Founder2Founder with Aaron Spivak
Entrepreneurship isn’t just a career—it’s a relentless, all-consuming way of life.
Welcome to Founder2Founder a raw and unfiltered podcast where host Aaron Spivak pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to build something from the ground up. No sugarcoating, no overnight success stories—just deep, honest conversations with some of the most driven, underrated, and game-changing founders of our time. From brutal setbacks to game-changing mindset shifts, Aaron goes beyond the polished success stories to uncover the unglamorous, deeply personal side of building a business.
As a seasoned entrepreneur himself, Aaron goes beneath the surface and gets into the nitty-gritty of what it truly takes to succeed. He’ll dive into the habits, behaviors, and routines that set elite founders apart, the tactics and strategies that are working today, and the mindset shifts required to push through the hardest moments. Through raw personal stories, late-night struggles, and breakthrough moments, guests open up about what it really means to grow, not just as a founder, but as a person.
Each week, Aaron sits down with visionary entrepreneurs from high-growth startup founders to seasoned CEOs, for real, unfiltered conversations about the highs, lows, and everything in between. Whether you're scaling a company, launching your first venture, or just looking for inspiration, this podcast will give you the insights, motivation, and real-world advice you won’t get just anywhere. If you're ready to strip away the illusion and get real about what it means to build, sacrifice, and thrive, this is the podcast for you. Join us every Wednesday!
Founder2Founder with Aaron Spivak
The Future Will Be Built by Founders Who Understand AI—Mark Cuban on How to Stay Ahead
In this special episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak brings you an unfiltered masterclass with legendary entrepreneur and investor, Mark Cuban. Recorded live for members of The Founders Club, this exclusive session covers Cuban's raw insights on building billion-dollar companies, the unglamorous truths of scaling, and how AI is rewriting the rules for modern founders. From sleeping on floors to exiting for $5.7 billion, Cuban reflects on his journey and the mindsets that separate the winners from everyone else.
Mark doesn’t hold back; he dives into why founders should stop glamorizing fundraising, how sales always win over hype, and the one habit that will leave your competition behind. He shares honest perspectives on balancing relationships and business, the brutal reality of hiring the wrong CEO, and how to futureproof your company in the age of AI. Whether you’re bootstrapping or scaling fast, this episode is packed with tactical clarity and real founder-to-founder advice.
Chapters:
01:40 – Why Personal Brands Are Overrated
03:15 – The One Trait All Successful Founders Share
05:45 – Sales First, Always
07:40 – Raising Capital Is Not an Accomplishment
09:34 – Work-Life Balance? Wait Until You're Winning
12:20 – How AI Is Changing the Game (and Why You Can’t Delegate It)
15:00 – How Founders Should Be Learning AI Right Now
17:15 – When to Sell (Even If You're Loving the Business)
20:00 – Why College Accreditation Is Fundamentally Broken
22:00 – What’s Next for Higher Education in an AI World
24:00 – Why You Should Think Twice Before Publishing Anything
25:55 – Should You Hold Back Expansion When Prepping for Exit?
27:40 – Launching Into Sports Partnerships the Smart Way
29:45 – Niche Product? Why You Should Be More Expensive
32:10 – When It’s Time to Hire an External CEO
34:30 – How Mark Leverages ChatGPT in Real Business Decisions
36:20 – Fundraising in a Tough Market: Take the Money or Bridge?
39:00 – Handling Tariffs and Scaling Beyond Local Markets
41:00 – One Simple Daily Habit That Pays Big Mental Returns
44:55 – Should You Expand Your Product Line or Focus Deeper?
47:15 – Promoting Internally vs Hiring for Scale
49:45 – Equity Strategy: What’s Too Much, What’s Too Little
52:30 – The Belief Cuban Had to Unlearn About Leadership
54:50 – "Don’t Be a-”: A Founding Principle That Pays
55:45 – What Every Founder Needs to Learn About Healthcare Costs
57:15 – Mark’s Final Word: Keep Showing Up
Guest Links:
Instagram: @mcuban
TikTok: @mcuban
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Stay Connected!
Aaron Spivak:
Instagram @Spivak
Linkedin
The Founders Club
Instagram @TheFoundersClub
Website www.foundersclubofficial.com
Founder2Founder:
TikTok @Founder2FounderPodcast
Youtube @Founder2Founder.Podcast
