Founders · new episode 20 Oct 2026
Give First
Hosted by Techstars
Techstars founders, mentors and investors on building from the earliest days.
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Investors named as guests in the most episode titles on Give First.
Every episode 115 · page 1 of 4
- 115The Unicorn Helping Millions Build Credit featuring James Garvey20 Oct 2026 · 25 min▶Show page
About this episode
In this episode of the Give First podcast, David Cohen sits down with James Garvey, co-founder and CEO of Self, the credit access unicorn that has helped millions of people build and rebuild their credit. James opens up about stepping away from the company and returning to the CEO seat to refound it, and the values…
- 114The Unicorn Reinventing How Healthcare Reaches You with Jon Lensing6 Oct 2026 · 32 min▶Show page
About this episode
In this episode of the Give First podcast, David Cohen sits down with Jon Lensing, co-founder and CEO of OpenLoop, the unicorn building the infrastructure that lets any company offer virtual healthcare to the people it already serves. Jon shares why he left medicine to reimagine healthcare around convenience, how the…
- 113The Unicorn Giving Parents Peace of Mind with Kurt Workman22 Sept 2026 · 28 min▶Show page
About this episode
In this episode of the Give First podcast, David Cohen sits down with Kurt Workman, co-founder and executive chairman of Owlet, the company behind the smart sock that tracks a baby's heart rate and oxygen and sends the data to a parent's phone. Kurt shares the personal story that sparked Owlet, the moments that…
- 112From a Mall Booth to a Billion-Dollar Unicorn featuring Matt Oppenheimer15 Sept 2026 · 30 min▶Show page
About this episode
In this episode of the Give First podcast, David Cohen sits down with Matt Oppenheimer, founder and chair of Remitly, the cross-border payments company he grew from a mall booth into a billion-dollar business. Matt reflects on the focus and grit it took to scale Remitly across borders, the fundraising road that…
- 111From Lab Bench to Billion Dollar Unicorn with Etosha Cave25 Aug 2026 · 24 min▶Show page
About this episode
In this episode of the Give First podcast, David Cohen sits down with Etosha Cave, co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Twelve, the billion-dollar company turning carbon dioxide and water into jet fuel. Etosha shares what it really takes to build a deep tech unicorn, from the funding playbook for hard science…
- 110Burn Bright, Not Out: James Oliver Jr. on Founder Mental Wellness17 Feb 2026 · 24 minJames Oliver▶Show page
About this episode
In this episode of the Give First podcast, David Cohen sits down with James Oliver Jr., Techstars alum, entrepreneur, and author of Burn Bright, Not Out . James shares his journey navigating the pressures of high achievement and the hidden cost of hustle culture. He introduces the Burn Bright Spectrum, a framework to…
- 109Finding Your Way Back to What You Love Through Give First with John Fein20 Jan 2026 · 23 minJohn FeinFirebrand Ventures▶Show page
About this episode
In this episode of the Give First podcast, David Cohen sits down with John Fein, partner at Firebrand Ventures and former Techstars managing director. John reflects on the winding path of his career, from moments of uncertainty to finding renewed purpose through startups, venture, and community building. He shares…
- 108The Long Game of Venture and Generosity with David Hornik6 Jan 2026 · 29 minDavid HornikLobby CapitalAdam Grant▶Show page
About this episode
In this episode of the Give First podcast, Brad Feld talks with David Hornik, founding partner at Lobby Capital. David shares how a relationship driven approach has shaped his career in venture capital, from investing to community building. He reflects on why generosity compounds over time, how trust creates durable…
- 107Rethinking Capitalism with Seth Levine9 Dec 2025 · 26 minSeth Levine▶Show page
About this episode
In this episode of the Give First podcast, David Cohen talks with Seth Levine, Partner at Foundry and co-author of Capital Evolution . Seth looks back on the early days of Techstars, the original Boulder community that shaped it, and how Foundry is approaching its final fund while still actively investing. The…
- 106Starting and Closing a Bank in 3 Months with Bala Kamallakharan25 Nov 2025 · 49 minBala Kamallakharan▶Show page
About this episode
In this episode of the Give First podcast, Brad Feld talks with Bala Kamallakharan, founder of Startup Iceland and a driving force behind the country’s modern startup ecosystem. Bala shares the remarkable story of moving to Mumbai to build an Icelandic bank in 2008, only to watch the entire financial system collapse…
- 105How Pledge 1% Sparked a Global Movement for Startup Philanthropy11 Nov 2025 · 23 minBrad FeldSameer Dholakia▶Show page
About this episode
In this special episode of the Give First podcast, Brad Feld and Sameer Dholakia revisit the origins of Pledge 1%, the global movement helping startups build philanthropy into their business from the start. What began as a simple conversation in Boulder between Brad and Rally Software co-founder Ryan Martens grew…
- 104How Sameer Dholakia Led SendGrid to IPO and Exit28 Oct 2025 · 38 minSameer DholakiaBessemer Venture Partners▶Show page
About this episode
In this episode of the Give First podcast, Brad Feld sits down with Sameer Dholakia, partner at Bessemer Venture Partners and former CEO of SendGrid, the first Techstars company to go public. When Sameer joined SendGrid, growth was slowing and the company was losing money. Under his leadership, it became a $250M…
- 103The Compass Within: Robert Glazer on Leading with Core Values15 Oct 2025 · 29 min▶Show page
About this episode
In this episode of the Give First podcast, Brad Feld sits down with Robert Glazer, 5x entrepreneur, #1 Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author, and author of the new book The Compass Within. Robert shares his framework for uncovering personal core values, the principles that guide decisions,…
- 102AI First Leaders | Andy Sack & Adam Brotman on Scaling with the AI Wave23 Sept 2025 · 25 minAndy Sack▶Show page
About this episode
In this episode of the Give First podcast, David Cohen sits down with longtime Techstars friend Andy Sack and former Starbucks Chief Digital Officer Adam Brotman, co-CEOs of Forum3 and co-authors of AI First: The Playbook for a Future-Proof Business and Brand . They explore why AI isn’t just another vertical, but the…
- 101Building Startups and Lasting Relationships with Scott Dorsey9 Sept 2025 · 32 minScott DorseyHigh Alpha▶Show page
About this episode
In this episode of the Give First podcast, Brad Feld talks with Scott Dorsey, co-founder of High Alpha and former CEO of ExactTarget, the email marketing pioneer acquired by Salesforce. Scott shares his journey from launching a startup with no technical background to building a company of 2,000 employees, going…
- 100Breaking Barriers for Entrepreneurs with Elizabeth Gore26 Aug 2025 · 29 minElizabeth Gore▶Show page
About this episode
In this episode of the Give First podcast, Brad Feld talks with Elizabeth Gore, co-founder and president of Hello Alice, about what it takes to build and scale a platform serving over 1.5M small business owners. Elizabeth shares how Hello Alice became a critical lifeline during COVID, launching grant programs,…
- 99Building Ecosystems from the Ground Up with Landon Young12 Aug 2025 · 25 minGoogleBrad Feld▶Show page
About this episode
In this episode of the Give First podcast, Brad Feld reconnects with Landon Young, pre-seed investor at Elevate Ventures and a longtime builder of startup ecosystems. Landon shares stories from both sides of the table, as a founder and investor, including what it means to write the first check when a company is still…
- 98How Policy Shapes Startups: Bobby Franklin on the VC Industry’s Silent Battle29 Jul 2025 · 32 min▶Show page
About this episode
In this episode of the Give First podcast, Brad Feld sits down with Bobby Franklin, President and CEO of the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA). They unpack the disconnect between Washington, D.C., and the startup world, and why that gap poses a growing threat to innovation in the U.S. Bobby shares stories…
- 97The Near Death (and Rebirth) of Simple Energy with Justin Segall & Yoav Lurie22 Jul 2025 · 41 min▶Show page
About this episode
In this episode of the Give First podcast, Brad Feld sits down with longtime friends and Simple Energy co-founders, Justin Segall and Yoav Lurie. Together, they revisit a pivotal moment in their startup journey, when the company was on the verge of collapse. The conversation dives into the chapter inspired by their…
- 96Givers, Takers, and Building Cultures That Last with Adam Grant16 Jul 2025 · 38 min▶Show page
About this episode
In this episode of the Give First podcast, Brad Feld sits down with organizational psychologist and bestselling author, Adam Grant, for a conversation about the power of generosity in business, leadership, and life. Brad and Adam trace the roots of give first and give and take , uncovering how their philosophies…
- 95Leadership, Ego, and Saying No with Seth Godin8 Jul 2025 · 31 minSeth Godin▶Show page
About this episode
In this episode of the Give First podcast, Brad Feld is joined by 22-time bestselling author and entrepreneur Seth Godin for a conversation that cuts to the core of leadership, impact, and what founders often get wrong. Seth reflects on his early days as an entrepreneur, the first time he met Brad, and what he’s…
- 94Mentorship, Ecosystems, and Feedback Loops with Ian Hathaway30 Jun 2025 · 34 minFar Out VC▶Show page
About this episode
In this episode of the Give First podcast, Brad Feld sits down with Ian Hathaway, co-author of The Startup Community Way , host of Outsider Inc., and Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Far Out VC, to unpack what makes entrepreneurial ecosystems actually work. They revisit the early days of their collaboration, from…
- 93Part 2 - Founders at the Center | The Story of the Startup Community Movement with Lesa Mitchell23 Jun 2025 · 36 minLesa MitchellKauffman Foundation▶Show page
About this episode
In this special episode of the Give First podcast, David Cohen and Brad Feld go deep with Lesa Mitchell on the 35-year evolution of the startup community movement. Recorded live at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress, they reflect on the early days of entrepreneurship support, from the founding of EO and early angel…
- 92Part 1 - Founders at the Center | The Story of the Startup Community Movement with Lesa Mitchell23 Jun 2025 · 26 minLesa MitchellKauffman Foundation▶Show page
About this episode
In this special episode of the Give First podcast, David Cohen and Brad Feld go deep with Lesa Mitchell on the 35-year evolution of the startup community movement. Recorded live at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress, they reflect on the early days of entrepreneurship support, from the founding of EO and early angel…
- 91Reinventing the Boardroom with Robert Wolfe of Zeck27 May 2025 · 24 minRobert WolfeEdward Norton▶Show page
About this episode
In this episode of the Give First podcast, David Cohen sits down with Robert Wolfe , founder of Zeck and serial entrepreneur behind companies like Moosejaw and CrowdRise. Robert shares his transition from consumer brands to enterprise software, and how Zeck is modernizing how executive teams communicate, collaborate,…
- 90Brad Feld Returns: The Power Behind “Give First”15 May 2025 · 26 min▶Show page
About this episode
In this special episode of the Give First podcast, David Cohen is joined once again by co-host Brad Feld, back after nearly two years away from the spotlight. Brad shares why he stepped back, what brought him back, and the deeper thinking behind his new book, Give First: The Power of Mentorship . They dive into the…
- 89Democratizing Venture Capital with Usman Gul of Metal8 May 2025 · 29 min▶Show page
About this episode
In this episode of the Give First podcast, host David Cohen is joined by Usman Gul , founder and CEO of Metal . Usman shares his entrepreneurial journey and how his company is revolutionizing the fundraising process for startups. Usman discusses his own experience raising capital, the challenges he encountered, and…
- 88Building the Future of Aviation with Kevin Noertker of Ampaire26 Jun 2024 · 30 min▶Show page
About this episode
In this episode of the Give First podcast, hosts David Cohen is joined by Kevin Noertker , CEO and co-founder of Ampaire . Kevin shares his journey from aspiring astronaut and NASA engineer to leading a revolutionary Techstars-backed company. Ampaire is advancing hybrid electric aviation, aiming to cut aircraft fuel…
- 87Educating the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs with Marc Steren28 May 2024 · 27 minMichael JordanSteven Spielberg▶Show page
About this episode
In this episode of the Give First podcast, David Cohen speaks with Marc Steren , Cofounder and Co-CEO of University Startups. The two discuss the entrepreneurial journey and the transformative impact of education. Marc offers insights into his 30-year entrepreneurial career, from pioneering mobile ticketing to…
- 86Sliding into Diem: Emma Bates talks raising $3.7M to build the front door of girl internet23 Apr 2024 · 25 min▶Show page
About this episode
Emma Bates , co-founder of Diem , is reshaping the way women search the internet. Diem is a social search engine designed to provide women with trustworthy, community-driven results. In this episode of Give First, Emma talks about her journey building Diem, starting with her experience in the Techstars accelerator and…
Who the show talks about
Firms named in its episodes, and people named in descriptions: talked about, rather than on the show.
