From Joyent to Federated: Building Cloud Innovation, Losing His Company, and Disrupting Big Tech

I had the privilege of sitting down with David Young—founder of Federated Computer and the mind behind Joyent, the cloud infrastructure company that helped power Twitter and Tumblr—to talk about building, losing, and rebuilding.
In this episode, David opens up about the emotional and financial toll of losing the company he built, how endurance sports helped him reclaim his life, and why he's now going head-to-head with Big Tech to give startups more freedom and control through open-source cloud solutions.
From navigating massive acquisition deals to battling personal demons, David shares insights that every founder, investor, and innovator needs to hear.
🔥 We talk about:
1. How cloud innovation is evolving
2. What it really takes to come back from a loss
3. Why open-source might be the future for startups
4. How to lead with mission, not ego
This conversation will challenge you, inspire you, and give you a renewed sense of what’s possible—no matter where you are in your entrepreneurial journey

NOW available on
🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/438qA0x
🎧 Listen now on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/73wO...

Susan Sly is the maven behind Raw and Real Entrepreneurship. An award-winning AI entrepreneur and MIT Sloan alumna, Susan has carved out a niche at the forefront of the AI revolution, earning accolades as a top AI innovator in 2023 and a key figure in real-time AI advancements for 2024. With a storied career that blends rigorous academic insight with astute market strategies, Susan has emerged as a formidable founder, a discerning angel investor, a sought-after speaker, and a venerated voice in the business world. Her insights have graced platforms from CNN to CNBC and been quoted in leading publications like Forbes and MarketWatch. At the helm of the Raw and Real Entrepreneurship podcast, Susan delivers unvarnished wisdom and strategies, empowering aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business veterans alike to navigate the challenges of the entrepreneurial landscape with confidence.

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