Very True by Verissimo Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/very-true-by-verissimo Brought to you by Verissimo Ventures, The Very True Podcast features candid startup insights and conversations with early-stage founders, operators, and investors shaping the future of tech. From behind-the-scenes startup stories to hard-earned lessons on fundraising, scaling, and staying resilient, each episode offers a window into what it really takes to build something bold. © 2026 Alex 50f93769-10fa-551c-887e-8469effa72e1 yes Alex Oppenheimer en Sun, 17 May 2026 14:31:15 +0300 Sun, 17 May 2026 14:32:09 +0300 http://verytrue.fm https://img.transistorcdn.com/nTJKnQaMP3vNvNUPFAdVEQKj-rh65DbU1TDTSHzvC8Q/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS80MzBk/N2QxOGUzMzA1ZjQz/MzhkNTg3NTQzYjE0/NjQ2NS5qcGc.jpg Very True by Verissimo http://verytrue.fm episodic Alex Brought to you by Verissimo Ventures, The Very True Podcast features candid startup insights and conversations with early-stage founders, operators, and investors shaping the future of tech. From behind-the-scenes startup stories to hard-earned lessons on fundraising, scaling, and staying resilient, each episode offers a window into what it really takes to build something bold. Brought to you by Verissimo Ventures, The Very True Podcast features candid startup insights and conversations with early-stage founders, operators, and investors shaping the future of tech. Alex Oppenheimer alexoppenheimer@gmail.com No No All ARR Taste Like Chicken with Elliot Comite 28 28 All ARR Taste Like Chicken with Elliot Comite full f2a467ae-7c3e-430b-b3a8-4fd629981207 https://share.transistor.fm/s/b0a40e1e In this episode of Very True, Alex sits down with Elliot Comite, VP of Finance at Perchwell, to dissect the "full-stack" operator mindset. Elliot shares his journey from the high-stakes growth equity world at Stripes Group to the scaling trenches of Ironclad, exploring why the best finance leaders act as the translation layer between the board's "Hawkish" perspective and the team's "in-the-sauce" reality.

Alex and Elliot dive deep into the psychology of the venture ecosystem, the necessity of "narrative control" during a fundraise, and the fundamental difference between building a model and building a company. They discuss the "Single Pane of Glass" philosophy, why all ARR "tastes like chicken" when you're looking at a P&L, and the grit required to move from analyzing businesses to actually running them.

Episode Highlights

  • [15:16] The Three Faces of Finance: Elliot breaks down the three roles of a growth-stage operator: hiring for the Past (Accounting/Controls), the Present (Operating/FP&A), and the Future (Strategy/Capital Markets).
  • [20:42] The Single Pane of Glass: Why the finance lead is the only person in the company with a truly objective view of reality, and how to use that "canonical text" to align an executive team.
  • [27:43] Decoding VC Psychology: A candid look at the "Default ADHD" of venture capitalists and how their herd mentality and academic pipelines influence the way they evaluate your business.
  • [41:10] The 5-Bullet Point Rule: How to survive the fundraising "shot clock" by distilling your business into the five key bullet points that actually end up in an investment memo.
  • [49:07] The "Just Win Baby" Principle: A lesson from the Al Davis school of management on why top-tier investors will often ignore "perfect comps" to simply win the deal when they see a winner.
  • [56:58] Defining the Strategy: Elliot’s final word on the finance leader as a "simplification engine" who helps the entire organization see the path from today to five years out.

Full Chapter List

  • [00:00] Introduction: 10 Years of Friendship & Shared Philosophies
  • [02:11] From Growth Equity to Building: Why Investing Wasn't Enough
  • [03:52] The Art + Science + Teamwork of the Company Side
  • [05:15] The Ironclad Journey: Scaling Software for 5,000-Year-Old Processes
  • [06:05] Bringing Tech Infrastructure to Real Estate at Perchwell
  • [09:36] Being "Deep in the Sauce": Why Building is Energizing
  • [11:21] Defining the Job: Everyone's Role is Enterprise Value
  • [15:16] Hiring the Past, the Present, or the Future
  • [17:52] Billionaires vs. Jail: Creative Finance vs. Creative Accounting
  • [20:42] Why All ARR Tastes Like Chicken
  • [25:00] The Unbundling of the Venture Capitalist: Deals vs. Sourcing
  • [27:43] The Psychology of the Board: Managing "Hawks"
  • [38:17] Narrative Control: Defining the Problem for Your Investors
  • [41:10] Fundraising Tactics: Avoiding the Gross Margin Rabbit Hole
  • [49:07] Managing Stakeholders & The "Just Win Baby" Principle
  • [52:59] Career Advice: Why VCs Make Surprisingly Good Salespeople
  • [56:58] Closing Thoughts: The Fun and Terror of Startups

Links & Resources

About Very True: Hosted by Alex Oppenheimer, Very True by Verissimo Ventures explores the honest, unvarnished stories of founders and the real problems they are solving. We look past the hype to find the truth in technology and entrepreneurship.

]]> In this episode of Very True, Alex sits down with Elliot Comite, VP of Finance at Perchwell, to dissect the "full-stack" operator mindset. Elliot shares his journey from the high-stakes growth equity world at Stripes Group to the scaling trenches of Ironclad, exploring why the best finance leaders act as the translation layer between the board's "Hawkish" perspective and the team's "in-the-sauce" reality.

Alex and Elliot dive deep into the psychology of the venture ecosystem, the necessity of "narrative control" during a fundraise, and the fundamental difference between building a model and building a company. They discuss the "Single Pane of Glass" philosophy, why all ARR "tastes like chicken" when you're looking at a P&L, and the grit required to move from analyzing businesses to actually running them.

Episode Highlights

  • [15:16] The Three Faces of Finance: Elliot breaks down the three roles of a growth-stage operator: hiring for the Past (Accounting/Controls), the Present (Operating/FP&A), and the Future (Strategy/Capital Markets).
  • [20:42] The Single Pane of Glass: Why the finance lead is the only person in the company with a truly objective view of reality, and how to use that "canonical text" to align an executive team.
  • [27:43] Decoding VC Psychology: A candid look at the "Default ADHD" of venture capitalists and how their herd mentality and academic pipelines influence the way they evaluate your business.
  • [41:10] The 5-Bullet Point Rule: How to survive the fundraising "shot clock" by distilling your business into the five key bullet points that actually end up in an investment memo.
  • [49:07] The "Just Win Baby" Principle: A lesson from the Al Davis school of management on why top-tier investors will often ignore "perfect comps" to simply win the deal when they see a winner.
  • [56:58] Defining the Strategy: Elliot’s final word on the finance leader as a "simplification engine" who helps the entire organization see the path from today to five years out.

Full Chapter List

  • [00:00] Introduction: 10 Years of Friendship & Shared Philosophies
  • [02:11] From Growth Equity to Building: Why Investing Wasn't Enough
  • [03:52] The Art + Science + Teamwork of the Company Side
  • [05:15] The Ironclad Journey: Scaling Software for 5,000-Year-Old Processes
  • [06:05] Bringing Tech Infrastructure to Real Estate at Perchwell
  • [09:36] Being "Deep in the Sauce": Why Building is Energizing
  • [11:21] Defining the Job: Everyone's Role is Enterprise Value
  • [15:16] Hiring the Past, the Present, or the Future
  • [17:52] Billionaires vs. Jail: Creative Finance vs. Creative Accounting
  • [20:42] Why All ARR Tastes Like Chicken
  • [25:00] The Unbundling of the Venture Capitalist: Deals vs. Sourcing
  • [27:43] The Psychology of the Board: Managing "Hawks"
  • [38:17] Narrative Control: Defining the Problem for Your Investors
  • [41:10] Fundraising Tactics: Avoiding the Gross Margin Rabbit Hole
  • [49:07] Managing Stakeholders & The "Just Win Baby" Principle
  • [52:59] Career Advice: Why VCs Make Surprisingly Good Salespeople
  • [56:58] Closing Thoughts: The Fun and Terror of Startups

Links & Resources

About Very True: Hosted by Alex Oppenheimer, Very True by Verissimo Ventures explores the honest, unvarnished stories of founders and the real problems they are solving. We look past the hype to find the truth in technology and entrepreneurship.

]]> Wed, 29 Apr 2026 17:08:40 +0300 Alex Alex 3445 In this episode of Very True, Alex sits down with Elliot Comite, VP of Finance at Perchwell, to dissect the "full-stack" operator mindset. Elliot shares his journey from the high-stakes growth equity world at Stripes Group to the scaling trenches of Ironclad, exploring why the best finance leaders act as the translation layer between the board's "Hawkish" perspective and the team's "in-the-sauce" reality.

Alex and Elliot dive deep into the psychology of the venture ecosystem, the necessity of "narrative control" during a fundraise, and the fundamental difference between building a model and building a company. They discuss the "Single Pane of Glass" philosophy, why all ARR "tastes like chicken" when you're looking at a P&L, and the grit required to move from analyzing businesses to actually running them.

Episode Highlights

  • [15:16] The Three Faces of Finance: Elliot breaks down the three roles of a growth-stage operator: hiring for the Past (Accounting/Controls), the Present (Operating/FP&A), and the Future (Strategy/Capital Markets).
  • [20:42] The Single Pane of Glass: Why the finance lead is the only person in the company with a truly objective view of reality, and how to use that "canonical text" to align an executive team.
  • [27:43] Decoding VC Psychology: A candid look at the "Default ADHD" of venture capitalists and how their herd mentality and academic pipelines influence the way they evaluate your business.
  • [41:10] The 5-Bullet Point Rule: How to survive the fundraising "shot clock" by distilling your business into the five key bullet points that actually end up in an investment memo.
  • [49:07] The "Just Win Baby" Principle: A lesson from the Al Davis school of management on why top-tier investors will often ignore "perfect comps" to simply win the deal when they see a winner.
  • [56:58] Defining the Strategy: Elliot’s final word on the finance leader as a "simplification engine" who helps the entire organization see the path from today to five years out.

Full Chapter List

  • [00:00] Introduction: 10 Years of Friendship & Shared Philosophies
  • [02:11] From Growth Equity to Building: Why Investing Wasn't Enough
  • [03:52] The Art + Science + Teamwork of the Company Side
  • [05:15] The Ironclad Journey: Scaling Software for 5,000-Year-Old Processes
  • [06:05] Bringing Tech Infrastructure to Real Estate at Perchwell
  • [09:36] Being "Deep in the Sauce": Why Building is Energizing
  • [11:21] Defining the Job: Everyone's Role is Enterprise Value
  • [15:16] Hiring the Past, the Present, or the Future
  • [17:52] Billionaires vs. Jail: Creative Finance vs. Creative Accounting
  • [20:42] Why All ARR Tastes Like Chicken
  • [25:00] The Unbundling of the Venture Capitalist: Deals vs. Sourcing
  • [27:43] The Psychology of the Board: Managing "Hawks"
  • [38:17] Narrative Control: Defining the Problem for Your Investors
  • [41:10] Fundraising Tactics: Avoiding the Gross Margin Rabbit Hole
  • [49:07] Managing Stakeholders & The "Just Win Baby" Principle
  • [52:59] Career Advice: Why VCs Make Surprisingly Good Salespeople
  • [56:58] Closing Thoughts: The Fun and Terror of Startups

Links & Resources

About Very True: Hosted by Alex Oppenheimer, Very True by Verissimo Ventures explores the honest, unvarnished stories of founders and the real problems they are solving. We look past the hype to find the truth in technology and entrepreneurship.

]]> Alex Oppenheimer, Elliot Comite, Perchwell, Ironclad, Verissimo Ventures, Venture Capital, VC, Startup Strategy, Finance Operations, FinOps, CFO, VP of Finance, Strategic Finance, Fundraising, Scaling Startups, SaaS, B2B Software, Enterprise Value, Growth Equity, Board Management, Narrative Control, Unit Economics, ARR, PropTech, LegalTech, Career Transition, Business Models, Investment Thesis, Tech Industry, Financial Modeling, Operating Excellence, Series B, Series E No Alex Oppenheimer Elliot Comite Turning Ambient Restlessness into Productivity Through Movement 30 30 Turning Ambient Restlessness into Productivity Through Movement full b942b323-c925-4b7e-9a2b-1650acf93112 https://share.transistor.fm/s/19e4e4bb In this solo episode of Very True, Alex introduces a concept he calls Ambient Restlessness, the low-grade mental noise that modern life has wired into most of us, and makes the case that instead of fighting it, we can learn to use it.

Drawing on his own experiences mountain biking, running his first half marathon at the Dead Sea, and driving between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv a decade ago, Alex builds a practical spectrum of focus states and shows how matching the right mental load to the right physical activity can unlock creativity, deepen learning, and replace the exhausted, drained feeling of a YouTube rabbit hole with something that actually feels like an accomplishment.

This one is a departure from the usual startup and finance conversations on Very True, but the underlying framework of awareness, calibration, and turning a liability into an asset will feel very familiar.

Be sure to check out the substack here: https://alexoppenheimer.substack.com/p/the-focus-spectrum

Episode Highlights:

  • Introducing Ambient Restlessness: Why your brain's constant need for stimulation isn't a character flaw, and how to redirect it instead of white-knuckling your way through a deep work session you're not ready for.
  • The Focus Spectrum: From mountain biking at 100% locked-in to lap swimming as moving meditation, Alex maps out how different physical activities demand different levels of cognitive load and what that means for what you pair with them.
  • The Two Failure Modes: Why listening to an emotional audiobook while descending at 30mph is as unproductive as sitting on the couch trying to focus. Finding the sweet spot is the whole game.
  • Muted Sessions & Baseline Awareness: The underrated practice of going out in silence, not to be productive, but to understand where you actually are so you can make better decisions about what you're capable of.
  • Adding a Layer to Deep Work: Alex respectfully pushes back on the "distractions are evil" framing and proposes a semi-distracted state as a legitimate, powerful mode, especially for people who need creativity before they even know what to do deep work on.

Links & Resources:

]]> In this solo episode of Very True, Alex introduces a concept he calls Ambient Restlessness, the low-grade mental noise that modern life has wired into most of us, and makes the case that instead of fighting it, we can learn to use it.

Drawing on his own experiences mountain biking, running his first half marathon at the Dead Sea, and driving between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv a decade ago, Alex builds a practical spectrum of focus states and shows how matching the right mental load to the right physical activity can unlock creativity, deepen learning, and replace the exhausted, drained feeling of a YouTube rabbit hole with something that actually feels like an accomplishment.

This one is a departure from the usual startup and finance conversations on Very True, but the underlying framework of awareness, calibration, and turning a liability into an asset will feel very familiar.

Be sure to check out the substack here: https://alexoppenheimer.substack.com/p/the-focus-spectrum

Episode Highlights:

  • Introducing Ambient Restlessness: Why your brain's constant need for stimulation isn't a character flaw, and how to redirect it instead of white-knuckling your way through a deep work session you're not ready for.
  • The Focus Spectrum: From mountain biking at 100% locked-in to lap swimming as moving meditation, Alex maps out how different physical activities demand different levels of cognitive load and what that means for what you pair with them.
  • The Two Failure Modes: Why listening to an emotional audiobook while descending at 30mph is as unproductive as sitting on the couch trying to focus. Finding the sweet spot is the whole game.
  • Muted Sessions & Baseline Awareness: The underrated practice of going out in silence, not to be productive, but to understand where you actually are so you can make better decisions about what you're capable of.
  • Adding a Layer to Deep Work: Alex respectfully pushes back on the "distractions are evil" framing and proposes a semi-distracted state as a legitimate, powerful mode, especially for people who need creativity before they even know what to do deep work on.

Links & Resources:

]]> Wed, 15 Apr 2026 21:29:54 +0300 Alex Alex 1489 In this solo episode of Very True, Alex introduces a concept he calls Ambient Restlessness, the low-grade mental noise that modern life has wired into most of us, and makes the case that instead of fighting it, we can learn to use it.

Drawing on his own experiences mountain biking, running his first half marathon at the Dead Sea, and driving between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv a decade ago, Alex builds a practical spectrum of focus states and shows how matching the right mental load to the right physical activity can unlock creativity, deepen learning, and replace the exhausted, drained feeling of a YouTube rabbit hole with something that actually feels like an accomplishment.

This one is a departure from the usual startup and finance conversations on Very True, but the underlying framework of awareness, calibration, and turning a liability into an asset will feel very familiar.

Be sure to check out the substack here: https://alexoppenheimer.substack.com/p/the-focus-spectrum

Episode Highlights:

  • Introducing Ambient Restlessness: Why your brain's constant need for stimulation isn't a character flaw, and how to redirect it instead of white-knuckling your way through a deep work session you're not ready for.
  • The Focus Spectrum: From mountain biking at 100% locked-in to lap swimming as moving meditation, Alex maps out how different physical activities demand different levels of cognitive load and what that means for what you pair with them.
  • The Two Failure Modes: Why listening to an emotional audiobook while descending at 30mph is as unproductive as sitting on the couch trying to focus. Finding the sweet spot is the whole game.
  • Muted Sessions & Baseline Awareness: The underrated practice of going out in silence, not to be productive, but to understand where you actually are so you can make better decisions about what you're capable of.
  • Adding a Layer to Deep Work: Alex respectfully pushes back on the "distractions are evil" framing and proposes a semi-distracted state as a legitimate, powerful mode, especially for people who need creativity before they even know what to do deep work on.

Links & Resources:

]]> Deep work, focus, productivity, ambient restlessness, Cal Newport, mountain biking, running, distraction, mindfulness, self improvement No Alex Oppenheimer From 10 Employees Down to 3: Scaling Sales, Search, and Social with Matt Pru of Stackmatix 27 27 From 10 Employees Down to 3: Scaling Sales, Search, and Social with Matt Pru of Stackmatix full 2969d80c-9724-4de2-b0a3-f7d1b8204429 https://share.transistor.fm/s/8f6d266e In this episode of Very True, Alex sits down with Matt Pru, Founder and CEO of Stackmatix, to explore the reality of startup go to market strategies and how the rules of growth have fundamentally changed. Moving beyond the hype of endless funding rounds, Matt shares his journey from scaling MightyHive's sales from $1M to a $150M exit, to bootstrapping an agency that actually scaled down from 10 employees to just 3 while increasing revenue.

Alex and Matt dive into the critical differences between B2B and B2C marketing, the evolution of search and social algorithms, and the "Sales, Search, and Social" framework every technical founder needs. They discuss why hyper targeted Meta ads are a thing of the past, the rise of Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), and why raising too much money without a validated marketing engine is one of the fastest ways to kill your company.

Episode Highlights:

  • [04:22] Scaling Down to Scale Up: Matt details how Stackmatix operates with just three people, handling more revenue today than when they had a 10 person team, by leveraging automation, globalization, and AI.
  • [05:44] The B2B vs. B2C Divide: Why B2B companies traditionally ignored marketing until Series B, while B2C companies have always relied on it to survive, and how those paradigms are shifting.
  • [11:38] The Evolution of Meta Ads: From demographic targeting to AEO (Answer Engine Optimization), why hyper targeted Facebook ads do not work like they used to, and how the algorithm actually works today.
  • [20:33] Sales, Search, and Social: The three critical pillars of go to market that every founder must understand from day one, regardless of their technical background.
  • [37:26] The Series B Trap: Why raising too much venture capital without an efficient, validated marketing funnel is one of the quickest ways to kill your business.
  • [39:19] The Better, Faster, Cheaper Model: Matt's philosophy on why AI is not a silver bullet for quality, but a necessary tool for speed and cost efficiency when paired with human judgment.

Full Chapter List:

  • [00:00] Introduction and Matt's Trajectory from MightyHive to Stackmatix
  • [04:22] The Three Phases of Agency Evolution: Globalization, Automation, and AI
  • [05:44] A History Lesson in Startup Marketing: B2B vs. B2C
  • [09:36] Targeted Advertising and The Reality of Meta Ads Today
  • [18:24] The Power of Being a First Mover in the AI Era
  • [20:33] The GTM Playbook: Sales, Search, and Social
  • [27:49] When to In House vs. Outsource Your Marketing
  • [34:48] Agency Horror Stories and the Dangers of Overspending
  • [37:26] Why Raising Too Much Money Kills Companies
  • [39:19] Redefining the Modern Agency with AI and Automation
  • [47:10] Closing Thoughts: Exploiting Channels and the Grind of GTM

Links & Resources:

]]> In this episode of Very True, Alex sits down with Matt Pru, Founder and CEO of Stackmatix, to explore the reality of startup go to market strategies and how the rules of growth have fundamentally changed. Moving beyond the hype of endless funding rounds, Matt shares his journey from scaling MightyHive's sales from $1M to a $150M exit, to bootstrapping an agency that actually scaled down from 10 employees to just 3 while increasing revenue.

Alex and Matt dive into the critical differences between B2B and B2C marketing, the evolution of search and social algorithms, and the "Sales, Search, and Social" framework every technical founder needs. They discuss why hyper targeted Meta ads are a thing of the past, the rise of Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), and why raising too much money without a validated marketing engine is one of the fastest ways to kill your company.

Episode Highlights:

  • [04:22] Scaling Down to Scale Up: Matt details how Stackmatix operates with just three people, handling more revenue today than when they had a 10 person team, by leveraging automation, globalization, and AI.
  • [05:44] The B2B vs. B2C Divide: Why B2B companies traditionally ignored marketing until Series B, while B2C companies have always relied on it to survive, and how those paradigms are shifting.
  • [11:38] The Evolution of Meta Ads: From demographic targeting to AEO (Answer Engine Optimization), why hyper targeted Facebook ads do not work like they used to, and how the algorithm actually works today.
  • [20:33] Sales, Search, and Social: The three critical pillars of go to market that every founder must understand from day one, regardless of their technical background.
  • [37:26] The Series B Trap: Why raising too much venture capital without an efficient, validated marketing funnel is one of the quickest ways to kill your business.
  • [39:19] The Better, Faster, Cheaper Model: Matt's philosophy on why AI is not a silver bullet for quality, but a necessary tool for speed and cost efficiency when paired with human judgment.

Full Chapter List:

  • [00:00] Introduction and Matt's Trajectory from MightyHive to Stackmatix
  • [04:22] The Three Phases of Agency Evolution: Globalization, Automation, and AI
  • [05:44] A History Lesson in Startup Marketing: B2B vs. B2C
  • [09:36] Targeted Advertising and The Reality of Meta Ads Today
  • [18:24] The Power of Being a First Mover in the AI Era
  • [20:33] The GTM Playbook: Sales, Search, and Social
  • [27:49] When to In House vs. Outsource Your Marketing
  • [34:48] Agency Horror Stories and the Dangers of Overspending
  • [37:26] Why Raising Too Much Money Kills Companies
  • [39:19] Redefining the Modern Agency with AI and Automation
  • [47:10] Closing Thoughts: Exploiting Channels and the Grind of GTM

Links & Resources:

]]> Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:30:00 +0300 Alex Alex 2984 In this episode of Very True, Alex sits down with Matt Pru, Founder and CEO of Stackmatix, to explore the reality of startup go to market strategies and how the rules of growth have fundamentally changed. Moving beyond the hype of endless funding rounds, Matt shares his journey from scaling MightyHive's sales from $1M to a $150M exit, to bootstrapping an agency that actually scaled down from 10 employees to just 3 while increasing revenue.

Alex and Matt dive into the critical differences between B2B and B2C marketing, the evolution of search and social algorithms, and the "Sales, Search, and Social" framework every technical founder needs. They discuss why hyper targeted Meta ads are a thing of the past, the rise of Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), and why raising too much money without a validated marketing engine is one of the fastest ways to kill your company.

Episode Highlights:

  • [04:22] Scaling Down to Scale Up: Matt details how Stackmatix operates with just three people, handling more revenue today than when they had a 10 person team, by leveraging automation, globalization, and AI.
  • [05:44] The B2B vs. B2C Divide: Why B2B companies traditionally ignored marketing until Series B, while B2C companies have always relied on it to survive, and how those paradigms are shifting.
  • [11:38] The Evolution of Meta Ads: From demographic targeting to AEO (Answer Engine Optimization), why hyper targeted Facebook ads do not work like they used to, and how the algorithm actually works today.
  • [20:33] Sales, Search, and Social: The three critical pillars of go to market that every founder must understand from day one, regardless of their technical background.
  • [37:26] The Series B Trap: Why raising too much venture capital without an efficient, validated marketing funnel is one of the quickest ways to kill your business.
  • [39:19] The Better, Faster, Cheaper Model: Matt's philosophy on why AI is not a silver bullet for quality, but a necessary tool for speed and cost efficiency when paired with human judgment.

Full Chapter List:

  • [00:00] Introduction and Matt's Trajectory from MightyHive to Stackmatix
  • [04:22] The Three Phases of Agency Evolution: Globalization, Automation, and AI
  • [05:44] A History Lesson in Startup Marketing: B2B vs. B2C
  • [09:36] Targeted Advertising and The Reality of Meta Ads Today
  • [18:24] The Power of Being a First Mover in the AI Era
  • [20:33] The GTM Playbook: Sales, Search, and Social
  • [27:49] When to In House vs. Outsource Your Marketing
  • [34:48] Agency Horror Stories and the Dangers of Overspending
  • [37:26] Why Raising Too Much Money Kills Companies
  • [39:19] Redefining the Modern Agency with AI and Automation
  • [47:10] Closing Thoughts: Exploiting Channels and the Grind of GTM

Links & Resources:

]]> go to market, GTM, startup marketing, B2B marketing, B2C marketing, venture capital, Series A, Series B, startup growth, performance marketing, Meta ads, Facebook ads, Google ads, SEO, AEO, answer engine optimization, AI automation, agency operations, bootstrapping, unit economics, customer acquisition cost, outsourcing, Matt Pru, Stackmatix, Alex Oppenheimer, Verissimo Ventures No Alex Oppenheimer Matt Pru The Compounding Tax - What Sustained Stress Actually Costs You 29 29 The Compounding Tax - What Sustained Stress Actually Costs You full 8e28be7a-cbba-4a69-82cd-697d3415ebab https://share.transistor.fm/s/bb450bd3 In a departure from the usual startup and finance conversations on Very True, Alex shares a personal and practical framework for understanding the hidden costs of sustained stress. Whether you're navigating prolonged conflict, a crisis, caregiving, or just a heavy season of life, the biological and cognitive toll compounds in ways we rarely calculate. 

Alex breaks down the actual cost of a single stress event (it's never just "ten lost minutes"), how chronic depletion ruins our decision-making, and the invisible "social cascade" that drains our patience right when we need it most. By understanding the physical and psychological taxes of an activated nervous system, you can stop compounding the damage, recognize when taking your hands off the wheel is your best move, and find genuine ways to recover.

Episode Highlights:

  • The Biological Cost of a Stress Event: Why a single siren or stressor actually costs you an hour or more. Alex explains the cortisol and adrenaline spike, and why trying to immediately bounce back into deep work or sleep is a losing battle against your own biology.
  • The Math Nobody Does & The Social Cascade: What happens when you run a stress deficit for weeks. Alex discusses how losing your "buffer" leads to a sharp uptick in interpersonal conflict, and why everyone needs more grace exactly when nobody has any left to give.
  • The Decision-Making Tax: How sustained duress degrades judgment. Drawing on research and his own experience as an investor, Alex explains why analytical capacity remains while calibration fails, and why the non-decision is often the smartest decision you can make.
  • Release Valves, Traps, and Hobbies: Finding a place to put the pent-up energy. Alex explores the fine line between exercise as a coping mechanism and exercise as an additional stressor, the underrated restorative power of deeply absorbing hobbies (like watch collecting), and giving yourself permission to just not be productive.

Links & Resources:

]]> In a departure from the usual startup and finance conversations on Very True, Alex shares a personal and practical framework for understanding the hidden costs of sustained stress. Whether you're navigating prolonged conflict, a crisis, caregiving, or just a heavy season of life, the biological and cognitive toll compounds in ways we rarely calculate. 

Alex breaks down the actual cost of a single stress event (it's never just "ten lost minutes"), how chronic depletion ruins our decision-making, and the invisible "social cascade" that drains our patience right when we need it most. By understanding the physical and psychological taxes of an activated nervous system, you can stop compounding the damage, recognize when taking your hands off the wheel is your best move, and find genuine ways to recover.

Episode Highlights:

  • The Biological Cost of a Stress Event: Why a single siren or stressor actually costs you an hour or more. Alex explains the cortisol and adrenaline spike, and why trying to immediately bounce back into deep work or sleep is a losing battle against your own biology.
  • The Math Nobody Does & The Social Cascade: What happens when you run a stress deficit for weeks. Alex discusses how losing your "buffer" leads to a sharp uptick in interpersonal conflict, and why everyone needs more grace exactly when nobody has any left to give.
  • The Decision-Making Tax: How sustained duress degrades judgment. Drawing on research and his own experience as an investor, Alex explains why analytical capacity remains while calibration fails, and why the non-decision is often the smartest decision you can make.
  • Release Valves, Traps, and Hobbies: Finding a place to put the pent-up energy. Alex explores the fine line between exercise as a coping mechanism and exercise as an additional stressor, the underrated restorative power of deeply absorbing hobbies (like watch collecting), and giving yourself permission to just not be productive.

Links & Resources:

]]> Wed, 25 Mar 2026 10:06:03 +0200 Alex Alex 580 In a departure from the usual startup and finance conversations on Very True, Alex shares a personal and practical framework for understanding the hidden costs of sustained stress. Whether you're navigating prolonged conflict, a crisis, caregiving, or just a heavy season of life, the biological and cognitive toll compounds in ways we rarely calculate. 

Alex breaks down the actual cost of a single stress event (it's never just "ten lost minutes"), how chronic depletion ruins our decision-making, and the invisible "social cascade" that drains our patience right when we need it most. By understanding the physical and psychological taxes of an activated nervous system, you can stop compounding the damage, recognize when taking your hands off the wheel is your best move, and find genuine ways to recover.

Episode Highlights:

  • The Biological Cost of a Stress Event: Why a single siren or stressor actually costs you an hour or more. Alex explains the cortisol and adrenaline spike, and why trying to immediately bounce back into deep work or sleep is a losing battle against your own biology.
  • The Math Nobody Does & The Social Cascade: What happens when you run a stress deficit for weeks. Alex discusses how losing your "buffer" leads to a sharp uptick in interpersonal conflict, and why everyone needs more grace exactly when nobody has any left to give.
  • The Decision-Making Tax: How sustained duress degrades judgment. Drawing on research and his own experience as an investor, Alex explains why analytical capacity remains while calibration fails, and why the non-decision is often the smartest decision you can make.
  • Release Valves, Traps, and Hobbies: Finding a place to put the pent-up energy. Alex explores the fine line between exercise as a coping mechanism and exercise as an additional stressor, the underrated restorative power of deeply absorbing hobbies (like watch collecting), and giving yourself permission to just not be productive.

Links & Resources:

]]> No Alex Oppenheimer From 140-Hour Banking Weeks to 45-Minute AI Deep Dives 26 26 From 140-Hour Banking Weeks to 45-Minute AI Deep Dives full c12d2a80-5863-4106-8ba0-6b8a66f232ef https://share.transistor.fm/s/e930d606 In this solo episode of Very True, Alex Oppenheimer pulls back the curtain on the "crux of his career" - the art of narrative design and the evolution of financial storytelling. Moving from his early days at Morgan Stanley to his current role as an early stage investor, Alex explores how the role of the "dealmaker" has shifted from a manual, multi person grind to an AI powered solo performance.

Alex breaks down the distinction between "rinsing and repeating" and true financial translation: taking a business that has never existed before and building the financial frameworks that allow the world to understand its value. He shares a behind the scenes look at the Facebook IPO, explains why he won’t "put lipstick on a pig," and demonstrates live how AI has collapsed 30 hours of M&A work into a 45 minute strategic session.

Episode Highlights:

  • [16:40] Lipstick on a Supermodel: Alex’s philosophy on "massaging the numbers"—why you can’t deceive the market, but you must find the most rigorous, nuanced lens to communicate why a great business is great.
  • [22:10] Collapsing the Stack: A look at the "Coordination Tax" of traditional banking versus the 2026 reality where a solo performer with a "jetpack" of AI can outperform an entire analyst class.
  • [07:12] The Translation Layer: Why tech banking is fundamentally about being a translator between founders who live the product and buyers who need to understand it in financial terms.
  • [28:30] Live Case Study: Alex walks through a real time exercise using Gemini to deconstruct a 10K, find hidden synergies, and build an acquisition pitch that can double a company's exit value.
  • [44:15] Preempting the Objection: How founders can use AI to analyze investor transcripts, identify "lazy questions," and grab the narrative by the horns before the meeting even starts.
  • [52:00] Smooth Curves for Smooth Brains: A masterclass in "massaging" data through visualization—why the right chart type and the right axis can make a complex conclusion jump off the page.

Full Chapter List:

  • [00:53] Introduction: The Crux of a Career
  • [02:45] What is Investment Banking, Really?
  • [05:22] Lessons from Morgan Stanley: Michael Grimes & Marcy Vu
  • [08:50] The Facebook IPO: Inventing New Methodologies
  • [11:15] The Coordination Tax: Horizontal vs. Vertical Teams
  • [16:40] Dealing with Data: Lipstick on a Supermodel
  • [19:20] The Rule of Being Actually Good
  • [22:10] Phase 3: The Solo Performer Evolution
  • [26:00] Doubling Acquisition Value Through One Realization
  • [30:45] 2026: The AI-Empowered Solo Performer
  • [34:10] Live Demo: Researching Synergies with Gemini
  • [38:40] The CEO’s Real Job: Capitalizing the Business
  • [41:15] Corporate Bloat vs. AI Efficiency
  • [44:15] Narrative Control: Using AI to Analyze Investor Feedback
  • [49:00] Communication as Lossy Compression
  • [52:00] Data Visualization: Smooth Curves for Smooth Brains
  • [55:40] Conclusion: Reach Out for a Deep Dive

Links & Resources:

About Very True:
Hosted by Alex Oppenheimer, Very True by Verissimo Ventures explores the honest, unvarnished stories of founders and the real problems they are solving. We look past the hype to find the truth in technology and entrepreneurship.

]]> In this solo episode of Very True, Alex Oppenheimer pulls back the curtain on the "crux of his career" - the art of narrative design and the evolution of financial storytelling. Moving from his early days at Morgan Stanley to his current role as an early stage investor, Alex explores how the role of the "dealmaker" has shifted from a manual, multi person grind to an AI powered solo performance.

Alex breaks down the distinction between "rinsing and repeating" and true financial translation: taking a business that has never existed before and building the financial frameworks that allow the world to understand its value. He shares a behind the scenes look at the Facebook IPO, explains why he won’t "put lipstick on a pig," and demonstrates live how AI has collapsed 30 hours of M&A work into a 45 minute strategic session.

Episode Highlights:

  • [16:40] Lipstick on a Supermodel: Alex’s philosophy on "massaging the numbers"—why you can’t deceive the market, but you must find the most rigorous, nuanced lens to communicate why a great business is great.
  • [22:10] Collapsing the Stack: A look at the "Coordination Tax" of traditional banking versus the 2026 reality where a solo performer with a "jetpack" of AI can outperform an entire analyst class.
  • [07:12] The Translation Layer: Why tech banking is fundamentally about being a translator between founders who live the product and buyers who need to understand it in financial terms.
  • [28:30] Live Case Study: Alex walks through a real time exercise using Gemini to deconstruct a 10K, find hidden synergies, and build an acquisition pitch that can double a company's exit value.
  • [44:15] Preempting the Objection: How founders can use AI to analyze investor transcripts, identify "lazy questions," and grab the narrative by the horns before the meeting even starts.
  • [52:00] Smooth Curves for Smooth Brains: A masterclass in "massaging" data through visualization—why the right chart type and the right axis can make a complex conclusion jump off the page.

Full Chapter List:

  • [00:53] Introduction: The Crux of a Career
  • [02:45] What is Investment Banking, Really?
  • [05:22] Lessons from Morgan Stanley: Michael Grimes & Marcy Vu
  • [08:50] The Facebook IPO: Inventing New Methodologies
  • [11:15] The Coordination Tax: Horizontal vs. Vertical Teams
  • [16:40] Dealing with Data: Lipstick on a Supermodel
  • [19:20] The Rule of Being Actually Good
  • [22:10] Phase 3: The Solo Performer Evolution
  • [26:00] Doubling Acquisition Value Through One Realization
  • [30:45] 2026: The AI-Empowered Solo Performer
  • [34:10] Live Demo: Researching Synergies with Gemini
  • [38:40] The CEO’s Real Job: Capitalizing the Business
  • [41:15] Corporate Bloat vs. AI Efficiency
  • [44:15] Narrative Control: Using AI to Analyze Investor Feedback
  • [49:00] Communication as Lossy Compression
  • [52:00] Data Visualization: Smooth Curves for Smooth Brains
  • [55:40] Conclusion: Reach Out for a Deep Dive

Links & Resources:

About Very True:
Hosted by Alex Oppenheimer, Very True by Verissimo Ventures explores the honest, unvarnished stories of founders and the real problems they are solving. We look past the hype to find the truth in technology and entrepreneurship.

]]> Tue, 17 Mar 2026 19:57:59 +0200 Alex Alex 2818 In this solo episode of Very True, Alex Oppenheimer pulls back the curtain on the "crux of his career" - the art of narrative design and the evolution of financial storytelling. Moving from his early days at Morgan Stanley to his current role as an early stage investor, Alex explores how the role of the "dealmaker" has shifted from a manual, multi person grind to an AI powered solo performance.

Alex breaks down the distinction between "rinsing and repeating" and true financial translation: taking a business that has never existed before and building the financial frameworks that allow the world to understand its value. He shares a behind the scenes look at the Facebook IPO, explains why he won’t "put lipstick on a pig," and demonstrates live how AI has collapsed 30 hours of M&A work into a 45 minute strategic session.

Episode Highlights:

  • [16:40] Lipstick on a Supermodel: Alex’s philosophy on "massaging the numbers"—why you can’t deceive the market, but you must find the most rigorous, nuanced lens to communicate why a great business is great.
  • [22:10] Collapsing the Stack: A look at the "Coordination Tax" of traditional banking versus the 2026 reality where a solo performer with a "jetpack" of AI can outperform an entire analyst class.
  • [07:12] The Translation Layer: Why tech banking is fundamentally about being a translator between founders who live the product and buyers who need to understand it in financial terms.
  • [28:30] Live Case Study: Alex walks through a real time exercise using Gemini to deconstruct a 10K, find hidden synergies, and build an acquisition pitch that can double a company's exit value.
  • [44:15] Preempting the Objection: How founders can use AI to analyze investor transcripts, identify "lazy questions," and grab the narrative by the horns before the meeting even starts.
  • [52:00] Smooth Curves for Smooth Brains: A masterclass in "massaging" data through visualization—why the right chart type and the right axis can make a complex conclusion jump off the page.

Full Chapter List:

  • [00:53] Introduction: The Crux of a Career
  • [02:45] What is Investment Banking, Really?
  • [05:22] Lessons from Morgan Stanley: Michael Grimes & Marcy Vu
  • [08:50] The Facebook IPO: Inventing New Methodologies
  • [11:15] The Coordination Tax: Horizontal vs. Vertical Teams
  • [16:40] Dealing with Data: Lipstick on a Supermodel
  • [19:20] The Rule of Being Actually Good
  • [22:10] Phase 3: The Solo Performer Evolution
  • [26:00] Doubling Acquisition Value Through One Realization
  • [30:45] 2026: The AI-Empowered Solo Performer
  • [34:10] Live Demo: Researching Synergies with Gemini
  • [38:40] The CEO’s Real Job: Capitalizing the Business
  • [41:15] Corporate Bloat vs. AI Efficiency
  • [44:15] Narrative Control: Using AI to Analyze Investor Feedback
  • [49:00] Communication as Lossy Compression
  • [52:00] Data Visualization: Smooth Curves for Smooth Brains
  • [55:40] Conclusion: Reach Out for a Deep Dive

Links & Resources:

About Very True:
Hosted by Alex Oppenheimer, Very True by Verissimo Ventures explores the honest, unvarnished stories of founders and the real problems they are solving. We look past the hype to find the truth in technology and entrepreneurship.

]]> Investment Banking, Narrative Design, Financial Modeling, Startup Valuation, Massaging the Numbers, AI in Finance, M&A Strategy, CEO Roles, Capitalizing the Business, Strategic Synergies, Data Translation, Investor Relations, Preempting Objections, Lossy Compression, Corporate Efficiency, Vertical vs. Horizontal Teams, Solo Performer, Tech IPOs, Revenue Multiples, Customer Concentration, Machine vs. Black Box, Narrative Control, Smooth Curves, Organic Intelligence, and Growth Drivers No Alex Oppenheimer Most Finance Operators Are Treading Water Ibrahim Automated His Way Out — With Claude Code. 25 25 Most Finance Operators Are Treading Water Ibrahim Automated His Way Out — With Claude Code. full 2cc0fca7-6b73-4172-aa42-97f9513e1c51 https://share.transistor.fm/s/a3280946 In this episode of Very True, Alex sits down with Ibrahim Cisse, VP of Finance at Descript, to explore how one of the sharpest financial operators in the game is rebuilding the role from the ground up. Moving beyond simple spreadsheets, Ibrahim has transformed AI into a genuine operating system running everything from email triage and SQL queries to contract redlines and procurement approvals directly from a terminal.

Alex and Ibrahim dive into the mindset shift required to move from treading water to deep operational insight. They discuss the concept of "Data as Blood," the transition from backward-looking accounting to forward-looking business calculus, and why the most successful future founders will be those who "decog" themselves from repetitive tasks to focus on high-level judgment.

Episode Highlights:

  • [07:35] Data as the Lifeblood: Why viewing data as "blood" rather than "oil" changes how you diagnose a company’s health, allowing a single financial "prick" to reveal the state of the entire organism.
  • [26:00] Leveraging AI for Judgment: Ibrahim explains his philosophy of automating anything that does not require high-level judgment, freeing himself to act as a generalist across sales, success, and support.
  • [18:57] The AI Modeling Copilot: A look at why "vague prompts" fail in finance and how experts use AI to translate complex business models into daily, actionable targets.
  • [34:08] Genesis of a Workflow: Ibrahim shares how he solved his email management pain point by building a private bot that archives, drafts, and updates his to-do list automatically.
  • [55:00] Beyond the "Nerd Fringe": The duo discusses the necessity of collective adoption—how a company where everyone uses AI effectively can outpace legacy incumbents 10x over.
  • [52:57] The Automation Hurdle: Practical tips for financial operators on overcoming the "initial pain" of setting up systems today to unlock limitless productivity tomorrow.

Full Chapter List:

  • [00:00] Introduction: The AI Operating System
  • [01:42] The New Generation of Financial Operators
  • [03:07] Ibrahim’s Journey: From Paris to Descript
  • [05:28] Creative Finance vs. Creative Accounting
  • [07:35] Data as Blood: The Circulatory System of Business
  • [10:51] Bridging Structured and Unstructured Data
  • [13:59] Transforming Customer Interactions into Insights
  • [17:15] Building Frameworks: From PowerPoint to Excel
  • [18:57] AI as a Copilot in Financial Modeling
  • [24:08] Meeting People Where They Are: The Power of Context
  • [26:00] The Future of AI Judgment and Proactivity
  • [32:55] The Philosophy of Never Doing the Same Thing Twice
  • [34:08] Workflow Deep Dive: Email Triage and Task Management
  • [38:08] Automating Procurement and Legal Reviews
  • [46:44] Case Study: Doubling M&A Value Through Insight
  • [52:57] Quick Tips for Operators & Future Prospects

Links & Resources:

About Very True: Hosted by Alex Oppenheimer, Very True by Verissimo Ventures explores the honest, unvarnished stories of founders and the real problems they are solving. We look past the hype to find the truth in technology and entrepreneurship.

]]> In this episode of Very True, Alex sits down with Ibrahim Cisse, VP of Finance at Descript, to explore how one of the sharpest financial operators in the game is rebuilding the role from the ground up. Moving beyond simple spreadsheets, Ibrahim has transformed AI into a genuine operating system running everything from email triage and SQL queries to contract redlines and procurement approvals directly from a terminal.

Alex and Ibrahim dive into the mindset shift required to move from treading water to deep operational insight. They discuss the concept of "Data as Blood," the transition from backward-looking accounting to forward-looking business calculus, and why the most successful future founders will be those who "decog" themselves from repetitive tasks to focus on high-level judgment.

Episode Highlights:

  • [07:35] Data as the Lifeblood: Why viewing data as "blood" rather than "oil" changes how you diagnose a company’s health, allowing a single financial "prick" to reveal the state of the entire organism.
  • [26:00] Leveraging AI for Judgment: Ibrahim explains his philosophy of automating anything that does not require high-level judgment, freeing himself to act as a generalist across sales, success, and support.
  • [18:57] The AI Modeling Copilot: A look at why "vague prompts" fail in finance and how experts use AI to translate complex business models into daily, actionable targets.
  • [34:08] Genesis of a Workflow: Ibrahim shares how he solved his email management pain point by building a private bot that archives, drafts, and updates his to-do list automatically.
  • [55:00] Beyond the "Nerd Fringe": The duo discusses the necessity of collective adoption—how a company where everyone uses AI effectively can outpace legacy incumbents 10x over.
  • [52:57] The Automation Hurdle: Practical tips for financial operators on overcoming the "initial pain" of setting up systems today to unlock limitless productivity tomorrow.

Full Chapter List:

  • [00:00] Introduction: The AI Operating System
  • [01:42] The New Generation of Financial Operators
  • [03:07] Ibrahim’s Journey: From Paris to Descript
  • [05:28] Creative Finance vs. Creative Accounting
  • [07:35] Data as Blood: The Circulatory System of Business
  • [10:51] Bridging Structured and Unstructured Data
  • [13:59] Transforming Customer Interactions into Insights
  • [17:15] Building Frameworks: From PowerPoint to Excel
  • [18:57] AI as a Copilot in Financial Modeling
  • [24:08] Meeting People Where They Are: The Power of Context
  • [26:00] The Future of AI Judgment and Proactivity
  • [32:55] The Philosophy of Never Doing the Same Thing Twice
  • [34:08] Workflow Deep Dive: Email Triage and Task Management
  • [38:08] Automating Procurement and Legal Reviews
  • [46:44] Case Study: Doubling M&A Value Through Insight
  • [52:57] Quick Tips for Operators & Future Prospects

Links & Resources:

About Very True: Hosted by Alex Oppenheimer, Very True by Verissimo Ventures explores the honest, unvarnished stories of founders and the real problems they are solving. We look past the hype to find the truth in technology and entrepreneurship.

]]> Thu, 12 Mar 2026 19:20:27 +0200 Alex Alex 3529 In this episode of Very True, Alex sits down with Ibrahim Cisse, VP of Finance at Descript, to explore how one of the sharpest financial operators in the game is rebuilding the role from the ground up. Moving beyond simple spreadsheets, Ibrahim has transformed AI into a genuine operating system running everything from email triage and SQL queries to contract redlines and procurement approvals directly from a terminal.

Alex and Ibrahim dive into the mindset shift required to move from treading water to deep operational insight. They discuss the concept of "Data as Blood," the transition from backward-looking accounting to forward-looking business calculus, and why the most successful future founders will be those who "decog" themselves from repetitive tasks to focus on high-level judgment.

Episode Highlights:

  • [07:35] Data as the Lifeblood: Why viewing data as "blood" rather than "oil" changes how you diagnose a company’s health, allowing a single financial "prick" to reveal the state of the entire organism.
  • [26:00] Leveraging AI for Judgment: Ibrahim explains his philosophy of automating anything that does not require high-level judgment, freeing himself to act as a generalist across sales, success, and support.
  • [18:57] The AI Modeling Copilot: A look at why "vague prompts" fail in finance and how experts use AI to translate complex business models into daily, actionable targets.
  • [34:08] Genesis of a Workflow: Ibrahim shares how he solved his email management pain point by building a private bot that archives, drafts, and updates his to-do list automatically.
  • [55:00] Beyond the "Nerd Fringe": The duo discusses the necessity of collective adoption—how a company where everyone uses AI effectively can outpace legacy incumbents 10x over.
  • [52:57] The Automation Hurdle: Practical tips for financial operators on overcoming the "initial pain" of setting up systems today to unlock limitless productivity tomorrow.

Full Chapter List:

  • [00:00] Introduction: The AI Operating System
  • [01:42] The New Generation of Financial Operators
  • [03:07] Ibrahim’s Journey: From Paris to Descript
  • [05:28] Creative Finance vs. Creative Accounting
  • [07:35] Data as Blood: The Circulatory System of Business
  • [10:51] Bridging Structured and Unstructured Data
  • [13:59] Transforming Customer Interactions into Insights
  • [17:15] Building Frameworks: From PowerPoint to Excel
  • [18:57] AI as a Copilot in Financial Modeling
  • [24:08] Meeting People Where They Are: The Power of Context
  • [26:00] The Future of AI Judgment and Proactivity
  • [32:55] The Philosophy of Never Doing the Same Thing Twice
  • [34:08] Workflow Deep Dive: Email Triage and Task Management
  • [38:08] Automating Procurement and Legal Reviews
  • [46:44] Case Study: Doubling M&A Value Through Insight
  • [52:57] Quick Tips for Operators & Future Prospects

Links & Resources:

About Very True: Hosted by Alex Oppenheimer, Very True by Verissimo Ventures explores the honest, unvarnished stories of founders and the real problems they are solving. We look past the hype to find the truth in technology and entrepreneurship.

]]> AI, Finance Operations, Financial Operator, Digital Transformation, Machine Learning, Automation, Data as Blood, Strategic Finance, FinOps, Operational Efficiency, Structured Data, Unstructured Data, SQL, BigQuery, Data Stack, Descript, SaaS, Vertical SaaS, Horizontal SaaS, Business Modeling, Financial Modeling, Copilot, Decision Making, Unit Economics, Margin Inversion, OPEX, Productivity, Workflow Automation, Procurement, Contract Review, Terminal, Cloud Code, AI Native, High Level Judgment, Continuous Learning No Alex Oppenheimer Ibrahim Cisse Why Math Doesn't Close Enterprise Deals (Micro Episode) 24 24 Why Math Doesn't Close Enterprise Deals (Micro Episode) full 51bd8cdf-0988-463c-a7c7-c7cd7bcde185 https://share.transistor.fm/s/6dda56a3 In this solo episode of Very True, Alex breaks down a frustrating paradox for B2B founders: why pitching undeniable efficiency and cost-savings to legacy businesses is often a total trap.

If a company has a 2% profit margin, reducing their operating costs by just 2% effectively doubles their profit. It is a mathematical certainty. So why do they completely ignore you when you pitch it? Alex explores the psychological roadblocks that prevent massive corporations from buying logical solutions. He explains why founders need to stop pitching math and start pitching survival, recognizing that corporate culture is heavily driven by risk aversion. By understanding these psychological barriers, you can re-engineer your pitch to give companies what they need in a form factor of what they actually want.

Episode Highlights:

  • [00:00] Understanding the Profit Margin Trap: The 2% profit margin paradox. Alex explains why walking into a high-volume legacy business and pitching mathematical certainty or an overhaul to their cost structure is a trap.
  • [01:37] Cultural Roadblocks in Legacy Businesses: The reality of the corporate survival mindset. Unlike hyper-analytical startups, the culture of large corporations is about stability and not rocking the boat. Alex breaks down the risk-reward asymmetry: why a VP won't risk getting fired over a broken process just to save the company $50 million for a standard 3% bonus.
  • [03:45] The Wedge: Aligning Solutions with Corporate Goals: How to actually win the deal. Alex explains how to identify the acute issue that's top of mind for a legacy buyer and frame your product around volume growth (what they are comfortable with), while secretly delivering margin efficiency (what they actually need) on the back end.

Links & Resources:

  • Verissimo Ventures: https://verissimo.vc/
  • Follow Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-oppenheimer/
  • About Very True: Hosted by Alex, Very True by Verissimo Ventures explores the honest, unvarnished stories of founders and the real problems they are solving. We look past the hype to find the truth in technology and entrepreneurship.
]]> In this solo episode of Very True, Alex breaks down a frustrating paradox for B2B founders: why pitching undeniable efficiency and cost-savings to legacy businesses is often a total trap.

If a company has a 2% profit margin, reducing their operating costs by just 2% effectively doubles their profit. It is a mathematical certainty. So why do they completely ignore you when you pitch it? Alex explores the psychological roadblocks that prevent massive corporations from buying logical solutions. He explains why founders need to stop pitching math and start pitching survival, recognizing that corporate culture is heavily driven by risk aversion. By understanding these psychological barriers, you can re-engineer your pitch to give companies what they need in a form factor of what they actually want.

Episode Highlights:

  • [00:00] Understanding the Profit Margin Trap: The 2% profit margin paradox. Alex explains why walking into a high-volume legacy business and pitching mathematical certainty or an overhaul to their cost structure is a trap.
  • [01:37] Cultural Roadblocks in Legacy Businesses: The reality of the corporate survival mindset. Unlike hyper-analytical startups, the culture of large corporations is about stability and not rocking the boat. Alex breaks down the risk-reward asymmetry: why a VP won't risk getting fired over a broken process just to save the company $50 million for a standard 3% bonus.
  • [03:45] The Wedge: Aligning Solutions with Corporate Goals: How to actually win the deal. Alex explains how to identify the acute issue that's top of mind for a legacy buyer and frame your product around volume growth (what they are comfortable with), while secretly delivering margin efficiency (what they actually need) on the back end.

Links & Resources:

  • Verissimo Ventures: https://verissimo.vc/
  • Follow Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-oppenheimer/
  • About Very True: Hosted by Alex, Very True by Verissimo Ventures explores the honest, unvarnished stories of founders and the real problems they are solving. We look past the hype to find the truth in technology and entrepreneurship.
]]> Mon, 23 Feb 2026 22:55:47 +0200 Alex Alex 369 In this solo episode of Very True, Alex breaks down a frustrating paradox for B2B founders: why pitching undeniable efficiency and cost-savings to legacy businesses is often a total trap.

If a company has a 2% profit margin, reducing their operating costs by just 2% effectively doubles their profit. It is a mathematical certainty. So why do they completely ignore you when you pitch it? Alex explores the psychological roadblocks that prevent massive corporations from buying logical solutions. He explains why founders need to stop pitching math and start pitching survival, recognizing that corporate culture is heavily driven by risk aversion. By understanding these psychological barriers, you can re-engineer your pitch to give companies what they need in a form factor of what they actually want.

Episode Highlights:

  • [00:00] Understanding the Profit Margin Trap: The 2% profit margin paradox. Alex explains why walking into a high-volume legacy business and pitching mathematical certainty or an overhaul to their cost structure is a trap.
  • [01:37] Cultural Roadblocks in Legacy Businesses: The reality of the corporate survival mindset. Unlike hyper-analytical startups, the culture of large corporations is about stability and not rocking the boat. Alex breaks down the risk-reward asymmetry: why a VP won't risk getting fired over a broken process just to save the company $50 million for a standard 3% bonus.
  • [03:45] The Wedge: Aligning Solutions with Corporate Goals: How to actually win the deal. Alex explains how to identify the acute issue that's top of mind for a legacy buyer and frame your product around volume growth (what they are comfortable with), while secretly delivering margin efficiency (what they actually need) on the back end.

Links & Resources:

  • Verissimo Ventures: https://verissimo.vc/
  • Follow Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-oppenheimer/
  • About Very True: Hosted by Alex, Very True by Verissimo Ventures explores the honest, unvarnished stories of founders and the real problems they are solving. We look past the hype to find the truth in technology and entrepreneurship.
]]> enterprise sales, sales psychology, startup founders, profit margin, legacy businesses, corporate culture, risk avoidance, B2B software, pitching, the wedge, deal closing, venture capital No Alex Oppenheimer Your Business Model Probably Sucks - Part 2 23 23 Your Business Model Probably Sucks - Part 2 full 9d3759b3-d73d-4702-8728-ca112265a676 https://share.transistor.fm/s/03424ac2 In the second half, Alex moves from theory to tactics. He tackles the often-misunderstood world of unit economics, the innovation of GAAP accounting, and why "Quality of Revenue" is more important than the top-line number. He also shares his framework for why data is the "blood" of a healthy corporate organism.

Episode Highlights

[01:50] The WeWork Warning: Alex reflects on the "dollar for 75 cents" model and why zero-interest-rate environments can hide broken business mechanics for years.

[04:25] Defining Your "Unit": Whether it’s a contract, a cohort, or a node, Alex explains how to find the "least common denominator" where your revenue meets your costs.

[08:00] Financial vs. Business Models: Why a three-statement model is often "made up" of GAAP innovations (like depreciation), while a business model reveals the actual economic engine.

[14:20] The "Uber Playbook" & Unit Economics: A deep dive into how complex marketplaces calculate unit economics, featuring the $6,000 CAC-to-payback example.

[18:45] Quality of Revenue: Alex identifies the three pillars of high-value revenue: Reliability, Profitability(Contribution Margin), and Velocity.

[24:10] Data as Blood: Why finance isn't just about accounting—it’s a blood test for your company. Good data should result in "non-decisions" where the right path becomes mathematically obvious.

Links & Resources:

About Very True: Hosted by Alex, Very True by Verisimo Ventures explores the honest, unvarnished stories of founders and the real problems they are solving. We look past the hype to find the truth in technology and entrepreneurship.


]]> In the second half, Alex moves from theory to tactics. He tackles the often-misunderstood world of unit economics, the innovation of GAAP accounting, and why "Quality of Revenue" is more important than the top-line number. He also shares his framework for why data is the "blood" of a healthy corporate organism.

Episode Highlights

[01:50] The WeWork Warning: Alex reflects on the "dollar for 75 cents" model and why zero-interest-rate environments can hide broken business mechanics for years.

[04:25] Defining Your "Unit": Whether it’s a contract, a cohort, or a node, Alex explains how to find the "least common denominator" where your revenue meets your costs.

[08:00] Financial vs. Business Models: Why a three-statement model is often "made up" of GAAP innovations (like depreciation), while a business model reveals the actual economic engine.

[14:20] The "Uber Playbook" & Unit Economics: A deep dive into how complex marketplaces calculate unit economics, featuring the $6,000 CAC-to-payback example.

[18:45] Quality of Revenue: Alex identifies the three pillars of high-value revenue: Reliability, Profitability(Contribution Margin), and Velocity.

[24:10] Data as Blood: Why finance isn't just about accounting—it’s a blood test for your company. Good data should result in "non-decisions" where the right path becomes mathematically obvious.

Links & Resources:

About Very True: Hosted by Alex, Very True by Verisimo Ventures explores the honest, unvarnished stories of founders and the real problems they are solving. We look past the hype to find the truth in technology and entrepreneurship.


]]> Mon, 16 Feb 2026 17:00:00 +0200 Alex Alex 3208 In the second half, Alex moves from theory to tactics. He tackles the often-misunderstood world of unit economics, the innovation of GAAP accounting, and why "Quality of Revenue" is more important than the top-line number. He also shares his framework for why data is the "blood" of a healthy corporate organism.

Episode Highlights

[01:50] The WeWork Warning: Alex reflects on the "dollar for 75 cents" model and why zero-interest-rate environments can hide broken business mechanics for years.

[04:25] Defining Your "Unit": Whether it’s a contract, a cohort, or a node, Alex explains how to find the "least common denominator" where your revenue meets your costs.

[08:00] Financial vs. Business Models: Why a three-statement model is often "made up" of GAAP innovations (like depreciation), while a business model reveals the actual economic engine.

[14:20] The "Uber Playbook" & Unit Economics: A deep dive into how complex marketplaces calculate unit economics, featuring the $6,000 CAC-to-payback example.

[18:45] Quality of Revenue: Alex identifies the three pillars of high-value revenue: Reliability, Profitability(Contribution Margin), and Velocity.

[24:10] Data as Blood: Why finance isn't just about accounting—it’s a blood test for your company. Good data should result in "non-decisions" where the right path becomes mathematically obvious.

Links & Resources:

About Very True: Hosted by Alex, Very True by Verisimo Ventures explores the honest, unvarnished stories of founders and the real problems they are solving. We look past the hype to find the truth in technology and entrepreneurship.


]]> Unit Economics, SaaS Metrics, Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC), LTV, Profitability, Quality of Revenue, Cash Flow, Startup Finance. Contribution Margin, CAC Payback, Marketplace Model, Uber Unit Economics, SaaS 202, Revenue Velocity, GAAP vs Economics, Terminal Value. No Alex Oppenheimer Your Business Model Probably Sucks - Part 1 22 22 Your Business Model Probably Sucks - Part 1 full 68aef7c8-6ad0-4889-9064-575ed7daead9 https://share.transistor.fm/s/5b7bb545 In the first half of this solo deep dive, Alex draws on his background in mechanical engineering to explain why a business model is like a CAD (Computer-Aided Design) drawing. If you can’t simulate your business's "tolerances" digitally, they will surely clash in the real world.

Episode Highlights

  • [01:25] The Emperor’s New Clothes Venture capital often rewards perception over value. Alex discusses why it’s easy to get funded but hard to build something that actually makes sense financially down the road.
  • [05:22] Why Your Business Needs a "CAD" Model Just like in mechanical engineering, if a system is too complex to hold in your head, you must model it. Alex explains how digital simulations catch "part conflicts" before you waste millions in capital.
  • [08:14] The Marshall McCall Test "Your outline is weak, and therefore you are weak." Alex breaks down the cognitive dissonance and "fear-based laziness" that stops founders from doing the rigorous math early on.
  • [11:53] Transitioning from Startup to Growth The pivotal moment: realizing that your product is not what you’re selling—the entire business is the product.
  • [12:38] The "One Column Model" Masterclass A simple, actionable framework to audit your business using three elements:
    1. Independent Variables: The inputs you control.
    2. Dependent Variables: The lagging indicators and outputs.
    3. Mechanics: The equations and "physics" that connect them.

Next Up: In Part 2, Alex moves from theory to the tactical math of "Units" and the "Blood" of business data.


Links & Resources:

About Very True: Hosted by Alex, Very True by Verisimo Ventures explores the honest, unvarnished stories of founders and the real problems they are solving. We look past the hype to find the truth in technology and entrepreneurship.


]]> In the first half of this solo deep dive, Alex draws on his background in mechanical engineering to explain why a business model is like a CAD (Computer-Aided Design) drawing. If you can’t simulate your business's "tolerances" digitally, they will surely clash in the real world.

Episode Highlights

  • [01:25] The Emperor’s New Clothes Venture capital often rewards perception over value. Alex discusses why it’s easy to get funded but hard to build something that actually makes sense financially down the road.
  • [05:22] Why Your Business Needs a "CAD" Model Just like in mechanical engineering, if a system is too complex to hold in your head, you must model it. Alex explains how digital simulations catch "part conflicts" before you waste millions in capital.
  • [08:14] The Marshall McCall Test "Your outline is weak, and therefore you are weak." Alex breaks down the cognitive dissonance and "fear-based laziness" that stops founders from doing the rigorous math early on.
  • [11:53] Transitioning from Startup to Growth The pivotal moment: realizing that your product is not what you’re selling—the entire business is the product.
  • [12:38] The "One Column Model" Masterclass A simple, actionable framework to audit your business using three elements:
    1. Independent Variables: The inputs you control.
    2. Dependent Variables: The lagging indicators and outputs.
    3. Mechanics: The equations and "physics" that connect them.

Next Up: In Part 2, Alex moves from theory to the tactical math of "Units" and the "Blood" of business data.


Links & Resources:

About Very True: Hosted by Alex, Very True by Verisimo Ventures explores the honest, unvarnished stories of founders and the real problems they are solving. We look past the hype to find the truth in technology and entrepreneurship.


]]> Thu, 12 Feb 2026 14:00:00 +0200 Alex Alex 760 In the first half of this solo deep dive, Alex draws on his background in mechanical engineering to explain why a business model is like a CAD (Computer-Aided Design) drawing. If you can’t simulate your business's "tolerances" digitally, they will surely clash in the real world.

Episode Highlights

  • [01:25] The Emperor’s New Clothes Venture capital often rewards perception over value. Alex discusses why it’s easy to get funded but hard to build something that actually makes sense financially down the road.
  • [05:22] Why Your Business Needs a "CAD" Model Just like in mechanical engineering, if a system is too complex to hold in your head, you must model it. Alex explains how digital simulations catch "part conflicts" before you waste millions in capital.
  • [08:14] The Marshall McCall Test "Your outline is weak, and therefore you are weak." Alex breaks down the cognitive dissonance and "fear-based laziness" that stops founders from doing the rigorous math early on.
  • [11:53] Transitioning from Startup to Growth The pivotal moment: realizing that your product is not what you’re selling—the entire business is the product.
  • [12:38] The "One Column Model" Masterclass A simple, actionable framework to audit your business using three elements:
    1. Independent Variables: The inputs you control.
    2. Dependent Variables: The lagging indicators and outputs.
    3. Mechanics: The equations and "physics" that connect them.

Next Up: In Part 2, Alex moves from theory to the tactical math of "Units" and the "Blood" of business data.


Links & Resources:

About Very True: Hosted by Alex, Very True by Verisimo Ventures explores the honest, unvarnished stories of founders and the real problems they are solving. We look past the hype to find the truth in technology and entrepreneurship.


]]> Business Model Strategy, Venture Capital, Startup Growth, Financial Modeling, Founder Advice, Capitalization, Entrepreneurship, Product Market Fit. CAD for Business, Independent Variables, Stanford GSB, Engineering Mindset, One Column Model, Value Accrual, Seed Funding. No Alex Oppenheimer How Growth Can Drain Your Cash Faster than You Can Raise Money with Ariel Menche 21 21 How Growth Can Drain Your Cash Faster than You Can Raise Money with Ariel Menche full 6efcfa2f-6a93-4e14-a5ff-2d51810703e2 https://share.transistor.fm/s/2da80b89 In this episode of Very True, Alex sits down with Ariel Menche, Founder and CEO of Raftel Strategy, to explore the calculus of the modern business model: The New Net Working Capital. Following up on their first conversation, they move from theory to high stakes scenario modeling, breaking down why traditional accounting often fails to capture the reality of SaaS and AI driven companies.

Alex and Ariel dive deep into the working capital hole explaining why even a company with great unit economics can go bust by growing too fast. They cover the dangers of relying on LTV as a benchmark, the hidden costs of AI on gross margins, and how to build a True CAC model that tracks the actual attribution of every dollar spent. This episode is a masterclass for founders on how to stop lighting money on fire and start building a self funding growth engine.

Episode Highlights:

  • [01:05] The Modern Float: Ariel redefines Net Working Capital for the software age, explaining it not as physical inventory, but as the cash cushion required to fund the gap between spending and receiving subscription revenue.
  • [04:02] The LTV Graveyard: Why Alex has thrown LTV in the garbage as a benchmark and how to shift your focus toward LTV as a strictly internal, cohort based operating metric.
  • [08:31] The AI Margin Squeeze: A critical warning on how AI token costs and high touch customer success are ending the era of 99% gross margins and what that means for your unit economics.
  • [12:25] Mastering CAC Payback: Why CAC payback is the ultimate unit economic metric and how to calculate it accurately using the inverse of your churn rate.
  • [14:15] Building True CAC: Alex breaks down the attribution math for a 6 month enterprise sales cycle mapping marketing spend, SDR costs, and AE commissions to the actual month they occur.
  • [20:12] The Annual Contract Hack: Lessons from the early days of monday.com on why being maniacal about annual upfront payments is the best way to solve the working capital problem.
  • [27:44] The No Chain Bike: A powerful analogy on the dangers of venture growth: pedaling as fast as you can with marketing spend, only to realize you’re just coasting downhill without actual attribution.
  • [29:02] The Self Funding Formula: Ariel shares his framework for calculating whether your current customer base generates enough margin to fund the acquisition of new customers without outside debt.
  • [32:12] Three Lenses of Finance: The three types of metrics every founder needs to run a modern tech company: Accounting, Cash, and Economic metrics.

Links & Resources:

About Very True: Hosted by Alex, Very True by Verissimo Ventures explores the honest, unvarnished stories of founders and the real problems they are solving. We look past the hype to find the truth in technology and entrepreneurship.

]]> In this episode of Very True, Alex sits down with Ariel Menche, Founder and CEO of Raftel Strategy, to explore the calculus of the modern business model: The New Net Working Capital. Following up on their first conversation, they move from theory to high stakes scenario modeling, breaking down why traditional accounting often fails to capture the reality of SaaS and AI driven companies.

Alex and Ariel dive deep into the working capital hole explaining why even a company with great unit economics can go bust by growing too fast. They cover the dangers of relying on LTV as a benchmark, the hidden costs of AI on gross margins, and how to build a True CAC model that tracks the actual attribution of every dollar spent. This episode is a masterclass for founders on how to stop lighting money on fire and start building a self funding growth engine.

Episode Highlights:

  • [01:05] The Modern Float: Ariel redefines Net Working Capital for the software age, explaining it not as physical inventory, but as the cash cushion required to fund the gap between spending and receiving subscription revenue.
  • [04:02] The LTV Graveyard: Why Alex has thrown LTV in the garbage as a benchmark and how to shift your focus toward LTV as a strictly internal, cohort based operating metric.
  • [08:31] The AI Margin Squeeze: A critical warning on how AI token costs and high touch customer success are ending the era of 99% gross margins and what that means for your unit economics.
  • [12:25] Mastering CAC Payback: Why CAC payback is the ultimate unit economic metric and how to calculate it accurately using the inverse of your churn rate.
  • [14:15] Building True CAC: Alex breaks down the attribution math for a 6 month enterprise sales cycle mapping marketing spend, SDR costs, and AE commissions to the actual month they occur.
  • [20:12] The Annual Contract Hack: Lessons from the early days of monday.com on why being maniacal about annual upfront payments is the best way to solve the working capital problem.
  • [27:44] The No Chain Bike: A powerful analogy on the dangers of venture growth: pedaling as fast as you can with marketing spend, only to realize you’re just coasting downhill without actual attribution.
  • [29:02] The Self Funding Formula: Ariel shares his framework for calculating whether your current customer base generates enough margin to fund the acquisition of new customers without outside debt.
  • [32:12] Three Lenses of Finance: The three types of metrics every founder needs to run a modern tech company: Accounting, Cash, and Economic metrics.

Links & Resources:

About Very True: Hosted by Alex, Very True by Verissimo Ventures explores the honest, unvarnished stories of founders and the real problems they are solving. We look past the hype to find the truth in technology and entrepreneurship.

]]> Thu, 05 Feb 2026 16:38:47 +0200 Alex Alex 2047 In this episode of Very True, Alex sits down with Ariel Menche, Founder and CEO of Raftel Strategy, to explore the calculus of the modern business model: The New Net Working Capital. Following up on their first conversation, they move from theory to high stakes scenario modeling, breaking down why traditional accounting often fails to capture the reality of SaaS and AI driven companies.

Alex and Ariel dive deep into the working capital hole explaining why even a company with great unit economics can go bust by growing too fast. They cover the dangers of relying on LTV as a benchmark, the hidden costs of AI on gross margins, and how to build a True CAC model that tracks the actual attribution of every dollar spent. This episode is a masterclass for founders on how to stop lighting money on fire and start building a self funding growth engine.

Episode Highlights:

  • [01:05] The Modern Float: Ariel redefines Net Working Capital for the software age, explaining it not as physical inventory, but as the cash cushion required to fund the gap between spending and receiving subscription revenue.
  • [04:02] The LTV Graveyard: Why Alex has thrown LTV in the garbage as a benchmark and how to shift your focus toward LTV as a strictly internal, cohort based operating metric.
  • [08:31] The AI Margin Squeeze: A critical warning on how AI token costs and high touch customer success are ending the era of 99% gross margins and what that means for your unit economics.
  • [12:25] Mastering CAC Payback: Why CAC payback is the ultimate unit economic metric and how to calculate it accurately using the inverse of your churn rate.
  • [14:15] Building True CAC: Alex breaks down the attribution math for a 6 month enterprise sales cycle mapping marketing spend, SDR costs, and AE commissions to the actual month they occur.
  • [20:12] The Annual Contract Hack: Lessons from the early days of monday.com on why being maniacal about annual upfront payments is the best way to solve the working capital problem.
  • [27:44] The No Chain Bike: A powerful analogy on the dangers of venture growth: pedaling as fast as you can with marketing spend, only to realize you’re just coasting downhill without actual attribution.
  • [29:02] The Self Funding Formula: Ariel shares his framework for calculating whether your current customer base generates enough margin to fund the acquisition of new customers without outside debt.
  • [32:12] Three Lenses of Finance: The three types of metrics every founder needs to run a modern tech company: Accounting, Cash, and Economic metrics.

Links & Resources:

About Very True: Hosted by Alex, Very True by Verissimo Ventures explores the honest, unvarnished stories of founders and the real problems they are solving. We look past the hype to find the truth in technology and entrepreneurship.

]]> Net Working Capital, Strategic Finance, Unit Economics, CAC Payback, SaaS Metrics, Cash Flow Modeling, LTV, Customer Acquisition Cost, Gross Margin, Cohort Analysis, Subscription Business Models, Marketing Attribution, Capital Efficiency, Fractional CFO, Annual Upfront Contracts, AI Marginal Costs, Venture Growth, Scenario Planning, Cash Conversion Cycle, Sales Cycle Attribution. No Alex Oppenheimer Ariel Menche Living in Sprints: Navigating the Eras of a Founder's Life with Todd Saunders 20 20 Living in Sprints: Navigating the Eras of a Founder's Life with Todd Saunders full 3a8cd142-75c6-4aa4-ac46-970efe03ba0b https://share.transistor.fm/s/71c132d4 In this episode of Very True, Alex sits down with Todd Saunders, CEO of Broadlume, to explore the nonlinear path from Big Tech employee to vertical SaaS mogul. Todd shares his journey of leaving a comfortable job at Google to launch a horizontal ad-tech company, only to discover a hidden goldmine in the flooring industry, a pivot that transformed his business into a dominant market player.

Alex and Todd dive deep into the philosophy of "Living in Sprints," discussing how high-performers navigate the intense phases of life, from the academic grind to the startup gauntlet and eventually to family life. They dismantle the "Golden Handcuffs" myth, debate the true definition of wealth (cash flow vs. paper equity), and explain why "valuation optionality" is often more valuable to a founder than a massive headline-grabbing valuation.

Episode Highlights:

  • [03:21] The Accidental Pivot: Todd reveals how he discovered that 30% of his ad-tech revenue was coming from local flooring stores, leading to a massive pivot from a horizontal platform to a specialized vertical SaaS juggernaut.
  • [04:46] Escaping the Machine: Why Todd walked away from Google after only two years to chase "unlimited upside" and control his own destiny, despite having no other job offers.
  • [11:47] The Golden Handcuffs Trap: A candid look at how high salaries in finance and Big Tech can trap talented people in lifestyle creep, preventing them from ever taking the entrepreneurial leap.
  • [32:25] Living in Sprints: Todd and Alex discuss the concept of "sprints"—how life is defined not by a steady cruise, but by intense periods of focus (high school, banking, early-stage building) and the challenge of finding the next mountain to climb
  • [25:11] Valuation Optionality: Why raising a "$100M Seed Round" can actually be a death sentence for a startup. Todd explains the math behind maintaining a valuation that allows for multiple exit scenarios, not just a unicorn-or-bust outcome.
  • [49:54] The Case for Founder Secondaries: Alex argues why allowing founders to take some chips off the table early (via secondary sales) actually aligns them better with investors and allows them to play "offense only."

Links & Resources:

About Very True: Hosted by Alex, Very True by Verisimo Ventures explores the honest, unvarnished stories of founders and the real problems they are solving. We look past the hype to find the truth in technology and entrepreneurship.

]]> In this episode of Very True, Alex sits down with Todd Saunders, CEO of Broadlume, to explore the nonlinear path from Big Tech employee to vertical SaaS mogul. Todd shares his journey of leaving a comfortable job at Google to launch a horizontal ad-tech company, only to discover a hidden goldmine in the flooring industry, a pivot that transformed his business into a dominant market player.

Alex and Todd dive deep into the philosophy of "Living in Sprints," discussing how high-performers navigate the intense phases of life, from the academic grind to the startup gauntlet and eventually to family life. They dismantle the "Golden Handcuffs" myth, debate the true definition of wealth (cash flow vs. paper equity), and explain why "valuation optionality" is often more valuable to a founder than a massive headline-grabbing valuation.

Episode Highlights:

  • [03:21] The Accidental Pivot: Todd reveals how he discovered that 30% of his ad-tech revenue was coming from local flooring stores, leading to a massive pivot from a horizontal platform to a specialized vertical SaaS juggernaut.
  • [04:46] Escaping the Machine: Why Todd walked away from Google after only two years to chase "unlimited upside" and control his own destiny, despite having no other job offers.
  • [11:47] The Golden Handcuffs Trap: A candid look at how high salaries in finance and Big Tech can trap talented people in lifestyle creep, preventing them from ever taking the entrepreneurial leap.
  • [32:25] Living in Sprints: Todd and Alex discuss the concept of "sprints"—how life is defined not by a steady cruise, but by intense periods of focus (high school, banking, early-stage building) and the challenge of finding the next mountain to climb
  • [25:11] Valuation Optionality: Why raising a "$100M Seed Round" can actually be a death sentence for a startup. Todd explains the math behind maintaining a valuation that allows for multiple exit scenarios, not just a unicorn-or-bust outcome.
  • [49:54] The Case for Founder Secondaries: Alex argues why allowing founders to take some chips off the table early (via secondary sales) actually aligns them better with investors and allows them to play "offense only."

Links & Resources:

About Very True: Hosted by Alex, Very True by Verisimo Ventures explores the honest, unvarnished stories of founders and the real problems they are solving. We look past the hype to find the truth in technology and entrepreneurship.

]]> Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:33:57 +0200 Alex Alex 3221 In this episode of Very True, Alex sits down with Todd Saunders, CEO of Broadlume, to explore the nonlinear path from Big Tech employee to vertical SaaS mogul. Todd shares his journey of leaving a comfortable job at Google to launch a horizontal ad-tech company, only to discover a hidden goldmine in the flooring industry, a pivot that transformed his business into a dominant market player.

Alex and Todd dive deep into the philosophy of "Living in Sprints," discussing how high-performers navigate the intense phases of life, from the academic grind to the startup gauntlet and eventually to family life. They dismantle the "Golden Handcuffs" myth, debate the true definition of wealth (cash flow vs. paper equity), and explain why "valuation optionality" is often more valuable to a founder than a massive headline-grabbing valuation.

Episode Highlights:

  • [03:21] The Accidental Pivot: Todd reveals how he discovered that 30% of his ad-tech revenue was coming from local flooring stores, leading to a massive pivot from a horizontal platform to a specialized vertical SaaS juggernaut.
  • [04:46] Escaping the Machine: Why Todd walked away from Google after only two years to chase "unlimited upside" and control his own destiny, despite having no other job offers.
  • [11:47] The Golden Handcuffs Trap: A candid look at how high salaries in finance and Big Tech can trap talented people in lifestyle creep, preventing them from ever taking the entrepreneurial leap.
  • [32:25] Living in Sprints: Todd and Alex discuss the concept of "sprints"—how life is defined not by a steady cruise, but by intense periods of focus (high school, banking, early-stage building) and the challenge of finding the next mountain to climb
  • [25:11] Valuation Optionality: Why raising a "$100M Seed Round" can actually be a death sentence for a startup. Todd explains the math behind maintaining a valuation that allows for multiple exit scenarios, not just a unicorn-or-bust outcome.
  • [49:54] The Case for Founder Secondaries: Alex argues why allowing founders to take some chips off the table early (via secondary sales) actually aligns them better with investors and allows them to play "offense only."

Links & Resources:

About Very True: Hosted by Alex, Very True by Verisimo Ventures explores the honest, unvarnished stories of founders and the real problems they are solving. We look past the hype to find the truth in technology and entrepreneurship.

]]> Vertical SaaS, Founder Psychology, Valuation Optionality, Pivot Strategy, Startup Exits, Venture Capital, Entrepreneurship, Living in Sprints, Golden Handcuffs, Founder Secondaries, AdTech, Cash Flow vs Equity, Bootstrapping vs VC, Dilution, Niche Markets, Todd Saunders, Broadlume, Alex Oppenheimer, Verisimo Ventures, Google Alumni, AdTech to SaaS Pivot, Building Enduring Businesses, Startup Wealth Generation, Escaping Big Tech. No Alex Oppenheimer Todd Saudners How Bad Finance Kills Good Companies with Ariel Menche of Raftel Strategy 19 19 How Bad Finance Kills Good Companies with Ariel Menche of Raftel Strategy full 7c168536-bbbc-4bf1-b61a-a11a2aebaa40 https://share.transistor.fm/s/82fa8a7a In this episode of Very True, Alex sits down with Ariel Menche, Founder and CEO of Raftel Strategy, to demystify the critical difference between "accounting" and "strategic finance." Ariel shares his journey from strategy consulting at KPMG and managing budgets at WWE to becoming a go-to fractional CFO for startups. Together, they dismantle the misconception that finance is just about paying taxes and processing payroll.

Alex and Ariel dive deep into the "arithmetic vs. calculus" of business—explaining why accounting looks backward at compliance, while true finance looks forward at exponential growth. They cover the essential "four hats" of a modern CFO, the often-overlooked power of net working capital (using Costco as a prime example), and why traditional SaaS metrics and benchmarking can sometimes lead founders off a cliff.

Episode Highlights:

  • [02:22] From the Ring to the Boardroom: Ariel shares his background moving from high-level strategy at KPMG to managing finances at WWE, and his eventual Aliyah to Israel to found Raftel Strategy.
  • [16:07] Street Smarts vs. Book Smarts: The lesson Ariel learned from his father’s Brooklyn factory: "Anyone can sell something, but it’s another thing to get paid."
  • [19:17] Arithmetic vs. Calculus: Alex explains why accounting is linear arithmetic (compliance) while startup finance requires calculus (modeling exponential growth).
  • [21:43] The Four Hats of the CFO: Breaking down the distinct roles within the office of the CFO: Accounting, Treasury, FP&A (Financial Planning & Analysis), and Corp Dev/IR.
  • [27:56] The Hidden Cash Engine: A deep dive into Net Working Capital, deferred revenue, and how companies like Costco use negative cash conversion cycles to fund their own growth.
  • [36:54] The "SaaS Magic Number" Trap: Why linear growth is death in the software world, and how to analyze sales efficiency when aiming for non-linear scale.
  • [49:07] Organizational Debt: How "garbage in, garbage out" data practices and poor chart of accounts structures can blind a CEO to the reality of their business model.
  • [57:43] Against Benchmarking: Why comparing your unique startup to industry averages is often a waste of time compared to optimizing your internal LTV and customer cohorts.



  • About Very True: Hosted by Alex, Very True by Verissimo Ventures explores the honest, unvarnished stories of founders and the real problems they are solving. We look past the hype to find the truth in technology and entrepreneurship.
]]> In this episode of Very True, Alex sits down with Ariel Menche, Founder and CEO of Raftel Strategy, to demystify the critical difference between "accounting" and "strategic finance." Ariel shares his journey from strategy consulting at KPMG and managing budgets at WWE to becoming a go-to fractional CFO for startups. Together, they dismantle the misconception that finance is just about paying taxes and processing payroll.

Alex and Ariel dive deep into the "arithmetic vs. calculus" of business—explaining why accounting looks backward at compliance, while true finance looks forward at exponential growth. They cover the essential "four hats" of a modern CFO, the often-overlooked power of net working capital (using Costco as a prime example), and why traditional SaaS metrics and benchmarking can sometimes lead founders off a cliff.

Episode Highlights:

  • [02:22] From the Ring to the Boardroom: Ariel shares his background moving from high-level strategy at KPMG to managing finances at WWE, and his eventual Aliyah to Israel to found Raftel Strategy.
  • [16:07] Street Smarts vs. Book Smarts: The lesson Ariel learned from his father’s Brooklyn factory: "Anyone can sell something, but it’s another thing to get paid."
  • [19:17] Arithmetic vs. Calculus: Alex explains why accounting is linear arithmetic (compliance) while startup finance requires calculus (modeling exponential growth).
  • [21:43] The Four Hats of the CFO: Breaking down the distinct roles within the office of the CFO: Accounting, Treasury, FP&A (Financial Planning & Analysis), and Corp Dev/IR.
  • [27:56] The Hidden Cash Engine: A deep dive into Net Working Capital, deferred revenue, and how companies like Costco use negative cash conversion cycles to fund their own growth.
  • [36:54] The "SaaS Magic Number" Trap: Why linear growth is death in the software world, and how to analyze sales efficiency when aiming for non-linear scale.
  • [49:07] Organizational Debt: How "garbage in, garbage out" data practices and poor chart of accounts structures can blind a CEO to the reality of their business model.
  • [57:43] Against Benchmarking: Why comparing your unique startup to industry averages is often a waste of time compared to optimizing your internal LTV and customer cohorts.



  • About Very True: Hosted by Alex, Very True by Verissimo Ventures explores the honest, unvarnished stories of founders and the real problems they are solving. We look past the hype to find the truth in technology and entrepreneurship.
]]> Wed, 14 Jan 2026 17:42:34 +0200 Alex Alex 3717 In this episode of Very True, Alex sits down with Ariel Menche, Founder and CEO of Raftel Strategy, to demystify the critical difference between "accounting" and "strategic finance." Ariel shares his journey from strategy consulting at KPMG and managing budgets at WWE to becoming a go-to fractional CFO for startups. Together, they dismantle the misconception that finance is just about paying taxes and processing payroll.

Alex and Ariel dive deep into the "arithmetic vs. calculus" of business—explaining why accounting looks backward at compliance, while true finance looks forward at exponential growth. They cover the essential "four hats" of a modern CFO, the often-overlooked power of net working capital (using Costco as a prime example), and why traditional SaaS metrics and benchmarking can sometimes lead founders off a cliff.

Episode Highlights:

  • [02:22] From the Ring to the Boardroom: Ariel shares his background moving from high-level strategy at KPMG to managing finances at WWE, and his eventual Aliyah to Israel to found Raftel Strategy.
  • [16:07] Street Smarts vs. Book Smarts: The lesson Ariel learned from his father’s Brooklyn factory: "Anyone can sell something, but it’s another thing to get paid."
  • [19:17] Arithmetic vs. Calculus: Alex explains why accounting is linear arithmetic (compliance) while startup finance requires calculus (modeling exponential growth).
  • [21:43] The Four Hats of the CFO: Breaking down the distinct roles within the office of the CFO: Accounting, Treasury, FP&A (Financial Planning & Analysis), and Corp Dev/IR.
  • [27:56] The Hidden Cash Engine: A deep dive into Net Working Capital, deferred revenue, and how companies like Costco use negative cash conversion cycles to fund their own growth.
  • [36:54] The "SaaS Magic Number" Trap: Why linear growth is death in the software world, and how to analyze sales efficiency when aiming for non-linear scale.
  • [49:07] Organizational Debt: How "garbage in, garbage out" data practices and poor chart of accounts structures can blind a CEO to the reality of their business model.
  • [57:43] Against Benchmarking: Why comparing your unique startup to industry averages is often a waste of time compared to optimizing your internal LTV and customer cohorts.



  • About Very True: Hosted by Alex, Very True by Verissimo Ventures explores the honest, unvarnished stories of founders and the real problems they are solving. We look past the hype to find the truth in technology and entrepreneurship.
]]> Strategic Finance, FP&A, CFO, Startup Finance, SaaS Metrics, Net Working Capital, Financial Modeling, Accounting vs Finance, Unit Economics, Fundraising, Cash Flow Management, Venture Capital, Corporate Strategy No Alex Oppenheimer Ariel Menche Investing in AI, Selling Secondaries and Venture Math with Nick Fitz of Juniper Ventures 16 16 Investing in AI, Selling Secondaries and Venture Math with Nick Fitz of Juniper Ventures full b9116ff9-f132-4f6f-a041-2b99b15c2cd7 https://share.transistor.fm/s/6866f370 In this conversation, Alex Oppenheimer of Verissimo Ventures and Nick Fitz of Juniper Ventures discuss venture math, seed investing philosophy, building and fundies AI companies, selling secondary and much more. Just two emerging VC managers talking shop during a spontaneous car ride in San Francisco. 

Keywords

startups, venture capital, investment strategies, AI talent, liquidity, fund management, secondary sales, fundraising, investment returns, decision making


Chapters

00:00 The Startup Landscape: A 100 Company Analysis
05:46 The Sweet Spot: Companies Two to Five
11:52 Moments of Liquidity: Selling Secondary Shares
17:55 The Dynamics of Fund Management and Fees
26:21 The Challenges of Fundraising and Founder Empathy
34:41 Navigating Ownership and Investment Strategies
39:45 The Importance of Check Size and Quality in Investments

]]> In this conversation, Alex Oppenheimer of Verissimo Ventures and Nick Fitz of Juniper Ventures discuss venture math, seed investing philosophy, building and fundies AI companies, selling secondary and much more. Just two emerging VC managers talking shop during a spontaneous car ride in San Francisco. 

Keywords

startups, venture capital, investment strategies, AI talent, liquidity, fund management, secondary sales, fundraising, investment returns, decision making


Chapters

00:00 The Startup Landscape: A 100 Company Analysis
05:46 The Sweet Spot: Companies Two to Five
11:52 Moments of Liquidity: Selling Secondary Shares
17:55 The Dynamics of Fund Management and Fees
26:21 The Challenges of Fundraising and Founder Empathy
34:41 Navigating Ownership and Investment Strategies
39:45 The Importance of Check Size and Quality in Investments

]]> Mon, 29 Dec 2025 16:27:33 +0200 Alex Alex 2134 In this conversation, Alex Oppenheimer of Verissimo Ventures and Nick Fitz of Juniper Ventures discuss venture math, seed investing philosophy, building and fundies AI companies, selling secondary and much more. Just two emerging VC managers talking shop during a spontaneous car ride in San Francisco. 

Keywords

startups, venture capital, investment strategies, AI talent, liquidity, fund management, secondary sales, fundraising, investment returns, decision making


Chapters

00:00 The Startup Landscape: A 100 Company Analysis
05:46 The Sweet Spot: Companies Two to Five
11:52 Moments of Liquidity: Selling Secondary Shares
17:55 The Dynamics of Fund Management and Fees
26:21 The Challenges of Fundraising and Founder Empathy
34:41 Navigating Ownership and Investment Strategies
39:45 The Importance of Check Size and Quality in Investments

]]> No Alex Oppenheimer Nick Fitz From Craft Beer to Autonomous Checkout: Living Life in Chapters with Avi Moskowitz, CEO of PDQ 18 18 From Craft Beer to Autonomous Checkout: Living Life in Chapters with Avi Moskowitz, CEO of PDQ full 5cae9069-5aff-422f-909a-27c96baedc83 https://share.transistor.fm/s/69580a8c In this episode of Very True, Alex sits down with Avi Moskowitz, Founder and CEO of PDQ, to explore the evolution of e-commerce from a simple "copy-paste" of retail to a data-driven, personalized experience. Avi shares his unique entrepreneurial journey—from bootstrapping an ISP and selling medical software to managing a craft beer business in Israel—and how those diverse "chapters" led him to tackle the $270 billion problem of cart abandonment. Together, they discuss why trust and logistics are the new battlegrounds for merchants, how to listen to customers at scale using AI, and the future of "autonomous checkout."


Episode Highlights:

  • [00:00] Intro: Alex introduces Avi Moskowitz and his non-traditional path to Silicon Valley success.
  • [03:11] The Early Chapters: Growing up as the son of Holocaust survivors, early ventures in shoe shining, and bootstrapping an ISP during the internet's infancy.
  • [05:33] The "Shut Up" Method: A critical lesson in sales: carrying index cards in his pocket to remind him to listen twice as much as he spoke.
  • [10:27] The Beer Bazaar Story: How running a craft beer business in Israel and personally delivering hundreds of orders during COVID exposed the "trust gap" in e-commerce.
  • [13:50] The Amazon Standard: Why Amazon wins on boring logistics and predictability, and why most other merchants lose customers by failing to build confidence at checkout.
  • [18:37] Segmentation & Personalization: How PDQ uses over 1,600 data points to treat every customer differently—customizing offers, shipping, and badges based on real-time data.
  • [21:01] Autonomous Checkout: The future of e-commerce where AI manages unit economics and business strategy in real-time to save sales.
  • [36:40] Logistics as Marketing: Why the post-purchase experience (shipping, tracking, and delivery) is more important than the product itself for retaining customers.
  • [51:37] The "WISMO" Plague: Why 50% of "Where Is My Order" tickets are submitted the same day an order is placed, and what that says about the state of online trust.

Links & Resources:

About Very True: Hosted by Alex, Very True by Verissimo Ventures explores the honest, unvarnished stories of founders and the real problems they are solving. We look past the hype to find the truth in technology and entrepreneurship.

]]> In this episode of Very True, Alex sits down with Avi Moskowitz, Founder and CEO of PDQ, to explore the evolution of e-commerce from a simple "copy-paste" of retail to a data-driven, personalized experience. Avi shares his unique entrepreneurial journey—from bootstrapping an ISP and selling medical software to managing a craft beer business in Israel—and how those diverse "chapters" led him to tackle the $270 billion problem of cart abandonment. Together, they discuss why trust and logistics are the new battlegrounds for merchants, how to listen to customers at scale using AI, and the future of "autonomous checkout."


Episode Highlights:

  • [00:00] Intro: Alex introduces Avi Moskowitz and his non-traditional path to Silicon Valley success.
  • [03:11] The Early Chapters: Growing up as the son of Holocaust survivors, early ventures in shoe shining, and bootstrapping an ISP during the internet's infancy.
  • [05:33] The "Shut Up" Method: A critical lesson in sales: carrying index cards in his pocket to remind him to listen twice as much as he spoke.
  • [10:27] The Beer Bazaar Story: How running a craft beer business in Israel and personally delivering hundreds of orders during COVID exposed the "trust gap" in e-commerce.
  • [13:50] The Amazon Standard: Why Amazon wins on boring logistics and predictability, and why most other merchants lose customers by failing to build confidence at checkout.
  • [18:37] Segmentation & Personalization: How PDQ uses over 1,600 data points to treat every customer differently—customizing offers, shipping, and badges based on real-time data.
  • [21:01] Autonomous Checkout: The future of e-commerce where AI manages unit economics and business strategy in real-time to save sales.
  • [36:40] Logistics as Marketing: Why the post-purchase experience (shipping, tracking, and delivery) is more important than the product itself for retaining customers.
  • [51:37] The "WISMO" Plague: Why 50% of "Where Is My Order" tickets are submitted the same day an order is placed, and what that says about the state of online trust.

Links & Resources:

About Very True: Hosted by Alex, Very True by Verissimo Ventures explores the honest, unvarnished stories of founders and the real problems they are solving. We look past the hype to find the truth in technology and entrepreneurship.

]]> Mon, 22 Dec 2025 17:11:16 +0200 Alex Alex 2760 In this episode of Very True, Alex sits down with Avi Moskowitz, Founder and CEO of PDQ, to explore the evolution of e-commerce from a simple "copy-paste" of retail to a data-driven, personalized experience. Avi shares his unique entrepreneurial journey—from bootstrapping an ISP and selling medical software to managing a craft beer business in Israel—and how those diverse "chapters" led him to tackle the $270 billion problem of cart abandonment. Together, they discuss why trust and logistics are the new battlegrounds for merchants, how to listen to customers at scale using AI, and the future of "autonomous checkout."


Episode Highlights:

  • [00:00] Intro: Alex introduces Avi Moskowitz and his non-traditional path to Silicon Valley success.
  • [03:11] The Early Chapters: Growing up as the son of Holocaust survivors, early ventures in shoe shining, and bootstrapping an ISP during the internet's infancy.
  • [05:33] The "Shut Up" Method: A critical lesson in sales: carrying index cards in his pocket to remind him to listen twice as much as he spoke.
  • [10:27] The Beer Bazaar Story: How running a craft beer business in Israel and personally delivering hundreds of orders during COVID exposed the "trust gap" in e-commerce.
  • [13:50] The Amazon Standard: Why Amazon wins on boring logistics and predictability, and why most other merchants lose customers by failing to build confidence at checkout.
  • [18:37] Segmentation & Personalization: How PDQ uses over 1,600 data points to treat every customer differently—customizing offers, shipping, and badges based on real-time data.
  • [21:01] Autonomous Checkout: The future of e-commerce where AI manages unit economics and business strategy in real-time to save sales.
  • [36:40] Logistics as Marketing: Why the post-purchase experience (shipping, tracking, and delivery) is more important than the product itself for retaining customers.
  • [51:37] The "WISMO" Plague: Why 50% of "Where Is My Order" tickets are submitted the same day an order is placed, and what that says about the state of online trust.

Links & Resources:

About Very True: Hosted by Alex, Very True by Verissimo Ventures explores the honest, unvarnished stories of founders and the real problems they are solving. We look past the hype to find the truth in technology and entrepreneurship.

]]> ecommerce checkout entrepreneurship No Alex Oppenheimer Avi Moskowitz It’s Never a Straight Line: Why the Path to an Exit Often Starts with a Stop - Neri Bluman of XFunnel (acq by HubSpot) 17 17 It’s Never a Straight Line: Why the Path to an Exit Often Starts with a Stop - Neri Bluman of XFunnel (acq by HubSpot) full a3472627-e18b-4a47-ad95-2fbc2a0ffc16 https://share.transistor.fm/s/235ef30a From the high-pressure grind of logistics to a strategic exit in AI: Neri Bluman joins Alex to discuss his journey from Avo to XFunnel. They dive into the "generalist" superpower, the vital importance of taking a career break, and how Neri and his co-founder Beeri built a lean, profitable engine that was acquired by HubSpot in under a year—all without sacrificing their sanity.


______________________________________________

What does it take to build a company that big tech giants want to buy? Sometimes, it starts with doing absolutely nothing.

In this episode of Very True by Verismo, Alex sits down with Neri Bluman, co-founder of XFunnel (a Verissimo Ventures portfolio company), which was recently acquired by HubSpot.


Neri’s journey is a masterclass in resilience and self-awareness. He takes us from his early days as a lawyer-turned-operator to the hyper-growth rollercoaster of Avo, a logistics startup that scaled to 1,000 employees before facing the harsh reality of the market. After Avo, Neri did the unthinkable for a founder: he took a full year off to reset his nervous system.

We discuss how that break paved the way for XFunnel—a company built with a completely different DNA. Neri shares the specific playbook he and his co-founder Beeri used: prioritizing profitability over massive headcount, having the "money conversation" early, and targeting enterprise giants like Wix and HubSpot not just as customers, but as design partners.

In this episode, we cover:

  • The Generalist Superpower: Why being "good at everything but master of nothing" is a massive asset in the age of AI.
  • The Avo Story: The thrill of Y Combinator, the stress of logistics, and the hard lessons learned from a down-market cycle.
  • The Founder’s Break: Why Neri moved to Portugal, slept for months, and why you can’t "consult" your way to mental health.
  • The Co-Founder "Prenup": The crucial conversations Neri and Beeri had about lifestyle, financial goals, and ego before writing a single line of code.
  • Answer Engine Optimization (AEO): How XFunnel identified that the internet was moving from "blue links" to "direct answers" and built the tool to serve that shift.
  • The HubSpot Acquisition: How selling to enterprise customers early led to strategic partnerships and, ultimately, an exit.

Links & Resources:

]]> From the high-pressure grind of logistics to a strategic exit in AI: Neri Bluman joins Alex to discuss his journey from Avo to XFunnel. They dive into the "generalist" superpower, the vital importance of taking a career break, and how Neri and his co-founder Beeri built a lean, profitable engine that was acquired by HubSpot in under a year—all without sacrificing their sanity.


______________________________________________

What does it take to build a company that big tech giants want to buy? Sometimes, it starts with doing absolutely nothing.

In this episode of Very True by Verismo, Alex sits down with Neri Bluman, co-founder of XFunnel (a Verissimo Ventures portfolio company), which was recently acquired by HubSpot.


Neri’s journey is a masterclass in resilience and self-awareness. He takes us from his early days as a lawyer-turned-operator to the hyper-growth rollercoaster of Avo, a logistics startup that scaled to 1,000 employees before facing the harsh reality of the market. After Avo, Neri did the unthinkable for a founder: he took a full year off to reset his nervous system.

We discuss how that break paved the way for XFunnel—a company built with a completely different DNA. Neri shares the specific playbook he and his co-founder Beeri used: prioritizing profitability over massive headcount, having the "money conversation" early, and targeting enterprise giants like Wix and HubSpot not just as customers, but as design partners.

In this episode, we cover:

  • The Generalist Superpower: Why being "good at everything but master of nothing" is a massive asset in the age of AI.
  • The Avo Story: The thrill of Y Combinator, the stress of logistics, and the hard lessons learned from a down-market cycle.
  • The Founder’s Break: Why Neri moved to Portugal, slept for months, and why you can’t "consult" your way to mental health.
  • The Co-Founder "Prenup": The crucial conversations Neri and Beeri had about lifestyle, financial goals, and ego before writing a single line of code.
  • Answer Engine Optimization (AEO): How XFunnel identified that the internet was moving from "blue links" to "direct answers" and built the tool to serve that shift.
  • The HubSpot Acquisition: How selling to enterprise customers early led to strategic partnerships and, ultimately, an exit.

Links & Resources:

]]> Mon, 15 Dec 2025 16:48:01 +0200 Alex Alex 4359 From the high-pressure grind of logistics to a strategic exit in AI: Neri Bluman joins Alex to discuss his journey from Avo to XFunnel. They dive into the "generalist" superpower, the vital importance of taking a career break, and how Neri and his co-founder Beeri built a lean, profitable engine that was acquired by HubSpot in under a year—all without sacrificing their sanity.


______________________________________________

What does it take to build a company that big tech giants want to buy? Sometimes, it starts with doing absolutely nothing.

In this episode of Very True by Verismo, Alex sits down with Neri Bluman, co-founder of XFunnel (a Verissimo Ventures portfolio company), which was recently acquired by HubSpot.


Neri’s journey is a masterclass in resilience and self-awareness. He takes us from his early days as a lawyer-turned-operator to the hyper-growth rollercoaster of Avo, a logistics startup that scaled to 1,000 employees before facing the harsh reality of the market. After Avo, Neri did the unthinkable for a founder: he took a full year off to reset his nervous system.

We discuss how that break paved the way for XFunnel—a company built with a completely different DNA. Neri shares the specific playbook he and his co-founder Beeri used: prioritizing profitability over massive headcount, having the "money conversation" early, and targeting enterprise giants like Wix and HubSpot not just as customers, but as design partners.

In this episode, we cover:

  • The Generalist Superpower: Why being "good at everything but master of nothing" is a massive asset in the age of AI.
  • The Avo Story: The thrill of Y Combinator, the stress of logistics, and the hard lessons learned from a down-market cycle.
  • The Founder’s Break: Why Neri moved to Portugal, slept for months, and why you can’t "consult" your way to mental health.
  • The Co-Founder "Prenup": The crucial conversations Neri and Beeri had about lifestyle, financial goals, and ego before writing a single line of code.
  • Answer Engine Optimization (AEO): How XFunnel identified that the internet was moving from "blue links" to "direct answers" and built the tool to serve that shift.
  • The HubSpot Acquisition: How selling to enterprise customers early led to strategic partnerships and, ultimately, an exit.

Links & Resources:

]]> No Alex Oppenheimer Neri Bluman The Frameworks You Need to Navigate VCs and Raise Your Next Round 15 15 The Frameworks You Need to Navigate VCs and Raise Your Next Round full 17d90541-a488-4393-8f13-bc58954ae840 https://share.transistor.fm/s/20619b91 Alex delves into the complexities of raising venture capital in today's market. Despite the abundance of available funds, the process remains challenging due to market idiosyncrasies. Alex shares valuable frameworks and strategies for founders to navigate the fundraising landscape effectively, emphasizing the importance of understanding the different types of conversations with venture capitalists and the emotional dynamics involved. He also highlights the significance of aligning with the right investors and the role of junior VCs as advocates in the process.

Keywords


venture capital, fundraising strategies, market idiosyncrasies, investor alignment, junior VCs

Takeaways

  • Raising venture capital is challenging despite abundant funds.
  • Understanding the sales process is crucial for founders.
  • Different VC conversations require tailored approaches.
  • Emotional dynamics play a role in early-stage decisions.
  • Aligning with the right investors is key to success.
  • Junior VCs can be strong advocates for founders.
  • Market idiosyncrasies add complexity to fundraising.
  • Strategic planning is essential for effective fundraising.
  • Founders should focus on long-term investor relationships.
  • Navigating VC layers requires understanding their roles.


00:00 Navigating the Venture Capital Landscape
04:29 Types of Venture Capitalists and Their Decision-Making
10:31 Strategies for Engaging with Different VC Types
18:53 The Importance of Timing and Economic Alignment
26:23 Building Relationships with Junior VCs
32:20 Final Thoughts on Fundraising and Investor Relationships

]]> Alex delves into the complexities of raising venture capital in today's market. Despite the abundance of available funds, the process remains challenging due to market idiosyncrasies. Alex shares valuable frameworks and strategies for founders to navigate the fundraising landscape effectively, emphasizing the importance of understanding the different types of conversations with venture capitalists and the emotional dynamics involved. He also highlights the significance of aligning with the right investors and the role of junior VCs as advocates in the process.

Keywords


venture capital, fundraising strategies, market idiosyncrasies, investor alignment, junior VCs

Takeaways

  • Raising venture capital is challenging despite abundant funds.
  • Understanding the sales process is crucial for founders.
  • Different VC conversations require tailored approaches.
  • Emotional dynamics play a role in early-stage decisions.
  • Aligning with the right investors is key to success.
  • Junior VCs can be strong advocates for founders.
  • Market idiosyncrasies add complexity to fundraising.
  • Strategic planning is essential for effective fundraising.
  • Founders should focus on long-term investor relationships.
  • Navigating VC layers requires understanding their roles.


00:00 Navigating the Venture Capital Landscape
04:29 Types of Venture Capitalists and Their Decision-Making
10:31 Strategies for Engaging with Different VC Types
18:53 The Importance of Timing and Economic Alignment
26:23 Building Relationships with Junior VCs
32:20 Final Thoughts on Fundraising and Investor Relationships

]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2025 16:33:00 +0200 Alex Alex 2012 Alex delves into the complexities of raising venture capital in today's market. Despite the abundance of available funds, the process remains challenging due to market idiosyncrasies. Alex shares valuable frameworks and strategies for founders to navigate the fundraising landscape effectively, emphasizing the importance of understanding the different types of conversations with venture capitalists and the emotional dynamics involved. He also highlights the significance of aligning with the right investors and the role of junior VCs as advocates in the process.

Keywords


venture capital, fundraising strategies, market idiosyncrasies, investor alignment, junior VCs

Takeaways

  • Raising venture capital is challenging despite abundant funds.
  • Understanding the sales process is crucial for founders.
  • Different VC conversations require tailored approaches.
  • Emotional dynamics play a role in early-stage decisions.
  • Aligning with the right investors is key to success.
  • Junior VCs can be strong advocates for founders.
  • Market idiosyncrasies add complexity to fundraising.
  • Strategic planning is essential for effective fundraising.
  • Founders should focus on long-term investor relationships.
  • Navigating VC layers requires understanding their roles.


00:00 Navigating the Venture Capital Landscape
04:29 Types of Venture Capitalists and Their Decision-Making
10:31 Strategies for Engaging with Different VC Types
18:53 The Importance of Timing and Economic Alignment
26:23 Building Relationships with Junior VCs
32:20 Final Thoughts on Fundraising and Investor Relationships

]]> venture capital startup fundraise vc No The Career Advice I Wish I got in my Early 20s 14 14 The Career Advice I Wish I got in my Early 20s full de0e2b7d-87e0-4009-8b3a-1bc50c185560 https://share.transistor.fm/s/3a0041b6 What actually matters in building your career? What is the best place to start? How do you navigate this? 
I have had many conversations with young people over the years on this subject, and I am happy to share some insights here. 

]]> What actually matters in building your career? What is the best place to start? How do you navigate this? 
I have had many conversations with young people over the years on this subject, and I am happy to share some insights here. 

]]> Sun, 23 Nov 2025 12:00:00 +0200 Alex Alex 1286 What actually matters in building your career? What is the best place to start? How do you navigate this? 
I have had many conversations with young people over the years on this subject, and I am happy to share some insights here. 

]]> No Your startup isn't actually worth its last private valuation 13 13 Your startup isn't actually worth its last private valuation full d20a3786-0d8e-4cfe-9148-067b3ad9b331 https://share.transistor.fm/s/c948b2ae Startup valuations get discussed like baseball player stats, but they're much less well-defined. When primary capital is at stake, the calculations are different. Happy to share here some of those nuances and how founders and investors should approach startup valuations. 

Check out the fundraising framework here https://verissimo.vc/resources-for-founders

]]> Startup valuations get discussed like baseball player stats, but they're much less well-defined. When primary capital is at stake, the calculations are different. Happy to share here some of those nuances and how founders and investors should approach startup valuations. 

Check out the fundraising framework here https://verissimo.vc/resources-for-founders

]]> Wed, 19 Nov 2025 15:00:00 +0200 Alex Alex 1815 Startup valuations get discussed like baseball player stats, but they're much less well-defined. When primary capital is at stake, the calculations are different. Happy to share here some of those nuances and how founders and investors should approach startup valuations. 

Check out the fundraising framework here https://verissimo.vc/resources-for-founders

]]> No Why Companies Fail and Why I Started This Podcast 12 12 Why Companies Fail and Why I Started This Podcast full 72fed9c7-7f67-44f1-91dd-04b5da239db4 https://share.transistor.fm/s/f8052a5b Startup success stories are usually stories of unique circumstances and personalities - each one like a snowflake. 
Startup failures fit into a handful of categories. That's what we're talking about today. 
Companies with high potential that avoid the pitfalls are the ones that find success - either small, medium or large. But if you can't avoid the unforced errors, you haven't even given yourself a chance! 

]]> Startup success stories are usually stories of unique circumstances and personalities - each one like a snowflake. 
Startup failures fit into a handful of categories. That's what we're talking about today. 
Companies with high potential that avoid the pitfalls are the ones that find success - either small, medium or large. But if you can't avoid the unforced errors, you haven't even given yourself a chance! 

]]> Sun, 16 Nov 2025 13:40:00 +0200 Alex Alex 2887 Startup success stories are usually stories of unique circumstances and personalities - each one like a snowflake. 
Startup failures fit into a handful of categories. That's what we're talking about today. 
Companies with high potential that avoid the pitfalls are the ones that find success - either small, medium or large. But if you can't avoid the unforced errors, you haven't even given yourself a chance! 

]]> Startups Failures Exits No Alex Oppenheimer Software as a Service or Service as Software? How AI changes the game for data tools with Gabi Steele, CEO of Preql 11 11 Software as a Service or Service as Software? How AI changes the game for data tools with Gabi Steele, CEO of Preql full efed4307-1e97-40eb-8096-eb957f894de1 https://share.transistor.fm/s/98963c96 We are amidst yet another swing of the pendulum when it comes to the software vs. services debate. Is it possible to have high value, low touch software? Are we better off just offering high end consulting services using custom tools? 
I am excited to share my conversation with Gabi Steele, CEO of Preql who has done both as she discusses the opportunities and challenges presented by the current array of AI tools in the data space. 

]]> We are amidst yet another swing of the pendulum when it comes to the software vs. services debate. Is it possible to have high value, low touch software? Are we better off just offering high end consulting services using custom tools? 
I am excited to share my conversation with Gabi Steele, CEO of Preql who has done both as she discusses the opportunities and challenges presented by the current array of AI tools in the data space. 

]]> Wed, 12 Nov 2025 15:20:00 +0200 Alex Alex 2244 We are amidst yet another swing of the pendulum when it comes to the software vs. services debate. Is it possible to have high value, low touch software? Are we better off just offering high end consulting services using custom tools? 
I am excited to share my conversation with Gabi Steele, CEO of Preql who has done both as she discusses the opportunities and challenges presented by the current array of AI tools in the data space. 

]]> No Gabi Steele Is zero revenue actually better than some revenue? Maybe... 10 10 Is zero revenue actually better than some revenue? Maybe... full 62c05fab-8bbc-45f7-9b56-69217a5dc94e https://youtu.be/3tBIjbRURVE Legendary Silicon Valley episode illustrates this question so well, I just have to leave it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzAdXyPYKQo
(Contains expletives). 
How are startups valued pre-revenue? Is it better to stay in that zone as long as possible? 

]]> Legendary Silicon Valley episode illustrates this question so well, I just have to leave it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzAdXyPYKQo
(Contains expletives). 
How are startups valued pre-revenue? Is it better to stay in that zone as long as possible? 

]]> Sun, 09 Nov 2025 15:44:00 +0200 Alex Alex 674 Legendary Silicon Valley episode illustrates this question so well, I just have to leave it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzAdXyPYKQo
(Contains expletives). 
How are startups valued pre-revenue? Is it better to stay in that zone as long as possible? 

]]> Revenue Seed Valuation No Alex Oppenheimer PLG & User Activation with Yaakov Carno of Valubyl 8 8 PLG & User Activation with Yaakov Carno of Valubyl full 77f68bb2-5fd0-488a-a839-08650c7cbe18 https://share.transistor.fm/s/82643491 Happy to share a discussion with Yaakov Carno, founder of Valubyl, which is a leading PLG consulting agency focused on the specific bottle neck of user activation. He shares stories from the trenches of working with dozens of companies and helping navigate their product and growth optimization. 
Follow Yaakov on social media to get his latest tips and ideas on how to maximize user activation: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yaakov-carno/
https://www.valubyl.com/

]]> Happy to share a discussion with Yaakov Carno, founder of Valubyl, which is a leading PLG consulting agency focused on the specific bottle neck of user activation. He shares stories from the trenches of working with dozens of companies and helping navigate their product and growth optimization. 
Follow Yaakov on social media to get his latest tips and ideas on how to maximize user activation: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yaakov-carno/
https://www.valubyl.com/

]]> Thu, 06 Nov 2025 15:25:00 +0200 Alex Alex 2625 Happy to share a discussion with Yaakov Carno, founder of Valubyl, which is a leading PLG consulting agency focused on the specific bottle neck of user activation. He shares stories from the trenches of working with dozens of companies and helping navigate their product and growth optimization. 
Follow Yaakov on social media to get his latest tips and ideas on how to maximize user activation: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yaakov-carno/
https://www.valubyl.com/

]]> No Alex Oppenheimer Yaakov Carno Is ARR Dead? Wait, What Even is ARR? 6 6 Is ARR Dead? Wait, What Even is ARR? full 25084f78-ce8e-4d79-9ac8-36c2a843ce13 https://share.transistor.fm/s/aeee1ee1 Is ARR dead with the advent of AI companies? Do we even know what ARR is? Why does it matter? Why is everyone so confused about it? 
Nerding out on tech finance finance, yet again. 

related posts: 
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1CUxLWt16Ky5eulArPm4cTSubkZWQ8rkBDPVZWHwJxUU/edit
https://alexoppenheimer.substack.com/p/inventing-arr
https://alexoppenheimer.substack.com/p/calculus-in-saas  

]]> Is ARR dead with the advent of AI companies? Do we even know what ARR is? Why does it matter? Why is everyone so confused about it? 
Nerding out on tech finance finance, yet again. 

related posts: 
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1CUxLWt16Ky5eulArPm4cTSubkZWQ8rkBDPVZWHwJxUU/edit
https://alexoppenheimer.substack.com/p/inventing-arr
https://alexoppenheimer.substack.com/p/calculus-in-saas  

]]> Sun, 02 Nov 2025 16:10:00 +0200 Alex Alex 1596 Is ARR dead with the advent of AI companies? Do we even know what ARR is? Why does it matter? Why is everyone so confused about it? 
Nerding out on tech finance finance, yet again. 

related posts: 
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1CUxLWt16Ky5eulArPm4cTSubkZWQ8rkBDPVZWHwJxUU/edit
https://alexoppenheimer.substack.com/p/inventing-arr
https://alexoppenheimer.substack.com/p/calculus-in-saas  

]]> No Alex Oppenheimer Bifurcation of an Asset Class - October Verissimo Monthly 9 9 Bifurcation of an Asset Class - October Verissimo Monthly full 1249721c-f5af-4a6f-ac68-f5158de8df1d https://share.transistor.fm/s/3c2b987a Want to be the next $50Bn startup? Maybe... maybe not. 
How the economics change the reality on the ground, even at the early stage. 
Subscribe to our monthly updates here: https://verissimo.substack.com/

]]> Want to be the next $50Bn startup? Maybe... maybe not. 
How the economics change the reality on the ground, even at the early stage. 
Subscribe to our monthly updates here: https://verissimo.substack.com/

]]> Wed, 29 Oct 2025 17:53:38 +0200 Alex Alex 1461 Want to be the next $50Bn startup? Maybe... maybe not. 
How the economics change the reality on the ground, even at the early stage. 
Subscribe to our monthly updates here: https://verissimo.substack.com/

]]> No Alex Oppenheimer How to be Wrong in Early Stage Venture 5 5 How to be Wrong in Early Stage Venture full 7d9486f0-ca59-4cbc-8e6f-cde11ca7761a https://share.transistor.fm/s/fa9e6f9a Today I discuss the painful reality of venture: investors are wrong a lot. They lose money. But are all mistakes created equal? Or is there a better way to be wrong. I dive in here to review a market take that I had ~3 years ago to see how things have developed in the market and in my one portfolio when it comes to the less fortunate situations in early-stage investing. 

As always, feel free to reach out with feedback or questions. 

Original piece here: https://alexoppenheimer.substack.com/p/expensive-options-and-losing-big

]]> Today I discuss the painful reality of venture: investors are wrong a lot. They lose money. But are all mistakes created equal? Or is there a better way to be wrong. I dive in here to review a market take that I had ~3 years ago to see how things have developed in the market and in my one portfolio when it comes to the less fortunate situations in early-stage investing. 

As always, feel free to reach out with feedback or questions. 

Original piece here: https://alexoppenheimer.substack.com/p/expensive-options-and-losing-big

]]> Sun, 26 Oct 2025 18:28:48 +0200 Alex Alex 2103 Today I discuss the painful reality of venture: investors are wrong a lot. They lose money. But are all mistakes created equal? Or is there a better way to be wrong. I dive in here to review a market take that I had ~3 years ago to see how things have developed in the market and in my one portfolio when it comes to the less fortunate situations in early-stage investing. 

As always, feel free to reach out with feedback or questions. 

Original piece here: https://alexoppenheimer.substack.com/p/expensive-options-and-losing-big

]]> Bad investments losses venture capital seed No Alex Oppenheimer The Financial Operations Flow - Comprehensive Review 4 4 The Financial Operations Flow - Comprehensive Review full 812bd0c7-2966-49e7-bde4-9ff539b0750b https://share.transistor.fm/s/d94780ba In this episode, I break down the Financial Operations Flow. This is targeted towards CEOs (CFOs can also listen if they want), to help business leaders better understand how to quantify the resource allocation they need to be doing all the time. 
Every business needs a digital twin... Good news: for most of them, Excel is a sufficient tool to have a huge impact - it just needs to be used correctly. 

Original post here: https://alexoppenheimer.substack.com/p/the-finops-flow

]]> In this episode, I break down the Financial Operations Flow. This is targeted towards CEOs (CFOs can also listen if they want), to help business leaders better understand how to quantify the resource allocation they need to be doing all the time. 
Every business needs a digital twin... Good news: for most of them, Excel is a sufficient tool to have a huge impact - it just needs to be used correctly. 

Original post here: https://alexoppenheimer.substack.com/p/the-finops-flow

]]> Tue, 21 Oct 2025 21:17:01 +0300 Alex Alex 1361 In this episode, I break down the Financial Operations Flow. This is targeted towards CEOs (CFOs can also listen if they want), to help business leaders better understand how to quantify the resource allocation they need to be doing all the time. 
Every business needs a digital twin... Good news: for most of them, Excel is a sufficient tool to have a huge impact - it just needs to be used correctly. 

Original post here: https://alexoppenheimer.substack.com/p/the-finops-flow

]]> Financial Operations Startups CFO No Alex Oppenheimer Engineering Architecture & Scaling Teams - It's All About Everything Series 1 1 Engineering Architecture & Scaling Teams - It's All About Everything Series full 7429a688-7764-470e-92d5-6c4465776e55 https://share.transistor.fm/s/0909b05d 🎧 New on the Podcast: The Evolving Role of a CTO

This episode dives deep into how the CTO role evolves—from early-stage coding to scaling teams, making strategic decisions, and integrating AI without losing your technical edge.

Featuring:

  • Michael Stoppelman, Former SVP Engineering at Yelp
  • Gustav Rydstedt, Chief Architect at Chegg, former CTO & Co-founder of Verbling
  • Moderated by Nitay Joffe, CTO & Co-founder of ActionIQ, Partner at Verissimo Ventures

💡 Key themes explored:

  • Staying hands-on as a technical leader
  • Building process without bureaucracy
  • Leading with both conviction and emotional intelligence
  • Embracing AI while maintaining core engineering skills 
]]> 🎧 New on the Podcast: The Evolving Role of a CTO

This episode dives deep into how the CTO role evolves—from early-stage coding to scaling teams, making strategic decisions, and integrating AI without losing your technical edge.

Featuring:

  • Michael Stoppelman, Former SVP Engineering at Yelp
  • Gustav Rydstedt, Chief Architect at Chegg, former CTO & Co-founder of Verbling
  • Moderated by Nitay Joffe, CTO & Co-founder of ActionIQ, Partner at Verissimo Ventures

💡 Key themes explored:

  • Staying hands-on as a technical leader
  • Building process without bureaucracy
  • Leading with both conviction and emotional intelligence
  • Embracing AI while maintaining core engineering skills 
]]> Wed, 02 Jul 2025 15:23:46 +0300 Alex Alex 3572 🎧 New on the Podcast: The Evolving Role of a CTO

This episode dives deep into how the CTO role evolves—from early-stage coding to scaling teams, making strategic decisions, and integrating AI without losing your technical edge.

Featuring:

  • Michael Stoppelman, Former SVP Engineering at Yelp
  • Gustav Rydstedt, Chief Architect at Chegg, former CTO & Co-founder of Verbling
  • Moderated by Nitay Joffe, CTO & Co-founder of ActionIQ, Partner at Verissimo Ventures

💡 Key themes explored:

  • Staying hands-on as a technical leader
  • Building process without bureaucracy
  • Leading with both conviction and emotional intelligence
  • Embracing AI while maintaining core engineering skills 
]]> Architecture,Strategy, Ownership, Decisions, Mentorship, Code No Alex Oppenheimer Nitay Joffe Michael Stoppelman Gustav Rydstedt Understanding Your Legal Docs - It's All About Everything Series 2 2 Understanding Your Legal Docs - It's All About Everything Series full 70a4e2f7-2c28-4058-aec1-f185808b8225 https://share.transistor.fm/s/4cb48957 🎧 New on the Podcast: Legal Essentials for Founders

In this episode of the It’s All About Everything series, we dive into the legal foundations every founder should get right from day one. From filing your 83(b) on time to guiding your legal team through negotiations and keeping a clean cap table, our expert panel breaks down the critical legal decisions that can make—or break—your startup's future.

Whether you're raising your first round or scaling fast, this conversation will help you avoid costly legal pitfalls and build with confidence.

Featuring:

  • Mordechai Hartman – Principal at Hartman Venture Advisors PLLC
  • Josh Eisenson – Partner at Goodwin
  • Maria Kuehn – Head of Legal at ActionIQ
  • Moderated by Alex Oppenheimer – General Partner at Verissimo Ventures
]]> 🎧 New on the Podcast: Legal Essentials for Founders

In this episode of the It’s All About Everything series, we dive into the legal foundations every founder should get right from day one. From filing your 83(b) on time to guiding your legal team through negotiations and keeping a clean cap table, our expert panel breaks down the critical legal decisions that can make—or break—your startup's future.

Whether you're raising your first round or scaling fast, this conversation will help you avoid costly legal pitfalls and build with confidence.

Featuring:

  • Mordechai Hartman – Principal at Hartman Venture Advisors PLLC
  • Josh Eisenson – Partner at Goodwin
  • Maria Kuehn – Head of Legal at ActionIQ
  • Moderated by Alex Oppenheimer – General Partner at Verissimo Ventures
]]> Wed, 02 Jul 2025 15:19:53 +0300 Alex Alex 3414 🎧 New on the Podcast: Legal Essentials for Founders

In this episode of the It’s All About Everything series, we dive into the legal foundations every founder should get right from day one. From filing your 83(b) on time to guiding your legal team through negotiations and keeping a clean cap table, our expert panel breaks down the critical legal decisions that can make—or break—your startup's future.

Whether you're raising your first round or scaling fast, this conversation will help you avoid costly legal pitfalls and build with confidence.

Featuring:

  • Mordechai Hartman – Principal at Hartman Venture Advisors PLLC
  • Josh Eisenson – Partner at Goodwin
  • Maria Kuehn – Head of Legal at ActionIQ
  • Moderated by Alex Oppenheimer – General Partner at Verissimo Ventures
]]> Legal, Contracts, Equity, CapTable, Billing, Counsel No Alex Oppenheimer Mordechai Hartman Joshua Eisenson Maria Kuehn Tax Strategies and Wealth Management- It's All About Everything Series 3 3 Tax Strategies and Wealth Management- It's All About Everything Series full 1242b3df-b16e-4c26-bb65-d608563793d8 https://share.transistor.fm/s/8b273755 🎧 New on the Podcast: Tax Strategies and Wealth Management

In this episode of the It’s All About Everything series, we break down the financial essentials every founder should understand before—and after—a liquidity event. From QSBS and 83(b) elections to trust structures and the family office mindset, our expert panel shares real-world strategies to help you protect your upside and build long-term financial stability.

Whether you're preparing for an exit or just getting started, this episode will help you make smarter, more informed financial decisions.

Featuring:

  • Todd Saunders – (Moderator) CEO at Broadlume (recently exited)
  • Tres Evans – Managing Director & Private Wealth Advisor at Morgan Stanley
  • Robbie Shattuck – CEO & Founder of Athos Private Wealth
  • Aaron Bedrick – CEO & Founder of Symphony Strategies
  • Max Sabert – Private Wealth Advisor at UBS
]]> 🎧 New on the Podcast: Tax Strategies and Wealth Management

In this episode of the It’s All About Everything series, we break down the financial essentials every founder should understand before—and after—a liquidity event. From QSBS and 83(b) elections to trust structures and the family office mindset, our expert panel shares real-world strategies to help you protect your upside and build long-term financial stability.

Whether you're preparing for an exit or just getting started, this episode will help you make smarter, more informed financial decisions.

Featuring:

  • Todd Saunders – (Moderator) CEO at Broadlume (recently exited)
  • Tres Evans – Managing Director & Private Wealth Advisor at Morgan Stanley
  • Robbie Shattuck – CEO & Founder of Athos Private Wealth
  • Aaron Bedrick – CEO & Founder of Symphony Strategies
  • Max Sabert – Private Wealth Advisor at UBS
]]> Tue, 01 Jul 2025 16:18:55 +0300 Alex Alex 3775 🎧 New on the Podcast: Tax Strategies and Wealth Management

In this episode of the It’s All About Everything series, we break down the financial essentials every founder should understand before—and after—a liquidity event. From QSBS and 83(b) elections to trust structures and the family office mindset, our expert panel shares real-world strategies to help you protect your upside and build long-term financial stability.

Whether you're preparing for an exit or just getting started, this episode will help you make smarter, more informed financial decisions.

Featuring:

  • Todd Saunders – (Moderator) CEO at Broadlume (recently exited)
  • Tres Evans – Managing Director & Private Wealth Advisor at Morgan Stanley
  • Robbie Shattuck – CEO & Founder of Athos Private Wealth
  • Aaron Bedrick – CEO & Founder of Symphony Strategies
  • Max Sabert – Private Wealth Advisor at UBS
]]> Tax, Liquidity, Wealth, Equity, Trusts No Alex Oppenheimer Todd Saudners Walter "Tres" Evans Robbie Shattuck Aaron Bedrick Max Sabert