Venture Ahead

IE University
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Join us on Venture Ahead, the IE University entrepreneurship podcast. Think of us as your mentors, guiding you like a professor with invaluable insights, practical tools, and actionable advice. Each episode features interviews with a diverse range of guests, including startup founders, venture capitalists, corporate innovators, and seasoned mentors. We delve into the world of entrepreneurship, uncovering trends, sharing inspiring stories, and equipping you with the best venture knowledge.

  1. Ed Soo Hoo | Lenovo | Leading through now, new and next

    28/10/2025

    Ed Soo Hoo | Lenovo | Leading through now, new and next

    In this episode of Venture Ahead, Joe Haslam talks with Ed Soo Hoo, Lenovo's WW CTO for Global Accounts, about building resilient companies through uncertain times. Ed introduces his "three Ns" framework - Now, New, Next - and explains why innovation flourishes when you pair fresh eyes with wise eyes. They discuss optimizing for return on experience over ROI, and creating cultures where unexpected leaders can emerge. The conversation swerves into a memorable Japan boardroom negotiation involving samurai swords, and why not everyone needs to charge the hill; there is always a place for operators. https://www.linkedin.com/in/edsoohoo/ https://www.lenovo.com/ https://www.southsummit.io/leader/ed-soo-hoo/ https://www.ie.edu/university/about/faculty/joe-haslam/ https://www.southsummit.io/brazil/

    41 min
  2. Alex Henning | Magnopus | Bridging digital and physical worlds through immersive technology

    21/10/2025

    Alex Henning | Magnopus | Bridging digital and physical worlds through immersive technology

    In this episode of Venture Ahead, Joe Haslam talks with Alex Henning, Oscar-winning visual effects artist and co-founder of Magnopus, about using immersive technology to reconnect digital information with physical reality. Alex traces his path from winning an Academy Award for Hugo to building XR experiences at Magnopus. They discuss leadership principles including promoting talent quickly while providing support, making crunch time the exception not the rule, and why passion for the work matters. https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-henning-80a0674/ https://www.magnopus.com/ https://www.ie.edu/university/about/faculty/joe-haslam/ https://www.southsummit.io/brazil/

    35 min
  3. Alexandre Lazarow | Fluent Ventures | How frontier startups are rewriting Silicon Valley's rules

    14/10/2025

    Alexandre Lazarow | Fluent Ventures | How frontier startups are rewriting Silicon Valley's rules

    In this episode of Venture Ahead, Professor Joe Haslam talks with global venture capitalist and author Alexandre Lazarow about how high-performing startups outside Silicon Valley succeed with different playbooks. Drawing on his book "Out-Innovate," Alex contrasts blitzscaling with resilient camel startup strategies that prioritize capital efficiency and staged growth. They explore why startups in smaller markets like Estonia and Singapore are born global from day one, how fintech evolved differently across regions and why innovation is increasingly polycentric. https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexlazarow/ https://alexlazarow.com/ https://fluentventures.com/ https://www.ie.edu/university/about/faculty/joe-haslam/ https://www.southsummit.io/brazil/

    29 min
  4. Bruno Loiola | Pluggy | How Open Finance is transforming Brazil's fintech landscape

    07/10/2025

    Bruno Loiola | Pluggy | How Open Finance is transforming Brazil's fintech landscape

    In this episode of Venture Ahead, host Joe Haslam talks with Bruno Loiola, cofounder of Pluggy and IE University alum, about his journey from the Venture Lab to building fintech infrastructure in Brazil. They discuss Brazil's remarkable transformation from a cash-based to digital-first economy, driven by innovations like Pix instant payments and Open Finance regulations. Bruno explains Pluggy's role as the bridge connecting bank accounts to apps, and how Central Bank policies have brought 70 million Brazilians into the financial system. https://www.linkedin.com/in/brunoloiola https://www.pluggy.ai/ https://www.ie.edu/university/about/faculty/joe-haslam/ https://www.southsummit.io/brazil/ https://www.ycombinator.com/

    32 min
  5. Chris Roe | Entrepreneurship as Theater: the Value of Great Communication

    30/09/2025

    Chris Roe | Entrepreneurship as Theater: the Value of Great Communication

    In this episode of Venture Ahead, Professor Joe Haslam chats with Chris Roe, an actor turned public-speaking coach who helps entrepreneurs, CEOs and other business professionals around the world understand the value of confident, authentic communication. https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisroecoach/ https://chrisroe.co/ https://www.southsummit.io/brazil/

    33 min
  6. Orkut Buyukkokten | Orkut.com and Hello Network | How technology and connection can change the world

    23/09/2025

    Orkut Buyukkokten | Orkut.com and Hello Network | How technology and connection can change the world

    In this episode of Venture Ahead, recorded at South Summit Brazil in Porto Alegre, IE Business School professor Joe Haslam sits down with Orkut Buyukkokten, creator of the pioneering social network Orkut.com, to explore the power of connection and the lessons learned from building a global online community. Buyukkokten shares his journey from a multicultural childhood in Turkey, Germany and the US to becoming a Silicon Valley engineer at Google, where he developed Orkut as a side project that went on to capture the hearts of millions—especially in Brazil. He reflects on the challenges of scaling rapidly, navigating company politics and the cultural factors that shaped the platform’s success. The conversation explores what makes communities thrive, the role of technology in fostering belonging and why social networks need their own identity separate from enterprise tools. Buyukkokten offers candid insights into innovation, resilience and the human need to connect. https://www.linkedin.com/in/orkutb/

    34 min
  7. Nicolas Sauvage | TDK Ventures | How VCs can support entrepreneurs through every stage of their startup

    16/09/2025

    Nicolas Sauvage | TDK Ventures | How VCs can support entrepreneurs through every stage of their startup

    In this episode of Venture Ahead, recorded at South Summit Brazil in Porto Alegre, IE Business School professor Joe Haslam sits down with Nicolas Sauvage, President of TDK Ventures, to explore what it means to be a resilient and impact-driven entrepreneur in today’s fast-changing world. Sauvage talks about the journey of a startup and the right moment for scaling, as well as how different VCs can support entrepreneurs in these different stages. He also unpacks the idea of “impact scalers”—entrepreneurs who combine sustainability and profitability to drive large-scale change. The conversation dives into the economics of scaling, the role of a good manager, and the evolving landscape of corporate venture capital. Sauvage makes a bold case for VCs as “superheroes” who empower entrepreneurs, and challenges venture capital to see entrepreneurs as customers. https://www.linkedin.com/in/nsauvage/ https://tdk-ventures.com/

    35 min
  8. Veronica Serra | Innova Capital | VC with empathy and purpose

    09/09/2025

    Veronica Serra | Innova Capital | VC with empathy and purpose

    In this latest episode of Venture Ahead, recorded at South Summit Brazil, Professor Joe Haslam talks to leading venture capitalist Veronica Serra, founder of Innova Capital.  In a wide-ranging discussion, Veronica explains what she did to be taken seriously early on as a woman in a very male-dominated sector, the advantages of a more empathetic and collaborative approach to VC, her approach to adding value to the companies she invests in, and much more. Discover her personal experiences and insights from a long and highly successful VC career—from generational and gender differences to the importance of purpose. https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronica-allende-serra-a90a6/ https://www.innovacapital.com.br https://endeavor.org

    30 min
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About

Join us on Venture Ahead, the IE University entrepreneurship podcast. Think of us as your mentors, guiding you like a professor with invaluable insights, practical tools, and actionable advice. Each episode features interviews with a diverse range of guests, including startup founders, venture capitalists, corporate innovators, and seasoned mentors. We delve into the world of entrepreneurship, uncovering trends, sharing inspiring stories, and equipping you with the best venture knowledge.

Information

  • Creator
    IE University
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © IE University
  • Show Website
    Venture Ahead