Valley Nordic

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Arne Tonning, a Norwegian Venture Capitalist and I, Chander Chawla, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, hosts a podcast called Valley Nordic. The podcast is a free-flowing conversation about culture, technology, and startup life. You will get four different perspectives from the podcast i.e. entrepreneur…

Chander Chawla / Arne Tonning


    • Mar 16, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 48m AVG DURATION
    • 111 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Valley Nordic

    Navigating B2B Marketing: A NotebookLM Generated Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2025 25:25


    Send us a textThe episode is based on Chander's blogpost - https://cdoq.blogspot.com/2025/03/navigating-b2b-marketing.html

    Lessons For Toddlers: NotebookLM Generated Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2024 18:50


    Send us a textThis episode is based on Chander's blogpost - Lessons for toddlers. 

    Art Extremes: A NotebookLM Generated Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2024 9:15


    Send us a textThis episode is based on Chander's blogpost - Art Extremes. It is shockingly good. Arne and I are not co-hosting this episode. 

    Emotions vs. Rationality: A NotebookLM Generated 5 Minute Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2024 5:24


    Send us a textThe episode is generated from my blog post which has seven words :) Arne and I are not the cohosts for this episode. 

    IPO Market In 2024: NotebookLM Created Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2024 19:06


    Send us a textThe episode is based on Chander's blogpost: https://cdoq.blogspot.com/2024/10/getting-ready-for-ipo.htmlArne and Chander are not the cohosts on this episode. 

    Ethics In Tech: NotebookLM Created Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2024 19:50


    Send us a textThis is episode is based on Chander's blogpost: https://cdoq.blogspot.com/2019/03/thoughts-from-thinking-weekend.htmlArne and Chander are not the cohosts for this episode. Enjoy! 

    Evolution of Robotics: NotebookLM Created Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2024 10:16


    Send us a textThis is episode is based on Chander's blogpost: https://cdoq.blogspot.com/2024/09/the-rapid-evolution-of-robotics.htmlArne and I are not the cohosts for this episode. Enjoy! 

    Wisdom From A New Friend: NotebookLM Created Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2024 20:08


    Send us a textNotebookLM created this episode based on Chander's blogpost titled - Wisdom from a new friend. 

    Building Alignment: A NotebookLM Created Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2024 11:04


    Send us a textThis episode is NotebookLM interpretation of Chander's blogpost on building alignment: https://cdoq.blogspot.com/2024/05/building-alignment-as-executive.htmlArne and I are not the co-hosts on this episode:) 

    S4E11: Energy Markets In Europe

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2022 78:53


    We discuss: 1. State of the energy markets in Europe and why the prices are going up. 2. How does the electricity grid work?3. How does the energy pricing work in Europe (excluding gas/petrol)?4. Opportunity for startups in the energy markets. 

    S4E10: Startup Financials - LTV and CAC in B2B SaaS

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2022 83:08


    We are back after a long summer break. In this episode we get inside Arne's box of B2B SaaS and discuss CAC, LTV, Payback period, and other financial metrics. 

    S4E9: Reflections - Valley Nordic 100th Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2022 59:05


    We reflect on the last 99 episodes by reviewing the podcast stats, guests who honored us,  and the 27 companies we analyzed in the last ~4 years. 

    S4E8: Deglobalization

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2022 48:18


    What is deglobalization? Why is it happening? What does it mean for startups? 

    S4E7: Metaverse

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2022 52:27


    We segment the Metaverse into three categories: 1. Metaverse that requires new hardware to be worn by users (VR headsets, AR glasses, etc.) 2. Metaverse that does not require new hardware but requires crypto (NFTs, wallets, etc.)3. Metaverse that neither requires new hardware nor cryptoWe apply Rogers innovation adoption model to each of the segments to understand if they can have mass adoption. 

    S4E6: The Twitter Drama

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2022 27:36


    Elon Musk buying Twitter has been talk of the town in Silicon Valley for the last few days. Arne and I discuss what's happening and why. Chander's blogpost from 2009 on Twitter's potential. 

    S4E5: HP Acquisition Of Poly

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2022 34:14


    HP which makes PCs and printers acquires a company, Poly (Plantronics + Polycom), that makes headphones, conference room phones, and cameras. We wonder why. 

    S4E4: New Framework for Management in Corporations

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2022 56:21


    We discuss Chander's forbes article on management which offers a new framework for looking at management. The framework has four dimensions: 1. Domain Management 2. Organizational Management 3. Perception Management 4. Feelings Management 

    S4E3: New Sovereign Investments Influenced by the Russia-Ukraine War

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2022 28:04


    We discuss top three sectors for new sovereign investments influenced by the current Russia Ukraine war: 1. Energy 2. Defence (Cyber, Weapons, Surveillance) 3.  Increased self-reliance (Money, Food) 

    S4E2: Web3

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2022 52:31


    We discuss what is Web3 (and Web 3.0). How it came about? And, the debate associated with it. Links to the articles we referenced in the episode: 1. Semantic web 2. Moxie Marlinspike on Web33. David Rosenthal on Crypto 

    S4E1: The state of the financial markets - Stocks, Crypto, and Venture Capital

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2022 44:07


    We kickoff season 4 with a discussion on what's happening in the financial markets in 2022. 

    S3E20 Season Finale: Trends In Review - 2021 Update

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2021 83:01


    We evaluate the trends we have been tracking since 2019. See the trends here. This is our final episode of 2021. We will be back on January 27th, 2022. 

    S3E19: Netflix Games

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2021 39:48


    We discuss Netflix's entry into games and pontificate on why they would do that. 

    S3E18: Sequoia Capital's New Structure and Changing Venture Capital Dynamics

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2021 52:37


    We discuss: 1. The traditional Venture Capital (VC) business model 2. Why the VC is changing and what changes Sequoia is making 3. Implications for entrepreneurs and for the business of managing money Useful links Sequoia announcement 

    S3E17: Amplitude IPO

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2021 43:02


    We discuss: 1. Amplitude's products and business (what does the company do?)2. Amplitude's history (started as Sonalight)3. Direct listing vs. traditional IPO (why Amplitude chose direct listing)4. Amplitude's valuation and future prospects Useful links 1. Amplitude S1 

    S3E16: Ethereum Update

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2021 45:12


    We discuss the Ethereum blockchain and ETH, a cryptocurrency:Ethereum vs. Bitcoin Proof of work vs. proof of stake consensus mechanism on blockchainsEthereum plan to migrate to a proof of stake consensus mechanismEthereum's London update

    S3E15: Semiconductor Business Deep Dive With Mike Polacek

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2021 50:23


    We are excited to have Mike Polacek as a guest of honor on this episode. Mike is one of the few business leaders who has run large tech businesses and has been a professional investor in public companies. We dig deeper into the how building semiconductor business is different than building a SaaS business, complexity, Moore's law, and many other interesting subjects related to tech businesses. I enjoyed my conversation with Mike and hope that you will enjoy it as well. 

    S3E14: Quick Commerce in Europe

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2021 48:34


    Quick Commerce and its history Venture Capital flowing to Quick Commerce in Europe How Quick Commerce might evolve 

    S3E13: Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) - Past, Present, and Future

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2021 67:10


    We discuss the emergence of new companies like Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna which are popularizing the idea of Point of Sale financing i.e. when you are buying something you can choose to pay later. We tried to have structured conversation today:) What is BNPLHistory of BNPLWhy is it happening nowHow does it work Who are the players Future of BNPL 

    S3E12: China Tech Crackdown - Good Governance or More Control

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2021 45:53


    We discuss the recent Chinese government investigations of Chinese tech companies like Alibaba, Didi, etc. Is it good governance and China is leading the world in regulating tech or is it a way to gain more control for the government?

    S3E11: Robinhood IPO

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2021 52:09


    Three unique things about Robinhood IPO, growth numbers,  and a discussion on its business and financials. Useful links: 1. Robinhood S12. Why Chander is not participating in the Robinhood IPO

    S3E10: Space Tech

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2021 43:00


    We discuss:1. Space tech market and segments 2. Why some space tech market segments are not suitable for venture investments 3. What are the drivers of space tech

    S3E9: Startup Boards

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2021 47:31


    We discuss: 1. Why startups need boards2. How the role of the board changes as the company evolves 3. Types of board members 4. Common mistakes CEOs and board members make when they work together 

    S3E8: Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2021 43:42


    We discuss: 1. What are CBDCs? 2. State of CBDC in China3. Benefits of CBDC 

    S3E7: Semiconductor (Chip) Shortage

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2021 49:01


    We discuss what is the current chip supply and demand situation, why it happened, and how the countries and companies are trying to solve the chip supply problem. 

    S3E6: Clubhouse

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2021 46:57


    We discuss: 1. What is Clubhouse?2. Why Clubhouse it getting popular now?3. Discussion on the future of Clubhouse. Let us know if you need an invite to join Clubhouse. 

    S3E5: Non Fungible Tokens (NFT)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2021 35:48


    1. What are NFTs?2. Why are they in the news? 3. What new opportunities become possible because of NFTs? You can buy the NFT for our blockchain episode (S1E3) here :)

    S3E4: Roblox IPO

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2021 44:41


    We discuss Roblox's history, business, and its upcoming IPO. Useful links:Roblox S1

    S3E3 Valley Nordic: Retail Investing, Robinhood, and Gamestop

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2021 56:07


    We discuss the latest phenomenon of retail investing that caused GameStop stock to go up more than 2,000% in a few weeks.

    S3E2 Valley Nordic: Tesla History and Valuation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2021 42:36


    We discuss Tesla's origins (spoiler alert - Elon Musk is not the founder) and its evolution. We also debate its current valuation of ~$800B.

    S3E1 Valley Nordic: Virtual Reality's Barriers to Adoption

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2021 35:56


    Happy New Year! We are back with our new biweekly and shorter episodes schedule. We start the year with reviewing the history of Virtual Reality (VR) and discussing its barriers to mass adoption.

    Valley Nordic S2 E41 Season Finale: 2020 Trends Review

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2020 48:23


    In our season 2 finale, we review the 2020 trends we had identified in Season 1 finale. See the trends here. You can find the Morgan Stanley report on Private Equity here. We will be back on January 14th, 2021 on biweekly basis. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

    Valley Nordic S2 E40: Embedded Systems With David Krieger

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2020 46:48


    We have a guest on the podcast this week, David Krieger, who is back with us after a year. David and I discuss fundamentals of embedded systems and his experience in designing them. Useful links: 1. David Krieger on LinkedIn 2. Embedded Systems

    Valley Nordic S2 E38: Airbnb IPO

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2020 42:07


    We discuss the recent S1 (a required document to be filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission for a private company to raise money in the public markets like NYSE or Nasdaq) filing by Airbnb to public in the US. Useful link:Airbnb S1S1 definition

    Valley Nordic S2 E37: User Research with Joanna Jones

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2020 49:37


    This week, we are delighted to have a guest on the podcast, Joanna Jones, Founder & CEO of InterQ Research. Joanna and Chander discuss User Research and why the qualitative methods are necessary to complement quantitative methods. Useful links: 1. Joanna's LinkedIn profile 2. InterQ Research

    Valley Nordic S2 E36: Elections, Prop 22, and Tech

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2020 37:06


    We discuss how the US elections have caused the tech stocks to go up. We get deeper into California Prop 22 (a ballot measure by ridesharing and food delivery companies to change the law about classifying their drivers as employees and stopping them from forming a union). Useful links:1. Prop 22 2. Direct Democracy

    Valley Nordic S2 E35: Ant Group IPO

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2020 35:08


    We discuss the unique nature of Ant Group IPO which is going to be the world's largest IPO ever. Ant Group which has 700M+ users is raising >$34B in the IPO at a valuation of >$300B. Ant Group is a spinoff of Alibaba and has a special relationship with the Chinese government. Useful Links:1. Ant Group 2. Ant Group IPO filing documents

    Valley Nordic S2 E34: DOJ Antitrust Lawsuit Against Google

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2020 41:07


    This week, Depart of Justice (DOJ) and 11 State Attorney Generals in the US filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google. We discuss the intricacies and history of these type of lawsuits. Useful Links: 1. DOJ Workshop at Stanford 2. DOJ Google Lawsuit press release

    Valley Nordic S2 E33: Off Wall Street IPOs

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2020 42:28


    We discuss a new IPO market in Norway and other innovative IPO strategies. 2020 has turned out to be the most innovative year for finance.

    Valley Nordic S2 E32: Google's New Hardware

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2020 44:39


    We discuss Google's launch of new smartphones - Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5, new video streaming device - Chromecast, and new smart speaker - Nest Audio.

    Valley Nordic S2 E31: Deep Tech Investments In America And Europe

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2020 29:16


    We experiment with a shorter episode ( < 30 minutes). Spotify co-founder, Daniel Ek, made an announcement last week that he will invest ~$1.2B in deep tech in Europe. This prompted us to discuss what deep tech investing is and how it is different between the US and Europe.Useful links: 1. Daniel Ek announcement at Slush

    Valley Nordic S2 E30: Product Management With AI

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2020 45:21


    How we develop products continues to evolve as new technologies get commercialized. Products that work with Machine Learning (ML) models require a new way of thinking to launch and improve products. The agile/lean approach does not work with ML. We discuss how product managers will have to develop products differently with ML.

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