Mastering Tech Growth

You’ve met AI assistants. Now imagine one that knows you. It understands your ideas, your voice, your judgment, and works beside you. In this episode, I sit down with Suman Kanuganti, CEO and Co-Founder of PersonalAI, to explore how AI agents built from your own knowledge are redefining what it means to work and think.

Suman explains how AI agents capture organisational knowledge, learn continuously, and operate as role-based teammates instead of generic assistants. We talk about why structured data is no longer a bottleneck. How no-code AI tools accelerate adoption. What it really takes to build private, secure AI systems that scale with your business.

We also explore a bigger question. What happens when every professional has a personal AI that mirrors their mind? From collaboration and efficiency to governance and trust, this conversation shows how the next generation of AI agents will reshape work by the end of the decade.

If you rate this episode and leave a short comment, I’d love to thank you personally.

Join the community at masteringtechgrowth.com and I’ll send you an exclusive growth resource I use with founders every week.

For today’s episode, Mike is joined by Mark Adams, founder of Acquisition For You, and author of secrets to 10x ing Your Business and Cashing Out Tax Free. He has helped founders scale businesses from zero to 30 million in 18 months, engineer an exit worth hundreds of millions and build a value growth framework used by clients backed with over 22 billion in capital. 

Listen in to find out how to grow through acquisition, even if you have zero cash, and then exit your newly expanded business without losing what they have built, while paying far less tax. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Most businesses and their founders unnecessarily lose 30-55% of the sale price.
• Plan your business exit from the start so you can minimise tax liabilities and other exit costs.
• Because businesses are typically worth 6-9x revenue, increasing that revenue just before selling makes you a huge amount more.
• Organic growth typically delivers 10-20% annual growth.  The right bolt-on acquisitions are a far faster way to accelerate growth.
• Mark shares strategies that can generate annual growth of 20% to 40%, and sometimes more.
• Multiple small acquisitions can be more valuable than one large acquisition.
• Improve business systems and processes to increase value.
• Using the "consulting for equity" approach that Mark explains can enable you to acquire businesses without upfront cash.
• Build good relationships with sellers during the acquisition process.
• Work with tax specialists to structure your business for minimal tax exposure.
• Consider tax-advantaged jurisdictions.
• Use wealth protection strategies.

BEST MOMENTS

15:27 “We work on ways in which we can double the value of their business inside a year without it costing them any more of their own money.." 

19:26 "To minimise that taxation level, they must start with that. First, you don't go out and advertise the business for sale and then start structuring the business to reduce taxes." 

45.47 "I'm not doing anything that the super-rich like Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos have been doing for a long time with different strategies, but the end game is the same. I've just made it available to people like you and me." 

1.12.27 “Generally, businesses that are where the owner is the face of the business are easier to acquire.”

1.22.29 “An earn out is that the business is worth one, but you've agreed to five. So, the four is the earn out portion that you're going to agree to give them on certain conditions.”

If you enjoyed the show, please do me a favour - Hit that subscribe button and send me your growth challenges at https://masteringtechgrowth.com . I really want to know what you're working on and what keeps you up at night.

ABOUT THE GUEST

https://linktr.ee/TheMarcAdams

ABOUT THE HOST

Meet Mike, a seasoned tech entrepreneur and visionary with over two and a half decades of invaluable experience in founding and scaling successful tech start-ups. Mike brings a wealth of firsthand knowledge, and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and tech professionals.

As a host, Mike is dedicated to sharing actionable insights, strategies, and stories gathered from conversations with industry leaders, innovators, and experts. With a remarkable ability to distil practical wisdom from guests, Mike curates engaging discussions that resonate with both aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals. 

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Marc Adams helps business owners plan their exit the smart way. He is a top business exit planner, M&A expert, and best-selling author. Marc shows founders how to grow their business, sell it, and keep more money. He is backed by £18 billion in family office support. His system helps you find hidden value, grow through acquisition, and avoid big tax bills when you sell.

In this episode, Marc answers:

→ What is a business exit strategy, and why should you plan it from day one?

→ How can business exit planning help you keep more of what you built?

→ What is the smartest way to grow through acquisition as a founder?

→ How can you buy a business with no money down, even with no experience?

→ Why do most business owners lose money in M&A, and how can you avoid it?

→ What does a tax free business sale look like, and who qualifies for it?

→ How does personal legacy shape your exit plan, and why does it matter?

If you’re a founder, business owner, or entrepreneur who wants to grow, sell, or keep more from your exit, this episode is for you.

Where to find Marc Adams:

→ Website: https://acquisitions4you.com/

→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/1marcadams/

Where to find Mike Sirius:

→ Website: https://www.mikesirius.com

→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/msirius/

In this episode, we cover:

00:00 The Journey of a Young Entrepreneur

03:10 Understanding Business Valuation and Exit Strategies

05:59 The Importance of Planning for Business Sale

08:57 Overcoming Personal Challenges and Finding Purpose

12:13 Strategies for Doubling Business Value

15:12 Navigating Tax Implications in Business Sales

18:01 Acquisition Financing and Consulting for Equity

20:53 Building Value Without Cash Investment

33:56 Turning Points: A Teen's Journey from Trouble to Triumph

36:21 Creative Financing: Strategies for Young Entrepreneurs

38:33 The Information Game: Knowledge vs. Implementation

40:50 Tax Strategies: Navigating Business Structures

43:41 Finding the Right Specialists: Building Trust in Business

48:15 Setting Goals: The Importance of Vision in Business

51:39 Accelerating Growth: Strategies for Rapid Business Expansion

01:02:03 Understanding Business Value and Growth Strategies

01:04:25 The Importance of Tailored Business Strategies

01:06:40 Secret Methods for Doubling Business Value

01:07:30 Wealth Protection Post-Sale

01:10:01 The Double and Keep It Blueprint

01:12:13 Rapid Fire Questions on Business Acquisition

01:19:19 Credibility in Zero Down Business Deals

01:22:45 Understanding Earn Outs and Acquisition Strategies

For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email [email protected]

Ali Hafizji is the CEO of Wednesday Solutions and the creator of the Vibe Sprints system — an AI-powered approach to product validation that gives early-stage startups up to 10x more chances to achieve product-market fit. A serial founder and technologist, Ali has built and scaled products handling over 1 billion+ requests per hour, authored technical books, and helped dozens of teams go from MVP to market traction.

At Wednesday, he works with founders post-MVP, helping them avoid wasted sprints, move past vanity metrics, and build lean, validated solutions using Vibe Coding and AI-native teams. If you're working toward product-market fit in 2025, this is the framework you can't afford to ignore.

In our conversation, Ali shares:

→ Why polishing MVPs slows you down — and what to do instead

→ How to structure rapid prototyping that tests real customer behaviour

→ The #1 mistake startups make after launch

→ How customer discovery fits into modern product management

→ Why direction beats speed in the search for PMF

→ What makes Vibe Coding different from agile or lean

→ Why the future of startup teams is small, AI-native pods with massive velocity

Whether you're a startup founder, product leader, or operator navigating the messy middle between MVP and traction, this episode is packed with practical insights for achieving startup success in 2025 and beyond.

Where to find Ali Hafizji:

→ Website: https://www.wednesday.is/

→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alihafizji/

Where to find Mike Sirius:

→ Website: https://www.mikesirius.com

→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/msirius/

In this episode, we cover:

00:00 Introduction to Vibe Sprints

04:49 The Shift from Speed to Direction

09:49 Understanding Insights and Validation

15:13 The Dangers of Polishing MVPs

19:51 The Role of AI in Product Development

24:58 Measuring Success in Vibe Sprints

29:56 The Future of Agile Practices

41:03 The Precipice of Change in Enterprises

44:05 AI Tools: Prototyping vs. Production

47:06 The Role of Experienced Developers in AI

50:30 Bottom-Up Innovation: The Future of AI Adoption

52:42 Essential AI Tools for Development

01:02:23 User Feedback: Observing and Understanding Users

01:06:29 Proving Traction Before Development

01:11:10 Balancing Validation and Runway Risk

🎙️ Was this helpful? Let’s stay connected:

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→ Want to sponsor? Let’s chat: [email protected]

→ More episodes: https://masteringtechgrowth.com

Garrett Mehrguth is the CEO of Directive and co-founder of Abe — a high-performance LinkedIn ads agency helping companies like Uber, Zoom, Gong, and AWS turn clicks into customers. With over $68 million spent on LinkedIn ads, Garrett brings a level of insight few marketers can match. In this episode, he reveals how to build a LinkedIn marketing engine that books meetings — not just impressions.

Garrett has helped B2B brands generate serious revenue by mastering linkedin lead generation, nailing down linkedin ads targeting, and aligning linkedin ads KPIs with what actually matters to pipeline. Whether you're spending $5K or $500K a month, this episode will change how you think about b2b marketing on LinkedIn.

In our conversation, Garrett shares:

→ Why most B2B teams waste their LinkedIn ads budget

→ The truth about linkedin ads metrics (and which ones lie)

→ How to reverse-engineer your linkedin ads audience using real data

→ Why $5K/month is not a “test budget” — it’s a trap

→ How he builds intent-based funnels without fake “intent data”

→ The 15-second video strategy that cuts CPLs by 70%

→ Why "clicks" mean nothing if you're not booking meetings

Whether you're a startup founder, head of growth, or B2B marketing pro, this conversation is packed with no-fluff insights into what actually drives results on LinkedIn in 2025.

Where to find Garrett Mehrguth:

→ https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrettmehrguth/

→ https://garrettmehrguth.com/

→ https://directiveconsulting.com/

→ https://www.abetheagency.com/

→ https://moregoodcapital.com/

Where to find Mike Sirius:

→ https://www.linkedin.com/in/msirius/

→ https://www.mikesirius.com

In this episode, we cover:

00:00 The State of LinkedIn Advertising

02:59 Understanding Marketing Dynamics

05:54 Budgeting for Success in LinkedIn Ads

09:04 Intent-Driven Targeting Strategies

11:58 The Importance of Proper Budgeting

15:12 Data-Driven Audience Targeting

18:13 Leveraging AI for Market Insights

21:14 The Role of Content in Marketing

24:05 Optimizing Video Ads for Engagement

27:14 Innovative Approaches to Lead Generation

30:02 Sales Strategies for Effective Conversion

32:58 Closing Thoughts on Marketing Success

42:51 Authentic Engagement in Sales Calls

45:24 Manufacturing Intent in Marketing

46:45 The Power of Emotional Marketing

50:12 Targeting the Right Decision Makers

56:41 Importance of Tracking Marketing Metrics

01:00:34 Common Mistakes in LinkedIn Advertising

01:10:05 The Future of B2B Marketing Strategies

For sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected]

#LinkedinAds #B2BMarketing #LeadGeneration #LinkedInMarketing #MarketingStrategy

Spriha Tucker is the Field CTO at Buildkite — a developer-first platform powering high-scale CI/CD pipelines. She’s a two-time Y Combinator founder, and previously built dev tools at Google and Microsoft. She also co-founded Aviator, a startup that helped elite teams like Slack and Figma ship faster.At Buildkite, Spriha helps engineering teams navigate scaling challenges, eliminate organisational friction, and build sustainable momentum without burnout. If you're leading a dev team in 2025, this is a must-listen conversation.In our conversation, Spriha shares:→ Why developer productivity isn't about doing more — it's about reducing friction.→ What most tech leaders misunderstand about developer experience→ The hidden costs of pipeline complexity and CI/CD sprawl→ How to measure progress without weaponising metrics→ Why feedback loops beat deadlines every time→ How to align teams with clarity, not chaos→ The future of tooling and workflows in software engineeringWhether you're a CTO, engineering manager, or hands-on developer, this episode offers a tactical, honest look at what it takes to scale high-performing teams in the real world.Where to find Spriha Tucker:→ Website: https://buildkite.com/→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spriha-tucker/Where to find Mike Sirius:→ Website: https://www.mikesirius.com→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/msirius/

For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email [email protected]

Rate us ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and check our community at https://masteringtechgrowth.com/

Today, Mike is joined by Ben Buaron, Founder & CEO of Windmill Growth. They help founders turn their LinkedIn into their number one growth channel. No hacks, no influencer playbooks, just real, sustainable visibility that brings in leads, builds credibility and opens doors. Ben’s been a founder himself and now teaches others how to stop hiding behind logos and leverage LinkedIn to build trust.

Ben and Mike unpack why visibility beats marketing and how to make organic LinkedIn work for you, even if you're just getting started.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

You don´t need more marketing, you need visibility, which even a new startup can get on LinkedIn.

Founder-led marketing is the future.

Position yourself as a thought leader and focus on top-of-funnel content. Provide value and share your unique insights and opinions.

Content strategy and consistency matter more than perfect writing.

Stick to your posting timetable - 2-5 times a week is ideal.

Use AI, but only to refine your content.

Engagement is about quality, not quantity.

Build relationships - avoid aggressive sales tactics.

Trigger emotions through storytelling to drive engagement and long-term connection.

LinkedIn is a long-term game. It takes 6-9 months to build your personal brand and generate leads.

Organic content and personal branding can generate leads and revenue more cost-effectively than traditional advertising methods.

BEST MOMENTS

00.05 "Early-stage founders think that slow growth means that they need more funnels, more content, more ads, and they tend to forget that people don't buy from perfect branding. They buy from people they trust."

5.03 "If I'm not posting on LinkedIn, I'm not exposing myself, I'm not exposing my company."

5.41 "I got inbounds from LinkedIn that generated me 12k in MRR in a single month. Just because I was putting myself out there."

13.15 "I prefer to have 1 billion people say, 'This guy built it,' than have $1 billion because of the power of 1 billion people."

36.17 “If was easy everyone would do it.”

47.51 “ You engage with your ICP’s content and your competitor’s content, and everyone else in your space’s content.”

20.15 "I generated $85,000 in June just from making really good content and combining outreach."

1.00.51 “A really good hook – a short hook that includes the word I or We, works.”

If you enjoyed the show, please do me a favour - Hit that subscribe button and send me your growth challenges at https://masteringtechgrowth.com . I really want to know what you're working on and what keeps you up at night.

ABOUT THE GUEST

https://www.windmillgrowth.com

ABOUT THE HOST

Meet Mike, a seasoned tech entrepreneur and visionary with over two and a half decades of invaluable experience in founding and scaling successful tech start-ups. Mike brings a wealth of firsthand knowledge, and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and tech professionals.

As a host, Mike is dedicated to sharing actionable insights, strategies, and stories gathered from conversations with industry leaders, innovators, and experts. With a remarkable ability to distil practical wisdom from guests, Mike curates engaging discussions that resonate with both aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

For today’s episode, Mike is joined by the father of SEO, Bruce Clay. Since 1996 he's been helping businesses get found online. He has taught 1000s of marketers and written several go-to SEO books. All while creating SEO strategies for brands like Netflix, eBay and Home Depot. Now he's focused on helping teams adapt their content for AI to stay visible as search evolves.

You’ll learn all about AI Optimisation (AIO) - how to ensure your brand, products and services are included in the answers given by all of the major LLMs and about modern SEO.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Ranking 1st in Google doesn´t guarantee you get seen. You need to be in the AI-generated answers too.

AI uses search engine rankings to determine authority. If you don´t rank high, you won´t be in the AI results either.

Good SEO and E-E-A-T (authority and trust) are vital.

Well researched user question centred content that provides a full solution improves E-E-A-T and is good for AI Optimisation (AIO).

Your content must be tailored to answer the specific needs and pain points for each user group (persona).

Technical SEO and content structure matters. Bruce explains how to get them right.

Use clear headers, short paragraphs, and create content that is easily readable by both humans and AI crawlers.

Invest in your digital presence now.

Optimize for multiple search features, including local packs, People Also Ask and AI.

BEST MOMENTS

01:00 "The real game is getting into the AI generated answers and not just in the list of search results?"

14.13 “If you want to be considered for the AIO, you have to rank organically, and you have to provide an answer that is deliberate to the question.”

17.13 “Personalization is going to totally change how AI answers a question, and that poses a serious problem.”

29.16 "AI is a tool, not a solution, and you've got to use it that way."

37.01 “AIs will not select you as an authority to be presented as this potential answer if you're not already really ranking in Google.”

44.39 “You need a site that can be spidered.”

46.06 “Your listeners have to care about where their brand is going to be represented in Google search, in one year, not today,.”

1.11.31 “Identify the pain, identify the persona, identify what they buy, and then emphasise that as almost a cluster or silo within your website.”

1.22.31 “I think that voice search is going to be really big.”

If you enjoyed the show, please do me a favour - Hit that subscribe button and send me your growth challenges at https://masteringtechgrowth.com . I really want to know what you're working on and what keeps you up at night.

ABOUT THE GUEST

https://www.bruceclay.com

https://www.seotraining.com

https://www.prewriter.ai

ABOUT THE HOST

Meet Mike, a seasoned tech entrepreneur and visionary with over two and a half decades of invaluable experience in founding and scaling successful tech start-ups. Mike brings a wealth of firsthand knowledge, and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and tech professionals.

As a host, Mike is dedicated to sharing actionable insights, strategies, and stories gathered from conversations with industry leaders, innovators, and experts. With a remarkable ability to distil practical wisdom from guests, Mike curates engaging discussions that resonate with both aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

For today’s episode, Mike is joined by Natasha Walstra, the founder and CEO of Near Point Strategies. She helps founders turn relationships into revenue using Smart Content, Strategic Outreach and the network they already have. Her clients don't chase followers. They get sales calls, replies, and gain real momentum just by showing up with the right message to the right people. She built this approach after leading brand strategy at Carbon and Forbes Books.

Natasha explains how she and her clients turn LinkedIn conversations and connections into clients, every day.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

LinkedIn DMs have a 10% response rate compared to email outreach at 5%.

Focus on building real relationships on LinkedIn. A high follower count means nothing if none of them buy from you.

People use LinkedIn to get to know you and work out if they can trust you, so be authentic.

Surround yourself with people who you know need your services.

Collaborating with others is a powerful way to network and provide value.

Spray and pray doesn´t work anymore. Don´t DM out of nowhere.

Provide value, don´t just try to sell.

It is far easier than you think to consistently create content that connects and has an impact. Natasha shares several strategies during the episode.

Use AI to help you create e.g. Give it an idea, some context and a template to create content. Edit and post it.

AI can help you to become a good copywriter.

Gain insights into turning your existing professional network into potential business opportunities

Video is powerful. Natasha explains how to use it even if you are shy about doing it.

Just posting content leads nowhere. You have to engage in conversations, make thoughtful comments and have a reason to DM someone.

BEST MOMENTS

1.50 "Most people treat LinkedIn growth as a numbers game: more posts, more views, more followers. But, what if you don't need more strangers in your network."

3.17 “Genuine relationships that lead to real revenue, that's growth. Not a bunch of likes.”

23.26 “Find a genuine reason to actually open a conversation with someone…cold outreach doesn’t work anymore.”

37.03 "Think about your audience, and do they need to hear from you seven days a week?"

49.10 "If you're not feeling inspired that day, then don't post... posting for posting's sake is going to lead to frustration and burnout."

1.04.03 "It's about building relationships. Little things open so many doors."

If you enjoyed the show, please do me a favour - Hit that subscribe button and send me your growth challenges at https://masteringtechgrowth.com . I really want to know what you're working on and what keeps you up at night.

ABOUT THE GUEST

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ndwalstra

https://nearpointstrategies.com

Newsletter : https://nearpoint-strategies.kit.com/subscribe

ABOUT THE HOST

Meet Mike, a seasoned tech entrepreneur and visionary with over two and a half decades of invaluable experience in founding and scaling successful tech start-ups. Mike brings a wealth of firsthand knowledge, and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and tech professionals.

As a host, Mike is dedicated to sharing actionable insights, strategies, and stories gathered from conversations with industry leaders, innovators, and experts. With a remarkable ability to distil practical wisdom from guests, Mike curates engaging discussions that resonate with both aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

For today’s episode, Mike is joined by leadership and innovation consultant, Elizabeth Bieniek. The tech visionary who co-founded WebEx Hologram at Cisco and was named one of the topmost influential female founders by TechCrunch. Elizabeth helps founders and teams stay clear on their why, so they can make better choices and grow with purpose.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Solve real human problems instead of just creating innovative features.

Schedule regular, uninterrupted strategic thinking time.

When deciding where to focus, ask – will this matter to the operation in a week´s time or several months’ time?

Hold monthly team and quarterly offsite strategy meetings to avoid mission drift.

Writing down your goals and thoughts, by hand, provides you with clarity. Use journaling extensively.

Innovation isn't always about creating something entirely new but about solving existing problems in more efficient or creative ways.

Taking action is more important than perfect planning.

Start small, test your ideas, and be willing to course-correct quickly.

Make the workplace fun and more human.

Speak to 35 different people when doing research. That diversity of thought is revealing.

Understand what your employees truly value. Hire and manage based on thinking and potential.

Focus on developing your strengths rather than fixing every weakness. Delegate.

Get out of your own head and just do it.

Always ask why something is done a certain way. In many cases, the reason will no longer be valid.

BEST MOMENTS

2.00 "Tech is always about the why? It's always about people first."

6.00 "Don't start running until you realize what direction you're going and who's carrying the water."

9.57 "Be bored for a while, because that's when your brain kicks in. You come up with a really cool idea."

21.29 “Teams get very demotivated when you don't have milestones, you don't have phases.”

28.32 “I think everyone needs to be very aligned to their contribution and how their contribution impacts the whole because otherwise you're just plugging code.”

37.22 “The technology needs to serve the purpose that you're trying to accomplish.”

40.25 “You can literally gamify anything. You can make anything fun.”

52.57 "Innovation is really just doing something differently."

56.04 "Action trumps everything."

1.05.33 “It´s the moment, taking an intentional pause every day.”

1.07.43 "I'm not hiring you to punch a timecard and fill a certain number of hours. I'm hiring you because of the way you think."

If you enjoyed the show, please do me a favour - Hit that subscribe button and send me your growth challenges at https://masteringtechgrowth.com. I really want to know what you're working on and what keeps you up at night.

ABOUT THE GUEST

https://cakeontuesday.com

ABOUT THE HOST

Meet Mike, a seasoned tech entrepreneur and visionary with over two and a half decades of invaluable experience in founding and scaling successful tech start-ups. Mike brings a wealth of firsthand knowledge, and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and tech professionals.

As a host, Mike is dedicated to sharing actionable insights, strategies, and stories gathered from conversations with industry leaders, innovators, and experts. With a remarkable ability to distil practical wisdom from guests, Mike curates engaging discussions that resonate with both aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/