230 - Nate Clark, founder of Brand New Box

Code with Jason

1:00:22

Join us for an engaging episode of The Innovators and Investors Podcast, hosted by Kristian Marquez, where we explore the vibrant intersection of technology, investment, and entrepreneurship. This week, Kristian welcomes two dynamic guests: Kevin Weber, Managing Director at Amex Ventures, and Ayal Karmi, Co-founder and CEO of Nakuda. In this episode, Kevin shares his fascinating career journey, including his transition from corporate finance and M&A to venture capital at Amex Ventures, where he focuses on early-stage investments in sectors like fintech, AI, and cybersecurity. As Kevin describes his investment thesis, he emphasizes the importance of strategic partnerships and the alignment of their investments with American Express’s core business objectives. Our conversation then shifts to Ayal Karmi, who delves into the innovative solutions Nakuda is bringing to the market. As the company pioneers a system for AI agents to make seamless payments online, Ayal discusses the challenges and opportunities in automating the checkout process and enhancing transaction authenticity. Listeners can expect to gain valuable insights into the investment landscape, the evolving field of AI agents, and best practices for founders seeking to navigate the venture capital space. Furthermore, Kevin and Ayal offer advice on how to approach corporate venture capital, the significance of understanding investor expectations, and the future of agentic payments. Don’t miss this enlightening discussion that highlights the transformative power of technology and the shared mission of fostering innovation in today’s rapidly evolving market. Subscribe now to stay updated on the latest insights and trends in the world of innovation and finance! For more details, visit our website and read Ayal’s insightful blogs on Substack, https://substack.com/@nekuda? about autonomous payments to stay informed about the latest in AI technologies. Enjoy the episode! Learn more about Kevin's work https://www.americanexpress.com/us/business/american-express-ventures/ Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-weber-b77b8028/ Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/ Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work? Check out his website at https://finstratmgmt.com/…

about a year ago 1:03:37

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On today's episode I talk with Nate Clark, founder and principal software engineer of Brand New Box. We discuss Brand New Box's early days and what it's like to found an agency, the different ways Nate and I think about acquiring new business, marketing yourself, how big picture thinking can sharpen your day to day plans, deciding to build a product, the difficulty of finding a problem to solve where it makes financial sense to do so, and how personal relationships beget opportunities.

261 episodes

#Tech #Jason Swett

230 - Nate Clark, founder of Brand New Box

Code with Jason

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published about a year ago

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261 episodes

#Tech #Jason Swett

All episodes

Code with Jason

1
257 - Colleen Schnettler, Creator of HelloQuery 1:03:01

21 days ago1:03:01

1:03:01

In this episode, Colleen Schnettler discusses her startup HelloQuery, which allows non-technical people to query databases using natural language. She explains her marketing approach for growing the business, including her LinkedIn outreach system and focus on finding the right niche in the crowded AI space. Colleen also shares insights about her new venture, SaaS Marketing Gym, which helps technical founders develop and implement marketing plans.…

Code with Jason

1
256 - Dave Farley, Author of Modern Software Engineering 1:08:49

26 days ago1:08:49

1:08:49

In this episode I talk with Dave Farley about how good software engineering prioritizes making code easy to change, since we inevitably need to revise our systems as requirements evolve. Dave also shares stories from building ultra-fast financial trading systems, where his team had to repeatedly rethink their architecture to meet performance demands. We also discuss how key concepts like abstraction and modularity connect to scientific thinking, with both requiring a healthy skepticism toward our own assumptions. Modern Software Engineering The Software Developers' Guidebook Nonsense Monthly…

Code with Jason

1
255 - Ghost Engineers with Yegor Denisov-Blanch and Simon Obstbaum 56:58

5 weeks ago56:58

56:58

In this episode I talk with Yegor Denisov-Blanch and Simon Obstbaum about their Stanford research on developer productivity. They share findings about "ghost engineers" (9.5% of developers who do minimal work), discuss challenges in measuring engineering output versus productivity, and explain their data-driven approach to software engineering assessment. The conversation explores how different developers contribute varying value, how life circumstances impact work motivation, and their methodology examining source code and Git metadata. The researchers highlight the importance of quantifying engineering contributions and have collected data from over 50,000 engineers in their ongoing study.…

Code with Jason

1
254 - Amanda Perino, Executive Director of The Rails Foundation 1:12:28

5 weeks ago1:12:28

1:12:28

In this episode, Amanda Perino, Executive Director of The Rails Foundation, discusses the foundation's mission to promote Rails through events like Rails World, focusing on finding unique venues that create special conference experiences. She shares insights about venue selection, sponsor negotiations, and the foundation's efforts to showcase Rails amid challenging job market conditions.…

Code with Jason

1
253 - Dave Thomas, Author of The Pragmatic Programmer and Sin City Ruby 2025 Keynote Speaker 1:27:12

10 weeks ago1:27:12

1:27:12

In this podcast episode I talk with Dave Thomas, co-author of The Pragmatic Programmer and Sin City Ruby 2025 keynote speaker, who discusses his upcoming book Simplicity and how software development has become unnecessarily complex. Dave and I explore how developers can regain control by questioning established practices, trusting their intuition when code feels overly complicated, and experimenting with simpler approaches rather than blindly following industry trends. Simplicity Sin City Ruby The Pragmatic Programmer…

Code with Jason

1
252 - What is Good Code? with Jerad Gallinger 1:10:10

11 weeks ago1:10:10

1:10:10

In this episode, I talk with Jared Gallinger about what makes good code. We agree that code must first work correctly, but real quality comes from being understandable and maintainable. We discuss how different code requires different quality standards - throwaway scripts can be messy while core systems need careful design. We explore how UI design limits code quality and why creating good software, like art, requires both discipline and comfort with necessary waste. A practical look at a concept developers discuss but rarely define clearly. jeradgallinger.ca…

Code with Jason

1
251 - Databases at Scale with Prarthana Shiva, Sin City Ruby 2025 Speaker 45:08

13 weeks ago45:08

45:08

In this episode of Code with Jason, host Jason Swett interviews Prarthana Shiva, a senior software engineer at NexHealth, who shares how her team is handling massive database scaling challenges. Prarthana explains their PostgreSQL database's growth to 24 terabytes (with projections to triple within a year) and details their innovative solutions including read replicas, Elasticsearch implementation, Redis caching, external write-ahead logs, and optimized vacuuming processes. The conversation also touches on Jason's own database challenges with his CI platform and concludes with Prarthana's upcoming presentation at Sin City Ruby 2025, where she'll discuss their transition from schema-based to row-based multi-tenancy for better scalability. Prarthana Shiva on LinkedIn Sin City Ruby…

Code with Jason

1
250 - Nick Schwaderer 1:08:14

15 weeks ago1:08:14

1:08:14

This podcast episode features a lively conversation between Jason Swett and Nick Schwaderer, covering a range of topics from Thanksgiving traditions to Ruby conferences, personal philosophies, and even the idea of starting a long-format, freeform podcast. They discuss their approaches to cooking turkey, the quirks of different Thanksgiving side dishes across the U.S., and the experience of celebrating American holidays abroad. The conversation then shifts to Sin City Ruby and Rails World, with Nick reflecting on how conferences create strong community bonds. They also delve into personal growth, handling adversity, and the importance of resilience in career and life.…

Code with Jason

1
249 - Neeraj Singh, Founder and CEO of BigBinary and Neeto 56:20

17 weeks ago56:20

56:20

The episode explores the challenges of remote work and the opportunities for connection that arise from engaging in community events like the Sin City Ruby conference. Neeraj Singh shares his experiences running a remote consulting agency, highlights unconventional hiring practices, and delves into the benefits of creating clone products, all while emphasizing the value of quality software and a thriving company culture. • Discussing the emotional toll of remote work • Importance of community events for connection • Neeraj's Big Binary: A unique, remote-first agency • Innovatively maintaining talent on the bench for flexibility • The value of creating clones in a saturated market • Hiring challenges and unique strategies • Retaining talent through strong company culture • Quality assurance as a fundamental aspect of software development • A holistic view on building competitive and maintainable products BigBinary Neeto Sin City Ruby…

Code with Jason

1
248 - Ryan Kulp, Founder of TRMNL 1:04:24

18 weeks ago1:04:24

1:04:24

In this episode I talk with Ryan Kulp, creator of TRMNL, an e-ink dashboard. TRMNL ryanckulp.com Ryan Kulp on X

Code with Jason

1
247 - Steven R. Baker, Creator of RSpec 1:40:44

19 weeks ago1:40:44

1:40:44

In this podcast episode, Steven R. Baker dives into test doubles like mocks and stubs, discussing their essential role in robust code development and challenging traditional testing practices. The conversation covers the nuances of Test-Driven Development (TDD), including writing failing tests first for better code clarity and test coverage, and explores RSpec's influence on TDD. Additionally, Steven examines Ruby's adaptability and the integration of AI in programming, providing listeners with actionable strategies for more maintainable codebases and a balanced view on AI's evolving role in software development.…

Code with Jason

1
246 - John Gallagher 56:50

20 weeks ago56:50

56:50

Join us for a conversation with John Gallagher, founder of Joyful Programming, as he shares insights on making programming enjoyable through Ruby, design, and object-oriented practices. We’ll explore the Unison programming language, designed to simplify distributed computing, and discuss the role of AI tools like ChatGPT in adopting new technologies. The episode includes stories about human forgetfulness and the growth opportunities podcasting offers, along with resources from Joyful Programming Joyful Programming Software Design Simplified…

Code with Jason

1
245 - Irina Nazarova, CEO of Evil Martians and Sin City Ruby 2025 Speaker 1:24:14

21 weeks ago1:24:14

1:24:14

Jason Swett and Irina Nazarova discuss the revitalization of the Ruby community, focusing on the announcement of Sin City Ruby 2025 in Las Vegas. They highlight the importance of small, intimate gatherings for networking, insights from past events, the resurgence of Ruby meetups in San Francisco, and the role of mentorship in fostering growth. - Evil Martians - Martian Events - Sin City Ruby…

Code with Jason

1
244 - Jeff Dwyer, Founder & CEO at Prefab 1:02:38

21 weeks ago1:02:38

1:02:38

This episode explores how Prefab enhances deployment workflows by integrating feature flags with Java microservices and Ruby on Rails, drawing on Jeff's experiences at HubSpot and EasyCater. We discuss strategies for minimizing deployment risks, improving PR reviews, and mentoring junior developers through clear objectives and constructive feedback. Real-world examples and practical advice offer insights into building efficient development systems and fostering growth in engineering teams. Links: - Prefab - Jeff Dwyer on LinkedIn…

Code with Jason

1
243 - Johanna Rothman, Author and Consultant 1:17:52

22 weeks ago1:17:52