Best Team Ignite Ventures Podcasts (2025)

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Ignite Team: The Psychology Behind Startup Partnerships with Dr. Matthew Jones | Ep191 50:52

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30d ago50:52

50:52

Dr. Matthew Jones is a licensed psychologist turned startup co-founder coach and cofounder of Co-Founder Clarity. With six years of experience working with hundreds of entrepreneurs—from YC to Sequoia-backed teams—he specializes in helping founders prevent burnout, resolve conflict, and build stronger, more resilient partnerships. His work has been…

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CR109: Season 5 Kick Off with Dave, Esmee and Rob 51:16

7h ago51:16

51:16

We’re back! In this Season 5 premiere, the team reunites after their summer break to kick off an exciting new chapter. Join us as we catch up, share bold predictions for the year ahead, and explore big questions, like whether 2026 will be the year of the autonomous organization. Expect candid reflections, lively discussion, and a sneak peek at what…

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Ignite VC: De-Risking Startups with Customers Before Capital with Collin Groves | Ep189 46:46

2d ago46:46

46:46

Collin Groves is a venture capitalist and Managing Partner at BDev Ventures, a fund backed by software powerhouse BairesDev. With experience launching five corporate venture capital arms during his time at Ernst & Young Parthenon and leading 50+ B2B SaaS investments across the Americas, he blends data-driven rigor with hands-on customer acquisition…

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#50 Personal Branding for Introverts - with Goldie Chan 46:17

2d ago46:17

46:17

In this energizing conversation, I sit down with Goldie Chan to explore how introverts can harness the power of personal branding without feeling like they have to “perform” as extroverts. We unpack some of the biggest misconceptions about introversion, why self-awareness is the cornerstone of an authentic brand, and how even the smallest stories y…

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CR108: Season 5 Trailer, The future just dropped 4:53

7d ago4:53

4:53

Dave, Esmee, and Rob are strapping in for another season of bold, brain-bending conversations—and they’re bringing the flux capacitor with them from Back to the Future. Season 5 beams in global leaders and innovators who challenge how we think about technology, business, and humanity. From AI disruption to digital sovereignty, from leadership to cu…

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Ignite Psychology: The Six Behaviors That Drive Fortune 500 Performance with Hugh Massie | Ep197 56:46

8d ago56:46

56:46

Hugh Massie is the Executive Chairman and Founder of DNA Behavior, a pioneer in behavioral AI that blends finance, identity, and decision-making. As a Titan 100 CEO, published author, and global advisor, he brings decades of expertise in behavioral science, wealth management, and technology. With his mission to impact over a billion people annually…

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#49 Reinvention Is Prototyping: How to Keep Going When Progress Feels Slow 19:32

9d ago19:32

19:32

In this episode, I explore the messy, essential phase of reinvention through the story of James Dyson, who created 5,127 prototypes before finally inventing the vacuum that changed everything. We’ll talk about why the “goo” stage of reinvention is unavoidable, how clarity emerges through action (not just thinking), and the mindset shifts that can h…

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Ignite VC: Playing the Long Game in Venture Capital with Ari Newman of Massive VC | Ep196 1:00:44

11d ago1:00:44

1:00:44

Ari Newman is the co-founder and managing director of Massive VC, an inflection point venture capital platform backing high-growth technology companies across AI, data, energy, cybersecurity, energy transformation, and the new space economy. A repeat founder who built and sold FilterBox and Juston, Ari also helped scale Techstars and now advises mu…

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Ignite VC: Rewriting the Playbook for Startup Funding with Anthony Rose of SeedLegals | Ep195 59:29

14d ago59:29

59:29

Anthony Rose is a serial entrepreneur best known for taking BBC iPlayer from skunkworks to a national success and now transforming startup fundraising as co-founder and CEO of SeedLegals. With decades of experience building and selling companies, as well as pioneering digital products used by millions, he brings a unique outsider’s perspective to l…

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Ignite VC: Scaling Industrial Startups from Zero to Global Impact with Renan Devillieres | Ep194 44:51

15d ago44:51

44:51

Renan Devillieres is the founder and CEO of OSS Ventures, a venture studio dedicated to building startups that transform the manufacturing industry. With a background in economics, consulting, and factory leadership—and later scaling his first AI startup through Series B—Renan brings unique insights into the intersection of technology, operations, …

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#48 Reinvention, Resilience, and the Power to Begin Again with David Richmond 40:53

16d ago40:53

40:53

In this engaging conversation, I sit down with David Richmond to explore what it really takes to reinvent yourself when life throws unexpected challenges your way. From his journey as an inventor and entrepreneur to navigating the uncertainty of COVID-19, David opens up about the highs, the lows, and the messy middle of reinvention. We talk about t…

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Ignite Startups: Building Category-Defining Platforms for Innovation with Rupak Doshi | Ep193 57:53

23d ago57:53

57:53

Rupak Doshi is a scientist-turned-entrepreneur and the co-founder & CEO of OmniSync, creators of the flagship platform TurboInnovate. With a background spanning research at Cambridge, Scripps Research, and UCSD, as well as industry experience in biotech drug development, Rupak has spent the last decade helping deep tech ideas move from lab benches …

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Ignite Marketing: Building Full-Funnel Growth Engines for Startups with Anthony Chiaravallo | Ep192 54:02

28d ago54:02

54:02

Anthony Chiaravallo is the Founder and CEO of Vallo Media, a performance marketing agency that’s helped brands from startups to Fortune 500s—including Nike, Amazon, and FedEx—turn ad spend into measurable growth. With 16+ years of experience and more than $100M in media spend managed, Anthony is a recognized thought leader and PR Week 40 Under 40 h…

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Ignite LP: The Rise of AI-Driven VC and the Future of Due Diligence with Damir Kopinić | Ep190 1:01:58

1M ago1:01:58

1:01:58

Damir Ibrahimagić Kopinić is a seasoned early-stage investor, advisor, and private asset manager who has spent decades at the intersection of high finance and early-stage tech. As co-founder and CEO of G Plus Quant, he helps bridge top startups with global venture capital, LPs, and family offices. With experience spanning asset management, trading,…

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Ignite Startups: Why Diversification Wins in Venture Capital with Arian Ghashghai | Ep189 1:16:08

1M ago1:16:08

1:16:08

Arian Ghashghai is the Founder and Managing Partner of Earthling VC, a pre-seed venture fund focused on frontier technologies like VR, robotics, and applied AI. Previously, he was a senior ML engineer at Meta’s Reality Labs and an active angel investor, building a reputation as a thoughtful advocate for probabilistically diversified pre-seed invest…

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Ignite Startups: How AI Is Fixing a $70 Billion Healthcare Problem with Dmitry Karpov | Ep188 51:57

1M ago51:57

51:57

Dmitry Karpov is the CEO and co-founder of WorkDone, a real-time AI compliance co-pilot for hospitals tackling costly and often hidden documentation errors that lead to denied insurance claims. A two-time YC founder, ex-EY innovation leader, and Forbes Cloud 100 rising star, Dmitry brings deep experience in workflow automation and enterprise AI. Wi…

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Ignite VC: The People-First Investing Philosophy of Zelkova’s Jay Levy | Ep187 1:10:12

1M ago1:10:12

1:10:12

Jay Levy is the co-founder and partner at Zelkova Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm with over 17 years of experience backing transformative SaaS companies like Help Scout, Klout, and Crimson Hexagon. From designing websites in high school to scaling startups during the dot-com boom, Jay has lived the full founder-to-investor journey. Wi…

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#47 Mindset Shifts to Help You Do Hard Things: A Conversation With My Daughter 18:01

1M ago18:01

18:01

In this special episode, I sit down with my daughter, Mia, to talk about her journey preparing for the MCAT — one of the most challenging exams for future doctors. Together, we explore the fears, frustrations, and breakthroughs she experienced along the way, and what her process taught her about resilience and growth. Mia shares how she learned to …

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Ignite Leadership: Scaling Product Teams and Quiet Leadership with Greg Weinger | Ep185 49:58

2M ago49:58

49:58

Greg Weinger is the Senior Vice President of Product Management at SheerID and the creator of The Powerful Introvert podcast. With over 15 years of experience scaling B2B SaaS product teams at companies like Urban Airship, YesMail, and Jive Software, Greg brings a unique blend of technical depth, leadership insight, and introverted clarity to every…

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Ignite Startups: The AI Sales Engine Powering Smarter Outbound with Chris Anzalone | Ep184 58:32

2M ago58:32

58:32

Chris Anzalone is the founder and CEO of Knowledge, an AI-driven sales intelligence startup reshaping the way businesses identify in-market buyers. With a unique background in high-ticket finance and agency sales, Chris bootstrapped Knowledge from a services-based business into a fast-scaling SaaS company, reaching thousands of users and notable AR…

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Ignite VC: The Future of AI, Consciousness, and Venture Capital with Chuck Stormon | Ep183 1:07:34

2M ago1:07:34

1:07:34

Chuck Stormon is a serial entrepreneur, AI pioneer, and managing partner at StartFast Ventures. With a career that includes founding multiple startups, commercializing early AI accelerators, and building foundational internet infrastructure, he offers deep insights into AI, entrepreneurship, and the future of intelligence. In this episode, Chuck sh…

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#46 The Invisible Beliefs Holding You Back — And How to Reframe Them 16:47

2M ago16:47

16:47

What if the limits you see in your life aren’t real—but inherited stories you’ve never paused to question? In this episode, I share one of my all-time favorite stories (yes, it involves hot dogs!) to explore how our beliefs quietly shape what we think is possible—and how to consciously reframe the ones that hold us back. You’ll learn why most limit…

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Ignite Partners: What Every VC Needs to Know About Compliance Risk with Ravi de Silva | Ep182 26:32

2M ago26:32

26:32

Ravi de Silva is the founder of DeRisk Partners and a seasoned compliance expert with a global track record, having led financial crimes compliance at Citi and held senior roles at JPMorgan and American Express. With deep experience navigating regulatory environments across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, he now helps banks, credit unions, and fintechs…

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Ignite Startups: Designing Ethical and Useful AI with Erika Anderson of Storytell AI | Ep181 55:16

2M ago55:16

55:16

Erika Anderson is the co-founder and Chief Customer Officer at Storytell AI, a platform that transforms unstructured conversations into strategic insights. A published essayist in The New York Times and Vanity Fair, Erika brings a deeply human and creative lens to the world of AI. With a background in storytelling, facilitation, and product develop…

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Ignite VC: Samara Hernandez on Building a $60M Fund from Scratch and Leading with Conviction | Ep175 55:51

2M ago55:51

55:51

Samara Hernandez is the founding partner of Chingona Ventures, a trailblazing venture capital firm dedicated to backing overlooked and underestimated founders. With experience at Goldman Sachs, Math Venture Partners, and a mission deeply rooted in her heritage, Samara brings a fresh and authentic perspective to VC. She's helped grow Chingona Ventur…

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Ignite GP: Building Funds and Vetting Operators in Real Estate with Eric Silverman | Ep180 38:43

2M ago38:43

38:43

Eric Silverman is the Managing Partner at Eastham Capital and a veteran investor with decades of experience across real estate, banking, and early-stage ventures. With six successful funds under his belt—and a seventh underway—Eric brings unmatched insight into distressed multifamily investments and a sharp eye for identifying high-performing opera…

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#45 How to Find Your Zone of Greatness 13:36

2M ago13:36

13:36

What if your greatest impact doesn’t come from doing more—but from being more of who you are? In this episode, I dive into one of the most powerful concepts I teach: your Zone of Greatness. I’ll show you how to yours — and how acting from that place unlocks both fulfillment and contribution. I share a real story of a leader who helped her team shif…

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Ignite Partners: The QA Mindset Every Founder Needs with Rajeev Rai of QASource | Ep179 45:27

2M ago45:27

45:27

Rajeev Rai is the co-founder and CEO of QASource, one of the world’s leading software QA and engineering services firms. With decades of experience across Apple, Adobe, and his own ventures, Rajeev has made quality assurance a strategic asset for hundreds of companies, from scrappy startups to global tech giants. In this episode, he offers deep ins…

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CR107: Reflecting on Season 4 – Highlights what we learned, loved and are planning next 1:31:46

2M ago1:31:46

1:31:46

Dave, Esmee, and Rob take a moment to look back on the wild ride that was Season 4—revisiting the themes that sparked the biggest conversations and the guests who left a lasting impression. They also reveal what’s on their summer to-do lists and drop a few juicy hints about what’s coming in Season 5. Get ready—it’s going to be even bigger and bolde…

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Ignite VC: How GPs Can Scale Smarter and Win LP Trust Early with Dave Perretz | Ep178 1:06:47

2M ago1:06:47

1:06:47

Dave Perretz is a former Army officer turned founder of Signal Fund Services, where he helps emerging GPs scale with confidence. With experience at JP Morgan, Iron Spring Ventures, and startup 2U Laundry, Dave combines deep operational expertise with a strategist’s mindset to reimagine how fund infrastructure should work. In this episode, he shares…

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#44 Emotional Fitness for Personal Growth - with Dr. Emily Anhalt 36:21

2M ago36:21

36:21

In this insightful conversation, I sit down with Dr. Emily Anhalt to explore the concept of emotional fitness and its powerful role in personal growth. Together, we break down what emotional fitness really means, why it's essential for mental health, and how it can be practiced proactively to build resilience and help us grow into the future selves…

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Ignite VC: Ben Black on Turning LP Chaos into a 2x DPI and Building Akkadian Ventures | Ep177 1:13:41

2M ago1:13:41

1:13:41

Ben Black is the co-founder and managing director of Akkadian Ventures, a pioneering secondary investor with a career spanning over two decades in venture capital. With a track record of building innovative investment strategies and founding the Raise Global Summit, he offers unparalleled insights into secondaries, fund management, and the evolutio…

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CR106: Changing nature of large scale apps with Timo Elliott SAP 1:02:41

2M ago1:02:41

1:02:41

The rise of structure software fueled globalization by streamlining operations across borders. Now, Cloud and AI are accelerating this momentum, enabling faster innovation, smarter decision-making, and scalable growth. By modernizing ERP with intelligent technologies, organizations can stay agile, competitive, and ready for the next wave of global …

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#43 The Truth About Limiting Beliefs -- And How to Release Them 16:13

2M ago16:13

16:13

What if your limiting beliefs are like wisdom teeth? In this episode, I explore how limiting beliefs, much like wisdom teeth, may have served you once but now hold you back. I’ll explain why it’s crucial to examine these beliefs, trace their origins, and ask: do they still serve me? You’ll learn how many of these beliefs are formed in childhood and…

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Ignite VC: Reimagining Civilization Through Deep Tech & First Principles with Abdo John Hajj | Ep176 1:05:29

2M ago1:05:29

1:05:29

Abdo John Hajj is the Managing Partner at Type One Ventures, a multi-dimensional investor and former founder who's deployed over a billion dollars into some of the most transformative companies in tech, AI, and space—names like SpaceX, OpenAI, and Neuralink. With a bold mission to accelerate humanity’s path to a Type One Civilization, Abdo combines…

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CR0105: How little we still understand about GreenOps with James Hall, Green Pixie 32:39

3M ago32:39

32:39

GreenOps is a cultural transformation that empowers developers to turn emissions data into meaningful action, bridging the communication gap with ESG teams and exposing the critical truth that cloud cost and carbon cost are not the same, which fundamentally reshapes how we approach sustainable IT. This week, Dave, Esmee and Rob talk to James Hall, …

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Ignite Startups: The Hidden Power of Knowledge Graphs in Enterprise AI with Malcolm De Leo | Ep174 47:20

3M ago47:20

47:20

Malcolm De Leo is the Co-founder and Chief Business Officer at GraphIQ, an innovation-first platform redefining how enterprises discover and connect with business intelligence. With a PhD in chemistry and a 20+ year career spanning Clorox, Orbital Insight, and Quantified, Malcolm has built a reputation for evangelizing innovation, data-driven trans…

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#42 How to Build Confidence Using a Proven Neuroscience Practice 13:07

3M ago13:07

13:07

What if you acted like doubt didn’t get a say? In this episode, I dive into one of the biggest misunderstandings about confidence: that it’s something you either have or you don’t. (Spoiler: it’s not true.) I share why self-doubt is a completely normal part of being human—and why the key to confidence isn’t “getting rid of it,” but learning how to …

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Ignite Marketing: Rewiring the Marketing Stack with Agentic AI with Chris O’Neill | Ep173 55:00

3M ago55:00

55:00

Chris O'Neill is a seasoned tech executive with over 25 years of leadership experience at companies like Google, Glean, and Xero. As the current CEO of GrowthLoop and a board member at GAF, Chris brings deep expertise in AI, cloud, and go-to-market strategy. With a track record of navigating both wartime turnarounds and scaling peacetime operations…

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CR104 Quantumania part 2 with Catherine Vollgraff Heidweiller and James Goeders, Google Quantum AI 1:03:09

3M ago1:03:09

1:03:09

Quantum computing in 2025 is rapidly advancing toward commercialization, with breakthroughs in algorithms, scalable hardware, and cloud-based quantum services driving real-world applications across finance, healthcare, logistics, and cybersecurity This week, Dave, Esmee, and Rob dive into the cutting edge of quantum computing with Catherine Vollgra…

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Ignite VC: The Future of Work, AI, and Impact Investing with Oliver Libby | Ep172 59:59

3M ago59:59

59:59

Oliver Libby is the co-founding Managing Partner of H/L Ventures and City Rock Venture Partners. With nearly two decades of experience backing high-impact, mission-driven startups, he has pioneered a unique venture studio model rooted in daily active engagement. He's also the co-founder and Chair of the Resolution Project, which has helped launch o…

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#41 From Ballerina to Bold Reinvention: Jennifer Quent on Growth, Grit, and Joy 44:12

3M ago44:12

44:12

In this rich and inspiring conversation, I talk with Jennifer Quent, former professional ballet dancer with the American Ballet Theater, about what it really takes to pursue excellence, leave behind something you love, and reinvent your path with courage. Jennifer shares her journey from childhood ballet dreams to performing on world-class stages—a…

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CRSP06 Bonus Telecom special: Big Frontiers of the Telecoms Industry, Vivek Badrinath, GSMA 49:41

3M ago49:41

49:41

The telecom industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation. This shift is creating new business opportunities and services but also brings significant challenges in transformation and modernization. In this special bonus episode, building on our Reimagining Telecoms mini-series, we dive into the current opportunities shaping today’s dynamic te…

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Ignite Marketing: David Meerman Scott on Marketing Lessons Every Startup Founder Should Know | Ep171 53:40

3M ago53:40

53:40

David Meerman Scott is a marketing strategist, bestselling author of The New Rules of Marketing and PR, and the originator of the term “newsjacking.” With a career that spans decades and a front-row seat to the evolution of real-time, fan-first marketing, David offers insights into how founders and brands can break through the noise without losing …

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Ignite VC: Creating the Next Generation of Women-Led IPOs with Mala Ramakrishnan | Ep170 39:13

3M ago39:13

39:13

Mala Ramakrishnan is the founder and managing partner of Progressive Ventures. A Stanford-trained computer scientist, she brings over two decades of experience as a technologist, entrepreneur, and venture capitalist. With multiple startup exits and a background as head of privacy at WhatsApp, Mala offers rare insight into B2B AI SaaS, privacy, and …

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#40 The Hidden Cause of Burnout—and the Courageous Path Back to Joy 20:39

3M ago20:39

20:39

What if burnout isn’t just about doing too much—but about feeling disconnected from who you really are? In this episode, I reflect on a pivotal moment in my life—when I hit a wall of burnout that forced me to finally listen to the deeper truth I’d been ignoring. I share what the experience taught me about aliveness, joy, and the quiet cost of aband…

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CR103: Cloud on the rocks [AAA]: Transformation into a product-driven enterprise 1:02:03

3M ago1:02:03

1:02:03

[AAA] In 'Access All Areas' shows we go behind the scenes with the crew and their friends as they dive into complex challenges that organizations face—sometimes getting a little messy along the way. This week, we address the ‘big rocks’ that can obstruct or delay successful outcomes in organizational transformations. Dave, Esmee, and Rob are joined…

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Ignite VC: Jim Curry on Rethinking Venture and Building Companies Built to Last | Ep169 1:04:02

3M ago1:04:02

1:04:02

What if the secret to building enduring billion-dollar businesses isn't chasing growth at all costs—but betting on slower, more sustainable scale, even if it means skipping the traditional exit? Jim Curry thinks most of Silicon Valley has it backwards—and he’s proving it, one founder-led company at a time. Jim Curry is the co-founder of Build Group…

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Ignite Startups: How Osama Elkady Is Eliminating ETL and Unlocking Real-Time Insight | Ep168 50:02

3M ago50:02

50:02

Osama Elkady is the co-founder and CEO of Incorta, the only open data delivery platform enabling real-time analysis across all systems of record without complex ETL. With nearly two decades at Oracle—where he led innovations in BI, mobile strategy, and enterprise reporting—Osama holds several patents in data architecture and has helped numerous For…

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#39 Navigating Career Change and Listening to Yourself with Laura Koulet 46:05

3M ago46:05

46:05

How do you navigate the messy, beautiful, and often uncomfortable process of changing careers—especially when the path forward feels anything but clear? In this episode, I sit down with Laura Koulet to unpack her bold transition from a thriving career in technology to the world of law. Together, we explore the emotional and intellectual challenges …