11 episodes
The Idea Maze Rob Go
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- Business
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5.0 • 10 Ratings
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The Idea Maze is a podcast that asks the question: where do great entrepreneurial ideas really come from? Many of us have heard the origin stories of larger-than-life successes, but by the time a company becomes a household name, these stories have been revised to sound more like legend than history. In this podcast, we will be speaking with founders who are still very much in the Idea Maze, and are willing to share the mistakes, false starts, u-turns, and reboots that led from having zero idea to where they are today.
Hosted and created by Rob Go, founding partner of NextView
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Episode 9: Appy People's Aaron White on Building with Confidence
This episode of The Idea Maze, we're joined by Aaron White, co-founding CTO of multiple venture-backed startups and now CEO of Appy People. He's also spent time as the VP of VC firm Venrock and as the co-founder of Boundless. Rob and Aaron discuss everything from the role of a CTO in the idea maze, what working in VC taught him, and how he is thinking through this era of AI.
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Episode 8: Ariel Diaz: 4x Founder on the Artistic Approach to Business
This episode of The Idea Maze, we have a very different conversation. Rob is joined by Ariel Diaz, 4x Founder/CEO (most recently of Blissfully), to dive into his unique and fascinating approach to start-ups. They discuss everything from unpacking how ideas are spread -- or are "memetically fit" -- and how leading with a right-brain first approach can transform entrepreneurship to take on a much more artistic approach.
Show Links:
Rick Rubin's The Creative Act: A Way of Being
Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way -
The Idea Maze: Five Key Takeaways from Year 1
After our first year of The Idea Maze, we wanted to share five key takeaways that we have distilled from these conversations. Listen to host Rob Go break down the most significant lessons he learned from past episodes.
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Episode 7: General Assembly and Common Living's Brad Hargreaves
Welcome back! These next several episodes will feature terrific founders that are still in the midst of the idea maze themselves. We'll explore how their prior founder experiences have shaped their approach and the things they are looking to repeat and avoid as they traverse the idea maze for the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th time.
In this episode we're joined by Brad Hargreaves, co-founder of the popular professional education company, General Assembly. He also started Common Living, a community driven residential real estate company, and most recently launched Thesis Driven, a newsletter diving into the intersection of real estate and innovation. As he navigates the idea maze for the fourth time, Brad gives us a glimpse into his own thought process and mindset as he begins this new journey.
Show Link: Chesterton's Defense Parable -
Episode 6: Brian Long, Author of Problem Hunting: The Tech Startup Textbook
On our sixth episode of The Idea Maze, Rob sits down with Brian Long, a serial entrepreneur who started two venture funded companies so far. TapCommerce scaled quickly and was sold to Twitter for $100M, and Attentive is a large scale independant business generating hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. Brian is also the author of Problem Hunting: The Tech Startup Textbook, from which he shares extremely tactical advice for entrepreneurs at all stages of the idea maze.
Show link: Problem Hunting by Brian Long -
Episode 5: Jesse Pujji, Gateway X
On this episode of The Idea Maze, Rob is joined by Jesse Pujji, co-founder of Ampush and founder of Gateway X - focused on launching startups that can become self-sustaining businesses without the need of venture capital. They dive into Jesse's criteria for launching companies, his best advice for second-time founders, and the two types of entrepreneurs.
Show link: Zone of Genius
Customer Reviews
Business model is destiny
Really enjoying these, and drawn to Rob’s candor/authenticity on the long-and-winding road that founders take to find, hone, and develop their business model and market entry. Specifically enjoyed the episode with Jessica Kim & her community-focused approach to combatting lonesomeness in caregiving. Great, inspiring work here! Look forward to future episodes.
Navigating the Authentic Path of Entrepreneurship
If you are an entrepreneur, an aspiring innovator, or simply curious about the journey of startup creation, “The Idea Maze” is a podcast that warrants your attention. Hosted by Rob Go, founding partner of NextView, this series provides an insightful and genuine examination of where great entrepreneurial ideas originate.
Unlike most business podcasts that focus on polished success stories, "The Idea Maze" takes a refreshing approach by talking to founders who are still navigating their way. The conversations are candid and unvarnished, offering listeners a true sense of the complexities and realities of the entrepreneurial journey. The inclusion of topics such as false starts, u-turns, and reboots injects a level of realism that is both instructive and inspiring.
With guests ranging from the CEO of a residential fintech platform to the founder of a top automotive website, the podcast has begun to cover a wide spectrum of industries and experiences. The diversity in perspectives ensures that there's something valuable to take away for virtually anyone interested in innovation and business growth.
One notable aspect of "The Idea Maze" is its commitment to presenting the human side of entrepreneurship. The episodes don’t just discuss business strategies but delve into personal motivations, challenges, and emotions. This provides a more comprehensive understanding of what drives innovation, which can be beneficial to both seasoned entrepreneurs and those who are new to the field.
"The Idea Maze" is a must-listen for those seeking a grounded, thoughtful exploration of the entrepreneurial process. Its emphasis on real stories and authentic experiences sets it apart from the glossy narratives often found in business media. By demystifying the idea generation process and presenting it in a relatable manner, this podcast serves as a valuable resource for anyone interested in the multifaceted world of startups.
Important content for early stage entrepreneurs
Rob is an incredibly genuine and honest person, his ability to empathize with the founders he has on the show is evident in each of these deep and insightful conversations. As a founder or anyone thinking of starting a business, this podcast is reassuring and enlightening. By putting you in the perspective of the guest founders, you can envision yourself navigating these uncertain terrains. In many ways this demystifies one of the most complicated pieces of the founder journey of ‘just starting’. Excited to see more of these stories being told!