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Apr 13, 2017 · 15m · top-founders

EP 628: RapidAPI w/ 19 YO Founder Raises $3.5M, Helping You Connect to API's Faster with CEO Iddo Gino

Nathan Latka · 7m spoken Ido Gino · 5m spoken
0:00 / 0:00

gold bands on the timeline = statements, start to end. Hover to read, click to jump. CC turns on captions

In this episode of The Top, host Nathan Latka interviews 19-year-old RapidAPI founder and CEO Iddo Gino about scaling an API marketplace, raising $3.5 million from Andreessen Horowitz, and managing a cross-border engineering team.

How this conversation actually went

Every chapter scored 0–10 on four independent dynamics. Hover any point for the reasoning behind the score. Nathan holds 62.2% of the talking time here. How this is scored →

Nathan as informed peer 2.8 Guest teaching 2.4 Guest disagreement 1.0 Nathan pushing back 1.8
05100:0010:001:17–4:30 · Nathan as informed peer 4/10 Introducing RapidAPI CEO and Founder Iddo Gino Nathan asks introductory questions about RapidAPI's origins, revenue model, and team distribution between Israel and San Francisco. Ido cooperatively explains the platform's utility as a unified API connection hub while Nathan estimates junior developer costs in Tel Aviv.4:31–8:25 · Nathan as informed peer 4/10 Seed Funding and Early Angel Investments Nathan presses Ido to clarify monetization and name a concrete paid API, admitting he had not encountered paid APIs before. Ido educates Nathan using Twilio as the prime example of usage-based pricing where RapidAPI takes a vendor-side fee.8:25–11:05 · Nathan as informed peer 3/10 Platform Expansion Plans and Founder Background Nathan inquires about platform growth, Ido's early projects as a teenager, and his decision to skip college. The tone remains friendly and conversational, ending with a mid-roll advertisement read by Nathan.11:06–13:28 · Nathan as informed peer 3/10 The Famous Five Questions with Iddo Gino Nathan walks through his standard Famous Five rapid-fire questions, tailoring the final reflection question to Ido's younger age. Ido shares insights about what he wished he knew at age ten before Nathan recaps the company stats.13:28–14:41 · Nathan as informed peer 0/10 Smartsheet Recap and Call for Reviews Solo monologue where Nathan recaps the previous episode with Smartsheet, asks listeners for iTunes reviews, and delivers a promotional sponsorship read for HostGator.1:17–4:30 · Guest teaching 3/10 Introducing RapidAPI CEO and Founder Iddo Gino Nathan asks introductory questions about RapidAPI's origins, revenue model, and team distribution between Israel and San Francisco. Ido cooperatively explains the platform's utility as a unified API connection hub while Nathan estimates junior developer costs in Tel Aviv.4:31–8:25 · Guest teaching 6/10 Seed Funding and Early Angel Investments Nathan presses Ido to clarify monetization and name a concrete paid API, admitting he had not encountered paid APIs before. Ido educates Nathan using Twilio as the prime example of usage-based pricing where RapidAPI takes a vendor-side fee.8:25–11:05 · Guest teaching 2/10 Platform Expansion Plans and Founder Background Nathan inquires about platform growth, Ido's early projects as a teenager, and his decision to skip college. The tone remains friendly and conversational, ending with a mid-roll advertisement read by Nathan.11:06–13:28 · Guest teaching 1/10 The Famous Five Questions with Iddo Gino Nathan walks through his standard Famous Five rapid-fire questions, tailoring the final reflection question to Ido's younger age. Ido shares insights about what he wished he knew at age ten before Nathan recaps the company stats.13:28–14:41 · Guest teaching 0/10 Smartsheet Recap and Call for Reviews Solo monologue where Nathan recaps the previous episode with Smartsheet, asks listeners for iTunes reviews, and delivers a promotional sponsorship read for HostGator.1:17–4:30 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Introducing RapidAPI CEO and Founder Iddo Gino Nathan asks introductory questions about RapidAPI's origins, revenue model, and team distribution between Israel and San Francisco. Ido cooperatively explains the platform's utility as a unified API connection hub while Nathan estimates junior developer costs in Tel Aviv.4:31–8:25 · Guest disagreement 2/10 Seed Funding and Early Angel Investments Nathan presses Ido to clarify monetization and name a concrete paid API, admitting he had not encountered paid APIs before. Ido educates Nathan using Twilio as the prime example of usage-based pricing where RapidAPI takes a vendor-side fee.8:25–11:05 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Platform Expansion Plans and Founder Background Nathan inquires about platform growth, Ido's early projects as a teenager, and his decision to skip college. The tone remains friendly and conversational, ending with a mid-roll advertisement read by Nathan.11:06–13:28 · Guest disagreement 1/10 The Famous Five Questions with Iddo Gino Nathan walks through his standard Famous Five rapid-fire questions, tailoring the final reflection question to Ido's younger age. Ido shares insights about what he wished he knew at age ten before Nathan recaps the company stats.13:28–14:41 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Smartsheet Recap and Call for Reviews Solo monologue where Nathan recaps the previous episode with Smartsheet, asks listeners for iTunes reviews, and delivers a promotional sponsorship read for HostGator.1:17–4:30 · Nathan pushing back 2/10 Introducing RapidAPI CEO and Founder Iddo Gino Nathan asks introductory questions about RapidAPI's origins, revenue model, and team distribution between Israel and San Francisco. Ido cooperatively explains the platform's utility as a unified API connection hub while Nathan estimates junior developer costs in Tel Aviv.4:31–8:25 · Nathan pushing back 4/10 Seed Funding and Early Angel Investments Nathan presses Ido to clarify monetization and name a concrete paid API, admitting he had not encountered paid APIs before. Ido educates Nathan using Twilio as the prime example of usage-based pricing where RapidAPI takes a vendor-side fee.8:25–11:05 · Nathan pushing back 2/10 Platform Expansion Plans and Founder Background Nathan inquires about platform growth, Ido's early projects as a teenager, and his decision to skip college. The tone remains friendly and conversational, ending with a mid-roll advertisement read by Nathan.11:06–13:28 · Nathan pushing back 1/10 The Famous Five Questions with Iddo Gino Nathan walks through his standard Famous Five rapid-fire questions, tailoring the final reflection question to Ido's younger age. Ido shares insights about what he wished he knew at age ten before Nathan recaps the company stats.13:28–14:41 · Nathan pushing back 0/10 Smartsheet Recap and Call for Reviews Solo monologue where Nathan recaps the previous episode with Smartsheet, asks listeners for iTunes reviews, and delivers a promotional sponsorship read for HostGator.

speaking balance: gold is Nathan, purple is the guest (3 minute bins)

0:00 · Nathan 78.2% · guest 21.8%0:00 · Nathan 78.2% · guest 21.8%3:00 · Nathan 31.9% · guest 68.1%3:00 · Nathan 31.9% · guest 68.1%6:00 · Nathan 48.4% · guest 51.6%6:00 · Nathan 48.4% · guest 51.6%9:00 · Nathan 66.2% · guest 33.8%9:00 · Nathan 66.2% · guest 33.8%12:00 · Nathan 86.4% · guest 13.6%12:00 · Nathan 86.4% · guest 13.6%15:00 · Nathan 0% · guest 0%15:00 · Nathan 0% · guest 0%
Sharpest disagreement ▶ 7:06 Correcting fee structure assumption

Ido clarifies that RapidAPI does not markup prices on consumers, correcting Nathan's premise by explaining that fees are collected directly from API vendors.

 Hardest push from Nathan ▶ 6:21 Pressing for paid API examples and revenue metrics

Nathan refuses vague answers and directly pushes Ido to pull up a real-world paid API example live on screen or disclose precise monthly transaction volume numbers.

 Biggest teaching moment ▶ 7:40 Explaining API usage fees via Twilio

After Nathan admits he has never seen a paid API, Ido points out Twilio's per-text fee structure and walks him through how RapidAPI collects a cut of usage fees.

 Nathan holds their own ▶ 6:49 Synthesizing marketplace revenue math

Nathan quickly breaks down the transaction numbers live, calculating RapidAPI's 20% take rate against tens to hundreds of thousands in gross processing volume.
the scores for every segment, with the reasoning behind each
ChapterTopicNathan as informed peerGuest teachingGuest disagreementNathan pushing backWhy
Introducing RapidAPI CEO and Founder Iddo Gino 4312 Nathan asks introductory questions about RapidAPI's origins, revenue model, and team distribution between Israel and San Francisco. Ido cooperatively explains the platform's utility as a unified API connection hub while Nathan estimates junior developer costs in Tel Aviv.
Seed Funding and Early Angel Investments 4624 Nathan presses Ido to clarify monetization and name a concrete paid API, admitting he had not encountered paid APIs before. Ido educates Nathan using Twilio as the prime example of usage-based pricing where RapidAPI takes a vendor-side fee.
Platform Expansion Plans and Founder Background 3212 Nathan inquires about platform growth, Ido's early projects as a teenager, and his decision to skip college. The tone remains friendly and conversational, ending with a mid-roll advertisement read by Nathan.
The Famous Five Questions with Iddo Gino 3111 Nathan walks through his standard Famous Five rapid-fire questions, tailoring the final reflection question to Ido's younger age. Ido shares insights about what he wished he knew at age ten before Nathan recaps the company stats.
Smartsheet Recap and Call for Reviews 0000 Solo monologue where Nathan recaps the previous episode with Smartsheet, asks listeners for iTunes reviews, and delivers a promotional sponsorship read for HostGator.

Statements from this episode (5)

Disclosure
RapidAPI takes a 10% to 25% marketplace fee
“It's typically from 10 to 25%.”
Ido Gino Apr 13, 2017 ▶ 2:20
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Tel Aviv is the second largest tech ecosystem after San Francisco
“I think they started a little lower, but as a lot more tech companies came to Israel, and I think Tel Aviv, you know, is the second largest tech ecosystem in the world after San Francisco, the prices have kind of gone out rapidly.”
Ido Gino Apr 13, 2017 ▶ 4:10
Assertion Supported
M-Systems founder Dov Moran provided RapidAPI's first angel check
“We actually met with Dov Moran, who is an ex founder. He founded M systems an Israeli company. And he put the first money in, which kind of helped us grow rapid and establish it.”
Ido Gino Apr 13, 2017 ▶ 5:04
Assertion Contradicted
148,000 projects connect to Slack's API via RapidAPI
“It means a 148 thousand apps or projects are using that to connect.”
Ido Gino Apr 13, 2017 ▶ 5:42
Disclosure
RapidAPI takes its platform fees from API vendors, not consumers
“Yeah, and that fee is taken from the API vendor who's using the platform to distribute the API, so not from the API consumer.”
Ido Gino Apr 13, 2017 ▶ 7:06
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