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The Startup CEO Show

The Startup CEO Show

By: Mark MacLeod
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The Startup CEO Show hosted by coach and advisor Mark MacLeod, brings you veteran CEOs each week who have collectively had had billion dollar valuations, 9 figure exits, and millions in revenue each week. Subscribe to join the leading podcast produced exclusively for the CEOs of high-growth startups and the VCs who back them. This podcast offers concise, yet deep dives into specific themes within each episode, focusing on providing actionable insights for busy leaders. The format includes interviews with CEOs of VC and PE-backed tech companies, their investors, and other key industry figures, ensuring a rich and relevant listening experience for those looking to learn in short, impactful sessions. About Mark MacLeod Since 1999, I have sat at the right-hand side of the leaders of high growth technology companies as either a CFO, VC or deal maker. I served as CFO for software companies including Shopify (NYSE: SHOP) and Freshbooks. As a CFO I experienced outright failures, wildly profitable exits, and everything in between. ‍ I was a General Partner in Real Ventures, Canada's largest and most active seed stage fund. My investments there include the fund's largest cash on cash and highest IRR returns to date. Most recently, I founded SurePath Capital Partners the leading investment bank for SMB SaaS companies where we did hundreds of millions in financing and exit transactions.Copyright 2025 Mark MacLeod Career Success Economics Management Management & Leadership Personal Finance
Episodes
  • Why Co-Founders Break Up (And How to Prevent It)
    Oct 6 2025

    If you want to connect with other CEOs who are grappling with co-founder conflict, come join Limitless.ceo

    Why do 65% of startups fail?

    It’s not a lack of funding. It’s not product-market fit. Matt Jones, psychologist, coach, and author of The Co-Founder Effect, says the number one killer of startups is co-founder conflict.

    In this episode of The Startup CEO Show, I sit down with Matt to unpack why co-founder relationships make or break companies and what founders can do to prevent disaster. We explore the hidden reasons co-founders clash, why alignment and values matter more than strategy or capital, and the practical frameworks Matt uses to save partnerships before they implode.

    Whether you’re choosing a co-founder, scaling through Series B, or already feeling the strain, you’ll learn how to protect your partnership and your company’s future.

    Dr. Matthew Jones

    -Book The Cofounder Effect: How to Diagnose, Fix, and Scale Healthy Communication for Startup Success


    Connect with me:

    My website: https://limitless.ceo/

    Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/themarkmacleod/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markmacleodcoach/


    Subscribe to Mark MacLeod for The Startup CEO Show Podcast, actionable insights, coaching, and strategy for CEOS.

    https://www.youtube.com/@MarkMacLeod-CEOCoach?sub_confirmation=1

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    51 mins
  • AI, Venture Capital & The Power Law Explained | Amar Varma
    Sep 23 2025

    Want to unlock your limit as CEO? Come join us:

    https://limitless.ceo/

    What happens when 41% of all VC dollars flow to just 10 companies?

    In this episode of The Startup CEO Show, I sit down with my friend and serial founder/investor Amar Varma (Mantle, Xtreme Labs, Pivotal) to unpack the new power law era of venture capital, the rise of AI, and what it all means for startup founders today.

    We talk about how AI is reshaping startup costs, why some founders are skipping entire funding rounds, and how the next wave of alumni networks could rival the PayPal Mafia. We also dive into what happens when incumbents get disrupted and why the very idea of a moat is being redefined in real time.

    This was one of those conversations where I walked away both excited and uneasy about the future of tech startups, VC trends, and entrepreneurship. I think you will too.

    Amar Varma

    Connect with me:

    My website: https://limitless.ceo/

    Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/themarkmacleod/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markmacleodcoach/

    If you’re building, raising, or investing, you don’t want to miss this one.

    Subscribe to Mark MacLeod for The Startup CEO Show Podcast, actionable insights, coaching, and strategy for CEOS.

    https://www.youtube.com/@MarkMacLeod-CEOCoach?sub_confirmation=1

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Inside the Minds of the World’s Top CEOs
    Sep 9 2025

    In this illuminating episode of the Startup CEO Show, host Mark MacLeod dives deep into the habits and traits of some of the world's most successful tech leaders. Drawing from his extensive research and experience coaching CEOs, MacLeod explores what sets apart founders who continue to scale and innovate year after year. He examines 11 companies with a collective market cap of $6.4 trillion, including giants like Airbnb, Meta, and Shopify, to uncover the secrets behind their limitless growth.

    MacLeod breaks down the personal habits and leadership traits of CEOs like Brian Chesky, Melanie Perkins, and Tobi Lütke, revealing surprising insights about their routines, decision-making processes, and management styles. From prioritizing sleep and mindfulness to fostering customer empathy and making bold bets, these leaders share common threads that contribute to their ongoing success. The episode challenges conventional notions of hustle culture, highlighting how many top CEOs actually prioritize work-life balance, continuous learning, and self-reflection.

    Don't miss out on these invaluable lessons from the tech world's most enduring visionaries. Tune in now and unlock your potential for limitless growth.

    LIMITLESS CEO: https://limitless.ceo/

    Slides: https://pitch.com/v/limitless-leadership-why-some-ceos-never-stop-growing-69v8yn


    Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themarkmacleod/

    Contact Mark: https://markmacleod.me/

    Subscribe to Mark MacLeod for The Startup CEO Show Podcast, actionable insights, coaching, and strategy for CEOS.

    https://www.youtube.com/@MarkMacLeod-CEOCoach?sub_confirmation=1

    Show More Show Less
    42 mins
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