Podcasts about Venture capital

Could plastic packaging be the next target on MAHA's hitlist? Have we reached peak chili crisp? Has Dubai chocolate already jumped the shark? The hosts dig in and debate, then spotlight a new $450 million fund that's fueling emerging food and beverage brands. We also sit down with Tara Lindley of High West, who talks about how the revered whiskey brand balances innovation with market demand. 0:35: No Ski, Just Apres. A CPG Hub. Bright News, Big Money. Dubai Snickers. Hoarding Crisp. THC Bs. – John is back home and in the studio, though he's still craving the Guinness from his recent travels. Jacqui dives deep into Nombase's new Data Hub, while Ray and Mike shine a spotlight on snack brand Sunnie, which just landed $1 million in fresh funding. They also break down the details of Shore Capital's massive third fund. In a segment meant to be rapid-fire, “Buy or Sell” turns into a spirited debate. Does Dubai chocolate still have momentum? Are plastic bottles a new target for RFK Jr.'s supporters? And has chili crisp finally hit its saturation point? The crew also taste-tests Like Air's latest opus, before Mike rounds things off with a few sips of cannabis-infused beverages. 31:12: Interview: Tara Lindley, Director of Sensory QA & New Product Development, High West – Utah's first legal distillery since 1870, High West crafts distinctive whiskeys that represent the culture and terrain of the American West. Known for its award-winning portfolio, High West is especially celebrated for its limited-edition releases like The Noble Share, High Country American Single Malt, A Midwinter Night's Dram, and Bourye. In this interview, Tara talks about how High West balances innovation with market demand in a competitive and evolving spirits landscape and the collaborative relationship between product development and marketing. She also discusses how consumer insights shape new releases, and why strategic storytelling and education are essential for building loyalty, especially among younger, more selective drinkers. Brands in this episode: High West, Guinness, Sunnie, Lunchables, Chia Smash, Just The Fun Part, Snickers, Kit Kat, Cholula, Tabasco, Heinz, Jala-Lujah, Momofuku, Capitana, Somos, This Little Goat, Hidden Valley Ranch, Fly By Jing, Masala Gossip, Masala Bliss, Hot Pot Queen, Homiya, Gloria Shito, Like Air, Plift, Squier's, Goodmellow

The 10 Minute Personal Brand Kickstart (FREE): https://the505podcast.courses/personalbrandkickstartWhat's up, Rock Nation! Today we sit down with Mike Lazerow, the founder of Buddy Media, a billion-dollar startup he sold to Salesforce, and the author of Shoveling Sht: A Love Story, one of the realest takes on entrepreneurship you'll ever read.In this episode, Mike unpacks the hidden cost of success - from nearly dying after scaling too fast, to rebuilding his identity after stepping away from a company worth hundreds of millions. We go deep on why founders burn out, how to avoid it, and the mindset shift that saved his life.We also talk about selling to Salesforce, the early days of Facebook and Instagram, building with Gary Vee, investing in Liquid Death, and his 6-part Go Gauge framework for picking winning startups.If you're building something big, or thinking about it, this conversation is your warning and your roadmap.Check out Mike here here:https://www.instagram.com/kassandmike/https://www.youtube.com/@UCgLzz0yep6lUaE5i62zMXTw https://shovelingshit.com/SUSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: https://the505podcast.ac-page.com/rock-reportThe Creator Pricing Guide - The No BS Guide to Pricing Your Creative ServicesCoupon Code: ROCKNATION10 gets you $10 off at checkout for the bouldershttps://courses.the505podcast.com/pricing-guideJoin our Discord! https://discord.gg/xgEAzkqAvsMore Free Products:Our 5 Positioning Tips to Land Bigger Clients (FREE): https://the505podcast.courses/5positioningtips 6 Questions to ask on Every Sales Call (FREE): https://the505podcast.courses/6questionsfordiscoverycallCOP THE BFIGGY "ESSENTIALS" SFX PACK HERE: https://courses.the505podcast.com/BFIGGYSFXPACKKG Presets Vol. 1https://www.kostasgarcia.com/store-1/p/kglightroompresetsKostas' Amazon Storefront:https://amzn.to/3GhId2515% OFF Prism Lens FX with code: KOSTAS15https://bit.ly/42sNdejTimestamps: 0:00 - Intro1:21 - The cost of building a $745 million company4:24 - prioritizing health6:58 - Mike's biggest tradeoffs7:30 - Mike's relationship with his father9:41 - Getting out of your own way12:46 - The most important trait of a good leader13:26 - How to fire someone17:23 - The fuel that drove Mike early on21:06 - Early days of facebook23:36 - The common trait of ultra successful entrepreneurs27:42 - The process of making a book30:45 - Shoveling sh*t in Central Park33:00 - The biggest life lesson from Marc Benioff37:46 - Processing selling Buddy Media for $745 million40:02 - The challenges of working with your wife41:50 - Venture Capital is broken42:36 - Why pizzeria are great business44:59 - You can't fire your own kids46:36 - Go Gauge - 6 steps to determine if Mike invests49:31 - Not investing in Uber52:27 - Everyone is born an entrepreneur53:31 - Investing in Liquid Death57:06 - Pivoting the revenue model 4 times for Buddy Media59:44 - Not every business can become a $100 million business1:01:07 - Pizza business roleplay1:03:16 - People don't know how to market1:04:36 - What founders get wrong with scaling1:08:00 - Going all in on social media1:11:17 - How Kass and Mike push each other1:12:17 - Finding the right business partner1:14:08 - What makes Kass (Mike's wife) an amazing entrepreneur1:18:32 - Tips for becoming a better manager1:20:10 - Hiring A Players1:22:16 - How to keep employees motivated1:24:46 - How to divide equity of a business1:27:04 - Meeting and working with Gary Vee1:30:12 - Mike was college roommates with Seth Myers1:34:04 - Reminiscing on the journey1:37:36 - Advice to 18 year old selfIf you liked this episode please send it to a friend and take a screenshot for your story! And as always, we'd love to hear from you guys on what you'd like to hear us talk about or potential guests we should have on. DM US ON IG: (Our DM's are always open!) Bfiggy: https://www.instagram.com/bfiggy/ Kostas: https://www.instagram.com/kostasg95/ TikTok:Bfiggy: https://www.tiktok.com/bfiggy/ Kostas: https://www.tiktok.com/kostasgarcia/

Can doing good in the world be quantified like ROI? Peter Winick sits down with Nick Cooney, founder and managing partner of Lever VC, to explore how a venture capitalist measures moral return alongside financial return. Nick's not your typical VC—he's also the author of "What We Don't Do: Inaction in the Face of Suffering and the Drive to Do More", a book that fuses analytical thinking with a deep commitment to reducing suffering. Nick reveals how dictating thoughts during a long car ride led to a full-fledged book deal with Simon & Schuster. But this isn't just a passion project—it's a strategic move. Nick shares how writing the book expands his credibility with mission-driven founders and impact-minded investors. You'll hear how he uses the “Brady Rule”—a nod to NFL legend Tom Brady—to challenge philanthropists to pursue giving with the same intensity as professional athletes pursue greatness. And how the overlap between financial rigor and moral responsibility creates a powerful (and rare) kind of leader. Peter and Nick dive into the strategic value of thought leadership for VCs: from deal flow to LP trust, to long-game positioning. Plus, Nick shares what he's learned from marketing the book, why the publishing timeline misses the mark, and what feedback surprised him most. This is a conversation for anyone looking to align meaning with metrics—and use content to drive serious business outcomes. Three Key Takeaways: • Thought Leadership Can Power Business Strategy Nick's book isn't just a personal project—it's a tool to build credibility, drive deal flow, and attract like-minded investors and founders. A well-positioned book can serve as your most powerful business card. • Impact and Analytics Aren't Mutually Exclusive Nick bridges the gap between rigorous financial thinking and doing good. He argues that applying ROI-based decision-making to philanthropy and impact can dramatically increase the effectiveness of our efforts to reduce suffering. • You Can—and Should—Train for Good Like an Athlete One standout idea from Nick's book is the “Brady Rule”—a call for people to approach doing good in the world with the same intensity, discipline, and optimization mindset as elite athletes do their sport. If Nick Cooney's episode got you thinking about how doing good can be measured, optimized, and scaled—then you'll want to dive into our conversation with Dr. Moshe Engelberg. Like Nick, Moshe challenges traditional business thinking by bringing purpose and values into the spotlight. In his episode, we explore how love—yes, love—can be a strategic business advantage, driving both culture and performance. Both Nick and Moshe offer bold frameworks for leaders who want to align their success with meaningful impact. If you're rethinking ROI to include humanity, ethics, and long-term value, this is the perfect next listen: Love from Thought Leadership with Moshe Engelberg

Ready to secure investment for your startup or small business? This podcast summary, featuring Chris Van Dusen from Calico Capital, reveals how to approach the funding journey strategically. We dive into the differences between Venture Capital and Private Equity to help you target the right investors. Get a pre-investment checklist for founders, emphasizing the crucial need to know your numbers (CAC, LTV, Burn Rate). Understand why proactive investor communication is vital and how the focus is shifting to sustainable profitability. Learn how fractional CFOs and remote experts can accelerate your growth without breaking the bank. Equip yourself with the knowledge to attract and retain the right capital partners.

When it comes to the production of high-value food crops, California is, without question, a global leader. Plus, much of the state's thousands of acres of farmland lies within close proximity of Silicon Valley, where high-tech tools and solutions are endemic. And yet, many California farmers are struggling to continue their work, and agtech startups are increasingly looking beyond the state for customers and sectors to serve. So what gives? To answer this question, we asked Walt Duflock, Senior VP of Innovation at Western Growers Association on the show to help us connect the dots on why California's world-renowned ag and its state-of-the-art tech sectors are struggling to align. Policy plays a big role here, but shifting tides around agtech funding are also having an effect. For more information and resources, visit our website. The information in this post is not investment advice or a recommendation to invest. It is general information only and does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should seek financial advice from a professional financial adviser. Whilst we believe the information is correct, we provide no warranty of accuracy, reliability or completeness.

Today on the Invest In Her podcast, host Catherine Gray talks with Anne Richie, Managing Director and Founder of The Mezzanine Fund. With a distinguished career spanning over two decades, Anne has helped reshape how capital flows to overlooked entrepreneurs by providing flexible debt capital through her fund. She also leads ACR Capital and has extensive experience across the capital spectrum, including roles in distressed lending, private equity, and venture capital. Anne has served as a CFO and CRO, advised more than 100 businesses annually through the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Initiative, and is a respected speaker and educator on capital access. Her impressive resume includes board memberships, awards from Crain's Cleveland, and an MBA from the University of Michigan. In this episode, Anne breaks down the importance of flexible debt and why traditional funding mechanisms often fail to support small and underserved businesses. She shares how The Mezzanine Fund fills this gap by offering non-dilutive capital to help entrepreneurs achieve sustainable growth without giving up equity. Catherine and Anne explore the nuances of debt versus equity, how capital should serve the business owner—not the other way around—and Anne's mission to ensure more women and minority-owned businesses gain fair access to growth capital. Her insights are both inspiring and actionable for founders looking to scale on their own terms. Website Mentioned: https://www.themezzaninefund.com https://www.showherthemoneymovie.com https://svwomenfoundersfund.vc www.sheangelinvestors.com    Follow Us On Social Facebook @sheangelinvestors Twitter (X) @sheangelsinvest Instagram @sheangelinvestors & @catherinegray_investinher LinkedIn @catherinelgray & @sheangels  

Send us a textIn this fast-paced panel, active investors review and rate real brands and one-liners submitted by attendees—live. Watch as investors give their first impressions of logos and positioning statements, providing real-time feedback on clarity, impact, and uniqueness. This session offers actionable insights on how to sharpen your messaging, stand out from the crowd, and avoid the common pitfalls that get deals overlooked. Includes takeaways on using AI tools to craft powerful one-liners and improve pitch performance.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I founded the Family Office Club 18 years ago—now with 20 team members, over 1,000 active investors, and 22 events annually. We've built over 50 AI tools using data from 300 events.  Event calendar: https://familyoffices.com/ Ways to join: https://familyoffices.com/join/Our most popular YouTube series covers capital raising, investor strategies, and billionaire interviews on Billionaires.com.Want free resources or one of my books on investing, family offices, or raising capital? Just ask. Richard@FamilyOffices.com | Text/WhatsApp: (808) 600-9260

The Cybersecurity VC Report tracks venture capital deal flow is updated daily by the editors at Cybersecurity Ventures: https://cybersecurityventures.com/cybersecurity-venture-capital-vc-deals/ The VC Report is sponsored by Evolution Equity Partners, an international venture capital investor partnering with exceptional entrepreneurs to develop market leading cyber-security and enterprise software companies. https://evolutionequity.com/ In this episode, Richard Seewald, Founder and Managing Partner at Evolution Equity Partners, shares his expert opinion on the cybersecurity market and investing climate in our industry.

Mushrooms, coffee, and diapers. It's not the start of weird joke, but the the innovation arc of Tero Isokauppila, one of the most uniquely disruptive founders at the convergence of bio and consumer goods. From building the $2B mushroom coffee category at Four Sigmatic to launching HIRO, the world's first fungi-based diaper, Tero's work reflects something deeper; how Austin's convergence of culture, capital, and cross-sector energy is creating the next innovation frontier.02:18 – From Farm Kid to Mushroom Category King05:45 – The Biology of Fungi as Platform Tech09:03 – Why America Is Mushroom-Illiterate10:38 – Product Before Mission: Lessons from Tesla and HIRO16:35 – CPG vs Biotech: Funding, Moats, and Returns25:57 – Why Austin Became a CPG Powerhouse31:39 – Tech and CPG: Still Separate Worlds in Austin35:41 – Frontier Cities Need Cultural + Sector Convergence1:01:15 – Manufacturing's Real Bottlenecks (and Myths)1:05:06 – “What's Next Austin?”: Ego Death, Rebirth, and Maturity Tero Isokauppila: LinkedIn, YouTubeFour SigmaticHIRO -------------------Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedInEcosystem Metacognition Substack

Are you ready to pitch your biotech startup to investors but unsure what they're actually looking for? In this episode, host James Zanewicz, JD, LLM, RTTP, sits down with Travis Manasco, MD — Principal at Solas BioVentures, practicing ICU physician, and Tulane alumnus — for a clear-eyed look at what it takes to secure life science venture capital. From communicating clearly to avoiding common missteps, Travis offers practical advice that every founder should hear before stepping into a pitch meeting. In this episode, you'll discover: The "goat, moat, float, and dote" framework Solas uses to evaluate investments. What makes an investor-ready pitch — and why focus matters more than ambition. How founders can build lasting relationships with VCs and avoid first-call deal-killers. Whether you're refining your deck or just starting your fundraising journey, this episode is packed with actionable insights to move your biotech forward. Links: Connect with Travis Manasco, MD, and check out Solas BioVentures. Connect with James Zanewicz, JD, LLM, RTTP and learn about Tulane Medicine Business Development and the School of Medicine. Connect with Penelope Manasco, MD, Elizabeth Chabe, MBA, Tari Suprapto, PhD, and David Adair, MBA. Learn more about Francis Medical, I-O Urology, Vektor Medical, and OpenEvidence. Connect with Ian McLachlan, BIO from the BAYOU producer. Check out BIO on the BAYOU and make plans to attend October 28 & 29, 2025. Learn more about BIO from the BAYOU - the podcast. Bio from the Bayou is a podcast that explores biotech innovation, business development, and healthcare outcomes in New Orleans & The Gulf South, connecting biotech companies, investors, and key opinion leaders to advance medicine, technology, and startup opportunities in the region.

A hip-hop icon. A lifelong bond. A shared passion for craft spirits. And a warehouse full of aged whiskey. When these elements came together, they gave rise to Amber & Opal, a premium honey botanical rye whiskey that's turning heads in the spirits industry. Launched in 2024, Amber & Opal was co-founded by Ja Rule, Herb Rice, Sandy Sandiford, and Kelvin Barton. A rye whiskey blended with orange blossom honey and an elegant mix of botanicals, including cinnamon, fig, ginger, and black tea, the spirit was crafted to bridge worlds: approachable for newcomers, yet complex enough to intrigue seasoned whiskey enthusiasts. At the buzzing Amber & Opal booth during the 2025 Bar Convent Brooklyn trade show in June, Ja, Herb, and Sandy shared insights into the brand's origin story and the meaning behind its evocative name. They also discuss the intentional, measured way they're leveraging Ja's star power and why they are confident that the flavor-forward whiskey has the potential to redefine what modern spirits can be. Show notes: 0:25: Ja Rule, Herb Rice & Sandy Sandiford, Co-Founders, Amber & Opal – Ray learns how Ja Rule signs checks before the musician and entrepreneur explains why Amber & Opal shouldn't be labeled a “celebrity brand,” and why the founding team was advised against making a flavored whiskey. Herb talks about how product development was focused on flavor, accessibility and innovation, and how in a tequila-saturated market, it is strategically positioned to stand out. The team also discusses how the package and label design reflects an emphasis on inclusivity and storytelling before sharing a sample of the whiskey with Ray, who offers his take on its taste and potential appeal. Brands in this episode: Amber & Opal, Jack Daniel's

Dave McClure, founder of Practical Venture Capital and co-founder of 500 Startups, dives deep into the growing role of secondaries in venture capital. Dave explains how today's longer startup cycles and liquidity droughts have created opportunities (and confusion) around secondary markets. He breaks down what secondaries actually are, how Practical VC operates, and key trends shaking up the system. With his trademark candor, Dave also shares hard truths for both founders and VCs navigating this next chapter of private markets.In this episode, you'll learn:[03:55] Dave's journey to becoming an investor[06:30] The early evolution of accelerators and why “lots of little bets” took off[09:50] How cloud, open source, and low CAC changed the startup funding game[12:49] Why startup liquidity timelines have doubled—and what that means for founders and LPs[14:56] What secondaries really are (hint: not just one thing)[19:31] Does venture's illiquidity attract the right kind of investors—or just the most patient?[22:06] The discipline of public markets vs. the opacity of private ones[26:37] What Practical VC looks for in a secondary opportunity (and the $50M–$100M revenue rule)[29:14] How Dave screens funds and companies for possible exits[33:37] What's exciting (and worrying) about secondaries, stablecoins, and emerging marketsThe nonprofit organization Dave is passionate about: New StoryAbout Dave McClureDave McClure is the founder of Practical Venture Capital, a firm focused on liquidity through venture secondaries. Previously, he co-founded 500 Startups, one of the world's most active early-stage venture funds. A PayPal alumni and self-described nerd turned investor, Dave has worked across engineering, marketing, and venture roles, investing in hundreds of startups globally. He's known for his honest insights and bold bets on opportunities before they're ‘cool'.About Practical Venture CapitalPractical Venture Capital is a Silicon Valley-based VC secondary firm providing liquidity to GPs, LPs, and founders through targeted secondary investments. Specializing in fund-level and company-level secondaries, Practical VC aims to shorten the venture capital time horizon by backing mature, revenue-generating companies with clear exit paths. The firm focuses on portfolios nearing liquidity and brings a flexible, creative approach to valuation, pricing, and structure.Subscribe to our podcast and stay tuned for our next episode.

With the changes discussed in previous episodes in our Forming the Future of Finance limited series – the growth of AI, coupled with changes in portfolio construction – business models will need to change.This fourth and last episode features how GPs will be running their businesses in the future.Cornelia Andersson – Chief Product Officer at With Intelligence moderates this dynamic discussion. An expert on creating value from data and building customer-centric data and analytics products, Cornelia is a frequent speaker at industry events and a published author on various related topics, including market data and information, sustainable finance and investing. Joining her are:Enrico Ohnemüeller, Co-founder and CEO of Bunch, the digital backbone of European Private Markets. With a track record of bridging traditional finance with emerging fintech, Enrico previously gained experience at Goldman Sachs and led innovation at finleap.Nick Leopard, Founder and CEO of Accordion, the financial consulting firm uniquely focused on private equity with more than 300 of the world's leading PE firms and their portfolio companies as clients. Serving the entire CFO function, under Nick's leadership Accordion has become the premier digital-enablement partner for portfolio CFOs.Returning to our podcast is Jake Walker, this time as a client of Lyra, a Motive Partners portfolio company and recent spin-out from Apollo's client services division, Lyra offers a differentiated client-servicing solution, delivering technology and operations capabilities that enhance efficiency and the client experience in both the institutional and wealth channels.Let's hear what's next…This series was recorded during an exclusive event, co-hosted by Motive Partners and With Intelligence in Berlin to kick off SuperReturn where the world of private capital meets.___The information contained in this podcast is intended for discussion purposes only. It is not a recommendation, offer, or a solicitation for the purchase or sale of a security or any services of Motive Partners. All investing involves risk and there is no guarantee that past performance will be indicative of future results.The views and opinions expressed in the podcast are as of the date of recording, reflect the views and opinions of the persons expressing them, and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Motive Partners. Motive Partners makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of any information provided and undertakes no obligation to update, amend, or clarify the information in the podcast, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Any securities, transactions, or holdings discussed may not represent investments made by Motive Partners. It should not be assumed that securities, transactions, or holdings discussed (if any) were or will be profitable, or that the recommendations or decisions made in the future will be similar or will equal the performance of the securities, transactions, or holdings discussed herein.This podcast may contain forward-looking statements that are based on beliefs, assumptions, current expectations, estimates, and projections about the financial industry, the economy, Motive Partners or Motive Partners' investments.  Nothing in the podcast should be construed or relied upon as investment, legal, accounting, tax or other professional advice or in connection with any offer or sale of securities. 

Welcome to Forming the Future of Finance – a special limited series podcast focused on reshaping the financial landscape. Our first episode features Natalya Guseva, Head of Financial Markets and Resilience at the World Economic Forum. In her role, Natalya focuses on retail investors' access to capital markets and the longevity economy. Prior to that, she led the Forum's community of asset owners and alternative asset managers. Joining her in a compelling conversation is Rob Heyvaert, Motive Partners Founder and Managing Partner, who has built his entire career in financial technology infrastructure as a leading global entrepreneur. Motive is Rob's third entrepreneurial success, for which he had the vision to create a private equity firm that assembles world-class leaders in fintech and PE. With Rob's proven Investor-Operator-Innovator model, his firm currently manages one of the largest portfolios in Fintech.Whether you're a founder, investor, reporter, or you're curious about the future of private markets, you're in the right place. Let's dive into what's shaping tomorrow's financial world, today.This series was recorded during an exclusive event, co-hosted by Motive Partners and With Intelligence in Berlin to kick off SuperReturn where the world of private capital meets.___The information contained in this podcast is intended for discussion purposes only. It is not a recommendation, offer, or a solicitation for the purchase or sale of a security or any services of Motive Partners. All investing involves risk and there is no guarantee that past performance will be indicative of future results.The views and opinions expressed in the podcast are as of the date of recording, reflect the views and opinions of the persons expressing them, and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Motive Partners. Motive Partners makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of any information provided and undertakes no obligation to update, amend, or clarify the information in the podcast, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Any securities, transactions, or holdings discussed may not represent investments made by Motive Partners. It should not be assumed that securities, transactions, or holdings discussed (if any) were or will be profitable, or that the recommendations or decisions made in the future will be similar or will equal the performance of the securities, transactions, or holdings discussed herein.This podcast may contain forward-looking statements that are based on beliefs, assumptions, current expectations, estimates, and projections about the financial industry, the economy, Motive Partners or Motive Partners' investments.  Nothing in the podcast should be construed or relied upon as investment, legal, accounting, tax or other professional advice or in connection with any offer or sale of securities. 

This second episode of our Forming the Future of Finance limited series podcast is a hot topic: the transformative power of AI. Our experts look at the promise of AI, its risks, and where we are in tapping AI's potential. Featured in this episode are:Ramin Niroumand, Partner and Head of Ventures at Motive Partners, leading the conversation, an entrepreneur and a native of Germany. Ramin founded finleap at age 27, the country's first and most prolific fintech company builder. As Berlin emerged as a fintech hub, he launched an early-stage fintech venture fund, which he subsequently merged with Motive Partners.Joining him is Akos Ratku, Founder and CTO of AI-platform Zocks. A tech leader and software engineer, Akos co-founded Zocks, which is an AI platform that is instrumental in helping financial advisors streamline and automate their workflow.Joaquim de la Cruz, CEO and co-founder of Flanks – last year, Joaquim was named to the Forbes' 30 under 30 for Europe. His company, Flanks, was founded with the goal of modernizing the wealth management industry. Rounding out this episode is Andrew Tarver, President of the Private Markets Account Network at InvestCloud – a global leader in wealthtech with clients that represent more than 40% of the $132 trillion of total assets globally. Tarver is an innovator in his own right, having previously founded several fintech companies, including Thought Machine, and a Founding Partner at Motive.This series was recorded during an exclusive event, co-hosted by Motive Partners and With Intelligence in Berlin to kick off SuperReturn where the world of private capital meets.___The information contained in this podcast is intended for discussion purposes only. It is not a recommendation, offer, or a solicitation for the purchase or sale of a security or any services of Motive Partners. All investing involves risk and there is no guarantee that past performance will be indicative of future results.The views and opinions expressed in the podcast are as of the date of recording, reflect the views and opinions of the persons expressing them, and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Motive Partners. Motive Partners makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of any information provided and undertakes no obligation to update, amend, or clarify the information in the podcast, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Any securities, transactions, or holdings discussed may not represent investments made by Motive Partners. It should not be assumed that securities, transactions, or holdings discussed (if any) were or will be profitable, or that the recommendations or decisions made in the future will be similar or will equal the performance of the securities, transactions, or holdings discussed herein.This podcast may contain forward-looking statements that are based on beliefs, assumptions, current expectations, estimates, and projections about the financial industry, the economy, Motive Partners or Motive Partners' investments.  Nothing in the podcast should be construed or relied upon as investment, legal, accounting, tax or other professional advice or in connection with any offer or sale of securities. 

Is the 60/40 portfolio a thing of the past? Is it fair to consider private markets an “alternative” part of an investment allocation? What is the appropriate allocation to alternatives? 10%? 20%? More?This third episode in our Forming the Future of Finance limited series podcast will bring clarity to these points.Leading this discussion is Andrew Tarver, key architect of InvestCloud's Private Markets Account Network, a connected ecosystem of industry participants making possible the management of public and private markets assets from a single platform.Joining him are:Alexis Augier, Founder & CEO of Vega, a client service and distribution operating system for alternative asset managers, which announced last November a $20 million Series A investment led by Apollo and Motive to scale its platform.Samuel Dale, managing editor of private markets at With Intelligence – who has his finger on the pulse of all developments in the private markets space.Jake Walker, Partner & COO of client & product solutions at Apollo, where he is instrumental in scaling the firm's client service capabilities across the globe, and architect of Apollo's founding partnership in InvestCloud's Private Markets Account Network.And Andy Stewart, executive chairman/former CEO of Wilshire, a seasoned fintech executive at a global provider of market-leading indexes, advanced analytics and alternative and multi-asset investment solutions. Let's hear more on how to crack the code on private markets investing.This series was recorded during an exclusive event, co-hosted by Motive Partners and With Intelligence in Berlin to kick off SuperReturn where the world of private capital meets.___The information contained in this podcast is intended for discussion purposes only. It is not a recommendation, offer, or a solicitation for the purchase or sale of a security or any services of Motive Partners. All investing involves risk and there is no guarantee that past performance will be indicative of future results.The views and opinions expressed in the podcast are as of the date of recording, reflect the views and opinions of the persons expressing them, and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Motive Partners. Motive Partners makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of any information provided and undertakes no obligation to update, amend, or clarify the information in the podcast, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Any securities, transactions, or holdings discussed may not represent investments made by Motive Partners. It should not be assumed that securities, transactions, or holdings discussed (if any) were or will be profitable, or that the recommendations or decisions made in the future will be similar or will equal the performance of the securities, transactions, or holdings discussed herein.This podcast may contain forward-looking statements that are based on beliefs, assumptions, current expectations, estimates, and projections about the financial industry, the economy, Motive Partners or Motive Partners' investments.  Nothing in the podcast should be construed or relied upon as investment, legal, accounting, tax or other professional advice or in connection with any offer or sale of securities. 

I'm beyond excited to share our latest podcast episode with you. This time, I had the pleasure of chatting with the incredible Maddi Holman, the general partner of Daring Ventures and the host of her own podcast, "Let's Be Heard." Maddi's journey from aspiring doctor to venture capitalist is nothing short of inspiring, and I can't wait for you to hear her story.Here are some of the key takeaways and intriguing insights from our conversation:

Entdecke, wie Finanzierungsrunden 2025 in der VC-Welt neu gedacht werden. Weg von reinem Wachstum und hin zu Kapitaleffizienz – Florian Heinemann gibt Einblicke, welche Herausforderungen und Chancen das mit sich bringt. Vom idealen Gründerteam über das Potenzial von KI-Strategien bis hin zur Bedeutung von Markttrends und Solvenz – alles spielt eine Rolle. Warum ist die richtige Investmenthöhe entscheidend und wie strukturieren sich erfolgreiche Runden? Diese Episode bietet wertvolle Perspektiven für alle, die den Wandel in der Start-up-Landschaft mit Verständnis und Weitsicht gestalten möchten. Bereite dich auf eine fundierte Reise durch die neuen Regeln der Risikofinanzierung vor. Du erfährst... …wie sich das Geschäftsmodell von Venture Capital verändert hat …welche Rolle Teamdiversität und technologische Kompetenz spielen …warum Kapitaleffizienz und strukturelle Qualität entscheidend sind …wie KI-Strategien den Unternehmenswert steigern können …welche Signale Investoren bei der Auswahl von Start-ups beachten __________________________ ||||| PERSONEN |||||

On this episode, taken from The Ben & Marc Show, a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz dive deep into the unfiltered story behind the founding of Andreessen Horowitz—and how they set out to reinvent venture capital itself. For the first time, Marc and Ben walk through the origins, strategy, and philosophy behind building a world-class venture capital firm designed for the future—not just the next fund. They reveal how they broke industry norms with a bold brand, a full-stack support model, and a long-term commitment to backing exceptional builders—anchored in the radical idea that founders deserved real support, not just checks. Joining them to guide the conversation is Erik Torenberg—Andreessen Horowitz's newest General Partner—who makes his Ben & Marc Show moderating debut. Erik is a technology entrepreneur, investor, and founder of the media company Turpentine.Together, they explore: - Why traditional VC needed reinvention - How a16z scaled with a platform model, not a partner model - The "barbell strategy" reshaping venture capital today - Why venture remains a human craft, even in the age of AI Timecodes: 00:00 - Intro 01:00 - Why Traditional Venture Capital Was Broken 03:05 - Marc on Discovering VC and Its Legends 05:12 - Surviving the Dot-Com Crash and Angel Investing Collapse 07:05 - Helping Founders Raise Venture / Fix VC Relationships 08:47 - The a16z Strategy: Building a Support Platform 12:07 - First Fund Wins: Skype, Instagram, Slack, Okta 12:50 - Building a 'World-Dominating Monster' 15:00 - The Sushi Boat VC Problem 18:07 - Treating LPs Differently 21:40 - Marc and Ben's Working Relationship 23:30 - Updating a16z's Media Strategy for the Social Era 27:20 - History of the Decentralized Media Environment30:36 - Decline of Corporate Brands and Going Direct 36:06 - Naming the Firm 40:13 - Building the a16z 'Cinematic Universe' of Talent 42:16 - Creating a Federated Model 51:02 - Deciding to Market the Firm 53:26 - Recruiting General Partners 56:33 - Evolution to Full-Stack Companies 01:03:53 - The Barbell Theory: The Death of Mid-Sized VCs01:11:50 - Why Venture Capital Should Stay Overfunded 01:19:50 - When a16z Knew It Could Be Top Tier 01:25:58 - Venture Capital is an Art, Not a ScienceResources:Marc on X: https://twitter.com/pmarca Marc's Substack: https://pmarca.substack.com/Ben on X: https://twitter.com/bhorowitz Erik on X: https://x.com/eriktorenberg Erik's Substack: https://eriktorenberg.substack.com/

Six leaders from across tech — from SaaS and semis to law and logistics — come together for our 250th episode milestone in this very special AI recap, where we unpack how new advances are transforming the way industries function, and how work gets done.Featuring:• Bret Taylor (Sierra Co-founder)• Winston Weinberg (Harvey Co-founder and CEO)• Matt Murphy (Marvell Technology Chairman and CEO)• Yamini Rangan (HubSpot CEO)• Chris Urmson (Aurora CEO)• Varun Mohan (Windsurf Co-founder and CEO)Connect with Joubin:- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joubin-mirzadegan-66186854/ - X:  https://x.com/Joubinmir Email: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins: https://www.kleinerperkins.com

Segment 1 with Dave Whorton starts at 0:00. The “Get Big Fast” startup era is crumbling. Sky-high valuations, zero profits, and a fixation on rapid scaling have left businesses fragile and the economy unstable. It's time for entrepreneurs to skip the funding rounds and rethink how they approach growth.In his new book "Another Way - Building Companies That Last…and Last…and Last",  former Kleiner Perkins Venture Capitalist Dave Whorton lays out a path forward. After seeing firsthand the risks of speculative growth, he rejected the Silicon Valley unicorn obsession he helped fuel, and now helps entrepreneurs thrive better in our volatile times.Segment 2 with Marcelo Barros starts at 20:28.Phishing attacks are forever changing and getting more creative. What do we need to know as small business owners and how should be educate our team?Marcelo Barros is the Global Director of Hacker Rangers. He is an IT professional with over 30 years of experience and a strong interest in cybersecurity. As the Global Markets Leader at Hacker Rangers, a gamification company, he spearheads the company's expansion into markets outside of Brazil. Before this position, Marcelo dedicated 17 years to IBM, where he worked in cybersecurity, sales, and management, delivering solutions and achieving outcomesBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-small-business-radio-show--3306444/support.

Send us a text"RAISE CAPITAL LIKE A LEGEND: https://offer.fundraisecapital.co/free-ebook/"What if you could unlock the secret playbook of venture capital that most investors never see in the next 60 minutes? A Wall Street mathematician turned global investor will reveal how to build wealth, navigate emerging markets and transform capital into a meaningful impact, all without playing by the traditional rules. See, this isn't just another investment podcast, this is your blueprint for Making Billions while changing the world, all this and more coming right now.Subscribe on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTOe79EXLDsROQ0z3YLnu1QQConnect with Ryan Miller:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rcmiller1/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makingbillionspodcast/Twitter: https://twitter.com/_MakingBillonsWebsite: https://making-billions.com/[THE GUEST]: Eva Yahzari Managing Partner at Beyond Capital Ventures.[THE HOST]: Ryan Miller is an Angel investor, former VP of Finance, CFO of an insurance company, and the founder of Fund Raise Capital,  https://www.fundraisecapital.co where his strategies helped emerging fund managers and deal syndicators to report raising over $1B following his strategies.Support the showDISCLAIMER: The information in every podcast episode “episode” is provided for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. By listening or viewing our episodes, you understand that no information contained in the episodes should be construed as legal or financial advice from the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal, financial, or tax counsel on any subject matter. No listener of the episodes should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any information included in, or accessible through, the episodes without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer, finance, tax, or other licensed person in the recipient's state, country, or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction. No part of the show, its guests, host, content, or otherwise should be considered a solicitation for investment in any way. All views expressed in any way by guests are their own opinions and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the show or its host(s). The host and/or its guests may own some of the assets discussed in this or other episodes, including compensation for advertisements, sponsorships, and/or endorsements. This show is for entertainment purposes only and should not be used as financial, tax, legal, or any advice whatsoever.

In this episode of Demo Day, we sit down with Jonathan Hung, Managing Partner at Entrepreneur Ventures, to explore why relationships matter more than returns in venture capital.Jonathan shares how he transitioned from family offices and Trousdale Ventures to launching a fund under Entrepreneur Media. From his “dating fund” philosophy to lessons on LP dynamics, founder due diligence, and his upcoming book Your Emergency Contact, this conversation is packed with hard-earned wisdom.Whether you're a founder raising capital, a VC building your fund, or someone curious about how the best investors actually think — this is a must-watch.Topics We Cover:Why follow-on capital depends on delivering results — not hypeHow Jonathan picks the right LPs (and avoids bad partners)What “date before you marry” means in venture investingThe power of media when raising a fundHis upcoming book: Your Emergency ContactHow venture capital changes in your “third quarter” of lifeThe brutal truth about SPVs, bad actors, and partner breakups

(0:00) Intro(1:30) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:16) Start of interview(3:09) Jack's origin story(4:11) The Accounting Foundation. His time at PriceWaterhouse (1987-1992)(5:45) His Startup/Executive Journey. Electronics for Imaging => Apptitude => NetRatings => Atheros => Qualcomm(12:15) Transitioning to Board Service. His start with Silicon Labs (2013)(12:26) His time as CFO at GoPro (2014-2016)(13:55) His focus on boards since 2016 (~10 public boards, ~15 overall since)(14:41) Differences between public and private company board service.(18:55) The Current IPO Landscape plus staying private for longer vs going public.(24:45) Founder Dynamics in Governance and the Dual-Class Share Debate. "In general, I don't like dual-class shares (...) I blame the banks for this." His experience at Casper and ThredUp. "I don't believe in sunset provisions above 7 years. Frankly, I think 3 years is long enough"(32:10) Navigating Shareholder Activism. His experience with Mellanox (sold to NVIDIA for $6.9B) and Box (won proxy fight).(37:27) His support for Classified Boards(40:27) AI and Semiconductor Future. His board position at NatCast, a non-profit entity designated to operate the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) by the Department of Commerce. Reference to his TEDx talk: "Why Technology is Not Silicon Valley's Real Innovation" (2016)(48:40) Geopolitical Challenges in Tech(53:04) The Importance of Risk Planning by the board (downside plans, "defcon processes", etc)(54:54) Books that have greatly influenced his life:The Goal, by Eliyahu M. Goldratt (1984)Good to Great, by Jim Collins (2001) (55:49) His mentors:Chuck Robel, from Price WaterhouseIrwin Federman, the Chairman of MellanoxBill Elmore, Founder Foundation CapitalAndy Rappaport, August Capital(57:39) Quotes that he thinks of often or lives his life by.(59:12) An unusual habit or an absurd thing that he loves.(01:00:41) The living person he most admires.Jack Lazar has more than 30 years of Silicon Valley experience with a focus on finance and operations. He currently serves on the boards of Astera Labs (ALAB), Box (BOX), GlobalFoundries (GFS), and Resideo (REZI). He also consults with a variety of private companies, including Tonal, where he is chair of the board.  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 is a special episode I recorded in collaboration with Joe Moore from Psychedelics Today at the largest conference in the field "Psychedelic Science 2025" in Denver last week. It very early in the morning, at 8am, and it was fabulous. Our guests: Daniel Goldberg Co-Founder and Partner at Palo Santo & Bridge Investments & Zac Kamenetz, Founder of Shefa: Jewish Psychedelic Support, Joe and me were talking about the interactions of psychedelic community, the new role of Venture Capital in 2025 and what psychedelic systems are built in the current climate to support individuals and the bigger picture. Check out this episode, it's fun and very insightful.Check out:https://www.shefaflow.org/https://palosanto.vc/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Renaud Guillerm est le fondateur de Side Capital, un fonds d'investissement dédié à l'accompagnement de jeunes startups.Il lance Side Capital en 2016 aux côtés d'autres entrepreneurs, avec l'ambition de soutenir les entreprises tech et digitales dès les premières phases de leur croissance.Depuis sa création, Side Capital a déjà investi 42 millions d'euros dans 42 sociétés !Le ticket moyen s'élève à 500 000 euros, avec des réinvestissements ciblés dans les entreprises les plus prometteuses.Avant de devenir investisseur, Renaud Guillerm a exercé comme fiscaliste pendant 11 ans.Il est également un entrepreneur accompli.En 2009, il fonde Videdressing, une marketplace dédiée à la mode, qu'il dirigera pendant six ans jusqu'à son rachat par Leboncoin.À l'époque, il lève 5 millions d'euros avec cinq fonds étrangers à son capital, se retrouvant à siéger et animer des conseils d'administration sans y avoir été préparé.Cette expérience lui fait prendre conscience du manque d'accompagnement dont souffrent de nombreux fondateurs face aux investisseurs.Avec une trentaine d'investisseurs aguerris, il décide alors de créer un fonds avec une approche résolument entrepreneuriale, Side Capital.Le fonds accompagne des startups réalisant déjà au moins 10 000 euros de revenus mensuels récurrents, en investissant 500 000 à 600 000 euros en échange de 20% du capital.Le modèle économique repose sur un droit d'entrée payé par les entreprises, ainsi que sur le carried interest, une prime à la performance qui permet d'aligner les intérêts du fonds avec ceux des entrepreneurs.En 9 ans, Side Capital a réalisé 9 sorties, avec un multiple moyen de x5.Seules deux entreprises du portefeuille ont échoué.En 2023, Renaud lance également Side Angels, une plateforme de club deals, forte d'une communauté de 3 000 investisseurs.Cette initiative vise à partager son expertise en structuration, réglementation et création de holdings avec les business angels en échange d'un pourcentage du carried.L'investissement en startup vous intéresse, cet épisode est fait pour vous

The 2025 Summer Fancy Food Show was a vibrant exhibition of everything we love about the food and beverage industry. From new concepts and inventive product launches to passionate entrepreneurs and irresistible bites and sips, the event was a sensory feast. The hosts spotlight ethnic brands, artisanal snacks and distinctive libations from one of the most exceptional trade shows they've ever experienced. Show notes: 0:35: Milk Strips. Mail Us. Meet Us. Rapid Fire? Slow Burn. Good Things Are A Comin' – Before the hosts heap praise on dozens of brands they encountered at the Summer Fancy Food Show, they remind listeners of where to send samples, and Ray recounts a visit to Clio Snacks' manufacturing facility for a behind-the-scenes look at how their yogurt bars come to life. He also notes that registration is now open for Taste Radio meetups in Chicago, San Diego, San Francisco, and London. The hosts wrap up with a few reasons to stay optimistic about the CPG outlook for the rest of 2025. Brands in this episode: Clio Snacks, Milkademia, Juicy Bites, Nikigo, Figa, Cadbury, Jack's Dad's Hummus, Zahav, Doosra, Krokka, Mazaah, Brooklyn Dehli, Podi, Ginny's, Narra, Brooklyn Delhi, Baris, Onosweet, Sour Milk, Moment, Paro, Saffron Road, Pioola, Tannthi, Amaza, Lakarids, Bulow, Aaji, BTR Nation, Blue Bottle, Maia, La Rossi, Jala-Lujah, Yax Snacks, Podi, Nourrir, Taan Thai, Figa Foods, KefirKult, B.T.R. Nation, Keya's Snacks, Sourmilk, Aaji's, Tari, Theo's Longhouse Coffee, Lakrid's, Ines Rosales, Släcka, Djablo, Bake Me Healthy, Caulipuffs, Pi00a, Sourcery

 In this powerful and visionary episode, Tracy Holland interviews Rachel Springate, co-founder of Muse Capital — an early-stage venture fund focused on consumer tech, women's health, childcare, elder care, and other underserved yet high-growth markets. Rachel shares her remarkable journey from hospitality and media to building one of the most respected venture firms in Silicon Valley — all without a traditional finance background. Her superpower? Relationship capital and radical conviction. From co-founder Assia's health journey to breakthrough investments in women's health, Rachel offers an inside look into what it takes to lead, scale, and rewrite the narrative for women in VC. Episode Highlights How relationship capital became Muse Capital's greatest strength. The billion-dollar blind spot in women's health, childcare, and elder care. Why fundraising without a finance background made Rachel stronger. Personal resilience: Assia's cancer diagnosis and its impact on their mission. How women can build legacy wealth by learning to write the check. “As long as you have something no one else has, that's your superpower. Use it.” Rachel's journey reminds us that grit, reputation, and mission-driven investing can outpace traditional credentials. Her success proves that women don't need permission to lead — they just need belief in their unique value. Connect with Rachel Springate Website: www.musecapital.vc  Instagram: @rachelspringate  Muse Capital: @musecapital Connect with Us: Subscribe to our newsletter: Potential to Powerhouse Follow us on Instagram: @PotentialToPowerhouse Connect with Tracy: @tracy_holland_mindset Loved this episode? Your feedback means everything to us!

Brent Vartan is Managing Partner and Co-Founder at Bullish, a unique hybrid combining a branding agency and a consumer-focused venture fund. With decades of experience in brand strategy, Brent and his team have been early investors and builders behind some of the most iconic DTC and consumer brands of the past decade, including Peloton, Warby Parker, Casper, Harry's, Hu, Bubble, and more.In this episode of DTC Pod, Brent shares his perspective on what it takes to build generational consumer brands from the earliest stages. He discusses Bullish's hands-on investment approach, the importance of brand strategy as a growth mechanism, and what differentiates brands that become household names. Brent also breaks down real playbooks from companies like Sunday Lawn and Nom Nom, providing founders concrete advice on what it takes to build brands worth talking about—and worth buying.Interact with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:1. Bullish's hybrid brand agency and VC model2. What it means to invest as “first money” and why it matters3. The difference between building a business and building a brand4. Why customer lifetime value (CLV) trumps CAC and COGS5. Product-market fit: moving from awareness to lifetime value6. How Bullish supports brands like Harry's and Nom Nom in their earliest days7. Tactical advice for founders on capital raising and allocation8. Building brands for acquisition vs. IPO9. The playbook for becoming an acquisition target (what buyers actually want)10. The underrated power of innovation and product launches11. The role of cultural relevance in DTC brand building12. Real-world examples from Sunday Lawn, Peloton, Bubble Beauty, and more13. How great DTC brands focus on AOV, CLV, and brand loyalty14. Pitfalls to avoid around capital structure and loss of momentumTimestamps00:00 Introducing Brent Vartan and Bullish03:49 Bullish's track record and notable investments05:22 What makes Bullish different10:10 Investing as “first money,” how Bullish evaluates concepts13:19 Patterns Bullish looks for in breakout DTC brands16:09 Deep dive: Sunday Lawn's growth and strategy18:36 Positioning Harry's and building a hundred-year business21:04 Timelines, capital, and operational realities for breakout brands23:37 Building for acquisition vs. IPO: how strategies diverge28:57 What buyers are really seeking in DTC acquisitions31:47 Nom Nom's Mars acquisition and the power of niche audiences33:59 The importance of cultural relevance and taking creative “shots”35:32 Bubble Beauty: case study in innovation and customer engagement38:27 Finding the right capital structure and maintaining founder equity41:06 The risks of stalling momentum and overplanning43:33 Where to allocate raised capital: innovation vs. marketing46:20 Where to find Bullish, Brent's socials, and their newsletterShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTokBrent Vartan - Managing Partner & Co-Founder of BullishBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

Sam Altman is the king of generative artificial intelligence. But is he the person we should trust to guide our explorations into AI? This week, we do a deep dive on Sam Altman. From his Midwest roots, to his early startup days, to his time at Venture Capital, and his rise and fall and rise again at OpenAI. Write to us at uncannyvalley@wired.com. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

The boys-only episode talks about layoffs sweeping through top Swedish studios before diving into yet another round of Xbox layoffs. In this episode, we also cover Apple's ongoing cat-and-mouse game with the EU's DMA rules and unpack the critical difference between private equity and venture capital in gaming. The crew analyzes the early flop of Marvel Mystic Mayhem before talking about how Splitgate 2 is already struggling to justify its existence.02:36 Sweden's Gaming Industry Layoffs05:22 Gamescom Events Preview06:13 Microsoft Layoffs and Xbox Strategy13:29 Apple's Response to the DMA21:59 Private Equity vs. Venture Capital in Gaming32:41 Eve Online: Myth vs. Reality34:02 Uma Musume Pretty Derby's US Launch36:42 Marvel Mystic Mayhem's Struggles42:55 Rainbow Six Siege: A Decade of Success47:47 Splitgate 2: The Rise and Fall56:25 The Harsh Realities of the Gaming Market01:00:58 Up Next

What if the real secret to entrepreneurial success isn't about doing more, but about learning how to genuinely receive support and harness your inner resources? On this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, host Marcia Dawood welcomes Andrea Quinn, celebrated coach and author of The Quinn Essentials, to explore the essential mindset shifts that help women founders thrive both personally and professionally.Andrea Quinn draws on 18 years of coaching and her groundbreaking curriculum, The Quinn Essentials—a set of nine tools that empower women to unlock creativity, manage energy, and pursue their ambitions authentically. Her hands-on experience with thousands of women adds depth and practical wisdom to the conversation.Listeners will enjoy a high-impact discussion covering the power of receiving, business mindset, and the value of visualization and supportive communities. This is a must-listen for entrepreneurs and leaders seeking real strategies to overcome burnout, cultivate resilience, and achieve meaningful, sustainable growth. To get the latest from Andrea Quinn, you can follow her below!https://www.linkedin.com/in/theandreaquinn/https://andreaquinncoaching.com/https://thequinnessentials.com/The Quinn Essentials Women's Empowerment WorkshopOctober 18th & 19th - Beverly Hills, CANovember 8th & 9th - New York CityUse code 100Marcia for $100 off the cost of the workshop  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

Andrew Ackerman is the Head of REACH Labs at Second Century Ventures, the strategic venture arm of the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). Backed by NAR, SCV invests in early-stage PropTech and construction tech companies, providing them with access to a vast network of real estate professionals and industry expertise. A former entrepreneur, angel investor, and accelerator director at Dreamit Ventures, Andrew has backed 70+ startups and designed structured programs to help founders raise capital and close deals faster. He is also the author of “The Entrepreneur's Odyssey,” a story-driven startup guide, and a frequent contributor to Forbes, Propmodo, and other leading publications.(01:19) – Andrew Ackerman's Journey in PropTech (03:06) – Evolution of the PropTech Landscape (06:40) – The Role of Reach Labs, Second Century Ventures and NAR (10:06) – Challenges in Real Estate Transactions (13:00) – Venture Returns in PropTech (21:01) – Feature: Blueprint - The Future of Real Estate - Register for 2025: The Premier Event for Industry Executives, Real Estate & Construction Tech Startups and VC's, at The Venetian, Las Vegas on Sep. 16th-18th, 2025. (23:03) – Qualifying Investment Opportunities (23:32) – Challenges in Portfolio Construction & Valuation Dilemmas (30:00) – The Role of Venture Debt (35:59) – The Entrepreneur's Odyssey(29:22) - Collaboration Superpower: Richard Nixon

In this episode of The Scott Show, Scott sits down with Henry Yoshida, founder of Rocket Dollar and now head of Retired.com, to talk about the massive wave of innovation coming to the $18 trillion retirement market. From launching Rocket Dollar to help everyday investors use their IRAs to invest in real estate, startups, and crypto — to now running Retired.com with a vision for a fully self-directed retirement future — Henry breaks down how we're on the verge of a generational unlock in private market access. Scott and Henry dive deep into the rise of private equity for retail investors, the shrinking public markets, and why the 401(k)-only model is bleeding out. Bonus: Scott unpacks the implications of Robinhood's tokenized stock announcement and Republic's tokenized forward contract product “Mirrors”, and debate whether tokenization is a feature or the product. What You'll Learn: - Why your IRA is the smartest way to invest in alternatives - How Rocket Dollar lets you deploy dormant dollars into private equity, real estate, and crypto - What Robinhood's tokenized stock move really means - Why Republic's “Mirror” might be the most innovative product in fintech right now - The real future of tokenization: stablecoin rails, 24/7 trading, and AI-powered portfolios. Support the show by creating a free account at Kingscrowd.com Follow Henry at Retired.com Follow Scott on IG/Twitter @Kitun

This week on Swimming with Allocators, Earnest and Alexa sit down with Clare McLaughlin, Partner at TLI Bedrock. Clare shares her unexpected path from art history and professional harpist to VC, along with her distinctive lens on early-stage investing in sectors like material science, defense, and deep tech. She highlights the importance of founder execution, financial storytelling, and aligning investments with personal values. The episode also explores the evolving role of family offices and the need for transparency and long-term thinking. Also, don't miss our insider segment with Jason Kropp of Sidley on tax optimization strategies and smart structuring for global VC investments.Highlights from this week's conversation include:Clare's Unconventional Path to VC (1:02)Lessons from Arts and Nonprofit Roles (4:22)TLI Bedrock's Approach and Family Office Strategy (8:34)Building Investment Strategy and Structure (10:18)Transitioning to Offense in Investing (12:02)Fund Manager Relationships and Communication (16:11)What Works (and Doesn't) in Fund Manager Pitches (21:23)Grit and Motivation in Venture Careers (26:19)Insider Segment: Tax Optimization for LPs and GPs (27:11)Current Excitement and Trends in Tech & Energy (35:38)Intentionality and Values in Investing (37:39)Balancing Efficiency, Humanity, and Technological Change (39:13)Simple, Impactful Innovations (43:42)The Myth of Tier One Co-Investment (48:07)Favorite Success Stories and Founder Qualities (49:22)Advice for New Family Office Professionals and Parting Thoughts (52:38)TLI Bedrock is a multi-strategy fund that invests across sectors and industries. The firm seeks high returns by backing innovative projects, responsible companies that consider customer, employee, and community needs, and sustainable approaches to commerce. Guided by the principles of trust, loyalty, and integrity, TLI Bedrock takes a holistic approach to investment. Learn more at www.tlibedrock.com.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.

In this episode of Found in the Rockies, Les Craig sits down with Arthur Karell, Partner at First In, a venture firm investing at the intersection of cybersecurity, defense tech, and data intelligence. Arthur shares his unconventional journey from international law to the Marine Corps to scaling startups and leading M&A at Anduril, before transitioning to early-stage investing. He unpacks the realities of venture returns in defense tech, the difference between strategic and tactical problems, and why First In aims to build enduring companies—not just chase flashy innovations. With sharp insight and mission-driven conviction, Arthur offers a candid, inspiring look at what it means to empower entrepreneurs who secure national freedom.Here's a closer look at the episode:1. Arthur's Career JourneyGrew up in Arlington, VA; studied at Harvard and earned a law degree from UVA.International corporate law with a focus on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.Service in the Marine Corps post-9/11.Transitioned to startups, joining FiscalNote post-seed as one of the first employees.2. Lessons from Operating and M&AHelped scale FiscalNote through aggressive M&A strategy—tucking in niche data companies.Applied similar playbook at Anduril, crafting their corporate development team and deals.How defense tech M&A must align with procurement timelines and gate reviews.Why successful acquisitions hinge on founder-engineer-product fit and integration.3. Investment Philosophy at First InThe focus on being truly “first in” to high-potential, early-stage defense tech startups.Strategic problems vs. tactical ones, to drive high-leverage outcomes.The importance of stage specificity and clear risk-reward underwriting.Is venture capital for every founder?4. Industry Insights & Emerging ThemesTailwinds in AI applications and industrial automation across defense sectors.Momentum in cybersecurity as go-to-market talent shifts to early stage.DoD's structural challenges—startups must work with the system, not against it.Arthur's belief that the U.S. has latent industrial capacity—what's needed is political and contracting will.Resources:Website: https://wearefirstin.com/ Arthur LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arthurkarell/ FirstIn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-in/ 

"It's not a brute force approach. It's a cleverness-based approach. It's a new kind of information that lets us do new things." Host Jon Chee sits down with Ivan Liachko, founder and CEO of Phase Genomics, to unpack how clever, constraint-driven science turned a scrappy, bootstrapped lab into a genomics powerhouse. Ivan explains how their breakthrough technology—capturing the physical proximity of DNA—opened new frontiers in genome assembly, microbiome discovery, and cancer diagnostics, all propelled by a lean, scientist-led team and organic growth. The episode dives into Phase's evolution into a data-driven research leader, its focus on non-dilutive funding over venture capital, and its vision for clinical impact and therapeutic spinouts—all fueled by a passion for unlocking powerful new biological information.

What's the Water Secret that 99% of Climate Investors are Missing? Listen to This! Wanna dive deeper into water investment? Get my FREE exhaustive list of water tech investors (that cut 2+ checks) here: https://investors.dww.show/

In this special edition of the podcast, we feature highlights from interviews with eight founders, creators and innovators who joined us on the show during the first half of 2025. Our guests include Gail Becker, the founder of Caulipower; Bill Creelman and Dave Burwick, the founder and CEO, respectively of Spindrift; Emily Griffith, the founder and CEO of Lil Bucks; Troy Bonde and Winston Alfieri, the co-founders of Sauz;  Rosa Li, the founder and CEO of Wildwonder; and Todd Davis, the category manager for natural, local and multi-cultural foods at Kroger-owned King Soopers & City Market. Show notes: 0:33: Interview: Gail Becker, Founder, Caulipower – Let's kick things off with Gail Becker, the founder of the trailblazing frozen food brand Caulipower. In a clip pulled from an episode featured on March 25, Gail opens up about the guiding principles behind Caulipower's product development and highlights how hard work, energy, and sometimes unawareness of challenges fueled the brand's success. 6:33: Interview: Bill Creelman, Founder & Dave Burwick, CEO, Spindrift – Next, we have Bill Creelman and Dave Burwick, the founder and CEO, respectively of Spindrift, the beverage platform best known for its sparkling water made with real fruit juice and purees. In this clip, pulled from an episode published on April 8, Bill and Dave talk about how the brand upholds its integrity and solidifies its market position via a commitment to real ingredients and flavor innovation and also explore how ambition, when guided by intentionality, leads to real, sustainable growth. 12:24: Interview: Emily Griffith, Founder & CEO, Lil Bucks – Let's keep it going with Emily Griffith, the founder and CEO of Lil Bucks, a modern snack brand that champions buckwheat as its hero ingredient. In this clip, from our episode published on February 18, Emily talks about why getting into Whole Foods was a full court press. She also emphasizes the importance of knowing your brand and processes inside and out when fundraising and why she wasn't just selling her brand and vision, she was selling herself as a founder.  19:30: Interview: Troy Bonde & Winston Alfieri, Co-Founders, Sauz – We continue with Troy Bonde and Winston Alfieri, the co-founders of Sauz, a bold, culture-forward pasta sauce brand. In this clip, pulled from an episode aired on April 22, Troy and Winston reveal how they convinced skeptical retail buyers that Sauz could deliver true incremental value and how saying “I don't know” has opened doors in unexpected ways. 25:16: Interview: Rosa Li, Founder & CEO, Wildwonder – Next up is Rosa Li, the founder and CEO of Wildwonder, a fast-growing brand of sparkling beverages that are infused with prebiotics and probiotics. In this clip, from our episode published on March 18, Rosa talks about how its pricing and retail strategy are interwoven, how she met buyers from major retail chains and how listening to consumers has guided Wildwonder's innovation and marketing efforts. 32:33: Interview: Todd Davis, Category Manager – Natural Foods/Local/Multi-Cultural, King Soopers/City Market – Finally, we hear from Todd Davis, the category manager for natural/local and multi-cultural foods at Kroger-owned King Soopers & City Market stores. In the following clip, pulled from an episode published on April 29, Todd talks about how he evaluates emerging trends and new brands, the value of transparency, “HOT” conversations, and emotional detachment when making buyer decisions.  Brands in this episode: Caulipower, Spindrift, Lil Bucks, Sauz, Wildwonder

In this conversation, Jay Goldberg and Professor John Metzler discuss the current state and future prospects of the Japanese semiconductor industry, focusing on key players like TSMC and Rapidus. They explore insights from Metzler's recent trips to Japan, the challenges of talent acquisition, and the broader implications for global semiconductor competition. The discussion highlights the unique approaches being taken in Japan, including the integration of AI and photonics, and the importance of a sustainable business model for new ventures in the semiconductor space.

Connect with Early Riders // Connect with OnrampPresented collaboratively by Early Riders & Onramp Media...Final Settlement is a weekly podcast covering the underlying mechanics of the bitcoin protocol, its ongoing development and funding, and real-world applications of the technology.00:00 - Introduction to the Show and Guests03:22 - Expanding the Conversation: Bitcoin and Capital Markets05:38 - Robinhood's Crypto Push and Tokenization Trends12:00 - Value Accrual in Crypto and Traditional Markets19:57 - User Experience vs. Infrastructure in Crypto24:22 - AI Disruption: Winners and Losers in Venture Capital37:14 - The Rise of AI in Venture Capital40:07 - Understanding Revenue Metrics in Startups42:31 - The Shift in Founder Expectations47:14 - The Unsustainable Venture Capital Game51:43 - The Importance of Sound Money Principles55:33 - The Future of Venture Capital and Bitcoin01:01:30 - The Evolving Landscape of Crypto CustodyIf you found this valuable, please subscribe to Early Riders Insights for access to the best content in the ecosystem weekly.Links discussed:https://x.com/robpetrozzo/status/1939721226697494733https://x.com/amitisinvesting/status/1939716899656679693https://x.com/RobinhoodApp/status/1939709086645232006https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/25/kalshi-closes-185m-round-as-rival-polymarket-reportedly-seeks-200m/https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.reuters.com/technology/polymarket-nears-200-million-raise-over-1-billion-valuation-source-says-2025-06-24https://x.com/Bruce_Markets/status/1937583818430435410https://x.com/matthew_sigel/status/1940007846680183026https://confluencevcweekly.beehiiv.com/p/yc-ai-agentshttps://newsletter.pragmaticengineer.com/p/state-of-eng-market-2024https://levelvc.com/this-is-not-your-mothers-alpha/https://x.com/bgurley/status/1932942519802777681https://x.com/MTanguma/status/1940009119886533089https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Srl8Y4pBoKtNVYZBxmfj2TEMYM5tp1mE/viewKeep up with Michael:https://x.com/MTangumahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mtanguma/Keep up with Brian:https://x.com/BackslashBTChttps://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-cubellis-00b1a660/Keep up with Liam:https://x.com/Lnelson_21https://www.linkedin.com/in/liam-nelson1/Keep up with Clay:https://www.linkedin.com/in/cbnorris/https://x.com/ClayNorris10https://confluencevcweekly.beehiiv.com/subscribehttps://www.outlaw.vc/

In this dynamic episode of the Venture Capital Podcast, hosts Jon Bradshaw and Peter Harris are joined by Tim Holladay, investor and co-founder of Space Station Investments, and Peter Hollens, renowned vocalist and innovative content creator. Together, they explore the evolving intersection of content creation, AI, and investment in the digital age.The conversation kicks off with Peter Hollens sharing his unique perspective as both a world-class musician and a forward-thinking entrepreneur deeply engaged with AI's impact on creativity. Tim Holladay highlights their collaborative investment approach, focusing on early-stage consumer companies and the growing role of creators in startup ecosystems.Jon and Peter dive into the challenges and opportunities AI presents for content creators, from accelerating production to the flood of AI-generated content saturating digital platforms. Peter Hollens discusses how authentic human connection and parasocial relationships remain invaluable even as AI blurs the lines between human and machine-generated content. He shares fascinating examples of using AI tools to enhance creativity and even assist his autistic child, illustrating AI's potential beyond entertainment.The episode also tackles the evolving landscape of influencer marketing, the value creators bring as low-cost, high-ROI partners, and the shifting dynamics between brands and digital creators versus traditional influencers. The hosts and guests debate how AI-driven content might reshape attention economies, audience engagement, and the future of long-form versus short-form content.Throughout the lively discussion, Peter Hollens recounts his challenging experience addressing AI skepticism at a recent commencement speech, underscoring the cultural divide around AI adoption. Tim and the hosts reflect on how investors and creators alike must embrace AI tools to stay ahead in a rapidly changing environment.This episode offers a rich, nuanced exploration of how AI is transforming content creation, investment, and the creator economy, providing valuable insights for founders, investors, creators, and anyone curious about the future of digital media.Follow the PodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/venturecapitalfm/Twitter: https://twitter.com/vcpodcastfmLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/venturecapitalfm/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7BQimY8NJ6cr617lqtRr7N?si=ftylo2qHQiCgmT9dfloD_g&nd=1&dlsi=7b868f1b72094351Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/venture-capital/id1575351789Website: https://www.venturecapital.fm/Follow Jon BradshawLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrbradshaw/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjonbradshaw/Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrjonbradshawFollow Peter HarrisLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterharris1Twitter: https://twitter.com/thevcstudentInstagram: https://instagram.com/shodanpeteYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@peterharris2812

We tell the story of the single greatest business ever created: Google search. From its origins as a Stanford research project called BackRub, Google became the front door to the internet. Today it's an essential service for over half the world, and one that generates more profit than ANY other US company — more than Apple, Microsoft, or Berkshire Hathaway.But it wasn't always so obvious. When Larry and Sergey began working on BackRub in 1996, search was a backwater industry in silicon valley. Existing search companies were eking out a living as vendors to the then-dominant “portals” like AOL and Yahoo. Google's come-from-behind success was the result of three massive step-function leaps forward in algorithms, infrastructure and business model… some invented by Google and some borrowed (and perfected!) by them.Today, things are not so obvious once again for Google. Despite earning more profits than all of its big tech peers, its stock trades at significantly lower multiples — a $1 trillion or more discount to Apple, Microsoft and Nvidia. Investors are concerned that AI will render Google's beautiful business model obsolete, even though Google also basically invented modern AI and continues to lead on many dimensions. This episode begins a multi-part series where we dive into the full history that led us to this point. Tune in and enjoy!Sponsors:Many thanks to our fantastic Summer ‘25 Season partners:J.P. Morgan PaymentsAnthropicStatsigVercelLinks:BackRub recreationOriginal Google logoJeff Dean's resumeWorldly Partners' Multi-Decade Alphabet StudyEpisode sourcesRadio City Live Show:Join us July 15 at Radio City — Ticketmaster: https://acquired.fm/nycJuly 12 Central Park RunJuly 15 Pre-Show MeetupJuly 15 AfterpartyJuly 16 Encore Event with J.P. Morgan PaymentsCarve Outs:The Rehearsal with Nathan Fielder (Season 2)Your Friends and NeighborsAndor Season 2Gamecraft Season 3Steam Deck vs Switch 2 dilemmaMore Acquired:Get email updates with hints on next episode and follow-ups from recent episodesJoin 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.

Daragh Murphy is giving brands their own credit-card platform—no legacy bank required.On this week's Grit, the Imprint co-founder and CEO traces the leap from being a junior lawyer to closing nine-figure card deals.He breaks down the hidden economics of credit-card loyalty, the discipline of treating capital “like the last dollar,” and how AI will slash risk-and-support costs.Guest: Daragh Murphy, CEO & Co-Founder of ImprintChapters:00:00 Trailer00:48 Introduction01:30 Actualizing the dream08:37 Imprint11:37 Partnerships are massive16:48 Understand the market18:42 “Get more, spend more” tradeoffs23:57 Fishing in the wrong ponds31:32 Can't skip work32:43 Exciting and scary34:56 Pride and ownership46:50 The way you spend your day50:20 New technologies54:51 Who Imprint is hiring54:59 What “grit” means to Daragh55:34 OutroMentioned in this episode: Figma, Rippling, H-E-B Grocery Company, LP, Barclays US, IBM, Coinbase, Charlie Munger, Instagram, Hamptons, Google, Nick Huber, Ribbit, Ireland, WeWork, Adam Kim, Amazon, Shopify, Tobias Lütke, Duolingo, Parker ConradLinks:Connect with DaraghLinkedInConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comLearn more about Kleiner Perkins

In this episode, I sit down with Sophie Vo, studio founder, podcast host, and now the creator of Orin Retreats, to unpack why she walked away from the startup rat race to build something intentionally small, sustainable, and soul-aligned. We talk about the version of success that nearly broke her, why the VC model fails most founders, and how depth, not scale, became her new metric for impact. If you've ever questioned the path you're on, this conversation might just reframe what “winning” really looks like.00:00 Redefining Success05:47 The VC Dilemma12:48 Navigating Co-Founder Dynamics18:32 Bootstrapping vs. Venture Capital: A Founder's Perspective24:16 The AI Coaching Experience29:52 Creating Human Connection in a Digital World39:25 The Roots of Distrust Among Women42:00 Navigating Female Networks and Support46:45 The Importance of Self-Awareness in Leadership52:11 The Role of Coaching in Personal Growth56:37 Advice and Insights from the Journey

This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.----------------------------------------Welcome back to Investing in Impact, the podcast where we dive deep into the minds of visionary leaders building a more sustainable and equitable future.Today, I'm joined by Josh Kaufman, CEO and Co-Founder of Khasma Capital. Khasma is on a mission to empower development teams by providing the critical early-stage capital and support needed to accelerate the construction of low-carbon infrastructure.In a world where many promising climate technologies struggle to move from pilot to scale, Khasma stands out. Their unique investment model combines flexible financing with strategic and operational expertise—bridging a crucial gap that traditional capital often overlooks.In this conversation, Josh shares his journey of launching and rebranding the firm, what it takes to commercialize climate infrastructure, and why Khasma is doubling down on sectors like waste upcycling, textile recycling, alternative fuels, and long-duration energy storage.TakeawaysJosh Kaufman's journey into climate finance began with a passion for renewable energy.Kazma Capital focuses on empowering development teams rather than taking control of projects.Investment in climate solutions requires a clear project definition and risk assessment.Innovative projects include solar panel recycling and renewable heating oil from biomass.The learning curve in the climate sector involves understanding various energy technologies.The renewable energy sector has seen significant growth and cost reductions over the past decade.Challenges in reconfiguring the energy grid are influenced by regulatory bodies and utilities.Competition in the energy market is essential for innovation and efficiency.Solar energy continues to grow, but faces challenges in maintaining growth rates.Kazma Capital's revenue model includes both development risk and equity stakes in projects. ----------------------------------------Investing in Impact is powered by PIF Advisory — a global services firm empowering startups and enterprises with expert guidance, tailored solutions, and measurable results. Whether you're launching your first venture or scaling globally, PIF Advisory delivers full-cycle support across every core function of your business:Bookkeeping, Accounting & Tax Management – Organized, compliant, and transparent financials managed by licensed professionals (CPAs, CFAs, CMAs, and lawyers) to drive smarter decision-making.Growth & Marketing – Data-driven strategies across branding, web, advertising, CRM, and sales enablement—all optimized for measurable ROI.Outsourced CFO – Flexible financial leadership covering cash flow, forecasting, and strategic planning.Entity Management – Stay compliant and ready for scale with expert corporate governance and compliance support.Operations, HR & Admin – Streamlined infrastructure to boost team efficiency and keep your business running smoothly.IT & Security – Safeguard your data and operations with best-in-class infrastructure, compliance, and protection.Technology Consulting – Build the right tech stack with expert support across NetSuite, QuickBooks, Avalara, and more.Management Consulting – Unlock growth with industry-specific advisory services focused on metrics, operations, and scalability.As a sister company to PIF Capital Management, they also offer clients direct insights into venture capital and access to a global investor network—ranging from individuals to sovereign wealth funds.

In this episode, Scott Becker discusses the massive $300 million investment in Abridge, a healthcare AI startup led by Dr. Shiv Rao, and what it signals about the renewed enthusiasm from top venture capital firms.

In one of the strangest scandals to hit the CPG world, BetterBrand, the startup behind the high-protein, low-carb “Better Bagel,”  is now facing lawsuits, unpaid debts… and a missing founder. The hosts weigh in on the chaos surrounding entrepreneur Aimee Yang and her calamitous company. They also discuss a new, seemingly BFY beverage alcohol segment and why protein donuts deserve better ingredients. Show notes: 0:35: Hoste-ing In Chicago. Moldy, Mired, Messy. A Refreshing ABV? Inhale & Gag. Red Dye Donuts. – The hosts announce Taste Radio's Chicago meetup, which will take place on August 14 at Hoste Cocktails' event space in the Windy City's Pilsen neighborhood. They also delve into the controversy surrounding BetterBrand, whose problems have earned it comparisons to Theranos. The team also explores the rise of “hard refreshers,” alcoholic beverages with packaging similar to sports drinks, raising concerns over consumer confusion. Meanwhile Liquid Death's spicy novelty drink, “Deathberry Inferno,” gets mixed reviews for flavor but praise for marketing. The group samples nostalgic FatBoy ice cream treats and discusses the contrast between some function-centric foods, comparing Purely Elizabeth's new clean-label oatmeals over protein donuts made with artificial ingredients.  Brands in this episode: BetterBrand, Athletic Brewing, AriZona, Spindrift, BeatBox, BuzzBallz, Happy Thursday, Lightstrike, Prime, Mas+ by Messi, Liquid Death, Paqui, Vernors, Whistlepig, FatBoy Ice Cream, Legendary Foods, Purely Elizabeth 

What if scaling your SaaS didn't require burning out or selling your soul to venture capital? In this episode, Greg sits down with seasoned SaaS founder, author, and startup mentor Rob Walling for a candid conversation about what it really takes to build a sustainable, sellable SaaS business. Rob kicks things off by sharing how he stumbled into SaaS before it was cool, and how that journey led him to co-create TinySeed, an alternative funding model that puts founders first. He breaks down how TinySeed's 12-month program works, who it's for, and how it compares to traditional VC. But this episode isn't just about funding, it's about founder freedom. We dive deep into the psychological shifts that come with selling your business, how to recognize the right time to exit, and how to protect your energy both before and after a sale. Rob also shares the biggest traps SaaS founders fall into when chasing “growth at all costs” and the core traits he sees in founders who succeed. Whether you're bootstrapping, raising capital, or planning an exit, this episode is packed with honest, actionable insights that will help you scale smarter, and sell without regret. Topics Discussed in this episode: Rob's background and how he got into SaaS (02:08) The origins of TinySeed and how it differs from Venture Capital (12:09) The opportunities that are created through selling your business (19:43) A breakdown of Tiny Seed's 12-month program (22:19) The pros and cons of a “growth at all costs” mindset (28:32) The requirements needed to join Tiny Seed (30:20) The psychological effects of exiting your business (33:56) How to tell when to sell your business (39:40) How to avoid burnout before and after your exit (46:43) The characteristics that successful founders share (52:21) Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Startups For The Rest Of Us podcast  Exit Strategy: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Selling Your Business without Regret TinySeed Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to take the next step in your SaaS journey with confidence.  

Most founders don't know what their differentiator is. That's a problem. Today, we walk through two paths to help you find a differentiator strong enough to anchor a business. We also help you root out bad differentiators - the ones that'll just waste your time. There's also a story about a Rabbi's wisdom, a founder making decaf coffee, and a poison ivy company I'm obsessed with. Tacklebox - start your company before you quit your jobHow to Find Your WedgeHow to Use Landing Page Tests 00:30 Differentiator Intro01:45 Rabbi Joke05:15 Smooth Jazz05:45 How to Find Your Differentiator06:46 Path 1: Letting a Customer Tell You11:41 Path 2: Four Questions to Pick Your Differentiator19:32 How to Test Differentiators21:00 The Reality of Differentiators (Downer)22:16 The End - Taking Yourself Seriously