Ventures from The Valley Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/ventures-from-the-valley-a5cb5262-4fa5-419a-9998-0a8e530a7ed1 Ventures from the Valley brings you inside the rooms where billion-dollar decisions get made. Hosted by R136 Ventures, each episode features candid conversations with the founders, operators, and investors shaping the future of technology; from AI infrastructure to global fintech to the companies redefining how we build. Copyrights © 2026 All Rights Reserved by R136 c84965a7-8fe2-576c-902b-b304fed0c749 yes en Wed, 04 Mar 2026 15:25:47 -0100 Wed, 04 Mar 2026 15:26:49 -0100 https://podcasts.fame.so/ventures-from-the-valley https://img.transistorcdn.com/qd3MjwbpI3EO1h18EQS8L-kB0-YzZWtJ4H8a_tH5Q4k/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8wYTBh/Y2QwMDRhYzI5NWQw/YzU2Njk2Y2U1MmMy/YTFmYy5qcGc.jpg Ventures from The Valley https://podcasts.fame.so/ventures-from-the-valley episodic R136 Ventures Ventures from the Valley brings you inside the rooms where billion-dollar decisions get made. Hosted by R136 Ventures, each episode features candid conversations with the founders, operators, and investors shaping the future of technology; from AI infrastructure to global fintech to the companies redefining how we build. Ventures from the Valley brings you inside the rooms where billion-dollar decisions get made. Victor Orlovski No No OpenVC - The Platform Behind $1B in Startup Raises with Stephane Nasser 24 24 OpenVC - The Platform Behind $1B in Startup Raises with Stephane Nasser full cad09c2a-07da-4d11-860b-3c492d89f0b7 https://share.transistor.fm/s/f2fe600a What actually drives venture capital decisions - data, FOMO, or storytelling?

In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, I sit down with Stephane Nasser, Co-Founder & CEO of OpenVC - a free fundraising platform that has facilitated over $1 billion in startup funding for 25,000+ founders since launch.

We unpack how early-stage fundraising really works, why most founders make the same avoidable mistakes, and how OpenVC is building infrastructure to modernize venture deal flow.

Stephane shares his journey from startup accelerator operator to building OpenVC into a global discovery engine for founders and investors without taking equity or success fees.

In this episode, we discuss:
 • How OpenVC connects founders and 6,000+ investors worldwide
 • The biggest pitch deck mistakes founders don’t realize they’re making
 • Why FOMO is the real driver of venture investing
 • How to structure a fundraising narrative investors actually understand
 • The psychology behind deal flow and investor decision-making
 • Why most founders should climb the learning curve before pitching
 • How Product Hunt helped OpenVC gain early traction
 • Why venture capital is still a niche but powerful asset class
 • The long-term vision of OpenVC as deal flow infrastructure
 • Whether venture capital itself could be disrupted

If you’re a founder raising Pre-Seed, Seed, or Series A or an investor looking for high-quality early-stage deal flow - this conversation will sharpen your thinking.

R136 Ventures supports visionary founders scaling B2B and fintech companies across the United States.

🌐 Learn more: https://www.r136.vc/

Would you build your fundraising strategy around FOMO or fundamentals?

]]> What actually drives venture capital decisions - data, FOMO, or storytelling?

In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, I sit down with Stephane Nasser, Co-Founder & CEO of OpenVC - a free fundraising platform that has facilitated over $1 billion in startup funding for 25,000+ founders since launch.

We unpack how early-stage fundraising really works, why most founders make the same avoidable mistakes, and how OpenVC is building infrastructure to modernize venture deal flow.

Stephane shares his journey from startup accelerator operator to building OpenVC into a global discovery engine for founders and investors without taking equity or success fees.

In this episode, we discuss:
 • How OpenVC connects founders and 6,000+ investors worldwide
 • The biggest pitch deck mistakes founders don’t realize they’re making
 • Why FOMO is the real driver of venture investing
 • How to structure a fundraising narrative investors actually understand
 • The psychology behind deal flow and investor decision-making
 • Why most founders should climb the learning curve before pitching
 • How Product Hunt helped OpenVC gain early traction
 • Why venture capital is still a niche but powerful asset class
 • The long-term vision of OpenVC as deal flow infrastructure
 • Whether venture capital itself could be disrupted

If you’re a founder raising Pre-Seed, Seed, or Series A or an investor looking for high-quality early-stage deal flow - this conversation will sharpen your thinking.

R136 Ventures supports visionary founders scaling B2B and fintech companies across the United States.

🌐 Learn more: https://www.r136.vc/

Would you build your fundraising strategy around FOMO or fundamentals?

]]> Wed, 04 Mar 2026 15:24:52 -0100 R135 Ventures R135 Ventures 5227 What actually drives venture capital decisions - data, FOMO, or storytelling?

In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, I sit down with Stephane Nasser, Co-Founder & CEO of OpenVC - a free fundraising platform that has facilitated over $1 billion in startup funding for 25,000+ founders since launch.

We unpack how early-stage fundraising really works, why most founders make the same avoidable mistakes, and how OpenVC is building infrastructure to modernize venture deal flow.

Stephane shares his journey from startup accelerator operator to building OpenVC into a global discovery engine for founders and investors without taking equity or success fees.

In this episode, we discuss:
 • How OpenVC connects founders and 6,000+ investors worldwide
 • The biggest pitch deck mistakes founders don’t realize they’re making
 • Why FOMO is the real driver of venture investing
 • How to structure a fundraising narrative investors actually understand
 • The psychology behind deal flow and investor decision-making
 • Why most founders should climb the learning curve before pitching
 • How Product Hunt helped OpenVC gain early traction
 • Why venture capital is still a niche but powerful asset class
 • The long-term vision of OpenVC as deal flow infrastructure
 • Whether venture capital itself could be disrupted

If you’re a founder raising Pre-Seed, Seed, or Series A or an investor looking for high-quality early-stage deal flow - this conversation will sharpen your thinking.

R136 Ventures supports visionary founders scaling B2B and fintech companies across the United States.

🌐 Learn more: https://www.r136.vc/

Would you build your fundraising strategy around FOMO or fundamentals?

]]> venture capital, startup fundraising, VC investing, early stage startups, startup funding, how to raise venture capital, fundraising strategy, venture capital podcast, startup pitch deck, investor psychology, FOMO investing, startup storytelling, venture capital deals, startup founders, startup ecosystem, startup advice, tech startups, fintech startups, B2B startups, venture capital insights, startup pitch tips, investor decision making, deal flow, venture deal flow, startup growth strategies, seed funding, pre seed funding, series A funding, startup investors, angel investors, startup networking, startup fundraising mistakes, venture capital trends, startup strategy, startup accelerator, startup mentorship, fundraising platform, OpenVC, Stephane Nasser, startup platform, venture capital network, founder investor matchmaking, startup capital raising, startup education, VC industry insights, startup innovation, tech entrepreneurship, founder journey, startup market strategy, venture capital industry, R136 Ventures, Victor Orlovski, silicon valley venture capital No The Scientist Turned VC Funding the Cure for Aging with Omri Amirav-Drory 23 23 The Scientist Turned VC Funding the Cure for Aging with Omri Amirav-Drory full 597d9457-dcf2-427d-bf58-ffadb6b29a9e https://share.transistor.fm/s/9ac7b100 What if aging isn’t inevitable — but a solvable problem?
And what if the biggest opportunity in healthcare isn’t treating disease, but preventing it entirely?

In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, I sit down with Omri Amirav-Drory, General Partner at NFX, to explore one of the most ambitious frontiers in venture capital: longevity, biotech, and the intersection of biology and technology.

Omri leads pre-seed and seed investments at NFX and focuses on what he believes is the ultimate mission — ending involuntary death. We talk openly about why aging is the root cause behind most diseases, how AI is transforming biotech, and why longevity represents a $38 trillion per year opportunity in additional healthy life.

This is a deep, honest conversation about conviction, risk, optimism, and why the future of healthcare looks nothing like today’s system.

⸻

In this episode, we discuss:
 • Why aging is the root cause of 9 out of 10 deadly diseases
 • The real difference between lifespan and healthspan
 • Why longevity could unlock $38T per year in economic value
 • How NFX evaluates early-stage biotech and tech-bio startups
 • The power-law logic behind seed investing
 • Why most VCs miss the biggest opportunities by being pessimistic
 • AI’s three major waves in biotech and drug discovery
 • Why GLP-1 drugs changed healthcare economics forever
 • Precision medicine, biomarkers, and the limits of simulation
 • Whether humans alive today could realistically live to 160
 • Replacement biology, regeneration, and the ethics of enhancement


❓ Do you believe aging will be cured in our lifetime — or is it science fiction?

___________________________________________________________________________
R136 Ventures - a Silicon Valley-based multi-stage VC firm with a focus on scaling mid and late-stage B2B and fintech startups.

Our mission is to propel creative entrepreneurs to a faster growth trajectory. We help founders scale their mid-to-late stage startups, bringing with us a distinctive fusion of expertise and past experiences that are key in unlocking their true potential. 

With many of our team having previously held CEO, CTO and other c-level positions, we understand the challenges and opportunities of both startups and major corporations. Our contribution doesn't just stop at vision and strategy; we actively shape your execution and help in talent acquisition. 

With a legacy of managing assets exceeding $400 million and having financially backed more than  30 innovative companies, our record speaks for itself.

🌐 Learn more: https://www.r136.vc/

]]> What if aging isn’t inevitable — but a solvable problem?
And what if the biggest opportunity in healthcare isn’t treating disease, but preventing it entirely?

In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, I sit down with Omri Amirav-Drory, General Partner at NFX, to explore one of the most ambitious frontiers in venture capital: longevity, biotech, and the intersection of biology and technology.

Omri leads pre-seed and seed investments at NFX and focuses on what he believes is the ultimate mission — ending involuntary death. We talk openly about why aging is the root cause behind most diseases, how AI is transforming biotech, and why longevity represents a $38 trillion per year opportunity in additional healthy life.

This is a deep, honest conversation about conviction, risk, optimism, and why the future of healthcare looks nothing like today’s system.

⸻

In this episode, we discuss:
 • Why aging is the root cause of 9 out of 10 deadly diseases
 • The real difference between lifespan and healthspan
 • Why longevity could unlock $38T per year in economic value
 • How NFX evaluates early-stage biotech and tech-bio startups
 • The power-law logic behind seed investing
 • Why most VCs miss the biggest opportunities by being pessimistic
 • AI’s three major waves in biotech and drug discovery
 • Why GLP-1 drugs changed healthcare economics forever
 • Precision medicine, biomarkers, and the limits of simulation
 • Whether humans alive today could realistically live to 160
 • Replacement biology, regeneration, and the ethics of enhancement


❓ Do you believe aging will be cured in our lifetime — or is it science fiction?

___________________________________________________________________________
R136 Ventures - a Silicon Valley-based multi-stage VC firm with a focus on scaling mid and late-stage B2B and fintech startups.

Our mission is to propel creative entrepreneurs to a faster growth trajectory. We help founders scale their mid-to-late stage startups, bringing with us a distinctive fusion of expertise and past experiences that are key in unlocking their true potential. 

With many of our team having previously held CEO, CTO and other c-level positions, we understand the challenges and opportunities of both startups and major corporations. Our contribution doesn't just stop at vision and strategy; we actively shape your execution and help in talent acquisition. 

With a legacy of managing assets exceeding $400 million and having financially backed more than  30 innovative companies, our record speaks for itself.

🌐 Learn more: https://www.r136.vc/

]]> Wed, 04 Feb 2026 15:57:14 -0100 R136 Ventures R136 Ventures 3633 What if aging isn’t inevitable — but a solvable problem?
And what if the biggest opportunity in healthcare isn’t treating disease, but preventing it entirely?

In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, I sit down with Omri Amirav-Drory, General Partner at NFX, to explore one of the most ambitious frontiers in venture capital: longevity, biotech, and the intersection of biology and technology.

Omri leads pre-seed and seed investments at NFX and focuses on what he believes is the ultimate mission — ending involuntary death. We talk openly about why aging is the root cause behind most diseases, how AI is transforming biotech, and why longevity represents a $38 trillion per year opportunity in additional healthy life.

This is a deep, honest conversation about conviction, risk, optimism, and why the future of healthcare looks nothing like today’s system.

⸻

In this episode, we discuss:
 • Why aging is the root cause of 9 out of 10 deadly diseases
 • The real difference between lifespan and healthspan
 • Why longevity could unlock $38T per year in economic value
 • How NFX evaluates early-stage biotech and tech-bio startups
 • The power-law logic behind seed investing
 • Why most VCs miss the biggest opportunities by being pessimistic
 • AI’s three major waves in biotech and drug discovery
 • Why GLP-1 drugs changed healthcare economics forever
 • Precision medicine, biomarkers, and the limits of simulation
 • Whether humans alive today could realistically live to 160
 • Replacement biology, regeneration, and the ethics of enhancement


❓ Do you believe aging will be cured in our lifetime — or is it science fiction?

___________________________________________________________________________
R136 Ventures - a Silicon Valley-based multi-stage VC firm with a focus on scaling mid and late-stage B2B and fintech startups.

Our mission is to propel creative entrepreneurs to a faster growth trajectory. We help founders scale their mid-to-late stage startups, bringing with us a distinctive fusion of expertise and past experiences that are key in unlocking their true potential. 

With many of our team having previously held CEO, CTO and other c-level positions, we understand the challenges and opportunities of both startups and major corporations. Our contribution doesn't just stop at vision and strategy; we actively shape your execution and help in talent acquisition. 

With a legacy of managing assets exceeding $400 million and having financially backed more than  30 innovative companies, our record speaks for itself.

🌐 Learn more: https://www.r136.vc/

]]> longevity investing, biotech venture capital, aging research, tech bio startups, AI in biotech, NFX venture fund, Omri Amirav Drory, venture capital podcast, precision medicine, healthspan lifespan, Silicon Valley VC, early stage investing, future of healthcare No How Uber’s Playbook Shaped Blockchain.com’s Growth Strategy With Lane Kasselman 22 22 How Uber’s Playbook Shaped Blockchain.com’s Growth Strategy With Lane Kasselman full f4db8309-6060-4c2f-bb43-a41c7b330bc1 https://share.transistor.fm/s/18346b69 Most people think disruption is about technology.

In reality, it’s about winning inside chaos, regulation, and imperfect systems — before the rules catch up.


In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, I sit down with Lane Kasselman, President of Blockchain.com and one of the earliest executives at Uber, to unpack what it truly takes to scale category-defining companies in the most regulated environments on earth.


We talk candidly about how Uber forced regulation to follow adoption, how that mindset carried into Blockchain.com, and why the next crypto cycle will look fundamentally different from the last.


This is not a conversation about hype.

It’s a masterclass on building real companies that survive cycles, scrutiny, and scale.


⸻


In this episode, we cover:

 • Why Uber’s “win or lose” culture still defines category winners

 • How Blockchain.com scaled from 100 to 600 employees in under a year

 • What founders misunderstand about regulation in tech and crypto

 • Why emerging markets are driving real crypto adoption — not speculation

 • How stablecoins are already replacing fiat in parts of the global economy

 • Why the next crypto downturn won’t look like 2022

 • How AI agents will quietly make crypto the backbone of global payments

 • The leadership shifts required to scale from startup to global platform

 • Why hiring true operators — not just insiders — changes everything

 • The single most important mistake founders make in regulated industries


⸻

❓ If regulation is inevitable, should founders fight it — or design their strategy around it from day one?


]]> Most people think disruption is about technology.

In reality, it’s about winning inside chaos, regulation, and imperfect systems — before the rules catch up.


In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, I sit down with Lane Kasselman, President of Blockchain.com and one of the earliest executives at Uber, to unpack what it truly takes to scale category-defining companies in the most regulated environments on earth.


We talk candidly about how Uber forced regulation to follow adoption, how that mindset carried into Blockchain.com, and why the next crypto cycle will look fundamentally different from the last.


This is not a conversation about hype.

It’s a masterclass on building real companies that survive cycles, scrutiny, and scale.


⸻


In this episode, we cover:

 • Why Uber’s “win or lose” culture still defines category winners

 • How Blockchain.com scaled from 100 to 600 employees in under a year

 • What founders misunderstand about regulation in tech and crypto

 • Why emerging markets are driving real crypto adoption — not speculation

 • How stablecoins are already replacing fiat in parts of the global economy

 • Why the next crypto downturn won’t look like 2022

 • How AI agents will quietly make crypto the backbone of global payments

 • The leadership shifts required to scale from startup to global platform

 • Why hiring true operators — not just insiders — changes everything

 • The single most important mistake founders make in regulated industries


⸻

❓ If regulation is inevitable, should founders fight it — or design their strategy around it from day one?


]]> Thu, 08 Jan 2026 06:18:00 -0100 Victor Orlovski Victor Orlovski 3867 Most people think disruption is about technology.

In reality, it’s about winning inside chaos, regulation, and imperfect systems — before the rules catch up.


In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, I sit down with Lane Kasselman, President of Blockchain.com and one of the earliest executives at Uber, to unpack what it truly takes to scale category-defining companies in the most regulated environments on earth.


We talk candidly about how Uber forced regulation to follow adoption, how that mindset carried into Blockchain.com, and why the next crypto cycle will look fundamentally different from the last.


This is not a conversation about hype.

It’s a masterclass on building real companies that survive cycles, scrutiny, and scale.


⸻


In this episode, we cover:

 • Why Uber’s “win or lose” culture still defines category winners

 • How Blockchain.com scaled from 100 to 600 employees in under a year

 • What founders misunderstand about regulation in tech and crypto

 • Why emerging markets are driving real crypto adoption — not speculation

 • How stablecoins are already replacing fiat in parts of the global economy

 • Why the next crypto downturn won’t look like 2022

 • How AI agents will quietly make crypto the backbone of global payments

 • The leadership shifts required to scale from startup to global platform

 • Why hiring true operators — not just insiders — changes everything

 • The single most important mistake founders make in regulated industries


⸻

❓ If regulation is inevitable, should founders fight it — or design their strategy around it from day one?


]]> venture capital, startups, entrepreneurship, venture investing, startup funding, founder stories, business growth, tech startups, early stage investing, how to raise capital, scaling a startup, R136 Ventures, R136 podcast, Victor Orlovski, Lane Kessleman, Uber early executive, crypto regulation, fintech venture capital, crypto adoption, scaling startups, regulated industries, Silicon Valley VC, fintech leadership, crypto future, blockchain.com, Lane Kesselman No How Smart Founders Raise Capital in 2026 (VC Reality Check) 21 21 How Smart Founders Raise Capital in 2026 (VC Reality Check) full 1360d5fb-f200-4920-b8b3-5b08e204fc24 https://share.transistor.fm/s/b7ce5bfc Most founders believe venture capital is a game of who can raise the largest round. But the real game is different: pick the right market, build something defensible, and create a business that doesn’t burn through capital just to stay alive.

 

Jeff Weinstein is a partner at FJ Labs, one of the world’s most active early-stage investors. The firm has backed more than 1,000 companies with over $500 million under management. Unlike traditional venture firms that deliberate for weeks, FJ Labs moves fast, invests globally, and says no to most deals.

 

In our conversation, Weinstein walks through the mechanics of evaluating 200 startups each week, explains what separates fundable companies from also-rans, and discusses how artificial intelligence is reshaping both marketplace businesses and the venture industry itself.

 

For founders, operators, and investors, the conversation offers a window into how venture capital works when stripped of its usual inefficiencies.

 

Key topics:

• Why FJ Labs backs more than 100 companies annually

• How the firm narrows hundreds of pitches to a handful of investments using two calls

• What founders must demonstrate before investors commit capital

• Why marketplace businesses remain defensible despite AI advances

• How emerging fund managers compete against multibillion-dollar institutions

• Why raising less capital can lead to better outcomes than raising more

• How FJ Labs identifies winners in saturated markets

• Why capital-efficient companies command higher valuations today

• How venture firms evaluate returns, runway, funding rounds, and company valuations


What’s the #1 signal you look for when choosing a startup to bet on?


🌐 Learn more: https://www.r136.vc/


]]> Most founders believe venture capital is a game of who can raise the largest round. But the real game is different: pick the right market, build something defensible, and create a business that doesn’t burn through capital just to stay alive.

 

Jeff Weinstein is a partner at FJ Labs, one of the world’s most active early-stage investors. The firm has backed more than 1,000 companies with over $500 million under management. Unlike traditional venture firms that deliberate for weeks, FJ Labs moves fast, invests globally, and says no to most deals.

 

In our conversation, Weinstein walks through the mechanics of evaluating 200 startups each week, explains what separates fundable companies from also-rans, and discusses how artificial intelligence is reshaping both marketplace businesses and the venture industry itself.

 

For founders, operators, and investors, the conversation offers a window into how venture capital works when stripped of its usual inefficiencies.

 

Key topics:

• Why FJ Labs backs more than 100 companies annually

• How the firm narrows hundreds of pitches to a handful of investments using two calls

• What founders must demonstrate before investors commit capital

• Why marketplace businesses remain defensible despite AI advances

• How emerging fund managers compete against multibillion-dollar institutions

• Why raising less capital can lead to better outcomes than raising more

• How FJ Labs identifies winners in saturated markets

• Why capital-efficient companies command higher valuations today

• How venture firms evaluate returns, runway, funding rounds, and company valuations


What’s the #1 signal you look for when choosing a startup to bet on?


🌐 Learn more: https://www.r136.vc/


]]> Wed, 10 Dec 2025 08:50:00 -0100 R136 Ventures R136 Ventures 4163 Most founders believe venture capital is a game of who can raise the largest round. But the real game is different: pick the right market, build something defensible, and create a business that doesn’t burn through capital just to stay alive.

 

Jeff Weinstein is a partner at FJ Labs, one of the world’s most active early-stage investors. The firm has backed more than 1,000 companies with over $500 million under management. Unlike traditional venture firms that deliberate for weeks, FJ Labs moves fast, invests globally, and says no to most deals.

 

In our conversation, Weinstein walks through the mechanics of evaluating 200 startups each week, explains what separates fundable companies from also-rans, and discusses how artificial intelligence is reshaping both marketplace businesses and the venture industry itself.

 

For founders, operators, and investors, the conversation offers a window into how venture capital works when stripped of its usual inefficiencies.

 

Key topics:

• Why FJ Labs backs more than 100 companies annually

• How the firm narrows hundreds of pitches to a handful of investments using two calls

• What founders must demonstrate before investors commit capital

• Why marketplace businesses remain defensible despite AI advances

• How emerging fund managers compete against multibillion-dollar institutions

• Why raising less capital can lead to better outcomes than raising more

• How FJ Labs identifies winners in saturated markets

• Why capital-efficient companies command higher valuations today

• How venture firms evaluate returns, runway, funding rounds, and company valuations


What’s the #1 signal you look for when choosing a startup to bet on?


🌐 Learn more: https://www.r136.vc/


]]> venture capital, startups, entrepreneurship, venture investing, startup funding, founder stories, business growth, tech startups, early stage investing, how to raise capital, scaling a startup, R136 Ventures, R136 podcast, Victor Orlovski, FJ Labs interview, Jeff Weinstein, early stage VC, how VCs pick startups, marketplace investing, how to fundraise 2025, B2B startups, AI and marketplaces, venture strategy, startup valuation, DPI VC, US tech investing, Silicon Valley VC No How China Actually Builds Tech Giants with Mark Greeven 20 20 How China Actually Builds Tech Giants with Mark Greeven full 80zn8520 https://share.transistor.fm/s/900a7c8f What makes China’s innovators and entrepreneurs so relentlessly driven, and how is their ecosystem mindset redefining global innovation, investment, and AI development?


In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor Orlovski talks with Mark Greeven, Professor of Management Innovation and Voice on China Innovation, and Dean at IMD Business School, to unpack the mindset that is powering China’s innovation revolution. Drawing from over two decades of on-the-ground experience, Mark explores how Chinese entrepreneurs blend fierce competition with deep collaboration to build resilient ecosystems. From the pivotal role of government policy and alumni funding networks to China’s pragmatic, mass-adoption approach to AI, this conversation reveals what truly sets China’s tech scene apart from Silicon Valley. Investors and business leaders will gain invaluable insights into how cultural values, policy alignment, and ecosystems are shaping the next generation of global innovation. 


What you will learn:

  • How Chinese entrepreneurs balance intense competition with collaborative ecosystem building
  • Why government policy alignment is crucial for startup success in China
  • The funding sources in Chinese tech, from global VCs to local alumni networks
  • How Chinese universities are transforming into powerful startup incubators 
  • Why the Chinese AI strategy focuses on mass adoption and open-source development
  • The unique characteristics of Chinese tech leadership: constant sense of urgency, ecosystem thinking, and balanced visibility
  • How China's next generation of entrepreneurs combines a global mindset with traditional cultural values
  • The strategic approach to scaling deep tech ventures in China's current environment
  • Why China's startup ecosystem differs from Silicon Valley's model and how it drives innovation differently
  • The role of university-industry partnerships in driving Chinese tech innovation


Mark Greeven is Professor of Management Innovation and Dean of Asia at IMD. A Chinese speaker with over 20 years of experience in China, he collaborates with companies like Alibaba, Ping An, Haier, Bayer, and Bosch to accelerate innovation and build business ecosystems. A Thinkers50-ranked management expert and contributor to Harvard Business Review and MIT Sloan Management Review, Mark is the author of several acclaimed books, including The Future of Global Retail and Pioneers, Hidden Champions, Change Makers, and Underdogs.


Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> What makes China’s innovators and entrepreneurs so relentlessly driven, and how is their ecosystem mindset redefining global innovation, investment, and AI development?


In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor Orlovski talks with Mark Greeven, Professor of Management Innovation and Voice on China Innovation, and Dean at IMD Business School, to unpack the mindset that is powering China’s innovation revolution. Drawing from over two decades of on-the-ground experience, Mark explores how Chinese entrepreneurs blend fierce competition with deep collaboration to build resilient ecosystems. From the pivotal role of government policy and alumni funding networks to China’s pragmatic, mass-adoption approach to AI, this conversation reveals what truly sets China’s tech scene apart from Silicon Valley. Investors and business leaders will gain invaluable insights into how cultural values, policy alignment, and ecosystems are shaping the next generation of global innovation. 


What you will learn:

  • How Chinese entrepreneurs balance intense competition with collaborative ecosystem building
  • Why government policy alignment is crucial for startup success in China
  • The funding sources in Chinese tech, from global VCs to local alumni networks
  • How Chinese universities are transforming into powerful startup incubators 
  • Why the Chinese AI strategy focuses on mass adoption and open-source development
  • The unique characteristics of Chinese tech leadership: constant sense of urgency, ecosystem thinking, and balanced visibility
  • How China's next generation of entrepreneurs combines a global mindset with traditional cultural values
  • The strategic approach to scaling deep tech ventures in China's current environment
  • Why China's startup ecosystem differs from Silicon Valley's model and how it drives innovation differently
  • The role of university-industry partnerships in driving Chinese tech innovation


Mark Greeven is Professor of Management Innovation and Dean of Asia at IMD. A Chinese speaker with over 20 years of experience in China, he collaborates with companies like Alibaba, Ping An, Haier, Bayer, and Bosch to accelerate innovation and build business ecosystems. A Thinkers50-ranked management expert and contributor to Harvard Business Review and MIT Sloan Management Review, Mark is the author of several acclaimed books, including The Future of Global Retail and Pioneers, Hidden Champions, Change Makers, and Underdogs.


Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> Wed, 05 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0100 R136 R136 3226 What makes China’s innovators and entrepreneurs so relentlessly driven, and how is their ecosystem mindset redefining global innovation, investment, and AI development? In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor Orlovski talks with Mark Greeven, Professor of Management Innovation and Voice on China Innovation, and Dean at IMD Business School, to unpack the mindset that is powering China’s innovation revolution. Drawing from over two decades of on-the-ground experience, Mark explores how Chinese entrepreneurs blend fierce competition with deep collaboration to build resilient ecosystems. From the pivotal role of government policy and alumni funding networks to China’s pragmatic, mass-adoption approach to AI, this conversation reveals what truly sets China’s tech scene apart from Silicon Valley. Investors and business leaders will gain invaluable insights into how cultural values, policy alignment, and ecosystems are shaping the next generation of global innovation. What makes China’s innovators and entrepreneurs so relentlessly driven, and how is their ecosystem mindset redefining global innovation, investment, and AI development? In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor Orlovski talks with Mark Gre No Victor Orlovski on eToro’s $4B IPO: A Masterclass in Timing and Readiness 19 19 Victor Orlovski on eToro’s $4B IPO: A Masterclass in Timing and Readiness full 80zn35j0 https://share.transistor.fm/s/791e8c68
In this special episode of Ventures from the Valley, guest host Austen Legler interviews Victor Orlovski, the show’s usual host, for an insider’s look at eToro’s $4B IPO journey. Victor shares key lessons on market timing, organizational readiness, and strategic storytelling. From essential fintech metrics to brand-building and talent retention, this episode offers a masterclass in preparing a company to go public, perfect for VCs, founders, and fintech enthusiasts eyeing the IPO path.



What you will learn:

  • How to evaluate market timing vs. company readiness when considering an IPO
  • The critical transformation process required to become "public company ready"
  • Why customer lifetime value and acquisition costs are the most crucial metrics 
  • How to build trust and brand value in fintech beyond technical capabilities
  • The importance of comprehensive restructuring versus surface-level preparations 
  • Why storytelling and market positioning are essential elements for successful IPOs 
  • The "Three Pillars of IPO Success"
  • How to maintain resilience through extended growth periods
  • Why building a strong organizational culture and retaining key talent is crucial 
  • The outlook for IPO markets in 2026-2027 and why stability matters more than hype


Victor Orlovski is Managing Partner at R136 Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based VC firm with $400M AUM. With a focus on scaling mid-to-late-stage startups in B2B software, AI, fintech, cybersecurity, and ecommerce, he has led investments in over 40 companies, including 10+ exits and 4 unicorns. A former CTO and Chief Digital Officer who built one of the world’s largest digital banks, Victor brings a unique operator’s perspective, offering founders strategic insight, global access, and hands-on support for scaling success.


Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker and are provided for information purposes only. They do not constitute investment advice, an offer, or a solicitation to buy or sell any security. References to specific portfolio companies, including larger investments, are presented solely as examples and should not be assumed to represent all investments made by R136 or to indicate overall fund performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results.


This podcast may contain forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections. Such statements involve risk and uncertainties, and actual outcomes may differ materially. R136 undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. 

Certain information discussed may have been obtained from third-party sources and is believed to be reliable. However, R136 makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of such information.

Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]>
In this special episode of Ventures from the Valley, guest host Austen Legler interviews Victor Orlovski, the show’s usual host, for an insider’s look at eToro’s $4B IPO journey. Victor shares key lessons on market timing, organizational readiness, and strategic storytelling. From essential fintech metrics to brand-building and talent retention, this episode offers a masterclass in preparing a company to go public, perfect for VCs, founders, and fintech enthusiasts eyeing the IPO path.



What you will learn:

  • How to evaluate market timing vs. company readiness when considering an IPO
  • The critical transformation process required to become "public company ready"
  • Why customer lifetime value and acquisition costs are the most crucial metrics 
  • How to build trust and brand value in fintech beyond technical capabilities
  • The importance of comprehensive restructuring versus surface-level preparations 
  • Why storytelling and market positioning are essential elements for successful IPOs 
  • The "Three Pillars of IPO Success"
  • How to maintain resilience through extended growth periods
  • Why building a strong organizational culture and retaining key talent is crucial 
  • The outlook for IPO markets in 2026-2027 and why stability matters more than hype


Victor Orlovski is Managing Partner at R136 Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based VC firm with $400M AUM. With a focus on scaling mid-to-late-stage startups in B2B software, AI, fintech, cybersecurity, and ecommerce, he has led investments in over 40 companies, including 10+ exits and 4 unicorns. A former CTO and Chief Digital Officer who built one of the world’s largest digital banks, Victor brings a unique operator’s perspective, offering founders strategic insight, global access, and hands-on support for scaling success.


Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker and are provided for information purposes only. They do not constitute investment advice, an offer, or a solicitation to buy or sell any security. References to specific portfolio companies, including larger investments, are presented solely as examples and should not be assumed to represent all investments made by R136 or to indicate overall fund performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results.


This podcast may contain forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections. Such statements involve risk and uncertainties, and actual outcomes may differ materially. R136 undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. 

Certain information discussed may have been obtained from third-party sources and is believed to be reliable. However, R136 makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of such information.

Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> Wed, 08 Oct 2025 11:00:00 +0000 R136 R136 1711 In this special episode of Ventures from the Valley, guest host Austen Legler interviews Victor Orlovski, the show’s usual host, for an insider’s look at eToro’s $5.2B IPO journey. Victor shares key lessons on market timing, organizational readiness, and strategic storytelling. From essential fintech metrics to brand-building and talent retention, this episode offers a masterclass in preparing a company to go public, perfect for VCs, founders, and fintech enthusiasts eyeing the IPO path. In this special episode of Ventures from the Valley, guest host Austen Legler interviews Victor Orlovski, the show’s usual host, for an insider’s look at eToro’s $5.2B IPO journey. Victor shares key lessons on market timing, organizational readiness, and No From Startups to Mass Adoption: Blockchain Insights with Aly Madhavji 18 18 From Startups to Mass Adoption: Blockchain Insights with Aly Madhavji full 80nvlpx0 https://share.transistor.fm/s/291608d7
What does it take to spot the next big breakthrough in blockchain? 


In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor Orlovski sits down with Aly Madhavji, Managing Partner at Blockchain Founders Fund, to uncover how his team evaluates more than 500 companies every month to identify and support the startups shaping the future of Web3. From navigating unpredictable market cycles to supporting founder success, Aly shares hard-earned insights that challenge traditional investing principles in today’s fast-changing digital economy.



What you will learn:

  • How to identify "superhuman" capabilities in early-stage founders 
  • Why blockchain adoption faces different challenges than AI
  • The evolution of cryptocurrency from an ideological movement to mainstream adoption
  • How to build successful Web3 companies by focusing on foundational tools 
  • Why transparency and investor communication can save founders hundreds of hours 
  • The framework for evaluating over 500 blockchain companies monthly 
  • How to approach blockchain investments in emerging markets r
  • Why decentralized social media and gaming are emerging as key sectors 
  • The three-step formula for first-time founders: building awareness, establishing trust, and then seeking investment


Aly Madhavji is Managing Partner at Blockchain Founders Fund, a Singapore-based venture capital firm supporting over 110 startups across blockchain, Web3, AI, and FinTech. He evaluates more than 500 companies monthly, combining strategic investments with hands-on venture building to help founders scale globally. A senior blockchain consultant, UN advisor, and author of three books, Aly has also held roles at PwC, PayPal, Microsoft, and Bloomberg. With an MBA from INSEAD and a Schwarzman Scholarship, he is recognized as a thought leader in emerging technologies.

Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]>
What does it take to spot the next big breakthrough in blockchain? 


In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor Orlovski sits down with Aly Madhavji, Managing Partner at Blockchain Founders Fund, to uncover how his team evaluates more than 500 companies every month to identify and support the startups shaping the future of Web3. From navigating unpredictable market cycles to supporting founder success, Aly shares hard-earned insights that challenge traditional investing principles in today’s fast-changing digital economy.



What you will learn:

  • How to identify "superhuman" capabilities in early-stage founders 
  • Why blockchain adoption faces different challenges than AI
  • The evolution of cryptocurrency from an ideological movement to mainstream adoption
  • How to build successful Web3 companies by focusing on foundational tools 
  • Why transparency and investor communication can save founders hundreds of hours 
  • The framework for evaluating over 500 blockchain companies monthly 
  • How to approach blockchain investments in emerging markets r
  • Why decentralized social media and gaming are emerging as key sectors 
  • The three-step formula for first-time founders: building awareness, establishing trust, and then seeking investment


Aly Madhavji is Managing Partner at Blockchain Founders Fund, a Singapore-based venture capital firm supporting over 110 startups across blockchain, Web3, AI, and FinTech. He evaluates more than 500 companies monthly, combining strategic investments with hands-on venture building to help founders scale globally. A senior blockchain consultant, UN advisor, and author of three books, Aly has also held roles at PwC, PayPal, Microsoft, and Bloomberg. With an MBA from INSEAD and a Schwarzman Scholarship, he is recognized as a thought leader in emerging technologies.

Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> Wed, 03 Sep 2025 11:00:00 +0000 R136 R136 3901 What does it take to spot the next big breakthrough in blockchain? In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor Orlovski sits down with Aly Madhavji, Managing Partner at Blockchain Founders Fund, to uncover how his team evaluates more than 500 companies every month to identify and support the startups shaping the future of Web3. From navigating unpredictable market cycles to supporting founder success, Aly shares hard-earned insights that challenge traditional investing principles in today’s fast-changing digital economy. What does it take to spot the next big breakthrough in blockchain? In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor Orlovski sits down with Aly Madhavji, Managing Partner at Blockchain Founders Fund, to uncover how his team evaluates more than 5 No Lars Markull on Embedded Finance: the Good, the Bad, and What's Next 17 17 Lars Markull on Embedded Finance: the Good, the Bad, and What's Next full z1r42r41 https://share.transistor.fm/s/44a2f906
In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor Orlovski sits down with embedded finance expert Lars Markull to explore how non-financial companies can unlock new revenue streams by integrating banking services. They unpack successful case studies, common pitfalls, and the future of embedded finance across regions like Europe, the US, and Asia. From choosing the right infrastructure partners to aligning strategy with customer value, this conversation is a must-listen for business leaders, investors, and financial institutions navigating today’s digital economy.


What you will learn:

  • How to identify the three critical elements of embedded finance
  • Why certain embedded finance implementations succeed while others fail
  • The strategic framework for aligning your business for embedded finance integration
  • How traditional banks can position themselves as infrastructure providers 
  • Why B2B embedded finance currently offers more promising opportunities 
  • How to navigate the complex partnership landscape between banks, infrastructure providers, and businesses
  • The key factors driving successful embedded finance implementation
  • How to assess and select the right banking partners and infrastructure providers e
  • Why the customer value proposition must drive embedded finance strategy 
  • The future outlook for embedded finance across different sectors 


Lars Markull is an embedded finance consultant and founder of Embedded Finance Review. With over a decade in fintech, spanning roles at Figo (open banking) and Weavr (embedded banking), Lars helps startups and scale-ups navigate the complex landscape of financial infrastructure. He offers hands-on support in selecting the right providers for payments, banking, and lending. Known for deep market research, strategic introductions, and practical insights, Lars empowers companies to build financial products that truly move the needle. Context is everything, and Lars delivers it.

Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]>
In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor Orlovski sits down with embedded finance expert Lars Markull to explore how non-financial companies can unlock new revenue streams by integrating banking services. They unpack successful case studies, common pitfalls, and the future of embedded finance across regions like Europe, the US, and Asia. From choosing the right infrastructure partners to aligning strategy with customer value, this conversation is a must-listen for business leaders, investors, and financial institutions navigating today’s digital economy.


What you will learn:

  • How to identify the three critical elements of embedded finance
  • Why certain embedded finance implementations succeed while others fail
  • The strategic framework for aligning your business for embedded finance integration
  • How traditional banks can position themselves as infrastructure providers 
  • Why B2B embedded finance currently offers more promising opportunities 
  • How to navigate the complex partnership landscape between banks, infrastructure providers, and businesses
  • The key factors driving successful embedded finance implementation
  • How to assess and select the right banking partners and infrastructure providers e
  • Why the customer value proposition must drive embedded finance strategy 
  • The future outlook for embedded finance across different sectors 


Lars Markull is an embedded finance consultant and founder of Embedded Finance Review. With over a decade in fintech, spanning roles at Figo (open banking) and Weavr (embedded banking), Lars helps startups and scale-ups navigate the complex landscape of financial infrastructure. He offers hands-on support in selecting the right providers for payments, banking, and lending. Known for deep market research, strategic introductions, and practical insights, Lars empowers companies to build financial products that truly move the needle. Context is everything, and Lars delivers it.

Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000 R136 R136 3574 In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor Orlovski sits down with embedded finance expert Lars Markull to explore how non-financial companies can unlock new revenue streams by integrating banking services. They unpack successful case studies, common pitfalls, and the future of embedded finance across regions like Europe, the US, and Asia. From choosing the right infrastructure partners to aligning strategy with customer value, this conversation is a must-listen for business leaders, investors, and financial institutions navigating today’s digital economy. In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor Orlovski sits down with embedded finance expert Lars Markull to explore how non-financial companies can unlock new revenue streams by integrating banking services. They unpack successful case studie No AI, Smart Contracts, and the End of Traditional Banks: Insights from Brett King 16 16 AI, Smart Contracts, and the End of Traditional Banks: Insights from Brett King full k08yvyl1 https://share.transistor.fm/s/1ace27a2 In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor Orlovski sits down with fintech visionary Brett King to explore how AI, smart contracts, and digital currencies are disrupting global finance. From the decline of traditional banking to the rise of platform-based lending and autonomous finance, King shares bold insights on the future of economic systems. A must-listen for investors and finance professionals navigating the digital revolution reshaping capitalism, regulation, and the very role of money in society.
What you will learn:

- How AI is transforming banking from branch models to personalized agent-driven financial services
- Why smart contracts and stablecoins represent the biggest opportunity in banking 
- How fintech companies are outpacing traditional banks in customer acquisition
- Why China, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE will lead the next wave of autonomous finance 
- The fundamental shift needed in the US regulatory framework 
- How automation and AI will force a transition from GDP-driven economics to quality-of-life metrics
- Why Visa & Mastercard must adapt faster to the digital financial ecosystem
- The critical role of data aggregation and behavioral analysis in financial services
- Why banks must evolve beyond traditional credit scoring 

Brett King is a world-renowned futurist, bestselling author, and fintech pioneer. Named a Top-10 Global Futurist by Global Gurus, he’s advised the Obama administration, the UAE Prime Minister’s Office, and regulators in 18 countries. King founded Moven, launched two top-ranked podcasts, Breaking Banks and The Futurists, and was inducted into the Fintech Hall of Fame in 2020. Cited by President Xi Jinping, his books Augmented and Bank 4.0 are global bestsellers. His latest book, Branch Tomorrow, releases in September 2025.

Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor Orlovski sits down with fintech visionary Brett King to explore how AI, smart contracts, and digital currencies are disrupting global finance. From the decline of traditional banking to the rise of platform-based lending and autonomous finance, King shares bold insights on the future of economic systems. A must-listen for investors and finance professionals navigating the digital revolution reshaping capitalism, regulation, and the very role of money in society.
What you will learn:

- How AI is transforming banking from branch models to personalized agent-driven financial services
- Why smart contracts and stablecoins represent the biggest opportunity in banking 
- How fintech companies are outpacing traditional banks in customer acquisition
- Why China, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE will lead the next wave of autonomous finance 
- The fundamental shift needed in the US regulatory framework 
- How automation and AI will force a transition from GDP-driven economics to quality-of-life metrics
- Why Visa & Mastercard must adapt faster to the digital financial ecosystem
- The critical role of data aggregation and behavioral analysis in financial services
- Why banks must evolve beyond traditional credit scoring 

Brett King is a world-renowned futurist, bestselling author, and fintech pioneer. Named a Top-10 Global Futurist by Global Gurus, he’s advised the Obama administration, the UAE Prime Minister’s Office, and regulators in 18 countries. King founded Moven, launched two top-ranked podcasts, Breaking Banks and The Futurists, and was inducted into the Fintech Hall of Fame in 2020. Cited by President Xi Jinping, his books Augmented and Bank 4.0 are global bestsellers. His latest book, Branch Tomorrow, releases in September 2025.

Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> Wed, 09 Jul 2025 16:43:00 +0000 R136 R136 3697 In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor Orlovski sits down with fintech visionary Brett King to explore how AI, smart contracts, and digital currencies are disrupting global finance. From the decline of traditional banking to the rise of platform-based lending and autonomous finance, King shares bold insights on the future of economic systems. A must-listen for investors and finance professionals navigating the digital revolution reshaping capitalism, regulation, and the very role of money in society. In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor Orlovski sits down with fintech visionary Brett King to explore how AI, smart contracts, and digital currencies are disrupting global finance. From the decline of traditional banking to the rise of No Jim Pulcrano Breaks Down the Myths of European VC 15 15 Jim Pulcrano Breaks Down the Myths of European VC full 703rj4n1 https://share.transistor.fm/s/fa89c64e In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor talks with Jim Pulcrano, IMD Professor and veteran entrepreneur, about the evolving relationship between European and Silicon Valley venture ecosystems. They explore how cultural differences influence startup growth, investment styles, and innovation strategies. From academic institutions to AI's role in venture capital, the conversation offers sharp insights for investors, founders, and educators seeking to bridge global innovation cultures and prepare for the next wave of tech disruption.


What you will learn:

  • How European venture capital has evolved to a mature ecosystem today
  • Why Silicon Valley's "think big" mentality creates fundamental differences in startup scaling compared to European approaches
  • The critical distinction between European consensus-driven and Silicon Valley's disagreement-tolerant business cultures
  • How European academic institutions are adapting to foster entrepreneurship
  • Why industrial and cleantech startups find better footing in Europe 
  • The evolving role of AI in venture capital investment decisions 

Jim Pulcrano is a distinguished Professor at IMD Business School, bringing over 26 years of expertise in entrepreneurship education and venture development. As both an academic and practitioner, he combines his engineering background with extensive startup experience, having co-founded three companies and served as a key advisor in three others. His work bridges the gap between European and Silicon Valley entrepreneurial ecosystems, particularly through IMD's executive MBA program, where he pioneered the integration of entrepreneurship education focused on developing entrepreneurial mindsets for business leaders, investors, and innovators. 


Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor talks with Jim Pulcrano, IMD Professor and veteran entrepreneur, about the evolving relationship between European and Silicon Valley venture ecosystems. They explore how cultural differences influence startup growth, investment styles, and innovation strategies. From academic institutions to AI's role in venture capital, the conversation offers sharp insights for investors, founders, and educators seeking to bridge global innovation cultures and prepare for the next wave of tech disruption.


What you will learn:

  • How European venture capital has evolved to a mature ecosystem today
  • Why Silicon Valley's "think big" mentality creates fundamental differences in startup scaling compared to European approaches
  • The critical distinction between European consensus-driven and Silicon Valley's disagreement-tolerant business cultures
  • How European academic institutions are adapting to foster entrepreneurship
  • Why industrial and cleantech startups find better footing in Europe 
  • The evolving role of AI in venture capital investment decisions 

Jim Pulcrano is a distinguished Professor at IMD Business School, bringing over 26 years of expertise in entrepreneurship education and venture development. As both an academic and practitioner, he combines his engineering background with extensive startup experience, having co-founded three companies and served as a key advisor in three others. His work bridges the gap between European and Silicon Valley entrepreneurial ecosystems, particularly through IMD's executive MBA program, where he pioneered the integration of entrepreneurship education focused on developing entrepreneurial mindsets for business leaders, investors, and innovators. 


Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> Wed, 04 Jun 2025 11:00:00 +0000 R136 R136 3558 In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor talks with Jim Pulcrano, IMD Professor and veteran entrepreneur, about the evolving relationship between European and Silicon Valley venture ecosystems. They explore how cultural differences influence startup growth, investment styles, and innovation strategies. From academic institutions to AI's role in venture capital, the conversation offers sharp insights for investors, founders, and educators seeking to bridge global innovation cultures and prepare for the next wave of tech disruption. In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor talks with Jim Pulcrano, IMD Professor and veteran entrepreneur, about the evolving relationship between European and Silicon Valley venture ecosystems. They explore how cultural differences influen No Brains, Bold Bets & Big Wins: Inaki Berenguer’s Playbook for Startup Success 14 14 Brains, Bold Bets & Big Wins: Inaki Berenguer’s Playbook for Startup Success full x06lkkz0 https://share.transistor.fm/s/89e98036 In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, hosts Victor and Tom talk with Inaki Berenguer, a three-time founder and managing partner at LifeX Ventures. Inaki shares his journey from small-town Spain to building and exiting three startups, including CoverWallet. He unpacks strategies for startup growth, selecting the right investors, and navigating co-founder dynamics. The conversation also provides a forward-looking take on how AI transforms science and healthcare, offering powerful insights for founders and investors navigating today’s tech-driven world.


What you will learn:

  • How academic excellence can translate into entrepreneurial success
  • The evolution of startup building across three successful ventures 
  • Why choosing the right investors matters and the three key values they should bring 
  • The importance of building a strong company culture 
  • How AI is transforming healthcare and scientific research
  • Why distribution channels and pricing power are crucial for capturing value in AI-driven businesses
  • Why the speed of building valuable companies is accelerating in the AI era


Inaki Berenguer is Managing Partner at LifeX Ventures, a $100M fund investing at the intersection of AI and science. A serial entrepreneur, he founded and led three startups to successful exits: CoverWallet (acquired by Aon), Contactive (acquired by Fuze), and Pixable (acquired by SingTel). He also cofounded Agentero and iPronics. Inaki has held roles at Microsoft Strategy, McKinsey & Co., and conducted research at Intel and NEC Labs. A Fulbright Scholar and 14-time marathoner, he holds a PhD from Cambridge, an MBA from MIT, and degrees from UPV and Columbia University. He’s passionate about scaling innovation globally.


Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, hosts Victor and Tom talk with Inaki Berenguer, a three-time founder and managing partner at LifeX Ventures. Inaki shares his journey from small-town Spain to building and exiting three startups, including CoverWallet. He unpacks strategies for startup growth, selecting the right investors, and navigating co-founder dynamics. The conversation also provides a forward-looking take on how AI transforms science and healthcare, offering powerful insights for founders and investors navigating today’s tech-driven world.


What you will learn:

  • How academic excellence can translate into entrepreneurial success
  • The evolution of startup building across three successful ventures 
  • Why choosing the right investors matters and the three key values they should bring 
  • The importance of building a strong company culture 
  • How AI is transforming healthcare and scientific research
  • Why distribution channels and pricing power are crucial for capturing value in AI-driven businesses
  • Why the speed of building valuable companies is accelerating in the AI era


Inaki Berenguer is Managing Partner at LifeX Ventures, a $100M fund investing at the intersection of AI and science. A serial entrepreneur, he founded and led three startups to successful exits: CoverWallet (acquired by Aon), Contactive (acquired by Fuze), and Pixable (acquired by SingTel). He also cofounded Agentero and iPronics. Inaki has held roles at Microsoft Strategy, McKinsey & Co., and conducted research at Intel and NEC Labs. A Fulbright Scholar and 14-time marathoner, he holds a PhD from Cambridge, an MBA from MIT, and degrees from UPV and Columbia University. He’s passionate about scaling innovation globally.


Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> Wed, 07 May 2025 11:00:00 +0000 R136 R136 4728 In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, hosts Victor and Tom talk with Inaki Berenguer, a three-time founder and managing partner at LifeX Ventures. Inaki shares his journey from small-town Spain to building and exiting three startups, including CoverWallet. He unpacks strategies for startup growth, selecting the right investors, and navigating co-founder dynamics. The conversation also provides a forward-looking take on how AI transforms science and healthcare, offering powerful insights for founders and investors navigating today’s tech-driven world. In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, hosts Victor and Tom talk with Inaki Berenguer, a three-time founder and managing partner at LifeX Ventures. Inaki shares his journey from small-town Spain to building and exiting three startups, including Cove No From University Spin-Off to Success: The NetGuardians Story 13 13 From University Spin-Off to Success: The NetGuardians Story full l14n25z1 https://share.transistor.fm/s/42e9efa9 Welcome to this episode of Ventures From The Valley. Join hosts Victor and Tom as they sit down with NetGuardians co-founders, Joël Winteregg and Raffael Maio, to explore their 15+ year journey from university spin-off to fintech success. They discuss navigating pivots, raising over $40M, scaling internationally, and ultimately selling their company. Whether you're a founder, investor, or fintech enthusiast, this episode offers key lessons on strategic decision-making, co-founder dynamics, and sustainable growth. 


What you will learn:

  • How to build and maintain a successful co-founder relationship through trust 
  • The evolution from university spin-off to market leader in banking fraud prevention
  • Why Swiss startups might need to look beyond their domestic market 
  • How to navigate fundraising rounds totaling €50M while maintaining founder control 
  • The "Transparency with Strategy" framework for leading teams 
  • How to transition from a fundraising-focused mindset to business growth orientation 
  • The importance of establishing robust sales operations 
  • Why having multiple contingency plans (Plan B, C) is crucial for startup survival 


Joël Winteregg and Rafael Vega are the co-founders of NetGuardians, a Swiss-based fintech company specializing in AI-powered fraud prevention and anti-money laundering solutions for banks. As technical founders with engineering backgrounds, they built NetGuardians from a university research project in 2007 into a leading financial crime prevention platform. The company has successfully expanded from Switzerland into the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific regions, leveraging its innovative behavioral analytics technology to protect financial institutions. With over 15 years of partnership, Joël (CEO) and Rafael (Strategy Lead) have navigated multiple pivots, fundraising rounds totaling approximately $50 million, and ultimately led NetGuardians to a successful private equity acquisition. 


Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> Welcome to this episode of Ventures From The Valley. Join hosts Victor and Tom as they sit down with NetGuardians co-founders, Joël Winteregg and Raffael Maio, to explore their 15+ year journey from university spin-off to fintech success. They discuss navigating pivots, raising over $40M, scaling internationally, and ultimately selling their company. Whether you're a founder, investor, or fintech enthusiast, this episode offers key lessons on strategic decision-making, co-founder dynamics, and sustainable growth. 


What you will learn:

  • How to build and maintain a successful co-founder relationship through trust 
  • The evolution from university spin-off to market leader in banking fraud prevention
  • Why Swiss startups might need to look beyond their domestic market 
  • How to navigate fundraising rounds totaling €50M while maintaining founder control 
  • The "Transparency with Strategy" framework for leading teams 
  • How to transition from a fundraising-focused mindset to business growth orientation 
  • The importance of establishing robust sales operations 
  • Why having multiple contingency plans (Plan B, C) is crucial for startup survival 


Joël Winteregg and Rafael Vega are the co-founders of NetGuardians, a Swiss-based fintech company specializing in AI-powered fraud prevention and anti-money laundering solutions for banks. As technical founders with engineering backgrounds, they built NetGuardians from a university research project in 2007 into a leading financial crime prevention platform. The company has successfully expanded from Switzerland into the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific regions, leveraging its innovative behavioral analytics technology to protect financial institutions. With over 15 years of partnership, Joël (CEO) and Rafael (Strategy Lead) have navigated multiple pivots, fundraising rounds totaling approximately $50 million, and ultimately led NetGuardians to a successful private equity acquisition. 


Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> Wed, 09 Apr 2025 11:00:00 +0000 R136 R136 3709 Welcome to this episode of Ventures From The Valley. Join hosts Victor and Tom as they sit down with NetGuardians co-founders, Joël Winteregg and Raffael Maio, to explore their 15+ year journey from university spin-off to fintech success. They discuss navigating pivots, raising over $40M, scaling internationally, and ultimately selling their company. Whether you're a founder, investor, or fintech enthusiast, this episode offers key lessons on strategic decision-making, co-founder dynamics, and sustainable growth. Welcome to this episode of Ventures From The Valley. Join hosts Victor and Tom as they sit down with NetGuardians co-founders, Joël Winteregg and Raffael Maio, to explore their 15+ year journey from university spin-off to fintech success. They discuss nav No How Mor Assia Built AI Angels and Transformed Israeli VC 12 12 How Mor Assia Built AI Angels and Transformed Israeli VC full p1kp2rx0 https://share.transistor.fm/s/cd66204b Welcome to Ventures From The Valley. In this episode, host Victor Orlovski sits down with Mor Assia, Co-founder and Managing Partner of iAngels, to uncover the secrets behind one of Israel’s top venture capital success stories. From managing $500M in assets to reshaping Israeli VC, Mor shares her journey of balancing innovation, family, and the future of AI in investing. Tune in for insider insights on building a thriving investment platform and navigating the Israeli startup ecosystem like a pro.


Together, they discuss:

  • Early Years: Growing Up in Israel's Tech Ecosystem
  • Founding iAngels: Democratizing Venture Capital in Israel
  • Building a $500M Investment Platform
  • The Art of Board Membership & Founder Relations
  • Israel's Startup Ecosystem: Challenges & Opportunities
  • Balancing Family Life & Venture Capital Leadership
  • AI's Impact on Business & Society 
  • Key Takeaways: Innovation, Leadership & Future Growth


Mor Assia is a high-tech entrepreneur and Co-founder of iAngels, a leading platform empowering global investors to access Israel's thriving startup ecosystem. With over a decade of experience in corporate strategy, M&A, and tech innovation, she bridges the gap between cutting-edge Israeli startups and international angel investors. A respected mentor and advocate for Israeli technology, Mor’s mission is to create transparent, customizable venture portfolios while inspiring the next generation of investors to shape the future of Israeli innovation actively.


Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> Welcome to Ventures From The Valley. In this episode, host Victor Orlovski sits down with Mor Assia, Co-founder and Managing Partner of iAngels, to uncover the secrets behind one of Israel’s top venture capital success stories. From managing $500M in assets to reshaping Israeli VC, Mor shares her journey of balancing innovation, family, and the future of AI in investing. Tune in for insider insights on building a thriving investment platform and navigating the Israeli startup ecosystem like a pro.


Together, they discuss:

  • Early Years: Growing Up in Israel's Tech Ecosystem
  • Founding iAngels: Democratizing Venture Capital in Israel
  • Building a $500M Investment Platform
  • The Art of Board Membership & Founder Relations
  • Israel's Startup Ecosystem: Challenges & Opportunities
  • Balancing Family Life & Venture Capital Leadership
  • AI's Impact on Business & Society 
  • Key Takeaways: Innovation, Leadership & Future Growth


Mor Assia is a high-tech entrepreneur and Co-founder of iAngels, a leading platform empowering global investors to access Israel's thriving startup ecosystem. With over a decade of experience in corporate strategy, M&A, and tech innovation, she bridges the gap between cutting-edge Israeli startups and international angel investors. A respected mentor and advocate for Israeli technology, Mor’s mission is to create transparent, customizable venture portfolios while inspiring the next generation of investors to shape the future of Israeli innovation actively.


Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0100 R136 R136 5123 Welcome to Ventures From The Valley. In this episode, host Victor Orlovski sits down with Mor Assia, Co-founder and Managing Partner of iAngels, to uncover the secrets behind one of Israel’s top venture capital success stories. From managing $500M in assets to reshaping Israeli VC, Mor shares her journey of balancing innovation, family, and the future of AI in investing. Tune in for insider insights on building a thriving investment platform and navigating the Israeli startup ecosystem like a pro. Welcome to Ventures From The Valley. In this episode, host Victor Orlovski sits down with Mor Assia, Co-founder and Managing Partner of iAngels, to uncover the secrets behind one of Israel’s top venture capital success stories. From managing $500M in asse No Why Venture Capital Outperforms Other Investments with Ilya Strebulaev of Stanford 11 11 Why Venture Capital Outperforms Other Investments with Ilya Strebulaev of Stanford full x06lpvr0 https://share.transistor.fm/s/f63d2d56 In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor Orlovski sits down with Ilya Strebulaev, The David S. Lobel Professor of Private Equity and Professor of Finance at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Together, they discuss:

  • Why venture capital shows a clear indication of alpha
  • What factors have made Silicon Valley the epicenter of venture capital
  • The emergence of new innovation hubs across the U.S. and globally
  • What impact will AI have on investment trends
  • The future of venture capital

Ilya is a renowned expert in venture capital, private equity, and entrepreneurial finance. As the Founder and Faculty Director of the Stanford GSB Venture Capital Initiative, he leads research and education focused on the venture capital ecosystem and innovation. Ilya's work, published in major academic journals and featured in outlets like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, has earned him numerous awards, including the GSB MBA Distinguished Teacher Award. He is also the co-author of The Venture Mindset, a bestseller on launching new ventures and fostering innovation.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.

This episode is brought to you by R136 Ventures.

Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor Orlovski sits down with Ilya Strebulaev, The David S. Lobel Professor of Private Equity and Professor of Finance at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Together, they discuss:

  • Why venture capital shows a clear indication of alpha
  • What factors have made Silicon Valley the epicenter of venture capital
  • The emergence of new innovation hubs across the U.S. and globally
  • What impact will AI have on investment trends
  • The future of venture capital

Ilya is a renowned expert in venture capital, private equity, and entrepreneurial finance. As the Founder and Faculty Director of the Stanford GSB Venture Capital Initiative, he leads research and education focused on the venture capital ecosystem and innovation. Ilya's work, published in major academic journals and featured in outlets like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, has earned him numerous awards, including the GSB MBA Distinguished Teacher Award. He is also the co-author of The Venture Mindset, a bestseller on launching new ventures and fostering innovation.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.

This episode is brought to you by R136 Ventures.

Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> Wed, 15 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0100 R136 R136 4418 In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor Orlovski sits down with Ilya Strebulaev, The David S. Lobel Professor of Private Equity and Professor of Finance at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, to explore the fascinating world of venture capital. They discuss the concept of alpha in venture capital, the critical factors that have made Silicon Valley the epicenter of venture capital, the impact of AI on investment trends, and the future of venture capital. In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor Orlovski sits down with Ilya Strebulaev, The David S. Lobel Professor of Private Equity and Professor of Finance at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, to explore the fascinating world of vent Ventures from the Valley, Venture Capital Education, Venture Capital Trends No Is AI the New Warren Buffet of Trading? With Damián Scavo of Streetbeat 10 10 Is AI the New Warren Buffet of Trading? With Damián Scavo of Streetbeat full 81nkzqj0 https://share.transistor.fm/s/b376188a In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor Orlovski sits down with Damián Scavo, CEO and CIO of Streetbeat.

Together, they discuss: 

  • How AI is transforming personal and corporate financial decision-making

  • The increasing dominance of algorithmic and HFT in financial markets

  • Will professional traders survive the AI revolution?

  • What the US fintech can learn from the UK and Asia

  • Why tokenization is the next big thing in fintech

  • When will AGI hit our lives?

  • Will AGI be free for all or controlled by a few?

Damián has over 20 years of experience in tech, finance, and big data. In his role, he is reshaping the investment world by leveraging AI to make financial intelligence accessible to all. Streetbeat empowers individual investors and financial institutions with personalized strategies and advanced AI tools for smarter, data-driven decisions. With a strong background in algorithmic trading and big data, Damián has raised over $25 million and holds 15 patents.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.

This episode is brought to you by R136 Ventures.

Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor Orlovski sits down with Damián Scavo, CEO and CIO of Streetbeat.

Together, they discuss: 

  • How AI is transforming personal and corporate financial decision-making

  • The increasing dominance of algorithmic and HFT in financial markets

  • Will professional traders survive the AI revolution?

  • What the US fintech can learn from the UK and Asia

  • Why tokenization is the next big thing in fintech

  • When will AGI hit our lives?

  • Will AGI be free for all or controlled by a few?

Damián has over 20 years of experience in tech, finance, and big data. In his role, he is reshaping the investment world by leveraging AI to make financial intelligence accessible to all. Streetbeat empowers individual investors and financial institutions with personalized strategies and advanced AI tools for smarter, data-driven decisions. With a strong background in algorithmic trading and big data, Damián has raised over $25 million and holds 15 patents.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.

This episode is brought to you by R136 Ventures.

Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> Wed, 04 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0100 R136 R136 4594 In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor Orlovski sits down with Damián Scavo, CEO and CIO of Streetbeat. They delve into the future of fintech, the rise of AI in trading, and the importance of having a "Warren Buffett in your pocket." Damián also shares insights into his mission to democratize artificial financial intelligence, why tokenization is the next big thing in FinTech, and how AGI will transform our world in the near future. In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor Orlovski sits down with Damián Scavo, CEO and CIO of Streetbeat. They delve into the future of fintech, the rise of AI in trading, and the importance of having a "Warren Buffett in your pocket." Dam No From Knives to SaaS: Building, Scaling, and Exiting with Jim Kolchin of iWallet 9 9 From Knives to SaaS: Building, Scaling, and Exiting with Jim Kolchin of iWallet full k18my6x0 https://share.transistor.fm/s/d18fbca9 In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor Orlovski sits down with Jim Kolchin, a serial entrepreneur and founder of iWallet.


Together, they discuss: 


  • Early lessons in entrepreneurship from Jim’s Soviet days
  • How Silicon Valley and successful exits sharpened Jim’s approach
  • The shift from hardware to software and SaaS as scalable business models
  • The challenges of changing consumer habits and succeeding in the payment space without external funding


Jim Kolchin is the CEO and Co-Founder of iWallet, a thriving payments platform he’s bootstrapped to multimillion-dollar revenue. With over 25 years of experience in the appliance and HVAC industries, Jim brings deep expertise in hands-on business and technology. He’s a member of the Forbes Los Angeles Business Council and an active shareholder in Partsable.com, a company revolutionizing appliance and HVAC parts distribution.


If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, instructions on how to do this are here.


This episode is brought to you by R136 Ventures.


Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor Orlovski sits down with Jim Kolchin, a serial entrepreneur and founder of iWallet.


Together, they discuss: 


  • Early lessons in entrepreneurship from Jim’s Soviet days
  • How Silicon Valley and successful exits sharpened Jim’s approach
  • The shift from hardware to software and SaaS as scalable business models
  • The challenges of changing consumer habits and succeeding in the payment space without external funding


Jim Kolchin is the CEO and Co-Founder of iWallet, a thriving payments platform he’s bootstrapped to multimillion-dollar revenue. With over 25 years of experience in the appliance and HVAC industries, Jim brings deep expertise in hands-on business and technology. He’s a member of the Forbes Los Angeles Business Council and an active shareholder in Partsable.com, a company revolutionizing appliance and HVAC parts distribution.


If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, instructions on how to do this are here.


This episode is brought to you by R136 Ventures.


Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> Wed, 06 Nov 2024 10:00:00 -0100 R136 R136 3168 In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor Orlovski sits down with Jim Kolchin, a serial entrepreneur and founder of iWallet. From a Soviet childhood to his successes in Silicon Valley, Jim shares his entrepreneurial journey, including the bootstrapping story behind iWallet. They explore the hard-learned lessons of launching hardware products, the advantage of a solid market entry strategy, and Jim’s insights into building scalable ventures without outside capital. In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, host Victor Orlovski sits down with Jim Kolchin, a serial entrepreneur and founder of iWallet. From a Soviet childhood to his successes in Silicon Valley, Jim shares his entrepreneurial journey, including the b No AI Integration: The Future of Venture Capital with Dr. Mohammad Rasouli and Philipp Reineke of AIx2 8 8 AI Integration: The Future of Venture Capital with Dr. Mohammad Rasouli and Philipp Reineke of AIx2 full 80x77yn1 https://share.transistor.fm/s/2463e878 In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, our host Victor Orlovski is joined by Dr. Mohammad Rasouli, Founder and CEO at AIx2, and Philipp Reineke, Co-founder and COO at AIx2. Together they discuss: 


  • The competitive landscape of AI research
  • The evolving role of AI in venture capital
  • Future trends in AI
  • Predictive capabilities
  • The intersection of AI and alternative investments


Dr. Mohammad Rasouli is the Founder and CEO of AIx2, a company that empowers alternative investment funds through cutting-edge generative and predictive AI. Their advanced technology enhances due diligence, uncovers direct opportunities, and delivers sharp market insights, all aimed at driving higher alpha and ROI. In addition to his role at AIx2, Dr. Rasouli is a Research Scholar at Stanford University.

Philipp Reineke, Co-founder and COO of AIx2, is also pursuing a PhD at Stanford University. His dissertation focuses on the study of Decentralized Autonomous Organizations, positioning him at the forefront of research in this emerging field.


If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.


This episode is brought to you by R136 Ventures.


Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, our host Victor Orlovski is joined by Dr. Mohammad Rasouli, Founder and CEO at AIx2, and Philipp Reineke, Co-founder and COO at AIx2. Together they discuss: 


  • The competitive landscape of AI research
  • The evolving role of AI in venture capital
  • Future trends in AI
  • Predictive capabilities
  • The intersection of AI and alternative investments


Dr. Mohammad Rasouli is the Founder and CEO of AIx2, a company that empowers alternative investment funds through cutting-edge generative and predictive AI. Their advanced technology enhances due diligence, uncovers direct opportunities, and delivers sharp market insights, all aimed at driving higher alpha and ROI. In addition to his role at AIx2, Dr. Rasouli is a Research Scholar at Stanford University.

Philipp Reineke, Co-founder and COO of AIx2, is also pursuing a PhD at Stanford University. His dissertation focuses on the study of Decentralized Autonomous Organizations, positioning him at the forefront of research in this emerging field.


If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.


This episode is brought to you by R136 Ventures.


Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> Wed, 02 Oct 2024 11:00:00 +0000 R136 R136 3284 In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, our host Victor Orlovski is joined by Dr. Mohammad Rasouli, Founder and CEO at AIx2, and Philipp Reineke, Co-founder and COO at AIx2. Together they discuss the competitive landscape of AI research, the evolving role of AI in venture capital, and future trends in AI. In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, our host Victor Orlovski is joined by Dr. Mohammad Rasouli, Founder and CEO at AIx2, and Philipp Reineke, Co-founder and COO at AIx2. Together they discuss the competitive landscape of AI research, the evolving No Neuromarketing is the Intersection of Engineering and Psychology with Spencer Gerrol of SPARK Neuro 7 7 Neuromarketing is the Intersection of Engineering and Psychology with Spencer Gerrol of SPARK Neuro full l14nnlp1 https://share.transistor.fm/s/9b87de4d
In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, our host, Victor Orlovski, is joined by Spencer Gerrol, Founder and CEO of SPARK Neuro, a company on a mission to transform the future of brain health. Spencer has dedicated his career to translating theoretical science into real-world applications using biometric technologies. Join us as we dive into Spencer's career journey as a businessman, his passion for understanding the human brain, and the exciting advancements in brain-related technologies. Discover the fascinating world of neuromarketing, brain-computer interfaces, and the potential to enhance human capabilities. Don't miss out on this insightful conversation that explores the mysteries of the human brain and its impact on our lives.


Victor and Spencer cover the following topics in this episode:

  • Childhood Dreams and Early Curiosity
  • Natural Leadership and Interest in Human Factors
  • Combining Engineering and Psychology
  • Spencer’s Love for Research and Neuromarketing
  • Experience of Founding SPARK Neuro
  • Fascination with Brain Technologies
  • Applying Brain Activity to Understand Human Behavior
  • Future Plans and Brain-Computer Interfaces
  •  Understanding Thought Processes and Complex Systems
  • Balancing Work and Personal Life


Spencer has dedicated his career to translating theoretical science into real-world applications using biometric technologies. Driven by his cognitive science and human factors background, his efforts have resulted in securing over $35M in funding for SPARK Neuro from leading investment funds.


Spencer has been recognized for his work in leading publications such as CNN, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal, and he was named a Global Shaper by the World Economic Forum. He has delivered speeches at TED, the United Nations, and The White House, where he was honored for founding one of the top 100 companies by young entrepreneurs.


Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]>
In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, our host, Victor Orlovski, is joined by Spencer Gerrol, Founder and CEO of SPARK Neuro, a company on a mission to transform the future of brain health. Spencer has dedicated his career to translating theoretical science into real-world applications using biometric technologies. Join us as we dive into Spencer's career journey as a businessman, his passion for understanding the human brain, and the exciting advancements in brain-related technologies. Discover the fascinating world of neuromarketing, brain-computer interfaces, and the potential to enhance human capabilities. Don't miss out on this insightful conversation that explores the mysteries of the human brain and its impact on our lives.


Victor and Spencer cover the following topics in this episode:

  • Childhood Dreams and Early Curiosity
  • Natural Leadership and Interest in Human Factors
  • Combining Engineering and Psychology
  • Spencer’s Love for Research and Neuromarketing
  • Experience of Founding SPARK Neuro
  • Fascination with Brain Technologies
  • Applying Brain Activity to Understand Human Behavior
  • Future Plans and Brain-Computer Interfaces
  •  Understanding Thought Processes and Complex Systems
  • Balancing Work and Personal Life


Spencer has dedicated his career to translating theoretical science into real-world applications using biometric technologies. Driven by his cognitive science and human factors background, his efforts have resulted in securing over $35M in funding for SPARK Neuro from leading investment funds.


Spencer has been recognized for his work in leading publications such as CNN, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal, and he was named a Global Shaper by the World Economic Forum. He has delivered speeches at TED, the United Nations, and The White House, where he was honored for founding one of the top 100 companies by young entrepreneurs.


Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> Wed, 04 Sep 2024 10:06:00 +0000 R136 R136 4821 In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, our host, Victor Orlovski, is joined by Spencer Gerrol, Founder and CEO of SPARK Neuro, a company on a mission to transform the future of brain health. Spencer has dedicated his career to translating theoretical science into real-world applications using biometric technologies. Join us as we dive into Spencer's career journey as a businessman, his passion for understanding the human brain, and the exciting advancements in brain-related technologies. Discover the fascinating world of neuromarketing, brain-computer interfaces, and the potential to enhance human capabilities. Don't miss out on this insightful conversation that explores the mysteries of the human brain and its impact on our lives. In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, our host, Victor Orlovski, is joined by Spencer Gerrol, Founder and CEO of SPARK Neuro, a company on a mission to transform the future of brain health. Spencer has dedicated his career to translating theoretica No From Teenage Entrepreneur to Serial Founder: Insights from Michael Pechatnikov’s Journey 6 6 From Teenage Entrepreneur to Serial Founder: Insights from Michael Pechatnikov’s Journey full 209q2ll0 https://share.transistor.fm/s/54abbaf8
In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, our host, Victor Orlovski, is joined by Michael Pechatnikov, Co-Founder and CTO of a Stealth Startup. Together, they touch on the following topics:

  • Michael's entrepreneurial journey and experiences with starting and selling companies
  • The realization that working and building companies is his passion
  • Michael's venture into managing wealth and exploring investment opportunities
  • Challenges faced in finding managers with consistent alpha and closing the fund
  • Importance of the ideation phase and focusing on market size
  • Michael's plans for the future


Michael is the Co-Founder and CTO of Stealth Startup (September 2023—present). A stealth startup is a startup company that operates in stealth mode, i.e., avoids public attention. This may be done to hide information from competitors or—as part of a marketing strategy—to manage public image. The phenomenon is well-known in the venture capital (VC) community. 


He is also the Founder, Managing Partner, and Chairman at Sharpe Alpha Capital (May 2015—Present). Sharpe Alpha Capital is a market-neutral, algo-driven Fund of Fund that targets an uncorrelated portfolio of consistent alpha-generating managers worldwide. The managers are selected from a database of about 10,000 active funds using a proprietary algorithm. The model seeks to distinguish alpha from beta and identify managers whose performance results from skill rather than luck.


Previously, Michael was the Founder and CTO of VisionMap (which Rafael acquired) and Telmap (which Intel acquired).

Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]>
In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, our host, Victor Orlovski, is joined by Michael Pechatnikov, Co-Founder and CTO of a Stealth Startup. Together, they touch on the following topics:

  • Michael's entrepreneurial journey and experiences with starting and selling companies
  • The realization that working and building companies is his passion
  • Michael's venture into managing wealth and exploring investment opportunities
  • Challenges faced in finding managers with consistent alpha and closing the fund
  • Importance of the ideation phase and focusing on market size
  • Michael's plans for the future


Michael is the Co-Founder and CTO of Stealth Startup (September 2023—present). A stealth startup is a startup company that operates in stealth mode, i.e., avoids public attention. This may be done to hide information from competitors or—as part of a marketing strategy—to manage public image. The phenomenon is well-known in the venture capital (VC) community. 


He is also the Founder, Managing Partner, and Chairman at Sharpe Alpha Capital (May 2015—Present). Sharpe Alpha Capital is a market-neutral, algo-driven Fund of Fund that targets an uncorrelated portfolio of consistent alpha-generating managers worldwide. The managers are selected from a database of about 10,000 active funds using a proprietary algorithm. The model seeks to distinguish alpha from beta and identify managers whose performance results from skill rather than luck.


Previously, Michael was the Founder and CTO of VisionMap (which Rafael acquired) and Telmap (which Intel acquired).

Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> Wed, 07 Aug 2024 11:00:00 +0000 R136 R136 3549 In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, our host, Victor Orlovski, is joined by Michael Pechatnikov, Co-Founder and CTO of a Stealth Startup. Michael has been a serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits behind him. Join us as we dive into Michael's journey as a serial entrepreneur. From starting and selling companies at a young age to managing his wealth and exploring investment opportunities, Michael shares his experiences and passion for building and investing in impactful ventures. Discover his latest disruptive venture in geothermal energy that has the potential to revolutionize the energy sector and provide cheap, renewable power worldwide. In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, our host, Victor Orlovski, is joined by Michael Pechatnikov, Co-Founder and CTO of a Stealth Startup. Michael has been a serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits behind him. Join us as we dive into Mi No Startup investments in already-crowded markets, with Alex Mashrabov of Higgsfield AI 5 5 Startup investments in already-crowded markets, with Alex Mashrabov of Higgsfield AI full 80nkr6q1 https://share.transistor.fm/s/e982e486 In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, our host Victor Orlovski is joined by Alex Mashrabov, founder and CEO of Higgsfield AI. Together they ask the big questions including: 


  • Can you run a GenAI business without VC Investment? 
  • Which is better, closed-loop models or open source?
  • How can your business challenge an already-crowded market?
  • Should AI be regulated?


Alex is the CEO of Higgsfield AI, the open-source machine learning framework designed for training large models with endless parameters. When he isn’t in the office, he’s also a successful Angel Investor for more than fifteen businesses including GPTZero, Intone, Scale.ai, and Airtable. 


If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.


This episode is brought to you by R136 Ventures.


Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, our host Victor Orlovski is joined by Alex Mashrabov, founder and CEO of Higgsfield AI. Together they ask the big questions including: 


  • Can you run a GenAI business without VC Investment? 
  • Which is better, closed-loop models or open source?
  • How can your business challenge an already-crowded market?
  • Should AI be regulated?


Alex is the CEO of Higgsfield AI, the open-source machine learning framework designed for training large models with endless parameters. When he isn’t in the office, he’s also a successful Angel Investor for more than fifteen businesses including GPTZero, Intone, Scale.ai, and Airtable. 


If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.


This episode is brought to you by R136 Ventures.


Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> Wed, 03 Jul 2024 11:00:00 +0000 R136 R136 3623 In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, our host Victor Orlovski is joined by Alex Mashrabov, founder and CEO of Higgsfield AI and Angel Investor of more than fifteen businesses. Together they discuss the challenges of building an AI startup from scratch, transitioning to large tech businesses, and what the future may hold for the sector. In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, our host Victor Orlovski is joined by Alex Mashrabov, founder and CEO of Higgsfield AI and Angel Investor of more than fifteen businesses. Together they discuss the challenges of building an AI startup from scr No Hybrid Cloud Environments: the Past, Present, and Future - with Alex Freedland, CEO of Mirantis 4 4 Hybrid Cloud Environments: the Past, Present, and Future - with Alex Freedland, CEO of Mirantis full 71w7ryy1 https://share.transistor.fm/s/143fbc75 In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, our host Victor Orlovski is joined by Alex Freedland, co-founder and CEO of Mirantis. Together they discuss:


  • Alex’s beginnings in America as a young soviet immigrant
  • His business ventures, including Mirantis
  • The threats and opportunities of Open Source technologies
  • The future of Blockchain and Crypto


Alex Freedland co-founded Mirantis in 2011, and was their CEO for six years before stepping back from his duties in 2017 - only to return to the CEO role in January of this year. Mirantis helps organizations increase developer productivity and ship code faster on public and private clouds. Their main industries are Financial Services, Governments, Healthcare and Manufacturing. When he isn’t in the office, Alex is also an advisor and investor for Session AI, a pioneering business of in-session marketing.


If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.


This episode is brought to you by R136 Ventures.

Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, our host Victor Orlovski is joined by Alex Freedland, co-founder and CEO of Mirantis. Together they discuss:


  • Alex’s beginnings in America as a young soviet immigrant
  • His business ventures, including Mirantis
  • The threats and opportunities of Open Source technologies
  • The future of Blockchain and Crypto


Alex Freedland co-founded Mirantis in 2011, and was their CEO for six years before stepping back from his duties in 2017 - only to return to the CEO role in January of this year. Mirantis helps organizations increase developer productivity and ship code faster on public and private clouds. Their main industries are Financial Services, Governments, Healthcare and Manufacturing. When he isn’t in the office, Alex is also an advisor and investor for Session AI, a pioneering business of in-session marketing.


If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.


This episode is brought to you by R136 Ventures.

Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> Thu, 06 Jun 2024 11:00:00 +0000 R136 R136 4616 In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, our host Victor Orlovski is joined by Alex Freedland, co-founder and CEO of Mirantis. Together, they discuss Alex’s business enterprise journey, what he learned along the way, and today’s major leaps in open source software, crypto, and cloud technology. In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, our host Victor Orlovski is joined by Alex Freedland, co-founder and CEO of Mirantis. Together, they discuss Alex’s business enterprise journey, what he learned along the way, and today’s major leaps in open so venture capital, vc, venture capital firms, venture capital funding, index ventures, venture capital companies, vc's, virtual capital, venture capital business, funding, business grants No Once an investor, always an entrepreneur - with Liad Agmon of Insight Partners 3 3 Once an investor, always an entrepreneur - with Liad Agmon of Insight Partners full x0l78mj1 https://share.transistor.fm/s/0677d279 In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, our host Victor Orlovski is joined by serial entrepreneur-turned-investor Liad Agmon.


Together, they discuss: 


  • The fascinating/ frightening rise of online personal data
  • How LLMs are evolving marketing and data strategies
  • The dangers AI can pose to humanity
  • Transitioning from entrepreneur to investor 


Liad Agmon is the chairman of the Israel Climbers Association, and Managing Director of Insight Partners - the Global Software investor. His first business, Onigma, was founded in the early 2000s and sold to McAfee. His second company, Delver, was acquired by Sears Holdings in 2009. His third company, Dynamic Yield, was acquired by McDonalds in 2019 for $300 million - a company that R136 Ventures were a proud investor of.


If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.


This episode is brought to you by R136 Ventures.


Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, our host Victor Orlovski is joined by serial entrepreneur-turned-investor Liad Agmon.


Together, they discuss: 


  • The fascinating/ frightening rise of online personal data
  • How LLMs are evolving marketing and data strategies
  • The dangers AI can pose to humanity
  • Transitioning from entrepreneur to investor 


Liad Agmon is the chairman of the Israel Climbers Association, and Managing Director of Insight Partners - the Global Software investor. His first business, Onigma, was founded in the early 2000s and sold to McAfee. His second company, Delver, was acquired by Sears Holdings in 2009. His third company, Dynamic Yield, was acquired by McDonalds in 2019 for $300 million - a company that R136 Ventures were a proud investor of.


If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.


This episode is brought to you by R136 Ventures.


Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> Mon, 13 May 2024 13:41:00 +0000 R136 R136 4000 In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, our host Victor Orlovski is joined by serial entrepreneur-turned-investor Liad Agmon. Together, they discuss Liad’s journey through founding various businesses, how he sold them to some of the biggest corporations in the world, and how he now sees his role as an Investor. In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, our host Victor Orlovski is joined by serial entrepreneur-turned-investor Liad Agmon. Together, they discuss Liad’s journey through founding various businesses, how he sold them to some of the biggest corporati venture capital, vc, venture capital firms, venture capital funding, index ventures, venture capital companies, vc's, virtual capital, venture capital business, funding, business grants No How to manage your stakeholders in good times and bad - with Shahar Fogel 2 2 How to manage your stakeholders in good times and bad - with Shahar Fogel full 70y794q0 https://share.transistor.fm/s/5074554d In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, our host Victor Orlovski is joined by Shahar Fogel, the former CEO of Rookout.


Together, they discuss: 


  • The qualities of an excellent Product Manager
  • How Shahar built an effective sales machine from scratch
  • The challenges of building revenue in a highly competitive market
  • The juggling act of pleasing shareholders and employees
  • The difficult decision to sell a business to a competitor. 


Shahar Fogel is the former CEO of Rookout, a live data collection and debugging platform that was acquired by Dynatrace. After leaving the Israeli Army, Shahar found himself working his way up through the ranks of Tech product management at businesses including Connectik and Brandtix. 


R136 Ventures were a proud investor of Rookout, and Victor and Shahar’s conversation gives a fascinating insight into the investment and build-up of this business. 


If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.


This episode is brought to you by R136 Ventures.

Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, our host Victor Orlovski is joined by Shahar Fogel, the former CEO of Rookout.


Together, they discuss: 


  • The qualities of an excellent Product Manager
  • How Shahar built an effective sales machine from scratch
  • The challenges of building revenue in a highly competitive market
  • The juggling act of pleasing shareholders and employees
  • The difficult decision to sell a business to a competitor. 


Shahar Fogel is the former CEO of Rookout, a live data collection and debugging platform that was acquired by Dynatrace. After leaving the Israeli Army, Shahar found himself working his way up through the ranks of Tech product management at businesses including Connectik and Brandtix. 


R136 Ventures were a proud investor of Rookout, and Victor and Shahar’s conversation gives a fascinating insight into the investment and build-up of this business. 


If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.


This episode is brought to you by R136 Ventures.

Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:00:00 +0000 R136 R136 3966 In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, our host Victor Orlovski is joined by Shahar Fogel, the former CEO of Rookout - a live data collection and debugging platform that helped engineers speed up their processes. They discuss Shahar’s responsibilities as a CEO for building a sales machine, as well as building trusting relationships with shareholders and employees. In this episode of Ventures from the Valley, our host Victor Orlovski is joined by Shahar Fogel, the former CEO of Rookout - a live data collection and debugging platform that helped engineers speed up their processes. They discuss Shahar’s responsibiliti No How to lead a team, a board, and a business with Mark Gazit from ThetaRay 1 1 How to lead a team, a board, and a business with Mark Gazit from ThetaRay full l04z4vm0 https://share.transistor.fm/s/b0c350c3 In this first episode of Ventures from the Valley, our host Victor Orlovski is joined by Mark Gazit: the co-founder, former CEO, and current senior advisor at ThetaRay.


Together, they discuss: 

  • The fight for cybersecurity in Fintech
  • The past, present, and future of AI
  • De-Globalization of Fintech 
  • How to be a CEO of a startup
  • Workable strategies for board management and investment


Mark Gazit has been at ThetaRay for eleven years now, having previously been their CEO and President. ThetaRay is an AI-powered transaction monitoring SaaS solution for international payments for banks and big business alike. Before he started there, he’d had a hand in four other startup businesses across the valley and the Middle East.


If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.


This episode is brought to you by R136 Ventures.

Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> In this first episode of Ventures from the Valley, our host Victor Orlovski is joined by Mark Gazit: the co-founder, former CEO, and current senior advisor at ThetaRay.


Together, they discuss: 

  • The fight for cybersecurity in Fintech
  • The past, present, and future of AI
  • De-Globalization of Fintech 
  • How to be a CEO of a startup
  • Workable strategies for board management and investment


Mark Gazit has been at ThetaRay for eleven years now, having previously been their CEO and President. ThetaRay is an AI-powered transaction monitoring SaaS solution for international payments for banks and big business alike. Before he started there, he’d had a hand in four other startup businesses across the valley and the Middle East.


If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts, instructions on how to do this are here.


This episode is brought to you by R136 Ventures.

Ventures from The Valley is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

]]> Wed, 27 Mar 2024 10:00:00 -0100 R136 R136 3917 In this first episode of Ventures from the Valley, our host Victor Orlovski is joined by Mark Gazit: the co-founder, former CEO, and current senior advisor at ThetaRay. Together, they discuss Mark’s business ThetaRay, how he personally motivates a team to success, and the eventual impact of AI in business. In this first episode of Ventures from the Valley, our host Victor Orlovski is joined by Mark Gazit: the co-founder, former CEO, and current senior advisor at ThetaRay. Together, they discuss Mark’s business ThetaRay, how he personally motivates a team to venture capital, vc, venture capital firms, venture capital funding, index ventures, venture capital companies, vc's, virtual capital, venture capital business, funding, business grants No