Podcasts about series d

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Latest podcast episodes about series d

The Agile World with Greg Kihlstrom
#821: From eTail: CommerceIQ's Himanshu Jain and Bill Schneider on delaying the gap between strategy and execution

The Agile World with Greg Kihlstrom

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2026 27:18


What if the biggest bottleneck in your commerce strategy isn't the strategy itself, but the time it takes your team to actually perform the actions to execute it?Agility requires not just having the right insights, but also the operational capacity to act on them at the speed the market demands.Today, we're going to talk about a critical bottleneck many brands face: the delay between data-driven insight and real-world execution. Commerce teams are often drowning in data but struggle with the manual, time-consuming work of implementing changes, whether it's updating product pages or optimizing media spend. This has led to a major shift, where brands are looking beyond traditional agency models and toward a new paradigm of 'agentic AI'—using automated agents to handle execution, freeing up human experts to focus on what they do best: strategy.We are here at eTail Palm Springs, and to help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Himanshu Jain, Co-Founder and Head of Product, and Bill Schneider, VP Product Marketing at CommerceIQ. About Bill Schneider and Himanshu Jain Himanshu Jain is the Cofounder and Head of Product at CommerceIQ, a Series D agentic AI company based in the Bay Area. CommerceIQ is a leader in retail technology, having raised $200M from SoftBank and Insights Partners, and serving 10 of the top 12 CPG brands globally. He builds vertical AI and autonomous agent platforms that help the world's largest consumer brands win across ecommerce and omnichannel retail. Over the past decade, he has repeatedly taken AI products from zero to product–market fit, scaling them into multi-million-dollar businesses across retail media, pricing, supply chain, and digital shelf. With deep roots in machine learning, SaaS and enterprise strategy, he operates at the intersection of advanced AI systems and measurable commercial impact. Himanshu Jain is the Cofounder and Head of Product at CommerceIQ, a Series D agentic AI company based in the Bay Area. CommerceIQ is a leader in retail technology, having raised $200M from SoftBank and Insights Partners, and serving 10 of the top 12 CPG brands globally. He builds vertical AI and autonomous agent platforms that help the world's largest consumer brands win across ecommerce and omnichannel retail. Over the past decade, he has repeatedly taken AI products from zero to product–market fit, scaling them into multi-million-dollar businesses across retail media, pricing, supply chain, and digital shelf. With deep roots in machine learning, SaaS and enterprise strategy, he operates at the intersection of advanced AI systems and measurable commercial impact. Bill Schneider and Himanshu Jain on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-schneider-b32a6a/ Resources CommerceIQ: www.commerceiq.ai The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://aglbrnd.co/r/2868abd8085a9703 Drive your customers to new horizons at the premier retail event of the year for Retail and Brand marketers. Learn more at CRMC 2026, June 1-3. https://aglbrnd.co/r/d15ec37a537c0d74 Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://aglbrnd.co/r/faaed112fc9887f3 Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/35ded3ccfb6716ba Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast
BONUS: Why Embedding Sales with Engineering in Stealth Mode Changed Everything for Snowflake With Chris Degnan

Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2026 26:58


BONUS: Why Embedding Sales with Engineering in Stealth Mode Changed Everything for Snowflake In this episode, we talk about what it really takes to scale go-to-market from zero to billions. We interview Chris Degnan, a builder of one of the most iconic revenue engines in enterprise software at Snowflake. This conversation is grounded in the transformation described in his book Make It Snow—the journey from early-stage chaos to durable, aligned growth. Embedding Sales with Engineering While Still in Stealth "I don't expect you to sell anything for 2 years. What I really want you to do is get a ton of feedback and get customers to use the product so that when we come out of stealth mode, we have this world-class product."   Chris joined Snowflake when there were zero customers and the company was still in stealth mode. The counterintuitive move of embedding sales next to engineering so early wasn't about driving immediate revenue, it was about understanding product-market fit. Chris's job was to get customers to try the product, use it for free, and break it. And break it they did. This early feedback led to material changes in the product before general availability. The approach helped shape their ideal customer profile (ICP) and gave the engineering team real-world validation that shaped Snowflake's technical direction. In a world where startups are pressured to show revenue immediately, Snowflake's investors took the opposite approach: focus on building a product people cannot live without first. Why Sales and Marketing Alignment Is Existential "If we're not driving revenue, if the revenue is not growing, then how are we going to be successful? Revenue was king."   When Denise Persson joined as CMO, she shifted the conversation from marketing qualified leads (MQLs) to qualified meetings for the sales team. This simple reframe eliminated the typical friction between sales and marketing. Both leaders shared challenges openly and held each other accountable. When someone in either organization wasn't being respectful to the other team, they addressed it directly. Chris warns founders against creating artificial friction between sales and marketing: "A lot of founders who are engineers think that they want to create this friction between sales and marketing. And that's the opposite instinct you should have." The key insight is treating sales and marketing as a symbiotic system where revenue is the shared north star. Coaching Leaders Through Hypergrowth "If there's a problem in one of our organizations, if someone comes with a mentality that is not great for us, we're gonna give direct feedback to those people."   Chris and Denise maintained tight alignment at the top level of their organizations through four CEO transitions. Their partnership created a culture of accountability that cascaded through both teams. When either hired senior people who didn't fit the culture, they investigated and addressed it. The coaching approach wasn't about winning by authority—it was about maintaining partnership and shared accountability for results. This required unlearning traditional management approaches that pit departments against each other and instead fostering genuine collaboration. Cultural Behaviors That Scale (And Those That Don't) "We got dumb and lazy. We forgot about it. And then we decided, hey, we're gonna go get a little bit more fit, and figure out how to go get the new logos again."   Chris describes himself as a "velocity salesperson" with a hyper-focus on new customer acquisition. This focus worked brilliantly during Snowflake's growth phase—land customers, and the high net retention rate would drive expansion. However, as Snowflake prepared to go public, they took their foot off the gas on new logo acquisition, believing not all new logos were equal. This turned out to be a mistake. In his final year at Snowflake, working with CEO Sridhar Ramaswamy, they redesigned the sales team to reinvigorate the new logo acquisition machine. The lesson: the cultural behaviors that fuel early success must be consciously maintained and sometimes redesigned as you scale. Keeping the Message Narrow Before Going Platform "Eventually, I know you want to be a platform. But having a targeted market when you're initially launching the company, that people are spending money on, makes it easier for your sales team."   Snowflake intentionally positioned itself in the enterprise data warehousing market—a $10-12 billion annual market with 5,000-7,000 enterprise customers—rather than trying to sound "bigger" as a platform play. The strategic advantage was accessing existing budgets. When selling to large enterprises that go through annual planning processes, fitting into an existing budget means sales cycles of 3-6 months instead of 9-18 months. Yes, competition eventually tried to corner Snowflake as "just a cute data warehouse," but by then they had captured significant market share and could stretch their wings into the broader data cloud opportunity. Selling Consumption-Based Products to Fixed-Budget Buyers "Don't believe anything I say, try it."   One of Snowflake's hardest challenges was explaining their elastic, consumption-based architecture to procurement and legal teams accustomed to fixed budgets. In 2013-2015, many CIOs still believed data would stay in their data centers. Snowflake's model—where customers could spin up a thousand servers for 4 hours, load data, while analysts ran queries without performance impact—seemed impossible. Chris's approach was simple: set up proof of concepts and pilots. Let the technology speak for itself. The shift from fixed resources to elastic architecture required changing not just technology but entire mindsets about how data infrastructure could work.   About Chris Degnan Chris Degnan is a builder of one of the most iconic revenue engines in enterprise software. As the first sales hire at Snowflake, he helped scale the company from zero customers to billions in revenue. Chris co-authored Make It Snow: From Zero to Billions with Denise Persson, documenting their journey of building Snowflake's go-to-market organization. Today, Chris advises early-stage startups on building their go-to-market strategies and works with Iconiq Capital, the venture firm that led Snowflake's Series D round.   You can link with Chris Degnan on LinkedIn and learn more about the book at MakeItSnowBook.com.

T-Minus Space Daily
Capital Flows and the Cloud in Orbit.

T-Minus Space Daily

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2026 30:27


Stoke Space has announced an extension of its previous Series D financing, bringing the total amount raised in the round to $860 million. Starcloud has revealed plans to launch Amazon Web Services' AWS Outposts to space. Eutelsat has signed for €1bn Export Credit Agency financing for the procurement of satellites for its OneWeb constellation, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Our guests today are Stacey Connaughton and Jon Ferency from Purdue University.  You can find out more about Purdue University's Space Policy, Science, and Technology Symposium on their website. Selected Reading Stoke Space Technologies Extends Previously Announced Series D Financing to $860 Million Starcloud to launch AWS Outposts hardware in space, aims to deploy fleet of 88,000 satellites Eutelsat Signs Almost €1bn in Export Credit Agency Financing for the Procurement of LEO Satellites for its OneWeb Constellation China moves toward manned lunar landing with Long March-10 rocket test - CGTN Alpha FLTA007 2026 International Day of Women and Girls in Science- UNESCO Share your feedback. What do you think about T-Minus Space Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show.  Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pharma and BioTech Daily
Navigating Transformative Shifts in Pharma and Biotech

Pharma and BioTech Daily

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2026 6:14


Good morning from Pharma Daily: the podcast that brings you the most important developments in the pharmaceutical and biotech world. Today, we're diving into a whirlwind of activity in the industry, where scientific breakthroughs, regulatory shifts, and strategic collaborations are all reshaping the future of healthcare.Let's start with a look at the ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to negotiate Medicare drug prices under the Inflation Reduction Act. This initiative is set to impact 15 high-profile drugs, marking a significant push towards more stringent pricing regulations. The aim is to make medications more affordable for patients, but this move could also compel pharmaceutical companies to rethink their pricing strategies and revenue models. Such regulatory changes underscore a broader trend toward cost containment in healthcare, a critical issue as drug prices continue to be a major concern for policymakers and consumers alike. Additionally, proposed changes to Medicare Advantage rates by the Trump administration could lead to benefit cuts or market exits by insurers, highlighting ongoing uncertainties in healthcare financing that could significantly impact patient access to care.In the realm of oncology, Johnson & Johnson has achieved another milestone with its Darzalex Faspro. This drug has received FDA approval for an expanded indication in treating newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplants. This approval is not just a regulatory win; it reflects the growing importance of combination therapies in enhancing treatment outcomes for complex diseases like multiple myeloma. The shift towards combination regimens is a notable trend in oncology, aiming to maximize therapeutic efficacy and improve patient survival rates.Meanwhile, Teva Pharmaceuticals is bracing for a potential slowdown come 2026 after a period of growth. This projection highlights the inherent volatility in the pharmaceutical market, where external factors such as regulatory changes and competitive pressures can swiftly alter financial trajectories. Companies like Teva must remain agile and adaptable to navigate these unpredictable waters.On the innovation front, Cellares has secured $257 million in a Series D funding round aimed at expanding its cell therapy contract manufacturing operations globally. This significant investment underscores an increasing demand for advanced therapeutic manufacturing capabilities, reflecting the industry's pivot towards personalized medicine and cell-based therapies. As the landscape of medicine shifts towards more individualized approaches, companies like Cellares are positioning themselves at the forefront of this transformative trend.Novo Nordisk is actively exploring new growth avenues, with its business development head engaging in numerous strategic meetings at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference. This proactive approach illustrates how critical partnerships and acquisitions are becoming for pharmaceutical companies looking to maintain a competitive edge and drive innovation forward. Novo Nordisk's pursuit of Metsera aligns with broader industry trends where strategic acquisitions are leveraged to bolster pipelines with innovative therapies.Pfizer continues to dominate the vaccine production arena despite challenging market conditions that have seen competitors like Sanofi face setbacks. This leadership can be attributed to Pfizer's robust product pipeline and strong relationships with healthcare providers, highlighting how trust and reliability remain crucial components of success in this field.In gene therapy news, Eli Lilly has forged a $1.1 billion agreement with Seamless Therapeutics aimed at developing gene-editing medications for hearing loss. This collaboration is indicative of gene therapy's expanding scope, offering hope for addressing previously untreatable conditions Support the show

C-Suite Market Update
Capital Link 2026 Corporate Presentation Series - d'Amico International Shipping S.A.

C-Suite Market Update

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2026 52:43


d'Amico International Shipping S.A. (Borsa Italiana: DIS) (OTCQX: DMCOF) Presenting at Capital Link 2026 Corporate Presentation Series. Tuesday, January 27, 2026 Featuring: Mr. Carlos Balestra di Mottola, CEO Mr. Mottola, CEO of d'Amico International Shipping, presented the company's current operations and growth prospects, highlighting their fleet composition, financial position, and strategic priorities. He discussed market conditions, including geopolitical factors affecting freight rates and the potential impact of various developments on trade routes and sanctions. The presentation covered the company's analysis of the crude tanker market, including discussions on vessel efficiency, fuel savings, and future investments, while also addressing the potential effects of biofuels and geopolitical developments on the product tanker market. About d’Amico International Shipping Company S.A.: d’Amico International Shipping S.A. is a subsidiary of d’Amico Società di Navigazione S.p.A., one of the world’s leading privately-owned marine transportation companies, and operates in the product tankers sector, comprising vessels that typically carry refined petroleum products, chemical and vegetable oils. d’Amico International Shipping S.A. controls, through its fully-owned subsidiary, d’Amico Tankers D.A.C., Dublin, either through ownership or charter arrangements, a modern and double-hulled fleet, ranging from 35,000 to 75,000 deadweight tons. The Company has a long history of family enterprise and a worldwide presence with offices in key maritime centers (London, Dublin, Monaco, Stamford and Singapore). The Company’s shares are listed on the Milan Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “DIS.MI” and are traded also on the OTCQX Best Market in the US, under the ticker symbol “OTCQX: DMCOF”. Capital Link 2026 Corporate Presentation Series: A series of online Corporate Presentations, whereby the Senior Management teams of leading listed maritime companies will present their business development, strategy, growth prospects, and overall sector outlook. For more information, visit: https://capitallink.com/webinars/capital-link-company-presentation-series-2026/

T-Minus Space Daily
Sovereign space, smart weather, and a very busy orbit.

T-Minus Space Daily

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2026 22:14


D-Orbit has raised $53 million in a Series D funding round. Loft Orbital was selected as the prime contractor for France's Démonstrateur des Éléments Souverains d'Imagerie Radar (DESIR) program. Aalyria has been selected by the US Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL's) Rapid Architecture Prototyping and Integration Development (RAPID) program to advance software solutions for managing complex military space communications networks, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Elysia Segal brings us the Space Traffic Report from NASASpaceflight.com. Selected Reading D-Orbit Secures $53M Series D Funding to Accelerate M&A and In-Space Computing Capacity – SatNews Loft Selected as a Prime Contractor for France's First Space-Based Radar Imaging Program Aalyria Selected by U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory for Space Data Network Experimentation (SDNX) Program Tomorrow.io Announces DeepSky, the World's First AI-Native Space-Based Weather-Sensing Constellation Chinese capsule damaged by space-junk strike returns to Earth (video) Spire Global Selected by AiDASH to Bring Space-Powered Weather Intelligence to Vegetation Risk Platform for Electric Utilities Blue Origin Completes 38th New Shepard Flight to Space Study shows how earthquake monitors can track space junk through sonic booms - ABC News Share your feedback. What do you think about T-Minus Space Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show.  Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Good Morning Hospitality
Why Mews Raised $300M and Thinks Hotel Tech Has Been Built Wrong for 30 Years

Good Morning Hospitality

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2026 42:13


Mews just raised $300 million in a Series D, valuing the company at $2.5 billion — one of the largest hotel tech raises ever. But this conversation isn't about hype. In this GMH exclusive, Wil Slickers sits down for a third time with Richard Valtr, Founder of Mews, to unpack what this funding actually unlocks and why Richard believes much of hospitality technology has been built on the wrong assumptions for decades. They dig into why hotels still struggle with data ownership, how PMS platforms became gatekeepers instead of enablers, and why AI will only work if the industry fixes its foundations first. Richard also explains why RevPAR may be the industry's “original sin,” why guest experience should be a measurable output, and why fully autonomous hotels are the wrong goal. This is a wide-ranging, philosophical, and practical conversation about: • What Mews' $300M raise really changes • Why hotel tech copied the wrong SaaS playbook • Data standards, open APIs, and industry gatekeeping • AI agents, automation, and what should (and shouldn't) be automated • Why hospitality is more human than ever, even in an AI world Extra Links Related or Mentioned in This Episode: My first episode with Richard in 2021 My second episode with Richard in 2023 Skift Article around the $300M fund raise Connect with Airline Weekly LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/airline-weekly/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/Airline_Weekly/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/airlineweekly/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ WhatsApp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SkiftNews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and never miss an update from the airline and travel industries.

Pharma and BioTech Daily
Breakthroughs in Cancer Therapy and Precision Medicine

Pharma and BioTech Daily

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2026 8:27


Good morning from Pharma Daily: the podcast that brings you the most important developments in the pharmaceutical and biotech world. Today, we're exploring a series of remarkable advancements and strategic collaborations in the industry, showcasing a dynamic period of innovation and regulatory evolution.Corcept Therapeutics has celebrated a significant win with their Phase 3 trial for relacorilant targeting ovarian cancer, revealing improved overall survival rates. This marks a potential rebound for Corcept following a previous FDA rejection for Cushing's syndrome, setting the stage for an impactful new cancer therapy. The success of this trial underscores the critical importance of positive clinical outcomes in securing regulatory approvals and preparing for market entry.Bristol Myers Squibb has embarked on an ambitious $850 million partnership with Janux Therapeutics to develop a novel tumor-activated therapeutic using T-cell engager technology. This collaboration is part of an ongoing trend towards personalized medicine and immunotherapy, where targeted treatments are preferred for their specificity and reduced systemic toxicity. Such partnerships not only combine resources but also accelerate the development of innovative cancer treatments.Corxel Pharmaceuticals has secured $287 million in Series D funding to advance its oral GLP-1 receptor agonist through Phase 2/3 trials addressing obesity. This significant investment highlights the growing interest in treatments for metabolic disorders, particularly as obesity remains a global health challenge with substantial unmet needs. Oral GLP-1 therapies offer promise given their potential for improved patient compliance compared to injectable forms.The regulatory landscape is also evolving. The FDA has issued draft guidance on utilizing minimal residual disease (MRD) and complete response metrics to support accelerated drug approvals for multiple myeloma treatments. This reflects an adaptive approach aimed at expediting access to life-saving therapies by leveraging advanced biomarkers and response measures. It also signifies a shift towards precision medicine, where treatment efficacy is closely monitored through molecular markers.Hoth Therapeutics has reported promising Phase 2 results addressing skin toxicities caused by EGFR inhibitors, common adverse effects in cancer treatment regimens. Despite this progress in supportive oncology care, Hoth's share price has remained stagnant, potentially due to market skepticism or the need for more data to substantiate clinical benefits.The industry continues to attract significant venture capital, as evidenced by companies like Mendra launching with $82 million to focus on innovative biotech solutions. These financial infusions are crucial for advancing early-stage research into clinical applications.On the legal front, Johnson & Johnson faces challenges with ongoing talc litigation. A court-appointed official has recommended allowing expert testimony on scientific evidence linking talc products to cancer. This could impact J&J's defense strategy and underscores the importance of robust scientific validation in legal contexts.Overall, these developments reflect an industry characterized by robust innovation, strategic collaborations, and evolving regulatory frameworks. The focus on targeted therapies, personalized medicine, and accelerated approval processes underscores a commitment to addressing complex health challenges while enhancing patient care outcomes.Shifting our attention to global trends, Samsung Biologics has achieved a financial milestone by becoming the first Korean biopharmaceutical company to exceed an annual profit of 2 trillion won ($1.4 billion). This accomplishment underscores the company's robust growth trajectory and strategic positioning in the global biopharma landscape, reflecting broader trends where increased demand for biologics and bioSupport the show

Good Morning Hospitality
Why Mews Raised $300M and Thinks Hotel Tech Has Been Built Wrong for 30 Years

Good Morning Hospitality

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2026 42:13


Mews just raised $300 million in a Series D, valuing the company at $2.5 billion — one of the largest hotel tech raises ever. But this conversation isn't about hype. In this GMH exclusive, Wil Slickers sits down for a third time with Richard Valtr, Founder of Mews, to unpack what this funding actually unlocks and why Richard believes much of hospitality technology has been built on the wrong assumptions for decades. They dig into why hotels still struggle with data ownership, how PMS platforms became gatekeepers instead of enablers, and why AI will only work if the industry fixes its foundations first. Richard also explains why RevPAR may be the industry's “original sin,” why guest experience should be a measurable output, and why fully autonomous hotels are the wrong goal. This is a wide-ranging, philosophical, and practical conversation about: • What Mews' $300M raise really changes • Why hotel tech copied the wrong SaaS playbook • Data standards, open APIs, and industry gatekeeping • AI agents, automation, and what should (and shouldn't) be automated • Why hospitality is more human than ever, even in an AI world Extra Links Related or Mentioned in This Episode: My first episode with Richard in 2021 My second episode with Richard in 2023 Skift Article around the $300M fund raise Connect with Airline Weekly LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/airline-weekly/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/Airline_Weekly/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/airlineweekly/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ WhatsApp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SkiftNews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and never miss an update from the airline and travel industries.

Investor Connect Podcast
Startup Funding Espresso – Founder Dilution

Investor Connect Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2025 1:59


Founder Dilution Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing. Founders raising funding incur dilution. Their ownership stake goes down as they raise more funding. Founders start with 100% ownership. Each round of funding dilutes them by 25% or more. On average, founders own 60% after the pre-seed and seed rounds. After a Series A, they own 45%. After a Series B, they own 26%. After a Series C, they own 25% After a Series D, they own 11% There are often two to three founders in a startup, so they split this amount. Investors should consider the impact of dilution on the founder's ownership stake. If they own too little of the company, they may not find the incentive to carry it to an exit. Founders should consider funding strategies that are more capital-efficient. For example, after one round of funding, the company could grow based on revenue and profits alone. This may take longer, but it will reduce the dilution. Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _________________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/ For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/ For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/ For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/ For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound.

Shawn Ryan Show
#258 Adam Bry - Why China Fears Skydio's Rise in AI Drone Technology

Shawn Ryan Show

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2025 155:24


Adam Bry is the Co-Founder and CEO of Skydio, the leading U.S. drone manufacturer and world leader in autonomous flight technology, founded in 2014 to develop AI-powered drones for consumer, enterprise, and defense applications. A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a degree in aerospace engineering, Bry was an early team member at Google X's Project Wing, contributing to delivery drone initiatives before launching Skydio. Under his leadership, Skydio achieved unicorn status in 2021 with a $1 billion valuation after a $170 million Series D round and has since grown to a multi-billion-dollar company, securing contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense and international partners for autonomous systems like the Skydio X10 drone. Bry has testified before Congress on U.S. drone policy and national security, emphasizing innovation in aviation and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) technologies. He advocates for American leadership in the next century of aviation, ethical AI in drones, and bridging public-private partnerships to advance critical infrastructure and defense capabilities. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: https://RocketMoney.com/SRS Cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster with Rocket Money. Go to https://RocketMoney.com/SRS today. https://lumen.me/SRS Head to https://lumen.me/SRS for 15% off your purchase. https://meetfabric.com/shawn https://trueclassic.com/SRS Upgrade your wardrobe and save on @trueclassic at https://trueclassic.com/SRS! #trueclassicpod https://helixsleep.com/srs Go to https://helixsleep.com/srs for 27% Off Sitewide Make sure you enter our show name into the post-purchase survey so they know we sent you! Adam Bry Links: X - https://x.com/adampbry LI - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adambry Skydio - https://www.skydio.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Smart Kitchen Show from The Spoon
Reinventing the Egg With The EVERY Company's Arturo Elizondo

Smart Kitchen Show from The Spoon

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2025 37:38


In this episode, Michael talks with Arturo Elizondo, founder and CEO of The EVERY Company, about the company's nationwide rollout inside Walmart products, its $55 million Series D fundraise, and the strategic shift toward becoming a “boring but sexy” B2B ingredient supplier powering baked goods behind the scenes. Arturo talks about the early IndieBio days, the decade-long journey from USDA intern to food-tech founder, and why he believes egg-based supply chains are destined for disruption as avian flu risks intensify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TechCrunch Startups – Spoken Edition
X-energy rides nuclear wave, raises $700M Series D

TechCrunch Startups – Spoken Edition

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2025 3:37


The small modular reactor startup is capitalizing on surging interest from tech companies and data center developers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pharma and BioTech Daily
Oncology Breakthroughs and Strategic Acquisitions Reshape Pharma

Pharma and BioTech Daily

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2025 6:12


Send us a textGood morning from Pharma Daily: the podcast that brings you the most important developments in the pharmaceutical and biotech world. Today, we delve into a host of transformative events reshaping the landscape, from strategic acquisitions and funding infusions to regulatory maneuvers and scientific breakthroughs.Johnson & Johnson has taken a decisive step in its oncology strategy with the $3 billion acquisition of Halda's cell death technology. This acquisition, focusing on the "hold and kill" bifunctional small molecule platform, is poised to enhance J&J's prostate cancer pipeline significantly. It underscores J&J's commitment to expanding its oncology portfolio through innovative platforms designed to improve therapeutic outcomes. The move highlights a broader industry trend toward personalized medicine and targeted cancer therapies, which are becoming pivotal in improving patient care.In another domain of cancer treatment, Nuvalent has unveiled promising Phase 1/2 data for its candidate neladalkib, which could position the company as a formidable competitor to Pfizer's established lung cancer drug, Lorbrena. The promising data might expedite regulatory discussions with the FDA, potentially leading to an accelerated approval process. This development illustrates the competitive landscape in oncology, where firms strive to introduce novel therapies with improved efficacy and safety profiles.The field of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) is also experiencing significant advancements. A San Diego-based biotech has secured $120 million in funding to develop a best-in-class ADC formula, with support from Merck & Co. This initiative aims to refine the precision and efficacy of ADCs by delivering cytotoxic agents directly to cancer cells while minimizing collateral damage to healthy tissues. Such innovations are crucial as they represent a new frontier in targeted cancer therapy.In terms of financial activities, Artios Pharma's successful $115 million Series D funding round is set to bolster its clinical efforts in exploring DNA damage response inhibitors for cancer treatment. These inhibitors target cancer cells' ability to repair DNA damage, holding potential for more effective therapies against resistant cancer types. Meanwhile, Sofinnova Partners' €650 million raise for biotech and medtech investments amid a volatile economic environment underscores continued investor confidence in life sciences despite market uncertainties.Bayer is making strategic moves in China by opening an incubator in Beijing. This facility will host local biopharma companies such as Suzhou Puhe Biopharma and Beijing Youngen Technology, fostering innovation and collaboration within China's burgeoning biotech landscape. Such initiatives reflect global efforts to leverage regional strengths and foster cross-border collaborations.On the operational side, Nxera Pharma is restructuring its workforce by laying off 15% of its staff as part of a strategic pivot towards profitability. This decision mirrors broader industry trends where companies refocus resources on core projects to streamline operations and enhance financial stability.A recent study has highlighted the impact of NIH grant cuts on clinical trials across the United States. Over 383 trials involving more than 74,000 patients have been disrupted due to funding terminations under the current administration. This situation raises concerns about the sustainability of clinical research funding and its implications for ongoing medical advancements.Jazz Pharmaceuticals has reported practice-changing Phase 3 results for its HER2-targeted drug Ziihera for gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. These findings reaffirm Jazz's confidence in positioning Ziihera as a preferred first-line treatment option for HER2-positive cancers, poSupport the show

Scaling DevTools
Baseten CEO and co-founder Tuhin Srivastava on inference and feedback loops

Scaling DevTools

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2025 24:11 Transcription Available


The episode features Baseten CEO and cofounder Tuhin, who shares Baseten's journey from a small team in the pre-GenAI era to scaling rapidly and raising $150M in Series D funding. The discussion delves into building robust inference infrastructure for AI applications, navigating market shifts, and developing tools that prioritize speed, developer experience, and customer feedback loops.This episode is brought to you by WorkOS. If you're thinking about selling to enterprise customers, WorkOS can help you add enterprise features like Single Sign On and audit logs.Links:   •  Baseten   •  Tuhin's Linkedin

From Start-Up to Grown-Up
#104 Issac Evans— How a Series D CEO Found Product-Market Fit, Stays Self-Aware, and Survived His Bank Melting Dow

From Start-Up to Grown-Up

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2025 68:46


In this episode, Alisa Cohn interviews Isaac Evans, co-founder and CEO of Semgrep, a startup giving security tools directly to developers. Isaac shares his journey from conducting research at the U.S. Defense Department and MIT Lincoln Laboratory, where he explored binary exploitation bypasses, control-flow integrity, and novel hardware defenses on architectures like RISC-V, to founding and leading a fast-growing company at the forefront of developer security. A graduate of MIT with BS and MS degrees in EECS, Isaac also brings a deep curiosity for next-generation programming languages, secure-by-design frameworks, and the intersection of cryptography and public policy.Together, Alisa and Isaac dive into the realities of startup leadership, the evolution of Semgrep's business model, the value of feedback, and the transition from founder to CEO. Isaac offers candid insights on managing a growing team, navigating change, and staying grounded through self-awareness. The conversation also explores how AI is reshaping software development, concluding with advice and reflections for aspiring founders building companies in today's fast-moving world.Where to find Isaac:SemgrepXLinkedInTimestamps:(00:00) Introduction to Deep Conversations(01:55) Exploring Love Languages in Relationships(06:00) The Founding Insight of Semgrep(10:06) Navigating Early Startup Challenges(13:45) The Evolution of Semgrep's Business Model(17:53) Handling Community Feedback and Criticism(21:54) Crisis Management and Personal Growth(25:46) The Importance of Feedback Culture(33:20) Embracing Feedback as a Gift(35:45) Shifting Leadership Styles(38:32) The A-Plus Responsibilities of a CEO(42:34) Navigating the Founder to CEO Transition(46:46) Learning Through Experience(50:32) The Challenge of Team Dynamics(54:31) The Future of AI and Security(59:28) Imposter Syndrome and Self-Awareness(01:03) 15 Advice for Aspiring FoundersConnect with Alisa! Follow Alisa Cohn on Instagram: @alisacohn Twitter: @alisacohn Facebook: facebook.com/alisa.cohn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisacohn/ Website: http://www.alisacohn.com Download her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

TechCrunch Startups – Spoken Edition
Bevel raises $10M Series A from General Catalyst for its AI health companion; plus, IntrCity SmartBus lands $30M to deepen its grip on India's intercity travel market

TechCrunch Startups – Spoken Edition

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2025 7:43


Most people tracking their health today end up with scattered clues. Their smartwatch shows sleep duration. A fitness app logs steps. A nutrition app counts calories. Yet few tools help people understand how all of this fits together. Bevel, a New York–based startup, believes that's the missing piece in the shift toward proactive health. Also, IntrCity SmartBus, a tech-enabled intercity bus platform in India, has raised $30 million in funding to expand its network across smaller cities and towns in the South Asian nation. The all-equity Series D round, led by A91 Partners, values the Noida-based startup at $140 million post-money. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

T-Minus Space Daily
New funding for reusable launch.

T-Minus Space Daily

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2025 25:04


Stoke Space has raised $510 million in Series D funding. Muon Space has been awarded $44.6 million by the US Space Force for environmental monitoring. Momentus has been selected for two NASA demonstration flights, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Our guest today is Mark Wheatley, the founder of Delano Wheatley Consulting. You can read the report 'Resilience: Mobilising the UK Financial Services to Advance the United Kingdom's National Interests', report here. Selected Reading Stoke Raises $510 Million to Scale Manufacturing of Fully reusable Nova Launch vehicle Muon Space Awarded $44.6M Space Force SBIR Phase III Other Transaction Authority (OTA) Agreement to Demonstrate Dual-Use Environmental Monitoring Constellation Momentus Awarded Contract from NASA to Test Groundbreaking Thruster In Space Momentus Awarded $5.1M Contract From NASA for Mission to Support Production of Advanced Materials in Space Blue Origin Completes 36th New Shepard Flight to Space Japan program certifies space food specialists- Honolulu Star-Advertiser SpaceNukes Partners with Space Ocean for Deep Space Science NASA's Space Launch System rocket lifts off on McDonald's Monopoly bags- collectSPACE Share your feedback. What do you think about T-Minus Space Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show.  Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Business Pants
War on women, bro-co-CEOs, fake CEO retirement, and boards say vote them out

Business Pants

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2025 62:44


Story of the Week (DR):War against women continues: Uber Not Responsible for Sex Assault, Jury Finds, as More Cases FollowEthan P. Schulman, the judge presiding over the California state court cases, told jurors that Uber would be responsible for the woman's harm if the company was negligent in using adequate safety measures and the negligence was a “substantial factor” in causing the harm.In its decision, the jury unanimously agreed that Uber had been negligent in its general safety practices when the incident occurred in 2016 — but that the negligence was not a substantial factor in causing the attack. The jury's foreman: “We felt that they could have done more back in the early days of Uber, rather than just focusing on growth,”Meet Lisa Monaco, the 57-year-old Microsoft executive Trump wants fired“Corrupt and Totally Trump Deranged Lisa Monaco (A purported pawn of Legal Lightweight Andrew Weissmann), was a senior National Security aide under Barack Hussein Obama. Monaco has been shockingly hired as the President of Global Affairs for Microsoft, in a very senior role with access to Highly Sensitive Information. Monaco's having that kind of access is unacceptable, and cannot be allowed to stand.”Monaco helped coordinate the Justice Department's response to the Jan. 6th attacks on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters in 2021. In January 2022, Monaco publicly announced that the Justice Department was investigating the Trump fake electors plotMilitary women fear losing 'every bit of ground' as Hegseth looks backward to the 1990sDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that he wants to review Defense Department standards that have changed since the 1990s, a time when military women saw far less support for their service and met drastically lower physical standards than today: "The 1990s test is simple. What were the military standards in 1990? And if they have changed, tell me why. Was it necessary change based on the evolving landscape of combat? Or was the change due to a softening, weakening, or gender-based pursuit of other priorities? 1990s seems to be as good a place to start as any."PGA of America CEO apologizes for Ryder Cup missteps, but group's president denies problemThe Misogynistic Abuse Towards Rory McIlroy's Wife at the Ryder Cup Is Deeper Than Golf. It shows a cultural shift, one in which men feel emboldened to attack women in public without shame or consequence. The abuse and taunts were so unrelenting that Stoll was spotted with “tears streaming down her face”PGA of America President Don Rea took a different approach on Sunday in a BBC interview where he downplayed the severity of the crowd's behavior: “Well, you have 50,000 people there that are really excited, and heck, you can go to a youth soccer game and get some people who say the wrong things,” Rea said. When asked about the abuse directed at McIlroy, he responded, “I haven't heard some of that. I'm sure it's happened … Rory understands things like that are going to happen.”Fake billionaire manbaby “retirements” continue DRSpotify CEO Daniel Ek to Step Down. The Stock Is Falling.Spotify founder steps down amid controversy over defence linksIt comes after Mr Ek has faced fierce scrutiny for investing around €700m (£612m) in defence company Helsing through his venture capital fund. Munich-based Helsing sells AI software for military use and has expanded into weapons manufacturing following an investment by the founder of Spotify.Spotify has said that it is “totally separate” from HelsingSpotify founder Ek Daniel to step down as CEO; says: I will be more involved than a typical US chairmanGustav Söderström and Alex Norström under founder/former CEO/Executive Chair Daniel Ek (43%) (Ted Sarandos on this board)Spotify founder Daniel Ek once said he was the ‘least powerful person' at the company. Here's how he built it into a $145 billion music empireThe rise of the bro co-CEO: Lila MacLellanCEOs and Trump love affair continuesTrump, Pfizer agree to lower U.S. drug prices, exempt company from pharma tariffsTrump announces 'TrumpRx' drug-buying website alongside Pfizer CEOPartnering with Pfizer, beginning in 2026 the federal government will have a website, TrumpRx.gov, through which Pfizer's prescription drugs can be sold directly to consumers at discounts, without the intermediaries of pharmacy benefit managers such as CVS Health's Caremark and UnitedHealthcare-owned OptumRx46% against Say on Pay in 2025Proxy adviser ISS recommended against the compensation proposalCEO/Chair Albert BourlaOther board members include: former Vanguard CEO/Chair Mortimer J. Buckley, OpenAI (2024-) board member and former Meta (2013-2019) board member Susan Desmond-Hellmann; former Deloitte CEO Joseph J. Echevarria; Adobe CEO/Chair Shantanu Narayen; former Goldman Sachs Vice Chair Suzanne Nora Johnson; Coca-Cola CEO/Chair James Quincey; former State Street Global Advisor CEO Cyrus Taraporevala; Compensation Committee chair (James Smith, former Thomson Reuters CEO) received 93% supportOnly 23% women; 5 top NEOs all menTrump Adviser Admits Larry Ellison Is “Shadow President of the United States” Larry Ellison once predicted ‘citizens will be on their best behavior' amid constant recording. Now his company will pay a key role in social mediaElon Musk fighting for attention:Elon Musk speaks out on controversial $1 trillion Tesla pay package: 'It's not about compensation'"It's not about 'compensation,' but about me having enough influence over Tesla to ensure safety if we build millions of robots.”Elon Musk makes history as first person ever to hit $500B net worth milestoneNew Evidence Links Elon Musk to Epstein's IslandElon Musk Calls Wikipedia “Too Woke,” Announces His Own GrokipediaElon Musk implores people "Cancel Netflix" over a canceled TV show because of wokeMore Dummies from DealBook:Talking A.I. With CEO William Stone of SS&C, a major investment fund administrator and transfer agency, acquired the automation software company Blue Prism for around $1.6 billion in 2022:How do you personally use A.I.? “I'm interested in horse racing, and I own horses. I use A.I. to track how they're doing. There are all kinds of statistics, like how far can they travel before their performance starts to deteriorate: If they're in Kentucky, can they go to California? Can they go to New York?”Goodliest of the Week (MM/DR):DR: Gavin Newson [sic] Signs Law Cracking Down on AI IndustryCalifornia governor Gavin Newsom signed what proponents say is the first AI safety and transparency law in the US. The Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act, also known as SB 53, requires AI companies with over $500 million in revenue to publicly disclose their safety and security protocols in fairly granular detailMM: F.D.A. Approves a New Generic Abortion Pill DR MMMM: Activist Investor Wants Target's Brian Cornell Completely OutMM: One line from this story about Tesla's advising sleepy drivers to stay away by enabling Full Self Driving: Tesla's cars can't actually drive themselves without close human supervision. Nonetheless, the automaker labels its most advanced driving mode “Full Self-Driving” (FSD), while its CEO and chief overpromiser Elon Musk explicitly says that they do, in fact, “drive themselves” seemingly every other week.Assholiest of the Week Biggest Loser (MM):US WomenThe rise of the bro-co-CEOMilitary women fear losing 'every bit of ground' as Hegseth looks backward to the 1990sUber Not Responsible for Sex Assault, Jury Finds, as More Cases FollowKKR Appoints Former Eaton CEO Craig Arnold to Board of Directors, Increasing Independent Seats to ElevenContinues a trend - from 29% to 26% female by adding another dude through board expansionMeanwhile…Share of female execs at major Japan firms rises to 18.4%Spineless companiesDisney's image tanks among Republicans, Democrats after Jimmy Kimmel controversyCracker Barrel Drops Firm Behind Ill-Fated Logo ChangeInvestorsU.S. States are shedding shareholder protections. That's an advantage for CanadaPreparing the board for 2026: More than half of directors want a peer replaced, survey findsFedEx shareholders elect Richard Smith, son of founder Fred Smith, to board of directorsEveryone elseGodfather of AI Says We're Barreling Straight Toward Human ExtinctionOpenAI says it's worried about ‘doomscrolling, addiction, isolation, and … sloptimized feeds' as it rolls out Sora social media appMeta won't allow users to opt out of targeted ads based on AI chatsElon Musk Calls Wikipedia “Too Woke,” Announces His Own GrokipediaLarry Ellison once predicted ‘citizens will be on their best behavior' amid constant recording. Now his company will pay a key role in social mediaThe wealth of the top 1% reaches a record $52 trillionThe climateNew BP Chair Urges Faster Pivot to Oil and GasDuke Energy backs off renewables after North Carolina cuts climate goalTrump administration cancels nearly $8 billion in climate funding to blue states: VoughtMAGA comes for the ‘woke pope' after pontiff blesses block of ice in climate change gestureOpenAI's New Data Centers Will Draw More Power Than the Entirety of New York City, Sam Altman SaysHeadliniest of the WeekDR: New Poll: 94% of Gen Z Youth Report Experiencing Regular Mental Health ChallengesMM: Police Pull Over Waymo to Check for Drunk DrivingWho Won the Week?DR: Daniel Ek: the dude who got rich by devaluing artists, then used his billionaire ego to create a vanity money-spending company with the pretentious name Prima Materia (“formless primeval substance regarded as the original material of the universe”).Prima Materia says it wants to “partner with exceptional people to build companies that leverage technology to help solve meaningful problems for society.”He set it up with Shakil Khan — a fellow Spotify investor and close personal friend with a criminal past, who was accused of hiding his real role at Spotify during its IPO.Khan doesn't appear in any of Spotify's filing documents, even though he's been publicly described as: 1) “head of special projects,” 2) “advisor to Daniel Ek,” 3) “personal advisor to the Spotify CEO,” 4) “investor in Spotify,” 5) “founder,” 6) “consigliere,” 7) “second-in-command,” and 8) “prominent public role” — apparently to avoid scaring investors.Khan cites Mark Zuckerberg as the American leader he admires most.Now their company invests (and Ek chairs) in literal weapon building (Helsing/military strike drones, etc.) and nonsense like Neko Health, the so-called “Apple of healthcare” that charges £300 for preventative screenings like mole checks — giving Daniel Ek more time to feel super important and potentially destroy the world while getting richer?MM: Ron Sugar, who TWICE has had his age limit restriction waived on the Apple board, will turn out a-okay: Dr. Ronald Sugar and Gilman Louie join Ursa Major's Board of DirectorsPredictionsDR: Daniel Ek's Prima Materia leads €600 million Series D strategic financing round for Moodify, an AI-supported app that will “end depression” by pushing algorithmically-optimized dopamine ads 24/7, think TikTok for sadnessMM: LAY UP: After reading this - Apollo Global Management director Pauline Richards resigns from board - the board is now 4 women and 10 men (Marc Rowan owns 63% of board influence, so no one really matters). I predict Pauline Richards will be replaced by a male director, going from 33% female to 27% female in one fell swoop. Side note: Apollo's fun joke was to have a “sustainability committee” on the board they take so seriously, it's the committee with 3 women and and anti-woke anti-ESG ex-Senator Patrick Toomey

The Recruiting Brainfood Podcast
Brainfood Live On Air - Ep333 - Talent Pooling - Lessons from TA Community Builders

The Recruiting Brainfood Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2025 69:40


TALENT POOLING: LESSONS FROM TA COMMUNITY BUILDERS   We all know that it easier to get engagement from people who already know you or your brand. Have a think about how you respond to known contacts in WhatsApp vs unknown callers on your phone! As we move toward a world where AI generated communication will come to dominate, we can anticipate that the establishment of trust relationships with your target audience is going to be key in effective hiring.   Lets deep dive:   - What is talent pooling, how is this different from 'collecting CV's - What needs to be done in order to 'acquire' someone into a talent pool? - How do you convert a database into a community? - What are the policies of exclusion in this community? - How do we balance this with an inclusive ethos? - How to police bad behaviour? - How formal should be safe spaces? - What is the best tech platform to use to organise communities? - If we are planning to hire from this community, do we remove people who then get a job? - What professions are most suited for community building? - What circumstances make most sense when putting together a talent pooling plan? - Do we need a specialist function to do this? - What can AI do to help build community - or is this antithetical to how things are done?   All this and more, with Willem Wijnans, Community Lead (Ashby), Marie Chaponiere, Founder (Behind the Mask), Vanessa Raath, Founder (Talent Hunter) & Mahmoud Aly, Community Lead (Egypt Recruiting Community) & Lars Schmidt, Head of Talent (Fruitist)   We are on Friday 26th Sep, 2pm BST - follow the channel here (recommended) and save your spot for this demo by clicking on the green button.     Ep333 is sponsored by our friends Ashby   Ashby just raised $50M in Series D funding, and they're going all in on what modern recruiting teams actually need.   So, what's next?   AI is moving from novelty to necessity. Most tools talk about AI, Ashby makes it work. Their all-in-one platform gives AI real structure so recruiters get time back with AI note-taking, feedback summaries, and personalized outreach emails. In fact, 57% of Ashby's customer base is now using AI within the platform, up from 23% at the start of 2024.   Quality of Hire is finally getting real. More teams are rolling out Quality of Hire programs with Ashby than ever before. What used to be a slide in a quarterly review is now a real strategy, with surveys and reporting built in. It's clearer, faster, and easier to connect to business outcomes.   Community is the new operating system. Ashby already made a big splash with Ashby One, their first customer conference that brought hundreds of talent leaders and RecOps professionals together for a week of sessions, panels, dinners, and live events. With this new funding, they're doubling down on the community by expanding ACE (Ashby Customer Expert) chapters, scaling education programs, and giving local leaders more ways to connect, share learnings, and build lasting networks.   … and the word is out. Enterprise teams like Shopify and Snowflake are already in. With 123% growth and fresh funding to fuel what's next, Ashby is just getting started.   Bottom line: Ashby is not just building software. They are building the infrastructure for modern recruiting.   See the full announcement.   Not on Ashby yet? Get a demo today.

How I Made it in Marketing
Online Marketing for SMBs and Digital Agencies: Serving everyone serves no one (episode #152)

How I Made it in Marketing

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2025 55:53 Transcription Available


The total addressable market. TAM.We sometimes think the bigger the better, right? Hey, it means I can go to potential investors with a more impressive number.But too large a total addressable market can hinder success. As this episode's guest says, “serving everyone serves no one.”To hear the story behind that lesson, and many more lesson-filled stories, I talked to Itai Sadan, CEO & co-founder, Duda [https://www.duda.co/]. Duda has raised $100 million, including most recently $50 million in Series D growth funding. Sadan manages a team of 180 people at Duda.Lessons from the things he madeNo one needs to give you a mandate (even in a big company), just find your customer's problem and solve it for themCrank through itEvolve your product over time to land on the right ideaSpeed in decision making is very importantIf you are feeling the pressure, it means that you are not applying enough pressureSolve the right problems for the right customers…serving everyone serves no oneTurn your knowledge assets into a new revenue streamMarketingSherpa has teamed up with parent company MeclabsAI to produce a research study. We are granting 10 AI engineering vouchers worth $7,500 each to eligible companies. Apply for your $7,500 AI Engineering Voucher [https://meclabs.com/research/ai-engineering-voucher].Discussed in this episodeOpen-Source Start-up Marketing Strategy: Sometimes you need to poke the snake (podcast episode #147) [https://marketingsherpa.com/article/interview/open-source]Time To Value: 3 speed-to-value marketing case studies featuring A/B testing, value focusing, and niche ad targeting [https://marketingsherpa.com/article/case-study/time-to-value]Entrepreneurial Resilience: Many of the day-to-day annoyances that inspired him to sell, he actually missed after he sold (podcast episode #78) [https://marketingsherpa.com/article/interview/entrepreneurial]B2B SaaS Marketing: No progress after Series A without product marketing (podcast episode #148) [https://marketingsherpa.com/article/interview/B2B-SaaS]Get more episodesSubscribe to the MarketingSherpa email newsletter [https://www.marketingsherpa.com/newsletters] to get more insights from your fellow marketers. Sign up for free if you'd like to get more episodes like this one.For more insights, check out...This podcast is not about marketing – it is about the marketer. It draws its inspiration from the Flint McGlaughlin quote, “The key to transformative marketing is a transformed marketer” from the Become a Marketer-Philosopher: Create and optimize high-converting webpages [https://meclabs.com/course/] free digital marketing course.Apply to be a guestIf you would like to apply to be a guest on How I Made It In Marketing, here is the podcast guest application – https://www.marketingsherpa.com/page/podcast-guest-application

Beat the Often Path
$112 Million for Water from Thin Air with Brian Sheng of Aquaria - Ep. 233

Beat the Often Path

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2025 41:14


What Brian Sheng is doing with Aquaria isn't a pipe dream, it's reality. He's pioneering air-to-water infrastructure, creating a world where homes can get all of their water off the grid.Brian Sheng recently raised over $100 million in Series D for his company, and you can already buy his air-to-drinkable-water products today.It's one of those crazy, science-fiction sounding things that is actually true, and it's something we need so badly. This is one of the coolest companies and founder stories I've come across so far!➡️ ⁠Brian Sheng ⁠➡️ Aquaria

T-Minus Space Daily
At the Apex of spacecraft manufacturing expansion.

T-Minus Space Daily

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2025 31:02


Spacecraft manufacturer Apex has closed a $200 million Series D funding round. European aerospace groups Leonardo, Thales, and Airbus are reportedly looking to sign an initial agreement to combine their satellite businesses as early as this year. SES and Cailabs are partnering to test laser communication technology, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Our guest today is Patrick O'Neill, Public Affairs and Outreach Lead at the International Space Station US National Laboratory. You can connect with Patrick on LinkedIn, and learn more about the ISS National Lab on their website. Torsten Kriening from SpaceWatch.Global brings us the latest from World Space Business Week in Paris. Selected Reading Apex Raises $200 Million Series D Financing Airbus, Thales, Leonardo could sign first deal this year on satellite tie-up, Airbus executive says- Reuters SES Partners with Cailabs to Test Next-Generation Laser Communication Technology Infinite Orbits Signs Multi-Launch Agreement to GEO with Impulse Space NASA Science, Cargo Launches Aboard Northrop Grumman CRS-23 Globalstar to Enter Next Era of Mobile Satellite Connectivity with Expanded Operational Frequencies York Space Systems Establishes First Contact and Confirms Health of All 21 Satellites Launched for SDA's Tranche 1 Transport Layer Mission Share your feedback. What do you think about T-Minus Space Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show.  Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CFO Thought Leader
126: Turning Signals into Strategy in Hypergrowth | Holly Grey, CFO Horizon3.ai

CFO Thought Leader

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2025 56:43


When Holly Grey first examined Horizon3.ai, she saw more than a cybersecurity startup. She saw a technology that could change the way companies safeguard themselves. Traditional pen tests, she tells us, are human-driven, vary widely by auditor, and usually happen just once a year. Horizon3.ai, by contrast, “started out as a technology alternative to pen testing.” Its platform can be deployed “within minutes, not hours or weeks or months,” Grey tells us, and has already executed “over 100,000 pen tests.”The system identifies exposures, connects them to known threat actors, and—most critically—prioritizes which vulnerabilities to fix. It integrates directly with tools like Jira, creates tickets, and confirms results after remediation. “Even as a CFO, I want to know we're not exposed,” Grey explains. That value proposition has already attracted more than 4,000 customers, she tells us.Her decision to join Horizon3.ai was equally deliberate. Grey noticed two respected colleagues had recently come aboard, including the CRO. That relationship, she says, is vital: “I need to know that I can trust that CRO implicitly.” After doing her own diligence, Grey was convinced of the company's momentum: “It's hard to grow over 100% year over year, and do that multiple years, without having product market fit.”The timing was fortuitous. Just as the company raised $100 million in Series D funding, its VP of Finance resigned. Horizon3.ai was ready to appoint its first CFO. “Here I am,” Grey tells us, “and I could not be happier in terms of joining.”

Diabetes Connections with Stacey Simms Type 1 Diabetes
In the News... top diabetes stories and headlines happening now!

Diabetes Connections with Stacey Simms Type 1 Diabetes

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2025 8:47


It's In the News.. a look at the top headlines and stories in the diabetes community. This week's top stories: kids' A1C and tech access correlation, first generic GLP-1 for weight loss approved, Metformin cuts long covid risk, Tandem Diabetes & Eversense updates, and more! Find out more about Moms' Night Out  Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible! Learn more about Gvoke Glucagon Gvoke HypoPen® (glucagon injection): Glucagon Injection For Very Low Blood Sugar (gvokeglucagon.com) Omnipod - Simplify Life Learn about Dexcom   Check out VIVI Cap to protect your insulin from extreme temperatures The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter: Sign up for our newsletter here Here's where to find us: Facebook (Group) Facebook (Page) Instagram Twitter Check out Stacey's books! Learn more about everything at our home page www.diabetes-connections.com  Reach out with questions or comments: info@diabetes-connections.com Episode transcription with links:   Hello and welcome to Diabetes Connections In the News! I'm Stacey Simms and every other Friday I bring you a short episode with the top diabetes stories and headlines happening now. XX Accessibility to modern diabetes technology directly correlates with A1c among children with type 1 diabetes globally. Big, cross-sectional study, conducted in 81 pediatric diabetes centers in 56 countries, found that a greater extent of reimbursement for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), insulin pumps, glucose meters, and insulin was associated with lower A1c levels. Partha S. Kar, MD, Type 1 Diabetes & Technology lead of the National Health Service England, told Medscape Medical News, “As is now being shown in countries such as UK with widespread uptake of technology, there is now population-wide shift in A1c not seen before.”   He added, “If policymakers are serious about bringing A1c at a population level to sub-7.5% - 8% levels, then without technology it would be incredibly difficult to achieve, in my experience and opinion. Leaving the median A1c of a population at above 7.5%-8% goes with complications so that's a decision regarding investment many will have to make in the near future.”   In an accompanying editorial, Elizabeth R. Seaquist, MD, professor of diabetes, endocrinology, and metabolism and co-director of the Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, called it “striking” that access to technology in and of itself was associated with improved glycemic control, given that multidisciplinary team care is also needed to provide education and behavioral or psychological support.     https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/diabetes-tech-access-linked-a1c-kids-t1d-globally-2025a1000nn6 XX A man with type 1 in Illinois has received the first FDA-approved islet-cell replacement treatment, Lantidra, and  he is now producing his own insulin. The treatment works by restoring the body's beta cells, potentially eliminating the need for insulin injections.   The FDA approved Lantidra (donislecel) in 2023. Lantidra uses donor cells and requires lifelong immunosuppressive drugs.     Lantidra is only available at University of Illinois Chicago Health. Other universities, such as the University of Pennsylvania, continue to do islet cell transplants as part of clinical trials. Early data has shown that a majority of participants in the Lantidra clinical study were able to achieve some level of insulin independence, but it's unclear whether the benefits of donislecel outweigh the treatment's safety risks. Nearly 87 percent of participants reported infection-related adverse events, and post-operation complications included liver lacerations, bruising of the liver (hepatic hematoma), and anemia. One patient died of multi-organ failure from sepsis, which Lantidra maker CellTrans stated was “probably related” to the use of either immunosuppression or study drugs.   In addition, some industry leaders have raised the question of whether it's ethical to commercialize the use of deceased donor islet cells. https://diatribe.org/diabetes-research/first-fda-approved-islet-cell-transplant-performed?utm_campaign=feed&utm_medium=social&utm_source=later   XX Patients in the U.S. now have access to the first generic GLP-1 treatment approved for weight loss as Teva has launched its copycat of Novo Nordisk's injected Saxenda (liraglutide).   The compound, which is a GLP-1 forerunner of Novo's semaglutide products Ozempic and Wegovy, has been approved by the FDA to treat adults with obesity and those who are overweight and have weight-related medical problems.     Saxenda also is endorsed for pediatric patients ages 12 through 17 who are obese and weigh at least 60 kg (132 pounds). The treatment is for both triggering and maintaining weight loss. Saxenda is not the first GLP-1 drug that is available as a generic. In June of last year, Teva also was the first company to launch a knockoff version of Novo's Victoza, which is the same compound as Saxenda but has been approved only for patients with Type 2 diabetes. Sales of the branded versions of both Victoza and Saxenda have declined significantly in recent years as demand for Novo's semaglutide and Eli Lilly's tirzepatide products have skyrocketed. In addition, marketers of compounded products have been aggressively competing for market share in the GLP-1 space. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/saxenda-knockoff-teva-launches-first-generic-glp-1-obesity   XX Metformin could cut the risk of Long COVID by 64% in overweight or obese adults who started the drug within 90 days of infection. The large observational study, published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, analysed health records of over 624,000 UK adults with COVID-19 between March 2020 and July 2023. Among these, nearly 3,000 patients who began metformin treatment soon after diagnosis were tracked for a year. Compared to non-users, their likelihood of developing Long COVID, defined as persistent symptoms 90 days or more after infection, was dramatically lower. https://www.ndtv.com/health/metformin-cuts-risk-of-long-covid-by-64-why-the-diabetes-pill-is-not-for-everyone-9242332 XX Forty-four percent of people age 15 and older living with diabetes are undiagnosed, so they don't know they have it, according to data analysis published Monday in the journal The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. The study looked at data from 204 countries and territories from 2000 to 2023 in a systematic review of published literature and surveys. “The majority of people with diabetes that we report on in the study have type 2 diabetes,” said Lauryn Stafford , the lead author of the study.   “We found that 56% of people with diabetes are aware that they have the condition,” said Stafford, a researcher for the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. “Globally, there's a lot of variation geographically, and also by age. So, generally, higher-income countries were doing better at diagnosing people than low- and middle-income countries.” People under 35 years were much less likely to be diagnosed if they had diabetes than people in middle age or older. Just “20% of young adults with diabetes were aware of their condition,” Stafford said. https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/08/health/diabetes-undiagnosed-half-of-americans-wellness XX A team of Hong Kong scientists is developing an injectable treatment that could potentially improve blood flow in diabetes patients' feet, in the hopes that it will reduce the need for amputation by rebuilding tissue in the arteries.   They also hope to apply the treatment to peripheral artery disease or PAD, a condition caused by the build-up of fatty deposits in arteries that affect blood circulation in the feet. “Traditional treatments for people suffering from poor blood flow in their legs are stent implantation or bypass surgery, which is invasive,” said Wong, who is also the co-founder of a biotechnology company called NutrigeneAI. He said it was his dream to turn research in the academic field into actual clinical treatments. But he added that the team still needed three to four years for further research on the treatment.   https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3324671/hong-kong-scientists-developing-new-blood-flow-treatment-aid-diabetes-patients XX   Tandem Diabetes announces Health Canada authorization for distribution of the Tandem t:slim mobile application for Android and iPhone users. The Tandem t:slim mobile app allows users to deliver a bolus from their compatible smartphone, and to wirelessly upload their pump data to the cloud-based Tandem Source platform.1 The app is expected to be available later this year.   The Tandem t:slim mobile app will be available for compatible smartphones in the Apple App Store and Google Play store later in 2025. Once available, Tandem will email eligible customers with instructions on how to download and use the app.  https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250904665715/en/Tandem-tslim-Mobile-App-Now-Authorized-by-Health-Canada-for-iPhone-and-Android-Phones   XX Some changes to how the Eversense CGM will be rolled out.. right now it's being distributed by Ascensia Diabetes Care.  Senseonics will take back commercial control of the year long implantable CGM on January 1 in the US and expanding worldwide throughout 2026. The change was a mutual decision, according to the two companies, which said they have signed a memorandum of understanding before a definitive agreement is hammered out by the end of the year. To get started, Senseonics is also set to acquire members of Ascensia's commercial staff—including its CGM president, Brian Hansen, who is slated to become Senseonics' new chief commercial officer. https://www.fiercebiotech.com/medtech/senseonics-retake-eversense-cgm-commercial-control-ascensia-diabetes-care XX Utrecht-based medical device company ViCentra has closed an $85 million Series D round of funding led by Innovation Industries, along with existing investors Partners in Equity and Invest-NL. The round also drew support from EQT Life Sciences and Health Innovations.   The recent capital injection will be used to expand ViCentra's manufacturing capabilities, support regulatory approvals, and strengthen commercial rollout across Europe.   The funds will also be used to launch the next-generation Kaleido 2 patch pump in Europe and prepare for entry into the U.S. market.   The global insulin delivery market is growing quickly due to the increasing number of diabetes cases and demand for effective and user-friendly solutions. The market for insulin pumps is projected to exceed $14 billion by 2034. Patch pumps are the fastest-growing segment, signalling a trend toward compact and wearable devices. And here's where ViCentra is positioned to meet this need, offering a user-friendly, sleek design-led alternative to traditional systems.   Kaleido: design-led insulin delivery Kaleido is the smallest and lightest insulin patch pump developed as a lifestyle product with a particular focus on usability and personalisation.   Designed to feel more like personal technology than a traditional medical device, Kaleido features premium materials, and users can select their own favourite aluminium shells from a range of ten preset colour options.   It integrates with Diabeloop's hybrid closed-loop algorithms (DBLG1 and DBLG2) and is compatible with Dexcom CGM sensors, positioning it within the next generation of automated insulin delivery systems.   “Kaleido is a true disruptor — small, discreet, featherlight, and beautifully designed. It empowers people with diabetes by offering a more personal and distinctive choice in both function and style. Built with empathy and precision, it honours those who live with diabetes every day. With this funding, we can now meet surging European demand and fast-track our entry into the U.S. market. This is a pivotal moment — for ViCentra, and for the community we serve,” said Tom Arnold, Chief Executive Officer at ViCentra.   Improving the quality of life for diabetic patients ViCentra, led by Tom Arnold, is on a mission to improve the lives of those with diabetes.   The company reported that demand for Kaleido in Germany, France, and the Netherlands has already exceeded initial expectations.   ViCentra will present updates on Kaleido at the 61st Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), taking place September 15–19, 2025, in Vienna.   The company plans to engage with clinicians, investors, and strategic partners to further its role in the evolving diabetes care landscape.   “ViCentra is redefining insulin pump therapy with a platform that truly centres the user experience – combining clinical performance with design simplicity and wearability,” commented Caaj Greebe, Partner at Innovation Industries. “At Innovation Industries, we invest in pioneering companies that blend world-class technology with clear commercial potential. ViCentra exemplifies this by delivering a next-generation system addressing the urgent need for better treatment options in diabetes care. We're proud to lead this investment round and partner with Tom and the team as they deepen and expand their presence in Europe and prepare for U.S. entry.”   https://techfundingnews.com/dutch-vicentra-secures-85m-to-bring-insulin-patch-pump-to-more-markets/ XX Luna Diabetes announces they've raised more than 23-million dollars in early venture capital to help continue clinical trials and build out its capacity. This is the company that wants to offer a night time only, tiny, temporary insulin pump – to supplement insulin pen use. According to the company, more than 80% of the improvements in blood sugar from automated insulin delivery systems occur while the user is sleeping. Luna launched a pivotal trial late last year. https://www.fiercebiotech.com/medtech/nighttime-insulin-patch-pump-maker-luna-diabetes-raises-236m   XX Following 15 days and 150 fingerpricks, they're here. The results of the “9 sensor samba“. And what a set of a results…   Well maybe that's overplaying it a little.   Let's just say that the outcome of this n=1 experiment wasn't quite what I expected. One of the established players came out much worse than expected, while a newcomer did a lot better.   Let's dig in, and take a look at the variation. https://www.diabettech.com/cgm/the-nine-sensor-samba-results-revealed/   XX Hard work and perseverance define ranch life, but one man in eastern Montana takes it to another level. At 90, he's still living independently on the ranch he built from the ground up. Even more remarkable? He's a type 1 diabetic.   Bob Delp still begins each day just like he did decades ago, waking up on his ranch near Richey, Montana.   “I always thought if I could ever get a ranch and run a hundred cows, that's what I wanted to do from the time I was a kid,” said Delp.   He made that dream real, the hard way; after coming home from the army, he taught school, hayed for seven cents a bale and saved every cent he could.     “I worked at it real hard because I always felt like it was going to be part of getting me to that ranch that I always wanted,” said Delp.   He did it all while managing type 1 diabetes, a diagnosis that came with few answers and little hope back in the 1950s.   “The doctors tell me being a type 1 diabetic for 66 years isn't supposed to happen. Back then, it was a real challenge,” added Delp.   Statistically, it's almost unheard of. Fewer than 90 people in the world have lived more than 70 years with type 1 diabetes.     Bob credits his late wife, Donna, for helping him beat the odds.   “She has been key in that I always ate on time.”   They've faced their share of storms, both in health and out on the land. Not long after moving to Richey, a heavy snowstorm nearly tore everything apart just after they'd stepped out for dinner.   “If Donna hadn't said it was time to eat, we wouldn't have made it out of there. I guess that's one time that made me happy to have diabetes. And I think that saved us,” said Delp.     Now, he still checks his blood sugar daily but trusts his hands more than high-tech insulin pumps.   “I'm not satisfied with the sensors they have today. I just don't think they're accurate.”   To many, Bob's survival is extraordinary. To him, it's luck.   “The genes are there already, I can't change that so I guess I would have to say just lots of good luck,” said Delp.     And through it all, optimism has been his compass.   “You might fumble the ball, but if you're determined to be a winner, you'll recover that fumble someday,” said Delp.   He still welds nearly every day. Not because he has to, but because it keeps him going.   “As long as I keep doing something like this, I will not be in the nursing home,” said Delp.   https://www.kfyrtv.com/2025/08/09/against-all-odds-montana-man-thrives-with-type-1-diabetes-90/ XX Today, Dexcom is building on this belief and breaking new ground with the launch of its first open call across the U.S. and Canada in search of the next diabetes advocates—giving people with all types of diabetes a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to raise awareness and share their voice on a global scale in the company's World Diabetes Day campaign (Nov. 14) and beyond.  Who is eligible?: Anyone age 2+ living with all types of diabetes or prediabetes can be nominated by themselves or by someone who knows them. Selected candidates will embody strength, advocacy and pride in living with diabetes or prediabetes. Where and how can I nominate myself or someone I know?: Visit Dexcom.com/WorldDiabetesDay When is the deadline to submit a nomination?: Nominations are open from September 10 through September 19 at 12pm PT. What will the selected candidates experience?:   An invite to participate in a World Diabetes Day photoshoot in Los Angeles to have their unique story featured in Dexcom's World Diabetes Day campaign The ongoing opportunity to attend events, connect with community, and raise diabetes awareness around the world XX The European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 2025 Annual Meeting will feature major clinical trial results in type 2 diabetes (T2D), type 1 diabetes (T1D), obesity, several new clinical practice guidelines, and much more. The 61st annual EASD meeting will take place on September 15-19, 2025, in Vienna, Austria.   

This Week in Pre-IPO Stocks
E224: ByteDance buyback at $330B, more revenue vs Meta; Klarna IPO back on; Framer $2B valuation Series D; Rain raises $58M for stablecoin payments platform; Commonwealth $863M for fusion prototype; SpaceX 10th Starship test a huge win; Anthropic launches

This Week in Pre-IPO Stocks

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2025 9:39


Send us a text00:00 - Intro00:52 - ByteDance Buyback at $330B, More Revenue vs Meta02:17 - Klarna IPO Back On03:28 - Framer $2B Valuation Series D04:21 - Rain Raises $58M for Stablecoin Payments Platform05:34 - Commonwealth $863M for Fusion Prototype06:38 - SpaceX 10th Starship Test a Huge Win07:42 - Anthropic Launches Chrome AI Agent08:47 - xAI Launches AI Coding Assistant

TechCrunch Startups – Spoken Edition
No-code website builder Framer reaches $2B valuation, also US manufacturing investment stumbles as clean tech cancellations pile up

TechCrunch Startups – Spoken Edition

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2025 4:54


Framer, a no-code website builder that claims over half a million monthly active users,has reached a $2 billion valuation after raising a $100 million Series D funding round led by existing investors Meritech and Atomico. Companies cancelled $5 billion worth of clean tech manufacturing projects in the U.S. in Q2, mirroring a pullback in the broader manufacturing sector. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Secure Ventures with Kyle McNulty
Onapsis | CEO Mariano Nunez on Securing SAP Applications

Secure Ventures with Kyle McNulty

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2025 42:50


Mariano founded Onapsis back in 2009 to address the challenges securing a growing new class of technology: ERP systems. After working at CYBSEC for 5 years doing offensive security research, he discovered just how vulnerable SAP applications could be. Onapsis is sneakily a juggernaut, having raised a $55 million Series D in 2020. And while they started focused on SAP, they have since expanded into related tools such as Oracle. They have certainly established themselves as core to securing an often overlooked component of IT infrastructure. In the conversation we discuss the founding story, why SAP couldn't do this themselves, and how he has thought about growth opportunities over the last 16 years.Website

Geeks Of The Valley
#118: Navigating Embedded Finance, and Web3's Future in Emerging Markets with Saison Capital's Qin En Looi

Geeks Of The Valley

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2025 37:34


In Episode #118 of Geeks of the Valley, we sat down with Qin En Looi, Partner at Saison Capital. Backed by Credit Saison (Tokyo-listed, ~US$30B AUM), Saison has 100+ direct investments and 15+ fund investments across Asia and LATAM.We unpack why operator experience produces better investor how Qin En's time scaling Glints shaped his emphasis on distribution, sales, and practical due diligence. The conversation dives deep into embedded finance. Saison's playbook for pairing venture equity with tailored debt to de-risk lending-backed businesses, and the market signals that matter for India, Southeast Asia, Brazil and LATAM from eKYC and payment rails to regulatory openness. We close with a pragmatic look at web3 and digital assets: institutional tailwinds, realistic timelines, and how blockchain could become the new rails for moving money at internet speed.About Saison Capital: Saison Capital is an early-stage venture fund (pre-seed to Series B) focused on emerging markets, backing founders across fintech, commerce and web3. Backed by Credit Saison (Tokyo-listed, ~US$30B AUM), the team combines operating experience with flexible capital solutions—100+ direct investments and active fund-of-funds activity across Asia and LATAM—to help startups scale faster and more sustainably.About Qin En Looi: Qin En leads Saison's early-stage direct investments across fintech, commerce and web3, and he jumpstarted Credit Saison's digital-asset strategy. He co-founded ONCHAIN (Asia's first real-world-asset conference) and sits on the boards of Southeast Asian fintechs including Helicap and SkorLife. Prior to VC, Qin En was Co-Founder and COO of Glints, Southeast Asia's largest talent ecosystem (Series D), and has been recognised on Forbes 30 Under 30 and Entrepreneurs 27 Under 27.LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/looiqinenWebsite: saisoncapital.com

TechCrunch Startups – Spoken Edition
Group14 lands $463M to make silicon anodes for EVs, also, SRE.ai raises $7.2M for DevOps AI agents

TechCrunch Startups – Spoken Edition

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2025 6:00


The battery materials startup raised significant Series D funding to expand its manufacturing capability. At the same time, it bought out partner SK's stake in a joint venture. The company helps automate complex enterprise workflows (like continuous integration and testing) — or, in other words, it makes DevOps capabilities more efficient as AI technology takes hold. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Recruiting Brainfood Podcast
Brainfood Live On Air - Ep325 - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome, Lessons from Exec Coaches

The Recruiting Brainfood Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2025 61:38


OVERCOMING IMPOSTER SYNDROME: LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM EXEC COACHING   'Imposter Syndrome' is perhaps one of the most well known of psychological phenomena, one which many of us are undoubtedly familiar. Why is it that we tell ourselves that we do not belong, are that we are not worthy of the role or the moment?   Let's dive into the psychology of imposter syndrome and see if we can find practical tips to overcome it.   - What is imposter syndrome? - How does it manifest? - What are the theories behind it? - What negative outcomes can come from having imposter syndrome? - Is it the correct path to pathologies this? - Imposter syndrome in Talent Acquisition - when is this most likely to occur? - What psychological profile of person is most likely to suffer from it? - Practical tips: what are the methods of reducing imposter syndrome? - Can it ever be removed from our psychic make up? - What steps should listeners practice now?   All this and more with Richard Ayre, Exec Coach (The Leadership Torch), Elaine Atkinson, Leadership Coach (In Wonder Coaching) & Tasha Cluskey, Comic / TA Partner   We are on Friday 22nd Aug, 2pm BST - follow the channel here (recommended) and save your spot for this demo by clicking on the green button.     Ep325 is sponsored by our friends Ashby   Ashby just raised $50M in Series D funding, and they're going all in on what modern recruiting teams actually need.   So, what's next?   AI is moving from novelty to necessity.
Most tools talk about AI. Ashby makes it work. Their all-in-one platform gives AI real structure so recruiters get time back with AI note-taking, feedback summaries, and personalized outreach emails.   Quality of Hire is finally getting real.
More teams are rolling out Quality of Hire programs with Ashby than ever before. What used to be a slide in a quarterly review is now a real strategy, with surveys and reporting built in. It's clearer, faster, and easier to connect to business outcomes.   Community is the new operating system. Ashby already made a big splash with Ashby One, their first customer conference that brought hundreds of talent leaders and RecOps professionals together for a week of sessions, panels, dinners, and live events. With this new funding, they're doubling down on the community by expanding ACE (Ashby Customer Expert) chapters, scaling education programs, and giving local leaders more ways to connect, share learnings, and build lasting networks. … and the word is out. Enterprise teams like Shopify and Snowflake are already in. With 123% growth and fresh funding to fuel what's next, Ashby is just getting started.   Bottom line: Ashby is not just building software. They are building the infrastructure for modern recruiting.   See the full announcement.   Not on Ashby yet? Get a demo today.

The Product Market Fit Show
Q2 2025: The new Series A Bar is $3M ARR—& only 20% of seed startups make it. | Peter Walker, Head of Insights at Carta

The Product Market Fit Show

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2025 57:09 Transcription Available


Peter Walker from Carta drops the hard data every founder needs. Based on actual cap table data from 1000s of startups, this Q2 update reveals the brutal new reality.It takes 2+ years to go from seed to A (up from 1.6), you need 3X the revenue you used to, and if you're not AI, you're getting half the attention. But there's good news too—teams are finally getting leaner, exits are picking back up, and the worst of the funding winter might be behind us. If you're raising in 2025, this is your reality check.Why You Should Listen:$3M ARR is the new Series A bar—& it takes 1 in 4 founders 3.5+ years to get thereHalf as many seed deals are getting done but at 20% higher valuations—you're either in the AI club or you're outFounders own just 56% after their first priced round and only 10% by Series D—every round costs more than you thinkKeywords:Carta data, Series A requirements, startup fundraising 2025, seed to Series A timeline, ARR benchmarks, AI startup valuations, bridge rounds, founder dilution, startup team size, venture capital trendsSend me a message to let me know what you think!

Informed Decisions Financial Planning & Money Podcast
Venture Capital and Private Market Investing with Rob and Scott

Informed Decisions Financial Planning & Money Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2025 62:33


In this episode of the Informed Decisions podcast, I chat with Rob Halligan and Scott Ashmore, co-founders of Shuttle, a platform aiming to democratise access to private equity and venture capital investments.   The conversation dives into the fundamentals of private markets, how they differ from public equity investing, and why early-stage companies often turn to private capital over traditional bank loans. Rob and Scott shed light on the risk-reward profile of venture investing, the importance of diversification, and how Shuttle helps everyday investors participate in an asset class typically reserved for institutions and high-net-worth individuals.   The discussion also explores the mechanics of venture funding - from pre-seed to Series D rounds - highlighting how company valuations are set and the expected timeframes for returns. With Central Bank of Ireland authorisation, Shuttle operates a quarterly investment model, allowing users to gain exposure to a portfolio of vetted startups. The duo outline their vision for the platform, its future expansion into VC fund access, and how it aligns incentives by charging only a modest annual fee and a performance-based profit share.   Key Points: Private vs Public Markets: Private equity involves investing in unlisted companies, offering potentially higher returns but greater risk and illiquidity. Venture Capital Basics: VC is a subset of private equity focused on early-stage, high-growth startups, structured around funding rounds (e.g., Seed, Series A-C). High Risk, High Reward: Venture capital returns follow a power law distribution—few winners generate most of the returns. Diversification is Key: Investors should aim for 50+ holdings to reduce risk; Shuttle structures this via quarterly “drops” of 2–3 companies. Accessibility: Shuttle enables retail investors to participate in venture deals from as little as €250 per quarter. Platform Model: Investors pay €250/year plus a 10% fee only on realised profits, aligning platform and investor interests. Liquidity & Exit: Returns typically take 5–10 years; Shuttle is exploring secondary markets to improve interim liquidity. Market Trends: Private companies are staying private longer; institutional data points to retail access as the next frontier. Educational Focus: Shuttle supports investor understanding through simplified UX, content, and risk-appropriate onboarding. I hope it helps   JoinShuttle.com   Grit by Angela Duckworth – recommended by Rob Halligan. A book about the power of passion and perseverance in achieving success.   Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell – recommended by Scott Ashmore. It explores what makes high achievers different, focusing on the factors that contribute to success.   Disclaimer

RecTech: the Recruiting Technology Podcast
5 New HR Tech Funding Announcements

RecTech: the Recruiting Technology Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2025 9:34


Is your career site delivering the conversion you need? Dalia's plug-and-play tech turns any employer career site into a high-performance candidate conversion engine — no replatforming required, live in days.Visit dalia.co to learn more. AND by jobcase, Jobcase is an online community where workers of all kinds – like hourly employees, tradespeople and healthcare technicians – access jobs, make connections, and support each other in any aspect of their work life.Visit jobcase.com/hire and tap into their 120 million strong  job seeker network First up…1848 Ventures, an AI-first venture studio building SaaS solutions for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the US, today announced it has led a $3 million seed funding round for Propel People, a mobile-first hiring platform built to help contractors hire skilled tradespeople faster. Propel People has also appointed industry veteran Dexter Bachelder as CEO, bringing deep expertise in construction tech and go-to-market execution to the growing company. https://hrtechfeed.com/1848-ventures-leads-3m-seed-round-for-propel-people/ WALNUT CREEK, Calif.—-BetterComp, a leading provider of compensation management software, today announced its $33M Series A funding round, led by Ten Coves Capital. The investment will fuel BetterComp's continued growth and innovation, enhance its AI-powered market pricing and pay recommendation capabilities, expand into new product adjacencies, and scale operations to better serve a rapidly growing global customer base. https://hrtechfeed.com/compensation-management-software-lands-33m-in-funding/ RICHMOND, Va — goHappy, the leading provider of innovative frontline employee engagement tools, today announced it has received a significant growth investment from Pamlico Capital, a private equity firm focused on high-growth technology and services businesses. The investment amount which was not mentioned… will support goHappy's next phase of growth as it continues to pursue its vision of helping employers drive stronger business outcomes through better engagement of their frontline teams. https://hrtechfeed.com/employee-engagement-tool-announces-investment/ Ashby, a rapidly growing company, has announced a successful $50 million Series D funding round. The investment was led by Mark McLaughlin at Alkeon, with co-lead support from existing investor Lachy Groom, and participation from F-Prime, Elad Gil, Gaingels, and other new and returning backers. https://hrtechfeed.com/ashby-raises-50-million-series-d/ SAN FRANCISCO—-CandorIQ, the AI-powered platform transforming how organizations plan and manage people spend, today announced a $4.8 million seed funding round led by Array Ventures, with participation from Y Combinator, CRV, and Switch Ventures. The funding will be used to grow CandorIQ's engineering and go-to-market teams, accelerate product development, and expand the platform's AI capabilities across compensation and workforce planning workflows. https://hrtechfeed.com/workforce-planning-tool-lands-4-8m/ The highly anticipated Monster/CareerBuilder auction has concluded, and the winning bidder is not JobGet, as some might have expected. Instead, BOLD Holdings emerged victorious with a staggering final bid of $28.4 million! Jobget emerged as the backup with a bid of $27 million. https://hrtechfeed.com/bold-holdings-snags-monster-careerbuilder-auction-for-28-4-million/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GrowthCap Insights
Cybersecurity Gamechanger: Horizon3.ai's Snehal Antani

GrowthCap Insights

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2025 25:55


In this episode, we speak with Snehal Antani, Co-Founder and CEO of Horizon3.ai, a cybersecurity company that delivers autonomous penetration testing through its flagship platform, NodeZero. Designed to run real attacks in live environments, the platform helps organizations proactively find, fix, and verify exploitable vulnerabilities before malicious actors can strike. The company recently raised $100 million in Series D funding, led by NEA with participation from SignalFire, Craft Ventures, and 9Yards Capital. The funding will support global expansion, enhance product innovation across autonomous security operations, and scale the company's presence in critical infrastructure and federal markets. Snehal supports Spookstock. To learn more about this organization click here. I am your host RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode click to follow.

ThinkData Podcast
S3 | E15 | Fixing Healthcare Payments with AI: Kinshuk Mishra on Cedar's Mission

ThinkData Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2025 33:37


In this episode of the ThinkData Podcast, brought to you in partnership with Dataworks, we sit down with Kinshuk Mishra, Chief Technology Officer at Cedar, a Series D healthtech company working to transform the complex and frustrating world of healthcare payments in the U.S.With an impressive background spanning leadership roles at YouTube, Houseparty, Spotify, Amazon, Expedia, and EA, Kinshuk shares what drew him away from big tech and into the mission-driven world of healthtech. He breaks down Cedar's vision, the challenges of healthcare billing, and how the company is leveraging AI to make the patient financial experience clearer, faster, and more empathetic.We dive into:What Cedar is and the real-world problem it's solvingHow AI is helping demystify the billing process for patientsThe launch of "Kora", Cedar's AI assistant, and how it simplifies bill understanding and managementBuilding trust in AI for sensitive use cases like healthcare and financial dataHow Cedar keeps pace with the ever-changing healthcare landscapeWhat's next on the roadmap as Cedar continues to innovate with AIA must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of AI, healthtech, and real-world impact.

Shared Lunch
Halter's $1B USD “farm operating system”

Shared Lunch

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2025 30:37 Transcription Available


Get a closer look at billion-dollar agritech trailblazer Halter. We’re talking to Andrew Fraser, President, about the innovative cow collar system helping farmers get more from their land and livestock. Discover how this homegrown solution has improved pasture management and herd welfare across NZ, Australia, and the US—and won serious private investment capital. Andrew discusses Halter's recent $165 million Series D funding round, led by VC firm Bond. We get into their strategy for the vast US market, focusing on pasture-based beef farms, and how their technology stands up across different climates and geographies. And hear about Halter's integration with Fonterra milk production data, directly linking farmers’ daily actions to output and revenue. Plus, Andrew’s claims that Halter is helping to attract a new generation to farming—and even winning over a 93-year-old in the process. For more or to watch on YouTube—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunchShared Lunch is brought to you by Sharesies Australia Limited (ABN 94 648 811 830; AFSL 529893) in Australia and Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand. It is not financial advice. Information provided is general only and current at the time it’s provided, and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation and needs. We do not provide recommendations and you should always read the disclosure documents available from the product issuer before making a financial decision. Our disclosure documents and terms and conditions—including a Target Market Determination and IDPS Guide for Sharesies Australian customers—can be found on our relevant Australian or NZ website.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive
Craig Piggott: Halter founder and CEO on the company raising $165 million in funding

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2025 5:20 Transcription Available


Halter, a New Zealand tech company specialising in virtual fencing and animal management technology, has raised $165 million in a Series D fundraising round, valuing the company at $1.65 billion. Started in 2016, Halter's solar-powered, smart collars were guiding thousands of cattle by sound and vibration cues, allowing farmers to get rid of fencing on paddocks. CEO and founder Craig Piggott says the technology helps farmers be more productive - and sustainable. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transparent Venture Capital by Tribe Global Ventures
Founder Focus Ep 17: Chris Milligan of Adepto & Konfir

Transparent Venture Capital by Tribe Global Ventures

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2025 58:39


Today's guest is Chris Milligan, and Entrepreneur and Investor based in London. We are proud to also have Chris as a shareholder, investor, and venture partner at Tribe Global Ventures. Fresh out of university at QUT, Chris founded Adepto, a B2B SaaS HR platform. In 2015, Chris participated in an early version of Tribe's UK mission and relocated to London five months later, raising a Seed round from UK investors and establishing Adepto in Europe. With teams in both Brisbane and London, Chris continued to scale Adepto, raising further capital and working with global customers, including PwC, Cisco, AECOM, and BAE Systems. In 2019, Adepto was acquired by the US learning platform Degreed, where Chris joined the leadership team and supported a $150 million Series D. Since leaving Degreed in 2022 and still based in London, Chris founded Konfir, an instant employment and income verification solution built on banking, payroll, and tax data. Having raised £3.6m in Pre-seed and Seed funding from UK angels and VCs, Konfir is on track to become the go-to solution for UK verifications. Chris is a passionate supporter of Venture Capital and has invested in and advised over 15 early-stage tech companies in both Australia and overseas. He frequently visits Australia, blending his expertise and experience to support emerging entrepreneurs. hello@tribeglobal.vc

The Big 550 KTRS
The Heidi Glaus Show - 6-6-25 - Kenneth C. Davis on book series D-Day Today, Melanie King on Aldi vs Wheat Thins

The Big 550 KTRS

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2025 115:22


Heidi, Josh and Bob discuss everything from Elon Musk to Wheat Thins vs Aldi with special guests providing in depth information

Born In Silicon Valley
NYC Apartment to Series D Unicorn: Redpanda Infrastructure Powering AI & Real-Time Apps

Born In Silicon Valley

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2025 53:49


In an engaging episode, Alex Gajiego, Redpanda's founder and CEO, recounts his path from a curious builder in Colombia, dismantling motorcycle engines, to spearheading a tech company revolutionizing real-time data streaming. He shares insights on creating Redpanda to address unmet needs in high-performance data systems, highlighting its impact on mission-critical applications for major global companies. Gajiego explores the vital role of data streaming in powering AI applications, emphasizing low latency and scalability. He also delves into Redpanda's culture, rooted in customer obsession, being a good human, and winning as a team, while stressing the importance of bidirectional feedback to foster trust. Looking ahead, Gajiego is excited about Redpanda's partnerships with leading AI firms, positioning the company at the forefront of technological innovation.   Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal, leads the top AI Recruitment Firm in Silicon Valley www.matchrelevant.com, uncovering stories of funded startups and goes behinds to scenes to tell their founders journey.  If you are growing AI Startup or have a great storytelling, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com

The Tech Blog Writer Podcast
3299: How Oyster HR Is Using AI to Redefine Employment Infrastructure

The Tech Blog Writer Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2025 26:33


When I last spoke with Tony Jamous in November 2020, we were navigating the early days of a remote-first world. The shift was sudden and widespread, but what followed was even more transformative. In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I reconnect with Tony to explore how the world of work has changed and how Oyster has grown from an ambitious startup into a B Corp-certified unicorn focused on enabling global employment at scale. Tony is the CEO and founder of Oyster, a company built on the belief that where you live should never limit where you work. We discussed the journey from pandemic-driven remote work to today's distributed models, the growing need for location-independent hiring, and how AI is now being embedded into every layer of global workforce management. Oyster is helping businesses hire across 180 countries with just a few clicks, solving compliance, payroll, and benefits challenges without the traditional roadblocks. During our conversation, Tony broke down what it means to build a mission-driven company and why measuring impact matters. More than 40 percent of employees hired through Oyster now come from emerging markets. That shift is not just a statistic. It reflects real people gaining access to economic opportunities they were previously excluded from. Stories like Christina in the Philippines, who now works from home and spends more time with her children, highlight the human impact of Oyster's platform. We also talked about Oyster's recent Series D funding round and how the company is shifting from high-growth to sustainable profitability. AI is a big part of that evolution. From internal operations to customer support, automation is being used to reduce friction and let people focus on work that matters. For Tony, leadership now means focusing on vision and values while letting AI handle repetitive tasks. What does the future look like when the world becomes one talent pool? This episode offers a grounded, forward-looking take on what happens when mission, technology, and global opportunity intersect.

CFO Thought Leader
1100: Lines, Not Dots: Turning Optionality into Outcomes | Chad Gold, CFO, Fullstory

CFO Thought Leader

Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2025 50:22


Imagine an accounts‑receivable clerk clicking through four different systems just to finish one routine task. Chad Gold sees that bottleneck instantly. Fullstory's newly launched Workforce product maps every mouse‑stroke of such employee journeys, then surfaces friction points so companies can “make them more productive, so they can do even more value‑added things,” Gold tells us.The scene encapsulates the finance leader's thesis: data depth wins. “The companies that have the capabilities to capture the most comprehensive sets of data in a meaningful way are going to win,” he says. That conviction drew Gold—now in his fourth CFO chapter—to the Atlanta‑based behavioral‑data platform. Fullstory records the complete digital experience of each customer, from e‑commerce clicks to SaaS workflows, and feeds the corpus into AI models that flag churn risk or recommend instant actions, such as sending a coupon to a wavering shopper. The result drives revenue and reduces churn, he tells us.For its part, Fullstory has raised capital rounds through Series D and counts Kleiner Perkins, Stripes, Premier, Salesforce Ventures, GV and Dell Technologies among its backers, he tells us. Independent directors Ryan Barreto of Sprout Social and former Atlassian CFO Alex Estevez deepen the bench. After 22 years in finance, Gold values “lines, not dots”—long‑term relationships that provide partnership, not just cash. By pairing that philosophy with a platform built to illuminate every click, he aims to turn invisible friction—whether customer or employee—into the next chapter of growth. Stakeholders across the business will feel the lift, Gold predicts.

Identity At The Center
#346 - Sponsor Spotlight - Veza

Identity At The Center

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2025 56:29


Sponsored by Veza. Visit veza.com/idac for more info.In this sponsored episode of the Identity at the Center Podcast, hosts Jeff and Jim welcome Tarun Thakur, the co-founder and CEO of Veza, and Phil Venables, a strategic security advisor with Google and board director for Veza. The discussion spans the critical role of identity security in modern organizations, the innovative solutions offered by Veza's Access Graph, and the challenges posed by both human and non-human identities. They delve into the evolving landscape of privilege access management (PAM), the transformative potential of AI in identity security, and actionable steps organizations can take to achieve least privilege and reduce risk. The episode also highlights Veza's recent $108 million Series D investment, underscoring its mission to build the next-generation identity platform.Chapters00:00 Understanding Privilege in Organizations02:10 Introduction to the Podcast03:13 Meet the Experts: Tarun and Phil03:46 Tarun's Journey into Identity05:24 Phil's Background in Identity08:35 The Vision and Differentiation of Veza11:38 Announcing Major Investments13:48 Challenges in Identity Security27:48 Challenges of Privilege Access Management28:09 The Evolution of Privilege Access30:25 Session Recording and Management in Modern Infrastructure33:17 The Role of Access Graph in Identity Management44:47 Leveraging AI in Identity Security52:50 Final Thoughts and Future DirectionsConnect with Tarun: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarunthakur/Learn more about Veza: https://veza.com/idacConnect with Phil: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philvenables/Phil's Blog: https://www.philvenables.com/Connect with us on LinkedIn:Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/Visit the show on the web at idacpodcast.com

CanCon Podcast
How does an online car retailer survive a trade war?

CanCon Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2025 56:10


“I think for any entrepreneur that's navigated the last five years, I don't know if there was a worse time to be building a company.” Clutch found a new gear for its business after a post-pandemic lull … just in time for tariffs to hit. Dan Park (CEO) and Stephen Seibel (COO) join to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated online car retail, how the end of cheap capital pumped their brakes, and how Clutch regained traction after a savvy market expansion. What has this journey taught them about how to prepare for whatever tariffs will do to the auto industry? Let's dig in. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Float. Float helps Canadian companies manage spend, automate expenses, and now, convert FX at rates 90% lower than the banks. Sign up in minutes and learn why Canada counts on Float. Related links: Clutch gears up for expansion with $100-million CAD Series B round Clutch cuts staff to extend runway, citing market conditions Clutch cut approximately 65 percent of its staff as online auto marketplaces gear down Clutch recovers valuation and eyes growth with $50-million Series D round

The Peel
Lessons Going Zero to $40M ARR in Two Years | Dan Lorenc, Chainguard

The Peel

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025 74:56


Dan Lorenc is the Co-founder and CEO of Chainguard, the safe source for open source.The internet runs on free, open source software. But as its risen in popularity, its become the latest attack point targeted by hackers and nation states.This conversation with Dan gets into the history of open source software, cloud computing, Linux, the software supply chain, how AI will impact it, and what the next big cyber attack will look like.Dan is an engineer, but he also loves sales and go-to-market. We unpack how Chainguard went from zero to 150 customers and a $40m ARR in two years.Chainguard just announced a $350 million Series D led by Kleiner and IVP, and Dan unpacks the round, plus shares his secret methodology for valuing the company.A big thank you to Dan's Co-founder Kim Lewandowski, to Clay Fischer @ Spark, Bogomil Balkansky & Andrew Reed @ Sequoia, and Tom Loverro @ IVP for their help brainstorming topics for Dan.Thanks to Numeral for supporting this episode, the end-to-end platform for sales tax and compliance. Try it here: https://bit.ly/NumeralThePeelTimestamps:(3:26) A safe source for open source(4:57) The software supply chain(7:19) Can you trust open source code with contributors in Russia?(9:43) Malware attack that almost took down the entire internet(12:40) What the next big cyber attack will look like(15:12) How will AI impact the software supply chain(17:53) The history of cloud computing(21:42) Why all cloud computing runs on Linux(23:16) How Linux + Linux distros work(29:28) Automating open source security(32:43) Chainguard roadmap: Libraries and VMs(36:40) Focusing on FedRAMP(42:44) Impact of DOGE(44:06) Zero to $40m ARR in two years(45:40) Learning to love sales as a technical founder(47:24) Lessons from Frank Slootman(51:15) How to create urgency in sales(53:16) How to build a sales team(58:23) Hiring Ryan Carlson from Wiz & Okta(1:01:45) Inside Chainguard's $350m Series D(1:07:41) Vibe coding + Dan's software stack(1:09:51) Cutting his hair in front of the entire company(1:10:27) Wearing a different suit to each board meeting(1:12:32) Bogomil, world's best SDRReferencedCheck out Chainguard: https://www.chainguard.dev/Jobs at Chainguard: https://www.chainguard.dev/careersPrior episode with Dan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC4cOJ9n_Z8Linux Origin Email: https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/mmmlh3/linux_has_a_interested_history_this_is_one_of/The Qualified Sales Leader: https://www.amazon.com/Qualified-Sales-Leader-Proven-Lessons/dp/0578895064Julius, AI data analysis: https://julius.ai/Claude Code: https://www.anthropic.com/claude-codeWorld's best SDR: https://x.com/BogieBalkansky/status/19132697148828143502025 Chainguard Assemble Keynote: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adfU9LJg3I0Follow DanTwitter: https://x.com/lorenc_danLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danlorenc/Follow TurnerTwitter: https://twitter.com/TurnerNovakLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/turnernovakSubscribe to my newsletter to get every episode + the transcript in your inbox every week: https://www.thespl.it/

Cyber Briefing
March 13, 2025 - Cyber Briefing

Cyber Briefing

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2025 9:09


Dead Cat
Elon Musk's Boisterous OpenAI Bid

Dead Cat

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2025 19:12


Eric and Madeline unpack the biggest “deal that wasn't” story of Elon Musk's unsolicited offer to purchase OpenAI for $97.4 billion. WIth Sam Altman flat-out rejecting the offer on X, this feels less like an offer and more of a statement about Musk's frustration with OpenAI's continued conversion to a for-profit company that competes with him. Pressures have been mounting on engineers to look for greener pastures, though, if Thrive Capital's Joshua Kushner's urging speech for talent to stay put is any indication. Then, they turn to Eric's reporting on Lightspeed Venture Partners' new fundraising documents, where the megafirm showed stronger returns on earlier funds ahead of its next big capital raise. They also unpack the AI Action Summit's 180-degree swing from an AI safety forum to a conference dominated by CEOs and accelerationist world leaders. They close with a breakdown with a who's who on the cap table of legal-tech Harvey's latest Series D, and Mercury's rumored new Sequoia-backed fundraise.Produced by Christopher GatesMusic by Suno

LatamlistEspresso
Turbi raises $12.5M Series D, Ep 197

LatamlistEspresso

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2025 2:34


This week's Espresso covers news from Split Risk, BYX, Sommos, and more!Outline of this episode:[00:30] – Cycles Nutrition raises $2.5M in its first funding round[00:41] – Split Risk raises $8.6M from HSR Soluções e Participações and Labarca Empreendimentos[00:48] – Turbi raises $12.5M Series D and $43M in debt to expand fleet[01:03] – Outscape raises $600K from SDK[01:15] – BYX acquires Nvio to expand beyond payroll loans[01:24] – Sommos: Transforming Financial Inclusion Across Latin AmericaResources & people mentioned:Startups: Cycles Nutrition, Split Risk, Turbi, Outscape, Sommos, BYX Capital VCs: Headline Ventures, SDK.People: Yara Lewensztain Zelaya

The Top Entrepreneurs in Money, Marketing, Business and Life
His cap table will shock you. $100m revenue, $750m valuation in his series D with Coro Co-Founder Dror Liwer

The Top Entrepreneurs in Money, Marketing, Business and Life

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2024 16:27


Coro launched in 2015 with a bottom up approach to solving sercurity issues for the SMB and midmarket. Today, they've raised $282m in funding to go big, but how much have the founders been diluted? Can they grow into their $750m valuation?