Liftoff with Keith: Conversations with Super Founders and Growth Experts sharing useful insights
Former journalist turned Silicon Valley dealmaker and entrepreneur Keith Newman talks with Founders, Innovators and Influencers who share their stories of success, pain and impact with a bit of humor and nostalgia mixed in. Hear from great leaders of the past along with some of the latest founders and growth strategists like Maverick Mark Cuban, SuperAngel Ron Conway, Ann Winblad, Mitch Kapor, Steve Blank and Founders of GameStop, Ancestry, JotForm, Fry's, Intuit, and more. Find 150+ Episodes https://open.spotify.com/show/3cFpLXfYvcUsxvsT9MwyAD
10
The Hidden Problem Behind Every IPO (And How It's Being Fixed) | Rob Schoder
<p>Most founders never think about transfer agents... until they become a problem.</p><p>In this episode of Liftoff with Keith Newman, Keith sits down with Rob Schoder, Co-Founder & CEO of Vinyl Equity, to discuss why one of the most important pieces of capital markets infrastructure has remained stuck in the past—and how modern technology is changing it.</p><p>Drawing from his experience leading portfolio operations at AngelList, Rob explains why outdated shareholder systems create unnecessary friction for founders, investors, and public companies, and how Vinyl is building the next generation of ownership infrastructure.</p><p>In th...
Growth Doesn't Kill Startups. Management Does | Hunter Hastings
<p>What if the biggest threat to your startup isn't competition, funding, or even product-market fit—but your own management team?</p><p>In this episode of Liftoff with Keith, I sit down with entrepreneur, investor, and author Hunter Hastings to explore one of the most important—and controversial—ideas in modern entrepreneurship.</p><p>Hunter is the co-author of Venture Mode: Escape the Administration Trap by Finding and Unleashing Entrepreneurial Leaders, where he argues that companies rarely fail because they grow too quickly. Instead, they lose the entrepreneurial behaviors that made them successful in the first place.</p><p>As org...
The AI Assistant That Actually Gets Work Done | Jean-Denis Greze, Town
<p>What if your AI assistant didn't just answer questions—but actually understood how you work and helped get things done?</p><p>In this episode of Liftoff with Keith, Keith sits down with Jean-Denis Greze, Co-Founder & CEO of Town, to explore the future of personalized AI assistants and what it takes to build AI that can work across the tools people already use.</p><p>The conversation dives into how AI can move beyond the traditional chatbot experience to help manage tasks, workflows, email, calendars, and more—while learning from the context of how each person actually works.</p><p>Je...
From Combat Logistics to Autonomous Freight: Building the Future of Road-to-Rail | Kevin Damoa
<p>What do Iraq, SpaceX, the EV boom, and autonomous freight have in common?</p><p>In this episode of Liftoff, Keith sits down with Kevin Damoa , Army combat veteran and founder & CEO of Glīd, to explore the future of logistics and the technology transforming how freight moves between road and rail.</p><p>Kevin shares how nearly 25 years of logistics experience, including military logistics, SpaceX, and leadership roles across the EV industry, inspired him to tackle one of the biggest challenges in global supply chains: making rail transportation more accessible.</p><p>We discuss how Glīd is bu...
How Physical AI Will Transform Manufacturing | Paul Powers, CEO of Physna | The Liftoff
<p>What if AI could understand the physical world as well as it understands text?</p><p>In this episode of The Liftoff, Keith sits down with Paul Powers, CEO & Co-Founder of Physna, to explore why the next wave of AI won't just generate content—it will understand objects, manufacturing, engineering, and supply chains.</p><p>Paul explains how Physna's "Physical DNA" technology enables AI to understand 3D objects, helping companies dramatically improve product design, procurement, robotics, digital twins, and manufacturing intelligence. The conversation also covers reshoring manufacturing, AI infrastructure, startup timing, and why physical AI could become one of th...
How Trip Hawkins Built Electronic Arts & Changed Gaming Forever | Liftoff with Keith
<p>What does it take to build a company that changes an entire industry?</p><p>Note: Due to some video connection challenges the host wasn't on the video feed for the entire program</p><p>In this episode of Liftoff with Keith, legendary entrepreneur Trip Hawkins, Founder of Electronic Arts (EA) and creator of one of the world's most influential gaming companies, shares the principles behind building category-defining businesses.</p><p>From launching EA and helping create the Madden franchise to investing in the next generation of AI startups, Trip explains why lasting companies don't simply build better products...
The First Wave of AI Is Over — What's Next for Enterprise AI? | Clint Chao
<p>The AI boom isn't over but the first wave is.</p><p>In this episode of Liftoff with Keith, Keith sits down with Clint Chao, Co-Founder & General Partner at Moment Ventures, to discuss where AI is really headed, why enterprise software is entering a new phase, and what founders should focus on as the hype settles.</p><p>They explore venture capital, AI adoption, enterprise transformation, startup execution, and what separates companies that create lasting value from those simply following the latest trend.</p><p>Whether you're a founder, investor, operator, or simply curious about the future of AI...
Why Great Brands Win (Even When Ads Stop Working) | Bill Harper
<p>What separates unforgettable brands from businesses that constantly fight for attention?</p><p>In this episode of Liftoff with Keith, branding expert Bill Harper, Founder of Brand Boss HQ and one of the world's Top 20 Branding Experts, shares why branding—not just marketing—is the ultimate competitive advantage.</p><p>Bill explains why most companies spend too much time optimizing ads and too little time building a memorable brand. From GEICO and Volvo to startups and SaaS businesses, he reveals how successful companies create differentiation, simplify their message, and become the obvious choice for customers.</p><p>We also disc...
Why Most Brands Stop Growing (And How To Fix It) | Stephen Cozzolongo
<p>Most businesses don't fail because they lack ideas.</p><p>They fail because they struggle to execute, communicate their value clearly, and connect with the right customers.</p><p>In this episode of Liftoff, Keith Newman sits down with Stephen Cozzolongo, Partner & CMO at Digital Position, to discuss growth marketing, customer acquisition, AI, business scaling, leadership, and the mindset required to build successful companies.</p><p>Stephen shares why trying to market to everyone is one of the biggest mistakes businesses make, how AI is transforming marketing workflows, why great marketers aren't being replaced by AI, and how discipline...
How Healthcare Benefits Are Broken—and What Comes Next | Brandy Thompson, CEO of BenefitBay
<p>Healthcare costs continue to rise, employees have fewer choices than ever, and many employers are stuck navigating a system that feels increasingly unsustainable.</p><p>In this episode of Liftoff, Keith Newman sits down with Brandy Thompson, Founder & CEO of BenefitBay, to discuss the future of healthcare benefits, employee choice, leadership, entrepreneurship, and building a fast-growing company in one of the most complex industries in America.</p><p>Brandy shares why she believes employees should have greater control over their healthcare decisions, how transparency can improve outcomes, and why the future of benefits may look very different than today's...
