In conversation with the people who make the start-up world go round. Join Aarish Shah as he talks to founders, investors, and operators across the tech and venture ecosystem exploring some of the lesser-heard stories and challenges they've faced as they try to build the future.https://nothingventured.tech/Follow Nothing Ventured on socialTwitter https://twitter.com/NVPodFacbook https://www.facebook.com/NothingVenturedPodTikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@nothingventuredpodInstagram https://www. ...
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Aarish Shah Emergeone Podcasts
In this special Halloween edition of the Nothing Ventured podcast, I had the pleasure of hosting Lev Perlman, the founder and CTO of Metamind. Lev shared his journey from being an illegal waiter at bar mitzvahs to becoming a self-taught tech engineer and eventually founding Metamind, a company dedicated to helping early-stage tech companies optimiz…
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In this episode, we take a closer look at how venture capital is shifting ⚖️ — and what it means when nearly half of all new funding flows into AI and foundation models 🤖. While the U.S. continues to prioritise large-scale AI investment, the UK is showing a different path 🇬🇧: diversified sectors, regional growth, and meaningful early-stage activity…
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Angela McKane: BP to Micro VC - Unravelling the Energy Mix
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1:09:33In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah sits down with Angela McKane, a former BP executive turned venture capitalist, for a deep and thought-provoking conversation about the future of energy innovation.With over 15 years of experience in the energy technology sector, Angela shares her journey from the corporate world of BP to launchi…
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Leyla Kunimoto: Private Markets from the LP Seat
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1:00:33💥 Are We in a Venture Capital Bubble? LP Insider Reveals the Truth! 💥In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah sits down with Leyla Kunimoto, Seattle-based LP voice and co-founder of Accredited Investor Insights, for a brutally honest look inside the private markets.Leila pulls back the curtain on what most investors get wrong about ven…
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Francois Mazoudier: Process beats charisma - fundraising in 2025
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45:50In this episode of Nothing Ventured, I’m joined by Francois Mazoudier, serial entrepreneur and seasoned investor, to tackle one of the biggest myths in fundraising: that charisma alone wins capital. As we enter 2025, the truth is clearer than ever — process beats charisma.François shares candid insights on:Why founders must master process-driven fu…
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Biotech vs. AI: Why Venture Capital is Shifting Focus
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16:31Welcome to this month's episode of Nothing Ventured! Join Aarish as we explore the most revealing developments in the world of venture capital and AI investment for September 2025.In this episode, we dive deep into NVIDIA's staggering £2 billion commitment to UK startups and what it really means for the future of AI. We discuss the implications of …
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Enis Hulli: Emerging Europe builds US native unicorns
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59:02In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes Enis Hulli, a general partner at E2VC, an early-stage venture fund focused on supporting founders from emerging Europe. Enis shares insights from his journey in venture capital, detailing how his experience with 500 Startups helped him navigate the complexities of fund management, from …
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Joe Knowles: Can Europe’s physical infrastructure keep up with its ambitions
1:11:24
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1:11:24In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes Joe Knowles, a partner at Smedvig Capital. Joe shares insights from his diverse background as an Airbus engineer, investment banker, and startup founder. He discusses Smedvik's unique approach to venture capital, emphasizing patient capital and a focus on integrity and founder trust rat…
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Aarish Shah: Innovating for Impact: Insights from Venture Capital Leaders
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16:32On this episode of Nothing Ventured, Aarish is joined by leading voices in venture capital — each bringing their own unique story, perspective, and vision for the future of investing.Timestamps:00:00:00 - Introduction to Nothing Ventured Podcast00:00:10 - Quick Fire with Irena Spatzapan00:01:15 - Systemic Capital Overview00:01:44 - Exciting Compani…
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In this thought-provoking episode, Aarish shares deep concerns about the future of humanity, expressing fears over influential figures like Donald Trump, Putin, and Netanyahu, whom they view as emblematic of our darker animal instincts. The discussion emphasises the ongoing battle between our primal nature and our humanity. Drawing inspiration from…
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In this thought-provoking episode, Aarish explores the concept of self-determinism and the chemistry of decision-making. They question the common narrative that attributes success solely to tenacity and drive, examining the role of luck and external circumstances in shaping our lives. Through insightful reflections, the discussion delves into how f…
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Harry Morgan: Unstacking the deck - On Social Mobility and Venture
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1:04:54In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah sits down with Harry Morgan, principal at 7% Ventures, to explore the complexities of investing in climate and deep tech startups. Harry, a former founder turned investor, discusses the challenges of tackling world-shaping problems and the often uncomfortable realities of venture capital, includ…
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Andrea Isoni: CFOs - You're Safe from AI - For Now
1:18:56
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1:18:56In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah sits down with Dr. Andrea Isoni, Chief AI Officer at AI Technologies and lead author of the influential State of AI report. Together, they dive into the often misunderstood world of artificial intelligence, exploring its practical applications and the potential pitfalls that accompany its use. A…
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Dan Pandeni Idhenga: LVCN - Bringing Good Vibes to Venture
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1:00:22In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Arish Shah sits down with DDan Pandeni Idhenga, co-founder of the London Venture Capital Network, one of the fastest-growing venture communities in the UK. Dan shares his diverse journey from Namibia to New York and London, with experiences at J.P. Morgan, AIG, and successful startups like Confirm. The conv…
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In this episode of Nothing Ventured, Aarish dives into the theme of Risk, Resilience, and Reinvention—three forces shaping the future of tech right now. Over the past month, we’ve witnessed a sharp divergence across the industry: while crypto infrastructure is quietly being rebuilt behind the scenes, the creator-platform playbook is showing signs o…
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Marcus Clover: From Fuel Cell Technology to a VC Fund
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58:08In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes Marcus Clover, co-founder of Energy Revolution Ventures (ERV). They delve into ERV's mission to accelerate the transition from carbon-heavy energy systems to renewable electrochemical solutions. With a team boasting seven PhDs and three professors, ERV combines deep technical expertise …
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Irena Spazzapan: Is VC still hiding behind the power law?
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49:17In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Ari Shah welcomes Irena Spazzapan, Managing Partner at Systemic Capital, a venture capital fund focused on addressing planet-scale challenges through technology. Irena shares her journey from Goldman Sachs to venture building, emphasising the importance of software-first, asset-light models in tackling clim…
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In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish dives into the latest trends and insights from the venture capital landscape as of June 2025. He reflects on the significant developments in Q4 2024 and Q1 2025, highlighting Nvidia's remarkable performance, which saw revenue soar to $39 billion and $44 billion in consecutive quarters. Despite facing…
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Oli Harris: From poker chips to portfolio cos
1:05:21
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1:05:21In this episode of Nothing Venture, host Aarish Shah sits down with Oli Harris, a partner at Dream Ventures, to explore the intriguing parallels between poker and venture capital. Oli shares his background as an entrepreneur and discusses the unique approach Dream Ventures takes in investing, leveraging a gambler's instinct to identify elite techno…
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Varun Rekhi: The Roaring 20s Mentality: How Europe Can Celebrate Success in Tech
1:01:53
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1:01:53In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes Varun Rekhi:, a growth investor at Speed invest, to discuss the evolving landscape of venture capital in Europe. Varun shares insights on why he believes Europe's flywheel is broken, highlighting that the continent faces an output problem rather than an input problem. He emphasises the …
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Aly Madhavji: Blockchain Beyond the Hype
1:10:01
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1:10:01In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes Aly Madhavji, managing partner at Blockchain Founders Fund, to discuss the evolving landscape of Web3. They delve into the importance of addressing consumer skepticism and the need for effective education about Web3 technologies. Aly shares insights on how to onboard millions of users s…
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Alvaro Alvarez del Rio: Legacy and the franchise value of your VC matters
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1:00:33In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes Alvaro Alvarez del Rio, founder of Boost Capital Partners. Alvaro shares insights from his extensive experience in venture capital, having invested in over 120 software startups with a total exit value exceeding $10 billion. The discussion focuses on how Boost Capital leverages gaming p…
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Roger Wade: Streetwear, street food, and the streets of South London
1:10:21
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1:10:21In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah sits down with Roger Wade, the visionary founder behind Boxfresh and Boxpark, two iconic British brands. Roger shares his inspiring journey from humble beginnings on a South London council estate to building successful companies, including scaling Boxpark into a cultural landmark in East London.…
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Alex Theuma & Kenneth Thomas: Evolving from Community to Capital, SaaStock to BackFuture
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47:38In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes Alex Theuma, founder and CEO of SaaStock, and Kenneth Thomas, Principal at BackFuture Ventures. They delve into the importance of building a strong network over a decade to successfully launch a venture capital firm like BackFuture. The conversation touches on the qualitative aspects of…
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Jay Gujral: From Founder to Venture and Back Again
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32:03In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes back repeat founder, angel investor, and blockchain expert Jay Gujralfor the second part of their insightful conversation. Jay shares his entrepreneurial background, discussing how both of his parents were involved in business, including his father's art shop, Athena. The discussion del…
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Jay Gujral: Solving Blockchains Missing Piece - Adoption
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43:52In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah sits down with Jay Gujral, a seasoned entrepreneur and angel investor with a deep understanding of blockchain technology. Jay shares his journey from founding Gradlancer, a student freelance marketplace, to his current venture, Record, which aims to provide robust data integrity solutions for bu…
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Ed Ebbern / Will McManners: The New Great Game, Venture in Adverse Times
1:11:09
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1:11:09In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah is joined by Ed Ebbern and Will McManners, founding partners of MD1 Ventures, Europe's first dedicated national security VC fund. With backgrounds in special forces and defense innovation, they explore the evolving adversarial landscape and the importance of asking better questions in an age of …
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Mike Bank: Anyone can build — but should they? | Part 2
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48:03In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes Mike Bank, founder of Underdog, a pre-accelerated syndicate that supports solo and non-traditional founders in launching revenue-generating businesses while maintaining their day jobs. Mike shares insights from his extensive experience as an investment banker, early-stage VC, and angel …
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Mike Bank: Backing the Underdogs | Part 1
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51:58In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes Mike Bank, the founder of Underdog, a pre-accelerated syndicate aimed at supporting solo and non-traditional founders in launching revenue-generating businesses while maintaining their day jobs. Mike shares insights from his extensive career in investment banking, early-stage VC, and as…
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Sam Kaplan: Getting to first purchase profitable in consumer
1:22:33
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1:22:33In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah sits down with Sam Kaplan, a partner at Five Seasons Ventures, a pan-European venture capital fund focused on investing in iconic and sustainable consumer brands. With an extensive background that includes roles at Citi and Birch Creative Capital, Sam shares invaluable insights into the venture …
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Maya Ghayad: Stop killing innovation with metrics
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53:37In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes Maya Ghayad, a partner at ID4 Ventures, to discuss the evolving landscape of the venture capital industry. With nearly a decade of experience, Maya shares her insights on the significant changes happening within VC, including the phenomenon known as "the death of the middle." They explo…
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In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes Simon Kohl, founder of Latent Labs, a startup at the forefront of generative models for computational protein design. Simon shares his journey from studying physics at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology to his pivotal role in DeepMind's AlphaFold projects, where he developed key unce…
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Piotr Bukanski: Tips on becoming a specialist generalist in VC
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56:47In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes investment manager Piotr Bukanski from Beringea. Piotr shares insights from his extensive background in finance, including his time at Merrill Lynch and his current focus as a generalist investor in B2B data, climate tech, and fintech. The conversation delves into the transferable skill…
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Gillian Davis: There's a time and a place for tyranny
1:30:55
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1:30:55In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes leadership development expert Gillian Davis. They dive into her impressive journey, from her early beginnings in her family's executive recruitment business in Canada to co-authoring the book "First Time Leader" at just 28. Gillian shares her insights on practical leadership strategies,…
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In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah interviews Zoltan Vardy, a seasoned B2B sales advisor and author of "The Launch Code." With nearly four decades of experience and over $2 billion in sales closed for major companies like CBS and NBCUniversal, Zoltan shares invaluable insights on mastering founder-led sales. The discussion focuse…
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Tanja Emmerling: Europe needs to hurry up to be attractive to founders
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41:45In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes Dr. Tanja Emmerling, a partner at High Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) and head of the Berlin team. With over a decade of experience in venture capital, Tanja shares her insights into the European tech landscape, highlighting HTGF's role as the most active seed investor in Europe. The discussi…
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Ozan Unlu: Navigating the Shift: From Technical Founder to Commercial Leader | Episode 62
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49:36In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah speaks with Ozan Unlu, co-founder and CEO of EdgeDelta, a pioneering company in the telemetry pipeline space focusing on observability and security. Ozan shares insights from his unique journey through engineering, sales, and entrepreneurship, delving into the nuances of transitioning from techn…
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Ioto Iotov: Learning the foundations and the language of business  | Episode 61
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58:52In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes Ioto Iotov, founder of Mainset, a venture capital firm focused on fintech and SaaS ventures. Ioto shares his unique journey from South Africa, detailing his background as a chartered accountant and competitive swimmer, and his path to earning an MBA from Columbia Business School. The di…
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Henry Joseph-Grant: Does VC stand for Venture Colonialism?  | Episode 60
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1:18:40In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah interviews entrepreneur and mentor Henry Joseph Grant, who shares insights from his extensive experience in scaling startups and driving innovation. The discussion delves into the transformative impact of the iPhone on business, particularly in launching Just Eat, a brand that grew from startup …
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Jefff Crusey: When Mythology Breaks Reality in Venture | Episode 59
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46:02In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes Jeff Crusey, a partner at 7% Ventures and seasoned VC with extensive experience in deep tech and startups. The discussion explores the limits of software functionality and usability, the implications of the UK’s approach to de-risking venture investments, and whether US VCs are fosterin…
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Kristina Barger: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Founder Mental Health | Episode 58
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1:09:43In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes cognitive and behavioural scientist Kristina Barger . With a diverse background in clinical psychology, tech innovation, and entrepreneurship, Christina shares her insights on the unique challenges faced by founders. The discussion delves into the traits of overachievers, the fine line …
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Uzma Choudry: Building a Unique European BioTech Ecosystem | Episode 57
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52:28In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes Dr. Uzma Choudry, an expert in deep tech and biotech investing. Uzma shares her extensive experience in developing the European tech bio ecosystem, including her role in managing a portfolio of over one and a half billion pounds at one of Europe's largest funds. The conversation delves …
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Chris Donegan: The Investor's Dilemma: Understanding Complex Investments | Episode 56
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58:18In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes seasoned investor and entrepreneur Chris Donegan. With a rich background in molecular neurobiology and business strategy, Chris shares his insights on the current state of innovation and investment. The conversation explores whether the present and future are more promising than the pas…
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Hannah Meiton: Navigating The Nordics | Episode 55
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42:41In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Arish Shah welcomes Hannah Meiton, founding partner at Ampli Ventures, a venture capital firm based in Stockholm that specializes in early-stage investments in Nordic B2B SaaS companies. Hannah shares her insights on the importance of founders actively promoting their businesses, emphasizing that simply bui…
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Ashwin Ravikumar: Lessons on Tech Transfer from CERN | Episode 54
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49:59Timestamps: 01:18 - Sellotape as an x-ray generator. 04:12 - Science as universal language. 09:22 - Pursuit of knowledge in science. 12:24 - University tech transfer challenges. 14:58 - Tech transfer at CERN. 20:08 - Altruistic mission of CERN. 22:12 - University equity in startups. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for …
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Rishabh Kaul: Buiding the India-Europe Tech Corridor | Episode 53
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59:0400:02:25 - South Asian tech professionals' impact. 00:05:06 - Indian entrepreneurs in Europe. 00:08:21 - Indians in technology leadership. 00:12:36 - Immigration and technology's future. 00:17:26 - India-Europe tech corridor opportunities. 00:21:30 - European talent for Indian companies. 00:24:10 - Talent acquisition and market dynamics. 00:29:18 -…
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Afshin Moayed: Why Bangladesh is the best kept secret in venture
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59:17[00:00:42] Climate refugees in Bangladesh. [00:04:09] Investing in emerging markets. [00:08:01] Bangladesh's unique growth potential. [00:12:10] Bangladesh's investment landscape challenges. [00:17:31] Indian VCs and Bangladesh opportunities. [00:20:49] Cultural dynamics in emerging markets. [00:25:04] Climate adaptation in Bangladesh. [00:30:05] B…
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Fred Destin: Crafting Meaningful Relationships in Venture (Part 2) | Episode 52
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40:16In this special two-part episode of "Nothing Ventured," host Arish Shah sits down with Fred Destin, founder of Stride VC. They delve into the evolving dynamics between founders and venture capitalists, highlighting the surprising discontent founders often feel towards VCs. Fred shares insights from his extensive experience, including his time as a …
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Fred Destin: On the Craft of Venture (Part 1) | Episode 50
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1:03:16In this special two-part episode of "Nothing Ventured," host Aarish Shah sits down with Fred Destin, founder of Stride VC, to explore the evolving landscape of venture capital. They discuss the complex relationship between founders and VCs, highlighting the discontent many founders feel towards traditional venture capital approaches. Fred shares in…
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Manish Patel: "How I Became and Accidental VC" | Episode 49
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55:18Find Manish online at: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manishpatelli/ Twitter: https://x.com/NavaVenturesVC Nava Ventures: https://www.nava.vc/ This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B. Get in touch at https://emergeone.co.uk/contact-us/ or join the CFO team at https://emer…
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