Coffee with a Founder

Why AI Safety Is the Problem No One Is Solving — Nick Payton, Distributional

On this episode of Coffee with a Founder, Beck Bamberger sits down with Nick Payton, co-founder and COO of Distributional, a startup focused on helping companies better understand, validate, and manage the growing complexity of AI systems. The conversation explores the evolving challenges surrounding AI safety, reliability, and trust as more businesses rush to integrate artificial intelligence into real-world products and workflows. They also dive into the realities of building in one of tech's fastest-moving spaces—from balancing instinct versus data to navigating uncertainty in a constantly shifting market. If you're interested in AI, emerging technology, and the human side of building ambitious companies in rapidly changing industries, don't miss this episode.

Why America's Water Systems Still Run on Pen & Paper

On this episode of Coffee with a Founder, Beck Bamberger sits down with Chris Sosnowski, CEO and founder of Waterly, a Chicago-based startup helping modernize the water and wastewater industry through people-first software built to replace outdated pen-and-paper systems. The conversation explores the growing challenges utilities are facing—from labor shortages and aging infrastructure to the urgent need for transparency, accurate reporting, and safer water systems. They also get into what it actually takes to build trust inside an industry that most people rarely think about until something goes wrong. They also unpack Waterly's unconventional pricing model, lessons from the startup rollercoaster, and why one of the most essential industries in the world is still massively underserved by modern technology. If you're interested in infrastructure, mission-driven startups, and how better systems can create healthier communities, don't miss this episode.

Voice AI Is Finally Getting Good | Brooke Hopkins, Coval

On this episode of Coffee with a Founder, Beck Bamberger sits down with Brooke Hopkins, co-founder and CEO of Coval, to talk about testing AI agents, the rise of voice as a platform, and what it takes to build at the edge of a fast-moving market.

Building Payments for the Most Overlooked Americans | Ofek Lavian, Forage

On this episode of Coffee with a Founder, Beck Bamberger sits down with Ofek Lavian, co-founder and CEO of Forage. Forage is an EBT payments company helping low-income Americans access food through online platforms like DoorDash, Uber, and Shopify. What used to be an in-person, highly limited system is now becoming digital, unlocking access for millions of people living in food deserts or balancing multiple jobs. The conversation dives into why that gap exists, what it takes to build in a highly regulated space, and how a venture-backed company can both scale fast and solve a deeply systemic problem. If you're into founder-led innovation tackling broken systems that impact millions, don't miss this one.

Why Women's Health Is Still Misunderstood | Aagya Mathur, Aavia

On this episode of Coffee with a Founder, Beck Bamberger sits down with Aagya Mathur, co-founder and CEO of Aavia. Aagya built the hormone health company after realizing how much of women's health is still misunderstood, underdiagnosed, and frankly ignored. Even for someone with a neuroscience background, getting real answers meant figuring it out herself. This conversation gets into what is actually broken in healthcare today, why it takes years to diagnose common hormone conditions, and how better data can completely change the way patients advocate for themselves. If you're into founder-led innovation tackling outdated healthcare systems, don't miss this one.