DealMakers

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Welcome to the DealMakers show, hosted by Alejandro Cremades. Alejandro is a serial entrepreneur, best-selling author, and cofounder at Panthera Advisors (M&A and fundraising advisory). On this podcast you will find interviews with entrepreneurs that have been very successful at raising capital or g…

Alejandro Cremades

New York City


    • Apr 9, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 36m AVG DURATION
    • 1,445 EPISODES

    4.8 from 262 ratings Listeners of DealMakers that love the show mention: definitely subscribing, new entrepreneurs, really been enjoying, thank you alejandro, business and entrepreneurship, host and interviewer, varied and interesting, interesting backgrounds, alejandra, podcast with a great, super knowledgable, truly a must listen, share information, succeeded, re truly, anyone in business, business people, aspiring entrepreneur, informative and insightful, successful entrepreneurs.


    Ivy Insights

    The DealMakers podcast is an incredible source of inspiration and knowledge for entrepreneurs and those on their startup journey. Hosted by Alejandro Cremades, this podcast features interviews with amazing guests who share their stories and insights into building successful businesses. One of the standout episodes was with Amir Hemmat, where listeners got to hear about his journey in social entrepreneurship and the challenges he faced along the way. This podcast dispels the myth that overnight success is possible and instead highlights the dedication and hard work it takes to build a business from nothing. The quote "No Margin, No Mission" from Amir's episode resonated deeply and serves as a reminder of the importance of both profit and purpose in entrepreneurship. Overall, this podcast is full of amazing guests like Amir who inspire listeners with their stories.

    The best aspect of The DealMakers podcast is undoubtedly its guests. Alejandro Cremades does an excellent job of bringing on founders and early employees who have achieved remarkable success in their respective industries. These individuals provide valuable insights, advice, and lessons learned from their own entrepreneurial journeys. Whether it's raising capital or navigating the challenges of scaling a business, each episode offers actionable takeaways that can be applied to one's own entrepreneurial endeavors. Additionally, Alejandro's interview style is engaging and allows for organic conversations that delve deep into the guest's experiences.

    While it may be difficult to find any major flaws in The DealMakers podcast, one potential downside could be that not all episodes will resonate equally with every listener. Since each episode features different guests from various industries, some may find certain episodes more relevant or interesting than others based on their own entrepreneurial pursuits or areas of interest. However, this variety also ensures a diverse range of perspectives and experiences are shared on the podcast.

    In conclusion, The DealMakers podcast is a must-listen for every new entrepreneur and anyone embarking on their startup journey. It provides valuable insights into building businesses and offers inspiration from the incredible guests who share their stories. Alejandro Cremades has created a podcast that is both helpful and entertaining, delivering knowledge in a fun and engaging way. With its informative content and the passion Alejandro brings to each interview, The DealMakers podcast is deserving of its 10/10 rating and should be subscribed to by anyone seeking entrepreneurial guidance.



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    Latest episodes from DealMakers

    Adam Schwartz On Selling A Company For $40+ Million And Now Building An AI Tool To Help Organizations Manage Their Time Efficiently

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2025 32:48


    In today's founder spotlight, we're joined by a rare breed, Adam Schwartz, who has lived the full startup cycle, not once but multiple times, and has done so on his own terms. He is a founder who went from building scrappy marketplaces to scaling a profitable, venture-free company. Adam's latest venture, Parable, has secured investment from founder-operators: the minds behind HubSpot, Ramp, Vimeo, Superhuman, Squarespace, and more.

    Dan Magy On Selling A Company To Blue Halo For Nine Figures And Now Raising $50 Million To 3D-Print Drones In 20-Foot Container-Sized Spaces

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2025 31:05


    Dan Magy's journey from a sun-soaked surf town in Southern California to building some of the most impactful defense technology in modern warfare doesn't follow any conventional path. He's not a coder, nor does he claim to be a technical wizard. But what Dan lacks in technical prowess, he makes up for in vision, grit, and relentless curiosity. Dan's latest venture, Firestorm Labs has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Harpoon VC, 645 Ventures, Feld Ventures, and Lockheed Martin Ventures.

    Wes McKinney On Raising $110 Million To Develop And Promote Open-Source Standards And Tools For Data Analytics And Now Supporting Other Tech Founders

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2025 32:58


    If you've ever done data analysis in Python, there's a good chance you've used Pandas, the groundbreaking open-source library that transformed how data scientists work. But behind Pandas is Wes McKinney's story of intellectual curiosity, risk-taking, and a relentless drive to build useful tools for others. Wes's latest initiative, Composed Ventures, is a micro venture capital (VC) fund that invests in early-stage data infrastructure, AI, and ML companies, as well as next-generation Python tooling and other related technologies.

    Suneera Madhani On Founding And Selling A $1-Billion Payments Company And Now Building A Credit Assessment Platform For Small Businesses

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2025 29:49


    When you hear the term self-made, you might think of grit, long nights, and entrepreneurial tenacity. But in Suneera Madhani's case, it's a generational story—one forged in gas station aisles, sharpened in corporate boardrooms, and carried forward in billion-dollar exits. Suneera's latest company, Worth AI, has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Silicon Valley Bank, Ingeborg Investments, DeepWork Capital, and Florida Funders.

    Bill Shufelt On Raising $225 Million To Revolutionize Craft Beer For The Modern Adult

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2025 38:07


    In a world where adult beverages have long been synonymous with alcohol, Bill Shufelt saw something different—a cultural and economic opportunity hidden in plain sight. He successfully navigated the startup ecosystem--scaling, manufacturing, building, and financing his company. Bill's company, Athletic Brewing, has attracted funding from top-tier investors like General Atlantic, Keurig Dr Pepper, Blake Mycoskie, and Lance Armstrong.

    Vadim Rogovskiy On Building & Exiting Companies And Now Creating An AI Executive Assistant To Extend Human Capabilities

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2025 36:35


    Some entrepreneurs build one company. Others become serial founders. Then there's Vadim Rogovskiy — a rare breed who has built, scaled, sold, shut down, invested, and started all over again. His journey involved switching industries and switching sides on both sides of the table. Vadim's latest venture, Stealth Startup, has developed EVE, an AI assistant that allows humans to focus on high-impact decisions while it handles the rest. AI can filter 80% of noise, 80% of less important threads, conversations, etc., thus extending human capabilities.

    Vikram Shekhawat On Selling A Company To Blackboard And Now Building An AI Platform To Offer Companies A Suite Of Tools To Streamline Content Creation And Business Workflows

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2025 32:17


    Entrepreneurship is a rollercoaster ride, and few have navigated its twists and turns with as much grit and adaptability as Vikram Shekhawat. His journey is a testament to resilience, learning, and an unwavering vision when building, scaling, and exiting his many startups. Vikram's latest venture, ModalX, has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Plug and Play, Panache Ventures, Combine Venture Builders, and Thin Air Labs.

    Rami Tamir On Selling Two Companies To Cisco And Red Hat, A Third $500-Million Company To Oracle, And Now Helping Businesses Configure Their Applications

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2025 40:18


    Rami Tamir is no stranger to the startup world. A seasoned entrepreneur with multiple successful exits, he has honed his ability to build, scale, and navigate acquisitions like a veteran baseball player hitting home runs with each venture. Rami's latest venture, Salto, has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Bessemer Venture Partners, Accel, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Salesforce Ventures.

    Colin Wiel On Taking A $1 Billion-Company Public, Merging A $800 Million-Company, And Now Deploying and Managing Custom AI Workforces For Businesses

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2025 38:01


    In the world of entrepreneurship, few stories embody resilience, vision, and adaptation like that of Colin Wiel. A four-time founder, Colin has built and scaled multiple companies, navigated financial crises, pioneered tech-driven real estate ventures, and is now at the forefront of AI innovation. Colin's latest venture, Qurrent, has raised funding from friends, angels, strategic investors, and venture capitalists.

    Molham Aref On Selling Two $100+ Million Companies And Now Raising $122 Million To Help Organizations In Efficient, Data And AI-Driven Decision-Making

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2025 36:07


    Molham Aref's journey as an entrepreneur is nothing short of fascinating. With multiple successful ventures, big exits, and a deep history in AI, his story offers insights into the trials, triumphs, and evolution of the tech world, especially around the rise of AI. Molham's latest venture, RelationalAI, has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Madrona Venture Group, Addition, Tiger Global Management, and Menlo Ventures.

    Manolo Atala On Building And Exiting Several Companies And Now Raising ~$130 Million To Offer Revenue-Based Financing to SMEs

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2025 36:32


    In the ever-evolving world of entrepreneurship, few stories stand out quite like Manolo Atala's. A founder from Mexico with an unconventional path, Manolo has navigated industries with precision, leveraging storytelling, trust, and a deep understanding of numbers to build and scale companies. Manolo's latest venture, Fairplay, has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Carlos Martin, Carlos Salinas, Nut VC, and DILA Capital.

    David Young On Selling A Company For $170 Million To Samsung And Now Providing Global Businesses With Economical Open Source Software

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2025 32:34


    David Young's journey to becoming a tech entrepreneur is anything but conventional. His career path took him from studying ancient Greek at Indiana University to Wall Street, and eventually to Silicon Valley, where he founded and scaled successful technology startups, including Joyent. David's latest venture, Federated Computer has attracted funding from top-tier investor, Lightning Ventures.

    Rish Gupta On Raising $93 Million To Provide Companies With AI Camera Systems And Video Intelligence Software To Improve Safety And Efficiency

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2025 36:33


    Rish Gupta has had a long, winding journey filled with unexpected turns, painful challenges, and exhilarating wins. He has built and exited companies and is currently riding the incredible momentum and hype in the artificial intelligence world of AGIs. Rish's latest company, Spot AI, has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Redpoint Ventures, Scale Venture Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners, and StepStone Group.

    Michael Friedrich On Raising Over $250 Million To Build A Medical Device Company, Developing Surgical Robots To Make Minimally Invasive Surgery Available To Everyone

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2025 29:24


    Entrepreneurship is often a winding road filled with unexpected twists, failures, and ultimately, moments of triumph. Few embody this journey as well as Michael Friedrich, who invested in and led Distalmotion from its infancy. Distalmotion has attracted funding from top-tier investors, such as Revival Healthcare Capital, Venturelab, Kinled Holding, and Swiss Entrepreneurs Fund.

    Christine Spang On Raising $175 Million To Build A Platform That Provides Universal Accessibility To Email, Calendar, And Contacts Providers With A Single Integration

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 41:12


    Building a successful company is rarely a linear journey. For Christine Spang, co-founder and CTO of Nylas, the journey has been marked by significant pivots, bold decisions, and relentless perseverance when scaling the business and raising capital. Nylas has attracted funding from top-tier investors like 8VC, Round13 Capital, Spark Capital, and Formation 8.

    Jonah Greenberger On Raising $100 Million To Bring Subscription-Based Solar Power Solutions To Homes And Local Businesses In Mexico

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2025 25:57


    Entrepreneurship is often about taking big risks, and for Jonah Greenberger, that meant leaving behind a stable job at a global energy giant to venture into an entirely new country, industry, and business model.From growing up in an academically inclined household to founding Bright, one of Mexico's leading solar energy companies, Jonah's journey is a masterclass in bold decision-making, resilience, and strategic execution.Bright has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Leonardo DiCaprio, Sierra Peterson, Ajax Strategies, and Soma Capital.

    Yoseph West On Raising Over $51 Million To Build A Digital Banking and Money Management Platform That Brings Cash Flow Clarity to SMBs

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2025 29:07


    Every founder's journey is a unique blend of ambition, resilience, and lessons learned the hard way. Yoseph West embodies this entrepreneurial spirit, having navigated the complexities of building, scaling, financing, and successfully exiting multiple startups. Yoseph's latest venture, Relay, has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Bain Capital Ventures, Better Tomorrow Ventures, Amaranthine, and Industry Ventures.

    Henrik Werdelin On Taking A $1.6 Billion Dog Products Company Public, Running An Incubator Supporting Repeat Founders, And Creating An AI Platform to Assist Entrepreneurs

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2025 31:32


    In the fast-paced world of startups, few entrepreneurs stand out quite like Henrik Werdelin. With roots in Copenhagen, a foundation in journalism, and a career spanning MTV, startups, and venture capital, Henrik's story is a testament to embracing curiosity and adaptability. Henrik's latest venture, Audos is an AI-driven software platform and ecosystem designed to empower a new class of entrepreneurs—often individuals or very small teams—to rapidly build, launch, and scale profitable, million-dollar-a-year businesses.

    Frederik Fahning On Raising Over $100 Million To Build A Casual Job Matching Marketplace For Students

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2025 27:33


    Frederik Fahning's entrepreneurial journey is nothing short of remarkable. His is a story interwoven with ambition, resilience, business experiences where he faced challenges like almost running out of runway and layoffs, and an unwavering commitment to values. Frederik has co-founde3d Zenjob which attracting funding from top-tier investors like Aragon Global Management, 500 Global, Acton Capital, Atlantic LabsFor, and estay Capital.

    Quentin Sannié On Raising Over $200 Million To Design And Manufacture High-End Audio Equipment And Now Revolutionizing Data Solutions To Drive Agricultural Soil Rejuvenation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2025 27:33


    Quentin Sannié's journey is a testament to the power of entrepreneurial vision, resilience, and the ability to adapt across vastly different industries. From his humble beginnings in Versailles to founding innovative companies like Devialet and Genesis, his story is about building dreams. Quentin's latest venture Genesis is the first Global Rating Agency for the ecological health of cultivated soils. Its researchers and engineers have built the first tool to measure the impact of agricultural practices on soils to improve their health, yield and resistance to risks. It is a tool designed and validated by the scientific community, enforceable and dynamic.

    Saman Farid On Raising $60 Million To Build A Robotics-As-A-Service Company, Delivering Robotic Automation At Low Hourly Rates

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2025 28:38


    Saman Farid is no stranger to reinvention. From growing up as a cultural misfit in China to leading groundbreaking ventures in robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), Saman's journey is a testament to resilience, curiosity, and a lifelong commitment to solving problems. Saman's latest venture, Formic, has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Alumni Ventures, Blackhorn Ventures, Calm Ventures, Chapter One, and FJ Labs.

    Steven Galanis On Raising $200 Million To Build A Platform And App Allowing Fans To Request Personalized Video Messages From Celebrities

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2024 41:21


    Steven Galanis, co-founder of Cameo, epitomizes the entrepreneurial spirit. His story, steeped in family tradition, innovation, and grit, is a fascinating tale of navigating life's twists and turns to build a hyper-growth company in the talent world. Steven's latest venture, Cameo, has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Valor Equity Partners, Kleiner Perkins, Morgan Stanley, and Amazon Alexa Fund.

    Zach Dunn On Raising $60 Million To Build The First Hybrid Workplace Experience Platform With AI Capabilities

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2024 26:42


    Zach Dunn's entrepreneurial story is unique and intertwined with his twin brother, Sam. This blog explores their journey from starting a blog, scaling an agency, pivoting to product development, raising millions, and thriving through a pandemic—all while doing it together as twins. Zach and Sam's company, Robin, attracted funding from top-tier investors like Atlassian Ventures, Tola Capital, Allegion Ventures, and Accomplice. They are also building Rally.

    Dominik Senn On Raising $250 Million To Build A Gated Luxury Golf And Lifestyle Club

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2024 22:36


    Dominik Senn's story is one of reinvention and relentless ambition. Born in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1967, Dominik began his career as a competitive skier at just 16 years old. His experiences on the slopes defined his youth and laid the foundation for his entrepreneurial spirit. Dominik's latest project has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Southern Realty Trust.

    Alexi Suvacioglu On Raising $70 Million To Help Older Adults Live Independent Lifestyles By Delivering Essential Products

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2024 28:46


    Alexi Suvacioglu's entrepreneurial story is about passion, resilience, and calculated risk-taking. Having successfully founded and exited multiple ventures, his journey is a testament to the transformative power of adaptability, teamwork, and vision. Alexi's latest venture, Because, has attracted funding from top-tier investors like 7GC & Co, Khosla Ventures, Almoayed Ventures, and Sprint VC.

    Sami Khoreibi On Taking An Energy Company Public At 26, Building A Renewable Energy Business, And Developing Tech For Sustainable Drinking Water

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2024 29:06


    When Sami Khoreibi took his first company public at just 26 years old, he marked the beginning of an extraordinary entrepreneurial journey. His story spans industries, continents, and cultures, offering valuable insights into building, scaling, and innovating businesses in dynamic global markets. Sami's latest venture, Wisewell, has attracted funding from top-tier investors like BECO Capital and Digital Rain Venture.

    Lárus Ásgeirsson On Raising Over $100 Million To Farm Salmon And Other Seafood Sustainably

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2024 24:29


    In the ever-evolving world of entrepreneurship, few journeys are as captivating as that of Lárus Ásgeirsson. Born in a small Icelandic fishing community, Lárus has transitioned from a mechanical engineer specializing in geothermal energy to a global business leader. His latest venture, Laxey, has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Blue Future Holding, Farvatn, Kjartan Olafsson, and Kontrari.

    Eloa Guillotin On Raising $44 Million To Build The World's First Electric Business Aircraft With Low Emission Hydrogen Propulsion

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2024 29:16


    In the heart of a quiet French village, a young girl stared at the night sky, dreaming of the stars and the mysteries of space. That girl, Eloa Guillotin, would grow up to co-found Beyond Aero, a groundbreaking company building hydrogen-electric planes, redefining the future of aviation. Beyond Aero has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Bpifrance, Y Combinator, Initialized Capital, and Female Funders Found.

    Mark Heynen On Breaking Down Barriers to Access To Fintech, Smartphones, And AI, Raising Over $400 Million Across 5 Ventures

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2024 36:57


    Mark Heynen has successfully navigated the startup ecosystem several times, running the entire gamut from building, scaling, and funding companies to exiting them. His journey demonstrates the power of resilience, learning from failures, and successfully pivoting to adapt to market conditions.Mark's latest venture is Knapsack, and he reveals what it means to build a rocket ship in the current environment. The company has Alphabet, Ascend Venture Capital (Seattle), FiDi Ventures, and Gradient Ventures.

    Daniel Lee On Raising $70 Million To Build An AI-Driven Sales Assistance Platform To Automate Sales Tasks

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2024 24:01


    In the fast-paced world of tech entrepreneurship, Daniel Lee stands out with a remarkable story of resilience, innovation, and vision. Co-founder of Nooks, an AI-powered platform transforming the productivity of sales teams, Daniel recently announced a $43M funding round, bringing the total raised to $70M. Nooks' top-tier investors include Kleiner Perkins, Lachy Groom, Stifel Venture Banking, and Tola Capital.

    Casper Henningsen On Raising $55M To End Traditional Research with AI

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2024 26:59


    In the entrepreneurship world, stories often begin in predictable places: classrooms, tech hubs, or corporate boardrooms. Casper Henningsen's tale, however, takes us to the soccer field.As a former professional soccer player in Denmark's top league, Casper pivoted from the high-stakes world of elite sports to the equally demanding landscape of business and startups. His startup, GetWhy has attracted funding from investors like PeakSpan, Arbejdernes Landsbank, Stig Holledig, and SwiftScale.

    Sverre Dueholm On Raising $200 Million To Start A Local-First Premium Audio Entertainment Subscription Service And Building A Tool For Accessing Reliable Energy Data

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2024 35:56


    Sverre Dueholm's entrepreneurial journey traces his remarkable successes and resilience in building and scaling not just the company but also the product and people. He talks about flying solo and prioritizing work over a social life, eventually learning to create the optimum balance. Sverre's latest venture is Comundo, where he successfully instituted a four-day workweek, achieving higher productivity and creativity levels. It has attracted funding from top-tier investors like People Ventures and Likeminded.vc. 

    Mary Lou Jepsen On Building $100 Laptops And Now Raising $100 Million To Develop Wearable Imaging Devices And Therapeutic Tools

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2024 34:09


    Mary Lou Jepsen is an award-winning, trailblazing technologist, entrepreneur, and creative thinker whose career has spanned some of the most groundbreaking technological advancements–from building holographic video systems to creating the world's first $100 laptop. Mary Lou's latest company, Openwater, has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Bold Capital Partners, Khosla Ventures, Plum Alley Investments, and Collab Fund.

    Thomas Laurent On Raising Over $60 Million To Develop Natural, Biological Crop Protection Solutions Using Micropeptides

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2024 30:52


    Thomas Laurent's story is one of resilience, adaptability, and learning through experience. From his early days in Lyon, France, to leading Micropep Technologies as a pioneer in sustainable agriculture, he has gained valuable insights into entrepreneurship, leadership, and innovation. Thomas' latest venture, Micropep, has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Corteva Agriscience, Sofinnova Partners, Denis Lucquin, and Sparkfood.

    Sergio Fogel On Building A $18 Billion Company To Enable Cross-Border Payments By Connecting Global Merchants To Emerging Markets

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2024 30:38


    Sergio Fogel's entrepreneurial journey is a testament to the power of adaptability, resilience, and innovation. Born in Uruguay and later traversing the world for education and business, Sergio has built and scaled multiple ventures. The latest venture is dLocal, a fintech unicorn valued at $18 billion at its peak. It has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Alkeon Capital, General Atlantic, Tiger Global Management, and D1 Capital Partners.

    Bradley Bostic On Raising $80 Million To Build A PE Firm Supporting AI And ML-Driven Companies Working For Improved Patient Outcomes

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2024 29:16


    In the world of entrepreneurship, visionaries like Bradley Bostic repeatedly navigate the challenges of building, scaling, financing, and exiting companies. His story is about relentless innovation, learning from setbacks, and a deeply personal mission to revolutionize healthcare. This interview traces Brad's journey to building Health Cloud Capital and the challenges he handled along the way. The company has invested in companies like DecisionRx, hc1, 3Aware, and Covance.

    Operator-Turned Entrepreneur, Shawn Weidmann, On Raising Over $90 Million To Build The First Technology-Forward, Home-Services Platform

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2024 26:09


    Shawn Weidmann's story is one of transformation, resilience, and thoughtful decision-making. He is a fantastic operator-turned-entrepreneur who successfully raised $90M+ for his company, Zephyr, and scaled it to 300 employees. In this insightful interview, Shawn explores the key moments that shaped his career, the lessons he's learned along the way, and raising funding in challenging markets from investors like Elda River and The Pritzker Organization.

    Richard Socher On Selling A Company To Salesforce And Raising $199 Million To Build An AI Assistant Helping Users Be More Productive, Creative, And Informed

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2024 28:47


    Richard Socher, an AI pioneer and accomplished entrepreneur, has a story that exemplifies innovation, resilience, and the ability to transform cutting-edge technology into impactful businesses. Richard has had an exceptional journey founding and scaling AI-driven companies like MetaMind and You.com. His latest venture You.com has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Marc Benioff, Salesforce Ventures, NVIDIA, Gen Digital, and SBVA (formerly Softbank Ventures Asia).

    Brian O'Kelley On Building A $1.6 Billion Company Acquired By Microsoft And Creating A Protocol To Measure And Lower Carbon Emissions In Digital Supply Chains

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2024 42:33


    The entrepreneurial path is rarely a straight line, and for Brian O'Kelley, it's been a winding road of remarkable successes, humbling failures, and surprising turns. He has built multiple companies, one of which was incredibly successful and culminated in a $1.6B exit. Brian's latest venture, Scope3, has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Room40 Ventures, Google Ventures, Craft Venture, and Venrock.

    David García Aceves On Raising $60 Million In Equity And Debt To Build A Financial App Helping Prime Customers In LatAm Eliminate Debt And Improve Their Finances

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2024 26:10


    David García Aceves, born and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico, embodies resilience and innovation. His story traces his journey through building two companies that didn't quite work out before creating a new rocket ship, drawing valuable lessons from his failures. David's latest venture, Digitt, has raised funding from top-tier investors like Clocktower Ventures, Gilgamesh, New Stack Ventures, FJ Labs, and Treville.

    Bruce Lahn On Raising $80 Million To Build A Global Company Providing Gene Delivery Technologies To Enable Research And Clinical Studies

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2024 23:27


    A scientist-turned-entrepreneur, Bruce Lahn has successfully transitioned from academia to leading businesses like Vector Builder and Cyagen, reshaping gene delivery and genetic research. Here's a dive into his extraordinary path and the lessons he's gleaned along the way. Vector Builder has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Legend Capital, Operation Holding Group, Wanlian Securities Co., Guangzhou Yuexiu Industrial Investment Fund Management, and China Chengtong. 

    Kristian Ranta On Raising $50 Million To Provide Online Access To Therapy And Holistic Mental Healthcare Services Via A Smartphone App

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2024 29:18


    When Kristian Ranta reflects on his entrepreneurial journey, it's a story filled with grit, resilience, and a profound sense of purpose. From his roots in Finland to founding ventures that span continents, Kristian's experiences offer invaluable lessons for aspiring founders. His latest venture, Meru Health, has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Bold Capital Partners, Foundry Group, Freestyle VC, and FMZ Ventures.

    Ayal Yogev On Raising $50 Million To Allow Businesses To Run Cloud Applications With Complete Data Security And Privacy

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2024 30:19


    In the world of cybersecurity entrepreneurship, few stories are as inspiring and insightful as that of Ayal Yogev, co-founder and CEO of Anjuna. Ayal's journey weaves through Israel's renowned Unit 8200, Silicon Valley startups, and the transformative experiences of founding his own company. Anjuna has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Insight Partners, M Ventures, SineWave Ventures, and DCVC.

    Matthew Kligerman on Raising $50 Million To Build A Conversion Platform and AI Sales Agents In Brazil

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2024 41:15


    Matthew Kligerman's path as a founder is a masterclass in vision, adaptability, and persistence. His entrepreneurial story is woven with bold moves, serendipitous moments, and relentless curiosity.In this engrossing interview, Matthew talks about adapting his experiences as a climber into building, scaling, and financing his companies. He also reveals unique aspects of the adventure of building a company in Latin America.Matthew's company, Escale, has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Invus, QED Investors, Redpoint Eventures, and Kaszek.

    Sky Kurtz On Building A Company Acquired By Merck For $150 Million And Raising $300 Million To Grow Food In The Middle East Sustainably

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2024 36:32


    Sky Kurtz's entrepreneurial journey involves grit, transformation, and strategic excellence. His story traces his humble beginnings in Jerome, Arizona, to crafting multi-million-dollar exits in the tech and agribusiness sectors. Sky's latest venture, Pure Harvest Smart Farms, has attracted funding from top-tier investors like IMM Investment, Samarthya Investment Advisors, StartX (US), and Metric Capital Partners.

    Fawn Weaver On Raising Over $230 Million To Build A Whiskey Brand That Honors The World's First-Known African-American Master Distiller

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2024 38:44


    Fawn Weaver's journey from Pasadena to founding successful businesses has been anything but traditional. In this interview, she talks at length about an interesting concept–how to approach challenges by ignoring them. Fawn also discusses her journey of building and raising funding for her company and her unique approach toward venture capital, private equity, and growing Uncle Nearest. The company has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Hybridge Capital Management, CB3 Holdings, Mosaic General Partnership, Strand Equity, and Still Capital Partners.

    Anand Chandra On Raising $275 Million To Build An Agritech Platform To Streamline India's Agricultural Ecosystem

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2024 27:27


    In the startup ecosystem, building a company from the ground up without extensive capital is an impressive feat, as Anand Chandra has demonstrated. But building one in agriculture—a sector with deeply embedded challenges—is a story of grit, vision, and tenacity. Anand's company, Arya Collateral has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Quona Capital, the U.S. International Development Finance Corp, Lightrock, and Stride Ventures.

    Gaurav Misra On Raising $100 Million To Develop AI-Powered Tools For Video Editing And Creation

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2024 28:37


    In the AI industry, where innovation evolves at lightning speed, some founders set the pace by combining a unique cultural perspective with a relentless drive to create groundbreaking technology. Gaurav Misra, founder and CEO of Captions, is one of these visionaries. Captions has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Adobe Ventures, HubSpot Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, Sequoia Capital, and Jared Leto.

    Amir Ben-Efraim On Selling A Company To Juniper For Over $100 Million And Raising $260 Million To Make Internet Browsing Safe From Threats

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2024 30:22


    In this insightful conversation, Amir Ben-Efraim takes us on a journey through his remarkable career in cybersecurity, from growing up in Silicon Valley to building and scaling two successful ventures—Altor Networks and Menlo Security. Menlo Security has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Vista Equity Partners, Neuberger Berman, General Catalyst, American Express Ventures, and Ericsson Ventures.

    Viraj Parekh On Raising $290 Million To Allow Companies To Build Powerful Workflow Orchestrations For Data Engineering And Data Science

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2024 23:32


    In a world driven by data, it takes a visionary to see beyond the noise and build something truly scalable. Viraj Parekh, co-founder of Astronomer, didn't have a clear roadmap. His journey from childhood curiosity in technology to becoming a key figure in data orchestration is fascinating. Astronomer has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Venrock, Bain Capital Ventures, Insight Partners, and Sutter Hill Ventures.

    Khadim Batti On Raising $270 Million To Co-Found A Platform To Help Users Navigate Software Applications By Providing Guidance And Support

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2024 25:17


    In the field of enterprise SaaS, some founders set out with clear roadmaps, while others, like Khadim Batti, blaze new trails through sheer determination, pivots, and a deep-rooted commitment to solving customer pain points. In a recent conversation, Khadim delved into his journey from growing up in Mumbai to scaling his current venture, Whatfix. Whatfix has raised funding worth $270M from top-tier investors like Warburg Pincus, Softbank Vision Fund 2, Dragoneer, Peak XV Partners, and Eight Roads.

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