Billion Dollar Moves™ with Sarah Chen-Spellings | Global Venture Capital
115 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 days ago - ★★★★★ - 1 ratingLead, build, and invest better.
Join award-winning entrepreneur and investor Sarah Chen-Spellings as she travels across the globe in search of what she calls the 'unexpected leader'.
Every week, we deconstruct the Billion Dollar Moves of unicorn founders & funders; many of them underestimated long before they became iconic.
Many of them, unexpected leaders, just like you.
This show is about unfiltered conversations about success, failure, fear, and courage in the pursuit of the next big thing in tech and venture.
Billion Dollar Moves is proud to be part of the Hubspot Podcast Network with 10 million downloads a month as a group.
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Episodes
CEO Series: Whitney Wolfe Herd, Co-Founder of Bumble
April 25, 2024 04:00 - 16 minutesYou may have heard the news: as of January 2nd, 2024, Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd has stepped down as chief executive after nearly a decade leading the dating app company. Despite challenges ahead - a more conservative revenue forecast highlighting the need for a dating-app revamp - let’s not overlook the journey that brought Whitney and Bumble to this point. Not to down play that Whitney Wolfe Herd is a recognizable name, at 31 years old becoming the youngest female CEO who had taken a...
LP Panel: Deployment in Private Equity w/ Tomi Viia, OP Financial Group & Marko Hara, Decile Capital
April 18, 2024 04:00 - 26 minutesRevisiting a clip from the LP Summit co-hosted by Beyond the Billion and Arctic15 in Helsinki in 2023, we have curated this brief but insightful episode for GPs, LPs, or even founders. This week’s guests are two European LP veterans - Marko Hara, formerly the director of Elo, one of Finland's largest employee pensions, and Tomi Viia, currently the head of investments at OP Financial Group, managing assets totaling €14.2 billion. Our conversation delved into the trends and opportunities in pri...
Bite: Delivering Alpha with Kindness, The Red Helicopter Way w/ James Rhee
April 11, 2024 04:00 - 19 minutes"Goodwill should mean a whole lot more than accounting concept, is earned and cannot be bought; but if done correctly, can be worth a whole lot." As we step into Q2, there's no better time to pause, reflect, and realign our goals for the year ahead. This week, we revisit an episode that continues to inspire, which talks about creating real value with kindness and math, as advocated by James Rhee and his new book red helicopter. In this conversation, we talked about money, reality, true alpha ...
Faith, Finance, Technology w/ Fara Abdullah, Bitsmedia
April 04, 2024 04:00 - 45 minutesMuslims are projected to constitute more than 25% of the world's total population this year. To many in the industry, this isn't just a statistic; it represents a vast array of opportunities for the markets. This week, we had the pleasure of speaking with Fara Abdullah, CEO of Bitsmedia, the brains behind the immensely popular Muslim lifestyle app, Muslim Pro. With a fresh injection of $20 million from its recent Series A funding round, featuring participation from Gobi Partners, alongside c...
LP View: Breaking Bias to Drive Returns w/ Joanna Kuang, Illumen Capital
March 28, 2024 04:00 - 39 minutes“We believe an inclusive and optimal asset management industry will be the cornerstone of an equal and equitable future.” - Illumen Capital While organizations explore ways to embody diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), authenticity and clear, measurable outcomes are essential for effectiveness. This week, we're joined by Joanna Kuang, Senior Vice President of Product Development and Impact at Illumen Capital. We delve into the significance of impact investing and strategies to ensure tan...
Building Billion Dollar Business with Strategic Marketing w/ Ross Simmonds, Foundation Marketing
March 21, 2024 04:00 - 31 minutesBerkshire Hathaway and the famed investor Warren Buffett himself are often the topic of discussion when it comes to achieving success in the world of venture. Nevertheless, despite the almost unassuming marketing strategies compared to today’s eye-catching everything, Berkshire Hathaway illustrated incomparable strategic marketing that yielded loyalty and reputation. This inspired today's Billion Dollar Bite, where we delve into the topic of strategic marketing and how us in the venture worl...
Unveiling Unicorn Pathways: How to Become a Unicorn w/ Leah Barto, Endeavor Global
March 14, 2024 04:00 - 19 minutesIn venture capital, pattern recognition is a valuable skill. Investors often analyze various pieces of a puzzle, employing pattern recognition to assess whether a company might be on the path to success. This week’s Billion Dollar Bite features Leah Barto, Senior Director of Research at Endeavor Global, who leads a team to redefine pattern recognition through the lens of data journalism. Endeavor has dedicated its mission to uncover unicorns worldwide, employing a data-driven approach and pr...
Unlocking Venture Capital through Private Wealth w/ Samir Kaji, Allocate
March 07, 2024 05:00 - 50 minutesThis week's guest is Samir Kaji, a prolific writer and host of Venture Unlocked, a podcast and blog that dives into the inner workings of venture capital, and the CEO and co-founder of Allocate. With over 20 years of experience in VC and private equity ecosystem, Samir's work has guided many investors, entrepreneurs, and fund managers on how to navigate and succeed in the private markets. Our conversation covers everything from the scale of private wealth funding, venture capital to the expl...
Behind the IPO: ACV Auctions & ASV w/ Somak Chattopadhyay & Vikas Mehta
February 29, 2024 05:00 - 48 minutesThis week we had not one but two esteemed guests - a funder and his founder of choice to talk through everything from building trust and partnership to getting to that IPO. Featuring Somak Chattopadhyay, founder of Armory Square Ventures, and Vikas Mehta, COO of ACV Auctions. Their paths beautifully overlapped after their MIT days when Somak recognized ACV's potential in B2B automobile marketplaces and recruited Vikas to lead the operation. The rest is history, but in today’s episode, we de...
[REPLAY] Investing with Penny Pritzker & Building a Robust Venture & Growth Practice w/ Momei Qu, PSP Partners
February 22, 2024 05:00 - 41 minutes“If you can show strong growth in this environment, that means you’re getting corporate budgets at a time when corporate budgets are tightening.” As we continue to emerge from the belt-tightening era in investment and venture, now is an opportune moment to revisit an episode featuring Momei Qu, Managing Director of PSP Growth. Momei carved her own path in leadership, having worked with one of the trailblazers, the esteemed Penny Pritzker, former United States Secretary of Commerce and Ameri...
Bite: Driving Returns through Diversity with Erin Harkless Moore, Pivotal Ventures
February 15, 2024 05:00 - 21 minutesInvesting in women is the smartest thing you could do right now. Erin Harkless Moore, Senior Director of Investments at Pivotal Ventures, a company founded by Melinda French Gates to promote social equity in the realm of investment, eloquently expressed this notion with her work. Whereas in numerous regions across the globe today, it's surprising to consider that such a statement could be contentious. However, we must stand firm: progress is never linear. This week, we're revisiting Erin's e...
Surfacing Unicorns in Emerging Markets w/ Allen Taylor, Endeavor Catalyst
February 08, 2024 05:00 - 37 minutesThis week's episode features Allen Taylor, managing partner at Endeavor Catalyst, one of the earliest supporters at the Billion Dollar Fund for Women (now Beyong The Billion). Allen also sits on the global leadership team at Endeavor, a mission driven organization focused on supporting high growth companies in emerging and underserved markets. We discuss everything from how Reid Hoffman inspired the design of a rules-based fund that in its beta already made LPs eight times their money on an 8...
Rise with Resilience: Becoming a Rare Unicorn Iman Abuzeid, Incredible Health
February 01, 2024 05:00 - 11 minutes"It's probably not a good idea to overlook female CEOs or Black CEOs. Because they're driving an enormous amount of value in business. And you overlook it at your own expense." - Iman Abuzeid, Co-founder & CEO of Incredible Health This week's Billion Dollar Bite is from an event held in Austin, hosted by Beyond the Billion and Brown Advisory, among a crowd of family offices and other investors. Featuring Iman Abuzeid, who upon raising her 80 million Series B funding round, valued her healthc...
Breaking Barriers: Why “Taboo” Brands Win with Shama Amalean Skinner (Former COO, Thinx Inc.)
January 25, 2024 05:00 - 39 minutesFrom a market that was almost nonexistent in 2015, hitting double digits with a ~25% CAGR by 2018, Femtech and women's health industry have been long underestimated until the rise of Thinx and similar brands revolutionized the industry. Today’s guest is Shama Amalean Skinner, an entrepreneur, a trailblazer in the world of feminine care, and a business leader who has broken barriers and challenged societal norms with her previous position as COO at Thinx Inc. Shama played a pivotal role in tr...
LP Special: How Emerging Managers can win in 2024 with Adam Street Partners, IFC, Capria Ventures
January 18, 2024 05:00 - 38 minutesThe global economic uncertainty and a shift in focus towards sustainable growth are widely expected to impact the fundraising prospects for new vehicles, especially those focused on emerging markets or launched by first-time managers. As Asia continues to present key growth opportunities, how are dynamics between LPs and GPs evolving? In the current environment, how should emerging managers approach LPs? Will the going be tougher for first-time fund managers raising debut vehicles? Will ope...
[BONUS] Living Under the Gun: Son of Pablo Escobar, Juan Pablo Escobar
January 11, 2024 05:00 - 9 minutesAs we step into the new year of 2024, we bring you a conversation that challenges the very essence of legacy. In this short and impromptu episode, Juan Pablo Escobar (now known as Sebastián Marroquín), the son of the notorious drug cartel leader Pablo Escobar, shares insights that will challenge preconceptions and spark hope. Join us as we explore how one man's choice to embrace a path of peace is reshaping the legacy that has defined his life. Key Takeaways: 1/ Always seek your own iden...
End of Creator Economy? Monetizing Impact & Influence with Scott Clary, Success Story Podcast
January 04, 2024 05:00 - 54 minutesWhile many professionals have in the past belittled the creator economy, according to Goldman Sachs, the creator economy was worth about 250 billion in 2023 and is set to nearly double by 2027. And that is just one of the myriad reasons why you should tune in to our conversation today with Scott Clary, who is living this very trend. An entrepreneur, investor, author and podcaster today with a combined following of about 2 million! Join us as we dove deep into Scott's journey and the importa...
[REPLAY] “To Fail in Such A Public Way"—The Cost of Influence & Billion Dollar Ambitions with Vivy Yusof, FV Group
December 28, 2023 05:00 - 1 hourIn light of the nostalgic festive period, this week, we are diving back into one of our favorite episodes this year with the one and only Vivy Yusof. Social media platforms and creator-focused startups haven’t looked too hot coming into 2023, with companies like Meta, Snapchat waging layoffs along with the rest of the tech industry. BUT the creator and influencer economy are more than just buzzwords losing interest among venture capitalists. Despite challenges on a platform level, blogger-tu...
The Power of Making Big Bets with Dr. Rajiv Shah, Rockefeller
December 21, 2023 05:00 - 40 minutesDr. Raj Shah's journey comprises numerous transformative endeavors, spanning his roles at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID, to his current position as President of the Rockefeller Foundation. In his recent publication, "Big Bets: How Large-Scale Change Really Happens," he illuminates the power of the big bet mindset—a belief that addressing problems boldly, rather than settling for incremental improvements, attracts partners capable of achieving transformational change. In thi...
Billion Dollar Bite: Choosing Your Investors & Navigating No's in Business with Kendra Scott
December 14, 2023 05:00 - 17 minutesRejection has been a recurring theme on this show, serving as a powerful catalyst for success. This week's Billion Dollar Bite features Kendra Scott's appearance in Austin, hosted by Beyond The Billion and Brown Advisory. From her initial setbacks in business to the journey of building a billion-dollar jewelry empire and the challenging decisions made along the way, we invite you to catch a glimpse of Kendra's success and the hardships she faced in this brief episode. Key Takeaways 1/ Failu...
Recap 2023: Redefining Success
December 07, 2023 05:00 - 8 minutesAt Billion Dollar Moves, our ultimate goal has always been showcasing the often untold stories of what it really takes to achieve that coveted ‘unicorn status’ beyond what’s often humble-bragged about; to challenge today’s status quo of what ‘patterns of success’ looks like, that often does not look like you or me. Join us in our latest recap episode as we dive deep into the meaningful conversations that reshape the traditional definition of success. Let's embark on a journey of self-discove...
From Bankruptcy to Building the Finnish Startup Ecosystem with Taneli Tikka, Serial Entrepreneur & Investor
November 30, 2023 05:00 - 43 minutesIn keeping with the theme of my material from Helsinki, Finland just as one of the biggest events in Finland happens: Slush, today’s episode is with my friend, Taneli Tikka, truly one of the OGs of the Finnish startup ecosystem, who also actually started the Foundation that owns Slush! Taneli founded his first startup Taika Technologies at the tender age of 21. Before going bankrupt, Taika akin to Silicon Valley startup General Magic, had patented technology that helped companies like Nokia a...
Rise from Failure: Living Your Purpose with Suneel Gupta, Best-Selling Author, Everyday Dharma
November 23, 2023 09:00 - 48 minutesWhat is our 'true dharma' and how can we build without burnout? -- Once seen as the face of failure on the New York Times, Suneel Gupta understands the road to success is not always smooth and requires more than unrelenting grit. Things of course turned around for him, where as CEO of RISE Suneel helped thousands of people in their physical and mental health journey. The company was named “App of the Year” and partnered with then first lady Michelle Obama before being acquired by the NASDAQ-l...
LP view: The Art & Science of Building in Venture with Lisa Edgar, Top Tier Capital
November 16, 2023 05:00 - 51 minutesLisa Edgar has been a trailblazer in the venture industry, a veteran with over two decades in the business backing many of the brand name venture firms we know today from Accel to Benchmark. We chat about: Her journey in building Top Tier Capital Partners — a leading fund of funds and direct investing platform What it takes to build an enduring firm Current venture markets, challenges and opportunities This episode is brought to you by Helsinki Partners. Whether you’re looking to set-up...
Melinda French Gates $1Bn for Women with Erin Harkless Moore, Pivotal Ventures
November 09, 2023 05:00 - 42 minutesNamed one of Forbes’ Most Powerful Women, Melinda French Gates needs no introduction. Over the last twenty years through her work at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, one thing has become clear to her: If you want to lift a society up, you must invest in women. In comes our next guest, Erin Harkless Moore, Senior Director of Investment for Pivotal Ventures, a Melinda French Gates company created to do exactly that. To accelerate social progress in the U.S by investing in women’s power and ...
Leading with Kindness: The Power of Goodwill with James Rhee, Owner, Red Helicopter, TEDTalk Speaker
October 26, 2023 08:00 - 1 hourTrue to the saying 'nice guys finish last'; so many of us have accepted that as in the case of Steve Jobs, 'abrasiveness' was part of his genius. But what if there was another way? What if leaders could be kind; and that there is a tangible value to kindness in business? Now all of us probably know the term “goodwill” from an accounting context: In this capitalistic world in many ways; this value is decided by the buyer. Now our next guest argues that in reality, goodwill which should mean ...
Building Founder & Funder Alignment with Elodie Dupuy, Founding Partner, Full In Partners
October 19, 2023 04:00 - 12 minutesWhat are some key factors that contribute to a successful exit for a company? How can investors and founders align valuations with realistic outcomes? How have market conditions affected the fundraising landscape for companies? What opportunities exist for quality companies with strong fundamentals? What is the service mindset founders need to be really zooming in on? How does this differentiate successful companies? This week, we cover these crucial questions in a Billion Dollar Bite with...
Trauma to Transformation: Tackling Global Mental Health with Elisha London
October 12, 2023 04:00 - 42 minutesOn Billion Dollar Moves we don't shy away from difficult conversations. A heads up, in today's conversation we will be talking about mental health, including suicide. Know that if you are struggling with your own mental health you are not alone, please reach out to a local mental health provider for support. For a list of free support lines available around the world, we recommend: https://bekind.findahelpline.com We’re all about surfacing what we call the unexpected leader; unicorn founders...
Unleashing Africa's Tech Potential: Investing in Emerging Markets with Eunice Ajim
September 28, 2023 08:00 - 39 minutesToday’s guest speaking to the African continent is none other than Eunice Ajim, Cameroonian-American tech entrepreneur and investor who's changing the game. With her fund, Ajim Capital, she seeks to invest in Africa’s best startups at the pre-seed and seed level; leveraging her experience as a former repeat founder herself, including leading a $10M+ tech startup. But what many may not know is her story of becoming homeless while building what she calls the African dream. Eunice’s story is no...
Building Conviction: Investing in the Midcontinent with Nathaniel Harding, Cortado Ventures
September 21, 2023 08:00 - 50 minutesFrom $50 million in circulation annually in venture capital to about $500 million; this 10x growth in a short amount of time in Oklahoma caught my attention. So when Nathaniel Harding of Cortado Ventures invited me out to Oklahoma City for the MidContinent VC Summit earlier this year—my answer was yes! Today’s conversation is with a leader unlike any other I’ve had on the show— a former Air Force captain stationed at the US-NATO headquarters in Afghanistan, Nathaniel transitioned from militar...
"Admiring someone else's gifts without questioning your own" with Rachel Lim, LoveBonito
September 14, 2023 08:00 - 47 minutesIn 2005, three Singaporean teenagers set up a secondhand clothes blog. They didn't realize it at the time, but it laid the framework for this multi-million dollar empire, one of the largest omnichannel womenswear brands in Southeast Asia, that has gone global, delivering to 18 countries with its most recent pop up store in SoHo New York. This week we dive into the story of Love, Bonito, in the business of serving the modern Asian women; which last raised a $50M Series C in 2021 led by Primave...
"When given a rare opportunity—rise to the occasion"—Bonus: Sarah Chen-Spellings in the Hot Seat
September 07, 2023 08:00 - 45 minutesI realized for many of you, I’ve yet to formally introduce myself, why I do the work I do, and why, Billion Dollar Moves exists to serve you today. Fact: I was often in rooms I felt I didn’t deserve to be in. I was too young, too unqualified, and heck, looked and sounded different from everyone else. I knew I had two choices: to crumble into myself or to step up and honor my potential. The tables are turned in this episode where I'm in the hot seat, interviewed by my friends at Beyond Barr...
Pivot or Persevere? Being a Growth Company CEO with Coursera's CEO Jeff Maggioncalda
August 31, 2023 08:00 - 42 minutesOur guest today is none other than Jeff Maggioncalda, a visionary leader whose journey spans not just one but two groundbreaking fields. For 18 years, Jeff worked side by side with Nobel Prize winner and economist Bill Sharpe, as the founding CEO of Financial Engines, one of the earliest pioneers in the world of robo-advisors and algorithm-driven investment strategies that became the largest independent online retirement advice platform with more than $100 billion under management. sold for y...
Receptionist to $200M AUM: Elodie Dupuy, Full In Partners on SAAS Investing & 'Pushing Through Pain'
August 23, 2023 04:00 - 47 minutesI’m so excited about this week’s guest! If you’ve been following our work at Beyond The Billion; there’s no better snapshot of why we do the work we do than this episode; where Elodie Dupuy represents the kind of fund manager we are so bullish on. Starting as a receptionist at Insight Venture Partners, she is today betting on herself. Elodie founded Full In Partners, a software-focused $200M growth equity fund based in New York City, getting into deals like Canva, and Vinted. How she got ther...
Sequoia Capital, LetsVenture, Sayurbox on Actually Bridging The Gender Gap in Venture
August 17, 2023 08:00 - 36 minutes"But how can women actually be good operators?" This is a special episode from my work archives—in reflecting on my work this summer, I realized that this conversation in particular needed more air for the important angles raised by some real heavyweights in our industry. Featuring GV Ravishankar, MD at Sequoia India or now known as Peak XV; Sunitha from LetsVenture, India’s largest tech platform for early-stage startup investing and Nacitta from Sayurbox, Indonesia based distribution platfor...
What Does the Next Generation Workforce Want from Leaders? Redefining the Workforce: lessons from Niels Christiansen, Group CEO at Lego, Cathy Gao, VC at Sapphire Partners, Josh Reeves, Founder at Gusto & others
August 10, 2023 08:00 - 9 minutes“Give them some purpose, unlimited vacation time, free food, and beanbags.” 🙄 Yet why are workers still unhappy and disengaged? 😳 40% of workers say they're likely to leave their current job in the next 3-6 months In this Billion Dollar Bite I explore a question I get asked often: "What exactly does the next generation workforce want from me?" EPISODES REFERENCED: Silvia Wiesner, former MD at Unilever on "really listening" Niels Christiansen, Group CEO at Lego and Stanley Bergman, CEO at He...
Not Your Token Woman with First Female NFL Coach Dr. Jen Welter: Billion Dollar Bite
July 27, 2023 08:00 - 17 minutesI’ve been enjoying the Women's FIFA World Cup, and I’m so thrilled to see the conversation on gender equity that has arisen alongside the excitement of the sport. As we continue to be in awe of the performance of so many of the teams, I was inspired to bring this week’s Billion Dollar Bite to a candid conversation with Coach Jen Welter who tackled her football career with tenacity and an unprecedented track record of pioneering firsts. What does it mean to be the first and the only? How do yo...
The Unstoppable Power of Web3, Scaling Amazon with Jeff Bezos and the Future of Online Identity with Sandy Carter
July 17, 2023 09:01 - 49 minutesFrom building emerging tech in IBM to working with Jeff Bezos and Andy Jessy, being a part of scaling Amazon from a $12 Billion to $80 Billion company; tech pioneer and trailblazer, CNN’s Top 10 Most Powerful Women in Tech Sandy Carter is now betting big on Web3: as COO of Unstoppable Domains, a platform for user-owned digital identity that hit the unicorn status last year led with a round led by Pantera Capital. Today we break some exciting news by Unstoppable Domains launching, discuss the ...
From Underestimated to 50 Million+ Users: Leveraging AI to Empower with Vu Van, ELSA
July 13, 2023 08:00 - 45 minutesLong before AI became a buzzword, Vu Van recognized its transformative potential. Combining her deep understanding of language learning with her AI expertise, Vu Van founded ELSA (English Language Speech Assistant) in 2015. ELSA, an AI-powered learning app, provides users with an interactive and personalized approach to improving English pronunciation, 50 million users later, over $27 million dollars raised, with investors including Gradient Ventures, Google’s dedicated AI fund, this is a con...
Maximizing Your First 90 Days: Head Coach vs CEO with Tiwa York, Kaidee (largest C2C Marketplace in Thailand)
July 07, 2023 08:00 - 16 minutesWhile the IPO window feels closed for many; what we’re still seeing are interesting mergers, acquisitions and strategic exits: many of which create the scenario of leaders at the helm of new teams. And so, for this week’s Billion Dollar Bite; I’m bringing a question I’m off late being asked a lot: how do leaders make maximum impact in the first 90 days? A concept; from one of my fav book of all time— by Michael Watkins where as Watkins brilliantly illustrates the first 90 days present a uniq...
Leaving a $250 Million Fund: Ollen Douglass Speaks Out about being a Black Man in Venture Capital, the Power of Diversity to Drive Returns
June 22, 2023 08:00 - 50 minutesOllen Douglass is a name that many have come to recognize in the venture industry, in particular for building the first venture fund for the Motley Fool; a popular news and media platform providing investing insights and financial advice to millions of people for over 25 years. But his story takes an unexpected twist as he walks away from a $250 million outfit he helped start. His abrupt departure left industry insiders hungry for answers. And today, he's here to reveal in his own words what ...
Why Early Specialization doesn't Guarantee Career Success with David Epstein, Global Bestselling Author, Range
June 15, 2023 08:00 - 10 minutesA head start doesn't always ... well, help you get ahead. With examples from sports, technology and economics, journalist David Epstein shares how specializing in a particular skill too early in life may undermine your long-term development -- and explains the benefits of a "sampling period" where you try new things and focus on building a range of skills. Learn how this broader, counterintuitive mindset (and more forgiving timeline) could lead to a more fulfilling life, personally and profe...
Investing with Penny Pritzker and Building a Robust Venture & Growth Practice with Momei Qu, MD, PSP Partners
June 08, 2023 08:00 - 41 minutesThis week I am so pumped to be speaking with Momei Qu, Managing Director of PSP Growth, where she leads PSP’s venture capital and growth equity initiative, working closely with the esteemed Penny Pritzker, former United States Sec of Commerce and American billionaire businesswoman with family investments in the Hyatt Hotels and Marmon Group. From Momei’s leadership lessons working with a trailblazer to building a robust venture and growth practice to the future of B2B SAAS despite valuation s...
After the Exit: Finding and Decoupling Your Identity from your Firm/Startup
June 01, 2023 08:00 - 6 minutesThis week's Billion Dollar Bite features the big question: Who am I beyond the company I built? This has become a theme that has emerged in so many of my conversations with both founders and funders at the helm of their businesses — an inspired this week’s Billion Dollar Bite about finding identity and decoupling your identity from your business. Tune in to what Rana el-Kaliouby who sold her emotional AI startup, Affectiva to publicly listed Smart Eye for $73.5 Million has to say: Full episo...
Scaling to $2 Billion, backed by Oprah, Katy Perry to solve the Global Food Waste Issue: a Conversation with James Rogers, Founder & CEO, Apeel Sciences
May 26, 2023 19:10 - 49 minutesOur next guest is tackling the food waste problem by applying what he and his team have learned from nature. They created a plant-based protective coating that can make fruits and vegetables last longer. When the average household wastes over 30% of their food and throws $1,500 of the food they buy into the trash, you can see how it’s crucial to work to reduce this impact on our planet and our pocketbooks. Apeel is commercially available for avocados, organic apples, cucumbers and citrus fru...
Shocking Tips to Lead and Build Influence with Behavioral Expert, Phill Agnew
May 18, 2023 08:00 - 36 minutesWhat’s the secret to becoming more likable and influential as a leader? How do we actually build and scale by appealing to our consumers in a sustainable way? Why are we more likely to eat an imperfect cookie? This week’s episode will have you taking copious notes from Phill Agnew, a behavioral science expert and my podcast brother in the network, where he hosts one of the top Marketing podcasts, Nudge and shares tips of the trade you can start applying to win business and yes influence peopl...
Unleashing AI —Too Soon? with VC Martina Welkhoff, WXR Fund
May 11, 2023 08:00 - 42 minutesUnless you’re living under a rock, you know that ChatGPT, OpenAI’s text-generating AI chatbot, has taken the world by storm. And with it, a whole conversation surrounding AI, it’s opportunities and yes perils. Well, to go deeper in this, I’m excited to speak with someone who has been working in this space of AI, VR and XR, immersive and extended reality long before it was the hype it is today. Martina Welkhoff, Managing Partner of WXR fund, an early stage fund that invests in two of the great...
Battling Disinformation while Young, Black and Female with Phumzile Van Damme, Former MP, South Africa
May 04, 2023 04:00 - 45 minutesThis week I’m chatting with a Billion Dollar Mover who absolutely captivated me when I first met her, but for a change, from the world of politics. Phumzile Van Damme is a former Member of Parliament of South Africa, winning multiple awards for her work counter-electoral disinformation, digital rights and platform accountability focusing on Africa. Phumzile’s first foray in the fight against disinformation centered on the rise and fall of the controversial global PR firm Bell Pottinger, who ...
What Makes A Billion Dollar Founder? According to Cathy Gao, Sapphire Ventures & Jack Smith, sold Vungle for $780M
April 27, 2023 15:46 - 7 minutesWelcome to Billion Dollar Bite! Between the SVB collapse (and now First Republic Bank on the edge, with stock now down 95% for the year to date!), ChatGPT taking over and the "SAAS-cre", where valuations of Software-As-A-Service companies have taken a dive, for some, as high as 60%; it’s been a lot. A question that I get asked in this environment is: how will we find outliers? My answer: surface the unexpected leaders. The ones who have been underestimated, who may not come from a “cookie-cut...
Leveraging Community to Invest in the Future with VC Jenny Fielding, Everywhere Ventures
April 20, 2023 17:16 - 35 minutesFounder turned Funder, from Head of Digital Ventures of the BBC to Managing Director of Techstars, to now Managing Partner of Everywhere Ventures with 250 portfolio companies and counting, Jenny Fielding is the ultimate community builder and investor. Together with Scott Hartley, Jenny is today pursuing a global strategy, as U.S. venture capitalists have taken a step back from deals abroad; launching a new $25M fund, to be the first-check in for startups building in the future of money, healt...