Explore every episode of the podcast The Silicon Valley Podcast
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ep 237 The Future of Retirement Savings: Innovation and Risk Management with Dario Fusato and Tony Derossi | 23 Aug 2024 | 00:38:44 | |
Guest Speakers:
About the Guests:
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:
Connect with the Guests:
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. | |||
| Ep 236 Marketing and Critical Thinking for Business Success With John Lenker and Kevin deLaplante | 15 Aug 2024 | 00:49:15 | |
Guests:
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:
Resources:
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:
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| Ep 227 The Next Generation of Venture Capital with Sara Zare | 22 May 2024 | 00:51:30 | |
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 | 01 Jun 2022 | 00:40:50 | |
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 | |||
| 136 Selling your Company with Shawn Flynn | 25 May 2022 | 00:38:24 | |
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
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| 135 Wealth Beyond Your Startup with Marcel Pfister | 18 May 2022 | 00:42:33 | |
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 215-317-7077 https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-pfister1/ | |||
| 134 Beyond the Beauty Pageant with Wendy Shew | 11 May 2022 | 00:34:15 | |
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! | 04 May 2022 | 00:31:50 | |
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/
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| 132 From For Profit to Non-Profit and everything In-between With Maya Tussing | 27 Apr 2022 | 00:48:28 | |
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 | 20 Apr 2022 | 00:51:17 | |
131 Technology beyond Government with Dimitri Kusnezov . 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/
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| 130 Creating the Microprocessor and beyond with Marcian ”Ted” Hoff | 13 Apr 2022 | 00:57:03 | |
Marcian Ted Hoff 130 Creating the Microprocessor and beyond with Marcian "Ted" Hoff BIOGRAPHY OF MARCIAN E. HOFF
Dr. Marcian Edward "Ted" Hoff was born in Rochester, New York. His degrees include a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, (1958) and an MS (1959) and a Ph.D. (1962), both in Electrical Engineering, from Stanford University, Stanford, California. In the 1959-1960 time frame he and his professor, Bernard Widrow, co-developed the LMS adaptive algorithm which is used in many modern communication systems, e.g. adaptive equalizers and noise-cancelling systems.
In 1968 he joined Intel Corporation as Manager of Applications Research and in 1969 proposed the architecture for the first monolithic microprocessor or computer central processor on a single chip, the Intel 4004, which was announced in 1971. He contributed to several other microprocessor designs, and then in 1975 started a group at Intel to develop products for telecommunications. His group produced the first commercially- available monolithic telephone CODEC, the first commercially-available switched-capacitor filter and one of the earliest digital signal processing chips, the Intel 2920. He became the first Intel Fellow when the position was created in 1980.
In 1983 he joined Atari as Vice President of Corporate Research and Development. In 1984 he left Atari to become an independent consultant. In 1986 he joined Teklicon, a company specializing in assistance to attorneys dealing with intellectual property litigation, as Chief Technologist, where he remained until he retired in 2007.
He has been recognized with numerous awards, primarily for his microprocessor contributions. Those awards include the Kyoto Prize, the Stuart Ballantine Medal and Certificate of Merit from the Franklin Institute, induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame and the Silicon Valley Engineering Hall of Fame, the George R. Stivitz Computer Pioneer Award, the Semiconductor Industry 50th Anniversary Award, the Eduard Rhein Foundation Technology Award, the Ron Brown Innovation Award, the Davies Medal and induction into their Hall of Fame from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation.
He has been recognized with several IEEE awards including the Cledo Brunetti Award (1980), the Centennial Medal (1984), and the James Clerk Maxwell Award (2011). He was made a Fellow of the IEEE in 1982 "for the conception and development of the microprocessor" and is now a Life Fellow. He is a named inventor or co-inventor on 17 United States patents and author or co-author of more than 40 technical papers and articles.
We talk about
How do you see the value of IP? what should investors be thinking when they are studying a company’s IP? What technologies were developed long ago that we are just now starting to see or as a society to adopt? What was it like being one the inventors of the microprocessor? How did Intel grow after the invention of the 4004 How have “Innovation” in Silicon Valley Changed over the decades
And much more...
Connect with Marcian “Ted” Hoff Best to connect through Mike, President of Intel Alumni
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| 129 Investing in Deep Tech with Deepak Gupta | 06 Apr 2022 | 00:40:34 | |
Deepak Gupta
Deepak is a Managing Partner at Blue Bear Ventures (BVB), a seed fund investing in Applied Biology and Sustainable Economy startups emerging out of top-tier research universities in the US. He is also a startup leadership coach and coaches’ founders through their entrepreneurial journey. As a trusted advisor, he helps individuals with functional expertise in every facet of startup operations, from C-level support to finance and accounting, from fundraising to culture development, and everything else in between.
We talk about What milestones should a company hit before going out for an A round? What is Venture Debt? How has deep tech changed in the last 20 years? How does an investor plan out their milestones?
And much more...
Connect with Deepak Gupta | |||
| 128 Step-by-step fundraising process with Nathan Beckord | 30 Mar 2022 | 00:55:13 | |
128 Step-by-step fundraising process with Nathan Beckord Nathan Beckord Earlier in my career, I started two companies, an early web catalog provider and a clinical trial software company. I also worked in investment banking, and was involved in three technology IPOs and nearly 40 acquisitions. On the content side, I produce the popular "How I Raised it" podcast found on iTunes, SoundCloud and Spotify. I also organize various startup events such as FundingV2.com, StartupBD.com and StartupExits.com. Previously, with Pivotal Labs, I produced the ProjectStartup series. I have an MBA in Entrepreneurship, a BSC in Finance, and I am a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). I'm on the Board of Hands On Bay Area, a non-profit. Aside from startups, my passion is sailing, and I've logged more than 10,000 coastal and offshore nautical miles. My longest sail was a 22-day non-stop Pacific Ocean crossing to French Polynesia. Currently, I race on a Knarr team in the SF Bay. Other adventures include climbing 19,340-ft. Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa and trekking in Peru, Chile, New Zealand and the Himalayas of Nepal. I’ve also toured the U.S., Vietnam, Cambodia, Mexico, and Nicaragua by motorcycle. Specialties: Venture capital, startups, entrepreneurial finance, business planning, business development, financial modeling, raising capital, corporate development, strategic partnerships and alliances, exit strategy, startup acquisitions, pitch coaching, investor presentations, startup strategy, go to market planning, startup M&A, private equity, angel capital. Foundersuite brings structure, speed and efficiency to fundraising and investor relations. Used by 2500+ startups worldwide including those in YCombinator, Techstars, 500 Startups, FundersClub and more, Foundersuite also has product features for investment bankers, VCs and funding advisors. Features Include: - Investor CRM - Investor Database - Investor Updates - Pitch Deck Hosting - Send Email Tools - Deal Docs - Founders Market - Virtual Data Room I mainly work with early stage Internet, B2B software, mobile, and consumer product startups, and I have a strong interest in platforms, markets, and networks.
We talk about
Why are such a small percentage of companies able to raise any type of funding? If there was one key difference that sticks out between a company that can raise funding and one can’t, what would it be? Which fundraising steps do startup founders skip or have the most issues with? During the outreach, how often should one be updating the materials they are sending, and should they be customized depending on who it is being sent to or is that too time consuming? What are all the documents a startup should have ready when they go out to raise capital
And much more...
Connect with Nathan Beckord | |||
| Ep 226 Strategies For Success in Mergers and Acquisitions with Vincent Monteparte | 09 May 2024 | 00:37:30 | |
In this episode of The Silicon Valley Podcast, we delve into the dynamic world of investment banking with the esteemed Vincent Monteparte, a visionary leader with over 25 years of experience in managing strategic enterprise initiatives across various industries. Vincent Monteparte serves as a Board Director and Chair of the Audit Committee for Dalrada Financial Corporation (DFCO), a Healthcare, Technology, and Clean Energy Company. Additionally, he holds Board Director positions for Measurabl, a global sustainability SaaS Software company, and Slingshot Aerospace, a computer vision AI SaaS software company for the commercial/government satellite industry. He also serves on the boards of Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Business and the College of Business and Engineering for Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. With a background spanning mergers & acquisitions for the middle market, board leadership & governance, market expertise & positioning, and strategic business investment & planning, Vincent brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. Here are some key questions we explore with Vincent:
We also touch on the evolution of investment banking over the years and explore the potential competition between Venture Capitalists and family offices for deals in the future. Join us for this enlightening discussion with Vincent Monteparte as we uncover the intricacies of investment banking and gain valuable insights into the world of finance and deal-making. | |||
| 127 Always Giving with Amazon Worldwide Head of EPIC Leadership & Chief Evangelist Richard Hua | 23 Mar 2022 | 00:49:56 | |
Richard Hua Worldwide Head of EPIC Leadership & Chief EQ Evangelist at Amazon Proven leader with extensive experience in leading large, complex and globally distributed organizations. Developed and implemented innovative expansion strategies and groundbreaking programs across two continents. Possesses outstanding skill in evangelizing ideas, mentoring empathically, building teams and leading change initiatives, which transformed multiple organizations from bottom tier performers to top tier performers. Globally respected speaker with audiences as large as 10,000. Consistent track record of exceeding expectations for revenue goals and achieving the highest levels of customer satisfaction. Spearheaded training programs to evangelize cloud solutions, both with internal audiences and with external customers. Regularly commended by customers and colleagues for ability to add value through technical knowledge, communication skills, and mentoring expertise. Founded the Amazon Culture of Innovation program in the SF Bay Area and regularly present innovation briefings to senior executives of the world's largest corporations. Launched emotional intelligence training programs at multiple companies which have impacted thousands of people across by enabling their professional, personal, and interpersonal success. Highly refined ability to synthesize information and communicate insights and solutions. Utilized this skill to earn a perfect score of 1600 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). Earned a Bachelor’s of Science with Honors in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley. Awarded the university’s most prestigious distinction, the Regents’ & Chancellor’s Scholarship.
On today Show we Talk about: We dive into what is the Amazon “6 pager” and how it is used to propose a new idea? What are the 4-pillars of innovation? What is “Day 1” of the internet? How should someone train their mind to make it through tough times?
Connect with Rich Hua https://www.linkedin.com/in/richhua/
Sam Wong https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-wong-startup/ https://www.fundablestartups.com/ | |||
| 126 From Special Forces to Entrepreneur with Jason Wolf | 16 Mar 2022 | 00:50:08 | |
Jason Wolf Bio
From my days as a young officer in the special forces, to work with breakthrough startups and at-risk youth today, through many tech start-up and executive roles, I seek to make a positive impact on the world around me. I am passionate about translating grand visions into effective strategies, execution frameworks, and teamwork that lead to financially and socially impactful success!
We talk about Lessons learned from a entrepreneur father. What skills transfer from the Special Forces into the startup world? What its like to be at a company the raises a billion dollars only to collapse? What is the importance and people and a network in a company? How is AI helping to secure people? And much more...
Connect with Jason Wolf https://www.linkedin.com/in/jsnwlf/ | |||
| Ep 125 Investing for Impact with Jeep Kline | 09 Mar 2022 | 00:38:18 | |
Show notes for Jeep Kline Venture Capital Opportunities in Southeast Asia and more with Jeep Kline Jeep Kline who it the first Thailand Venture Capitalist, her experiences include creating a startup, taking a leadership role in technology companies, and managing Big Data at The World Bank (and teaching at Hass school of business at Berkeley. She enjoys applying strategies and analytics to solve difficult problems and create meaningful impacts.
On today Show we Talk about: For emerging countries is impact investing particularly important and if so why or why not? How should one look at a company to scale it and grow it globally? Does ESG investing impact how a company can scale? Of ESG, which of those three components will it be hardest for startups to fulfill?
Connect with Jeep
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| Ep 124 Agile Merger & Acquisition Process with Kison Patel | 02 Mar 2022 | 00:38:06 | |
Kison Patel In a world of increasing technological disruption, M&A is becoming necessary in order to stay relevant. However, these transactions are failing because important deal processes, such as diligence and integration, are being poorly conducted and without proven techniques for success. As a former M&A advisor, I’ve seen these challenges first hand and set out to develop tools and techniques that address these industry failings and enable M&A practitioners to drive growth and maximize value. On today Show we Talk about: What is needed to have a successful Agile Process in an M&A deal? How impactful is poor process management in a deal? How important is integration in value creation? What questions should a team ask themselves before the deal closes about the integrations? And much more.... Connect with Kison Patel Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/kisonpatel/ kison@dealroom.net M&A Science | Technology, Training, & a Community for M&A (mascience.com) | |||
| Ep123 Sales is King with Adrian Rivodeaux | 23 Feb 2022 | 00:44:51 | |
Adrian Rivodeaux Bio: I once took a course in astrophysics at MIT because I wanted to understand how binary star systems work. In this process of discovery I learned that Jupiter has a molten metal core entirely made of hydrogen. How fascinating. In spite of never becoming an astrophysicist, this unexpected discovery prompted me to start looking at the world differently and ask myself about what other unexpected things are hidden below the surface. What else isn’t obvious about how the world works? After many years of negotiating through the world of startups, I stumbled upon a complex communication problem; even when we’re telling the truth, we’re not always being believed. In the pursuit of being a better deal-maker, I decided to once again look underneath the surface. I went on a journey to discover more about the mind. What are the things that allow us to be believed when we’re selling? After 6 years as a fund manager, which gave me deep understanding of what investors expect, and 4 years of research into behavioral and cognitive psychology, I developed a knack for teaming up with tenacious people to solve complex revenue problems in an evolved and scalable way. I created GetTractionTools in 2019 with the goal of re-thinking the foundation of the sales process and steering it towards a function of shared value instead of a sole function of profit. I speculated that by merging the mechanics of building revenue operations with a deep understanding of the complexities of human behavior, we could create pathways to finding shared value; building value not just for our clients, but also for our clients' customers. Over the past 2 years we’ve pioneered a more intuitive and customer-centric approach to revenue operations that has created more than $100 million in value for our clients.
We talk about Diplomacy vs negotiation? What are sales? Should a company be product driven, or sales driven? Or what’s the right combo? What is a sales process? What are the components of one? How should a company implement a new sales strategy? How is AIM/ML being used in Tele sales during the sales process?
And much more...
Connect with Adrian https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-rivodeaux/ Email adrian@gettractiontools.com
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| Ep 122 Your #1 Business Selling Tool with CJ Gilbert | 16 Feb 2022 | 00:44:20 | |
CJ Gilbert CJ Gilbert lives with his wife and 3 kids in La Mesa, CA. He first started in web design in 1995 and has been the CEO of GilbertStudios since founding it in 2004. CJ has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and business owners in San Diego and beyond with their websites and marketing needs. And he is constantly studying and learning more about social media, business, its operations, sales, and marketing.
On today Show we Talk about: How does one go about finding a developer for their site? What are the metrics that should be tracked and who at the company should know what? How are websites evolving or what are the next trends that people should be aware of or thinking about? What is the number one problem you see companies make with their website? And much more...
Connect with CJ https://www.mywebsitesafari.com/ 619-512-3210 (call or text ok) hello@gilbertstudios.com | |||
| 121 Intel’s importance to Silicon Valley with James Cape | 09 Feb 2022 | 00:47:37 | |
James Cape
James has worked in the Silicon Valley high technology industry since 1983. During his first eighteen years he worked at Intel Corporation where he gained broad experience in a variety of sales, marketing, and venture capital positions.
On today Show we Talk about: What are some critical competitive advantages that Silicon Valley has? Who coined the term “Silicon Valley”? How has life in Silicon Valley changed in the last 60 years? What the Intel Alumni Network is and what is the group working to accomplish?
Connect with James Cape | |||
| 120 The Future of Crypto with Monty Metzger | 02 Feb 2022 | 00:51:05 | |
120 The Future of Crypto with Monty Metzger CEO and Founder at LCX - Liechtenstein Cryptoassets Exchange. Monty C. M. Metzger is an internet veteran and acclaimed thought leader on the future of digital. LCX is a new category leader in blockchain - establishing an ecosystem for the new financial world one step at a time. Enabling professional investors to trade, invest and manage crypto assets: Trading Platform for Digital Assets, building an Exchange for Security Tokens and other crypto assets. LCX is proud member of the World Economic Forum (WEF). Monty found his first Internet company back in 1998, since then he co-founded several tech companies, co-founded a future technology consultancy with offices in Beijing, Tokyo, Munich and New York, then founded a registered Venture Capital Fund in Luxembourg as General Partner and invested in outstanding technology companies globally. Acclaimed Keynote Speaker and Futurist: http://blog.monty.de/keynote-speaker. Author of Mobile Future 2020 (published 2009) and Digital Future 2030. Speaker and Delegate at Conferences such as World Economic Forum WEF Davos, Abu Dhabi Media Forum, Blockchain Symposium Oman, Digital Leadership Forum Hong Kong, DLD Conference, Mobile World Toronto, Monaco Media Forum, Risk Minds International, Skoll World Forum Oxford, Spark Conference Montenegro, FIA Mobility Conference Tokyo and others. Founding Partner at Digital Leaders Ventures (DLV) - investing in technology companies globally. Founder at Digital Leaders, a network of some of the most influential leaders hosting executive programs, learning journeys and immersion tours to Silicon Valley, Tel Aviv, Beijing, Bangalore, Seoul or Tokyo.
On today Show we Talk about: What is the web 3.0? What is “Internet of Value”? Which Assets will be Tokenizable? How important are crypto exchanges? Why is Liechtenstein so open and progressive with its views towards Fintech? And much more....
Connect with Monty LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/montymetzger/ Twitter @montymetzger or @LCX Web www.LCX.com | |||
| 119 What the Financial Industry Doesn’t Tell You with Patrick Geddes | 26 Jan 2022 | 00:44:27 | |
Patrick Geddes From early in his career in the investment industry, Geddes was eager to look out for consumer interests above the industry's motivations. That passion led him to serve as Research Director and CFO at the financial services firm, Morningstar; teaching graduate-level portfolio theory at UC Berkeley Extension; co-founding Aperio Group, a $42 billion investment management firm (as of the end of 2020) with a consumer-first, honesty-based mission; and retiring in 2021 to work on a lifelong goal—penning Transparent Investing. Patrick is known for taking the dry and often difficult to understand topic of investing and turning it into one that’s easily understood with plenty of his signature humor along the way. And over the last few decades, he’s done exactly that, sharing his insight, stories, and humor to both consumer and professional audiences in the world of investing. If you’re interested in inviting Patrick to speak at your next investment-related event, inquire here: https://patrickgeddes.co/speaking/
We talk about How did Aperio scale from 0-42 billion under management? What is a company’s 3-hat rule? How often do you think a CEO should be reviewed? What are the differences with negative screening vs positive screening for ESG when it comes to investing?
Connect with Patrick Geddes https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-geddes-929b15213/ Email pgeddes@patrickgeddes.co | |||
| A Lawyer’s insights into Mergers and Acquisitions with Jerome Fogel | 19 Jan 2022 | 00:51:57 | |
Jerome Fogel is the co-founder of Fogel & Potamianos LLP. He is known as a dealmaker and innovator in the legal community. He represents successful entrepreneurs, small and lower middle market companies, and high-profile sports and entertainment leaders. He also serves as the go-to offsite general counsel for a number of organizations. He has participated in over 100 corporate, non-profit, and entertainment transactions including company formations, mergers & acquisitions, equity financing, high-profile partnerships, talent agreements, digital music distribution, television distribution, publishing, licensing, and commercial transactions.
On today Show we Talk about: How should a buyer plan for post closer to maximize the value of what has been acquired? Is it common for attorneys to try to take over deals? “Time kills all deals” or “A window can open as fast as they can close” do you think these common sayings are true, why or why not? The attorney and seller risk tolerance. How well should they be in alignment?
Connect with Jerome Fogel https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeromefogel/ Website https://fpgeneralcounsel.com/ Email jfogel@fpgeneralcounsel.com
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| Ep 225 The Foundation of Silicon Valley with Ron Wittier | 02 May 2024 | 00:20:49 | |
Ron Whittier Interview Introduction Intel Corporation was founded in 1968 by Robert Noyce and Gordon Moore, who left Fairchild Semiconductor to start their own company. In the early years from 1970 to 1978, Intel went through major inflection points that helped transform it from a startup to an industry leader. Ron Whittier, who joined Intel in 1970 as an engineering manager, played a key role in navigating many of these pivotal moments. This included instilling the pioneering "Intel Culture" driven by Andy Grove, expanding into new product lines like microprocessors, raising funds through Intel's first public offering in 1972, and then rapidly scaling up design and manufacturing capabilities. From 1978 to 2000, Intel experienced explosive growth riding the PC revolution and the emergence of the world-wide web. Ron helped the company successfully navigate through additional inflection points like improving manufacturing processes under Craig Barrett's leadership, the famous decision to exit the DRAM business to focus on microprocessors, developing major marketing campaigns like "Intel Inside", transitioning to being a sole microprocessor supplier, and forming new groups like the Intel Architecture Labs and Intel Capital. Through recognizing and deftly navigating these many inflection points, Ron and Intel's leadership team transformed the company into a global technology powerhouse. We talked about
And much more… | |||
| Impact Investing with Elizabeth Funk | 13 Jan 2022 | 00:39:36 | |
Elizabeth Funk I work at the intersection of profit and purpose: harnessing the power of capitalism to solve the world’s most pressing problems. I believe that capitalism and entrepreneurial spirit are incredibly powerful forces that can be harnessed to create impact with magnitude. I was there at the very beginning of the impact investing movement. In 2004 I started the Dignity Fund, one of the first for-profit funds investing in high potential microfinance institutions. With very small loans of $500 or $1000, we enabled over 35,000 aspiring poor entrepreneurs in developing countries to start businesses and build their own way out of poverty. The Dignity Fund was revolutionary at the time: people didn’t think it was possible to make money while doing good. I am now a frequent public speaker and avid evangelist for changing that thinking. I love to inspire investors to think consciously about the impact their money can have, people with good ideas to structure them for profit so they can be sustainable, and corporate leaders to integrate their values into their business strategies. After business school I joined a tiny start-up called Yahoo! where I had the honor of playing an early hand in designing how the world would experience and use the internet. I helped create and grow several of Yahoo!’s products but my favorite was Yahoo! Shopping, a pioneer in shaping e-commerce. I am currently the Senior General Partner of Dev Equity, an impact fund focused on low-income housing, urban revitalization, and sustainable agriculture in Latin America. I serve on the boards of portfolio companies ranging from a hot chili pepper company in Ecuador (with a female CEO) to a cacao-based snack company in Costa Rica and Peru. I have recently turned my attention closer to home and the enormous crisis of homelessness in California. I have started a social enterprise, DignityMoves, to build innovative interim housing for the tens of thousands individuals and families facing homelessness.
On today Show we Talk about: What is the difference between Environmental, Social, & Governance (ESG) investing vs Impact investing? Where are the greatest opportunities for microlending? What are the pros and cons of a venture being for profit or nonprofit? What are typical questions that an impact board asks themselves?
Connect with Elizabeth Funk https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-funk/ Website dignitymoves.com | |||
| 116 How to achieve Exponential Growth with Peter Cannone | 05 Jan 2022 | 00:47:02 | |
Peter Cannone Peter is the current Chairman and CEO at Demand Science . He is a senior executive with proven experience as a strategic leader of large and mid-market public and private technology companies in both growth and turnaround modes. Between his CEO roles and his service on numerous corporate and nonprofit boards, he has been privileged to work alongside some of the top people in the best venture and private equity firms. Throughout his career, he has been a consistent creator of business scale, value, and superior returns for investors and shareholders. Peter’s proudest career accomplishments, however, are related to building and developing high-performance teams and executives. Presently there are 14 executives who worked on Peter’s teams who now hold the title of CEO or President. Peter has also has been honored to have been associated for many years with the GreenLight Charitable Foundation. GreenLight raises and invests funds to transform lives in high-poverty urban areas. The GreenLight Golf For Good charitable golf tournament, of which I’m an organizer, raises over $250 thousand annually to help in these efforts.
On today Show we Talk about: What’s it like for a company to have completed seven acquisitions in the global market without institutional capital? How does one go about creating a synergistic acquisition strategy among companies they don’t even own yet? Who does more due diligence on a company, a Venture Capitalist, a Private Equity group, or an outside person about to join a company as a new CEO? What are the key features should one look for in assembling a board for a company that has ambitions to go public?
Connect with Peter Cannone Website https://demandscience.com/ | |||
| 115 How does a strategic buyer look at a company with Gustavo Netto | 29 Dec 2021 | 00:48:19 | |
Gustavo Netto #merger #acquisition #startups #entreprenuer #business ✓ Award-winning Digital Strategist who unites business and IT teams to develop and deploy cutting-edge digital technologies that accelerate growth and profitability. ✓ Experienced digital sales professional with a reputation for building trusted relationships and delivering quality customer experience. ✓ Accomplished Team Builder known for leveraging technical proficiency and business acumen to helm cohesive internal teams to deliver top performance. ✓ Inspirational Leader who honed collaborative style and exceptional work ethic as an NCAA Division 1 soccer player in the US and Brazil. Fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish.
On today Show we Talk about:
How does a strategic buyer look at a company...from what angels? What is the additional value of a product if it has IP attached to it? Why do acquisitions fail? If your company has only been around a few years, how should you prepare your company to get the maximum value for an acquisition?
Connect with Gustavo Netto Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/gnetto/ http://www.gustavonetto.com
CONNECT WITH SHAWN https://linktr.ee/ShawnflynnSV
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| 114 Disrupting the Current Venture Capital Model with Kyle York | 22 Dec 2021 | 00:42:45 | |
114 Disrupting the Current Venture Capital Model with Kyle York Kyle York is co-founder, CEO and managing partner at York IE™ where he sets the vision and leads the vertically integrated strategic growth and investment firm helping reshape the way companies are built, scaled and monetized. Kyle works closely with entrepreneurs, operators and investors to help them realize their shared ambition to build good companies, create new jobs, grow generational wealth and impact the world. Advising and investing in over 100 startups this past decade, Kyle is an active board member for Blustream, CloudApp, Lytica, TorchPro, Voyage SMS & chairperson for Canvs AI. Kyle is a co-founder of 3rd generation family business, YORK Athletics MFG., an ecommerce footwear brand in Boston. Kyle’s most successful startup engagement to date is Fastly ($FSLY) who IPO’d in 2019 and peaked at nearly $13B. Current York IE portfolio highlights include Cyberhaven, Metadata, WEVO and Vetro. Previously, Kyle was the vice president of product strategy for Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and general manager for Oracle’s Dyn Global Business Unit, focused on growing Oracle’s cloud market position and leading Dyn operations. Founders and talent from Oracle acquisitions StackEngine, Wercker, DataScience.com and Zenedge reported into Kyle’s strategy and marketing organization. Prior to joining Oracle, Kyle was an executive with Dyn since 2008, primarily as Chief Revenue Officer. During his years there he spearheaded corporate strategy, growth, and go-to-market, scaling to $100M annual recurring revenue, 5000 enterprise customers, one million paid users, $100M fundraised, 500 global employees, and 11 executed M&A transactions, which led to its strategic acquisition by Oracle in 2016. Kyle past served as an independent board member for Datanyze (ZoomInfo), Assent Compliance (Warburg Pincus) and Flowtraq (Riverbed). As an expert in the global internet, cloud, SaaS, IaaS, and technology markets and trends, Kyle has been featured in publications including the Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur, the New York Times, TechCrunch, USA Today, and Wired, and on broadcasts such as NPR’s All Tech Considered, NBC’s Today Show and PBS’s Frontline. He has been a guest speaker at many conferences worldwide educating and inspiring audiences. Kyle has spent his entire career working in the internet and enterprise software industries driving growth for subscription business models. Prior to joining Dyn, he spent six years at vertical SaaS company WhippleHill Communications (EdTech), which was acquired by Blackbaud in 2014. Kyle has a BS in marketing from Bentley University.
On today Show we Talk about: How has the market for B2B Saas Changed over the years? How will the current VC model be disrupted? How do new investors break into the coveted space of talking to the best companies? Advice or wisdom do you have for early-stage companies for 2022?
Connect with Kyle York https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyork20/ Website york.ie
CONNECT WITH SHAWN https://linktr.ee/ShawnflynnSV
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| 113 Using Technology for Social Good with Koki Uchiyama | 15 Dec 2021 | 00:33:58 | |
Koki Uchiyama is Founder and CEO of Hottolink Inc. He founded hottolink in 2000 and lead it to first IPO among the social media analytics / listening players in the world. He and his team have been exploring the possibility of utilizing Social Big Data and AI especially to support Brands to create and conduct the marketing strategy driven by Data and Evidence for almost 20 years, so he is the pioneer of data driven marketing. Prior to Hottolink Inc., Koki was engaged in the project of developing one of the first Japanese Internet search engines, when he was in graduate school of Tokyo University in 1995, and then he joined the search engine company founded based on the project, as Vice President. He also has a strong passion to do social activities. One of his major activities is to lead the projects called as "Famiee projects" which aim to make the society accept the diverse form of family, including LGBTQ couples. He founded non-profit organizations which (1) issue partnership certificates for LGBTQ couples based on blockchain technology and (2)organize the network of big corporations who provide the benefits or services not only for legally married couples but also for families of LGBT couples with the certificates. He is also one of founders and council members of the first International Boarding High School in Japan, called UWC ISAK JAPAN, which gives scholarships to 70% of students coming around the world to create diversity of students in rich/poor, nationality, culture, language, religion etc. His other major activity is to support young entrepreneurs in the world to grow, by taking leadership in the world-wide Entrepreneurs Organization.
On today Show we Talk about: What was it like to get an Acquisition offer from Softbank and turn it down? How is running a public company different than running a private company with investors? Can entrepreneurs from Japan be successful in the US markets? What are the possibilities for blockchain technology in the future?
Connect with Koki Uchiyama https://www.linkedin.com/in/kokiuchiyama/ | |||
| 112 How to Unlearn to Learn with Barry O‘Reilly | 08 Dec 2021 | 00:43:16 | |
Barry O’Reilly Barry O’Reilly is an entrepreneur, business advisor and author who has pioneered the intersection of business model innovation, product development, organizational design, and culture transformation.
Barry is the co-founder of Nobody Studios, a crowd-infused, high-velocity venture studio with the mission to create 100 compelling companies over the next 5 years.
Barry is author of two international bestsellers, Unlearn: Let Go of Past Success to Achieve Extraordinary Results, and Lean Enterprise: How High Performance Organizations Innovate at Scale—part of the Eric Ries series, and a HBR must read for CEOs and business leaders. He writes for The Economist, and is faculty at Singularity University. On today Show we Talk about:
What is Agile and how is it used? What is Nobody Studios and what are the goals it wants to accomplish? How is one able to live all around the wrong while progressing their career? What was it like to know Elon Musk when he just founded his first company Zip2?
Connect Barry
Website https://barryoreilly.com/ Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/barryoreilly/ | |||
| 111 Business Culture and Its Success with John McNulty | 01 Dec 2021 | 00:38:07 | |
John McNulty On today’s show, we chat with John McNulty who has been a driving force in the technology industry for almost forty years. He has held leadership positions starting as General Manager at Intel in 1980 and including Senior VP & GM roles at two firms and President, CEO and Chairman of four other companies in the software, hardware, networking, and communications industries. Today, Mr. McNulty serves on the Board of Directors of four private technology companies and is also a member of the University of Notre Dame College of Engineering Advisory Council.
On today Show we Talk about:
Does the best product always win? How did culture and management scale with Intel? How can one go about changing a company’s culture? When one takes a chip to the market is there a different strategy between markets?
Connect with John McNulty Actually, you have to go through James Cape https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-cape-692110/
CONNECT WITH SHAWN https://linktr.ee/ShawnflynnSV
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| 110 How a Startup can use Outsourcing to Scale with Eric Espinosa | 24 Nov 2021 | 00:37:11 | |
Eric Espinosa Eric is a serial entrepreneur with a passion for helping CEOs and Small Business Owners succeed. If you're starting up a business - Venture Validator can help you find product/market fit so you don't waste thousands of dollars on and months of your time building the wrong solution. If you're a community organizer and would like me to speak at your conference, webinar, etc. - I have some good content - send me a message! If you have an established business - Coconut VA is a virtual assistant staffing agency that can help you take back your evenings, weekends, and vacations by outsourcing your $10/hr tasks to a stellar Filipino remote worker. DM me and we can get you started on the #VacationLaptopless Challenge! On today Show we Talk about: How do most startups find, or look for, product market fit? How do you see the University system adapting to better fit the needs of the current startup ecosystem? What items can a startup use an outsource team for? How do you see the future of constructing a startup team?
Connect Eric Website https://www.coconutva.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-espinosa/ CONNECT WITH SHAWN | |||
| 109 How will ESG and the Blockchain impact us All with Amy Seidman | 17 Nov 2021 | 00:34:45 | |
Shownotes for Amy Siedman Noble Profit founder and BFLO creator is an early pioneer of interactive media, Amy created technology experiences for companies like PacBell, Lotus, Sun, ValueClick Media, Disney, MGM, Warner Brothers, Fox, and launched design firm Creative Entity. Earlier, Amy’s activism and passion for the environment expressed through award-winning photography, art, film, writing, music and education. Fusing her work, she formed Incredible Places, Made For the Media, and served as a NPS technology advisor, a scientific visualization artist fellow at SNRI in Yosemite, UNEP blockchain advisor and a myriad of NGO initiatives.
NOBLE PROFIT AND BFLO TECHNOLOGY Noble Profit is a sustainability information and technology company.
BFLO is a technology to help businesses and investors track, report and verify sustainability claims. Today we provide a toolset for transparency and connecting disconnected information. We are creating BFLO Commons, a shared decentralized information repository of the world's sustainability information.
BFLO offers a tool for transparency mapping climate and SDGs to support ESG reporting which connects information across silos. Connected third party verifications offer proof of reputation as anchors of truth using smart contracts in an ever shifting digital landscape. For businesses, investors and agencies globally looking for transparency around sustainability, BFLO provides a blockchain protocol, network and decentralized solutions to deliver real-time reporting and trusted third-party verification of SDGs and climate information.
Unlike other sustainability reporting systems, BFLO NFTs unites disconnected information across value chains and makes it accessible and actionable via a decentralized network. Demonstrate your leadership in transparency and deepen the visibility of your ESG commitments using BFLO technology.
On today Show we Talk about: What were some of the lessons you learned when transitioning from a media company to a technology heavy startup? What is Environment, Social, and Corporate Governance(ESG) and what we should know about it, in our futures? What government groups or changes in laws should people be aware of?
Connect with Amy Website www.NobleProfit.com ~ Connecting Sustainable Business, Impact & Clean Tech www.BFLO.io ~ Decentralizing Sustainable Business and Investment
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| 108 True Grit with Multi-startup Founder Daniel Idzkowski | 10 Nov 2021 | 00:32:09 | |
Daniel Idzkowski CEO & Co-Founder of Sidepocket and Skunklock Sidepocket is an SEC Registered Investment Advisor bringing cutting-edge technology and quantitative strategies to the everyday retail investor. SKUNKLOCK is the first ever bicycle, motorcycle, scooter, and moped lock to "fight back" against thieves using chemicals.
On today Show we Talk about: How has Fintech changed over the last 5 years How is being the founder of a pure software company different from being a founder of a hardware company? What is a quantitative portfolio?
Connect with Daniel https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielidzkowski/
CONNECT WITH SHAWN https://linktr.ee/ShawnflynnSV
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| EP224 Navigating the Landscape of Investment and Entrepreneurship with Martin Tobias | 18 Apr 2024 | 00:40:07 | |
Martin Tobias: Navigating the Landscape of Investment and Entrepreneurship In the ever-evolving world of investment and entrepreneurship, few voices resonate with the depth of experience and insight quite like that of Martin Tobias. With a career spanning decades and ventures across various industries, Martin brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective to the table. A Passion for the Formation Stage "I have always been excited in the formation stage of things," Martin shares. "The early stuff. Who is the customer? What is the product? And how do we sell it? That is the part I like." For Martin, the early stages of a venture present the most intriguing challenges and opportunities. It's where decisions are made, bets are placed, and the course of action is charted. Over the years, Martin has been at the helm of numerous ventures, raising over $500M in equity, project finance, and working capital. Investor, Mentor, Entrepreneur Beyond his role as a CEO and investor, Martin's entrepreneurial journey is peppered with diverse experiences. From owning bars and restaurants to venturing into renewable energy and technology investing, Martin's portfolio reflects his insatiable curiosity and drive to solve complex problems. He has personally invested in over 70 startups and led several through venture funds, all while engaging in charitable endeavors through the Martin Tobias Family Foundation. Exploring Industry Dynamics In our conversation with Martin, we delved into several key areas shaping the investment and entrepreneurship landscape:
Connect with Martin Tobias To learn more about Martin's work and insights, you can connect with him on LinkedIn or visit Incisive VC, where he continues to make an indelible mark on the world of investment and entrepreneurship.
In a world brimming with possibilities, Martin Tobias stands as a beacon of wisdom and inspiration, guiding entrepreneurs and investors alike on their journey towards success.
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| 107 A World of Tech outside of Silicon Valley with Ari Newman | 03 Nov 2021 | 00:45:31 | |
Shownotes for Ari Newman Co-Founder and Managing Director at Massive Capital Partners. Partner at The Fund Rockies (side hustle) 15 years on the operating side (2x founder). VC since 2012. Mentor/Advisor and Board Member. Previous Companies: Techstars (Partner on Venture Team - now over 500M in AUM) Filtrbox - Social Media Management - Techstars class #1, sold to Jive Software (Boulder, CO) Newman Venture Advisors (early-stage boutique investing and advisory) (Boulder, CO) JustOn.com - Dot.com era file-sharing platform - sold to Novell, then spun out Volera (Bay Area, CA) Occasionally blogging at arinewman.com
On today Show we Talk about: What’s the difference when working with a company when you are an advisor vs an angel investor in the company? What was it like building web applications during the 1st dot-com era? Product vs Sales. What’s it like being the “unpopular” person in any of your roles?
Connect Ari https://www.linkedin.com/in/arinewman/
CONNECT WITH SHAWN | |||
| 106 Can Technology solve the Homeless Epidemic with Jonathan Parkhurst | 27 Oct 2021 | 00:44:14 | |
Jonathan Parkhurst As Safehavn's Founder & CEO, Jonathan is a leader and innovator in the recovery industry. Jonathan owned one of the largest continuums of care sober living companies in Northern California, Stepping Up. In 2015 Stepping up was acquired by Cornerstone Sober living. After being acquired, Jonathan started a consulting firm focused on organizations with a need to scale either top talent or topline revenue. As a strategic partner in talent acquisition and market acquisition, Jonathan led talent growth for companies like Enphase Energy, GoPro, and WeWork. Jonathan served on the Board of Marin County Drug and Alcohol, he is the Northern California Outreach Coordinator for the Black Americans in AA, As a homeless activist. He is also on the Board of Directors for the Homes for the Homeless. He experienced homelessness in San Francisco before going on to become a tech entrepreneur and app innovator. Jonathan is also a veteran of Desert Storm. Today, he is using his experience to give back and help others transition from drug and alcohol addiction, homelessness, and other afflictions. On today Show we Talk about: Practical leadership advice can you share with founders around the world? Struggle with “go to market fit” and how one can go about getting their product out to the masses. Are there any laws or regulations on the horizon that will help drive sustainability? Taking on the Homeless epidemic in the US with technology.
Connect with Jonathan https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanparkhurst/ Website https://goseekhaven.com/
CONNECT WITH SHAWN https://linktr.ee/ShawnflynnSV
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| 105 From Startup-up to Grown-up with Alisa Cohn | 20 Oct 2021 | 00:46:36 | |
Alisa was named the #1 Startup Coach in the world at the Thinkers50 Marshall Goldsmith Leading Coaches Awards in London. She was also named one of the Top 30 Global Gurus for Startups. Based in NYC, she coaches startup CEOs, co-founders, other startup executives and board members all over the world. She also coach senior and emerging leaders from Fortune 500 companies. Her clients include Venmo, Foursquare, InVision, Etsy, The Wirecutter (sold to The New York Times), Pfizer, Novartis, Dell, Hitachi, IBM, Calvin Klein, Tory Burch, The New York Times. I also speak at Cornell, Harvard, The Naval War College and am the executive coach for the Runway Program at Cornell Tech.
On today Show we Talk about: How can praise be Your Secret Superpower? When measuring performance, what should be measured? How does a CEO “Manage their Board?” What should one do when their co-founder, “Can’t keep up”? What is the CEO megaphone effect?
Connect with Alisa Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisacohn/ Website alisacohn.com Email alisa@alisacohn.com
CONNECT WITH SHAWN https://linktr.ee/ShawnflynnSV
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| 104 Preparing for a successful Exit with Dylan Malot | 13 Oct 2021 | 00:39:37 | |
Shownotes for Dylan Malot Most of what matters in leading a fulfilling life cannot be bought. Healthy bodies, minds and relationships are crucial to happiness, as well as the fruits of creative effort beyond the trappings of prosperity. While business stress is present at every level of wealth, confidence in our financial security allows us to focus on our pursuits, family and community to make the lives of others better. Growing up in a family-owned business—what my father always called the “business school of hard knocks,” I witnessed firsthand the passion, struggles and successes that went into a vibrant middle market business with international operations. That experience, coupled with my fascination for business and investing, has led me to where I am today. I advise entrepreneurs through decisions on what matters most to them and tie their creations to their livelihoods, giving and future endeavors. I build bridges between values and capital—in planning, philanthropy and portfolios. Helping my clients solve problems, deeply understand their choices, and make wise decisions is the best part of being an advisor. I help them navigate their complex financial lives and to be wise stewards of their wealth by deeply understanding their values and how to align their resources with those values. Most of my clients are beyond concerns about their financial security—they are most concerned about making sure that they are capturing the right opportunities, mitigating risk and improving tax efficiency. My advice empowers them to make the right decisions while understanding why they are making them.
We Talk About What are some of the biggest mistakes founders of companies make when they sell their companies?
What happens to your taxes when there is a valuation “POP” in your startup’s equity? Should Environment, Social, and corporate governance (ESG) concern a startup founder and their company? Is there benefits for Startup founders to join ACG?
For informational purposes only; not an advertisement and does not constitute an endorsement of any particular wealth transfer strategy. Bernstein does not provide legal or tax advice. Consult with competent professionals in these areas before making any decisions.
Connect with Dylan Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-dylan-malot-a782648/ | |||
| 103 Looking at problems from new Perspectives with Axel Kloth | 06 Oct 2021 | 00:52:57 | |
Axel Kloth
Axel is a physicist by training, and he is used to the need for large-scale compute. Axel, discovered over 30 years ago that scalability of processor performance was paramount for solving any computational problem. That necessitated a new paradigm in computer architecture. At Parimics, SSRLabs and Axiado he was able to show that new thinking was needed, and what novel practical solutions could look like. He is now repeating that approach with Abacus Semi.
On today Show we Talk about: What is an Application Programming Interface, an API for short? Why do we need API’s? Are there legal issues on use and modification of APIs? If you are in school right now, studying Computer Science, what would you learn and why? Where will industry have the most problems in the years to come?
What would be an ideal API? What are the Pros and Cons of API’s?
Connect Axel https://www.linkedin.com/in/axelkloth/ http://www.abacus-semi.com/
CONNECT WITH SHAWN https://linktr.ee/ShawnflynnSV
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| 102 Having the Midas Touch with Fusion Fund Founder Lu Zhang | 29 Sep 2021 | 00:41:15 | |
Shownotes for Lu Zhang Lu Zhang is the Founder and Managing Partner of Fusion Fund, a renowned Silicon Valley based investor, a serial entrepreneur and a Stanford Engineering alumna. Fusion Fund is active in supporting early-stage entrepreneurs who are looking to build globally disruptive companies using innovative technologies to drive systemic change originating from the U.S market. For the past couple of years, Lu leads the Fusion Fund team funnels exits of multiple portfolios’ IPO and M&As. Lu is a World Economic Forum (Davos) Young Global Leader and was also recently selected as the Best 25 Female early stage Investor by Business Insider. She has also garnered other accolades including the Featured Honoree in VC of Forbes 30 Under 30, Silicon Valley Women of Influence, Town & Country 50 Modern Swans – Entrepreneurship Influencer and Top 10 All America Chinese Youth. As one of the top female investors in America, Lu was featured in the book – Women Who Venture, and her story was a case study of UN Women Leaders in Action series. Prior to starting Fusion Fund, Lu was the Founder and CEO of a medical device company focused on non-invasive technology for the early diagnosis of Type II diabetes (acquired in 2012). Lu is a frequent speaker at tech events and conferences and also serves as a mentor and advisor to several tech innovation programs in Silicon Valley. Lu is also the board member and chairman of the Youth Council of Future Forum and Future Science Award
On today Show we Talk about: What experiences, education, or background, should a fund manager have? Techniques or strategies to raising a fund? How is raising the second fund different from the first? Secrets for founder or investors on time management or priorities with goals and getting things done?
Connect with Lu Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/luzhangvc/ Website www.fusionfund.com Twitter @luzhangvc
CONNECT WITH SHAWN https://linktr.ee/ShawnflynnSV
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| 101 What’s it like to have your company Acquired with CEO Coach Sam Wong | 22 Sep 2021 | 00:39:59 | |
Sam is a CEO coach, interim CEO/CTO/CFO, a Silicon Valley advisor and the author of 21 Secrets of Successful Startups, a book about world-class execution for startups. As a serial entrepreneur, he has been CEO, CTO, or VP Engineering / TechOps for five companies, driving multiple acquisitions. As a hands-on “roll up the sleeves” startup advisor, Sam draws from his 30+ years of successes and failures to train and help entrepreneurs with execution, fundability, fundraising, strategy, product/market fit, product management, finance, operations, legal, talent development and founder wellness.
We Talk About
Connect with Sam Wong Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-wong-startup/ Website https://www.fundablestartups.com/
CONNECT WITH SHAWN https://linktr.ee/ShawnflynnSV
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| 100 Episodes of The Silicon Valley Podcast with host Shawn Flynn | 16 Sep 2021 | 00:30:56 | |
Shawn Flynn spent 4 plus years living and conducting business in Beijing, China. While in China, he founded, grew, and profitably exited a successful education company. Shawn moved back to San Francisco to invest his experience, connections, and resources back into the world’s deepest and most vibrant technology ecosystem. Shawn works with institutions, governments, and various capital sources, to help promote economic growth at a global scale. He is heavily involved in the Silicon Valley technology ecosystem of fast growing, high potential businesses. He has played a pivotal role to help multi-nationals, both pre and post-IPO companies including overseas “Unicorns”, set up operations in Silicon Valley while connecting prominent Silicon Valley companies with strategic and funding sources overseas. Shawn’s contacts, talent, and energy are directed at achieving Global Capital’s Clients’ goal of maximizing shareholder value during liquidity and growth capital events. Shawn is the founder of the TV show “Silicon Valley Successes” and hosts the podcast “The Silicon Valley Podcast”. He is passionate about building bridges that connect Silicon Valley to the rest of the world. Shawn holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from UCSD and speaks Mandarin and Spanish. He also holds FINRA Series SIE, 7, 24, 63, and 79 licenses.
On today Show we Talk about: Key takeaways from interviewing some of the biggest leaders in Silicon Valley. What’s next for the podcast Thank you for all the help
CONNECT WITH SHAWN https://linktr.ee/ShawnflynnSV
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| 099 How to Impact the World, One Startup at a Time with Steve Schneider | 08 Sep 2021 | 00:35:01 | |
Steve Schneider joined ZAP as Chief Executive Officer and Director in 2002 helping raise nearly $1 billion and at the same time successfully listing ZAP on the NYSE. He is the founder of Voltage Vehicles the core of ZAP's business operations. Schneider’s education and early career in the automotive industry include positions with specialty and fuel-efficient automobiles offered by Honda, VW, Renault, Ford, Smart and DeLorean. Mr. Schneider completed a 51% acquisition of Jonway Automobile. This purchase was first time in history that any foreign company has taken a controlling interest in a Chinese Automobile Mfg Plant. Mr. Schneider next completed the acquisition of 100% of Aptera Electric Car. He is currently the CEO of Homes 4 the Homeless where they are combining automotive and modular applications for an effective volume solution to the homeless housing crisis as well as rapid rehousing for disaster relief victims.
On today Show we Talk about: What was it like to raise 1 billion in funding? How is it different raising capital from China vs the US? Has the Electric Vehicle market evolved as one would have predicted over the last 20 yrs Possible solutions to solve the Homeless epidemic that’s growing in the US?
Connect with Steve Website https://homes4thehomeless.org/ Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-schneider-%E5%8F%B2%E8%92%82%E8%8A%AC-%E6%96%BD%E5%A5%88%E5%BE%B7-32321020/ Email Steve@homes4thehomeless.org
Sapien where this was filmed https://sapiensimpact.com/ | |||
| 098 Flight of a Wild Duck with Co-Founder of Intel Capital, Avram Miller | 01 Sep 2021 | 00:47:21 | |
Avram Miller served as Vice President, Business Development for Intel Corporation for over a decade, where he was the driving force behind Intel’s successful initiative to establish residential broadband Internet access. In 1991, he co-founded Intel Capital, which became one of the top corporate venture capital groups in the world. When USA Today profiled Miller in March 1996, it referred to him as “A One Man Think Tank” and in the same article, Brian Roberts, CEO of Comcast, gave Miller “much of the credit” for the development of the cable modem. We Talk About What was the mission and goals for Intel Capital? What does it mean to invest in a beautiful house in a bad neighborhood or a bad house in a beautiful neighborhood? How important Is a succession plan in a company? If one was born today, how should they go about getting an education?
Connect with Avram https://www.linkedin.com/in/avram/
For Book For more information, visit: www.twothirdsdone.com and www.wildduckflight.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Publicity Contacts: Mallory Campoli || Erin Reback Cipiti 856-489-8654 x1030 || x1021 mallory.campoli@smithpublicity.com erin.rebackcipiti@smithpublicity.com | |||
| Ep223 Life After a Successful Exit | 03 Apr 2024 | 00:32:38 | |
Michael J. Firestone, CFA https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeljfirestone/ Fire Capital Management, LLC is a boutique investment management company that helps people achieve their dreams. We empower our clients to re-imagine what is possible to accomplish with their investments, social impact goals, and family legacy. The firm offers private wealth management and multi-family office services to HNW individuals, families, and foundations. Fire Capital Management is strategically headquartered in the heart of innovation economy, San Francisco, CA.
Sophie Tsang, MBA https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophietsang/ Sophie’s Civil Engineering background and marketing expertise contribute to her broad understanding and high efficiency in marketing real estate properties. She has been consistently a top performer since 2005, and personally ranks the highest 1% by volume of all Silicon Valley Realtors. Also a WSJ Real Trends 2022 America's Best Honoree. As a seasoned negotiator, Sophie’s no-nonsense marketing system and meticulous attention to details have been key success factors. She is known as the The Fixer, or Miracle Worker, frequently helps sellers sell their homes when other agents had failed or given up. She helps buyers get into homes when they previously struggled. 20+ years in Real Estate, Sophie has honed her skills on getting the best possible results for her clients. Her trusted network of vendors and use of cutting-edge technology ensure each step of each transaction is executed to achieve next level result! Sophie is a proud parent of 2 Eagle Scouts (in college). She has done guest speaking at Faith Radio, and written a column for World Journal Newspaper to share her Real Estate knowledge. Sophie is a Palo Alto Rotarian and a Paul Harris Fellow, also a Golden Gate Keeper (Golden Gate National Park Conservancy).
Jeanie (Kim) Colclough
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcolcloughtravel/ In my professional role as a travel advisor, I specialize in creating soft adventure experiences for my clients. My favorite types of trips to book include: Cultural Immersion Vacations — These trips are designed to get travelers interacting with local people, experiencing cultural events and dining on authentic cuisine. Culinary Tours — Perfect for foodies and wine lovers, culinary tours allow travelers to experience the unique flavor of their destination. Active Vacations As I carve my own path within the travel industry, I have made this quote my motto: "Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind." These words of Seneca define the need for travel as part of our human experience. When we book a vacation to a new destination, whether it's a tropical island filled with the potential for relaxation or an ancient city built for learning and exploring, we know we will be changed by the experience. Travelers come home feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, while also yearning for more at the same time. Contact me today to book your next adventure! I look forward to helping you every step of the way.
We discuss:
What are the most common mistakes people on the panel see people make as soon as they have a large sum of money?
Depending on the exit price, what are some options a seller must know to do the right things to create generational wealth or maintain the exit for a needed amount of time?
After they exit their companies or sell a part of them, many people want to diversify their wealth; what are some ways that they choose to do this?
What issues do they face if they are looking to invest in real estate?
What about if they want to start investing in real estate projects? Are there any problems they might face?
If an owner doesn’t properly plan before the sale, what can they do afterward to mitigate taxes?
The most common thing owners say the first thing they will do after selling a business is to go on a trip. What are things they should consider?
If there are economic changes, how would they impact the new life of the former business owner? What should a person think or do if their assets from the sale significantly drop?
What about options for living abroad? What are the first steps someone could take to try life overseas out?
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| 097 US-China relations and its impact on Silicon Valley and the world with Craig Allen | 25 Aug 2021 | 00:51:55 | |
On July 26, 2018, Craig Allen began his tenure in Washington, DC as the president of the US-China Business Council (USCBC), a private, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization representing over 200 American companies doing business with China. Prior to joining USCBC, Craig had a long, distinguished career in US public service.
Craig began his government career in 1985 at the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA). He entered government as a Presidential Management Intern, rotating through the four branches of ITA. From 1986 to 1988, he was an international economist in ITA’s China Office.
In 1988, Craig transferred to the American Institute in Taiwan, where he served as Director of the American Trade Center in Taipei. He held this position until 1992, when he returned to the Department of Commerce for a three-year posting at the US Embassy in Beijing as Commercial Attaché.
In 1995, Craig was assigned to the US Embassy in Tokyo, where he served as a Commercial Attaché. In 1998, he was promoted to Deputy Senior Commercial Officer. In 1999, Craig became a member of the Senior Foreign Service.
From 2000, Craig served a two-year tour at the National Center for APEC in Seattle. While there, he worked on the APEC Summits in Brunei, China, and Mexico. In 2002, it was back to Beijing, where Craig served as the Senior Commercial Officer. In Beijing, Craig was promoted to the Minister Counselor rank of the Senior Foreign Service.
After a four-year tour in South Africa, Craig became Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia at the US Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. He later became Deputy Assistant Secretary for China. Craig was sworn in as the United States ambassador to Brunei Darussalam on December 19, 2014. He served there until July 2018, when he transitioned to President of the US-China Business Council.
Craig received a B.A. from the University of Michigan in Political Science and Asian Studies in 1979. He received a Master of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University in 1985.
On today Show we Talk about:
We Talk About What is the extent of high-tech relations between US and China? What steps are China taking to advance Chinese innovation? How does the China’s 2017 Intelligence Law, have an impact on technology transfer? How has the Biden and Trump approach to China relationships been similar and how have they been different?
Connect with Craig https://www.uschina.org/ Craig Allen callen@uschina.org
CONNECT WITH SHAWN https://linktr.ee/ShawnflynnSV
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| 096 Access to Global Mentors for you and your Startup with Liesel Mendoza | 18 Aug 2021 | 00:32:25 | |
Liesel lives for helping people. She founded The Mentoring Club, Inc. to provide a mentoring community for aspiring as well as seasoned leaders in the workforce. By establishing a global platform, the Mentoring Club has the bold intent of changing the world, one leader at a time by providing a mentor for anyone who needs a mentor anywhere in the world. The community has over 150 mentors and mentees from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, Poland, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Zimbabwe, India, Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, and Australia.
On today Show we Talk about:
What skills are most entrepreneurs lacking or asking for help with? Do any Mentors or mentees suffer from imposter syndrome? How real is that? What advice do you have for new graduates to get experience to find a job? How do you know when something is scalable?
Connect with Liesel Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/liesel-mendoza-232868/ Email liesel@thementoringclub.org Website thementoringclub.org | |||
| 095 Migration from Silicon Valley to Sacramento and Government Tech with Steve Barnett | 11 Aug 2021 | 00:41:31 | |
Steve Barnett Technical specialist (Ph.D.) with extensive sales and marketing experience in a broad array of optical sensor technologies. Experienced with applications in pharmaceutical/biotech, aerospace, homeland security, materials science, forensic science, polymer, and petrochemical industries. Managed global relationship with multinational corporation - formed sales and support structure for operations in 35 countries. Chair of Northern California Section, Society for Applied Spectroscopy. Member of Society for Applied Spectroscopy, American Chemical Society, American Society for Nondestructive Testing, Society for the Advancement of Materials Processing and Engineering. Specialties: Optical sensors from the UV to the far-IR. FTIR spectroscopy, microscopy, and imaging; Raman spectroscopy and imaging; near-IR, UV-Vis, and fluorescence spectroscopies.
On today Show we Talk about: If a startup was looking to get government contracts, or sell their product to the public sector, what is the best way to go about that? How does one decide on what problem or challenge to tackle next? What is currently happening with the capital of California and their Tech scene?
Connect with Steve Email steve.barnett@barnett-technical.com Linkedin linkedin.com/in/stevenmbarnett1 Website https://barnett-technical.com/
CONNECT WITH SHAWN https://linktr.ee/ShawnflynnSV
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