#155 - Laks Srini

About this episode

<p><a href="https://twitter.com/laks_srini">Laks Srini</a> is the cofounder and CTO of <a href="https://zerodown.com/">ZeroDown</a>. Before that he was the cofounder and CTO of Zenefits.<br><br>You can find him on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/laks_srini">@laks_srini</a>.<br><br>The YC podcast is hosted by <a href="https://twitter.com/CraigCannon">Craig Cannon</a>.<br><br>Y Combinator invests a small amount of money ($150k) in a large number of startups (recently 200), twice a year.<br><br>Learn more about YC and apply for funding here: <a href="https://www.ycombinator.com/apply/">https://www.ycombinator.com/apply/</a> <br><br>***<br><br><b>Topics</b><br><br>00:00 - Intro<br><br>00:30 - What is ZeroDown?<br><br>1:50 - How did they test the idea?<br><br>3:50 - What did they learn from companies that failed in the space?<br><br>8:00 - Breaking down the product<br><br>11:25 - ZeroDown's customers<br><br>13:35 - Expanding to other markets<br><br>15:50 - What if a downturn happens?<br><br>17:10 - ZeroDown's hiring strategy<br><br>20:10 - What are their hardest technical challenges?<br><br>22:05 - ZeroDown's breadth and product strategy<br><br>26:40 - Customer interviews<br><br>28:35 - Should everyone own a house?<br><br>29:50 - Home ownership in the future<br><br>32:45 - Build something you really want to see in the world<br><br>34:40 - Working with his cofounders was the most important consideration <br></p>