Absolute Return Podcast

On today’s podcast, we welcome special guest Robert Blake, CEO of Achronix, the only independent supplier of high-performance FPGAs used in high-growth applications including AI, cloud computing, 5G and autonomous vehicles. Achronix recently announced a merger with SPAC ACE Convergence Acquisition at a $2.1 billion equity valuation.

On the podcast, Robert discusses:

-Why he spent his career in the semiconductor industry

-How Achronix differs from semiconductor companies such as Arm, AMD, Nvidia, Altera and Xilinx

-How they are capitalizing on the growth of 5G, cloud and artificial intelligence

-Key insights into their recently announced merger with SPAC ACE Convergence

-And more

On today’s podcast, we welcome special guest Ajay Kochhar CEO and Co-Founder at Li-Cycle, North America’s largest lithium-ion battery resource recycling company. Li-Cycle recently announced a merger with SPAC Peridot Acquisition at a $1.1 billion enterprise value. 

On the podcast, Ajay discusses:

-How he co-founded the company and grew the business to where it is today

-Li-Cycle’s technological advantage and high recovery rate

-The background behind Li-Cycle’s merger with SPAC Peridot Acquisition

-His advice for entrepreneurs and CEOs considering merging with a SPAC

-Key growth initiatives at Li-Cycle

-Why investors would consider Li-Cycle stock

-And more

In today’s podcast, we welcome special guest Kurt Workman, Co-Founder & CEO at Owlet Baby Care, the connected nursery ecosystem that delivers data-driven technology to modern parenting. Owlet recently announced a going-public transaction through SPAC Sandbridge Acquisition in a $1.1 billion deal. 

On the podcast, Kurt discusses:

-Co-founding a startup right out of university and participating in a tech accelerator

-The advantages of running a startup from Utah

-The dynamic of leading a mission-driven company

-Key insights into Owlet’s business combination with SPAC Sandbridge Acquisition

-Owlet’s key growth initiatives

-And More

In today’s podcast, we welcome special guest Ben Volkow, Founder and CEO of Otonomo, the provider of a platform and marketplace for vehicle data that’s positioned at the epicenter of the data revolution in the automotive and mobility space. Otonomo recently announced a going-public transaction through SPAC Software Acquisition II in a $1.4 billion deal. 

On the podcast, Ben discusses:

His journey to founding Otonomo

Building a startup in Israel

The future in automotive data

Key insights into Otonomo’s business combination with SPAC Software Acquisition II

How Otonomo differentiates itself from the competition

And More

In today’s podcast, we welcome special guest Andrew Pascal, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Playstudios, an award-winning developer of free-to-play casual games for mobile and social platforms that offer real-world rewards to loyal players. Playstudios recently announced a going-public transaction through SPAC Acies Acquisition in a $1.1 billion deal.

On the podcast, Andrew discusses:

-What attracted him to the gaming business and why he’s spent his career in the gaming sector

-His “formula” for entrepreneurship and advice to those considering entrepreneurship

-Background and insights on the merger with SPAC Acies Acquisition

-Key growth initiatives for Playstudios

-Why investors should consider Playstudios stock

-And more

In today’s podcast, we welcome special guest John Delaney, Founder & CEO of Revolution Acceleration Acquisition Corp. Revolution Acceleration is a special purpose acquisition company that recently announced a $2.2 billion business combination with Berkshire Grey, a developer of integrated artificial intelligence and robotic solutions for e-commerce, retail replenishment, and logistics

On the podcast, John discusses:

-Transitioning from a successful business career to politics, and pursuing the presidency 

-His return to business and why he decided to start a SPAC

-The operation of a SPAC from a sponsor’s perspective

-What leads to success as a SPAC sponsor

-Why he and his business partner, AOL co-founder Steve Case, are so excited about their SPAC’s deal with Berkshire Grey

-And more

In today’s podcast, we welcome special guest Scott Galit, CEO of Payoneer, the global payment and commerce-enabling platform which powers growth for millions of digital businesses worldwide. Payoneer recently announced a going-public transaction through SPAC FTAC Olympus Acquisition in a $3.3 billion transaction. 

On the podcast, Scott discusses:

• How his background as an investment banker at DLJ and senior executive at Mastercard prepared him for the CEO role at Payoneer

In today’s podcast, we welcome special guest RJ Pittman, CEO of Matterport, the spatial data company leading the digital transformation of the built world. Matterport recently announced a going-public transaction through SPAC Gores Holdings VI in a $2.3 billion deal.

On the podcast, RJ discusses:

-How positions at Apple, Google and eBay prepared him for the CEO role at Matterport

-Background and insights on their $2.3 billion SPAC merger

-Key growth opportunities for the company

-Matterport’s subscription business model and unit economics

-The large total addressable market of digitizing real estate

-And more

In today’s podcast, we welcome special guest James Taylor, Founder and CEO of Electric Last Mile Solutions, or ELMS, an electric vehicle (EV) company focused on creating efficient and reliable last mile solutions that recently announced a going-public transaction through SPAC Forum Merger III.

On the podcast, James discusses:

-How his experience in the auto industry paved the way for founding ELMS

-Details on the announced merger with SPAC Forum Merger III

-How ELMS differentiates itself in the electric vehicle sector

-ELMS key growth opportunities

-And more