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Episode Description
What if building great AI isn’t just about data and models — but about the mindset of the people behind it?
In this episode of Neural Compass, host Mark Jacobstein (co-founder and president of Jimini Health) sits down with Yanda Erlich, a four-time founder, longtime AI investor, and general partner at B Capital. They explore what it means to bet on AI before it’s obvious — and how inner work can shape better leaders, companies, and decisions along the way.
Yanda shares the story of investing early in Weights & Biases, lessons from launching one of the first agentic AI startups, and the mental frameworks he uses daily to navigate uncertainty. It’s a rare blend of venture insight and emotional intelligence — rooted in meditation, inquiry, and a belief that the future of AI starts with the people building it.
This episode touches on:
- Why timing and conviction matter more than being first in AI
- The connection between inner work and good decision-making
- How to run inquiry-based mental health practices (yes, even 200 times a day)
- What early AI founders got right—and wrong—before the LLM era
- Reframing emotional struggles as opportunities for learning and insight
About Our Guest
Yanda Erlich is a general partner at B Capital, where he invests in early- and growth-stage companies across AI and enterprise software. He’s a four-time venture-backed founder, former COO of Weights & Biases, and longtime builder at the intersection of technology, tools, and human potential.
About Our Host
Mark Jacobstein is the co-founder and president of Jimini Health. A longtime entrepreneur at the intersection of AI and health tech, he now leads Jimini’s mission to transform mental and behavioral health through clinically grounded, AI-powered care.
