candid conversations with entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts who’ve been there. Tune in if you’re looking for an unfiltered look into how great ideas come to life, the ups and downs of team-building, and the strategies that can turn a simple concept into the next big thing.

  1. Early Days #19: Build With Bitcoin by Lynne and Israel

    12/16/2025

    Early Days #19: Build With Bitcoin by Lynne and Israel

    Summary: In this episode, Car talks with Lynne and Israel, to unpack what’s changing in Bitcoin startups and venture capital right now. They share their backgrounds, compare entrepreneurial ecosystems across Austin, San Francisco, Mexico, and Miami, and dig into why Bitcoin is creating outsized opportunities, especially across Latin America. Along the way, they explore new Bitcoin-native funding mechanisms, why strong advisory support matters for early founders, and what the next wave could look like at the intersection of AI and Bitcoin. A must-listen for Bitcoin founders. Chapters: 03:45 Transitioning from TradFi to Bitcoin 06:22 Insights from the Build with Bitcoin Journey 09:25 Bitcoin Venture Capital 12:36 Innovative Funding Mechanisms for Bitcoin Startups 15:27 Advisory Services in the Bitcoin Space 20:33 Exploring Startup Profitability in the Bitcoin Ecosystem 24:41 The Future of Bitcoin Startups and Market Trends 31:57 The Potential of Bitcoin in Latin America 39:58 The Rise of Bitcoin in Mexico 42:53 Latin America's Unique Position in Bitcoin Adoption 45:47 Youth Understanding of Bitcoin in Latin America 49:00 The Startup Ecosystem in ATX, SF, MIA, CDMX 53:05 Investment Opportunities in Bitcoin 55:53 The Future of Bitcoin Infrastructure 57:54 Innovations in AI and Bitcoin 01:02:49 Closing Thoughts on Myths about Bitcoin Learn more about Build With Bitcoin Follow Build With Bitcoin on X Follow Lynne on X Follow Israel on X Subscribe to Early Days wherever you get your podcasts — and don’t forget to leave a review! Special thanks to our sponsor, VENTAC – trusted legal resources built for founders. From contracts to foundational and fundraising docs, VENTAC makes it easy and affordable to get the support you need to build. Save 10% with code: PlebLab https://myventac.com/?aff=PlebLab Follow Car: ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠Stacker News ⁠ Apply to ⁠PlebLab⁠ Learn more about ⁠PlebLab ⁠ Build with PlebLab Online: ⁠~Builders Territory on SN Online Builder Pass PlebTV PlebLab is a group that supports Bitcoin's success through free and open-source development. We back early-stage Bitcoin startups, builders and developers who host weekly workshops and hangouts. Reach out to PlebLab on X or our website to: host a workshop, work out of the lab, pitch your startup idea, or find a co-founder. The FOSS ethos drives our mission to foster an open-source software and hardware community. • 🟠 Apply to join: PlebLab Hackerspace Application. • 🤙 Interested in supporting the mission? Consider donating. • 💬 Stay in touch: X or Primal. • ✨ Learn more about PL: pleblab.dev and our News/Blog. • 📍 PL Events calendar: Luma. • 👕 PL Merch: shop here. • 🔵 PL LinkedIn: company page. • 🤖 PL GitHub: PlebLab/main. • 📚 PL Udemy: PlebLab Courses • ⚡️ Stacker News: @PlebLab. • 📮 PL Newsletter: subscribe. • 👉 Follow for more PL Builder updates: Pulse • 🟠 Bitcoin Builders Club: calendar. • 🎥 Watch our latest events: YouTube Streams, Twitch, PlebTV. • 🎧 Listen to this podcast on Fountain or Apple

    1h 13m
  2. Early Days #18 - Lightning Ventures by Muzz

    09/30/2025

    Early Days #18 - Lightning Ventures by Muzz

    Summary: In this episode, Car talks with Muzz of Lightning Ventures about the real mechanics of funding Bitcoin startups. Muzz traces his path from early Bitcoin experiments to running the world’s largest Bitcoin angel investing network, then breaks down what investors look for, how consistent updates change outcomes, and why Bitcoin founders are unusually resilient. He also introduces Thunder Funder, an equity crowdfunding platform built for Bitcoin companies, and maps the growing community, capital, and playbooks available to builders. Whether you are writing your first investor update or exploring your first check, this conversation delivers clear, usable insight for Bitcoin founders. Chapters: 03:29 Building A Bitcoin Only Syndicate 06:32 The Importance of Investor Updates and Communication 09:27 Challenges of Raising Capital in the Bitcoin Space 12:27 Comparing Bitcoin and Traditional Investment Models 15:30 The Unique Resilience of Bitcoin Founders 18:25 Understanding the Hurdles of Bitcoin Investments 24:23 Navigating the VC Landscape in Bitcoin 30:35 Future Plans for PL Startup School 35:10 Building a Bitcoin Company 39:41 The Austin Bitcoin Scene 40:40 Thunder Funder: Equity Crowdfunding for Bitcoin Startups 44:36 Lessons Learned Navigating the Crowdfunding Landscape 48:18 Changes in Accreditation and Regulation 54:35 The Evolution of Lightning Ventures Learn more about Lightning Ventures Learn more about Thunder Funder Follow Lightning Ventures on X Follow Muzz on X Subscribe to Early Days wherever you get your podcasts — and don’t forget to leave a review! Special thanks to our sponsor, VENTAC – trusted legal resources built for founders. From contracts to foundational and fundraising docs, VENTAC makes it easy and affordable to get the support you need to build. Save 10% with code: PlebLab https://myventac.com/?aff=PlebLab Follow Car: LinkedIn ⁠Stacker News ⁠ Apply to ⁠PlebLab⁠ Learn more about ⁠PlebLab ⁠ Build with PlebLab Online: ⁠~Builders Territory on SN Online Builder Pass PlebTV PlebLab is a group that supports Bitcoin's success through free and open-source development. We back early-stage Bitcoin startups, builders and developers who host weekly workshops and hangouts. Reach out to PlebLab on X or our website to: host a workshop, work out of the lab, pitch your startup idea, or find a co-founder. The FOSS ethos drives our mission to foster an open-source software and hardware community. • 🟠 Apply to join: PlebLab Hackerspace Application. • 🤙 Interested in supporting the mission? Consider donating. • 💬 Stay in touch: X or Primal. • ✨ Learn more about PL: pleblab.dev and our News/Blog. • 📍 PL Events calendar: Luma. • 👕 PL Merch: shop here. • 🔵 PL LinkedIn: company page. • 🤖 PL GitHub: PlebLab/main. • 📚 PL Udemy: PlebLab Courses • ⚡️ Stacker News: @PlebLab. • 📮 PL Newsletter: subscribe. • 👉 Follow for more PL Builder updates: Pulse • 🟠 Bitcoin Builders Club: calendar. • 🎥 Watch our latest events: YouTube Streams, Twitch, PlebTV. • 🎧 Listen to this podcast on Fountain or Apple

    1h 2m
  3. Early Days #17: Feed Filter AI by Ted Thayer

    09/23/2025

    Early Days #17: Feed Filter AI by Ted Thayer

    Summary: In this episode of Early Days, Car sits down with Ted from Feed Filter AI to explore using AI as a tool to enhance user experience on social media by filtering out unwanted content. They discuss the role of Feed Filter AI in content curation, the challenges of social media today, and the importance of understanding user needs in early-stage products. Ted shares hard lessons from earlier startups, the importance of shipping with live user feedback, and why he’s building Feed Filter AI as a company for the Bitcoin era, where privacy, ownership, and open networks matter. We explore: How to Make Social Media Great Again! Where does the moat live? User-owned rules, privacy, compounding models What to measure? Junk removed, time saved, retention User-controlled filters that run across X and Instagram Cutting social noise so users get their attention back Chapters: 00:00 Problem framing: noise steals attention, AI gives it back 03:11 Context over keywords: how the model reads text, images, memes 06:33 UX realities: overwhelm, friction, drop-off—what actually fixes it 09:55 Market entry: where Feed Filter wins first, initial wedge 12:21 Feedback loop: ship weekly, instrument everything, learn fast 16:15 Filtering engine: user rules, aggregation, precision at scale 20:55 Roadmap and future app rollout 25:05 Founder scars: what previous startups taught Ted that transfers 40:30 Surviving the trough: cash, focus, and saying no 48:13 Past pivots (incl. health tech): extracting playbooks, not baggage 58:07 Post-mortems that matter: what to keep, what to kill 01:02:53 Building for the Bitcoin era: privacy, ownership, open networks Learn more about Feed Filter AI Download Feed Filter AI for Chrome Follow Feed Filter AI on X Follow Ted Thayer on X Subscribe to Early Days wherever you get your podcasts — and don’t forget to leave a review! Special thanks to our sponsor, VENTAC – trusted legal resources built for founders. From contracts to foundational and fundraising docs, VENTAC makes it easy and affordable to get the support you need to build. Save 10% with code: PlebLab https://myventac.com/?aff=PlebLab Follow Car: ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠Stacker News ⁠ Apply to ⁠PlebLab⁠ Learn more about ⁠PlebLab ⁠ Build with PlebLab Online: ⁠~Builders Territory on SN Online Builder Pass PlebTV PlebLab is a group that supports Bitcoin's success through free and open-source development. We back early-stage Bitcoin startups, builders and developers who host weekly workshops and hangouts. Reach out to PlebLab on X or our website to: host a workshop, work out of the lab, pitch your startup idea, or find a co-founder. The FOSS ethos drives our mission to foster an open-source software and hardware community. • 🟠 Apply to join: PlebLab Hackerspace Application. • 🤙 Interested in supporting the mission? Consider donating. • 💬 Stay in touch: X or Primal. • ✨ Learn more about PL: pleblab.dev and our News/Blog. • 📍 PL Events calendar: Luma. • 👕 PL Merch: shop here. • 🔵 PL LinkedIn: company page. • 🤖 PL GitHub: PlebLab/main. • 📚 PL Udemy: PlebLab Courses • ⚡️ Stacker News: @PlebLab. • 📮 PL Newsletter: subscribe. • 👉 Follow for more PL Builder updates: Pulse • 🟠 Bitcoin Builders Club: calendar. • 🎥 Watch our latest events: YouTube Streams, Twitch, PlebTV. • 🎧 Listen to this podcast on Fountain or Apple

    1h 20m
  4. Early Days #16: Unchained by Joe Kelly

    08/25/2025

    Early Days #16: Unchained by Joe Kelly

    Summary: In this episode of Early Days, Car sits down with Joe from Unchained to explore what building early in Bitcoin really teaches you: ship fast, listen closely, iterate constantly, survive the hard parts, and play the long game. Joe shares lessons from selling his first startup before entering Bitcoin, learning to find real customer pull, make revenue make sense, and improve security without sacrificing speed. They dive into strategies that compound over time such as education, tooling, and partnerships, and why education is not just marketing but part of the product. Joe also breaks down how brand is earned through consistency and presence, and where he sees custody and treasury companies heading next. We explore: Early mistakes harden into operating principles that stick Education as culture building, not just content Brand as trust, consistency over slogans Resilience and adaptability when markets swing Chapters: 00:58 First Startup exit: early mistakes: operating principles 02:56 Why Bitcoin? reading the market and timing the jump 04:22 Business model fit, revenue that actually makes sense 06:40 Unchained Day 1–500: chase customer pull, not feature creep 09:16 Handling criticism: investor pressure (show, don’t slogan) 11:04 Notes to early builders: ship fast, listen harder 12:21 Survival mode: runway, focus, resilience 14:38 Hold tight vs. let go: when to persist or pivot 16:35 Indirect plays that compound: education, tooling, partnerships 18:32 Culture as product: education as culture-building; brand trust 22:56 Revenue in Bitcoin: services → product, infra → ? 29:32 Secure without slowing down: custody trade-offs 31:14 Custody then & now: workflows for teams and enterprises 34:09 Wallet UX + security: what’s actually new 36:59 Custody biz models 42:34 Treasury companies & stable coins 47:17 The digital playground and Bitcoins next wave 50:48 Education that scales community Subscribe to Early Days wherever you get your podcasts — and don’t forget to leave a review! Special thanks to our sponsor, VENTAC – trusted legal resources built for founders. From contracts to trademarks and fundraising docs, VENTAC makes it easy and affordable to get the support you need to build. Save 10% with code: PlebLab https://myventac.com/?aff=PlebLab Follow Car: LinkedIn ⁠Stacker News ⁠ Apply to ⁠PlebLab⁠ Learn more about ⁠PlebLab ⁠ Build with PlebLab Online: ⁠~Builders Territory on SN Online Builder Pass PlebTV PlebLab is a group that supports Bitcoin's success through free and open-source development. We back early-stage Bitcoin startups, builders and developers who host weekly workshops and hangouts. Reach out to PlebLab on X or our website to: host a workshop, work out of the lab, pitch your startup idea, or find a co-founder. The FOSS ethos drives our mission to foster an open-source software and hardware community. • 🟠 Apply to join: PlebLab Hackerspace Application. • 🤙 Interested in supporting the mission? Consider donating. • 💬 Stay in touch: X or Primal. • ✨ Learn more about PL: pleblab.dev and our News/Blog. • 📍 PL Events calendar: Luma. • 👕 PL Merch: shop here. • 🔵 PL LinkedIn: company page. • 🤖 PL GitHub: PlebLab/main. • 📚 PL Udemy: PlebLab Courses • ⚡️ Stacker News: @PlebLab. • 📮 PL Newsletter: subscribe. • 👉 Follow for more PL Builder updates: Pulse • 🟠 Bitcoin Builders Club: calendar. • 🎥 Watch our latest events: YouTube Streams, Twitch, PlebTV. • 🎧 Listen to this podcast on Fountain or Apple

    56 min

  5. 07/22/2025

    Early Days #15: Project 11 by Alex

    Summary: In this episode of Early Days, Car sits down with Alex of Project 11 for a thoughtful discussion on the current state of quantum computing and its potential implications for cryptography and Bitcoin. They explore the risks and opportunities this emerging technology presents particularly in the context of ECDSA (Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm) and RSA (Rivest Shamir Adleman encryption). Alex explains how Project 11 is approaching these developments and offers a grounded perspective on what quantum advancements could mean for the future of digital assets. Whether you're cautiously curious or deeply embedded in the ecosystem, this episode provides a measured look at a complex and increasingly relevant topic. We explore: Explore how quantum computing could reshape cryptography and digital assets, with far-reaching implications for the future of finance. Examine the potential risks quantum advancements pose to Bitcoin and how the ecosystem is preparing to meet these challenges. Learn how Project Eleven is proposing solutions to safeguard digital currencies against potential technological threats. Hear Alex’s personal journey from a military background to leading a pioneering effort in the quantum computing space. Chapters: 03:05 Understanding Qubits and Cryptography Threats 05:44 The Implications of Quantum Computing on Bitcoin 08:54 Government Responses to Quantum Threats 12:03 The Risks of Nation-State Actors 13:48 The Future of Bitcoin and Quantum Computing 16:44 Current Developments in Quantum Computing 19:41 The Race for Quantum Supremacy 22:48 Project 11 and the Yellow Pages Initiative 28:12 Understanding Post-Quantum Cryptography 31:29 The Open Source Approach of Project 11 35:05 Funding and Future Directions of Project 11 36:21 Optimism in Quantum Computing 44:34 Introducing the Q Day Prize Subscribe to Early Days wherever you get your podcasts — and don’t forget to leave a review! Special thanks to our sponsor, VENTAC – trusted legal resources built for founders. From contracts to trademarks and fundraising docs, VENTAC makes it easy and affordable to get the support you need to build. Save 10% with code: PlebLab https://myventac.com/?aff=PlebLab Follow Car: ⁠Primal⁠ ⁠Stacker News⁠ Apply to ⁠PlebLab⁠ Learn more about ⁠PlebLab⁠ Follow PlebLab: PlebTV ⁠Stacker News

    53 min

  6. 07/09/2025

    Early Days #14: CASCDR by Jim

    Summary: In this episode of Early Days, Car sits down with Jim of CASCDR to talk about what he’s building and why it matters. We get into the future of AI and its impact on Bitcoin, media, podcasting, and even legal systems. Jim breaks down what CASCDR is, how feedback loops improve AI, and why leadership and team culture matter more than ever. We also dig into the ethics of it all, what’s coming, what to watch for, and how to build tools that actually help humanity. We explore: Why AI is seen as an elemental technology with vast potential. How building workflows in AI can enhance efficiency and creativity. Why we need Bitcoiners leading the charge in AI development. Why Feedback mechanisms are crucial for improving AI systems. Chapters: 02:52 Understanding CASCDR 05:53 The Importance of AI 11:53 Role of Bitcoin in AI Development 18:08 Ethics and Responsibility in AI Development 23:58 The Dangers of AI Without Ethical Oversight 43:41 Features of Jamie Pro 45:18 AI in Podcasting 47:58 Jamie Pro and AI Tools 53:01 Clara: A New Tool for Legal Translation 01:02:04 AI and Interoperability 01:06:14 Challenges and Opportunities in AI Development Special thanks to our sponsor, VENTAC – trusted legal resources built for founders. From contracts to trademarks and fundraising docs, VENTAC makes it easy and affordable to get the support you need to build. Save 10% with code: PlebLab https://myventac.com/?aff=PlebLab Follow Car: ⁠Primal⁠ ⁠Stacker News⁠ Apply to ⁠PlebLab⁠ Learn more about ⁠PlebLab⁠ Follow PlebLab: PlebTV ⁠Stacker News Bitcoin Builders Club Primal⁠ ⁠X⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠YouTube Luma⁠ ⁠Meetup⁠

    1h 15m

  7. 06/25/2025

    Early Days #13: Portal by Alekos

    Summary: In this episode of Early Days, Car sits down with Alekos of Portal, to discuss the Portal hardware device, they explore the importance of user experience, the concepts and future plans around decentralized identity, and examine the evolving role of hardware in the Bitcoin space. We explore: How decentralized identity can simplify online and offline authentication. How to transition from open source to founding a startup in the bitcoin ecosystem. The difficulties of raising funds for hardware startups in the bitcoin ecosystem. Why more startups should pursue ambitious ideas in the bitcoin ecosystem. Chapters: 01:01 Hackerspace Updates 03:27 Alekos's Journey into Bitcoin 06:27 The Evolution of Ideas and Creativity 09:17 From OpenSource to Bitcoin Startup 15:40 Innovations in NFC Technology 24:32 Expanding Functionality of Portal 29:13 Security and Authentication 37:07 Understanding the Portal Device 46:13 User Experience in Digital Security 52:27 Security and Privacy Concerns in Digital Identity 57:45 Learnings on Building Hardware 01:06:00 Future of Portal Special thanks to our sponsor, VENTAC – trusted legal resources built for founders. From contracts to trademarks and fundraising docs, VENTAC makes it easy and affordable to get the support you need to build. Save 10% with code: PlebLab https://myventac.com/?aff=PlebLab Follow Car: ⁠Primal⁠ ⁠Stacker News⁠ Apply to ⁠PlebLab⁠ Learn more about ⁠PlebLab⁠ Follow PlebLab: PlebTV ⁠Stacker News Bitcoin Builders Club Primal⁠ ⁠X⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠YouTube Luma⁠ ⁠Meetup⁠

    1h 8m

  8. 06/19/2025

    Early Days #12: Solo Satoshi by Matt

    Summary: In this episode of Early Days, Car sits down with Matt of Solo Satoshi, to discuss the rise of Bitaxe and its impact on home mining. They discuss the possibilities of home mining, decentralization, and how community support fuels resilience when building a bitcoin business. We explore: Why Bitaxe open source design files allow users to build their own devices. How home mining is in its infancy and has huge growth potential. How Bitaxe mining solutions can lead to greater decentralization. Why the sovereign bitcoin stack will be made accessible to everyone. Chapters: 02:43 Bitaxe Open Source Movement 03:49 Creating Solo Satoshi 17:01 Differentiating in the Bitaxe market 24:37 The Sovereign Bitcoin Stack 30:31 Bitaxe Operations and Challenges 42:04 Home Mining Competition 51:49 Importance of Integrity 01:02:04 The Evolution of Bitcoin Adoption 01:12:43 Plans for Solo Satoshi Special thanks to our sponsor, VENTAC – trusted legal resources built for founders. From contracts to trademarks and fundraising docs, VENTAC makes it easy and affordable to get the support you need to build. Save 10% with code: PlebLab https://myventac.com/?aff=PlebLab Follow Car: ⁠Primal⁠ ⁠Stacker News⁠ Apply to ⁠PlebLab⁠ Learn more about ⁠PlebLab⁠ Follow PlebLab: PlebTV ⁠Stacker News Bitcoin Builders Club Primal⁠ ⁠X⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠YouTube Luma⁠ ⁠Meetup⁠ ⁠Newsletter Learn more: Follow Matt on

    1h 19m
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About

In Early Days, we dive into the early stage—and often chaotic—world of first-time founders. Each episode unpacks the pivotal decisions, unforeseen challenges, and valuable lessons learned along the way, featuring candid conversations with entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts who’ve been there. Tune in if you’re looking for an unfiltered look into how great ideas come to life, the ups and downs of team-building, and the strategies that can turn a simple concept into the next big thing.

Information

  • Creator
    Car
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Early Days