Q2 Snapshot: The Startup Ecosystem

Q2 Snapshot: The Startup Ecosystem

Author: Burkland July 15, 2025 Duration: 20:25
With Q2 in the rearview mirror, we welcome back one of our most popular guests, Steve Lord, COO & Head of Service Delivery at Burkland. Steve joins us for a macro view of the startup and VC ecosystem—and the message is clear: uncertainty still reigns.

From geopolitical instability to unpredictable trade policies and inflation, Steve breaks down what founders and investors need to know right now and provides expert tips on how to raise and extend capital in today’s market. 

We discuss:
  • Why the Fed has not cut interest rates yet and when that will change
  • How global uncertainty is chilling startup investment
  • Smart ways to fundraise (hint: SAFE notes)
The episode also includes actionable advice for founders on how to defend your valuation and present a “buttoned-up investment opportunity” that makes it easier for VCs to say yes!

----Stay connected with our host, Kate Adams, here on LinkedIn.

🔗 Plus, don’t miss Steve’s blog posts and tools for extending cash runway and strategic planning at burklandassociates.com.

Tuning into Startup Success: A Podcast for Founders & Investors feels less like attending a formal lecture and more like pulling up a chair in a room full of people who have actually built and funded companies. Hosted by the team at Burkland, the conversations here move beyond theory to focus on the tangible, often messy, realities of scaling a business. You’ll find episodes that feel timely, addressing the specific challenges and opportunities that founders and investors are navigating right now. The dialogue is driven by guests who have lived it-founders recounting pivotal moments from their journey and investors explaining the nuances behind their decisions. This isn't about generic advice; it's about the operational details that make or break growth. Each discussion naturally narrows in on a single, critical pressure point, whether that's untangling a complex financing round, refining a go-to-market strategy, or building a culture that can withstand rapid hiring. The value of this podcast lies in its specificity and the credibility of the voices featured. It serves as a practical resource for anyone actively involved in the lifecycle of a startup, offering perspectives that are immediately applicable to your own work. By focusing on real stories and current trends, the series provides a grounded, actionable look at what genuine progress requires from both sides of the founder-investor relationship.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Startup Success: A Podcast for Founders & Investors
Podcast Episodes
From Pain Point to Passion to Thriving Startup [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:07
In this episode of Startup Success, we are joined by Daniel Loreto, founder of Jetify, who dives into his journey from working at tech giants like Google, Twitter, and Airbnb to launching his own startup. Daniel shares h…
A Customer-Driven Startup Success Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:26
There is no getting around the power of customer feedback in building a successful startup.In this episode of Startup Success, we sit down with Luke Kim, founder and CEO of Liner, an AI-powered search tool revolutionizin…
Lessons from a VC on Series A and More [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:33
In this episode of Startup Success, we're joined by Manish Patel, founding partner at Nava Ventures and self-described accidental venture capitalist. Manish shares his fascinating journey into venture capital, including…
Reimagining the Future of Work with AI Employees [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:48
In this episode of Startup Success, we sit down with Surojit Chatterjee, the CEO and founder of Ema, a generative AI platform poised to transform the future of work. With a career spanning high-level roles at Google and…
The Story Behind the AI Startup Powering Services You Use Every Day [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:29
In this episode of Startup Success, we dive into the incredible entrepreneurial journey of Russ d’Sa, Co-Founder and CEO of LiveKit, a startup that evolved from a pandemic side project into an open-source development sta…
A Fascinating Look at a Groundbreaking AI Startup [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:53
In this episode of Startup Success, host Kate Adams sits down with Vlad Voroninski, CEO and co-founder of Helm.ai, an AI software startup that is developing the world's safest and most advanced autonomous driving systems…
Building a Revolutionary Biotech Startup: The Challenges & Surprises [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:50
What if the powerful nutritional compounds in breast milk could be harnessed to improve the health of people of all ages? Today, we’re sitting down with Laura Katz, CEO and founder of Helaina, a groundbreaking biotech st…
What Every Founder Must Know about Patents [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:09
For startups, even software startups, figuring out what is worth patenting is one of the most important moves a founder needs to make.That’s where our guest today comes in. Jeff Schox, Founding Partner and Patent Attorne…