Podcast · 15 episodes
Pattern Breakers
by Floodgate · English
Host Mike Maples Jr. from venture capital firm Floodgate offers lessons from the rare startup super performers — BEFORE they were successful. Pattern Breakers features interviews with some of Silicon Valley’s most legendary entrepreneurs and thought leaders, including Netscape co-founder Marc Andreessen, LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, Instagram founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Kreiger, business maverick Mark Cuban, and Shopify co-founder Tobi Lütke.
Latest episodes
Max Mullen: How Instacart Solved the Problem of Grocery DeliveryMax Mullen (Instacart co-founder) explains how grocery delivery became viable, how Instacart built a marketplace with retailer partnerships, and what operational and cultural practices drove scale…21 Jul 2026 · 43 min
James Beshara: How a Dangerous Problem Led to a Magical SolutionJames Beshara explains how a founder’s health crisis and “scratch your own itch” mindset led to Magic Mind, a direct-to-consumer energy/mental-performance drink, and how he built it with focus,…27 Apr 2026 · 46 min
Immad Akhund: How Mercury Saved The Day For StartupsImmad Akhund, Co-founder and CEO of Mercury16 Mar 2026 · 40 min
All episodes
Max Mullen: How Instacart Solved the Problem of Grocery DeliveryMax Mullen (Instacart co-founder) explains how grocery delivery became viable, how Instacart built a marketplace with retailer partnerships, and what operational and cultural practices drove scale…21 Jul 2026 · 43 min · 19 chapters
James Beshara: How a Dangerous Problem Led to a Magical SolutionJames Beshara explains how a founder’s health crisis and “scratch your own itch” mindset led to Magic Mind, a direct-to-consumer energy/mental-performance drink, and how he built it with focus,…27 Apr 2026 · 46 min · 26 chapters
Immad Akhund: How Mercury Saved The Day For StartupsImmad Akhund, Co-founder and CEO of Mercury16 Mar 2026 · 40 min · 16 chapters
John Zimmer: Pink Mustaches, Rideshare Wars, and the Legacy of LyftJohn Zimmer, Co-founder of Lyft9 Feb 2026 · 42 min · 20 chapters
Spenser Skates: How Perseverance Paid Off for AmplitudeSpenser Skates, co-founder and CEO of Amplitude5 Jan 2026 · 45 min · 20 chapters
Wade Foster: Why Zapier is Built for the AI RevolutionInterviews with legendary entrepreneurs and thought leaders about the success stories of startups before they became successful.18 Nov 2025 · 42 min
Howie Liu: Building Airtable to Feel MagicalBuilding Airtable to Feel Magical29 Sep 2025 · 46 min
Joe Liemandt: The AI-Powered School Rewriting the Future of EducationIn this episode, Mike Maples Jr. interviews Joe Liemandt, founder of Trilogy and principal of Alpha School, an innovative AI-powered private school in Austin, Texas.9 Sep 2025 · 43 min
Mårten Mickos: Essential Lessons From A Legendary Tech CEOIn this episode of Pattern Breakers, host Mike Maples Jr. interviews Mårten Mickos, a renowned tech CEO best known for his leadership at MySQL, which became a billion-dollar success.25 Aug 2025 · 41 min
Eric Schmidt: The Implications of SuperintelligenceThis podcast features interviews with legendary entrepreneurs and thought leaders in Silicon Valley, exploring the mindsets and actions behind their remarkable successes.4 Aug 2025 · 41 min
Pedro Franceschi: Lessons from an Evolving Entrepreneur, from Hacking iPhones to Building BrexIn this episode of Pattern Breakers, host Mike Maples Jr. interviews Pedro Franceschi, the co-founder and CEO of Brex.30 Jun 2025 · 43 min
Jake Knapp: The Founder’s Guide to Product-Market FitIn this episode, host Mike Maples Jr. interviews Jake Knapp, a prominent figure in startup product strategy.5 May 2025 · 41 min
Amjad Masad: Resolve, Persistence, and the Rise of ReplitInsights from super performers in startups, featuring interviews with legendary entrepreneurs.15 Apr 2025 · 39 min
Aaron Levie: The Restless Founder Plotting the Future of Cloud Storage and AIAaron Levie, Co-founder & CEO of Box31 Mar 2025 · 41 min
Guillermo Rauch: The Product Visionary Fueling Vercel and Millions of DevelopersGuillermo Rauch shares insights on his journey from a young programmer in Argentina to the founder and CEO of Vercel.17 Mar 2025 · 40 min