November 7th, 2012

Founder Stories: Bradford Cross Of Prismatic On Running His Startup

Founder Stories: Bradford Cross

Our TCTV show, Founder Stories, returns with a new West Coast host, Michael Abbott @mabb0tt. Mike is a general partner at KPCB and was previously Twitter’s VP of Engineering and a founder himself.

Prismatic is an app that creates a custom newsfeed based on your interests. Its news discovery iPhone app launched in August to positive reviews. For our West Coast premier episode of Founder… → Read More

September 25th, 2012

(Founder Stories) Angie’s List: Angie Hicks On Jumping Into The Startup World, Tackling Big Markets & More

Angie Hicks is the co-founder and Chief Marking Officer of Angie’s List – the customer review service she helped found in Columbus, Ohio. At Angie’s List, subscribers find services and submit non-anonymous reviews on everything from medical care to home fix-up.

Angie’s List has exploded since the mid-90′s when Hicks was going door-to-door to solicit business. Last year the company went public… → Read More

August 9th, 2012

(Founder Stories) Aereo’s Chet Kanojia Urges Entrepreneurs To “Go For The Difficult Problems” [TCTV]

In the latest installment of Chris Dixon’s Founder Stories, the Hunch co-founder sits down with Chet Kanojia, the founder and CEO of the controversial startup, Aereo. In attempting to bring together over-the-air television with the Internet, the company has drawn the ire of the big broadcast networks, like NBC, ABC, CBS, all of whom are convinced that Aereo is violating copyright law.

As… → Read More

August 8th, 2012

(Founder Stories) Aereo’s Chet Kanojia On How His Company Is “Putting A Wedge” In Video Delivery [TCTV]

Founded by Chet Kanojia and backed by Barry Diller’s IACAereo has been drawing a lot of attention lately. The startup uses mini-antennae to capture video content from ABC, CBS, NBC (and other public broadcasting networks), and streams that content to its subscribers’ web-connected devices. A yearly subscription costs 17-cents a day.

Public broadcasters, who receive retransmission fees… → Read More

April 27th, 2012

(Founder Stories) Send The Trend’s Gugnani & Chris Dixon Discuss M&A

In episode II of Divya Gugnani’s Founder Stories interview with host Chris Dixon, the two dive into M&A, a topic that both founders know well. Dixon’s company Hunch, was recently acquired by eBay and Gugnani’s company, Send The Trend was recently acquired by QVC.

On being acquired, Gugnani tells Dixon that she was approached much earlier than she had anticipated and it was a “really… → Read More

April 26th, 2012

(Founder Stories) Send The Trend’s Gugnani On Seizing An Idea, Surviving A Crash & Being Acquired By QVC

Divya Gugnani is the co-founder of Send the Trend, a New York based startup that was recently acquired by QVC, just a year-and-a half after launching in 2010.

Gugnani, whose founding team includes Project Runway winner Christian Siriano, describes Send the Trend as “an online destination that offers curated and customized woman’s fashion accessories and beauty.” Items are priced at $29.95, and… → Read More

March 31st, 2012

(Founder Stories) Kayak.com’s Paul English: On Hiring Athletes, Design Simplicity & Angel Investing [TCTV]

In part II of his Founder Stories interview with host Chris Dixon, Kayak.com’s co-founder Paul English discusses why job applicants will be hard pressed to find job postings on Kayak.com, relays the lessons he learned from Kayak’s mobile app and tells Dixon the traits founding teams need to possess in order to impress him as an angel investor. → Read More

March 30th, 2012

(Founder Stories) Kayak’s Paul English Discusses Big Wins & Important Strategic Alliances [TCTV]

Having recently posted its 2011 revenue numbers, Kayak.com’s co-founder, Paul English stopped by TCTV to tape an episode of Founder Stories with host Chris Dixon.

In part I of this conversation, English describes serendipitously meeting co-founder Steve Hafner (who previously co-founded Orbitz), speaks to the importance of striking the right business partnerships and offers… → Read More

March 2nd, 2012

(Founder Stories) RunKeeper: Striving To Becoming The Facebook For Health

Having launched Runkeeper in 2008 with the help of “moonlighting engineers” before closing a $10 million Series B round in late 2011, RunKeeper’s co-founder, Jason Jacobs speaks from experience when describing the whiplash entrepreneurs face when stepping out on their own.

In episode II of his Founder Stories conversation with host Chris Dixon, Jacobs characterizes the adventure this way. → Read More

March 1st, 2012

(Founder Stories) RunKeeper: Jacobs’ Strategy For Raising Capital

Jason Jacobs is the co-founder and CEO of RunKeeper, one of the initial 200 apps sold in the iPhone app store. The app allows users to record their jogging distances and times, and in partnership with other fitness focused apps/devices, manage a host of additional health related activity, such as weight loss and strength training.

Having recently raised a $10 million Series B round→ Read More

February 24th, 2012

(Founder Stories) Warby Parker: “Less Than 1% Of Eyeglasses Were Sold Online”

In episode II of Chris Dixon’s Founder Stories interview with Warby Parker’s co-founders, David Gilboa and Neil Blumenthal, the trio discuss topics spanning Warby Parker’s social responsibility efforts to the state of e-commerce.

Speaking to setting up shop in Manhattan, Gilboa (who previously lived in San Francisco) says, “I was sort of brainwashed into thinking that if you wanted to… → Read More

February 22nd, 2012

(Founder Stories) Warby Parker: “Why Should A Pair Of Glasses Cost More Than An iPhone?”

If you’ve ever shopped for a pair of prescription glasses, you’ve probably seen first hand how expensive a set can be. Warby Parker’s co-founders are right there with you.

Both fed-up and puzzled over paying hundreds of dollars for a product that’s been around for hundreds of years, the Warby Parker team is shaking up the eyewear industry by selling prescription glasses online, at a price tag… → Read More

January 29th, 2012

(Founder Stories) Jeff Clavier: On Getting Your Product In Front Of A VC (And Keeping It There)

Because every VC’s inbox is overflowing with pitches, and because VC’s don’t take meetings with just anyone, SoftTech VC’s Jeff Clavier, (who just raised $55 million for his third fund) offers advice to founders who hope to cut through the clutter, schedule a meeting, and score some financing from prominent investors. → Read More

January 28th, 2012

(Founder Stories) SoftTech VC’s Clavier: How To Avoid The Series A Crunch

At the top of this Founder Stories episode featuring SoftTech VC’s Jeff ClavierChris Dixon mentions much has been written about the “Series A Crunch.” It’s the occurrence of seed stage companies hitting the end of their initial funding cycle at roughly the same time and having to compete for big checks from a limited supply of VC. There’s just not enough money or VC interest to keep all… → Read More

January 27th, 2012

(Founder Stories) Jeff Clavier On How Big VCs Can Hurt Seed Rounds

Jeff Clavier just finished raising $55 million for his third SoftTech VC fund and after closing it out, stopped by TechCrunch to tape Founder Stories with host Chris Dixon. The two discuss signaling risk, which is basically when a major VC invests in a startup during a seed round and doesn’t follow up with more funding.  → Read More

January 26th, 2012

(Founder Stories) SoftTech VC’s Clavier: An Investor’s Role Isn’t To Give Orders

SoftTech VC’sJeff Clavier has edged his way from a true Silicon Valley outsider (born and raised in France) to the ultimate insider. Since moving to the valley a decade ago, Clavier has launched three funds and invested in more than 100 companies, the likes of which include Mint, FitBit, and Fab.

Not bad for a guy who claims to have jumped “into venture by accident.”

Having just… → Read More

January 9th, 2012

(Founder Stories) ZocDoc’s Massoumi On Hitting The Heart Of Health Care Needs

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You need a doctor and you need a doctor who takes your insurance. Instead of having to fumble through antiquated lists complied by your provider, ZocDoc seeks to expedite the process of locating care by displaying physicians in your area who are available for immediate and long-term appointments.

In part II of Cyrus Massoumi’s Founder Stories interview with Chris Dixon, Massoumi tells Dixon… → Read More

January 7th, 2012

(Founder Stories) ZocDoc’s Massoumi: A Bad Flight & Terrible Customer Service Created ZocDoc

In 2007 Cyrus Massoumi ruptured his eardrum on a flight to New York and turned his distasteful experience of trying to track down a physician into ZocDoc – a service that enables customers to quickly book appointments with doctors and dentists online. In a relatively short time, his streamlined offering has attracted considerable interest from both consumers and investors. Supported by doctors… → Read More

December 22nd, 2011

(Founder Stories) TripAdvisor’s Kaufer Discusses The Logic Behind Running “404-Tests”

After notching a spot on the NASDAQ, TripAdvisor’s Stephen Kaufer carved out a few minutes for Founder Stories, with host, Chris Dixon. In episode II of this interview, the two discuss their mutual disdain for the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Kaufer offers advice to founders.

Highlighting a piece of advice, Kaufer tells Dixon a good way for “a consumer facing, web-based business” to… → Read More

December 21st, 2011

(Founder Stories) TripAdvisor’s Kaufer: Crucial Early Decisions Paved The Way For An IPO

Earlier today, TripAdvisor added its name to the list of companies publicly trading on the NASDAQ. After doing so, TripAdvisor’s co-founder Stephen Kaufer stopped by TechCrunch for a Founder Stories interview with host, Chris Dixon.

TripAdvisor offers user-generated reviews of everything from hotels to restaurants and claims “50 million monthly unique visitors and 20 million members.” Healthy… → Read More

December 21st, 2011

(Founder Stories) Charity: Water’s Harrison Highlights Tactical Decisions

In Scott Harrison’s final Founder Stories interview with host, Chris Dixon, Harrison offers some suggestions to other founders and discusses how people can donate to Charity: Water.

Offering advice to others, Harrison says “I think one of the key and very simple things is get lawyers to help you file for your 501(c)(3).” While the upfront costs may seem prohibitive, he believes spending money… → Read More

December 20th, 2011

(Founder Stories) Charity: Water’s Harrison, “We Were Going To Run Out Of Money In Five Weeks”

As the founder of Charity: Water, Scott Harrison has overseen substantial growth since launching his non-profit five years ago. He tells Founder Stories host, Chris Dixon that since 2006 Charity: Water has raised “about $50-million” and “helped 2-million people” gain access to clean water.

However, just eighteen months in things were a bit rocky. Harrison says the organization was dangerously… → Read More

December 18th, 2011

(Founder Stories) Charity: Water’s Harrison Ends His Hard Partying Ways To Solve “The Water Crisis”

Scott Harrison is the founder of Charity: Water an organization he founded after waking up to the realization he was living a “dark, kind of decadent selfish existence” as a nightclub promoter whose life revolved around getting “people wasted for a living.”

He tells Dixon at the age of 30 “I wanted to change the whole world and thought I could end the water crisis in my lifetime and I could… → Read More

December 15th, 2011

(Founder Stories) Turntable.fm’s Billy Chasen: “Whatever It Takes, Get That Product Out There”

Having launched two companies that have gone in dramatically different directions; one’s secured $7-million in funding (Turntable.fm) and another ceases to exist (Stickybits), Turntable.fm’s Billy Chasen wraps his Founder Stories conversation by lending advice to other founders and discusses the biggest challenge he’s currently facing. → Read More

December 13th, 2011

(Founder Stories) Turntable.fm’s Top Priority: “Nail Product & Fix Anything That Is Not Working”

In episode I of Chris Dixon’s Founder Stories interview with Turntable.fm’sBilly Chasen, Chasen said most of his investors backed Turntable’s transition from Stickybits to Turntable, with the exception being an investor who simply wasn’t a fan of the music space.

In this episode, Dixon says a lack of understanding – or lack of enthusiasm for music startups has been a common theme in… → Read More

December 11th, 2011

(Founder Stories) Turntable.fm’s Billy Chasen On Closing Stickybits: “None Of Us Used The App”

When we first invited Billy Chasen to join us on Founder Stories he was working hard to make his startup, Stickybits a success. Turns out it never took off. But like many founders, Chasen bounced back and found better luck elsewhere. In this case it’s with Turntable.fm – a platform where people play DJ online and share music with others in virtual rooms.

Having recently raised $7-million→ Read More

November 30th, 2011

(Founder Stories) Mayor Bloomberg: “Make Sure You Are The First One In There Every Day & The Last One To Leave”

In his final Founder Stories interview with host Chris Dixon, Mayor Bloomberg begins by offering advice to those wrestling with a career decision – becoming an entrepreneur or joining a bigger company.

Having tasted both worlds, Mayor Bloomberg points out “big companies have more structure but you have a little more security. Small companies, a lot less structure but a lot higher payoff.”… → Read More

November 29th, 2011

(Founder Stories) Mayor Bloomberg On Success: If “Having Access To The Best & The Brightest Is The Difference, This Is The Place To Be.”

In episode II of Mayor Bloomberg’s interview with Founder Stories host Chris Dixon, the two start off by discussing Mayor Bloomberg’s desire to strengthen the economic foundation of New York City by attracting top scholars in applied sciences.

While many universities can secure the funds necessary to make it work in NYC, the high cost of living poses greater challenges for founders of more… → Read More

November 28th, 2011

(Founder Stories) How Michael Bloomberg Got His Start: “I Brought You A Cup Of Coffee”

Before he became the three-time Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg made billions running the financial information company bearing his name. But it might never have happened if he hadn’t been fired from Wall Street during the early days of his career. The Mayor and Bloomberg LP founder dropped by our TechCrunch studio to discuss all this and how he is working to turn New York City into a→ Read More

November 27th, 2011

(Founder Stories) Bump’s David Lieb: “Stop Thinking & Just Go Build It”

Bump co-founder, David Lieb launched an app that’s secured roughly $20 million in funding and has been downloaded approximately 60-million times. In his final Founder Stories interview with host Chris Dixon, Lieb predicts the next hot sector, discusses hiring employees and dishes out advice for future founders.

He’s seen too many founders suffer from “analysis paralysis” and urges… → Read More