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Lifeselfmastery's podcast I Startups I Venture Capital

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Rating
★★★★★
5
from
8 reviews
This podcast has
304 episodes
Language
English
Explicit
No
Date created
2017/08/31
Latest episode
2026/11/05
Average duration
45 min.
Release period
7 days

Description

Life Self Mastery Podcast is an interview based show where I interview online entrepreneurs who started their businesses and scaled up their businesses to improve their lifestyles. Previous guests include Guy Kawasaki, Brad Feld, James Clear, Shu Nyatta, Ida Tin, Elizabeth Yin, Polina Pompliano, Evgenia Plotnikova, Anna Khan, Minnie Ingersoll, Sridhar Ramaswamy, Mac Conwell, Danielle Strachman, Jake Gibson, Wes Kao, Brian Requarth, Vivek Sodera, Eric Siu, Amit Garg, Nischal Shetty, Pranav Pai, Nir Eyal, Paul Shapiro, Nick Huber, Rob Walling, Andrew Dsouza, Fabrice Grinda, and 300+ incredible guests. partnergrow.substack.com

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Building Mexico's Startup Ecosystem with Marcus Dantus on Venture Capital, SMBs, and AI
2026/11/05
I am thrilled to have Marcus Dantus, founder and chairman of Startup Mexico and a Shark on Shark Tank Mexico for 14 seasons. He built Mexico's first internet portal, founded Wayra Mexico, and has backed 30+ startups. In this episode, Marcus Dantus shares his journey from building Mexico's first internet portal to investing in startups and fostering entrepreneurship across Latin America. Discover insights on startup ecosystems, investment strategies, and the future of AI in business. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Marcus Dantus and his background 01:51 Early internet ventures in Mexico and lessons learned 03:50 Career pattern: Telecom, medical devices, incubators 05:59 Pivoting and business model innovation 08:02 Working with large corporations and startups 09:58 Evolution of the Mexican startup ecosystem 12:07 Focus on traditional SMBs and Ruta Excel 13:59 Insights from 14 seasons of Shark Tank Mexico 16:01 Evaluating founders in the first 60 seconds 17:47 Designing effective first meetings with investors 20:00 Avoiding exaggeration and creating FOMO 22:04 Lessons from backing over 80 startups 23:59 The state of angel investing in Latin America 25:58 Global perspectives: Europe, US, and Latin America 27:54 AI's impact on jobs and businesses in Latin America 30:10 Preparing young entrepreneurs for the future 33:47 Balancing energy and commitments in a busy schedule 36:08 Advice for founders about resilience and persistence Marcus's Links  LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcusdantus/ Website – http://www.startupmexico.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/
You Might Also Like: The Oprah Podcast
2026/11/05
Introducing Oprah Looks Back at Her Best Surprises from The Oprah Podcast. Follow the show: The Oprah Podcast Surprise! Oprah is looking back on some of her favorite surprises from 25 years of The Oprah Winfrey Show. Oprah shares how when she was surprised by her idol Mary Tyler Moore it sent her into the ugly cry. The time she’ll never forget surprising Tom Cruise’s biggest fan while standing in her robe, no makeup and her hair soaking wet from the shower. More surprises include Mariah Carey’s biggest fans, the iconic car giveaway - “you get a car, you get a car” - and the moment she surprised an entire audience they were all “going to Australia!” When The Oprah Show ended in 2011 she allowed her staff to surprise her over and over again at a star-studded event at the United Center in Chicago. 00:00:00 - Oprah on loving to surprise people on The Oprah Winfrey Show 00:02:15 - Oprah was surprised by Mary Tyler Moore 00:08:14 - The Tom Cruise Surprise 00:12:49 - The Weight Loss Surprise 00:16:10 - The Will and Grace surprise 00:18:36 - The Family surprise 00:20:50 - The Mariah surprise 00:24:00 - The You Get a Car surprise 00:29:20 - The biggest fans surprise 00:33:58 - The Surprise Trip 00:39:30 - Oprah’s 25 year surprise show Follow Oprah Winfrey on Social: https://www.instagram.com/oprahpodcast/ https://www.facebook.com/oprahpodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/oprah/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/oprahwinfrey/ Listen to the full podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0tEVrfNp92a7lbjDe6GMLI https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-oprah-podcast/id1782960381 DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].
Neel Kumar from Rentify on Why Agentic AI Will Run the Rental Economy
2026/10/29
I am excited to have Neel Kumar, co-founder of Rentify in Dubai. After leading products at Viacom18 and ZEE5 and exiting coto, he's building Earn AI, an agentic operating system for the rental economy. In this episode, Neel Kumar from Rentify shares his journey from media to startups, the evolution of Rentify, and insights into AI-driven property management. Discover how his experiences and strategic decisions shape innovative solutions in the rental economy. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Neel Kumar and Rentify 03:10 The origin story of Rentify in Dubai 05:14 Deciding to build again after exiting Koto 07:12 The role of AI in Rentify's evolution 09:01 From rent payments to AI-powered workflows 12:18 What is agentic AI and how does it work? 13:50 Balancing automation and human decision-making 15:37 Gaining trust from landlords and property managers 17:00 Partnership strategies with banks and property managers 18:37 Lessons from raising capital in the GCC market 19:23 Building natively in Arabic for regional markets 20:04 Managing remote teams across multiple countries 22:54 Lessons from building and exiting startups 24:52 The importance of experimentation in startups 25:45 Advice for corporate founders transitioning to startups 27:33 Neel's sports hobbies and their role in creativity 30:20 Reflections on building Rentify and future plans Neel's Links  LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajneel-kumar/ Website - https://gorentify.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/
Four Levers of Negotiating with Todd Caponi
2026/10/22
I am thrilled to have Todd Caponi, a sales historian, keynote speaker, and three-time author whose work sits at the intersection of transparency and behavioral science. He's a multi-time C-level sales leader who led teams through two successful exits. In this episode, Todd Caponi, a sales historian and author, shares insights on transparency, negotiation, and the evolution of sales strategies. Discover how historical practices influence modern sales, the importance of transparency, and how AI impacts the sales profession in 2026. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Todd Caponi 03:22 The Journey into Sales and Negotiation 06:38 The Evolution of Negotiation Practices 10:43 Understanding Transparency in Sales 16:12 The Cost of Discounting in Sales 19:17 The Human Element in Sales 23:01 The Impact of AI on Sales Negotiation 27:09 Cold Calling in the Age of AI 30:15 Lessons from Sales History 34:18 Negotiation at High Stakes Todd's Links  LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddcaponi/ Book – https://toddcaponi.com/four-levers-negotiating/ 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/
Vineet Budki from Sigma Capital on Why Most of the World Still Doesn't Get Crypto
2026/10/15
I am excited to have Vineet Budki has spent fifteen years turning volatility into a career - from Emirates cabin crew to CEO of Sigma Capital, a $100M crypto fund with 300+ investments. In this episode, Vineet Budki from Sigma Capital shares his journey from building startups in India to running a crypto fund, and why education is still the biggest unlock for crypto adoption. He breaks down how to build a diversified portfolio, why NFTs are really membership clubs with utility, how AI will take emotion out of investing, and what it takes to build a fund that scales. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Vineet Budki's Journey 01:48 Early Startup Experiences in India 04:12 Transition into Crypto and Fund Building 05:20 The Role of Education in Crypto Adoption 06:45 Understanding Bitcoin's Utility 09:03 Crypto Portfolio Strategy and Diversification 12:13 Different Types of Cryptocurrencies and Use Cases 17:11 NFTs: Utility and Future Potential 20:12 Valuations and Market Growth in Crypto 21:52 Impact of AI on Crypto Investing 23:02 Building a Scalable Crypto Fund 25:51 Future Trends in Venture Capital and Crypto 28:55 Learning and Adapting in a Rapidly Evolving Space 31:01 Advice for Young Entrepreneurs and Investors Vineet's Links  LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/vineetbudki/ Website – https://sigmavc.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/
Sam Marchant on Why MENA Founders Should Think Bigger
2026/10/08
I am thrilled to have Sam Marchant a Partner at 21 Ventures, backing pre-seed and seed founders across MENA and Southeast Asia with $500K–$1.5M cheques in AI, FinTech, and Industrials. In this episode, Sam Marchant, a partner at Twenty One VC, shares his unconventional journey into venture capital, insights on investing in MENA and Southeast Asia, and the impact of AI on startups and investment strategies. Discover how regional markets are evolving and what founders need to succeed today. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Sam and his journey into VC 01:14 Sam's unconventional path into venture capital 02:09 Early entrepreneurial experience with a low sugar cereal business 03:00 Balancing IQ and EQ in VC decision-making 04:04 Launching AI-focused venture builder Inaugural 04:57 Joining Twenty One Ventures and regional market insights 07:15 Building media assets to highlight regional startups 08:32 Market inflection points in MENA and Southeast Asia 11:21 Sector focus: Overfunded and underfunded areas 13:51 Supporting founders beyond capital: fundraising, commercial, human 17:41 Leading rounds in a competitive market 20:32 Big vision and innovation in the Middle East 24:45 Key traits for founders: belief, focus, commitment 27:43 Cultural diversity and universal goals in Dubai 29:13 The future of AI agents and user experience 32:20 Building a media business to showcase regional talent Sam's Links  LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-marchant/ Website – https://www.21vc.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/
Rebuilding Trust in News with Kira Shishkin from informed.now
2026/10/01
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/
Why Positioning Beats Pipeline - Renat Gersch on Winning Buyers
2026/09/24
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
Raphaël Boukris from Didomi on acquisition Playbook for Regulatory Tech
2026/09/17
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/
Vincent Jong on Building Profitable SaaS Without Outside Money
2026/09/10
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/
Fadwa Ouardani from Leblon Capital on Why European Startups Have to Think Globally
2026/09/03
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/
Alex Shartsis from Skyp on Winning Outbound in the Age of AI Email
2026/08/27
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/
Mike Zisman from GolfGenius on Building a Niche Software Empire
2026/08/20
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/
Ron Levin from Alumni Ventures on What a Real Moat Looks Like
2026/08/13
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/
Mike Ryan from Bullet Point Network on Building the AI Wall Street Will Rely On
2026/08/06
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/

Podcast reviews

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5 out of 5
8 reviews
★★★★★
Dan Layfield 2025/11/12
Great Podcast
Was a guest on Rohit's podcast and found him to be an great host. I've listened to a couple of episodes and they're excellent. I would highly recommen...
★★★★★
oliviabaker13 2022/04/21
Quality business insights! 💡
If you’re currently a business owner, entrepreneur, or want to be one in the future then this podcast should be part of your weekly content diet. Rohi...
★★★★★
Grusha - ElitePodcastBookings 2020/07/07
Interesting Content!
Can't wait for your next shows! Kudos! ~ Elite Podcast Bookings
★★★★★
_SDD99 2017/12/01
Enjoying the range of topics and guests!
I like the interviews on the rage of topics since some of them are things I am interested in learning more about since I like learning about business....
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