The Founders Peak Podcast

Welcome to a brand-new season of The Founders Peak Podcast, live from the heart of innovation at the GFTN Forum in Tokyo, Japan! This season, we are diving deep into a theme that every founder, investor, and builder can relate to: resilience. In a tough market, these stories come from the front lines of what it takes to not just survive, but thrive.Across these 10 talks, you will find a thread that connects them all: the courage to redefine what is safe, what is average, and what is possible. These are not just business stories. They are windows into how the most extraordinary builders think, feel, and decide. Tune in for a masterclass in the founder’s mind.

Is your pitch a static document, or a living story? Evan Burkosky, a solo sailor turned AI founder, makes the powerful argument that constantly refining your narrative is the most critical survival skill in the startup world. Learn why storytelling is the key to raising capital, closing deals, and building a team that truly believes.

What does “safety” truly mean in today’s world? Keisuke Kimura grew up with a mother who, scarred by financial instability, urged him to find a “safe job.” In this talk, he shares his journey of defying that definition to prove that true security comes not from a corporate safety net, but from the courage to build your own value.

How do you survive when a $20 million funding deal vanishes overnight? Ritesh and Deepak Jain, co-founders of FlexiLoans, share a powerful lesson in leadership and collective calm. Discover how their pact to “not panic at once” and the discipline to say “no” became their ultimate survival strategy in a moment of crisis.

What do you do when your most important partner tries to exploit your dependence? Himanshu Chandra of Progcap shares a cautionary tale every founder needs to hear. He recounts the moment his company had to make an impossible choice, revealing how the painful decision to walk away ultimately saved their business.

What happens when you reach the peak of your corporate career and realize you are on the wrong mountain? Sanjay Tripathy, co-founder of BRISKPE, shares his incredibly honest story of walking away from comfort and security, revealing that the biggest challenge wasn’t changing his business model, but fundamentally changing himself.

What does it mean to truly win? Dilip Modi, founder of Spice Money, shares his journey from chasing inherited ambition to being led by a deeper purpose. In this talk, he reveals how redefining his own definition of “winning” became his greatest success and the key to empowering over a million rural entrepreneurs in India.

In new markets, should you build product or build trust first? In this energetic and unconventional talk, FailSafe co-founders Flynn and Wui share how choosing “Hard Mode” forces clarity and why, sometimes, the most logical path is the one that doesn’t make sense to anyone else.

How do you go from designing aircraft engines to building a fintech unicorn? Arthur Mak, co-founder of YouTrip, shares a powerful lesson in how curiosity and optimism can help you build something that truly matters. This talk reminds us that purpose isn’t found—it’s built in the value you create and the people you serve.

When you’re generating billions in new credit, hypergrowth isn’t a goal—it’s a daily reality. Avital Pardo, co-founder of Pagaya, breaks down how to manage the chaos by focusing on three pillars: people, product, and process. This is a playbook for scaling at breakneck speed and knowing when to level the plane.

In the world of venture-backed startups, playing it safe is the riskiest move of all. Anna Joo Fee, a solo, non-technical founder, gives a masterclass in conviction, teaching us that avoiding death is not the same as thriving. To truly succeed, you have to stop playing not to lose and start playing to win.

After leading two unicorns (Freelancer.com and Bukalapak) through massive IPOs, Willix Halim knows what it takes to win. In this rapid-fire masterclass, he delivers eight incredibly sharp and usable insights, covering everything from metrics and fundraising to the critical importance of speed and knowing your numbers to survive and thrive.

What if being underestimated is your greatest advantage? Vincent Iswara, co-founder of DANA, delivers an inspiring message for every founder who feels overlooked, showing us that being the underdog gives you the freedom to rewrite the rules and the hunger to be undeniable.