Founder Mode Live at San Francisco Tech Week with Max Mullen (Instacart) & Andrew Ofstad (Airtable)

Welcome back to Founder Mode!

In this episode of Founder Mode, we spoke with Max Mullen, co-founder of Instacart, and Andrew Ofstad, co-founder of Airtable. They started from nothing. They built real products and navigated the AI boom together. These two leaders helped shape how millions of people shop, organize data, and work online.

This episode explains how to build MVPs and launch early. It shows how today’s resourceful founders can use AI to speed up their process.

5 Key Takeaways

1. Speed Beats Perfection

Both Instacart and Airtable launched scrappy MVPs. Airtable didn’t even have a backend at first. Instacart’s early shopper app was just a webpage. The goal? Ship and learn quickly.

2. Your First Users Will Teach You Everything

Max shared how he spent $20,000 on one of everything from Trader Joe’s. He did it to give users what they truly wanted. Andrew shared how early Airtable users hacked the product to run nonprofits or make films. Listen closely to your early users—they’ll show you the way.

3. AI is Now Table Stakes

Users expect amazing AI features. They use ChatGPT, Gemini, and other assistants every day. That means AI isn’t optional anymore. Founders who don’t build with AI will fall behind.

4. Don’t Overbuild Before You Have Demand

Andrew said that Airtable rolled out its full developer platform too soon. It’s easy to want to go big. But first, you need to see real interest from users. Only then should you invest in major features.

5. SF is Back, and It’s Better

Both founders agreed that San Francisco is the top spot for startups again, especially in AI. The energy is real, and being around other builders matters more than ever.

Final Thoughts

This episode is full of startup truths: move fast, listen to your users, and don’t wait for perfect. Max and Andrew show that even billion-dollar products can begin as messy demos and bold risks.

If you're a founder building in today’s AI-driven world, focus on real user value. Think long-term, but ship short-term. Build fast, learn faster.

And remember: It's not about getting it right the first time. It's about getting it right enough to keep going.

🎧 Listen to Episode 31 here:

Founder Mode Live at San Fra... Oct 30 · Founder Mode 46:23   ​

​

This podcast builds on the Founder Mode newsletter.

Let’s build.

-kevin

​​​

2810 N Church St #87205, Wilmington, DE 19802
​Unsubscribe · Preferences