By Rohit Malhotra
5
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The podcast currently has 477 episodes available.
I am thrilled to have Victor Pascucci III, the co-founder and Managing General Partner of Energy Capital Ventures. The only early-stage venture capital fund dedicated to the resilience, sustainability and digital transformation of the natural gas industry. Vic has over 20 years of experience in venture capital and financial services encompassing over $750 million in VC and M&A transactions.
In this episode, Victor Pascucci III, co-founder and Managing General Partner of Energy Capital Ventures shares his unique journey from trial attorney to venture capitalist, offering insights into the natural gas industry’s digital transformation and sustainability efforts. He discusses emerging trends in green molecules, hydrogen technology, and renewable natural gas. Victor also offers advice for aspiring VCs, highlighting the importance of perseverance, non-dilutive funding, building strong teams, and much more!
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* How do you evaluate the potential of a startup when considering an investment?
* What advice would you give to aspiring venture capitalists looking to enter the industry today?
* How does Victor approach market sizing?
* What is your favourite business book? –The advantage
* What is your favourite online tool? –Slack
* If you could go back to when you started working on Energy Capital Ventures, what is the one thing you would have focused on? – Use a broader approach
Timestamps
04:25: Victor’s journey into venture capital through corporate partnerships and investments.
06:15: Victor’s advice for those wanting to enter venture capital without traditional paths.
07:35: Discussion about the recent boom in new seed VC firms and their challenges.
09:00: Victor shares insights into the difficulty of starting a VC fund and the path to success.
13:30: Why natural gas and its role in future energy needs remain critical.
14:20: Game-changing emerging trends in the energy and natural gas sector.
15:10: The future of hydrogen and its potential in the aviation industry.
16:40: Evaluating startups based on team, technology, market, and competitive advantage.
21:30: The potential for Europe to become a leader in deep tech and climate tech innovations.
22:40: The biggest missed opportunities in VC and lessons learned from early mistakes.
25:10: Approaching market sizing and the importance of creating new markets in green molecules.
26:30: When to sell or hold a position in venture capital.
28:00: The role of VC in helping founders and where they can add value.
31:20: Advice for operators transitioning from big companies like Google and Amazon to startups
33:40: Discussion on the mental model shift required for operators moving from big companies to startups.
Victor’s Links
LDN– https://www.linkedin.com/in/victorpascucci
Website – https://www.energycapitalventures.com/
My Links
Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes
YouTube: youtube.com/lifeselfmastery
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal
5-day email course: www.enterprisesalesexpertise.com
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I am excited to have Julio Avalos, the founder of Shades News which brings you daily bites of news and culture, presented from multiple points of view so that you can see the whole picture quickly. The mission is to unlock the potential of the internet to help people stay informed in a fun and positive way.
In this episode, Julio Avalos, founder of Shades News and former Chief Strategy Officer at GitHub Julio shares his journey from law to tech startups, his early experience with Facebook, and his pivotal role in GitHub’s open-source and remote-first culture. He discusses the motivation behind founding Shades News, a platform aimed at providing multiple perspectives on news and culture for Gen Z. Julio also talks about the impact of generative AI in content curation, the rise of one-person media companies, and the future of legacy media, and much more!
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* How does Shade News aim to address the issue of biased reporting and fake news?
* How does Julio see the future of news consumption evolving
* What does Julio believe are the biggest mistakes early-stage founders make when telling stories?
* What is your favourite business book? – Zero to one
* What is your favourite online tool? –Figma slides
* If you could go back to when you started working, what is the one thing you would have focused on? – less focus on paid ads
Timestamps
04:15 - Impact of Early Startups
06:00 - Humanizing Big Tech
08:10 - Working with Mark Zuckerberg
10:00 - The Reality of Startup Founders
12:30 - Transition to GitHub
15:45 - Open Source and Remote Culture at GitHub
18:15 - Lessons from Remote Work
21:00 - Founding Shades News
24:00 - Challenges in Journalism
28:10 - Gen Z and Information Consumption
30:30 - Bias in News Media
33:00 - The Role of Generative AI in Curating Content
36:15 - The Rise of One-Person Media Companies
39:00 - Consolidation in Media
41:30 - Shades News Revenue Model
43:45 - Insights on Gen Z Search Habits
47:00 - AI's Impact on Content Creation
50:15 - Fundraising Challenges for Startups
52:45 - Balancing Optimism and Realism
55:30 - Future of AI in Product Development
Julio’s Links
LDN– https://www.linkedin.com/in/julio-avalos-who/
Website – https://www.shadesnews.com/
My Links
Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes
YouTube: youtube.com/lifeselfmastery
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal
5-day email course: www.enterprisesalesexpertise.com
Newsletter:
I am thrilled to have Asya Kuznetsova, a product and growth expert who has led the product growth unit at Wise, a global FinTech company that processes more than £8B worth of international transactions for over 16M people and businesses.
In this episode, Asya Kuznetsova, a product and growth expert with experience at Wise and Yandex discusses building products that are ten times better than competitors, optimizing growth through referrals, and the differences between B2C and B2B scaling. She also highlights data-driven decision-making long-term growth strategies, and much more!
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* What are the most effective metrics to measure the success of organic growth initiatives?
* How to structure and optimize referral programs to maximize their impact on user acquisition?
* What are the biggest mistakes founders make when scaling into an enterprise?
* What is your favourite business book? – Cold start problem
* What is your favourite online tool? –Figma
* If you could go back to when you started working, what is the one thing you would have focused on? – Build 10x better product
Timestamps
06:30 - Yandex Lessons
08:45 - 10x Approach
11:30 - Fail Fast, Learn Fast
13:45 - B2C vs B2B
15:00 - Customer-Centric Approach
17:10 - Metrics for Growth
19:00 - Word of Mouth Growth
22:30 - Referral Programs
25:10 - Customer Delight
27:00 - Product-Led Growth
30:00 - Localization
33:00 - Managing Scale and Quality
35:10 - Data-Driven Growth
39:45 - Enterprise Scaling
42:30 - Building for Enterprises
Asya’s Links
LDN– https://www.linkedin.com/in/asya-kuznetsova/
Website – wise.com
My Links
Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes
YouTube: youtube.com/lifeselfmastery
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal
5-day email course: www.enterprisesalesexpertise.com
Newsletter:
I am thrilled to have Manish Patel, a GP at Nava Ventures who has led teams that have designed, developed, and scaled products with global impact from enterprise advertising systems like AdWords to consumer experiences like Google Maps.
In this episode, Manish Patel, General Partner at Nava Ventures discusses the importance of market conditions for startups, early-stage companies' challenges, and the critical role of founder-market fit in venture capital. Manish also reflects on the evolving landscape of AI, venture capital, the lessons learned from his investment experiences, and much more!
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* How does Manish approach market sizing?
* Is Manish willing to take market timing risk?
* How does Manish prioritise between founder vs market?
* How does Manish approach mentorship and supporting other entrepreneurs in the network?
* What is your favourite business book? – Creative confidence
* What is your favourite online tool? –Google Maps
* If you could go back to when you started working, what is the one thing you would have focused on? – Raise a bigger fund
Timestamps
[00:04:10] - Stanford's entrepreneurial culture and its impact on Manish.
[00:06:15] - Manish's experience at Google, working on Google Maps and Adwords.
[00:10:30] - The role of market conditions in the success of startups.
[00:12:45] - Discussion on the impact of AI and platforms like ChatGPT on search engines.
[00:15:20] - Challenges faced by early-stage startups in today’s market.
[00:17:50] - Importance of being aware of market conditions as a founder.
[00:19:10] - The Series A crunch and its impact on startups.
[00:21:30] - Insights on raising Series A and the importance of showing results.
[00:23:00] - How venture capitalists provide mentorship to founders.
[00:25:00] - The significance of market sizing in venture capital decisions.
[00:27:20] - Discussion on how the best companies expand their markets.
[00:29:10] - Market timing risks and lessons on timing in startups.
[00:31:15] - Manish’s preference between new and experienced founders.
[00:33:00] - The role of venture capitalists in the success of founders.
[00:35:10] - Importance of board management in startups.
[00:37:30] - Areas where VCs and founders are often not aligned.
[00:42:15] - Discussion on founder-market fit and its importance in investments.
[00:44:30] - Reflections on missed investment opportunities in venture capital.
Manish’s Links
LDN– https://www.linkedin.com/in/manishpatelli/
Website – nava.vc
My Links
Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes
YouTube: youtube.com/lifeselfmastery
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal
5-day email course: www.enterprisesalesexpertise.com
Newsletter:
I am excited to have Mazen Kanaan, the CEO and co-founder of House of Pops. His expertise lies in managing and growing portfolios across diverse markets, such as Turkey, the Middle East, and Africa.
In this episode, Mazen Kanaan, CEO and co-founder of House of Pops shares his entrepreneurial journey from Lebanon to Dubai, talking about how his experience at Unilever inspired the creation of a health-focused ice cream brand. He discusses the challenges of entering a competitive market, the importance of brand differentiation, and building a strong company culture. Mazen also explores the opportunities in the Dubai ecosystem, strategic expansion plans, and much more!
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* The journey from Unilever to building House of Pops
* How can an e-commerce company go about their distribution
* What are some growth tactics that have become stronger over time?
* What is your favourite business book? – Zero to one
* What is your favourite online tool? –Hubspot
* If you could go back to when you started working, what is the one thing you would have focused on? – Launch in Saudi Arabia earlier
Timestamps
02:37 The health and wellness trend in the ice cream industry and the gap in the market.
03:32 Challenges of entering a market dominated by big brands like Unilever and Nestlé.
04:18 Importance of brand building and differentiating from competitors.
05:09 Developing an omnichannel approach and the difficulties for big players to replicate it.
05:54 Why big brands avoid omnichannel and the complexity of such a business model.
06:36 Initial challenges of pricing and convincing customers to choose House of Pops.
09:34 Scaling House of Pops from events to e-commerce and physical locations.
10:09 Strategic decisions on when to enter supermarkets and the benefits of patience.
11:42 Customization options for clients and the flexibility offered by House of Pops.
12:32 Building a strong team and the importance of cultural fit in hiring decisions.
14:19 Addressing performance issues and the process of personal improvement plans.
15:13 Maintaining company culture as the team grows beyond 50 employees.
16:04 Strategic decision-making on when to discontinue new projects or ventures.
17:45 Opportunities in the Saudi market and potential expansions into Europe and the U.S.
18:30 Mazen’s reflection on the importance of starting earlier in certain markets and his overall learnings.
Mazen's Links
LDN– https://www.linkedin.com/in/mazenkn
Website – https://houseofpops.ae/
My Links
Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes
YouTube: youtube.com/lifeselfmastery
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal
5-day email course: www.enterprisesalesexpertise.com
Newsletter:
I am thrilled to have Simon Wijckmans, CEO of c/side, a cybersecurity company with tools for monitoring, optimizing, and securing vulnerable browser-side third-party scripts.
In this episode Simon Wijckmans, CEO of cside.dev shares his journey from homeschooling in Belgium to working at Microsoft and Cloudflare before founding cside.dev. He discusses the challenges of starting a company as a solo founder and the importance of product-market fit. Simon explains cside.dev's unique approach to client-side security and its pricing strategy for SMBs and enterprises. He also touches on hiring the right engineering talent, the role of AI in product development, and competing with larger companies, and much more!
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* How does c/side differentiate itself from existing web security solutions in the market?
* What is the go-to-market strategy for c/side
* How does c/side balance security and performance considerations for websites?
* What is your favourite business book? – On writing well
* What is your favourite online tool? –Discord
* If you could go back to when you started working, what is the one thing you would have focused on? – Did not hire right people
Timestamps
[03:30] - Simon's experience with early tech projects, leading to a career start with Microsoft.
[05:45] - Simon's move to Dublin for a full-time position at Microsoft and reflections on Dublin's tech scene.
[08:30] - Simon's transition to Cloudflare and the identification of a significant security gap in client-side security.
[11:00] - The founding of cside.dev and the specific problem Simon aimed to solve with third-party script security.
[13:20] - Differentiating cside.dev from competitors in the cybersecurity market.
[16:00] - cside.dev’s pricing strategy and target market, including SMBs and enterprise clients.
[18:30] - Overview of the core technologies used by cside.dev and how they address third-party script vulnerabilities.
[21:00] - Discussion on balancing website security with performance considerations.
[24:00] - Challenges and considerations in hiring engineering and product teams for startups.
[27:00] - The role of AI in product development and Simon’s views on AI-generated code.
[30:00] - Challenges in achieving product-market fit and common pitfalls for founders.
[36:30] - The challenges of competing with larger, established companies and the importance of product quality.
[40:00] - Simon’s experience as a solo founder and the reasons for choosing this path.
[43:30] - The impact of being a solo founder on business decisions and investor relations.
Simon's Links
LDN– https://www.linkedin.com/in/wijckmans
Website – https://cside.dev/
My Links
Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes
YouTube: youtube.com/lifeselfmastery
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal
5-day email course: www.enterprisesalesexpertise.com
Newsletter:
I am excited to have Roy Heldshtein, a Managing Partner at Team8, a venture group with a remarkable track record of nearly $2 billion in exits and over $1 billion in assets under management (AUM). Roy holds an MBA with a focus on Strategy and Finance from the University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business
In this episode, Roy Heldshtein, Managing Partner at Team8 discusses his journey from BCG and Checkpoint Software to leading investments at Team8. He explains Team8's unique approach to venture creation, focusing on sectors like cybersecurity, fintech, digital health, and data. Roy highlights the importance of AI, market sizing, and team dynamics in successful ventures. He also shares insights on the value of resilience in founders and Team8's collaborative operations with LPs, and much more!
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* What major trends are Team8 currently seeing in cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, fintech, and digital health
* Does Roy prefer first or second-time entrepreneurs?
* How does Roy rank the following when investing; team, market, traction and technology?
* What is your favourite business book? – Zero to one
* What is your favourite online tool? –Gemini
* If you could go back to when you started working, what is the one thing you would have focused on? – Build structure differently
Timestamps
06:18 - Roy’s involvement in M&A at Checkpoint.
07:05 - Team8’s approach to investing and venture creation.
10:05 - How Team8 assesses startup ideas and founders.
10:55 - Importance of market sizing and timing in investments.
12:20 - The significance of ownership in venture returns.
15:20 - Discussion on the preference for first-time vs. experienced founders.
16:20 - What Team8 looks for in potential team members.
18:45 - Building and maintaining relationships with LPs.
19:40 - Advice for emerging VC managers in the current market.
21:00 - Israel’s unique startup ecosystem and its global impact.
22:30 - Israel's strengths in cybersecurity, fintech, and digital health.
23:10 - Emerging trends in energy and food tech in Israel.
Roy’s Links
LDN– https://www.linkedin.com/in/roy-heldshtein-5370441
Website – https://team8.vc/
My Links
Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes
YouTube: youtube.com/lifeselfmastery
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal
5-day email course: www.enterprisesalesexpertise.com
Newsletter:
I am thrilled to have Julia Sarfrati, Chief of Staff at Shipup. Shipup helps online retailers around the globe to deliver consistent and proactive communication that delights customers at every stage beyond purchase, from delivery to returns.
In this episode, Julia Safrati, Chief of Staff at Shipup discusses her journey from studying international relations to working in startups, her experience at HEC Paris, and her time as a consultant at Frog. She highlights the use of data to enhance post-purchase experiences and AI's impact on e-commerce. Julia also shares advice on the chief of staff role, hiring processes, alignment with the CEO, and much more!
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* How does Shipup leverage data to enhance the post-purchase experience?
* What does the role of Chief of Staff mean to Julia?
* How would you structure the process of hiring a Chief of Staff?
* What is the right relationship between the CEO and the Chief of Staff?
* What is your favourite business book? – Loudest duck
* What is your favourite online tool? –Klaviyo
* If you could go back to when you started working, what is the one thing you would have focused on? – Focus
Timestamps
00:05:00 - Julia’s experience at HEC Paris during COVID
00:09:30 - Julia’s work at Frog and lessons learned from consulting.
00:12:00 - Transitioning from consulting to startups and joining Shipup.
00:16:00 - Use of data in enhancing post-purchase experience at Shipup.
00:18:30 - Trends in e-commerce logistics and Shipup’s preparations.
00:20:45 - Role of AI in e-commerce and Julia’s perspective on job automation.
00:25:30 - Advice to founders on hiring a chief of staff.
00:28:00 - Structuring the process of hiring a chief of staff.
00:30:00 - Importance of the relationship between the CEO and the chief of staff.
00:34:00 - Common growth mistakes founders make.
00:36:00 - Challenges in achieving product-market fit.
Julia’s Links
LDN– https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-sarfati-529904133
Website – https://www.shipup.co/
My Links
Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes
YouTube: youtube.com/lifeselfmastery
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal
5-day email course: www.enterprisesalesexpertise.com
Newsletter:
Today I am excited to have Monik Pamecha who is one of the co-founders of Toma, helping auto dealerships automate phone calls with AI. Toma offers AI agents that can autonomously handle phone calls, provide a natural voice experience, design call flows, integrate with existing software, and perform tasks on and off calls.
In this episode Monik Pamecha, co-founder of Toma, leveraging AI to enhance customer calls for auto dealerships shares his journey from India to the US, his early fascination with technology, and the transformative impact of Y Combinator on his entrepreneurial path. Monik elaborates on Toma’s pivot to focusing on the auto dealership industry, the challenges faced, and the rapid traction gained. Monik also provides insights into the future of AI in customer service, its impact on the BPO industry, and essential advice for early-stage startup founders, and much more!
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* Why did Monik decide on a specific niche in auto dealerships
* What approaches are used to design and manage the AI call flows and agents?
* How does Toma ensure transparency that customers are interacting with an AI agent?
* What is your favourite business book? – Zero to One
* What is your favourite online tool? –Jira
* If you could go back to when you started working, what is the one thing you would have focused on? – Be bolder
Timestamps
6:15 - Comparison between New York and San Francisco tech scenes.
8:45 - Overview of Y Combinator's philosophy and process.
12:15 - Pivoting during YC and the support for such changes.
13:30 - Finding a product-market fit in auto dealerships.
15:00 - Initial traction and customer feedback.
17:45 - Regulations and business dynamics in the automotive industry.
19:00 - Onboarding first customers across various states and brands.
21:30 - Developing natural-sounding voice interactions and product iterations.
23:30 - Metrics for judging call performance and business impact.
24:45 - Potential impact of AI on the BPO industry in India and the Philippines.
27:30 - Addressing AI bias and design solutions for inclusivity.
Monik’s Links
LDN– https://www.linkedin.com/in/monikp/
Website – https://tomato.ai/
My Links
Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes
YouTube: youtube.com/lifeselfmastery
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal
5-day email course: www.enterprisesalesexpertise.com
Newsletter:
I am excited to have Leor Catalan who is the CEO of Corporate Ventures at DavidShield - PassportCard Group. He attended The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
In this episode, Leor Catalan, CEO of David Shield Passport Card Group shares his journey from management consulting to leading innovations in the travel insurance sector. He discusses how David Shield differentiates itself by processing claims in real time and offering unique services, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also explores the future of insurance with AI, the rise of digital nomads, and the impact of remote work. Leor offers advice on pivoting business strategies, the significance of team fit in M&A, and the evolving role of AI in customer service and much more!
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* How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the insurance industry
* How do M&A teams like to get to know startups that they could invest in or acquire?
* How does Leor think AI will change the world of Insurance
* What is your favourite business book? – Zero to One
* What is your favourite online tool? –LinkedIn
* If you could go back to when you started working, what is the one thing you would have focused on? – Be bolder
Timestamps
01:05: Leor’s start in the tech world
02:00: Discussion on the role of management consulting in entrepreneurship.
03:30: Leor explains how David Shield differentiated itself in the insurance industry.
05:00: Impact of COVID-19 on the insurance industry
06:15: Insights on remote work trends and the future of hybrid work models.
09:00: Overview of Corporate Ventures' role within David Shield and their approach to scaling.
11:00: How David Shield processes insurance claims in real-time.
13:20: Adapting to the rise of digital nomads and remote work during the pandemic.
15:30: Challenges and strategies for integrating acquisitions and maintaining team alignment.
16:20: Leor’s views on Israeli startup culture and its success in fostering innovation.
18:00: The importance of team-to-team fit in successful M&A integrations.
19:00: How David Shield scouts for new technologies and startups.
21:30: The evolution of AI and its applications in insurance and fintech.
23:30: The significance of listening to customer feedback in product development.
Leor’s Links
LDN– https://il.linkedin.com/in/leor-catalan-entrepreneur
Website – https://www.passportcard.com/
My Links
Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes
YouTube: youtube.com/lifeselfmastery
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal
5-day email course: www.enterprisesalesexpertise.com
Newsletter:
The podcast currently has 477 episodes available.