#155 - Laks Srini

Y Combinator Startup Podcast

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