Episode 151
How to Stand Out to Investors in an AI-Saturated Market
Insights from the Startup Success podcast with Medha Agarwal, General Partner at Defy VC
On the Startup Success podcast, we discuss what’s working and offer the best advice to scale along with the most important trends in the entire startup ecosystem.
You’ll hear interviews with founders and investors who have compelling stories to share, new insights and trends, and conversations from thought leaders and experts who are passionate about sharing the best ideas out there for success.
Episodes feature topics such as finance, fundraising, hiring, marketing, sales, along with tools and technologies you can use to help your startup or portfolio company scale.
Episode 150
Why Investors Say No to Your Pitch Deck (And How to Fix It)
Insights from the milestone 150th episode of the Startup Success podcast, with Carl Fudge, Founder and CEO of Presentation Mode.
Episode 149
How Do Healthtech Founders Win Over Investors?
Insights from the Startup Success podcast with Melissa Hanna, co-founder and CEO of Mahmee.
Episode 148
Q2 2026 Snapshot: The Startup Ecosystem
Burkland’s Steve Lord unpacks Q2 and looks ahead to the second half of 2026; where capital is moving, which startups VCs are backing, and how to prepare for the next investor call.
Episode 147
Selling a Startup, Buying It Back, and Changing How Founders Raise: A Founder’s Story
Jaclyn Johnson shares how she built a multi-million-dollar bootstrapped company, why she chose to sell, and what led her to buy it back years later.
Episode 146
Lessons From the Front Lines of Building an AI Startup
Ahmed Rashad, founder of Perle, shares hard-earned startup lessons, insights on the AI data gap, and why AI will amplify human potential.
Episode 145
Beyond the AI Bubble: What Founders Need to Know Now
AI is changing how startups build, compete, and earn trust. Jonathan Aberman explains what founders should understand now.
Episode 144
What Investors Look for in the AI Era
AI has changed how investors evaluate startups. For founders, credibility, defensibility, and AI fluency now matter more than ever.
Episode 143
When It’s Time for Founders to Step Down as CEO
Sometimes a founder’s smartest move is stepping aside. Here’s how to know when it’s time, and how to make the transition with strength.
Episode 142
Why Founders Need “Scalers” on Their Early Teams
From Wall Street to Operators Guild, Casey Woo explains why adaptable operators are becoming essential to how startups hire, scale, and win.