Nothing Ventured

This episode of Nothing Ventured features a discussion with Mohamed Abou-Alam about the challenges and strategies in the tech and venture ecosystem. They explore topics like managing chronic conditions with data, building multidisciplinary teams, quantifying impact to LPs, regulatory and commercial outcomes, transitioning roles in the industry, and adapting to the competitive landscape. Tune in for valuable insights into the world of venture capital and tech innovation. 🕒 Time stamps - 01:52 - The Challenges of Hard Tech in Medicine 02:43 - Precision's Approach to Managing Heart Conditions 03:29 - Mohammed's Non-Medical Background and Precision's Hardware 04:02 - Why Precision's Solution is Innovative 05:06 - Mohammed's Journey from VC to Precision 07:12 - The Importance of Multidisciplinary Teams 09:10 - Building a Holistic Team at Precision 10:05 - The Role of Finance in Startups 11:07 - Mission-Driven Businesses in Health Sector 13:22 - Proactive Medicine and Personalization 14:15 - Transition from Samsung to VC and Operating Roles 17:08 - The Importance of Understanding Different Perspectives 19:13 - Mohammed's Transition to CEO at Precision 22:02 - The Decision to Take on the CEO Role 23:23 - The Balance Between Operator and Finance-Driven VCs 24:36 - The Complexities of Medical Device Startups 25:18 - The Multi-Stakeholder Model in Health Tech 27:27 - R&D and Commercialization in Regulated Businesses 28:54 - Innovate UK Grant and Funding R&D Businesses 31:25 - Tips for Securing Grants and Funding 33:02 - The Importance of Complementarity in Competitive Landscapes 35:28 - The Unique Challenges of Multi-Stakeholder Industries 37:47 - The Value of Grants Beyond Funding 39:10 - The Role of Validation in Fundraising 40:05 - Choosing the Right Grants and Using Consultants 42:03 - The Benefits of Multiple Assessors for Grants 43:11 - The Validation Aspect of Grants in Fundraising 44:02 - Keeping a Team Motivated and Malleable 45:22 - Where to Find Precision Cardiovascular Online Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, we delve into the world of tech bio with co-founders Nik Sharma and Mo Alomari from BioCortex. They discuss reflecting biology in silico, NASA-inspired strategies, and the importance of trust in co-founder relationships. Learn how BioCortex is revolutionizing therapeutic development with insights backed by Hoxton and Sofinova. Tune in for a deep dive into the intersection of technology and biotech with these innovative minds. 🕒 Time stamps - 01:01 - Introducing Guests Nick Sharma and Mo Al-Omari 01:55 - Emulation vs. Simulation in Tech Bio 02:16 - BioCortex: A Tech Bio Company Overview 02:27 - Founders' Backgrounds and Expertise 03:09 - BioCortex's Vision and Technology 03:33 - Personalizing Medication Efficacy with BioCortex 04:15 - Broader Applications of BioCortex Technology 04:31 - Carbon Knowledge and Carbon Mirror Technologies 05:03 - Emulation in Aerospace Applied to Biology 05:38 - Conceptualizing Human Biology for Drug Interaction 06:25 - Understanding Emulation and Simulation 07:04 - The Role of Bacteria in Drug Efficacy 07:34 - The Distinction Between Emulation and Simulation 08:34 - NASA's Use of Emulation 09:10 - The Importance of Understanding Mechanisms in Medicine 09:43 - The Reality of Drug Response Rates 10:21 - BioCortex's Approach to AI and Emulation 11:01 - The Co-Founders' Meeting and Collaboration 11:29 - The Genesis of BioCortex 12:00 - Addressing Motor Neurone Disease Communication 13:02 - The Evolution of Nick and Mo's Partnership 13:38 - The Challenge of Modeling Bacteria 14:02 - The Solution to Modeling Complex Biological Systems 14:58 - The Importance of Trust in Co-Founder Relationships 16:01 - The Dynamics of Co-Founder and VC Relationships 16:53 - Defining Tech Bio vs. Biotech 17:36 - Capital Efficiency and Growth Concerns 18:11 - Maintaining Culture and Focus in a Startup 19:08 - The Challenge of Diverse Disciplines in a Tech Bio Team 20:00 - The Impact of Remote Work on Team Dynamics 21:19 - The Importance of Security and Tools for Remote Work 22:04 - The Benefits of In-Person and Remote Work Balance 22:44 - The Diverse Expertise within the BioCortex Team 00:23:27 - The Future of Tech Bio and Biotech Industry Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah interviews Renan Devilliers, the founder of OSS Ventures, a startup studio focused on revolutionizing operations in organizations providing physical services. Renan shares insights from his journey, including founding Chance, a successful recruitment tech business, and the challenges he faced along the way. Tune in to hear about Renan's experiences at a Tesla factory, navigating business pivots, and the critical role of operations in the future of industries. ⏱️ Timestamps: 02:24 - Quick Fire Round with Renan 03:17 - OSS Ventures: Venture Builder Model 04:06 - Renan's Favorite Portfolio Companies 05:05 - Wine Preferences and Geographical Partisanship 05:35 - Renan's Journey and Departure from Chance 07:33 - Pivoting Business Model from Europe to Brazil 09:36 - Competitive Advantages of Different Countries 10:08 - OSS Ventures' Focus on Factory Operations 15:24 - Realization of Change in Manufacturing Space 18:03 - Sponsor Break: Emerge One 18:35 - Manufacturing Operations in the 21st Century 21:01 - Software's Role in Modern Manufacturing 23:39 - Personalized Medicine and Economic Value 24:43 - Trends in the Manufacturing and Operations Space 27:07 - Resilience as a Top CEO Priority 30:05 - Software Disruption in Textile Industry with Shein 32:07 - AI Trends in Physical Products and Processes 35:15 - Advice for Hardware Founders 36:56 - Sam Altman's Ambitious Funding Goals 37:44 - OSS Ventures' First Exit: Niagara Acquisition 38:49 - Closing Remarks and Contact Information Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, Aarish Shah interviews Francesco Perticarari, a general partner at Silicon Roundabout Ventures. Francesco discusses the shift from unicorns to titans in the tech industry, focusing on deep tech investments. Learn how deep tech involves integrating technology into risk and reward strategies for startups. ⏱️ Timestamps: 01:44 Deep tech investing in Europe.06:48 Defense tech company Green Jets.10:11 Deep tech investments and trends.13:22 The Future and the Cold War.19:31 Deep tech investment trends.19:41 Infrastructure in technology space.27:27 Defense and strategic supply chain.29:05 Manufacturing in tech ecosystem.33:15 The importance of collaboration.36:25 NATO and European defense collaboration.42:04 Innovation in developing economies.47:04 Building unconventional investment strategies.49:18 The changing landscape of venture.55:25 Deep tech investment strategies.58:14 Deep tech investing and passion.59:45 Attending tech events more often. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah chats with Jack Kuveke, the author of the newsletter Jabroni Capital and a fundraising coach. They discuss Jack's experience raising a $53 million ICO, his ventures in the crypto and gaming space in Serbia, and the ups and downs of the fundraising hype cycle. Tune in to unravel the fact from fiction in Jack's intriguing journey through the world of venture capital. ⏱️ Timestamps: 01:01 - Welcoming Jack Kuveke 01:11 - Jack's Background and Jabroni Capital 01:32 - Jack's Experience in Crypto and Gaming 02:04 - Quick Fire Questions with Jack 03:01 - Jack's Approach to Helping Startups 03:23 - Jack's Investment Interests 04:10 - Jack's Arrival in the Venture Ecosystem 04:58 - Jack's Early Crypto Adventures 05:30 - Jack's Involvement with Gaming Cryptocurrency 06:08 - Building a Crypto Community 07:09 - Jack's Role in the Crypto Company 08:01 - The ICO Boom and Community Growth 08:48 - The $53 Million ICO 09:47 - Jack's Pseudonym and Family Involvement 10:08 - Jack's Decision to Drop Out and Move to Serbia 11:01 - The Collapse of the Crypto Company 11:18 - Sponsor Break: Emerge One 11:50 - Jack's Return and New Beginnings 12:55 - The Reality of Startups and Failures 13:23 - Jack's Family Support and Investment 14:11 - The Nuance of Jabroni Capital 15:10 - Jack's Parents' Role in His Journey 16:11 - The Authenticity Behind Jabroni Capital 17:15 - The Future of Jabroni Capital 18:12 - The Value of Fun and Authenticity 19:16 - The Satirical Edge of Jabroni Capital 20:16 - The Importance of Storytelling in Fundraising 21:09 - The Art of the Pitch and Standing Out 22:15 - The Grind of the Current Fundraising Environment 23:10 - The Power of Narrative Over Numbers 24:02 - The Role of Humor in Building Relationships 25:09 - The Importance of Authenticity in Fundraising 26:26 - Jack's Day Job and Fundraising Insights 27:36 - Jack's Vision for Jabroni Capital's Expansion 28:09 - The Significance of Storytelling in Venture Capital 29:09 - The Current State of Fundraising and Advice for Founders 30:44 - The Shift in Fundraising Dynamics 31:15 - Tips for Founders to Stand Out During Fundraising 32:27 - The Lasting Impact of a Good Story 33:02 - The Importance of Authenticity and Personality in Pitches 34:06 - The Role of Humor in Memorable Pitches 35:15 - Where to Find Jack Online Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah interviews Charles Sidman, founder of ECS Capital Partners, a venture capital firm focusing on technology ventures with a positive impact. Charles shares his journey from academia to venture capital, discusses achieving an exit in six weeks, debates whether AI is becoming a cult, emphasizes the importance of diversity in systems, and delves into complexity science. Tune in for an insightful conversation on influencing the world through tech investments. 🕒 Time stamps - 01:01 - Guest Introduction: Charles Sidman 01:23 - Charles Sidman's Background and Transition to Venture Capital 01:55 - Topics of Discussion: AI, Diversity, and Angel Investing 02:06 - Quick Fire Round with Charles 03:24 - Charles' Investment Focus and Portfolio Companies 04:57 - Charles' Late Shift to Investing 05:16 - From Academia to Venture Capital 06:03 - Research vs. Investing in Ideas 06:49 - The Scientific Approach to Investing 07:34 - The Reality of Angel Investing 08:03 - The Longevity of Startups and Exits 08:38 - Positive Impact Investments and AI Skepticism 09:11 - AI as a Cult and Its Impact 10:03 - Anthropomorphizing AI and Its Consequences 11:03 - AI in Practical Scenarios 12:02 - The Turing Test and AI's Limitations 12:55 - The Future of AI and AGI 13:28 - AI's Four Key Issues 14:01 - Self-Driving Cars and AI's Limitations 15:27 - The Role of AI in Decision-Making 16:03 - The Angel Investment Landscape 17:01 - Complexity Science and Personalized Medicine 18:00 - The Future of Medicine: 5P Approach 19:05 - Personalized Education and AI 20:25 - The Role of AI in Education and Medicine 21:07 - Sponsor Break: Emerge One 21:20 - Tech's Role in Generalization vs. Personalization 22:01 - Venture Funding Trends and AI 22:31 - Medical Advances During the Pandemic 23:14 - Complexity Science Explained 24:09 - Personalization in Medicine 25:11 - The Diversity of Human Beings 26:03 - Personalized Education and AI's Potential 27:17 - The Need for Personalized Approaches 28:01 - 5P Medicine and Personalization 29:13 - Personalized Education and Technology's Role 30:05 - The Mismatch Between Education and Future Needs 31:05 - Personalization in Medicine and Education 32:02 - Crowdfunding as an Investment Avenue 33:24 - Angel Investing: Financial Returns vs. Other Rewards 34:08 - The Realities of Angel Investing 35:25 - Crowdfunding and Community Building 36:11 - Angel Investment Landscape in the US 37:17 - UK Legislation Impact on Angel Investing 38:12 - Crowdfunding and Inclusivity 39:17 - Crowdfunding as an Educational Tool 40:12 - The Role of Crowdfunding in Early Investment 41:11 - The Reality of Angel Investing Returns 42:07 - Crowdfunding's Limitations 43:33 - Crowdfunding for Personal Causes 44:48 - The Importance of Personal Connection in Investing 45:11 - The Role of Crowdfunding in Investment Education 46:00 - How to Connect with Charles Sidman Online Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah sits down with Monik Pham and Reem Mobassaleh, founding partners of PACT VC. PACT VC is an early stage VC fund that focuses on backing founders who are solving key issues facing future generations. The conversation covers topics such as the importance of diversity in founding a fund, the challenges of building a fund at a young age, and the integration of commercial and impact metrics in measuring success. Tune in to learn more about their journey and strategies for success in the venture capital world. 🕒 Time stamps - 01:01 - Introducing Guests Monique Pham and Reem Wyndham 01:44 - Founding a VC Fund as Women 02:10 - Guests' First Jobs and Early Career Paths 03:18 - Backgrounds Before Founding PACT VC 04:21 - Decision to Launch PACT VC 05:04 - PACT VC's Investment Themes: ABCs 06:11 - Geographical Focus of Investments 06:38 - Recent Investments and Exciting Startups 09:17 - Diversity in Venture Capital and PACT VC's Approach 11:09 - Cognitive Diversity and Team Dynamics 12:03 - Performance Over Gender in VC 13:13 - Supporting Portfolio Companies in Hiring Diverse Talent 14:23 - LPs Investing in Diverse Allocators 17:08 - The Importance of Backing Quality and Diverse GPs 19:14 - Encouraging LPs to Invest in Diverse Managers 21:23 - The Risk of Regression in LP Investments 22:17 - Sponsor Break: Emerge One 22:48 - Concerns About the Future of Diverse Fund Management 24:31 - The Journey of Founding PACT VC 27:09 - The Role of Diversity in Building a VC Fund 29:43 - The Origin Story of PACT VC 31:08 - The Decision to Raise a Fund Together 32:25 - Challenges Faced Since Starting PACT VC 34:11 - The Importance of Team Dynamics in VC 35:38 - Preparing and Validating the Fund's Thesis 37:23 - The Emotional Side of Raising a Fund 38:06 - The Decision to Found PACT VC 39:29 - The ABC Investment Thesis and Impact Metrics 41:08 - Aligning Impact Metrics with Growth Targets 42:14 - The Story of Two Brown Boys 43:21 - The Importance of Co-Founder Fit 44:56 - The Nuances of Founding and Co-Founding 46:10 - The ABC Thesis and Stakeholder Returns 47:14 - Impact Metrics and Commercial Returns 48:08 - Case Study: Insurtech Company Impact 49:06 - Aligning Impact with Business Growth 50:21 - Founder Values and Mission-Driven Businesses 51:39 - Addressing Underrepresented Markets Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of search engines and how they have evolved over the years. Join us as we discuss the impact of AI on search algorithms, the changing landscape of search engines, and the quest to reinvent search. Our guest, Massimiliano Magrini, shares his insights as a former manager for AltaVista and Google, and sheds light on the role of search engines in putting technology in the hands of consumers. We also explore the globalization of technology, the importance of interconnected ecosystems, and the serendipity that leads to innovation. Don't miss this insightful conversation on the power of search engines and their influence on the tech industry. 🕒 Time stamps - 02:43 - Background and Experience of Massimiliano Magrini04:32 - The Evolution of Search Engines and their Impact on the Tech and Venture Ecosystem07:44 - The Role of the US as a Consolidator of Innovation and the Need for European IPOs09:05 - Challenges of Attracting Traditional Corporations to Startups in Europe11:38 - The Lack of Late-Stage Funding and Growth Venture-Oriented Players in Europe13:39 - The Mismatch Between Policy and Private Capital in Europe15:32 - The Importance of Harmonized Legislation and Best Practices for US-Europe Cooperation18:14 - The Italian Government's Efforts to Support Innovation and Startups20:23 - The Need for Adequate Capital Availability for Italian Startups21:17 - The Talent Pool in Italy and the Importance of Connecting National Ecosystems24:41 - Lessons from the Book "Fori da Greggia" and the Concept of Serendipity in Innovation26:35 - Balancing Capital and Founder DNA in the Venture Capital Industry29:06 - Encouraging a Culture of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Europe32:57 - The Role of Personal Experience and Education in Fostering Entrepreneurial Mindset Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah sits down with Harry Slagel and Lucy Adams, the co-founders of Martee's. Martee's is a business focused on improving convenience food globally by applying AI to retail technology. They have built a network of smart retail units across London and are using the data collected to develop an AI demand forecasting product. Harry and Lucy share their experiences and insights into their journey as entrepreneurs in the food tech industry. Tune in to learn more about their innovative approach and the future of convenience food. 🕒 Time stamps - 01:11 - Introduction to Harry Slagel and Lucy Adams, co-founders of Martee's02:25 - Discussion on launching a business during lockdown and the challenges faced07:33 - Harry's journey with PlateAway and the decision to exit11:10 - Lucy's background and how she became a co-founder of Martee's13:21 - The co-founding journey of Harry and Lucy and their complementary skills20:35 - The initial product set of Martee's and the focus on smart fridges22:05 - The pivot to demand forecasting and the goal of balancing availability and waste26:41 - Future plans for Martee's and the development of their forecasting tool28:58 - The potential for expanding the tool to different verticals30:35 - The timeliness of Martee's solution in the current market conditions33:26 - The benefits of working with accelerators and incubators like Founders Factory and Nesta36:02 - The support and guidance provided by accelerators in the early stages of a business39:41 - The importance of having experienced investors and advisors in the early stages41:34 - The decision to respond to Harry's LinkedIn post and join Martee's42:29 - Conclusion and where to find Harry and Lucy online Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah interviews Nader Sabbaghian, a GP at 360 Capital, a venture capital firm based in Paris and Milan. Nader shares his experience as an operator and discusses his transition from McKinsey to joining a startup. They also delve into topics such as early-stage investing, deep tech, and digital enterprises. Tune in to gain insights into the world of venture capital and the mindset of successful entrepreneurs. 🕒 Time stamps - 01:01 - Introduction of Nader Sabogian and his background 03:00 - Nader's decision to join 360 Capital 04:09 - Overview of 360 Capital and its investment focus 04:49 - Discussion of three companies invested in by 360 Capital 06:16 - Quick fire round with Nader 09:30 - Transition to main episode 10:02 - Nader's experience during the dot-com boom in Italy 12:00 - Comparison of startup doctrine then and now 17:48 - Pivot from marketplace to SaaS at Bravo Solution 25:36 - Discussion of the challenges and benefits of SaaS 34:51 - Challenges of investing in the UK and the state of the European ecosystem 38:00 - Optimistic outlook for the future of startups and investment 47:12 - Predictions for the next 12 to 24 months in the ecosystem 52:07 - Shift in investment strategy at 360 Capital 53:21 - Focus on deep tech and climate tech investments 54:05 - Opportunities in generative AI and climate tech Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah speaks with Duncan Clark, co-founder and CEO of Flourish. Duncan shares his journey of building Flourish, a platform that empowers users to create engaging data stories. He discusses the acquisition of Flourish by Canva and his role as Europe lead at Canva. They also delve into topics such as taking optional capital, dealing with acquisition offers, and the importance of building things that don't scale initially. Tune in to gain insights into the world of venture capital and the power of storytelling with data. 🕒 Time stamps - Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of the Nothing Ventured Primer, host Aarish Shah interviews Duncan Clark, co-founder and CEO of Flourish. Duncan shares insights about his journey in the tech and venture ecosystem, as well as the mission of Flourish to empower storytelling with data. The episode also highlights the acquisition of Flourish by Canva and Duncan's current role as Europe lead at Canva. Tune in to learn more about Duncan's background and his efforts in driving Canva's growth across the continent. 🕒 Time stamps - 01:08 - Guest Introduction: Duncan Clark02:00 - Duncan's Early Career02:35 - Transition to Environmental Publishing03:05 - The Guardian and Data Journalism03:15 - Founding Flourish04:17 - The Evolution of Web Graphics05:27 - The Birth of Flourish as a Business05:56 - The Appeal of Data Visualization06:24 - The Shift to Interactive Visual Journalism07:59 - The Agency Model and Flourish's Beginnings08:32 - Flourish's Acquisition by Canva09:05 - Canva's Mission and Growth10:23 - Canva as a Visual Work Suite12:42 - Exciting Developments in Data Visualization14:11 - The Impact of AI on Canva15:11 - The Trend of Tool Consolidation16:17 - Closing Remarks and Future Features Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, Aarish Shah interviews Adam Liska, co-founder and CEO of Glyphic. They discuss the power of AI co-pilots in helping sales teams increase productivity and effectiveness. Adam shares his experience as a research scientist at Spotify and DeepMind, and how it led him to start Glyphic. They also explore the potential of large language models and the universal interface of language. Tune in to learn more about scaling models and the impact of data remixing. 🕒 Time stamps - 01:22 - Adam Liska's Background and Glyphic02:04 - Topics for Today's Episode02:14 - Aarish's Interest in AI and Tech02:35 - Adam's Extensive Background in AI02:57 - Evolution of AI in Recent Years03:17 - Factors Contributing to AI's Rapid Pace04:10 - The Role of GPUs and Data in AI Progress04:49 - Surprising Speed of AI Model Scaling05:01 - Machine Learning Models and Moore's Law05:22 - Transition from Games to Language in AI06:02 - Language as a Universal Interface06:54 - Remixing Data and Intelligence07:14 - Human Intelligence and Experience07:45 - Protein Folding and Public Interest in AI08:06 - Prompt Engineers and Language Skills08:47 - The Future of Prompt Engineering09:12 - Language as an Interface for AI09:59 - AI Predictions and Human Decision-Making10:39 - AI's Ability to Predict and Augment Decisions11:10 - The Role of Data in AI Applications11:37 - Data Privacy and Training AI Models12:06 - Remixing Data and Novel Ideas12:58 - Intelligence in AI and Remixing Experiences13:45 - AI Predictions and CFO Insights14:10 - AI and Human Intelligence Comparison14:46 - Glyphic's Approach to Revenue Teams15:43 - The Challenge of Data Integration16:04 - Data Privacy and Model Training16:58 - Public Data and AI Training17:28 - The Impact of Public Data on Business Differentiation18:09 - Using AI for Targeted Business Insights18:30 - Mustafa Suleyman's New Turing Test19:01 - Principles of the Modern Turing Test19:50 - Autonomous Agents and Revenue Teams20:45 - The Future of Autonomous Agents21:09 - Data Challenges for AI Integration21:53 - Data Privacy and AI Training22:14 - The Importance of Data Quality22:52 - Enterprise Data as the Next AI Frontier23:13 - Building Integrations and Ingesting Data23:39 - Data Anonymity and AI Training24:19 - Mustafa Suleyman's Updated Turing Test24:51 - The Modern Turing Test and AI in the Real World25:42 - The Chinese Room Argument26:36 - AI's Ability to Act in the Real World27:09 - The Role of Humans in AI-Driven Tasks27:45 - The Future of AI and Human Jobs28:30 - Regulation and Safe Deployment of AI29:01 - The Original Turing Test and Its Relevance29:42 - The Chinese Room Thought Experiment30:15 - AI Acting in the Real World31:09 - The Modern Turing Test: AI as an Entrepreneur31:55 - AI's Potential in E-commerce32:53 - The Role of AI in B2B SaaS33:35 - Human-AI Collaboration Experiments34:17 - The Future of Autonomous AI Agents35:09 - The Impact of AI on Society35:41 - AI Optimism and the Future of Work36:19 - The Importance of AI Regulation37:17 - Gradual Deployment of AI Models38:06 - Closing Remarks and Where to Find Adam Liska Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of the Nothing Ventured Primer, I had the pleasure of speaking with Adam Liska, the co-founder and CEO of Glyphic, a company that's revolutionizing the way sales teams operate with AI-driven task automation and personalized pre-meeting briefs. Before diving into the entrepreneurial world, Adam honed his skills as a research scientist at Spotify and later at DeepMind, where he worked on projects like protein folding and large language models (LLMs).Adam shared his journey from his early days as a paper boy to becoming a software engineer with a focus on machine learning, even before the deep learning revolution took off. His move to found Glyphic was driven by the desire to create a product that could make a real impact and the serendipitous partnership with a colleague from DeepMind who became his co-founder.Glyphic stands out by tapping into the vast amounts of underutilized data within sales teams, structuring it to inform strategic decisions and augment day-to-day operations. Adam explained how Glyphic's AI assistant can summarize key points from sales calls, identify customer pain points, and provide actionable insights, all of which are already being used by several organizations.We also discussed the challenges of starting up outside of a big tech company, the importance of moving at the right pace, and the dynamics of having two technical co-founders. Adam believes that if he hadn't started Glyphic, he'd still be at DeepMind, working on large language models and possibly developing a research assistant for academics.As for the future of AI, Adam highlighted three trends: the need for better evaluation of increasingly complex AI models, the search for new data sources as we exhaust easily available data, and the development of AI models that can perform actions autonomously.Adam's insights into the AI space and his vision for Glyphic were truly enlightening. It's clear that the intersection of AI and sales is ripe for innovation, and Glyphic is at the forefront of this transformation. I'm looking forward to delving deeper into these topics in the main podcast episode. 🕒 Time stamps - 01:08 - Introducing Guest Adam Liska01:50 - Adam's First Job and Entry into AI03:09 - Founding Glyphic and the Co-founder Story04:36 - Building Slowly in Big Tech vs Startups05:24 - The Technical Co-founder Dynamic07:13 - Adam's Alternate Career Path08:05 - The Concept of Research Assistants09:32 - What is Glyphic?11:58 - Glyphic's Market Presence and Funding13:33 - AI Trends: Evaluation, Data, and Autonomous Agents16:06 - AI Accessibility for Non-Technical Users17:14 - Voice Chat with AI and Future Possibilities18:03 - Closing Remarks and Thanks Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of the Nothing Ventured podcast, host Aarish Shah interviews Clara Armand-Delille, the founder of Third Eye Media. Clara shares her insights and expertise in strategic communications, media relations, marketing, and branding for startups, scale-ups, and VCs.The discussion begins with a comparison of PR strategies for corporates, startups, and VC funds. Clara highlights the proactive nature of corporate PR, while startups focus on breaking into the news and generating a footprint. VC funds, on the other hand, work on building their brand, profiling partners, and promoting their portfolio investments.The conversation then delves into the challenges startups face in the current funding landscape. Clara advises startups to invest in their initial launch, hire professionals if needed, and distill their unique value proposition. She also emphasizes the importance of celebrating smaller milestones and leveraging guest posting to sustain a brand presence.The podcast explores the oversaturation of press and the need for startups and VCs to differentiate themselves. Clara suggests bridging the language gap early and targeting specific media outlets to showcase expertise and gain visibility. She also discusses the importance of building relationships with journalists and leveraging trends in the industry.The episode concludes with a discussion on scaling from Europe to the US and the lack of repeat entrepreneurship in Europe. Clara advises startups to bridge the linguistic gap, secure coverage in English media, and use PR to position themselves as industry leaders.Overall, the episode provides valuable insights into PR strategies for startups, scale-ups, and VCs, highlighting the importance of differentiation, media relationships, and sustained brand presence. 👂 Listen to the Primer / Main Episode here - https://youtu.be/-TM2pCeVYhs 🕒 Time stamps - 02:15 - Different Approaches to PR for Corporates, Startups, and VCs09:12 - Distilling the Investment Thesis and Differentiating in the Market13:11 - Balancing PR and Execution for Startups15:46 - Avoiding Oversaturation of Press Coverage19:38 - Leveraging Guest Posting to Build Brand and Sustain Footprint22:20 - The Challenge of Scaling from Europe to the US28:22 - Differentiating VCs in a Crowded Market32:23 - Bridging the Linguistic Gap for European Startups35:55 - Tips for Startups and VCs in PR Strategy38:18 - Conclusion and Contact Information Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of the Nothing Ventured Primer, host Aarish Shah interviews Clara Armand de Lille, the founder of Third Eye Media. Clara shares her background in PR and communications, including her experience working at Google and iZettle. She discusses the importance of PR in the tech and venture ecosystem and how Third Eye Media helps startups, scale-ups, and VCs with strategic communications, media relations, marketing, and branding. Clara also highlights three trends she is excited about in the media landscape: the growing understanding of PR in Europe, social media's impact on brand accountability, and the continued importance of traditional media outlets in the face of fake news. Overall, the episode provides valuable insights into the world of PR and its role in the tech industry. 🕒 Time stamps - 00:00 - Introduction and Sponsorship01:51 - Clara's First Job and Interest in PR03:14 - Clara's Career Before Tech and Venture Ecosystem04:11 - Clara's Experience at Google and the Growth of the PR Team06:05 - Clara's Move to Founding Third Eye Media08:01 - Clara's Move to Lisbon and Trendsetting10:00 - Clara's Alternative Career Paths10:35 - Overview of Third Eye Media and Target Clients11:18 - Third Eye Media's Multilingual and Multi-Market Approach12:20 - Challenges and Opportunities in the Media Landscape13:26 Trends in PR and Media: Europe's Understanding of PR, Social Media's Impact on Brands, and the Importance of Traditional Media Outlets18:40 - Battling Misinformation on Social Media Platforms19:33 - Conclusion and Thank You Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of the podcast "Nothing Ventured with Aarish Shah," Matthew Stafford, co-founder of Nine Others, discusses the importance of building a safe space for founders to share their challenges and learn from each other. He explains that the goal of Nine Others is to bring together small groups of entrepreneurs in a casual and intimate environment to discuss the issues they face. Stafford also talks about his own experiences as an angel investor and the value of building a network before it is needed. 👂 Listen to the Primer / Main Episode here - • Matthew Stafford: Unveiling the World... 🕒 Time stamps - 02:50 Safe space for founders to share 06:32 Diverse founders share valuable insights. 07:58 Lessons from diverse business experiences. 13:21 Build your network before you need it. 16:03 Build relationships with no expectations. 21:14 Value of personal connections. 24:33 Founder-product fit is crucial. 28:21 Don't invest in first-time pitches. 33:46 Invest in people, not just cash. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this podcast, host Aarish Shah interviews Matthew Stafford, co-founder of Nine Others. Stafford shares his background in angel investing and his experience hosting dinners for entrepreneurs. He also discusses his first job as a beater on a pheasant shoot and the lessons he learned from that experience. Overall, the podcast provides insights into Stafford's journey in the tech and venture ecosystem. 🕒 Time stamps - 02:05 First job: Pheasant beater on a farm. 07:17 Building a supportive network for founders. 10:54 Support and connect startup founders. 13:46 Ambitious companies with global impact. 19:39 Twitter has potential as an "everything app." Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The podcast discusses the evolving venture capital landscape, with a focus on B2B enterprise software. Josh Bell explains how venture capital has become an established asset class, attracting interest from institutional investors. He also touches on the differentiation between category-defining enterprise software businesses and those that may be less impactful in the market. 🕒 Time stamps - 02:52 Venture capital is a maturing asset class. 09:10 Emerging managers can still succeed. 11:14 Capital is available for emerging businesses. 18:57 Diversity leads to better investment decisions. 22:07 Women tend to stick things out longer in their careers. 27:33 Profitability not essential for Series A. 🔗 Josh's links - LinkedIn - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/joshbell Twitter/X - https://twitter.com/joshbell Web - https://dawncapital.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of the podcast, host Aarish Shah interviews Josh Bell, one of the founding and general partners at Dawn Capital. They discuss Josh's background, including his time at McKinsey, and his decision to start Dawn Capital. Despite the challenges of raising funds during the 2007 financial crisis, Dawn Capital has been successful in investing in early-stage businesses in the B2B software industry. 🕒 Time stamps - 00:04:37 Venture investing requires different skills. 00:05:24 Dawn has evolved into a successful business. 00:10:14 Classic journeys and exciting investments. 🔗 Josh's links - LinkedIn - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/joshbell Twitter/X - https://twitter.com/joshbell Web - https://dawncapital.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this transcript of a podcast episode, host Aarish Shah interviews Antonio Avitabile, the Managing Director for Sony Ventures Corporation in Europe. They discuss the shift in Sony's investment approach, moving from off-balance sheet investments to a more formalized fund structure. Avitabile explains that the shift was driven by the need for speed and the challenge of convincing engineers within the company to buy into external technologies. The goal of Sony Ventures is not just to find technologies that Sony can potentially acquire or use, but also to generate returns for their LPs. 🕒 Time stamps - 00:02:28 Shift from off-balance sheet to traditional fund structure. 00:07:24 Investing in deep tech requires upfront capital and a longer time horizon. 00:12:52 Cultural barriers hinder Italian startups. 00:18:24 Deep tech investment has high risk and high potential. 00:24:29 Investing in African creativity and building partnerships. 00:30:15 Invest in African innovation now. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this podcast, Aarish Shah interviews Antonio Avitabile, the Managing Director for Sony Ventures Corporation. Antonio has over 20 years of experience with Sony and has a background in electrical engineering. He discusses his journey from being an engineer at Philips to finding a new business for image sensors at Sony. Antonio shares the challenges they faced when proposing the idea of integrating image sensors into mobile phones but ultimately succeeded with the support of Nokia, Ericsson, and eventually Apple. He also talks about his transition to the venture ecosystem and how he started scouting for innovative startups in Europe. 🕒 Time stamps - 00:04:13 Investing in startups for competitiveness. 00:06:17 Investing in deep tech ventures. 00:13:07 Deep tech companies have transformative potential. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fatou and Stephanie discuss their venture debt fund, Bootstrap Europe, which provides growth debt to scale up businesses. They explain that venture debt is not loss funding but rather a form of growth funding that allows entrepreneurs to grow their businesses without diluting equity. They also highlight their ability to acquire SVB's German debt portfolio, despite being considered underdogs in the industry. 🕒 Time stamps - 02:00 Long-lasting friendship turned successful business partnership. 10:24. Complementary skills lead to success. 12:19 Venture debt is growth funding. 16:07 Venture debt is a risky option. 23:20. Venture lending is a long-term partnership. 28:06 Opportunity seized through strategic expertise. 31:43 Agile, innovative, entrepreneurial success. 37:06 Venture debt market growing in Europe. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The podcast episode features guests Fatou Diagne and Stephanie Heller, co-founders of Bootstrap Europe, a venture debt fund. Fatou and Stephanie discuss their first jobs, which include working at McDonald's and tutoring math. Before getting involved in the tech and venture ecosystem, Fatou helped set up a weather insurance company, while Stephanie worked for family offices in Zurich advising on direct investments. 🕒 Time stamps - 01:12 Venture debt funds support growth. 07:14 Venture debt fills market gap. 15:10 Exciting opportunities in venture debt. 15:28 Liquid biopsy company using AI. 20:45 RNA innovation driving problem-solving. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This podcast episode features Sam Beni, the founder of Platin, a platform that uses AI to curate networking connections. Sam shares his journey as a refugee from Iran to the UK and how he had to navigate the challenges of being without legal status for four years. He also discusses his experience as an entrepreneur, living on his office couch for three years and the complexity of AI in systems. The episode concludes with a discussion on separating the social from social media at Platin. 🕒 Time stamps - 02:38 Overcoming adversity through entrepreneurship. 09:55. Migrant founders embrace entrepreneurship for survival. 14:07 Entrepreneurship requires a mindset shift. 18:22. Tech Nation lost funding, but Tech Nation 2.0 is coming back. 25:15 UK government's mixed approach 26:47 The online safety bill and complex AI. 32:43 The internet is becoming corrupted. 40:28 Empower individuals with decentralized AI. 43:25 Web3 is a marketing buzz. 🔗 Sam's links - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-beni Web - https://joinplatin.ai/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The host introduces Sam Beni, the founder of Platin, and discusses his background in car design and his interest in technology. Sam talks about his early internships and how he got into entrepreneurship. He also mentions his passion for politics and speculates that he might have pursued a career in politics if not for his involvement in the venture ecosystem. 🕒 Time stamps - 01:51 Passion for design led to entrepreneurship. 07:50 Creating access to global networks. 12:25 Technologies of the future: AI, quantum computing, convergence. 🔗 Sam's links - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-beni Web - https://joinplatin.ai/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this podcast episode, hosts Aarish Shah interviews Dom and Elliot Chapman, the founders of Chapman Capital. They discuss the process of acquiring and scaling boutique agencies, as well as lessons learned from previous ventures. The Chapmans highlight the importance of aligning founders' values during acquisitions and maintaining unity despite private disagreements. They also share their approach to due diligence and the specific case of their acquisition of Speak On Podcasts, a B2B sales and marketing agency. 🕒 Time stamps - 04:49 Acquiring distressed businesses for growth. 09:04 Agencies can increase net profit. 10:26 Easier to start agency than tech startup. 16:07 Building a business takes time. 21:22 Scaling agencies requires strategic integration. 27:05 Importance of founder alignment 33:27 Trust and alignment in business. 35:24 Importance of mutual agreement and communication Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this podcast episode, Aarish Shah interviews Dom and Elliot Chapman, founders of Chapman Capital. They discuss their background and how they got involved in the tech and venture ecosystem. Dom shares his experience working in an IT management consultancy after being involved in soccer coaching, while Elliot talks about his first job selling ice creams and later working in the family business. They also mention their previous business, Social Chaps, a B2B sales and marketing agency. The episode is sponsored by Odin, a platform that helps raise and deploy capital for angels, VCs, and founders. 🕒 Time stamps - 01:06 Brothers Dom and Elliot Chapman founded Chapman Capital, a company that acquires and scales boutique agencies. 08:41 Entrepreneurship born from personal challenges. 11:21 Building relationships through data automation. 17:23 Support for agency owners' pain. 23:39 Flexibility in business strategy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rosie provides insights into Lightpace VC, an emerging fund focused on financial inclusion and climate tech in Europe and major African markets. The fund looks for pre-seed and seed stage startups that are solving real-life problems, particularly in the field of climate technology. The podcast emphasizes the importance of African founders tackling significant challenges affecting millions of people. 🕒 Time stamps - 04:00 Investing in impactful startups.07:56 Tech solutions can promote financial inclusion. 🔗 Rosie's links - LinkedIn - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/rosie-olympio-650b3b127 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of the Nothing Ventured podcast, host Aarish Shah interviews Shruti Ajisaria, a partner at Allen & Overy, about her journey in the legal tech industry. Shruti discusses her experience as a derivatives lawyer, her pivot to creating Fuse, Allen & Overy's legal tech incubator, and the changing landscape of the legal industry. She also talks about her participation in a business start-up course while on maternity leave and how it motivated her to bring a legacy industry into the modern age. 👂 Listen to the Primer here: https://youtu.be/6ACPk8rJ35A 🕒 Time stamps - 02:24 Legacy industry transformed through innovation. 05:08 Law firm started innovation incubator. 09:49 Take risks and shoot your shot. 14:30 Resistance to change in legal tech. 21:11 Future of legal profession uncertain. 27:03 Investing in startups is time-intensive. 28:12 Investing in mature, growing companies. 32:52 Regulation is changing rapidly. 🔗 Shruti's links - LinkedIn - t.ly/DjRLp Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Aarish Shah welcomes Shruti Ajitsaria to the podcast to discuss her role as the head of FUSE at Allen & Overy. They talk about Shruti's background as a derivatives lawyer and how her maternity leave sparked her interest in doing something different within the law firm. FUSE was created to bridge the gap between traditional law firms and legal tech startups, allowing lawyers to have a say in the development of innovative solutions. 🕒 Time stamps - 04:11 FUSE connects law firms and legal tech startups. 04:56 Encouraging innovation in legacy industries. 🔗 Shruti's links - LinkedIn - t.ly/DjRLp Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The discussion in this podcast episode centers around the geographical location of Oklahoma and how it is categorized within the US. The term "mid-continent" is used to describe the region, which has a significant presence in the oil and gas industry. Nathaniel Harding emphasizes the importance of recognizing the uniqueness of the mid-continent as a market and how Cortado Ventures leverages their experience and expertise in the region to make strategic investments. 🕒 Time stamps - 03:22 Oklahoma is considered part of the mid-continent region due to its unique characteristics and the dominance of the oil and gas industry. 10:26 Venture capital scene in Oklahoma is developing. 10:57 Massive growth in venture capital. 20:34 Building local businesses attracts investors. 23:06 Military mindset benefits startups. 27:32 Decline of business plans in startups. 34:46 VC industry is relationship-driven. 🔗 Nathaniel's links - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanielharding Twitter/X - https://twitter.com/nat_harding Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nat_harding/ Web - https://www.cortado.ventures Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nathaniel Harding, managing partner of Cortado Ventures, joins Aarish Shah on the Nothing Ventured podcast to discuss his career journey. Nathaniel shares that his first job was delivering mail at his boarding school and emphasizes the importance of accuracy and consistency. Before getting involved in tech and venture, Nathaniel founded and led Antioch Energy, a technology-focused energy exploration company. He explains how his experience in the energy industry, working with technology and outside capital, and witnessing the convergence of technology and legacy industries led him to venture capital. Nathaniel shares his passion for investing in innovative companies and being part of the underwriting side of technological advancements. 🕒 Time stamps - 03:44 Tech and venture in oil. 05:44 Investment firm focuses on deep tech energy startups. 11:03 NuView mentioned by Mac Ventures. 🔗 Nathaniel's links - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanielharding Twitter/X - https://twitter.com/nat_harding Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nat_harding/ Web - https://www.cortado.ventures Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this podcast episode, the Aarish is at the Dream Factory in Chance Street for the London Venture Capital Network drinks event. They interview Dan Pandeni-Inhenga, an investor at 1818 Venture Capital and the founder of the London Venture Capital Network. They discuss Dan's background, his work in startup investment consulting, and his role at 1818. They also talk about the London Venture Capital Network and its mission to make venture capital more accessible. Dan mentions some of the investments he is excited about in the 1818 portfolio. 🕒 Time stamps - 03:41 Venture capital accessibility is key. 06:36 Investing in innovative companies. 🔗 Dan's links - LinkedIn - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/danidhenga Twitter/X - https://twitter.com/DanIdhenga Web -https://www.danidhenga.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of the podcast "Nothing Ventured," host Aarish Shah and guest Martin discuss the topic of inclusivity, particularly in relation to disabilities. They explore why disabilities often get ignored or downplayed in discussions about inclusivity, noting historical and cultural factors. Martin shares his perspective as someone with spinal muscular atrophy and talks about the medical and social models of disability. He highlights the need to move away from the perception of disability being about segregation and charity, and instead focus on inclusion and understanding. 🕒 Time stamps - 01:45 Disabilities often overlooked in inclusivity discussions. 08:05 Increased possibilities for disabled individuals. 14:13 Language matters for inclusion. 17:23 Disability is about societal barriers. 23:45 Opportunities for profit in disability-focused entrepreneurship. 🔗 Martyn's links - LinkedIn - t.ly/VbJDH Twitter - https://twitter.com/martynsibley Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/martynsibley Web - https://www.martynsibley.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Martin Sibley, co-founder of Accomable and founder of Purple Goat Agency, is interviewed by Aarish Shah on the Nothing Ventured Primer podcast. They discuss Martin's career journey, his motivation to create accessible travel options, and his current work connecting brands to the global disability market. Martin shares his personal experiences as a wheelchair user and his mission to promote inclusivity for disabled individuals. 🕒 Time stamps - 01:10 Making travel more accessible. 08:39 Disability inclusion in marketing. 11:03 Accessible travel innovations empower individuals. 🔗 Martyn's links - LinkedIn - t.ly/VbJDH Twitter - https://twitter.com/martynsibley Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/martynsibley Web - https://www.martynsibley.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Aarish welcomes Julio Martinez, founder of Abacom, in this episode of Nothing Ventured. They dive into the topic of the ideal CFO tech stack and its significance for finance teams. Julio, drawing on his 20+ years of experience in finance, outlines the essential components of the ideal stack. He stresses the importance of laying a strong foundation with an ERP system, such as QuickBooks or NetSuite, and automating processes like payroll and spend management. Julio also emphasizes the need for integration with operational KPIs to provide valuable insights for finance teams. 🕒 Time stamps - 02:49 Ideal CFO tech stack: ERP, payroll provider, spend management, accounts payables, accounts receivables. 07:56 Invest in technology for finance. 15:59 Excel is here to stay. 18:29 Excel and new tools coexist. 22:18 Understanding business drives impact. 30:54 CFO tech is becoming popular. 33:11 CFO tech is lagging behind. 38:53 LinkedIn is essential for finance professionals. 🔗 Julio's links - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejuliomartinez Twitter/X - https://twitter.com/JULIOMARTINEZG Web - https://www.abacum.io/ 🔗 Aarish's Links - https://linktr.ee/adsinuk Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The podcast features Julio Martinez, the founder of Abacom, who talks about his journey from working in finance to building fintech products. Julio shares his experience as a bartender at a young age and how it taught him valuable customer service skills. He also discusses the trigger that led him to start building startups and his passion for solving the pain points in the finance industry. 🕒 Time stamps - 02:20 Transitioning from finance to tech. 06:15 Finance teams need to be empowered. 11:06 Data quality is essential for finance. 17:22 Smart capital is crucial for growth. 🔗 Julio's links - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejuliomartinez Twitter/X - https://twitter.com/JULIOMARTINEZG 🔗 Aarish's Links - https://linktr.ee/adsinuk Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of the Nothing Ventured podcast, host Aarish Shah interviews Mark Kleyner, the co-founder of Dream VC. They discuss building capacity in the venture ecosystem in Africa, the challenges faced by startups and VCs in Africa, and why Kleyner and his co-founder launched Dream VC. The episode also touches on Kleyner's background and experiences in various emerging markets. 👂 Listen to the Primer here - https://youtu.be/eWl6bCsIgHw 🕒 Time stamps - 02:51 Building resilience through diverse experiences. 06:29 Contrasting experiences shape perspectives. 10:07 Investors should support African tech. 14:33 Investment gap in African market. 20:07 Building African venture ecosystem with African investors. 26:47 Education is key for innovation. 30:04 Educate yourself on African tech. 34:20 Reach out to Mark Kleyner. 🔗 Mark's links - LinkedIn - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/markkleyner Twitter/X - https://twitter.com/markkleyner Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/markkleyner/ Dream VC - https://www.dream-vc.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of the Nothing Ventured Primer, Aarish interviews Mark Kleyner, the co-founder of Dream VC. Mark shares his background as an entrepreneur, ecosystem builder, and early-stage investor in emerging markets. He discusses his experience in research and consulting before diving into the tech and venture ecosystem. Tune in to learn more about Mark's journey and insights into the African investment landscape. This episode is sponsored by Odin, a platform that helps angels, VCs, and founders raise and deploy capital seamlessly. https://www.joinodin.com/ 🕒 Time stamps - 03:11 Moving into venture consulting. 04:16 Building startups and adrenaline junkie. 07:08 VC bubble idea. 10:05 VCs fundraising as much as founders. 14:04 African focused investors. 16:09 VC space revamp. 19:43 East Asian and South Asian funds. 🔗 Mark's links - LinkedIn - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/markkleyner Twitter/X - https://twitter.com/markkleyner Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/markkleyner/ Dream VC - https://www.dream-vc.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Lessons To Learn Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

🕒 Time stamps - Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

🕒 Time stamps - 01:07 Eleanor Kaye (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q83n5lnRRhA) 06:47 Emmie Faust (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwtjL3I0Hto) 12:23 Agata Nowicka (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnwbA1UcUpk) 16:39 Anishka Prasad (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEb_e5Ng0Xs) 22:28 Andy Ayim (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIYFnBJI0Mo) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this highlights episode, we'll take a look back at all our friends from across the pond since the beginning of the year. You'll hear from Adam Besvinick and his journey to launching his fund Looking Glass; Brett Martin live and direct from Costa Rica talking about Charge ventures; Michael Palank, General Partner at MaC Ventures talking diversity, Los Angeles and spacetech; Daniel Glazer, Managing Partner of the London office of WSGR on launching in the US and Zecca Lehn on raising Resposibly Ventures and why you don't have to sacrifice returns even if you're building in the impact space. 🕒 Time stamps - 00:38 Adam Besvinick (https://youtu.be/vifBiUrRL-o) 08:19 Brett Martin (https://youtu.be/Q7sz8pye330) 15:54 Michael Palank (https://youtu.be/yvltYpMiO50) 22:04 Daniel Glazer (https://youtu.be/JRL_HI_bPpA) 30:25 Zecca Lehn (https://youtu.be/JdYgsUmt4K8) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Matt Jonns is the founder & CEO of Founder and Lightning. Founder and Lightning have helped build over 30 companies in the last 8 years and have a portfolio valuation of £100m+ 👂 Listen to the Primer / Main Episode here - 🕒 Time stamps - 0:00 - Intro - Who is Matt Jonns? 01:06 - Tell me about Founder + Lightning and what it does. 02:32 - What was Matt's first job? 03:04 - What was Matt doing before he got into the tech ecosystem? 04:29 - How did you get into building Founder + Lightning? 05:47 - What kind of founders does Matt work with, and what sectors does he focus on? 08:07 - Is Matt looking for venture-scale small businesses, or does he prefer smaller exits? 10:57 - What are some of the challenges and misconceptions founders face when chasing unicorn valuations? 13:31 - Are there any ventures that Matt is really excited about inside or outside your portfolio? 17:32 - What are the most common mistakes made by non-technical founders when building their startups? 19:08 - How do you address the challenge of founders spending too much money on MVPs and taking too long to launch? 21:03 - What advice does Matt give to founders about building successful products, especially when big corporates can create their own versions? 21:23 - What mistakes do many founders make when developing their solutions, and what should they focus on instead? 22:07 - What are some of the reasons why founders struggle to raise investment for their startups, as mentioned by the speaker? 22:45 - What advice does Matt give to founders regarding choosing the right co-founder and maintaining control of their startup? 35:20 - How would Matt describe himself - an accelerator, incubator, venture builder, or a fund? 36:02 - Is Matt looking for unicorns or zebras when investing in companies? 39:00 - With the explosion of generative AI and no-code tools, is software still a moat for startups, and how should founders approach this? 🔗 Matt's links - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-jonns/ Web - https://www.founderandlightning.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Matt Jonns is the founder & CEO of Founder and Lightning. Founder and Lightning have helped build over 30 companies in the last 8 years and have a portfolio valuation of £100m+ 👂 Listen to the Primer / Main Episode here - 🕒 Time stamps - 0:00 - Intro - Who is Matt Jonns? 0:10 - What was Matt's first job? 3:00 - Were was Matt doing anything before he got into the tech ecosystem? 4:43 - What would Matt be doing if he wasn't supporting founders in this way? 6:05 - What sort of founders should work with Matt, and what stages and sectors does he work with? 8:02 - Is Matt looking for venture-scale businesses or is he interested in digitizing existing businesses? 10:03 - If there were three ventures that Matt is most excited about either inside or outside the portfolio, what would they do? 🔗 Matt's links - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-jonns/ Web - https://www.founderandlightning.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Maya Moufarek is the founder of Full Stack CMO. Full Stack CMO partners with start-up and scale-ups Founders & CEOs define & implement their growth path. 👂 Listen to the Primer Episode here - https://youtu.be/O2n4rfB1fgs 🕒 Time stamps - 0:00 - Intro - Who is Maya Moufarek? 0:52 - Maya Muthurek's background and experiences 2:02 - What are the key lessons and challenges DTC Ventures face today in a saturated digital acquisition environment? 4:07 - How did Pharmacy2You balance profitability and growth in the low-margin business of online repeat prescriptions? 5:02 - Why is understanding your customers and building real communities important for DTC businesses? 6:05 - How should early-stage businesses approach retention and acquisition in their growth journey? 8:01 - What does "fitting a giraffe into a brand" mean, and how does it apply to brand building and marketing strategy? 12:01 - How do you balance retention and acquisition for VC-backed businesses that need to show growth? 14:19 - How can companies struggling to understand their identity and mission start developing a clear narrative? 19:55 - What are the considerations for businesses that have a functional product/service without much emotional appeal to customers? 20:26 - How can startups understand their customers' frustrations and needs to build products that address them effectively? 23:05 - Why is cross-functional growth essential for startups to succeed and why should founders avoid outsourcing the entire marketing function? 26:17 - How important is building trust for startups, especially when selling into established businesses, and what are practical strategies for building and maintaining trust with customers? 35:04 - What is your investment philosophy and how do you approach angel investing, especially in the areas of Health Tech, FemTech, and AI? 44:46 - How can investing be viewed as a way to continuously learn and gain valuable insights into different markets, products, and technologies? 45:03 - Where can listeners connect with Maya online? 🔗 Maya Moufarek's links - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmoufarek?originalSubdomain=uk Twitter - https://twitter.com/msmaya?lang=en-GB Web - https://www.marketingcube.co/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Maya Moufarek is the founder of Full Stack CMO. Full Stack CMO partners with start-up and scale-ups Founders & CEOs define & implement their growth path. 👂 Listen to the Main Episode here - https://youtu.be/9EtfTrIhSlk 🕒 Time stamps - 0:00 - Intro - Who is Maya Moufarek? 0:25 - What was Maya Moufarek's first job? 1:56 - What triggered Maya's move into startups? 3:08 - What would you be doing if you weren't an early-stage operator? 4:14 - What is Marketing Cube - who is it for, what stages of companies do you work with, and what sectors and geographies do you focus on? 6:10 - What three ventures are you involved in that you're really excited about right now? 8:49 - Tell us more about YuLife and how they are transforming life insurance? 9:55 - How does Maya support tech conferences and help them with their go-to-market strategy? 10:45 - Who are We are Jude and what is their significance in the female health sector? 🔗 Maya Moufarek's links - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmoufarek?originalSubdomain=uk Twitter - https://twitter.com/msmaya?lang=en-GB Web - https://www.marketingcube.co/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Alex Mann is partner at Timechain, a VC fund focused on Bitcoin that exists to redress the widening funding gap between Bitcoin infrastructure projects and the wider crypto space. 👂 Listen to the Primer Episode here - https://youtu.be/EQanwHKnNQk 🕒 Time stamps - 01:32 - What is the future for currency in nation states? 02:29 - What triggered your move into venture capital? 06:44 - Why do you believe blockchain is just a marketing gimmick? 08:10 - How does Bitcoin provide a timestamp sequence of events? 10:38 - Is everything in the wider crypto space going to zero? 21:40 - What is the advantage of Bitcoin compared to cash or gold? What is the difference in holding Bitcoin without intermediaries? 22:05 - Why is there so much misinformation about Bitcoin? 22:43 - What are your thoughts on the adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender in countries like El Salvador? 24:04 - How do you think governments will respond to Bitcoin potentially replacing state-sponsored fiat currency? 25:02 - What are the potential issues with a state-sponsored CBDC, such as universal basic income (UBI) and restrictions on transactions? 26:49 - What are the options for countries like El Salvador in terms of currency? 27:32 - How has the adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender affected El Salvador? What are the changes and benefits observed in the country? 28:31 - Do you think other countries in Latin America will follow El Salvador's example and adopt Bitcoin? 29:28 - How does the volatility of Bitcoin affect its adoption as a currency for daily transactions? 30:00 - How does Bitcoin provide a means for poor countries to build and develop capital? 31:00 - Does Bitcoin's return to a fixed supply and decentralized nature resemble the pre-modern banking era? 32:31 - What are the problems associated with the current fiat currency system and money printing? 34:42 - What is the purpose of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)? 35:09 - How would a CBDC allow for granular control of individual spending patterns? 36:51 - What are the challenges and considerations when choosing between a CBDC and Bitcoin? 38:21 - What is the future of Western governments and their financial situation? 40:49 - How does money-printing lead to increasing inequality? 🔗 Alex Mann's links - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandersmann/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/alex_singh_mann?lang=en Web - https://concentric.vc/people/alex-mann/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Alex Mann is partner at Timechain, a VC fund focused on Bitcoin that exists to redress the widening funding gap between Bitcoin infrastructure projects and the wider crypto space. 👂 Listen to the Main Episode here - https://youtu.be/vv1t14W2L00 🕒 Time stamps - 0:46 - Intros - Who is Alex Mann? 1:23 - What was your first job? 1:43 - And what did you do before? Directly before getting into Venture? 2:02 - And what was it that triggered that move into venture? 2:21 - So what would you have been doing if you weren't an investor? 2:41 - What what are the sort of funds are on Timechain's management, what stages do you invest in, and what sectors of Bitcoin? 3:28 - Three ventures either inside or outside the portfolio, they're really excited about at the moment. 🔗 Alex Mann's links - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandersmann/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/alex_singh_mann?lang=en Web - https://concentric.vc/people/alex-mann/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.