Leah Culver: From Dropbox to Breaker - A Founder Story

Leah Culver, cofounder and CTO of Breaker, a podcast app, shares her experience in this Founder Stories interview. This interview delves into her journey from working at Dropbox to starting her own company, Breaker. The interview covers her insights on starting a startup as a side project, the interview process, and her experience as a female founder.

• Leah Culver is the cofounder and CTO of Breaker, a podcast listening and discovery app that was part of Y Combinator's Winter 2017 batch.
• The interview provides valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs and anyone interested in the startup ecosystem.

Working at Dropbox

Leah's experience at Dropbox, a cloud storage company, shaped her perspectives on building and scaling businesses. Her time at Dropbox provided her with valuable lessons and experiences that she later applied to her startup journey.

• Leah discusses the technical challenges and opportunities she faced while working at Dropbox.
• She highlights the importance of having a strong team and building a culture that fosters innovation.

Starting a Startup as a Side Project

Leah's journey to launching Breaker began with her taking a side project approach. She began by exploring the idea of a podcast app while still working at Dropbox. This approach allowed her to test the waters, gather feedback, and develop the concept before fully committing to a full-time venture.

• Leah shares her strategy for managing a side project while working a full-time job.
• She emphasizes the benefits of starting small and iterating based on user feedback.

Interviewing for a Startup

Leah shares her insights on the interview process for startups. Her experience working at Dropbox and subsequently interviewing candidates for her own startup, Breaker, gave her a unique perspective on the hiring process.

• Leah discusses the importance of cultural fit and finding individuals who share the company's vision.
• She emphasizes the need to ask insightful questions to understand a candidate's motivations and capabilities.

Being a Female Founder

As a female founder, Leah shares her perspective on the challenges and opportunities faced by women in the startup world. She advocates for diversity and inclusion in the tech industry and encourages other women to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.

• Leah discusses the importance of mentorship and support networks for female founders.
• She encourages women to be bold and confident in their abilities.

Leah's Favorite Podcasts

Beyond her own work with Breaker, Leah shares her favorite podcasts, highlighting the diverse range of content she enjoys. This provides a glimpse into her interests and the type of content she believes is valuable and engaging.

• Leah's podcast recommendations offer listeners inspiration and suggestions for new content to discover.
• Her choices reflect her passion for storytelling, innovation, and diverse perspectives.