Podcasts about tech startups

In this inspiring episode, Anya Cheng shares her remarkable journey from a non-technical immigrant background to leading product and growth at giants like Facebook, eBay, Target, and McDonald's, and ultimately founding Taylor—an AI-driven menswear rental and styling service for busy professionals. Drawing from her experiences during the 2008 recession, Anya discusses overcoming job-hunting hurdles, the birth of Taylor from personal frustrations with fashion rentals, and how AI and human stylists combine to solve real pain points for ambitious men who prioritize success over style. She reveals growth strategies, lessons from big tech, and future plans for sustainability and corporate partnerships. Perfect for entrepreneurs, fashion innovators, and anyone navigating career pivots.Key MomentsHost welcomes Anya Cheng, highlighting her tech leadership at Facebook, eBay, and more. Anya introduces Taylor as an AI service that curates and rents real menswear for busy men, eliminating shopping and laundry.Anya shares how imposter syndrome as a female immigrant leader at eBay sparked Taylor. She hated subscription boxes and rental hassles, realizing fashion companies ignore practical users.Key Quote: "Most of fashion companies are designing for people who are into fashion, not for people like me. I just want to get ready for the day... Success for me is not about looking good. It's about looking good to get a job, get the deal."Fresh from Northwestern with a marketing master's, Anya ambushes recruiters, networks via professors, and cold-calls publishers amid layoffs—turning desperation into her first media role.Anya explains why she didn't quit: By leveraging her reporter skills (e.g., interviewing, cold-calling), challenges felt manageable, fueling hope.Two years in, Taylor's users aren't just renting clothes—they're buying "chances to succeed" (e.g., job interviews, deals). Customers value convenience like an "executive assistant," while suppliers seek detailed feedback to reduce waste.AI powers onboarding (quizzes, photos) and recommendations from 27,000 garments, with human stylists refining via Zoom/text. It even generates SEO content for trends.Partnerships with dating apps, fitness centers, law firms, and nonprofits outperform solo efforts. Content marketing educates on body types and travel perks (e.g., no luggage fees).From a Shopify waitlist, Anya manually bought/s shipped sale items from Macy's to her first eager customer (a real estate agent), validating demand and iterating 100 times.Big tech taught logical thinking (goals vs. strategies) to pitch investors. For Taylor, targeting men yields higher margins than women's rentals due to buy-through rates.Illustrate a clear problem/persona (e.g., men's convenience vs. women's variety). Nail one giant feature (like Google's search bar). 3) Focus on product-market fit over features.To learn more about Anya Cheng please visit her Linkedin ProfileTo learn more about  Taelor please visit her website.YOUR HOST - SIMON LADER    Simon Lader is the host of The Conference Room, Co-Founder of global executive search firm Salisi Human Capital, and lead generation consultancy Flow and Scale. Since 1997, Simon has helped cybersecurity vendors to build highly effective teams, and since 2022 he has helped people create consistent revenue through consistent lead generation.      Get to know more about Simon at:    Website: https://simonlader.com/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonlader  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/headhuntersimonlader/    The Conference Room is available onSpotifyApple podcastsAmazon MusicIHeartRadio

Fluent Fiction - Spanish: Striking the Balance: A Startup's Path to Investor Success Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/es/episode/2025-09-30-22-34-02-es Story Transcript:Es: El sol de primavera entraba a raudales por las ventanas grandes del incubador de startups.En: The spring sun streamed abundantly through the large windows of the startup incubator.Es: El lugar era un hervidero de actividad.En: The place was a hive of activity.Es: En un rincón, Esteban movía nervioso papeles sobre una mesa llena de garabatos y esquemas.En: In one corner, Esteban nervously shuffled papers on a table full of scribbles and diagrams.Es: Luz, a su lado, ajustaba los últimos detalles de la presentación en su computador, una sonrisa confiada en su rostro.En: Luz, beside him, was adjusting the final details of the presentation on her computer, a confident smile on her face.Es: Al otro lado, Paloma revisaba cifras en su tablet, su ceño fruncido.En: Across the room, Paloma was reviewing figures on her tablet, her brow furrowed.Es: El grupo estaba a minutos de su gran presentación.En: The group was minutes away from their big presentation.Es: Esteban llevaba meses trabajando en esto.En: Esteban had been working on this for months.Es: Quería impresionar a los inversores con su producto innovador.En: He wanted to impress the investors with his innovative product.Es: Pero aún no sabía si debía ser audaz o comedido.En: But he still didn't know whether to be bold or measured.Es: Los consejos de Paloma y Luz eran opuestos.En: Paloma and Luz's advice were opposing.Es: "Esteban, necesitamos mostrar todo lo que podemos hacer," decía Luz con entusiasmo.En: "Esteban, we need to show everything we can do," said Luz enthusiastically.Es: "Nuestro producto es increíble.En: "Our product is incredible.Es: Los inversores deben ver su potencial completo."En: Investors need to see its full potential."Es: "Sí, pero no podemos prometer más de lo que podemos cumplir," replicó Paloma, firme pero tranquila.En: "Yes, but we can't promise more than we can deliver," Paloma replied, firm but calm.Es: "Queremos que confíen en nosotros, no que se desilusionen."En: "We want them to trust us, not be disappointed."Es: Esteban escuchaba a las dos, asintiendo.En: Esteban listened to both, nodding.Es: Sabía que la decisión final era suya.En: He knew the final decision was his.Es: Tomó aire y dijo: "Encontraremos el equilibrio.En: He took a breath and said, "We'll find the balance.Es: Luz, destacaremos las funciones más llamativas.En: Luz, we'll highlight the most striking features.Es: Paloma, seremos claros con los límites actuales."En: Paloma, we'll be clear about the current limitations."Es: Llegó el momento.En: The moment arrived.Es: Caminaron hacia la sala de reuniones, donde varios inversores ya estaban sentados.En: They walked to the meeting room, where several investors were already seated.Es: El clima era tenso, pero había una energía positiva en el aire.En: The atmosphere was tense, but there was a positive energy in the air.Es: Esteban comenzó con seguridad, introduciendo el producto y resaltando sus beneficios.En: Esteban began confidently, introducing the product and highlighting its benefits.Es: Luz explicó las características emocionantes con pasión, ganando la atención del público.En: Luz explained the exciting features with passion, capturing the audience's attention.Es: Todo iba bien hasta que uno de los inversores, un hombre calvo con gafas, levantó su mano.En: Everything was going well until one of the investors, a bald man with glasses, raised his hand.Es: "¿Y qué pasa con la escalabilidad a largo plazo?"En: "And what about long-term scalability?"Es: preguntó, con un tono inquisitivo.En: he asked, in an inquisitive tone.Es: Este era el momento crítico.En: This was the critical moment.Es: Esteban sintió una punzada de nervios, pero con la energía optimista de Luz en mente, y la precaución de Paloma, respondió.En: Esteban felt a pang of nerves, but with Luz's optimistic energy in mind, and Paloma's caution, he responded.Es: "Nuestro enfoque inicial está en la calidad y satisfacción del usuario.En: "Our initial focus is on quality and user satisfaction.Es: A medida que avancemos, planeamos ampliar gradualmente, asegurando que cada etapa de crecimiento esté bien estructurada."En: As we progress, we plan to expand gradually, ensuring that each stage of growth is well-structured."Es: El lugar quedó en silencio por un segundo eterno.En: The room went silent for an eternal second.Es: Luego, el inversor asintió, satisfecho.En: Then, the investor nodded, satisfied.Es: Esteban sintió una ola de alivio.En: Esteban felt a wave of relief.Es: Había logrado encontrar el balance correcto.En: He had managed to find the right balance.Es: Al salir de la sala, Luz le dio una palmada en la espalda.En: As they left the room, Luz patted him on the back.Es: "¡Lo hiciste genial!"En: "You were great!"Es: Paloma sonrió, más relajada.En: Paloma smiled, more relaxed.Es: "Ese fue un buen equilibrio de visión y realidad."En: "That was a good balance of vision and reality."Es: Esteban sonrió también, sintiéndose más confiado que nunca.En: Esteban smiled too, feeling more confident than ever.Es: Había aprendido a valorar tanto la ambición como la realidad.En: He had learned to value both ambition and reality.Es: Sabía que su equipo estaba en el camino correcto, liderando con determinación y equilibrio hacia un futuro brillante.En: He knew his team was on the right path, leading with determination and balance towards a bright future. Vocabulary Words:the incubator: el incubadorthe hive: el herviderothe scribbles: los garabatosthe diagrams: los esquemasthe brow: el ceñothe figures: las cifrasto impress: impresionarbold: audazmeasured: comedidostriking features: funciones llamativaslimitations: los límitesthe atmosphere: el climathe benefits: los beneficiosthe features: las característicasscalability: la escalabilidadlong-term: a largo plazoinquisitive: inquisitivothe focus: el enfoquethe stage: la etapastructured: estructuradathe balance: el equilibriorelief: el aliviothe vision: la visiónreality: la realidadambition: la ambiciónthe team: el equipodetermination: la determinaciónthe effort: el esfuerzoto expand: ampliarto highlight: resaltar

⁠Amardeep Parmar⁠⁠ from Bae HQ welcomes ⁠⁠Anthony Jacob, CEO at ⁠Nila Cares⁠.

In this episode, we sit down with Cameron Lippert, co-founder of ElectraMet, and Chris Young, President of Bluegrass Angels, to explore how a hard-tech startup spun out of university research is solving one of industry's biggest challenges: removing metals and oxidants from wastewater. By turning costly waste streams into valuable resources, ElectraMet is helping critical sectors like semiconductors, mining, battery recycling, and defense.Expect to learn how university research in Kentucky sparked the idea that became ElectraMet, why early investors and mentors were crucial to navigating commercialization, how the team pivoted from desalination to metals recovery, and why ElectraMet's journey is a blueprint for the type of circular economy manufacturing that the GAME Change initiative aims to grow.Middle Tech is proudly supported by:KY Innovation → kyinnovation.comAwesome Inc → awesomeinc.org

Lucy Hargreaves, co-founder and CEO of Build Canada think tank, discusses new research showing that the number of Canadian-founded tech startups remaining headquartered in the country has plummeted between 2015 and 2024. Hargreaves argues that while Canada has the talent and resources to compete globally, the country has chosen "safe incrementalism" over bold nation-building solutions, making it increasingly difficult for entrepreneurs to pursue their ambitions domestically. The Hub is Canada's fastest growing independent digital news outlet.   Subscribe to The Hub's podcast feed to get our best content when you are on the go: https://tinyurl.com/3a7zpd7e (Apple)  https://tinyurl.com/y8akmfn7 (Spotify)   Want more Hub? Get a FREE 3-month trial membership on us: https://thehub.ca/free-trial/ Follow The Hub on X: https://x.com/thehubcanada?lang=en   CREDITS: Amal Attar-Guzman - Producer and Video Editor Alisha Rao - Sound Editor Rudyard Griffiths - Host   To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts email support@thehub.ca

Nederland moet in de komende tien jaar tien nieuwe technologie- en martkleiders voortbrengen. Dat doel heeft demissionair minister Karremans van Economische Zaken voor ogen, die daar extra subsidie voor wil uittrekken in combinatie met andere maatregelen zoals de verlenging van aanjaagprogramma Techleap. Niels Kooloos vertelt erover in deze Tech Update. 'We moeten nú investeren in het verdienvermogen van morgen', zegt Karremans. 'Zonder nieuwe techbedrijven, geen sterk Nederland.' Volgens Karremans wordt Nederland links en rechts ingehaald door andere landen met investeringen in onderzoek en innovatie. Daarom is er meer nodig om bedrijven zoals ASML en Adyen in Nederland te houden en om meer van dat soort bedrijven te krijgen, stelt Karremans. Naast extra subsidie en een verlenging van het Techleap-programma, moet dat bijvoorbeeld gebeuren met belastingvoordelen voor werknemers van start- en scale-ups en meer directe betrokkenheid van de overheid. Verder in deze Tech Update: Apple, Google, Microsoft, en Booking moeten allemaal aan Brussel laten zien dat ze genoeg tegen illegale content op hun platformen doen De Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens roept fabrikanten van deurbelcamera's op om hun producten standaard met de juiste privacy-instellingen te leveren See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang descended on the United Kingdom this week, armed with a pledge to invest $2.6 billion to supercharge the country's AI startup ecosystem. Wayve, the U.K.-based self-driving tech startup, could be one of those to receive funds from Nvidia's AI investment commitment. Also, U.K.-based fintech Tide has entered the unicorn club with a fresh funding of $120 million led by TPG, as the startup now serves over 1.6 million micro and small enterprises globally — with more than half of them based in India, the company's largest and fastest-growing market. The new round — a mix of primary and secondary investment, though the startup declined to confirm the exact split — values the eight-year-old startup at $1.5 billion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The “Valley of Death” has become a popular term to describe a challenging period for sustainability focused startups. Bridging this “valley of death” in commercialization of sustainable technologies is a key role today's guest believes her company can play for their clients. Cindy Jia is Head of the Sustainable Solutions Group at ING Capital. Her goals for the ING team include accelerating adoption of sustainable tech and facilitating an easy transition between the different capital pools that are available. Today we're going to discuss the challenges in achieving these goals and how ING has progressed.

In this inspiring episode of 'Raise Your Visibility Online,' LinkedIn expert and CEO Louise Brogan sits down with Lou Doyle, co-founder and CEO of Needi, a revolutionary corporate gifting concierge service that's transforming how businesses connect.Lou shares her remarkable entrepreneurial journey - from her early days in recruitment and traveling the world, to launching a cutting-edge tech company that blends psychology and AI to create meaningful corporate connections. Discover how she's tackling corporate waste while supporting local businesses through innovative gifting solutions.This episode is packed with actionable insights for business owners, industry experts, and aspiring entrepreneurs looking to leverage technology, build meaningful connections, and create sustainable business models that make a real impact.What You'll LearnHow to transition from traditional industries to tech entrepreneurshipThe psychology behind effective corporate gifting strategiesBuilding algorithms that create genuine human connectionsStrategies for reducing waste while growing your businessHow to leverage local partnerships for global impactThe importance of making recipients feel truly valuedPractical steps for building a tech-driven business from scratchCorporate gifting tactics that actually work for large organisationsKey TakeawaysThe Power of Connection: Learn why meaningful gifts foster stronger business relationships than generic corporate swagTech Meets Psychology: Discover how AI algorithms can be designed to understand human preferences and create personalized experiencesSustainable Business Models: See how reducing waste and supporting local businesses can be profitable growth strategiesEntrepreneurial Mindset: Understand the journey from employee to CEO and the mindset shifts required for successAbout Our GuestLou Doyle is the co-founder and CEO of Needi, a corporate gifting concierge service that's revolutionising how companies show appreciation and build connections. With a background in recruitment and a passion for technology and data, Lou has created an innovative platform that combines psychology with AI to deliver meaningful gifting experiences while supporting sustainability and local businesses.Episode Timestamps00:00 Introduction to Raise Your Visibility Online00:52 Meet Lou Doyle: Entrepreneur and Mom04:16 The Journey to Entrepreneurship06:39 The Birth of Needi: A Gifting Company13:27 Building a Tech-Driven Business16:32 Passion for Tech and Data17:10 The Power of Connection19:48 Building Needi from Scratch22:55 Corporate Gifting Strategies28:53 Future Growth and Global Expansion30:43 How to Connect with NeediConnect with Lou Doyle & Needilouise@needi.co.ukwww.needi.co.ukhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/louiseneedi/About the HostLouise Brogan is a LinkedIn expert, CEO, and host of 'Raise Your Visibility Online.' She helps business owners, industry experts, and entrepreneurs elevate their online presence and grow their ventures through strategic visibility and networking.Perfect ForBusiness owners looking to improve corporate relationshipsEntrepreneurs interested in tech startupsIndustry experts seeking innovative connection strategiesAnyone wanting to build a more sustainable business...

The justice-tech startup, LegalEase, is working to transform the expungement process. “Closer Look” host Rose Scott talks with LegalEase founders and Howard University alumni, Lawrence Blackmon and Roger Roman, about the inspiration behind the AI-powered web-based portal. They also share their ongoing efforts to expand the platform to Georgia and other states throughout the country. Plus, Ludacris, Future, Mary J. Blige, and The Roots are among some of the artists slated to take center stage at this year’s ONE Musicfest. In 2010, Jason "J" Carter launched the annual two-day festival that he says centers Black joy, culture, creativity, and music. Ahead of this year’s festival on October 25-26 at Piedmont Park, Carter joins “Closer Look” to talk more about the backstory of the festival.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Manchmal reicht alles Reflektieren und Verstehen nicht, wir stecken trotzdem in alten Mustern fest. Genau da setzt die Arbeit von Sarah-Lisa Besemer an. In dieser Folge spricht Miriam mit der Hypnose-Coachin, die sich selbst „Emotion Alchemist“ nennt. Sarah-Lisa war über 15 Jahre Führungskraft im Vertrieb, gründete ein Tech-Startup und stand oft kurz vor dem Burnout. Heute begleitet sie Menschen mit Hypnose, emotionaler Prozessarbeit und somatischen Methoden dabei, aus dem Kopf ins Fühlen zu kommen und sich nachhaltig zu verändern. Gemeinsam reden Miriam und Sarah-Lisa über People Pleasing, innere Kind-Arbeit und die Angst, Sicherheit aufzugeben – und warum genau darin der Schlüssel zur Freiheit liegt.

In dieser Folge von „Let's Get Visible“ spricht Host Carolin Anne Schiebel mit Martin Reichetseder – Director Legal Services und Group Compliance Officer bei TGW Logistics sowie Co-Founder des Tech-Startups .Loupe. Martin blickt auf einen ungewöhnlichen Karriereweg zurück: vom Abschluss an der Bundeshandelsakademie über eine Station als Anwalt bis hin zum Unternehmer – und wieder zurück ins Corporate Life. Im Gespräch erzählt er, welche Rolle Werte, Unternehmenskultur und der Umgang mit Menschen für seinen Weg spielen. Besonders offen spricht Martin über seinen persönlichen Weg zur Sichtbarkeit: Wie sein Mann ihn bestärkt hat, zu sich selbst zu stehen – privat wie beruflich. Er berichtet von Herausforderungen wie toxischen Beziehungen, seinem Outing und Selbstzweifeln. Außerdem gibt er Einblicke in die Welt der Intralogistik bei TGW, erzählt von der Gründung seines Startups Loop und den Stolpersteinen, ein eigenes Produkt im eigenen Unternehmen zu etablieren. Ein Gespräch über Mut, Authentizität, den Umgang mit Neid und Ablehnung – und darüber, warum Sichtbarkeit ein entscheidender Faktor für persönlichen und beruflichen Erfolg ist. Diese Folge richtet sich an alle, die sich beruflich oder privat sichtbarer machen wollen – egal ob im Unternehmen oder als Gründer*in.

Lamia Rahman is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, TEDx speaker, and co-founder of SEEKR, a tech startup creating wearable AI devices for the blind. In this inspiring episode, Lamia shares her journey from law school in Hong Kong to the front lines of legal tech, accessibility, and advocacy.LAWYER SIDE HUSTLESSEEKR began as a passion project and has since grown into a globally recognized AI startup. The company develops wearable devices that help blind and visually impaired users navigate the world more independently. Lamia co-founded SEEKR during her law degree, blending her passion for tech with her desire to serve.“It was a small idea at first. Now we're building something that's used across countries. That's wild,” Lamia Rahman shares in Episode 209 of You Are a LawyerMore than a “side hustle,” SEEKR is a mission-driven business, fueled by Lamia's belief that tech should be inclusive and empathetic. In the episode, she shares what it's like to build a team, pitch to investors, and develop AI that solves real-world problems, all while still figuring out what comes next in her legal career.LISTEN TO LEARNHow Lamia co-founded an AI startup that creates wearable tools for the blindWhy legal knowledge helps entrepreneurs navigate business growthHow public speaking and networking open unexpected career doorsWE ALSO DISCUSSHer experience studying law in Hong Kong as an international studentHow being a woman of color in tech and law shaped her journeyWays to combine social justice, accessibility, and innovationJoin the FREE mailing list!Get behind-the-scenes content from You Are A Lawyer. 1) Visit www.youarealawyer.com2) Add your email address to the Subscribe pop-up box OR3) Enter your email address on the right side of the screen4) Get emails from me (I won't fill your inbox with junk)!Interact with You Are A LawyerKyla Denanyoh hosts the You Are A Lawyer podcast. Follow the podcast:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@youarealawyerWebsite: https://www.youarealawyer.com

In this Q&A, Courtney Salas joins me to unpack what it really takes to succeed as an Executive Assistant in a fast-paced tech startup. From organising constant change to stepping confidently into a strategic partnership, Courtney shares honest stories from life inside a 40-something-person scale-up—where there are no playbooks, just problems to solve and opportunities to grab.You'll hear how Courtney:Swapped corporate certainty for startup “productive chaos” and found her happy placeBalances EA fundamentals with high-impact projects (including running a full Series A process)Builds confidence to challenge decisions and propose better optionsHires for grit, curiosity, and bias to action - over years of experienceUses AI smartly, including a custom “Joe AI” profile to draft in her executive's voiceStreamlines calendars and inboxes with booking links and sensible automation - without losing controlListen if you're: Curious about moving into tech, keen to elevate your remit beyond the “basics,” or ready to use tools and workflows to free up time for genuinely strategic work.HighlightsOwning the chaos: why uncertainty can accelerate your growthThe fine line: keeping the day-to-day tight while driving big outcomesInfluence in action: weekly prioritisation check-ins that actually workTech stack talk: calendar links, inbox design, and practical AICareer mindset: choose leaders who open doors—and remember “everything is figureoutable”Tools and Resources: Google Calendar – daily scheduling, advanced setup for blocking priorities and tasksCalendly – as another option for sharing availabilityChatGPT – used daily to draft, edit, and researchSlack – team communications, used as a source for training the AIResources & next steps If you're working towards a strategic partnership, explore our Strategic Business Partner course and check what's coming up on The EA Campus events calendar. You'll find masterclasses, summits, and community sessions designed to support you at every stage.Enjoy the episode, and if it resonates, share it with an EA who's ready for their next leap. The EA Campus

Habt ihr schon mal einen Deep-Tech Gründer gehört, der so authentisch über die Herausforderungen seines eigenen Unternehmens – und gleich der gesamten Branche – spricht? In dieser Episode von Working with Startups from Science spreche ich mit Jan Leisse, Gründer und CEO von eleQtron. Wir reden über Unternehmenskultur, die Rolle eines Gründers und CEOs – und natürlich kommt auch die faszinierende Technologie von eleQtron nicht zu kurz. Was kannst du aus dieser Folge mitnehmen? Warum Authentizität eine Schlüsselrolle in der Führung spielt. Wie Unternehmenskultur Innovationen beflügeln kann. Welche echten Herausforderungen Deep-Tech Startups heute meistern müssen.

11.00 ททท. ดัน Travel Tech Startup ปั้น Startup ไทยสู่อนาคตการท่องเที่ยวอัจฉริยะ

Commerce Secretary Lutnick told CNBC yesterday that top pentagon officials are discussing taking stakes in defense contractors like Lockheed Martin as the possibility of nationalization expands beyond Intel. But the resounding sentiment from startups and investors is that this could have disastrous consequences on innovation in the sector. 

AWS's Daniele Stroppa, Worldwide Technical Lead for AWS partners in retail, joins us to announce August's retail tech startup of the month: Vody. Daniele breaks down how Vody makes data ready for AI and AI agents through their intelligent data infrastructure solutions. Unlike typical approaches that tackle product discoverability with chatbots or search improvements, Vody addresses the challenge at its foundation – the data itself. Their sophisticated system transforms messy product catalogs into AI-optimized data using state-of-the-art multimodal large language models specifically fine-tuned for retail.

Inside the Auckland event where tech startups pitch to New Zealand's wealthiest investors, the economic outlook is sunny At the Icehouse Showcase, tech start-ups vie for the attention - and cash - of some of New Zealand's richest, in a stark contrast to the economic slump across the countryFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Building the Future: Carol Yu on Nurturing China's Tech StartupsIn the latest episode of the Asia Business Podcast, we're joined by Carol Yu, the dynamic founding partner and Associate Dean of Shenzhen InnoX Academy. This episode delves into Carol's journey from her academic roots in Guangzhou, through her formative years in the U.S., and back to her entrepreneurial endeavors in Southern China. Carol shares insights into the innovative model of InnoX Academy, which nurtures entrepreneurial talent and incubates tech startups in a region famous for its rapid technological advancements.Meet Carol Yu: The Visionary Behind InnoX AcademyConnect with CarolCarol Yu is no stranger to pioneering new paths. Her academic journey took her from Guangzhou to the U.S., where she pursued higher education in economics and public policy. Her passion for innovation and education ultimately led her back to China, where she co-founded Shenzhen InnoX Academy with Professor Li Zexiang. Professor Li, renowned for his role in launching DJI, has been instrumental in promoting tech innovation in Shenzhen, a hub for hardware technology.InnoX Academy: A Unique Model for Incubating TalentThe Shenzhen InnoX Academy stands out for its commitment to fostering young talent. Unlike traditional accelerators like Y Combinator focused primarily on product and pitch, InnoX provides a comprehensive nurturing environment. Carol elaborates on the academy's approach: starting with students who often have no clear project idea, InnoX offers a systematic empowerment platform. This includes a talent pool, curated curriculum, supply-chain resources, and a focus on both technical skills and go-to-market strategies.Combating Challenges: Bridging Technical Expertise and Entrepreneurial SavvyA key challenge faced by InnoX Academy is bridging the gap between technical innovation and commercialization. Carol notes that many young innovators possess deep technical skills but lack understanding of market dynamics and business management. The academy addresses this by providing industry-experienced mentors from leading firms like DJI, BYD, and Huawei, who guide students in transforming their innovative ideas into market-ready products.The Hardware Renaissance: Rethinking Global StrategiesCarol discusses the shifting perception of hardware in tech industries. As software business models saturate, the combination of hardware innovation with AI and robotics creates new opportunities. Shenzhen's capability to rapidly iterate and commercialize products presents a distinct advantage. InnoX Academy enables projects to achieve cash flow positivity within 18 months and even bypass traditional funding needs by directly moving towards IPOs.Navigating Geopolitical Landscapes: Expanding Beyond ChinaThe discussion also touches on the global ambitions of Chinese entrepreneurs amidst shifting geopolitical tides. Carol acknowledges the challenges brought by heightened tariffs and geopolitical tensions. Yet, she emphasizes the resilience and adaptability of entrepreneurs in pursuing the lucrative U.S. and European markets through strategic pivots, such as leveraging Singaporean bases or separating hardware and software development.The Role of Education: From Stanford and Harvard to InnoXReflecting on her educational experiences at Stanford and Harvard, Carol praises the environments that shaped her entrepreneurial spirit. Stanford imparted a boundless belief in possibility, while Harvard provided a deeper understanding of global policy dynamics. These influences are evident in her leadership at InnoX, where she underscores the importance of values-driven entrepreneurship and the power of positive societal impact.Conclusion: A Future-Forward Vision for Global InnovationCarol Yu's work with InnoX Academy embodies a forward-thinking model that intersects innovation with cultural understanding and business acumen. She continues to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs not only to succeed in markets but to create meaningful global impact. As the world navigates complex challenges, the narratives from leaders like Carol provide invaluable insights into the evolving landscape of global business and technology.Timestamps00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:08 Carol Yu's Background and Career Journey05:28 Professor Li and the Birth of DJI10:14 InnoX Academy and Talent Development11:25 Challenges and Strategies in Talent Selection13:28 Empowerment Platform and Curriculum18:09 Shared Factory Platform and Market Integration18:54 Innovation and Industrialization in China24:13 Funding Strategies and Road Shows25:11 Challenges in Hardware Business28:02 Global Expansion and Geopolitical Challenges29:40 Advice for Chinese Companies Entering Global Markets30:44 Impact of US-China Trade Relations ProducerJacob ThomasFollow UsLinkedInApple Podcasts

Most founders dream of creating a product so good it sells itself. That's the promise of product-led growth: customers discover, share, and adopt your product with little to no sales effort. Sadly that's rarely the reality. In the early stages, almost every founder has to do the hard, unglamorous work of founder-led growth: building trust, making offers and facing rejection. In this episode, you will learn from Vijay Rajendran, author of The Funding Framework: Secure Startup Funding With Confidence. Vijay previously led portfolio value at 500 Global, a venture capital firm with $2.7 billion under management, where he supported startups in more than 80 countries.  Vijay has helped hundreds of founders grow, scale, and raise capital.  Listen to learn: The difference between founder-led and product-led growth — and when each approach works best. How design partnerships and pilots can win your first customers (and even get them to fund product development). Why “influence” is a better mindset than “sales” — and how listening to customers creates trust. Stories from Airbnb to enterprise startups that reveal what growth really looks like behind the scenes. Whether you're launching your first product, leading innovation inside a corporate, or backing founders as an investor, this episode is for you. Resources mentioned in this episode: Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, Robert Cialdini Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It, Chris Voss Chapters   05:24 — The seductive dream of product-led growth (and why it rarely works early on) 07:52 — Design partnerships: how customers can fund your product 13:39 — The Airbnb toilet photos story: why every founder must talk to customers 18:55 — Stop pitching, start listening: turning sales into influence 23:23 — Empathy and persuasion: the human skills behind tech success 28:48 — When to move from founder-led growth to a professional sales team FREE Course: 5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know https://www.techfornontechies.co/freecourse   Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here. Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University. For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/266-founder-led-vs-product-led-growth-how-to-pick-the-right-path-for-your-startup

Omari Richins, MPH of Public Health Careers podcast talks with Kwame Terra, MPH, the founder and CEO of bEHR Health, who discusses his journey in public health, the importance of health equity, and the innovative approaches his startup is taking to improve health outcomes in the Black community. Kwame shares insights on preventative health, the creation of a health score, and the bEHRathon initiative aimed at engaging the community in health-promoting activities. He emphasizes the need for self-directed health management and the role of technology in transforming public health. The discussion also touches on systemic barriers to health and the importance of community engagement in achieving health equity.In this episode we learn about:- How Kwame blends endurance, innovation, and activism to reimagine how communities engage with health.- Why creating health-promoting environments is essential for community wellness.- Why preventable conditions account for a significant portion of healthcare spending and how he's trying to change it.- How startups and health technology can effectively address urgent health problems.Join our paid Patreon to support

IoT isn't a buzzword anymore. It's business. Wienke Giezeman built The Things Industries from scratch. Now he's managing 3 million connected devices globally. $4M in annual revenue. And he did it by breaking every Silicon Valley rule. No "winner takes all" mentality. Pure collaboration. This episode cuts through the IoT hype cycle. Wienke reveals why most IoT projects failed. How his company survived when others didn't. And why sharing your IP actually grows the market. Real talk on scaling hardware. Building communities. Making AI work with IoT data. From cattle tracking to vape detection in school bathrooms. From forest fire sensors to toilet paper dispensers. The use cases that actually make money. Plus: Why the next wave of IoT growth is coming. And how startups can avoid the graveyard. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:13 Wienke Giezeman's Background and Company Overview 00:52 Early Days and Inspiration 01:34 Building a Global Network 02:08 Community and Collaboration 06:31 The Things Conference 09:22 Trends in IoT and AI Integration 15:12 Future Prospects and Reflections 25:10 Advice for IoT Startups 27:35 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Hit subscribe for more unfiltered tech insights. Rate us 5 stars if this episode delivered value. Connect with Wienke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wienke/ The Things Network: https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/ The Things Industries: https://www.thethingsindustries.com/ The Things Conference: https://www.thethingsconference.com/ 23-24 September 2025, Amsterdam

For technology startups, the closure of an external investment round should be considered only the beginning of a new cycle in their strategies to grow the business and accelerate adoption of their products.Michael Hauser, managing partner for Science Applications International Corp.'s venture capital arm, joins for this episode to explain how SAIC Ventures works with startups after investing in them to bring their technologies into government missions.As Hauser explains to our Ross Wilkers, the SAIC Ventures team acts as a business model scout in addition to playing its role in the parent company's overall tech scouting function.Hauser also walks through the decision process of when a tech is ready for the customer to use, plus how Dairy Queen's famous Blizzard blend helps explain the art and science of technology integration.SAIC backs satellite bus design startupSAIC joins zero trust startup's network of investorsInfleqtion closes $100M Series C roundUndersea drone startup fetches $16M to aid hiring, manufacturing pushVenture investing is part of the M&A conversation tooWT 360: RTX Ventures casts its net wide and far across an expanding tech ecosystemWT 360: For Lockheed's ventures team, its investments are merely step onePROJECT 38: How Razor's Edge Ventures scouts for tech and companiesPROJECT 38: Booz Allen signaling intent with $100M ventures fund

If you're a non-technical founder building your first product, this episode is for you. In today's lesson, Robyn Exton shares the real story of how she went from branding agency employee to founder of a global tech company — without writing a line of code. She didn't raise millions on day one. She learned by doing, made all the early-stage mistakes, and got her first users with vodka shots in nightclubs. Now, her app has millions of users and she's been through Y Combinator. Robyn is the founder of HER, the dating app for queer women. Listen to this episode to learn: How to build a tech product without knowing how to code What to do when your first version fails The difference between product design and graphic design (and why it matters) How to work with developers when you don't speak tech Whether you're dreaming up your first MVP or struggling through version two, this is your honest guide to building in the dark — and making it work.   Chapters 00:00 — Vodka shots for downloads: the hustle begins 03:10 — From branding job to building a tech product 10:30 — The wake-up call: “You're doing too many things” 14:00 — Fake research, failed MVP, and what she learned 27:20 — How a non-technical founder led a dev team 33:45 — Hiring a CTO, letting go of ego, and building trust 45:35 — Raising $1M before YC — and why she joined anyway 51:10 — Final audience Q&A: churn, product, and user feedback   FREE Course: 5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know https://www.techfornontechies.co/freecourse   Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here. Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University. For the full transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/265-from-vodka-shots-to-y-combinator-how-a-non-technical-founder-built-a-global-tech-company

Michael Dempsey is the Managing Partner at Compound, a thesis-driven, research-centric investment firm.We spent two hours talking through the past, present, and future of a bunch of topics in technology and investing.Michael started investing in AI in 2016. He was the first investor in now-unicorns Runway and Wayve. But he hasn't done much AI investing over the past few years. We talk about why, how AI will intersect with robotics, the future of things like crypto and synthetic biology, and why so many deep tech companies mess up economic value capture.We also talk about what it means to be a thesis-driven venture firm, Compound's research process and how to replicate it, what private and public market investors can learn from each other, advice for anyone starting in venture today, how to build a brand in VC, and why venture firms don't compound and actually decay over time.Thank you to Kevin Kwok, Andy Weissman, Cristóbal Valenzuela, Blake Robbins, and Smac at Compound for their help brainstorming topics for this.Special thanks to Ramp for supporting this episode. It's the corporate card and expense management platform used by over 40,000 companies, like Shopify, CBRE and Stripe. Time is money. Save both with Ramp. Get $250 for signing-up here.Timestamps:(4:09) Leading Runway's Seed in 2018(10:15) Short-term ARR vs long-term sustainability(16:20) Compound, a research-centric investment firm(18:41) Investing in bio, crypto, real-world AI, and healthcare(23:58) VC firms do not compound, they decay over time(29:27) How to build a research-focused investment firm(41:30) Current state of venture slop(45:43) Building a brand as a VC firm(52:31) Investing in Wayve in 2016(58:53) Why deep tech companies screw up economic value capture(1:04:57) How to approach massive funding rounds(1:08:36) Should VCs “play the game on the field”?(1:15:33) Compound is a forecasting firm(1:21:37) Advice for young people getting into VC(1:26:48) Public market investors underappreciate narratives(1:31:20) Michael's crypto thesis + real use cases(1:40:07) Why crypto hasn't seen mass adoption yet(1:49:00) Humanoid robots won't work(1:54:42) Should you make a hyped launch video?ReferencedCompound RunwayWayveMichael's BlogFollow MicahelTwitterLinkedInFollow TurnerTwitterLinkedInSubscribe to my newsletter to get every episode + the transcript in your inbox every week.

GSD Presents: Top Global Startups with Jane Ollis Building a Tech Startup as a Woman Founder: Lessons in AI, Resilience, and Starting From Scratch August 7th, Thursday

From the barber chair to the tech world, Dorian shares how he turned a gap in the booking app market into Cutnova—a platform blending appointments with community to help barbers grow, connect, and thrive.Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!KEY TAKEAWAYS:

In this jaw-dropping episode, Alicia Waldner reveals how she turned content creation into a funding strategy for her tech startup. From facing judgment to raising $500K in capital, Alicia breaks all the rules and rewrites the playbook on how to build a business. No silver spoon. No shortcuts. Just bold moves and a vision most wouldn't dare to chase. This is not just a business story—it's a wake-up call for anyone who thinks unconventional paths can't lead to real success.

Exploring how nonprofit fundraisers can adopt the disciplined mindset and tools of the startup world— with special guest Jeffrey Fidelman, CEO of Fidelman & Co..  Jeffrey, whose firm delivers "fundraise-as-a-service" to early-stage companies and emerging managers, shares a structured and data-informed approach to relationship-building that challenges many long-held assumptions in the nonprofit sector. This fascinating discussion will challenge nonprofit professionals to rethink the very architecture of their fundraising systems by borrowing proven tactics from startups—without sacrificing the human touch.At the core of Jeffrey's message is the idea that fundraising is a systematic process, not a single pitch or magical conversation.Jeffrey maps out a dual-layer approach to fundraising: the quantitative layer, involving workflow, analytics, and consistency; and the qualitative layer, which focuses on personalization, trust, and long-term relationship development. He draws comparisons between nonprofit fundraising and sales funnels in the for-profit world, urging nonprofits not only to expand the top of the funnel, but to improve conversions at the bottom—where so much potential is lost.A key takeaway for nonprofit leaders is the importance of tech-enabled tracking and experimentation. Jeffrey introduces the concept of hypothesis-driven outreach, advising organizations to run structured experiments over 60–90 days and adjust based on data. He explains how simple tools like Google Sheets or CRM platforms like HubSpot and Zoho can help nonprofits monitor donor progression, email open rates, and reply rates—unlocking previously invisible insights.This rich conversation also addresses transparency, both internally and externally. Jeffrey critiques the secrecy often surrounding fundraising data within nonprofit teams and stresses the importance of shared pipelines and consistent communication. As he explains, success lies in setting expectations early and “being an extension of the team, not a black box.”On segmentation, Jeffrey contrasts mass marketing with targeted outreach, arguing that larger gifts demand deep personalization. He recommends nonprofits resist the impulse to blanket every potential donor and instead invest time in researching each prospect—"go on their LinkedIn, learn about them”—to craft meaningful connections.Find us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show

A trusted friend introduces Taylor to a man named Sylvein William Maximilian D'Habsburg XVII, a tech whiz and the inventor of a fascinating new robotic technology. His gigantic insect-like robots promise to be a game changer in military applications. He offers her what feels like the opportunity of a lifetime, getting in on the ground floor of this innovative tech, and she invests $50,000 of her inheritance. But the returns she is promised never materialize, and when she seeks to withdraw her funds, Sylvein makes excuses and reveals he's under investigation by the FBI. Ultimately, Sylvein pleads guilty to stealing nearly $6 million from investors, including many members of the local Filipino church community, and using the money to purchase luxury cars and rare antiques.

Send us a textFollow the hosts on Instagram @alonbenjoseph, @scarlintheshire, @davaucher and @robnudds.Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

This week Chris speaks with Perry Rosenblum, CEO and co-founder of Motion.io, a cutting-edge client onboarding and collaboration platform for service-based businesses. Previously, Perry founded Brighter Vision, which he successfully bootstrapped and later sold to EverCommerce in 2020. On this episode, Perry provides insights into the ecosystem's evolution, highlighting his frontline exposure at a startup in the Foundry Group's office to the significance of intentional culture building in startups, recounting his lessons learned while scaling Brighter Vision. With a focus on actionable takeaways, Perry underscores the importance of cultivating a defined company culture early on, tapping into attributes like speed to stay competitive in the fast-paced startup world.Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts!Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn.Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

AWS's Daniele Stroppa, Worldwide Technical Lead for AWS partners in retail, joins us to announce July's retail tech startup of the month: Bria AI. Daniele breaks down why Bria AI is revolutionizing content creation for brands with their visual generative AI platform. Unlike typical text-to-image generators, Bria focuses on commercial value, seamless integration, and fully compliant content creation using properly licensed data. From maintaining brand integrity with "tailor generation" to creating thousands of product images in minutes instead of weeks, Bria AI is solving real enterprise challenges with practical solutions that integrate into existing workflows.

Most startup CEOs think they're the visionary. But in today's episode, you'll learn why the CEO is often the single biggest threat to team productivity — and how to avoid becoming one. Based on a real conversation with a seasoned CTO and a sales leader who've scaled startups to exit, this episode dives into the blind spots that trip up even well-meaning founders. Whether you're a CEO, part of a startup team, or investing in one — this lesson will help you lead smarter, build better, and waste less time. Listen to learn:  Why startup CEOs are more dangerous than corporate CEOs (and it's not about ego) What “Seagull CEO Syndrome” does to your roadmap and morale How developer paralysis destroys velocity — and how to fix it What smart founders, teams, and investors can do to keep priorities on track Lesson mentioned in this episode:  Why MVPs are Always Late, Why That's Okay, and What to do About It   Chapters 00:00 — The Real Threat: Why Startup CEOs Kill Productivity 02:10 — Power Without Process: How CEO Impulses Go Unchecked 04:30 — Seagull Syndrome: How CEOs Derail Roadmaps 09:15 — Nothing to Do? Why Bored CEOs Delay MVPs 14:10 — Bottlenecks in Human Form: When CEOs Bypass Their Own Leaders   Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here. Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University. For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/262-why-the-startup-ceo-is-the-biggest-risk-to-their-own-team

All companies start small. The lucky ones grow, and growth necessarily comes with change. This month on the Klaviyo Data Science Podcast, we look at Klaviyo's growth through the past 8 years and the profound effects that growth has had on R&D, ranging from the tooling we use to the processes we employ to the very culture we strive to cultivate. Listen in to learn:How the day-to-day of some of our most senior engineers has changedWhy common headaches like planning, deployment, and cross-team coordination can get harder as your org grows — and why they can get easier What a single lunch can teach you about a company's culture For more details, check out the ⁠⁠full writeup on Medium⁠⁠!

In this conversation, Vincent founder Slava Rubin and Sacra founder Jan-Erik Asplund discuss the rise of Anduril, the defense technology startup that has disrupted traditional defense contracting with innovative products and a unique business model. They explore the evolution of Anduril's offerings, and how the company has positioned itself as a potential sixth prime contractor in the defense sector. The discussion also covers Anduril's revenue growth, competition with established defense primes, and the opportunities and risks it faces in the global market, as well as its IPO prospects.

In the first edition of Omni Talk's new monthly series, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga team up with AWS's Daniele Stroppa to spotlight the Retail Tech Startup of the Month—and the inaugural winner is Botify. Learn how Botify helps brands improve discoverability across both traditional and generative search engines by going beyond SEO to optimize content visibility for bots and agents. Discover why Botify's approach is a big win for brands navigating the evolving consumer search landscape, and how it also helps reduce operational costs. Key moments from the interview: 00:00 – Intro to new Omni Talk segment with AWS: Retail Tech Startup of the Month 00:33 – Meet Daniele Stroppa, AWS Worldwide Technical Leader for Retail 01:01 – Daniele's role in retail innovation and partner strategy at AWS 02:07 – First award winner revealed: Botify 02:19 – What Botify does: improving brand visibility across search platforms 02:54 – Why visibility in generative search (Perplexity, ChatGPT) matters 03:37 – How Botify goes beyond traditional SEO 04:06 – Analyzing bot and agent behavior on brand websites 04:23 – Helping brands ensure critical content is discoverable 04:41 – Long-term retail implications: revenue, brand recognition, infrastructure cost savings 05:31 – Congrats to Botify and final thoughts on the startup's impact Music by hooksounds.com #retailtech #StartupOfTheMonth #aws #Botify #omnitalkretail #ecommerceseo #generativeai #retailai #discoverability #digitalcommerce Brought to you in partnership with AWS

Gillian Santos, co-founder and CEO of AniTech, and Neil Kho, co-founder of Arka, join the Founders Only podcast to share how they turned research backgrounds and last-minute grant wins into real, working agri-tech startups. They talk about the hustle of building in a close-knit industry, earning trust from the ground up, and why working in agriculture isn't just about deploying tech—it's about solving real-world problems with people, persistence, and a whole lot of heart. With support from Villgro Philippines, they're proving that collaboration—not competition—is what will move the industry forward."It all comes back to what you don't measure, you don't know. And what you don't know, you can't solve." – Gillian SantosResources:LinkedIn (Gillian Santos): https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-santos-3aa1ba115 Website (AniTech): https://www.anihan.tech LinkedIn (Neil Kho): https://www.linkedin.com/in/neilkhoWebsite (Arka Inc.): https://arka.asia Links/Sponsors:Villgro Philippines: https://villgrophilippines.org/Paymongo: https://www.paymongo.com/GoTyme Bank: https://www.gotyme.com.ph/SeekCap: https://www.seekcap.ph/Hustleshare is powered by PodmachineListen to our brand new podcast: Founders Only HEREDiamond Supporters: Sarisuki, PayMongo, SeekCap, Shoppable Business, Qapita, GoTyme Bank, Sprout Solutions, UNO Digital Bank Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Buckle up for a raw, unfiltered journey of transformation that'll make your entrepreneurial soul IGNITE!From a rough San Francisco neighborhood to selling his financial advisory firm, building groundbreaking tech, and now revolutionizing sports content with Bench, Dasarte Yarnway is the embodiment of creating your own destiny. This isn't just another success story—it's a masterclass in turning trauma into triumph, authenticity into opportunity.In this electrifying episode, Dasarte breaks down:How losing his father at 12 became the fuel for his entrepreneurial fireThe power of being unapologetically yourself in a world that tries to dim your lightTurning personal pain into a mission to change generational financial narrativesInsider secrets from his journey through Fisher Investments, Altruist, and beyondWhether you're a budding entrepreneur, a sports fan, or someone hungry for real-world wisdom, this conversation will challenge everything you thought you knew about success.Connect with Dasarte:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dasarte-yarnway-b3b39443/Instagram: @dasarteyarnway

Ever wonder what a developer really does at a tech startup? In this episode, we break down a full week—from scattered meetings and deep work to deployments, sprint planning, and handling the chaos of outages and DDoS attacks. Get a behind-the-scenes look at balancing coding, team support, and product planning in a fast-moving environment. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/week-in-the-life-of-a-developer-at-a-tech-startup Use our affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.

This week Chris speaks with Andrew Antonio the Co-founder & CEO of Urban Sky, a stratospheric platform company developing a suite of connected hardware, software, and AI-centric products for defense and commercial customers. Recently, the company raised $30 Million in Series B Funding. Prior to Urban Sky, Andrew led Sales & Go-to-Market for the stratospheric space tourism company, World View, from Pre-Seed to Series C. On this episode, Andrew shares his experiences working on record-breaking high-altitude balloon projects like Stratex, how the Colorado tech ecosystem- especially in aerospace- is thriving and offers immense opportunities, plus his biggest lesson around the importance of adjusting to market pull versus push.Listen now on: Amazon Music (Alexa) | Spotify | Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts!Connect with hosts Adam and Chris and the Range VC team on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/range-ventures/Check out more about what we're up to at Range.vc See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of The Entrepreneurial You, host Heneka Watkis-Porter is joined by serial entrepreneur, award-winning filmmaker, published author, and tech startup expert Jason Sherman. As the founder and CEO of Bingo AI and Vengo AI, Jason shares how creativity, storytelling, and perseverance are vital for startup success—especially when launching a tech venture without venture capital. Storytelling in Filmmaking and Startups Jason draws parallels between filmmaking and entrepreneurship, pointing out that both require you to build a narrative that resonates with a specific audience. Whether it's a movie or a product, the story behind it matters. He explains that his journey began as a young programmer selling products in school, which laid the groundwork for his ventures today. According to Jason, storytelling helps attract investors and customers alike—especially when it's backed by relatable experiences and data-driven results. Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Bootstrapping Jason and Heneka delve into common mistakes new entrepreneurs make when bootstrapping. A major one, Jason notes, is building too much too soon without proper validation. He urges founders to test concepts first and let market feedback lead the way. While intuition has its place, he believes data should always have the final say. Jason reminds listeners that real success stems from understanding what people truly need—not what we think they need. What You'll Learn in This Episode: • Why storytelling is crucial for both filmmaking and entrepreneurship • The most common mistakes first-time startup founders make • How to validate a product idea before launching • Why chasing tech trends can hurt your startup • The role of AI in boosting innovation and human evolution • Key strategies for building a startup without venture capital • The importance of ethical considerations in AI product development COMMUNITY CONNECTION: Now it's time for our Community Connection segment! Listeners are invited to share their thoughts on today's episode or send in any questions they have for Jason or Heneka. Reviews, feedback, and questions can be shared via email at heneka@henekawatkisporter.com or by WhatsApp at 876-849-2571. Also, don't forget about the upcoming LeadHerShip Cruise, where leaders can network and grow aboard Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas! This four-day event combines empowerment with transformative learning against the stunning backdrop of the Bahamas. Contact heneka@henekawatkisporter.com or WhatsApp 876-849-2571 for more details. CONTACT JASON SHERMAN: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonsherman76/ Website: http://jasonsherman.org/ TRENDING NOW: The global AI market is projected to reach $401 billion by 2028, yet 90% of startups fail within their first two years due to poor planning and lack of resources. Founders who bootstrap successfully retain 3x more equity than those who rely on venture capital funding. Jason's insights into ethical AI innovation and lean startup strategies couldn't be more timely. If you enjoyed this episode of The Entrepreneurial You, subscribe on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, leave a rating, and share it with your friends. Visit henekawatkisporter.com to download a free eBook on how to conduct podcast interviews like a pro! AFFIRM WITH ME: I am an innovative entrepreneur who turns challenges into opportunities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Zero to CEO, I speak with attorney and tech law expert Tony Smith about the critical intersection of blockchain law, intellectual property, and startup compliance. Tony shares how entrepreneurs can navigate the fast-changing legal landscape of emerging technologies, offering insight into real-world blockchain regulations, startup compliance best practices, and the protection of valuable IP assets. With years of experience helping businesses tackle legal challenges head-on, Tony unpacks the legal essentials every founder and innovator needs to know to stay compliant, protect their creations, and thrive in the digital economy. This episode is essential listening for anyone building or investing in tech-forward ventures.

Wes and Scott talk with VC Dan Levine about how developers can raise venture capital, what investors look for in early-stage startups, the realities of bootstrapping vs. fundraising, and why great ideas often start as simple side projects. Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to Syntax! 00:55 Dan's background and career 03:10 Is it common for tech investors to come from a tech background? 04:40 How can developers raise money? 08:35 What investors look for 12:39 How much funding is enough? 15:41 Are founders working with multiple investors? 18:26 What can you use the money for? 22:49 How much influence do investors have in the business? 29:56 Brought to you by Sentry.io 29:56 How involved are VCs in the business? 34:22 How do you know a startup is in trouble—and what can you do about it? 38:56 How much of the company do investors own? 40:43 What's the endgame for investors? 44:02 How do acqui-hires work? 46:29 Is the AI space a real opportunity or just hype? 53:22 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs Sick Picks Dan: Dandelion Chocolate Jules Pizza Shameless Plugs Dan: Linear Hit us up on Socials! Syntax: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Wes: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Scott: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn Threads Randy: X Instagram YouTube Threads

In this episode of Demo Day, we sit down with Minnie Ingersoll, Partner at TenOneTen Ventures and host of the LA Venture Podcast, for an insider look at how venture capital is evolving in 2024.Minnie drops exclusive insights on a growing trend: LP sharing - a powerful but rarely discussed tactic that's helping up-and-coming VCs fundraise faster and smarter. If you're a VC, founder, or aspiring fund manager, this episode is packed with tactical gems.We also talk about:How new VCs can build deal flow from scratchThe role of media and personal brand in fundraisingThe biggest red flags Minnie looks for in foundersHer honest take on remote vs in-person startup cultureWhere AI is actually making a difference in VC workflowsHow to get in the room where it happens - and stay thereWhether you're raising your first fund or trying to land your next round, Minnie's advice will change the way you think about investing, networking, and storytelling.Listen to the full episode and don't forget to subscribe for more interviews with top VCs and startup operators.#VCInsights #FundraisingTips #MinnieIngersoll #TenOneTen #StartupAdvice #DemoDayPodcast #EarlyStageInvesting #LPSharing #AIVC #VentureCapital #Founders #DealFlow #PersonalBrand #SeedInvesting #PitchTips #TechStartups #LAStartups

Bevs is transforming how independently owned liquor and convenience stores operate—and in this episode, Jason Vego, co-founder and CEO of Bevs, shares exactly how.If you're searching for ways to modernize your store operations, scale a retail tech startup, or improve inventory management, this conversation is packed with insight. Jason breaks down how Bevs is solving the real problems faced by small-format retailers, from inventory tracking to digital transformation—problems that many store owners and tech founders search solutions for daily.Whether you're a founder building a B2B SaaS company, an operator in the convenience store software space, or simply exploring how AI in retail is reshaping the industry, Jason delivers clarity on product-market fit, startup pivots, and data-driven decision-making. This episode is your shortcut to understanding how to create scalable tools for underserved markets and how to raise smart venture capital while staying grounded in customer needs.

➡️ Join 321,000 people who read my free weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.scottdclary.com➡️ Like The Podcast? Leave A Rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/successstoryTim Guleri is a seasoned venture capitalist and managing partner at Sierra Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based early-stage technology-focused venture capital firm. With over two decades of experience in the technology industry, he has a strong track record of identifying and nurturing successful startups. Before joining Sierra Ventures, he co-founded Scopus Technology, which went public in 1995 and was later acquired by Siebel Systems for $460 million, and Octane Software, which was acquired by E.piphany in 2000 for $3.2 billion.  ➡️ Show Linkshttps://www.x.com/timguleri/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/timguleri/ ➡️ Podcast SponsorsHubspot - https://hubspot.com/  Lingoda - https://try.lingoda.com/successstory (Code: scott25)Vanta - https://www.vanta.com/scottFederated Computer - https://www.federated.computerCornbread Hemp - https://cornbreadhemp.com/success (Code: Success)Create Like The Greats Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/lu/podcast/create-like-the-greats/id1653650073FreshBooks - https://www.freshbooks.com/pricing-offer/Bank On Yourself - https://www.bankonyourself.com/scottStash - https://get.stash.com/successstoryNetSuite — https://netsuite.com/scottclary/Indeed - https://indeed.com/clary ➡️ Talking Points00:00 - Intro05:23 - The Common Thread in Tim's Journey08:01 - Born Entrepreneur or Learned Skill?10:31 - How Entrepreneurs Find Their Focus18:30 - Tim's Career & Investment Philosophy22:08 - Sponsor Break24:46 - The Evolution of Sierra Ventures30:27 - Founder Traps in Venture Capital35:08 - Managing Risk at Sierra Ventures40:57 - Finding Investors: Tips for Founders49:50 - Sponsor Break52:03 - The Biggest Challenge for First-Time Entrepreneurs57:24 - Riding Trends vs. True Innovation1:00:26 - Is There an Undiscovered Playbook for Distribution?1:03:17 - Scaling Without Crashing1:08:05 - Making High-Stakes Decisions with Confidence1:12:28 - Smart Exit Strategies for Entrepreneurs1:17:03 - Final Thoughts from Tim Guleri