Podcasts about VC

  Seth Levine, is co-founder of Foundry, a VC firm in Boulder, Co with several billion under management. He is the co-author of the book, Capital Evolution.      Welcome to the Conscious Millionaire Show. 3X each week - M / W / F   Become an Ultra-Performer - Entrepreneurs. Experts, Professionals - Committed to Becoming Top-1% of Performers. Rev $250K to $50M? Sign up for complimentary Breakout Session. Find out your #1 block keeping you from scaling faster and discuss if an Ultra-Performer Program working directly with JV is right for you.     Schedule Your Breakthough Session     Join Host JV Crum III, with 2 exits and over 75M revenues in his companies, he is the Ultra-Performer Coach for 6- to 8-figure owners ready to join the top 1% of Ultra-Performers.   Season 12 of the award-winning Conscious Millionaire Show. World's #1 conscious business and performance podcast for foundeers and entrepreneurs who want to become Ultra-Performers.    Access Conscious Millionaire Show     Millions of Listeners in 190 countries. Inc Magazine "Top 13 Business Podcasts" with over 3,000 episodes and 100 million listeners world-wde. Listen 3X a week.

Produced by Foundersuite (for startups: www.foundersuite.com) and Fundingstack (for emerging manager VCs: www.fundingstack.com), "How I Raised It" goes behind the scenes with startup founders and investors who have raised capital. This episode is with with Naveen Verma of EnCharge AI, a startup developing energy efficient analog in-memory-computing AI chips. In addition to being CEO, Naveen is a Professor at Princeton and so we discuss his journey from academia and research to leading a startup to an over-subscribed $100 M Series B. Learn more about EnCharge at https://www.enchargeai.com/ EnCharge most recently raised over $100 million in Series B funding. The round was led by Tiger Global and included participation from Maverick Silicon, Capital TEN, SIP Global Partners, Zero Infinity Partners, CTBC VC, Vanderbilt University, Morgan Creek Digital, and others. Previous investors participating in the Series B round include RTX Ventures, Anzu Partners, Scout Ventures, AlleyCorp, ACVC, and S5V. The round also included strategic investors including Samsung Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of Samsung, HH-CTBC, a partnership between Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn) and CTBC VC, In-Q-Tel (IQT), the not-for-profit strategic investor advancing technologies for the U.S. national security community and America's allies; RTX Ventures, the venture capital arm of RTX, a leading manufacturer of aerospace and defense systems and technology solutions; and Constellation Technology Ventures, the venture capital arm of Constellation, the nation's largest producer of clean, emissions-free, reliable energy. How I Raised It is produced by Foundersuite, makers of software to raise capital and manage investor relations. Foundersuite's customers have raised over $21 Billion since 2016. If you are a startup, create a free account at www.foundersuite.com. If you are a VC, venture studio or investment banker, check out our new platform, www.fundingstack.com a startup developing proprietary analog in-memory-computing AI chips

Welcome back to another episode of Upside at the EUVC Podcast, where ⁠Dan Bowyer⁠,⁠ Mads Jensen⁠ of ⁠SuperSeed⁠, ⁠Lomax Ward⁠ of ⁠Outsized Ventures⁠⁠⁠, and Andrew Scott of 7percent Ventures to break down the real stories behind the headlines shaping European tech and venture.From Bending Spoons' audacious European rollup strategy, to Brexit's economic hangover, to the existential challenges facing Volkswagen, to Google vs. OpenAI's new “Code Red”, and finally whether Europe has had its long-overdue shock moment — this episode goes wide, fast, and deep.This is Upside, where the takes are sharp, the macro is messy, and the optimism is… conditional.What's covered:02:00 The valuation reset, debt-fuelled M&A, and the Italian PE–VC hybrid model04:00 Arbitrage: firing US teams, rehiring elite Italian engineers06:00 Do rollups really work? Tech debt, distribution, and execution risk07:00 Brexit revisited: GDP losses, trade collapse, and political reality08:00 The myth of “you can't know the counterfactual” — and why you actually can10:00 Will the UK rejoin the customs union? And would Europe even take us back?12:00 Europe's manufacturing crisis: Porsche, Volkswagen, BYD and the end of German exceptionalism15:00 China's shift: stop importing, start replicating17:00 Welfare-state complacency and the European stagnation problem20:00 The bitter truth about Europe's carbon “success story”22:00 How to actually fix European tech: R&D, immigration, procurement, capital markets24:00 Why 0.02% pension allocation to VC is Europe's biggest structural handicap26:00 Should we “Farage-pill” Europe into a tech-first agenda?33:00 Distribution vs. loyalty: why consumers don't care about brand36:00 Who wins the cost base war: Google, Amazon, Meta, or OpenAI?38:00 Anthropic's IPO plans and what they signal about the private capital cycle42:00 Deals of the Week: Black Forest Labs, ICEYE, Expedition Growth Capital44:00 Robotics is the next AI wave — and the picks-and-shovels startups emerging now

Jennifer went from VC to founder and immediately broke every rule in the book. When she pivoted Scribe from an automation tool to a documentation platform, her investors told her she had just killed the company. She ignored them. Instead of polishing her product, she launched a "janky" offline MVP on Product Hunt to test for real market pull. Scribe is now used by 95% of the Fortune 500. In this episode, Jennifer reveals the brutal truth about ignoring "smart" money, why you should run PLG and Enterprise sales simultaneously from Day 1, and how to tell the difference between pushing a boulder up a hill and chasing one down it.Why You Should ListenWhy you sometimes need to ignore your investors to save your startup.The "Boulder Test": The definitive gut check for knowing if you have true Product-Market Fit.How to validate a massive opportunity with zero marketing budget.Why the conventional wisdom about choosing between PLG and Enterprise Sales is wrong.How to turn executive hiring interviews into free mentorship sessions.Keywordsstartup podcast, startup podcast for founders, product market fit, PLG strategies, MVP testing, enterprise sales, go to market strategy, early stage growth, finding pmf, founder stories00:00:00 Intro 00:02:21 1,200 Customer Interviews as a VC 00:22:07 How to Hire for Excellence 00:30:18 The Pivot from Automation to Documentation 00:39:17 Launching a "Janky" MVP on Product Hunt 00:49:09 The Boulder Test for Product-Market Fit 00:52:50 Doing PLG and Enterprise Sales Simultaneously 01:03:12 Ignoring Investors to Save the CompanySend me a message to let me know what you think!

Travis sits down with blockchain VC and founder Harvey Liu, a China-born computer science grad turned global investor who has backed and built in crypto since the early 2010s. Harvey shares how early bets on Apple, Google, Tesla, and Bitcoin shaped his philosophy, why he now builds long-term in his own exchange, and how everyday investors can navigate crypto volatility with less emotion and more strategy. On this episode we talk about: Harvey's journey from gaming-obsessed kid in China to computer scientist, MBA, and venture capitalist in Beijing's early crypto scene Early wins and regrets: buying Apple, Google, Tesla, and Bitcoin early—and selling far too soon Core lessons about long-term thinking, missing “basic financial knowledge,” and why he builds for durability instead of quick flips Why he's still bullish on Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation and government money-printing, despite current bearish price action Practical strategies like dollar-cost averaging, avoiding over-leverage, and how AI, CBDCs, and stablecoins may shape crypto's future Top 3 Takeaways Spotting disruptive tech early is powerful, but without deep understanding and a long-term framework, it's easy to sell too soon and miss the biggest upside. In a highly leveraged, volatile market like crypto, simple principles—no over-leverage, clear profit targets, and dollar-cost averaging—matter more than chasing the perfect entry. Bitcoin increasingly functions as “digital gold” and a hedge against inflation and fiat debasement, while stablecoins and CBDCs show how blockchain rails will power everyday money movement in the future. Notable Quotes "Taking profit at your set goals is never wrong—you don't go bankrupt by taking profit, you go bankrupt by over-leveraging." "Bitcoin started as a gamble when nobody understood it, but with institutions in the game it has become a long-term hedge against inflation and money printing." "In volatile markets, DCA and risk control beat trying to time the top or bottom—especially if you believe the asset will be here in 10 or 20 years." Connect with Harvey Liu: X: https://x.com/harveylevex levex.com ✖️✖️✖️✖️

MYLES KATZ is a pioneer in the field of legal psychedelics, blending personal experience with professional innovation to advance mental health and personal transformation. As the founder and executive director of Confluence Retreats, he leads immersive, multi-day psilocybin retreats in Oregon's Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. These retreats offer a legal, structured, and profoundly transformative experience, tailored for individuals seeking personal growth, emotional breakthroughs, and spiritual development in a safe and nurturing environment.   Myles brings a wealth of experience to his work. He co-founded The Synthesis Institute, one of the world's first legal psilocybin service models, where he oversaw over 1,000 client experiences and trained more than 250 facilitators. This initiative cemented his reputation as a leading voice in the psychedelics space. Additionally, he has played a significant role in shaping Oregon's psilocybin legalization, serving on advisory committees and partnering with local indigenous communities to integrate ancestral practices into modern frameworks.   With a background that spans three continents, Myles has successfully led five VC/impact-funded startups, raising over $15 million for innovative ventures focused on social impact, environmental sustainability, and personal transformation. His journey from a high-functioning entrepreneur struggling with unaddressed trauma to a purpose-driven advocate for psychedelics gives him unique insights into the transformative power of these tools.   You can find more info about Myles here: https://podfol.io/profile/myles-katz. =  

New @greenpillnet pod out today!

Jayesh Parekh | Co-Founder,Sony Entertainment Television & Managing Partner,Good Protein FundJayesh was a Co-Founder of Sony Entertainment Television, a major multibillion-dollar television network of Sony Pictures Entertainment.He was a Managing Partner for Jungle Ventures Fund, a pan-Asian venture capital technology fund in Singapore.Jayesh is a Managing Partner of Good Protein Fund, a VC fund in Singapore that invests worldwide in Alternative Protein deep-technology startups.He is on the Advisory Board of a nonprofit Akhand Jyoti Eye Hospital in India which performs over 140,000 cataract eye surgeries every year, 80% of whichare free of charge to the patients. Jayesh spent over 12 years in IBM and was part of the team in Singapore thatbrought IBM back to India.He holds a Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering from MS University of Baroda and a Master's in Electrical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. He completed The University of Texas at Austin's Tower Fellows program.Jayesh is a published author of a book: ‘What Shall We Do With All This Money? Inspiring Perspectives on Wealth'.

In this inspiring episode of the Featured Mentor Podcast, we sit down with Arthur, a 28-year-old professional whose path from Brazil to the U.S. and Europe reveals what it really takes to build an international career in finance. From early days at a prep school to studying at Wharton and landing roles at Bank of America and Goldman Sachs, Arthur opens up about the challenges of ambition, adapting across cultures, and learning to define success on his own terms. Listeners will gain insight into: How early mentorship and family values shaped Arthur's global outlook The realities of navigating investment banking and private equity interviews Lessons in resilience, personality, and authenticity in high-pressure careers Perfect for students, young professionals, and anyone redefining what success looks like in global finance and leadership.

From studying Business Data Science to landing a role in investment banking at Centerview Partners, this is my honest story of how I discovered my path, the mistakes I made, and what I wish every student knew before starting their career. In this video, I share how I transitioned from college to corporate life — the lessons I learned outside the classroom, why real-world experience matters, and how small opportunities can lead to big growth. Whether you're a university student, career changer, or just curious about finance and personal growth, this episode will give you insight, motivation, and practical steps to help you find your direction.

What if the most defensible companies of the AI era aren't the ones building the infrastructure—but the ones using it to rethink workflows? In this Technoventure episode, Peter High speaks with Jamie Montgomery, Founder and Managing Partner of March Capital, about why the firm is investing heavily in the AI application layer—not chips, not clouds, but the companies delivering real task-based outcomes. Key topics explored: Why workflow-based moats beat data moats in the new venture cycle How application-layer companies are scaling faster with leaner GTM The ripple effects of AI CapEx on the U.S. economy and tax base March Capital's bets on open-source LLMs and scientific discovery Why Montgomery believes AI “bailed out” the U.S. and VC industry alike

Bitcoin's down, so the Lessins turned down the heat and pulled out their winter gear. The More or Less squad jumps from SF's drone-powered crime-fighting memes (Daniel Lurie's “no drugs” moment) to how creator-content strategy now drives real deal flow. Jess says 2026 will split the AI tide (we unfortunately did have to touch on AI), with Meta's missing enterprise story dragging its CapEx dreams, while AWS is suddenly courting founders again. From Apple's design chief Alan Dye jumping to Meta to questioning whether OpenAI's “code red” was a decoy, the squad never misses when it comes to the latest thinking in Silicon Valley.Buy Slow's Modern Etiquette book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G4HSKSY5Chapters:Chapters:01:10 Kudos to SF Mayor, Daniel Lurie!07:14 Doom scrolling on a Garmin watch12:34 Holiday gift guides: AI robots, Duolingo piano, Matic vac mop, etc14:30 The creator-VC playbook 21:27 Instagram RTO 5 days per week leadership reality check22:08 Alan Dye leaves Apple for Meta 26:09 Jess' 2026 prediction: The Big Tech divergence is coming27:46 Meta's enterprise gap28:46 AWS outreach to Sam: Bedrock Nova and startup credits31:45 Sam Altman's code red memo -- is it a decoy?33:51 Gemini latency vs GPT why speed matters for Brit (Ad opp?)44:39 Is Aaron Levie for or against AI?46:40 Waymo's safety report and Dave's FSD usage51:21 Recapping the Slow holiday party + Offline's next58:28 Slow's Modern Etiquette Book plug (Link to purchase: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G4HSKSY5)We're also on ↓X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspodInstagram: https://instagram.com/moreorlessYouTubeConnect with us here:1) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin4) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit

In this ABCD roundup, we break down why bitcoin may have settled back into the low-90s range despite volatile macro signals, whether Ethereum's upcoming Fusaka upgrade could catalyze a price rebound, and how BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF has quietly become the firm's most profitable product. We also hit the broader market tape, including Netflix's Warner Bros. acquisition news and the resurgence of VC "kingmaking," where oversized early-stage checks are anointing AI companies long before meaningful revenue. We close with our Chart of the Week, examining today's K-shaped economy and what it may mean for digital assets heading into 2025.  Remember to Stay Current!  To learn more, visit us on the web at https://www.morgancreekcap.com/morgan-creek-digital/. To speak to a team member or sign up for additional content, please email mcdigital@morgancreekcap.com  Legal Disclaimer  This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice or a solicitation for the sale of any security, advisory, or other service. Investments related to the themes and ideas discussed may be owned by funds managed by the host and podcast guests. Any conflicts mentioned by the host are subject to change. Listeners should consult their personal financial advisors before making any investment decisions. 

Shailesh Hegde is the CEO of Hubilo, a Bangalore-based webinar software company that initially started during COVID as virtual events tech and raised $150M in VC funding before the market shifted. Originally joining as head of product, he stepped into the CEO role during a chaotic downturn and led the company through a full strategic reset after returning all the remaining capital to investors.  When the virtual events boom collapsed, Shailesh and the team rebuilt Hubilo into a mid-market webinar platform serving B2B marketing teams. They shifted from large in-person event organizers to marketers running frequent webinars, emphasizing differentiated AI-driven content repurposing. Hubilo stabilized revenue, rebuilt its GTM motion, and reached a 50/50 split between new webinar revenue and legacy customers.  Earlier this year, Hubilo was acquired by BrandLive, a U.S. enterprise video platform seeking a complementary webinar product. About 80% of Hubilo's team moved over, and Shailesh now leads product integration and customer continuity during the transition. He shares hard lessons on pivots, returning capital, leading through uncertainty, and executing a practical exit when the original VC-scale vision is no longer realistic.  Key Takeaways Refounder Mindset – Shailesh stepped into the CEO role and reframed the mission from hypergrowth to survival, focus, and a practical exit. New ICP Reality – Moving from event organizers to B2B marketers required a complete repositioning and GTM rebuild that took longer than expected. AI as Differentiator – Hubilo used AI-generated content and repurposing tools to stand out in a crowded webinar category with entrenched incumbents. Practical GTM – LinkedIn thought leadership, SEO content, and product-led demos outperformed outbound or expensive Google ads in this competitive space. Strategic Fit Wins – BrandLive acquired Hubilo for complementary capabilities, product acceleration, and access to a strong India-based engineering team. Quote from Shailesh Hegde, CEO of Hubilo "Now that I just sold our company, I'm thinking about what's next for me. It comes down to, Will I be able to find a viable problem that people are willing to pay for and will I be able to use sort of all of this experience that I have in order to solve it really well and kick off a company off the ground?  "Now is probably the best time to start a company where there's so much action, there's so much happening in AI, and it's super exciting to be in this space. It's also a great time to not have like revenue pressure on your shoulders and just think out loud, have open conversations and just be free, before you really dive in and choose a focus. "The same types of business pressures will come back as you start a company. But now is a great time to just help with transition, make sure the team is good, but at the same time, start thinking about the types of problems I want to solve in the future with a new startup." Links Shailesh Hegde on LinkedIn Hubilo on LinkedIn Hubilo website Brandlive website Podcast Sponsor – Fraction This podcast is sponsored by Fraction. Fraction gives you access to senior US-based engineers and CTOs — without full-time costs or hiring risks. Get 10 to 30 hours per week from vetted and experienced US-based talent. Find your next fractional senior engineer or CTO at fraction.work. You can start with a one-week, risk-free trial to test it out. The Practical Founders Podcast Tune into the Practical Founders Podcast for weekly in-depth interviews with founders who have built valuable software companies without big funding. Subscribe to the Practical Founders Podcast using your favorite podcast app or view on our YouTube channel. Get the weekly Practical Founders newsletter and podcast updates at practicalfounders.com. Practical Founders CEO Peer Groups Be part of a committed and confidential group of practical founders creating valuable software companies without big VC funding.  A Practical Founders Peer Group is a committed and confidential group of founders/CEOs who want to help you succeed on your terms. Each Practical Founders Peer Group is personally curated and moderated by Greg Head.

Send us a textYou've got 10 minutes until your next meeting.What if you could show up sounding sharp, strategic, and like you actually had time to prepare?Most founders wing meetings and hope for the best. Here's how to walk in sounding like a pro—even if you didn't do your homework—thanks to one quick AI prompt.Day 5 of 12 Days of AI Quick Wins is a must-listen for founders juggling packed calendars. Dawn reveals the 5-bullet Meeting Prep Brief you can generate with AI in minutes. No more rambling intros, missed opportunities, or forgetting to ask the key question. With this workflow, you'll ask smarter questions, build stronger rapport, and walk out with real momentum.Your Day 5 Action: - Look at your calendar. Pick the next meeting that matters. - Ten minutes before it starts, run the Meeting Prep Brief prompt. Walk in sharper, calmer, and ready to lead.Key Takeaways:Preparation > Performance. Even 5 minutes of strategy beats 50 minutes of winging it.Use the exact prompt: AI will deliver 3 must-knows, 3 questions to ask, and 1 landmine to avoid.You don't need to sound perfect—you need to sound present. This makes that easy.Real-world example: Learn how one founder used this to impress a VC with 10 minutes' notice.Why this matters: The better your meetings, the faster your business moves.Resources & Links:Get the full 12 Days of AI Quick Wins Toolkit – just $7Register FREE for the Day 13 Live AI Implementation Party – win a 90-minute Strategy IntensiveRelated Episodes:Day 1: Stop Overthinking ChatGPT: Free vs. $20—Which One Actually Matters for FoundersDay 2: The 3 AI Prompts Every Female Founder Needs in Her PhoneDay 3: Why ChatGPT Sounds Like a Corporate Robot (And the One Sentence That Fixes It)Day 4: Your Inbox is Overwhelming You: AI Email Triage for Female Founders (5 Minutes)Want to increase revenue and impact? Listen to “She's That Founder” for insights on business strategy and female leadership to scale your business. Each episode offers advice on effective communication, team building, and management. Learn to master routines and systems to boost productivity and prevent burnout. Our delegation tips and business consulting will advance your executive leadership skills and presence.

Everyone worries AI will take their job. Steve Lord thinks we'll hit a bigger wall first: power. Lord is COO of Burkland Associates, which works with Andreessen Horowitz and dozens of other top VC firms. Hear about the infrastructure bottleneck facing AI, what went wrong with crypto's original promise, and Lord's advice for founders trying to raise capital in today's market.

Women are constantly told to look a certain way. And if you don't fit the mold, you're made to feel like something's wrong with you. That's how Jaclyn Fu felt growing up. Being small-chested wasn't just a sizing issue; it became a source of deep insecurity. But after years of feeling overlooked, she'd had enough and decided to change the industry instead. This week on SUPERWOMEN, I sit down with Jaclyn, the Co-CEO of Pepper. Along with her co-founder, she built a bra brand specifically for women with smaller busts. What started as a scrappy prototype on Kickstarter turned into a body-positive movement—selling over a million bras without a single VC check. Jaclyn opens up about the insecurity that started it all, and how she's now relearning confidence and gratitude in the middle of growth. Episode Guide: (00:00) Meet Jaclyn Fu, co-founder and CEO at Pepper (04:37) The entrepreneurial itch and launching a Kickstarter (08:34) Bra fittings with total strangers(12:29) When Pepper became an eight-figure brand (13:39) How to raise capital without VC funding (18:04) Healing from insecurity and finding confidence (21:21) Growing with intention (22:42) Feeling “perfectly enough” (28:23) Why done is better than perfect Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, hosts Tom Rivett Carnac and Paul Dickenson delve into the rapidly emerging - and faintly surreal - world of solar geoengineering. Politico journalist Karl Mathiesen joins us to unpack his investigation into Stardust, a VC-backed startup claiming it's ready to spray particles into the stratosphere. Karl explains why this technology is suddenly attracting serious money, why scientists still have major questions about safety and side effects, and how in some places, the global regulatory landscape is almost nonexistent.And from technological disruption to political stability, former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, reflects on the leadership we need. She's unflinchingly honest about why so many politicians still choose “fear and blame” over long-term action, and why climate remains New Zealand's “nuclear-free moment.” A test of political character as much as policy. Her argument is hopeful: people, she insists, are ahead of their politics.As we march towards the end of 2025, these conversations map the terrain of 2026: technologies racing ahead, governance lagging behind, and a public increasingly hungry for leaders willing to act with integrity. If you want to understand where the climate fight is really heading this episode is essential.Learn more:

当麦肯锡、德勤等全球大公司都在削减入门岗位，因为那些工作 AI 已比新人做得更快更好时，直接给这些公司输送人才的商学院还能教什么，怎么教？ 过去十几年里，商学院的改革基本围绕着给自己的各种课程贴上「数据分析」的标签。但当 AI 性能一日千里，原本构成商业世界入口的那套技能体系正在松动：入门岗位减少、训练路径被压缩，商学院的处境也变得尴尬。 这期节目，我们和在美国一所文理学院任教的陈燚老师一起，聊了聊：在 AI 时代，为什么最为实用主义的商科中，「无用之学」也会变得重要？人在商业世界里依然不可替代的那块区域在哪里？以及当专业边界开始松动，文理教育、实践经验和商业训练要如何重新组合？ 这是商学院的问题，也是我们每个人的问题。 本期人物 陈燚，美国纽约州罗伯茨卫斯理大学商学院终身教授，「四大」老兵，德鲁克「商业/管理是一种通识」追随者，播客制作人 徐涛，声动活泼联合创始人 主要话题 [09:49] AI 在今年吃掉的那些工作 [14:53] 近些年商学院在改革，但这种改革迅速被 AI 打败 [17:22] AI 挤压掉庞大商科背景中产阶级的工作，只有少数人才能成为商业领袖，那还要读昂贵的商学院吗 [25:45] 未来新商业形态和新工作的可能性 [29:00] AI 时代依然值得去研究学习的三个人：彼得·德鲁克、查理·芒格、赫伯特·西蒙 [35:17] 商学院还能教什么，怎么教 [44:21] 当最重要的能力不可量化，如何去考核学生的成长和能力 [51:13] 从学校的知识传授，到在实践中学习，以及职业多次重启的可能性 延伸阅读 《穷查理宝典》 (https://book.douban.com/subject/35557542/) 给声东击西投稿 当下，AI 越来越多地出现在了招聘的过程中，企业在用 AI 筛简历、做面试，求职者也在用 AI 润色简历、模拟回答……AI 智斗 AI 的场景正在上演。 无论你是招人的 HR，还是正在找工作的应聘者，又或是相关 AI 技术的开发者，如果你经历过类似的场景，或者有相关的经历想要分享或吐槽，都欢迎你给我们投稿！投稿方式在节目的 shownotes 和评论区中可以找到，期待你的来信！ 你的声音可能出现在未来的节目当中，我们非常期待你的分享！ 投稿入口 (https://eg76rdcl6g.feishu.cn/share/base/form/shrcne1CGVaSeJwtBriW6yNT2dg) 你也可以直接通过邮箱直接联系节目组：kexuan@shengfm.cn

My interview with Blake Lieberman, the Founder of 021 Capital. Blake's an up and coming VC who has quickly been making a name for himself. He's one of my favorite thinkers in the tech/startup/investing community. We cover all sorts of topics from Elon Musk at Tesla, the future of AI, Sam Altman and OpenAI, The Friend pendant and so much more! This interview was filmed 11/7/25 in Austin, Texas.Blake Lieberman on X: https://x.com/lieberman_blake0:00 Cybertruck Swoop4:08 Elon's Tesla Compensation Package7:07 Glazing Elon9:35 Invest In The Future You Believe In10:10 Mamdami, Trump, Elon, UBI12:32 Sam Altman's Reputation at Y Combinator 15:52 Blake's Call With Sam Altman16:37 Sam Altman's PR Problem17:09 Worldcoin18:42 Sam & Elon OpenAI Beef31:11 Open AI IPO Talk33:41 Avi Schiffman the Friend AI pendant / Open AI Hardware Product42:38 FOMO As An Investing PhilosophyBlakes Advice & VC Career44:50 Blakes Advice & VC Career

This week in games, the money moves got messy: Dream Games recalibrates its ambitions, ByteDance keeps loading the mobile war chest, and Arc Games chooses freedom (and spreadsheets) by going independent. We take a look at Where Winds Meet and what it really says about China's next wave of global ambitions, unpack South Korea's newest Blizzard play, and ask the uncomfortable question: how are indie studios actually surviving right now? Spoiler: it's not pretty. On the investor side, VC interest in games keeps cooling, but PlayerUnknown Productions thinks lightning can strike twice. Finally, we zoom out to the battlefield of 4X strategy — the genre's current health, the growing wave of female players, and whether a fresh face like Tile Survive can rewrite the rules. 00:00 Welcome00:22 Introduction and Shills04:26 Dream Games Budget Correction14:06 Bite Dance's Mobile Investments19:22 Arc Games Independence20:52 Where Winds Meet: A New Chinese Game29:17 The South Korea Deal and Blizzard's Business Model31:21 Success and Challenges of Indie Game Studios33:38 VC Investments in Gaming: A Tough Landscape36:12 PlayerUnknown Productions and Their New Game47:37 The State of 4X Strategy Games51:24 The Rise of Female Gamers in 4X Strategy55:48 Tile Survive: A New Contender in 4X Strategy59:56 Conclusion and Future Topics

How can you effectively prepare your SaaS for an exit? And what should you know about the valuation drivers, buyer types, and metrics that matter most? In a live episode of the Grow Your B2B SaaS podcast recorded at SaaS Summit Benelux, host Joran sat down with René de Jong to unpack what it takes for SaaS companies to scale and prepare for a successful exit in 2026. René helps entrepreneurs—specifically SaaS founders—design effective exit strategies and navigate the full process of selling their businesses to third parties. Across the conversation, he offered clear and pragmatic insights on what separates the SaaS businesses that grow and sell well from those that struggle, how buyers evaluate companies in the current market, and why topics like the rule of 40, net revenue retention, AI-driven scalability, and deal structure matter now more than ever. From early-stage focus at 0 to 10K MRR to strategies for moving toward 10 million ARR, René shared guidance grounded in what he sees every day in the market.This episode turns the full discussion into a clear, actionable narrative that stays true to the original conversation and is easier to follow and revisit.Key Timestamps(0:00) - SaaS Summit Benelux intro, B2B SaaS scaling 2026, Rule of 40, NRR, ARR multiples, Earnouts, Strategic buyers, 0-10K MRR, 10M ARR(0:50) - Guest intro, SaaS M&A advisor, SaaS exit strategy, SaaS acquisition process(1:14) - Scaling your SaaS for 2026(1:20) - What separates SaaS winners in 2026(1:26) - Rule of 40, Efficient growth, ARR multiple valuation(2:18) - Go-to-market strategy, New business team, Net Revenue Retention (NRR), Expense efficiency(3:05) - NRR benchmarks, Churn, Customer concentration, Market standards(4:01) - Efficient growth vs spend, AI scalability, Revenue per employee(5:06) - AI native SaaS costs, VC vs mature SaaS valuation, EBITDA vs ARR(6:38) - VC backing for AI native startups(6:48) - Freemium model 2026, Valuation cycles, EBITDA focus, AI hype, ARR multiples(8:05) - Sponsor: B2B SaaS affiliate marketing, Reditus(8:49) - SaaS valuation benchmarks, ARR multiples range(9:01) - 3.5x ARR cash at close, Earnout, Reinvest, Deal structure(10:34) - Venture capital vs Private equity(10:43) - Strategic buyers, One plus one equals three, Synergy valuation(11:22) - Build list of strategic acquirers, Exit planning(11:29) - Headline valuations vs reality, Purchase price, Earnouts, Deal terms(11:51) - Earnout as bonus, Cash at closing, Burnout risk(13:05) - 2026 growth loop, AI in land and expand, Product-led growth, AI agents(14:10) - 0–10K MRR advice, Founder mindset, Learn fast, Mentors, SaaS community(15:35) - Smart capital, Operator investors, Non-dilutive help(16:06) - 10K MRR to 10M ARR, Focus, Buy-and-build strategy, Autonomous growth, 3–5 year plan(17:43) - Contact info, LinkedIn, anno9082.nl(18:03) - Outro, Subscribe, Sponsor the show, Reditus call-to-action

In this special 10X Growth Strategies panel, host Preethy Padmanabhan brings together three top voices from venture capital and private equity to decode how investors really evaluate startups today — beyond hype, beyond flashy demos, and beyond the AI noise. Kayvan Baroumand (Founder, SignalRank), Patti Pan (General Partner, Solaris Venture Partners), and Aditya Naganath (Partner, Kleiner Perkins) share how the power-law plays out in real portfolios, what deep engagement metrics actually look like, why later-stage PE is shifting toward infrastructure and robotics, and how world-class funds pressure-test founders. A fast, sharp conversation on what separates companies that scale — from those that stall. ⸻ ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – 00:24 • Host Welcome – Preethy sets the stage 00:24 – 02:03 • Kayvan's Intro – Power-law VC & AI-driven fund scoring 02:03 – 03:27 • New Venture Hub & Founder Support 03:27 – 04:36 • Patti's Intro – PE, Data Centers & Robotics 04:36 – 06:03 • Founder Mindset & Why Artistry Matters 06:03 – 07:54 • Aditya's Intro – Kleiner Perkins, History & Focus 07:54 – 09:20 • Investing in Early Enterprise & AI Trends 09:20 – 12:00 • Power Law in Action – Doubling Down & Pattern Recognition 12:00 – 15:00 • Picking Winners: What Real Signals Look Like 15:00 – 17:30 • Case Study: Sigma & Deep Engagement Metrics 17:30 – 19:40 • Evaluating Founders, Teams & Due Diligence 19:40 – 21:22 • High-Steam Companies & Early Red Flags 21:22 – 22:10 • What VCs Look for in AI Products 22:10 – 23:20 • Lightning Advice for Founders 23:20 – 24:00 • Closing & Next Session Transition

Most conversations in startups begin at zero: what's the idea, who's the customer, how big is the market. But the stage before that, when you know you're ready to be a founder yet the direction is still completely undefined. That strange, uncomfortable, high-potential zone Aditya Agarwal calls “minus one.”In this episode, Aditya and Prateek Mehta breaks down what happens in this “figuring out” stage. The questions people avoid, the habits that matter, and why some of the best companies begin long before their founders have any conviction.We get into how this stage is evolving in the AI era. Exploration cycles are faster, technical founders can test more directions than ever, and the gap between “I'm experimenting” and “I'm running a real company” has narrowed. India's builder ecosystem is shifting too: more second-time founders, more people with real outcomes behind them, and far more comfort sitting with ambiguity.Aditya shares his own minus-one moment after Facebook, his startup acquisition, Dropbox's IPO, and Flipkart, and why that transitional period changed the way he thinks about early-stage startups. Prateek brings on-the-ground view from Bangalore, where ambition, technical depth, and the appetite to explore hard problems from robotics to voice models to AI infra are rising.This episode is for anyone who feels they're between missions. Anyone who wants to understand why the most important part of building a company might actually be the time you spend before you even know what you're building.00:00- Trailer01:06- Aditya's journey to starting SPC after Facebook & Dropbox 03:48- A “learning club” for people in figuring-out stage06:23- 3 Northstars of the SPC community07:02- How SPC evolved from a community to a fund10:32- Not everyone should be a founder11:51- 1% selection rate13:53- Building conviction in 1 of 3 outcomes16:36- SPC is at PMF stage18:38- Mismatch of traditional VC's v/s rapid pace startups19:04- How AI has impacted investing at SPC26:32- How AI has changed VC firms29:02- Axis of curiosity replacing thesis30:17- Star Companies of SPC US33:34- Binny Bansal's role in starting SPC India37:16- Questions & confusions as founders in early stage39:50- Number of great entrepreneurs is NOT small41:49- Talent density in India vs Bay Area44:04- Founders don't need a culture of permission45:08- India tier 2 and 3 does invest heavily in AI46:11- AI is truly democratizing tech49:09- Math gives India advantage in AI51:48- A lot of science fiction is coming true-------------India's talent has built the world's tech—now it's time to lead it.This mission goes beyond startups. It's about shifting the center of gravity in global tech to include the brilliance rising from India.What is Neon Fund?We invest in seed and early-stage founders from India and the diaspora building world-class Enterprise AI companies. We bring capital, conviction, and a community that's done it before.Subscribe for real founder stories, investor perspectives, economist breakdowns, and a behind-the-scenes look at how we're doing it all at Neon.-------------Check us out on:Website: https://neon.fund/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShowwConnect with Siddhartha on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7-------------This video is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the individuals quoted and do not constitute professional advice.Send us a text

"There's more change that can be made, more impact, more positive impact in people's lives through this kind of work, and plenty of money to be made."On this episode of Limitless Africa, we speak to Luni Libes, CEO and founder of agriculture investment company Africa Eats. As of December 2024, Africa Eats was listed on the Mauritius Stock exchange. Luni Libes is an intrepid investor and the real deal: the 23 active companies in the Africa Eats portfolio had a combined revenue of $44 million dollars last year - up from only one million when he started investing. Luni has surprising thoughts on what investment model works best for Africa - no VC funds for him.Plus: Why trade barriers on the continent could offer opportunity for growth.

This Week In Startups is made possible by:LinkedIn Ads - http://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartupsVanta - https://www.vanta.com/twistPilot - https://pilot.com/twistToday's show: Did you know there's actually a shortage of US bricklayers? It's TRUE! So feel free to marvel at Monumental's brick-laying robots. They're not putting anyone out of work, but filling a much-needed gap.Join Alex and Monumental founder/CEO Salar al Khafaji for a deep-dive on how the startup is making construction robots play nice together by maintaining separate “zones” of operation, why Salar thinks startups need to focus on truly complex, real-world problems to truly blossom, and the secrets of fundraising in Europe.PLUS Alex chats with Seasats CEO Mike Flanigan about designing the next generation of autonomous marine crafts. (That is to say, ocean drones.) From their home base in San Diego, the company is trying to get completely independent of all Chinese parts. Find out how it's going, how they're overcoming the “wildly negative” ROI on maritime tech, and why we have so few defenses against tiny, agile drones.All that AND Jason takes some of YOUR Founder Questions.Timestamps:(03:23) How Monumental determined what kinds of robots construction sites need the most(06:49) How maintaining “zones” ensure that the robots all play nice with one another(07:52) There's a shortage of bricklayers, so Monumental's NOT taking anyone's job(9:16) LinkedIn Ads: Start converting your B2B audience into high quality leads today. Launch your first campaign and get $250 FREE when you spend at least $250. Go to http://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups to claim your credit.(13:21) Why startups need to tackle large-scale, complex, real-world problems to really grow(15:44) Why Monumental is building in The Netherlands, and running pilots in the UK(19:07) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://www.vanta.com/twist(20:44) Why construction is unique among applications for automation and robots(26:01) Salar argues that fundraising in Europe is not as hard as you may have heard(27:55) We don't just need housing, we need BEAUTIFUL housing(31:11) Pilot - Visit https://www.pilot.com/twist and get $1,200 off your first year. (33:25) How the Scout autonomous boat challenge inspired Seasats(35:28) Trying to make drones into an “iPhone Style” project(37:39) Why Seasats is focused on endurance and staying power more than launches(39:15) The complexities of working with fuel cells(42:27) The importance of beautiful design even when working on government technology(45:51) Why they're building Seasats in beautiful San Diego, CA(47:29) The challenge of getting entirely free from Chinese components(53:52) “The Power of Small Things Has Changed”(55:18) The “wildly negative” ROI on most humanoid robotics companies also applies to maritime tech(59:09) Why there are so few defense nets against people with tiny but agile drones(01:02:32) FOUNDER Q's: Is a founder working 24/7 a red flag?(01:10:11) How bad is it to use VC money to pay off credit cards?(01:12:49) A look at Cursor's unique recruitment strategy.(01:19:57) Should young VCs go to startup conferences?Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com/Check out the TWIST500: https://twist500.comSubscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp*Follow Lon:X: https://x.com/lons*Follow Alex:X: https://x.com/alexLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm/*Thank you to our partners:(9:16) LinkedIn Ads: Start converting your B2B audience into high quality leads today. Launch your first campaign and get $250 FREE when you spend at least $250. Go to http://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups to claim your credit.(19:07) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://www.vanta.com/twist(31:11) Pilot - Visit https://www.pilot.com/twist and get $1,200 off your first year.

In this inspiring interview, Jonathan explains how he reinvented his career after the Army. Get real advice on networking, job searching, mindset, and using modern resources to accelerate your career.

随着 ChatGPT、DeepSeek 等 AI 助手成为新的流量入口，我们的购物、搜索与决策方式正在被快速改写：ChatGPT 周活跃突破 8 亿，每日处理 10 亿+查询；近 50% 的消费者已经习惯用 AI 做购物前调研；40% 的购买决策受到 AI 推荐影响。流量入口的变迁意味着营销逻辑的重构：当 SEO（Search Engine Optimization，搜索引擎优化）逐渐演变为 GEO（Generative Engine Optimization，生成式引擎优化），如何让产品被 AI 看见，被推荐和被信任。当 AI 搜索替代传统搜索引擎，商家的增长逻辑将如何重写？ 本期我们邀请到 Deepblumen 联合创始人 Joy，一起从 AI 营销一线观察中国与海外 AI 商业生态的差异，拆解 GEO 的底层逻辑、聊聊未来电商的商业闭环如何在 AI Agents 中重建。 本期人物 Joy，Deeplumen 联合创始人 Yaxian，「科技早知道」主播 主要话题 [03:08] Deepblumen 做什么：AI 原生营销的第一原则 我们做的不是 AIGC，而是让品牌和用户在 AI 生态里更高效连接 - Deepblumen 的核心是 AI 搜索可见性（AI Visibility）。 - AI 搜索让品牌曝光从靠链接变成靠语义理解。 - 不只 Deepseek，小红书等也加入了 AI 搜索战场。 [08:07] SEO/SEM 的过去：为什么我们需要新的 GEO？ SEM 解决速度，SEO 解决长线资产，但 AI 时代它们都不够用了 - SEM：通过付费快速买量、测试人群；SEO：靠内容质量与网站权重换取免费流量。 - AI 时代用户不再点击十个链接，而是大模型总结答案。 - 品牌必须从「为搜索引擎」写转向 「为大模型写」。 [13:45] GEO 是什么？AI 时代的新 SEO GEO 的核心就是——当用户问问题时，让模型想到你。 - GEO = Generative Engine Optimization，让品牌被纳入模型回答，而不是网页结果列表。 - 大模型重视语义结构、真实数据、专家引用。 - 做好 SEO 依然是做 GEO 的前提 [28:00] OpenAI Shop Card：AI 正在重建电商闭环 用户未来不需要跳 10 个页面，一个答案和一个购买按钮就够了。 - ChatGPT 正把 「搜索 + 比价 + 决策 + 下单」整合到一条链。 - 对品牌意味着：电商入口会从平台迁移到 AI 助手。 - AI 电商比传统平台更「去中间化」。 [33:01] 为什么 Deepblumen 要出海？中美 AI 搜索生态有何不一样？ 海外生态更开放，工具链更完整，资本更看好这一赛道。 - OpenAI 商业化节奏快，可接入生态更丰富。 - 像 Profound 这样的第三方监测工具成熟。 - 海外 Saas 与服务体系更配合品牌自建增长体系。 - 中国生态偏向自闭环（抖音、阿里），路径不同。 [51:53] GEO 会不会误导用户？品牌能操纵 AI 搜索吗？ 我们不做虚假信息，AI 搜索也无法容纳虚假——因为语义理解会暴露它。 - GEO 不能制造虚假内容，否则无法通过模型语义筛选。 - 大模型相比 SEO 时代更能识别「垃圾内容」。 - 品牌要求的第一原则是信息必须准确。 - AI 搜索推荐机制依然基于真实需求与内容质量。 [1:00:29] 最终趋势：AI Agent 才是电商终局 未来不是你下单，而是你的 AI Agent 替你下单。 - AI Agent 将读取需求 → 比价 → 决策 → 直接购买。 - 品牌内容必须结构化，以便 Agent 能抓取、比对、调用。 - GEO 是 Agent 时代的基础建设。 - 现在准备，决定品牌能否在未来被自动选中。

Follow me @samirkaji for my thoughts on the venture market, with a focus on the continued evolution of the VC landscape.Welcome back to another episode of Venture Unlocked, the podcast that takes you behind the scenes of the business of venture capital.In this episode, I sit down with Lior Susan from Eclipse to explore his journey from building companies in the physical world to founding and scaling a unique venture firm. We discuss the importance of high-conviction investing, assembling elite teams from operator backgrounds, and staying adaptable in a rapidly shifting market shaped by technology and AI. Lior shares lessons on discipline, honesty, and the realities of venture investing, offering actionable insights for anyone interested in building resilient companies or understanding what it takes to succeed in today's venture landscape.Thanks for listening to another episode of Venture Unlocked. We hope you enjoyed our conversation with Lior. If you'd like to get Venture Unlocked content straight to your inbox, go to ventureunlocked.substack.com and sign up, or go to Apple Podcasts or Spotify and subscribe. Thanks again for listening.About Lior SusanLior Susan is the founder and managing partner of Eclipse, a venture capital firm focused on backing entrepreneurs who are building companies to transform physical industries. He began his career as a co-founder of Intucell, a software-defined networking startup that was acquired by Cisco in 2012. After that, he led the hardware investment platform Lab IX at Flextronics, deploying capital across energy storage, additive manufacturing, robotics, and wireless infrastructure. In 2015, Lior launched Eclipse to invest in startups transforming critical industries like manufacturing, logistics, supply chain, transportation, energy, and on. He draws on experience as an operator, investor, and former Israeli special forces serviceman to support founders tackling complex, real-world problems.Eclipse is a firm headquartered in Palo Alto (with a New York presence) that partners with entrepreneurs building category-defining companies in physical industries. The firm builds and invests in companies at all stages, combining hardware, software, and systems to modernize “bits and atoms.” Since its founding in 2015, Eclipse has built and backed over 100 companies and helped accelerate startups like Bedrock, VulcanForms, True Anomaly, and Cerebras — companies driving innovation in construction, digital manufacturing infrastructure, defense capabilities, and AI infrastructure.During the conversation, we discussed:* Lior's Career Path and Founding Eclipse (3:38)* Reflecting on the Fund's Origins and Initial Fundraising (6:46)* Adjusting Firm Size and Strategy as Opportunities Grow (9:49)* High-Conviction, High-Ownership Investment Approach (12:45)* Decision-Making Process and Team Dynamics (14:57)* Patterns Among Founders of Large Companies (17:27)* The Evolution of Eclipse's Value Proposition (20:23)* Operator-to-Investor Transitions and Internal Training (24:49)* Market Shifts and Macro Changes in Venture Capital (27:07)* Exit Challenges, IPOs, and Long-Term Private Markets (30:27)* Alignment Between LPs and Managers Around Exits (33:44)* Lior's Investment Lessons and Reflections on Power Law (35:17)* Thoughts on Deglobalization and Future Predictions (36:32)I'd love to know what you took away from this conversation with Lior. Follow me @SamirKaji and give me your insights and questions with the hashtag #ventureunlocked. If you'd like to be considered as a guest or have someone you'd like to hear from (GP or LP), drop me a direct message on X. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ventureunlocked.substack.com

From time to time, we'll re-air a previous episode of the show that our newer audience may have missed. During this episode, Santosh is joined by Matthew Putman, Co-Founder and CEO of Nanotronics, a company providing customized solutions for automated optical inspection, process control, and security. During the conversation, Santosh and Matthew explore the current state and future of semiconductor manufacturing in the U.S., emphasizing the challenges and opportunities. Matthew shares his unique journey from a background in theater and music to leading innovations in semiconductor manufacturing. Key topics include the implications of the CHIPS Act, the concept of "cube fabs," the importance of reskilling the workforce, the transformative role of AI in manufacturing, the need for creativity and adaptability in the industry, and so much more.Highlights from their conversation include:Matthew's Background and Journey Into Manufacturing (0:41)The State of Semiconductor Manufacturing (4:33)Impact of the CHIPS Act (7:01)Reskilling the Workforce (11:17)Critique of the CHIPS Act Funding (13:00)Opportunities in Manufacturing Technology (17:58)Collaboration Between Academia and Industry (20:46)Risks of Diversifying Semiconductor Production (23:18)The Value of AI in Manufacturing (25:10)Creativity in Business and Music (26:11)Science and Engineering Thought Processes (28:10)Impact of Upcoming Elections on Manufacturing (29:33)Labor Shortage Perspectives (30:00)Final Thoughts and Takeaways (30:31)Dynamo is a VC firm led by supply chain and mobility specialists that focus on seed-stage, enterprise startups.Find out more at: https://www.dynamo.vc/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Kenneth Hochhauser is Partner and Head of Data and Analytics at RTL. His background includes roles as a retail executive at Macy's and GNC and as a small business and economic development officer for the City of New York. He has advised both tenants and landlords on site selection, trade area analysis, and retail strategy, including introducing Chipotle to the New York metro market and representing Duxiana nationally. His past assignments span major projects such as Brookfield Place, Trump Place, and Columbia University's Manhattanville and Morningside campuses.(02:39) - Ken's Journey(04:59) - Retail Market Trends(06:05) - Retail vs. Office Innovation(07:53) - Shopping Trends and Retail Insights(08:31) - Retail Challenges in Manhattan(10:05) - Retail's Historical Context and Future(12:14) - Tenant Preferences(17:33) - Experiential Retail & Unique Locations(20:56) - Non-Traditional Retail (23:21) - Feature: Blueprint - The Future of Real Estate - Register for 2026: The Premier Event for Industry Executives, Real Estate & Construction Tech Startups and VC's, at The Venetian, Las Vegas on September 22nd-24th, 2026. As a friend of Tangent, you can save $300 on your All-Access pass(28:11) - Retail Tech & Data Utilization(34:29) - Location Indicators & Retail Expansion(38:29) - Collaboration Superpower: an economist(40:08) - US Gov. Shutdown Impact

Umesh Sachdev, cofounder and CEO of Uniphore, joins Shripati Acharya for a deeply insightful and very real conversation about what it actually takes to build and scale enterprise AI. Whether you are a founder, a product leader or someone thinking seriously about enterprise AI, this episode will give you clarity on business AI you won't find elsewhere.What you'll take away:• A clearer understanding of what Uniphore does as an end-to-end enterprise AI and data platform• Why so many AI pilots “fail” at first and how that failure can actually be meaningful progress• How enterprises are achieving predictable outcomes using unitary agents, workflow orchestration, guardrails and fine-tuned SLMs• The inside story of Uniphore's strategic raise and why some of the world's biggest AI and data companies chose to back them⭐Episode Timestamps00:00 Introduction03:00 – What Uniphore Actually Does 05:47 – Why Enterprise AI Struggles to Scale Beyond Pilots10:08 – The Determinism Problem: Why AI Gives Different Answers Each Time12:32 – Unitary Agents and Workflow Orchestration for Predictable AI14:00 – Small Language Models vs Large LLMs for Enterprise Use Cases15:25 – Why Guardrails and Governance Matter in Real Deployments16:39 – One Big Agent Fails but Ten Small Agents Work Better20:40 – Why AI Pilots Fail and Why That Is a Good Thing22:20 – Converting Experiments into Enterprise-Scale Adoption24:26 – 35,000 Invoices a Week with Only Four Humans: ROI Case Study26:25 – What Enterprises Really Look for in AI Systems28:45 – Lessons from Building Across India and the US32:51 – Why Founders Must Be Close to Their Biggest Market34:44 – Structuring Teams Across Geographies for Global Scale38:10 – The Journey of Building Uniphore Over Seventeen Years42:36 – Hard Lessons Learned Along the Way46:45 – Why NVIDIA, Snowflake, AMD and Databricks Invested51:17 – How the Strategic Round Came Together52:22 – Closing NoteIf this conversation resonates with you, drop your biggest takeaway in the comments and subscribe for more in-depth founder and VC discussions.#EnterpriseAI #Uniphore #ArtificialIntelligence #AIAgents #SmallLanguageModels #AIInnovation #AIinBusiness #FounderInsights #StartupLessons #TechLeadership #GlobalScale #FutureOfWork #PrimeVenturePartnersPodcast

Recorded live at HLTH, this episode of Bright Spots in Healthcare takes you inside Health2047, the venture studio founded by the American Medical Association to tackle some of healthcare's gnarliest problems. Host Eric Glazer sits down with Warren Templeton, Managing Director at Health2047, to explore how the AMA is backing founders at the earliest stages to reshape physician workflows, chronic disease management, and data liquidity. Warren shares how Health2047 partners with science- and clinician-led startups at the pre-seed and seed stages, wrapping founders with commercial strategy, clinical and billing expertise, and an evergreen capital model that matches healthcare's longer time horizons. He also unpacks why humility and conviction are the two non-negotiable traits he looks for in founders. You'll hear real-world examples from Health2047's portfolio, including: Zing Health – a Medicare Advantage plan built for underserved communities, rooted in social determinants of health and community-based design Phenomics Health – an obesity phenotyping company born from a "failed" diabetes prevention bet, now helping match patients to the right GLP-1s, procedures, and care pathways ScholarRx – a global medical education platform partnering with the WHO to enable high-quality "tertiary care in the wild" for clinicians around the world Warren and Eric also dig into: Why traditional 5–7 year VC timelines often clash with healthcare reality How to balance breakthrough science with practical workflow integration and commercial viability The impact KPIs Health2047 tracks beyond IRR, including lives and care teams impacted If you're a founder, investor, or healthcare leader trying to build something that actually works in the real world—not just on a pitch deck—this conversation offers a candid look at what it takes to design, fund, and scale the next generation of healthcare companies. Bio: https://health2047.com/leadership/warrentempleton/ References: Health2047's portfolio companies mentioned in the episode: Zing Health - https://www.myzinghealth.com/ Phenomics Health - https://www.phenomicshealth.com/ ScholarRx - https://scholarrx.com/ Partner with Bright Spots Ventures: If you are interested in speaking with the Bright Spots Ventures team to brainstorm how we can help you grow your business via content and relationships, email hkrish@brightspotsventures.com About Bright Spots Ventures: Bright Spots Ventures is a healthcare strategy and engagement company that creates content, communities, and connections to accelerate innovation. We help healthcare leaders discover what's working, and how to scale it. By bringing together health plan, hospital, and solution leaders, we facilitate the exchange of ideas that lead to measurable impact. Through our podcast, executive councils, private events, and go-to-market strategy work, we surface and amplify the "bright spots" in healthcare—proven innovations others can learn from and replicate. At our core, we exist to create trusted relationships that make real progress possible. Visit our website at www.brightspotsinhealthcare.com. Visit our website:  www.brightspotsinhealthcare.com. Follow Bright Spots in Healthcare: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shared-purpose-connect/

Microsoft Reporter Aaron Holmes talks with TITV Host Akash Pasricha about why Microsoft is lowering AI agent sales quotas and what this signals for the broader generative AI market. We also talk with Finance Editor Ken Brown about why credit ratings agencies are becoming central to the AI debt story, and Nnamdi Okike, Managing Partner and Co-Founder at 645 Ventures, on why VC fundraising is trending toward a decade low. Lastly, we get into the future of travel tech with Johannes Reck, Co-Founder & CEO of GetYourGuide, who discusses the European market and competition with Airbnb and Booking Holdings.Articles discussed on this episode: https://www.theinformation.com/articles/microsoft-lowers-ai-software-sales-quotas-customers-resist-newer-productshttps://www.theinformation.com/articles/s-p-takes-ai-debt-deals-crypto-giantsTITV airs on YouTube, X and LinkedIn at 10AM PT / 1PM ET. Or check us out wherever you get your podcasts.Subscribe to: - The Information on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theinformation- The Information: https://www.theinformation.com/subscribe_hSign up for the AI Agenda newsletter: https://www.theinformation.com/features/ai-agenda

Welcome back to the EUVC Podcast, your inside track on the people, models, and math reshaping European venture.This week, Andreas talks with Damian Cristian and Guy Conway, co-founders of Rule 30 - an AI research lab building what they claim is the world's first fully systematic venture strategy. We go deep on the difference between “data-driven” (hygiene) and decision-driven (engine), why labels matter, and how portfolio math crushes intuition.They unpack founder-trajectory signals, graph-based network evolution, market topology (yes, biology-inspired stats), and a portfolio design targeting 3x+ minimum returns with 97.5% confidence. We also debate the “access myth,” party rounds, and why they won't sell their alpha.Whether you're an LP testing managers, a GP rethinking reserves, or a founder curious how algorithms “see” you - this one's for the nerds and the pragmatists.Here's what's covered:01:46 | What is “Quant VC” and how it differs from traditional venture06:39 | Why pre-seed isn't an access problem — it's a triage problem09:55 | Can AI really make investment decisions at pre-seed?14:13 | Training the model on 15 years of startup data to find top-decile winners20:55 | The “Outlier Trajectory” of founders — decoding team evolution through data26:42 | Why Rule 30 calls itself an AI Research Lab, not a VC fund35:36 | Portfolio construction math: the danger of the “middle” strategy55:57 | Follow-ons vs upfront bets — why they avoid reserves entirely61:40 | Access myth-busting — why 99 % of pre-seed deals are open to smart capital

My guest today is David George. David is a General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, where he leads the firm's growth investing business. His team has backed many of the defining companies of this era – including Databricks, Figma, Stripe, SpaceX, Anduril, and OpenAI – and is now investing behind a new generation of AI startups like Cursor, Harvey, and Abridge. This conversation is a detailed look at how David built and runs the a16z growth practice. He shares how he recruits and builds his team a “Yankees-level” culture, how his team makes investment decisions without traditional committees, and how they work with founders years before investing to win the most competitive deals. Much of our conversation centers on AI and how his team is investing across the stack, from foundational models to applications. David draws parallels to past platform shifts – from SaaS to mobile – and explains why he believes this period will produce some of the largest companies ever built. David also outlines the models that guide his approach – why markets often misprice consistent growth, what makes “pull” businesses so powerful, and why most great tech markets end up winner-take-all. David reflects on what he's learned from studying exceptional founders and why he's drawn to a particular type, the “technical terminator.” Please enjoy my conversation with David George. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ----- This episode is brought to you by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ramp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Ramp's mission is to help companies manage their spend in a way that reduces expenses and frees up time for teams to work on more valuable projects. Go to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ramp.com/invest to sign up for free and get a $250 welcome bonus. ----- This episode is brought to you by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ridgeline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Ridgeline has built a complete, real-time, modern operating system for investment managers. It handles trading, portfolio management, compliance, customer reporting, and much more through an all-in-one real-time cloud platform. Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ridgelineapps.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more about the platform. ----- This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlphaSense⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. AlphaSense has completely transformed the research process with cutting-edge AI technology and a vast collection of top-tier, reliable business content. Invest Like the Best listeners can get a free trial now at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Alpha-Sense.com/Invest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and experience firsthand how AlphaSense and Tegus help you make smarter decisions faster. ----- Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thepodcastconsultant.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). Show Notes: (00:00:00) Welcome to Invest Like The Best (00:04:00) Meet David George (00:03:04) Understanding the Impact of AI on Consumers and Enterprises (00:05:56) Monetizing AI: What is AI's Business Model (00:11:04) Investing in Robotics and American Dynamism (00:13:31) Lessons from Investing in Waymo (00:15:55) Investment Philosophy and Strategy (00:17:15) Investing in Technical Terminators (00:20:18) Market Leaders Capture All of the Value Creation (00:24:56) The Maturation of VC and Competitive Landscape (00:28:18) What a16z Does to Win Deals (00:33:06) David's Daily Routine: Meetings Structure and Blocking Time to Think (00:36:34) Why David Invests: Curiosity and Competition (00:40:12) The Unique Culture at Andreessen Horowitz (00:42:46) The Perfect Conditions for Growth Investing (00:47:04) Push v. Pull Businesses (00:49:19) The Three Metrics a16z Uses to Evaluate AI Companies (00:52:15) Unique Products and Unique Distribution (00:54:55) Tradeoffs of the a16z Firm Structure (00:59:04) a16z's Semi-Algorithmic Approach to Selling (01:00:54) Three Ways Startups can Beat Incumbents in AI (01:03:44) The Kindest Thing

In venture these days, it pays to be small and scrappy or huge and swimming in fees. Anywhere in between is a hard slog. Bradley walks through the changing VC landscape, using his own fund history as Exhibit A, and going into detail on his return to an “equity for services” model. Plus, why AOC should run for President rather than the US Senate, how AI could be utilized to revolutionize classrooms, and a fresh theory on why we can't resist TV villains.This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City's only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today's episode: info@firewall.media.Be sure to watch Bradley's new TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

You don't need a startup idea or VC funding to become a founder. If you've outgrown corporate life and know you're meant to build something bigger — rooted in your genius, voice, and ownership — this episode is for you.We unpack why stepping into your Founder Era is the key to your next chapter… and why waiting for permission is the fastest way to miss it.***

In this episode, I speak with Xin from Sign Global, a company building sovereign blockchain infrastructure for governments — from national stablecoins and CBDCs to digital identity and real-world asset systems.Xin explains why crypto struggles to reach real adoption: we build great tech but rarely solve problems for banks, regulators, or everyday users. Sign Global works directly with governments to modernize payments, identity, and asset rails — aiming to cut international settlement from 1–3 days to 2 minutes and unlock massive economic velocity.We discuss global stablecoin trends, why USD stablecoins won't dominate long term, how sovereign digital ID actually works, and why countries like Kazakhstan and the UAE are moving fastest.A rare, practical look at the future of national-scale blockchain systems.(Nothing here is financial advice.)Key timestamps[00:00:00] Cold Open: Xin on why crypto people don't talk to the real world [00:01:00] Intro: Sam introduces Xin and Sign Global's mission for sovereign infrastructure [00:03:00] Origin Story: Mining, hardware, VC and founding Sign in 2021 [00:05:00] From App to Nations: Pivoting from Web3 contract signing to CBDCs and stablecoins[00:08:00] Crypto vs Real World: Why good tech without real users doesn't create value [00:11:00] Digital ID: Sovereign credentials vs centralized government databases that keep getting hacked [00:15:00] Progressive States: Kazakhstan, UAE and how ambitious governments think about crypto [00:19:00] Future of Stablecoins: Why Xin believes stablecoins win but USD stablecoins won't dominate everyday money [00:24:00] Tokenizing Nations: Governments as gatekeepers for fiat, oil, land and RWA on-chain [00:30:00] Business Model: From government infra contracts to global payment rails [00:33:00] Bandwidth of Money: 1–3 day SWIFT vs 2-minute settlement and the impact on global GDP [00:34:00] Roadmap & Ask: 25+ countries, global payment network and who Xin wants to work withConnecthttps://sign.global/https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethsign/https://www.linkedin.com/in/xin-yan-658545172/https://x.com/ethsignhttps://x.com/realyanxinDisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, it would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/

What happens when organizations can't dream?Not because they lack vision. But because they're too busy scrambling to make payroll, chasing emergency grants, firefighting the latest crisis. Scarcity doesn't just drain bank accounts — it steals the capacity to imagine what's possible.In this episode, I sit down with Jamye Wooten, founder of CLLCTIVLY in Baltimore, to explore what he calls "reactivism" and how the social impact sector got trapped in a cycle of moving from crisis to crisis, hashtag to hashtag, never building the institutions we actually need.After years on the front lines in Ferguson and Baltimore, Jamye stepped back to create what he calls an "imagination incubator" — and he's putting real resources behind it. We dig into what it actually takes to give leaders the space they need to dream, the hidden costs of the grind we celebrate, and why capital (not training) is what builds capacity.In our conversation, we explore:Why scarcity steals imagination — and what that costs us [01:47]Creating containers for imagination: CLLCTIVLY's $75K residency program [04:30]The capacity building myth: why organizations need capital, not more training [12:22]What funders get wrong about outcomes and sustainability [06:08]Participatory grantmaking and putting people before projects [09:22]How philanthropy shifts priorities every 3-5 years — and why that's devastating [10:09]The missing VC-style pipeline for social impact organizations [12:00]Partnership vs. paternalism: reimagining funder-grantee relationships [19:27]Navigating the DEI backlash and building sustainable funding models [16:31]From $5,000 to $1.2 million: how individual donors built Collective Give [19:00]Creating power balance in philanthropy spaces [22:12]The personal cost: "Dad, you're so close, but so far" [30:44]What keeps Jamye going when the work is relentless [29:17]Connect with CLLCTIVLY and what's next [33:56]Notable Quotes"We've been trying to create a container for imagination and to provide space for other folks to pause and imagine the future that they want to see." — Jamye Wooten [03:43]"Capital will help you build capacity. What does it mean to get the upfront capital that allows me to go hire my CFO and my CEO and begin to build out a team? Most folks are building as they climb without this type of infrastructure." — Jamye Wooten [13:40]"We may celebrate the hustle, the bootstrapping and the grind and resilience of community. It will also take you out." — Jamye Wooten [09:45]"I would love to see foundations and funders make a long-term commitment to really bet like they want organizations to win." — Jamye Wooten [11:22]"The times are urgent, we must slow down." — Jamye Wooten [29:40]P.S. — Struggling to align your mission with your message? Cosmic helps social impact leaders build brands that actually reflect the change you're creating. Let's talk about your vision: Listeners, now you can text us your comments or questions by clicking this link.*** If you liked this episode, please help spread the word. Share with your friends or co-workers, post it to social media, “follow” or “subscribe” in your podcast app, or write a review on Apple Podcasts. We could not do this without you! We love hearing feedback from our community, so please email us with your questions or comments — including topics you'd like us to cover in future episodes — at podcast@designbycosmic.com Thank you for all that you do for your cause and for being part of the movement to move humanity and the planet forward.

Alex Smereczniak, co-founder and CEO of Franzy, shares his entrepreneurial journey and the development of his franchise marketplace platform. Franzy is described as the "Zillow for franchising," using an AI engine to match prospective franchise buyers with suitable brands based on their background, net worth, and goals. Alex's journey began with a profitable college laundry and dry-cleaning service, inspired by his entrepreneurial father's advice to either work for himself or have people work for him. After an unfulfilling stint in consulting at Ernst & Young, he started 2U Laundry, raising $33 million in VC and eventually verticalizing by building physical laundromats. This led to franchising the concept under Laundrelab, where he experienced the franchise ecosystem's inefficiencies firsthand, particularly the high, unregulated commissions (up to 60%) paid to franchise brokers. This lack of transparency and incentive misalignment inspired him to create Franzy. Franzy's three pillars are Educate, Discovery, and Support, aiming to democratize the process with transparency, data, and a flat-fee model (around 40% of the fee) that removes the incentive to push higher-paying brands.10 Key Takeaways Entrepreneurial Inspiration: Alex's father's advice to "work for yourself or have people working for you"heavily influenced his career path. College Business Success: His college laundry business, WakeWash, grew from $25k to $250k in annual revenue after securing a booth at orientation week and leveraging a subscription/gym-membership model with 70% margins due to breakage. Consulting Burnout & Motivation: Alex found corporate consulting at Ernst & Young unfulfilling, realizing he was optimizing for working less rather than doing fulfilling work, reinforcing the need to work for himself. 2U Laundry & Vertical Integration: The "Uber for laundry" concept, 2U Laundry, raised $33 million in VC, eventually requiring vertical integration by building expensive physical laundromats ($1 million each). Laundrelab Franchising: The solution to scaling the expensive laundromat model was franchising the brick-and-mortar business, Laundrelab, and layering the delivery service on top. Franchise Brokerage Pain Point: Experiencing the high (up to 60%), unregulated commissions and lack of disclosure in franchise brokerage was the direct inspiration for Franzy. Franzy's Transparency Model: Franzy addresses broker conflicts of interest by implementing a flat-fee structure(around 40% of the franchise fee), making the fee consistent across all brands, removing the incentive to push the highest-paying brands. Franzy's Three Pillars: The platform focuses on Educate (blogs, podcasts), Discovery (AI-driven matching from 4,000+ brands), and Support (lending, legal, real estate intros). Franchisor Value Proposition: Larger brands like Driven Brands use Franzy because it offers a high ROI—finding good operators for a fraction of their lifetime value (estimated at $500k to $1 million+). Advisory Approach: Franzy's role is to advise and guide prospective buyers, providing data and disclosing risks (like those associated with emerging brands), but ultimately leaving the decision to the individual.

My guest is Mark Kahn, Managing Partner at Omnivore, a $295 million venture capital firm investing in startups across agriculture, food, and the rural economy in India, focused on climate risk resilience.In this episode, we talk about how venture capital can be redesigned to fund climate adaptation in the real economy, and still deliver real returns.Mark shares what he's learned from over a decade investing in agritech and climate adaptation in India, and why institutional investors continue to underestimate the opportunity in emerging markets.We also discuss:how Omnivore balances financial returns with measurable impactwhy fintech for inclusion is key to rural transformationwhy fund managers need to build for climate resilience, not just growthTune in to hear why India may be the most logical and overlooked bet in climate-smart venture capital. And why it's time to fund adaptation before it's too late.—Intro (00:00)Childhood shaped by global curiosity and diversity (03:57)Disappointment with Penn's pre-professional culture (10:51)Burned out from early political consulting career (13:07)Harvard project with ITC ignites India focus (18:40)Omnivore's origin and spinout from Godrej Agrovet (27:26)Omnivore - high-level overview (35:09)Climate adaptation over mitigation in India (41:35)Investment strategy organized around four business models (43:24)Impact measurement - standardized IMM and field surveys (51:29)Agritech startups must mature into agribusinesses (58:21)Global capital still overlooks India's VC opportunities (01:02:20)India's life sciences sector limited by talent shortages (01:06:06)Alternative protein is culturally irrelevant for India (01:10:41)Agricultural subsidies need replacing with direct transfers (01:14:17)Rapid-fire questions (01:19:58)Contact info (01:23:31)— Discover More from SRI360°:Explore all episodes of the SRI360° Podcast Sign up for the free weekly email update —Additional Resources:Mark Kahn LinkedIn Omnivore Website

Fundraising used to be a relationship business. Now, it's a volume game.In this episode, we sit down with the founder of Aduro Advisors to unpack the data behind the current venture capital landscape. With $131 Billion+ in assets under administration across 650+ firms, they have a bird's-eye view of the market that few others possess.We dive deep into the "haves vs. have-nots" dynamic in VC, why the era of the generalist firm might be ending, and the exact operational mistakes that stop emerging managers from scaling. If you are raising a fund or managing a firm in 2025, you need to hear this.⭐ Sponsored by Podcast10x - Podcasting agency for VCs - https://podcast10x.comTopics covered:- Shift to Solo GPs: The rise of individual managers over large platforms.- Fundraising Reality: Why raising capital is now a volume-based "numbers game."- Market Polarization: The widening gap between the "haves" and "have-nots."- Specialization Wins: Why LPs favor sector-focused funds over generalists.- The 100% Rule: Data showing funds that invest 100%+ of capital outperform.- Smaller Funds: The strategic advantage of "right-sized" funds for faster returns.- Individual Investors: The massive influx of High Net Worth individuals into VC.- AI & Operations: Using AI to automate fund administration and data reporting.About the Guest:Aduro Advisors is a premier fund administration firm supporting over 650 venture capital and private equity firms with more than $131 Billion in assets under administration. Their platform, FundPanel, leverages data and AI to streamline operations for the next generation of investors.Timestamps:(00:00) - Introduction and episode overview(00:02:43) - Inspiration behind founding Aduro Advisors(00:04:25) - Major shifts in fund operations and data flow(00:05:58) - Aduro Advisors' data insights on fund performance and market recovery(00:09:48) - Evolution of fund sizes and LP composition(00:11:22) - Common mistakes made by first-time fund managers(00:12:40) - The importance of sector specialization versus diversification for LPs(00:17:24) - Surprising findings from Aduro Advisors' Q2 2025 report(00:20:16) - Longevity of firms and the "haves and have-nots" dynamic(00:23:09) - Characteristics of top-decile performing funds(00:25:48) - How Fund Panel streamlines fund administration and reporting(00:27:17) - The role of AI in fund administration(00:30:38) - Changes in fundraising approach post-pandemic(00:32:23) - Biggest opportunities for innovation in fund operations(00:33:54) - Where to learn more about Aduro Advisors and Fund PanelLearn more about Aduro Advisors:Website: https://aduroadvisors.com/FundPanel: https://fundpanel.io/VC10X links:VC10X website - https://VC10X.comFollow Prashant on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/choubeysahab#VentureCapital #Fundraising #PrivateEquity #EmergingManagers #StartupInvesting #AduroAdvisors

We closed out the year with a special live recording of the Flagship Podcast in collaboration with AI Salon at Mila, a packed evening featuring a Montréal VC panel, an AI founder roundtable, and a fireside keynote with Sam Ramadori (BrainBox AI, now co-president of Law Zero). Across all three segments, one theme dominated: AI is moving faster than any tech cycle before it, and Canada has a once-in-a-generation chance to lead. VC Panel,  Navigating the AI Wave Investors from Inovia, White Star, and Amiral Ventures explored the chaos and opportunity of today's market. The AI cycle is "psychotic" in speed and scope, but the fundamentals still matter: strong teams, sticky products, real customer value. The best startups will use AI as an enabler, not the product, and differentiate through privileged data, deep domain expertise, and the ability to deliver ROI, not hype. Founder Panel,  Building Real AI Companies in Montréal Budpress, Maxa, and Wrk shared candid takes from the front lines: why traditional SaaS is being rewritten, how open-source models and reasoning engines are changing the game, and why Montréal remains one of the best bases in the world for AI talent and cost-efficient scaling. The founders stressed that Canada must shed its "small market" mindset, big outcomes are possible here. Keynote with Sam Ramadori,  AI, Climate, and Responsibility Sam recounted his unlikely journey from private equity to leading BrainBox AI through an acquisition, and why he's now dedicating himself to Law Zero, a nonprofit effort led by Yoshua Bengio to build safer, more reliable AI systems. His message was clear: Canada has extraordinary AI talent, but must rally around sovereignty, responsible innovation, and deeper collaboration to avoid being squeezed between global superpowers. The night ended with a message to the community: this is our moment. We have world-class research, world-class founders, and a fast-maturing ecosystem. If we choose ambition, and support one another, Montréal can be one of the defining AI hubs of this decade.  

Ethan Austin of Outside VC joins Nick to discuss Investing in Outsiders, Why Extreme Personalities Win, Weighing Timing versus Trends, and Rethinking Liquidity and Option Exercise Windows. In this episode we cover: Lessons from Founding Give Forward Investment Philosophy and Timing Founding Outside VC Characteristics of Strong Investment Candidates Supporting Founders and Building Knowledge Trends in FinTech and Climate Role of a VC and Early Liquidity Guest Links: Ethan's LinkedIn Outside VC's LinkedIn Outside VC's Website The host of The Full Ratchet is Nick Moran of New Stack Ventures, a venture capital firm committed to investing in founders outside of the Bay Area. We're proud to partner with Ramp, the modern finance automation platform. Book a demo and get $150—no strings attached.   Want to keep up to date with The Full Ratchet? Follow us on social. You can learn more about New Stack Ventures by visiting our LinkedIn and Twitter.

This book names people who I knew or knew of in Silicon Valley. It is a reaction to the author's time at Kleiner Perkins Caulfield and Byers. He was part of the team that financed Google and co-founded Drugstore.com during the dot-com frenzy. He was actively involved with Jeff Bezos at Amazon. The prevailing wisdom was simple: raise as much capital as possible, scale at breakneck speed, and worry about profitability later. At the heart of the book is the Evergreen model, a philosophy of building companies that last “and last and last.” Whorton outlines the Evergreen 7Ps® framework, which includes:• Purpose: A mission beyond personal wealth creation.• Perseverance: Commitment to long-term endurance.• People First: Prioritizing employees, customers, and communities.• Profitability: Growth funded through cash flow, not endless rounds of dilution.• Private: Freedom from public market pressures.• Pacience: A deliberate pace, resisting the frenzy of blitzscaling.• Philosophy: A values-driven approach to leadershipReject the false binary. You don't have to choose between hypergrowth or irrelevance. Many founders feel pressured to pursue VC funding even when their business fundamentals don't align. Evergreen offers a viable third path.--------------**Real Estate Espresso Podcast:** Spotify: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/3GvtwRmTq4r3es8cbw8jW0?si=c75ea506a6694ef1)   iTunes: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-real-estate-espresso-podcast/id1340482613)   Website: [www.victorjm.com](http://www.victorjm.com)   LinkedIn: [Victor Menasce](http://www.linkedin.com/in/vmenasce)   YouTube: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](http://www.youtube.com/@victorjmenasce6734)   Facebook: [www.facebook.com/realestateespresso](http://www.facebook.com/realestateespresso)   Email: [podcast@victorjm.com](mailto:podcast@victorjm.com)  **Y Street Capital:** Website: [www.ystreetcapital.com](http://www.ystreetcapital.com)   Facebook: [www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital](https://www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital)   Instagram: [@ystreetcapital](http://www.instagram.com/ystreetcapital)  

"The VC model is just fundamentally the wrong fit for Africa."In this episode of Limitless Africa, Claude Grunitzky and Dimpho Lekgeu speak with American investor Luni Libes, founder of Africa Eats and Fledge, and Tanzanian entrepreneur Haika Mtei, CEO of Golden Pot. Together, they explore how long-term thinking, patient capital, and culturally adapted funding models are reshaping business across the continent. Plus: How one woman is building the go-to cereal brand in Tanzania

Breaking into VC is harder than breaking into professional sports — literally. In this episode, Intuit Ventures investor Tanvi Lal explains why VC recruiting is so broken, why most people don't actually know why they want to be in venture, and how she finally cracked the code after dozens of rejections.We dive into: • Why VC hiring is a “barter system of social capital” • The #1 mistake candidates make when trying to break in • How corporate VC really works behind the scenes • Why AI + accounting might be fintech's wildest opportunity • How founders should think about taking CVC money • The difference between real ARR vs “founder math”If you're exploring VC, raising from VC, or trying to understand AI's impact on finance — this conversation hits.Follow the PodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/venturecapitalfm/Twitter: https://twitter.com/vcpodcastfmLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/venturecapitalfm/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7BQimY8NJ6cr617lqtRr7N?si=ftylo2qHQiCgmT9dfloD_g&nd=1&dlsi=7b868f1b72094351Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/venture-capital/id1575351789Website: https://www.venturecapital.fm/Follow Jon BradshawLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrbradshaw/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjonbradshaw/Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrjonbradshawFollow Peter HarrisLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterharris1Twitter: https://twitter.com/thevcstudentInstagram: https://instagram.com/shodanpeteYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@peterharris2812

This week, we're back to discuss the top stories of the week. We deep dive into Klarna's stablecoin launch, the state of crypto VC, Hyperliquid's launch of equity perps & more. Enjoy! -- Follow Jason: https://x.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Rob: https://x.com/HadickM Follow Santi: https://x.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod -- Referenced In The Show: Jeff Yass - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU9N75Fe1yU Part 1: My Life Is a Lie - https://www.yesigiveafig.com/p/part-1-my-life-is-a-lie?publication_id=1272022&post_id=179492574&isFreemail=false&r=5205r&triedRedirect=true Competition is for Losers with Peter Thiel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Fx5Q8xGU8k -- Zcash is encrypted Bitcoin. Your digital bill of rights securing your freedom for the 21st century. Buy, store and spend ZEC privately using Zashi Wallet download today: https://electriccoin.co/zashi/ -- Katana is a DeFi-first chain built for deep liquidity and high yield. No empty emissions, just real yield and sequencer fees routed back to DeFi users. Pre-deposit now: Earn high APRs with Turtle Club [https://app.turtle.club/campaigns/katana] or spin the wheel with Katana Krates [https://app.katana.network/krates] -- This Empire episode is brought to you by VanEck. Learn more about the VanEck Onchain Economy ETF (NODE): http://vaneck.com/EmpireNODE An investment in the Fund involves a substantial risk and is not suitable for all investors. It is possible to lose your entire principal investment. The Fund may invest nearly all of its net assets in either Digital Transformation Companies and/or Digital Asset Instruments. The Fund does not invest in digital assets or commodities directly. Digital asset instruments may be subject to risks associated with investing in digital asset exchange-traded products (“ETPs”), which include the historical extreme volatility of the digital asset and cryptocurrency market, as well as less regulation and thus fewer investor protections, as these ETPs are not investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”) or commodity pools for the purposes of the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”). Investing involves substantial risk and high volatility, including possible loss of principal. Visit vaneck.com to read and consider the prospectus, containing the investment objective, risks, and fees of the fund, carefully before investing. © Van Eck Securities Corporation, Distributor, a wholly owned subsidiary of Van Eck Associates Corporation. -- GEODNET is the world's largest RTK network, delivering real-time, centimeter-level precision for drones, robots, farmers, and first responders. Recognized by the U.S. Congress, this blockchain-powered network supports mission-critical applications across a wide range of industries. Discover how GEODNET is changing the world: [https://geodnet.com] -- Uniswap's Trading API offers plug-and-play access to deep onchain and off-chain liquidity, delivering enterprise-grade crypto trading without the complexity - from one of the most trusted teams in DeFi. Click to get started with seamless, scalable access to Uniswap's powerful onchain trading infrastructure. https://hub.uniswap.org/?utm_source=blockworks&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ww_web_bw_awa_trading-api_20251117_podcast_clicks -- (00:00) Intro (07:14) Klarna Launches KlarnaUSD (17:25) Ads (Zcash, Katana) (41:12) The State of Crypto VC (44:16) Ads (Zcash, Katana) (45:32) The Prediction Market Wars (57:28) Ads (VanEck, Geodnet, Uniswap) (59:50) Hyperliquid Launches Equity Perps (01:07:21) Coinbase To Acquire Vector.fun (01:18:00) Berachain & Nova Digital's $25 Million Refund Right (01:26:41) Content of The Week -- Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice.

I've maybe never interviewed anyone in my entire time as a historian and podcaster who has had a career as broad and varied as Susan Lyne. Yes, I obviously wanted to talk to Susan about her role helping startup Gilt Group, and her current role as the managing partner of the VC firm BBG Ventures. But, holy how. Susan also launched and oversaw the golden era of Premiere Magazine. She was the CEO of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia when Martha had to step away to, you know, go to prison. And she was the President of ABC Entertainment. She oversaw the development of shows like Grey's Anatomy and Lost. So, like, yeah. We needed to do two episodes. So this is part one, with the great, Susan Lyne. Chapters 00:00 From Boston to Berkeley: A Transformative Journey 08:00 The Rise of Alternative Media: Village Voice Era 16:06 Hollywood Calling: The IPC Films Experience 23:12 Launching Premier Magazine: Inside Hollywood 36:14 Navigating the ABC Landscape: A New Era 40:28 Developing Grey's Anatomy And Lost Takeaways Susan's upbringing in Boston shaped her perspective on expectations and identity. Her time at UC Berkeley was transformative, exposing her to diverse ideas. Freelancing in journalism helped her develop a passion for storytelling. Working at City Magazine under Francis Ford Coppola was a unique experience. The Village Voice was a golden era for alternative media in New York. Susan's transition to Hollywood was driven by her love for storytelling. Premier Magazine aimed to provide in-depth insights into the film industry. At ABC, she focused on creating shows that appealed to women. Susan learned the importance of having a supportive partner in leadership. Her experience at ABC taught her valuable lessons about resilience and change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices