Code and Cobblestones https://codeandcobblestones.podbean.com Code & Cobblestones tells the real stories behind Greater Boston's founders, funders, and builders.

Each episode digs into how local startups got started, what almost killed them, and what's happening across the city's tech scene now.

Code and Cobblestones is brought to you by MGMT Boston and Step Function VC, and produced by Obey Creative, a boutique branding and authority media consultancy in Boston.

https://obeycreative.com

]]> Wed, 08 Jul 2026 04:30:00 -0300 https://podbean.com/?v=5.5 en Copyright 2026 All rights reserved. Business 1440 episodic Code & Cobblestones tells the real stories behind Greater Boston’s founders, funders, and builders. Each episode digs into how local startups got started, what almost killed them, and what’s happening across the city’s tech scene now. Code and Cobblestones is brought to you by MGMT Boston and Step Function VC, and produced by Obey Creative, a boutique branding and authority media consultancy in Boston. https://obeycreative.com codeandcobblestones codeandcobblestones No false https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/22462498/Code_Cobblestones_Branded_Art8se15.jpg Code and Cobblestones https://codeandcobblestones.podbean.com 144 144 What a Startup Will Actually Look Like in 12 Months | Building in the AI Era in Boston What a Startup Will Actually Look Like in 12 Months | Building in the AI Era in Boston https://codeandcobblestones.podbean.com/e/what-a-startup-will-actually-look-like-in-12-months-building-in-the-ai-era-in-boston/ https://codeandcobblestones.podbean.com/e/what-a-startup-will-actually-look-like-in-12-months-building-in-the-ai-era-in-boston/#comments Wed, 08 Jul 2026 04:30:00 -0300 codeandcobblestones.podbean.com/edc85465-72c2-380e-a9ce-77323f839138 Matt Crane (MGMT Boston) and Will Lehmann (Step Function) break down what company building looks like in the next twelve months, why the government pulling Fable was a turning point for AI strategy, and what Boston's fastest-growing tech companies are actually doing differently.

What you'll learn:

  • Why "optionality" is now the most important word in your AI stack, and what the Fable shutdown taught enterprise leaders
  • What a startup org chart looks like 12 months out, and why design now comes in at hire one through ten
  • Why the best AI companies (Blitzy, Suno) almost never started with AI
  • How Lovable opened software building from 25 million developers to nearly everyone, with a go-to-market team growing fast in Boston
  • Why Whoop's focus is its advantage in physical AI at a $10B-plus valuation
  • A hedge fund rule from Adage Capital that applies to building any company: take risk only where you have an edge
  • Why the new "haves" in a K-shaped economy are defined by skill, not capital

Timestamps: 

00:00 Cold open: the phone screen that went sideways 02:59 Quick hits: Fable, Mythos, and the kill switch 07:09 Lovable, vibe coding, and opening the aperture 12:06 Whoop, focus, and physical AI 15:41 The main topic: what a company looks like in 12 months 17:42 Org charts, design, and enterprise sales in the AI era 29:34 Closing takeaways and how to plug into Boston tech

Subscribe for the rest of the tour. New episodes spotlight the founders and builders putting Boston on the map.

 

Produced in partnership with OBEY Creative.

OBEY is a boutique branding and authority media consultancy based in Boston. We build Authority Capital for founder-led brands in finance, tech, and professional services.

Learn more at https://obeycreative.com/

 

]]> Matt Crane (MGMT Boston) and Will Lehmann (Step Function) break down what company building looks like in the next twelve months, why the government pulling Fable was a turning point for AI strategy, and what Boston's fastest-growing tech companies are actually doing differently.

What you'll learn:

  • Why "optionality" is now the most important word in your AI stack, and what the Fable shutdown taught enterprise leaders
  • What a startup org chart looks like 12 months out, and why design now comes in at hire one through ten
  • Why the best AI companies (Blitzy, Suno) almost never started with AI
  • How Lovable opened software building from 25 million developers to nearly everyone, with a go-to-market team growing fast in Boston
  • Why Whoop's focus is its advantage in physical AI at a $10B-plus valuation
  • A hedge fund rule from Adage Capital that applies to building any company: take risk only where you have an edge
  • Why the new "haves" in a K-shaped economy are defined by skill, not capital

Timestamps: 

00:00 Cold open: the phone screen that went sideways
02:59 Quick hits: Fable, Mythos, and the kill switch
07:09 Lovable, vibe coding, and opening the aperture
12:06 Whoop, focus, and physical AI
15:41 The main topic: what a company looks like in 12 months
17:42 Org charts, design, and enterprise sales in the AI era
29:34 Closing takeaways and how to plug into Boston tech

Subscribe for the rest of the tour. New episodes spotlight the founders and builders putting Boston on the map.

 

Produced in partnership with OBEY Creative.

OBEY is a boutique branding and authority media consultancy based in Boston. We build Authority Capital for founder-led brands in finance, tech, and professional services.

Learn more at https://obeycreative.com/

 

]]> Code and Cobblestones false No 2078 2 full The $1.4B Code Company and the AI Music Lab Hiding in Boston The $1.4B Code Company and the AI Music Lab Hiding in Boston https://codeandcobblestones.podbean.com/e/the-14b-code-company-and-the-ai-music-lab-hiding-in-boston/ https://codeandcobblestones.podbean.com/e/the-14b-code-company-and-the-ai-music-lab-hiding-in-boston/#comments Tue, 30 Jun 2026 17:35:57 -0300 codeandcobblestones.podbean.com/cdde7caa-85a9-32cd-a337-e9d3b16d9330 Matt Crane (⁠MGMT Boston⁠) and Will Lehmann (⁠Step Function⁠) launch Code and Cobblestones, a show about what's being built in Boston tech right now, told by the people building it. 

 

In episode one they break down Boston Tech Week, how AI is changing the way companies get built, where venture dollars are moving, and whether Boston is underrated, properly rated, or overrated as a startup city.

 

What you'll learn:

 

  • Why Boston sits at number three in US venture and what that "medal" actually means
  • The "tokens vs. talent" tension every founder is wrestling with right now
  • How AI-native seed startups and big public companies are adopting AI at completely different speeds
  • The Boston companies raising mega-rounds: Suno, Blitzy, Whoop, Lila Sciences, and more
  • Why loyalty and patient, durable company-building define the Boston founder
  • How Laminar uses AI to make food and beverage plants run more efficiently

 

Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to Code and Cobblestones 

01:05 What "code and cobblestones" means 

02:01 Will Lehmann and Step Function 

03:51 Matt Crane and MGMT Boston 

04:59 Boston Tech Week recap 

08:26 The Mass AI Coalition and Klaviyo kickoff 

10:31 How AI is changing company building: tokens vs. talent 

17:12 Where the dollars are moving: mega-rounds 

19:43 Life sciences, Lila, Blitzy, and Suno 

23:59 Is Boston underrated, rated, or overrated? 30:31 Loyalty, "next man up," and second-order AI builders 

34:05 Laminar, Lovable, and the security speakeasies 

39:13 Closing thoughts and what's next

Subscribe for the rest of the tour. New episodes spotlight the founders and builders putting Boston on the map.

 

Produced in partnership with OBEY Creative. OBEY is a boutique branding and authority media consultancy based in Boston. We build Authority Capital for founder-led brands in finance, tech, and professional services.

Learn more at https://obeycreative.com/

]]> Matt Crane (⁠MGMT Boston⁠) and Will Lehmann (⁠Step Function⁠) launch Code and Cobblestones, a show about what's being built in Boston tech right now, told by the people building it. 

 

In episode one they break down Boston Tech Week, how AI is changing the way companies get built, where venture dollars are moving, and whether Boston is underrated, properly rated, or overrated as a startup city.

 

What you'll learn:

 

  • Why Boston sits at number three in US venture and what that "medal" actually means
  • The "tokens vs. talent" tension every founder is wrestling with right now
  • How AI-native seed startups and big public companies are adopting AI at completely different speeds
  • The Boston companies raising mega-rounds: Suno, Blitzy, Whoop, Lila Sciences, and more
  • Why loyalty and patient, durable company-building define the Boston founder
  • How Laminar uses AI to make food and beverage plants run more efficiently

 

Chapters:
00:00 Welcome to Code and Cobblestones 

01:05 What "code and cobblestones" means 

02:01 Will Lehmann and Step Function 

03:51 Matt Crane and MGMT Boston 

04:59 Boston Tech Week recap 

08:26 The Mass AI Coalition and Klaviyo kickoff 

10:31 How AI is changing company building: tokens vs. talent 

17:12 Where the dollars are moving: mega-rounds 

19:43 Life sciences, Lila, Blitzy, and Suno 

23:59 Is Boston underrated, rated, or overrated? 30:31 Loyalty, "next man up," and second-order AI builders 

34:05 Laminar, Lovable, and the security speakeasies 

39:13 Closing thoughts and what's next



Subscribe for the rest of the tour. New episodes spotlight the founders and builders putting Boston on the map.

 

Produced in partnership with OBEY Creative. OBEY is a boutique branding and authority media consultancy based in Boston. We build Authority Capital for founder-led brands in finance, tech, and professional services.

Learn more at https://obeycreative.com/

]]> codeandcobblestones false No 2231 1 full