The ScholarAI Founders Podcast
Conversations at the cutting edge of AI, startups, and the evolving tech landscape.
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5/28/25 •Are Founder-Led Companies Actually More Valuable? - Ep. 56
(0:00) Intro – Moving to SF, culture shock, and founder ethos
(4:35) Skipping college vs. startup school: is it worth it?
(10:40) The ROI of grad school and MBA programs
(14:50) Favorite AI tools this week: Lovable, Clay, and V0
(19:30) Open source acquisitions: Windsor, Neon, and what they signal
(25:10) Klarna’s AI reversal: hype vs. reality of workforce replacement
(28:20) Is Perplexity AI here to stay? Growth, acquisition, and skepticism
(33:35) Wrap-up
In this episode of the ScholarAI Founders Pod, Shashi and Lakshya debate whether founder-led teams outperform, what Klarna’s AI reversal means for the future of work, and why Perplexity might have more staying power than most people think.
They also unpack:
– The value of skipping college in 2025
– Open source wins like Windsor and Neon
– Lovable vs. V0: why some AI tools actually resonate
– The hard truths about startup investing during a downturn
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https://x.com/Lakshya__Bakshi
https://x.com/DamonBurrow
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Try our new app: https://notilo.ai
#AI #Founders #Startups #OpenSource #Klarna #Perplexity #College #VC #Product #TechNews #Clay #Lovable #Neon #Windsor
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5/15/25 •Will Microsoft Wipe Out Cursor? - Ep. 55
OpenAI just acquired Windsurf (formerly Codium), and developers everywhere are asking: is this the beginning of the AI IDE wars?
In Episode 55, the Founders break down the future of coding tools in an AI-first world—from Cursor’s rapid growth to OpenAI’s strategy to dominate the developer experience. We cover Claude vs. GPT, VS Code’s uncertain future, and what this all means for solo devs, startups, and big players.
(0:00) Intro – Cursor vs. Windsurf and OpenAI’s play
(4:00) Claude vs. GPT: Who wins the dev experience?
(9:50) Will VS Code survive the AI IDE takeover?
(15:00) Cursor’s growth + Cursor vs. Windsurf
(22:40) OpenAI’s developer strategy + Softbank speculation
(28:30) What happens if Cursor wins?
Follow the Founders:
https://x.com/DamonBurrow
https://x.com/Lakshya__Bakshi
https://x.com/reShashi
Follow the Pod:
X: https://x.com/ScholarAI
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#Cursor #Windsurf #OpenAI #Claude #GPT4 #DevTools #IDE #SaaS #AI #Startups #VC #Innovation #FoundersPod #Anthropic #Microsoft #VSCode #AItools #Coding
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5/7/25 •Is Claude the Most Underrated AI Tool Right Now? - Ep. 54
(1:12) Why Claude models are still top among developers
(5:45) OpenAI’s push with O3, O4, and developer market share
(9:30) Will any model “win”? Or will there be long-term rotation?
(13:00) Claude vs GPT-4 vs LLaMA – productivity insights
(16:12) The Meta argument: “Facebook never really left”
(18:56) Meta’s dominance in social and future with AR/VR
(22:40) The AI “dumbbell theory” – value at the top and bottom
(26:15) Are we in a new recession or just reallocation?
(29:20) Protected time for researchers in economic downturns
Claude is outperforming GPT-4 for developers - and Cursor is turning engineering into a product manager’s game. In this episode, the founders unpack how they’re using Claude every day, why function calling is such a big deal, and what it means for the future of dev work.
They also explore the decline of protected research time in medicine, the rise of hedge fund PhDs, and what happens when traditional career paths start to break down.
Follow the Founders:
https://x.com/DamonBurrow
https://x.com/Lakshya__Bakshi
https://x.com/reShashi
Follow the Pod on Socials:
X: https://x.com/ScholarAI
Instagram: https://instagram.com/scholarai_/
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LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/scholar-ai
Try our new app: https://notilo.ai
#Claude #Cursor #GPT4 #DevTools #Coding #AI #Engineering #PhD #Research #Academia #FoundersPod #TechTrends #Startups
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5/1/25 •Is Big Tech Too Powerful to Fail? - Ep. 53
(0:00) Welcome & Google’s Surprise Earnings
(3:25) Why AI Overviews Aren’t Hurting Google (Yet)
(8:10) Is YouTube Search Powering Google’s Growth?
(12:40) AI's Role in Google’s Global Dominance
(16:45) Meta’s Massive Growth & Why It's Still Winning
(20:50) The Secret Behind Meta’s Ad Revenue Model
(24:00) Netflix’s Retention Strategy & Studio Power
(28:30) Why Netflix Isn’t Losing the Streaming War
(32:15) Tesla's Sales Decline & Elon’s Effect on the Stock
(36:40) Will Tesla’s Autonomy Bet Actually Pay Off?
(42:10) The Ugly Future of Robot Taxis?
(44:35) Minecraft, Mufasa & Movie Economics
(48:00) Are Derivative Movies Profitable for Disney?
(51:30) Our Picks: What We’ve Been Watching Lately
Big Tech is booming, again. In this episode, the ScholarAI founders break down Google’s earnings surprise, Meta’s pricing power, and how Netflix refuses to churn. Meanwhile, Tesla’s in trouble. Sales are down, and Elon’s distractions may be catching up.
Plus:
- AI overviews may be the most used AI product on Earth
- Why Meta’s ad model is more powerful than ever
- Netflix’s secret weapon: content and retention
- What’s happening with Tesla, autonomy, and robots
- Are franchise movies still making money for Disney?
We wrap with what we’re watching and what it means for tech, business, and the box office.
Watch the full episode now & subscribe for more AI and tech insights.
Follow the Founders:
https://x.com/DamonBurrow
https://x.com/Lakshya__Bakshi
https://x.com/reShashi
Follow the Pod on Socials:
X: https://x.com/ScholarAI
Instagram: https://instagram.com/scholarai_/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@founders.pod
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/scholar-ai
Try our new app: https://notilo.ai
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4/11/25 •Recession, Realignment, or Reset? - Ep. 52
Trump’s 90% tariffs. Market drops. Bitcoin stalls. Are we heading for a recession—or something bigger?
In Episode 52 of the ScholarAI Founders Pod, Damon, Shashi, and Lakshya unpack the global market chaos unfolding in real time. From inflation and rate pressures to Bitcoin’s failure as a safe haven, the founders dive into what this moment really signals: a temporary correction, a fundamental realignment, or a full reset of how global systems operate.
They discuss:
- Why the current pullback feels engineered
- Where capital is flowing—and fleeing
- Why safe havens aren’t safe anymore
- How founders should navigate the next 6–12 months
Whether you're building a company, holding assets, or just watching closely, this episode is about the stakes behind the headlines.
(0:00) Trump’s Tariff Bombshell
(3:45) Founder Fallout: Why This Matters for Tech
(7:50) Market Panic vs. Realignment
(11:40) Bitcoin Is Failing Its Stress Test
(15:20) Where Shashi & Lakshya Are Moving Capital
(18:40) What the VIX Says About Market Fear
(22:30) Are We Entering a Controlled Recession?
(27:00) What Happens After ZIRP Ends?
(32:00) Is the U.S. Losing Global Trust?
(36:15) Recession, Realignment… or Reset?
Follow the Founders:
https://x.com/DamonBurrow
https://x.com/Lakshya__Bakshi
https://x.com/reShashi
Follow the Pod on Socials:
X: https://x.com/ScholarAI
Instagram: https://instagram.com/scholarai_/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@founders.pod
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/scholar-ai/
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4/4/25 •Is OpenAI Still the Front-Runner? - Ep. 51
Three founders. One unfiltered take on AI’s future.
In this episode of the ScholarAI Founders Pod, Damon, Shashi, and Lakshya return for a packed discussion on:
- The real implications of open-source AI vs. closed models
- Whether Anthropic, OpenAI, and Mistral are over- or under-valued
- NVIDIA’s dominance and how founders should think about compute
- Why the next great AI company might not be a chatbot
- Whether GPT-4.5 is quietly disrupting everything
- And the honest debate: are we running out of GPUs?
This one’s full of real founder talk — from infrastructure bets to application strategy and beyond. A must-listen if you’re building in AI or investing in it.
(0:00) Open vs. Closed-Source AI: What’s Actually at Stake?
(6:03) Mistral’s New Model & Product: How Does It Stack Up?
(10:56) Should Founders Build on Open-Source or Closed Models?
(17:35) GPU Bottlenecks & Infrastructure Tradeoffs
(22:45) Model Hosting Costs Are Wild—Who Can Keep Up?
(26:31) Infra vs. Product: What Really Drives Adoption?
(31:12) GPT-4.5 vs. GPT-5: What's the Real Leap?
(36:55) Building an AI Company in 2025: Advice for Founders
(42:47) When Will AI Agents Finally Deliver on the Hype?
(48:23) Founders Roundtable: Big Lessons from the Past Year
(52:11) What We’re Most Excited to Build Next
Follow the Founders:
https://x.com/DamonBurrow
https://x.com/Lakshya__Bakshi
https://x.com/reShashi
Follow the Pod on Socials:
X: https://x.com/ScholarAI
Instagram: https://instagram.com/scholarai_/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@founders.pod
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/scholar-ai/
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3/16/25How To Build An AI Company Today - Ep. 49
(0:00) Why anyone can build with AI now
(3:40) Building fast with Cursor and Claude
(8:20) Prompting, versioning, and workflows
(12:10) Notilo launch + early user growth
(15:40) Tools for international students
(18:50) ScholarAI’s roadmap and traction
(21:10) Coding with Claude + GitHub
(24:50) From GPT wrappers to AI OS
(28:10) Distribution vs. technical moats
(31:40) Cursor’s growth and product strategy
(34:50) Secondary market trends
(37:40) Anthropic, xAI, and Perplexity
This week, Lakshya and Shashi explore what it really takes to build an AI company in 2025. They break down their own workflows, reflect on the evolution of AI tooling, and share learnings from launching ScholarAI’s new app, Notilo. From solving real user pain points to scaling distribution, they unpack what founders need to know now—and where the real moats lie in a commoditized software world. The episode wraps with a look at the AI infrastructure landscape, secondary market trends, and which players are positioned to lead the next wave.
Follow the Founders:
https://x.com/DamonBurrow
https://x.com/Lakshya__Bakshi
https://x.com/reShashi
Follow the Pod on Socials:
X: https://x.com/ScholarAI
Instagram: https://instagram.com/scholarai_/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@founders.pod
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/scholar-ai/
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3/7/25 •AI’s Impact on Research, Business, and Software - Ep.48
(0:00) AI’s role in research and experimentation
(3:15) AI tools accelerating research—where they work and fail
(7:40) Can AI actually plan and run experiments?
(12:10) AI as a no-code tool—can anyone build software now?
(16:45) The rise of AI-powered startups—why execution matters
(21:20) AI and the hiring shift—how companies are adapting
(26:50) Why SaaS is evolving—AI’s role in reshaping business models
(31:25) The challenges of selling AI-powered software
(35:40) Who will dominate AI—tech giants or startups?
This week, we explore how AI is revolutionizing research, empowering non-coders to build businesses, and disrupting traditional SaaS models.
Is AI making software a commodity, research faster, and hiring more selective? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Follow the Founders:
https://x.com/DamonBurrow
https://x.com/Lakshya__Bakshi
https://x.com/reShashi
Follow the Pod on Socials:
X: https://x.com/ScholarAI
Instagram: https://instagram.com/scholarai_/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@founders.pod
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/scholar-ai/
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3/3/25 •Can AI Replace Scientists and Researchers? - Ep. 47
PhD programs are being cut, postdocs are disappearing, and AI is changing research. In this episode of the ScholarAI Founders Pod, we discuss AI’s impact on academia, the latest updates from GPT-4.5 & Sonnet 3.7, and the theory that Jack Dorsey is Satoshi Nakamoto. Is AI replacing traditional research, or is this just another shift? Watch now.
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2/21/25 •AI Tools Are Getting Smarter—Are We Ready? - Ep. 46
AI tools are evolving fast—are we ready? In this episode, we explore OpenAI’s Deep Research, Google’s Gemini Flash 2.0, and the impact of AI on jobs. We also break down Palantir’s stock surge, AI business models, and the future of automation. Watch now to stay ahead in the AI revolution.
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2/7/25 •The AI Model That Changed Everything Overnight - Ep. 45
A new AI model is disrupting the industry—faster, cheaper, and just as powerful as top models. In this episode of the ScholarAI Founders Pod, we break down Tesla’s FSD updates, the billion-dollar market shakeup, and whether open-source AI is making paid models obsolete. Is this the start of an AI revolution or just market hype? Watch now.
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1/29/25 •OpenAI vs. Google: The Billion-Dollar AI War You Need to Know About - Ep. 44
Project Stargate is a $500B AI initiative backed by OpenAI, SoftBank, and NVIDIA—but is it real innovation or a financial bubble? In this episode of the ScholarAI Founders Pod, we discuss AI compute wars, Microsoft’s shifting role, and who will dominate AI in the next decade. Is OpenAI on the verge of collapse or its biggest play yet? Watch now.
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1/20/25 •Self-Driving Cars, AI Personas, and the Rise of the Dead Internet - Ep. 43
NVIDIA’s latest CES innovations are pushing self-driving tech forward—but can legacy automakers keep up? In this episode of the ScholarAI Founders Pod, we explore the dead internet theory, Meta’s AI personas, and the ethics of AI-generated content. Plus, how solopreneurs can navigate AI’s evolving landscape. Watch now.
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1/8/25 •2024 Reflections: Big Tech, AI Wearables, and the Future of Crypto - Ep. 42
As we enter 2025, what’s next for AI, wearables, and blockchain? In this episode of the ScholarAI Founders Pod, we reflect on 2024’s biggest tech moves, discuss Apple Intelligence, NVIDIA, and Anthropic, and predict whether AI agents will finally live up to the hype. What are you most excited about for 2025? Watch now.
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12/27/24 •The Drone Debate and the Rise of AI Robotics - Ep. 41
Drones, humanoid robots, and AI—where is tech headed in 2025? In this episode of the ScholarAI Founders Pod, we debate Tesla and Figure’s humanoid robots, the physics challenges in robotics, and Google’s evolving AI strategy. Plus, what’s next for AI and robotics this year? Watch now.
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12/22/24 •Are AI Employees the Future of Work? - Ep. 40
AI coding tools like Devon AI claim to replace junior developers—but is a $500/month AI assistant worth it? In this episode of the ScholarAI Founders Pod, we explore AI’s role in coding, workplace automation, and enterprise adoption challenges. Are we moving toward an AI-dominated workforce, or is this just hype? Watch now.
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12/12/24 •Bitcoin Hits 100K. What’s Next for Crypto? - Ep. 39
Bitcoin just crossed $100K for the first time, but what’s driving the surge? In this episode of the ScholarAI Founders Pod, we break down the impact of pro-crypto regulations, Bitcoin’s role as a speculative asset, and the risks of decentralization. Is this a new era for cryptocurrency or another bubble? Watch now.
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12/5/24 •Llama, OpenAI, and the Shift in Enterprise AI - Ep. 38
AI competition is heating up—can enterprises trust AI tools in a rapidly evolving landscape? In this episode of the ScholarAI Founders Pod, we explore how Anthropic is challenging OpenAI, Llama’s disruptive potential, and the economic & ethical challenges of AI adoption. Is AI heading toward decentralization or deeper control? Watch now.