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This is CC Pod - the Climate Capital Podcast. You are receiving this because you have subscribed to our Substack. Manage your CC Substack subscription here.Disclaimer: For full disclosure, Ionic Mineral Technologies is a portfolio company at Climate Capital where Katie Durham works as a Venture Partner.CC Pod 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 investment decision.Don't miss an episode from Climate Capital!Before we dive in: Climate Angels, CC Network Fund, & CC SyndicateWhether you're new to climate investing or a veteran, three opportunities for you:→ Back the CC Network Fund. Large fund access with micro-fund minimums. So far in Q2 the fund has invested in 13 companies including Alta & LGND.→ Back the CC Syndicate. SPVs with investment minimums starting at $1k.→ Join Climate Angels. Three top tier sessions/month with veteran investors & angel peers; apply by July 7 for 10% off.In the latest episode of the Climate Capital podcast, host Katie Durham interviews Andre Zeitoun, the founder and CEO of Ionic Mineral Technologies. The discussion revolves around the innovative work being done at Ionic Mineral Technologies, particularly in the realm of battery materials and sustainable energy solutions.Ionic MT is pioneering the commercialization of a unique mineral called halloysite, which has the potential to revolutionize battery technology. Halloysite is a naturally occurring clay mineral that can be transformed into nano-silicon, significantly enhancing battery performance. This transformation is crucial as the demand for more efficient and sustainable energy storage solutions continues to grow, particularly in electric vehicles (EVs) and consumer electronics. One of the standout features of Ionic MT's approach is its environmentally friendly production process. The company has developed a silane-free method to produce nano silicon, which not only minimizes waste but also results in one of the lowest carbon footprints among competing battery material companies. Additionally, the process generates boehmite alumina as a byproduct, further contributing to a sustainable production model.Andre emphasizes the importance of domestic production of battery materials, particularly in light of the U.S.'s heavy reliance on imported materials, predominantly from China. By producing high-quality silicon that can rival Chinese imports without the need for subsidies or tariffs, Ionic Mineral Technologies positions itself as a key player in the push for energy independence.Looking ahead, Andre shares his vision for the future, where advancements in battery technology could lead to electric vehicles charging in under ten minutes and lighter, more efficient military drones. With recent developments, including the designation of silicon and alumina as critical minerals by the U.S. government, Ionic MT is poised for significant growth and innovation.To learn more about Ionic Mineral Technologies, visit https://ionicmt.com/.
Gabe Karp is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and conflict management expert known for his book Don't Get Mad at Penguins: And Other Ways to Detox the Conflict in Your Life and Business. He began his career as a trial lawyer, later becoming Executive Vice President and General Counsel at ePrize (now Merkle), where he helped grow the company into a global leader in digital promotions. Currently, Gabe serves as an Operating Partner at Detroit Venture Partners and a Venture Partner at Lightbank, advising early-stage tech companies and serving on multiple boards. His work focuses on transforming conflict from a liability into a strategic asset, drawing from over 30 years of experience in law, business, and venture capital. In this episode… Navigating conflict is one of the biggest challenges in both personal and professional relationships. Whether dealing with strong personalities, avoiding uncomfortable conversations, or managing unspoken resentment, unresolved conflict can slow progress, damage culture, and erode trust. So, how can leaders turn conflict into a tool for growth instead of a source of frustration? Gabe Karp, conflict management expert and author of Don't Get Mad at Penguins, shares a framework for transforming toxic conflict into a productive force. Drawing on his experiences as a former trial lawyer, executive, and venture capitalist, he explains how leaders can shift team dynamics by normalizing direct communication, embracing discomfort, and identifying common conflict traps such as ego, the need to win, and misaligned expectations. Gabe introduces strategies like the debrief/pre-brief meeting format, ego-neutral negotiation, and fostering cultures of candor and accountability, all of which help teams surface issues before they escalate. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz interviews Gabe Karp, Operating Partner at Detroit Venture Partners, about building healthier team dynamics through conflict. Gabe discusses how to dismantle ego-driven tension, the power of cultural feedback loops, and why expectations shape most of our frustrations. He also explores lessons from litigation, handling difficult terminations, and creating space for honest team dialogue.
Jacob Mullins, Venture Partner at Village Global, welcomes Kristen Ostro, founder and CEO of Strut Consulting, to discuss the foundational elements that set venture capital firms up for long-term success. Kristen shares how her career began under the mentorship of Dick Kramlich at NEA, where she was trained in the core values and operational excellence that have shaped her approach to supporting dozens of VC firms across Silicon Valley. Drawing on this experience, Kristen explains why establishing a clear mission, vision, and values (MVV) framework is essential for firm alignment, decision-making, and building a resilient culture.Kristen outlines the common pitfalls firms face when they skip the MVV exercise, such as misalignment, wasted resources, and cultural drift, and offers actionable advice for integrating MVV into hiring, branding, and succession planning. She emphasizes that it's never too late for a firm to revisit and refine its core principles, and shares practical tips for making the process collaborative and authentic.Listeners will gain valuable insights on how to differentiate their firm in a competitive market, attract top talent, and create a legacy that stands the test of time. Kristen's reflections, inspired by her early training with one of venture capital's founding fathers, offer a roadmap for building a values-driven organization that can thrive for decades.VC Mastermind is a private podcast for VC Managing Partners. Designed for senior decision-makers at VC firms managing $50 million to $5 billion of institutional capital, VC Mastermind delivers premium insights, peer exchange, and operational best practices across all stages of a firm's life cycle. It was founded by Jacob Mullins (@jacob on X / twitter) – a 20-year veteran of the Silicon Valley startup tech and venture capital industry based in San Francisco.Thanks for listening — if you like what you hear, please review us on your favorite podcast platform.Check us out on the web at www.villageglobal.vc or get in touch with us on Twitter @villageglobal.Want to get updates from us? Subscribe to get a peek inside the Village. We'll send you reading recommendations, exclusive event invites, and commentary on the latest happenings in Silicon Valley. www.villageglobal.vc/signup
Entrepreneur Jeremy Shane joins host Ross Katz to discuss Life for Health, a revolutionary framework aiming to tackle chronic disease through the integration of life insurance, longitudinal data, and preventative care. From drug discovery feedback loops to outcomes-based pricing, Shane outlines a bold new path for biotech and healthcare convergence. What You'll Learn in This Episode: Why today's healthcare system fails chronic disease patients and how Life for Health aims to fix it.How longitudinal data and life insurance can realign healthcare incentives for better outcomes.The economic logic behind outcomes-based annuity pricing for breakthrough drugs like GLP-1s.What biotech companies gain from a proactive, participant-driven health model.How clinical trials could transform through pre-qualified data-rich populations. Meet Our Guest Jeremy Shane, Venture Partner at NextGen Venture Partners, is a healthcare innovator focused on chronic disease. With leadership experience at HealthCentral, WebMD, and 2U, he now pioneers Life for Health, blending life insurance with preventative care to realign incentives and extend health span. Life for Health, the book, will be released in July 2025. To learn more about Life For Health or get involved, go to www.lifeforhealth.com About The Host Ross Katz is Principal and Data Science Lead at CorrDyn. Ross specializes in building intelligent data systems that empower biotech and healthcare organizations to extract insights and drive innovation. Connect with Our Guest: Sponsor: CorrDyn, a data consultancyConnect with Jeremy Shane on LinkedIn or on Twitter @jeremylshane Connect with Us: Follow the podcast for more insightful discussions on the latest in biotech and data science.Subscribe and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode! Sponsored by… This episode is brought to you by CorrDyn, the leader in data-driven solutions for biotech and healthcare. Discover how CorrDyn is helping organizations turn data into breakthroughs at CorrDyn.
University of Oxford project selected for EIT Health's Deep Tech Venture Builder to tackle pain in children The University of Oxford's PINCH project joins EIT Health's Deep Tech Venture Builder programme to transform pain management in young children. EIT Health Ireland-UK, a Co-Location Centre of EIT Health, part of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, today announced that the University of Oxford's PINCH project has been selected as one of 17 projects to join the Deep Tech Venture Builder (DTVB) programme. EIT Health is Europe's largest health innovation network, comprising over 100 member organisations across business, research, education, government, and healthcare delivery, working collaboratively to tackle Europe's greatest health challenges through innovation and technology. New tool to measure pain in infants Designed to help academic teams bring deep tech innovations to market, EIT Health's Deep Tech Venture Builder (DTVB) offers targeted support to overcome the biggest obstacles faced at this critical stage. Often referred to as the "Valley of Death," this phase is where many promising research ideas struggle to survive due to challenges like bureaucratic hurdles, lack of funding, and the difficult leap from lab-based research to real-world application. Graham Armitage, Managing Director, EIT Health Ireland-UK, said, "The PINCH project represents the kind of high-impact innovation we aim to support through EIT Health. By bridging the gap between academic research and real-world application, we are enabling ground-breaking technologies to reach the patients who need them most." The University of Oxford's PINCH project, led by Professor Rebeccah Slater, is addressing a long-standing gap in paediatric care by developing a clinical tool that interprets brain and heart signals to objectively measure pain in infants, going beyond the traditional reliance on facial expressions or crying, which can often result in under- or over-treatment. "It is a privilege to be supported by EIT Health's Deep Tech Venture Builder programme, and great to have the opportunity to accelerate development of our technology so it can be used to measure pain in young hospitalised children," said Prof Rebeccah Slater, Professor of Paediatric Neuroimaging, University of Oxford. Every day, countless children experience pain in hospital settings, yet many receive inadequate treatment due to the limitations of current assessment tools. PINCH, in collaboration with Ship2B Ventures, will now benefit from the tailored support of EIT Health's Deep Tech Venture Builder (DTVB) programme, gaining access to expert mentorship and leading innovation networks "This project unites three essential pillars to bring deep tech solutions to market: world-class science from Oxford, strategic venture building led by Ship2B Ventures through the Montana Children's Health initiative, and the robust ecosystem support of EIT Health. Together, we are shaping a transformative future for paediatric care," Pilar Puig Sàrries, Venture Partner, Montana Children's Health (Ship2B Ventures) The PINCH project is a part of EIT Health's broader mission to support deep tech ventures across Europe and help transform the future of healthcare. With over 2,998 start-ups supported to date and more than 140,000 citizens and patients directly impacted by its programmes in 2023, EIT Health continues to play a central role in Europe's health innovation landscape. Discover more about the Deep Tech Venture Builder and the selected projects here. ABOUT EIT HEALTH EIT Health is a network of best-in-class health innovators with approximately 120 partners and is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union. We collaborate across borders to deliver new solutions that can enable European citizens to live longer, healthier lives. As Europeans tackle the challenge of increasing chronic diseases and...
Watch Call me Back on YouTube: youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcastSubscribe to Ark Media's new podcast ‘What's Your Number?': lnk.to/DZulpYFor sponsorship inquiries, please contact: callmeback@arkmedia.orgTo contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: arkmedia.org/Ark Media on Instagram: instagram.com/arkmediaorgDan on X: x.com/dansenorDan on Instagram: www.instagram.com/dansenorToday's episode:Following the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel, Brett McGurk was a lead negotiator for the U.S. Government in every round of hostage/ceasefire negotiations in 2023, 2024, and January 2025. In today's episode, which we recorded before a live audience at the Manhattan JCC last week, Brett sat down for his first long-form/on-the-record conversation on his lessons learned, including how these lessons inform the current (on-again/off-gain) negotiations over the Witkoff Plan. Brett McGurk has held senior national security posts across the Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations. Most recently, he served as President Biden's White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa. In this role, he spearheaded U.S. Government efforts across the region to secure the release of Israeli hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza and he coordinated international support for Israel's defense against Iranian ballistic missile attacks.As Special Presidential Envoy for both President Obama and President Trump, McGurk was an architect of the global coalition of more than 80 countries together with local forces on the ground to defeat ISIS. He also led secret negotiations with Iran to secure the release of American hostages, including Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaein. As a senior White House official under George W. Bush, Brett was an early advocate for a change in Iraq war policy and helped develop “the surge” strategy. He also negotiated the Strategic Framework Agreement with Iraq, which continues to guide U.S. relations between the two countries. He is now a Venture Partner at Lux Capital, a venture capital firm based in New York City and Silicon Valley, as well as a Special Advisor for international affairs at Cisco, and holds fellowships at both the Harvard's Belfer Center and the Atlantic Council. He's also a CNN Global Affairs Analyst. CREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorMARIANGELES BURGOS - Additional EditingMAYA RACKOFF - Operations DirectorGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer
Jacob Mullins, Venture Partner at Village Global, sits down with Ezra Roizen, General Manager of Advsr and author of "The Magic Box Paradigm," to demystify the world of startup mergers and acquisitions (M&A) on Jacob's private podcast, VC Mastermind, which we are cross-posting on the Village Global podcast. Drawing on decades of experience as both an entrepreneur and investment banker, Ezra shares his unique framework for maximizing M&A outcomes, emphasizing that successful startup exits are driven not by a traditional sales process, but by building strategic relationships and unlocking future value for acquirers.Ezra introduces the "Magic Box Paradigm," a visual and practical approach that helps founders and investors focus on the unique value their company can unlock for specific buyers—what he calls the "purple boxes." He explains why M&A is fundamentally different from fundraising, how to avoid the pitfalls of a sales-driven mindset, and why starting early with strategic relationship-building is key. The conversation covers actionable advice for VCs and board members on how to guide their portfolio companies, the importance of thought leadership, and how to navigate both strategic and private equity exits.Listeners will come away with a fresh perspective on startup M&A, including when to bring in advisors, how to structure deals creatively, and why conventional wisdom—like relying on competitive bidding or rushing to term sheets—often falls short. Whether you're a founder, investor, or board member, this episode offers a masterclass in preparing for and executing high-impact M&A outcomes.VC Mastermind is a private podcast for VC Managing Partners. Designed for senior decision-makers at VC firms managing $50 million to $5 billion of institutional capital, VC Mastermind delivers premium insights, peer exchange, and operational best practices across all stages of a firm's life cycle. It was founded by Jacob Mullins (@jacob on X / twitter) – a 20-year veteran of the Silicon Valley startup tech and venture capital industry based in San Francisco.Thanks for listening — if you like what you hear, please review us on your favorite podcast platform.Check us out on the web at www.villageglobal.vc or get in touch with us on Twitter @villageglobal.Want to get updates from us? Subscribe to get a peek inside the Village. We'll send you reading recommendations, exclusive event invites, and commentary on the latest happenings in Silicon Valley. www.villageglobal.vc/signup
This is CC Pod - the Climate Capital Podcast. You are receiving this because you have subscribed to our Substack. Upgrade to CC+ for insider access & community or manage your subscription here.Disclaimer: For full disclosure, Climatize is a portfolio company at Climate Capital where Katie Durham works as a Venture Partner.CC Pod 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 investment decision.Announcing the Next Phase of Climate Angels!Unlock the knowledge and skills to help you become a successful investor with Climate Angels — an immersive program designed for aspiring angel investors. Learn more at climateangels.vc.Interested in joining? Fill out this form to join the next program: Apply hereBe a part of the next wave of climate investors! Don't miss an episode from Climate Capital!On this episode of the CC Pod, host Katie Durham interviews Will Wiseman, the CEO and co-founder of Climatize, an innovative SEC-registered investing platform that aims to democratize access to renewable energy investments across the United States. Climatize has successfully mobilized over $8 million from more than 2,000 investors, funding 17 renewable energy projects that include solar installations, energy storage solutions, and electric vehicle charging stations.Will shares his journey from growing up in Santa Cruz, California, where his passion for the environment was ignited by witnessing the decline of marine ecosystems, to his extensive education in renewable energy engineering. His background includes hands-on experience as a solar installer and roles in project management and finance, which have equipped him with a comprehensive understanding of the renewable energy landscape. Alongside Alba Forns, COO and co-founder, Will has worked to build a platform that bridges the gap between everyday investors and renewable energy projects. Together, they've crafted a mission-driven company that enables individuals to participate directly in the clean energy transition. Will emphasizes the importance of building trust with potential investors, particularly in a space that often faces regulatory hurdles. Climatize has leveraged organic growth strategies, including partnerships with trusted podcast hosts, to attract investors who are eager to support sustainable initiatives.The platform focuses on funding cash flow-generating projects, carefully selecting opportunities based on their financial viability and the presence of incentives that can de-risk investments. This approach not only addresses the funding needs of small to medium-scale renewable energy projects but also empowers individual investors to participate in the energy transition.Will's vision for Climatize extends beyond mere investment; he aims to foster a movement that allows everyday people to become stakeholders in the energy sector, challenging the dominance of traditional energy companies. As Climatize continues to grow, Will is committed to enhancing the platform's capabilities and streamlining the investment process, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable future.This episode is a compelling exploration of how innovative platforms like Climatize are reshaping the renewable energy investment landscape and empowering individuals to make a tangible impact in the fight against climate change. For those interested in learning more about Climatize and its mission, visit their website at Climatize Earth.To learn more about Climatize, visit https://www.climatize.earth/. (Risk Disclosure: When investing through Climatize, all investments carry risk including the loss of principal. In making an investment decision, investors must rely on their own examination of the issuer and the terms of the offering, including the merits and risks involved. Investments on Climatize are speculative, illiquid and involve a high degree of risk, including the possible loss of your entire investment.) Get full access to Climate Capital at climatecap.substack.com/subscribe
US healthcare has more unproductive labor and more unstructured data than any other industry, making it both vulnerable to disruption from generative AI and especially unprepared for it.That's the provocative thesis of Eric Larsen, president of TowerBrook Advisors. In this episode, he joins host Steve Kraus to explain why generative AI is unlike any other technology we've seen—and why the $4.9 trillion healthcare sector is uniquely exposed.We cover:
On May 1st, 2025, the UAP Disclosure Fund held its first-ever UAP / UFOs experts panel in Washington, DC. The event was attended by lawmakers Anna Paulina-Luna, Eric Burlison, and Tim Burchett. The final presentation was made by Dr. Anna Brady-Estevez, who has been working behind the scenes for UAP transparency for some time. Today is part one of a two-part exclusive interview with Anna as we explore her work to bring the UAP reality to entrepreneurs, the world of finance, blockchain, space, and more. Dr. Anna Brady-Estevez is a distinguished leader in deep technology investment, innovation policy, and science-driven entrepreneurship. She is the Founding Partner of American DeepTech, a deep technology investment firm dedicated to advancing transformative technologies across sectors such as space, energy, biotechnology, AI and secure digital systems.Anna is a Kauffman Fellow investor, ranked as the #7 woman globally, in the Kauffman Fellows Fund Returners Index (a ranking similar to Forbes Midas list).In her previous role as a Program Director at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), Dr. Brady-Estevez managed the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) portfolio, directing $250 million in grants to early-stage startups. She directed the commercial national portfolios in Energy, Space tech, Clean tech, Digital Assets & Blockchain and Chemical Technologies at NSF. Her early stage portfolio has achieved more than $8.5 billion in follow-on financing and over $17 billion in total company valuations for companies like Ascend Elements, Epirus, Stoke Space Technologies, and Syzygy Plasmonics. Dr. Brady-Estevez has also served as a Senior Investment Advisor and Venture Partner at the U.S. Small Business Administration's SBIC program, which invests over $5 billion annually in venture capital and private equity. Her government service includes co-chairing the U.S. Space Economy Interagency Working Group alongside NASA and the U.S. Digital Assets R&D Agenda alongside the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Segment Producer: Ali Travis Links:Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thegoodtroubleshowPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheGoodTroubleShow YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGoodTroubleShowX/Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoodTroubleShow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegoodtroubleshow/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@goodtroubleshowFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Good-Trouble-Show-With-Matt-Ford-106009712211646 Threads: @TheGoodTroubleShowBlueSky: @TheGoodTroubleShowBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-good-trouble-show-with-matt-ford--5808897/support.
Space is changing fast. Commercial activity is accelerating. Talent needs are shifting. Orbits are filling. And with the growing threat of Kessler Syndrome, long-term access to space may become more constrained than ever before. In this SSPI-WISE Presents podcast, based on the panel conducted at the May 1 meeting of SSPI-WISE, we hear a roundtable discussion between Donya Naz Divsalar, (incoming) Head of Future Projects at Magdrive; Elizabeth Kennick, President, Teachers In Space, Inc. and Genna Ng, Venture Partner, Beyond Earth Technologies and Co-Founder, Singapore Space Network.
This is CC Pod - the Climate Capital Podcast. You are receiving this because you have subscribed to our Substack. If you'd like to manage your Climate Capital Substack subscription, click here. Disclaimer: For full disclosure, Presto is a portfolio company at Climate Capital where Katie Durham works as a Venture Partner.CC Pod 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 investment decision.Don't miss an episode from Climate Capital!Upgrade to CC+ for insider access & community or manage your subscription here.In the latest episode of the CC Pod, host Katie Durham sits down with Ashwin Dias, co-founder and CEO of Presto, a company on a mission to transform the electric vehicle (EV) charging landscape. Drawing from his experience at Uber, where he played a key role in accelerating EV adoption, Ashwin offers thoughtful insights into the real-world challenges faced by rideshare drivers and the broader EV community. Together with co-founder and CFO JJ Raynor, the Presto team is focused on creating practical, scalable solutions to make EV charging more accessible and efficient.Presto was born out of the realization that the fragmented charging infrastructure posed a significant barrier to EV adoption, particularly for drivers who often live in apartments or rental properties without access to home charging. The company aims to simplify the charging experience by aggregating various charging networks into a single, user-friendly platform. This platform allows users, especially those renting EVs from major companies like Hertz and Avis, to easily locate charging stations, check availability, and manage payments—all through the Presto app.The technology behind Presto includes a recommendation engine that utilizes machine learning to guide users to the most suitable charging stations based on availability, pricing, and reliability. Additionally, Presto offers white-label solutions and APIs for businesses looking to integrate charging capabilities into their own platforms, making it easier for fleets and logistics companies to manage their EV charging needs.As Presto continues to expand its reach across the U.S. and into Canada, the company is committed to enhancing the EV charging experience, ultimately aiming to eliminate the anxiety associated with charging for both new and seasoned EV users. Ashwin emphasizes the importance of collaboration and community in this journey, encouraging others passionate about the EV space to get involved.This episode not only highlights the innovative solutions Presto is bringing to the market but also sheds light on the broader implications for the future of transportation and sustainable energy. Tune in to learn more about how Presto is paving the way for a more accessible and efficient EV charging landscape. To learn more about Presto, visit https://www.prestocharging.com/. Get full access to Climate Capital at climatecap.substack.com/subscribe
Guest Bio This episode featured the co-founders of a first-of-its-kind fertility insurance solution called Flora Fertility. Dr. Christy Lane, President and Co-Founder Dr. Christy Lane is global leader of InsurTech, an investor, founder and award-winning health scientist with expertise in AI, digital health, and wearable devices. Dr. Lane is the Co-Founder of Flora Fertility, the Stanford Wearable Health Lab, as well as Founder and former CEO of Vivametrica. Dr. Lane is also a Venture Partner with IA Capital, an InsurTech/fintech venture firm in New York. Dr. Lane has built her career in women's health research since the 90's, and is blazing a new path forward to combine critical components of wearable tech to help inform insurance policy to make fertility treatments more accessible. As a mom of 3, Dr. Lane has gone through IVF herself and deeply understands the emotional and financial challenges of treatment. She has been recognized as Top 40 Under 40 in Calgary, Female Founders of Insuretech Winner and Top 20 Women in Tech. Laura McDonald, CEO and Co-Founder Laura McDonald is the Co-Founder of Flora Fertility, the first individually-owned insurance solution for fertility and women's health. She formerly founded, scaled, and sold Canada's largest financial media company focused on women and wealth and is passionate about educating women about financial freedom and helping them achieve those goals. She has guided product wholesaling for a major insurance company and helped scale a DTC AI model in the e-commerce space to have global market adoption across 100+ countries. She is a mother of four and the author of two best-selling personal finance books and a former media personality in the financial sector. Highlights from the Show The interview discusses the innovative approach of Flora Fertility, a company co-founded by Christy Lane and Laura McDonald. The company focuses on providing individually owned private insurance coverage for fertility, aiming to address the high demand and financial burden associated with fertility treatments. The discussion highlights the prevalence of fertility issues, with statistics indicating that one in six people may require fertility treatment, a figure recognized by the World Health Organization as a global health issue in 2023. Flora Fertility's insurance product is designed to be accessible and affordable, targeting women aged 20 to 34 with policies ranging from $15 to $70 per month, offering up to $50,000 in coverage for fertility treatments. The founders emphasize the importance of community and education, aiming to create a supportive environment for policyholders that includes perks, benefits, and educational resources. The episode also touches on the broader implications of women's health and the need for more investment and innovation in this area. It highlights the potential for Flora Fertility to change perceptions of insurance among younger generations and to serve as a gateway for other insurance products. The founders' personal experiences with infertility and their professional backgrounds in healthcare and entrepreneurship are key drivers behind the company's mission. Key Points: Innovative Insurance Solution: Flora Fertility offers a unique insurance product specifically for fertility treatments, addressing a significant gap in the market. Global Health Issue: Fertility issues affect one in six people globally, as recognized by the World Health Organization in 2023, highlighting the importance of accessible fertility treatment options. Affordable Coverage: The insurance policies are designed to be affordable, with monthly premiums ranging from $15 to $70, providing up to $50,000 in coverage. Target Demographic: The primary target audience for these policies is women aged 20 to 34, a demographic that can greatly benefit from early and proactive fertility planning. Community and Education: Flora Fertility emphasizes the importance of building a supportive community for policyholders, offering educational resources and additional benefits. Broader Implications for Women's Health: The initiative underscores the need for more investment and innovation in women's health, potentially reshaping perceptions of insurance among younger generations. Founders' Motivation: The personal experiences of the founders with infertility, combined with their professional expertise in healthcare and entrepreneurship, drive the mission and vision of Flora Fertility. This episode is brought to you by The Future of Insurance book series (future-of-insurance.com) from Bryan Falchuk. Follow the podcast at future-of-insurance.com/podcast for more details and other episodes. Music courtesy of Hyperbeat Music, available to stream or download on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music and more.
Why hasn't Japan produced more global startup giants?In this special Japan series of Couchonomics with Arjun, recorded in Tokyo and in collaboration with GFTN Forum Japan, Arjun sits down with Jordan Fisher, Venture Partner at Antler and Co-founder of Zehitomo.From the hidden inefficiencies in Japan's service economy to the deeper structural and cultural barriers that limit growth, this conversation explores what it will take to build a more ambitious, globally competitive startup ecosystem in Japan.
On Call with Insignia Ventures with Yinglan Tan and Paulo Joquino
In a world where nearly 1.4 billion adults still lack access to basic financial services, the promise of technology to bridge this gap has never been more critical. Our exclusive roundtable from the Surfin AI Fintech Forum 2025 in Manila brings together three visionary leaders -- a venture capitalist, a nuclear physicist turned fintech CEO, and Nobel Laureate in economics, who are supporting the growth of a company at the forefront of this transformation.Timestamps(00:05) How a nuclear physicist turned fintech CEO, Nobel laureate in economics, and Singaporean venture capitalist joined forces to bridge AI with financial inclusion;(09:39) Managing Risks of an Increasing Techno Nationalism to Build a Truly Global Fintech;(17:13) Bringing Together Financial Inclusion and Agentic AI;About who you are on call withYanan Wu is is CEO and founder of Surfin. Dr Wu has over 26 years of global investment experience, serving institutions and family offices, including stints at CITIC Prudential Fund and TD Asset Management Canada. He is no stranger to fintech as well, having launched and grown a robo-advisory startup prior to Surfin. He received a Ph.D in statistical physics from University Western Ontario in Canada and completed his post-doctoral research at Los Alamo National Lab in the USA.Michael (Mike) Spence is an American economist who, with George A. Akerlof and Joseph E. Stiglitz, won the Nobel Prize for Economics in 2001 for laying the foundations for the theory of markets with asymmetric information. Spence studied at Yale University (B.A., 1966), the University of Oxford (B.A., M.A., 1968), and Harvard University (Ph.D., 1972). He taught at Harvard and at Stanford University, serving as dean of the latter's business school from 1990 to 1999. In 2010 he became a professor at New York University's Leonard N. Stern School of Business. He is the author of the book, “The Next Convergence: The Future of Economic Growth in a Multispeed World,” Ferrar, Straus and Giroux, May 2011. Spence holds a BA in philosophy from Princeton University (1966), a BA/MA in mathematics from Oxford University (1968), and a PhD in Economics from Harvard University (1972).Yinglan Tan founded Insignia Ventures Partners and is the Founding Managing Partner. Insignia Ventures Partners is a Southeast Asian early-to-growth stage venture capital firm that debuted in 2017 and manages capital from premier institutional investors including sovereign wealth funds, foundations, university endowments and renowned family offices from Asia, Europe and North America. Portfolio companies include GoTo (IDX: GOTO), Appier (TSE: 4180), Carro, Ajaib, Shipper, Tonik, Flip, Fazz, Aspire, Super, Groww, J&T and many other technology market leaders. Prior to founding Insignia Ventures Partners, Yinglan was Sequoia Capital's first hire and Venture Partner in Southeast Asia. He also serves on the International Board of Stars – Leaders of the Next Generation, the Singapore Government's Pro Enterprise Panel. He is also a Board Member at Hwa Chong Institution and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore. Yinglan was educated at Stanford and Carnegie Mellon and completed executive programs at Harvard, Wharton, Cambridge and Oxford.Follow us on LinkedIn for more updatesCheck out Insignia Business Review for more insightsSubscribe to our monthly newsletter for all the news and resourcesDirected by Paulo JoquiñoProduced by Paulo JoquiñoThe content of this podcast is for informational purposes only, should not be taken as legal, tax, or business advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security, and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any Insignia Ventures fund. Any and all opinions shared in this episode are solely personal thoughts and reflections of the guest and the host.
Lou Sokolovskiy is the Founder and CEO of Opus Connect, a premier networking and deal-making community for private equity and M&A professionals. He is a serial entrepreneur with extensive experience in private equity transactions. Additionally, Lou serves as a Venture Partner at Operate and a Principal at Genero Capital Partners. His expertise spans operations management, strategic partnerships, and new business development. In this episode… Building a meaningful network that leads to real deal flow can be overwhelming, especially in industries like private equity and M&A, where everyone seems to know someone — and access matters. But how do you create a community beyond surface-level connections and drive business growth? Lou Sokolovskiy, a seasoned entrepreneur and investor with expertise in business development and deal sourcing, breaks down what it takes to build and sustain a high-value network. He shares his 12+1 business development framework, emphasizing the importance of starting with your “why” and conducting a personal SWOT analysis to identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. He also discusses the critical role of being a proactive giver, why curated communities outperform open networks, and how aligning with the right people can unlock strategic opportunities you can't reach individually. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz interviews Lou Sokolovskiy, Founder and CEO of Opus Connect, about the art of meaningful relationship-building in the M&A space. Lou explains how he created a thriving professional network from scratch, shares why proactive generosity leads to better business, and explores personal development strategies. He also dives into actionable deal flow tips, investment strategy evolution, and preparing a company for sale.
How many venture investors once ran a residential real estate brokerage?Era Ventures Founder and Managing Partner Clelia Peters just might be the only one. In 2014, she took the reins at Warburg Realty, her family's real estate brokerage firm and the largest independent brokerage in NYC. Along the way, she built one of the most impressive backgrounds in proptech investing, co-founding top accelerator program MetaProp and joining Bain Capital Ventures as a Venture Partner.Since going off on our own and founding Era Ventures with partner Raja Ghawi in 2021, Peters has taken an unorthodox approach to proptech venture investing. She's hasn't been afraid to bet on sticks-and-bricks concepts, backing companies working in the physical world including Truehold and Welcome Homes.Our conversation digs into her investment thesis as well as the broader real estate tech landscape, her process, the future of sticks-and-bricks concepts, and much more.Season Two is made possible with the support of Neutral. Neutral is redefining multifamily real estate with a focus on sustainability, resident health and well-being. For example, Neutral is building the tallest mass timber and Passive House residential building in the U.S with a state-of-art wellness club in Milwaukee. Beyond environmental impact, Neutral offers investors access to substantial sustainable tax credits and deductions. Accredited investors can explore available opportunities at invest.neutral.us or connect directly with their team to learn more.
Art school isn't the typical starting point for a tech industry leader, but for Jessica Neal, former Chief Talent Officer at Netflix, it was the first step in an extraordinary career. In this episode, Jessica shares how she transitioned from an aspiring artist to headhunter to leading Netflix's talent strategy during its explosive growth. Jessica emphasizes the critical importance of providing clear direction and context when it comes to leadership. “If you don't give the right context and your team isn't doing well, guess whose fault it is? Yours.” Jessica doesn't sugar coat the reality of what it takes to lead well and effectively today. Empower your teams? What does empower mean? How about let people do their work and get rid of bureaucracy? Jessica provides a masterclass in adaptability and strategic thinking. She reveals how Netflix's unique culture of “freedom and responsibility” shaped its success and how she implemented the “context, not control” philosophy to empower teams. As a current venture partner at TCV, board member for cutting-edge companies, and co-host of the TruthWorks podcast, Jessica offers invaluable insights on: Identifying and nurturing top talent in high-growth environments Creating a culture of clarity and context to drive business success Evolving HR practices to meet the demands of modern, global workforces Navigating the complexities of DEI initiatives in today's political climate The future of work and how leaders can prepare for ongoing changes Guest Resources: TCV TruthWorks Podcast LinkedIn Instagram About Jessica: Jessica Neal is a seasoned talent and human resources executive who has made significant contributions to some of the most innovative companies in the tech industry. Currently serving as a Venture Partner at TCV (Technology Crossover Ventures), a leading growth equity firm, Jessica brings her extensive experience in talent management and organizational culture to help scale high-growth companies. Jessica's career journey is as unconventional as it is impressive. She began her professional life as an artist, earning a BFA in Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Her path took an unexpected turn when she discovered her talent for identifying and nurturing top- tier talent in the tech industry. Jessica is perhaps best known for her transformative work at Netflix, where she spent over 11 years across two tenures. As Chief Talent Officer (CHRO), she played a pivotal role in shaping Netflix's renowned culture during its explosive growth from a DVD-by-mail service to the world's leading streaming entertainment company. Under her leadership, Netflix's workforce expanded from 250 to over 10,000 employees globally. Between her stints at Netflix, Jessica held key leadership positions at other innovative companies. She served as Chief People Officer at Scopely, a mobile gaming company, and as Vice President of Talent at Coursera, an online education platform. These experiences further honed her skills in building and scaling teams in fast-paced, high-growth environments. Today, Jessica leverages her expertise as a board member for several companies, including JFrog, a DevOps platform, and Public.com, a social investing platform. Her board service allows her to share her insights on talent strategy, organizational culture, and scaling operations with the next generation of tech leaders. Jessica is also passionate about sharing her knowledge and experiences with a broader audience. She co-hosts the “TruthWorks” podcast with Patty McCord, where they explore pressing issues affecting the modern workplace, from AI and mental health to layoffs and toxic cultures. Known for her candid approach and deep understanding of what makes great companies tick, Jessica Neal continues to be a influential voice in reshaping how we think about work, talent, and organizational culture in the 21st century. Connect with Laurie McGraw – Inspiring Women: Podcast YouTube Instagram Linkedin
On this episode of the SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership Show, Wayne Kimmel interviewed the Executive Chairman of Playfly Sports and Venture Partner at SeventySix Capital, Michael Schreiber. Schreiber brings his operational experience and media competency to the SeventySix Capital team as it continues to invest in the convergence of the physical and digital worlds in sports, where media serves as the glue between the two. Additionally, he uses his expansive network to grow SeventySix Capital's strategic investor base and enhances the team's media, digital, and television relationships.Schreiber is the Executive Chairman of Playfly the company he founded in 2020 with the backing of Sinclair Broadcast Group and Access Holdings. Playfly has four key business divisions - media, properties, technology and global partnerships. As the CEO of Playfly, Schreiber completed more than 10 acquisitions, and the employee count grew to more than 1,000 people. Playfly works with more than 2,000 brand partners, which include professional teams and college athletics departments such as Auburn, LSU, Maryland, Michigan State, Penn State, USC, Villanova, Virginia, and Virginia Tech.Schreiber served as the Chief Content Officer at Fortune 500 company Altice USA and President of Altice USA News. He was a founding member of Altice USA, part of their first management team, their 2017 IPO, and a key stakeholder in their acquisition of Cheddar. As president, Schreiber had direct oversight of its 13 networks and 600+ people. Prior to joining Altice USA, he spent 14 years at NBCUniversal and Comcast in several commercial, operating and revenue roles, including SVP of Content at Comcast, and VP of Business Development & Strategy at NBCUniversal Digital Distribution. During his time at Comcast NBCUniversal, Schreiber helped partner in the development, formation and launch of Hulu in 2007. He was also involved in some of the media industry's first digital distribution deals with the likes of Netflix, Amazon, and Apple. He also has board experience, competency in revenue and value generation, and turn-around and restructuring skills via his time as an Altice executive. He graduated from the University of Virginia, has a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and attended an executive education program at Harvard Business School.Michael Schreiber:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-schreiber-4b262a1/X: https://x.com/maschreiberModernizing the Business of College Sports Report
Synopsis: How do you build a biotech company that disrupts drug discovery and delivers real impact? In this episode of Biotech 2050, host Rahul Chaturvedi speaks with Raj Devraj, President & CEO of Rectify Pharmaceuticals and Venture Partner at Atlas Venture. Raj shares his journey from big pharma to biotech entrepreneurship, the science behind Rectify's groundbreaking approach to drugging membrane proteins, and how his team is tackling rare hepatobiliary diseases with small-molecule therapies. He also dives deep into biotech innovation, smart capital strategy, M&A trends, and the power of hiring the right talent. Whether you're a biotech founder, investor, or science enthusiast, this episode is packed with insights on building, funding, and scaling a biotech startup in today's competitive landscape. Biography: Rajesh (Raj) Devraj, Ph.D., is President and Chief Executive Officer of Rectify Pharma and a Venture Partner at Atlas Venture. Throughout his career, he has been focused on creating and building groundbreaking biotech companies. Prior to Rectify, Raj co-founded Disarm Therapeutics with Atlas and served as its Chief Scientific Officer prior to its acquisition. Before Disarm, he served as Chief Scientific Officer of Atlas-founded Padlock Therapeutics. Prior to his tenure at Atlas, Raj served in senior executive roles at Euclises & Deciphera Pharmaceuticals and at Jubilant Life Sciences. In addition, Raj spent 14 years in positions of increasing responsibility with Pfizer Global R&D and the legacy Pharmacia and Searle companies. Raj also serves on the boards of directors for several biotech companies. Over a 25-year career in large pharma and biotech, Raj has led discovery, early clinical development, and strategic planning teams that have advanced multiple candidates into clinical trials for refractory cancers, autoimmune diseases, IPF, diabetic nephropathy, COPD, and pain. Raj received his B.S. in Pharmacy from the University of Mumbai, and Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry from Duquesne University.
This week, we interviewed Chuck Brynelsen. Chuck is currently the Chair of the Board of Directors at Envoy Medical; he serves on the board of Alebra Technologies and is a Venture Partner at SpringRock Ventures. Previously, Chuck served as a Senior Vice President of Abbot Vascular; Chuck Brynelsen led an organization focused on reducing cardiovascular disease's global impact. Chuck was previously the Global President of Early Technologies for Medtronic and President of Early Technologies for Covidien. Chuck has also spent seven years as CEO of Intrapace, a start-up medical device company treating obesity. Before Intrapace, Check spent 24 years at Medtronic in various regional, business unit, and corporate leadership roles. The company went from a $250 million pacemaker company to a diversified medical technology enterprise with over $10 billion in revenues.
In this episode, we sit with security leader and venture investor Sergej Epp to discuss the Cloud-native Security Landscape. Sergej currently serves as the Global CISO and Executive at Cloud Security leader Sysdig and is a Venture Partner at Picus Capital. We will dive into some insights from Sysdig's recent "2025 Cloud-native Security and Usage Report."Big shout out to our episode sponsor, Yubico!Passwords aren't enough. Cyber threats are evolving, and attackers bypass weak authentication every day. YubiKeys provides phishing-resistant security for individuals and businesses—fast, frictionless, and passwordless.Upgrade your security:https://yubico.comSergj and I dove into a lot of great topics related to Cloud-native Security, including:Some of the key trends in the latest Sysdig 2025 Cloud-native Security Report and trends that have stayed consistent YoY. Sergj points out that while attackers have stayed consistent, organizations have and continue to make improvements to their securitySergj elaborated on his current role as Sysdig's internal CISO and his prior role as a field CISO and the differences between the two roles in terms of how you interact with your organization, customers, and the community.We unpacked the need for automated Incident Response, touching on how modern cloud-native attacks can happen in as little as 10 minutes and how organizations can and do struggle without sufficient visibility and the ability to automate their incident response.The report points out that machine identities, or Non-Human Identities (NHI), are 7.5 times riskier than human identities and that there are 40,000 times more of them to manage. This is a massive problem and gap for the industry, and Sergj and I walked through why this is a challenge and its potential risks.Vulnerability prioritization continues to be crucial, with the latest Sysdig report showing that just 6% of vulnerabilities are “in-use”, or reachable. Still, container bloat has ballooned, quintupling in the last year alone. This presents real problems as organizations continue to expand their attack surface with expanded open-source usage but struggle to determine what vulnerabilities truly present risks and need to be addressed.We covered the challenges with compliance, as organizations wrestle with multiple disparate compliance frameworks, and how compliance can drive better security but also can have inverse impacts when written poorly or not keeping pace with technologies and threats.We rounded out the conversation with discussing AI/ML packages and the fact they have grown by 500% when it comes to usage, but organizations have decreased public exposure of AI/ML workloads by 38% since the year prior, showing some improvements are being made to safeguarding AI workloads from risks as well.
Send us a textMichelle Rhee is currently a Venture Partner at Equal Opportunity Ventures, investing in companies driving social mobility and impact. Previously, she served as Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of BuildWithin, a workforce learning platform transforming hiring and development, as well as CEO of StudentsFirst, an education advocacy nonprofit that successfully advanced 140+ pieces of new legislation across 18 states. Ms. Rhee was DC's first Chancellor under Mayoral control of the 50,000-student public school district. She also founded The New Teacher Project to help public school districts and states recruit and train teachers for hard-to-staff schools.
An interview with Amarit or "Aim" Charoenphan. Aim is a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and ecosystem builder with a deep impact on the startup and innovation landscapes across Asia-Pacific. As President of the New Zealand-Thai Chamber of Commerce and Managing Partner of Aim Ventures, he has backed over 40 investments, while also playing a key role in Thailand's tech scene as a Partner at Unfold Ventures. His expertise spans from venture funding to community-driven acceleration, having served as ASEAN Director of Impact Collective and a Venture Partner at Mandalay Venture Partners, focusing on sustainable farm-to-fork innovations. In recent years, Aim has been actively involved in growing Thailand's space ecosystem, working to connect local stakeholders with global space networks like GSEN. Recognized as an Obama Foundation Asia Pacific Leader and an Edmund Hillary Fellow, he has coached over 1,000 startup founders and advised ecosystem hubs in 30+ cities. A Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 honoree and Thailand Startup Enabler of the Year, he continues to drive impact through investments, mentorship, and fostering tech and space communities worldwide.Aim through Aim Ventures is a Core Member of the Global Space Enablers Network (GSEN) and is a SpaceBase Ambassador.ResourcesAim VenturesHosts: SpaceBase Founder Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom If you are keen to join the Global Space Enablers Network either as an individual or an organization, check out spaceenablers.net We also hold periodic online Net-Connect networking sessions. GSEN Net Connect #3: 18 March 2025, 7pm NZT. RSVP Support the showSupport the show
This week, Josh welcomes special guest cohost Billy Parks. Billy is a Venture Partner at Slow Ventures, which recently announced a $60 million fund for creators. On the show, we discuss the landscape of creator brands through the investor lens -- and also take a look at some headlines for the week, including the NikeSKIMS announcement and a peculiar case of true crime, fake content.Here's more detail on what we covered this week:Follow Billy Parks on LinkedIn.Slow Ventures announces $60 million fund to back creator businesses in "high value verticals" - TubefilterYouTube shuts down "true crime" channel that was all AI lies - TubefilterNIKE, Inc. and SKIMS Introduce New B rand for Women: NikeSKIMSHow a computer that 'drunk dials' videos is exposing YouTube's secrets Creator Upload Socials:YOUTUBEINSTAGRAMTIKTOK
This is CC Pod - the Climate Capital Podcast. You are receiving this because you have subscribed to our Substack. If you'd like to manage your Climate Capital Substack subscription, click here. Disclaimer: For full disclosure, Scalvy is a portfolio company at Climate Capital where Nick van Osdol works as a Venture Partner.CC Pod 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 investment decision.Don't miss an episode from Climate Capital!In this episode, Nick van Osdol sits down with Mohamed Badawy, CEO of Scalvy. Scalvy is redefining how electrical energy moves. Initially focused on electric mobility powertrains, surging demand for Scalvy's modular integrated technology has driven expansion into stationary energy storage and data centers. With 6+ patents and Fortune 500 partnerships, Scalvy is driving electrification at scale.Mohamed's journey from a tenured professor at San Jose State University to the CEO of a venture-backed startup is both inspiring and insightful. He founded Scalvy with a clear vision: to commercialize innovative technology that addresses real-world problems.At the heart of Scalvy's innovation is its software-defined energy management module, which integrates seamlessly with energy storage systems. Unlike traditional battery management systems, Scalvy's modules offer a range of functionalities, including the ability to invert DC power to AC, regulate DC output, and charge batteries—all without the need for additional electronic systems in vehicles. This modular approach not only simplifies design but also significantly reduces costs and enhances performance.The technology is particularly relevant for electric vehicles (EVs), but its applications extend beyond that realm. Scalvy is also focusing on stationary energy storage solutions that provide grid services and data center applications. As Mohamed noted, the initial skepticism about the applicability of their technology in sectors beyond EVs has transformed into a strong market pull, validating Scalvy's versatile approach.One of the standout features of Scalvy's technology is its modularity. Traditional powertrains are often bulky and require customization for different vehicle models, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs. In contrast, Scalvy's system allows manufacturers to use the same hardware across various applications while configuring it to meet specific needs. This flexibility not only streamlines production but also accelerates the electrification process for diverse vehicle types, including off-road machinery and material handling equipment.Since launching commercial engagements just a few months ago, Scalvy has already secured multiple agreements with OEMs in the electric truck and off-road vehicle sectors. The company is witnessing a growing interest in its technology, particularly in industries that require efficient electrification solutions. As Scalvy continues to build its customer base, the focus will shift towards scaling production and obtaining necessary certifications.Stay tuned for more insights from the Climate Capital Podcast as we continue to explore the innovators tackling the most pressing decarbonization challenges of our time.To learn more about Scalvy, visit http://www.scalvy.com/. Get full access to Climate Capital at climatecap.substack.com/subscribe
In this episode, we have the privilege of speaking with Selina Tobaccowala, a seasoned entrepreneur and venture partner at Lobby Capital. From co-founding Evite, the groundbreaking online invitation platform, to her leadership roles at Ticketmaster and SurveyMonkey, Selena has consistently leveraged technology to make a real-world impact. Now, with her latest venture, HomeBoost, she's empowering homeowners to improve comfort and reduce energy costs through innovative solutions.Join us as Selena reflects on her entrepreneurial journey, the power of teamwork, and the lessons learned from scaling globally recognized brands. From creating viral consumer experiences to navigating acquisitions and building culture-driven teams, this conversation is packed with actionable insights and inspiration.Tune in to learn how Selena's career exemplifies the essence of weaving innovation, resilience, and purpose into the fabric of success.
What would a career pivot reveal about your greatest strength? Zoe Samuel is a Venture Partner at Starshot Capital, where she supports climate-focused startups. Zoe traveled a unique path to get here, moving from a career as a writer and producer to becoming a co-founder at Anthropocene, Google's largest internal climate solutions community. Today, she supports and invests in early-stage founders, helping them build startups aimed at reducing global emissions.In this episode, Zoe shares her perspective on how any job can be a “climate job,” and on the unique opportunities women can find in climate. She also reflects on some of the lessons that have served her well during her career in both the entertainment and tech sectors.Links:Zoe Samuel on LinkedInA growing climate tech marketSuchi Srinivasan on LinkedInKamila Rakhimova on LinkedInAbout In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn't just arrived—you were truly in your element?About The Hosts:Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030.Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders.Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.
Teemu Päivinen is the Founder and CEO of ZkCloud (formerly Gevulot), the first universal proving layer democratizing access to ZK proving. Active in crypto since 2011, Teemu has founded companies such as CoinMotion and Equilibrium Labs, known for its collaborations with leading L1s and L2s. In addition, Teemu has advised Dapper Labs, Open Zeppelin, and served on Samsung NEXT's Stack Zero Grant Committee. As a Venture Partner at CompoundVC, he helps blockchain startups scale, combining deep expertise in entrepreneurship, blockchain, and venture capital.
Teemu Päivinen is the Founder and CEO of ZkCloud (formerly Gevulot), the first universal proving layer democratizing access to ZK proving. Active in crypto since 2011, Teemu has founded companies such as CoinMotion and Equilibrium Labs, known for its collaborations with leading L1s and L2s. In addition, Teemu has advised Dapper Labs, Open Zeppelin, and served on Samsung NEXT's Stack Zero Grant Committee. As a Venture Partner at CompoundVC, he helps blockchain startups scale, combining deep expertise in entrepreneurship, blockchain, and venture capital.
This episode features an interview with Donald Knight, Venture Partner at Valor Ventures and Miriam Connaughton, Chief People and Experience Officer at Simpplr. Donald's expertise is in creating a culture where employees thrive and has a proven track record of constructing scalable global strategies that support international expansion. Miriam utilizes her three decades of HR consulting experience to shape and deliver a great employee experience, through dynamic HR strategies and AI-powered technology.In this episode, Shawn, Donald, and Miriam discuss the concept of high-performance cultures, how fostering human connection and empathy in the workplace can combat loneliness, and the impact of AI on workplace dynamics.-------------------“Historically, our profession has been rooted on five major time periods. It started because of being administrative in nature. Then from administration, we went into compliance. From compliance, we went into employee satisfaction. From satisfaction, you got companies that are focused on how do they engage their employees, mainly through this lens of productivity. Last, I think the best companies understand that they want people to be fulfilled. If you want people to be fulfilled, you got to recognize that there's plenty of talent at your organization that just isn't. There is a large sentiment of loneliness.” – Donald Knight“If you have lots of people with similar habits, that becomes the culture. It's habit-creating. If managers in general are good at creating psychological safety in an organization and they have a habit of practicing that, then people will generally report that's a cultural trait here. I feel really included and I feel like I can be my authentic self because it's very psychologically safe here. It doesn't just happen because you say it, it happens because people have healthy habits around that on a daily, moment-to-moment basis.” – Miriam Connaughton-------------------Episode Timestamps:*(02:35): Getting to know Donald and Miriam*(08:46): Being an intentional leader*(17:56): High-Performance Index and the ripple effect*(27:28): Loneliness in the workplace*(46:56): Incentivizing human-centric leadership*(53:29): The role of AI in enhancing employee experience-------------------Links:Connect with Donald on LinkedInFollow Donald on InstagramFollow Donald on ThreadsEmail DonaldConnect with Miriam on LinkedInEmail MiriamConnect with Shawn on LinkedInCohesion PodcastAbout Simpplr
Ethan Mayers is a business strategist, Venture Partner at Fairbridge VC, and CEO of Narwhal Network, a platform shaping the future of work by supporting portfolio careers. With extensive global experience, he serves on boards of B2B technology companies, helping startups with investment readiness and fostering innovation. Guided by principles like wisdom diffusion and technology serving humanity, Ethan believes in the power of narratives to translate vision into action and progress
This week, we revisit our interview with Nick Damiano. Nick is a serial entrepreneur focused on solving unmet needs to improve patient care. He is currently CEO & Founder of Andromeda Surgical, which is developing autonomous robots for safer, better, more efficient surgery. Before that, he was CEO & Co-Founder of Zenflow, where he co-invented a novel implant for BPH (enlarged prostate) and led the product from inception through multiple clinical trials to commercial readiness, raising over $60M in funding. He was also CTO & co-founder at Nurep, later re-branded as Avail MedSystems. He was the key architect of the company's remote surgical support product for operating rooms that is now used in hundreds of medical facilities. Nick earned his M.S. and B.S. with Distinction in Management Science & Engineering from Stanford University and was an Innovation Fellow at Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign. He was the first medtech founder to be funded by Y Combinator twice and actively advises startups through StartX, UCSF Rosenman Institute, and Nucleate Bio. He also dabbles on the investor side as a Venture Partner at Pioneer Fund.
This is my preview of what the coming year 2025 may hold for the Space sector - including in launch, satcom, earth observation, lunar exploration, in-space manufacturing, science, government, finance, events, etc. For the second half of the episode, fellow space investors Alexandra Vidyuk and Faraz Khan join me to provide their perspectives, in a roundtable format.
Hello, and welcome back to the podcast.This episode we are joined by Mr. Ward Polzin - board member of Chord Energy, Founder and Executive Chairman of Camino Natural Resources & Venture Partner of NGP Energy (“NGP”), a private equity investment firm based in Dallas, TX.Previously, Mr. Polzin served as CEO of Centennial Resource Development, LLC (“Centennial”), an NGP portfolio company focused on the Permian basin of West Texas, from 2013 to 2016. Prior to forming Camino and Centennial, Mr.Polzin served as a Managing Director and a founding partner in Investment Banking at Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co., where he spearheaded the firm's E&P asset acquisition and divestiture practice. Mr. Polzin earned a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in 1984 and an M.B.A. from Rice University in 1986. He is also a CFA charter holder.Among other things we disused 40 Years of American Energy: A Few Lessons from E&P & Banking.Thank you to our sponsors.Without their support this episode would not be possible:Connate Water SolutionsATB Capital MarketsEnergy United Upgrade LabsRARE Oilfield ServicesSupport the show
Neste episódio do Canary Cast, Florian Hagenbuch, cofundador e sócio do Canary, recebe Luiz Ramalho, cofundador e CEO da Magie. Na conversa, Luiz compartilha sua história pessoal, sua trajetória empreendedora até aqui e sua visão para o futuro da Magie. Luiz começou sua carreira em bancos de investimento e, em 2017, mergulhou no ecossistema cripto, onde passou sete anos empreendendo com o fundo quantitativo Polvo e a Fingerprints. Em 2023, ele se juntou ao Canary como Venture Partner e, ao explorar diversas teses, identificou inúmeras oportunidades emergentes no Brasil, especialmente no mercado de fintechs. Nesse contexto, Luiz reflete sobre sua decisão de empreender no setor e como enxerga os novos caminhos que estão se abrindo com a agenda regulatória, incluindo o PIX e o Open Finance. Ao longo da conversa, Luiz relembra os passos que levaram ao desenvolvimento do produto que é a Magie hoje, além de compartilhar sua visão para a evolução futura da solução. Como você talvez já saiba, o produto inicial da Magie é uma conta corrente no WhatsApp com uma assistente de pagamentos inteligente. No entanto, o plano de longo prazo é mais ambicioso: conectar todos os serviços financeiros em um só lugar e tomar decisões automatizadas alinhadas aos interesses dos clientes, e não aos dos bancos. Ouça agora o episódio e descubra como a Magie está transformando a relação das pessoas com seus bancos, promovendo maior autonomia sobre suas decisões financeiras. Convidado: Luiz Ramalho Luiz Ramalho é cofundador e CEO da Magie, a primeira conta inteligente no WhatsApp. Luiz é formado em Economia pela PUC-Rio e iniciou sua carreira em bancos de investimento, trabalhando no Goldman Sachs e no The Blackstone Group. Em 2017, ele fundou o Polvo Technologies, fundo quantitativo de cripto ativos. Na Polvo, participou da incubação da Fingerprints DAO, que se tornou uma das maiores coleções de arte NFT no mundo. Antes de começar a Magie, Luiz atuou como Venture Partner do Canary. Acompanhe a construção da Magie pelo perfil do Luiz no Linkedin Apresentação: Florian Hagenbuch Florian é cofundador e sócio do Canary, firma líder em investimento early-stage no Brasil e América Latina. O Canary tem mais de $400M em AUM e investiu em mais de 100 empresas desde sua fundação em 2017. Anteriormente, Florian fundou a Loft, empresa que digitalizou e transformou a experiência de compra de imóveis no Brasil, trazendo transparência, liquidez e crédito a milhões de brasileiros. Antes disso, Florian cofundou também a Printi, o principal marketplace de impressão online da América Latina. Acompanhe o Florian no Linkedin Destaques do episódio: [00:34 - 01:40] Boas-vindas[01:51 - 04:05] Trajetória profissional antes da Magie [04:03 - 05:15] Venture Partner no Canary, potencial do mercado brasileiro de fintechs e oportunidades da agenda regulatória[05:23 - 07:38] Início da jornada com a Magie[07:39 - 12:01] Da decisão de empreender à construção da tese[12:05 - 17:25] Proposta de valor, impactos e resultados da Magie[17:27 - 19:40] Produto construído no PIX e no WhatsApp[19:45 - 22:13] Open Finance, AI e a retenção do usuário[22:14 - 25:07] Reflexões sobre o ambiente regulatório para fintechs[25:08 - 29:40] O Plano secreto da Magie: da conta inteligente a integração de diversos serviços financeiros [29:51 - 33:50] Fundraising: Magie marca o primeiro investimento da Lux no Brasil e o processo de escolha de um novo investidor [33:54 - 35:45] “Magie Moments”: casos de uso e experiências[35:46 - 38:57] Erros, acertos e aprendizados da jornada[38:58 - 43:30] Conselho para o Luiz do passado e mensagem final Foi citado neste episódio:Conheça a MagiePodcast Toca do CoelhoTweet do Harry Stebbings (20VC)The Idea MazeDennis Crowley: Recently possible and newly ubiquitousO Plano Secreto da Magie - Post no LinkedInPrimeiro investimento da Lux Capital no Brasil See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Alexandra Vidyuk is a Partner at Beyond Earth Ventures, a Venture Partner at Aloniq, and Founder of Space Ambition. Alexandra is deeply passionate about DeepTech and scientific evolution. Here are the topics we covered: - What SpaceTech/DeepTech opportunities is she most excited about? - What are the major hurdles in colonizing Mars? - Space Tourism: Will we in our lifetimes be able to space travel to see different planets, asteroids, galaxies?- Can Space Travel reverse ageing? - How do we minimize carbon emissions in SpaceTech? - How does she segment the SpaceTech landscape? She also gives us a view into future of SpaceTech in the next 10, 30, 50 years Links: ⭐ Sponsored by Podcast10x - Podcasting agency for VCs - https://podcast10x.com Beyond Earth Technologies - https://beyondearth.tech/ Alexandra Vidyuk on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandrausynina Space Ambition Substack - https://spaceambition.substack.com/
In this episode of Nodes of Design, we sit down with Andy Buddy to explore his fascinating journey from being a designer to thriving as a venture capitalist. Andy shares how his design and product expertise shape his investment strategies and help founders build impactful startups. We dive into the seven key factors that drive growth, the common mistakes founders make with their early products, and the challenges of being the first design or product hire in a startup. Andy also unpacks where growth design fits in today's landscape and sheds light on why most early-stage growth advice misses the mark. Plus, he tackles one of the most misunderstood strategies in the startup world product-led growth (PLG) and reveals the mistakes he sees founders making time and time again. Whether you're a designer, product enthusiast, or aspiring founder, this episode is packed with insights to level up your understanding of design, growth, and venture capital. About Andy Budd Andy is a Design Leader turned investor, advisor and coach. He's a Venture Partner at Seedcamp, one of the top ranked seed funds in Europe. His new book "The Growth Equation" aims to help startups land their first million in revenue and reach Product Market Fit. A product person at heart, Andy previously founded Clearleft (the first UX agency in the UK), Leading Design and UX London. He's a founding member of the Adobe Design Circle and has appeared on both the Wired 100 and BIMA 100 lists. Andy once worked as a shark diver and recently qualified as a pilot. Andy Budd Book: The Growth Equation: How Early Stage Startups Can Build a Powerful Engine for Growth The Growth Equation is the new book by design founder turned startup investor, advisor, and coach, Andy Budd. In it he explores the challenges most early-stage founders face; from launching your product, finding your first customers, and figuring out what to charge; to improving acquisition, onboarding, and retention; in order to land your first million in revenue and beyond. Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj. #design #creativity #ux #vc #business
I am excited to have Alexandra Vidyuk, the space tech Venture Partner at Aloniq, founder of Space Ambition, a world-class space technology research centre that collaborates with space agencies, investors, start-ups and co-founded a space tech venture builder and an investment syndicate named Beyond EarthIn this episode, Alexandra Vidyuk, venture partner at Aloniq and founder of Beyond Earth, shares her journey from a banking career to space tech investing. She explores the emerging trillion-dollar space tech industry, its intersections with sustainability, and the role of private versus government funding. Alex offers valuable insights into due diligence, navigating geopolitical influences, building syndicates, and advice for aspiring founders and investors entering the space sector—and much more!Subscribe on SpotifySubscribe on YouTubeSubscribe on iTunesLearn* What are some of the unique challenges faced by startups in the space industry?* What criteria do you use when selecting startups or projects to support through Beyond Earth's venture-building program?* Does Alex prefer founders who are new to a problem or those who are insiders and experts?* What is your favourite business book? –Psychology of money* What is your favourite online tool? –ChatGpt* If you could go back to when you started working, what is the one thing you would have focused on? – Start syndicate earlier earlierTimestamps[1:30] Alexandra shares her transition from banking to startups, highlighting the desire for more impact.[3:15] Discusses her initial startup in fintech, raising the first round and gaining early traction.[5:00] Realization of her interest in deep tech and space tech, shifting from fintech to venture capital in space.[7:00] Overview of sustainability's role in space tech and its broader industry impact.[8:30] The trillion-dollar potential of the space tech industry by 2035 and its expected exponential growth.[10:00] Examples of satellite tech applications, like monitoring greenhouse gases and energy sources.[13:00] Alexandra's admiration for Elon Musk's impact on space tech, including the Starlink network.[14:45] Unique challenges of space startups, including scientific feasibility, engineering, and regulation.[18:00] Criteria used to select startups at Beyond Earth, including market size and team capability.[20:30] Importance of government support and the independent approach Beyond Earth takes with investments.[23:00] Alexandra's views on politics in space investments and how they influence decision-making.[25:00] Due diligence process for space investments, especially for startups like BioOrbit.[29:00] Value of outsider perspectives in space, contrasting with industry insider advantages.[31:30] Balancing founder quality and market opportunity when making investment decisions.[34:00] Alexandra's experience with Space tech's visionary but challenging market sizing.[37:00] Private vs. government funding in space tech, with private funding now at 80%.[39:00] Importance of government-funded projects like the Artemis Program for foundational infrastructure.[42:00] Advice for aspiring space founders on entering the space sector, even without technical backgrounds.[45:00] Tips on building a successful syndicate and gathering LP support, including warm introductions.[47:00] Marketing strategies, including LinkedIn ads, webinars, and masterclasses, for syndicate growth.Alexandra's Links LDN– https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandrausyninaWebsite - https://beyondearth.tech/My Links Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunesYouTube: youtube.com/lifeselfmasteryTwitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal5-day email course: www.enterprisesalesexpertise.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit partnergrow.substack.com
Chris Schuler opens up about his experience as a caregiver, navigating the challenges of neurodegeneration, particularly his father's glioblastoma diagnosis. He shares the emotional turmoil, confusion, along with the overwhelming process of navigating the healthcare system. The conversation underscores the importance of raising awareness and understanding of neurodegenerative diseases and their impact on families. We also delve into the problematic nature of the 'standard of care' in oncology, highlighting the critical need to advocate for yourself. Check out the article Samira referenced towards the end of this episode here. My Cancer GPS™ is coming! Step-by-step subway maps that guide you through the entire cancer experience. Learn more here! Key Highlights: 1. Self-advocacy is critical in getting the care that's best for you, so ask questions, and get involved. Your healthcare team cares for you and wants to see you back on your feet, but no one can care more than you do. 2. Caregivers need to look after themselves, too. It can feel like there's no room for yourself, but you must find joy. Find joy so that you can cherish whoever is under your care. 3. The role of a caregiver is both rewarding and demanding. Being an advocate for a loved one is a necessary responsibility because the standard is not always the best care you can receive for your individual case. About our guest: Chris Schuler is a staunch brain cancer awareness advocate. He was the primary caregiver to his late Dad, Donald Schuler, who was diagnosed with GBM in July 2021. He works closely with organizations across the globe, amplifying their critical work and building key relationships to further improve outcomes for patients. He recently finished a year-long consultancy with Cure Brain Cancer Foundation, an Australian non-profit dedicated to improving outcomes in brain cancer. He's currently a Venture Partner with Varia Ventures, working to raise awareness for emerging venture funds dedicated to uncovering and funding innovative discoveries to improve brain health. He also works closely with SageMedic, a precision oncology start-up supporting patients looking for the most effective treatment for cancer. Chris continues on as his Dad's caregiver — caregiver to his life, legacy and memory. At 33 minutes and 18 seconds: “From that very moment, I went from being a lot of things in my life, being a son, a nephew, a grandson, a friend, eventually an uncle, a husband, a father. Now I am a caregiver. I want to say nothing prepared me for that. Everything prepared me for that. The way I was raised, everything I experienced in my life, every up, every down, every victory, every rejection, everything led to this moment where I am now my dad's caregiver with my mom. I call myself the primary caregiver because there was something she couldn't do for him, and how do you become an advocate? How do you take on what seems insurmountable? And I say to any listeners, you can do it. You have what's in you to do it, to be the very best caregiver, because all you need is one prerequisite to be a caregiver. You need to be able to love. If you can love, you are a caregiver.” Disclaimer: All content and information provided in connection with Manta Cares is solely intended for informational and educational purposes only. This content and information is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
In this episode of Unguarded, Kyle Auffray, former NFL player turned Venture Partner at Champion Venture Partners, shares his journey from the football field to the forefront of venture capital and business innovation. Known for his underdog story, Kyle reflects on what propelled him into the NFL without an agent, as well as the grit required to stay ready while balancing dual careers. Now a key figure in venture capital, he leads CVP's investment strategy and oversees the Comcast SportsTech Accelerator, where he helps top-tier startups scale and thrive. Kyle dives into the emotional aspects of career transition, the importance of ego management, and building a support network that can sustain the ups and downs of a high-performance career. He also discusses his approach to navigating contract negotiations, self-representation, and understanding the complex landscape of player unions. Kyle shares how he reverse-engineered his goals and found purpose in Champion Venture Partners, where he now encourages athletes to invest wisely and explore meaningful ownership. With insights on leveraging relationships, financial education, and aligning with the right partners, Kyle's story offers invaluable lessons for those looking to transition, grow, and invest in their future. Produced and edited by Víctor Revenga. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unguarded/support
Mastering venture capital and ethical growth is essential for startup success. Today's guest, Andy Budd, shares insights from his journey as Founder and CEO of Clearleft, Venture Partner at SeedCamp, and Founding Member of Adobe's Design Circle. Andy has evolved from a designer to an investor and advisor, bringing a focus on ethical growth practices and high-impact startup development.As the author of The Growth Equation, Andy draws on over 20 years of experience to help companies achieve product-market fit and sustainable growth. His work with SeedCamp and other startups focuses on behavioral science and ethical growth strategies to build resilient, user-centered businesses.In this episode, host Barry O'Reilly explores Andy's approach to venture capital, leadership, and how his design roots influence his support for founders.Key Takeaways:The Transition from Design to Venture Capital: Andy shares his journey from designer to venture capital partner, highlighting the unique insights that his design background brings to his work with startups.The Importance of Humility in Leadership: Andy emphasizes the value of hiring individuals who excel in areas beyond one's own expertise, fostering a team culture of shared growth and continuous improvement.Supporting Startups Through Challenges: Known for working closely with startups facing obstacles, Andy describes how his collaborative approach helps companies pivot, adapt, and ultimately thrive.Ethical Growth Over “Growth Hacking”: Andy discusses the significance of ethical growth practices, contrasting them with conventional “growth hacking,” and focusing on strategies that promote sustainable and user-centered growth.Additional Insights:The Influence of Behavioral Science in Product Development: Andy explains how understanding human behavior enhances product design and growth, encouraging founders to integrate behavioral science for more meaningful user engagement.The Role of Patience and Empathy in VC: Andy reflects on his approach to venture capital, prioritizing empathy and patience with founders to cultivate trust and strong, lasting partnerships.The Changing Landscape of Startup Investment: Andy shares his views on how venture capital is evolving, especially as design-thinking and user experience become increasingly vital for high-growth startups. Episode Highlights:0:39 - Introduction to the Episode: Barry introduces Andy Budd, Startup Advisor, Investor, and Coach. “Andy has extensive experience in design and startup advisory.”03:31 - Transition from Design to Venture Capital"I've always been inspired by others...there was an agency that really inspired Clearleft back in the day called Adaptive Path."06:58 - Unlearning Practitioner to Leader“The main thing I had to unlearn was moving from a practitioner to a leader, where you need to let go and trust others.”15:56 - Emphasis on Character and Integrity in VC“If you're rude to the driver
Today on My Climate Journey, we're bringing back a familiar voice: Jason Jacobs, Founder and Venture Partner at MCJ. In this special episode, Cody and Jason reflect on the evolution of MCJ and its mission to drive climate innovation. While this is the last episode under the My Climate Journey name, don't worry—the show isn't going away. The format will stay the same, but a new name is coming soon. Cody and Jason share lessons learned, the ongoing need for collaboration, and gratitude for the community built along the way.In this episode, we cover: [1:57] Jason's early climate journey and where MCJ fits in the transition[4:15] How Jason's feelings about climate change have evolved [6:43] The nature of discussion around topics like climate change[9:19] Jason's updated role at MCJ[10:31] His hopes for the future of the firm [11:15] Advice for folks starting their own climate journeys[12:11] Jason's thoughts on the role of oil and gas in the transition [13:17] And the role of activism [14:47] Jason's thoughts on the category of climate tech and market forces[17:50] Our collective responsibility to address the systems problem [19:57] The role of the MCJ show going forwardEpisode recorded on Oct 22, 2024 (Published on Oct 31, 2024) Get connected with MCJ: Cody Simms X / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective / YouTube*If you liked this episode, please consider giving us a review! You can also reach us via email at info@mcj.vc, where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.
Dr. Mohamed Fouda has been researching, operating and investing in the crypto space since 2017. He is currently the Chief Product Officer at InshAllah Network and a Venture Partner at Volt Capital. Previously, he was the head of research at Alliance, the leading Web 3 accelerator and a co-founder of a semiconductor startup. Dr. Fouda has a PhD in Engineering from Northwestern University. Twitter: https://x.com/MohamedFFouda Research: https://medium.com/@fouda
This week, we are back with part two of Generative Quarterly with Semil Shah and Lightspeed Partner and host Michael Mignano. Semil is a founding General Partner of Haystack and a Venture Partner at Lightspeed. Semil and Mike pick up their conversation on consumer AI technology, starting with innovative consumer tech like Friend AI by Avi Schiffmann. Mike and Semil consider the impact of Artificial Super Intelligence on the future of work, debate the future evolution of software on demand, and ask if we need AI agents to help us solve our boredom? Episode Chapters (00:00) Introduction (00:31) Consumer AI Tech (03:05) Autonomous AI Agents Versus Copilots (04:19) Matt Levine: Robots Make Good AI Junior Analysts (05:53) Future of Training Entry Level Consultants (07:55) Artificial Super Intelligence as a Drop in Coworker (09:38) Will We Have Our Own Agentic Consultants? (11:50) Software On Demand (16:32) AI Generated Music and Content (20:31) Conclusion Stay in touch: www.lsvp.com X: https://twitter.com/lightspeedvp LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightspeed-venture-partners/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightspeedventurepartners/ Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: generativenow.co Email: generativenow@lsvp.com The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal.
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Sri Ramaswami, the founder and CEO of Charlee.ai, with a career spanning over 22 years in advanced analytics and artificial intelligence, Sri has emerged as a formidable leader in the insurance technology landscape. But Sri's story goes beyond her professional accomplishments. As a thought leader and mentor in the InsurTech community, she is breaking barriers in our traditionally male-dominated industry, championing diversity, and inspiring the next generation of female entrepreneurs. Join us as we delve into Sri's remarkable journey, exploring the challenges she faced, the triumphs she achieved, and her unwavering vision for the future of Charlee.ai, and the broader tech landscape. KEY TAKEAWAYS One of the constant things I heard from claims managers was their inability to access a lot of data points within the claim files because a lot of it was in unstructured formats, so making a financial decision wasn't easy for them. I wanted to create a platform to not only collect exposures easily but also be able to convert them into a common denominator that could be measured, predicted and queried – long before ChatGPT. Claims processes start with a very human experience because somebody has had a loss, and you're dealing with them in the most sensitive and vulnerable position. When you think about how the process is carried out from receiving the claim until it's resolved, there are a lot of nuances, such as being empathetic and empirical. That is key to understanding all the problems that can arise, data allows you to ask the right questions so you can get the details. The vision of Charlee is also behind how to get to these exposures and the risk intelligence, and how this leads to avoiding attorneys getting and litigations so a better settlement can be agreed with the claimant. But, it doesn't stop there, the real vision of Charlee is to be able to connect those data points with actuary, with underwriting, with product marketing, even with your agent. All these people are stakeholders in how exposures are calculated, priced and offered in your product. One of the biggest things we're seeing is a lack of proper documentation. How you arrive at a financial settlement is based on the facts of laws. If you don't document your facts of laws or ask the right questions, you're not going to get those facts of laws based on which you need to make objective decision points – which are very important for you to present in a court during litigation. BEST MOMENTS ‘I owe my career in the technology space to data.' ‘Claims are the promise of the insurance contract. It's here you get to know how the exposures you priced at the beginning are performing at the end.' ‘Some exposures that are beyond your control, like the weather and climate, but the exposures and severity behind that are huge.' ‘Attorneys being brought into the process are third parties that nobody benefits from.' ABOUT THE GUEST Sri Ramaswam: Over 22+ years of experience in advanced analytics and artificial intelligence. Founder and CEO of Charlee.ai, the insurance industry's first NLP-based predictive analytics solution. What makes Charlee unique is our patented, proprietary and pre-trained claim language model. It adds the context to the predictions, provides deep insights-based alerts, reserving patterns, prior trends based prioritised claim lists for enhanced claim workflows. As a certified associate in risk management, I have a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the P&C insurance sector, and I am passionate about leveraging unstructured data to drive financial outcomes and innovation. I have architected and launched data analytic solutions for underwriting and claims, and patented Charlee.ai's AI, NLP, and ML-based technology that can extract and analyse all sources of data, including documents, files, third-party, and social. Charlee.ai helps insurers lower claim costs, manage reserves efficiently, and improve risk selection, through individual claim insights and aggregate claims analytics dashboard. I am a thought leader and speaker on operational use of unstructured data, and a mentor for the InsurTech community. I also enjoy learning about astronomy, hiking, and yoga. ABOUT THE HOST Sabine is a corporate strategist turned entrepreneur. She is the CEO and Venture Partner of Alchemy Crew, a venture lab that accelerates the curation, validation, & commercialization of new tech business models. Sabine is renowned within the insurance sector for building some of the most renowned tech startup accelerators around the world, working with over 30 corporate insurers and accelerating over 100 startup ventures. Sabine is the co-editor of the bestseller The INSURTECH Book, a top 50 Women in Tech, a FinTech and InsurTech Influencer, an investor & multi-award winner. Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Facebook TikTok Email Website
Dr. Oren Etzioni is the founder of TrueMedia.org, a free-use product that allows critical election audiences from around the world to quickly and effectively detect deepfakes. He was the Founding Chief Executive Officer at the Allen Institute for AI (AI2), having served as CEO from its inception in 2013 until late 2022. He is Professor Emeritus at the University of Washington where he helped to pioneer meta-search, online comparison shopping, machine reading, and open information extraction. He has also authored several award-winning technical papers, and founded and sold many companies. In addition to his role at TrueMedia.org, he is currently a technical director of the AI2 Incubator and a Venture Partner at Madrona.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this captivating episode, Lou connects with two powerhouse women revolutionizing the investment landscape: Marcia Dawood and Sue Bevan Baggott. Marcia, an early-stage investor, venture partner, author, podcaster, and speaker, joins forces with Sue, a human-centered executive advisor passionate about accelerating life-improving innovation. They delve into their shared mission of supporting purpose-driven startups that aim to solve some of the world's largest challenges. Tune in as Marcia and Sue discuss the ins and outs of angel investing, the significance of backing social impact ventures, and how anyone can become an investor regardless of their financial standing. They emphasize the importance of community involvement, expertise sharing, and creating impactful change while reaping financial rewards. Marcia introduces her enlightening new book, "Do Good While Doing Well," offering a why-to guide for "accidental angel investors" and sharing inspiring stories from the world of startups. Sue also speaks passionately about the value of innovation, connection, and the transformative power of investing in for-profit businesses with a strong social mission. Join us for an episode filled with inspiration, practical advice, and a deep dive into the ways we can all contribute to a better world through thoughtful investing. Don't miss this episode of "Thrive Loud with Lou Diamond" and find out how you can become part of a movement that's not just about financial returns but about making meaningful, impactful change. ***CONNECT WITH LOU DIAMOND & THRIVE LOUD***
Marty Bent is a Venture Partner at Ten31 and founder of the Bitcoin-focused media company TFTC.io. In this interview, we discuss the state of corporate media, how the deep state is fighting bitcoin and the game theory of Bitcoin. – Show notes: https://www.whatbitcoindid.com/podcast/the-bitcoin-white-pill This episode's sponsors: IREN - Bitcoin Mining. Done Sustainably. Swan Bitcoin - Invest in Bitcoin with Swan Ledger - State of the art Bitcoin hardware wallet Bitcasino - The Future of Gaming is here Casa - Take control of your digital wealth
“I don't think many people in the government understand the gravity of Bitcoin, how powerful it is…I think they're starting to understand it more acutely now; but, I think we had 15 years of runway where we were able to build out this robust network and get it into the hands of millions of individuals around the world, it may be too late.”— Marty BentMarty Bent is a Venture Partner at Ten31 and founder of the Bitcoin-focused media company TFTC.io. In this interview, we discuss the state of corporate media, how the deep state is fighting bitcoin and the game theory of Bitcoin.- - - -This episode's sponsors:IREN - Bitcoin Mining. Done Sustainably Swan Bitcoin - Invest in Bitcoin with Swan Bitcasino - The Future of Gaming is here Ledger- State of the art Bitcoin hardware wallet Casa - Take control of your digital wealth -----WBD826 - Show Notes----- If you enjoy The What Bitcoin Did Podcast you can help support the show by doing the following: Become a Patronand get access to shows early or help contribute Make a tip: Bitcoin: 3FiC6w7eb3dkcaNHMAnj39ANTAkv8Ufi2S QR Codes: Bitcoin If you do send a tip then please email me so that I can say thank you Subscribe on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | SoundCloud | YouTube | Deezer| TuneIn | RSS FeedLeave a review on iTunesShare the show and episodes with your friends and family Subscribe to the newsletter on my websiteFollow me on Twitter Personal | Twitter Podcast | Instagram | Medium|YouTubeIf you are interested in sponsoring the show, you can read more about that here or please feel free to drop me an email to discuss options.