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]

What would it look like if we electrified everything? Is electrification as an idea dead? The answers might surprise you.

I sat down with @samcalisch (CEO of Copper) and @GriffithSaul to talk about just that.

Check out the full episode here: https://t.co/jqNvzR89Rj

[David Rusenko @drusenko]

Steve Huffman sold Reddit, left, then came back to rebuild it.

Steve and Chris Slowe join me on Season 2 of Leap Forward to tell that story, from the early YC days to the decisions that kept Reddit alive. And how Steve picked a lock to graduate.

Listen: https://t.co/jqNvzR7C1L

[David Rusenko @drusenko]

Season 2 of Leap Forward launches today! We're diving deep into some of the most iconic startups, hearing from the founders and those who know them best: a brother, a first employee, a close personal friend.

First episode with Steve Huffman (CEO/Reddit): https://t.co/jqNvzR89Rj

[Peter Reinhardt @reinpk]

Announcing @Revoy’s $27M Series A

Diesel is expensive. But long-haul EV semis are even more expensive! Today we’re launching the United States’ first hybrid electric, cost-competitive long-haul freight network.

You don’t see it on your credit card statement, but the average American spends $1,270/year on long-haul freight. Diesel prices at the pump are outrageous today: rising on both international price shocks and increasing domestic shale oil costs. And pure EV semis are somehow even more expensive to operate. We need a better solution, and Ian Rust @semiautonomy figured it out. Revoy’s unique powered converter dolly lets us drop diesel usage by 95% and efficiently replace it with low-cost electricity.

After two years of demonstrations and iterative improvements, we’re now taking the unique Revoy vehicle that we design and manufacture, and launching our hybrid-electric freight network with a select set of carriers. Shippers can reduce diesel consumption immediately on Revoy’s network without having to convince legacy carriers to convert their fleets, and without any investment in new infrastructure or equipment.

We’re starting in the Pacific Northwest, with additional lanes planned.

[David Rusenko @drusenko]

Such a fun convo w/ @mwseibel and @justinkan on the origin story behind live streaming: a 24/7 lifecasting show that they all agreed was a bad idea, but did it anyway.

Those early days in a North Beach apartment turned into a $100B market.

Listen at https://t.co/IXKYhEVXPO

[David Rusenko @drusenko]

It's not often that an internship turns into a billion-dollar IPO, but it did for @seanduffy when his resume fell on to the floor at @ideo. Design thinking, lots of grit, and a crawling world record led to @omadahealth.

Listen to the latest episode at https://t.co/7q87CTy3vV

[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