Podcasts about Venture capital

(0:00) Introducing Roelof Botha (1:08) Sequoia's Scout program and its best-performing funds ever (3:38) State of Venture Capital: Why it's broken, too much capital, not enough great companies (9:01) Why Sequoia separated from its China business, how they adapt to changing macro landscapes (13:05) Sequoia's culture, picking partners, investment decision-making, The Sequoia Capital Fund and holding winners (20:18) What makes a great founder, what Roelof learned from Doug Leone and Michael Moritz (26:06) Investing in biotech, importance of expertise in VC Thanks to our partners for making this happen! Solana - Solana is the high performance network powering internet capital markets, payments, and crypto applications. Connect with investors, crypto founders, and entrepreneurs at Solana's global flagship event during Abu Dhabi Finance Week & F1: https://solana.com/breakpoint OKX - The new way to build your crypto portfolio and use it in daily life. We call it the new money app. https://www.okx.com/ Google Cloud - The next generation of unicorns is building on Google Cloud's industry-leading, fully integrated AI stack: infrastructure, platform, models, agents, and data. https://cloud.google.com/ IREN - IREN AI Cloud, powered by NVIDIA GPUs, provides the scale, performance, and reliability to accelerate your AI journey. https://iren.com/ Oracle - Step into the future of enterprise productivity at Oracle AI Experience Live. https://www.oracle.com/artificial-intelligence/data-ai-events/ Circle - The America-based company behind USDC — a fully-reserved, enterprise-grade stablecoin at the core of the emerging internet financial system. https://www.circle.com/ BVNK - Building stablecoin-powered financial infrastructure that helps businesses send, store, and spend value instantly, anywhere in the world. https://www.bvnk.com/ Polymarket - The world's largest prediction market. https://www.polymarket.com/ Follow Roelof: https://x.com/roelofbotha Follow the besties: https://x.com/chamath https://x.com/Jason https://x.com/DavidSacks https://x.com/friedberg Follow on X: https://x.com/theallinpod Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theallinpod Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theallinpod Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/allinpod Intro Music Credit: https://rb.gy/tppkzl https://x.com/yung_spielburg

Today, we are talking with Oliver Mitchell, Partner at ff Venture Capital, the most engaged technology venture capital firm in New York City since 2008. They have an extensive portfolio, and have created billions of dollars in market cap value.Recently, Oliver has released a book titled A Startup Field Guide in the Age of Robots and AI. In the book, he sets the stage to mentor - and provide mentors - around building a hardware startup in modern day times. The book is full of advice, real life stories from the trenches, and practical information to help you succeed.Questions:Tell me about the book - what was the main goal of you writing it, what were you trying to accomplish?In the book, you discuss what it takes to launch a business in this industry. What are the five essential rules for launching a successful automation company?How do you attract investors, given their visceral reaction to hardware sensors and robots? How do you prepare, circumvent or comfort these investors when they spot the red flags?Hardware startups require the right people, the right R&D, etc. - just to get to MVP. What are some strategies for validating product-market fit in hardware startups?At times, the government creates roadblocks through over-regulating and slow pace of play. But how can these partnerships be used for funding and even potentially customer acquisition channels?In your book, you've interviewed some of the most respected luminaries in the space. Can you elaborate on these real world case studies? What were the significant challenges they overcame?If you could give one piece of advice to someone heading down this path, what would it be?SponsorsVentionCodeCraftersFull ScalePaddle.comSema SoftwarePropelAuthPostmanMeilisearchLinkshttps://ffvc.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliverbmitchell/https://www.amazon.com/dp/1032827491Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/code-story-insights-from-startup-tech-leaders/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

AGENDA:  03:29 OpenAI and AMD's Major Partnership 07:35 Microsoft Have F***** Up the OpenAI Partnership  17:08 OpenAI's Developer Day Announcements 20:45 Why VC is the Most Forgiving Asset Class on Price and Valuation 29:10 What Does it Take to IPO in 2025: Why Snyk Will Not IPO 42:30 Four Strategies Companies Need to Take to Own Their Own Destiny 49:31 Vercel Raises $300M at $9BN: Suicide Round or Strategic 55:39 Does King Making Really Work in Venture Capital: Legora vs Harvey 01:08:11 Chamath Raises Latest SPAC: SPACs are Back 01:10:56 Polymarket Raises $2BN at a $9BN Valuation 01:14:53 Quick Fire Questions and Wrap-Up  

Ryan Sawchuk is the VP of Product at Crexi, where he leads cross-functional teams to build advanced, data-rich tools aimed at transforming the commercial real estate workflow. With more than 15 years in product leadership, Ryan specializes in crafting AI-enabled, scalable solutions that boost transaction velocity, improve user experience, and integrate seamlessly into CRE operations. Prior to Crexi, Ryan held senior product roles at Indeed, Procore, and LinkedIn, shaping core features and driving growth in high-scale tech environments. He earned his education from Princeton University, which laid the foundation for his data-driven, user-first product philosophy. At Crexi, Ryan's vision is to bridge the gap between real estate professionals and cutting-edge technology, making complex CRE data more accessible, actionable, and efficient. This is episode was recorded live at Blueprint Vegas 2025.

What kind of founder drives a U-Haul full of perishable product through the desert at 3 A.M.… and calls it progress? That's the kind of relentless, purpose-driven hustle behind Forager Project, the plant-based food and beverage company reshaping what dairy-free can taste and feel like. In this episode, co-founders Stephen Williamson and JC Hanley open up about the mission-fueled (and occasionally messy) evolution of their brand, from cold-pressed juice to cashew-based yogurts and creamers that compete head-on with dairy. They discuss what it really takes to build a standout CPG brand in saturated categories, why “project” is still part of their name, and how lessons from prior businesses and discontinued product lines have shaped their approach. They also explain why they walked away from juice, how they knew yogurt was the future, what it means to innovate with both a moral compass and a culinary one and how they define success. Show notes: 0:25: Interview: Stephen Williamson & JC Hanley, Co-Founders, Forager Project – In a conversation hosted at Forager Project's office in San Francisco, Stephen and JC discuss how the brand was created by a desire to create clean, minimally processed, plant-based foods and how “project” reflects their ethos of exploration and ongoing improvement. The founders recount their early days launching Forager Project in 2013, initially inspired by the ultra-premium juice space before pivoting – what they describe as “foraging” – into new categories. They explain how they began fermenting plant-based ingredients, particularly cashews, to create plant-based yogurts, and have since expanded into Greek-style yogurts and creamers. Stephen and JC emphasize an innovation philosophy rooted in clean, organic ingredients, including vegetables, nuts, seeds and ancient grains, and talk about the grit and craziness required to build a mission-driven company. They note how – despite challenges like tariffs, competition, and changing categories – they've remained focused on their mission: to help replace animal dairy with plant-based alternatives. They close with a broader reflection on success and staying true to their values. Brands in this episode: Forager Project, Odwalla, Blueprint Juice, Evolution Fresh, Starbucks, Suja, Coca-Cola, Stonyfield Farm

Maryam Haque, Founding Executive Director of Venture Forward, discusses how she is helping to open doors to venture capital for people from all backgrounds. She traces her journey from Mississippi to Silicon Valley and highlights the structural barriers that kept venture capital concentrated for decades. Maryam offers a grounded view of the current market dynamics, the growing importance of education and mentorship for emerging managers, and how programs like VC University and the GP Masterclass help build a stronger, more inclusive industry.In this episode, you'll learn:[01:55] From Mississippi to Silicon Valley: Maryam's unexpected path into venture capital[04:18] The origins of Venture Forward and its mission to democratize access to VC[07:13] Why venture capital lacked diversity for so long[09:17] The champions who sparked change and why progress takes time[12:46] How Venture Forward educates and supports emerging managers[15:16] The scale of Venture Forward's programs and the launch of the GP Masterclass[18:00] The story of Chingona Ventures and how early support creates lasting impact[20:54] What successful emerging managers do differently[24:43] Why starting a fund is harder than it looks—and what most underestimate[25:47] The future of venture: specialization, innovation, and realistic optimismThe nonprofit organization Maryam is passionate about: PBSAbout Maryam HaqueMaryam Haque is the Founding Executive Director of Venture Forward, a nonprofit organization dedicated to democratizing access to venture capital. She has over 15 years of experience in the venture ecosystem, including leadership roles at the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) and Dow Jones VentureSource. Maryam is passionate about broadening participation in venture capital, supporting emerging fund managers, and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion across the industry.About Venture ForwardVenture Forward is a Silicon Valley-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit launched under the NVCA to foster a more accessible, inclusive, and sustainable venture capital ecosystem. The organization supports individuals from all backgrounds through education, mentorship, and community programs such as VC University, Emerging Manager Office Hours, and the GP Masterclass. Its mission is to empower the next generation of investors, strengthen venture firms, and drive lasting change in the innovation economy.Subscribe to our podcast and stay tuned for our next episode.

Google faces the greatest innovator's dilemma in history. They invented the Transformer — the breakthrough technology powering every modern AI system from ChatGPT to Claude (and, of course, Gemini). They employed nearly all the top AI talent: Ilya Sutskever, Geoff Hinton, Demis Hassabis, Dario Amodei — more or less everyone who leads modern AI worked at Google circa 2014. They built the best dedicated AI infrastructure (TPUs!) and deployed AI at massive scale years before anyone else. And yet... the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022 caught them completely flat-footed. How on earth did the greatest business in history wind up playing catch-up to a nonprofit-turned-startup?Today we tell the complete story of Google's 20+ year AI journey: from their first tiny language model in 2001 through the creation Google Brain, the birth of the transformer, the talent exodus to OpenAI (sparked by Elon Musk's fury over Google's DeepMind acquisition), and their current all-hands-on-deck response with Gemini. And oh yeah — a little business called Waymo that went from crazy moonshot idea to doing more rides than Lyft in San Francisco, potentially building another Google-sized business within Google. This is the story of how the world's greatest business faces its greatest test: can they disrupt themselves without losing their $140B annual profit-generating machine in Search?Sponsors:Many thanks to our fantastic Fall ‘25 Season partners:J.P. Morgan PaymentsSentryWorkOSShopifyAcquired's 10th Anniversary Celebration!When: October 20th, 4:00 PM PTWho: All of you!Where: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84061500817?pwd=opmlJrbtOAen4YOTGmPlNbrOMLI8oo.1Links:Sign up for email updates and vote on future episodes!Geoff Hinton's 2007 Tech Talk at GoogleOur recent ACQ2 episode with Tobi LutkeWorldly Partners' Multi-Decade Alphabet StudyIn the PlexSupremecyGenius MakersAll episode sourcesCarve Outs:We're hosting the Super Bowl Innovation Summit!F1: The MovieTravelpro suitcasesGlue Guys PodcastSea of StarsStepchange PodcastMore Acquired:Get email updates and vote on future episodes!Join the SlackSubscribe to ACQ2Check out the latest swag in the ACQ Merch Store!‍Note: Acquired hosts and guests may hold assets discussed in this episode. This podcast is not investment advice, and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. You should do your own research and make your own independent decisions when considering any financial transactions.

In this episode, Scott Becker explores the surge in global venture capital funding, with a record share flowing into AI and machine learning, and considers whether soaring valuations could signal the start of an AI-driven market correction.

Scaling a business globally comes down to leaders who align teams and drive them forward together.Snowflake serves over 12,000 customers, and early executives Chris Degnan and Denise Persson share how they scaled the company while keeping the unlikely pairing of sales and marketing perfectly aligned through hypergrowth.They join Joubin Mirzadegan to share insights from their new book, Make It Snow, revealing how they built Snowflake's ‘go-to-market engine' and fostered a customer-first culture across every function.Guests: Chris Degnan, former CRO and advisor to the CEO at Snowflake, and Denise Persson, CMO at Snowflake.Connect with Chris Degnan LinkedIn​Connect with Denise PerssonLinkedIn​Connect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.com​Learn more about Kleiner Perkins:https://www.kleinerperkins.com/

How do top VCs really pick winners, and what's the “fine print” every founder misses? In this Demo Day episode, we go deep inside the investing mind of Jeff Crusey, EVP at Blacklake Group—one of the most unique and active voices in deep tech, defense, and venture capital.Jeff Crusey's journey moves from building batteries in his garage to becoming a leader at Blacklake Group, where he now guides founders and scouts the “thick tail” of defense technology startups. Jeff opens up about the habits that separate great investors from the crowd—including why reading the legal and technical fine print is a repeatable, unfair advantage in venture capital.You'll hear candid stories about Jeff's investment process—from corporate VC in climate tech to navigating the corruption of emerging markets, bouncing back from failure, and ultimately shaping the next generation of defense, energy, and deep tech founders. Jeff also debunks common venture myths: it's not always the best product or team that wins, but resilience, timing, and a willingness to start over as a beginner.Whether you're fundraising for a startup, considering a shift into deep tech, or aiming to decode what real founder success looks like, this episode is packed with actionable strategies and mindset shifts—from evaluating defensible markets to fostering low-ego, high-intellect teams. Jeff's honest blueprint for bouncing back from failed ventures, focusing on true value creation, and the future rise of AI in deep tech is a must-listen for anyone in the startup or VC world.Don't miss Jeff's practical tips for both angel investors and founders, inside stories from Blacklake Group, and a discussion of which defense innovations are set to reshape national security, from missile technology to next-gen satellite navigation.

In this episode, Ben Bajarin and Jay Goldberg delve into the evolving landscape of hyperscalers and Neo clouds, discussing their definitions, the significance of power contracts, and the shift from Bitcoin mining to AI infrastructure. They explore the challenges posed by storage constraints in the age of AI, the implications of OpenAI's new app Sora, and Meta's acquisition of Rivos for custom silicon development. The conversation culminates in a reflection on the importance of semiconductor manufacturing and the future of technology.

On location in London, the hosts delve into emerging trends and spotlight the brands and entrepreneurs driving innovation in the food and beverage space. Their discussion offers a look at what's gaining traction across the pond… and what may soon be making its way to the U.S. market. Show notes: 0:25: Dine & Dash. Feisty Missions. Not Your Father's Whole Foods. Fizzy Tea FTW? Wedges & Broc. – Ray calls out one of the hosts over a breakfast blunder at a cash-only café, before Mike and Jacqui reflect on their recent visit to Mission Kitchen – a commercial kitchen space designed to support emerging packaged food brands – and share insights from a conversation with the founders of Perfect Ted, a matcha-based beverage company. Ray unveils a haul of innovative products picked up at Portobello Whole Foods, featuring everything from protein soda and bamboo water to kombucha-based sparkling tea, sea moss gummies, vacuum-fried broccoli, cola-flavored kombucha, and prickly pear water. Their discussion dives into how sparkling tea brands are pushing to stand out through elevated formats and complex flavor profiles. They also explore how U.K. and European startups are leading the way with nuanced, layered flavors that deliver on both taste and functional benefits. Brands in this episode: Trip, Doughlicious, Mission Kitchen, PerfectTed, Juno, Genni, DJ&A, Holos, Sound, Birdie, OOSO, Every State, GT's Kombucha, Revive Kombucha, Live Soda, Suma, Feisty, Kult, Cacto, The Giving Tree, Brisk Lager, Infinite Session, Something & Nothing, Uncracked

From aspiring fine artist to co-founding a groundbreaking media company and advising Fortune 500s, Cynthia Nelson's journey is one of resilience, reinvention, and relentless curiosity. With more than 25 years leading at the intersection of capital, innovation, and culture, Cynthia has proven herself a powerhouse in entrepreneurship and growth strategy.Her story begins in the unlikeliest of places: a receptionist desk at a computer repair shop in the mid-80s. From there, she witnessed the tech industry's birth, climbed the ranks at Ingram Micro, and navigated the turbulence of early startups, including a devastating betrayal by a business partner. But rather than stepping back, she leaned into every challenge, becoming one of the few Latina women to raise $15 million in private equity and ultimately selling her company Todobebé after a decade of pioneering media, parenting content, and cultural storytelling.Cynthia shares the pivotal lessons that fueled her success, from the importance of listening deeply to your customers, to the courage of saying “yes” to unfamiliar challenges, to the discipline of surrounding yourself with advisors who tell you the hard truths. She reminds us that entrepreneurship is not just about scaling fast, but about staying grounded in what people actually need, not just what founders imagine.Her reflections stretch beyond business into the deeper realities of being a woman in leadership: the sacrifices, the biases, and the double standards that continue to shape the funding landscape. Yet Cynthia's approach is one of fierce generosity, mentoring other women, championing female investors, and encouraging founders to build smarter, more sustainable businesses.This is a story of grit, creativity, and impact, and a masterclass in building with purpose. Tune in to hear Cynthia Nelson's remarkable journey and her wisdom for the next generation of women entrepreneurs.Chapters 

Episode Summary:In this episode, Eric Weiss sits down with Andy Ballester, serial entrepreneur and co-founder of GoFundMe and EyePop.ai, to unpack the highs, lows, and lessons of building category-defining startups. Andy shares how an early college job at a software startup sparked his passion for technology, why he bootstrapped GoFundMe into a global fundraising platform, and what it took to scale from two founders to a household brand that processed over a billion dollars in giving.Andy also reveals the insights behind his newest venture, EyePop.ai, a computer vision platform making AI accessible to developers and businesses across industries. He explains how modern visual intelligence can turn everyday images and video into actionable data—from analyzing pickleball swings to inspecting drone footage of rooftops—and why speed, lean teams, and clear product design are essential in today's fast-moving AI landscape.Listeners will learn:How GoFundMe evolved from a simple savings concept into the world's leading personal fundraising site The technical and UX hurdles of early fintech and how Andy's team overcame them Why bootstrapping worked for GoFundMe but venture funding is key for AI startups The critical role of co-founders, emotional resilience, and a “stoic CEO” mindset in surviving the startup grind Practical advice for founders on team building, product iteration, and staying ahead of AI's rapid innovation curve Whether you're a first-time founder, a product leader, or an investor tracking the next wave of AI infrastructure, Andy's journey offers a masterclass in startup strategy, growth, and perseverance. Don't forget to subscribe to the Chaos to Clarity Podcast for more invaluable episodes to help you grow your business and stay ahead of the curve!To reach out to Eric, visit https://chaostoclarity.io/

In this episode of Tank Talks, host Matt Cohen is joined by John Ruffolo to dive deep into the rapidly evolving AI landscape, its economic ramifications, and Canada's growing potential as a global tech leader. They discuss pivotal topics, such as energy challenges in AI infrastructure, the rise of AI tokenization, and the impact of government policies on the sector. With a focus on the future of tech, investments, and the role of Canada, this episode offers an insightful look at where the industry is headed.A Quick Word from our Sponsor, FaskenAt Fasken, our clients don't wait for the future. They build it. As the first and largest dedicated emerging tech practice in Canada, our team is composed of founders, ex in-house counsel, developers and business advisors who have guided clients from startup, to scale-up, to exit. The trust of our clients has enabled us to consistently rank at the top of every major Canadian M&A, Capital Markets and Venture Capital league table. With deep industry knowledge and experience across all areas of emerging and high growth technology including ClimateTech, MedTech, Artificial Intelligence, Fintech, and AgTech we're your partners within the innovation ecosystem as you transform the landscape of what's possible.Tomorrow starts here. Own it with us.For more information, visit fasken.com/emergingtech and follow us on LinkedIn.AI Energy Demands & Canada's Opportunity (00:04:39)John and Matt discuss the massive demand for compute power in AI and Canada's potential to lead by meeting these energy needs. They highlight the importance of matching energy capacity with data center development to become a global tech leader.The AI CapEx Boom and the Trillion-Dollar Question (00:07:05)The discussion shifts to the booming capital expenditures in AI, with a particular focus on the rising costs of building AI infrastructure and whether this growth is sustainable in the long term.Canada's AI Strategy and Sovereign Identity (00:14:21)The conversation turns to Canada's AI strategy, with a task force focusing on innovation, research, and talent retention. John shares his thoughts on the potential challenges and opportunities for Canada in becoming a key player in the AI space.The SEC's Push for Tokenization in the U.S. (00:19:33)The episode also delves into the SEC's efforts to allow the tokenization of stocks and what this could mean for the financial industry and blockchain adoption.Connect with John Ruffolo on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/joruffoloConnect with Matt Cohen on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/matt-cohen1Visit the Ripple Ventures website: https://www.rippleventures.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tanktalks.substack.com

Produced by Foundersuite (for startups: www.foundersuite.com) and Fundingstack (for 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 Mark Phillips of 11 Tribes, an early stage VC fund that invests in the care and resilience of its founders. Another notable difference is that the fund focuses on businesses and founders that are pursuing profitability within their business model and comfortable seeking exit opportunities between $75M-$250M. Learn more at https://11tribes.vc/ In this episode, we discuss Mark's journey to getting into VC and how his previous (failed) startup shaped his vision, how he had over 200 Zoom pitches to get to his first yes, why selling the vision and passion worked well for Fund I, how the narrative changed for Fund II, the critical importance of resilience, tips for landing Family Offices, and more. 11 Tribes most recently raised a $46 million for Fund II from 220 HNW investors and Family Offices. That follows a Fund I that was $11 million and largely sourced from around 80 HNW LPs. 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

Untapped markets to rising tides, Ruchi Desai career has spanned law, craft beer, and now venture investing. As co-founder of EIGHT Brewing Co. with NFL legend Troy Aikman, Ruchi scaled one of Texas's fastest-growing beer brands before launching Rising Tide Ventures, a fund dedicated to fueling untapped consumer markets with often overlooked founders. She shares lessons from navigating industry to her playbook for spotting disruptive opportunities to the trends shaping the future of consumer goods and venture capital.

(0:00) Intro(1:36) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:23) Start of interview(3:11) Brad's origin story(4:54) Venture Capital Beginnings(5:39) The Rise of the Internet(8:10) His role in Softbank Technology Ventures and later Mobius Venture Capital. Reference to Heidi Roizen E6, E108 and E116(12:26) Transition to Techstars and Foundry(13:36) Origin and focus of his book Startup Boards. Reference to his blog post: Feld Thoughts. "Boards (and board members) for private companies operate on a bell curve" (some are excellent, some are horrific, and most are average).(15:31) The Evolution of Founder-Friendly Terms(30:06) Effective Board Composition(35:00) Defining a Great Board: the Board as a Team. Reference to Matt Blumberg's Rule of 1s: see E52 (2022)(38:05) "The goal of the board is to get different skill sets around the table" "I think a founder should fight against investors having additional observer seats."(41:13) Why he considers it a red flag when a director claims they're acting out of "fiduciary duty." *Reference to the Startup Litigation Digest(44:50) Governance concerns in the AI Boom(47:37) Books that have greatly influenced his life:Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig (1974)The entire pantheon of Neal Stephenson and William Gibson Science fiction written by female writers (as a category)Hyperion Cantos by Dan Simmons(50:05) His mentors: Len Fassler and his uncle, Charlie Feld.(51:55) Quotes that he thinks of often or lives his life by: from his Dad: "If you're not standing on the edge, you're taking up too much space.", from Len: "Brad, they can't kill you and they can't eat you. Suit up."(53:00) An unusual habit or an absurd thing that he loves. "I love philanthropically funding bathrooms." Also, the Banana Lounge at MIT.(55:38) The living person he most admires: his wife Amy Batchelor.Brad Feld has been an early-stage investor and entrepreneur since 1987. He co-founded two venture capital firms, Foundry Group and Mobius Venture Capital, and multiple companies, including Techstars.  You can follow Evan on social media at:X: @evanepsteinLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/epsteinevan/ Substack: https://evanepstein.substack.com/__To support this podcast you can join as a subscriber of the Boardroom Governance Newsletter at https://evanepstein.substack.com/__Music/Soundtrack (found via Free Music Archive): Seeing The Future by Dexter Britain is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License

This week on Swimming with Allocators, Joshua Berkowitz of Berkocorp joins Earnest and Alexa to share his journey transitioning his family office from real estate to venture capital, offering candid insights on building relationships with top VC and PE managers, the importance of patience and long-term thinking, and the realities of portfolio construction. The discussion covers how to underwrite exceptional managers, the value of GP and LP recommendations, and the evolving landscape of venture, especially the rise of young founders and AI-driven startups. Listeners will also hear from Shane Goudey from Sidley on trends in fund formation and the current state of the venture market. Key takeaways include the need for genuine interest and commitment in venture investing, the benefits of a diversified yet opportunistic portfolio, practical advice for family offices considering this asset class, and so much more. Highlights from this week's conversation include:Joshua's Background and Transition From Real Estate to Venture Capital (0:12)Diversifying from Real Estate to Venture (1:43)Commitment and Learning Curve in Venture Capital (3:45)GP References vs. LP Recommendations (5:36)Reflections on First Investments & Portfolio Design (7:24)Deployment Strategy and Allocation Modeling (10:53)Fund Formation Market Trends and Sponsor's Perspective (16:21)Underwriting Individual GPs & What Makes a Good Manager (18:11)Suitability and Motivation for Family Offices in Venture (20:57)Return Expectations and Investment Strategy (24:55)Challenges with Fund Lives & Reclassifying Mature Assets (27:21)Trends: Resurgence of Young Founders & AI (29:45)Closing Thoughts and Next Steps for Berkocorp (33:11)Berkocorp is a Canadian family investment office managing a Vancouver-based real estate portfolio and actively backing top venture capital and private equity managers across North America. Led by Managing Principal Joshua Berkowitz, Berkocorp takes an independent, long-term approach to capital partnerships, with a portfolio spanning micro VCs to billion-dollar growth funds. Learn more at www.linkedin.com/company/berkocorp.Sidley Austin LLP is a premier global law firm with a dedicated Venture Funds practice, advising top venture capital firms, institutional investors, and private equity sponsors on fund formation, investment structuring, and regulatory compliance. With deep expertise across private markets, Sidley provides strategic legal counsel to help funds scale effectively. Learn more at sidley.com.Swimming with Allocators is a podcast that dives into the intriguing world of Venture Capital from an LP (Limited Partner) perspective. Hosts Alexa Binns and Earnest Sweat are seasoned professionals who have donned various hats in the VC ecosystem. Each episode, we explore where the future opportunities lie in the VC landscape with insights from top LPs on their investment strategies and industry experts shedding light on emerging trends and technologies. The information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this podcast are for general informational purposes only. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today on the Invest In Her podcast, host Catherine Gray talks with Jennifer Abele, founder and managing partner of Milwaukee-based venture capital firm VC 414. Jennifer co-founded VC 414 in 2023 with Raquel Filmanowicz, building a 100% women- and 50% Latina-owned firm focused on backing underdogs and outsiders who are poised to become market leaders. Their mission is to support early-stage startups founded by women and undercapitalized entrepreneurs, with a focus on vertical SaaS and AI companies driving both people and prosperity. Jennifer's impressive career includes serving as a public sector executive, water utility CEO, and higher education leader, with over two decades of leadership shaping transformative projects in Milwaukee. She also leads Kitsune Capital, her personal investment entity, and was named a Woman of Influence by the Milwaukee Business Journal. In this episode, Jennifer shares her journey from government leadership to venture capital, including how her experiences shaped her vision for creating opportunities in underrepresented communities. She and Catherine dive into the strategies VC 414 uses to identify promising founders, the importance of diversity in building stronger companies, and how investing in underestimated entrepreneurs can unlock overlooked returns. Jennifer also discusses balancing her role as an investor, community leader, and philanthropist while helping to reshape the future of business and innovation. https://www.showherthemoneymovie.com www.sheangelinvestors.com  https://vc414.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-abele-2859684/   Follow Us On Social Facebook @sheangelinvestors Twitter (X) @sheangelsinvest Instagram @sheangelinvestors & @catherinegray_investinher LinkedIn @catherinelgray & @sheangels   #InvestInHer #FinancialWellness #WomenInFinance #FinancialEmpowerment #MoneyMindset #InclusiveFinance #FintechForGood #BehavioralEconomics #WealthBuilding #FinancialHealth #EmpowerWomen #MoneyMatters #SheAngelInvestors #InvestInYourself #FinancialFreedom  

Retail is experiencing seismic shifts, and businesses that don't adapt risk becoming irrelevant overnight. In this compelling episode of Talk Commerce, recorded live from Shop Talk Fall in Chicago, host Isaac Morey sits down with Pano Anthos, founding member of XRC Ventures, to explore how agentic AI is reshaping consumer behavior and business operations. Their conversation reveals why traditional e-commerce strategies won't survive the next wave of technological disruption.About Pano AnthosPano serves as a founding member of XRC Ventures, an investment firm operating at the intersection of consumer behavior and technology. His expertise spans venture capital, retail innovation, and emerging technology trends that impact how businesses connect with customers. Pano's investment philosophy centers on understanding consumer adoption patterns to predict corporate technology trends. He's particularly focused on agentic AI applications across supply chain management, customer support, and e-commerce optimization. His insights come from years of observing how consumers embrace new technologies before enterprises catch up. Throughout his career, Pano has maintained that studying consumer behavior provides the clearest roadmap for understanding where business technology is headed next.Episode SummaryPano explains why XRC Ventures focuses on consumer behavior as a predictor of technological advancement. "Consumers are responsible for two trillion in spend and a massive portion of our GDP," he explains. "They tend to be relatively much faster early adopters of technology than corporations." This philosophy drives their investment strategy and provides unique insights into market direction.When discussing agentic AI, Pano breaks down the concept into four essential components: autonomous planning, adaptive reasoning, tool integration, and goal orientation. "AI to figure out the rules. You have to really lay out the rules first," he emphasizes. "That's the misconception of autonomous AI is that it will make decisions within boundaries. But you have to set those boundaries or you get nothing."The conversation takes a practical turn as Pano shares examples of agentic AI in action. He describes an investment opportunity involving supply chain automation where AI intercepts and processes manufacturer communications. "There's a very set of manual tasks today," he explains. "This team out of Israel has figured out how to automate using an LLM to basically take all those messages they're going back and forth and make decisions based on the rules that have been set by the organization."For small e-commerce businesses, Pano delivers stark advice about the changing landscape. "Your website is toast," he warns. "Unless you are a fashion-oriented product where discovery is important and inspiration is important and it's truly discretionary, the chat engines are going to take over." He demonstrates this point using Perplexity Shopping, showing how consumers can research, compare, and purchase products without ever visiting a brand's website.The discussion reveals how AI-powered shopping platforms threaten traditional cross-selling strategies. "You are, you know, for that transaction, yes. To build some brand awareness, maybe. Cross-sell, absolutely not," Pano states. This fundamental shift forces businesses to reconsider their entire customer acquisition and retention strategies.Pano's advice for content teams reflects the urgency of this transition: "Start using the engines and asking all the questions that any consumer and they give you all the questions that consumers can ask and go figure out whether you're in the top three or top one or top two." He stresses the importance of understanding where brands rank in AI responses and working backward to improve visibility in source content.The conversation concludes with predictions about Google's future. "The judges in the trial that just came out last week or two weeks ago, it's pretty obvious that the judge knows that what we all know is Google search in the traditional SEO, SEM world, it's over," Pano observes. He compares Google's potential fate to previous tech giants, noting how quickly market leaders can become irrelevant when disrupted by superior technology.Key Takeaways• Consumer adoption drives innovation: Consumers spend two trillion dollars annually and adopt technology faster than corporations, making them the ultimate predictor of future trends• Process documentation is crucial: Successful AI implementation requires clearly defined rules and boundaries before automation can begin• Reddit has become the new SEO: Chat engines prioritize Reddit content over traditional website reviews, fundamentally changing how brands build credibility• Website traffic will decline dramatically: Hard goods businesses face inevitable traffic drops as consumers turn to AI-powered shopping experiences• Transparency is the new currency: AI engines expose product quality issues that brands previously could hide through marketing• Google's dominance faces serious threats: Traditional search is being replaced by conversational AI interfaces that provide instant, comprehensive answersFinal ThoughtsThe retail revolution isn't coming—it's already here, reshaping how consumers discover, evaluate, and purchase products. Pano Anthos delivers a clear message: businesses must abandon traditional web-centric strategies and embrace AI-powered commerce platforms or risk obsolescence. The winners won't be those with the prettiest websites but those who understand how to position themselves effectively within AI-driven discovery systems. As we navigate this transformation, one question remains: will your business become an agent of change or merely another victim of technological disruption?Connect with XRC Ventures:https://xrcventures.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/xrcventureshttps://www.instagram.com/xrcventuresFollow Talk Commerce on your favorite platform:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@talkcommerceBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/talkcommerce.bsky.socialApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talk-commerce/id1561204656Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7Alx6N7ERrPEXIBb41FZ1nTwitter: @talkingcommerceLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/talk-commerceFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/talkingcommerceWebsite: https://talk-commerce.com/

How do we nurture and protect the most human endeavors of creation and discovery?  Zachary Levi joins us to discuss calling, technology, and a creative Ark in Austin. We move from one's life mission to concrete plans for land and film incentives. The central question of our time is whether we ride the AI tsunami or get swept under it. Highlights00:00 Opening and Zachary Levi's journey to Austin05:53 Calling vs discovery13:48 Build the ark and fix Hollywood25:13 Community, work, and purpose30:20 Why Bastrop for Wyldwood38:05 Austin's energy and first principles46:57 Film incentives and ROI54:00 AI reshapes studio vs creatives1:10:40 Purpose through creation and discovery1:19:07 What's Next Austin?Guest BioZACHARY LEVI has proven himself a triple threat- he is an accomplished actor, singer, and dancer that was displayed with his Tony- nominated performance for “Best Leading Actor in a Musical” in the critically praised Broadway production, SHE LOVES ME. In August 2024, Zachary starred in HAROLD & THE PURPLE CRAYON for Sony, based on the wildly popular children's book written by Crockett Johnson. He will next star in both MGM/Amazon's SARAH'S OIL as well as Joe Carnahan's real-life survivor thriller, NOT WITHOUT HOPE. Zac is also set to appear in HOTEL TEHRAN, a new thriller from writer-director, Guy Moshe. In March 2023, Levi reprised his role as Shazam! in the Warner Bros. DC franchise, SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS. Directed by David F. Sandberg, this was the follow-up to the first installment, SHAZAM! which held the #1 spot at the box office for weeks following its April 2019 release. In 2021, Zachary portrayed iconic NFL MVP and Hall of Fame quarterback, Kurt Warner in AMERICAN UNDERDOG for Lionsgate directed by Andrew and Jon Erwin. Zac will return with the Erwin brothers for another Lionsgate film THE UNBREAKABLE BOY, based on the true story of the most inspiring boy who touched and changed the lives of those around him in theaters February 21, 2025. In a fan favorite recurring role, Levi took home a SAG Award for “Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series” for season two and three of Amazon Studios' Emmy winning series, THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL. The first season of the show won six Primetime Emmys, two Golden Globes, as well as a Peabody Award and two Critics' Choice Awards. The second season won one Golden Globe, three Screen Actor Guild Awards, one PGA Award, two Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards, one Critics Choice TV Award, and TV Program of the Year at the AFI Awards.Additional previous film credits include: CHICKEN RUN: DAWN OF THE NUGGET; TEDDY'S CHRISTMAS; APOLLO 10 ½: A SPACE AGE CHILDHOOD; THOR: THE DARK WORLD; ALVIN & THE CHIPMUNKS: THE SQUEAKQUEL; and TANGLED. The song “I See the Light,” written for TANGLED (performed by Levi & Mandy Moore) was nominated that year for an Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Original Song. The pair performed the duet at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards ceremony. “I See the Light” also won the Grammy Award for “Best Song Written for Visual Media” at the 54th Grammy Awards. Levi is best known for his fan favorite performance as Chuck Bartowski in the hit NBC series, CHUCK. Other previous TV credits include the Netflix mini-series ALIAS GRACE & HEROES REBORN. In June 2022, Levi made his author debut with his memoir, RADICAL LOVE: LEARNING TO ACCEPT YOURSELF AND OTHERS, which shares his emotional journey through a lifetime of crippling anxiety and depression to find joy, gratitude, and ultimate purpose Guest LinksZachary Levi: X, Instagram Wyldwood -------------------Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedInEcosystem Metacognition Substack

This week, we chat with Maya Bakhai! Maya Bakhai is the founder of Spice Capital, a first-yes fund investing at pre-seed and seed. Maya's Fund II is a $25M Fund that will invest in ~40 companies with check sizes ranging from $250k-$750k. Spice Capital has over 50 companies in the portfolio including Beehiiv, MUBI, Prosper Health, Hype, Skej, and more.In the last 8 years, Maya has backed 100+ founders.. Prior to starting Spice Capital in 2021, she ran venture investments for Kevin Durant at Thirty Five Ventures where she invested in multiple now-unicorns including: Hugging Face, Robinhood, Skydio, Mercury, Whoop, Rubrik, and Underdog Fantasy. She has a B.S. in Finance and Data Science from NYU. In 2023, she was recognized for her investing in Forbes 30 under 30's Venture Capital list.Maya is based in NYC. Fun fact: In a past life, she produced a sold out off-broadway musical- “Aliens Coming”, a narrative podcast -“Illuminati Interns” and an award-winning web series called “Freelance”.✨ This episode is presented by Brex.Brex: brex.com/trailblazerspodThis episode is supported by RocketReach, Gusto, OpenPhone & Athena.RocketReach: rocketreach.co/trailblazersGusto: gusto.com/trailblazersQuo: Quo.com/trailblazersAthena: athenago.me/Erica-WengerFollow Us!Maya Bakhai: @MayaBakhaiSpice Capital: @spice_cap@thetrailblazerspod: Instagram, YouTube, TikTokErica Wenger: @erica_wenger

Small firms are facing a new era, and on Episode 231 of The Unique CPA, Randy sits down with Steve Shein, the co-founder of Franklin Alliance, to talk about a new partnership model in the profession. Steve shares his journey from capital markets to building a collaborative network that grants firms access to capital, while they maintain their independence. Franklin Alliance brings with it a vibrant community of strategic advisors and forward-thinking leaders, Randy included. Find out how you can grow your firm on your terms while keeping its identity and autonomy. Get the full show notes and more resources at TheUniqueCPA.com

Karey Barker  is Founder and Managing Director of Cross Creek, a late-stage venture capital firm headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.  She has over 25 years of broad public and private investment experience and holds a number of Board roles, including ARUP Laboratories. Our conversation walks through Karey's career which saw the unusual move from analysis of public equities into venture capital investing, and we hear why they are more similar than we might think. We move then to the current opportunity set in venture investing - particularly at the late stage of venture investing (within 1-2 years of going public) which is the expertise of Cross Creek. Karey discusses some of the sectors where she sees the most compelling opportunity sets, including areas likely to impact the consumer, some of which have been overlooked in the current market hype.We end with a reflection on lessons learned and the industry as it is today, from an LP and allocator perspective. With thanks to Baillie Gifford for sponsoring Series 4 of 2025. Baillie Gifford is a long-term investment manager, dedicated to discovering the innovations and changemakers that deliver exceptional growth opportunities for its client

Fluent Fiction - Danish: From Envelope to Opportunity: Søren's Entrepreneurial Leap Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/da/episode/2025-09-30-07-38-20-da Story Transcript:Da: I København, midt i det moderne Startup Incubator, var der en særlig energi i luften.En: In København, in the middle of the modern Startup Incubator, there was a special energy in the air.Da: Søren, en ivrig ung iværksætter, færdedes mellem glasdøre og skinnende skriveborde, hvor idéer fødtes og formede fremtiden.En: Søren, an eager young entrepreneur, navigated between glass doors and shiny desks where ideas were born and shaped the future.Da: Han havde en klar mission.En: He had a clear mission.Da: Hans hjerte bankede for bæredygtige teknologier, og han arbejdede utrætteligt for at gøre sin vision til virkelighed.En: His heart beat for sustainable technologies, and he worked tirelessly to turn his vision into reality.Da: En råkold oktobervind blæste i det åbne kontorrum, og gyldne blade susede mod de store vinduer.En: A raw cold October wind blew in the open office space, and golden leaves swirled against the large windows.Da: På en morgen præget af sådan skarphed, opdagede Søren en mystisk kuvert i sin postkasse hos inkubatoren.En: On a morning marked by such sharpness, Søren discovered a mysterious envelope in his mailbox at the incubator.Da: En simpel, brun konvolut uden afsender.En: A simple brown envelope with no sender.Da: Uden at spilde tid åbnede han den.En: Without wasting time, he opened it.Da: Et enkelt stykke papir egnede sig ud og bar en kryptisk besked: "Følg sporet til byens lys."En: A single sheet of paper emerged, bearing a cryptic message: "Follow the trail to the city's lights."Da: Søren rynkede panden, mens han overvejede betydningen.En: Søren furrowed his brow as he contemplated its meaning.Da: En del af ham ønskede at ignorere det og fortsætte sin oprindelige plan for at sikre den eftertragtede partnerskab.En: Part of him wanted to ignore it and continue his original plan to secure the coveted partnership.Da: Men nysgerrigheden greb ham.En: But curiosity grabbed him.Da: Hvad hvis dette kunne føre til den nøgleinvestor, han havde drømt om?En: What if this could lead to the key investor he had dreamed of?Da: Han forlod skrivebordet og trådte ud i efterårsluften, fornuft og håb i en skrøbelig blanding.En: He left his desk and stepped out into the autumn air, reason and hope in a fragile mix.Da: Han pralede rundt i Kopenhagens gader, fulgte spor af vage lampelys, der førte ham hen mod et lille og afsidesliggende café.En: He wandered around København's streets, following traces of vague lamplights that led him towards a small and secluded café.Da: Her blev mystikken dybere.En: Here, the mystery deepened.Da: Da han trådte ind i caféen, var der en enkelt kunde ved et bord bagerst.En: As he entered the café, there was a single customer at a table in the back.Da: En velklædt mand med en aura af indflydelse vinkede Søren hen.En: A well-dressed man with an aura of influence beckoned Søren over.Da: Det var den kendte, men hemmelighedsfulde venturekapitalist, Anton Vestergaard.En: It was the well-known but secretive venture capitalist, Anton Vestergaard.Da: "Jeg har ventet på dig," sagde Anton med et nik, der både var betryggende og udfordrende.En: "I've been expecting you," said Anton with a nod that was both reassuring and challenging.Da: De talte om Sørens projekt, om bæredygtighed og fremtidige muligheder.En: They talked about Søren's project, about sustainability and future opportunities.Da: Anton afslørede, at han havde fulgt Søren og hans arbejde.En: Anton revealed that he had been following Søren and his work.Da: "Din dedikation er beundringsværdig," sagde han, "og jeg vil hjælpe dig."En: "Your dedication is admirable," he said, "and I want to help you."Da: Søren forlod mødet med en overraskende allieret.En: Søren left the meeting with a surprising ally.Da: Det var begyndelsen på en ny rejse fyldt med ukendte, men spændende udfordringer.En: It was the beginning of a new journey filled with unknown but exciting challenges.Da: Han havde vovet sig ud fra det trygge og fandt en vej, han aldrig havde forestillet sig.En: He had ventured out from the safe and found a path he had never imagined.Da: Som Søren gik tilbage til inkubatoren, følte han sig ændret.En: As Søren headed back to the incubator, he felt changed.Da: Livets uforudsigelighed skræmte ham ikke længere.En: The unpredictability of life no longer scared him.Da: Han havde lært at omfavne det ukendte, og i København denne dag, blev en ny succesfulde historie skrevet.En: He had learned to embrace the unknown, and in København on this day, a new successful story was written.Da: Han var ikke længere kun en iværksætter.En: He was no longer just an entrepreneur.Da: Han var blevet en pioner på vej mod nye horisonter.En: He had become a pioneer on his way toward new horizons. Vocabulary Words:incubator: inkubatorentrepreneur: iværksættersustainable: bæredygtigetirelessly: utrætteligtenvelope: konvolutsender: afsendertrail: sporetcoveted: eftertragtedecuriosity: nysgerrighedensecluded: afsidesliggendeventure capitalist: venturekapitalistdedication: dedikationadmirable: beundringsværdigunpredictability: uforudsigelighedembrace: omfavnepioneer: pionermission: missioncryptic: kryptisklamplights: lampelysalliance: allieretjourney: rejsefragile: skrøbeliginfluence: indflydelsemystique: mystikkenopportunity: mulighederhover: praledesharpness: skarphedventure: vovettransform: ændrethorizons: horisonter

What does it take to reinvent entire industries, over and over again?This week on Grit, Sebastian Thrun, the “godfather” of self-driving cars and massive open online courses, reflects on a career pushing the boundaries of technology across mobility, education, and AI.With Joubin Mirzadegan, he shares why he believes autonomous driving could become the biggest lifesaving technology in history, and how a wake-up call led him to found Udacity to truly democratize higher education.Guest: Sebastian Thrun, CEO of Stealth Startup, founder of Google X and UdacityConnect with Sebastian ThrunXLinkedIn​Connect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.com​Learn more about Kleiner Perkins

Hurray's Girl Beer isn't just another craft brand. It's a calculated rebellion against an industry stuck in the past. In this episode, Hurray's founder Ray Biebuyck joins Taste Radio editor Ray Latif and Brewbound managing editor Jess Infante to share her vision for a beer brand that doesn't just challenge convention, it openly mocks it. Witty, unapologetic, and intentionally unorthodox, Hurray's markets flavored light beers, including Pineapple Yuzu and Blueberry Lavender varieties, crafted not to honor tradition, but to disrupt it. The brand's satirical, female-forward positioning flips the script in a category that has long overlooked nearly a third of its audience: women. Ray discusses how Hurray's draws more from stand-up comedy than legacy brewing playbooks, using humor and irreverence as tools for connection, and conversion. She also reveals how this disruptive approach is translating into real-world traction, with Hurray's on track to reach over 3,000 retail locations, including Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, BevMo, Total Wine, Sprouts, and Walmart, by Q1 2026. Show notes: 0:25: Interview: Ray Biebuyck, Founder & CEO, Hurray's Girl Beer – Ray traces her roots back to New England and her early career in the corporate world, with stints at J.P. Morgan and WeWork after graduating from college in New York City. She discussed how, at the onset of the pandemic, she stepped in to support operations for a local beverage alcohol brand and recognized a gap in the market: a disconnect between male-dominated beer branding and female consumers. Ray eventually launched Hurray's Girl Beer in 2024 and shares the uphill journey of pitching a new beer brand in a male-dominated, slowing market, and how she carved out a niche by courting an underserved audience. She recalls self-distributing cases out of a Toyota Camry to landing shelf space in 200 retail doors across Los Angeles and Orange County and how Girl Beer secured distribution at Whole Foods, BevMo, and Total Wine. Ray also details the pivotal relationship with an Anheuser-Busch-aligned distributor, which accelerated growth and expanded reach and why she believes the brand is on track for a breakout year in 2026. Brands in this episode: Hurray's Girl Beer, Shacksbury Cider, Woodchuck Cider, Magic Hat, Ben & Jerry's, Seventh Generation, Green Mountain Coffee, Poppi, Olipop, Liquid Death, Garage Beer, Surfside, Budweiser, Bud Light, Golden Road, Elysian, Busch, Heineken, White Claw, Truly, Bud Light Seltzer, Michelob Ultra, Friday Beers

In this conversation, Jay Goldberg and Michael Cunningham discuss the evolving landscape of semiconductor recruitment, focusing on macro trends, the impact of AI, and the challenges of reshoring manufacturing. They explore the skills in demand, the dynamics of the job market, and provide valuable advice for both entry-level engineers and senior directors looking to advance their careers. The discussion emphasizes the importance of soft skills, ownership in leadership roles, and the need for companies to adapt to the changing technological landscape.

Special purpose vehicles are the biggest underworld in startups. They're creating more opportunity to invest in some of the biggest companies in the world. That doesn't mean they don't come with risk. Peter Walker from Carta gives us a full breakdown. 00:00 Too Good to Be True?  01:05 Deep Dive into SPVs  04:03 The Growth and Impact of SPVs  06:04 Understanding SPVs in Venture Capital  23:31 The AI Bubble and Its Implications  32:43 Will Startups Shut Down? 33:52 Hiring and Firing in Startups 39:09 Private Equity vs. Venture Capital 44:28 AI's Role in Business Strategy 55:03 Navigating Uncertainty and Capital Management 58:23 Concluding Thoughts and Advice for Entrepreneurs   Thanks for tuning in! Catch new episodes every Wednesday.  Subscribe to Topline Newsletter. Tune into Topline Podcast, the #1 podcast for founders, operators, and investors in B2B tech. Join the free Topline Slack channel to connect with 600+ revenue leaders to keep the conversation going beyond the podcast!

In this replay, I'm on the other side of the mic, as I'm interviewed by Joe Magyer, the founder of Seaplane Ventures. This is a wide-ranging conversation where we talk about the Fed rate cut, cover different asset classes including VC, PE, Fixed Income, and Public Equities, and my journey in building Canopy Capital. This episode first appeared on the Investing in Startups podcast hosted by Joe, which I highly recommend you check out. Please enjoy this conversation with Joe Magyer. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page HERE. ----- Making Markets is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Making Markets, visit joincolossus.com/episodes. Stay up to date on all our podcasts by signing up to Colossus Weekly, our quick dive every Sunday highlighting the top business and investing concepts from our podcasts and the best of what we read that week. Sign up here. Follow us on Twitter: @makingmkts | @ericgoldenx Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Show Notes (00:00:00) Welcome to Making Markets (00:00:19) Overview of Canopy Capital (00:00:44) The Evolution of Asset Management (00:01:54) The Importance of Tax Individualized Investing (00:02:44) Starting the Podcast Journey (00:03:16) Crypto: From Skepticism to Interest (00:04:18) Exploring Various Asset Classes (00:06:08) Challenges and Rewards of Podcasting (00:11:12) Competitiveness in Different Asset Classes (00:16:38) Insights on Venture Capital (00:22:59) Building a Venture-Backed Company (00:24:18) The Founder's Dilemma: Risk and Innovation (00:25:17) A Career at Fidelity: Reflections and Decisions (00:27:17) The Transition: From Intrapreneur to Entrepreneur (00:30:21) Market Insights: The Fed and Economic Cycles (00:36:27) Investment Strategies: Observing and Predicting (00:39:40) Web3 and Crypto: Future Prospects Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Colton Pace is a founder and currently the CEO of Ownwell, a Proptech company dedicated to democratizing access to real estate expertise and reducing the hidden costs of homeownership. Under his leadership, Ownwell helps homeowners and property owners identify and appeal overvalued property taxes, reduce insurance and utility costs, and manage other home‑related expenses through data, automation, and local expert teams. Before founding Ownwell, Colton served as an investor, asset manager, and venture capitalist, helping manage billions of dollars across various asset classes. He was part of funds that made early investments in companies such as Uber, Spotify, Redfin, Snowflake, UiPath, Zuora, and Grab. (01:05) - VC to PropTech Founder(03:10) - $797B Property Tax Problem(04:48) - Ownwell Traction: 700K+ Homes and SMB/CRE(06:18) - AI Plus 80 Consultants: How Appeals Get Done(08:50) - Success Rates and Savings: Residential vs Commercial(11:27) - Portfolio Case Study: 124 SFR Properties in Texas(13:45) - Valuation Methods and Local Differences(16:13) - Market Size: $50 to 60B Opportunity(17:29) - Feature: CREtech - Join CREtech New York 2025 on Oct 21-22 for the largest Real Estate Meetings program. Qualified Real Estate pros get free full event pass plus up to $800 in travel and hotel costs. (19:02) - Beyond Taxes: Insurance, Loans, Utilities, Concierge (21:30) - Building Trust with Homeowners and CRE Owners (24:03) - Advice for PropTech Founders Selling into Real Estate (26:49) - Collaboration Superpower: Matthew McConaughey

In this episode of Tank Talks, host Matt Cohen is joined by John Ruffolo to discuss pivotal developments shaping Canada's economy and tech industry. They cover a range of topics, from Canada's immigration policies in light of changes to the U.S. H1-B visa program to the evolving AI landscape and its economic implications. John provides insights on how Canada could leverage these immigration shifts to attract global talent, while exploring the risks of inflated AI valuations and the potential for an AI bubble.The conversation also delves into the rising vendor financing model in AI, which could contribute to market instability, and examines whether the massive investments in AI infrastructure are sustainable. John reflects on the challenges facing Canadian companies, including the latest news from Constellation Software and its founder, Mark Leonard's resignation. Together, they explore how AI and its financial impact may create headwinds for established companies while offering opportunities for the Canadian tech sector to emerge as a global leader.A Quick Word from our Sponsor, FaskenAt Fasken, our clients don't wait for the future. They build it. As the first and largest dedicated emerging tech practice in Canada, our team is composed of founders, ex in-house counsel, developers and business advisors who have guided clients from startup, to scale-up, to exit. The trust of our clients has enabled us to consistently rank at the top of every major Canadian M&A, Capital Markets and Venture Capital league table. With deep industry knowledge and experience across all areas of emerging and high growth technology including ClimateTech, MedTech, Artificial Intelligence, Fintech, and AgTech we're your partners within the innovation ecosystem as you transform the landscape of what's possible.Tomorrow starts here. Own it with us.For more information, visit fasken.com/emergingtech and follow us on LinkedIn.AI CapEx Bubble: A Growing Concern (07:30)The conversation shifts to the massive capital expenditures in AI, with John analyzing the risks associated with overbuilding data center infrastructure and the possibility of a tech bubble.Vendor Financing in AI: A Dot-Com Repeat? (09:52)John draws parallels between current AI financing models and the early 2000s dot-com bubble, exploring whether companies are overexposed in the AI sector.The Future of AI Valuations (15:04)An in-depth discussion on the risks of inflated AI company valuations and the potential economic fallout.Canada's Immigration Advantage: H1-B Visa Adjustments (18:12)John and Matt discuss the implications of recent changes to the U.S. H1-B visa program and how Canada could use this shift to attract top talent.Constellation Software: A Transition and the Role of AI (27:09)John reflects on the recent news of Mark Leonard's resignation from Constellation Software and what this means for the company, especially in light of AI-driven changes.Connect with John Ruffolo on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/joruffoloConnect with Matt Cohen on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/matt-cohen1Visit the Ripple Ventures website: https://www.rippleventures.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tanktalks.substack.com

Ten years ago, the idea of canned milk powering a fast-growing brand might have seemed far-fetched. And yet, Slate – which recently announced $23 million in fresh funding – has proven just how powerful a novel concept can be. What can CPG founders – and the industry at large – learn from its rise? The hosts also look back on an unforgettable meetup in San Francisco, where industry veterans, insiders, and ambitious early-stage founders came together in a high-energy atmosphere. Show notes: 0:25: SpearsTok. S.F. Straightaway. Soaring Slate. Aggressive Snacks & Sprinkles. — The show kicks off with banter about AI job titles and algorithm-driven social media feeds, before the hosts reflect on the energy of Taste Radio's recent San Francisco meetup and how the event fostered valuable industry connections and spotlighted emerging brands. They also preview the show's London meetup on October 2 as well as BevNET's Live events in December. The hosts then turn their attention to a $23M funding round for milk-based protein beverage platform Slate, which sparked a deeper conversation about brand evolution, product positioning and the importance of timing in industry success. They also discuss a plant-based meat snack brand with “aggressive” branding. Ray highlights Sprinkles' new cupcake bites, John gulps Zico's organic coconut water, Mike touts THC and turmeric drinks and Jacqui spotlights an innovative CPG brand designed for women. Brands in this episode: Slate, Spindrift, Health-Ade, Trip, In Good Taste Wines, Slapp, Dokkaebeer, Kechi, Mindful, Jules Matcha, Fort Point, Standard Deviant, Straightaway Cocktails, Plift, MixMix, KiuKiu, Uncle Matt's, ZICO, Drink Folks, Q Drinks, Benni Pops, Sprinkles, Rootless, AGRO, Yasso, Forager Project, Uncracked, Yerba Madre

This week Andrew talks with Amanda Goetz. Amanda is a 2x company founder & 5x Chief Marketing Officer. After spending two decades building & growing consumer-facing brands, Amanda pivoted her career to writing, teaching, & coaching ambitious working parents on how to balance success and life. She is the author of the upcoming book TOXIC GRIT: How To Have It All And (Actually) Love What You Have. This is a powerful conversation about actionable frameworks you can utilize to juggle life's seemingly never-ending to-do lists & competing priorities — all while living a life of intention & purpose. You'll hear why our lives need “spin cycles”, how to be ambitious with intention, ways to be more present for moments that matter most, & so much more. ** Amanda's Book **https://www.toxicgrit.com/** Follow Andrew **Instagram: @AndrewMoses123Twitter/X: @andrewhmosesSign up for e-mails to keep up with the podcast at everybodypullsthetarp.com/newsletterDISCLAIMER: This podcast is solely for educational & entertainment purposes. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional.

QFF: Quick Fire Friday – Your 20-Minute Growth Powerhouse! Welcome to Quick Fire Friday, the Grow A Small Business podcast series that is designed to deliver simple, focused and actionable insights and key takeaways in less than 20 minutes a week. Every Friday, we bring you business owners and experts who share their top strategies for growing yourself, your team and your small business. Get ready for a dose of inspiration, one action you can implement and quotable quotes that will stick with you long after the episode ends! In this episode of Quick Fire Friday, host Rob Cameron interviews Ryan Estes, Founder of Kitcaster, to share how he has helped 800+ startup founders and CEOs harness the power of podcast guesting. Ryan reveals how authentic conversations can raise millions, build stronger brands, and even shape how AI perceives businesses. He breaks down the challenges small business owners face, from fear to growth, and explains why showing up consistently is the ultimate differentiator. With real case studies and proven results, this episode is packed with insights on turning podcasts into a growth engine. Key Takeaways for Small Business Owners: The Power of Podcast Guesting – Ryan explains how appearing on podcasts helps founders and CEOs build authority, attract customers, and even secure funding. Fear is Universal in Business – Whether raising $300M in venture capital or running a bootstrapped startup, all entrepreneurs face fear and pressure—and acknowledging it is key to growth. Authenticity Wins in the Market – Passion, care for customers, and a personal voice are what truly differentiate businesses in competitive industries. Our hero crafts outstanding reviews following the experience of listening to our special guests. Are you the one we've been waiting for? Podcasts Influence AI Training Data – Ryan highlights how large language models like ChatGPT use podcast content for training, making consistent podcasting a way to shape how AI “sees” your brand. Million-Dollar Results – Case studies show founders raising millions and generating seven-figure revenues directly from podcast interviews arranged by Kitcaster. Consistency Beats Perfection – Ryan's advice: don't judge yourself until your 100th piece of content; give yourself space to make mistakes and learn while building your brand presence. One action small business owners can take: According to Ryan Estes, one action small business owners can take is to openly share their story – through podcasts, social media, or direct outreach – because authentic communication is the key to building trust and driving growth. Do you have 2 minutes every Friday? Sign up to the Weekly Leadership Email. It's free and we can help you to maximize your time. Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey.

In this episode of Tank Talks, host Matt Cohen sits down with Nejeed Kassam, a serial founder, investor, and advocate for positive change. With a journey that spans from launching his first business as a teenager to scaling and selling Keela, a CRM for nonprofits, Nejeed's experience offers valuable insights for entrepreneurs, especially those navigating the challenges of building tech-driven impact companies.Nejeed shares his entrepreneurial beginnings, the lessons he learned growing Keela, and the challenges he faced when taking on external funding. He also discusses his new venture, Rewire Digital Therapeutics, an AI-powered mental health company using gamification to help users manage depression and anxiety.From scaling Keela to navigating a successful exit, Nejeed dives into his journey and the key principles he follows in his entrepreneurial endeavors. Whether you're interested in nonprofit tech, mental health, or financial literacy, Nejeed's story provides inspiration and practical wisdom.A Quick Word from our Sponsor, FaskenAt Fasken, our clients don't wait for the future. They build it. As the first and largest dedicated emerging tech practice in Canada, our team is composed of founders, ex in-house counsel, developers and business advisors who have guided clients from startup, to scale-up, to exit. The trust of our clients has enabled us to consistently rank at the top of every major Canadian M&A, Capital Markets and Venture Capital league table. With deep industry knowledge and experience across all areas of emerging and high growth technology including ClimateTech, MedTech, Artificial Intelligence, Fintech, and AgTech we're your partners within the innovation ecosystem as you transform the landscape of what's possible.Tomorrow starts here. Own it with us.For more information, visit fasken.com/emergingtech and follow us on LinkedIn.Nejeed's Early Entrepreneurial Beginnings (08:12)* Starting a business at 14 with his brothers in Vancouver* Learning from early failures and the importance of sales in businessScaling Keela and the Path to Acquisition (15:17)* The journey from building Keela as a side hustle to scaling it into a successful company* The decision-making process behind bringing in external capital and navigating an exit* Insights on the acquisition process and private equity rollupsRewire Digital Therapeutics: Tackling Mental Health with AI (25:34)* How Nejeed's personal experiences with mental health drove him to create Rewire* Leveraging AI and gamification to address mental health issues like depression and anxiety* The future of digital therapeutics and its potential to impact millionsFinancial Literacy: Teaching Kids Money Management (35:11)* How Nejeed teaches his kids about financial literacy* Building the financial literacy platform, Snowball 72, and its impact on Gen Z and Gen Alpha* The importance of creating safe, accessible financial learning environmentsNejeed's Lessons on Building Impactful Businesses (45:23)* The importance of staying committed to solving meaningful problems* Building businesses that balance profit with positive societal impact* The role of resilience and discomfort in entrepreneurshipAbout Nejeed KassamNejeed Kassam is a serial entrepreneur, author, and advocate for positive change. He co-founded Keela, a CRM for nonprofits, which he successfully scaled and sold in 2024. He is now co-founder of Rewire Digital Therapeutics, a company focused on using AI and gamification to help people manage mental health issues like depression and anxiety. In addition to his work in tech, Nejeed is passionate about financial literacy and has launched Snowball 72, a platform aimed at teaching the next generation about money management. Nejeed's entrepreneurial spirit is driven by his desire to solve real-world problems and make a meaningful impact on society.Connect with Nejeed Kassam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nejeed/Visit the Keela website: https://www.keela.co/Visit the Rewire Digital Therapeutics website: https://rewiredigitaltherapeutics.com/Connect with Matt Cohen on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/matt-cohen1Visit the Ripple Ventures website: https://www.rippleventures.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tanktalks.substack.com

Invisible systems like algorithms play a powerful role in entrepreneurial success, shaping who gets access to opportunities and who does not. On this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia Dawood dives into the world of gender bias, equitable AI, and economic justice with a fresh, thought-provoking lens, challenging listeners to rethink the foundations of modern entrepreneurship.Guest Katica Roy is a gender economist, tech CEO, and advocate whose family history—rooted in stories of immigration and resilience—fuels her mission for equity. From her own battles for fair pay as a breadwinner mother to being featured in the New York Times, Katica commands a unique and powerful voice on dismantling barriers in the workplace and beyond.Together, Marcia and Katica explore how algorithmic bias perpetuates inequality, and most importantly, what all of us can do to foster change, both individually and systemically. Packed with actionable insights and a sense of urgency, this episode is a must-listen for anyone invested in creating a fairer, more innovative future in business and tech. To get the latest from Katica Roy, you can follow her below!https://www.linkedin.com/in/katicaroy/https://www.katicaroy.com/abouthttps://designobserver.com/why-ethical-ai-is-good-business/ Sign up for Marcia's newsletter to receive tips and the latest on Angel Investing!Website: www.marciadawood.comLearn more about the documentary Show Her the Money: www.showherthemoneymovie.comAnd don't forget to follow us wherever you are!Apple Podcasts: https://pod.link/1586445642.appleSpotify: https://pod.link/1586445642.spotifyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/angel-next-door-podcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theangelnextdoorpodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marciadawood

What do you do if you don't see success stories that look like you? You forge your own path! In this episode of Entrepreneurial Thinkers, Rob visits with local LA powerhouse, Amiah Sheppard, a passionate advocate and Leader for student entrepreneurship programming at USC's Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies and a renowned “storytelling/pitch” coach to entrepreneurs across the world through Sheppard Consulting. The two discuss how our next generation of young innovators are reshaping LA's startup ecosystem, the real power of inclusive thinking, and why telling your story well might be the most important startup skill of all. Whether you're a budding founder, an investor hunting the next innovator or just curious about the future of innovation and growth in Los Angeles, this conversation is packed with insight, inspiration, and heart.Feel free to follow and engage with AMIAH here:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amiahsheppard/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amiahshep/X: https://x.com/amiahshep?lang=enWebsite: https://amiahshep.com/We're so grateful to you, our growing audience of entrepreneurs, investors and community leaders interested in the human stories of the Entrepreneurial Thinkers behind entrepreneurial economies worldwide.As always we hope you enjoy each episode and Like, Follow, Subscribe or share with your friends. You can find our shows here, and our new Video Podcast, at “Entrepreneurial Thinkers” channel on YouTube. Plug in, relax and enjoy inspiring, educational and empowering conversations between Rob and our guests.¡Cheers y gracias!,Entrepreneurial Thinkers Team.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Entrepreneurial Thinkers04:34 Exploring USC's Entrepreneurial Ecosystem07:44 The Role of Universities in Entrepreneurship10:32 Programs and Resources at USC13:21 Impact of USC on Los Angeles16:29 Trends in Student Entrepreneurship19:46 The Importance of Diversity in Entrepreneurship22:28 Pitch Coaching and Storytelling32:35 Journey into Venture Capital and Coaching35:36 The Importance of Storytelling in Entrepreneurship43:23 Challenges in Entrepreneurial Storytelling47:38 The Role of Diversity in Entrepreneurship51:35 Vision for the Future of Los Angeles55:30 Key Elements of Effective Storytelling for Entrepreneurs

Venture capital is no longer just for the ultra-wealthy. Discover how a unique strategy is opening up exclusive investment opportunities to a wider audience.   In this episode of the Registered Investment Advisor Podcast, Seth Greene interviews Jeff Ransdell, Managing Director and Founding Partner at Fuel Venture Capital, who explains how his deep knowledge of the wealth management industry is helping to democratize access to high-value venture capital opportunities. Drawing on his experience at Merrill Lynch, Jeff discusses his shift into venture capital and why scarcity in investment opportunities is now crucial to success. Tune in to learn about the future of AI investments and how Fuel Venture Capital supports financial advisors and family offices in navigating these changing markets.   Key Takeaways: → How traditional financial services are evolving due to the rise of AI and technology. → The importance of scarcity in venture capital investments. → The role of AI in identifying the best investment opportunities. → How venture capital is changing and focusing on early-stage tech companies. → How venture capital is evolving in response to current global economic conditions.   With over 30 years of experience in wealth management, Jeff Ransdell has a deep understanding of the changing needs of financial advisors and their clients. As a former Managing Director at Merrill Lynch, he managed $130 billion in client assets. Now, as the founder of Fuel Venture Capital, Jeff helps financial advisors incorporate high-growth venture investments into their diversification strategies. Fuel connects Silicon Valley with Main Street, giving private clients access to transformative companies. Jeff leads discussions on the future of investing, private markets, and how AI will influence wealth management, providing solutions for next-generation investors.   Connect With Jeff: Website Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Fuel Venture Capital LinkedIn   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Highlights from this week's conversation include:Michaela's Career Journey and Entry into Impact Investing (1:06)Lessons from Early Impact Experiences (3:36)Misconceptions about Impact Investing and Returns (6:39)Lessons from Clean Energy Investments (10:11)Venture and Asset Class Inclusion in Impact (12:03)Capricorn's Ecosystem Building and Value Add (15:59)Current Client Questions and Market Backlash (17:49)Strategies and Dislocations in Capital Markets (19:39)Marie-Celine's Background and Role at Capricorn (22:40)Asset Class Commitments (25:10)GP Engagement and Inflection Points (26:49)Investment Excellence and Entrepreneurial Teams (29:01)LP Relationships and GP Support (31:17)Mission Alignment for GPs (34:02)Due Diligence, Regulatory Risk, and Diversification (35:49)Connecting with Capricorn and Parting Thoughts (37:19)Capricorn Investment Group is a $13B mission-aligned investment firm founded on the belief that sustainable investment practices can enhance risk-adjusted returns. With offices in New York City and Palo Alto, Capricorn invests across asset classes, from venture capital to GP staking, supporting scalable solutions to the world's most pressing problems. Learn more at www.capricornllc.com.Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), a division of First Citizens Bank, is the bank of the world's most innovative companies and investors. SVB provides commercial and private banking to individuals and companies in the technology, life science and healthcare, private equity, venture capital and premium wine industries. SVB operates in centers of innovation throughout the United States, serving the unique needs of its dynamic clients with deep sector expertise, insights and connections. SVB's parent company, First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (NASDAQ: FCNCA), is a top 20 U.S. financial institution with more than $200 billion in assets. First Citizens Bank, Member FDIC. Learn more at svb.com.Swimming with Allocators is a podcast that dives into the intriguing world of Venture Capital from an LP (Limited Partner) perspective. Hosts Alexa Binns and Earnest Sweat are seasoned professionals who have donned various hats in the VC ecosystem. Each episode, we explore where the future opportunities lie in the VC landscape with insights from top LPs on their investment strategies and industry experts shedding light on emerging trends and technologies. The information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this podcast are for general informational purposes only. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Living brain cells playing Pong. Skincare that harvests DNA. Holograms for psychological warfare. All funded by a CIA venture firm spending your tax dollars.

What separates beverage brands that break out from those that burn out? In this episode, industry veteran Ken Sadowsky – often known by his sobriquet, the “Beverage Whisperer” – offers a behind-the-scenes look at what's working (and what's not) in the fiercely competitive drinks industry.  Ken, who is the executive director of the Northeastern Independent Distributors Association (NIDA) and a senior advisor with Belgium-based investment firm Verlivest, draws from decades of experience and shares practical, battle-tested insights, from store checks in NYC bodegas to the growing influence of non-alcoholic spirits. He dives into a range of hot-button topics, including the ROI of trade shows like Expo West, the crucial role of effective packaging, and the delicate balance between innovation and consumer confusion. Along the way, he shares candid opinions on up-and-coming brands, expressing optimism for some while voicing skepticism toward others. Show notes: 0:25: Interview: Ken Sadowsky, Sr. Advisor, Verlinvest – Ken Sadowsky talks about his passion for conducting store checks to stay current on emerging brands and trends and emphasizes the importance of trying new products, especially in diverse markets like New York City. He also explains how his background as a distributor and investor informs his observations and why advises early-stage founders to perfect their product in their hometowns before attempting to break into bigger markets. He and Ray sample a non-alcoholic margarita from Pentire and a collagen-infused sparkling water from Liquid Youth. They then discuss the rise of ANA beverages and the evolution of sweeteners in better-for-you sodas. Ken acknowledges Poppi's branding success and PepsiCo's acquisition of the company, but he remains skeptical about the long-term viability of the prebiotic soda category. The conversation continues with an exploration of the value of trade shows like Expo West, why ROI can be elusive and difficult to quantify, and his advice for startups with limited budgets. Ken and Ray sample more brands, including Fhirst, a U.K.-based probiotic soda brand, and Orange Toucan, a moringa-infused beverage. The discussion turns to the meaning of innovation in CPG, as Ken defines it as introducing something truly new, ideally with a functional or sustainability benefit that can reach mainstream audiences. They wrap the episode by spotlighting 67 Water, a culturally resonant brand targeting Gen Z and Gen Alpha; Glucosal, a Guatemalan electrolyte beverage only distributed in Miami; and Cadence, an isotonic drink brand. Brands in this episode: Liquid Youth, Poppi, Olipop, Liquid I.V., Celsius, Prime, Red Bull, Vitaminwater, Hint, 67 Water, Cadence, Pentire, Orange Toucan, Ringa, Kuli Kuli, Glucosal, Woody Creek Distillers, Mountain Dew, Vita Coco, Fhirst, Casa Azul, Bud Light, Electrolit, AriZona Beverages, GNGR Labs, MOTH Drinks  

Ben Lamm is CEO and Co-founder of Colossal Biosciences, the world's first de-extinction company. Colossal has raised more than $400 million at a valuation north of $10 billion to bring back extinct species using synthetic biology and genetic engineering. Just this year, the company unveiled the first dire wolves born in 12,000 years, created woolly mice with mammoth-like fur, and remains on track to see woolly mammoth calves by 2028.This conversation explores Colossal's end-to-end platform approach, from ancient DNA recovery to multiplex genome editing, and why Ben sees de-extinction not just as science fiction come true but as a venture-scale business that spins out companies, partners with governments, and raises profound ethical questions. We cover polarizing public reactions, the conservation potential of rewilding keystone species, and how synthetic biology and AI are accelerating breakthroughs once thought impossible.Episode recorded on Aug 20, 2025 (Published on Sept 23, 2025)In this episode, we cover: [04:14] An overview of Colossal[05:47] The company's dire wolf pups debut[10:51] Reasons behind de-extinction[11:49] Mammoth vs. thylacine vs. dodo challenges[18:40] How Ben co-founded a bioscience company[20:56] George Church and Colossal's origin story[22:40] The “why” behind bringing back the mammoth[27:42] Colossal's biodiversity credit carbon model[28:43] Trade-offs between rewilding existing species vs extinct[31:35] Colossal's multifaceted business model[33:58] The company's plastic-eating enzyme spinout[37:57] Colossal's unique speed of R&D[40:38] The Colossal Foundation[42:29] Ben's pov on our moral obligation to transparency Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Tim Guleri, Managing Partner at Sierra Ventures, reflects on 25 years in venture capital and his journey from Chandigarh to Silicon Valley. He shares how hands-on experience as a founder shapes his investing philosophy, why early-stage VCs must guide founders toward long-term fundamentals, and why raising too much capital too soon can hurt a company. Tim explains Sierra's disciplined approach to partnering with entrepreneurs, the power of unique customer insight, and his hope that America preserves its structural advantage in entrepreneurship.In this episode, you'll learn:[02:10] From Chandigarh to Silicon Valley: Tim's path to venture and entrepreneurship[04:09] Lessons from Scopus and Octane: Why lived experience matters more than spreadsheets[06:07] How venture “reinvents itself” and demands a learning mindset[11:43] Sierra Ventures' early-stage focus and flexible check sizes[14:33] Why raising the maximum check can backfire[16:44] The Eudia story: Hundreds of customer interviews and unique insights win conviction[23:07] How Sierra selects only ~2 deals per partner each year[27:26] Tim's message to Washington: Don't overregulate America's greatest gift—entrepreneurshipThe nonprofit organization Tim is passionate about: American India FoundationAbout Tim GuleriTim Guleri is a Managing Partner at Sierra Ventures, where he focuses on AI, enterprise software, and emerging technologies. A successful founder turned investor, Tim led Scopus Technology to an IPO and later founded Octane Software, which was acquired for $3B. Since 2001, he has been a hands-on venture capitalist, backing transformative companies and guiding founders with lessons from both entrepreneurial wins and mistakes.About Sierra VenturesSierra Ventures is a Silicon Valley-based early-stage venture capital firm with over $2B in assets under management and more than four decades of experience. Specializing in enterprise infrastructure and emerging technologies, Sierra partners with founders at seed and Series A stages, providing flexible capital, operational expertise, and trusted connections to help startups scale into market leaders. Portfolio companies include Eudia, Yalo, Spectro Cloud, Endor Labs, Phenom People, Planera, Quintessent, Cimulate, among others.Subscribe to our podcast and stay tuned for our next episode.

What if philanthropy, as we know it, is a flawed system?In this episode, we're joined by Jen Nguyen, a director at the Stupski Foundation, a unique "spend-down" organization designed to close its doors after giving away all of its assets by 2029. Jen, a former college counselor, provides an unapologetically candid look at a sector she may soon leave, revealing a rare freedom to challenge the status quo from within.We'll discuss how a "wait and see" approach to philanthropy falls short in moments of crisis, why foundations often prioritize their own survival over the needs of the communities they serve, and what it truly means to lead with a "nothing to lose" philosophy. Jen unpacks her critiques of the 5% payout rule, the "overhead" myth, and the power imbalances between funders and the organizations on the front lines.This conversation is a must-listen if you've ever wondered what a more just, trusting, and effective philanthropic sector could look like, or if the "rainy day" that so many foundations are saving for is already here. ⛈️Notable Quotes“The rainy day is here. So what are we saving for? What good is the Stupski Foundation going to be if it exists 50 years from now?” — Jen[06:05]“In my opinion, my job is not hard. The work is hard... We just need to give out money more quickly.” — Jen[28:24]“We need to be able to value that solidarity… The philanthropic field is set up to reflect capitalism, competition….” — Jen[34:50]“It's their practices that are causing executive directors to have to stretch themselves into different practices and way too thin….” — Jen[40:42]Timestamps[00:00] The “Wait and See” Approach[01:03] The Flaws of Institutional Philanthropy[02:18] Why Funders Are Reluctant to Speak Out[03:55] A Crisis of Government Funding[07:01] The Spend-Down Foundation Model[10:09] Rethinking Trust-Based Philanthropy[14:49] The Proper Role of Philanthropy[19:38] Balancing Intentionality and Impact[22:16] A Magic Wand for Philanthropy[26:22] The Problem with Due Diligence[29:22] What Philanthropy Can Learn from Venture Capital[35:32] The Overhead Conversation[40:33] Advice for Foundations[42:28] Advice for Nonprofit Leaders[46:31] Where to Connect with Jen and the Stupski FoundationP.S. — Feeling a disconnect between your mission and your brand? Cosmic helps social impact leaders build trust through story-rich brands, compelling campaigns, and values-aligned strategy. Let's talk about how to elevate your impact: https://designbycosmic.com/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.

Hemant Taneja is the CEO and leader of General Catalyst, the firm he has scaled over the last decade into one of the largest with over $40BN in AUM. He has been one of the most influential investors of the past two decades, leading early bets in Stripe, Snap, Gusto, Samsara, Grammarly, and Canva. He also played a pivotal role in Livongo's $18.5B merger with Teladoc, one of the largest digital health deals in history. AGENDA:  00:00 Introduction  03:37 Is Hemant a CEO or an Investor? 05:42 With $40BN AUM Is General Catalyst Still a VC Firm? 12:11 Has Trump Done More to Hurt or Help the US? 13:25 No One is Talking About the True Impact of AI on Jobs 21:30 Is Hemant Concerned by the Concentration of Value in MAG 7?  27:30 Has Trump Done More to Hurt or Help the US? 30:27 GC's Anthropic Investment: Upside from a $60BN Price  37:06 Do Margins Matter in a World of AI 45:23 Does Revenue Growth Matter in a World of AI  49:39 Why it is BS to Turn Down a Company Based on Price 56:06 We Have Invested $5BN Into Stripe Over 14 Rounds 01:00:02 VC is About To Be Flooded with Retail Investment: What Does It Mean for VC 01:08:51 “What I Learned Losing the Series A of Snap, Stripe, Samsara” 01:11:25 Future of Venture Capital: Walmart vs Chanel    

What kind of founder builds a billion-dollar company around something anyone can use for free? Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress and CEO of Automattic, joins Joubin Mirzadegan to reflect on two decades of building the platform that now powers over 43% of all websites through cycles of doubt, decline, and reinvention.He also shares how Automattic aligns employees with its mission to democratize publishing and commerce through paid sabbaticals and remote work.Guest: Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress and founder and CEO of AutomatticConnect with Matt MullenwegXLinkedInConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.com​Learn more about Kleiner Perkins

What does it really mean to “succeed” as a founder or a VC? In this episode of Demo Day, we sit down with Mark Mullen, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Bonfire Ventures, to explore the realities behind startup success, venture capital, and what it takes to build a high-performing team in today's market.Mark opens up about the unrealistic expectations in venture capital, why selling a company for $11M can be celebrated in some industries but deemed a failure in VC, and how the focus on founder personalities has shifted startup culture. He also shares the lessons he's learned growing Bonfire from a solo GP to a team of 11 managing over a billion dollars, and the strategies behind picking founders, understanding their motivations, and making early-stage investments.In this conversation, we cover:- The evolution of Bonfire Ventures and its $245M fundraise- The difference between founder wins vs. VC wins- How capital markets, interest rates, and M&A affect venture returns- Why intuition matters — and how to back it up with real metrics -The qualities Mark looks for in founders and early-stage companies- Lessons from market downturns, COVID, and AI's rise in venture capital- The Palisades fire and how that affected Mark and his familyIf you're a founder, investor, or curious about venture capital, this episode will give you a behind-the-scenes look at the decisions, mindset, and strategies that shape startup and VC success today.Mark Mullen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mamullen Website: https://www.bonfirevc.com/Sean Goldfaden LInkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-goldfaden Website: https://www.coefficientlabs.com/

ChatGPT revealed the 1st study on who actually uses it… The power user? High school girls.Shake Shack invented a French Onion Burger… it's the same affordable luxury strategy as Michael Kors.Robinhood is launching a Venture Capital fund for everyone… but the devil's in the deals.Plus, the untold origin story of… The Sony Walkman$SHAK $HOOD $MSFTWant more business storytelling from us? Check out the latest episode of our new weekly deepdive show: The untold origin story of… The Sony Walkman