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.