Nothing Ventured

On this episode of Nothing Ventured, Aarish Shah interviews Christian Tooley, founder of iCubed Investing, discussing the transition from consulting to venture capital. They explore iCubed's focus on investing in post-product pre-revenue companies in the UK, their efforts to unlock queer capital, and their partnership with Crunchbase to highlight diverse founders. Tune in for an insightful conversation on bridging the gap between corporate and venture worlds. ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to iCubed Investing05:30 - Investing with ADA Ventures10:00 - Transition to discussing the gay job15:00 - Angel investing criteria and decision-making process20:00 - Discussion on the diversity of deals in scouting communities25:00 - iCubed Investing's community and events30:00 - Intersectional Incredibles Forum and EMEA survey35:00 - Discussion on LGBTQ+ VC funds38:00 - Contrarian conviction on LGBTQ+ history and culture42:00 - Conclusion and where to find Christian online

On this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah sits down with George Askew and Sam Ettelaie, co-founders of Thema, a platform supporting emerging managers in launching venture capital strategies. They discuss fund structuring, regulation, and the impact of patient capital on the ecosystem. With Thema already attracting over 450 funds within weeks of launching, George and Sam shed light on the importance of backing those who aim to build management businesses. Tune in to gain insights from industry experts and explore the stories shaping the venture capital landscape. 🕒 Time stamps - 00:25 - Thema's Role in Supporting Emerging Managers 01:50 - The Challenges for Emerging Managers 03:19 - Fund Structuring and Regulation 05:03 - The Importance of Guidance for New Fund Managers 06:05 - Thema's Approach to Supporting Fund Managers 07:14 - The Need for Capital and Structuring Support 08:17 - The Role of LPs and the Fundraising Process 09:10 - The Ecosystem's Gatekeeping and Transparency 10:17 - Co-Investment Opportunities and LP Interests 11:42 - Supporting Underrepresented Emerging Managers 12:02 - Operator Backgrounds in Venture Capital 13:15 - The Genesis of Thema and Co-Founder Synergy 14:47 - The Return Profile for Emerging Managers 16:09 - The Importance of Fund Structuring 17:22 - The Market's Current State and Advice for Allocators 18:48 - The Risk Aversion in European Venture Ecosystem 20:19 - The Role of LPs in Supporting Emerging Managers 21:44 - The Value of Operator Experience for GPs 23:17 - The Importance of Differentiation for Emerging Managers 24:50 - The Patient Capital and Risk Aversion in Europe 26:48 - The UK Venture Ecosystem and Lessons from the US 28:08 - The Role of GP Seeding in the Emerging Manager Ecosystem 30:35 - The Evolution of Family Offices in Venture 32:11 - Final Advice for Emerging Managers 33:30 - The UK vs. US Emerging Manager Ecosystem 34:47 - The Potential of the UK Venture Ecosystem 36:36 - The Excitement for Emerging Managers and Innovation 38:24 - How to Connect with Thema and Closing Remarks

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah interviews Sean Williams, the founder and CEO of Autogen AI. Sean shares insights on learning from failures, the role of managers in delivering results, staying focused amidst distractions, and the significance of linguistic engineering in business. He also discusses his journey with investors and the importance of context windows in team scaling. Tune in for a deep dive into the world of generative AI and venture capital with Sean Williams. ⏱️ Timestamps:01:01 - Introducing Sean Williams of Autogen AI01:22 - Sean's Approach to Learning and Management02:04 - Sean's Background and Autogen AI's Mission02:25 - Reflecting on Past Success and Lessons Learned03:52 - Building a Business with a Clear Exit Strategy04:13 - The Philosophy of Building a Business05:02 - The Confidence in a Four-Year Exit Plan06:02 - The Venture Capital Mindset vs. Strategic Growth07:04 - The Importance of Sticking to a Business Plan08:11 - The Shift from Corndell to Autogen AI09:36 - The Current Venture Capital Landscape10:07 - Autogen AI's Fundraising Journey11:11 - Choosing the Right Venture Capital Partner12:39 - The Role of Investors Beyond Capital13:31 - Autogen AI's Decision to Take Venture Capital14:18 - Autogen AI's Target Customer Base15:29 - The Process of Raising Capital Without Fundraising16:07 - Filtering Through VC Approaches and Selecting Blossom Capital17:49 - The Importance of Choosing the Right Investors18:54 - The Potential Need for Future Capital19:57 - The UK's Perception of Tech Business Success21:03 - Autogen AI's Approach to Scaling Internationally22:10 - The Early Adoption of Generative AI23:14 - The Importance of Building Something People Want24:21 - The Future of Large Language Models and Linguistic Engineering25:07 - Sponsor Break: Emerge One25:30 - The Role of Humanities Graduates in AI Development26:56 - The UK's Tech Ecosystem and Ambition28:31 - The Importance of Customer Feedback in Product Development29:51 - Advice for Young Founders and Challenges in Business Growth31:00 - The Intersection of Humanities and Technology in AI32:04 - The Concept of Linguistic Engineering33:03 - The Practical Application of Large Language Models34:02 - Hiring Humanities Graduates for AI Development35:06 - The Importance of Customer-Centric Product Development36:08 - The Future of Specialized AI Applications37:14 - The Role of Prompt Engineers and Humanities in AI38:43 - Final Advice for Founders and Personal Business Concerns

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, Aarish Shah sits down with Enis Hulli, a general partner at 500 Emerging Europe. They discuss Enis' journey from listening to VC podcasts to launching a fund, his shift from being risk-averse to investing, and the importance of boots on the ground for pre-seed and seed investments. They also delve into how 500 Emerging Europe differs from the global family, the challenges of equity financing in Europe, and the dynamics of startup culture in emerging Europe. Tune in for insights on venture investing and navigating the unique landscape of emerging markets. ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction and Sponsor Message01:11 - Guest Introduction: Enes Huli02:21 - Enes' Transition from HVAC to Angel Investing04:42 - Risk Aversion and Entrepreneurship07:20 - Sales Experience and Self-Confidence09:28 - Founder Types and Portfolio Balance10:58 - The Path from Entrepreneur to Investor12:06 - 500 Global and 500 Emerging Europe Model14:23 - The Unique Approach of 500 Emerging Europe17:02 - Portfolio Strategy and Global Competition19:04 - The Population Paradox in Venture20:24 - Equity Financing Deficit in Emerging Europe22:49 - The Pathway to Closing the Equity Gap25:51 - Early Adopters and Scaling Challenges27:20 - Advice for Founders in Emerging Markets30:01 - Americanizing Startup Culture33:35 - How to Connect with Enes Huli

This episode of Nothing Ventured features a discussion with Mohamed Abou-Alam about the challenges and strategies in the tech and venture ecosystem. They explore topics like managing chronic conditions with data, building multidisciplinary teams, quantifying impact to LPs, regulatory and commercial outcomes, transitioning roles in the industry, and adapting to the competitive landscape. Tune in for valuable insights into the world of venture capital and tech innovation. 🕒 Time stamps - 01:52 - The Challenges of Hard Tech in Medicine 02:43 - Precision's Approach to Managing Heart Conditions 03:29 - Mohammed's Non-Medical Background and Precision's Hardware 04:02 - Why Precision's Solution is Innovative 05:06 - Mohammed's Journey from VC to Precision 07:12 - The Importance of Multidisciplinary Teams 09:10 - Building a Holistic Team at Precision 10:05 - The Role of Finance in Startups 11:07 - Mission-Driven Businesses in Health Sector 13:22 - Proactive Medicine and Personalization 14:15 - Transition from Samsung to VC and Operating Roles 17:08 - The Importance of Understanding Different Perspectives 19:13 - Mohammed's Transition to CEO at Precision 22:02 - The Decision to Take on the CEO Role 23:23 - The Balance Between Operator and Finance-Driven VCs 24:36 - The Complexities of Medical Device Startups 25:18 - The Multi-Stakeholder Model in Health Tech 27:27 - R&D and Commercialization in Regulated Businesses 28:54 - Innovate UK Grant and Funding R&D Businesses 31:25 - Tips for Securing Grants and Funding 33:02 - The Importance of Complementarity in Competitive Landscapes 35:28 - The Unique Challenges of Multi-Stakeholder Industries 37:47 - The Value of Grants Beyond Funding 39:10 - The Role of Validation in Fundraising 40:05 - Choosing the Right Grants and Using Consultants 42:03 - The Benefits of Multiple Assessors for Grants 43:11 - The Validation Aspect of Grants in Fundraising 44:02 - Keeping a Team Motivated and Malleable 45:22 - Where to Find Precision Cardiovascular Online

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, we delve into the world of tech bio with co-founders Nik Sharma and Mo Alomari from BioCortex. They discuss reflecting biology in silico, NASA-inspired strategies, and the importance of trust in co-founder relationships. Learn how BioCortex is revolutionizing therapeutic development with insights backed by Hoxton and Sofinova. Tune in for a deep dive into the intersection of technology and biotech with these innovative minds. 🕒 Time stamps - 01:01 - Introducing Guests Nick Sharma and Mo Al-Omari 01:55 - Emulation vs. Simulation in Tech Bio 02:16 - BioCortex: A Tech Bio Company Overview 02:27 - Founders' Backgrounds and Expertise 03:09 - BioCortex's Vision and Technology 03:33 - Personalizing Medication Efficacy with BioCortex 04:15 - Broader Applications of BioCortex Technology 04:31 - Carbon Knowledge and Carbon Mirror Technologies 05:03 - Emulation in Aerospace Applied to Biology 05:38 - Conceptualizing Human Biology for Drug Interaction 06:25 - Understanding Emulation and Simulation 07:04 - The Role of Bacteria in Drug Efficacy 07:34 - The Distinction Between Emulation and Simulation 08:34 - NASA's Use of Emulation 09:10 - The Importance of Understanding Mechanisms in Medicine 09:43 - The Reality of Drug Response Rates 10:21 - BioCortex's Approach to AI and Emulation 11:01 - The Co-Founders' Meeting and Collaboration 11:29 - The Genesis of BioCortex 12:00 - Addressing Motor Neurone Disease Communication 13:02 - The Evolution of Nick and Mo's Partnership 13:38 - The Challenge of Modeling Bacteria 14:02 - The Solution to Modeling Complex Biological Systems 14:58 - The Importance of Trust in Co-Founder Relationships 16:01 - The Dynamics of Co-Founder and VC Relationships 16:53 - Defining Tech Bio vs. Biotech 17:36 - Capital Efficiency and Growth Concerns 18:11 - Maintaining Culture and Focus in a Startup 19:08 - The Challenge of Diverse Disciplines in a Tech Bio Team 20:00 - The Impact of Remote Work on Team Dynamics 21:19 - The Importance of Security and Tools for Remote Work 22:04 - The Benefits of In-Person and Remote Work Balance 22:44 - The Diverse Expertise within the BioCortex Team 00:23:27 - The Future of Tech Bio and Biotech Industry

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah interviews Renan Devilliers, the founder of OSS Ventures, a startup studio focused on revolutionizing operations in organizations providing physical services. Renan shares insights from his journey, including founding Chance, a successful recruitment tech business, and the challenges he faced along the way. Tune in to hear about Renan's experiences at a Tesla factory, navigating business pivots, and the critical role of operations in the future of industries. ⏱️ Timestamps: 02:24 - Quick Fire Round with Renan 03:17 - OSS Ventures: Venture Builder Model 04:06 - Renan's Favorite Portfolio Companies 05:05 - Wine Preferences and Geographical Partisanship 05:35 - Renan's Journey and Departure from Chance 07:33 - Pivoting Business Model from Europe to Brazil 09:36 - Competitive Advantages of Different Countries 10:08 - OSS Ventures' Focus on Factory Operations 15:24 - Realization of Change in Manufacturing Space 18:03 - Sponsor Break: Emerge One 18:35 - Manufacturing Operations in the 21st Century 21:01 - Software's Role in Modern Manufacturing 23:39 - Personalized Medicine and Economic Value 24:43 - Trends in the Manufacturing and Operations Space 27:07 - Resilience as a Top CEO Priority 30:05 - Software Disruption in Textile Industry with Shein 32:07 - AI Trends in Physical Products and Processes 35:15 - Advice for Hardware Founders 36:56 - Sam Altman's Ambitious Funding Goals 37:44 - OSS Ventures' First Exit: Niagara Acquisition 38:49 - Closing Remarks and Contact Information

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, Aarish Shah interviews Francesco Perticarari, a general partner at Silicon Roundabout Ventures. Francesco discusses the shift from unicorns to titans in the tech industry, focusing on deep tech investments. Learn how deep tech involves integrating technology into risk and reward strategies for startups. ⏱️ Timestamps: 01:44 Deep tech investing in Europe.06:48 Defense tech company Green Jets.10:11 Deep tech investments and trends.13:22 The Future and the Cold War.19:31 Deep tech investment trends.19:41 Infrastructure in technology space.27:27 Defense and strategic supply chain.29:05 Manufacturing in tech ecosystem.33:15 The importance of collaboration.36:25 NATO and European defense collaboration.42:04 Innovation in developing economies.47:04 Building unconventional investment strategies.49:18 The changing landscape of venture.55:25 Deep tech investment strategies.58:14 Deep tech investing and passion.59:45 Attending tech events more often.

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah chats with Jack Kuveke, the author of the newsletter Jabroni Capital and a fundraising coach. They discuss Jack's experience raising a $53 million ICO, his ventures in the crypto and gaming space in Serbia, and the ups and downs of the fundraising hype cycle. Tune in to unravel the fact from fiction in Jack's intriguing journey through the world of venture capital. ⏱️ Timestamps: 01:01 - Welcoming Jack Kuveke 01:11 - Jack's Background and Jabroni Capital 01:32 - Jack's Experience in Crypto and Gaming 02:04 - Quick Fire Questions with Jack 03:01 - Jack's Approach to Helping Startups 03:23 - Jack's Investment Interests 04:10 - Jack's Arrival in the Venture Ecosystem 04:58 - Jack's Early Crypto Adventures 05:30 - Jack's Involvement with Gaming Cryptocurrency 06:08 - Building a Crypto Community 07:09 - Jack's Role in the Crypto Company 08:01 - The ICO Boom and Community Growth 08:48 - The $53 Million ICO 09:47 - Jack's Pseudonym and Family Involvement 10:08 - Jack's Decision to Drop Out and Move to Serbia 11:01 - The Collapse of the Crypto Company 11:18 - Sponsor Break: Emerge One 11:50 - Jack's Return and New Beginnings 12:55 - The Reality of Startups and Failures 13:23 - Jack's Family Support and Investment 14:11 - The Nuance of Jabroni Capital 15:10 - Jack's Parents' Role in His Journey 16:11 - The Authenticity Behind Jabroni Capital 17:15 - The Future of Jabroni Capital 18:12 - The Value of Fun and Authenticity 19:16 - The Satirical Edge of Jabroni Capital 20:16 - The Importance of Storytelling in Fundraising 21:09 - The Art of the Pitch and Standing Out 22:15 - The Grind of the Current Fundraising Environment 23:10 - The Power of Narrative Over Numbers 24:02 - The Role of Humor in Building Relationships 25:09 - The Importance of Authenticity in Fundraising 26:26 - Jack's Day Job and Fundraising Insights 27:36 - Jack's Vision for Jabroni Capital's Expansion 28:09 - The Significance of Storytelling in Venture Capital 29:09 - The Current State of Fundraising and Advice for Founders 30:44 - The Shift in Fundraising Dynamics 31:15 - Tips for Founders to Stand Out During Fundraising 32:27 - The Lasting Impact of a Good Story 33:02 - The Importance of Authenticity and Personality in Pitches 34:06 - The Role of Humor in Memorable Pitches 35:15 - Where to Find Jack Online

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah interviews Charles Sidman, founder of ECS Capital Partners, a venture capital firm focusing on technology ventures with a positive impact. Charles shares his journey from academia to venture capital, discusses achieving an exit in six weeks, debates whether AI is becoming a cult, emphasizes the importance of diversity in systems, and delves into complexity science. Tune in for an insightful conversation on influencing the world through tech investments. 🕒 Time stamps - 01:01 - Guest Introduction: Charles Sidman 01:23 - Charles Sidman's Background and Transition to Venture Capital 01:55 - Topics of Discussion: AI, Diversity, and Angel Investing 02:06 - Quick Fire Round with Charles 03:24 - Charles' Investment Focus and Portfolio Companies 04:57 - Charles' Late Shift to Investing 05:16 - From Academia to Venture Capital 06:03 - Research vs. Investing in Ideas 06:49 - The Scientific Approach to Investing 07:34 - The Reality of Angel Investing 08:03 - The Longevity of Startups and Exits 08:38 - Positive Impact Investments and AI Skepticism 09:11 - AI as a Cult and Its Impact 10:03 - Anthropomorphizing AI and Its Consequences 11:03 - AI in Practical Scenarios 12:02 - The Turing Test and AI's Limitations 12:55 - The Future of AI and AGI 13:28 - AI's Four Key Issues 14:01 - Self-Driving Cars and AI's Limitations 15:27 - The Role of AI in Decision-Making 16:03 - The Angel Investment Landscape 17:01 - Complexity Science and Personalized Medicine 18:00 - The Future of Medicine: 5P Approach 19:05 - Personalized Education and AI 20:25 - The Role of AI in Education and Medicine 21:07 - Sponsor Break: Emerge One 21:20 - Tech's Role in Generalization vs. Personalization 22:01 - Venture Funding Trends and AI 22:31 - Medical Advances During the Pandemic 23:14 - Complexity Science Explained 24:09 - Personalization in Medicine 25:11 - The Diversity of Human Beings 26:03 - Personalized Education and AI's Potential 27:17 - The Need for Personalized Approaches 28:01 - 5P Medicine and Personalization 29:13 - Personalized Education and Technology's Role 30:05 - The Mismatch Between Education and Future Needs 31:05 - Personalization in Medicine and Education 32:02 - Crowdfunding as an Investment Avenue 33:24 - Angel Investing: Financial Returns vs. Other Rewards 34:08 - The Realities of Angel Investing 35:25 - Crowdfunding and Community Building 36:11 - Angel Investment Landscape in the US 37:17 - UK Legislation Impact on Angel Investing 38:12 - Crowdfunding and Inclusivity 39:17 - Crowdfunding as an Educational Tool 40:12 - The Role of Crowdfunding in Early Investment 41:11 - The Reality of Angel Investing Returns 42:07 - Crowdfunding's Limitations 43:33 - Crowdfunding for Personal Causes 44:48 - The Importance of Personal Connection in Investing 45:11 - The Role of Crowdfunding in Investment Education 46:00 - How to Connect with Charles Sidman Online

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah sits down with Monik Pham and Reem Mobassaleh, founding partners of PACT VC. PACT VC is an early stage VC fund that focuses on backing founders who are solving key issues facing future generations. The conversation covers topics such as the importance of diversity in founding a fund, the challenges of building a fund at a young age, and the integration of commercial and impact metrics in measuring success. Tune in to learn more about their journey and strategies for success in the venture capital world. 🕒 Time stamps - 01:01 - Introducing Guests Monique Pham and Reem Wyndham 01:44 - Founding a VC Fund as Women 02:10 - Guests' First Jobs and Early Career Paths 03:18 - Backgrounds Before Founding PACT VC 04:21 - Decision to Launch PACT VC 05:04 - PACT VC's Investment Themes: ABCs 06:11 - Geographical Focus of Investments 06:38 - Recent Investments and Exciting Startups 09:17 - Diversity in Venture Capital and PACT VC's Approach 11:09 - Cognitive Diversity and Team Dynamics 12:03 - Performance Over Gender in VC 13:13 - Supporting Portfolio Companies in Hiring Diverse Talent 14:23 - LPs Investing in Diverse Allocators 17:08 - The Importance of Backing Quality and Diverse GPs 19:14 - Encouraging LPs to Invest in Diverse Managers 21:23 - The Risk of Regression in LP Investments 22:17 - Sponsor Break: Emerge One 22:48 - Concerns About the Future of Diverse Fund Management 24:31 - The Journey of Founding PACT VC 27:09 - The Role of Diversity in Building a VC Fund 29:43 - The Origin Story of PACT VC 31:08 - The Decision to Raise a Fund Together 32:25 - Challenges Faced Since Starting PACT VC 34:11 - The Importance of Team Dynamics in VC 35:38 - Preparing and Validating the Fund's Thesis 37:23 - The Emotional Side of Raising a Fund 38:06 - The Decision to Found PACT VC 39:29 - The ABC Investment Thesis and Impact Metrics 41:08 - Aligning Impact Metrics with Growth Targets 42:14 - The Story of Two Brown Boys 43:21 - The Importance of Co-Founder Fit 44:56 - The Nuances of Founding and Co-Founding 46:10 - The ABC Thesis and Stakeholder Returns 47:14 - Impact Metrics and Commercial Returns 48:08 - Case Study: Insurtech Company Impact 49:06 - Aligning Impact with Business Growth 50:21 - Founder Values and Mission-Driven Businesses 51:39 - Addressing Underrepresented Markets

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah sits down with Harry Slagel and Lucy Adams, the co-founders of Martee's. Martee's is a business focused on improving convenience food globally by applying AI to retail technology. They have built a network of smart retail units across London and are using the data collected to develop an AI demand forecasting product. Harry and Lucy share their experiences and insights into their journey as entrepreneurs in the food tech industry. Tune in to learn more about their innovative approach and the future of convenience food. 🕒 Time stamps - 01:11 - Introduction to Harry Slagel and Lucy Adams, co-founders of Martee's02:25 - Discussion on launching a business during lockdown and the challenges faced07:33 - Harry's journey with PlateAway and the decision to exit11:10 - Lucy's background and how she became a co-founder of Martee's13:21 - The co-founding journey of Harry and Lucy and their complementary skills20:35 - The initial product set of Martee's and the focus on smart fridges22:05 - The pivot to demand forecasting and the goal of balancing availability and waste26:41 - Future plans for Martee's and the development of their forecasting tool28:58 - The potential for expanding the tool to different verticals30:35 - The timeliness of Martee's solution in the current market conditions33:26 - The benefits of working with accelerators and incubators like Founders Factory and Nesta36:02 - The support and guidance provided by accelerators in the early stages of a business39:41 - The importance of having experienced investors and advisors in the early stages41:34 - The decision to respond to Harry's LinkedIn post and join Martee's42:29 - Conclusion and where to find Harry and Lucy online

This podcast episode features Sam Beni, the founder of Platin, a platform that uses AI to curate networking connections. Sam shares his journey as a refugee from Iran to the UK and how he had to navigate the challenges of being without legal status for four years. He also discusses his experience as an entrepreneur, living on his office couch for three years and the complexity of AI in systems. The episode concludes with a discussion on separating the social from social media at Platin. 🕒 Time stamps - 02:38 Overcoming adversity through entrepreneurship. 09:55. Migrant founders embrace entrepreneurship for survival. 14:07 Entrepreneurship requires a mindset shift. 18:22. Tech Nation lost funding, but Tech Nation 2.0 is coming back. 25:15 UK government's mixed approach 26:47 The online safety bill and complex AI. 32:43 The internet is becoming corrupted. 40:28 Empower individuals with decentralized AI. 43:25 Web3 is a marketing buzz. 🔗 Sam's links - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-beni Web - https://joinplatin.ai/

The host introduces Sam Beni, the founder of Platin, and discusses his background in car design and his interest in technology. Sam talks about his early internships and how he got into entrepreneurship. He also mentions his passion for politics and speculates that he might have pursued a career in politics if not for his involvement in the venture ecosystem. 🕒 Time stamps - 01:51 Passion for design led to entrepreneurship. 07:50 Creating access to global networks. 12:25 Technologies of the future: AI, quantum computing, convergence. 🔗 Sam's links - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-beni Web - https://joinplatin.ai/

In this podcast episode, hosts Aarish Shah interviews Dom and Elliot Chapman, the founders of Chapman Capital. They discuss the process of acquiring and scaling boutique agencies, as well as lessons learned from previous ventures. The Chapmans highlight the importance of aligning founders' values during acquisitions and maintaining unity despite private disagreements. They also share their approach to due diligence and the specific case of their acquisition of Speak On Podcasts, a B2B sales and marketing agency. 🕒 Time stamps - 04:49 Acquiring distressed businesses for growth. 09:04 Agencies can increase net profit. 10:26 Easier to start agency than tech startup. 16:07 Building a business takes time. 21:22 Scaling agencies requires strategic integration. 27:05 Importance of founder alignment 33:27 Trust and alignment in business. 35:24 Importance of mutual agreement and communication

In this podcast episode, Aarish Shah interviews Dom and Elliot Chapman, founders of Chapman Capital. They discuss their background and how they got involved in the tech and venture ecosystem. Dom shares his experience working in an IT management consultancy after being involved in soccer coaching, while Elliot talks about his first job selling ice creams and later working in the family business. They also mention their previous business, Social Chaps, a B2B sales and marketing agency. The episode is sponsored by Odin, a platform that helps raise and deploy capital for angels, VCs, and founders. 🕒 Time stamps - 01:06 Brothers Dom and Elliot Chapman founded Chapman Capital, a company that acquires and scales boutique agencies. 08:41 Entrepreneurship born from personal challenges. 11:21 Building relationships through data automation. 17:23 Support for agency owners' pain. 23:39 Flexibility in business strategy.

Rosie provides insights into Lightpace VC, an emerging fund focused on financial inclusion and climate tech in Europe and major African markets. The fund looks for pre-seed and seed stage startups that are solving real-life problems, particularly in the field of climate technology. The podcast emphasizes the importance of African founders tackling significant challenges affecting millions of people. 🕒 Time stamps - 04:00 Investing in impactful startups.07:56 Tech solutions can promote financial inclusion. 🔗 Rosie's links - LinkedIn - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/rosie-olympio-650b3b127

In this episode of the Nothing Ventured podcast, host Aarish Shah interviews Shruti Ajisaria, a partner at Allen & Overy, about her journey in the legal tech industry. Shruti discusses her experience as a derivatives lawyer, her pivot to creating Fuse, Allen & Overy's legal tech incubator, and the changing landscape of the legal industry. She also talks about her participation in a business start-up course while on maternity leave and how it motivated her to bring a legacy industry into the modern age. 👂 Listen to the Primer here: https://youtu.be/6ACPk8rJ35A 🕒 Time stamps - 02:24 Legacy industry transformed through innovation. 05:08 Law firm started innovation incubator. 09:49 Take risks and shoot your shot. 14:30 Resistance to change in legal tech. 21:11 Future of legal profession uncertain. 27:03 Investing in startups is time-intensive. 28:12 Investing in mature, growing companies. 32:52 Regulation is changing rapidly. 🔗 Shruti's links - LinkedIn - t.ly/DjRLp

Aarish Shah welcomes Shruti Ajitsaria to the podcast to discuss her role as the head of FUSE at Allen & Overy. They talk about Shruti's background as a derivatives lawyer and how her maternity leave sparked her interest in doing something different within the law firm. FUSE was created to bridge the gap between traditional law firms and legal tech startups, allowing lawyers to have a say in the development of innovative solutions. 🕒 Time stamps - 04:11 FUSE connects law firms and legal tech startups. 04:56 Encouraging innovation in legacy industries. 🔗 Shruti's links - LinkedIn - t.ly/DjRLp

The discussion in this podcast episode centers around the geographical location of Oklahoma and how it is categorized within the US. The term "mid-continent" is used to describe the region, which has a significant presence in the oil and gas industry. Nathaniel Harding emphasizes the importance of recognizing the uniqueness of the mid-continent as a market and how Cortado Ventures leverages their experience and expertise in the region to make strategic investments. 🕒 Time stamps - 03:22 Oklahoma is considered part of the mid-continent region due to its unique characteristics and the dominance of the oil and gas industry. 10:26 Venture capital scene in Oklahoma is developing. 10:57 Massive growth in venture capital. 20:34 Building local businesses attracts investors. 23:06 Military mindset benefits startups. 27:32 Decline of business plans in startups. 34:46 VC industry is relationship-driven. 🔗 Nathaniel's links - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanielharding Twitter/X - https://twitter.com/nat_harding Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nat_harding/ Web - https://www.cortado.ventures