In this episode, we sit down with Alon Bochman, a seasoned AI leader and founder of RagMetrics, whose career spans leadership roles at Google, Microsoft, FactSet, and a successful startup exit to Thomson Reuters. Alon breaks down the urgent gaps in AI testing today, why bilateral evaluation between humans and AI is the future, and shares a chilling real-world example of autonomous agents evolving faster than expected.

We dive into why true AGI might be forever elusive (because we keep redefining it), the moral and economic need for universal basic income, and why today's "chatbot phase" is just the first flicker of a much larger AI revolution—akin to the dawn of electricity.

A must-listen for anyone thinking seriously about building with AI, investing in AI, or simply understanding where this tech tidal wave is headed.

• 00:00 – Introduction to Alon Bochman: Ex-Google, Ex-Microsoft, now Founder of RagMetrics
• 00:50 – Journey from fintech to leading AI teams at major tech giants
• 01:50 – The problem no one talks about: Why AI apps often skip real testing
• 03:50 – The three bad choices in AI evaluation today
• 06:12 – How bilateral feedback loops improve AI testing and model reliability
• 08:18 – Human bias in feedback: Lessons learned from FactSet tech support automation
• 13:43 – The importance of read/write knowledge bases to adapt with change
• 15:43 – RagMetrics’ mission: Making AI evaluation scalable and less painful
• 16:08 – Redefining AGI: Why we move the goalposts every time computers get better
• 21:10 – AI’s impact on jobs: Why universal income may become a necessity
• 25:29 – The electricity analogy: How AI will transform industries like a silent revolution
• 27:54 – The scariest AI demo Alon ever saw: Agents that build their own tools
• 32:36 – Using AI personally: Learning, demo generation, and accelerating workflows
• 34:49 – Final advice to entrepreneurs: Just start, but test before you ship

• “If you're not testing your AI today, you're building a bridge without running trucks over it.”
• “AI will never reach AGI—because AGI keeps getting redefined.”
• “Progress is unstoppable. The only question is whether you're the Roomba—or the person programming it.”
• “Testing is the bridge from hobby projects to real-world value.”
• “The scariest thing I saw? An agent learning to create its own tools in 25 lines of code.”

• Alon Bochman on LinkedIn
• RagMetrics Website
• Taran Agarwal on LinkedIn
• Simplify Tech Website

00:01:18 - 00:01:53 | Introduction of Baldev Krishan, Silicon Valley veteran with 30+ years experience, founder and CEO of AI What

00:01:53 - 00:02:18 | Welcome and introduction exchange

00:02:18 - 00:03:07 | Baldev's early career background and education in electrical engineering

00:03:07 - 00:04:07 | Development of first 1200 bits per second modem and founding his first company

00:04:07 - 00:04:59 | Silicon Valley experience and subsequent startup ventures

00:04:59 - 00:06:14 | Entry into biometrics with fingerprint technology in 2003 and conception of mobile identity platform in 2018

00:06:14 - 00:07:45 | Evolution of authentication needs and founding of AI What with capability to capture multiple user data attributes

00:07:45 - 00:09:23 | AI What's solution offering 3-30 factor authentication with one-click verification

00:09:23 - 00:10:40 | Unique identity verification capabilities, patent portfolio, and go-to-market strategy

00:10:40 - 00:11:32 | Host commentary and question about AI's evolving role in identity verification

00:11:32 - 00:13:51 | Discussion of endpoint identity verification and how AI enhances security through dynamic factor selection

00:13:51 - 00:15:13 | How AI What's solution handles sophisticated threats and simplifies access management

00:15:13 - 00:15:55 | Question about continuous behavior monitoring after authentication

00:15:55 - 00:17:31 | Explanation of behavioral authentication and continuous verification capabilities

00:17:31 - 00:18:12 | Question about Baldev's personal use of AI tools

00:18:12 - 00:19:10 | Baldev describes using ChatGPT for research and information gathering

00:19:10 - 00:19:45 | Question about advice for entrepreneurs in the AI space

00:19:45 - 00:22:50 | Entrepreneurial advice on passion, persistence, customer feedback, and funding considerations

00:22:50 - 00:23:17 | Importance of teamwork in building successful companies

00:23:17 - 00:24:31 | Closing remarks and thank you

In this episode, we go global with Michael Beda, CEO of Eden Global Capital, as he shares his fascinating journey—from helping shape China’s financial infrastructure to using AI to transform investment workflows in Southeast Asia.

We explore how AI is revolutionizing private equity, risk analysis, and document automation—especially in emerging markets. Michael candidly shares how he went from banning ChatGPT at his firm to watching one analyst deliver the best report of their life—with AI’s help.

From scaling a fintech unicorn to warning entrepreneurs about misusing AI models in messy data environments, this episode is rich with global insight, practical takeaways, and advice for anyone looking to blend finance, innovation, and tech.

• 00:00 – Intro to Michael Beda: From Wall Street dreams to global finance
• 01:46 – Navigating the 2008 crisis and pivoting to China’s financial boom
• 03:28 – Helping launch HuaXia Finance and China’s social credit infrastructure
• 04:24 – The birth of Edoru: Tokenizing private equity to unlock liquidity
• 06:04 – Building Eden Global: Connecting Asian industries with Western capital
• 07:41 – Risk management with AI: Why models fail without clean data
• 11:31 – What private equity taught him about scaling and adaptation
• 15:11 – From 1,200 analysts to 50: How AI could’ve transformed underwriting
• 18:11 – A real-life AI pivot: How one analyst proved AI’s edge at Eden
• 22:48 – Job evolution vs. elimination: Why AI made his team happier
• 25:26 – Practical advice: Learn the tools now or get left behind
• 27:08 – Most impacted industries: Finance, analysis, and creative operations
• 29:15 – AI vs. robotics: What’s real, what’s hype, and what’s still far off
• 31:28 – Personal use of AI: As an executive assistant and scheduling co-pilot
• 33:19 – Advice to entrepreneurs: Start broad, solve one clear problem
• 37:39 – Final take: If nobody would buy it, it’s not worth building

• “AI didn’t replace our analysts. It made them faster, happier, and more creative.”
• “Progress is unstoppable. The only question is whether you’re the Roomba or the person programming it.”
• “Garbage in, garbage out. Models are only as good as the data you feed them.”
• “If you’re starting something new, ask: would someone actually buy this?”

• Michael Beda on LinkedIn
• Eden Global Capital Website
• Taran Agarwal on LinkedIn
• Simplify Tech Website

In this episode, we dive into a masterclass on the future of strategy, storytelling, and AI with Mike Wittenstein, founder of Storyminers and a pioneer in customer experience design. With decades of experience at companies like IBM, McDonald’s, and iPay, Mike shares how story-driven strategy can align teams, unlock creativity, and humanize AI in the process.

Mike challenges the buzz around "disruption" and argues that the real power of AI lies in human intent, ethical prompting, and shared understanding. From replacing deliverables with immersive stories to integrating AI as a co-creator—not a dictator—this episode will expand how you think about the intersection of business, tech, and humanity

Chapters

• 00:00 – Introduction to Mike Wittenstein and Storyminers
• 01:07 – Early entrepreneurship and the value of cultural experiences
• 03:40 – Career evolution: IBM, digital agencies, and founding Storyminers
• 05:12 – Why visionary leaders need better tools—not just KPIs
• 06:30 – Don’t let AI reshape business—humans must lead the way
• 08:48 – Replacing deliverables with insight, creativity, and co-creation
• 10:33 – Story as strategy: Using “knowledge blocks” to guide organizations
• 12:45 – How immersive storytelling aligns teams and creates buy-in
• 16:16 – Creative + analytical = future-ready decision-making
• 19:03 – Prompting AI with empathy and values changes everything
• 21:15 – From zero-sum to abundance: Reimagining economics with AI
• 24:03 – Stop chasing disruption—start mastering integration
• 27:55 – Mechanical vs. intellectual advantage: Why AI is more than the next internet
• 30:00 – Mike’s personal AI use cases—from therapy to woodworking inspiration
• 32:11 – Embracing discomfort: Why leaders should explore AI in private first

• “AI isn’t artificial. And it’s not intelligent. It’s a reflection of us.”
• “You don’t need another spreadsheet. You need a better story.”
• “Don’t chase disruption. Master integration.”
• “Story is the strategy. When everyone sees themselves in the story, they move.”

In this episode, we sit down with Robert Rubinstein, founder of the TBLI Group, one of the original pioneers in ESG and impact investing. With over 40 international summits and nearly three decades of mobilizing capital for good, Robert shares why he believes most of today’s sustainable finance movement is still just performance art—and what needs to change.

We cover how technology like AI is enabling real matchmaking between founders and funders, why Trust VC is bringing radical transparency to private equity, and how ESG needs less marketing and more accountability. Plus, Robert drops some brutally honest advice for founders about desperation, due diligence, and knowing when to walk away.

If you care about reshaping finance, raising capital the right way, or building a regenerative business—this one’s for you.

• 00:00 – Intro to Robert Rubinstein: Founder of TBLI Group and ESG pioneer
• 01:01 – From oil rigs to founding Europe's first sustainability management magazine
• 02:49 – Why Robert targeted 100 asset owners to reshape global finance
• 04:41 – The “predictable alpha males” of finance and why ESG is just education
• 06:13 – Behavioral economics: money flow matters more than morality
• 08:07 – Why fund managers resisted ESG: bonuses, benchmarks, and burnout
• 11:47 – Europe vs. US: Why ESG progress depends on geography
• 13:40 – Why Robert focuses on illiquid assets over public markets
• 15:10 – Exposing greenwashing: The Better World Prize and why top firms opt out
• 20:18 – Sustainability isn’t a sacrifice—it’s resilience and cost reduction
• 23:51 – Automating investor-founder matchmaking with AI at TBLI
• 27:12 – Finding cultural fit: why personality matters more than pitch decks
• 29:19 – Launching Trust VC: A Glassdoor for venture capital
• 35:05 – Founders, stop being desperate: You have what they need
• 41:18 – Robert’s biggest leadership lesson: filter out the extractive people
• 46:25 – His future hope: make impact investing accessible to retail investors

• “Don’t shout Mandarin at someone who speaks Italian. ESG is a translation problem.”
• “Sustainability isn’t sacrifice. It’s resilience—and it’s cheaper.”
• “Most VCs never ran a business. Don’t assume they know more than you.”
• “Founders: if the partner’s not right, walk away. There’s more money than there are great ideas.”
• “Greenwashing is easy. Accountability isn’t. That’s why we built the Better World Prize.”

• Robert Rubinstein on LinkedIn
• TBLI Group Website
• Taran Agarwal on LinkedIn
• Simplify Tech Website

In this episode, we’re joined by Deepak Bhootra, a seasoned sales strategist, ICF & Sandler-certified coach, bestselling author, and the founder of Jabulani Consulting. With over 30 years of experience leading sales operations at HP, Sun Microsystems, and Capgemini, Deepak now helps entrepreneurs and sales teams scale smarter using AI-powered strategies.

We unpack what it takes to build sales careers that last, how AI enhances rather than replaces human connection, and why it’s no longer enough to just “hustle harder.” From managing burnout to leveraging conversational AI for real-time coaching, this episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the evolving world of sales.

• 00:00 – Introduction to Deepak Bhootra and his global sales leadership journey
• 01:21 – Leaving the corporate world to launch Jabulani Consulting after COVID’s wake-up call
• 03:03 – Redefining success in sales: purpose, longevity, and fighting burnout
• 07:59 – Why 70% of salespeople are stressed and how to build a sustainable career
• 13:05 – Augmented, not artificial: AI’s role in freeing reps from low-value work
• 15:14 – The power of AI in surfacing insights from thousands of customer interactions
• 17:39 – Real-time coaching, hyper-personalization, and objection handling with AI
• 21:48 – What separates top sales performers in the age of AI
• 24:30 – Deepak’s go-to slogans about AI and sales (“AI doesn’t replace reps, it replaces inefficiency”)
• 30:59 – Guardrails, hallucinations & the danger of lazy AI prompting in sales workflows
• 40:49 – Final advice for entrepreneurs: solve inefficiencies first, then layer in AI tools

• “AI doesn’t replace salespeople. It replaces inefficiency.”
• “You won’t lose your job to AI—you’ll lose it by not using AI.”
• “Sales longevity is about building habits that help you thrive, not just survive.”
• “Stop thinking of AI as artificial intelligence. It’s augmented intelligence.”

• Deepak Bhootra on LinkedIn
• Jabulani Consulting Website
• Taran Agarwal on LinkedIn
• Simplify Tech Website

In this episode, we sit down with Meifan Shi, Co-Managing Partner at Waterpoint Lane and a seasoned investor and board leader with experience at Amazon Web Services, T-Mobile, and BlackBerry. Meifan shares her remarkable journey from tech engineering to building AWS’s private equity platform and ultimately launching her venture fund focused on agri-food tech and sustainability.

We discuss the practical ways AI is revolutionizing farming—from predictive analytics in weather-related risk management to genomics and livestock health monitoring. Meifan also tackles tough topics like AI’s potential to widen economic gaps, misinformation risks, and the vital importance of diversity in AI development.

Whether you're interested in venture investing, sustainable tech, or AI’s role in shaping future economies, this episode offers practical insights and thoughtful discussion.

• 00:00 – Intro to Meifan Shi: From engineer at BlackBerry to co-founder at Waterpoint Lane
• 01:51 – Transitioning from Silicon Valley tech to NYC venture capital and private equity at AWS
• 03:14 – Launching Waterpoint Lane: Investing in late seed-stage agri-food tech startups
• 04:38 – How AI is transforming agriculture, data analytics, and farm management
• 09:14 – Practical AI use case: Predicting crop yields and managing weather-related risks
• 11:23 – AI innovations in livestock farming and disease detection
• 13:04 – Ethical concerns: AI’s impact on small farms, misinformation, privacy, and bias
• 17:10 – AI in private equity: Streamlining due diligence, identifying trends, and assessing risks
• 21:37 – Will AI displace jobs or enhance human roles? Industries at risk and new opportunities
• 26:53 – Lessons from the dot-com bubble: Is AI facing a similar hype cycle?
• 30:33 – Personal use of AI: Learning French, health monitoring, and productivity
• 33:20 – AI in education: Enhancing or weakening critical thinking and problem-solving skills?
• 37:10 – Advice for entrepreneurs: How to effectively integrate AI into business strategies
• 41:27 – The importance of diversity in AI and business for innovation and decision-making

• “AI is not just robots in movies—it's data analytics transforming everyday decisions.” – Meifan Shi
• “The real power of AI in investing is improving accuracy, speed, and risk management in due diligence.”
• “If you're chasing trends without clear purpose, you'll never succeed with AI.” – Meifan Shi

• Meifan Shi on LinkedIn
• Waterpoint Lane Website
• Taran Agarwal on LinkedIn
• Simplify Tech Website

In this episode, we sit down with David Royle, CEO of Tanhill AI, a consultancy helping mid-sized financial institutions navigate AI transformation. With over 30 years of experience in digital transformation, David shares how AI is bridging the gap between global banks and regional players, and why starting small with AI is better than trying to “boil the ocean.”

We cover real-world examples—like using NLP to flag vulnerable customers in banking apps, the evolving role of data quality, and AI’s impact on the future of work. David also shares practical strategies for responsible adoption and how he personally uses AI to boost daily productivity.

Whether you’re in finance, tech, or just exploring AI’s potential—this episode offers a grounded yet forward-looking take on AI's real business impact.

• 00:00 – Intro to David Royle: From accountant to AI transformation leader
• 01:34 – Why he founded Tanhill AI to serve mid-market financial institutions
• 03:21 – Use case: Using AI and NLP to identify vulnerable customers in a digital bank
• 06:32 – Balancing automation with human oversight in regulated sectors
• 07:49 – Industries most impacted by AI—and why every sector is feeling the shift
• 10:29 – Why poor data shouldn’t stop AI adoption: Building a business case first
• 12:21 – AI and the workforce: Job displacement, upskilling, and honest conversations
• 17:43 – Parallels between AI, the dot-com boom, and ERP/CRM revolutions
• 20:31 – David’s personal use of AI tools: From productivity hacks to fridge photo recipes
• 23:06 – Final advice: Start small with high-impact, low-complexity AI experiments

• “Don’t wait for perfect data—use AI to prove the value and justify improving it.” – David Royle
• “Let business—not tech—lead your AI strategy. Otherwise, it’s just an expensive experiment.” – David Royle
• “AI adoption is exciting, but we must be honest—it will displace jobs, and we need to prepare for that.” – David Royle

• David Royle on LinkedIn
• Tanhill AI Website
• Taran Agarwal on LinkedIn
• Simplify Tech Website

In this episode, we sit down with Mark Anderson, founder of MBH Capital Management, to hear his journey from construction sites to leading a boutique hedge fund focused on 0 Days to Expiration (0DTE) options trading. Mark opens up about the mindset shifts that helped him go from broke to managing millions—and why behavioral edge matters more than technology in high-stakes environments.

We dig into AI hype vs. reality, how he uses simple automations and APIs, and why most people misunderstand what it really takes to outperform the market. He also shares his unique take on personal investing, and why he's a strong advocate of investing in yourself before your 401k.

It’s a candid, energetic, and no-fluff conversation that mixes tactical insights with deep personal reflection.

• 00:00 – Intro: From construction management to managing a hedge fund
• 01:56 – How Tony Robbins and self-development led Mark to trading
• 04:57 – Embracing risk, breaking family money patterns, and going all in
• 07:14 – Learning from mentors and discovering systematic trading
• 09:05 – What 0DTE trading is and how Mark built his edge
• 12:09 – Views on AI: Overhyped vs. practical real-world use cases
• 17:19 – Automating options trading through APIs and execution strategies
• 19:48 – Behavioral edge: The human factor in trading and business
• 26:35 – Why MBH Capital is built to be uncorrelated and countercyclical
• 33:47 – Mark’s advice on investing young: go all in on yourself first
• 41:22 – Giving back: Why Mark donates 10% and supports anti-trafficking efforts
• 43:13 – Why he doesn’t believe hedge fund life needs to be stressful
• 46:41 – Final advice for traders: focus on adding value and executing with clarity

• "Don’t be cute. Just execute." – Mark Anderson
• "You can create edge in a zero-sum game—just through compounding." – Mark Anderson
• "I don’t consider myself a trader. I’m an entrepreneur who trades." – Mark Anderson
• "You can do anything in nine months—just like being born." – Mark Anderson

• Mark Anderson on LinkedIn and Youtube
• MBH Capital Management Website
• Taran Agarwal on LinkedIn
• Simplify Tech Website

In this episode, Khai Nguyen, a seasoned acquisitions expert and entrepreneur, shares his journey from Wall Street to building AI-powered businesses. With over 20 acquisitions across industries, Khai dives into how AI is transforming deal-making, sales automation, and consumer product development.

We explore topics like AI’s role in scaling businesses, the future of automation in acquisitions, and why AI is no longer optional for business success. Khai also reveals how AI accelerates market research, streamlines sales teams, and even plays a role in unexpected areas like logo design and comedy writing.

If you’re curious about how AI can enhance business efficiency, acquisitions, and startup scaling, this episode is packed with actionable insights!

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction to Khai Nguyen and his journey from Wall Street to AI-driven business acquisitions

01:51 – Early entrepreneurial ventures and the decision to leave corporate finance

03:55 – Using data to validate a product before launching—key lessons from Evy Tea

07:48 – How AI is changing market research, product validation, and business strategy

10:30 – The impact of AI on scaling businesses, workforce efficiency, and sales automation

14:04 – AI’s role in acquisitions: Automating deal analysis and investment decisions

18:37 – Building I Am Gloria—AI-powered automation for sales and debt collection

21:09 – AI’s unexpected use cases in branding, comedy, and creative industries

25:12 – Essential AI adoption tips for entrepreneurs and business owners

27:48 – Closing thoughts on AI’s future in business and entrepreneurship