First Principles is a podcast from Rippling for founders building through moments of massive change.
Hosted by Rippling CPO Matt MacInnis, the show brings together some of the sharpest investors, operators, and company-builders in tech to unpack the assumptions founders are forced to navigate—about capital, markets, AI, go-to-market, hiring, product, and what it actually takes to build an enduring business.
The goal isn’t to chase predictions or celebrate startup mythology. It’s to decode the unwritten rules of company-building for founders who are still early enough that every decision compounds. Each conversation starts with a simple premise: when conventional wisdom gets noisy, the best founders return to first principles.
Through candid, practical conversations, First Principles helps founders understand not just what great builders believe, but how they think—so they can make sharper decisions from day one.