David Rusenko

partner at leap forward ventures. formerly founder/ceo weebly.

[David Rusenko @drusenko]

Six months ago, I teamed up with the creator of The Daily on a crazy new idea. We talk to well known founders + someone close to them like their college roommate or their mom that tell a whole different side to the story.

Season 1 is launching today: https://t.co/if2etXa53Y

[David Rusenko @drusenko]

.@tripadler's story is my favorite persistence story that most have never heard. He went from rocket ship growth, to hitting a wall and half the team quitting in 6 months. But he kept at it for years and eventually grew @Scribd to over $300M of revenue.

https://t.co/ZODQ8igfXl

[Bill Clerico @billclerico]

The world is getting warmer while our infrastructure gets older: a recipe for disasters.

We’re excited to announce Fund II: $85M for early stage investments in disaster resilience.

[David Rusenko @drusenko]

As a first-time mom, Laura Modi went to Walgreens at 11pm for baby formula and felt ashamed and afraid. So she built @bobbiebabyco, the fastest-growing formula brand since the 1980s.

Laura is super thoughtful and inspiring, listen to the episode here: https://t.co/kK66YAFR6N

[David Rusenko @drusenko]

.@jimmydouglas went from selling vacuums on straight commission to pitching investors on paternity leave to a $20M Series A for @plugmotors. His first investor call? @annimaniac of @floodgatefund.

On @leapforwardfm, he breaks down exactly how he did it: https://t.co/2geX5tXo9O

[David Rusenko @drusenko]

.@reinpk built Segment into a $3.2B company, but it took years before they figured out *how* to find product-market fit. His ambitions have only grown, and he's now CEO at both @CharmIndustrial and Revoy.

Listen to Peter and @calvinfo tell the story at https://t.co/coWlT3MUYn

[David Rusenko @drusenko]

@nathanblec turned a social experiment into @Airbnb: a company that would remake travel. But first, it had to survive.

In crisis after crisis they found an opportunity to build trust and make the company stronger.

Full @leapforwardfm episode at https://t.co/dEGoIOtp6C

[Founders In Arms Podcast @FoundersInArms]

100 Years of Oil Prices vs. 30 Years of Solar. @drusenko on why the learning curve for renewables is crushing fossil fuels—and why clean tech investors were just too early. Full episode out, link in bio.

[Paul Graham @paulg]

This interview with Jessica goes the deepest of any interview she's done into her life story, and how it gave her the unique combination of qualities that made Y Combinator work.

[David Rusenko @drusenko]

It was really special to have @immad (CEO of @mercury) on the pod and especially to talk to his Mom, Tahseen. Immad has an incredibly inspiring story - you won't want to miss this one!

Full episode at https://t.co/nyoipyWp24

And stay tuned at the end for an easter egg 🥚

[David Rusenko @drusenko]

@jesslivingston @ycombinator Be sure to listen after the credits for a little easter egg 🥚

[David Rusenko @drusenko]

So much fun having @jesslivingston on and hearing the story of her early life and what an instrumental role she played in starting @ycombinator - in a way many don't fully appreciate!

Listen to the full episode at https://t.co/7XIw3ezS9J

[David Rusenko @drusenko]

.@paulg talks about how @ycombinator would have never gotten started without @jesslivingston, what people sometimes miss about the role she played, and the secret to doing a startup with your spouse or partner.

Listen to the full episode at https://t.co/7XIw3ezS9J

[David Rusenko @drusenko]

Episode 1 is with YC founders Jessica Livingston and Paul Graham.

Episode 2 is with Mercury founder Immad Akhund and his Mom.

Episode 3 launches next Weds Apr 1, and is with Airbnb founder Nate Blecharczyk and their first advisor.

Follow along at https://t.co/ELK0j71Nst

[David Rusenko @drusenko]

Six months ago, I teamed up with the creator of The Daily on a crazy new idea. We talk to well known founders + someone close to them like their college roommate or their mom that tell a whole different side to the story.

Season 1 is launching today: https://t.co/if2etXa53Y

[David Rusenko @drusenko]

Excited for this to come out - can't wait to hear these stories.

[Bill Clerico @billclerico]

On Aug 1, 2008, I quit finance to start WePay, only for Lehman Brothers to collapse two weeks later.

It felt like the world was ending, yet 18 years later the S&P is up 5X and the financial crisis gave birth to a fintech revolution.

Today something similar is happening 🧵👇

[David Rusenko @drusenko]

“Big picture it’s a W” 💀

[Care Weather @CareWeather]

We're thrilled to announce that Veery v0.4 "Barb", our fourth test and first weather satellite, is launching today!

Barb will test:
- a more sensitive radar capable of measuring ocean surface wind speed
- end-to-end control software from @elodinsystems
- improved Iridium SBD software
- partially-automated commissioning
- and much more

SpaceX livestream starts at 10:36pm!

[Tom Steyer @TomSteyer]

In its latest world outlook report, the @IEA declares that China is leading the age of electrification, accounting for 60% of new #RenewableEnergy in 2023. If the global race to see who will own the clean energy economy of the future is on, what does the US stand to lose?

Chart Credit: @IEA and @semafor