Coffee with a Founder Podcast: Bobby Samuels, Protege

24- Mar-2026

On this episode of Coffee with a Founder, Beck Bamberger sits down with Bobby Samuels, co-founder and CEO of Protege. The company is building infrastructure to connect organizations that hold valuable data with companies developing AI models that need high-quality training data.

The conversation explores why unstructured data is becoming the most valuable asset in AI development, how companies can responsibly monetize their data, and what it takes to build a startup while raising a young family.

If you’re into founders tackling one of AI’s biggest bottlenecks and turning overlooked data into a powerful asset, don’t miss this one.

show notes:

0:22: Bobby’s coffee habit and startup life

1:56: Why data is the biggest bottleneck in AI

3:30: The compliance and privacy challenges around AI training data

6:00: How organizations monetize unused data assets

8:01: Bobby’s background building data networks before Protege

11:45: Running a startup while raising a young child

14:04: Why constraints can make founders more effective

17:56: Bobby’s recent founder unlock around focus and sleep

Read More About The Episode:

0:22: Bobby’s coffee habit and startup life

Bobby talks about drinking coffee throughout the day and how caffeine barely affects his ability to sleep.

1:56: Why data is the biggest bottleneck in AI

The conversation dives into the misconception that AI has run out of data and why private data sources are far larger than public datasets.

3:30: The compliance and privacy challenges around AI training data

Bobby explains how Protege ensures that sensitive or proprietary data is used in ways that respect both legal requirements and ethical standards.

6:00: How organizations monetize unused data assets

Bobby shares examples like sports leagues licensing video footage as valuable training data for AI models.

8:01: Bobby’s background building data networks before Protege

Bobby talks about his previous roles in ad tech and healthcare data and how those experiences shaped the idea for the company.

11:45: Running a startup while raising a young child

The conversation highlights how Bobby balances building a company with parenting a toddler and the importance of support systems.

14:04: Why constraints can make founders more effective

Bobby explains how limited time and clear boundaries can drive faster decisions and more focused execution.

17:56: Bobby’s recent founder unlock around focus and sleep

Bobby shares how prioritizing sleep and reflection has helped him make better decisions as his role shifts from execution to leadership.