I am thrilled to have Oliver Manojlovic, CRO at Dash0, the agentic observability platform that just acquired Lumigo and is supporting 600+ customers globally.

In this conversation, Oliver Manojlovic, the CRO of Dash Zero, discusses his journey from Personio to Dash Zero, the challenges of hyper-growth, and the importance of a customer-centric approach in SaaS. Oliver shares insights on hiring, onboarding, and maintaining team dynamics in a fast-paced environment, as well as the role of AI in sales and the common mistakes founders make in their go-to-market strategies.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Oliver Manojlovic and His Journey

03:31 Transitioning from Personio to Dash Zero

06:19 The Vision Behind Dash Zero

09:21 Customer-Centric Approach in SaaS

12:31 Adapting Sales Strategies in a Changing Landscape

15:34 The Role of AI in Sales and Customer Experience

20:49 Mergers and Acquisitions: Strategic Insights

23:08 Understanding Burnout: The Importance of Purpose

27:03 Leadership Challenges: Navigating Team Dynamics

31:00 Sales Strategy: Building a Strong Pipeline

38:30 Product Development: Timing and Market Fit

41:31 Lessons from Experience: The Journey of Selling

Oliver's Links 

LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivermanojlovic/

Website – dash0.com

My Links 

Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe

YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/

I am excited to have Stefan Bader, CEO and co-founder of Cello, a referral automation platform used by Typeform, Miro, and VEED. He's a 2x founder who spent a decade in B2B software, including as CRO at Shore. Stefan recently launched the GTM10 Awards, gathering insights from 800+ operators at companies like OpenAI, Stripe, and Gong.

In this conversation, Stefan Bader, CEO and co-founder of Cello, a referral automation platform where he discusses his journey as a two-time founder, the challenges of managing sales talent, the evolution of go-to-market strategies, and the impact of AI on sales and marketing. Stefan shares insights on building successful referral programs, the importance of personal incentives, and the shift from co-marketing to co-products. He also emphasizes the need for companies to adapt to changing marketing channels and the significance of a strong product design in driving growth.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Stefan Bader and Cello

02:40 Lessons from Early Ventures

05:08 Identifying and Addressing B2B Referral Challenges

09:03 The Future of Cold Calling and Go-to-Market Strategies

12:10 Navigating Channel Collapse and New Opportunities

14:32 Successful Referral Programs: Key Variables

16:32 The Complexity of Referral Automation

18:04 Shifts in Sales Strategies and Customer Success

21:10 The Evolution of Co-Marketing to Co-Products

23:30 Developer Experience and Tools

24:30 The Role of AI in Sales and Business Development

26:26 Finding Design Partners: Startups vs. Enterprises

27:24 Subversive Marketing and Growth Loops

30:17 Advice for Future Professionals

32:13 Reflections on Starting Cello

Stefan's Links 

LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefan-bader/

Website - https://cello.so/

My Links 

Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe

YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/

I am thrilled ot have Udi Ledergor, the Chief Evangelist at Gong, where he spent nine years helping build the company from zero to a multi-billion-dollar valuation. A five-time B2B marketing leader, bestselling author of Courageous Marketing, angel investor, and board member

In this conversation, Udi Ledergor, Chief Evangelist at Gong, shares his journey from product management to leading marketing at a billion-dollar company. He emphasizes the importance of human-centric marketing, the need to challenge traditional best practices, and the significance of creating valuable content that resonates with audiences. Udi discusses the evolution of marketing strategies, the role of AI, and the importance of hiring passionate individuals for growth roles. He also highlights insights from his book, 'Courageous Marketing', offering practical advice for marketers and business leaders.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Udi Ledergor and His Journey

02:29 The Decision to Join Gong and Its Potential

04:57 Building a Human-Centric Brand in B2B SaaS

09:48 Risky Marketing Decisions That Paid Off

15:54 Courageous Marketing: Breaking Best Practices

19:37 Finding Channel Fit and Growth Strategies

21:35 SEO and Generative AI: Adapting to Change

24:28 Engaging the 95%: Marketing to Future Buyers

27:20 The Evolution of Marketing Touchpoints

31:07 Hiring for Growth: Skills vs. Potential

34:06 Transitioning from CMO to Chief Evangelist

37:51 Insights from 'Courageous Marketing'

Udi's Links 

LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/udiledergor/

Book - https://www.udiledergor.com/book

My Links 

Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe

YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/

In this podcast episode, Mohammed Khachab, Senior Vice President at BNP Group. his entrepreneurial journey from Lebanon to the thriving startup scene in Dubai. He shares the story of building and selling a company for $200 million, sharing the importance of assembling a complementary team and focusing on distribution before marketing. Mohammed also discusses the supportive Dubai ecosystem and his future endeavours as an angel investor and advisor. He highlights the significance of culture, values, and mental resilience in business, offering advice to fellow entrepreneurs on hiring and scaling their ventures, and much more!

Timestamps

Starting a Business in Dubai (00:02:24)

Importance of Distribution (00:04:31)

Selling a Company for $200 Million (00:07:39)

Dubai Startup Ecosystem (00:09:39)

Lessons from Scaling a Company (00:17:18)

Finding the right team (00:17:19)

Distribution and marketing (00:18:13)

Marketplaces and own distribution channels (00:20:09)

Hiring marketing personnel (00:22:03)

Fundraising insights (00:24:19)

Biggest moment in business (00:26:30)

Key traits in hiring (00:29:10)

Values-driven leadership (00:33:48)

Cultural reflection of leadership (00:34:19)

Recruitment process (00:38:04)

Mohamad's Links

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohamad-khachab-581533a7/

Website – https://bmbgroup.com/

Email - mokhashab@hotmail.com

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

 5-day email course: www.enterprisesalesexpertise.com

In this episode, John Li, CEO of Vimcal discusses his transition from Twitter to entrepreneurship, detailing the evolution of his startup from AR technology to a fitness venture, and ultimately to a specialized calendar app. He emphasizes the critical role of executive assistants in product development, the necessity of user feedback, and the integration of AI. John also talks about the unique challenges of user acquisition, the strategic shift to a vertical SaaS model, and the company's inclusive hiring practices, and much more!

Timestamps

The journey from Twitter to Y Combinator (00:00:02)

Pivoting from AR to Fitness to Calendar (00:03:38)

Onboarding users and fundraising challenges (00:10:26)

Vimcal's focus on meetings, not just a calendar (00:13:26)

The role of AI in startups and fundraising (00:15:29)

Launching Whimsical E and serving executive assistants (00:17:15)

Speed vs Quality in Product Development (00:19:43)

Lessons in conducting effective product reviews (00:20:21)

The Harmony of Features (00:20:41)

Product Teams' Focus (00:21:53)

Challenges in User Acquisition (00:22:58)

Enterprise and PLG Approach (00:24:49)

Traits in Hiring (00:26:26)

Assessing Curiosity and Clarity of Thought (00:29:43)

Hiring Mistakes and Parting Ways (00:33:19)

John's Links

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnli611/

Website – https://www.vimcal.com/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/jaylbird11

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

 5-day email course: www.enterprisesalesexpertise.com

In this podcast episode, Kyle Forster, CEO of RunWhen, shares his journey from growing up in Silicon Valley to becoming a leader in product management. He discusses the nuances of product management across different customer segments, offering advice on collaboration between product and commercial teams. Kyle also explores leadership roles, the transition from SMB to enterprise clients, and the unique challenges of enterprise product development. He shares his motivation for starting RunWhen, aiming to solve enterprise technology adoption issues and much more!

Timestamps

Growing up in Silicon Valley (00:00:25)

Transition to Product Management (00:03:10)

Different Types of Product Management (00:05:09)

Friction Between Commercial and Product Teams (00:07:16)

Product Managers' Mistakes (00:10:03)

Commercial Leaders and Product Strategy (00:15:24)

Transition to Enterprise Sales (00:17:46)

Building the Product for Different Users (00:18:42)

The Role of AI in Product Design (00:20:48)

Measuring Impact and Product Discipline (00:22:34)

Emotional Experience of Selling a Company (00:26:12)

Transitioning from Startups to Big Companies (00:28:27)

Importance of Reference Checks in Hiring (00:30:52)

Mistakes in Hiring the First Product Manager (00:36:08)

Product Mistakes and Learnings (00:36:51)

Kyle's Links

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyforster

Website – https://www.runwhen.com/

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

 5-day email course: www.enterprisesalesexpertise.com

In this podcast episode, Alex Twigg, founder of Appeggio, shares his transition from the banking sector to creating a no-code SaaS platform. He discusses the evolution of his leadership style, the impact of AI on jobs, and the concept of "invisible banking." Alex emphasizes the importance of nurturing talent, the role of experience in leadership, and the challenges faced by startups in distribution and customer acquisition. He also touches on the personal toll of entrepreneurship and recommends resources for founders and much more!

Timestamps

The Humble Beginnings (00:00:34)

The evolution of the banking sector (00:01:58)

Generational work ethics (00:05:31)

Leadership journey (00:08:38)

CEO's nature vs. nurture (00:19:48)

Transition to software development (00:23:49)

The journey from banker to technologist (00:24:13)

Judo Bank's innovative approach (00:25:52)

Challenges and success of Judo Bank (00:27:00)

Experience as a service (00:31:15)

Impact of AI and new code solutions (00:34:33)

Invisible banking and customer engagement (00:43:23)

Customer acquisition and onboarding (00:42:24)

Invisible Banking (00:47:06)

Distribution is Key (00:49:22)

Choosing Distribution Channels (00:51:44)

Balancing Entrepreneurialism and Family Life (00:53:35)

Alex's Links

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/alextwigg

Website – Appeggio.com

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

 5-day email course: www.enterprisesalesexpertise.com

In this podcast episode, Boris Manhart shares his experience leading Codecheck and his journey through the fintech landscape with Numbers. He shares his expertise on team alignment, leadership, and the critical role of market needs in AI startups. Boris emphasizes the significance of product-market fit, sustainable capital use, and the evolving dynamics of seed funding. He also offers advice to young entrepreneurs, stressing the importance of passion, patience, and much more!

Timestamps

Boris's Journey (00:00:25)

Lessons from Numbers (00:03:02)

Transition to Code Check (00:05:29)

Challenges in AI Startups (00:06:47)

CEO Skills and MBA (00:09:21)

Team Alignment and Failure Conditions (00:13:06)

Product-Market Fit and Startup Funding (00:16:31)

Managing Capital and Market Changes (00:20:28)

VC Lessons for Founders (00:23:20)

Lunch with Founders (00:24:03)

Investment Priorities (00:24:26)

Entering the Startup Landscape (00:25:51)

The Lean Startup (00:27:43)

Focus on Product-Market Fit (00:28:42)

Boris's Links

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/borismanhart/

Website - growthunltd.com

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

 5-day email course: www.enterprisesalesexpertise.com

In this podcast episode, Guy Kawasaki, talks about his latest book "Think Remarkable," exploring themes such as marketing excellence, the intricacies of podcast growth, the power of a growth mindset, and the art of finding mentors. Guy shares his journey, emphasizing the importance of quality in product evangelism and the challenges of leveraging a large social media following for impact. Guy also talks about the nuances of remote work management, the value of diversity in hiring, and learning from past decisions, and much more!

Timestamps

The Golden Touch (00:01:55)

Building a Podcast (00:03:10)

Challenges of Growing Social Media Channels (00:05:15)

Writing "Think Remarkable" (00:06:39)

Growth Mindset (00:07:26)

Qualities of Remarkable People (00:09:04)

Building Skill Sets (00:10:08)

Doing Epic S**t (00:11:31)

Creating a Subcategory (00:13:31)

Finding Mentors (00:15:27)

Effective Storytelling (00:17:41)

Pitching Framework (00:18:36)

Managing in a Remote Work Environment (00:19:56)

Remote Work Management (00:21:12)

Diversity in Hiring (00:22:21)

Learning from Career Regrets (00:23:55)

Lessons from Career Choices (00:24:16)

Impact of AI on Creativity (00:25:57)

Book Writing Process (00:27:15)

Overcoming Challenges (00:28:15)

Future Book Plans (00:29:53)

Guy's Links

Website - https://guykawasaki.com/

Book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Think-Remarkable-Paths-Transform-Difference/dp/139424522X

Email – guykawasaki@gmail.com

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

5-day email course: www.enterprisesalesexpertise.com

In this podcast episode, Josh Muccio, co-founder of The Pitch and a general partner at The Pitch Fund talks about his entrepreneurial background, his ventures in e-commerce and media, and the intricacies of building a successful media company like The Pitch. Josh recounts the show's sale to Gimlet Media and subsequent repurchase, as well as his personal experience pitching on the show. He discusses the challenges faced by emerging fund managers in 2023 and The Pitch Fund's remarkable achievement of raising significant interest from listeners alone. He also covers strategies for growing a podcast in a competitive market, the unique approach of The Pitch Fund in seed investments, and the rise of owner-operator led funds. Josh shares insights on AI startups, emphasizing the need for real-world applications and value creation, and much more!

Timestamps

Josh's Entrepreneurial Journey (00:00:25) 

Building and Selling Startups (00:04:19) 

Challenges of Media Business (00:04:34) 

Venture Backing for Media Companies (00:06:40) 

Starting The Pitch (00:08:05) 

The Journey of The Pitch (00:13:08) 

Pitching on The Pitch (00:16:23) 

Fundraising Challenges for Emerging Fund Managers (00:19:02) 

Raising a Fund from Listeners (00:20:20) 

Podcast Distribution and Growth (00:22:30)

Value of Authenticity in Content Creation (00:25:24) 

Unique Deal Flow for The Pitch Fund (00:26:35) 

Selecting VCs and Building Relationships (00:28:46) 

VC Value Beyond Capital (00:31:09) 

Portfolio Construction and Investment Strategy (00:33:37) 

Founder-Led Funds and Operator Expertise (00:36:03) 

Specific AI Use Cases (00:39:02) 

Podcast AI Tool (44:54) 

Starting The Pitch Show (46:17) 

Josh's Links

LinkedIn –  https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshmuccio/

The Pitch - https://www.thepitch.show/

Pitch Fund - https://www.thepitch.show/p/fund/

Email - josh@pitch.show

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

 5-day email course: www.enterprisesalesexpertise.com

In this podcast episode, Darya Sesitskaya, founder of Shader, shares her entrepreneurial journey and insights into product development. She emphasizes the role of intuition in the early stages of design and the importance of simplicity in product interfaces. Daria also discusses her approach to user feedback, highlighting that not all suggestions are implemented but are carefully evaluated. For fundraising, she credits her participation in an accelerator program for building connections and stresses consistent communication with investors and much more!

Timestamps

The journey to Shader (00:00:02)

From Belarus to the US (00:02:38)

Experience at Snapchat (00:04:50)

On Deck Fellowship Experience (00:07:34)

Product Management and Design (00:10:17)

Hiring the First Product Manager (00:12:59)

The Future of Product Development (00:15:15)

Core Roles for Product Managers (00:17:03)

Working with Design Partners (00:18:55)

UI/UX Design Principles (00:21:08)

Balancing Intuition and Data (00:23:43)

Vision and Prototypes (00:23:56)

Simplicity in Product Design (00:24:49)

User Feedback and Implementation (00:26:31)

Hiring High-Quality Talent (00:29:22)

Raising Funding and Building Relationships (00:31:31)

Startup Lessons and Growth (00:36:15)

Darya's Links

LinkedIn –  https://www.linkedin.com/in/daryasesitskaya/

Shader - Shaderapp.com

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

 5-day email course: www.enterprisesalesexpertise.com

In this podcast episode, Justin Smith, Managing Partner at Recharge Capital delves into his venture capital journey, his experiences at Recharge Capital and Tusk Ventures, and the intricacies of angel investing and SPVs. Justin shares his transition from auditing to venture capital, his approach to building a sourcing network, and the importance of partnerships in investing. He discusses the strategic role of distribution channels in fintech and healthcare startups, the impact of brand names on cap tables, and the current state of M&A in venture capital. Justin also touches on fund dynamics, such as liquidity events and reserve allocations, and concludes with personal insights on fundraising and relationship building, highlighting the usefulness of AngelList for SPVs and syndications, and much more.

Timestamps

The journey to venture capital (00:00:03)

Transition to SPVs and Recharge Capital (00:02:56)

Differences between SPVs and institutional capital (00:08:45)

Building partnerships through angel investing (00:14:35)

Diversifying the investment portfolio (00:15:10)

Importance of distribution channels in startups (00:18:57)

Distribution as a Key Issue (00:18:57)

Building Partnerships and Distribution Channels (00:20:07)

Brand Names on Cap Tables (00:22:12)

Clubbed Rounds and Founder Strategies (00:23:06)

M&A Activity in the Next 12 Months (00:25:03)

Misalignment Between VCs and LPs (00:26:22)

Liquidity and Reserve Allocation (00:29:45)

Follow-on Investments and Fund Dynamics (00:31:36)

Venture Decision-Making and Postmortems (00:33:59)

Ownership Allocation in Companies (00:36:17)

Justin's Links

LinkedIn –  https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-b-smith/

Email - justin@recharge.capital

Recharge Capital - https://www.rechargecapital.com/

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

 5-day email course: www.enterprisesalesexpertise.com

In this episode, Stefan Ross, Head of Partnerships at Pigment, shares his journey from sales to partnerships and his experiences in the UK startup ecosystem. He discusses the importance of strategic thinking and curiosity in partnerships, the centralized nature of the UK startup scene, and the misconceptions about partnerships. Stefan emphasizes the need for structural alignment within companies and how to effectively manage and communicate with multiple partners. He also touches on the hiring process for partnership managers, the significance of mentorship, and his favorite tools and resources. Stefan offers valuable insights into building successful partnerships and the internal culture needed to support them, and much more!

Timestamps

The partnership journey (00:00:19)

Entering the world of partnerships (00:01:13)

UK startup ecosystem (00:11:35)

Common misconceptions about partnerships (00:16:44)

Internal culture for being partner-ready (00:18:32)

Understanding the Importance of Executive Buy-in (00:18:49)

Transitioning to Multi-Product Platforms (00:21:04)

Managing Multiple Product Sales Teams (00:23:49)

Scoring and Evaluating Partnerships (00:25:52)

Types of Alliances in Business Ecosystems (00:27:00)

Choosing the Right Alliances and Metrics for Success (00:29:25)

Aligning Incentives for Partner Success (00:32:00)

Communicating Metrics to the C-suite (00:34:35)

Tools and CRM for Partnerships (00:36:16)

The value of structural alignment (00:37:09)

Hiring process for partnership managers (00:38:25)

Qualities of a great partnership manager (00:41:29)

Learning from mistakes in partnerships (00:46:36)

Stefan's Links

LinkedIn –  https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefan-ross-83641074

Pigment - https://www.pigment.com/

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

🎓 5-day email course: www.enterprisesalesexpertise.com

I am excited to have Sergiy Korolov, who is the Co-CEO of Railsware and co-founder of multiple products

In this conversation, Sergiy Korolov, CEO of Railsware, discusses his journey from software developer to entrepreneur, the evolution of his products like Mailtrap and Coupler, and the challenges faced in the tech industry. Sergiy shares insights on transitioning from service to product, the importance of understanding user segments through surveys, and the role of AI in enhancing productivity. He also reflects on the complexities of email delivery and strategies for competing against larger companies.

Timestamps

00:00 The Journey from Developer to CEO

05:24 Transitioning from Service to Product

10:42 Mailtrap's Evolution and Monetisation

14:57 Controversial Onboarding: The Sign-Up Survey

18:49 Launching Coupler: A New Era

21:56 Technical Challenges in Email Delivery

25:58 Differentiation Strategy Against Giants

29:51 Managing Multiple Products Effectively

33:29 AI's Role in Railsware

38:41 Sales Strategy and Product Growth

42:47 Reflections and Lessons Learned

Sergiy's Links 

LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergiykorolov/

Website – https://railsware.com/

My Links 

Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe

YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/

In this podcast episode, Jonny Miller, founder of Nervous System Mastery, talks about his journey from studying at Durham University to becoming an entrepreneur and eventually creating a course to help others manage stress and enhance resilience. He discusses his startup experiences, including his travel magazine and MapTier, and the lessons learned from those ventures. Jonny shares insights on emotional resilience, the importance of learning and curiosity, and the development of his course. He also covers the impact of technology on well-being, the benefits of meditation and yoga, and strategies for handling emotions and stress in professional settings. Jonny emphasizes the importance of intentionality in technology use and the concept of "emotional debt," advocating for healthy outlets to express and process emotions to prevent burnout, and much more!

Timestamps

Jonny Miller's Background and Startup Journey (00:00:02)

Challenges and Learnings from Startup Experience (00:01:55)

Advice for Young Entrepreneurs (00:03:08)

Creation of Nervous System Mastery Course (00:04:19)

Startup Culture in Bali (00:06:52)

Managing Nervousness in High-Pressure Situations (00:08:25)

Visualization and Present Moment Awareness (00:13:10)

Effectiveness of Meditation and Mindfulness (00:15:09)

Cultivating Interoceptive Awareness (00:19:20)

Technology Detox and Phone Usage (00:19:55)

Removing Technology from Day-to-Day Life (00:20:22)

Understanding Intention Behind Phone Usage (00:21:32)

Managing Emotional Debt (00:29:40)

Nervous System Mastery Course (00:32:41)

Stress Management Practices (00:36:07)

Favorite Business Book (00:38:02)

Reflecting on Starting Nervous System Mastery (00:38:35)

Jonny's Links

Nervous system course - nsmastery.com

LinkedIn –  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonnym1ller/

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

In this podcast episode, Luca Cartechini, founder of Shopcircle, shares his journey from Italy to the UK, his experience in investment banking and venture capital, and the founding of Shopcircle. He discusses London's vibrant tech scene, the impact of Brexit, and the benefits of corporate experience for entrepreneurs. Shopcircle's focus on the Shopify ecosystem, growth strategies, and product development are also covered. Luca highlights the importance of a high-performing team, the challenges of remote work, maintaining company culture, and much more!

Timestamps

Studying in the UK (00:00:38)

Diversity in the UK Ecosystem (00:03:01)

Career Path and Entrepreneurship (00:06:10)

Starting Shop Circle (00:09:17)

Expanding Beyond Shopify (00:11:02)

New Product Developments (00:12:59)

Product Growth Strategies (00:14:29)

Mergers and Acquisitions Strategy (00:17:22)

Building a Team (00:19:06)

Remote Work Challenges (00:20:20)

Team Growth and Culture (00:21:19)

Setting Goals and KPIs (00:22:21)

Balancing Innovation and Risk (00:27:12)

Cultural Embedding in Growing Teams (00:25:34)

Luca's Links

Shopcircle - https://shopcircle.co/

LinkedIn –  https://www.linkedin.com/in/luca-cartechini/

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

In this podcast episode, Arthur Bernard, General Partner at Athletic Ventures, talks about his transition into venture capital and the role of athletes in this sector. Arthur discusses his early career, experience in sports marketing agencies, and return to venture capital in 2020. He emphasizes the importance of educating the European market on athlete investments in startups, noting the unique value athletes bring beyond mere influence. Arthur also touches on the LP-GP relationship, portfolio construction, and the challenges of raising a first fund. He advises patience for those entering venture capital and highlights the importance of understanding lead investors' motivations and much more!

Timestamps

Arthur's Journey into Venture Capital (00:00:02)

Experience Working in Sports Agency (00:02:11)

Role of Athletes in Venture Capital Ecosystem (00:05:10)

Athletes' Say in Investment Decisions (00:08:05)

Closing the First Fund and LP-GP Relationship (00:10:35)

Portfolio Construction and Allocation (00:14:36)

Efficient Company Building and Funding Environment (00:16:55)

What Founders Want from VCs (00:18:52)

Investment Success and Impact on Mindset (00:21:46)

Evaluation of Startup Growth (00:23:00)

Adjusting KPIs for Different Stages (00:23:12)

Impact of Missed Opportunities (00:24:18)

Importance of Lead Investors (00:25:31)

Challenges for Emerging Managers (00:26:48)

Patience and Relationship Building (00:27:55)

Arthur's Links

Athletico ventures - https://www.athletico.vc/

LinkedIn –  https://www.linkedin.com/in/arthur-bernard1984/

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

In this podcast episode, Brian Evans, CEO and founder of BDE Ventures, shares his insights into the crypto and blockchain industry. He shares the transformative potential of blockchain in gaming, the integration of NFTs in various sectors, and the importance of building a strong online presence. Brian shares his journey into crypto, the impact of recent crypto developments, and his firm's investment focus. He also explores the intersection of AI and blockchain, the play-to-earn gaming model, and the future of digital assets and metaverses. Brian emphasizes the need for cybersecurity and offers advice on networking and validating startup ideas, and much more!

Timestamps

Interest in Crypto and Bitcoin (00:00:27)

Bitcoin and Ethereum's Future (00:05:07)

Potential of Blockchain Technology (00:07:16)

FTX Exchange Incident (00:10:29)

Gaming and NFTs (00:18:15)

Investments and Startups (00:21:12)

Web3 Gaming (00:22:36)

AI and Innovation (00:27:30)

Blockchain and AI Integration (00:27:39)

Play-to-Earn Gaming (00:34:21)

Gaming and Education (00:36:47)

Metaverse and Fashion Brands (00:37:44)

Virtual Reality and Social Interaction (00:40:11)

Growing Social Media Following (00:44:15)

Business Books and Productivity (00:49:56)

Startup Challenges and Investment (00:50:59)

Brian's Links

BDE Ventures - https://bde.io/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/briandevans

LinkedIn –  https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandevansla/

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

In this podcast episode, Ali Jamal, General Partner at First Check Ventures shares his multicultural upbringing and its influence on his interest in startups and venture capital, particularly in Latin America. He discusses the challenges and rewards of working in high-growth startups in developing economies and his transition from a full-time job to focusing on his syndicate. Ali provides insights into the venture capital industry, including securing funding allocations, the impact of market conditions on investments, and the potential for increased mergers and acquisitions. He also talks about AI business models, his biggest investment win, the importance of learning in startup roles, and much more!

Timestamps

Childhood and International Background (00:00:25)

Investment Focus on Latin America (00:03:59)

Working in High Growth Startups (00:07:10)

Syndicating with ShopCircle (00:10:07)

Balancing Full-Time Job with Syndicate (00:11:52)

Approach to LPs and Sense of Urgency (00:13:32)

Multi-Stage Funds and Seed Stage Investment (00:16:51)

Access to Hot Deals (00:17:55)

Investment Decision-Making (00:18:59)

Challenges for Venture Funds (00:19:49)

Market Conditions and Fundraising (00:20:17)

Struggles for Emerging Managers (00:22:08)

Potential Mergers and Acquisitions (00:24:02)

Liquidity Decisions in VC (00:25:40)

IPO Market Outlook (00:27:21)

AI Business Models (00:30:29)

Successful Investment and Approach (00:34:13)

Challenges in Syndicate Investments (00:35:19)

Misalignment Between GP and LP (00:36:12)

Ali's Links

First Check Ventures - https://www.firstcheckventures.com/

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mralijamal/

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

In this podcast episode, Ricardo Pero, CEO of SellersFunding talks about e-commerce financing and business strategy. Ricardo discusses his background in finance, the inception of SellersFunding, and the nuances of revenue-based versus seller financing. They explore qualifying criteria for e-commerce companies, the process of obtaining revenue data, and the impact of COVID-19 on the industry. Ricardo advises on scaling, branding, and competing in online retail, emphasizing the importance of culture in his company and the need for alternative capital sources in a challenging investment climate, and much more! 

Timestamps

Founding SellersFunding (00:02:01)

Differences in Financing Models (00:05:42)

Qualifying Criteria for E-commerce Companies (00:08:39)

Turnaround Time for Funding (00:10:42)

Obtaining Revenue Data from Merchants (00:11:29)

Power of Online Platforms for Direct-to-Consumer Companies (00:12:53)

Differences Between Selling on Amazon and Branching Out (00:14:42)

Retail Companies' Strategies to Combat Amazon (00:19:23)

Effectiveness of Amazon Advertising (00:20:43)

Impact of COVID-19 on Supply Chains (00:23:22)

Challenges for Amazon Sellers (00:24:41)

Competing with Shein (00:27:26)

Challenges of Competing with Amazon (00:27:50)

Managing a Growing Startup (00:30:01)

Shift in Investment Sentiment (00:33:05)

Business Book Recommendation (00:35:41)

Balancing Equity and Debt (00:36:33)

Ricardo's Links

Sellers Funding - https://sellersfi.com

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-pero-b7659437/

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

In this podcast episode, Shankar Ganapathy, founder of Boomerang, shares his professional journey from marketing to sales and his experiences at MindTickle and Boomerang. He discusses the nuances of sales playbooks and advises on the optimal timing for startup founders to hire sales personnel. Shankar emphasizes the importance of adapting sales strategies to meet individual customer needs and the transition from a broad marketing approach to personalized sales interactions and much more!

Timestamps

Transition from marketing to sales (00:02:39)

Moving from India to the US (00:06:06)

Starting Boomerang (00:09:07)

Acquiring first customers (00:12:14)

Defining a sales playbook (00:14:32)

Making the first sales hires (00:18:27)

Sales Hiring (00:20:03)

Curiosity Assessment (00:24:18)

Compensation Negotiation (00:26:48)

Title Negotiation (00:29:18)

Timing of Sales Hiring (00:30:54)

Deal Structuring (00:33:08)

Deal Reviews (00:35:07)

Multiyear Deals (00:37:12)

Experience with Sequoia Surge (00:39:08)

Building a Startup Program (00:39:58)

Pivoting Decision (00:40:59)

Shankar's Links

Boomerang - Getboomerang.ai

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanksgan/

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

In this podcast episode, Justin Michael shares his unique sales methodology, the Justin Michael Method, emphasising the importance of understanding prospects' needs and building relationships. He discusses strategies for bypassing gatekeepers, the art of discounting, and engaging CFOs by demonstrating ROI. Justin also highlights the role of customer case studies in proving value and addresses the challenges of sales forecasting. He stresses the significance of developing sales talent within organisations and the value of mentorship and apprenticeship in achieving sales excellence, and much more!

Timestamps

The start of sales career (00:00:56)

Working with Sean Parker (00:01:50)

Building a community (00:04:33)

The Justin Michael Method (00:05:58)

Psychology in sales (00:11:22)

Building relationships with prospects (00:14:34)

Preventing loss of champions (00:18:53)

Morphing and Waterfalling (00:19:53)

Discounting Strategy (00:20:45)

Creating a Compelling ROI Business Case (00:22:39)

Value Demonstration through Case Studies (00:24:43)

Approaching Sales Forecasting (00:26:06)

Balancing Quotas and Celebrating Wins (00:28:14)

Career Advancement and Specialization (00:30:13)

Developing Sales Talent (00:32:44)

Challenges of Writing a Book (00:34:17)

Writing a Business Book (00:35:57)

Michael's Links

Agency - https://hypcccycl.com/

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeljustin/

Sales Superpowers - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sales-Superpowers-Outbound-Operating-Explosive/dp/1948382687

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

In this podcast episode, Lisa Nestor, Chief Strategy Officer at Airtm, discusses her diverse background and the fintech industry. She shares her passion for crypto, its potential for asset sovereignty, and the excitement around self-custody products. Lisa reflects on the challenges and opportunities CBDCs and stablecoins present and the competition they may bring to international currency markets. She offers investment advice for cryptocurrencies and highlights the qualities of a great growth hire. Lisa also delves into product-channel fit for startups, and much more!

Timestamps

Benefits of International Experience (00:04:55)

Airtm's Differentiation (00:07:42)

Airtm's Innovative Payment Rails (00:08:36)

Navigating Regulatory Environments (00:11:32)

Adoption of Digital Currencies by Companies (00:15:06)

Factors Affecting Bitcoin's Price (00:17:58)

Lessons from FTX's Implosion (00:19:59)

Cryptocurrency and Self-Custody (00:22:26)

Regulation and Digital Gold Standard (00:22:59)

Central Bank Digital Currency (00:24:38)

Stablecoins and CBDCs (00:27:07)

Characteristics of a Great Growth Hire (00:32:08)

Identifying a Bad Growth Hire (00:34:19)

Product-Channel Fit in B2B and Fintech (00:35:50)

Marketing Channel Strategy (00:39:24)

Lisa's Links

Airtm - https://www.airtm.com/en/

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisacnestor/

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

In this podcast episode, Sameet Mehta shares his journey into venture capital, his investment misses with Zoom and Dropbox, and the importance of cautious hiring for startups. He also discusses the decision-making process at his fund, Granite Hill, and the significance of creating a safe environment for open discussion. Sameet emphasizes the role of early-stage investors in a company's growth and shares his insights on the trend of hedge funds investing in emerging countries and also talks about his involvement with Thread Optics, a cybersecurity company, and much more!

Timestamps

The world of venture capital (00:00:41)

Corporate venture vs. decision-making at own firm (00:03:17)

Changes in venture capital over the last two decades (00:05:21)

The benefits of going public for consumer companies (00:09:50)

Missed investment opportunity in Zoom (00:11:06)

Advice on hiring for early-stage startups (00:15:09)

Creating an environment of safety (00:18:46)

Building trust with younger founders (00:20:09)

Hiring mistakes founders make (00:23:29)

The trajectory of the industry (00:28:09)

The role of investors in early-stage companies (00:28:52)

Thread Optics and Cybersecurity (00:32:04)

Sameet's Links

Granite Hill - http://www.granitehill.net

ThreadOptix - https://www.threatoptix.ai

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sameet-s-mehta-09520/

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

I am thrilled to have Brad Harrison, a former Army Ranger turned venture capitalist, and the founder and Managing Partner of Scout Ventures. Brad invests at the intersection of national security and critical technology innovation, backing companies like Unite Us, ID.me, Voyager Space, and Tomahawk Robotics — which was recently acquired by AeroVironment.

In this conversation, Brad Harrison, a former Army Ranger turned venture capitalist, shares his journey into the world of venture capital and the founding of Scout Ventures. He discusses the importance of mission-driven investments, particularly in the intersection of national security and critical technology. Brad emphasises the value of both first-time and experienced founders, the significance of government contracts, and the evolving landscape of AI in defence tech. He also reflects on investment strategies, the importance of people in startups, and the metrics for evaluating fund performance.

Timestamps

00:00 From Army Ranger to Venture Capitalist

03:17 The Birth of Scout Ventures

06:04 Mission-Driven Investment Focus

09:07 The Importance of Non-Dilutive Funding

12:10 Backing First-Time Founders

15:13 Case Studies: Unitas and ID.me

18:09 Navigating Government Contracts

21:17 Defensible AI in Defense Tech

24:05 B2B Startups and AI Integration

26:57 Evaluating Startups: People, Product, Market

30:09 Ownership Stakes in Early-Stage Investments

33:14 The Future of Liquidity in Venture Capital

35:57 Lessons Learned from Exits

39:16 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Brad's Links 

LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradharrison/

Website – https://www.scout.vc/

My Links 

Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe

YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/

In this podcast episode, Yoav Vilner, co-founder and CEO of Walnut, shares his journey in startups and insights on sales and marketing strategies. He discusses the relationship between sales and marketing teams, the importance of hiring the right salespeople, and when to target larger companies. He also highlights the significance of measuring metrics like retention, churn, and net dollar retention for SaaS companies. Yoav emphasizes the value of prioritizing people over products in the early stages of a startup and much more! 

Timestamps

The journey in startups (00:00:39)

Sales and marketing teams (00:01:47)

Hiring salespeople (00:03:27)

The right time to move up the market (00:11:18)

Working with design partners (00:12:16)

Metrics for growth in SaaS companies (00:13:12)

The importance of people in startups (00:21:11)

Yoav's Links

Walnut - walnut.io

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/yoav-vilner/

My Links 

  Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

In this podcast episode, Mikhail Taver, the founder of Taver Capital discusses his venture capital journey, his focus on AI startups, and the future of AI. He shares his experience at Nafta-Moscva and AAR and his first encounter with neural networks. Mikhail believes in the symbiotic relationship between startups and big companies in the AI space and emphasizes the importance of regulating AI. He also highlights the significance of a founder in driving a startup's success and the importance of market potential and traction, and much more!

Timestamps

Experience at Nafta Moscow (00:01:33)

Focus on industrial AI (00:05:42)

Regulating AI (00:09:18)

Prioritizing People, Traction, and Market (00:11:19)

Decision-Making in Venture Funds (00:15:36)

The advice for founders (00:19:04)

The value of an investor (00:19:13)

Mikhail's Links

Taver Capital – https://www.taver.capital/

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mtaver

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

In this podcast episode, Michael Luciani, the managing partner and co-founder of Climate Capital Fund shares his experiences working for Hillary Clinton's campaign and the Tuesday Company, where he built consumer-facing products and raised funding from high-impact investors. He discusses his journey into angel investing and his role at Climate Capital. Michael also talks about sourcing a deal with Colossal Biosciences, the world's first de-extinction company, and the potential of climate tech in driving sustainable practices. He shares his insights on investing in biotech companies, the potential for disruptive changes in the industrial sector, the efforts of China and India towards a sustainable future, and much more!

Timestamps

The Clinton Campaign Experience (00:00:49)

Founding The Tuesday Company (00:02:28)

The first close of the fund (00:11:08)

Investing in Colossal Biosciences (00:12:17)

The importance of sustainable materials and supply chains (00:23:22)

Due diligence for biotech companies (00:24:12)

Business model disruption in climate tech (00:34:11)

The Industrial Revolution of Advanced Manufacturing (00:35:14)

China and India's Steps Towards a Sustainable Future (00:36:42)

Michael's Links

Climate Capital - https://www.climatecapital.co/

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-luciani/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/mbluciani

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

In this podcast episode, Anis, the founder of Attention, shares his journey from being a self-taught coder to starting his own sales intelligence tool. He discusses the challenges he faced in his previous startup, Mixer, which led him to create Attention Tech. Anis highlights the importance of understanding the pain points of sales professionals and using AI to address them. He shares insights on effective sales strategies, the significance of positive response rates, and the importance of personalization in outreach efforts, and much more!

Timestamps

The journey into startups (00:00:47)

Challenges in sales operations (00:03:35)

Optimizing follow-up emails (00:06:12)

The importance of personalization in sales outreach (00:10:26)

Transitioning from selling to startups/SMBS to enterprise (00:11:37)

Recognizing when it's time to sell to bigger clients (00:12:49)

Hiring mistakes (00:20:45)

Onboarding sales and ramp time (00:22:02)

Founder's Superpower (00:29:00)

Anis's Links

Attention – https://www.attention.tech/

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/anis-bennaceur/

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

In this podcast, Sergey Gribov shares his journey from being the first employee of a successful startup in Israel to becoming a partner at Flint Capital. He discusses the challenges and rewards of working in tech startups, the role of a board member in a startup, and the factors contributing to the success of the Israeli startup ecosystem. He also shares his insights on the traits of successful founders, the importance of feedback, their investment strategy, and the impact of remote work on their investment process, and much more!

Timestamps

Becoming a board member of a startup (00:04:16)

Israeli startup ecosystem(00:13:43)

Emergence of unicorns(00:15:10)

Management buyout (00:16:26)

The problem with the team of founders (00:28:48)

The impact of excessive money in the market (00:30:31)

Challenges of raising down rounds (00:33:20)

Importance of Team in Early Stage Startups (00:43:45)

Sergey's Links

Flint Capital – http://flintcap.com

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgribov

Email - sg@flintcap.com

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

In this conversation, Winter Mead, founder and managing member of CoolWater Capital, about his journey from studying innovation in grad school in England all the way to his work today helping emerging fund managers navigate the VC landscape. He shares insights about the importance of track records, persistence, and understanding the investment world. He also talks about how the market has changed significantly over a span of two years in relation to raising funds, especially for emerging managers, with detailed discussions about Winter's various programs, Explore, Build, and CFO, and much more!

Timestamps

00:29 Venture Capital Journey: The Beginning

01:35 Transition to Private Equity and Venture Capital

02:12 Identifying Gaps in the Venture Capital Industry

05:16 Skills Acquired as a Limited Partner

11:41 The Birth of CoolWater Capital

12:06 The Role of Track Records in Fund Management

14:55 The Importance of Building a Strong Foundation for Fund Managers

18:43 The Evolution of Becoming a Fund Manager

23:42 The Significance of Back Office Operations in Fund Management

25:42 Scaling Up and Creating Operating Leverage

25:48 Understanding the Explore and Build Programs

26:12 The Importance of Commitment in the Build Program

26:50 The Flexibility of the Explore Program

27:39 Taking Team Risk in the Build Program

28:43 The Role of the Explore Program in Building Investment Track Records

30:06 The Need for Good Fund Managers

30:24 Challenges in the Early Stage Ecosystem

30:53 Emerging Themes in the Market

32:00 The Importance of Investment Thesis

35:31 Changes in the Market and Fundraising

39:48 The Impact of Market Changes on Fundraising and Investment Dynamics

49:36 Recruiting for the Build and Strategic CFO Programs

Winter's Links

CoolWater Capital - https://www.coolwatercap.com/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/wintmead

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/wintermead/

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

In this episode, Gabby Cazeau, partner at Harlem Capital, shares her professional journey from starting as an engineer to becoming a venture capitalist. She discusses the importance of changing the face of entrepreneurship by investing in diverse founders and the valuable lessons she's learned throughout her career from different people and market trends. Additionally, she offers insights on how AI is disrupting traditional business models and the current venture capital landscape. Gabby also provides advice for young people looking to break into the venture capital field, and much more!

Timestamps

00:03 Introduction and Background

00:34 Gabby's Journey into Venture Capital

03:00 The Role of Engineering and Product Mindset in Venture Capital

04:16 Lessons Learned from Investing with Harlem Capital

05:58 How Harlem Capital Adds Value to Founders

07:43 Advice for Founders in Difficult Times

10:02 Understanding Market Sizing and Timing Risk

11:56 Reflecting on Investment Hits and Misses

18:44 The Impact of AI on Business Models

21:47 Advice for Aspiring Venture Capitalists

Gabby's Links

Harlem Capital - https://harlem.capital/

Email - gabby@harlem.capital

Twitter – https://twitter.com/gabbycazeau

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriellecazeau/

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

In this episode, Eric Jorgensen, CEO of Scribe Media and author of "Almanack of Naval Ravikant" and "Anthology of Balaji" discusses his journey to becoming the CEO of Scribe Media, the success of his books, and the importance of understanding different disciplines. He also delves into topics such as the role of technology in various industries, the impact of AI on jobs, cryptocurrency, and the influence of technology on political order. Erics shares his views on truth, media, and the impact of negative news. He also expresses his admiration for Elon Musk and his mission-driven approach to entrepreneurship and much more!

Timestamps

The Journey to Becoming CEO of Scribe Media (00:00:21)

The Success and Impact of the Almanack of Naval Ravikant (00:01:56)

The Unique Perspective and Optimism of Naval Ravikant (00:06:02)

The self-driving car controversy (00:18:27)

Balaji's bet on Bitcoin (00:19:40)

Technology's impact on political order (00:22:59)

The pursuit of truth (00:30:16)

Media misalignment with truth (00:35:27)

The Tragedy of Negative News (00:38:45)

Optimism and Building a Beneficial Future (00:39:49)

Next book on Elon Musk (00:51:22)

Eric's Links

Book - https://balajianthology.com/

Almanack of Naval Ravikant - https://www.navalmanack.com/

Website - Ejorgenson.com

Twitter – https://twitter.com/EricJorgenson

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/

In this podcast episode, Brandon Kleinman, the founder of Birthday App, a fintech platform that consolidates birthdays and provides reminders and gift options discusses the app's success and future expansion plans. He shares insights on startup success, emphasizing the importance of speed, endurance, and adaptability. He also advises on co-founder relationships, fundraising, and identifying target audiences. The episode concludes with an update on Birthday App's development, including the relaunch of their gift store, the potential introduction of a "magic button" feature for partner app integration, and much more!

Timestamps

Brandon's Journey in the Startup World [00:00:17]

Scaling Two Different Startups [00:02:00]

The Concept Behind Birthday App [00:05:10]

The gift store relaunch [00:09:33]

Not relying on Facebook [00:11:08]

Revenue model and advertising component [00:14:22]

Finding the Core Target Audience [00:19:32]

Understanding Why Things Work [00:20:58]

Defining Success and Keeping Score [00:27:05]

The Unreasonable Drive to Build [00:29:03]

Outcomes for Companies in 2023 [00:30:26]

Selecting a Co-founder [00:33:53]

The importance of understanding individual investors [00:39:22]

Creating emotional excitement during fundraising [00:41:56]

The value of in-person meetings [00:47:19]

Building the gift store and seeking partner brands [00:48:44]

The magic button and potential partnership with other apps [00:49:39]

Brandon's Links

Birthday App – https://birthday.app/

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonkleinman/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/bksenior

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

In this podcast episode, Ethan Song, the CEO of Rare Circles shares his entrepreneurial journey, starting from his early days at Deloitte to founding the fashion brand, Frank and Oak. He discusses the importance of community-building in product-based companies and shares insights from his experience. Ethan also talks about his new venture, Rare Circles, which helps brands build loyal communities. He shares advice on raising funding during challenging times and discusses the future of social networking online communities and much more!

Timestamps

Building a Community and Starting a Company [00:00:02]

The Early Success of Frank and Oak [00:04:08]

The Future of Commerce and the Role of Community [00:07:19]

Building a Community [00:09:31]

Circles and the Importance of Community [00:11:39]

The Future of NFTs [00:16:45]

Web3 and Web2 Communities [00:18:11]

Leveraging Web3 for Brands [00:19:05]

Content Moderation and Community Management [00:20:00]

Lessons learned in building Race Circles [00:28:57]

Ethan's Links

RareCircles - https://www.rarecircles.com/

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethansong/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/mrethansong

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: twitter.com/rohitmal

I am thrilled to have Elias Mufarech who is a Senior Associate at Collide Capital, a pre-seed to Series A venture fund investing in fintech, future of work, and supply chain software.

In this conversation, Elias Mufarech, a senior associate at Collide Capital, shares his insights on venture capital, the importance of operational support for founders, and the evolving landscape of startup expectations. Elias discusses his journey from building fintech software in Latin America to investing in startups, highlighting the critical lessons learned along the way. He emphasizes the need for founders to have strong networks and the importance of understanding market dynamics, especially when competing against big tech companies.

Timestamps

02:56 Lessons from Operating in Emerging Markets

06:20 Changing Expectations in Venture Capital

09:21 The Role of Capital and Networks in Founding

12:16 American vs. Emerging Market Founders

15:03 Operational Support in Venture Capital

18:21 Assessing Big Tech Risks in Startups

Elias's Links 

LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/elias-mufarech/

Website – https://www.collidecap.com/

My Links 

Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe

YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/

In this podcast episode, Vance Roush, founder and CEO of Overflow and executive pastor at Vibe Church, discusses his journey in the startup world and his passion for churches and nonprofits. He shares how his experience as a CFO for his church led him to start Overflow, a platform that simplifies the process of accepting non-cash donations. Vance also talks about the principles that have helped his church grow and emphasizes the importance of listening to customers, fully connecting members into the community, and much more!

Timestamps

[00:00:43]  On Deck and Village Global

[00:02:06] Experience at Google

[00:03:31]  Starting Overflow and Involvement in Churches

[00:11:07] The importance of community connection

[00:13:16] Millennial and Gen Z perspective on churches

[00:15:51] Simplifying the process of donating stocks

[00:22:57] The importance of input-based goals

[00:24:17] Making quick decisions and reducing distraction

[00:27:10] Engaging the younger generation in charitable giving

[00:34:38] The mindset and disciplines of creating

[00:36:13] Being selective with customers in the early days

Vance's Links

Overflow – Overflow.co

Vibe Church – Vibechurch.org

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanceroush

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: twitter.com/rohitmal

Sandy Kory is the Managing Director at Horizon vc, a seed-stage investor in product-driven startups. Sandy is an alumnus of Stanford from where he has done his MS in Management.

In this podcast episode, Sandy Kory, the Managing Director at Horizon Venture, discusses his experiences and insights in the world of tech investment and angel investing. Sandy discusses the differences between bootstrapped software companies and those that raise venture capital, the importance of investing in people you trust, and the significance of due diligence in angel investing. Sandy also shares his thoughts on product growth and profitability, runway for founders, marketing budgets, and competition analysis, and much more!

Timestamps

[00:00:26] Sandy's journey into tech investment banking

[00:03:32] The differences between bootstrapped and venture-backed companies

[00:05:47] Lessons from angel investing and advice for beginners

[00:08:01] Investing in Palantir

[00:09:45]  Investing in Canva

[00:17:51] Ideal runway length for founders

[00:20:12] Marketing budget adjustments during challenging times

[00:24:22] The psychology of founders and employees during layoffs

[00:26:35] The importance of competition analysis for investors

[00:31:42] The significance of ambitious vision and exceptional product development

[00:34:01] Building Horizon Venture

Sandy's Links

Substack - https://sandykory.substack.com

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandykory/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/sandykory

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: twitter.com/rohitmal

In this podcast episode, Lloyed Lobo, author of the book, From Grassroots to Greatness shares his journey as a refugee, his experiences in India and Kuwait, and the power of community and entrepreneurship. He discusses the importance of surrounding oneself with the right people, the role of community in building successful brands, and strategies for leveraging social proof and building a community-led business. Lloyed also talks about the impact of COVID-19 on community building and the value of rituals and community leaders in spreading a brand's message, and much more!

Timestamps

[00:02:22] Lloyed talks about his fond memories of spending summers in the slums of Mumbai, where everything was communal and people shared food, watched TV together, and even used communal bathrooms.

[00:03:21] Lloyed discusses his experience during the Gulf War, where he witnessed the power of community coming together to create big impact and solve problems in the face of extreme risk, uncertainty, and fear.

[00:06:48] Lloyed shares his journey from moving to Canada with his family to pursuing a career in business. He talks about his desire for risk and uncertainty and how he learned the importance of communication and self-motivation in becoming an entrepreneur.

[00:10:41] Lloyed talks about his experience of learning marketing and sales, including joining the inbound marketing community and implementing strategies from hubspot.

[00:11:51] Lloyed discusses how the companions we surround ourselves with and the environment we're exposed to play a crucial role in our journey and success.

[00:16:13] Lloyed shares his insights on the three essential elements for success: effective communication, continuous creation, and consistent execution.

[00:23:46] Lloyed discusses the four stages that every enduring brand has in common: audience, community, movement, and religion.

[00:30:11] Lloyed shares how they started hosting small meetups that eventually grew into the traction community, with over 100,000 subscribers and influential speakers.

[00:32:15] Using smaller social proof to gain credibility and leverage the brand reputation of others to level up.

[00:33:16] Turning a blog post into a regular print column by showcasing the value and reaching a younger tech-savvy audience.

[00:36:23] The framework for building a community-led business, including identifying target markets, understanding their goals and problems, and building partnerships and social proof.

[00:42:29] Lloyed discusses the importance of falling in love with customers and aligning with a purpose beyond product or profit.

[00:45:30] Lloyed shares how consistent small actions, like hosting live webinars, can lead to significant audience growth over time.

[00:49:12] Lloyed discusses the need for a hybrid approach, incorporating both in-person and virtual events, to create stronger connections and combat virtual fatigue.

[00:52:52] Discussion on the importance of rituals in building strong connections within a community and focusing on providing outcomes rather than just products.

[00:53:55] Exploration of how communities can be leveraged to create impact and turn a brand into a cult-like phenomenon, with examples from successful companies like Notion and TikTok.

 [00:57:23] Insights on the benefits of growth equity for founders, including liquidity and the ability to de-risk while still retaining a significant stake in the company. Discussion on misalignment between founders and VCs and the importance of defining personal success and long-term...

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

In this podcast episode, Satej, CEO of Rocketium, shares his journey into startups and the founding of his company. He discusses his experience at Taxi For Sure and the importance of having a core team. He explains the concept behind Rocketium and the ideal candidate profile for hiring. He emphasizes the value of listening to candidates and assessing their cultural fit. He also discusses the transition from founder-led sales to building a sales team and the importance of having a true salesperson. He advises against promoting solely based on individual contributor skills and shares insights on expanding into the US market selling software effectively, and much more!

Timestamps

[00:00:46] Satej talks about his early interest in startups and his desire to be a part of a new venture.

[00:02:16] Satej discusses his experience working at Taxi For Sure, a high-growth startup that eventually got acquired.

[00:04:45] Satej explains the core concept behind Rocketium and how it evolved from a gaming company to an enterprise-focused platform.

[00:11:33] Satej explains what he looks for in candidates, including their level of ambition, culture fit, and depth of thinking.

[00:13:02] Satej discusses the interview process, emphasizing the importance of simulating real work situations to evaluate candidates.

[00:16:35] Satej reflects on the biggest hiring mistake, which is not relying on gut instinct and making decisions based on pros and cons alone.

[00:21:05] Discussion on the challenges of transitioning employees from operational roles to sales roles and the importance of hiring the right people.

[00:23:29] Exploration of the factors to consider when expanding to the US market, including the need for local expertise and understanding of customers.

[00:25:40] Analysis of the evolving expectations of software buyers, including the need for software to enhance productivity and the importance of demonstrating adoption and cost-saving benefits.

[00:30:57] Discussion on the different types of users and buyers for Rocketium's software and the importance of equipping them with the right information.

[00:32:37] Advice on the importance of choosing a specific customer, company size, industry, and buyer to focus on, in order to save time and accelerate business growth.

Satej's Links

Rocketium – https://rocketium.com/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/satejs/

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: rohitmal

In this podcast episode, Anna Lorena talks about her new book "The Learning Game." Anna discusses her journey in education, her experience studying education at NYU, and her observations about the lack of genuine learning in traditional schools. She shares how she discovered online education through David Perell's writing course and joined a startup called Synthesis. Anna also talks about the shortcomings of traditional education systems, the impact of COVID-19 on students, and the importance of empowering children to think for themselves. She offers advice for aspiring writers and emphasizes the value of writing and its connection to success, and much more!

Timestamps

[00:00:46] Anna shares her journey into teaching, starting with her internship in her dad's educational company.

[00:02:05] Anna discusses her experience as a student teacher and her realization about the lack of genuine learning in schools.

[00:03:53] Anna talks about leaving the classroom and exploring alternative learning experiences, including her involvement with Synthesis and writing a book.

[00:11:11] Discussion on the grouping of kids by age and the limitations it imposes on learning and interaction.

[00:14:04] Exploration of the drawbacks of teaching subjects in isolation and the lack of personalization in the curriculum.

[00:15:08] Analysis of how traditional education focuses on following instructions rather than fostering deep thinking and creativity.

[00:16:11] Anna discusses the problem of traditional schooling not providing authentic challenges and genuine learning experiences for students.

 [00:18:22] Anna explains how COVID-19 exposed the shortcomings of traditional education and discusses the harmful effects of online learning on students.

[00:21:10] Anna talks about how COVID-19 brought awareness to alternative education options, such as micro schools, and increased interest in school choice.

[00:24:14] Discussion on the detrimental effects of the fear of failure in traditional schooling and how video games provide practice in a positive way.

[00:25:51] Exploration of the importance of autonomy, competence, and relatedness in education and how video games fulfill these needs that traditional schooling often lacks.

[00:28:54] Conversation on the importance of encouraging children to think for themselves and question authority, starting from a young age, and strategies for parents to foster independent thinking.

[00:31:54] Anna discusses ways to empower children to think for themselves and solve problems without relying on instructions or following the crowd.

[00:32:54] Anna explains how Elon Musk hired the best teacher, Josh Dawn, to create a school from scratch, focusing on problem-solving, mixed-age groups, and developing soft skills.

[00:35:37] Anna shares her experience joining Synthesis School, witnessing the engagement, empowerment, and hunger for learning in students, and the launch of the digital tutor, revolutionizing education by teaching core subjects in an interactive and effective way.

[00:38:59] Anna discusses her observations about the lack of genuine learning in traditional education and the importance of understanding the basics of math.

[00:39:55] Anna talks about the benefits of one-on-one tutoring and how it can help students learn faster and have more time for other activities.

[00:43:16] Anna shares her experience of writing a book while juggling multiple responsibilities and offers advice on...

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

In this podcast episode, Andrew Sheffield discusses his background as a poker player and his transition into venture capital. Andrew talks about online poker websites and his preference for playing in casinos. He then delves into the investment strategies of Playfair Venture Capital, including the number of investments they make per year and their assessment process for portfolio companies. He also discusses the role of VCs in connecting founders to the venture ecosystem offering advice for founders raising rounds in 2023, and much more!

Timestamps

[00:00:22] Andrew Sheffield explains his background as a poker player and his transition into venture capital.

[00:01:49] Andrew Sheffield discusses the similarities between playing poker and working in startups and venture capital.

[00:03:15] Andrew Sheffield talks about online poker websites and the challenges of playing poker online during the COVID-19 pandemic.

[00:08:36] Andrew Sheffield discusses the number of companies they invest in per year and the range of check sizes.

[00:09:09] Andrew Sheffield talks about the distribution of their investments across the UK, Israel, and the rest of Europe.

 [00:10:24] Andrew Sheffield explains the importance of reserving funds for follow-on investments and their approach to allocating capital based on company performance.

[00:18:27] VCs connecting founders to the venture ecosystem is crucial for success.

[00:18:53] Startups can build defensibility through processes, people, brands, and execution, especially as AI becomes more prevalent.

[00:20:17] Having a compelling story and a beautiful deck is important for early-stage founders, and traction adds validation to the story.

[00:28:28] Andrew Sheffield discusses the similarities between playing poker and working in startups and venture capital.

[00:29:51] Andrew Sheffield talks about the energy transition being the biggest problem the human race faces and the need to move towards sustainable energy.

Andrew's Links

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-sheffield-264360134

Playfair - https://playfair.vc/

Female founder office hour events in Europe - https://playfair.vc/community.php

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: rohitmal

In this podcast episode, Steve Chou, founder of the "My Wife Quit Her Job" podcast and successful entrepreneur shares his journey in e-commerce, starting with selling handkerchiefs on eBay, which led to the creation of Bumblebee Linens. He discusses the viability of e-commerce in 2023 and the importance of building an audience before launching a course. Steve also shares insights on growing a YouTube channel, repurposing content and creating passive sources of income. He talks about the "four burners theory" managing employees and automation in his businesses, and much more!

Timestamps

[00:00:57] Steve Chou shares how he stumbled upon e-commerce when looking for handkerchiefs for his wedding and how it led to the creation of Bumblebee Linens.

[00:02:22] Steve Chou discusses the advantages of e-commerce as a fast way to make money compared to SaaS, but expresses interest in pursuing SaaS in the future.

[00:03:53] Steve Chou affirms that e-commerce is still a viable business model in 2023 and emphasizes the importance of marketing and driving traffic to your site.

[00:08:17] Steve Chou talks about how he initially resisted launching a course but eventually gave in due to demand from his audience.

[00:09:36] Steve Chou explains that the key to launching a successful course is to build an audience first, which he did through his blog and email list.

[00:10:31] Steve Chou shares his content strategy for growing his YouTube channel, emphasizing the importance of consistency and framing content to appeal to a wider audience.

[00:17:07] Fastest Way to Make Money Steve Chou suggests starting with e-commerce for a one-year timeframe, and content creation (specifically video channels like YouTube) for a two to three-year timeframe.

[00:18:23] Monetizing Content through Affiliate Marketing Steve Chu recommends affiliate marketing as the best way to monetize content, even with low traffic levels.

[00:23:45] Managing Employees and Automation Steve discusses his approach to managing employees and automation in his businesses, including the use of a virtual assistant and writing standard operating procedures.

[00:25:06] Reasons for Not Using Shopify Steve explains why he doesn't use the Shopify platform and instead relies on custom code for his e-commerce business, highlighting the flexibility it provides.

[00:25:50] Getting a Book Deal from HarperCollins Steve shares his experience in getting a book deal from HarperCollins, including the importance of having an existing audience and the process of putting together a book proposal.

[00:31:57] Steve Chu shares information on how to access bonuses and courses related to his book.

[00:32:36] Steve Chu mentions a free six-day mini-course on e-commerce available on his website, "My Wife Quit Her Job."

Steve's Links

Website: https://mywifequitherjob.com/

Book: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-family-first-entrepreneur-steve-chou

Course: https://profitableonlinestore.com/

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  

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

In this podcast episode, Barry shares his journey into venture capital, explaining how his background in tech led him to explore the startup ecosystem and angel investing. He discusses the check size for investing, emphasizing the importance of showcasing value to startups. Barry also talks about building relationships with potential investors and his experience with the VC Lab program. He highlights the startup landscape in Australia and his strategy for attracting LPs to his fund. Barry shares insights on sourcing deals, evaluating founding teams, and the challenges faced by founders and VCs during fundraising, and much more!

Timestamps

[00:00:35] Barry discusses his background in tech and his fascination with helping build cool stuff, leading him to explore angel investing.

[00:01:07] Barry talks about his transition from working in large corporations to the startup ecosystem, learning about fundraising, and building networks in the angel investing community.

[00:04:23] Barry shares his thoughts on the amount of money one should invest as an angel investor, considering relationships with founders and the value one can offer.

[00:11:27] Barry discusses his experience with the VC Lab, an accelerator for emerging fund managers, and the importance of inspiring the next generation of venture capital investors.

[00:13:39] Barry talks about the traditional focus on B2B SaaS companies in Australia but also mentions the emergence of successful B2C companies like Atlassian and Canva.

[00:15:42] Barry explains how Meadow Grove started as a community and evolved into a fund, with LPs being sourced from within the community through one-on-one conversations and cold outreach.

[00:20:52] Discussion on how building a network makes deal sourcing easier over time.

[00:21:05] Exploration of various ways deals come in, including through personal networks, accelerators, and outreach.

[00:22:57] Explanation of how personal networks can help filter deal flow and increase the quality of investment opportunities.

[00:31:44] Discussion on the challenges faced by founders and VCs in raising funding and the misalignment in expectations.

[00:34:02] Recommendations for founders on fundraising strategies, including bootstrapping and conserving cash.

[00:36:22] Exploration of how previous successful investments influence decision-making and the importance of evaluating investments based on changing market conditions.

Barry's Links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barrywinata 

Website: https://metagrove.vc

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: rohitmal

In this podcast episode, Anupam Rastogi, partner at Emergent Ventures discusses his background and experience in investing and firm building. The conversation covers topics such as the impact of AI on jobs and the future of work, competition between startups and incumbents, the importance of large models and productivity tools, building teams and acquiring customers in different markets, pricing and marketing strategies for SaaS companies, qualities sought in early-stage startups for investment, and fundraising tips, and much more!

Timestamps

[00:00:48] Anupam discusses his journey of moving to the US for his Master's and his interest in technology and business.

[00:02:54] Anupam talks about his experience working with Capital and X Partners, including firm building and decision-making processes.

[00:04:39] Anupam discusses the potential impact of AI on jobs and how the nature of tasks may change, emphasizing the importance of leveraging expertise and adapting to new technologies.

[00:09:52] Discussion on the early stages of technological disruption and the importance of execution in driving progress.

[00:12:18] Exploration of the role of regulation in AI development and the need for guardrails to address specific use cases.

[00:15:58] Examples of how AI tools are enhancing productivity in various professions, such as software development, marketing, and sales.

[00:19:08] Discussion on companies building outside of Silicon Valley and New York, targeting the US market.

[00:21:10]  Importance of focusing exclusively on the target market from day zero for success in global markets.

[00:23:29] The correlation between founder's presence in the US market and success in enterprise-focused companies.

[00:27:50] Discussion on the effectiveness of freemium models for certain types of products and the need for wide-ranging value.

[00:28:46] Exploration of how to combine freemium models with sales strategies to encourage team adoption of products.

[00:29:31] Factors such as market competition, ROI, and customer perception of value affect a company's ability to raise prices.

[00:36:47] This topic discusses the importance of a founder's ability to learn and their stakeholder management skills in the early stages of a startup.

[00:38:57] The differences between fundraising and sales are explored, including the competitive nature of fundraising and the need for urgency and scarcity in the process.

Anupam's Links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anupamr/

Website: https://emergent.vc/startups/

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: rohitmal

In this podcast episode, Brian Nichols, the founder of Angel Squad, shares his background and experiences working at companies like Lyft, Zoox, and Blackbird. He talks about his first angel investment and how he identifies the right opportunities. Brian also discusses the number of startups to invest in for a diversified portfolio and the process of deal sourcing and syndicate investing. Brian discusses his journey with Angel Squad, the decision-making process within the community, and the training and mentorship they offer. He reflects on his experience in angel investing and starting Angel Squad, mentioning the importance of creating a complete framework for investment decisions, and much more!

Timestamps

[00:00:21] Brian discusses his experience with Reward Tag, an internet lost and found project that was eventually acquired by an Australian luggage company.

[00:03:30] Brian talks about the strategies Lyft used to compete with Uber, including incentive programs for drivers and focusing on events like Coachella.

[00:08:25] Brian shares his transition from operating roles to investing, starting the Lyft alumni syndicate and his role at On Deck.

[00:11:48] Brian talks about the minimum number of startups one should invest in to build a diversified portfolio and the investment size involved.

[00:17:01] Brian gives advice on how to source deals and build a network as an angel investor, and how to run an angel syndicate.

 [00:18:27] Brian explains how deal sourcing works in the angel investing ecosystem and the importance of sharing high-quality deals with others.

[00:19:21] Brian discusses the additional work involved in the syndicate piece of angel investing, including running a Kickstarter campaign for the invested company and the minimum amount required for pooling funds.

[00:23:00] Brian explains how to invest alongside tier one VCs, including being brought into the deal by the tier one VC and leveraging their involvement to attract other investors.

[00:33:30] Discusses the value of operator angels and emerging managers in venture-backed companies and the democratization of investing.

[00:36:16] Explains how Hustle Fund and its founders, Elizabeth Yin and Eric Bahn, have built their brand through authentic and transparent content on social media.

 [00:37:22] Building a Brand vs. Building a Product Brian discusses the importance of building a product that people want and are willing to pay for before focusing on building a brand.

Brian's Links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannichols11/

Website: https://hustlefund.vc/squad

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: rohitmal

I am excited to have  Ankur Patel who is the founder and CEO of Multimodal, where he's automating the most complex workflows in finance and insurance. He has 15+ years of work experience across companies like J.P. Morgan and Bridgewater

In this conversation, Ankur Patel, founder and CEO of Multimodal, traces his path from JP Morgan and Bridgewater to building AI agents that automate complex workflows in finance and insurance. He explains how early exposure to data science and macro trading convinced him that AI would reshape enterprise work. He discusses why agentic AI is fundamentally different from chatbots, how enterprises evaluate risk, and why explainability is essential for adoption. Ankur breaks down pricing models for AI labor, the shift from seat-based SaaS to usage-based consumption, and the realities of selling to banks, insurers, and governments.

Timestamps

00:01 – 01:46. Intro & journey from markets to ML

01:46 – 03:21. Why agentic AI is the next frontier

03:21 – 04:48. Multimodal's ambition vs prior startups

04:48 – 06:08. Judgment calls in lending workflows

06:08 – 07:47. Risk, unpredictability, and explainability

07:47 – 09:26. Compliance objections from financial institutions

09:26 – 11:46. Deploying AI in government

11:46 – 13:40. Pricing AI labor

13:40 – 15:34. Why seat-based SaaS breaks

15:34 – 17:44. ROI framing with banks and insurers

17:44 – 19:31. Common pricing mistakes

19:31 – 21:32. Usage pricing with budget predictability

21:32 – 23:51. Enterprise sales motion & channels

23:51 – 25:40. When to activate partnerships

25:40 – 27:32. Leadership lessons across domains

27:32 – 29:44. Content as a strategic advantage

29:44 – 32:39. Vertical AI will win

32:39 – 35:41. Future of agentic AI & student advice

Ankur's Links 

LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/ankurpatel9/

Website – https://www.multimodal.dev/

My Links 

Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe

YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/

In this podcast episode, Kaiwei Tang, the founder of Light Phone discusses the inspiration behind Light Phone, a credit card-sized device that encourages people to take a break from technology and live in the moment. He explains the concept of minimalism in design and how it aligns with the core values of Light Phone. Kaiwei emphasizes the importance of eliminating distractions and creating a device that blends into the background. He also criticizes the advertisement and data-collecting business models behind smartphones and social media platforms. Kaiwei shares its distribution strategy and future plans to improve the software experience of Light Phone and much more!

Timestamps

[00:00:39] Kaiwei Tang discusses his background in design and user research, and how he joined an incubator created by Google for designers.

[00:03:10] Kaiwei Tang explains the motivation behind creating Light Phone, emphasizing the negative effects of excessive screen time and the need for a balance in technology usage.

[00:08:02] Kaiwei Tang introduces Light Phone 2, the next version of Light Phone, which is a credit card-sized device with its own operating system and a toolbox of utility tools, without any entertainment or social media features.

[00:14:08] Kaiwei Tang discusses how minimalism is a core value in the design of Light Phone, eliminating unnecessary noise and distractions.

[00:16:29] Kaiwei Tang explains how design is not just a trade or service, but a way of life that influences every decision made for the company.

[00:19:08] Kaiwei Tang discusses how Light Phone aims to create a boundary from distractions and encourages users to focus on what is important to them.

[00:27:59] Discussion on the dislike of the advertisement business model and data collecting behind smartphones and social media platforms.

[00:29:40] Exploration of how the focus on driving engagement on social media platforms can lead to division and lack of common ground.

[00:34:19] Explanation of why Light Phone is more expensive due to customization and the inability to compete with big tech companies' low pricing.

Kaiwei's Links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tangkaiwei/

Website: https://www.thelightphone.com/

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

 YouTube:  lifeselfmastery

 Twitter: rohitmal

I am excited to have Indus Khaitan, the founder of Quolum, a SaaS and Cloud Spend Reduction product funded by Sequoia and Nexus. He earlier founded Bitzer Mobile, which was created on the heels of the 2008 recession, and exited in what was Oracle's first acquisition in mobile.

In this podcast episode, Indus discusses the growth and future of the Indian startup ecosystem, his experience working with Chargebee, and transitioning from big companies to smaller ones. Indus also offers advice on protecting startups in the event of a bank's collapse and emphasizes the importance of scenario planning. He discusses creating urgency in sales, onboarding sales reps, the use of AI in improving business processes, and much more!

Timestamps

[00:03:34] Discussion on the growth and potential of the Indian startup ecosystem in the next ten years.

[00:07:50] Advice on how to adapt and transition from working in a big company to a small company.

[00:09:33] The inspiration behind starting Quolum, a SaaS product aimed at helping companies manage their software purchases and subscriptions.

[00:13:00] Importance of having liquid cash in the bank and backup bank accounts to avoid difficulties in withdrawing money during a crisis.

[00:17:00] The suggestion to bank with startup banks rather than traditional banks due to their innovation and ability to launch features quickly. Trust in the founder is crucial.

[00:24:43] Explains the importance of creating urgency in selling a product, using examples related to the tech economy and softness in the economy leading to recession.

[00:26:20] Explains the importance of looking beyond the resume and assessing candidates' outside experiences and self-driven nature during the interview process.

[00:37:26] Indus discusses the need to build a network, particularly with CFOs, and learn about finance and accounting.

Indus's Links

Twitter: https://twitter.com/1ndus

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khaitan/

Website: https://quolum.com/

My Links 

 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

YouTube:  lifeselfmastery

Twitter: rohitmal

I am thrilled to have Arian Ghashgai as a partner at DVC and GP at Earthling VC and was a machine learning infra engineer within Meta Reality Labs

In this podcast episode, Arian talks about his background, childhood, and interest in startups. He discusses his approach to evaluating startups, emphasizing the importance of the team, market, and vision. Arian also talks about his role in Earthlink, focusing on 3D and AI to enrich the human experience. He discusses the capabilities of AI technology, particularly GPT-3 and ChatGPT, and how they can enhance productivity and creativity, and much more!

Timestamps

[00:01:05] Arian talks about his experience starting a business in college and deciding to drop out to focus on it full time.

[00:03:03] Arian discusses the platform Rapify, which was a streaming service for indie artists in the German market.

[00:09:01] Discussion on the importance of evaluating the team and market when investing in pre-seed startups.

[00:12:33] Arian reflects on the mistakes made in angel investing, including not trusting gut instincts and the importance of a good fit between investor and founder.

[00:15:16] Explanation of the fund's philosophy and focus on AI and 3D technologies as transformative computing mediums with potential for positive societal impact.

[00:18:25] Discussion on the capabilities and impact of GPT-3, including its potential to iterate through concepts faster.

[00:19:04] Exploration of how AI, such as ChatGPT, can enhance productivity and output in fields like software engineering, writing, and gaming.

 [00:23:22] Advice on how founders can establish strong relationships with investors, emphasizing the importance of personal connections and trust-building.

 [00:27:55] Founders should focus on creating momentum in their early rounds to attract investors and avoid falling into a state of inaction.

 [00:30:15] The decision to do angel investing alongside being a founder and operator depends on individual circumstances and preferences.

[00:32:45] Founders should send monthly investor updates to keep investors engaged, showcase progress, and potentially attract more investment.

[00:37:41] Discussion about the potential opportunity in managing accounts across different banks and the need for innovative solutions.

[00:38:42] Exploration of the idea of solving banking issues through regulation, including raising thresholds and the potential for positive impact.

Arian's Links

Twitter: https://twitter.com/arian_ghashghai

Website: https://arian.vc/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/arian-ghashghai-73ba4681/

Jeroen's episode: https://lifeselfmastery.com/2022/01/15/ep-224-jeroen-bertrams-on-investing-in-10-unicorns-and-how-the-world-of-fundraising-has-changed-with-covid/

My Links 

🎙 Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

🎥 YouTube:   ...

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