Leveraging AI in Sports with Jason Syversen of SportsVisio In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs interviews Jason Syversen, founder and CEO of SportsVisio, a company that uses AI to automate basketball statistics and video highlights. They delve into Jason Syversen's entrepreneurial journey, including his previous success in cybersecurity and his unexpected return to the startup scene. The discussion covers Sports Visio's inception, product development, customer engagement, market strategy, and the challenges of integrating advanced AI in sports analytics. Jason Syversen also shares insights into balancing entrepreneurial endeavors with family life and the importance of using business as a vehicle for societal good. 

00:00 Introduction to Jason Syversen and SportsVisio

 01:19 Jason's Entrepreneurial Journey 

04:56 Deep Dive into SportsVisio 

06:43 Balancing Family and Entrepreneurship 

18:30 The Genesis of SportsVisio 

29:41 Building the Team and Product Development 

31:55 Lessons Learned and Future Plans 

36:14 Mobile Processing vs. Cloud Processing in Sports Tech 

36:38 Challenges of Multi-Object Tracking in Basketball 

38:44 Edge Processing: Current Limitations and Future Potential 

41:42 Human in the Loop: Balancing Cost and Accuracy 

44:42 Expanding to New Sports and Markets 

45:59 Leveraging AI in Sports: Custom vs. LLM Solutions 

54:10 Scaling SportsVisio: Goals and Strategies 

01:09:35 Entrepreneurship for Societal Good 

01:13:07 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The Future of Product Management in the AI Era with Jeremy Crane 

In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs welcomes Jeremy Crane, Head of Product at Ankored, who shares his extensive experience as a product leader at various companies including Jasper, the Wanderlust Group, and HubSpot. They delve into topics such as the evolving role of product management in the era of AI, how AI tools are transforming team dynamics, and the balance between traditional processes and emerging technologies. Jeremy also discusses how product leaders can navigate the accelerating pace of technological advancement and leverage AI to stay competitive. This episode is a deep dive into the future of product development and the essential skills needed to thrive in an AI-first world. 

00:00 Introduction to Jeremy Crane 

00:40 Why Jeremy Crane? 

01:18 Welcome to The Next Next 

02:07 Catching Up with Jeremy 

02:51 Jeremy's AI Journey 

04:35 The Changing Role of Product Management 

09:56 Product Development Processes 

14:58 Balancing Process and Flexibility 

18:19 Customer Feedback and Innovation 

21:01 Future of Product Leadership 

24:32 Unlocking the Value of Secure Data 

26:53 Building Customer Intuition 

29:37 Navigating Rapid Technological Change 

33:38 AI-First Companies: Buzzword or Reality? 

39:49 The Future of Software Engineering 

42:38 Implications of Easier Software Development 

45:17 Advice for Product Leaders Embracing AI 

47:10 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Exploring AI's Frontier with Yohei Nakajima 

In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs is joined by Yohei Nakajima, a venture capitalist, innovator, and artist. Yohei, known for his work with Untapped Capital and the creation of BabyAGI, discusses his latest endeavor, The Agent Fund, focused on AI agents. The conversation delves into Yohei's multifaceted career, from his artistic projects like PixelBeasts to his AI-centric investments and automation efforts. They explore the rapid advancements in AI, the societal impact, and the evolving landscape of venture capital. Yohei shares insights into his investment strategy, the future of AI-native applications, and his unique approach to parenting in a tech-driven world. 
 

00:00 Introduction to Yohei Nakajima 

00:26 Yohei's Multifaceted Career 

01:23 The Next Next: A Learning Journey 

02:07 Starting the Conversation with Yohei 

03:25 Yohei's Investment Philosophy 

04:44 The Role of AI in Yohei's Work 

07:28 The Evolution of AI and Its Impact 

10:52 Challenges and Opportunities in AI 

15:18 The Future of AI and Society 

25:38 The Agent Fund and AI Investments 

29:19 The Future of Company Growth in the Age of AI 

30:14 Challenges and Opportunities for the Next Generation 

33:43 Navigating Career Choices in a World of AI 

36:02 AI's Role in Youth Development and Education 

36:43 Investing in AI: Strategies and Insights 

47:52 Balancing Structure and Flexibility in Daily Life 

49:56 Final Thoughts and Future Outlook

Building SwingVision: An AI-Powered Revolution in Racket Sports 

In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs interviews Swupnil Sahai, co-founder and CEO of SwingVision, an AI-driven app for tennis and racket sport performance tracking. Swupnil shares his journey from working on Tesla's autopilot team to founding SwingVision, blending his passion for tennis with his expertise in AI. The app leverages a single iPhone or iPad to provide amateur players with pro-level analytics, including real-time stats, automatic line calling, and video highlights. They discuss the inception of SwingVision, early challenges, data collection strategies, and the importance of user feedback in refining the technology. Swupnil also talks about the company's go-to-market strategy, funding journey, and future aspirations, including potential expansion into other sports and improving infrastructure at sports facilities. The conversation highlights the merging paths of entrepreneurship and AI in sports tech, providing valuable insights for aspiring founders. 

00:00 Introduction to The Next Next 

00:33 Meet Swupnil Sahai: From Tesla to SwingVision 

01:37 SwingVision: Revolutionizing Tennis Analytics 

04:16 The Reality of Entrepreneurship 

06:49 Swupnil's Journey: From Academia to Tesla 

11:15 Building SwingVision: The Early Days 

14:47 Training AI Models for Tennis 

19:40 Gathering Data and Scaling Up 

22:07 Launching the MVP and Iterating 

23:27 Advice for Aspiring AI Entrepreneurs 

25:15 Customer Feedback and Data Utilization 

26:56 Fundraising Journey and Initial Challenges 

29:01 Go-to-Market Strategy and Organic Growth 

31:23 Adapting to AI Advancements 

36:03 Freemium Model and Product Experiments 

41:23 Future Vision and Expansion Plans 

49:01 Final Thoughts and Encouragement for Entrepreneurs

Navigating Startups, AI, and Family Life with Andrew Lau of Jellyfish 

In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs interviews Andrew Lau, co-founder and CEO of Jellyfish. Jellyfish is a Boston-based software company that provides engineering leaders with data-driven insights to align their team's work with broader business objectives. Andrew discusses the founding and growth of Jellyfish, including their successful Series C round led by Accel in early 2022. The conversation covers the challenges of balancing startup growth with family life, the transitional impact of AI on engineering productivity, and the future of AI in business operations. Andrew shares insights on navigating market changes, the importance of strategic decision-making, and the value of building a supportive team culture. 

00:00 Introduction to The Next Next with Andrew Lau 

00:17 Meet Andrew Lau: Co-Founder and CEO of Jellyfish 

00:35 Jellyfish's Mission and Venture Success 

01:03 Andrew's Perspective on AI and Business 

01:58 Introduction to The Next Next: A Learning Journey 

02:38 Reconnecting with Andrew Lau 

03:38 The Early Days of Runkeeper and Jellyfish 

04:22 Building Jellyfish: Challenges and Successes 

06:58 Balancing Family and Startup Life 

09:05 Navigating Business Phases and Trade-offs 

21:58 The Impact of COVID-19 on Jellyfish 

25:14 Focusing on Engineering Leaders 

26:18 Shifting to Larger Companies 

26:29 Mid-Market Sales Strategy 

29:38 Adapting to AI in Customer Operations 

36:48 Internal Use of AI Tools 

37:01 Future of Teams and AI Integration 

40:13 Disruption and Market Adaptation 

41:06 Reflections on Startup Evolution 

45:23 Jellyfish's Future Vision 

47:33 Closing Remarks and Contact Information

Exploring AI-Driven Ventures with Hadley Harris of Eniac Ventures In this episode of The Next Next, Jason Jacobs hosts Hadley Harris, co-founder and general partner at Eniac Ventures. Since its inception in 2010, Eniac Ventures has made significant investments in AI, data, developer tools, SaaS, and healthcare. The discussion delves into the evolution of Eniac Ventures, from its early days focusing solely on mobile-first companies to becoming a pioneer in AI-first investments. Harris shares insights on the AI landscape, the timing of investments, the impact of AI on various sectors, and societal implications. Additionally, the episode explores the practical aspects of venture capital, including the use of AI in internal operations and the emerging trends in secondary markets. Jacobs also pitches an idea around using AI in the sports coaching and analysis space, seeking Harris's feedback. Tune in for an engaging conversation about navigating and harnessing the potential of AI in venture capital and startups. 

00:00 Introduction to Hadley Harris and Eniac Ventures 

00:55 Hadley's Journey and Eniac's Evolution 

01:16 The Changing Landscape of Venture Capital 

01:38 Deep Dive into AI and Its Implications 

04:12 Hadley's Early Career and AI Involvement 

05:37 The Impact of AI on Various Industries 

09:18 Investment Strategies and Timing 

12:14 Challenges and Opportunities in AI 

15:14 Future of AI and Venture Capital 

24:25 Bootstrapping vs. Hyperscale in the AI Era 

29:37 Transition from Mobile to AI 

30:13 The Evolution of AI in Business 

32:03 AI's Role in Modern Companies 

33:38 Balancing AI and Human Expertise 

38:11 Ethical Considerations in Venture Capital 

42:24 The Future of Liquidity in Venture Capital 

47:04 Exploring AI in Sports and Fitness 

52:33 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Navigating AI and Creativity with Gregg Spiridellis In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs interviews Gregg Spiridellis, co-founder of JibJab and StoryBots. Gregg shares his journey from investment banking to digital entertainment, discussing the evolution of his creative process and the impact of new technologies. He highlights how he and his brother are using AI to revolutionize content creation, including their latest endeavor to build a feature-length animated film based on Parry Grip's music. Gregg also touches on the challenges and strategies in navigating Hollywood's power dynamics and the significance of balancing career ambitions with family life. 

00:00 Introduction to Gregg Spiridellis 

00:05 The Journey from Investment Banking to JibJab 

00:51 StoryBots and Netflix Success 01:10 New Ventures with Parry Grip 

01:46 Exploring AI in Creative Processes 

02:52 Introduction to The Next Next 

04:48 Gregg's Current Projects 

05:11 Building a Family Franchise 

08:00 The Evolution of Creative Formats 

11:58 Challenges and Iterations in Creativity 

13:33 The Impact of Technology on Media 

21:24 Failed Ventures and Lessons Learned 

25:31 Collaborating with Parry Grip 

27:19 Exploring Creative Origins 

27:46 Building a Business Around Animation 

28:44 Involving Gatekeepers and Developing Content 

30:44 The Pixar Playbook and Technological Advances 

34:06 Phases of Production and Financing 

36:30 Embracing AI in Creative Processes 

44:26 Industry Disruption and Future Implications 

45:08 Philosophical Reflections on Legacy and Innovation 

49:30 Final Thoughts and Future Plans 

55:55 Conclusion and Parting Words

Redefining Venture Capital for the Creator Economy with Megan Lightcap of Slow Ventures In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs interviews Megan Lightcap, a partner at Slow Ventures and the manager of their newly launched Creator Fund. The fund is a pioneering venture capital initiative aimed at backing creator entrepreneurs with a $60 million-plus seed fund. Megan talks about her journey into venture capital, Slow Ventures' distinctive approach, and the inception and growth of the Creator Fund. The discussion covers Slow Ventures' philosophy, the evolving landscape of consumer behavior, and the unique challenges and strategies involved in investing in creators versus traditional startups. Megan also shares insights into the sourcing and evaluation process, the importance of community engagement, and the future potential of creator-led brands. The episode delves into the operational and strategic differences between Slow's core seed investments and the Creator Fund, while highlighting the value of authenticity and passion in the creator economy. 00:00 Introduction to Megan Lightcap and Slow Ventures 

00:41 The Rise of Creator Entrepreneurs 

04:25 Overview of Slow Ventures and Its Funds 

06:15 The Creator Fund: Concept and Execution 

19:23 Early Experimentation and Learnings 

27:25 Identifying the Right Creator Fit 

27:59 Evaluating Founders and Teams 

29:13 Charisma and Obsession in Founders 

31:12 Team Dynamics and Screening Processes 

32:49 Equity Stakes and Profit Sharing 

34:34 Long-Term Partnerships and Value Creation 

36:06 Expanding Beyond Creators 

37:25 Networking and Learning Among Creators 

40:25 Sourcing and Evaluating Future Stars 

44:39 Platform Preferences and Audience Engagement 

46:43 The Future of Creator Development 

50:31 Final Thoughts and Parting Words

Leveraging AI for Personalized Medicine with Sunita Mohanty of Vibrant Practice In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs interviews Sunita Mohanty, co-founder and CEO of Vibrant Practice, a healthcare startup focusing on personalized medicine. Sunita shares her journey from being a product leader at Meta to founding Vibrant Practice after facing health challenges that led her to functional medicine. The discussion covers the integration of AI into Vibrant Practice's EHR and practice management platform, addressing issues like doctor burnout and operational inefficiencies. Sunita also discusses the mindset shift required in the healthcare industry, the balance of using AI and human touch in care, and the company's journey from building manually to leveraging AI-driven automation. The conversation touches on the company's SaaS business model, the importance of providing better patient care, and future scaling plans while maintaining a lean, technology-based team. 

00:00 Introduction to Today's Episode 

00:01 Meet Sunita Mohanty: From Meta to Vibrant Practice 

00:45 The Birth of Vibrant Practice 

01:24 The Role of AI in Healthcare 

01:48 Welcome to The Next Next 

03:42 Sunita's Journey to Functional Medicine 

06:47 Challenges and Opportunities in Personalized Medicine 

08:45 Building Vibrant Practice: The Early Days 

12:14 The Shift Towards Functional and Integrative Medicine 

17:26 The Future of Healthcare: Technology and Mindset Shifts 

20:40 Navigating the Healthcare System: Insurance and Cash-Based Models 

24:10 Vibrant Practice: The All-in-One Platform 

28:07 Integrating Point Solutions for Clinicians 

29:32 AI in Clinical Operations 

32:35 Business Model and Market Strategy 

34:44 Balancing AI and Human Touch 

43:06 Scaling the Team with AI 

46:10 Future of AI in Startups and Venture Capital 

51:17 Opportunities in Underserved Markets 

55:09 Closing Thoughts and Call to Action

Democratizing Programming: The Vision of Val Town with Steve Krouse In this episode of 'The Next Next,' host Jason Jacobs interviews Steve Krouse, founder of Val Town, a platform designed to make programming more accessible and collaborative through web-based tools. Steve talks about the challenges of traditional code collaboration, the integration of AI tools into Val Town, and their growth strategy focused on interoperability. He emphasizes the potential long-term impact of Val Town on democratizing programming for both professional developers and newcomers. The conversation also explores the evolution of AI in coding, the importance of accessible programming, and fostering better collaboration within the tech community. Additionally, Steve shares insights into the medium- to long-term vision of Val Town, the importance of creating web-native programmable interfaces, and the company's approach to leveraging AI without directly competing in AI code generation. The episode offers a deep dive into the future of collaborative programming and how Val Town aims to shape it. 

00:00 Introduction to Steve Krouse and Val Town 

01:02 Host Introduction and Show's Purpose 

01:52 Steve's Journey and Initial Interaction with Val Town 

03:35 Steve's Background and Climate Interest 

07:06 Genesis of Val Town 

15:13 Challenges in Code Collaboration 

21:34 Val Town's Vision and Future 

36:46 Google Docs for Production Code 

37:42 Enhancing GitHub Collaboration 

39:38 AI's Role in Val Town 

41:18 Shifting AI Strategy 

44:43 Integration and Openness 

49:09 Growth and User Engagement 

58:17 The Future of Programming and AI 

01:04:57 Community and Collaboration 

01:09:01 Val Town's Vision and Goals 

01:10:08 Conclusion and Contact Information