THE HOT SEAT
WHERE INVESTORS PUT THE FOUNDERS THEY’VE BACKED INTO THE HOT SEAT
PAYTON DOBBS
PARTNER | HOXTON VENTURES
SID JAYAKUMAR
FOUNDER & CEO | FINSTER AI
We press record on the conversations you’re already having.
This is the podcasting media platform where investors become hosts, putting the founders they’ve backed, believed in, or been inspired by into The Hot Seat.
Together, they share the real stories behind building and backing great companies.
These are the kinds of conversations that usually happen behind closed doors, but here, it’s all on record. Expect to learn, laugh, and relate to the highs and lows of the entrepreneurial journey, told from both sides of the table.
It’s the story beyond the raise.
FULL EPISODE COMING SOON
Payton Dobbs Partner at Hoxton Ventures invites Sid Jayakumar Founder & CEO of Finster AI, into the hot seat
Payton backed Sid in December 2023, when Hoxton Ventures led Finster AI’s $1.8 million pre-seed round.
In this episode, the two dive into the origin story of Finster AI, an enterprise-grade AI built for investment professionals.
They speak candidly about the early investor-founder relationship, from how they met to what convinced Hoxton to back Sid.
Payton digs deep into the spending decisions Sid faced post-fundraise, revealing the smart, growth-driving plays and a few costly missteps.
AVAILABLE ON
"I believe the best people to help a founder tell their story are the ones who backed them, believed in them, or were inspired by them. So I built a platform where those stories could be told.”
Stephanie Gray, Founder at The Hot Seat
“To have this conversation documented, on the record, is really cool. Hopefully, a moment in history, to reflect and look back on.”
Payton Dobbs, Partner at Hoxton Ventures
“It felt like a therapy session. I just treated it like another one-to-one with Payton, we were overdue a catch-up.”
Sid Jayakumar, Founder & CEO of Finster AI
MEET OUR HOSTS
Payton Dobbs
Partner | Hoxton Ventures
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Whether you're backing bold ideas, building something, or playing a pivotal role in the journey, this is your space to grow your visibility and thought leadership.
The platform has already attracted leading figures from top funds and fast-growing companies who use The Hot Seat to connect with founders, share bold thinking, and amplify their influence.
Some host their own podcast series under The Hot Seat brand. Others launch fully white-labelled shows designed around their audience and message.
At the heart of The Hot Seat is a passionate production and strategy team dedicated to crafting high-impact content.
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