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In this episode of Nothing Ventured, Aarish Shah sits down with Dr Georgia Fleet, co-founder of Zonova, to explore antimicrobial technology, medical device innovation and the challenges of commercialising deep tech. Georgia shares her journey from materials science to founding Zonova, which is developing Z-ROS, an antimicrobial technology designed to kill microbes on contact when integrated into medical devices. She explains how the company pivoted from animal health to human healthcare and why a B2B licensing model was key to its commercial strategy and fundraising. The conversation explores raising venture capital as a female founder, navigating medical device regulation, proving safety and efficacy, and knowing when customer pilots become a distraction. Georgia also discusses building a business with a friend as co-founder and introducing AI into a science-led company despite initially being a sceptic. In this episode: - Antimicrobial technology and medical device infections - Dr Georgia Fleet's journey into deep tech - Building Zonova and developing Z-ROS - Pivoting from animal health to human healthcare - Licensing versus manufacturing - Raising venture capital as a female founder - Medical device regulation and commercialisation - Proving safety and efficacy - Customer pilots and commercial strategy - Building a business with a friend - AI adoption in a science-led company - Turning scientific breakthroughs into scalable businesses Find Dr Georgia Fleet: LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/georgiafleet Zonova: https://zonovatech.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zonovatech/ 🎙️ Listen to Nothing Ventured for conversations with founders, investors and the people shaping the future of technology and venture capital. #NothingVentured #VentureCapital #DeepTech #MedTech #AntimicrobialTechnology #MedicalDevices #HealthcareInnovation #Startups #WomenInTech #Entrepreneurship Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, Aarish Shah sits down with Romain Clément, founder of AKA Science, to explore how AI, clinical data and drug discovery could transform the pharmaceutical industry. Romain shares the personal story behind AKA Science, following his own brain tumour diagnosis and the three years of research that led him from literature and philosophy into healthcare, pharmaceuticals and AI. He explains how the company has built technology designed to structure complex scientific data and uncover potential treatment options that might otherwise remain hidden. The conversation explores why having more data doesn't necessarily create more value for pharma, and why the real challenge is often the structure, quality, context and usability of that data. Romain explains how AKA Science approaches unstructured scientific information, clinical data and AI to identify connections and potential treatment pathways. They also discuss drug repurposing, off-label treatments and how existing drugs could potentially be identified for different patient groups and conditions. Romain explains how AKA Science aims to connect the interests of patients and pharmaceutical companies by uncovering opportunities within existing drug portfolios. The discussion then moves into AI, European technology and sovereignty. Romain shares his perspective on Europe's ability to compete with the US and China, the importance of compute and data centres, open-weight models, regulation and why Europe needs to move faster if it wants to remain competitive in the AI race. They also explore Europe's strengths in scientific research and early-stage innovation, alongside the challenges of commercialisation, bureaucracy and turning research breakthroughs into scalable companies. Finally, Romain explains why AKA Science prioritised scientific rigour, industry trust and profitability rather than following the traditional venture-backed growth model, and shares his contrarian belief that the first immortal person may already have been born. In this episode: AI and the future of drug discovery Romain Clément's journey from brain tumour patient to founder Building AKA Science AI and pharmaceutical research Clinical data and scientific knowledge Why big data failed pharma Structuring and contextualising scientific data AI-powered drug discovery Drug repurposing and off-label treatments Finding overlooked treatment options Connecting patients and pharmaceutical companies Healthcare innovation and patient outcomes Data quality, noise and serendipity AI, compute and data centres Open-weight vs closed-weight AI models European AI sovereignty The US, China and Europe's AI race Regulation vs technological progress Europe's strengths in scientific research Commercialising European innovation Bureaucracy and the pace of innovation Building a healthcare technology company Profitability vs venture capital Trust and validation in pharma Scientific rigour and industry expertise The future of AI and healthcare Healthspan, longevity and immortality Find Romain Clément and AKA Science online at: AKA Science: https://akascience.com/ 🎙️ Listen to Nothing Ventured for conversations with founders, investors and the people shaping the future of technology and venture capital. #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #DrugDiscovery #Pharma #HealthcareAI #HealthTech #Biotech #Pharmaceuticals #DeepTech #VentureCapital #Startups #DrugRepurposing #ClinicalResearch #AIInnovation #HealthcareInnovation Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What does the future of fusion look like beyond energy generation? In this episode of Nothing Ventured, Aarish Shah sits down with Talmon Firestone, founder and CEO of Astral Systems, to explore fusion technology, deep tech commercialisation and the unexpected applications of compact fusion systems. Talmon shares his journey from space science to building Astral Systems, explaining how the company is using fusion-based neutron generators for medical isotopes, materials testing and electronics validation while pursuing the longer-term potential of fusion energy. They discuss Astral’s contrarian approach to deep tech, generating almost £800,000 in revenue before raising investment, the challenges of commercialising complex hardware, fundraising in the UK vs US, building high-performing teams and the future of fusion and fission. In this episode: - The future of fusion technology - Astral Systems and compact fusion - Medical isotopes and nuclear medicine - Commercialising deep tech - Building revenue before raising investment - UK vs US deep tech funding - Fusion vs fission - The economics of fusion energy - The future of deep tech Find Talmon Firestone: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/talmonfirestone/ X: https://x.com/TalmonFirestone Astral Systems: https://astralsystems.com 🎙️ Listen to Nothing Ventured for conversations with founders, investors and the people shaping the future of venture capital, deep tech and innovation. #Fusion #FusionEnergy #DeepTech #NuclearFusion #MedicalIsotopes #NuclearMedicine #VentureCapital #AstralSystems #Innovation #Startups Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, Aarish Shah sits down with Rubina Singh from Foresight Group to explore the changing landscape of deep tech venture capital, strategic infrastructure, and the challenges of turning breakthrough technology into scalable businesses. Rubina shares her perspective on deep tech investing, defence and space technology, healthtech, university spinouts and what separates great technology from great venture-backed companies. She explains why solving a real customer problem, understanding commercialisation and finding the right capital are just as important as the underlying technology. The conversation covers the growing focus on strategic technologies, why defence and space are attracting significant market pull, and how investors can identify genuine capability gaps rather than simply following fashionable areas of technology. They also explore the challenges facing UK university spinouts, including technology transfer, intellectual property, commercialisation and talent, as well as what the UK can learn from ecosystems such as MIT and Stanford. The discussion also looks at corporate venture capital, startup pilots, procurement cycles, strategic investors and the potential risks of becoming too dependent on a single corporate customer. They also discuss healthtech, AI, sensors, medical devices and therapeutics, why biology cannot always be accelerated to fit venture capital timelines, and how different forms of patient or blended capital could help fund companies that don't fit the traditional VC model. In this episode: * Deep tech and the future of venture capital * Investing in defence and space technology * Strategic infrastructure and sovereign capabilities * What makes a great deep tech company * Technology vs product vs commercialisation * The importance of customer demand and market size * UK university spinouts * Technology transfer and intellectual property * Commercialising university research * The UK deep tech ecosystem * Deep tech talent and founder support * Corporate venture capital and strategic investors * Startup pilots and pilot fatigue * Corporate procurement and long sales cycles * Strategic investors and potential conflicts * Healthtech and healthcare innovation * AI, sensors and medical technology * Venture capital vs patient and blended capital * Why not every great company is a fit for VC * Failure, resilience and lessons for founders and investors * The future of deep tech and innovation Find Rubina Singh online at: LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/rubina9 Foresight Group: https://foresight.group/meet-the-teams/private-equity-and-ventures/rubina-singh/ 🎙️ Listen to Nothing Ventured for conversations with founders, investors and the people shaping the future of venture capital. #DeepTech #VentureCapital #DefenceTech #SpaceTech #HealthTech #AI #Startups #VC #UniversitySpinouts #DeepTechInvesting #Innovation #Entrepreneurship Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What’s really happening in UK venture capital right now? Record funding, massive AI investment, tougher growth-stage conditions and a new era of private-market liquidity are reshaping the startup landscape. In this episode of Nothing Ventured News, host Aarish breaks down the latest developments across UK and global venture capital, including: 🚀 Record global venture rounds and the rise of AI funding 💰 Why UK venture capital has surged and where the money is coming from 🇬🇧 The growing role of US investors in UK startups 📈 Why tender offers and secondary sales could become a major source of liquidity 🏦 What rising interest rates mean for VC-backed companies and venture debt 💷 Capital gains tax and what potential changes could mean for founders and employees 📊 Why founders need to rethink runway, fundraising and liquidity planning From Blue Origin and Databricks to UK startups, secondary markets and the future of venture capital, this episode explores where the money is flowing and what founders and investors need to be watching next. 🎙️ Nothing Ventured News Hosted by Aarish Shah. This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B. Don’t miss the next insight! Join EmergeOne’s newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/emergeone/email-signup-form #DeepTech #VentureCapital #DefenceTech #SpaceTech #HealthTech #AI #Startups #VC #UniversitySpinouts #Innovation #DeepTechInvesting #UKStartups #AI #PrivateMarkets #VCFunding #Entrepreneurship #VentureCapitalUK Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, Aarish Shah sits down with Adam French, investor at Antler and former operator and co-founder of Scalable Capital, to explore what makes exceptional founders, how venture capital is changing, and where the UK startup ecosystem is heading. Adam shares his perspective on founder DNA, venture capital investing, startup funding, co-founders, AI and building venture-scale companies, explaining why obsession, agency, ambition and execution are some of the most important traits he looks for in founders. The conversation covers Antler's approach to backing founders, why founder communities and co-founder matching matter, the differences between London and regional startup ecosystems, and why the UK needs greater density of talent, capital and infrastructure. They also explore how AI is changing the way startups are built, why founders should avoid overbuilding, the rise of AI-native businesses, and whether the future could include one-person billion-dollar companies. The discussion also looks at data-driven venture capital, SEIS investing, the changing UK funding landscape, Series A progression, and why capital is becoming increasingly concentrated around breakout businesses. In this episode: - What makes an exceptional founder - Founder DNA: obsession, agency and execution - Antler's approach to venture capital - The UK startup and venture capital ecosystem - London vs regional startup ecosystems - Finding the right co-founder - Solo founders and the rise of AI-native businesses - How AI is changing startup creation - Why startups should avoid overbuilding - Data-driven venture capital investing - SEIS and institutional venture capital - The changing UK funding landscape - Reaching Series A in a tougher market - Venture capital and the power law - What investors really look for in founders - The future of AI, startups and venture capital Find Adam French and Antler online at: LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/adam-french-2192034a Antler: https://x.com/antlerglobal This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B. Don’t miss the next insight! Join EmergeOne’s newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/emergeone/email-signup-form #AI #CFO #Fintech #Finance #TreasuryManagement #AIinFinance #StartupBanking #FinancialAutomation #FintechStartup #ArtificialIntelligence Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What does the future of climate tech, energy and deep tech investing really look like? In this episode of Nothing Ventured, Aarish Shah sits down with Matthew Blain, climate tech investor at Voyager, to explore where venture capital is flowing, why climate tech is being misunderstood, and why the economics behind new technologies matter more than the narrative. Matthew shares his perspective on climate tech investing, batteries, renewable energy, nuclear power, robotics, AI and deep tech, explaining why Voyager looks for companies that are better, faster or cheaper than incumbent technologies rather than relying on green premiums or government policy. The conversation covers the rapid growth of battery storage, wind and solar, Europe's energy costs and competitiveness, the future of nuclear and small modular reactors, and why the battle against climate change increasingly happens upstream in supply chains and infrastructure. They also explore the gap between perception and reality in physical AI and robotics, whether general-purpose humanoid robots can compete with specialised machines, and how AI is changing software, finance and venture capital. In this episode: - Climate tech and the future of venture capital - Why narrative shouldn't replace product-market evidence - The exponential growth of battery storage - Renewable energy, energy costs and European competitiveness - Nuclear power and small modular reactors - Climate investing without relying on government policy - Deep tech, hardware and defensible IP - AI, robotics and physical AI - General-purpose vs specialised robotics - How AI is changing software and finance - Why unit economics ultimately win Find Matthew Blain online at: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-blain-vc Twitter: https://x.com/voyagervc?s=11 Voyager: https://www.voyagervc.com/team-members/matthew-blain This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B. Don’t miss the next insight! Join EmergeOne’s newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/emergeone/email-signup-form #StartupBanking #financialautomation #FintechStartup #ArtificialIntelligence #ClimateTech #VentureCapital #DeepTech #Energy #Batteries #AI #Robotics #ClimateInvesting #NothingVentured #VC Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What does the future of space tech look like and can the UK become a global deep tech powerhouse? In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah sits down with Maureen Haverty, Principal at Seraphim Space, to explore the rapidly evolving space technology and deep tech investment landscape. Maureen shares her perspective on space tech investing, nuclear innovation, deep tech startups, venture capital and the commercialisation of scientific research. They discuss why so much world-class engineering talent remains trapped in national labs and universities, the UK's fear of failure, and what needs to change to turn groundbreaking research into successful startups. The conversation also explores the growing role of generalist VC funds in space, SpaceX and Starlink, space sovereignty, geopolitical risk, satellite technology, defence tech and the impact of SpaceX's IPO on the venture ecosystem. They also discuss whether the UK should concentrate its startup ecosystem around London, why deep pools of capital matter for ambitious companies, and how founders can compete in markets dominated by giants like SpaceX. In this episode: - The future of space tech and deep tech investing - Why the UK struggles to commercialise world-class research - Nuclear technology and the UK's lost commercial opportunity - Getting scientists and engineers into startups - Generalist vs specialist venture capital - SpaceX, Starlink and the future of space investment - Space sovereignty and geopolitical risk - The impact of SpaceX's IPO on the space ecosystem - Building successful deep tech companies in the UK - Why startup talent and capital need to be concentrated Find Maureen Haverty online at: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureenhaverty/ Twitter: https://x.com/seraphim_space Seraphim Space: https://seraphim.vc This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B. Get in touch at https://mailchi.mp/emergeone/email-signup-form Sign up for EmergeOne’s weekly newsletter, Off Balance at https://off-balance.beehiiv.com/subscribe #AI #CFO #Fintech #Finance #AIinFinance #StartupBanking #FinancialAutomation #FintechStartup #ArtificialIntelligence #SpaceTech #DeepTech #VentureCapital #SpaceX #Startups #VC #Investing #NuclearEnergy #Entrepreneurship #NothingVentured Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What will replace the touchscreen as the next generation of human-computer interaction? In this episode of Nothing Ventured, Aarish Shah sits down with Jacques Blagburn from Fether Labs to explore the future of gesture control, wearable technology and human-machine interfaces. Jacques explains how Fether Labs is developing tendon sensing technology that can capture high-fidelity hand movements, offering an alternative to traditional camera-based tracking and EMG sensors. The conversation explores how this technology could unlock new applications across consumer electronics, robotics, gaming, AR/VR, smart devices and next-generation interfaces. Topics covered: • Gesture control and human-computer interaction • Tendon sensing vs EMG and camera tracking • Wearable technology and smart devices • Robotics, gaming and AR/VR • Deep tech and hardware startups • Commercialising academic research • Startup funding and grants • OEM partnerships and technology licensing • Product-market fit and customer feedback • Building the next generation of interfaces • Entrepreneurship, leadership and embracing discomfort #DeepTech #GestureControl #WearableTechnology #Robotics #Startups #HumanComputerInteraction #Hardware #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #NothingVentured Find Jacques Blagburn online at: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquesblagburn/ Fether Labs: https://fetherlabs.com This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B. Don’t miss the next insight! Join EmergeOne’s newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/emergeone/email-signup-form #AI #CFO #Fintech #Finance #TreasuryManagement #AIinFinance #StartupBanking #FinancialAutomation #FintechStartup #ArtificialIntelligence Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when financial advice meets AI? In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah sits down with Laura Cornely, CEO & Co-Founder of Count, the UK’s automated financial advisor, to explore the future of fintech, financial advice and startup investing. Laura shares how Count is using technology to help people manage their money, build budgets, create rainy day funds and invest through personalised financial strategies. They discuss: - Can AI and automation replace human financial advisors? - Why financial advice needs a human touch - Building the UK’s automated financial advisor - The FCA sandbox and navigating fintech regulation - Why Laura and her husband chose to build a startup together - Fundraising, dilution and startup runway in 2026 - Why founders need to think differently about venture capital - The changing fintech investment landscape - AI, defensibility and what makes a startup truly difficult to copy - Whether technology is actually making our lives easier Laura also explains why she believes technology may have peaked in making our lives easier and why human connection could become even more valuable in an increasingly AI-driven world. If you're interested in fintech, AI, financial advice, venture capital, startup fundraising, FCA regulation, investing and the future of technology, this episode is not to be missed. Nothing Ventured explores the people, ideas and businesses shaping the venture ecosystem. Find Laura Cornely online at: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-cornely-505083198/?locale=en Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/count_app/ Count Finance: https://count-finance.com This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B. Don’t miss the next insight! Join EmergeOne’s newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/emergeone/email-signup-form #AI #CFO #Fintech #Finance #TreasuryManagement #AIinFinance #StartupBanking #FinancialAutomation #FintechStartup #ArtificialIntelligence Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when AI meets finance, treasury management and the future of the CFO? In this episode of Nothing Ventured, Aarish sits down with Pac O'Shea, CEO and Co-Founder of Round Treasury, to explore how AI is transforming finance teams, startup banking and treasury management. Pac shares how Round Treasury is solving the challenges faced by high-growth and high-risk startups, from banking and liquidity to cash management and financial automation. Together, they discuss: 💰 Why startups often need multiple banks and the trade-off between trust, usability and liquidity 🤖 How AI is changing the finance function and what CFOs should be automating first 🏦 Why Round built treasury infrastructure before AI features 📊 How AI can automate transactional finance and free CFOs to focus on strategy 👤 Why human-in-the-loop AI is still critical for high-risk financial decisions ⚡ The rise of AI workflows, agents and automated finance operations 🔐 Why trust, compliance, auditability and guardrails matter in AI-powered finance 🧠 Whether an AI CFO could ever replace human judgement and experience 🚀 How CFOs can start experimenting with AI without becoming overwhelmed 🔮 Why the future of finance could move beyond traditional SaaS interfaces If you're a CFO, founder, fintech operator, finance professional or startup leader interested in AI, automation, treasury management and the future of financial technology, this episode is essential listening. Find Pac O'Shea online at: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pac-o-shea/ Twitter: https://x.com/POS_js Round Treasury: https://roundtreasury.com This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B. Get in touch at https://mailchi.mp/emergeone/email-signup-form Sign up for EmergeOne’s weekly newsletter, Off Balance at https://off-balance.beehiiv.com/subscribe #AI #CFO #Fintech #Finance #TreasuryManagement #AIinFinance #StartupBanking #FinancialAutomation #FintechStartup #ArtificialIntelligence Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The next generation of billion-dollar startups won't win because they build better AI. They'll win because they build better experiences. In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah sits down with Milena Nikolic former Senior Engineering Director at Google, former CTO of Trainline, and Co-Founder of Heighway Labs—to explore how AI is fundamentally changing product design, startup strategy, customer acquisition and the future of search. After more than a decade leading engineering teams across Google Search, Android and Google Play, Milena explains why startups now have a unique opportunity to outpace Big Tech, why distribution is becoming harder than software itself, and how AI-native products need completely new user experiences. In this episode we discuss: - Why AI won't replace great product thinking - The future of Google Search and AI-powered discovery - Why startups can now beat Big Tech - Building products that scale from day one - The rise of Generative UX - Why "vibe coding" changes software—but not entrepreneurship - AI agents, automation and the future of work - Startup product strategy and go-to-market - Building customer-first companies - Why UX is becoming the biggest competitive advantage in AI Whether you're a founder, product manager, software engineer, investor, or anyone building AI products, this episode is packed with practical insights on where technology is heading next. Subscribe to Nothing Ventured for weekly conversations with the founders, investors and operators shaping the future of startups, venture capital and technology. Find Milena Nikolic online at: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milena-nikolic-015748117/ Heywa Labs: heywalabs.com This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B. Get in touch at https://emergeone.co.uk/contact-us/ or join the CFO team at https://emergeone.co.uk/join-the-cfo-team/ Sign up for EmergeOne’s weekly newsletter, Off Balance at https://off-balance.beehiiv.com/subscribe #AI #Startups #VentureCapital #ProductManagement #Google #ArtificialIntelligence #GenerativeAI #StartupFounder #TechPodcast #ProductDesign #UX #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #VC #NothingVentured Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ben Prade is a Partner at Bullhound Capital (formerly GP Bullhound), where he's spent close to a decade building out the firm's growth investment strategy across frontier tech. In this episode, he joins Aarish to unpack why venture capital still doesn't know how to price AI companies and what that means for founders, funds, and the future of software. 📌 In this episode: 💰 Why SaaS multiples break down for AI companies and the case for usage-based pricing 🪙 Tokenomics: the biggest unsolved problem in AI right now 💀 The "SaaS-pocalypse" — is software really dying, or just changing shape? 📖 Why fundraising is fundamentally a storytelling process ⚛️ The UK's quantum bet: Oxford Quantum Circuits' £260m round and government backing 🌍 Sovereign LPs vs. unrestricted private capital — the trade-off funds can't avoid 📈 Late-stage capital in Europe — concentrate power in a few lead investors, or chase the US model? 🐒 Managing the "inner monkey" — the human side of building, investing, and storytelling 💬 "Fundraising is a storytelling process, always. One of the most wonderful things about humans is that they will ignore facts and figures and always believe a good story." — Ben Prade Find [guest name] online at: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-prade-182b8513a/ Twitter: https://x.com/Pradey Bullhound Capital: www.bullhoundcapital.com This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B. Get in touch at https://emergeone.co.uk/contact-us/ or join the CFO team at https://emergeone.co.uk/join-the-cfo-team/ Sign up for EmergeOne’s weekly newsletter, Off Balance at https://off-balance.beehiiv.com/subscribe #VentureCapital #DeepTech #QuantumComputing #AI #Tokenomics #StartupFunding #FractionalCFO #NothingVentured #EmergeOne Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Samira Sohail has built products at the BBC, led product at edtech unicorn Newsela, run a venture studio for family offices, and invested in 60+ startups. Her career doesn't follow a straight line and she thinks that's exactly the point. In this episode of Nothing Ventured, Samira Sohail and host Aarish cover: 🔹 Why the "career ladder" is giving way to curiosity-led, nonlinear careers 🔹 The real difference between family office capital and venture capital 🔹 How trust, taste, and judgment become the scarce resources as AI commoditizes intelligence 🔹 Why showing up in person still beats a cold LinkedIn message 🔹 What edtech got wrong the first time and where personalised, AI-driven learning is headed 🔹 Hiring for aptitude over credentials, and what "badges" will mean in an AI-saturated world About the Guest: Samira Sohail built digital products at the BBC (iPlayer, BBC News, BBC Sport, BBC Earth) and led product at Newsela, a K-12 curriculum platform used in 90% of US schools. She founded Luxor Beta, a product and venture studio for high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and private equity teams, and has invested in 60+ seed startups with 4 exits. She hosts the podcast Samira Stalks. Find Samira Sohail online at: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/createsandbreaksthings/ Luxo Beta: www.luxobeta.com This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B. Get in touch at https://emergeone.co.uk/contact-us/ or join the CFO team at https://emergeone.co.uk/join-the-cfo-team/ Sign up for EmergeOne’s weekly newsletter, Off Balance at https://off-balance.beehiiv.com/subscribe #NothingVentured #VentureCapital #FamilyOffice #CareerAdvice #EdTech #FutureOfWork #StartupFounders Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the future of manufacturing is actually a return to the past? In this episode, Aarish sits down with Drew Allen, CEO of Grace Technologies, to explore why American and Chinese manufacturing dominance came from operators who also designed the machines and what happened when we lost that craft. They dig into: - How the PLC dumbed down the factory floor operator - Why creativity needs to be democratised beyond the R&D lab - Why hard technology has finally become a serious investable asset class - The skills gap threatening Western industrial resurgence - Why the UK keeps building world-class companies and then losing them - How adventure lies on the other side of yes Drew leads Grace Technologies, an electrical safety and predictive maintenance company operating across 60 countries, sits on the advisory board of Atom Power Inc., and hosts his own podcast, The Factory Futurist. Find Drew Allen online at: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allendrew/ Twitter: https://x.com/GraceTechIA Grace Technologies: https://gracetechnologies.com This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B. Get in touch at https://emergeone.co.uk/contact-us/ or join the CFO team at https://emergeone.co.uk/join-the-cfo-team/ Sign up for EmergeOne’s weekly newsletter, Off Balance at https://off-balance.beehiiv.com/subscribe #Manufacturing #HardTech #VentureCapital #NothingVentured #Industrial #Startups #Entrepreneurship #FactoryFuturist #GraceTechnologies Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.