Podcasts about Bessemer

In this special live episode of The Data Minute, recorded in San Francisco, Peter is joined by Janelle Teng from Bessemer Venture Partners for a data-driven look at the state of AI fundraising.Peter and Janelle walk through the data on everything from the AI valuation premium to the new benchmarks for growth, breaking down Bessemer's "Supernovas" and "Shooting Stars" framework. They discuss why fundraising timelines have gotten longer, how dilution remains steady despite soaring valuations, and why San Francisco is still the undisputed center of the AI boom. Plus, they take questions from an audience of AI founders on everything from calculating TAM to navigating a potential AI bubble.This is your front-row seat to the conversation every AI founder needs to hear.The State of AI 2025 - Bessemer Venture Partners:https://www.bvp.com/atlas/the-state-of-ai-2025Subscribe to Carta's weekly Data Minute newsletter: https://carta.com/subscribe/data-newsletter-sign-up/Explore interactive startup and VC data, with Carta's Data Desk: https://carta.com/data-desk/01:03 – A look back: Venture funding since 202102:35 – Pre-ChatGPT vs. Post-ChatGPT funding waves04:18 – How long should your runway be today?04:54 – "Nail it before you scale it": The philosophy of efficient growth06:15 – The new reality of Seed-to-Series-A graduation rates07:31 – Is every software company now an AI company?09:27 – The AI valuation premium at the Seed stage11:14 – AI infrastructure vs. application layer companies13:06 – Bessemer's benchmarks: "Supernovas" vs. "Shooting Stars"14:36 – Why top-line growth can be misleading17:10 – Why retention is table stakes, but gross margins can wait21:12 – The new benchmark: Revenue per employee22:48 – Advice for founders who aren't a "Supernova"26:45 – Why dilution has remained steady at ~20%30:39 – Valuation is not a badge of honor—it's a hurdle33:20 – Why the Bay Area is still the center of the AI universe35:56 – The hiring slowdown and the rise of lean teams38:51 – The soaring cost of AI/ML engineering talent40:00 – Bessemer's key takeaways on the future of AI43:13 – Audience Q&A starts43:33 – Q1: How should founders think about calculating TAM?46:44 – Q2: As a frontier tech company, how do we compete with app-layer startups?48:48 – Q3: How do we compete against incumbents who are adding native AI features?51:31 – Q4: Should VCs back fewer "good" companies to chase the "Supernovas"?55:03 – Q5: Are we in an AI bubble, and when will it pop?This presentation contains general information only and eShares, Inc. dba Carta, Inc. (“Carta”) is not, by means of this publication, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice or services, and is for informational purposes only.  This presentation is not a substitute for such professional advice or services nor should it be used as a basis for any decision or action that may affect your business or interests. © 2025 eShares, Inc., dba Carta, Inc. All rights reserved.

"Processing Grief - Live by Letting Go" examines how emotional, psychological, and spiritual wounds don't simply fade but build up over time, requiring intentional care. In this episode of Southern Medicine, Randy Glick and Rodney Overstreet, CRNA, discuss the stages of grief, treatment options, emerging research, and what a supportive care team looks like. They also explore how family and friends can help, along with practical tools and resources to move forward and release what keeps us stuck. A CRNA at UAB Medical West, in Bessemer, Alabama, Rodney felt called to heal from a young age. He has spent his career putting people to sleep — and now he wants to help them wake up. "They taught us how to heal others, but neglected to teach us how to heal ourselves," he said. Rodney's nonprofit, Heal Our Healers, aims to remedy this institutional illness. Rodney enjoys studying and lecturing on burnout, compassion fatigue, and PTSD in healthcare providers.

In the latest episode of Goldman Sachs Exchanges: Great Investors, Byron Deeter, a partner at Bessemer Venture Partners, discusses the venture capital landscape and the most promising developments in artificial intelligence and the software industry with Goldman Sachs' Ken Hirsch. This episode was recorded on September 23, 2025. The opinions and views expressed herein are as of the date of publication, subject to change without notice, and may not necessarily reflect the institutional views of Goldman Sachs or its affiliates. The material provided is intended for informational purposes only, and does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation from any Goldman Sachs entity to take any particular action, or an offer or solicitation to purchase or sell any securities or financial products.  This material may contain forward-looking statements.  Past performance is not indicative of future results. Neither Goldman Sachs nor any of its affiliates make any representations or warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of the statements or information contained herein and disclaim any liability whatsoever for reliance on such information for any purpose.  Each name of a third-party organization mentioned is the property of the company to which it relates, is used here strictly for informational and identification purposes only and is not used to imply any ownership or license rights between any such company and Goldman Sachs.  A transcript is provided for convenience and may differ from the original video or audio content.  Goldman Sachs is not responsible for any errors in the transcript. This material should not be copied, distributed, published, or reproduced in whole or in part or disclosed by any recipient to any other person without the express written consent of Goldman Sachs.    © 2025 Goldman Sachs. All rights reserved.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Show Notes: Brian Potter, author of The Origins of Efficiency, explains his core model of efficiency, which includes five levers: production method, increasing production rate, lowering input costs, removing steps, and reducing variability. The Work behind the Book Brian discusses his background in the construction industry and his initial struggles in writing the book, including difficulties in explaining his thesis simply and coherently and the inspiration behind writing the book. He describes his process of iterating and refining his ideas, eventually classifying various strategies for improving productivity into a few key buckets.  Economies of Scale in the Construction Industry The conversation turns to the book's argument that construction costs have not decreased, contrasting it with other manufactured goods. Brian explains the unique challenges in achieving economies of scale in construction, such as the difficulty in transporting buildings and the high costs of building materials and labor. He discusses the historical lack of economies of scale in large home builders and the challenges posed by different building codes, permitting jurisdictions, and environmental requirements. Brian emphasizes the difficulty of reducing input costs in construction due to the fixed nature of building materials and labor costs and explains how it compares to other industries and products.  How Transport Impacts Costs in Construction The book explores the importance of reducing transport costs for efficiency gains, and Brian explains how the development of railroads in the 19th century enabled large-scale production by reducing transport costs and improving reliability. He discusses the impact of container shipping on modern manufacturing, highlighting the cost advantages of larger container ships due to geometric scaling and fixed cost scaling. Brian also mentions the historical example of iron stoves becoming more common after the development of railroads, which made it economical to transport them long distances. How Changing Production Methods Reduce Cost  Brian is asked for an example of how changing production methods can unlock efficiency, and he talks about the discovery of a new process for making steel, which dramatically reduced the cost and time required to produce steel compared to the cementation process. He explains how the Bessemer process allowed for the widespread use of steel in construction, enabling the construction of buildings with steel frames. Brian highlights the importance of technological advancements in reducing the cost and increasing the efficiency of production methods. Examples of Efficiency Gains: Increasing Production Rate When asked for an example of how increasing production rate can lead to efficiency gains, Brian refers to container shipping, where larger ships have reduced costs per container due to geometric scaling and fixed cost scaling. He explains how spreading fixed costs over a larger output can make production more efficient. Brian mentions the example of Japanese factories in the 1980s, which were cheaper to build because they needed to store less inventory due to lean manufacturing principles. How Lowering Input Costs Leads to Efficiency Gains Brian explains how thread is an example of how lowering input costs can lead to efficiency gains. Thread became much cheaper due to technological advancements in spinning and weaving. He explains how cheaper inputs can lead to lower costs in the final product, making it more affordable for consumers. Brian also mentions the example of Iceland producing a large amount of aluminum due to its cheap hydroelectricity, which is a significant input cost in aluminum production. Improving Efficiency Gains by Removing Steps Brian shares an example of removing unnecessary steps in the production process at Tesla, such as removing sound-absorbing mats in the car that did not add value and the robots were having great difficulty installing. When they ran tests they found the mats didn't actually improve noise reduction. Brian explains how minimizing unnecessary steps can reduce costs and improve efficiency. He talks about common steps that can be removed ,and the importance of minimizing inventories and buffers in lean manufacturing to reduce costs and improve flow. Reducing Variability to Improve Efficiency Gains Brian discusses the example of semiconductor manufacturing, where reducing variability can significantly increase yields and reduce waste. He explains how precise control of the manufacturing process can lead to more reliable and efficient production. Brian mentions the importance of reducing errors and failures in production processes to improve efficiency and reduce costs. Evolution of Construction Physics Brian explains how his Substack started focusing on construction and housing but expanded to include topics like the energy grid, energy tech, institutions, innovation dynamics, and global production. He explains how his work at a construction startup influenced the topics he covered in the Substack, and how he began by just following his interests. However, later a thinktank became a fan of his Substack and sponsored him. Brian also mentions the support he received from the Institute for Progress, which helped him expand his reach and focus on broader topics. The Role of Institutions and Organizations as a Production Technology  Brian explains that organizations and the way work is structured can be a significant factor in productivity improvement. He discusses the importance of lean manufacturing and other industrial improvement methods in rearranging work to improve efficiency. He also mentions that organizations and their patterns and behaviors can embody important technological knowledge and practices. Research and Primary Sources   Brian shares that he is primarily a text-based researcher and relies on books, manuals, and other written sources for his research. He explains that his experience working in the construction industry informs his understanding of different industries and production methods. He also discusses the importance of finding sources that provide detailed information about production processes and technological advancements, and why he doesn't talk to much about manufacturing in China. Future Plans and Final Thoughts Looking ahead, Brian has ideas for new books, including a short history of the shipbuilding industry. He also discusses his ongoing work on the Substack Construction Physics and his focus on following his interests and learning more about various topics. Timestamps: 00:02: Origins of Efficiency: Introduction and Core Model  05:07: Challenges in Construction Efficiency  09:37: Transport Costs and Economies of Scale  14:10: Examples of Efficiency Gains: Production Methods 18:55: Examples of Efficiency Gains: Increasing Production Rate  21:16: Examples of Efficiency Gains: Lowering Input Costs  24:10: Examples of Efficiency Gains: Removing Steps 27:38: Examples of Efficiency Gains: Reducing Variability  Links: Substack: Construction Physics  (embedded link on that phrase should be: https://www.construction-physics.com/p/my-book-the-origins-of-efficiency?r=oq1t&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false The Book: The Origins of Efficiency   (link should be: https://amzn.to/3IN38ii   Unleashed is produced by Umbrex, which has a mission of connecting independent management consultants with one another, creating opportunities for members to meet, build relationships, and share lessons learned. Learn more at www.umbrex.com.  

In another special solo episode, host Peter Walker tackles the most requested topic on The Data Minute: AI funding and valuations. Using data from Carta and Bessemer Venture Partners, Peter unpacks what's really happening inside the AI boom.He walks through five key charts that reveal where the capital is flowing, the massive valuation premiums AI-native companies command at Seed and Series A, and why San Francisco is still the undisputed center of the AI universe. Peter also breaks down Bessemer's new benchmarks for growth, "Supernovas" and "Shooting Stars", and explains the incredible speed at which top AI companies are reaching $100 million in revenue.This episode is a tactical guide for founders, explaining the new growth expectations in venture and the critical trade-off between speed and profitability.AI Fundraising Trends 2024:https://carta.com/data/ai-fundraising-trends-2024The State of AI 2025 - Bessemer Venture Partners:https://www.bvp.com/atlas/the-state-of-ai-2025Subscribe to Carta's weekly Data Minute newsletter: https://carta.com/subscribe/data-newsletter-sign-up/Explore interactive startup and VC data, with Carta's Data Desk: https://carta.com/data-desk/00:00 – Intro: A deep dive into AI funding and valuations00:50 – How capital is flowing into AI by stage01:34 – Why SF is the geographic center of AI02:23 – The 40% valuation premium for AI startups at Seed03:42 – The AI premium continues at Series A04:37 – The barbell effect: Mega-rounds at early stages05:07 – Bessemer's benchmarks: "Supernovas" vs. "Shooting Stars"06:11 – A new class of company: The growth of a "Shooting Star"07:22 – How quickly today's AI startups reach $100M ARR08:25 – Takeaway #1: The bar for growth has been raised for everyone08:54 – Takeaway #2: The trade-off between growth and profitability09:50 – Final thoughts for early-stage foundersThis presentation contains general information only and eShares, Inc. dba Carta, Inc. (“Carta”) is not, by means of this publication, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice or services, and is for informational purposes only.  This presentation is not a substitute for such professional advice or services nor should it be used as a basis for any decision or action that may affect your business or interests. © 2025 eShares, Inc., dba Carta, Inc. All rights reserved.

"Three Things You Need to Know"...Government shutdown latest...Bessemer makes a very bad list..."Debbie Does Movies".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Bessemer Venture Partners Cloud 100 Benchmarks Report 2025 provides a snapshot into the top 100 PRIVATE SaaS/Cloud/AI companies. This year's report is full of new insights and trends that highlight how AI is impacting the software industry as we know it. Some of the key points in the report that our hosts Dave "CAC" Kellogg and Ray "Growth" Rike discuss during today's episode include: The Cloud 100 $1,117 billion in aggregate value - a 36% increase from $820 billion in 2024The top 10 companies account for $598 billion of the aggregate value - 54% of entire list versus 46% last yearOpenAI valued at $300 billion exceeds the combined value of last year's top 10AI companies dominate this year's list, comprising $464 billion in value - last year AI company total valuation was $176B (21%)The average Cloud 100 company reached the $100M (Centaur) milestone in just 7.5 years - AI companies only 5.7 yearsThe story on the Cloud 100 valuation multiples provide an interesting story on how valuation and growth are not necessarily trending in the same direction:The average Cloud 100 revenue multiple was 20x fell for third straight and down from 34X (41%) since 2021If you are interested in how the SaaS and Cloud industry is evolving - by the number, and how AI-Native software companies are changing the benchmarks this episode is a MUST listen!Bessemer Cloud 100 Benchmark 2025 Report is available by clicking hereSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bunnie Xo sits down with comedian and boudoir photographer Matt Mathews for a candid and often hilarious conversation about friendship, authenticity, and life in the spotlight. The two bond over their shared quirks—like avoiding pubic hair and red carpets—while digging into deeper topics of mental health, addiction awareness, and the challenges of staying true to yourself in a social media-driven world.Matt opens up about his journey from a difficult childhood in Bessemer, Alabama, to becoming a viral TikTok sensation, selling out comedy shows, and building a career that blends laughter with raw honesty. He shares the struggles of loneliness behind the success, the balancing act between public persona and private life, and the importance of showing kindness to fans.The conversation also highlights a pivotal moment with Jewel that inspired Matt to pursue music, sparking a collaboration and a new sense of confidence in his voice. While he admits promoting his music without falling into cringey social media trends is a challenge, Matt stays grounded, humble, and focused on blending his comedy with music in a way that feels authentic.At its core, this episode is about resilience, the power of storytelling, and finding clarity in fame—all wrapped up with laughter and plenty of unfiltered honesty.Matt Mathews: WebsiteWatch Full Episodes & More:www.dumbblondeunrated.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Tremayne Thompson. A co-owner of Perfect Note, a dinner supper club with locations in Birmingham, Alabama and Atlanta, Georgia. The conversation is a rich blend of entrepreneurship, community service, music, and food culture.

AI companies are hitting growth milestones in record time—some reaching $100 million in revenue in just two years. But while this pace feels familiar in tech, healthcare has always been slower to adopt new tools. That may finally be changing.Kent Bennett and Sofia Guerra of Bessemer Venture Partners join Steve Kraus to unpack findings from Bessemer's State of AI 2025 report and what they mean for healthcare. From “supernovas” and “shooting stars” to the rise of systems of action, they explore how AI is reshaping not only software businesses but also the way doctors, health systems, and patients interact with technology.We cover:

In this emotional Flashback Friday episode of The Radio Vagabond, I travel to Bessemer, Alabama to experience Gip's Place  –  a legendary juke joint founded in the backyard of Henry “Gip” Gipson. At the time, Gip was an astonishing 97 years old, still hosting Saturday night blues sessions in his tin-roofed music shed alongside family, locals, and wandering musicians. His motto, “No black, no white, just blues,” resonated through every note. Update: Sadly, Henry “Gip” Gipson passed away on October 8, 2019, at the age of 99, closing a chapter on one of America's last authentic juke joints. See pictures and read more on https://www.theradiovagabond.com/066-alabama/ This Flashback Friday episode was first released on March 15, 2019.

In this emotional Flashback Friday episode of The Radio Vagabond, I travel to Bessemer, Alabama to experience Gip's Place  –  a legendary juke joint founded in the backyard of Henry “Gip” Gipson. At the time, Gip was an astonishing 97 years old, still hosting Saturday night blues sessions in his tin-roofed music shed alongside family, locals, and wandering musicians. His motto, “No black, no white, just blues,” resonated through every note. Update: Sadly, Henry “Gip” Gipson passed away on October 8, 2019, at the age of 99, closing a chapter on one of America's last authentic juke joints. See pictures and read more on https://www.theradiovagabond.com/066-alabama/ This Flashback Friday episode was first released on March 15, 2019.

This week's distraction covers the alleged life of Hazel Farris. In 1906, Hazel's short-lived life came to an end after supposedly revealing a dark secret about her past to a new lover. After no one claimed her remains, a local furniture store (and funeral parlour) owner realized Hazel's remains may be a ticket for financial success. Need a distraction? I got you. Information pulled from the following sources Wikipedia - Hazel Farris -⁠ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazel_Farris⁠ That's Spooky podcast - Episode 240 – Mystery Meat Machine - April 19th, 2023 - by Tyler Hyde & Johnny Cann -⁠ http://thatsspooky.com/2023/04/19/episode-240-mystery-meat-machine/⁠ ⁠www.newspapers.com⁠ Birmingham Post-Herald - History Lives in Bessemer Museum - by Jeff Hardy 0 February 3rd, 1983 -⁠ https://www.newspapers.com/image/794842894/?clipping_id=134806609&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjc5NDg0Mjg5NCwiaWF0IjoxNzAzMzcwMjUxLCJleHAiOjE3MDM0NTY2NTF9.QX1AHpZp69w-aLOgFjuRC8Zwn5hoTn9oWkwW8ekRSVE⁠ Newsbreak website - The Tragic Tale of the Mummy of Hazel Farris: Alabama's Macabre Sleeping Beauty - by April Killian - November 12th, 2023 -⁠ https://original.newsbreak.com/@april-killian-1599867/3226703188173-the-tragic-tale-of-the-mummy-of-hazel-farris-alabama-s-macabre-sleeping-beauty⁠ Mummipedia Wiki - Hazel Farris -⁠ https://mummipedia.fandom.com/wiki/Hazel_Farris⁠ Mummy Stories website - Hazel Farris: The Mummy of Bessemer, Alabama - by Madeline Burkhardt - December 31st, 2018 -⁠ https://www.mummystories.com/single-post/madelineburkhardt⁠ ⁠https://www.in2013dollars.com/us/inflation/1906?amount=500⁠ Wayback Machine website - HAZEL FARRIS SIDESHOW MUMMY -⁠ https://web.archive.org/web/20090629071159/http://www.sideshowworld.com/blowoffHarrisFarris.html⁠ The Atlanta Journal - See Hazel the Mummy: She's Well Preserved - October 27, 1976 - by Ron Taylor -⁠ https://www.newspapers.com/image/972591541/?terms=Hazel%20the%20mummy&match=2⁠ Nashville Banner - Nobody's Ever Proved Hazel's No Real Mummy - by Red O'Donnell - August 23rd, 1957 -⁠ https://www.newspapers.com/image/603575296/?terms=Hazel%20the%20mummy&match=1⁠ The Tennessean article - Killed 5 Men - April 27th, 1970 -⁠ https://www.newspapers.com/image/113461371/?clipping_id=122636562⁠ The Ghost Doctor website - BESSEMER'S HAUNTED HALL OF HISTORY⁠ Alabama⁠ - by Alan Brown -⁠ https://theghostdoctor.com/bessemers-haunted-hall-of-history/⁠ YouTube - “The Mysterious Tale of Hazel the Mummy: Fact or Fiction” - uploaded by Exploring History - 17 Oct 2023. Send us your listener questions to ⁠bit.ly/AskYOC⁠. Become a member on ⁠Buy Me A Coffee⁠ for as little as $1/month to support the show.  Get your groceries and essentials delivered in as fast as 1 hour via Instacart. Free delivery on your first 3 orders. Min $10 per order. ⁠Terms apply⁠. You can write to us at: Ye Olde Crime Podcast, PO Box 341, Wyoming, MN 55092. Leave us a rating and review on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Podchaser⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Podcast Addict⁠, ⁠Audible⁠, or ⁠Goodpods⁠! Don't forget to follow us on ⁠Twitter⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Threads⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠, and ⁠YouTube⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bessemer Venture Partners recently released their State of AI 2025 Report, a space exploration manual for the AI software era. With AI now the dominant software force, let's dive into what Dave "CAC" Kellogg and Ray "Growth" Rike took away from the report in today's episode:The key differences in performance metrics between AI Supernovas and Shooting StarsWhy Vertical AI companies have a unique opportunity to outperform horizontal AI companies in the early daysThe importance of building a structured Proof of Concept or Pilot program into your customer acquisition processThe top 5 predictions for the AI market in 2026Top 10 takeaways for Native-AI founders and executive leadersThe top five predictions from the report for AI in 2026 include:The browser will emerge as a dominant interface for agentic AI2026 will be the year of generative videoEvaluations and data lineage will become a critical catalyst for AI product developmentA new AI-native social media giant could emergeThe incumbents strike back as AI M&A heats upFor the best listening experience, open the Bessemer Venture Partners State of AI 2025 report and follow along as Dave and Ray discuss the highlights.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

SaaStr 818: Anthropic, Cursor, Fal & Bessemer: The Realities of Scaling AI Join Talia Goldberg (Bessemer Venture Partners), Kelly Loftus (Anthropic), Jacob Jackson (Cursor), and Gorkem Yurtseven (FaL - Feautres and Labels) as they discuss the evolving landscape of AI, business models, metrics, and the future of generative media.  00:00 - Introduction & Panelist Bios 01:19 - How AI Companies Are Changing Metrics 02:20 - The New Economics: Margins, Growth, and Pricing 04:41 - Usage-Based Models & The Cost to Serve 06:31 - The Impact of Expensive Models on Margins 08:00 - Go-To-Market Team Structures at Anthropic 09:36 - Scaling Sales Teams & The Quota Debate 12:01 - Hiring and Team Building Tactics 14:47 - How AI Is Used Internally at These Companies 17:47 - Key Decisions & Pivots in Company Journeys 20:07 - Collaboration vs. Competition: Cursor & Anthropic 22:23 - Measuring Productivity Gains from AI 24:26 - The Metrics That Matter Most 27:16 - Final Thoughts & Audience Q&A   --------------------- Fin is the #1 AI Agent for resolving complex queries like refunds, transaction disputes, and technical troubleshooting—all with speed and reliability. See how Fin can deliver the highest resolution rates and highest-quality customer experience at fin.ai/saastr. --------------------- If you're serious about B2B and AI, you need to be in London this December 2nd and 3rd.   SaaStr AI London is bringing together more than 2,000 leaders and founders for two days of practical advice on scaling into the new year.    We'll have speakers flying in from OpenAI, Wiz, Clay, Intercom, and all your favorite SaaS companies, including yours truly with Harry Stebbings for a live 20VC podcast. It'll be fun, and it's all in the heart of London.    Don't miss out: get your tickets with my exclusive discount by going to podcast.saastrlondon.com   ---------------------   Hey everybody, the biggest B2B + AI event of the year will be back - SaaStr AI in the SF Bay Area, aka the SaaStr Annual, will be back in May 2026.    With 68% VP-level and above, 36% CEOs and founders and a growing 25% AI-first professional, this is the very best of the best S-tier attendees and decision makers that come to SaaStr each year.     But here's the reality, folks: the longer you wait, the higher ticket prices can get. Early bird tickets are available now, but once they're gone, you'll pay hundreds more so don't wait.    Lock in your spot today by going to podcast podcast.saastrannual.com to get my exclusive discount SaaStr AI SF 2026. We'll see you there.

  "What if your biggest career breakthrough started with a failed dream?" In this compelling episode of Kent Hance: The Best Storyteller in Texas, Kent sits down with Vicki Hollub, the trailblazing CEO of Occidental Petroleum (Oxy) and the first woman to lead a major U.S. oil company. From her humble beginnings in Bessemer, Alabama, to commanding global energy operations, Vicki shares a deeply personal and inspiring journey of grit, perseverance, and vision. Listeners will be captivated by stories of: Her father's relentless pursuit of carpentry perfection and how it shaped her work ethic. Her mother's magnetic personality and GED triumph, teaching Vicki the power of human connection. A surprising pivot from music to mineral engineering, sparked by a French horn and a brutally honest professor. Her eye-opening assignments in Russia, Venezuela, and Ecuador, revealing the universal values shared across cultures. The bold moves that led to Oxy's dominance in the Permian Basin, and the visionary leadership of Steve Chazen and Armand Hammer. Facing gender bias head-on in the field, and the importance of having advocates—not just mentors—in your corner. With memorable quotes like, “Sometimes we don't tell people how impactful they are to us until they pass away,” and “Trust is such a powerful thing,” this episode is a masterclass in leadership, resilience, and staying true to your values. Whether you're a student, a professional, or just someone who loves a good story, this episode will leave you inspired and energized.

60% of traffic. 1.6 billion views. A YouTube celebrity in-house. Carwow CMO Ben Carter reveals how they built a content machine so powerful, it became their moat and their moneymaker.Welcome to the Marketing Hustle - a podcast about the real work behind building bold brands. We go behind the scenes with founders and marketing leaders to hear honest, unfiltered stories of what actually drives growth and cuts through the noise to build something that lasts.Today's guest is Ben Carter, CMO of Carwow - one of the most quietly disruptive brands in the UK. In this episode, Ben shares the inside story of how content became their unfair advantage: 60% of their traffic is free. Their YouTube channel boasts 10 million subscribers and 1.6 billion views. And their in-house presenter? Recognised by 25% of UK men.But this conversation is about far more than content.Ben opens up about losing his job unexpectedly and what it really takes to lead inside a Series E business during economic uncertainty.We also dive into:How CarWow raised $52M in Series E funding from Bessemer and othersWhy first-party data and retail media are the real goldmine for modern marketersThe death of SEO as we know it and the coming AI-ification of searchWhy most CMOs are either too brand or too performance and what it means to be bothThe future of jobs, AI, and marketing orgs in the next 5 yearsThis is an honest, high-intensity and highly strategic episode for anyone trying to scale a brand, build a resilient team, or keep up with the seismic shifts reshaping marketing today.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Tremayne Thompson. A co-owner of Perfect Note, a dinner supper club with locations in Birmingham, Alabama and Atlanta, Georgia. The conversation is a rich blend of entrepreneurship, community service, music, and food culture.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Tremayne Thompson. A co-owner of Perfect Note, a dinner supper club with locations in Birmingham, Alabama and Atlanta, Georgia. The conversation is a rich blend of entrepreneurship, community service, music, and food culture.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Tremayne Thompson. A co-owner of Perfect Note, a dinner supper club with locations in Birmingham, Alabama and Atlanta, Georgia. The conversation is a rich blend of entrepreneurship, community service, music, and food culture.

The Pittsburgh, Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad Company was founded in 1897 by Andrew Carnegie to haul iron ore and other products from the port at Conneaut, Ohio on the Great Lakes to Carnegie Steel Company plants in Pittsburgh and the surrounding region. At the end of 1925 B&LE operated 228 miles of road on 631 miles of track; at the end of 1970, mileages were 220 and 489. Enter our next guest who's carefully modeling the B&LE in the early 50's. Ray Brown has worked all over the United States and finally settled just west of Erie, Pennsylvania for two reasons: To experience as much snow fall as possible and to faithfully recreate the Bessemer and Lake Erie in a fifty by thirty-foot basement on a double and triple deck layout. Introduced to us by our in-house medical staff of one, (Mike Hauk) Ray's story is a great listen and one we're sure you'll enjoy!!

This week on Riding Unicorns, we're joined by Martin Kassing, founder and CEO of Upvest, one of Europe's fastest-growing fintech infrastructure companies.Martin's journey spans private equity, Rocket Internet, multiple startups, and now leading a company that powers investment products for the likes of Revolut and N26. In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore what it really takes to build an enduring infrastructure company in Europe.

Send us a textMiguel Armaza interviews Eynat Guez, CEO and Founder of Papaya Global. She has built an HR and payroll platform that has transformed how companies manage and operate global teams across 180 countries. After having faced over 1,000 rejections from VCs, Papaya has now grown to process $34 billion in payments annually and they've raised significant funding from Insight Partners, Bessemer, Greenoaks Capital, and more.We discuss why brutal honesty and direct leadership creates stronger companies, how founders need to learn "investor language" to sell the company vision rather than the product, the operational complexity of building global from day one across 160 countries, and how being a mother of three shaped her approach to building a hypergrowth company. Want more podcast episodes? Join me and follow Fintech Leaders today on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app for weekly conversations with today's global leaders that will dominate the 21st century in fintech, business, and beyond.Do you prefer a written summary? Check out the Fintech Leaders newsletter and join 80,000+ readers and listeners worldwide!Miguel Armaza is Co-Founder and General Partner of Gilgamesh Ventures, a seed-stage investment fund focused on fintech in the Americas. He also hosts and writes the Fintech Leaders podcast and newsletter.Miguel on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nKha4ZMiguel on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Jb5oBcFintech Leaders Newsletter: bit.ly/3jWIp

Markets braced for a massive after-hours earnings slate, including Salesforce, Nvidia, C3.ai, Synopsys, and Pure Storage. Nvidia dominated the agenda: analysis from Moor Insights & Strategy's Patrick Moorhead and CFRA's Angelo Zino while Byron Deeter of Bessemer discusses what Nvidia's print means for the broader AI and semis trade. Paul Hickey of Bespoke gives a read on sentiment as yields ticked higher. Jefferies' Brent Thill weighs in on CRM. 

Brian Neider, Managing Partner at Lead Edge Capital, joins BluWave CEO Sean Mooney to break down what great private equity investing really looks like — from systematic sourcing to building one of the most engaged LP networks in the industry. This episode is packed with real-world lessons from 20 years of disciplined execution and growth equity innovation. Episode Highlights: [1:09] Brian's early lessons in entrepreneurship from running a vending business to building top-of-funnel strategy at Bessemer [6:09] How 20,000 cold calls built the foundation for Lead Edge Capital's thesis-driven sourcing [17:06] The 8-point “strike zone” framework Lead Edge uses to evaluate private equity opportunities [27:06] How Lead Edge's LP network drives differentiated value creation and portfolio company support [34:30] The role of instrumentation and data discipline in unlocking portfolio performance [39:57] Advice to early-career professionals: treat your time, relationships, and decisions like investments [45:25] Life hacks from an investor: walking pads, airline points intel, and email follow-up tools For more information on Lead Edge Capital, go to: https://www.leadedge.com For more information on Brian Neider, go to: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-neider-7774041/ For more information on the Karma School of Business podcast, go to: https://www.bluwave.net/podcasts  

Episode 710: Sam Parr ( https://x.com/theSamParr ) and Shaan Puri ( https://x.com/ShaanVP ) talk about how to evaluate risk and upside of new ideas.  — Show Notes: (0:00) Bessemer's $140B misjudgment of Shopify (5:47) Shaan's Anti-portfolio (15:26) Goal: Avoid Ruin (21:30) Outlier personalities (24:51) Underestimating Uber (32:16) "You can't overinvest in AI" — Links: • Want Sam's Playbook to Uncover Business Opportunities? Get it here: https://clickhubspot.com/bzo • “How to miss by a mile” - https://tinyurl.com/2rxubfwa  • Leaked OpenAI emails - https://www.techemails.com/p/elon-musk-and-openai  — Check Out Shaan's Stuff: • Shaan's weekly email - https://www.shaanpuri.com  • Visit https://www.somewhere.com/mfm to hire worldwide talent like Shaan and get $500 off for being an MFM listener. Hire developers, assistants, marketing pros, sales teams and more for 80% less than US equivalents. • Mercury - Need a bank for your company? Go check out Mercury (mercury.com). Shaan uses it for all of his companies! Mercury is a financial technology company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Column, N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust, Members FDIC — Check Out Sam's Stuff: • Hampton - https://www.joinhampton.com/ • Ideation Bootcamp - https://www.ideationbootcamp.co/ • Copy That - https://copythat.com • Hampton Wealth Survey - https://joinhampton.com/wealth • Sam's List - http://samslist.co/ My First Million is a HubSpot Original Podcast // Brought to you by HubSpot Media // Production by Arie Desormeaux // Editing by Ezra Bakker Trupiano

"If you never lived in a beloved community, you'll never know what it's all about." In this powerful and personal episode of Detroit is Different, Coach Kellogg known on the ballot as Kevin Jones—steps into the studio not just as a lifelong Eastsider but as a griot of the neighborhood he loves and serves. From growing up on St. Aubin and Leland to organizing one of Detroit's largest neighborhood cookouts and now running for City Council in District 5, Kevin drops gems like, "We are not just restoring homes, we are restoring hope." This conversation covers everything from his family's Great Migration story out of Bessemer, Alabama, to the transformative power of youth basketball leagues, and the resilience it took to turn incarceration into community planning. As he says, "My nonprofit was born behind prison walls, but its mission was born from love." If you've ever questioned what real grassroots leadership looks like in Detroit, this is the blueprint. Tune in for a dialogue packed with purpose, Eastside pride, and the kind of truth that makes you lean in and listen harder. Detroit is Different is a podcast hosted by Khary Frazier covering people adding to the culture of an American Classic city. Visit www.detroitisdifferent.com to hear, see and experience more of what makes Detroit different. Follow, like, share, and subscribe to the Podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Sticher. Comment, suggest and connect with the podcast by emailing info@detroitisdifferent.com

In this month's Digital Health Download, Steve and Halle unpack the headlines shaping healthcare, policy, and technology—with an eye toward where things may be heading next. From shifting political support for Medicaid and the ACA to state-level action on PBMs, they explore the unexpected ways the system is evolving.We cover:

Rish Gupta is the cofounder and CEO of Spot AI, a video AI platform for the physical world. They've raised $93M from amazing investors such as Scale, Bessemer, and Qualcomm Ventures.Rish's favorite book: Atlas Shrugged (Author: Ayn Rand)(00:01) Introduction(00:32) Video-AI basics: ingesting camera feeds across diverse networks ​(02:42) Edge-vs-cloud trade-offs for compute, storage, and bandwidth ​(05:40) Mapping the sector: hardware waves to cloud cameras to pure-software layer ​(07:43) Founding insight: why Spot AI attacked the video layer now ​(11:35) Bare-bones MVP: two-page dashboard that unified camera access ​(15:34) First-10-customer lessons & pruning the ideal customer profile (ICP) ​(18:54) Go-to-market experiments: ICP variants, pain points, and channels ​(23:00) Early-team blueprint: engineering-heavy, founders run sales ​(24:03) Hardware stance: free IP cameras to simplify one-vendor buying ​(26:01) Biggest tech hurdle: supporting thousands of camera brands & configs ​(27:00) Sales challenge: outbound fatigue forces novel GTM motions ​(28:55) Future vision: each camera becomes an autonomous AI agent with a "job" ​(30:25) Key AI unlock: massive context windows enabling flow-state reasoning ​(32:14) Rapid-fire round--------Where to find Rish Gupta: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/profilerish/--------Where to find Prateek Joshi: Newsletter: https://prateekjoshi.substack.com Website: https://prateekj.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prateek-joshi-91047b19 X: https://x.com/prateekvjoshi 

On tonight's show, I'll have Kathy Stokes, Director of Fraud Prevention Programs, AARP Fraud Watch Network. Kathy Stokes leads AARP's efforts in helping members and other consumers protect themselves and their families from scams and fraud and she will be sharing her expertise. In the second segment, Van Sykes with Bob Sykes Bar B Q to share about the Bob Sykes BBQ & Blues Festival coming up on April 26th in Bessemer, Alabama.

Author Teke Wiggin discusses the article, "Weaponizing the Workplace: How Algorithmic Management Shaped Amazon's Antiunion Campaign in Bessemer, Alabama" published in Socius: Sociological Research for a Dynamic World.

A packed market panel as Bespoke's Paul Hickey, Hightower's Stephanie Link, and Moor Insights' Patrick Moorhead join to break down earnings from Salesforce, eBay, Paramount, Snowflake, Synopsys, and AI player C3.ai. The panel sticks around for the big one: Nvidia. We have you covered from every angle. We also hear from Jefferies' Brent Thill on Salesforce & Snowflake, CFRA's Angelo Zino on Nvidia, and Bessemer's Byron Deeter on AI's broader impact.

Barron's Senior Managing Editor Lauren R. Rublin and Deputy Editor Ben Levisohn talk with Holly McDonald, CIO of Bessemer Trust, about market moves, industries, stocks, and investment trends.

On this week's podcast episode, Steve Kraus and Sofia Guerra of Bessemer Venture Partners joined us to discuss the trends and predictions outlined in their second annual State of Health Tech report.  Key takeaways include: AI: Health tech dollars invested in AI-focused companies have increased 1.5x in just two years, reaching 38% in 2024 to date. Private market recovery: Mega rounds of $50M+ for later-stage companies with strong fundamentals, alongside a surge of seed and Series A companies scaling to $1M-$10M ARR within three years. 2025 predictions: Adoption of in-house services-as-software, AI enhancing doctors' capabilities, AI streamlining value-based care, and more companies blending cutting-edge technology with deep healthcare expertise. About Steve Kraus: Steve Kraus is a partner at Bessemer in the Cambridge office and a world-renowned healthcare investor. He is the author of Bessemer's 10 Laws of Healthcare, Benchmarks for Growing Health Tech Businesses, and co-host of the podcast Heart of Healthcare. Kraus currently sits on the boards of Bright Health Group, Headspace Health, Groups, Qventus, AspenRx, HouseRx, Oshi Health, Folx Health, Mural Health, and Alcresta. About Sofia Guerra: Sofia Guerra is a vice president at Bessemer Venture Partners, where she invests in seed to growth healthcare and life sciences companies. She is the co-author of State of Health Tech report, Benchmarks for Growing Health Tech Business, and How to Scale Health Tech Businesses to $100M and Beyond, a study of 100+ best-in-class companies to understand key metrics relevant for scalability in healthcare software and tech-enabled services. Listen in for the complete chat with Steve Kraus and Sofia Guerra and learn about the key trends shaping the future of health tech. Are you ready to tell YOUR story? Members of our Health Moonshot Communities are leading startups with breakthrough technology-driven solutions for the world's biggest health challenges. Exposure in StartUp Health Media to our global audience of investors and partners – including our podcast, newsletters, magazine, and YouTube channel – is a benefit of our Health Moonshot Community Showcase Membership. To schedule a call and see if you qualify to join and increase brand awareness through our multi-media storytelling efforts, submit our three-minute application. If you're mission-driven, collaborative, and ready to contribute as much as you gain, you might be the perfect fit. Learn more and apply today. Want more content like this? Sign up for StartUp Health Insider™ to get funding insights, news, and special updates delivered to your inbox.

מה הדרך הנכונה עבור יזמים ליצור קשר עם קרנות הון סיכון? מה המטרה המרכזית בפגישה ראשונה עם משקיעים? מהן הטעויות הגדולות שאפשר לעשות בפגישה כזו? אדם פישר הוא שותף בקרן בסמר, אחת הקרנות הגדולות והוותיקות בארה"ב ובישראל. במהלך יותר מ-20 שנות קריירה בקרנות הון סיכון אדם הפך לאחד ממשקיעי ה-Early stage הבולטים, כשברקורד שלנו ישנן השקעות ביותר מ-60 חברות כמו Wix, Fiverr, Habana ו-Melio ו-24 אקזיטים. בשיחה עם דריה ורטהיים אדם מדבר על הנקודות החשובות בפגישה ראשונה של יזמים עם קרנות הון סיכון, איך יוצרים קשר ומה הטעויות הנפוצות שיזמים עושים. אדם משתף בתובנות על התנהלות נכונה בפגישות, על היכולת להעביר את הסיפור נכון וגם איך להתנהל לאחר הפגישה כדי להגדיל את סיכויי ההצלחה לפגישה נוספת. --- מוזמנים להצטרף אל קבוצת הפייסבוק שלנו ולהמשיך את השיח - www.facebook.com/groups/startupforstartup/ ניתן למצוא את כל הפרקים ותכנים נוספים באתר שלנו - https://www.startupforstartup.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The owner of Fresh Value Supermarkets shares his savviest tips and tricks for grocery shopping!  Episode At A Glance: This week on The SavvyCast, Gerry D'Alessandro joins me to share his best tips for grocery shopping. Gerry is the owner of Fresh Value Supermakerts and he is able to provide invaluable insight into savvy shopping! Everyone who steps foot in a grocery store knows that prices are increasingly high, so being a smart and savvy shopper has never been more important! In this episode, we cover tips and tricks for scoring deals, how to find the best quality produce ansd more. I hope this episode is as helpful for you as it was for me!  Who Is Gerry D'Alessandro? Born and raised in Birmingham, AL, Gerry D'Alessandro was immersed in the world of retail, working at his family's grocery store in Bessemer. From an early age, he wasn't just watching the business from the sideline; he was in the thick of it, bagging groceries. By age 25, his entrepreneurial spirit, honed by years of firsthand experience, propelled him to take a significant step: he purchased the family store. Within a decade, Gerry's vision translated into tangible growth. The single store in Bessemer morphed into a chain of 16 retail locations across Alabama and Mississippi.    Outside of his business life, Gerry D'Alessandro is more than just an entrepreneur. He's a dedicated husband, having been married to Mikayla D'Alessandro for 9 years. Their shared passion for exploring new horizons has taken them on numerous travels across the world, creating memories that they cherish. Questions Answered In This Episode: How did you get involved in grocery stores? Can I shop for my family without breaking the bank? What insider tips do you have for scoring the best produce?  What tips do you have for saving money on groceries?  Resources Mentioned In This Episode:  Fresh Value Supermarkets    I hope you enjoyed this episode! As always, if you have time to rate, review, and subscribe to The SavvyCast on Apple Podcasts, it would be so appreciated. If you would prefer to watch the podcast interview, check it out on YouTube. Blessings to you!   If you enjoyed this episode, check out the ones below:   Detoxing and Energizing your Body with Infrared Light Therapy Practical Points from Casey Means' Viral Tucker Carlson Interview

Snowflake shares had their best day after reporting strong earnings. CEO Sridhar Ramaswamy on how the company is winning in the current environment. Bessemer Venture's Byron Deeter weighs in on the resumption of the software trade and what's next for Nvidia. Plus, Intuit CEO Sasan Goodarzi on the latest quarter and what the Department of Government Efficiency means for the company's business.

Keep up with healthcare news in under an hour with our monthly Digital Health Download! We can't believe it's already November. In this episode, we cover the biggest headlines of October:

Follow me @samirkaji for my thoughts on the venture market, with a focus on the continued evolution of the VC landscape.Today I'm excited to speak with the founding team of Chemistry, a new venture firm led by Kristina Shen, Ethan Kurzweil, and Mark Goldberg, who recently spun-out of blue chip firms Andreessen Horowitz, Bessemer, and Index Ventures, respectively. The firm just announced a significantly oversubscribed $350MM debut fund. As a new entrant to the market (in the toughest time to start a new firm in over a decade), I wanted to ask them about their blueprint for building a firm, including how they chose to partner up and the work they did beforehand, LP strategies and selection, and what they felt was their unique reason to exist in a highly competitive market. About Kristina ShenKristina Shen is Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Chemistry Ventures, overseeing a $350M fund focused on early-stage software investments. Formerly a General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz (2019-2024), she led significant investments in Mux, Pave, Wrapbook, and Rutter. Kristina specialized in high-growth startups.She began her venture career as a Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners (2013-2019), working with companies such as Gainsight, Instructure, and ServiceTitan. Previously, she worked in investment banking at Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse, focusing on technology sectors.About Mark GoldbergMark Goldberg is Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Chemistry Ventures since, investing in seed and Series A software startups. Previously, a Partner at Index Ventures (2015-2023), he worked with companies such as Plaid, Pilot, Intercom, and Motive, establishing a strong fintech and software portfolio.Prior to Index, Mark worked at Dropbox in Business Strategy & Operations and Strategic Finance (2013-2015), where he contributed to growth strategies during Dropbox's scaling phase.He started his career as an Analyst at Morgan Stanley (2007-2010) before joining Hudson Clean Energy as a Senior Associate. Mark holds an AB in International Relations from Brown University.About Ethan KurzweilEthan Kurzweil is Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Chemistry Ventures, leading investments at the seed stage for tech-driven startups. He also serves as a board member for companies like Intercom and LaunchDarkly.Previously, Ethan was a Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners (2008-2024), where he worked with companies such as HashiCorp, Twilio, and Twitch. His focus on software and digital platforms spanned roles as board member and investor, contributing to significant IPOs and acquisitions.Early in his career, Ethan worked in business development at Linden Lab (creators of Second Life) and served as a Senior Manager in the CEO's Office at Dow Jones. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an AB in Economics from Stanford University.In this episode, we discuss:* (01:43): Importance of Team Chemistry and Partnership Formation* (03:27): Challenges of Building a Firm in the Current Environment* (08:00): Unique Value Proposition for Early-Stage Founders* (10:18): Early-Stage Focus and Differentiation from Large VC Firms* (16:12): Fundraising Insights and LP Relationship Building* (19:00): Choosing Aligned LPs and Targeting Long-Term Partnerships* (27:23): Single-Trigger Investment Decision-Making Model* (30:12): Balancing Conviction with Collaborative Feedback* (35:23): Independent Decision-Making for Follow-On Investments* (39:19): Personal Contrarian Beliefs about the Venture Industry* (42:18): Closing Remarks on Building a New Venture FranchiseI'd love to know what you took away from this conversation with Kristina, Mark, and Ethan. Follow me @SamirKaji and give me your insights and questions with the hashtag #ventureunlocked. If you'd like to be considered as a guest or have someone you'd like to hear from (GP or LP), drop me a direct message on Twitter.Podcast Production support provided by Agent Bee This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ventureunlocked.substack.com

Send us a textMiguel Armaza interviews Benjamin Fernandes, CEO & Founder of NALA, a global, cross-border payments company that helps customers send money in and out of Africa.Founded in 2018, NALA today is profitable and has raised over $50 million from Accel, Acrew, Amplo, Bessemer, DST, and NYCA.We discuss:Why NALA built their own infrastructure and stopped relying on local African incumbentsChallenges of going through a company pivot from local to cross-border paymentsThe important role that VCs can have on founders, positively and negativelyHow Benjamin's background as a TV host led him to payments… and a lot more!Want more podcast episodes? Join me and follow Fintech Leaders today on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app for weekly conversations with today's global leaders that will dominate the 21st century in fintech, business, and beyond.Do you prefer a written summary? Check out the Fintech Leaders newsletter and join ~70,000+ readers and listeners worldwide!Miguel Armaza is Co-Founder and General Partner of Gilgamesh Ventures, a seed-stage investment fund focused on fintech in the Americas. He also hosts and writes the Fintech Leaders podcast and newsletter.Miguel on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nKha4ZMiguel on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Jb5oBcFintech Leaders Newsletter: bit.ly/3jWIp

Daniel Khachab is the co-founder and CEO of Choco. Today, Choco's AI platform facilitates half of all food traded in major cities like New York, Paris, London, and Berlin, cutting food waste and streamlining distribution. Since its founding in 2018, Choco has raised $330 million from Bessemer, Coatue (its first European investment), and Insight, reaching unicorn status within 2.5 years. Previously, Daniel was the youngest Managing Director at Rocket Internet, where he oversaw growth across Latin America, Southeast Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.                                     From Seed to $1BN in 30 Months: 1. We Killed a $BN SaaS Business to be AI First: Why does Daniel believe that SaaS is dead? What does an AI-first company mean?  Why does Daniel believe AI-first companies will win the next 10 years? What foundation models does Daniel and Choco use today? How has the cost of using different models changed? What categories are vulnerable to being attacked with vertical products from the foundation model providers? 2. Europe is F*******: Why and What To Do: Why does Daniel believe Europe is at a massive disadvantage in the next 10 years of AI? Chips: What can Europe do to encourage chip production and manufacturing to take place on European soil? Energy: What can European governments do to encourage energy providers and new forms of renewable energy to innovate to provide the energy AI needs? Talent: Why does Daniel believe AI talent is the hardest problem that Europe faces? What can governments in EU do to resolve this problem? 3. Lessons Scaling to $1BN in 30 Months: Does Daniel regret raising at a $1.1BN valuation?  Why did he throw a unicorn party with the round? Why does he regret it so much? What did Daniel spend money on that he wish he had not spent money on? What did Daniel not spend money on that with the benefit of hindsight, they should have spent money on? When your competition raises a lot of funding, does that mean you should also?  

Eoghan McCabe is the Co-Founder and CEO @ Intercom, one of the largest private software companies in the valley with hundreds of millions in revenue and thousands of customers. To date, Eoghan has raised over $238M from Index, Kleiner Perkins, ICONIQ, GV, Bessemer and more incredible firms. Intercom's goal is to reinvent customer service with AI agents replacing human agents over the next 10 years. 10 Questions with One of the Largest Private Company CEO's: AI Investing: Why will most AI investments not do better than the S&P 500? Building SaaS Tools with AI: Why is it crazy for companies to follow Klarna and use AI to build their own tools? Going Public: Why is Bill Gurley wrong that more later stage companies should go public? Why did Intercom shelve plans to go public in 2022? Early-Stage is F*******: Why is the early-stage venture ecosystem as an asset class f******? Founder Mode: Why does Eoghan believe all of the best founders are unbalanced? What is the difference between Founder vs Manager mode?  Political Voice: Why did Eoghan decide he had to voice his political opinions now? The Danger of Harris: Why does Eoghan believe a Harris administration would rob the US of immense freedom, democracy and civil liberty? Why Vote Trump: Why does Eoghan believe that Trump will regain immense freedom for the sovereign individual? Freedom of Speech: How does Eoghan determine right vs wrong when freedom of speech leads to harm and injustice?  Middle East and Nuclear War: Why does Eoghan believe that nuclear war is much closer than we think? Will we see the Middle East descend into war?   

SaaStr 764: State of the Cloud 2024: The Cloud AI Era with Bessemer Venture Partners, Anthropic, Jasper, Abridge and EvenUp Bessemer Venture Partners is committing $1 billion in capital to back AI-native companies and founders at the bleeding edge. Sameer Dholakia, Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners speaks with Julia Chapin, COO at Abridge, Kate Jensen, Head of Revenue at Anthropic, Rami Karabibar, CEO and founder at EvenUp, and Timothy Young, CEO at Jasper, on the impacts of AI on the State of the Cloud.  The discussion delves into the integration of AI into SaaS, marketing, healthcare, and legal industries, with a focus on the challenges and opportunities of implementing AI solutions. Key topics include building defensible business models, embracing multimodal capabilities, and strategizing change management for successful AI adoption. Gain valuable insights into the importance of trust, partnerships, and user-centric applications in leveraging AI for sustainable business growth. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SaaStr hosts the largest SaaS community events on the planet. Hey everybody - thanks to the 10,000 of you who came out to SaaStr Annual. We had a blast and big news -- we'll be back in MAY of 2025. That's right, the SaaStr Annual will be a bit earlier next year, May 13-15 2025. We'll still be back in the same venue, in the SF bay area at the 40+ acre sprawling san mateo county events center. Grab your tickets at saastrannual.com with code jason50 for an extra discount on our very best pricing. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  This episode is sponsored by: remote.com When the right person for the job is a world away, Remote Talent brings the world to you. As the top job board for remote-first companies, we give you powerful tools to post your listings and reach the world's top candidates and remote professionals. Start building your dream team from anywhere—visit Remote.com/jobs today. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  This episode is sponsored by: Anrok A question for SaaS finance leaders, do you know where your customers are? Anrok tracks where your sales are creating exposure, and automates tax calculation and filing worldwide. Built for high-growth software companies, Anrok protects your revenue and saves you time. Visit anrok.com/saastr to learn more.

914: The shift towards cloud computing has accelerated with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), and venture capital firms like Bessemer Venture Partners have taken notice. In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High interviews Mary D'Onofrio, partner at Bessemer, who leads investments in cloud software and emerging technologies. Mary discusses her journey into venture capital, Bessemer's Cloud Index, and the State of the Cloud reports, while highlighting how AI is transforming the cloud landscape. She also shares insights into the "five Cs of cloud finance" and the importance of customer feedback in shaping investment decisions. 

914: The shift towards cloud computing has accelerated with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), and venture capital firms like Bessemer Venture Partners have taken notice. In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High interviews Mary D'Onofrio, partner at Bessemer, who leads investments in cloud software and emerging technologies. Mary discusses her journey into venture capital, Bessemer's Cloud Index, and the State of the Cloud reports, while highlighting how AI is transforming the cloud landscape. She also shares insights into the "five Cs of cloud finance" and the importance of customer feedback in shaping investment decisions. 

In this episode,  Kent Hance interviews Vicki Hollub, the pioneering CEO of Occidental Petroleum. Vicki shares her inspiring journey from Bessemer, Alabama, to leading a major oil company. She discusses her parents' influence, her initial interest in music, and her eventual shift to mineral engineering. Vicki recounts her diverse professional experiences, including international assignments in Russia, Venezuela, and Ecuador, and her pivotal role in the Permian Basin's shale development. The conversation highlights themes of perseverance, leadership, and the importance of mentorship, offering valuable insights into her career and the energy industry.

Bethany Ayers is a seasoned Chief Operating Officer and co-host of The Operations Room podcast. With extensive experience in building successful go-to-market strategies, she has been instrumental in raising over $200 million from top investors like Softbank and Bessemer. Bethany has served as COO at leading companies such as Peak AI, NewVoiceMedia, and Codility. Currently, she also lends her expertise to the boards of AI companies ToffeeAM and DeepOpinion.SHOW SUMMARYIn this insightful episode of the Selling from the Heart podcast, Larry Levine and Darrell Amy are joined by tech executive Bethany Ayers to explore the power of combining authentic relationship-building with a disciplined sales process. Bethany shares her transformation from a quota-carrying sales professional to an operations leader, highlighting the critical balance between empathy and process in driving sales success. Discover how to create demand, build trust, and refine your sales strategies with Bethany's actionable tips, making this episode a must-listen for anyone looking to elevate their sales approach.KEY TAKEAWAYSAuthenticity and Process: The best sales strategies blend genuine relationships with a structured sales process, ensuring you connect authentically while driving results.Creating Demand: Go beyond rapport-building by identifying and amplifying your customer's pain points, creating a compelling need for your solution.Importance of Urgency: Injecting urgency and consistent follow-ups are key to staying top-of-mind in a competitive landscape where prospects are often overwhelmed.Customer-Centric Sales Process: A well-defined sales process helps keep the focus on customer needs, fostering stronger relationships and better sales outcomes.Overcoming Hesitancy: Don't shy away from diving deep into customer challenges. Tackling these issues head-on is essential for delivering real value and driving sales growth.QUOTES TO REMEMBER"When you shine the light on others, watch how fast they start to open up.""Being yourself is not enough. It's important, but it's more than being yourself.""The sales process makes us think about what it is to be the customer and not to take things personally.""Sales professionals must inject urgency and consistently follow up to stay relevant in a world full of competing priorities."FOLLOW THE CONVERSATIONBethany Ayers' LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethanyayers/Learn more about Darrell and Larry:Darrell's LinkedIn: Darrell AmyLarry's LinkedIn: Larry LevineWebsite: Selling from the HeartGet the New Book That Will Help You Sell More... Without Destroying Your Relationships and Reputation Order 'Selling in a Post-Trust World'Please visit Barnes & Noble to order your copy of the rerelease of 'Selling from the Heart': Barnes & NobleSUBSCRIBE to our YOUTUBE CHANNEL! YouTube ChannelClick for your Daily Dose of Inspiration: Daily Inspiration

Mike Droesch of Bessemer Venture Partners joins Nick to discuss The Path from Aspiring VC to Partner at Bessemer, Building Non-Consensus Conviction, The Most Compelling Vertical Applications of AI, and Why Fintech is the New Frontier in Supply Chain. In this episode we cover: AI Applications in Various Industries, Advancements in AI-Powered Voice Transcription Technology, AI's Potential to Disrupt Vertical SaaS Industries Business Models for AI Software, Including Copilots, Agents, and Tech-Enabled Services AI Applications, Defensibility, and Market Potential Open Source vs. Closed Source AI Models Supply Chain Inefficiencies and the Role of FinTech in Improving Payment and Invoicing Processes Investing in Non-Consensus Supply Chain Software Categories, Focusing on Procurement and Freight Audit Guest Links: LinkedIn Twitter/X  Bessemer Venture Partners The hosts of The Full Ratchet are Nick Moran and Nate Pierotti of New Stack Ventures, a venture capital firm committed to investing in founders outside of the Bay Area. Want to keep up to date with The Full Ratchet? Follow us on social. You can learn more about New Stack Ventures by visiting our LinkedIn and Twitter. Are you a founder looking for your next investor? Visit our free tool VC-Rank and we'll send a list of potential investors right to your inbox!