Threshold

about the podcast

The Startup Solution with Heidi Roizen

The Startup Solution tackles the make-or-break situations that entrepreneurs face, offering clear advice on how to survive and thrive in an early-stage company. Who’s it for? Founders, startup execs, and investors who want to learn from real-world situations, unpacked by Heidi Roizen, a “recovering" entrepreneur and current VC who has seen it all through 40 years and 40 boards.

OUR HOST

Heidi Roizen

Heidi Roizen has spent 40 years in the tech startup world, the first dozen years as an entrepreneur herself, and since then, 25 years as a venture capitalist. She’s served on over 40 boards, from seed stage to public companies. She also co-leads the Threshold Venture Fellows program at Stanford University and is a partner at Threshold Ventures.

Episodes

May 8, 2024

SEASON 3

EPISODE 2

The Case for the Independent Director

An independent director can play a crucial role in mitigating conflicts of interest among board members while also providing valuable input. Heidi explains what an independent director does and why it’s important for a founder to include one on their board.

Apr 24, 2024

SEASON 3

EPISODE 1

The Case of the Infallible Founder

Chester, an early-stage entrepreneur, wants to put terms in place so he can never be fired by his board. Like many founders, he saw what went down with Sam Altman at OpenAI and wants to know what he can do to avoid a similar situation from ever happening to him. Heidi explains why boards are set up the way they are and reassures him that a board and accountability are good for an entrepreneur and their company.