29 episodes

Discover the stories behind thriving businesses and the visionaries who built them. Intimate conversations on scaling companies, innovation, resilience and personal growth. 
Hosted by Desi Velikova of Pony Studio.

The Product Show Pony Studio

    • Business
    • 5.0 • 3 Ratings

Discover the stories behind thriving businesses and the visionaries who built them. Intimate conversations on scaling companies, innovation, resilience and personal growth. 
Hosted by Desi Velikova of Pony Studio.

    How Blockchain and AI Will Shape Our Future - Diego Borgo, Web3 Expert and Co-founder of BorgoLabs

    How Blockchain and AI Will Shape Our Future - Diego Borgo, Web3 Expert and Co-founder of BorgoLabs

    Diego Borgo is a seasoned Web3 and Metaverse advisor with a track record of guiding Fortune 500 brands and boasting collaborations with companies like adidas and Mastercard. 
    He’s also the co-founder of BorgoLabs, a consultancy that helps companies position themselves and drive growth in the Web3 space.
    We recently collaborated with Diego on a client's project and, as usual, was impressed by the innovative yet practical approach he takes to his projects. 
    He's the first person we invite for a second interview on this podcast, mainly because we wanted to delve deeper into why we're still in the web3 dip and when the space might recover. 
    We discussed the reasons why web3 and blockchain have yet to become strong, independent industries. We also touched on some fresh new projects that offer real value and explored where the space is heading in the next few years. And of course, no podcast would be complete without bringing AI into the equation - that's where things really get interesting!

    You can find Diego on LinkedIn.

    Check out Borgo Labs

    • 44 min
    Tackling the Realities of UK Youth Issues with Jack Parsons and Leon Marseglia, The Youth Group

    Tackling the Realities of UK Youth Issues with Jack Parsons and Leon Marseglia, The Youth Group

    Today, we’re speaking with Jack Parsons and Leon Marseglia - the forces behind the UK’s largest community for young people, The Youth Group.

    Since launching the company 4 years ago, "Young Jack," as he's often called, has managed to grow their community to 1.7 million young individuals and connect thousands of them with some of the best UK companies offering jobs, upskilling, and mentorship. Their exceptional accomplishments have been recognized by countless awards and honors, one of which is Jack's 'UK's Kindest Leader' award by the Financial Times. When Leon came onboard, they took The Youth Group to one of the top 25 startups in the UK.

    What we discussed:

    The inspiring journeys that led Jack and Leon to become successful entrepreneurs in their 20s.

    The pressing issue of mental health among young people in the UK - why 1 in 6 children in the UK has been identified with a probable mental health problem.

    The importance of instilling resilience from a young age - why and how.

    Navigating Choices: With a plethora of opportunities at their fingertips, how can young people find their passions and areas of expertise? Jack and Leon share practical advice.

    What are the most pressing needs of young people in 2023, and how can we address them effectively?

    What are the top skills that employers are looking for in young individuals? (Some of them will surprise you!)

    The growing gap between educational institutions and workforce expectations and what are some practical changes to bridge it.

    Opportunities Beyond Cities: While cities often take the spotlight, we'll explore actions to create more opportunities for young people in rural areas.

    Check out Youth Group
    Connect with Jack Parsons on Linkedin

    Connect with Leon Marseglia on LinkedIn

    • 1 hr 5 min
    Decoding Tokenisation with Brent Annells, Chief Marketing Officer at Smart Token Labs

    Decoding Tokenisation with Brent Annells, Chief Marketing Officer at Smart Token Labs

    Whether you're into crypto or not, many foresee blockchain as the foundational layer for future technologies. From finance and healthcare to entertainment and sports, the consensus seems clear: "The Future Will Be Tokenised."
    Join us in this super interesting conversation with Brent Annells, CMO of Smart Token Labs. With a background that boasts senior roles at Facebook and Uber, Brent offers a uniquely informed perspective on the revolution that tokenisation promises to bring, especially in reshaping customer engagement.


    In this episode, we dive into:


    - An introduction to Smart Token Labs and their mission in the tokenization landscape.


    - Demystifying tokenisation: What it is and its future significance.


    - Real-world tokenisation applications and intriguing projects Smart Token Labs is currently working on.


    - The project "Catch Max": a real-world example of Open Loyalty


    - The evolution of loyalty programs: The rise of "Open Loyalty" and why this is a game changer 


    - Delving into the challenges: Why are we still in the tokenisation experimentation phase?


    - The balance between decentralisation and compliance in web3: what do we need to do for better regulation and security


    - Global leaders in Web3 adoption: Countries at the forefront


    - Brent's journey: Contrasting Web3 marketing strategies with his experiences at Facebook and Uber.


    - The educational divide: Can you sell and educate at the same time?


    - Predictions on the next big wave in the Web3 universe



    You can connect with Brent on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brentannells/
    Check out Smart Token Labs: https://smarttokenlabs.com/

    Check out Smart Layer Network: https://www.smartlayer.network/ 
    Learn more about CatchMax: https://www.catchmax.io/

    • 45 min
    What I'm looking for when investing in startups - Eamonn Carey, Tera Ventures GP and ex-Techstars MD

    What I'm looking for when investing in startups - Eamonn Carey, Tera Ventures GP and ex-Techstars MD

    Eamonn Carey is a seasoned investor, the General Partner at Tera Ventures, a former Managing Director at Techstars, an advisor to dozens of startups, a founder, an author, and a former journalist. With experience evaluating thousands of deals, we thought he would be the perfect person to discuss the investment climate in Europe. 
    In this episode, we cover: 
    - Eamonn's transformative journey from being an aspiring journalist to becoming an ambitious founder closing deals with companies like O2, Emirates, and Diageo. 
    - How Eamonn's own business experience influences his approach to evaluating startups and potential deals. - The unique investment opportunities presented by the Baltics and Eastern Europe. 
    - How the 'launch fast' philosophy has evolved in the age of brand-conscious startups. 
    - Eamonn's perspective on startup success, providing insights into the factors that suggest a startup is likely to thrive. 
    - What makes a perfect pitch, along with the common mistakes startups make when seeking investment? 
    - The delicate balance between encouraging innovation and inflating investment bubbles, particularly in currently hyped industries like AI. Do VCs bear responsibility for sometimes damaging a sector? 
    - The defining characteristics of a great early-stage investor and the ways they can support young startups beyond just providing funding. 
    - Eamonn's biggest investing regret and the deal he wishes he had taken. 
    You can find Eamonn on LinkedIn and Twitter. 

    • 57 min
    Is Web3 the Future of Fan Engagement in Sports – Jean-Charles Gaudechon, CEO of OneFootball Labs

    Is Web3 the Future of Fan Engagement in Sports – Jean-Charles Gaudechon, CEO of OneFootball Labs

    In this episode of The Product Show, we explore the intersection of sports and web3, questioning whether web3 can fix the broken aspects of football or if it's too broken itself to make a difference. We all know that fan engagement is essential in sports, and web3 and NFTs seem to be the perfect tools to harness the power of communities. However, the reality is not so straightforward.
    To help us navigate this topic, we spoke with Jean-Charles Gaudechon, CEO of OneFootball Labs and former Electronic Arts Vice President. According to JC, we're only at the beginning of the sports revolution, and web3 is the future of sports and gaming.
    Here are some of the highlights from the episode:
    JC's journey from game creator at EA to CEO of One Football Labs.Why JC believes that Web3 is the future of sports and gaming and that we're only at the beginning of the marathon.What it means to own a moment from a football game and whether you can truly own anything.Whether football fans are genuinely excited about web3 and what the industry is doing to increase adoption.The practical applications of NFT technology in sports that we can expect to see in the near future.When we might see the Aha moment of the NFT industry.The teams and footballers who are already doing exciting things in the web3 space.The main lessons JC learned from the highs and lows of the past year.JC's favourite football team that he can finally reveal after hiding it for 16 years.Find Jean-Charles Gaudechon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcgaudechon/

    See the full transcript and the video version of the episode: https://pony.studio/design-for-growth/is-web3-the-future-of-fan-engagement-in-sports-jean-charles-gaudechon-ceo-of-onefootball-labs

    • 57 min
    Scaling a Marketing Agency - Oliver Yonchev, CEO & Co-founder of Flight Story | Ex-Social Chain

    Scaling a Marketing Agency - Oliver Yonchev, CEO & Co-founder of Flight Story | Ex-Social Chain

    Oliver Yonchev is the co-founder and CEO of Flight Story, a company he co-founded with Steven Barlett in 2021 that "helps brands stay at the forefront of what’s possible". Prior to Flight Story, he served as the managing director of Social Chain, one of the most successful social media marketing agencies in Europe.
    In this episode, we covered a range of topics, including:
    Oliver's earliest childhood memories and how they shaped him as a person (spoiler: he wanted to become a professional footballer when he was younger)How he became managing director of Social Chain at the young age of 26 and led its expansion into the USThe strategic decisions that helped scale Social Chain into one of Europe's leading marketing agenciesWhat sets Flight Story apart from Social Chain and its approach to helping brands stay at the forefront of what's possibleThe growing importance of community building and the influence of retail investors in today's business landscapeOliver's views on nurturing a thriving community around your brandThe future of Web3 and what the big players are getting wrongWhen can we expect to see Oliver on the Diary of a CEO?Tune in to this episode to hear Oliver's insights and experience in the world of marketing and entrepreneurship.

    • 46 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
3 Ratings

3 Ratings

Stacey_VN ,

Sharp content from diverse range of speakers

Love this podcast. The content is sharp and on point. Great learning from brilliant minds, all experts in their field. These short episodes are indeed worth listening and will broaden your perspective on UX, product marketing and product growth.

Stef Ivanov ,

Insightful

Useful and tactical stuff for anyone interested in building digital products, always learning from the guest’s stories.

Desivel ,

Brilliant guests!

Interesting interviews with some of the best founders and product managers

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