Lifeselfmastery's podcast I Startups I Venture Capital

I am excited to have Sergey Korolov, who is the Co-CEO of Railsware and co-founder of multiple products

In this conversation, Sergey Korolov, CEO of Railsware, discusses his journey from software developer to entrepreneur, the evolution of his products like Mailtrap and Coupler, and the challenges faced in the tech industry. Sergey shares insights on transitioning from service to product, the importance of understanding user segments through surveys, and the role of AI in enhancing productivity. He also reflects on the complexities of email delivery and strategies for competing against larger companies.

Timestamps

00:00...

I am thrilled to have Brad Harrison, a former Army Ranger turned venture capitalist, and the founder and Managing Partner of Scout Ventures. Brad invests at the intersection of national security and critical technology innovation, backing companies like Unite Us, ID.me, Voyager Space, and Tomahawk Robotics — which was recently acquired by AeroVironment.

In this conversation, Brad Harrison, a former Army Ranger turned venture capitalist, shares his journey into the world of venture capital and the founding of Scout Ventures. He discusses the importance of mission-driven investments, particularly in the intersection of national security and critical technology. Br...

I am thrilled to have Elias Mufarech who is a Senior Associate at Collide Capital, a pre-seed to Series A venture fund investing in fintech, future of work, and supply chain software.

In this conversation, Elias Mufarech, a senior associate at Collide Capital, shares his insights on venture capital, the importance of operational support for founders, and the evolving landscape of startup expectations. Elias discusses his journey from building fintech software in Latin America to investing in startups, highlighting the critical lessons learned along the way. He emphasizes the need for founders to have strong networks and...

I am excited to have  Ankur Patel who is the founder and CEO of Multimodal, where he's automating the most complex workflows in finance and insurance. He has 15+ years of work experience across companies like J.P. Morgan and Bridgewater

In this conversation, Ankur Patel, founder and CEO of Multimodal, traces his path from JP Morgan and Bridgewater to building AI agents that automate complex workflows in finance and insurance. He explains how early exposure to data science and macro trading convinced him that AI would reshape enterprise work. He discusses why agentic AI is fundamentally different f...

I am thrilled to have Vivek Krishnamurthy, who is a Partner at Commerce Ventures, where he's spent over 8 years investing in commerce infrastructure and fintech. Before Venture, he was an Investment Banking Analyst at Financial Technology Partners. He's particularly bullish on AI's transformation of insurance, backing companies like Kin Insurance, Liberate, and Authentic.

In this conversation, Vivek Krishnamurthy, a partner at Commerce Ventures, discusses his journey into venture capital, the evolution of investment strategies, and the intersection of commerce and fintech. Vivek shares insights on the impact of AI on business, the importance of understanding market dynamics...

I am excited to have Dallas Price, a Venture Builder at Forum Ventures, where he helps launch and scale six B2B SaaS startups every year through their AI Studio. His work centres on turning early-stage concepts into real companies, guiding founders across product, go-to-market, and fundraising

In this conversation, Dallas Price, a venture builder at Forum Ventures, discusses his journey into the startup world, the workings of a venture studio, and the current landscape of AI startups. Dallas shares insights on navigating chaos in startups, the importance of defensibility, new distribution channels, and evolving pricing models...

I am excited to have Seth Levine, venture capitalist and co-founder of Foundry, and Elizabeth MacBride, international business journalist and founder of Times of Entrepreneurship. Together, they co-authored The New Builders and now their latest book, Capital Evolution, explores how American capitalism is shifting—and why businesses, not government, may hold the keys to building a more inclusive and prosperous future.

In this conversation, Seth Levine and Elizabeth McBride discuss their new book, 'Capital Evolution,' which explores the shifting landscape of American capitalism. They delve into the challenges posed by neoliberal capitalism, the consequences of prioritizing sh...

I am thrilled to have Marcos Rivera, the founder and CEO of Pricing I/O, where he helps B2B SaaS companies capture the value they've built. Former Head of Pricing at Vista Equity Partners, he's priced over 400 SaaS products and has authored Street Pricing.

In this conversation, Marcos Rivera, founder and CEO of Pricing.io, discusses the intricacies of pricing strategies in B2B SaaS. Marcos shares his journey from product management to pricing, highlighting common mistakes companies make, especially in underpricing their products. He emphasizes the importance of understanding customer needs, the blend of art...

Aabhas Khanna, is General Partner at MyAsiaVC, a venture syndicate and fund with $125M AUM backing 250+ companies, including 5 unicorns. Previously at HSBC and Deloitte, he now invests in pre-seed and seed AI-native startups across enterprise growth, healthcare, fintech, and advanced manufacturing, focusing on obsessive founders tackling overlooked challenges.

In this conversation, Aabhas Khanna, a general partner at MyAsia VC, discusses his journey from working in large corporations to venture capital. Aabhas shares insights on evaluating AI startups, the importance of founder quality, and the unique challenges and opportunities in different Asian markets. He emphasizes the need for...

I am thrilled to have Doreen Pernel, Chief Sales Officer at Scaleway, Europe's leading sovereign cloud provider. She's built and scaled sales teams across Meta, Dataiku, Box, and Bloomberg, navigating Sydney, New York, London, and Paris.

In this conversation, Doreen Pernel, Chief Sales Officer at Scaleway, shares her insights on sales leadership, cultural adaptability, and innovative strategies in the cloud computing industry. She discusses the importance of resilience in hiring, the evolving role of cold calling, and how to motivate teams against larger competitors. She also reflects on the impact of AI on sales roles and offers...

I am thrilled to have Daniel Layfield, who is Director of Product Management at Diligent and founder of Subscription Index, advising subscription businesses on monetisation.

In this conversation, Daniel Layfield shares his journey from finance to product management, discussing his experiences at Code Academy and Diligent. He emphasises the importance of understanding churn, effective pricing strategies, and the role of AI in product management. Daniel also explores the complexities of subscription models, the significance of metrics, and the impact of price localisation on revenue.

Timestamps

03:48 Growth Strategies at Code Academy

07:11 Understanding...

I am excited to have Ryan Johnson, who is the Chief Product Officer at CallRail, an AI-powered lead intelligence platform serving 200,000+ businesses with over $100M ARR.

In this conversation, Ryan Johnson, Chief Product Officer at CallRail, shares his journey from finance to product management, discussing the evolution of CallRail from a call tracking service to a lead intelligence platform. He emphasises the importance of scaling product organisations, balancing sales and product-led growth, and navigating the challenges posed by AI disruption. Ryan also delves into pricing strategies, monetisation challenges in B2B SaaS, and the significance of a...

I am thrilled to have Gary Bailey, founder of Strategim, a monetisation & pricing expert with a deep background in financial services, accounting, pricing, and AI.

In this conversation, Gary Bailey, a monetisation and pricing expert, shares his journey from accounting to product management and pricing. He discusses the importance of pricing as a core discipline in business education, the evolving role of finance in pricing strategies, and the impact of AI on SaaS pricing models. Gary emphasizes the need for training the next generation in pricing and the role of a monetization architect in modern businesses. He...

I am thrilled to have Naveen Mohan, who leads monetisation at Otter.ai, bringing deep experience from Adobe and Loom. With a Carnegie Mellon Information Systems degree and software engineering background, he combines data science expertise with product management.

In this conversation, Naveen Mohan, Product and Monetisation Lead at Otter.ai, shares his journey from data science to product management, emphasising the importance of experimentation in pricing strategies and the evolution of monetisation in tech startups. He discusses the balance between soft and hard paywalls, the rise of hybrid pricing models, and the significance of data-driven insights...

I am excited to have Ben Gutkovich, co-founder of Superlinked, helping AI engineers build information retrieval systems using vector embeddings.

In this conversation, Ben Gutkovich, co-founder of Superlink, shares his journey from a software engineer to an entrepreneur in the AI space. He discusses the differences between consulting and building technology, the challenges of recruiting talent in a competitive market, and innovative strategies for business development. Ben also addresses the impact of remote work on startups, insights into M&A deals, and predictions for the future of AI. He emphasises the importance of usage-based pricing models and...

I am excited to have Casey Woo, founder of Operators Guild, a community of 800+ top operators. He is also a General Partner at FOG Ventures, where he's witnessing how AI is killing the 18-month fundraising cycle, enabling 1000x returns in half the time.

In this conversation, Casey Woo, founder of Operators Guild and general partner at Fog Ventures, discusses his journey from Wall Street to the startup world, the evolving landscape of fundraising, and the impact of AI on job roles and business operations. He emphasises the importance of generalists in startups, the need for effective distribution...

I am happy to have Harvey Liu, the CEO of LeveX Exchange, where he's building a cutting-edge platform for spot and futures trading in digital assets.

In this conversation, Harvey Liu, CEO of Levex Exchange, discusses his journey from computer science to venture capital and now leading a crypto exchange. We explore misconceptions about blockchain, the psychology of trading, the challenges of asset tokenisation, and the importance of a strong team and culture in business. Harvey shares insights on investing principles, strategies for startups going global, and the dynamics of venture capital, emphasising the need for real...

I am excited to have Shankar Maruwada, Co-Founder and CEO of EkStep Foundation, a pioneering non-profit working to improve learning outcomes for millions of children in India through technology and learner-centric platforms. Shankar has been featured in MIT Sloan Management Review India's 'Policy 50', a definitive list of the 50 leaders who are steering and shaping India's digital economy.

In this conversation, Shankar Maruwada shares his journey from corporate leadership to social impact through the Ekstep Foundation. He discusses the importance of digital infrastructure in education, the lessons learned from the Aadhaar initiative, and the role of innovation...

I am excited to have Shane Ray Martin—a venture capitalist who's rewriting the playbook for what investing can look like. He's an investor at B Ventures, the first-of-its-kind global peace VC fund that backs tech founders building solutions for both profit and peace.

In this conversation, Shane Ray Martin, a venture capitalist at B-Ventures, discusses his unique journey into the world of venture capital, emphasising the potential profitability of peace tech. He shares insights on the challenges of pitching peace tech to investors, common mistakes founders make in their pitches, and the balance between instincts and me...

I am thrilled to have James Roycraft-Davis, an investor at Evio, a venture capital firm dedicated to supporting founders who innovate at the intersection of mental health and human performance. Evio's notable portfolio includes successful companies like Calm, Grow Therapy, BetterUp, Foresight, Sway Health, Mental, and Favs.

Timestamps

00:00 Journey into Venture Capital

03:25 Mental Health and Personal Experience

06:18 Advice for the Younger Generation

09:26 Family Business Dynamics

12:30 The Future of Engineering and AI

15:33 Marketing in the Age of AI

18:27 Growth Strategies for Startups

21:29...

I am excited to have Michael Colonnese, the CEO of SV Academy, a pioneering talent platform that helps companies hire pre-trained sales and customer success professionals—with no fees and no catch.

In this conversation, Michael Colonnese, CEO of SV Academy, discusses the innovative approaches to talent acquisition and training in the sales sector. He shares insights on the skills gap, the importance of potential over experience in hiring, and the transformative impact of tech sales careers. Michael also addresses the challenges of onboarding, the role of AI in sales, and the need for a reformed education mo...

I am thrilled to have Cesare Pesci, a Junior Associate at YOBE  Ventures, where he combines a background in investment banking, sustainable finance, trading, consulting, and sales to support growth-stage and tech founders.

In this conversation, Cesare Pesci , a junior associate at Yobe Ventures, discusses his journey into venture capital, the dual role of investment and advisory, and the importance of networking. Cesare shares insights on evaluating founders, the significance of sustainability in investing, and the differences between European and US ecosystems. He emphasises the value of failure as a learning process and offers advice for aspiring ve...

I am excited to have Gaurav Gulati, co-founder and COO of Innov8, which was acquired by OYO. Gaurav is a GP at Aroa Venture Partners, which he backs startups that deliver strong returns and meaningful impact.

In this conversation, Gaurav Gulati, founder of Aroha Venture Partners, shares his journey from the US to India, his experiences in building startups, and the founding of his mission-driven VC firm. He discusses the importance of a global perspective in venture capital, the challenges of supporting founders, and the evolving landscape of AI and pricing strategies in startups. Gaurav emphasises the...

I am excited to have Clay Norris is a GP at Outlaw and founder of ConfluenceVC, known for pioneering "narrative capital"—leveraging media to build venture scale.

In this conversation, Clay Norris, a General Partner at Outlaw and founder of Confluence VC discusses his journey into venture capital, the importance of building an audience, and the concept of narrative capital. Clay shares insights on fundraising challenges for emerging managers, portfolio construction strategies, and the evolving landscape of venture capital, including the impact of AI and the role of founders in running their own funds. The discussion emphasizes th...

I am excited to have Sameer Narkar, the founder of Konnect Insights. This unified customer experience management platform brings together social listening, omni-channel ticketing, analytics, and AI under one roof.

In this conversation, Sameer Narkar, founder of Konnect Insights, shares his journey of building a successful SaaS company focused on customer experience management. He discusses the importance of bootstrapping, the role of AI in enhancing customer interactions, and strategies for global expansion. Sameer emphasises the need for effective sales teams, the evolution of product management roles, and the impact of AI on job markets. He also touches...

I am thrilled to have Dario De Wet, a VC investor and founder of LTV Capital, and managing director at Monza Group International. 

In this conversation, Dario De Wet shares his entrepreneurial journey from selling Game Boy emulators in South Africa to becoming a venture capital investor and founder of LTV Capital. He discusses the unique entrepreneurial spirit in South Africa, the balance between his passion for motorsport and his VC career, and the evolution of his investment strategies. Dario emphasises the importance of understanding the venture capital landscape, the impact of AI on startups, and the c...

I am excited to have Shashank Randev — a seasoned operator turned investor and the Founder & General Partner at 247VC, one of India's boldest new seed funds. Before launching 247VC, Shashank co-founded 100X.VC, where he backed over 180 startups and helped pioneer the iSAFE note in India.

In this conversation, Shashank Randev, a seasoned operator and investor, discusses his journey from 100XVC to founding 247VC. We explore the evolving landscape of venture capital in India, the importance of backing diverse founders, common mistakes made by pre-seed founders, and the unique position of 247VC in the seed funding ecosystem. Sh...

I am thrilled to have Sachit Rajan, who is a Venture Capital Partner at Erez Capital and a Venture Partner at NetworkVC.org, specialising in early-stage startups across SaaS, fintech, and AI. With extensive experience leading multi-market operations at Charter Finco, Sachit has driven strategic growth, business scalability, and global market expansion.

In this conversation, Sachit Rajan shares his extensive journey in the world of startups and venture capital, discussing his experiences in market entry strategies, supporting early-stage startups, and navigating the evolving Middle East market. He emphasises the importance of clarity in startup ideas, the impact...

I am excited to have Michelle Denogean is the author of the book "GrowUp! Take Your Startup to the Next Level," offer a comprehensive guide to navigating the challenges of scaling a startup.  She is the CMO of Mindtrip, a travel company. Michelle Denogean earned her MBA at Pepperdine University

In this episode, Michelle Denogean, author of 'Grow Up', shares her extensive experience in startups and marketing, discussing the impact of AI on the travel industry, the importance of understanding one's superpowers as a founder, and strategies for growth in challenging markets. She emphasises the significance of r...

Ali Hafizji is the CEO of Wednesday, an engineering services company specializing in - Data Engineering, Generative AI, and Application Modernization.

In this episode, Ali Hafizji, founder of Wednesday, shares how his frustration with clunky banking APIs sparked the idea to launch a high-performance engineering services firm. He dives into building outcome-focused teams, the evolution from MVP to product-market fit, and why founders must shift from intuition to data. Ali unpacks common mistakes startups make post-MVP, tips for leveraging AI tools effectively, and why retention—not vanity metrics—matters most. He also breaks down how India's unicorns embr...

I am thrilled to have Tom Kelly, a global tech leader and angel investor, works as the senior director of account management at Braze. With deep expertise in customer success, AI adoption, and GTM strategy, Tom builds high-performing teams and invests in the next wave of startups shaping the future of tech.

In this episode, Tom Kelly, Senior Director at Braze and angel investor, shares his journey from physics and hedge funds to building global technical account teams. Tom dives into launching a new services arm inside a high-growth SaaS company, how to scale AI adoption across...

I am thrilled to have Jason Schappert, the CEO of Moola, an AI-powered stock scoring and decision engine designed to empower the next generation of investors to achieve true financial freedom. Earlier - MzeroA was named one of the Inc. 500's top-growing private companies and recognized as a "Best Place to Work."

In this episode, Jason Schappert, founder of Moola, shares his journey from pest control routes to an eight-figure exit. Jason dives into bootstrapping his aviation edtech startup, turning early YouTube lessons into a thriving business, and scaling with scrappy tools and mindset. He unpacks key...

I am excited to have Joseph Lee, the founder of Supademo - The fastest and easiest way to create high-converting interactive demos with AI. Over 70k professionals in marketing, growth, sales, and success use Supademo to enable customers, scale product adoption and close more deals.

In this episode, Joseph Lee, founder of Supademo and former Freshline co-founder, shares his journey from seafood marketplaces to revolutionizing product demos. Joseph dives into building a product-led SaaS company, how Supademo scaled through SEO, Reddit, and handcrafted outreach, and why intuitive UX beats feature bloat. He unpacks the importance of market...

I am excited to have Vanessa Larco, who was a Partner at NEA and is now launching a fund called Premise, where she led investments in breakthrough companies like Cleo, Rocket.Chat, Mejuri, EvidentID, Greenlight Card, Feather, and Lily AI. She also served as a board observer for high-growth startups including Robinhood, Willow Pump, and OmniSci.

In this episode, Vanessa Larco, ex-Partner at NEA and founding GP of Primis, shares her journey from product management at Microsoft and Box to becoming a leading early-stage VC. Vanessa dives into how AI is reshaping product roles, what makes the...

I am thrilled to have Nick Huber, the founder of TheSweatyStartup.com, a serial entrepreneur, investor, and popular content creator focused on small business ownership. Nick cofounded and operates his primary business, Bolt Storage, a commercial real estate firm, which owns 1.9 million square feet of self-storage facilities across 62 locations in 11 states. He is the author of the new book, The Sweaty Startup.

In this episode, Nick Huber, founder of The Sweaty Startup and Bolt Storage, shares his journey from building a "boring" service business to managing 1.9 million square feet of self-storage facilities and investing in global talent th...

Levi Velez Reed is the founder of Twig Ventures is an investment syndicate specialising in sustainable consumer products and tech startups across North America, targeting companies at the pre-seed to seed stage.

In this episode, Levi Velez Reed, founder of Twig Ventures, shares his journey from bootstrapping a marketing agency in New York to launching an investment syndicate focused on sustainable consumer products and tech startups. He explains the impact of removing unconscious bias in VC funding, supporting underrepresented founders, and creating accessible accelerator programs like Startup425. Levi discusses the unique business model of Twig Ventures, sustainable...

I am thrilled to have Greg Alexander, the founder of Collective 54, the first mastermind community for thriving professional services firms. Collective 54 helps founders and leaders grow, scale and exit their firms bigger and faster.

In this episode, Greg Alexander, founder of Collective 54 and author of The Boutique, shares his journey of building and scaling professional services firms. He explains the three life-cycle stages: Grow, Scale, and Exit, and the importance of moving away from trading time for money. Greg discusses the unique business model of Collective 54, monetisation strategies for boutique firms, the critical elements that make a...

Renan Devillieres is the CEO of OSS Ventures. Renan Devillieres is a CEO who is passionate about making a positive impact on society and the environment, and who believes in using technology to drive change. Renan has a wealth of experience in areas such as manufacturing operations, SaaS, and venture capital. 

Timestamps

01:00 – Renan's unconventional path from Google search to joining McKinsey.

03:00 – Transition from factory director to building a tech startup; early failures and pivots.

05:10 – Moving to San Francisco, finding product-market fit, and exiting the company.

06:30 – Renan's "two-brain" perspective: manufacturing ops + tec...

Shubham Khoker was the Head of Growth at Topmate. Topmate.io is a fast-growing online platform that connects freelancers and clients, he used to lead the growth strategy and execution for the company. rifa.ai founder. IIT bombay

In this episode, Shubham Khoker, former Head of Growth at Topmate and founder of Rifa AI, shares his unconventional journey from UPSC preparation to the startup world, insights from scaling Topmate in India and the US, lessons from failed experiments, and the evolution of the creator economy. He discusses the future of AI in growth and operations, the difference...

I am thrilled to have Palash Soni, the CEO of Goldcast, an AI-powered B2B Video Campaign Platform that transforms marketing by putting video and events at the heart of the customer journey.

In this episode, Palash Soni, CEO and Co-founder of Goldcast, shares how dropping out of Harvard Business School during the pandemic led to building an AI-powered B2B video marketing platform. Palash walks us through his early failures, the moment he saw the COVID tailwind, and how Goldcast scaled from zero to $1M ARR with Drift as an early customer. He also explains the...