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I am happy to have Kira Shishkin, the founder and CEO of informed.now, the leading news-by-SMS service reimagining how Americans stay informed without the bias and noise of traditional media. In this episode, Kira Shishkin, founder and CEO of informed.now, shares insights on building a bias-free, primary source-driven news platform, the importance of trust in media, and innovative growth strategies. Discover how his background and experiences shape his approach to creating healthier news consumption habits. Timestamps 00:00 Meet Kira Shishkin 02:16 The Path to Entrepreneurship 02:43 Navigating Today's Media Landscape 05:40 The News Compression Challenge 07:53 Measuring Impact on Misinformation 10:05 How informed.now Grows 12:18 Lessons from Past Ventures 14:15 Community vs Company 18:21 Hiring While Bootstrapped 19:44 How Background Shapes Trust 21:18 Fighting Sensationalism 23:55 Understanding Your Customer 25:40 Advice for Portfolio Founders 27:57 Lessons from the Investor Side 29:31 The Future of News Kira's Links  LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirashishkin/ Website – https://informed.now/ My Links  Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/ Course: https://www.udemy.com/course/outbound-sales-mastery/

I am excited to have Renat Gersch who is the co-founder of 10xGTM and a product marketing and go-to-market strategist with 15 years of experience scaling B2B SaaS companies. In this episode, Renat Gersch, a seasoned product marketing strategist with over 15 years of experience in B2B SaaS, shares insights on go-to-market strategies, positioning, and building successful startup teams. Discover how to translate vision into traction, avoid common pitfalls, and leverage AI for growth. ----------------------------------------------- Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Renat Gersch and Her Journey 02:52 The Unicorn Experience: Growth and Challenges 08:11 Positioning: The Key to Buyer Engagement 13:41 The Role of Sales in Building a Pipeline 23:59 Founders and Sales: Timing and Strategy 29:31 Building a Strong Co-Founder Relationship 33:23 The Go-to-Market Roadmap Across Industries 36:48 Healthy Conviction vs. Self-Deception in Founders 39:55 The Reality of Early Pipeline Building 42:52 Advice for Founders: Focus and Growth 45:05 Reflections on Career Growth and Loyalty ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3G514tA5EuZ8Py9ofTXj8T   Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/3G514tA5EuZ8Py9ofTXj8T

I am thrilled to have Raphaël Boukris, co-founder and CRO of Didomi. Roughly 2% of global web traffic runs through their SDK. He's raised three rounds, made two acquisitions, and sold majority control to private equity. Now the group does 40 to 60m ARR with under 200 people. In this episode, Raphaël Boukris, CRO and co-founder of Didomi, shares insights on compliance solutions, strategic acquisitions, and scaling SaaS businesses globally. Discover how to navigate international markets, build high-performance sales teams, and adapt to AI-driven sales tools. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Raphaël Boukris and Didomi 02:11 Raphael's journey from startups to compliance tech 04:04 What does Didomi sell and its market focus 06:12 Customer profile and who Didomidoes not serve 07:52 Pricing models and AI impact on SaaS 10:05 Acquisition strategy: Buying vs. building 13:01 Expanding into US and European markets 16:01 Fundraising journey and lessons learned 22:51 Building a high-performance sales team 32:00 The role of AI in outbound sales 35:01 Maintaining lean operations at scale 36:51 Advice for founders and investors Raphael's Links  LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/rboukris Website – didomi.io My Links  Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/ Course: https://www.udemy.com/course/outbound-sales-mastery/

I am thrilled to have Vincent Jong, the founder of DataMerge, a B2B data platform challenging ZoomInfo and Apollo with smarter enrichment waterfalls and transparent pricing and Meetbot which is an AI‑first scheduling platform. He also builds AI-first companies through Poolside Ventures and hosts SaaS on the Beach, an exclusive retreat for top SaaS founders. In this interview, Vincent Jong, shares insights on building AI-first SaaS products, data enrichment, and startup strategies. Discover how he leverages AI to create cost-efficient, scalable solutions and his approach to building successful ventures without external funding. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Vincent Jong and His Ventures 03:42 Vincent's Journey into Startups and Product Management 06:15 The Value of Company Data in Sales and Marketing 09:41 Understanding Enrichment Waterfalls in Data Providers 12:42 Transparent Pricing in Data Services 15:38 Building AI-First Companies Without Traditional Engineering Teams 18:42 The Role of AI in Marketing and Content Creation 26:35 Optimizing for AI Understanding 28:50 Profitability and Competitive Advantage 30:42 Building for Longevity and Growth 34:03 Intentional Decision-Making in Startups 39:36 Creating Meaningful Connections at SaaS on the Beach Vincent's Links  LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincentjong/ Website – https://www.poolside.ventures My Links  Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/ Course: https://www.udemy.com/course/outbound-sales-mastery/

I am excited to have Fadwa Ouardani, a business angel and VC investor at Leblon Capital, backing founders across the US and Europe. In this interview, Fadwa Ouardani, a VC investor at Leblon Capital, shares her journey from operator to investor, her views on startup culture, the impact of AI, and advice for founders navigating the global landscape. Discover key traits of successful founders, the importance of company culture, and the future of venture capital. Timestamps 03:40 Traits of Successful Founders 06:18 Building Strong Company Culture 09:38 Comparing European and American Founders 12:33 The Future of Innovation Globally 15:35 Navigating Founder and Investor Relationships 18:25 Challenges of High Valuations 21:18 Growth Frameworks in AI 24:21 The Role of IPOs in Venture Capital 27:07 Advice for Emerging Managers Fadwa's Links  LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/fadwa-ouardani/ Website – https://leblon-capital.com My Links  Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/ Course: https://www.udemy.com/course/outbound-sales-mastery/

I am thrilled to have Alex Shartsis, the founder and CEO of Skyp, a bootstrapped AI email platform powering personalized outbound for sales teams at leading companies. In this episode, Alex Shartsis, founder and CEO of Skyp, shares insights on building a bootstrapped GTM software company, writing outbound that actually earns replies, and winning a crowded category against far better-funded rivals. Discover how one conference-outreach play packed an enterprise pipeline with 130 leads in a single quarter, why a $20M exit can beat a $20M raise, and what most people still get wrong about AI-generated cold email in 2026. Timestamps 00:50 What a great sales team actually looks like 02:48 Why Alex bootstrapped Skyp instead of raising VC 07:42 The payback math: when a $20M outcome beats a $20M raise 10:32 Outbound in 2026 — personalization that works vs. slop 15:05 Do follow-up emails work? (why he ignores your first one) 18:02 Email + LinkedIn + phone: the multi-channel workflow 22:42 AI coding tools for non-technical founders & GTM leaders 27:54 Pricing: why Skip refuses credit-based pricing 33:51 Winning a crowded category against better-funded rivals 37:59 Personal brand & newsletter as a GTM engine 41:39 Rapid fire: favorite business book 43:08 What he'd do differently building Skyp Alex's Links  LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/shartsis/ Website – https://skyp.ai/ My Links  Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/ Course: https://www.udemy.com/course/outbound-sales-mastery/

I am happy to have Mike Zisman, the founder and Executive Chairman of Golf Genius Software, the leading tournament management platform serving 11,000+ golf clubs across 62 countries In this episode, Mike Zisman, founder of Golf Genius Software, shares insights on building a capital-efficient tech company, forming game-changing partnerships, and navigating today's exit landscape. Discover how a single USGA deal transformed the company's trajectory, why raising less capital can make a startup stronger, and what it really takes to build resilient remote teams that stick around. Learn What did it actually take to build enough trust with the USGA to replace their entire tournament management system? Michael targets 20% EBITDA margin and reinvest the rest - how did he land on that number specifically Michael runs acquired brands as separate brands rather than folding them in. What's the actual criteria for when to keep a brand alive versus absorb it? What's your favourite business book ->innovator's dilemma What's your favourite business tool ->gmail If you could go back, what would you do differently ->understand how a golf course operates Timestamps 00:00 From MIT Professor to Software Entrepreneur 03:04 Leaving Academia: The Leap Into Building Companies 06:13 The Birth of Golf Genius and Its Early Struggles 09:08 Why Trust and Relationships Win Deals 12:12 The USGA Partnership That Changed Everything 15:13 Raising Less: The Case for Capital Efficiency 18:21 Employee Ownership and Building a Real Culture 21:09 Remote Teams and the Retention Playbook 24:05 Where AI Actually Fits in Business Today 27:05 The Future of Programming and Productivity 28:25 The Brutal Job Market Facing New Graduates 32:16 Why Interpersonal Skills Still Beat Technical Ones 34:19 The Golf Industry's Shifting Strategies 36:24 Reading Market Dynamics and Growth Levers 39:52 Exit Strategies in Today's Market 41:55 How Company Ownership and Investment Are Evolving 43:56 The Future of Venture Capital and Private Equity 49:13 Resilience: The Entrepreneur's Real Edge Mike's Links  LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-zisman-51528/ Website – https://golfgenius.com/ My Links  Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/ Course: https://www.udemy.com/course/outbound-sales-mastery/

I am thrilled to have Ron Levin, Managing Partner at Alumni Ventures Seed Fund and co-founder of Perk, formerly TravelPerk, which scaled to a $2.7 billion valuation. He has backed 1,600+ companies and written Higher Purpose Venture Capital. In this episode, Ron Levin, Managing Partner at Alumni Ventures and co-founder of TravelPerk, shares insights on venture capital, startup fundraising, and the future of AI. Discover how founders can decode a VC pass, what a real moat looks like for AI companies, and why social impact and strong returns aren't mutually exclusive. Timestamps 00:26 From McKinsey to Booking.com to Co-Founding TravelPerk 02:53 Building TravelPerk: The First 12 Months and Manual Grind 05:48 Crossing the Table: What Founders Get Wrong 08:11 The Alumni Ventures Model: Co-Investing Alongside Top VCs 09:44 Decoding a VC Pass: When It's Really About the Team 13:18 Securing a Lead Investor Without Social Proof 16:13 What's Moving the Needle: AI-First Investing Now 17:44 The AI Wrapper Trap and What a Real Moat Looks Like 20:08 Why SaaS Metrics Don't Map to AI Companies 21:49 Who Wins the AI Model War 23:42 The Anthropic IPO and AI Valuations 26:06 Higher Purpose Venture Capital: Returns Meet Social Impact 29:30 IPOs, Secondaries, and Staying Private Longer 31:48 Should VCs Ignore Price for Generational Companies? 33:50 Structuring a Seed Raise With No Warm Network Ron's Links  LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/levinron/ Website – https://www.av.vc/ My Links  Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/ Course: https://www.udemy.com/course/outbound-sales-mastery/

I am thrilled to have Mike Ryan, CEO of Bullet Point Network, who was earlier Partner at Goldman Sachs, Global Co-Head of Equities, investment committee at Harvard's endowment. In this episode, Mike Ryan, CEO of Bullet Point Network and former Goldman Sachs Partner and Global Co-Head of Equities, shares insights on AI in investing, disciplined capital allocation, and building a startup late in a storied career. Discover why quality control is the real battleground in AI, how the "AI + 1" model keeps humans in the loop, what decades on Harvard's investment committee taught him about betting on people, and why return on capital still matters most in an age of sky-high private valuations. Timestamps 00:36 — Allocating capital at Harvard's endowment vs. running a trading desk at Goldman 02:21 — The moment he decided to leave Goldman and Harvard to build a company 04:12 — "AI + 1": where the system stops and human judgment starts 07:01 — Selling AI into skeptical investment teams — the sales cycle and quality control 09:15 — Turning a geopolitical/macro signal into an investable thesis vs. a narrative 12:28 — From the token subsidy era to the token shortage era 14:54 — Where AI creates real leverage in the deal lifecycle — and where it's hype 17:40 — Patterns from the dot-com and subprime cycles; are we in a bubble? 21:43 — Why companies stay private longer, secondaries, and the IPO question 25:08 — Creativity, persuasion, judgment, and the death of apprenticeship learning 27:59 — The operator problems Goldman and Harvard never prepared him for 30:26 — GTM motion: who the first buyer is inside an investment firm 32:12 — McKinsey's 12M-jobs projection and whether firms are ready 34:53 — Value vs. growth investing at high valuations Mike's Links  LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-ryan-bpn/ Website – https://bpnai.com/ My Links  Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/ Course: https://www.udemy.com/course/outbound-sales-mastery/

I am thrilled to have Tal Kirschenbaum, co-founder and CEO of Ledge. He's not building software that tracks the month-end close. He's building AI agents that that tracks the month-end close. In this episode, Tal Kirschenbaum, CEO of Ledge, shares insights on AI in finance, startup growth, and go-to-market strategies. Discover how AI is transforming accounting, the importance of deterministic models, and lessons from building a successful AI company. Timestamps 01:12 Understanding Corporate M&A and its Relevance to Startups 02:42 Insights from Corporate M&A Experience and Building Ledge 03:28 Origin of Ledge: Market Gap in Finance Operations 04:56 The Build vs. Buy Dilemma in AI Solutions 09:01 The Importance of Consistency in AI for Finance 11:03 Sales Strategies: Founder-Led and Multi-Channel Outreach 13:51 Leveraging Social Media and Content for Pipeline Growth 14:55 Balancing Founder Involvement in Sales and Scaling 16:54 Managing Distributed Teams Across Time Zones 18:45 Early Hiring Challenges and Lessons Learned 24:52 AI's Impact on Jobs in Finance and Future Outlook 27:53 AI Investment Mistakes and Market Trends 29:58 Global AI Race: US vs. China 31:04 Effective Go-to-Market Tactics for AI Startups 33:50 Staying Productive and Avoiding Burnout Tal's Links  LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tal-k/ Website – https://ledge.co/ My Links  Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/ Course: https://www.udemy.com/course/outbound-sales-mastery/

I am happy to have Sudhir Syal, President at Orios Venture Partners. Sudhir spent fifteen years on both sides of the table. He covered India's earliest startups as a journalist, then went and grew three of them himself across Indonesia, UAE, SGP, and India. In this episode, Sudhir Syal, President at ORIOS Venture Partners, shares insights from his 15+ years of startup and investment experience across India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. He discussed startup scaling, international expansion, GTM strategies, and the future of AI and tech in emerging markets. Timestamps 00:00 The Journey from Journalism to Entrepreneurship 02:58 Scaling Startups: Insights from Founders 06:08 Market Expansion Strategies: Lessons from BookMyShow 09:09 Navigating Market Entry: India vs. US 12:10 Building Stratify: A Go-To-Market Enabler 15:19 Transferable GTM Playbooks Across Industries 18:13 Pitching to VCs: What Founders Get Wrong 20:37 The Rise of First-Time Fund Managers in India 21:17 Evaluating Go-To-Market Strategies 24:01 The Role of Capital in GTM Success 26:34 Navigating the Fractional Resource Landscape 27:52 The Future of Sales in an AI-Driven World 30:30 Preparing for the Job Market in an AI Era 32:30 Expanding Indian Brands into the UAE Market 33:52 Emerging Industries in the UAE 36:19 The Resilience of the UAE Startup Ecosystem 38:28 Metrics that Matter: Operators vs. VCs 40:33 Reflections on Career Decisions and Tools Sudhir's Links  LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sudhirsyal/ Website – https://www.oriosvp.com/ My Links  Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/ Course: https://www.udemy.com/course/outbound-sales-mastery/

I am excited to have Alex Chompff, the Co-founder and Executive Director of Evolution Ventures and Lead General Partner of MinervaFund, an active early stage venture capital firm investing in women and traditionally underrepresented founders. In this episode, Alex Chompff, co-founder of Evolution Ventures, shares his journey from military service to venture capital, explores the impact of AI on the future of work, and discusses how startups can leverage new technologies and investment strategies. Timestamps 00:00 The Journey into Venture Capital 02:59 Military Influence on Leadership 06:09 Comparing Dot Com Boom and AI Revolution 09:00 Understanding Evolution Ventures and Minerva Fund 12:14 The Role of Evolution Labs 15:17 Unlocking Value with AI 18:03 AI and Labor Displacement 21:06 Reskilling in the Age of AI 24:14 The AI Co-Pilot Framework 27:12 Investing in AI: A Call to Action 31:43 Learning from Failures and Struggles 32:45 The Importance of Distribution in Software 35:34 The Changing Landscape of Venture Capital 40:10 Investing in Startups: Strategies and Considerations 44:09 The Role of Founders in Fundraising 48:01 Engaging with Venture Capital Firms 50:31 Reflections on Business and Personal Growth Alex's Links  LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexchompff Website - https://www.evolutionacceleration.com/ My Links  Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/ Course: https://www.udemy.com/course/outbound-sales-mastery/

I am thrilled to have Allison Byers, founder and CEO of Scroobious. She is the author of the book, Fundraising for The Rest of Us. In this episode, Alison Byers shares her journey from entrepreneurship to venture capital insights, discusses biases in the industry, and introduces her relationship-first platform, Scroobius. She offers valuable advice for founders and emerging fund managers navigating the complex world of startup funding. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital 03:07 The Challenges of Fundraising and Gender Bias 06:13 Understanding Venture Capital Dynamics 09:17 The Importance of Relationships in Fundraising 11:58 Navigating Educational Backgrounds and Networking 15:24 The Role of Angel Investors vs. VCs 18:15 Introducing Scroobius: A Relationship-First Approach 22:44 Fundraising for the Rest of Us: Key Insights 25:38 Advice for Emerging Fund Managers 28:33 The Future of Venture Capital and Wealth Distribution 31:44 Closing Thoughts and Resources Allison's Links  LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/allison-byers/ Website – Fundraising for the Rest of Us My Links  Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/ Course: https://www.udemy.com/course/outbound-sales-mastery/

I am thrilled to have Jeremy Au was earlier COO of cancer-biotech Lucence. He's now CEO of Cosmetic Physician Partners Asia. Forbes 30 Under 30, 50+ startups backed, host of BRAVE. In this interview, Jeremy Au shares his diverse journey from founder to CEO, insights on startup building, cross-border healthcare, Southeast Asia tech, and investment strategies. A must-listen for entrepreneurs and investors aiming to navigate the complex Asian landscape. Timestamps 00:00 Journey of a Builder: From Founder to CEO 07:22 Navigating the Global Landscape: Challenges and Opportunities 10:49 Southeast Asia's Untold Stories: The Ground Realities 18:29 Climate Capital: The Next Big Opportunity? 22:20 Investing in the Future: Insights for Emerging VCs 35:15 Connecting the Dots: Career Transitions and Advice Jeremy's Links  LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyau/ Website – https://cosmeticphysicianpartners.com/ My Links  Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/ Course: https://www.udemy.com/course/outbound-sales-mastery/

I am excited to have Tom Chi, Founding Partner at At One Ventures and founding member of Google X, where he led teams creating self-driving cars and Google Glass. A physicist-turned-venture capitalist, he's authored Climate Capital, investing in deep-tech startups helping humanity become net positive to nature—a 200-500 year mission. In this interview, Tom Chi, a pioneering inventor and venture capitalist, discusses the intersection of technology, climate change, and long-term impact. He shares his journey from astrophysics to climate investing, emphasizing the importance of physical reality in economics and the need for multi-generational thinking. Timestamps 05:42 The Disconnect Between Economics and Physical Reality 10:34 The Four C's: Skills for the 21st Century 15:27 Innovation and Attachment in Startups 20:17 AI Hype Cycle: Building the Right Solutions 25:39 Investing in Positive Disruption 30:37 Multi-Generational Impact and Long-Term Thinking 35:19 The Through Line of Tom's Career 40:21 Tools and Resources for Innovators Tom's Links  LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/thegoodtomchi/ Website – https://www.atoneventures.com/ My Links  Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/ Course: https://www.udemy.com/course/outbound-sales-mastery/