What if you built a tool so powerful, it became the #1 repo on GitHub—twice?

That’s exactly what Daniel Farrell did with Onlook, an open-source AI-powered visual editor for code. From crashing Chrome extensions to crashing Hacker News, Daniel takes us through how he and his co-founder built momentum, community, and virality from nothing.

In this fast, founder-first conversation, we cover:

• How Onlook went from prototype to #1 GitHub repo

• Why Hacker News beat Product Hunt for traction

• The real benefits and tradeoffs of going open source

• How open source GTM can win enterprise customers

• What most people misunderstand about AI and design• Why taste, story, and community still matter more than code

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

00:00 The Most Trending Repo in the World

00:16 Meet Daniel Farrell: Co-Founder of Onlook

00:59 The Vision Behind Onlook

01:57 Building the Prototype and Early Challenges

04:55 Finding the Perfect Co-Founder

11:57 The Open Source Journey

14:49 The Hacker News Effect

16:47 Global Impact and Community Building

19:40 The Importance of Open Source

24:31 Challenges of Maintaining a Community

25:00 Open Source Success Stories

25:21 The Super Base Playbook

26:33 Advantages of Open Source for Enterprises

33:42 Impact of AI on Design and Marketing Teams

42:25 Future Bets and Bold Predictions

48:00 Where to Find Onlook and Final Thoughts

Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson

What if launching a tech startup was as easy as filling out a form?

Ben Collins, co-founder of Woz, joins Gabriel to unpack how his AI platform helps anyone — even non-technical founders — build full-stack software businesses. From betting against vertical SaaS to designing an AI cofounder you can trust, this conversation is a tactical deep dive into where startup creation is headed.

🔍 In this episode:

Why Woz pivoted away from a holding company model

What most AI-first code tools get totally wrong

How mobile-first enables higher quality standards

A unique approach to betting on future AI capability curves

The real reason most AI startups are failing users

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

⏱ Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Scaling and Bottlenecks

00:18 Introducing Ben Collins and Woz

01:04 The Vision Behind Woz

03:43 The Founding Story

06:06 The Shift to a Platform Approach

08:53 Navigating the Competitive Landscape

12:39 Philosophical and Strategic Insights

17:02 The Mobile-First Strategy

25:34 The Journey to Product-Market Fit

27:15 Navigating Rapid Technological Changes

32:21 The Impact of Y Combinator

35:00 AI's Role in Scaling Service Businesses

36:42 Challenges for Non-Technical Founders

39:13 Bold Predictions and Future Bets

45:02 Exciting Announcements and Closing Thoughts

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson

YC isn't just about AI anymore — it's quietly becoming America’s new industrial engine. In this episode, Gabriel and Laurie break down how Y Combinator is doubling down on hardtech, defense, and energy — and why this matters more than ever.

From geopolitical risk to deep tech traction, we unpack how YC startups are shaping the future — and why top seed investors are scrambling to keep up. We also reveal how internal partner dynamics at YC shape which billion-dollar startups get funded.

🎙 This is your tactical, insider breakdown of what’s next for the world’s most important startup accelerator.

What you’ll learn:

* Why YC is going all-in on defense, energy, and hardware

* How LOIs and demo day results work for hardtech startups

* The “too late” moment for most seed investors trying to access YC deals

* Why YC group partners matter — and how to track them

* What the NextView “existential crisis” blog means for the seed market

* Which partners are shaping the S25 batch behind the scenes

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters00:00 First Impressions and Initial Skepticism

00:36 Welcome to the Podcast

00:52 YC's New Request for Startups

01:57 YC's Hardware and Industrial Focus

07:08 The Importance of Energy and Defense

08:26 Political and Regulatory Considerations

14:27 Investing in Deep Tech and Hardware

20:15 Challenges in Seed Investing

21:25 The Impact of YC on Seed Investing

22:24 The YC Network and Its Influence

23:35 Challenges and Opportunities for Non-YC Investors

24:25 The Journey of Investing in YC

25:42 The Importance of Timing in YC Investments

29:39 Changes in YC Leadership

33:42 The Role of Group Partners in YC

37:35 Personal Experiences with YC Group Partners

39:30 Conclusion and Next Steps

🎧 Listen on the go:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAPApple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMmMy other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson