The VentureFuel Visionaries

City of Atlanta CIO Jason Sankey shares how Atlanta uses pilots, controlled environments and public-private partnerships to test emerging technologies before scaling them across the city. He explains why some promising AI ideas fail the citizen test, how the city is evolving its AI governance from thought leadership to action, and why proof matters more than promises when evaluating technology partners.

From predictive water infrastructure and free public Wi-Fi to generative AI and air taxis, the conversation offers a practical look at building a future-ready city without chasing every shiny object—an approach enterprise innovation leaders can apply well beyond government.

What are VCs looking for? Is your startup fundable? What do you need to improve to get financing? On this week's re-release show, we have Amy Wood, the Program Manager for the "Most Fundable Companies" initiative at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, a groundbreaking program that empowers early-stage startups by providing critical insights into their readiness for private investment. Launched in 2018, the MFC program democratizes access to funding, helping promising companies refine their financial projections, market opportunities, and team strengths.

This week’s VentureFuel Visionary is Fatih Nayebi, Vice President of Data & AI at ALDO Group. He leads AI initiatives that transform retail operations and customer experiences. He’s also a Faculty Lecturer at McGill University and the author of Foundations of Agentic AI for Retail, the first book on autonomous AI systems in retail.

He demystifies agentic AI, federated learning, and the promise of A2A (agents to agents), while noting that these advances will still need humans in the loop.

What separates tomorrow’s breakout consumer brands from everything else? Taste, judgment and the conviction to act. Morrison Seger Founder & CEO Rogers Healy shares his unconventional approach to consumer investing. From backing Mizzen+Main before venture became his focus to building a portfolio across food, beverage and apparel. He explains why an investable founder can be harder to find than a great idea, why gut instinct still matters in an increasingly data-driven world, and how his deal-by-deal model lets conviction drive investment decisions. For corporate innovation leaders, it’s a provocative reminder that finding breakout growth requires looking beyond everything that could go wrong and recognizing why something might actually work.

Adèle Yaroulina, global co-innovation expert and author of the new book “Collaborate to Innovate: How Startups and Established Organizations Create Breakthrough Success Together,” joins Fred Schonenberg, Founder of VentureFuel, to unpack what it really takes for large organizations to turn startup partnerships into scalable growth engines. They challenge the myth that startup collaboration “isn’t worth the squeeze,” arguing instead that the real risk is chasing trends, FOMO-driven pilots, and innovation theater that never moves the business forward. Why successful innovation starts with a real problem worth solving, a clear business case, and disciplined design for scale from day one. The conversation explores the evolution of startup partnerships—from supplier to co-creator, trusted advisor, and eventually joint venture or acquisition—and why trust, ownership, and measurable outcomes are essential along the way. They tackle the realities of internal resistance, not-invented-here syndrome, and legacy thinking that can stall progress. If you’re serious about turning uncertainty into opportunity, thinking ahead so you don’t fall behind, and building partnerships that deliver real ROC, “Return on Collaboration”, this episode is a must-listen.

What does it take to modernize one of the world's largest and most complex fleets while balancing public safety, operational reliability, and ambitious sustainability goals? Keith Kerman shares how New York City is transforming nearly 30,000 municipal vehicles through electrification, renewable fuels, intelligent safety technology, AI-enabled fleet management, and cross-sector partnerships. He explains why innovation in government is less about moving fast than building trust across hundreds of stakeholders, how public-private collaboration accelerates adoption, and why fleet operations deserve a seat at every strategic leadership table. Whether you lead innovation, operations, sustainability, or transformation, this episode offers practical lessons on scaling change across highly complex organizations.

Nearly every enterprise is experimenting with AI, yet few are turning pilots into measurable business outcomes. Why do so many organizations get stuck in "AI pilot purgatory"? Pritam Bhattarai, Vice President of Innovation & Partnerships at VentureFuel, shares a practical framework for moving AI from experimentation to commercialization. He explains why choosing the right business problem matters more than the technology itself, how to design pilots that drive adoption and impact, and why trust, governance, and organizational alignment are essential for scaling AI. Pritam also explores when to build versus partner with startups, the future of venture clienting, and how organizations can preserve the human element as AI becomes embedded across the enterprise. Whether you lead innovation, digital transformation, or AI strategy, this episode offers practical insights for building AI initiatives that create lasting business value.

What gives a global enterprise the radar to see what's coming next? Mike Smeed explains why corporate venture capital is far more than an investment vehicle—it's the translation layer between the gears of startups and large enterprises, helping organizations identify disruptive technologies, navigate internal complexity, and accelerate transformation. Drawing on his experience leading Jaguar Land Rover's InMotion Ventures, Mike explores why startups and corporations often struggle to connect, how CVC creates value beyond capital, and why reputation, governance, and timing matter as much as technology. If you're building innovation capabilities, investing in emerging technologies, or designing partnerships with startups, this episode offers practical lessons for enterprise leaders.

What if the smartest way for corporations to innovate isn't investing in startups, but becoming their customers? Wharton Professor Sergey Netessine argues that corporations create more strategic value by purchasing from startups than by investing in them. He explains why venture clienting is emerging as a more effective alternative to traditional corporate venture capital, how AI is making speed a competitive advantage, and why so many startup pilots fail to scale. Sergey also shares practical lessons on aligning procurement, business units, and executive leadership to turn startup partnerships into measurable business outcomes. This conversation is packed with actionable insights for corporate innovation, strategy, and transformation leaders looking to accelerate growth through startup collaboration.

How do you create the runway for innovation inside one of the world's largest airlines? Jorie Sax, Head of Airshop Innovation Lab at United Airlines, shares how her team explores emerging technologies years before they're ready for scale while balancing safety, trust, and operational excellence. From why the best innovations are often invisible to how AI can create more human experiences, and why startups win through relentless focus, Jorie offers a masterclass in moving bold ideas beyond the pilot phase and into enterprise impact. Whether you're leading innovation, transformation, or venture partnerships, this episode is full of practical lessons for scaling what matters.