https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064 en-us Podomatic RSS Generator Fri, 10 Oct 2025 03:59:41 +0000 startup, ,entrepreneurship, ,leadership, ,venture, ,capital, ,communication, Copyright 2025 Brian Sparkes Where Silicon Valley Leaders Share Insights and Innovation for Global Impact! Brian Sparkes brian@siliconvalleyimpact.com episodic false no https://assets.podomatic.net/ts/93/44/c8/brian95064/1400x1400_16996483.jpg https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064 Brian Sparkes We talk to Silicon Valley leaders who have build successful companies, invested in successful companies, founders, and small business owners on how to create a successful business and build thriving company cultures.  Silicon Valley Impact S2E5 with Delya Jansen, Ron Piovesan, and Gary Batroff 5 2 full https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2025-02-11T14_38_14-08_00 https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2025-02-11T14_38_14-08_00 Tue, 11 Feb 2025 22:38:14 +0000 2025-02-11 2025-02-11 https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2025-02-11T14_38_14-08_00 Brian Sparkes 3479 false On this week’s episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we’re focusing on #partnerships and speaking with Gary Batroff, CCXP, SVP of Sales and Partnerships at Thematic, and Ron Piovesan, Head of Technology Partnerships at Okta, Inc. Joining me as co-host is Delya Jansen, Founder and CEO of Partner.Gary is a seasoned expert in software sales and consulting, with a proven track record of driving growth through innovative strategies and strategic partnerships. Over the past 15 years, he has specialized in Customer Experience (CX), helping businesses harness the power of data and analytics to build loyalty, reduce churn, and achieve transformational change.Gary excels at synthesizing diverse ideas into market-ready solutions that deliver measurable impact. Whether optimizing customer journeys or crafting data-driven strategies to enhance engagement, Gary is passionate about empowering businesses to exceed customer expectations and drive long-term success.Ron is the Head of Technology Partnerships at Okta, where he leads a team driving strategic collaborations across technology, service provider, and agency partnerships. With over nine years at Okta, Ron has played a pivotal role in shaping partnership strategies, aligning product roadmaps, and negotiating key deals—including cloud partnerships with Google Cloud Platform and global distribution agreements.A seasoned business development executive, he specializes in creating new revenue streams, integration ecosystems, and go-to-market partnerships. Recognized as Innovator of the Year, Ron is passionate about building high-performing teams and setting industry-leading partnership goals.Are you driving partnerships and creating a unique advantage in the market? Email me at brian@siliconvalleyimpact.com On this week’s episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we’re focusing on #partnerships and speakin... Silicon Valley Impact S2E4 with Alex Dang and SC Moatti 4 2 full https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2025-02-04T09_43_08-08_00 https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2025-02-04T09_43_08-08_00 Tue, 04 Feb 2025 17:43:08 +0000 2025-02-04 2025-02-04 https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2025-02-04T09_43_08-08_00 Brian Sparkes 3479 false On this week’s episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we speak with Alex Dang, author of The Venture Mindset, and SC Moatti, General Partner at Mighty Capital.Alex has spent over 20 years building innovations that make a difference. At Amazon and AWS AI, his teams launched groundbreaking eCommerce programs, redefined shopping experiences, and developed AI-driven products. During his time at McKinsey, he helped companies leverage technology to launch digital ventures and reimagine customer experiences.During COVID, Alex co-founded and served as CEO of a digital health platform designed to connect cancer patients with the care they need.He is also the co-author of The Venture Mindset, a bestselling guide to launching new ventures. Today, he advises global organizations on product and technology strategy while mentoring early-stage startups. Alex is passionate about exploring new ideas and using technology to create meaningful impact.SC earned her MBA from Stanford and spent the first decade of her career as an entrepreneur and product manager, pioneering the cloud, mobile, and social revolutions with industry leaders like Siebel Systems and Meta. Her work has been recognized with awards from The Emmys and The Wall Street Journal, earning her a reputation as “a genius at making products people love.”Her award-winning bestseller on what makes a great product led to the founding of Products That Count, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps professionals build outstanding products—reaching and inspiring 1 in 3 product managers globally.SC’s journey into venture capital was a natural extension of her deep expertise in product management. Through her product community, she identified and invested in pioneering companies like Amplitude (NASDAQ: AMPL), Groq, and Canela. She co-founded Mighty Capital alongside her inimitable partner, Jennifer Vancini.Mighty Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm that capitalizes on the growing influence of product management in corporate success. The firm leverages SC Moatti’s Products That Count network—comprising over 500,000 product managers and CPOs—to gain unique insights into emerging startups and corporate needs.📻 Silicon Valley Impact airs on KPCR 92.9 FM in Los Gatos and 101.9 FM in Santa Cruz every Tuesday at 3 PM.🌎 Not in the South Bay or Santa Cruz? Listen online at kpcr.org.📲 Follow & Listen to Past Episodes:🎙️ Spotify: Silicon Valley Impact on Spotify🍏 Apple Podcasts: Silicon Valley Impact on Apple Podcasts📺 YouTube: Silicon Valley Impact on YouTube"Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation." On this week’s episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we speak with Alex Dang, author of The Venture M... Silicon Valley Impact S2E3 with Taj Tashombre, and Aalim A. Moor 3 2 full https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2025-01-28T12_46_07-08_00 https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2025-01-28T12_46_07-08_00 Tue, 28 Jan 2025 20:46:07 +0000 2025-01-28 2025-01-28 https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2025-01-28T12_46_07-08_00 Brian Sparkes 3480 false On this weeks episode of Silicon Valley Impact we’re geeking-out on building community, global events, and the Sphere of Sports (sphereofsports.org) with Taj Tashombre, Founder and CEO of Canyon Oaks; and Aalim A. Moor, Senior Manager of Sales and Business Development for the San Francisco Giants.Taj is a visionary entrepreneur and connector with over 20 years of experience in sports, entertainment, branding, and public affairs. As Founder and CEO of Canyon Oaks, a global advisory firm, Taj delivers transformative outcomes for high-profile projects across sports, media, hospitality, and technology, including events like the Super Bowl, FIFA World Cup, and NBA All-Star Weekend.He also created Sphere of Sports, a premier thought-leadership platform that brings together industry leaders to foster innovation, investment, and collaboration during global marquee events.A former executive with brands like Toyota, Hilton, and the Oakland Athletics, Taj is known for building strategic partnerships and delivering impactful results. He also leads House of Tashombe, a luxury fashion and lifestyle brand, combining his passion for innovation and cultural sophistication. Taj’s work bridges industries, creating opportunities that drive growth and long-term value.”Aalim, II is the Senior Manager of Sales and Business Development for the San Francisco Giants, who focuses on identifying and pursuing strategic growth opportunities that align with the organization’s vision. He excels in market research, partnership development, deal negotiation, public relations and stakeholder management, playing a crucial role in driving the Giants’ outreach initiatives.With a diverse portfolio of successful ventures, Aalim is dedicated to economic empowerment in the Bay Area. He actively mentor's young entrepreneurs and collaborates with local organizations to support aspiring business leaders.This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact, KPCR 92.9FM in Los Gatos; and 101.9FM in Santa Cruz Tuesdays at 3pm!Not in the South Bay or Santa Cruz you can listen online at: https://kpcr.org/Follow us on and listen to all our episodes on:🎙️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823📺 Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/@siliconvalleyimpact"Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions.” On this weeks episode of Silicon Valley Impact we’re geeking-out on building community, global ev... Silicon Valley Impact With John Baird and Alex Hult 42 1 full https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2025-01-21T13_47_39-08_00 https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2025-01-21T13_47_39-08_00 Tue, 21 Jan 2025 21:47:39 +0000 2025-01-21 2025-01-21 https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2025-01-21T13_47_39-08_00 Brian Sparkes 3480 false On this weeks episode of Silicon Valley Impact we speak with Dr. John Baird about insights into the heart and mind of the top leaders in startup; and Alex Hult, CEO and Founder of Aio, and ex-professional hockey player turned successful restauranteur.John is one of the premier executive coaches in Silicon Valley, and over the past twenty-five years he has worked with top leaders at start-up organizations like Doordash, MasterClass and Bombas, as well as at Fortune 500 firms like Apple, Nike, and Twitter. He founded several companies, including ExecutivEdge, Edgeman Coaching, and the Velocity Group, where he is currently chairman, and serves as a fellow at Sapphire Ventures and on the San Jose State University Tower Board. John is the co-author with Edward Sullivan of the best-selling book, Leading with Heart and is in the process of writing his second book with Matt Hunter. He holds a PhD in Organizational Communication and Leadership from Purdue University. Alex played professional ice hockey across the world from 2000-2010. Changed gears to restaurants and started Hults in 2013, since then he has opened 10 restaurants/nightclubs/bars in 2 states under Flights Restaurant Group. During the pandemic he started working on a tech company that would fix the broken restaurant tech eco system and now he is about to disrupt the space with the world’s first AI platform for restaurants.This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact, KPCR 92.9FM in Los Gatos; and 101.9FM in Santa Cruz Tuesdays at 3pm!Not in the South Bay or Santa Cruz you can listen online at: https://kpcr.org/Follow us on and listen to all our episodes on:🎙️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823📺 Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/@siliconvalleyimpact"Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions.” On this weeks episode of Silicon Valley Impact we speak with Dr. John Baird about insights into t... Silicon Valley Impact S2E1 with Bill Reichert and Payom Niazmandi 41 1 full https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2025-01-14T10_31_31-08_00 https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2025-01-14T10_31_31-08_00 Tue, 14 Jan 2025 18:31:31 +0000 2025-01-14 2025-01-14 https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2025-01-14T10_31_31-08_00 Brian Sparkes 3480 false On this weeks episode of Silicon Valley Impact we speak with Bill Reichert, Partner at Pegasus Ventures; and Payom Niazmandi, founder of Unibui.Bill is a Partner at Pegasus Tech Ventures, a $2 billion global venture capital firm with headquarters in Silicon Valley and offices around the world. Bill focuses on deep technology investments, including AI, quantum computing, next-generation chips, materials science, and medical technology. He is also Chief Evangelist of Startup World Cup, the largest and richest venture capital competition on the planet, with over $1.5 million in cash prizes, including a $1 million grand prize.  Bill is co-author of the pitching guide, “Getting to Wow! Silicon Valley Pitch Secrets for Entrepreneurs.” He has been a venture capital investor for 20 years, originally as co-founder and Managing Director of Garage Technology Ventures, a seed and early-stage venture capital firm that has been acquired by Pegasus. He has taught at Stanford and Berkeley, and has delivered keynotes and workshops around the world.  He began his Silicon Valley career as an entrepreneur, taking two companies public as co-founder or senior executive. Early in his career he worked for McKinsey & Company, the global management consulting firm, in Los Angeles, and the World Bank in Washington, DC. He is a graduate of Harvard College and Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.  Payom is a member of the Abrahamic Submitter Community in San Jose. Born and raised in Silicon Valley, he graduated from Leland High School, West Valley College, and San Jose State University with a degree in Economics. He is the founder of Unibui, a startup dedicated to helping local students begin their careers and achieve their goals locally. Through a partnership with the California Community Colleges, the largest education system in America, he has brought over 40,000 job opportunities to the Unibui app, now available on the App Store. In his free time, Payom is an avid gamer and is eagerly anticipating the release of NVIDIA’s new 50 series line.  This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact, KPCR 92.9FM in Los Gatos; and 101.9FM in Santa Cruz Tuesdays at 3pm!Not in the South Bay or Santa Cruz you can listen online at: https://kpcr.org/Follow us on and listen to all our episodes on:🎙️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823📺 Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/@siliconvalleyimpact"Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions.” On this weeks episode of Silicon Valley Impact we speak with Bill Reichert, Partner at Pegasus Ve... Silicon Valley Impact Rerun of Good Trouble Ventures 40 1 full https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2025-01-07T13_51_15-08_00 https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2025-01-07T13_51_15-08_00 Tue, 07 Jan 2025 21:51:15 +0000 2025-01-07 2025-01-07 https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2025-01-07T13_51_15-08_00 Brian Sparkes 3480 false On this weeks  rerun episode of Silicon Valley Impact we’ve got “Trouble” in the studio.We’re welcoming the ladies from Good Trouble Ventures, AJ Thomas, Monica Pool Knox, and Kat Steinmetz, and diving into insights around the power of people, building culture, and shedding light on a unique perspective on what matters for startup founders, investors, and driving traction in a global economy.AJ is a visionary leader, troublemaker, and the driving force behind Good Trouble Ventures, a VC firm blending iconic creativity with technology to fuel lasting social impact. With a background that spans startups, venture growth, and Fortune 100 companies, AJ has been a key leader at Google X as an advisor and former Global Head of Talent & People Products. Now, through The Troublemaker Lab, she coaches extraordinary founders and leaders to make a lasting impact through immersive experiences and executive development.AJ is also the award-winning author of "A Kids Book About Teams" and a champion of founders, artists, and creatives. As a respected executive, advisor, speaker, and coach, she challenges leaders to embrace bold ideas and drive meaningful change. Beyond work, AJ is a musician, mom of three, and private pilot. Ask her about being signed to a record label at 15 or her latest adventures creating “good trouble” in the world.Monica has been an investor, tech executive, strategic advisor and board member for over 25 years, leading global human capital strategies for some of the world's most iconic brands such as Microsoft, Twitter, Sony, and PepsiCo. As both a venture partner and a venture advisor, Monica creates deal flow, makes investment decisions, advises and provides consulting services to portfolio companies with venture funds and early to mid stage companies in tech, healthcare, CPG and financial services industries. As a strategic advisor for a number of HR tech companies, she also lends her voice on product design, roadmap and GTM strategies. As an industry thought leader on human capital leadership and the future of work, Monica's expertise is sought out regularly in and outside of the US for advisory services, speaking engagements and literary contributions.Kat is an early-stage investor focused on Future of Work and DigitalHealth + advisor and coach to founders and start-up teams. Previously spent 20+ years in executive roles at Box, Stitch Fix, and the Burning Man Project, leading teams through hyper-growth, IPOs, global scaling, and M&A. PeopleTech Partners (PTP) Advisor and has served on the boards of Torch, FunCountry, and Ava. Longtime creative artist and musician + mom to a young human.This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact, KPCR 92.9FM in Los Gatos; and 101.9FM in Santa Cruz Tuesdays at 3pm!Not in the South Bay or Santa Cruz you can listen online at: https://kpcr.org/Follow us on and listen to all our episodes on:🎙️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823"Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions.” On this weeks  rerun episode of Silicon Valley Impact we’ve got “Trouble” in the studio.We’r... Silicon Valley Impact S1E37 with David Issac 39 1 full https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2024-12-31T11_02_10-08_00 https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2024-12-31T11_02_10-08_00 Tue, 31 Dec 2024 19:02:10 +0000 2024-12-31 2024-12-31 https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2024-12-31T11_02_10-08_00 Brian Sparkes 3480 false On this week's episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we’re chatting with David Isaac, Founder of AIPath.one, a self-serve SaaS platform disrupting innovation consulting and venture building. It leverages AI for product strategy, customer journey mapping, and go-to-market (GTM) approaches to achieve product-market fit and growth. Today, we’re talking about go-to-market innovation, AI, and his newest venture.David is the founder of AIPath.one, the AI tool for product-market fit. He previously launched venture building and digital transformation initiatives at EY-Parthenon, led strategy consulting as Chief Growth Officer for a publicly listed company, managed turnarounds for a $x0 million fintech venture, and is an exited co-founder who launched an international multi-sided marketplace.AIPath co-pilots growth strategy validation and prepares it for execution. Described by Gartner as unique in depth and breadth, its management dashboards prioritize features, sync roadmaps for multiple teams, and generate personalized sales and marketing assets for each customer. World-class research tools unlock insights at enterprise scale and speed, identifying key needs and validating product-market fit more efficiently for clearer business impact.David has led marquee projects as EY-Parthenon's ASEAN Digital Innovation Co-Lead, directed business design for a Samsung Product-Innovation Team global project, and consulted C-suites and leaders from various banks, fintechs, cybersecurity firms, and e-commerce companies on strategy, fundraising, and valuation.This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact, KPCR 92.9 FM in Los Gatos and 101.9 FM in Santa Cruz, Tuesdays at 3 p.m.!Not in the South Bay or Santa Cruz? You can listen online at: https://kpcr.org/Follow us and listen to all our episodes on:🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@siliconvalleyimpact"Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions." On this week's episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we’re chatting with David Isaac, Founder of AIPa... Silicon Valley Impact S1E36 with Good Trouble Ventures (AJ, Kat, Monica) 38 1 full https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2024-12-24T11_47_42-08_00 https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2024-12-24T11_47_42-08_00 Tue, 24 Dec 2024 19:47:42 +0000 2024-12-24 2024-12-24 https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2024-12-24T11_47_42-08_00 Brian Sparkes 3480 false On this weeks episode of Silicon Valley Impact we’ve got “Trouble” in the studio.We’re welcoming the ladies from Good Trouble Ventures, AJ Thomas, Monica Pool Knox, and Kat Steinmetz, and diving into insights around the power of people, building culture, and shedding light on a unique perspective on what matters for startup founders, investors, and driving traction in a global economy.AJ is a visionary leader, troublemaker, and the driving force behind Good Trouble Ventures, a VC firm blending iconic creativity with technology to fuel lasting social impact. With a background that spans startups, venture growth, and Fortune 100 companies, AJ has been a key leader at Google X as an advisor and former Global Head of Talent & People Products. Now, through The Troublemaker Lab, she coaches extraordinary founders and leaders to make a lasting impact through immersive experiences and executive development.AJ is also the award-winning author of "A Kids Book About Teams" and a champion of founders, artists, and creatives. As a respected executive, advisor, speaker, and coach, she challenges leaders to embrace bold ideas and drive meaningful change. Beyond work, AJ is a musician, mom of three, and private pilot. Ask her about being signed to a record label at 15 or her latest adventures creating “good trouble” in the world.Monica has been an investor, tech executive, strategic advisor and board member for over 25 years, leading global human capital strategies for some of the world's most iconic brands such as Microsoft, Twitter, Sony, and PepsiCo. As both a venture partner and a venture advisor, Monica creates deal flow, makes investment decisions, advises and provides consulting services to portfolio companies with venture funds and early to mid stage companies in tech, healthcare, CPG and financial services industries. As a strategic advisor for a number of HR tech companies, she also lends her voice on product design, roadmap and GTM strategies. As an industry thought leader on human capital leadership and the future of work, Monica's expertise is sought out regularly in and outside of the US for advisory services, speaking engagements and literary contributions.Kat is an early-stage investor focused on Future of Work and DigitalHealth + advisor and coach to founders and start-up teams. Previously spent 20+ years in executive roles at Box, Stitch Fix, and the Burning Man Project, leading teams through hyper-growth, IPOs, global scaling, and M&A. PeopleTech Partners (PTP) Advisor and has served on the boards of Torch, FunCountry, and Ava. Longtime creative artist and musician + mom to a young human.This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact, KPCR 92.9FM in Los Gatos; and 101.9FM in Santa Cruz Tuesdays at 3pm!Not in the South Bay or Santa Cruz you can listen online at: https://kpcr.org/Follow us on and listen to all our episodes on:🎙️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823"Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions.” On this weeks episode of Silicon Valley Impact we’ve got “Trouble” in the studio.We’re welcoming ... Revisiting Silicon Valley Impact S1E29 GFX Summit in Roseville CA. 37 1 full https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2024-12-17T12_51_21-08_00 https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2024-12-17T12_51_21-08_00 Tue, 17 Dec 2024 20:51:21 +0000 2024-12-17 2024-12-17 https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2024-12-17T12_51_21-08_00 Brian Sparkes 3480 false On this week's episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we’re revisiting and  “activating the Backyard Advantage” and speaking with some incredible people who are turning toward the Greater Sacramento Region for significant growth opportunities.Kicking off our show, we have some rockstar members from The Growth Factory. Mark Haney, Co-Founder of The Growth Factory, is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, and media personality who has founded or funded a portfolio of 50+ Sacramento-based companies across various industries. Nikki Simms loves helping organizations scale by constructing growth playbooks and nurturing business-critical partnerships. She works in Venture Capital for The Growth Factory, focusing on corporate scaling and governance. Rick Spencer is the Managing Partner of Growth Factory Ventures, established in 2021. Before co-founding Growth Factory, Rick was a founder and startup executive at multiple organizations, with a successful exit. As the Managing Partner of Growth Factory, Rick has led the fund team to build an investment portfolio of 50 companies across verticals in the future of food, health, medicine, government, and work.SC Moatti, Managing Partner at Mighty Capital, founded and runs Mighty Capital, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm that capitalizes on the growing influence of product management.Rachna Dayal is a venture capitalist focused on FinTech and an angel investor in HealthTech & AI. She has global experience in leading teams, global commercial and supply chain strategy, and business operations for major corporations.Rachel Stern is a GovTech strategist, venture capitalist, and operator with extensive experience in investing, operating, and strategizing in the GovTech/CivicTech space.Finally, we chat with David Lichtman, Market President & Publisher at the Sacramento Business Journal.Catch this and much more on Silicon Valley Impact, KPCR 92.9FM in Los Gatos, and 101.9FM in Santa Cruz, Tuesdays at 3 PM!If you're not in the South Bay or Santa Cruz, you can listen online at: https://kpcr.org.Follow us on Spotify and listen to all our episodes at: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J.Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions. On this week's episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we’re revisiting and  “activating the Backy... Revisiting Silicon Valley Impact S1E15 with Kevin Jurvich, Rick Spencer, and Christian Masegian 36 1 full https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2024-12-10T07_13_42-08_00 https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2024-12-10T07_13_42-08_00 Tue, 10 Dec 2024 15:13:42 +0000 2024-12-10 2024-12-10 https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2024-12-10T07_13_42-08_00 Brian Sparkes 3480 false Previously Recorded:BUCKLE-UP STARTUP AND SPORTS FANS 🏈 🚀On this weeks episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we have Kevin Jurovich, Ex-NFL player turned startup founder; Rick Spencer, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at the Growth Factory; and Christian Masegian, Co-Founder & CEO at Modern Football TechnologyKevin is the Co-Founder & CEO of Circles, where they are passionate about transforming how people discover places they love through live video. Circles combines the functionality of TikTok meets Yelp, while offering real-time capacity updates. We’ll discuss how Kevin’s journey into startups began in 2013 while serving as a Private Wealth Manager at Wells Fargo Advisors, where he focused on tech entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley. Since then, he’s immersed himself in the startup world, both as a founder and mentor to other entrepreneurs. And, oh ya!, before his transition to finance and tech, he played wide receiver in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, and Chicago Bears. So we might talk a little about that.Rick Spencer is the Managing Partner of Growth Factory Ventures, est. in 2021. Prior to Co-Founding Growth Factory, Rick was a Founder and startup executive with multiple organizations, with an exit of one company (Briotix) to publicly traded, and Houston based, USPh. As the Managing Partner of Growth Factory, Rick has led the fund team to build an investment portfolio of 50 companies across verticals in the Future of Food, Health, Medicine, Government and Work. Additionally, Rick is a Board Member for Idea Village’s newly launched fund (Momentum). Then, Christian Masegian talks about his background in technology development and management consulting, where he has helped F100 companies design and implement their data strategies. In 2017, he developed a close relationship with the University of Texas football to advise on a program-wide technology strategy to enable coaches, players, and staff to rationalize technology investments, visualize analytics, and identify opportunities to improve player evaluation, performance, and recovery/health.This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact, KPCR 92.9FM with Lisa Helfrick, Brian Bernasconi, and myself!Not in the South Bay (Los Gatos, San Jose, Sunnyvale, Palo Alto, Fremont, etc.) you can listen online at: https://kpcr.org/ Previously Recorded:BUCKLE-UP STARTUP AND SPORTS FANS 🏈 🚀On this weeks episode of Silicon Valley ... Silicon Valley Impact S1E35 with Mariane Bekker, Tiffany Hicks, and Hans Sandhu 35 1 full https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2024-12-03T12_05_05-08_00 https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2024-12-03T12_05_05-08_00 Tue, 03 Dec 2024 20:05:05 +0000 2024-12-03 2024-12-03 https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2024-12-03T12_05_05-08_00 Brian Sparkes 3479 false On this weeks episode of Silicon Valley Impact we have, my friend, Mariane Bekker in the house co-hosting on the topic of Go-To-Market. This is our newest recurring topic for scaling at velocity. With us in studio is Tiffany Hicks, Co-Founder of Seed Through Series; and Hans Sandhu, CBO at TheAgentic.Tiffany is a sales and operational guru with a proven track record at Fortune 500 companies and stealth startups. She excels at building sales organizations from scratch and developing infrastructure to enable rapid growth. She is a Stanford graduate and second generation entrepreneur. She cut her teeth at Yelp as an early sales hire and manager during their pre- and post-IPO phase, refined her complex selling skills at Salesforce and has spent the past decade of her career building revenue engines at fast-growth startups. Her passion for complex problem-solving and keen gut instinct for sales & go-to-market strategies inspired her to begin working independently as a startup growth consultant in 2023 - which quickly led to partnering with Cailin LaVallee to create Seed Through Series.Hans is an entrepreneurial and technology professional with a passion for scaling startups. He’s led pivotal roles in companies' successful acquisitions and achieved unprecedented sales results at multiple venture backed startups while using that success to become an LP within a VC fund (still a current ARR record holder at 3 companies). Hans is highly skilled at swiftly identify gaps within GTM motions and guides startups through their market entry and scaling phases, focusing on strategic execution and process. As CBO at TheAgentic, Hans leads the most accurate LLM for AI Agents, enabling startups to build production-grade AI applications with unmatched accuracy. Their platform allows you to build intelligent agents that work seamlessly, outperforming models like Claude and ChatGPT. This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact, KPCR 92.9FM in Los Gatos; and 101.9FM in Santa Cruz Tuesdays at 3pm!Not in the South Bay or Santa Cruz you can listen online at: https://kpcr.org/Follow us and listen to, or watch all our episodes on:🎙️Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gAi9hz-U🍎Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/gu6itEiw📺 Youtube: https://lnkd.in/gW7pKPD6"Disclaimer: The opinions expressed on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions.” On this weeks episode of Silicon Valley Impact we have, my friend, Mariane Bekker in the house co... Silicon Valley Impact S1E35 w/ Wendy Shew and Wendy Shew and Santosh Pandey 34 1 full https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2024-11-26T10_02_10-08_00 https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2024-11-26T10_02_10-08_00 Tue, 26 Nov 2024 18:02:10 +0000 2024-11-26 2024-11-26 https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2024-11-26T10_02_10-08_00 Brian Sparkes 3480 false On this weeks episode of Silicon Valley Impact we speak with Wendy Shew, Founder and Executive Director of Building Education, who is on a mission to build safe schools in developing countries to end the cycle of extreme poverty.Also with us is Santosh Pandey, an award winning entrepreneur from Nepal, who is talking with us about his journey and supporting Building Education in his region.When an earthquake hit Nepal on April 25, 2015, and damaged 9,000 schools, Wendy traveled to Nepal to support in earthquake disaster relief. From there, she founded Building Education, a nonprofit organization that serves to build safe schools in developing countries to end the cycle of extreme poverty. In collaboration with local governments, schools and partner organizations BE aims to transform rural villages into prosperous, dignified communities. We believe in a world where every child has an equal opportunity to education.Wendy was born and raised in San Francisco, California as first generation with immigrant parents from China. She has studied aviation, learned to fly single engine prop planes, and worked in the international aviation business as a jet engine specialist. After volunteering in October 2014 at a girl’s orphanage in India, she quit her job 4 months later, sold all her things, and left the country to travel the world all across Asia, Europe, and Africa for six years. Wendy is also titleholder of Miss Nepal Global Citizen 2021, Top 100 Visionaries in Education 2021, Top Women of Influence 2023, Silicon Valley’s Power List in Philanthropy 2023, and Woman of the Year 2024.Santosh, is an award-winning entrepreneur, political strategist, and educator. He co-founded Offering Happiness, Nepal's largest experiential gifting e-commerce platform, and Oho Cake, the fastest-growing cake brand in Nepal. As a visiting lecturer at Tribhuvan University and Kathmandu University, he teaches social media and digital marketing.Santosh's entrepreneurial journey has earned him recognition as a Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia honoree in Retail and eCommerce, the Global Student Entrepreneur Award for Nepal in 2018, and the Best Startup Kathmandu award at Seedstars Kathmandu in 2019. His story is also featured in the National Geographic documentary "Own the Room."As a changemaker, Santosh co-founded Change Bhaktapur at the age of 16 and served as Program Director for We Inspire Nepal and Project Coordinator for the US Embassy Youth Council Nepal. Since 2016, he has worked on political campaigns in Nepal as a strategist and social media specialist. He is currently pursuing political leadership and governance studies at the Konrad Adenauer School for Young Politicians and is a graduate of the Apolitical Foundation Accelerator Program, where he develops political incubation courses through the Nepal Center for Political Leadership, and much more!This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact, KPCR 92.9FM in Los Gatos; and 101.9FM in Santa Cruz Tuesdays at 3pm!Not in the South Bay or Santa Cruz you can listen online at: https://kpcr.org/Follow us on and listen to all our episodes on:🎙️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823"Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions.” On this weeks episode of Silicon Valley Impact we speak with Wendy Shew, Founder and Executive Di... Silicon Valley Impact S1E33 33 1 full https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2024-11-19T10_39_54-08_00 https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2024-11-19T10_39_54-08_00 Tue, 19 Nov 2024 18:39:54 +0000 2024-11-19 2024-11-19 https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2024-11-19T10_39_54-08_00 Brian Sparkes 3480 false On this weeks episode of Silicon Valley Impact we speak with Haya Almana, Head of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Zain Kuwait, and Lama AlOraiman founder and CEO of BluDot. Listen in as we explore international corporate accelerator, oversea startup delegations, and international venture. Haya AlMana is currently heading Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Zain Kuwait. During her 17-year tenure at Zain, she has built a strong presence for the Zain brand value through programs and initiatives that support the Zain strategy in sustainability, innovation and entrepreneurship. Her previous experience at Khazaen Venture Capital has also given her a 20-year experience and a foundation for building the Innovation unit, focusing on entrepreneurship and innovation. She founded the award-winning "Zain Great Idea" (ZGI) tech startup accelerator in 2010 and continues to spearhead the program.  Proudly witnessing ZGI accelerated founders raise over $100 Million over the past 5 years. She is also currently heading Zain's Innovation Campus "ZINC" that entails entrepreneurship, intrepreneurship, tech startup programs, startup acceleration, creativity, innovation and more. Through the all-new "Innovation" Nation initiative, AlMana heads several programs that foster innovation, digital upskilling, and leverage an ecosystem of partnerships with active players in the community. She has coached thousands of youth, entrepreneurs and corporates around the region in communication, branding, strategy, entrepreneurship, leadership, and innovation. She has attained her executive certification in “Driving Innovation and New Ventures” from Stanford University GSB.Lama AlOraiman is a Forbes 30 Under 30 awardee for Science and Technology, an Emerging Space Leader awardee, and an Astronaut Candidate. She serves as Vice-Chair of the International Astronautical Federation’s ACCESS Committee for the Middle East and Central Asia and is the founder and CEO of BluDot. Lama has been featured in Vogue, Smithsonian, and TED for her notable work in the global space industryThis and much more on Silicon Valley Impact, KPCR 92.9FM in Los Gatos; and 101.9FM in Santa Cruz Tuesdays at 3pm!Not in the South Bay or Santa Cruz you can listen online at: https://kpcr.org/Follow us on and listen to all our episodes on:🎙️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823"Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions.” On this weeks episode of Silicon Valley Impact we speak with Haya Almana, Head of Innovation &amp... Silicon Valley Impact S1E32 w/Franz Schreph, Sydney Levin, and Delya Jenson as my cohost. 32 1 full https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2024-11-12T10_45_15-08_00 https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2024-11-12T10_45_15-08_00 Tue, 12 Nov 2024 18:45:15 +0000 2024-11-12 2024-11-12 https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2024-11-12T10_45_15-08_00 Brian Sparkes 3479 false On this week's episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we’re back on the topic of partnerships with my subject matter co-host, Delya Jensen. Delya is the CEO and co-founder of Partner Utopia. With over 15 years of experience in the tech industry, her expertise spans software, hardware, cloud, and SaaS, having built partnerships from scratch for industry giants like SanDisk, Snowflake, and NetApp. She is a powerhouse subject matter expert on partnerships.Joining us is Franz Schrepf, Head of Strategic Partnerships at OpusClip, the #1 AI video editing tool used by over 6 million creators and businesses around the world. Before OpusClip, he was the 16th employee at Hopin and StreamYard, a virtual events and live streaming company that Sifted called "Europe's fastest-growing startup of all time." His new book, The Book on Partnerships: How Startups Work With Partners to Sell More, Add Features, and Get Acquired, is a foundational guide full of stories and insights from over 50 industry experts, explaining the power of partnerships in clear, straightforward terms.Also on the show is Sydney Levin, Head of Partnerships at micro1, an AI recruiter for hiring top global talent. Micro1's AI engine enables users to source, vet, and hire talent all in one place or hire pre-vetted engineers, designers, AI trainers, and more from their global talent pool. Micro1 has raised $6.6 million at an $80 million valuation and generates $7 million in annual revenue. Their mission is to make every recruiter on the planet 100x more effective, helping global talent find the perfect role faster.Catch all this and more on Silicon Valley Impact, KPCR 92.9 FM in Los Gatos and 101.9 FM in Santa Cruz, Tuesdays at 3 p.m.!If you're not in the South Bay or Santa Cruz, you can listen online at: https://kpcr.org.Follow us and catch all our episodes on: 🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions. On this week's episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we’re back on the topic of partnerships with my ... Silicon Valley Impact S1E31 with Margaret Jackson 31 1 full https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2024-11-04T23_33_44-08_00 https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2024-11-04T23_33_44-08_00 Tue, 05 Nov 2024 07:33:44 +0000 2024-11-05 2024-11-05 https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/brian95064/episodes/2024-11-04T23_33_44-08_00 Brian Sparkes 3480 false On this week’s episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we speak with Margaret Jackson, CEO/President of Small Business Concierge Communications & Digital Media Corporation and a prominent Bay Area radio personality. Listen in as we explore how Margaret rebuilt her career after a business failure and came back stronger than ever. Discover how she leverages communication to effectively position herself in the market and empowers women to amplify their influence in business.Margaret Jackson is a respected Bay Area leader, small business radio personality, magazine publisher, and former director of the Alameda County Small Business Development Center. She is Silicon Valley's top small business radio personality, broadcasting on AM 1220 KDOW Business & Finance radio, reaching over 7.75 million listeners across the Bay Area's nine counties and now available on iHeart Radio. AM 1220 KDOW Business & Finance radio operates in the fourth-largest radio market in the country. In 2011, she became the first Black woman to broadcast as a weekday personality on the network.Margaret is the CEO/President of Small Business Concierge Communications & Digital Media Corporation, with more than 36 years of experience as a business professional. A sought-after public figure and speaker in the Bay Area and Silicon Valley, she also publishes the Small Business Concierge Digital Magazine (with a global reach). Jackson brings over 28 years of experience in audio/video television production as a program producer, senior producer, and director, and has received two prestigious international media awards: the Silver Davey Award and the Communicator Award of Distinction.Catch this and much more on Silicon Valley Impact, airing on KPCR 92.9 FM in Los Gatos and 101.9 FM in Santa Cruz every Tuesday at 3 p.m.Not in the South Bay or Santa Cruz? You can listen online at https://kpcr.org.Follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts:On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1JOn Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions. On this week’s episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we speak with Margaret Jackson, CEO/President of...