Latest Interviews
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Clear all filters- Sequoia Capital1h 0m
Oura’s Tom Hale: What People Don’t Tell You About Being CEO
Aura CEO Tom Hale navigates the "messy middle" of scaling 200 to 2,000 employees by rejecting bureaucratic layers and enforcing a hybrid work culture that balances American capitalism with Finnish social traditions. His controversial pivot from hardware sales to a $6 monthly subscription generated industry-leading retention by prioritizing continuous value delivery while strategically leveraging partnerships with Gucci to reposition the ring as a fashion accessory. Hale emphasizes that effective leadership requires operating across all functions to build empathy, maintaining a 90/10 missionary-to-mercenary ratio, and shielding the organization from the "Dilbert effect" by promoting internal candidates with a path to the C-suite.
- Sequoia Capital57 min
Scaling AI Rocketships: ElevenLabs’ Mati Staniszewski & Lovable’s Anton Osika
Mati Staniszewski, Anton Osika, Brian
In a discussion comparing 11 Labs and Lovable, founders Mati and Anton detail their rapid scaling of AI ventures from Europe to generate over $200 million in revenue while operating with lean, autonomous teams. The conversation outlines their "founder mode" management styles, which prioritize tight spans of control, deep technical involvement, and a hybrid hiring strategy to balance in-house growth with seasoned executives. By leveraging European talent density and agile product roadmaps, both leaders argue they can outmaneuver larger AI giants through superior focus, speed, and design sensibility.