The Venture Variety Show
The Venture Variety Show
Podcast Description
The Venture Variety Show explores the intersection of storytelling, venture capital and startups. Join founders, investors, platform specialists and media professionals as we look at impactful stories, emerging trends and the ways in which the venture community interacts with the media. We discuss how stories shape the industry, influence decision-making and drive the activity of startups and investors alike. agoldfisher.substack.com
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on themes such as the role of technology in the built world, psychedelics in leadership and creativity, and the evolving landscape of venture capital. Episodes include discussions on AI in construction, guided nature-immersive retreats for high achievers, and innovative coaching strategies for leaders at all levels, providing insights into emerging trends and impactful stories in the industry.
Stories drive the venture and startup communities. I talk to founders, investors, platform specialists and others to find out how it all works. It’s about the trends, the storytelling, and how they all collide. Real impact and real talk define the show. Join the fun!
Beyond the Honeymoon: How Honeyfund Is Growing Up and Gearing Up with AI
🎙️ Sara Margulis on staying scrappy, building a $10M business, and why AI is the next leap for love tech
Episode Summary:
Sara Margulis founded Honeyfund nearly 20 years ago—before the iPhone, before “crowdfunding” was a thing, and long before AI was on every startup’s roadmap. In this episode, we talk about what it takes to not just launch, but last. From a DIY registry idea to a $10M business, Sara walks us through how Honeyfund stayed relevant, adapted through crisis, and is now integrating AI to serve couples planning their next adventure.
We discuss bootstrapping through the early years, the company’s pandemic pivot, lessons in remote leadership, and why Sara calls AI a “competitive necessity”—not a luxury. She also shares what elevator operators can teach us about AI adoption, and what it really means to support couples beyond the honeymoon.
Topics Covered:
The founding story: From Noe Valley to Fiji to the web
The power of community-funded growth (including a Shark Tank moment)
Why mission clarity came after growth
How Honeyfund is training an LLM on two decades of honeymoon data
Company culture in a fully remote, Gen Z-inclusive team
What’s next: anniversaries, baby registries, and beyond
Key Quotes:
“Honeyfund didn’t even have a mission statement until about three years ago.”“We outlasted Twitter.”“AI isn’t just a competitive advantage. It’s a necessity.”
Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction and Honeyfund’s early days06:19 – Growth, community, and crowdfunding11:04 – Surviving the pandemic and rethinking the mission17:10 – How AI will shape the next phase of Honeyfund22:05 – Managing a modern team and the future of work26:59 – What’s next for Honeyfund (and why it matters)
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