Podcasts about sparklabs

January 28, 2025 - Join us for an exclusive conversation with Hyungseok Dino Ha (hereinafter Dino), Co-Founder and CEO of MBX (formerly Memebox), a visionary multi-brand beauty and personal care company leading the convergence of technology, culture, and K-beauty. Headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in Seoul, Shanghai and Taipei, MBX has established itself as a global leader in the beauty industry, backed by $200 million in venture capital funding. By seamlessly blending data-driven technology with cultural insight, MBX is redefining how K-beauty influences the global beauty landscape. In this program, Dino will reveal the key moments that shaped his entrepreneurial journey — from his early career at TMON and Tom Ford to his transformative experience in top accelerator programs like Y Combinator and SparkLabs. Learn how he harnessed the global rise of K-beauty and used technology to create a next-generation beauty powerhouse. This conversation offers essential lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs, beauty industry enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the dynamic intersection of tech, culture, and K-beauty in building groundbreaking business opportunities. This program is moderated by ShoYoung Shin (Sho), Director of Platform at Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator (ERA). This program is supported by Hanwha Life For more information, please visit the link below: https://www.koreasociety.org/policy-and-corporate-programs/item/1944-tech-culture-and-k-beauty-dino-s-playbook-for-building-mbx

Bernard Moon has been at the heart of the startup universe globally. He is the co-founder and partner at SparkLabs Group, a network of startup accelerators and venture capital funds known for energizing startup scenes. He's not just playing the game; he's changing it, with investments in over 500 startups worldwide. He's an advisor to renowned academic institutions and a seasoned writer for major technology journals. We talk about his journey, the startup world and expansion into multiple geographies, Saudi Arabia being the latest, what investors look for, AI and product.

If you keep up to date with the latest technology news, you know that the momentum and investment has shifted from Asia to the Middle East. But gone are the days where countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE just import technology and talent - the new trend across the Middle East is how to create a home-grown technology startup ecosystem - and this is what we are going to cover in today's podcast.  Let's face it - money is not going to be an issue - but as we have seen from other countries, just throwing money at the startup ecosystem is no guarantee that it will be successful.  To help us go through this topic, we are joined by the Partner & Co-Founder of SparkLabs Group, Bernard Moon. SparkLabs has made a name for itself by launching accelerators and VC funds in Asia, Australia and the US, but now they are entering the Middle East market, so let's see what has drawn SparkLabs to that region - and what Bernard thinks will be the critical success factors to making sure they get a return on their investments.  Show Notes: 00:00 Intro to Bernard Moon and SparkLabs Group 02:30 SparkLabs new accelerator programs in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi 06:00 How does SparkLabs plan to find the “best of the best” startups in the Middle East 08:45 Do you see any similarities between the Middle East markets and other countries where you have had success with your accelerators (e.g. Korea, Taiwan)? And are there any specific opportunities and / or risks compared to the other markets you operate in?  14:30 What are the critical success factors for the Middle East markets to develop a home grown startup ecosystem? And what is the role of academia in creating this? 20:30 What does SparkLabs look for in startups that they want to invest in? And are there any red flags that you watch out for? 24:00 What will it take for SparkLabs to view their entry into the Middle East accelerator market a success? 26:00 What can countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE learn from other markets, like Singapore, that haven't made the most of their investment / funding of their local startup ecosystem? 30:00 Why are startups keen to be involved with SparkLabs versus the many other accelerator programs in the market? 33:00 Last week, SparkLabs listed it's USD 100m SPAC (Special Purpose Acquisition Company) on Nasdaq. Can you give us an overview of how this came about and what your strategy for the SPAC is? More information on SparkLabs can be found here: Contact Bernard directly: bernard@sparklabsglobal.com  SparkLabs Saudi Arabia SparkLabs Korea SparkLabs Taiwan SparkLabs Cultiv8 SparkLabs Group  

Introduction: Host Tarmo Virki welcomes listeners to "NatureBacked," a show discussing the green economy. Guest speaker Frank Meehan from openESG, joins the conversation. Frank Meehan is a seasoned investor and co-founder of SPARKlabs, an investment firm focused on climate, food, and agricultural tech solutions. He also co-founded Equilibrium.ai, acquired by Fiscal Note, and works with openESG, a company transforming ESG ratings and showcasing systems. Discussion Highlights: Frank's Background in ESG: Frank shares his experience in the ESG space, spanning seven years of investing in climate, food, and agriculture. He highlights the evolution of his firm and his involvement in managing global ESG data through equilibrium.ai. The Current State of ESG: Frank observes a significant focus on environmental sustainability and explains how even companies seemingly disconnected from ESG are actively pursuing sustainable practices. He mentions the need for transparency and highlights a case involving child labour in a chemical plant and the impact on Blackstone's reputation. The discussion emphasizes the existing challenges in the ESG space, including the influence of the old-fashioned certification process and lack of transparency. The Need for Change and Disruption: Frank draws parallels between the ESG space and the taxi industry before Uber, emphasizing the closed-shop mentality and lack of transparency. Frank discusses the importance of transparency, openness, and rewarding positive progress in the ESG industry. They mention the role of media in exposing greenwashing practices and the potential for journalists to utilize public ESG data for impactful reporting. Introduction to openESG and Its vision: Frank explains the purpose of openESG, which aims to revolutionize ESG ratings and make them dynamic, open, and free. He describes the role of AI and web 3.0 principles in the openESG system, ensuring transparency, real-time data, and verifiability. The conversation highlights the importance of accelerating positive change in ESG and the role of data in measuring and improving sustainability practices. Challenges and Opportunities Ahead: The discussion touches on the challenges openESG may face, with Frank expressing the hope to keep up with the evolving industry. They emphasize the need to transition from manual, form-based systems to digital, AI-driven processes for faster and more accurate ESG assessments. Conclusion: Frank and Tarmo conclude the discussion by reiterating the need for change, transparency, and openness in the ESG space. They discuss the potential positive impact of openESG and the industry's growing recognition of the importance of ESG principles. In the NatureBacked podcast, we talk with investors and entrepreneurs about their vision of the new green world. Subscribe to the NatureBacked newsletter on LinkedIn.  *** Follow NatureBacked across platforms: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts Twitter | Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Timestamps: 1:37 - From Mexico to Switzerland 10:44 - Corporate innovation 27:26 - Validating an idea 39:37 - Calculating client ROI 48:28 - Looking for a different type of investor About Alan Cabello: Alan Cabello is the founder of SparkLabs, Sparkworks and Sparkademy, three sister companies working towards a common goal: business innovation in Switzerland. He previously co-founded the startup Kooku and holds a PhD in Strategy & Innovation Management from the EPFL. Around 2013/2014, while he was getting his PhD, Alan was a visiting researcher at Stanford, and there had a great experience with the d.school, where students and professors from different academic fields come together to tackle complex issues through a transdisciplinary and human-centered approach. When he returned to Switzerland, despite the prevalence of high-quality education, he found no such problem-solving approach. In 2014 he created SparkLabs, a cooperation between different Swiss universities with the purpose of educating and advancing a human-centered approach to product, service, and business model innovation. Then in 2015 he created Spark Works, a small innovation consultancy to tackle corporate innovation and transformation challenges. Finally, in 2020, Alan built Sparkademy, a digital-first institution bringing scalable and measurable learning to the corporate world. Sparkademy offers Online Courses, Practical Assignments, Knowledge Checks and access to a Method Kit, and also defines clear learning objectives and effective inputs, so as to help measure participant progress and provide feedback. Sparkademy runs on two business models: one is the classic business school model, where companies are charged per participant per course, and the other one is an engagement-based yearly fee (plus in-app purchases), meaning if engagement goes down, so does the price. Alan feels confident offering this alternative because Sparkademy's average rate of course completion is 88-94% (stupendously higher than the online course average). These levels of engagement are possible firstly due to the fact that Sparkademy courses were built using behavioral science insights to keep learners motivated, and secondly because Sparkademy forms the learner cohorts using the Spark Check, a tool based on neuroscience research which helps them test employees' ability to deal with uncertainty and other people's emotions. Memorable Quotes: "As an innovation consultant, at least half the time spent with your client goes into educating them on process basics. Which is not the best use of their time, or yours." "You want to make sure that people are on your team because they want to be there. The person sitting in the corner with their arms crossed brings everybody down; no matter how motivated they are." If you would like to listen to another founder who also focuses on business innovation, check out episode 79 with Manuel Hartmann, founder of SalesPlaybook. Don't forget to give us a follow on our Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Linkedin accounts, so you can always stay up to date with our latest initiatives. That way, there's no excuse for missing out on live shows, weekly giveaways or founders' dinners!

Welcome to Episode 77 of the Asian Hustle Network Podcast! We are very excited to have Peter Shiao on this week's episode. We interview Asian entrepreneurs around the world to amplify their voices and empower Asians to pursue their dreams and goals. We believe that each person has a message and a unique story from their entrepreneurial journey that they can share with all of us. Check us out on Anchor, iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play Music, TuneIn, Spotify, and more. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave us a positive 5-star review. This is our opportunity to use the voices of the Asian community and share these incredible stories with the world. We release a new episode every Wednesday, so stay tuned! Bernard Moon is a Co-founder & Partner at SparkLabs Group, which is a network of accelerators and venture capital funds that has invested in over 300 companies across 6 continents since 2013. Previously, he was Co-founder & CEO of Vidquik, a web conferencing & sales solutions platform. Bernard was a Managing Director at the Lunsford Group, which is a private investment firm with holdings in real estate, healthcare and other industries. Bernard was Co-founder & VP of Business Development of GoingOn Networks, a social media platform for companies, and also led their product development where BusinessWeek recognized them in their “Best of the Web” list. He serves on the advisory boards to Seoul National University's Graduate School of Data Science and Nanyang Technological University's EcoLabs (Centre of Innovation for Energy). Please check out our Patreon at @asianhustlenetwork. We want AHN to continue to be meaningful and give back to the Asian community. If you enjoy our podcast and would like to contribute to our future, we hope you'll consider becoming a patron. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/asianhustlenetwork/support

從台灣出發的雲廚房 Just Kitchen 是只做外送的餐飲平台。其創立兩年就成功的在加拿大與德國上市，震撼台灣科技業。Just Kitchen 採「中央廚房」與「衛星店」搭配的模式，兩年內快速拓展 15 家衛星廚房，創造 17 個自製品牌，並已跨足至香港與菲律賓。這一個人才濟濟的團隊是如何集結在台灣新創加速器 SparkLabs Taipei？為何選擇從台灣出發？又是如何從種子輪就跳到公開上市？ 特別感謝 Just Kitchen 營運長吳得暉（Kent Wu）參與討論。他在美國曾有三次成功的新創出場紀錄，包括賣掉生鮮外送新創 Milks and Eggs 給 Grubhub。 特別感謝 SparkLabs Taipei 管理合夥人邱彥錡（Edgar Chiu）參與討論。他曾在惠普（HP）與 IBM 工作，後成為台灣來電資訊服務 Gogolook 的營運長，以及創立 SparkLabs Taipei。 本集錄音分成兩段。第一段為邱彥錡的訪談。第二段為吳得暉的訪談。 想問科技島讀 podcast 問題？請在 2021 年 6 月 1 日前寫信至 hi@daodu.tech，就有可能由主持人在節目上回答！ 文章：跳級上市 — 雲廚房 Just Kitchen 站上國際舞台 https://bit.ly/3hJH8F7

Bernard Moon is a Co-founder & Partner at SparkLabs Group, which is a network of accelerators and venture capital funds that have invested in over 300 companies across 6 continents since 2013. With 11 accelerators in locations such as Seoul, Taipei, Sydney, Singapore and working with major research universities, such as Arizona State University. SparkLabs Global Ventures is a seed and Series A fund that primarily invests in the U.S. but has invested in over 70 startups across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. SparkLabs Ventures is a Series A fund in South Korea. support the show: https://anchor.fm/thinkfuture/support --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thinkfuture/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thinkfuture/support

The South Korea startup ecosystem has been booming - some of the most exciting new companies are coming out of Seoul. On this episode of the RISE Offstage podcast I welcome Jimmy Kim and Bernard Moon the co-founders of SparkLabs one of South Korea’s most successful startup accelerators.===SHOW NOTES:Jimmy Kim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmykim1/Bernard Moon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernardmoon/SparkLabs Korea http://www.sparklabs.co.kr/lb/index.phpSparkLabs Group: http://www.sparklabsgroup.com/SparkLabs Demo Day http://www.sparklabsdemoday.com/en/index.phpSparkLabs Ventures http://www.sparklabsventures.com/v/index.phpSparkLabs Taipei: https://www.sparklabstaipei.com/Bespin Global: https://en.bespinglobal.com/===RISE https://www.riseconf.comWeb Summit Tokyo https://www.websummit.com/tokyoCollision https://collisionconf.com/Web Summit Lisbon https://websummit.com/Casey Lau on Twitter: https://twitter.com/casey_lauCasey Lau on Clubhouse: https://www.bit.ly/caseyonclubhouseStartup Yumcha on Clubhouse every Tuesday 10am Hong Kong time.

Today, we're joined by Frank Meehan to discuss the importance of using digital measuring tools and reporting as ways to quantify and share the results of economic activities and sustainability efforts. We’ll see how data empowers anything from climate change mitigation to food security, and supply chain transformations. At the same time, we explore hidden truths behind our ever-growing digital footprint, placing data centers, and blockchain systems under scrutiny. Frank answers our listeners’ most arduous questions and further brings light into how tech companies and users can reduce the collective carbon footprint. Tune in and enjoy this forward-looking episode!  What you'll learn: - Why sustainability and climate reporting are increasingly important; - What carbon footprint is generated through our use of digital technologies; -How quantifiable solutions can help companies drive efficiency and positive planet impact. Books & other resources mentioned: Equilibrium: https://www.eqm.world/our-story SparkLabs: http://www.sparklabs.co ***Our social media profiles*** NEED A CAREER IN SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTATION? Book a call here: http://annachashchyna.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annachashchyna/ & https://www.linkedin.com/company/sustainability-explored/ Medium: https://medium.com/@SustainabilityExplored Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ua/podcast/sustainability-explored/id1466177546 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxh1erc0uQCnGEA9MRtsutA/videos Leave a review: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/sustainability-explored-1000714

Cette semaine dans Graine de Business, nous allons reprendre l’entretien accordé à Edgar Chiu (邱彥錡) par nos collègues du service anglais. Edgar est le directeur de Sparklabs, un accélérateur dont nous avions déjà parlé, notamment lors de l’émission sur la Taiwan Tech Arena ou encore sur l’événement du demoday de Sparklabs. Cette fois-ci, nous avons le témoignage d’Edgar Chiu qui nous raconte ce qu’est Sparklabs pour lui et témoigne l’utilité de son accélérateur avec un bel exemple de la réussite d’une société que Sparlabs Taipei a aidé : Fox-tech une société spécialisée dans l’internet des objets.

In episode 45, Simon talks to Bernard Moon. He is the Co-founder & Partner at SparkLabs Group, which is a network of startup accelerators and venture capital funds that has invested in over 280 companies across the globe. Previously, he was Co-founder & CEO of Vidquik, a web conferencing & sales solutions platform. Bernard was a Managing Director at the Lunsford Group, which is a private investment firm with holdings in real estate, healthcare and other industries. Bernard was Co-founder & VP of Business Development of GoingOn Networks, a social media platform for companies, and also led their product development where BusinessWeek recognised them in their "Best of the Web" list.

In episode 45, Simon talks to Bernard Moon. He is the Co-founder & Partner at SparkLabs Group, which is a network of startup accelerators and venture capital funds that has invested in over 280 companies across the globe. Previously, he was Co-founder & CEO of Vidquik, a web conferencing & sales solutions platform. Bernard was a Managing Director at the Lunsford Group, which is a private investment firm with holdings in real estate, healthcare and other industries. Bernard was Co-founder & VP of Business Development of GoingOn Networks, a social media platform for companies, and also led their product development where BusinessWeek recognised them in their "Best of the Web" list.

In episode 45, Simon talks to Bernard Moon. He is the Co-founder & Partner at SparkLabs Group, which is a network of startup accelerators and venture capital funds that has invested in over 280 companies across the globe. Previously, he was Co-founder & CEO of Vidquik, a web conferencing & sales solutions platform. Bernard was a Managing Director at the Lunsford Group, which is a private investment firm with holdings in real estate, healthcare and other industries. Bernard was Co-founder & VP of Business Development of GoingOn Networks, a social media platform for companies, and also led their product development where BusinessWeek recognised them in their "Best of the Web" list.

Jackie Roberts is the Executive Director for SparkLabs Frontier-ASU. For over ten years, Jackie has helped organizations expand in the valley during hyper-growth times and in various leadership roles. She joined SparkLabs Group in 2019 to lead the SparkLabs Frontier-ASU accelerator program in partnership with ASU entrepreneurship and innovation.  Jackie has been responsible for several brand market and office launches within the startup space, with the most notable being Booker Software and DoubleDutch.  With a passion for supporting local entrepreneurship, Jackie is committed to building more local Phoenix startup success stories. In this episode… Entrepreneurs trying to raise funds are often unsure when it comes to the best source of capital to prioritize. Should you spend your time pursuing grants, angel investments, venture capital, or all three? Jackie Roberts says that whichever route you choose, you need to have an effective plan that makes the outcome of going to investors predictable. That involves setting your priorities straight and deciding on the funding your business qualifies for, before going after it.  Find out more about preparing to face investors and predicting the outcome of asks in this episode of the What’s Your Ask Podcast as Stephanie Sims interviews Jackie Roberts, the Executive Director of SparkLabs Frontier-ASU. Listen along as they discuss how entrepreneurs are navigating Big Scary Asks, how to prepare for investors, how to decide the type of funding to go after, and more.

TechBurst Asia spoke to Frank Meehan, Co-Founder of the sustainability platform start-up Equilibrium.world and Co-Founder & General Partner of SparkLabs Global Ventures about what will happen to corporate sustainability initiatives in the post-pandemic, new normal world. In our G&T-infused discussion, we also discuss: Frank's roles on the Boards of companies like Spotify and Siri Similarities in the hype cycles of 3G, 4G & 5G Why has Asia handled the coronavirus pandemic better than the West, and What the future of work will look like (spoiler alert: loads less travel - and that's not a bad thing) Show Notes: 02:22 Intro to Equilibrium, Frank’s latest start-up that creates a Sustainability data operations platform to help companies meet their emissions and sustainability targets.  11:45 Who owns the sustainability agenda in corporates? 14:10 Which industries are driving sustainability today? 15:00 Will companies willingly drive sustainability initiatives - or do they only respond to government regulation? 16:30 Frank’s background: From Sydney to Sweden to Singapore to London to San Fran to... 22:50 You’ve held too many Board decisions to mention them all, but which ones were the most interesting? Spotify, Siri 25:25 How did you first get involved with SparkLabs Group? 27:40 You’ve been around through 3G, 4G and 5G - do see any similarities in the hype cycles of each? 32:00 What will the operators need to do to make money out of 5G?  35:40 Why has Asia handled the coronavirus pandemic better than the West? 40:00 Will contact tracing apps like Singapore’s Trace Together and Australia’s COVIDSafe be successful?  41:50 What will going to the office be like in the post-pandemic, new normal world? And what will it be like when we start travelling again? 43:15 Tell me something positive that has come about as a result of the global pandemic?  

Our guest today is Alice Guillaume. Alice is the Senior Director of Marketing at AppLovin where she heads up AppLovin's in-house creative studio, SparkLabs, where she and her team build creatives for Lion Studios, for gaming studios worldwide, and for AppLovin's partner studios to help developers grow their businesses. I'm excited to have Alice primarily because she's seen and experienced so much from working on creatives for a wide variety of games on AppLovin's client base as well as for Lion studios, which is something I'm very, very curious about, especially given the massive success they've had lately. Key Highlights:

In episode 323, Charles Reed Anderson, our long time guest of the show and host of TechBurst Asia joins us to discuss his latest venture, SparkLabs Connex, a new accelerator program for smart city technologies under the SparkLabs Group. Before diving deep into the new venture, Charles discuss the challenges of smart city rankings and how they did not reflect the reality of what is happening on the ground. Then he began to discuss the rationale of SparkLabs Connex and why it is time to start an accelerator program specifically on smart city technologies. Last but not least, he break down how the global program works, offered his perspectives on what types of entrepreneurs he would seek to fund and address how SparkLabs Connex will operate in a COVID-19 world. Here are the interesting show notes and links to the discussion (with time-stamps included): Charles Anderson (@CRASingapore, LinkedIn), founder of Charles Reed Anderson and Associates, host of TechBurst Asia (iTunes, Spotify, @techburstasia) and now general partner for SparkLabs Connex. [0:24] What have you been up to since we last spoke? [1:10] You have recently written an article about smart city rankings and why the rankings do not reflect reality. Can you talk about why this is the case? [1:40]  SparkLabs Connex [5:45] Can you briefly introduce your new venture SparkLabs Connex from the SparkLabs Group? (Source: TechCrunch) [6:00] There are already a lot of incubators and accelerators across different geographies, but very few have succeeded. Why do you think that this is the time to start another one? [7:57] What are the industry verticals or technologies that SparkLabs Connex is looking into? (5G, IoT, Smart Cities)? [9:15] How does the model work for SparkLabs Connex and how does it work with the ecosystem, for example, partners? [10:50] Why are the vendors willing to work with you as many accelerators have been building partnerships across industries? [13:44] How does SparkLabs Connex work for entrepreneurs? [15:05] What are the traits of startup founders that you will seek to invest in? [17:05] What are the types of technologies which you will specifically look into as you invest in the space? [22:00] Omate: elderly care watch from Shenzhen and expand in France [22:40] Can you share the stories of early applicants into the program? [24:40] Can you share the geographical profiles of startups in SparkLabs Connex and whether there are preferences over some geographies? [25:40] Are there any additional things which you want the applicants to know? [27:40] Given the recent coronavirus outbreak, do you think that it will slow down the growth of IoT and 5G in the market? [28:25] How about technologies in IoT and 5G which might have come up during the COVID-19 outbreak? [29:55] Press releases: SparkLabs Group launches Connex, an accelerator program for smart city technology (TechCrunch) SparkLabs Connex, a New IoT, Smart City & PropTech Accelerator, Unites the Supply & Demand sides of the Technology Ecosystem to Accelerate Access to Innovation (Business Insider) Closing [32:30] Charles recommendations: Parag Khanna's "The Future is Asian" Where can we find him? Podcast Information: RSS Feed Apple Podcasts Himalaya Spotify Libsyn Google Play Overcast FM SoundCloud Luminary Twitter Facebook Video Facebook Page Linkedin Stitcher Castbox RadioPublic Acast PodBean ListenNotes TuneIn The show is hosted and produced by Carol Yin (@CarolYujiaYin) and originally created by Bernard Leong (@bernardleong, Linkedin).  Sound credits for the intro music: Taro Iwashiro, "The Beginning" from Red Cliff Soundtrack.

Join the Women Know IT squad for a discussion on what an IT “Lessons Learned” is, why it’s so important to hold them, and how to make sure they are useful. They also share some of the personal lessons they’ve learned about IT along the way. And of course, “Tell us what you’ve learned this week.” Link to Cactus: https://get.cactus.app/w9VhmMSGl4 Check out SparkLabs: www.sparklabsco.com Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @Women_KnowIT Follow our squad on Twitter: @margaret_hahn; @_lorenamora; @kellyfweiss; @msyentllove

Scott Sorochak is the CEO of SparkLabs Foundry, the corporate venture capital arm of SparkLabs. Scott brings over 30 years of leadership experience in consumer internet, mobile, and enterprise SAS global organizations, and has been a mentor and advisor to SparkLabs Global Ventures as well as a venture partner at Blarney Ventures in Silicon Valley. He focuses on helping early-stage companies go from zero to over 100 million in revenue while building the operational excellence needed to satisfy demand and boards of directors. In this episode… Are you a young entrepreneur looking to start your first business venture? Are you gearing up for the very first ask you’ll have to make for your business idea? According to Scott Sorochak, CEO of SparkLabs Foundry, you need to make sure you’ve done your homework before approaching someone especially when you’re looking to ask for an investment. Scott has over 30 years of experience under his belt and has helped countless companies bring their ideas into reality and making them more profitable than they could have ever imagined. The thing is though, building a strong network both for the purposes of business and for support is crucial to realizing your success in business. In an age where everything can be done online, it is crucial to look back on the practice of authentic connections and authentic visions in order to make a business grow and thrive in an ever growing and extremely competitive market. In this episode of What’s Your Ask, Stephanie talks to Scott about his early days as a budding entrepreneur and his path towards being an investor. They talk about what makes Scott say yes to an ask, what he looks for in a pitch, and how authenticity can make you stand out not just in business but in creating a network that will serve as the solid foundation of your empire. Stay tuned.

Hear the latest insights on the global accelerator and venture capital industries from one of Silicon Valley’s leading players, SparkLabs Group Partner & Co-Founder, Bernard Moon.  01:15 Intro to the SparkLabs Group accelerators and VC funds - and how back in 2012 they came up with the concept to launch their first accelerator in Seoul 04:45 What locations are you planning for the launch of the next SparkLabs accelerators? 06:05 Overview of one of the latest SparkLabs initiatives - SparkLabs Frontier - which partners with universities to drive innovation The first program is with Arizona State University - the #1 ranked US university for innovation  09:30 Many accelerators start in the US and go global. SparkLabs started out as a global accelerator. Did that make it harder or easier to raise funding and attract applicants? 10:30 The SparkLabs strategy is to grow slowly, but the model and culture works. Bernard cites how Edgar Chiu has turned SparkLabs Taipei into the leading accelerator in Taiwan in the first two years after launch. 11:40 Startups don’t come to SparkLabs for the money, they come to be part of the SparkLabs Ecosystem.  How does SparkLabs differentiate from the other leading accelerator programs, like Y Combinator, TechStars and Plug & Play? 13:30 What makes a good accelerator program? Are there too many accelerators?  60% of corporate accelerators fail within 2 years - CB Insights 100+ accelerators and incubators in Singapore alone Is the industry set for a shake-up? 17:30 An overview of the SparkLabs venture capital funds 19:50 SparkLabs has invested in over 260 companies, what are some of the highlights? Andela Memebox 22:00 Silicon Valley has long been the home of venture capital - but many firms are now looking to Asia. Where does the Valley see the opportunities in Asia?  The next billion middle class in Asia 25:00 Overview of the recent launch of  SparkLabs Foundry - SparkLabs’ “Innovation as a Service” offering for the Fortune 500 - and it’s partnership with SRI International, one of the world’s leading research and innovation institutes. 27:25 Bernard just launched his 13th Annual Industry Predictions on VentureBeat - titled “2020: Our meatless, cashless, city-less future” - what are the highlights? 32:25  You live in Silicon Valley, but the other co-founders live in Korea, the UK and Singapore. How do you manage to keep everyone in contact - and on the same page - with regards to your investment strategy, expansion plans, etc.?  34:00 Let’s say SparkLabs doesn’t exist - and you wanted to start an accelerator today. Where would you locate it  - and why? (spoiler alert: it’s not Silicon Valley) 35:15 What do you know today - that you wish you knew when you started SparkLabs? 36:50 Final question - tell us something about yourself that we don’t already know. 

 Frank Meehan - Co-Founder & Partner at SparkLabs Global Ventures and Partner at the SparkLabs Accelerator, Asia’s premier accelerator in Seoul, Korea.In the first third of this episode, we discuss the learning curve to raising capital as both a startup founder and a VC firm founder.Then, we delve into the nitty-gritty financials of investing at the seed stage and how a startup founder can attract further investors after receiving their first check.Finally, we discuss Frank’s time as a board member in the early days of Spotify in 2009 and what a fly on the wall of the now music streaming titan would have seen in those days.

Helping us move from awareness to action this week is Jackie Roberts, Executive Director of SparkLabs Frontier at ASU.  Listen to learn how the collaboration between SparkLabs and ASU came to be, what the program looks like and how to get involved!  You can find out more about Jackie and what she’s working on at SparkLabsGlobal.com and LinkedIn. Please subscribe to the show and leave a review! Interested in starting your own podcast?  Click HERELearn more about George at MoneyAlignmentAcademy.com and GeorgeGrombacher.com Learn more about Sentari at GenNext.com

Brian Park, managing partner at SparkLabs Cyber+Blockchain, discusses how his accelerator's initiatives in new and expanding technologies are pushing innovation while still creating profit.

In this episode, Hall interviews William Chu of SparkLabs FinTech, a global accelerator program focused on helping promising early-stage fintech companies develop and scale in various markets across the globe. After some success in private equity in Hong Kong, William wanted to get more involved in early stage investing. When Korea-based SparkLabs was looking to expand into China and other areas, William put together a partnership with China's Ping An, a world-leading personal financial services provider. Willam elaborates on SparkLabs FinTech, their particular interests in FinTech, Healthcare, and Smart Cities, and how those interest overlap.  

Galina Antova is a cybersecurity entrepreneur and co-founder of Claroty - a purpose-built cybersecurity platform for industrial IoT networks. Throughout her extensive career, she has worked with big-name companies such as Siemens and IBM. In 2011 she was awarded the prestigious MBA scholarship with IMD Future Leaders, to compliment her Bachelors in Computer Science. Also a mentor with SparkLabs, she is passionate about instilling her knowledge in future entrepreneurs and supporting women in in S.T.E.M careers. Keep Reading >> Today, Galina joins me to discuss the exponential growth of Claroty and how she liaises with employees, investors and beyond. She shares her views on the ever-changing-face of cyber-security, discusses her tactics for achieving success, and explains how to navigate male-dominated realms while managing your mental and physical well-being. She also shares her top tips and recommendations for fast growth and deliberate leadership, plus a little insight into what’s next for her and Claroty.   “Sometimes you make mistakes. It’s really important to realize when a mistake has been made and correct that mistake immediately.” - Galina Antova    Today on the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast:   What she loves about the cybersecurity industry. The areas of business that we don’t realize need cybersecurity. The ‘perfect storm’ of industrial cybersecurity. Legacy products that leave our businesses at risk. Claroty’s growth in threat culture. How the Israeli army and Claroty ended up working together. How to get in front of the decision makers of a company. What to look for in investors. How she has successfully grown the company very rapidly. How to hire ‘trusted lieutenants’. Managing yourself - including your mental and physical energy. Navigating a male-dominated industry.     Galina Antova’s Advice for Fierce Feminine Leaders:   Recognize the help you’ve had and utilize existing ecosystems. When looking for investments or help, get in front of the decision makers as much as possible. The right thing is normally the hardest thing!     Fierce Leadership Quotes:   “When we talk about the cybersecurity of operational technology networks, those are actually the networks that literally run the world.” - Galina Antova “If we focus on the easy things to achieve, we only get a temporary sense of achievement.” - Galina Antova “If it makes you anxious, it’s probably the right thing to do.” - Galina Antova     Resources Mentioned:   A16Z Podcast The Hidden Brain Podcast Ayaan Hirsi Ali - Author     Connect with Galina Antova:   Claroty Website LinkedIn Twitter         Grab Your Ticket to the Power. Presence. Position. 3-Day Workshop! Are you ready to ramp up your leadership skills, have more confidence in your instincts, cope with criticism and lead with conviction? Are you ready to unleash your inner-CEO and authentically position yourself in a category of ONE? Join me in Toronto, Canada on November 2-4 for the Power. Presence. Position. Workshop - the 3-day workshop designed to help you up-level your power, presence, and position within your business or organization. Grab your ticket to the Power. Presence. Position. 3-Day Workshop today!     Join the Exclusive Incubator Program!   Are you ready to build, leverage, and scale your business to the next level? Ready to maximize your leadership skills and grow your business to 7-figures and beyond? Join our Incubator Program - the 12-month high-octane program that blends leadership strategy, accountability, and business building support to help you propel your business to the next level and increase your earning power. Head over to EleanorBeaton.com to learn more about The Incubator Program and submit your application today!     Dial Up Your Impact, Influence, and Income in 2018       Are you ready to take your leadership and influence to the next level in 2018? Join the Impact & Influence Leadership Lab for Women with Eleanor Beaton – the world’s premier leadership training and implementation program designed specifically for female leaders! This is a 8-week mentoring program for professional, ambitious women in business who are ready to take their leadership skills to the next level and truly step into their power. Visit the Leadership Lab for Women website to see all of the amazing content, tools, and services you will receive by registering today to claim your seat at the table!     Love the show? Let us know! Are you a fan of the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast? If the tips and interviews we share in each episode have helped you gain the confidence and inspiration to become a better, more powerful leader, head on over to iTunes, subscribe to the show and leave your honest review to let us know! Each month, one lucky podcast reviewer will be selected to receive a free coaching session with me – Eleanor Beaton! What are you waiting for? Head on over to iTunes, subscribe and leave a review to enter your name into this month’s drawing!    And, if you really want to ramp up your fierceness… Reach out to us for a free 30-minute Bold Women in Business Makeover Session with me or one of the fabulous coaches on my team! Explore your path and discover how you can be the fiercest lady-boss possible. Visit EleanorBeaton.com/discover.

Bernard Moon, Co-founder and Partner, SparkLabs Global Ventures, discusses their seed investing activities.

Funds China Life and Baidu combine for $1bn fund SparkLabs sets up $50m Seah-anchored fund Kuppam’s Epsilon anticipates $350m close Government Monash BDI joins MRCF Investments SoftBank ploughs $4.4bn into WeWork VIPKid is the latest participant to close a substantial round, pulling in $200m from investors including Tencent at a reported valuation of more than $1.5bn. Deep … Continue reading "28 August 2017 – VIPKid Closes Round with Reported $1.5bn Valuation"

In this episode we speak with serial entrepreneur Net Jacobsson. From SonyEricsson to Facebook to Sparklabs, Net shares his experiences from Sweden, Silicon Valley and Israel. Enjoy! The post Stockholm-Silicon Valley-Modiin appeared first on Philip Stein & Associates.

March 31, 2016 - SparkLabs Co-Founder & Partner Bernard Moon introduces a new Internet of Things (IoT) accelerator planned for launch in Songdo and Seoul which provide opportunities for entrepreneurs to take the lead of the global IoT trend. Ilan Abehassera, founder and CEO at Insensi and a SparkLabs portfolio company, speaks to the ins and outs of managing a hardware startup company. For more information, please visit the link below:http://www.koreasociety.org/corporate/global_internet_of_things_trend_and_korea.html

With Bernard Moon from Sparklabs Global Ventures and SparkLabs accelerator, we discuss their recent report “Global Technology Trends and Startup Hubs 2015” and its implications to technology startups in this year. We start with Bernard’s journey as a startup operator to an early stage investor and mentor to startups from Silicon Valley to Korea and The post Episode 61: SparkLabs & Startup Hubs with Bernard Moon appeared first on Analyse Asia.