Give First

In the startup world, Give First means simply trying to help anyone—especially entrepreneurs—with no expectation of getting anything back. It's the pay-it-forward principle that builds strong startup networks. Hosts David Cohen and Brad Feld—Techstars cofounders, lifelong entrepreneurs, and startup investors—talk with mentors and founders about what giving first looks like in action, and how it makes great entrepreneurship possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Give First is a business podcast hosted by Techstars, with 110 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Techstars hosts Give First, a business show with 110 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #108

  Burn Bright, Not Out: James Oliver Jr. on Founder Mental Wellness

  Feb 17, 202624 minS0

  <p>In this episode of the Give First podcast, David Cohen sits down with James Oliver Jr., Techstars alum, entrepreneur, and author of Burn Bright, Not Out.</p><br><p>James shares his journey navigating the pressures of high achievement and the hidden cost of hustle culture. He introduces the Burn Bright Spectrum, a framework to help founders recognize the difference between healthy ambition and burnout, and explains why rest, micro-wins, and alignment are essential to long term success.</p><br><p>The conversation explores founder mental health, breaking stigma in the startup community, and how sustainable performance drives deeper...

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  Episode #107

  Finding Your Way Back to What You Love Through Give First with John Fein

  Jan 20, 202623 minS0

  <p>In this episode of the Give First podcast, David Cohen sits down with John Fein, partner at Firebrand Ventures and former Techstars managing director.</p><br><p>John reflects on the winding path of his career, from moments of uncertainty to finding renewed purpose through startups, venture, and community building. He shares how small acts of generosity, like answering a random email or making an introduction, can create lasting impact and open entirely new chapters.</p><br><p>The conversation explores John’s journey through Techstars, the evolution of Firebrand Ventures and The Hill Fund, and his long term co...

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  Episode #106

  The Long Game of Venture and Generosity with David Hornik

  Jan 6, 202629 minS0

  <p>In this episode of the Give First podcast, Brad Feld talks with David Hornik, founding partner at Lobby Capital.</p><br><p>David shares how a relationship driven approach has shaped his career in venture capital, from investing to community building. He reflects on why generosity compounds over time, how trust creates durable networks, and why long term thinking matters in both business and life.</p><br><p>The conversation also touches on the origins of the Lobby conference, David’s connection to Adam Grant’s Give and Take, and how the Give First mindset shows up in his work...

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  Episode #105

  Rethinking Capitalism with Seth Levine

  Dec 9, 202526 minS0

  <p>In this episode of the Give First podcast, David Cohen talks with Seth Levine, Partner at Foundry and co-author of Capital Evolution. Seth looks back on the early days of Techstars, the original Boulder community that shaped it, and how Foundry is approaching its final fund while still actively investing.</p><br><p>The conversation explores why so many people are questioning capitalism today. Seth breaks down the decline in economic mobility, the growing wealth gap, and the rise of populism on both sides of the political map. He explains why he believes capitalism can still work, but only...

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  Episode #104

  Starting and Closing a Bank in 3 Months with Bala Kamallakharan

  Nov 25, 202549 minS0

  <p>In this episode of the Give First podcast, Brad Feld talks with Bala Kamallakharan, founder of Startup Iceland and a driving force behind the country’s modern startup ecosystem. Bala shares the remarkable story of moving to Mumbai to build an Icelandic bank in 2008, only to watch the entire financial system collapse overnight. Within three months, he went from launching a new bank to shutting it down, navigating canceled credit cards, emergency flights home, and the emotional aftermath of Iceland’s economic freefall.</p><br><p>What followed was a personal reset. Returning to Iceland with no clear path forw...

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