Consensus in Conversation

Pavle Jeremic wants to end resource scarcity by literally rearranging atoms. Inspired to build a better, more abundant future after witnessing violent conflict in his parents’ native Yugoslavia, Pavle launched Aether Biomachines in 2017 at just 21 years old. Since then, he’s successfully led the protein engineering startup to the cutting edge of nanotechnology, working to solve our planet’s resource scarcity problem. 

Today, Pavle and Aether are combining protein synthesis, machine learning, and nanoscale engineering to rearrange atomic structures, enabling everything from impact-free resource extraction to self-healing materials.  

Hear why at such a young age, Pavle became obsessed with building a future of abundance, what it takes to scale a true deep tech startup, and how Aether Biomachines is turning science fiction into reality.

Episode Highlights

00:00 Pavle on using machine learning models to rearrange atoms

00:38 Conor Gaughan introduces Pavle Jeremic and Aether Biomachines

04:23 Protein engineering, growing up around scarcity, and interest in science

07:36 Synthetic biology, UC Santa Cruz, and genetic engineering projects 

16:16 Origin of Aether Biomachines, its long-term view, and its product categories

26:10 Storytelling in science, what industry Aether sees itself in, and defining “machine”

33:12 Deep tech, scarcity vs abundance, core pillars for scaling impact

41:22 Current problems, future solutions, and balancing the two

46:37 Exciting climate innovations to watch 

52:04 Where to learn more and end credits

If you liked this episode, listen next to Peter Godart of Found Energy on Aluminum Fuel, NASA, and Engineering Impact at Scale

More on Aether Biomachines and Pavle:

aetherbio.com

linkedin.com/company/aetherbio 

linkedin.com/in/pavlejeremic

Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and threads.net/@ckgone 

Have questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at [email protected]

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify – it really makes a difference! 

Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.

Food waste is a $25 billion problem for American supermarkets, but Josh Domingues has an app for that. 

Josh is the founder and executive chairman of Flashfood, a simple but elegant application that directly connects consumers with local grocery stores to buy food nearing expiration at a huge discount. This approach is a win-win-win for all parties: grocers get paid for food they would throw out, customers get a massive discount, and less food waste ends up in pollutive landfills.

Josh spent his early career in finance and management, but a complaint from his sister, a chef, about how much food is thrown away after events set him on a new path to turn trash into treasure.

Hear how Josh turned a simple idea into a game-changing startup, why the grocery industry is moving towards sustainable innovation, and what’s next on Flashfood’s plate. 

Episode Highlights 

00:00 Josh on the moment he realized Flashfood would work

00:52 Conor Gaughan introduces Josh Domingues and Flashfood

05:09 Growing up in Toronto, hockey, and entrepreneurial influences

12:02 Career in finance, management consulting, and path to founding

15:38 How a catering event led to the launch of Flashfood

23:05 Entering the marketplace, building a product, and pitching the idea

31:12 How FlashFood works today for consumers and businesses

37:48 Breaking into the industry and US vs Canadian grocers

41:57 Prioritizing sustainability, food security, and positive impact  

48:46 Finding optimism 

51:15 Where to learn more and end credits

If you liked this episode, listen next to Nick Whitman of Divert on Food Waste, Renewable Energy, and Impact Technology

More on Flashfood and Josh:

flashfood.com

linkedin.com/company/flashfoodinc

linkedin.com/in/joshdomingues

Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and threads.net/@ckgone

Have questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at [email protected]

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify – it really makes a difference! 

Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.

Two founders of 1953 Tequila, Lindsey Davis Stover and Shivam Mallick Shah, join Conor for a special in-person conversation to share how their ultra-premium, additive-free tequila is prioritizing sustainability, elevating women in the spirits industry, and also offering an awesome drinking experience.

Lindsey, Shivam, and the rest of the 1953 founding team met through Congressional campaigns for Virginia’s 10th district, and the idea for a women-led, luxury tequila company followed soon after. True to their mission, the founders secured a deal to source from an agave farmer who was passing his farm on to his daughters. Named after the year women in Mexico gained the right to vote, 1953 Tequila has shaken up the male-dominated spirits industry from day one, and it was recently named the Best Additive-Free Tequila by Men’s Journal.

As you’ll hear, Shivam Mallick Shah and Lindsey Davis Stover have big dreams for tequila and beyond.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Lindsey on pitching her crazy idea for a tequila company

00:48 Conor Gaughan introduces Lindsey, Shivam, and 1953 Tequila 

02:00 Bureaucratic backgrounds and running for Congress

13:00 The idea to launch, women in spirits, and meeting agave farmers

20:32 Branding, the origin of the name, and making it additive free

28:10 Building in a new industry, getting to market, and finding distribution

33:09 Challenges as a women-led brand in a male-dominated industry 

36:37 Social impact opportunity, sustainability, and doing good 

41:35 Building for the future, remaining optimistic, and sources of inspiration

48:28 Where to learn more… or find a bottle! 

50:00 Outro and end credits

The book Lindsey mentioned: What Do You Do With An Idea? by Kobi Yamada

Shivam meant to mention she is reading: Big Bets: How Large-Scale Change Really Happens by her husband, Rajiv Shah.

If you liked this episode, listen next to John Little of Smooth Ambler Spirits Co. on Craft Distilling, Sustainable Growth, and Disrupting the Bourbon Industry

More on 1953 Tequila, Lindsey, and Shivam:

1953tequila.com and instagram.com/1953tequila

linkedin.com/in/lindsey-davis-stover-1b65707

linkedin.com/in/shivam-mallick-shah-54a953135

Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and threads.net/@ckgone

Have questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at [email protected]

As Conor mentioned in the show, we're taking a break for his birthday and we'll be back the first week of May with more great conversations!

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify – it really makes a difference! 

Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.

Manik Suri is implementing smart technology into cooling, ushering in the era of Cold Chain 2.0. Before founding GlacierGrid in 2020, Manik finished top of his class at Harvard, went to Cambridge for a masters in international relations, returned to Harvard for a law degree, co-founded the Governance Lab, with stops at storied institutions like DE Shaw and the White House Economic Council along the way. 

Cooling technology has lagged behind other industries in the clean energy transition, but GlacierGrid’s all-in-one management platform is using smart technology to bridge that gap and build a more sustainable, advanced, and efficient cold chain.

Hear Manik share how he’s pursuing dual passions for entrepreneurship and positive impact, why cooling technology is vital for the modern world, and how smart technology can decarbonize an entire industry. 

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Manik Suri on the planet’s cooling crisis

00:57 Conor Gaughan introduces Manik and GlacierGrid

07:00 Academic upbringing, Harvard, and international internships

16:03 Law school, The White House, and path to entrepreneurship

23:25 GlacierGrid’s rebrand, the hidden economy, and the cold chain

33:34 Pitching investors, aligning profits with impact, and future scale 

40:09 Exciting innovations, long-term thinking, and staying positive

48:07 Where to learn more 

49:03 Conclusion and end credits 

If you liked this episode, listen next to Nick Whitman of Divert on Food Waste, Renewable Energy, and Impact Technology

More on GlacierGrid and Manik Suri:

glaciergrid.com 

linkedin.com/company/glaciergrid

linkedin.com/in/maniksuri

Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and threads.net/@ckgone 

Have questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at [email protected]

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify – it really makes a difference! 

Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.

Stanford rocket scientist and fintech entrepreneur Karthik Balakrishnan is integrating high-tech infrastructure modeling with video game interface design to create a software platform that allows businesses to virtually test their plans for maximum sustainability and bottom-line impact. 

In 2018, Karthik co-founded software startup ACTUAL based on a unique premise: what if you could plug your business idea into a science-backed simulation that operates like a computer game? The software platform allows users to choose a sustainability strategy, map out its various permutations, and compare those simulation results, enabling businesses to explore the full range of possibilities for their capital and implement the most impactful without real-world risks.

Hear ACTUAL president and co-founder Karthik Balakrishnan talk about how SimCity influenced their approach, combining user interface with data visualization, and why gamifying decision making is so important for the future. 

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Karthik Balakrishnan on making specialist knowledge more accessible

00:53 Conor Gaughan introduces Karthik and ACTUAL

05:45 Growing up on the coasts and aerospace engineering at Stanford 

10:45 Rocket science, entrepreneurial spirit, and the generalist mindset

17:43 Fintech, founding Coin, and risk-taking versus reliability 

27:24 Angel investing, the Pioneer Fund, and an impact-based framework 

32:55 The origin of ACTUAL, the elevator pitch, and de-risking innovation 

42:49 Real world variables and misconceptions about sustainable software  

49:15 Exciting innovations, defeating defeatism, and staying positive

53:40 Where to learn more and end credits

If you liked this episode, listen next to Peter Godart of Found Energy on Aluminum Fuel, NASA, and Engineering Impact at Scale

More on ACTUAL and Karthik Balakrishnan:

actualhq.com

linkedin.com/company/actualhq

linkedin.com/in/kbalakri

Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and threads.net/@ckgone 

Have questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at [email protected]

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify – it really makes a difference! 

Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.

This week, we’re proud to share a special episode of the CLIMB by VSC podcast with Jay Kapoor, featuring his interview with Sunil Nagaraj. CLIMB is a weekly podcast where Jay and VSC Ventures co-founder Vijay Chattha speak with leading investors, founders, and industry experts about lessons and perspectives on company-building in the world of climate tech and climate adaptation. 

From CLIMB by VSC:

We're honored to host Sunil Nagaraj, a visionary investor in the intersection of deep tech and climate innovation, and founding partner of Ubiquity Ventures. Nagaraj's unique perspective on "software beyond the screen" and his commitment to supporting early-stage, tech-driven startups are at the forefront of our discussion. We dive into the essence of nurturing technologies with disciplined financing and the strategic scaling of startups to mitigate climate change.

Our conversation spans a variety of topics, from the complexities of venture capital in the climate tech space to the pivotal role of startups in driving substantial change. Sunil shares insights on the importance of focusing on high-impact areas and the potential pitfalls in the startup ecosystem, particularly emphasizing the significance of avoiding the "moonshot culture" that often hinders the progress of deep tech ventures.

About VSC Ventures:

VSC Ventures is an early-stage venture capital fund led by Jay Kapoor and Vijay Chattha where we invest in early-stage startups and support our founders with hands-on PR, storytelling, and go-to-market work with help from our award-winning PR agency VSC.

Links discussed in this episode:

Moonshot Culture is Strangling Deeptech article: https://www.ubqt.vc/p/moonshot-culture-is-strangling-deeptech

Ubiquity University: https://university.ubiquity.vc/

Episode Highlights

00:00 Conor Gaughan introduces CLIMB by VSC

02:42 Trailer 

03:17 Introduction

04:01 What defines a startup as truly 'Nerdy and Early'?"

07:11 What’s the first question investors make?

11:30 How do investors navigate unfamiliar markets?

16:17 The pros and cons of a singular investment strategy

21:49 How do 'crazy' ideas become genius investments

26:45 The 'Don't Repeat Yourself' mantra in Venture Capital

29:35 The cost of keeping secrets in Venture Capital

31:57 How trust accelerates organizational velocity

39:30 Should investors be more involved in early stage startups?

42:47 How can startups become better companies

47:19 The dangers of Moonshot Culture in Deep Tech

52:39 What's the one thing your startup should focus on?

55:07 Can technology truly turn the tide against climate change?

We’ll be back next week with a brand new episode of Consensus in Conversation. In the meantime, make sure to follow the CLIMB by VSC podcast for more great perspectives on company-building. 

Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and threads.net/@ckgone

Have questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at [email protected]

Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.

Frank Heidinger believes that lots of small improvements over time can create a huge impact, and he’s using that concept to electrify the recreational boating industry, responsible for 1% of global carbon emissions. 

Frank is the founder and CEO of HALEVAI, a cutting-edge company making high-performance, fully electric recreational boats that will reduce the industry’s environmental footprint, shorten supply chains, and bring more manufacturing jobs to the U.S. A hospitality industry veteran and lifelong ocean advocate, Frank shares how  prioritizing customer experience, committing to incremental improvement, and embracing a “We Will” vision of the future can truly make all the difference. 

Hear Frank talk about the idea that led him to launch HALEVAI, combining materials sciences, design, and engineering to build boats, and the exciting future for (water-based) electric vehicles.

Episode Highlights

00:00 Frank Heidinger on energy, hospitality, and the natural environment

00:39 Conor Gaughan introduces Frank and HALEVAI

04:10 Brooklyn beginnings, creating experiences, and sustainable hospitality in the Maldives

13:58 The idea for electric boats, initial obstacles, and developing a design

20:30 The recreational boating market and marginal improvements

29:10 Pitching to investors, the spirit of innovation, and creating impact

36:30 Sustainability in luxury, open sourcing, and prioritizing customers

41:22 Frank’s vision for a sustainable future and where to learn more

45:43 Wrap up and end credits

If you liked this episode, listen next to Ben Bressler of Natural Habitat Adventures on Nature, Travel, and Pursuing Your Passion

More on HALEVAI and Frank Heidinger:

• halevai.com
• instagram.com/halevaipower/ 
• linkedin.com/company/halevai 
• linkedin.com/in/frank-heidinger-halevai 

Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and threads.net/@ckgone

Have questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at [email protected]

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify – it really makes a difference! 

Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.

Jay Kapoor believes there is massive opportunity in climate automation and that identifying hidden economies is key to building a more sustainable future. Jay is co-founder and general partner at VSC Ventures, a storytelling-focused VC firm investing in early stage climate tech and automation startups. 

In part two of our conversation with Jay, we dive into the nitty gritty: Jay shares how hidden economies inform his investing thesis, why automation is key to our climate tech transition, how early startups are already tapping into this opportunity, and what a sustainable future could really look like. 

If you missed last week’s episode, listen first to Jay Kapoor of VSC Ventures on Finding Purpose, Startup Storytelling, and the Founder with 1000 Faces. 

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Jay Kapoor on investing in climate automation

00:58 Conor Gaughan introduces Jay Kapoor and VSC Ventures

02:57 Looking for hidden economies as an investor

10:22 Using analogies to boost storytelling 

15:03 The huge potential in climate automation

31:34 Exciting innovations in the tech industry 

37:47 VSC’s portfolio companies

46:51 Envisioning a sustainable future with nuclear energy 

50:04 Where to learn more

51:35 Conclusion and end credits 

More on VSC Ventures and Jay Kapoor:

• vscventures.com/portfolio
• linkedin.com/company/vsc-ventures 
• linkedin.com/in/jaykapoor/
• twitter.com/JayKapoorNYC
• Jay’s podcast: CLIMB by VSC

Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and instagram.com/ckgone 

Have questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at [email protected]

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify – it really makes a difference! 

Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.

Jay Kapoor is combining venture capital and storytelling to help visionary founders achieve maximum impact. Jay noticed that while it was easier than ever to start a business, that made it harder than ever for individual companies to get noticed. How could founders get the world to see their unique vision for a better future? The answer was simple, but not easy – tell a compelling story. So, he and co-founder Vijay Chattha created VSC Ventures, a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage climate tech and automation startups, using the power of storytelling to help them stand out. 

Hear Jay talk about the importance of curiosity and empathy, what the NFL’s international games can teach us about growing a brand, and why every good business starts with a really good story. 

As you’ll hear, we had so much fun talking with Jay, we convinced him to do a second episode, so stick around for part two next week. 

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Jay Kapoor on the importance of asking “Why now?” in storytelling 

00:52 Conor Gaughan introduces Jay Kapoor and VSC Ventures

06:37 Multicultural background and perspective on sustainability

23:23 Finance, NFL Europe, and marketing funnels

31:31 The idea for VSC Ventures and crafting a good pitch

44:53 Optimism, return on investment, and defining impact

54:03 What’s next – part two of our conversation 

56:38 End credits 

More on VSC Ventures and Jay Kapoor:

• vscventures.com/portfolio 
• linkedin.com/company/vsc-ventures/ 
• linkedin.com/in/jaykapoor/ OR twitter.com/JayKapoorNYC 
• Jay’s podcast: CLIMB by VSC

Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and instagram.com/ckgone 

Here’s the link to Joseph Campbell’s book, which both Conor and Jay mention: The Hero With A Thousand Faces.

If you liked this episode, listen next to Matt Rogers of Mill Industries on Food Waste, Impactful Product Design, and Innovation

Also check out these episodes featuring folks Jay and Conor mentioned in their conversation:

• Rick Fox of Partanna on Sustainable Construction and Creating Winning Teams
• Roger McClendon of Green Sports Alliance on Green Sports Day and Sustainability In Sports

Have questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at [email protected]

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify – it really makes a difference! 

Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.

The data gap in women’s healthcare is a big problem. Four out of every five women in America with female-specific medical conditions will go undiagnosed and 70% of medical residency training programs exclude fertility from their core curriculums.  

Tech wizard and veteran entrepreneur Juan Carlos (JC) Riveiro, and business and marketing expert Liya Sharif co-founded Cercle in 2021 to address this very gap. The tech startup uses AI machine learning to generate smarter, more equitable women’s health data, giving doctors the information they need to make decisions specific to each of their patients. 

Hear how CEO JC, and board member Liya are using their technological and entrepreneurial expertise to give doctors direct access to better data, improve fertility outcomes with individualized treatment plans, and revolutionize the future of healthcare for all.  

Episode Highlights:

• 00:00 Liya on the exclusion of women in medical studies
• 00:42 Conor Gaughan introduces Liya Sharif and JC Riveiro of Cercle
• 04:30 Backgrounds, college degrees, and careers leading to Cercle
• 16:12 JC and Liya's idea for Cercle
• 27:12 Medicine 3.0, systemic inequity in healthcare, and women's health
• 32:49 Finding investors, caring for customers, and the future of health
• 40:06 Where to learn more
• 41:42 End credits

If you liked this episode, listen next to Allison Wolff of Vibrant Planet on Beneficial Fire, Sustainable Software, and Nature-Based Climate Solutions

More on Cercle, Liya Sharif, and JC Riveiro:

• cercle.ai
• linkedin.com/company/cercleai
• linkedin.com/in/lsharif
• linkedin.com/in/jriveiro

Here’s the link to the McKinsey study on the women’s medical data gap referenced by both Conor and Liya during the episode: “Closing the data gaps in women’s health.”

Here’s the link to Hannah Ritchie’s book, which Conor mentions in his intro: Not the End of the World.

Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and instagram.com/ckgone 

Have questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at [email protected]

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify – it really makes a difference! 

Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.