The Silicon Valley Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Guest Speakers:

• Dario Fusato: CEO of Savvly
• Tony Derossi: Co-founder of Savvly

About the Guests:

• Dario Fusato is the CEO of Savvly, a platform revolutionizing personal pensions and long-term financial security with market-driven solutions. He has extensive experience in building fintech solutions aimed at removing financial uncertainty.

• Tony Derossi is the co-founder of Savvly, an online platform designed to optimize retirement savings through innovative risk-sharing algorithms. With a background in insurance, technology, and strategic consulting, Tony brings a wealth of knowledge to the fintech and retirement planning industries.

Episode Overview: In this episode, we dive into the innovative approach Savvly is taking to reshape retirement planning and financial security. Dario and Tony share their journey from successful corporate careers to entrepreneurship, the challenges of pioneering a new market, and their vision for the future of Savvly. The discussion covers key lessons learned, strategies for balancing innovation with risk management, and the importance of building a community around a startup.

Key Questions Discussed:

1. What inspired Dario and Tony to transition from corporate careers to founding Savvly?
2. How do their corporate experiences influence the way they build and scale Savvly?
3. What advice do they have for aspiring entrepreneurs, especially those transitioning from corporate roles?
4. What are the unique challenges of innovating in the fintech space for retirement solutions?
5. What are Savvly's long-term goals and how do they plan to achieve them?

Connect with the Guests:

• Dario Fusato: LinkedIn
• Tony Derossi: LinkedIn
• Savvly Website: www.savvly.com

Closing Notes: If you’re interested in learning more about Savvly’s approach to financial longevity and retirement planning, be sure to visit their website or connect with Dario and Tony on LinkedIn.

Guests:

• John Lenker, Marketing Strategist & Communications Artist at LENKER
• Kevin deLaplante, Philosopher & Marketing Specialist at LENKER

Episode Summary:

Join us for a fascinating conversation with John Lenker and Kevin deLaplante, two experts from LENKER, as they delve into the world of marketing, critical thinking, and entrepreneurship.

John, a seasoned marketing strategist with a passion for ethical marketing, shares his insights on developing and promoting products and services that resonate with audiences. Kevin, a former philosopher turned marketing specialist, brings a unique perspective on critical thinking and decision-making in the business world.

Together, they discuss:

• Their career journeys and how they arrived at their current roles at LENKER
• The importance of competitive analysis and effective research when exploring new business ideas
• The role of AI in idea research and decision-making
• Key factors entrepreneurs should consider when evaluating marketing and business opportunities
• The balance between AI and human judgment in business
• Essential questions entrepreneurs should ask themselves before pursuing a new venture
• Lessons learned from both successful and unsuccessful ventures
• The unique challenges and opportunities of working with Bitcoin millionaires
• How to qualify a business and conduct a comprehensive market opportunity analysis
• Strategies for staying ahead of industry trends and advancements
• The impact of effective competitive analysis on business success
• The future of AI integration in business decision-making
• Risk management strategies for entrepreneurs

Resources:

• LENKER website: https://lenker.com
• Kevin deLaplante's website: https://kevindelaplante.com/my-writing
• The Argument Ninja Podcast: [Link to podcast]

Call to Action:

If you're looking to enhance your marketing strategies, refine your critical thinking skills, or navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship, this episode is a must-listen!

Connect with John & Kevin:

• John Lenker on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnlenker/
• Kevin deLaplante on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevindelaplante/

Sara Zare Bio

Leadership philosophy: Inform, Enable, Empower - and witness the magic.

Mission: building the "3 Founder Unicorns" community.

Slogan: quoting Alexander Hamilton -- as he allegedly sang: I am not throwing away my shot!

Armed with degrees in Mechanical, Electrical, Nano, Bio, and Software Engineering from prestigious institutions in the USA, Germany, and Iran, coupled with fluency in English, German, and Persian, my perspective is detailed and holistic as well as local and global. My insatiable curiosity about human psychology, on top of my background, afford me a unique vantage point on the interplay of engineering, science, and the mosaic of human aspiration, desire, and motivation.

My track record in the productization of emerging technologies, transformative leadership impacting hundreds of teams at Google and beyond, and an insatiable curiosity for historical reflection and future forecasting, form the cornerstone of my fascination with '3 Founder Unicorns'. A vision of a future where innovation is democratized, enabling the creation of highly profitable startups with minimal capital, at unprecedented speeds. Hence I am building and leading the 'Gen-AI-Enabled Founder Community', where super savvy, creative and capable entrepreneurs gather to teach each other and learn from each other how to build their own Virtual Workforce.

In this weeks episode, we talk about

How Ai is impacting Silicon Valley

The Future of Venture Capitalism and how it will never be the same

The opportunities for everyone with the power of AI

Should we afraid of AI

And Much more…

Connect with Sara on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarazare/

137 Israel and Silicon Valley with Shlomi Kofman

Shlomi Kofman began his term as Israel’s Consul General to the Pacific Northwest in August 2017. Prior to this appointment he served as a Policy Advisor to the Deputy Foreign Ministers at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Headquarters in Jerusalem, Israel.

Over the course of his 20-year diplomatic career, Kofman has served as Israel’s Deputy Consul General in New York City, Chief of Staff to Ambassadors in Washington D.C., Deputy Ambassador in Thailand and Deputy Consul General in Shanghai. His past domestic Foreign Ministry positions include Director of North American Economic Affairs, Policy Advisor to the Deputy Foreign Minister, Diplomatic Advisor & Director of the International Department in the Parliament and Ministry of National Infrastructure, and the Head of the Northeast Asia sector. Prior to joining the Foreign Ministry, Kofman worked in the high-tech industry representing the Israeli company Orbot in South Korea, as well as a consultant to a leading Israeli company, ECI.

Kofman holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations & East Asian studies from Hebrew University in Jerusalem and a Master’s from Webster University – Shanghai University of Finance & Economics. He also holds an Associate’s engineering degree.

Kofman was born in Tbilisi, the capital of the Soviet Republic of Georgia and made Aliya (immigrated) to Israel at the age of nine, after being refused for three years by soviet authorities.

He has been married for 20 years to Sharon and they have two children, Emma and Jonathan.

We talk about

What’s an average day like for a consulate general in Silicon Valley?

What are the perks or benefits the government has provided to encourage entrepreneurism among the citizens?

How important are bilateral agreements for economic development?  

How advanced is the technology in Israel for desalination of water?

And much more

Connect with Shlomi Kofman

The Consul General (embassies.gov.il)

(7) Shlomi Kofman | LinkedIn

135 Selling your Company with Shawn Flynn

Shawn Flynn started as a business owner, founding, and growing a successful company in Beijing China before returning to the US to work with companies ranging from fast growing Silicon Valley startups to established overseas public companies. He brings his international experience working with all stages and sectors of businesses to his role as Principal at a premier middle market investment bank with expertise in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, financial restructuring, and valuation.

Shawn holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from UCSD and speaks Mandarin and Spanish (lived abroad for almost 8 years) and he is the host of the award-winning Podcast "The Silicon Valley Podcast"

You can contact Shawn at

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnpflynn/

Podcast https://link.chtbl.com/TheSiliconValleyPodcast

We talk about

Why would someone want to work with an Investment Banker to Sell their Business?           

Why do companies decide to sell their business?

What are the steps involved, with selling a business?

How does one go about putting a value on their company?

And much more...

Connect with  ShawnFlynn

Shawn Flynn’s LinkedIn Account

135 Wealth Beyond Your Startup with Marcel Pfister

Marcel is Wealth Advisor at Farther, where he advises startup founders and early-stage employees on holistic wealth management solutions. He enjoys being part of his clients’ wealth-creation journey, from starting a business to navigating a potential exit, as well as strategizing the best and most efficient ways to leave a legacy for the next generation. 

Prior to joining the Farther team, he spent most of his career as an Investment Advisor at Goldman Sachs, advising entrepreneurs, public executives, and non-profit organizations. He started his career as a Financial Analyst at Blackrock. Marcel was born and raised in Germany. At the age of 19, he moved to the United States to attend Drexel University where he obtained a degree in Finance.

We talk about

When should one start to talk about wealth management or tax strategist in the Merger or Acquisition process of their company?

Are there any rumors of regulation changes that might take place in the next year or so...?

What are some of the biggest tax issues that founder and early employees at a company face?

What are some ways that an early employee can sell shares in a private company?

And much more

Connect with Marcel Pfister

marcel@farther.com

215-317-7077 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-pfister1/

134  Beyond the Beauty Pageant with Wendy Shew

Wendy Shew, Founder of Building Education, experienced early tragedy which became her catalyst for social impact work. She’s served 25 years in community service as a youth advocate, international volunteer, and board member for numerous non-profit organizations.

Prior to community service work, Wendy attended Southern Illinois University where she studied aeronautical science, aviation management, and learned to fly, logging over 60+ hours in single engine prop planes. She went on to work in international aviation business, managing jet engine consignments while joining Women in Aviation and becoming a board member for Women In Defense, a national security organization affiliated with NDIA. 

In the same year that her project brought in $5 million for the company, she volunteered at a girl’s orphanage in India which changed the way she saw herself in the world. She realized that if she could bring in $5 million to her then company, she could bring in $5 million anywhere, especially to make a greater global impact. She quit her job 4 months later and left the country to travel the world all across Asia, Europe, and Africa for six years. Wendy Shew founded Building Education after volunteering in Nepal for disaster relief during the April 2015 earthquake that damaged over 9,000 schools. Building Education’s mission serves to alleviate extreme poverty by sponsoring education and building schools to spark a legacy of change. Building Education has served to rebuild 3 schools, provide education to 400+ students, build 2 water systems, providing water to over 100+ homes, and launched women empowerment conferences that have provided skills in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and menstruation health.

Wendy is also an ultramarathon runner, and completed the 58k Cami de Cavalls North island route in Menora, Spain. As an avid runner she has placed 2nd in the Pollenca Half Marathon in Mallorca and 3rd place in the 10k Pokhara Marathon in Nepal. She is a mountain climber who has trekked mountains from the Himalayas to summiting Mount Toubkal, the tallest mountain in North Africa. She was named Top 100 Visionaries in Education in 2021 by GFEL. She is also a fashion enthusiast, model, and the current title holder of The Global Citizen’s Collective, Miss Nepal 2021 vying for the International title of Global Citizen’s Miss 2022. 

We talk about How is scaling a Mountain like scaling a startup? What is multidimensional poverty? How does education impact the cycle of poverty? How does one go about learning the business culture in another country? From winning Miss Nepal, how does building a personal brand help with what you are doing? What are some of the hidden benefits of winning a beauty pageant?

Connect with Wendy Shew

https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-shew-22431470/

shewendy822@yahoo.com bebuildingeducation.org

133 The Best Communicators Win with Brian Sparkes!

Brian Sparkes is an experienced consultant with a demonstrated history of working in higher education, and startup culture. Experienced in high stakes communication, presentation skills, strengthening emotional intelligence in leadership and teams, business development, building business culture, community and social capital.

We talk about

How does one emotionally connect with their message?

How to tailor a presentation with who you are talking to?

How is it best to tailor the message on each slide of a pitch deck?

When should one start to practice their communication skill...

And much more

Connect with Brian Sparkes

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian%F0%9F%92%A5-sparkes-9967a8a0/

Maya Tussing Bio

Maya is a Partner of Fairlight Advisors which helps nonprofit leaders fulfill their mission with first-class financial and investment solutions honed while working at the most respected institutions in the world.  Prior to Fairlight, Maya was the Head of BlackRock’s Institutional Index Allocation Group, where her team managed over $200B across all asset classes, investment styles and vehicles. Over the last 20 years, Maya has held senior risk management roles at firms such as BlackRock, Barclays Global Investors, Visa, and GE Capital. Additionally, she has coached hundreds of men and women at all levels of corporate and non-profit organizations to achieve personal and professional success and satisfaction. Maya is a graduate of Pomona College and holds an MBA in international finance from the University of Washington.

We talk about

Has Silicon Valley become risk adverse?

How does interest rates impact fundraising for companies in Silicon Valley?

What lessons can founders of for-profit companies take from non-profits and vice-versa?

What happens when multiple nonprofits collide?

And much more

Connect with Maya Tussing

https://www.linkedin.com/in/maya-lis-tussing/

https://www.fairlightadvisors.com/

131 Technology beyond Government with Dimitri Kusnezov

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Dr. Dmitri Kusnezov received A.B. degrees in Physics and in Pure Mathematics with highest honors from UC Berkeley. Following a year of research at the Institut fur Kernphysik, KFA-Julich, in Germany, he attended Princeton University earning his MS in Physics and Ph.D. in Theoretical Nuclear Physics. At Michigan State University, he conducted postdoctoral research and then became an instructor.

In 1991, he joined the faculty of Yale University as an assistant professor in physics, becoming an associate professor in 1996. He has served as a visiting professor at numerous universities around the world. Dr. Kusnezov has published over 100 articles and a book.

He joined federal service at the National Nuclear Security Administration in late 2001 and is a member of the Senior Executive Service and is also a Visiting Researcher at Yale. He currently serves as Deputy Under Secretary for A.I. and Technology. 

We talk about

How did culture have to evolve to be conducive for discovery to take place?

How is technology being utilized in decision making at all levels in the government?

How does one make complex decisions?

How can a young company get access to Washington DC resources and connections?

And much more

Connect with Dimitri Kusnezov 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dimitri-kusnezov-097a9b68/