Human Unicorn Podcast

Human Unicorn Pod: Anish Agarwal — Building in the AI-Native EraWhat does it take to build a company in a world where AI shifts faster than strategy decks can keep up? And how do founders create real leverage when technology lowers the barrier to entry for everyone?Join host Nihal Mehta for a deep dive with Anish Agarwal, founder of Traversal. Anish is building at the frontier of AI infrastructure, thinking deeply about speed, execution, and how small teams can generate outsized impact in an era of exponential tools.In this episode, we explore:Why velocity is the new moat for AI startupsThe difference between hype-driven AI and durable infrastructureHow founders should think about leverage in an AI-native stackBuilding with clarity when the tech landscape changes weeklyThe mindset required to stay ahead of compounding innovationWhat separates breakout companies from fast followersAnish shares candid lessons from operating at the edge of AI transformation—where distribution, product insight, and decision speed matter more than ever. The conversation also unpacks how founders can design companies that compound advantage instead of chasing trends.This is the episode for builders, operators, and investors who want to understand what it really means to create enduring value in the age of AI.🎙️ Human Unicorn Pod — Where exceptional humans share the stories behind their extraordinary journeys.

🎙 Human Unicorn PodcastEpisode: Tejpaul Bhatia — The Most Trusted Man in SpaceIn this episode of Human Unicorn, Nihal Mehta sits down with longtime friend, three-time (now fourth-time) founder, and former CEO of Axiom Space, Tejpaul Bhatia — a man who’s helped take humanity off the planet while staying deeply grounded in community, friendship, and purpose.Nihal and Tej go way back — New York tech, shared investors, shared runs on the West Side Highway, shared wins, shared heartbreaks. What unfolds is not just a conversation about space, startups, or sales — but a rare, honest look at timing, identity, trust, and what it means to do your life’s work.Tej opens up about leaving Axiom at a pivotal moment, the Rangers game conversation that changed everything, and the quiet clarity his wife saw before he did. From there, he breaks down how he helped close hundreds of millions of dollars in space contracts, why he considers himself only a B+ salesperson, and how ecosystem management and strategic narrative became his real superpowers.Along the way, they explore:Why founders often fuse their identity with their startups — and why that’s dangerousHow Tej went from Google to space by being the most trusted person in the roomThe difference between selling a product and mobilizing an entire countryWhy the secret to magic, success, love, and leadership is… practiceWhat happens when you stop thinking first — and start feeling firstThis is an episode about serendipity without coincidence, about miracles built over decades, and about learning to face yourself when everything changes.If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to sell $100M deals, build trust at a planetary scale, or redefine success after you’ve “made it” — this one’s for you.

I swapped it out to this descriptionThe Cultural Architect: Anjula Acharia on Spotting Stars and Building MovementsAnjula Acharia isn’t your typical talent manager or venture capitalist. She’s the visionary who orchestrated Priyanka Chopra’s historic crossover to Hollywood, founded one of the first viral podcasts (DesiHits), and invested early in unicorns like ClassPass and Masterclass. From a six-hour life-changing meeting with music legend Jimmy Iovine to becoming one of the most influential voices in South Asian representation globally, Anjula has spent two decades shaping culture at the intersection of music, entertainment, and technology.In this episode with host Nihal Mehta, Anjula reveals her philosophy of “no desperation,” why she listens with two ears but speaks with one mouth, and how serendipity—not planning—has guided her extraordinary journey. From telesales in England to pacing the streets of New York City with Priyanka, from working with Lady Gaga to launching ABC’s “Quantico,” Anjula’s career is a masterclass in recognizing talent, building community, and trusting that destiny will find you.Topics covered: ∙ The untold story of Priyanka Chopra’s American crossover ∙ Life-changing mentorship from Jimmy Iovine and the music industry ∙ How to spot unicorns: tech stars, pop stars, and film stars ∙ The art of listening and seeing around cultural corners ∙ Investing philosophy behind ClassPass and other breakout companies ∙ Advancing South Asian culture and representation globally ∙ Why “no desperation” is the ultimate superpower ∙ Building movements through community over competitionAnjula continues to shape global culture as a talent manager, investor, venture partner, and the force behind the legendary annual Diwali celebration that brings together the most influential voices in tech, entertainment, and business.Human Unicorn Pod - Conversations with extraordinary humans building the future.

When Joe Marchese founded true[X] and sold it to 21st Century Fox for around $200 million, he was just getting started. As the former President of Advertising Revenue at Fox Networks Group, he oversaw billions in annual revenue for properties like FOX Broadcast, FX, National Geographic, and FOX Sports—including advertising for the Super Bowl and World Series.But Joe's not about maintaining the status quo. He's about breaking it.Now as co-founder and General Partner at Human Ventures and Casa Komos Brands Group, and Chairman of corporate philanthropy platform Groundswell, Joe is building the next generation of companies based on a radical idea: technology should make us MORE human, not less.In this conversation with host Nihal Mehta, Joe shares his vision for "Human First" technology, why he believes the current advertising model is failing high-quality content, and how AI can reshape the attention economy without stealing our humanity. He also leads Human.AI, exploring these intersections at the cutting edge of media and technology innovation.Joe's insights come from both sides of the table—as a founder who's built and sold companies, and as an executive who's run some of the biggest advertising operations in television history. He was inducted into the Advertising Hall of Achievement in 2016 and currently serves on the boards of Clear Channel Outdoor, Cox Media Group, National CineMedia, and veteran-led nonprofit Team Rubicon.This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in the future of media, the attention economy, venture capital, and how we can build technology that enhances rather than diminishes human connection.Human Unicorn Pod - Extraordinary conversations with exceptional humans.

Jerry Colonna — Leadership, Fear, and the Inner Work of Building CompaniesWhat if the hardest part of building a great company isn’t strategy, fundraising, or product—but confronting yourself?In this episode of Human Unicorn, we sit down with Jerry Colonna—executive coach to some of Silicon Valley’s most iconic founders, former VC, and author of Reboot—to explore the inner lives of leaders. Jerry shares hard-won lessons from decades of coaching CEOs through growth, breakdowns, and breakthroughs, revealing why unresolved fear, shame, and identity often shape business outcomes more than market forces.We talk about the myth of the heroic founder, why “bringing your whole self to work” is both necessary and terrifying, and how true leadership begins with radical self-inquiry. This is a conversation about power, vulnerability, and what it really means to build companies—and lives—worth being proud of.If you’re a founder, operator, or leader navigating pressure, uncertainty, or success that feels strangely hollow, this episode will challenge how you think about ambition, culture, and yourself.Topics covered:Why leadership is an inside jobThe emotional cost of scaling companiesCoaching founders through fear, ego, and failureRedefining success beyond metrics and exitsHow compassion becomes a competitive advantage

🎙️ New Episode: Kass & Mike Lazerow — Building, Selling, and Reinventing in Tech & LifeOn this episode of the Human Unicorn Podcast, Nihal Mehta and Yoshi Kondo sit down with power couple Kass & Mike Lazerow—serial entrepreneurs, operators, and investors whose impact spans adtech, social media, and the future of health and wellness.Mike, founder of Buddy Media (acquired by Salesforce for $745M) and veteran early-stage investor, unpacks what it really takes to scale companies that shape culture. Kass, founder of the groundbreaking functional wellness brand Lifelines, shares her journey building mission-driven companies, navigating personal transformation, and redefining what holistic health means in a tech-intense world.Together, they open up about:Lessons learned from multiple exitsThe real emotional cost of entrepreneurshipHow founders can stay resilient through chaosThe marriage–startup balance that nobody talks aboutWhy the next decade of wellness is being built right nowThis is one of our most honest, insightful conversations yet—packed with tactical advice, raw stories, and unexpected humor.Tune in and meet the humans behind the unicorns.

This week on Human Unicorns, Nihal sits down with Brian Distelburger, one of the OGs of New York tech and the co-founder of Yext, the company that took an unsexy problem — digital information chaos — and turned it into a billion-dollar category.Brian isn’t just a founder; he’s a repeat builder with real operator scars. He helped scale Yext from a scrappy NYC startup into a publicly traded global platform powering the world’s biggest brands. Enterprise sales before you have a category name? He’s lived it. Hypergrowth hiring? Done it. Taking a company public while keeping the culture intact? Survived it.Now Brian brings that same energy forward as an investor, advisor, and ecosystem multiplier — helping founders navigate the messy middle, build real revenue engines, and avoid the expensive mistakes he already paid the tuition for.He’s one of the rare people who built and scaled a unicorn from zero to NYSE, all while staying relentlessly curious, humble, and addicted to the craft of building.If you want a masterclass in resilience, enterprise GTM, founder psychology, and how to create a new category out of thin air — Brian is the definition of a Human Unicorn.

In this episode, Nihal Mehta sits down with Chris Fralic — legendary VC, connector, and one of the most influential relationship-builders in the modern tech ecosystem.Chris shares the real story behind his trajectory: from early days in enterprise software to helping shape companies like LinkedIn, Yammer, and Roblox through his work at First Round Capital. He breaks down the patterns he’s seen across hundreds of founders — and the behaviors that consistently separate breakout companies from the rest.We dive into:The compounding power of generosity and how Chris built one of the strongest networks in techHow great founders communicate, pitch, and create momentum around their ideasWhy relationship-building is a skill, not a personality type — and how anyone can learn itWhat Chris looks for when meeting a founder for the first timeWhere today’s AI and consumer markets are heading, and which founder traits matter most in 2025This is a masterclass in relationships, founder psychology, and long-term thinking — packed with practical advice for operators, builders, and investors.

🎙️ The Human Unicorn Podcast — Episode: Hadley Harris (ENIAC Ventures)In this episode, Nihal Mehta sit down with Hadley Harris, Founding General Partner at ENIAC Ventures, one of New York’s most respected seed-stage investors backing transformational founders from zero to one.Before becoming a VC, Hadley was a builder himself — leading at Vlingo, an MIT-born AI startup that sold to Nuance for $225M, and serving as Chief Business Officer at Thumb, a social app once ranked just behind Facebook in engagement. That builder DNA defines his work today, where he invests across AI, developer tools, SaaS, and healthcare — and helps founders avoid the traps of scaling too fast before product-market fit.We explore:The mindset shift from operator to investor (and why most VCs don’t really understand startups)The AI wave beyond the hype — what’s truly investable vs. what’s just “agentic theater”The early lessons from Vlingo and Thumb that shaped his approach to founder supportWhy discipline, humility, and iteration matter more than valuation in the seed stageAnd a personal side of Hadley — from yoga and music to his advocacy for individuals with intellectual disabilities inspired by his brother TravesHadley also shares why ENIAC’s founding team went four years without taking a paycheck, how fake parking tickets helped him start his first company at 13, and how he occasionally manages to beat Nihal in tennis.This is a conversation about longevity in venture capital, the craft of early-stage investing, and the human side of building — from startups to family to purpose.🎧 Listen now to hear what makes Hadley Harris a true Human Unicorn.

Episode: Building, Pitching & Running – The Kevin Weatherman PlaybookIn this episode of The Human Unicorn Podcast, Nihal Mehta sits down with Kevin Weatherman — a founder and operator who lives at the intersection of product, pitch, and relentless execution. Kevin shares how he built his tech platform from the ground up, not just to raise capital, but to win trust, land customers, and scale with purpose.From engineering the early prototype to refining the pitch deck that caught investors’ attention, Kevin walks through the gritty reality of creating something people will run with, not just invest in. He and Nihal dive deep into:• Turning product vision into a movement• Crafting a pitch that drives action, not just applause• Why founders must be both storyteller and operator• Building teams that run at your pace — or fasterThis is a masterclass in momentum — how to build it, hold it, and never lose it.

On this episode of the Human Unicorn Podcast, Nihal Mehta sits down with Amar Varma — co-founder of Mantle, Autonomic (acquired by Ford), Xtreme Labs (acquired by Pivotal), father of 4, and longtime builder of Toronto’s tech ecosystem. From pioneering mobile app development before the iPhone App Store existed, to scaling two of Canada’s most successful exits, Amar shares what it really takes to build durable companies outside Silicon Valley. We dive into his founder journey, lessons learned from working with global tech giants, and his vision for the next wave of Canadian unicorns including the one he's building now- Mantle.

🎙️ Human Unicorn Podcast with Nihal Mehta | Guest: Jenny FieldingIn this episode of the Human Unicorn Podcast, host Nihal Mehta sits down with Jenny Fielding — a pioneering venture capitalist, tech founder, and educator shaping the future of innovation.Jenny Fielding is the Managing Partner at Everywhere Ventures, a globally trusted early-stage fund with a portfolio valued at over $10 billion. With a unique career spanning law, finance, entrepreneurship, and investing, Jenny brings rare insight into what it truly takes to build and back transformative companies. A two-time tech founder, she deeply understands founder struggles from the inside out.Beyond the world of venture, Jenny serves as an adjunct professor at Columbia University and Cornell Tech, mentoring the next generation of startup leaders. She’s also a frequent voice in top media outlets, including Bloomberg TV, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and TechCrunch.💡 In this episode, we dive into:The realities of building startups from scratchHow to spot world-changing founders earlyThe evolution of venture capital on a global scaleLessons from scaling a $10B+ portfolioTeaching, mentorship, and the future of entrepreneurshipIf you're a founder, investor, or future builder — this conversation is a masterclass in navigating the startup journey.

🦄 Gary Vaynerchuk (Gary Vee) on the Human Unicorn Podcast with Nihal Mehta From taking his family wine business online to building media juggernaut VaynerMedia, Gary Vee has redefined what’s possible in entrepreneurship—using unfiltered honesty, relentless ambition, and heart. Millions turn to him for real talk on brand building, innovation, and living with purpose. In this exclusive, in-person Human Unicorn Podcast sit-down with host Nihal Mehta (Founding GP, Eniac Ventures), Gary goes beyond the soundbites to reveal: How to combine massive ambition with true patience for long-term success Why “attention” is the currency every entrepreneur must understand to win in today’s world Unfiltered predictions on the future of content, artificial intelligence, and the brands that will survive the coming AI revolution The profound human truths behind hustle: happiness, failure, legacy, and why kindness outperforms IQ Mindset shifts to navigate change—whether you’re just starting out or trying to stay ahead of the next big wave If you’ve ever wanted to hear Gary Vee’s raw wisdom—far deeper than viral clips—this is the must-listen episode. 🎧 Tap in and subscribe for more daring, real conversations with unicorn founders and the visionaries who shape the future.

From Serial Founder to AI Super Connector — Andrew D’Souza on Building Boardy Andrew D’Souza has launched and scaled companies through market booms and busts — but his newest venture, Boardy, could change the way opportunity flows forever. This AI-driven “Super Connector” helps you get the right introduction at the right time — and investors are betting big, with $11M raised in under a year.In this episode of Human Unicorn, you’ll discover:How to turn warm introductions into an unstoppable advantageWhy AI could rewrite the rules of networking and deal-makingThe playbook for lightning-fast fundraising (without burning relationships)Lessons from past ventures that shaped Boardy’s vision and strategyWhether you’re a founder chasing your big break, an investor scouting the next unicorn, or simply curious about the future of connections, this is your inside look at the making of an AI-first network.Learn more about Boardy: https://www.boardy.ai/

🎙️ Scott Belsky — From Adobe to A24: Designing the Future of Creativity and StorytellingIn this episode of The Human Unicorn, Nihal Mehta sit down with Scott Belsky, one of the defining minds at the intersection of technology, design, and culture.Scott is the founder of Behance, which was acquired by Adobe in 2012. After a stint at Benchmark Capital, he returned to Adobe as Chief Product Officer (2017–2022) and later served as Chief Strategy Officer and EVP of Design & Emerging Products, playing a pivotal role in launching Creative Cloud and Adobe Firefly.As of January 2025, Scott has taken on a new role as Partner and Head of Technology & Innovation at A24, where he leads A24 Labs, a stealth initiative focused on reimagining tools for storytellers and creators in film and entertainment.In this conversation, we explore:How Scott helped scale Adobe’s creative suite into an AI-forward platformWhat A24 Labs is doing to reshape the intersection of cinema and technologyLessons from backing generational companies like Airbnb, Pinterest, and Warby ParkerHis philosophy on building products that serve creators firstScott doesn’t just build products — he builds ecosystems that empower creatives to lead industries. This episode is a rare look inside the mind of someone shaping the tools and the taste of our generation.🦄 For founders, filmmakers, and anyone obsessed with building creative futures — this one’s unmissable.

🎙️ Human Unicorn Podcast — Episode Title:"Conviction Over Consensus: Rebecca Kaden on Backing What Others Miss"📄 Episode Description:In this episode of Human Unicorn, Nihal Mehta talks with Rebecca Kaden, General Partner at Union Square Ventures, about how to spot — and stick with — breakthrough ideas before they’re obvious.Rebecca shares how her path from journalism to VC shaped her investment lens, what it takes for a company to be truly venture scale in 2025, and why some of the most transformative businesses don’t look like obvious winners at the start.They explore:How she defines "venture scale" today: speed, markets, and return potentialThe difference between consensus picks and conviction betsWhat founders should know before pitching USVLessons from early investments in companies like Etsy, Carta, and HeliumWhy storytelling and point-of-view matter more than ever in crowded marketsIf you're a founder looking to raise — or an investor sharpening your filter — this episode delivers real insight into how top-tier VC decisions get made.

🎙️ The Human Unicorn Podcast | Episode: Mike Mignano — Building the Future of Creativity with AIThis week, Nihal Mehta welcomes Mike Mignano — co-founder of Anchor, former Head of Talk Audio at Spotify, partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, and now co-founder of Oboe, a groundbreaking new company reimagining how we create using AI.Mike shares his unique perspective as both a repeat founder and investor on the frontlines of the creator economy and artificial intelligence. In this episode, we dive into:Why Mike launched Oboe to reinvent creative tools for the AI-native generationThe evolution from audio platforms to multimodal AIWhat AI will actually mean for artists, storytellers, and everyday creatorsThe “missing layer” in consumer creative softwareWhat kind of founders and ideas he's backing at LightspeedIf you're thinking about building in AI, creator tech, or the next wave of human expression — this episode is your playbook.—Hosted by Nihal Mehta

On this episode of The Human Unicorn, we sit down with Farhan Thawar, Head of Engineering at Shopify, where he leads thousands of engineers powering one of the world’s biggest commerce platforms. Farhan shares how he scales teams without losing speed, the real-world impact of AI coding tools, and why Claude, OpenAI, and other LLMs are changing how software gets built. Tune in for practical hacks, surprising insights, and a rare look at how top engineering minds are adapting to the AI era.

In this episode, Nihal Mehta welcomes Brian Stempeck, former Chief Strategy Officer at The Trade Desk and now Co-Founder & CEO of Evertune, for a candid conversation on scaling category-defining companies, building enduring cultures, and navigating the next wave of AI innovation.Brian shares his journey from being employee #8 at The Trade Desk—where he helped take the company from pre-revenue to a multi-billion dollar IPO—to launching Evertune, a startup reimagining how brands optimize for AI-native search.Topics covered include:The strategic decision to empower, not displace, agencies—and why it workedScaling from $0 to $800M+ in revenue: lessons from the front linesPreserving culture during hypergrowth (and why wall slogans don’t cut it)How introversion can be a superpower in sales and leadershipThe rise of AI-generated search traffic—and what it means for brandsBuilding with integrity, trust, and long-term ambitionA must-listen for founders, operators, and investors focused on B2B SaaS, ad tech, or AI.

Oisin Hanrahan (Co-Founder, Handy & Keychain CEO)From founding Handy to leading one of the biggest players in home services—this journey’s been all about vision, grit, and execution.I joined @Nihal Mehta on The Human Unicorn Podcast to talk about scaling startups, navigating tough markets, and what I’ve learned from building and leading at the intersection of tech and operations.If you’re a founder, operator, or just love a good business story—you’ll want to check this one out: