In this episode of Building Blocks, we're joined by Michelle Marcelline, co-founder of The Prompting Company (YC S25), on her 3rd startup with the same founding team she met in a college CS101 class. Michelle traces her path to entrepreneurship back to watching The Social Network in middle school in Indonesia, a moment that led her to convince her parents to send her to school in San Francisco with one explicit goal: become a founder.She and her co-founders built their first real win in 2017, arbitraging a 20% Bitcoin price gap between the U.S. and Indonesia, before going through Y Combinator's W20 batch, pivoting away from a stock-investing idea, building a passwordless auth company called Cotter (acquired by Stych), and then Type Dream, an AI website builder eventually acquired by Beehiiv.Michelle now leads The Prompting Company, helping products get discovered and used by AI agents through what the industry calls Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), being the answer language models give, not just the top Google result. Michelle and Daivik dig into the mechanical difference between SEO and GEO, her first-ever agentic purchase at Stripe's Tempo event, working with NVIDIA's under-the-radar developer tools, and the lessons that only really sink in once you've been through the hard parts yourself.Guest: Michelle MarcellineLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-marcellineConnect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivikFollow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpodTopics:00:01 — Guest background: how The Social Network sparked a founder obsession01:32 — Meeting her co-founders: shared immigrant ambition and lasting team chemistry03:12 — Early ventures before YC: 10+ failed experiments including Bitcoin arbitrage08:05 — Getting into YC and pivoting away from US stocks for Indonesia09:23 — Building Cotter: passwordless auth pivots to US market, sold to Stitch15:16 — Building Type Dream: Notion-like website builder gains traction, sold to Beehiiv20:43 — Why start a third company: builders at heart, the SF effect23:22 — What The Prompting Company does: Generative Engine Optimization explained25:26 — SEO vs GEO, agentic commerce, NVIDIA collaboration, seed round & customers40:32 — Closing: book reco and what's next for the Prompting Company#AI #GenerativeEngineOptimization #Startups #YCombinator #Entrepreneurship #Founders #BuildingBlocksPodcast #podcast#thepromptingcompany

Getting Discovered in the Age of AI | Michelle Marcelline | The Prompting Company

In this episode of Building Blocks, we dive deep with Kris Rudeegraap, Co-founder and CEO of Sendoso, an AI-enhanced gifting platform that's revolutionizing how companies build authentic connections with customers and prospects. From selling mistletoe as a kid to building a company that's raised $152M in venture funding, Kris shares his entrepreneurial journey and insights on scaling both software and physical operations globally.Guest: Kris RudeegraapLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rudeegraap/Connect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivikFollow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpodTopics:0:00: Introduction2:40: Early entrepreneurial experiences and Silicon Valley influence8:15: Building Sendoso and validating the initial concept14:30: Scaling marketplace operations and warehouse logistics21:45: The Alyce acquisition and consolidation in the gifting space27:30: Relocating HQ from San Francisco to Phoenix33:15: Balancing AI automation with human connection39:40: Managing global operations and quality control45:20: Integration strategy and partnerships51:35: Book Recommendations53:00: Future of Sendoso and AI innovation#B2BSales #Entrepreneurship #StartupLife #PhysicalOperations #AIInnovation #BuildingBlocksPodcast #podcast

A $152M Bet on Human Connection | Kris Rudeegraap | Sendoso

In this episode of Building Blocks, we sit down with Emre Ertan, co-founder and co-CEO of Cenoa, a borderless super wallet revolutionizing how people in emerging markets access digital dollars. Previously the CPO/CTO at Getir where he scaled the engineering team from 80 to 400 people, Emre shares his journey from a small town in Turkey to Silicon Valley, and how that experience shaped his vision for democratizing financial access globally. He discusses Cenoa's explosive growth in Nigeria (50K+ signups in first month), their innovative approach to simplifying blockchain technology for everyday users, and his perspectives on building compliant fintech products across 40+ markets.Check out Cenoa: https://www.cenoa.com/Guest: Emre ErtanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eertan/Connect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivikFollow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpodTopics:0:00: Introduction2:40: Early entrepreneurial journey and Silicon Valley inspiration13:20: Experience scaling product and engineering at Getir19:40: Building Cenoa and addressing emerging market pain points28:15: Achieving rapid growth in Nigeria35:30: Balancing technical sophistication with user simplicity42:45: Navigating regulatory environments across markets48:20: Future plans for US dollar-based debit cards and financing51:35: Book Recommendations53:00: Vision for Cenoa's future#Fintech #Blockchain #EmergingMarkets #StartupLife #FinancialInclusion #ProductDevelopment #BuildingBlocksPodcast #podcast

Connecting the World Through Digital Dollars | Emre Ertan | Cenoa

In this episode of Building Blocks, we dive deep with Shrikant Latkar, co-founder of BaseRock.ai and former CMO of InMobi. With over two decades of experience spanning from large enterprises to startups, Shrikant shares his journey from engineering to marketing leadership, and now to revolutionizing software testing through AI. He offers valuable insights on transitioning from 200,000-person companies to solo entrepreneurship, building and selling Oust Labs (acquired by Betterplace), and his current mission to transform QA with BaseRock.ai. Guest: Shrikant Latkar LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shrikantlatkar/ Connect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivik Follow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpod Topics: 0:00: Introduction 2:40: Shrikant's early days in technology 8:30: Journey from large enterprises to startups 15:20: Building and scaling BaseRock.ai 23:45: The evolution of software testing and AI 29:30: Building Oust Labs and path to acquisition 35:15: Marketing leadership at InMobi 41:30: Growth strategies in the AI era 46:50: The future of B2B sales and marketing 51:35: Book Recommendation - The First 90 Days 53:00: BaseRock's roadmap and future plans #SoftwareTesting #AI #Entrepreneurship #ProductManagement #Marketing #StartupLife #BuildingBlocksPodcast #podcast

Shipping Software Fast Without Losing Code Quality | Shrikant Latkar | Baserock.AI

In this episode of Building Blocks, we're joined by Michelle Stephens, Chief Revenue Officer at Felt and a pioneer in healthcare technology. With a unique journey from pediatric nursing to tech entrepreneurship, Michelle shares her invaluable insights on bridging the gap between clinical care and technological innovation. She discusses her experience co-founding Oath Care, a digital health platform leveraging AI for maternal and child healthcare, and her groundbreaking research on childhood stress and autonomic nervous system reactivity. Michelle also opens up about her current work at Felt, the "ultimate care API," and her mission to transform healthcare delivery through technology. Guest: Michelle Stephens, PhD, CPNP, RN LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-michelle-stephens/ Connect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivik Follow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpod Topics: 0:00: Introduction 4:15: Michelle's journey from nursing to entrepreneurship 12:30: Research on childhood stress and healthcare outcomes 19:45: Building Oath Care and lessons learned 28:40: The vision behind Felt and transforming healthcare delivery 35:20: Bridging clinical expertise with technology 42:15: The role of faith in technology (Acts 17 Collective) 48:30: The future of healthcare technology 51:35: Book Recommendation 53:00: What's next for Michelle #HealthTech #Healthcare #Entrepreneurship #DigitalHealth #Innovation #BuildingBlocksPodcast #podcast

Creating Disruption in Traditional Healthcare | Michelle Stephens | Felt

In this episode of Building Blocks, we dive deep into the world of real-time data streaming with Paul Dudley, Co-founder and CEO of Streamkap. Having previously founded Gravity (acquired in 2022) and held leadership roles at BrightEdge and NetBase Solutions, Paul shares his journey from physics graduate to data infrastructure entrepreneur. He offers valuable insights on modernizing data streaming, the evolution of real-time data needs, and building developer-friendly tools that simplify complex technologies. Check out Streamkap: http://streamkap.com Guest: Paul Dudley LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauldudley/ Connect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivik Follow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpod Topics: 0:00: Introduction 2:40: Paul's journey into entrepreneurship 8:15: Early experiences with NLP before LLMs at NetBase 14:30: Scaling BrightEdge from single-digit millions to $100M 21:45: The founding story of Streamkap 28:30: Understanding Change Data Capture (CDC) and its importance 35:20: Real-time data's role in modern applications 41:15: The intersection of streaming data and AI 46:30: Building and scaling a technical team 51:35: Book recommendations and sci-fi's relevance to tech 54:00: Future plans for Streamkap #DataStreaming #RealTimeData #TechStartup #DataInfrastructure #Entrepreneurship #BuildingBlocksPodcast #podcast

Enabling New Use Cases with Real Time Streaming | Paul Dudley | Streamkap

In this episode of Building Blocks, we dive deep with Vijay Koduri, co-founder and CEO of Sizzle.gg, an AI-driven platform revolutionizing gaming highlights and esports content creation. From his early days witnessing the birth of the internet to leading marketing at Google Wallet and Adyen, Vijay shares his fascinating journey through tech's evolution. He offers valuable insights on building trust in fintech, leveraging community for growth, and his current mission of transforming how gaming content is created and shared. Learn more about Sizzle: https://sizzle.gg/ Guest: Vijay Koduri LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vijay-koduri-92936/ Connect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivik Follow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpod Topics: 0:00: Introduction 2:40: Vijay's journey from the early internet days 15:20: Experience at Google Wallet and marketing strategy 24:30: Building trust and community at Adyen 31:45: The birth of Sizzle.gg and AI in gaming 38:50: Navigating partnerships with esports leagues 43:15: The future of AI-driven content creation 48:30: Growth strategies and funding plans 51:35: Book Recommendation - The Science of Selling

Defining New Industries Through Marketing | Vijay Koduri | Sizzle.gg

In this episode of Building Blocks, we dive deep into the world of AI-powered content creation with Neel Balar, co-founder of Clueso. Neel shares his journey from IIT Madras to Y Combinator, and how he pivoted from his initial startup idea to building Clueso, a platform that transforms screen recordings into polished video tutorials and documentation. He offers valuable insights on product development, customer acquisition, and scaling a global SaaS business. Check out Clueso: https://www.clueso.io/ Guest: Neel Balar LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neelbalar7/ Connect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivik Follow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpod Topics: 0:00: Introduction 2:40: Neel's journey into entrepreneurship 8:15: The pivot from Desklamp to Clueso 15:30: Building and scaling Clueso 23:00: Integrating AI models into the product 29:45: Growth strategies and customer acquisition 36:20: Balancing global markets and customer support 44:10: The importance of customer experience for startups 50:30: Clueso's vision and future plans 55:45: Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs 59:30: Next steps for Clueso #aicontentcreation #Entrepreneurship #ProductDevelopment #SaaS #YCombinator #StartupLife #BuildingBlocksPodcast #podcast

Transforming Customer Education using AI | Neel Balar | Clueso (YC W23)

In this episode of Building Blocks, we dive into the world of trust-based home-sharing with Bo Abrams, Co-Founder of Kommu. Bo shares his journey from finance to entrepreneurship and how he's reimagining travel accommodations through a unique social networking lens. He discusses Kommu's innovative approach to connecting travelers with trusted hosts, the challenges of building a two-sided marketplace, and his vision for the future of home-sharing. Check started on Kommu today: https://www.gokommu.com/ Guest: Bo Abrams LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bo-abrams/ Connect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivik Follow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpod Topics: 0:00: Introduction 2:40: Bo's background and journey into entrepreneurship 9:30: The inspiration behind Kommu 15:45: Kommu's trust-based model and market differentiation 23:00: Challenges of building a two-sided marketplace 29:30: Kommu's business model and monetization strategy 35:00: Future of home-sharing and Kommu's vision 41:15: B2B opportunities for Kommu 46:30: Book recommendations and wrap-up

Going 0-1 on a New Trusted Travel Network | Bo Abrams | Founder of Kommu

In this episode of Building Blocks, we explore the cutting-edge world of AI-powered software integration with Isabella Reed, co-founder of CamelAI, a Y Combinator-backed platform that allows users to chat with their entire software stack. Isabella shares her journey from working in senior sales and growth roles to co-founding a startup that's revolutionizing how we interact with our digital tools. She discusses the challenges of pivoting from QA testing to a comprehensive AI chat interface, and how CamelAI is making complex software interactions more intuitive and accessible. Learn how this YC alum is navigating the rapidly evolving AI landscape and building a product that could reshape our daily digital interactions. Sign up for CamelAI's beta now: https://www.camelai.com/ Guest: Isabella Reed Company: CamelAI Connect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivik Follow the Podcast: https://bento.me/thebbpod Topics: 0:00: Introduction 3:20: Isabella's transition from corporate roles to entrepreneurship 8:40: The genesis of CamelAI and Y Combinator experience 14:15: CamelAI's evolution from qaml to a comprehensive AI chat interface 20:30: Balancing B2B and B2C use cases in product development 26:45: The appeal of chat interfaces and the future of UI design 32:10: Key takeaways from Y Combinator and crucial startup advice 38:25: Growth strategies and showcasing platform value 44:50: The challenges and opportunities in the AI landscape 50:15: Book recommendations and insights from "Billion Dollar Whale" 53:30: Future plans for CamelAI and closing thoughts

The Intersection of Great Product Design and AI | Isabella Reed | CamelAI (YC W24)

Daivik Goel (@dgoel) · Zencastr

Daivik Goel (@dgoel)

This podcast is focused on finding out what the next generation of products is going to look like! We plan to dive into all the spaces you may have already heard of: Web3, Blockchain, Crypto, AI, Machine Learning, the list goes on! Tuesdays at 5am PST/8am EST! Follow the Pod: https://bento.me/thebbpod Connect with Daivik: https://bento.me/daivik

The Building Blocks Podcast