Human Unicorn Podcast

On this episode of the Human Unicorn Podcast, Nihal Mehta sits down with Amar Varma — co-founder of Mantle, Autonomic (acquired by Ford), Xtreme Labs (acquired by Pivotal), father of 4, and longtime builder of Toronto’s tech ecosystem. From pioneering mobile app development before the iPhone App Store existed, to scaling two of Canada’s most successful exits, Amar shares what it really takes to build durable companies outside Silicon Valley. We dive into his founder journey, lessons learned from working with global tech giants, and his vision for the next wave of Canadian unicorns including the one he's building now- Mantle.

🎙️ Human Unicorn Podcast with Nihal Mehta | Guest: Jenny Fielding

In this episode of the Human Unicorn Podcast, host Nihal Mehta sits down with Jenny Fielding — a pioneering venture capitalist, tech founder, and educator shaping the future of innovation.

Jenny Fielding is the Managing Partner at Everywhere Ventures, a globally trusted early-stage fund with a portfolio valued at over $10 billion. With a unique career spanning law, finance, entrepreneurship, and investing, Jenny brings rare insight into what it truly takes to build and back transformative companies. A two-time tech founder, she deeply understands founder struggles from the inside out.

Beyond the world of venture, Jenny serves as an adjunct professor at Columbia University and Cornell Tech, mentoring the next generation of startup leaders. She’s also a frequent voice in top media outlets, including Bloomberg TV, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and TechCrunch.

💡 In this episode, we dive into:

• The realities of building startups from scratch
• How to spot world-changing founders early
• The evolution of venture capital on a global scale
• Lessons from scaling a $10B+ portfolio
• Teaching, mentorship, and the future of entrepreneurship

If you're a founder, investor, or future builder — this conversation is a masterclass in navigating the startup journey.

🦄 Gary Vaynerchuk (Gary Vee) on the Human Unicorn Podcast with Nihal Mehta From taking his family wine business online to building media juggernaut VaynerMedia, Gary Vee has redefined what’s possible in entrepreneurship—using unfiltered honesty, relentless ambition, and heart. Millions turn to him for real talk on brand building, innovation, and living with purpose. In this exclusive, in-person Human Unicorn Podcast sit-down with host Nihal Mehta (Founding GP, Eniac Ventures), Gary goes beyond the soundbites to reveal: How to combine massive ambition with true patience for long-term success Why “attention” is the currency every entrepreneur must understand to win in today’s world Unfiltered predictions on the future of content, artificial intelligence, and the brands that will survive the coming AI revolution The profound human truths behind hustle: happiness, failure, legacy, and why kindness outperforms IQ Mindset shifts to navigate change—whether you’re just starting out or trying to stay ahead of the next big wave If you’ve ever wanted to hear Gary Vee’s raw wisdom—far deeper than viral clips—this is the must-listen episode. 🎧 Tap in and subscribe for more daring, real conversations with unicorn founders and the visionaries who shape the future.

From Serial Founder to AI Super Connector — Andrew D’Souza on Building Boardy Andrew D’Souza has launched and scaled companies through market booms and busts — but his newest venture, Boardy, could change the way opportunity flows forever. This AI-driven “Super Connector” helps you get the right introduction at the right time — and investors are betting big, with $11M raised in under a year.

In this episode of Human Unicorn, you’ll discover:

• How to turn warm introductions into an unstoppable advantage
• Why AI could rewrite the rules of networking and deal-making
• The playbook for lightning-fast fundraising (without burning relationships)
• Lessons from past ventures that shaped Boardy’s vision and strategy

Whether you’re a founder chasing your big break, an investor scouting the next unicorn, or simply curious about the future of connections, this is your inside look at the making of an AI-first network.

Learn more about Boardy: https://www.boardy.ai/

🎙️ Scott Belsky — From Adobe to A24: Designing the Future of Creativity and Storytelling

In this episode of The Human Unicorn, Nihal Mehta sit down with Scott Belsky, one of the defining minds at the intersection of technology, design, and culture.

Scott is the founder of Behance, which was acquired by Adobe in 2012. After a stint at Benchmark Capital, he returned to Adobe as Chief Product Officer (2017–2022) and later served as Chief Strategy Officer and EVP of Design & Emerging Products, playing a pivotal role in launching Creative Cloud and Adobe Firefly.

As of January 2025, Scott has taken on a new role as Partner and Head of Technology & Innovation at A24, where he leads A24 Labs, a stealth initiative focused on reimagining tools for storytellers and creators in film and entertainment.

In this conversation, we explore:

• How Scott helped scale Adobe’s creative suite into an AI-forward platform
• What A24 Labs is doing to reshape the intersection of cinema and technology
• Lessons from backing generational companies like Airbnb, Pinterest, and Warby Parker
• His philosophy on building products that serve creators first

Scott doesn’t just build products — he builds ecosystems that empower creatives to lead industries. This episode is a rare look inside the mind of someone shaping the tools and the taste of our generation.

🦄 For founders, filmmakers, and anyone obsessed with building creative futures — this one’s unmissable.

🎙️ Human Unicorn Podcast — Episode Title:

"Conviction Over Consensus: Rebecca Kaden on Backing What Others Miss"

📄 Episode Description:

In this episode of Human Unicorn, Nihal Mehta talks with Rebecca Kaden, General Partner at Union Square Ventures, about how to spot — and stick with — breakthrough ideas before they’re obvious.

Rebecca shares how her path from journalism to VC shaped her investment lens, what it takes for a company to be truly venture scale in 2025, and why some of the most transformative businesses don’t look like obvious winners at the start.

They explore:

• How she defines "venture scale" today: speed, markets, and return potential
• The difference between consensus picks and conviction bets
• What founders should know before pitching USV
• Lessons from early investments in companies like Etsy, Carta, and Helium
• Why storytelling and point-of-view matter more than ever in crowded markets

If you're a founder looking to raise — or an investor sharpening your filter — this episode delivers real insight into how top-tier VC decisions get made.

🎙️ The Human Unicorn Podcast | Episode: Mike Mignano — Building the Future of Creativity with AI

This week, Nihal Mehta welcomes Mike Mignano — co-founder of Anchor, former Head of Talk Audio at Spotify, partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, and now co-founder of Oboe, a groundbreaking new company reimagining how we create using AI.

Mike shares his unique perspective as both a repeat founder and investor on the frontlines of the creator economy and artificial intelligence. In this episode, we dive into:

• Why Mike launched Oboe to reinvent creative tools for the AI-native generation
• The evolution from audio platforms to multimodal AI
• What AI will actually mean for artists, storytellers, and everyday creators
• The “missing layer” in consumer creative software
• What kind of founders and ideas he's backing at Lightspeed

If you're thinking about building in AI, creator tech, or the next wave of human expression — this episode is your playbook.

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Hosted by Nihal Mehta

On this episode of The Human Unicorn, we sit down with Farhan Thawar, Head of Engineering at Shopify, where he leads thousands of engineers powering one of the world’s biggest commerce platforms. Farhan shares how he scales teams without losing speed, the real-world impact of AI coding tools, and why Claude, OpenAI, and other LLMs are changing how software gets built. Tune in for practical hacks, surprising insights, and a rare look at how top engineering minds are adapting to the AI era.

In this episode, Nihal Mehta welcomes Brian Stempeck, former Chief Strategy Officer at The Trade Desk and now Co-Founder & CEO of Evertune, for a candid conversation on scaling category-defining companies, building enduring cultures, and navigating the next wave of AI innovation.

Brian shares his journey from being employee #8 at The Trade Desk—where he helped take the company from pre-revenue to a multi-billion dollar IPO—to launching Evertune, a startup reimagining how brands optimize for AI-native search.

Topics covered include:

• The strategic decision to empower, not displace, agencies—and why it worked
• Scaling from $0 to $800M+ in revenue: lessons from the front lines
• Preserving culture during hypergrowth (and why wall slogans don’t cut it)
• How introversion can be a superpower in sales and leadership
• The rise of AI-generated search traffic—and what it means for brands
• Building with integrity, trust, and long-term ambition

A must-listen for founders, operators, and investors focused on B2B SaaS, ad tech, or AI.

In this episode, Nihal Mehta welcomes Brian Stempeck, former Chief Strategy Officer at The Trade Desk and now Co-Founder & CEO of Evertune, for a candid conversation on scaling category-defining companies, building enduring cultures, and navigating the next wave of AI innovation.

Brian shares his journey from being employee #8 at The Trade Desk—where he helped take the company from pre-revenue to a multi-billion dollar IPO—to launching Evertune, a startup reimagining how brands optimize for AI-native search.

Topics covered include:

• The strategic decision to empower, not displace, agencies—and why it worked
• Scaling from $0 to $800M+ in revenue: lessons from the front lines
• Preserving culture during hypergrowth (and why wall slogans don’t cut it)
• How introversion can be a superpower in sales and leadership
• The rise of AI-generated search traffic—and what it means for brands
• Building with integrity, trust, and long-term ambition

A must-listen for founders, operators, and investors focused on B2B SaaS, ad tech, or AI.