TBPN History: The Evolution of Technology Brothers Podcast Network
How did TBPN become one of tech's most influential podcasts? This complete history covers Technology Brothers' origins, evolution, growth milestones, and transformation into essential listening for the startup ecosystem.
The Beginning
Origins
TBPN started when:
- John Coogan and Jordi Hays recognized gap in tech podcast landscape
- Existing shows were either too generic or too narrowly focused
- No podcast combined builder and investor perspectives authentically
- Opportunity existed for honest, unfiltered tech discussions
Initial Vision
Early TBPN goals included:
- Create valuable content for founders and operators
- Share honest insights from both sides of table
- Build community around shared values and perspectives
- Democratize insider knowledge about startups and VC
Early Episodes and Format Discovery
Finding the Format
Early TBPN experimented with:
- Episode length and structure
- Balance between solo episodes and guest interviews
- Topics and depth of coverage
- Tone and style of discussions
What Resonated
Listeners responded to TBPN when it:
- Went deep rather than staying surface-level
- Discussed failures and challenges honestly
- Provided specific tactics, not just concepts
- Challenged conventional wisdom with data
- Maintained conversational, authentic tone
Growth Phases
Phase 1: Building Initial Audience
Early TBPN growth through:
- Word-of-mouth from engaged early listeners
- Sharing on social media and founder networks
- Quality content that delivered consistent value
- John's existing audience from YouTube and other ventures
Phase 2: Breakout Episodes
TBPN accelerated growth when:
- Certain episodes went viral within startup community
- Guest appearances from notable founders and investors
- Coverage of trending topics at perfect timing
- Clips and highlights reached new audiences
Phase 3: Community Building
TBPN evolved beyond podcast to community:
- Launch of TBPN Live events
- Active engagement in comments and discussions
- Community members connecting with each other
- Unofficial meetups and watch parties
Platform Evolution
YouTube Expansion
TBPN on YouTube enabled:
- Video format adding visual dimension
- Better discoverability through YouTube algorithm
- Clips and shorts for broader reach
- Live streaming capabilities
- Community features and engagement
Multi-Platform Strategy
TBPN distribution across:
- YouTube as primary platform
- Apple Podcasts for iOS ecosystem
- Spotify for audio streaming
- All major podcast platforms for accessibility
- Social media for clips and community
Content Evolution
Topic Expansion
Over time, TBPN covered:
- Core Topics: Fundraising, PMF, growth (always central)
- Market Analysis: Deeper dives into specific industries and trends
- Founder Psychology: Mental health, decision-making, resilience
- Culture and Community: Broader tech ecosystem discussions
- Advanced Topics: Sophisticated strategies for experienced founders
Guest Evolution
TBPN guests progressed from:
- Early guests helping establish credibility
- Notable founders and investors as show grew
- Mix of big names and interesting builders
- Focus on substance over celebrity status
Community Milestones
Live Events Launch
TBPN Live transformed TBPN by:
- Creating in-person community connections
- Enabling networking among listeners
- Adding performance energy to recordings
- Strengthening community bonds
Merchandise Introduction
TBPN merchandise accomplished:
- Funding for operations and growth
- Community identity and belonging
- Networking tool at events and conferences
- Sustainable revenue beyond ads
Impact Milestones
Listener Success Stories
TBPN impact evidenced by:
- Founders successfully raising capital using discussed strategies
- Co-founder pairings formed through community
- Career pivots inspired by episodes
- Startup pivots and strategic shifts informed by content
Industry Recognition
TBPN gained recognition through:
- Citations in tech media and other podcasts
- Guest requests from high-profile founders and VCs
- Community size and engagement metrics
- Influence on broader tech discourse
Challenges and Adaptation
Maintaining Quality
As TBPN grew, challenges included:
- Scaling production while maintaining quality
- Balancing growth with intimate community feel
- Avoiding repetition across hundreds of episodes
- Managing time commitments as hosts' responsibilities grew
Solutions Implemented
TBPN adapted through:
- Improved production processes and team support
- Careful topic curation and planning
- Community involvement in direction and feedback
- Sustainable monetization through merch and sponsorships
Current State
Today's TBPN
Current TBPN encompasses:
- Regular podcast episodes across all platforms
- Active YouTube channel with clips and full episodes
- TBPN Live events in major tech hubs
- Engaged community across platforms
- Merchandise line supporting operations
- Influence on tech culture and discourse
Community Impact
TBPN has created:
- Thousands of listeners across startup ecosystem
- Real connections and collaborations
- Democratized access to insider knowledge
- Cultural shift toward honest failure discussion
- Improved founder-investor understanding
Looking Forward
Future Directions
TBPN continues evolving through:
- Expanding live event presence
- New content formats and experiments
- Deeper community features and connection
- Coverage of emerging tech trends and markets
- Growing influence on tech culture
Lessons from TBPN's Evolution
For Creators
TBPN's journey demonstrates:
- Authenticity and quality compound over time
- Serving audience needs creates sustainable growth
- Community building amplifies content impact
- Unique perspective differentiation matters
For Founders
TBPN success shows:
- Patience and consistency yield results
- Finding product-market fit applies to all products (including content)
- Community can become competitive moat
- Sustainable monetization enables long-term focus
Support TBPN's Continued Evolution
Be part of TBPN history:
- Subscribe on YouTube and podcast platforms
- Attend TBPN Live events
- Engage in community discussions
- Shop official merchandise
- Share TBPN with founders and operators
Shop Hoodies | T-Shirts | Caps
Key Takeaways
- TBPN started to fill gap for honest, dual-perspective tech content
- Grew through quality, word-of-mouth, and community building
- Evolved across platforms, formats, and topics over time
- Introduced live events and merchandise to strengthen community
- Created measurable impact on founders, investors, and tech culture
- Continues evolving while maintaining core mission and values