Lifeselfmastery's podcast I Startups I Venture Capital

Rohit Malhotra
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Life Self Mastery Podcast is an interview based show where I interview online entrepreneurs who started their businesses and scaled up their businesses to improve their lifestyles. Previous guests include Guy Kawasaki, Brad Feld, James Clear, Shu Nyatta, Ida Tin, Elizabeth Yin, Polina Pompliano, Evgenia Plotnikova, Anna Khan, Minnie Ingersoll, Sridhar Ramaswamy, Mac Conwell, Danielle Strachman, Jake Gibson, Wes Kao, Brian Requarth, Vivek Sodera, Eric Siu, Amit Garg, Nischal Shetty, Pranav Pai, Nir Eyal, Paul Shapiro, Nick Huber, Rob Walling, Andrew Dsouza, Fabrice Grinda, and 300+ incredible guests. partnergrow.substack.com

  1. 2D AGO

    Bani Maini on Scaling Enterprise AI Across Cultures

    I am excited to have Bani K Maini: an AI product leader who transforms complex enterprise operations into scalable solutions that actually get adopted. From cutting forecasting errors by 74% to scaling platforms across 600+ sites in seven countries, she's built AI products for Fortune 500 companies - and conducted 70+ executive interviews at Stanford on how GenAI is reshaping enterprises. In this conversation, Bani Maini, an AI product leader, shares her journey from early exposure to technology in Japan to her current role in transforming enterprise operations through AI. She discusses the challenges of AI adoption across different cultures and regions, emphasizing the importance of understanding local nuances. Bani highlights the non-obvious challenges in rolling out AI products, such as process variance and data issues, and stresses the need for a clear problem-solving approach. She also differentiates between traditional machine learning and generative AI, providing insights into their respective applications. Timestamps 03:22 Understanding Enterprise AI Adoption Challenges 06:22 Cultural and Regional Differences in AI Adoption 09:18 Non-Obvious Challenges in AI Rollout 11:58 Navigating Inflection Points in AI Integration 15:11 Misconceptions About Generative AI in Enterprises 18:19 Identifying AI Use Cases and Metrics for Success 21:06 Traditional ML vs. Generative AI: Decision Framework 24:19 Generative AI in Supply Chain Optimization 27:18 Turning Unstructured Data into Actionable Intelligence 30:05 Organizational Structure for Global AI Teams 33:25 Driving User Adoption Across Cultures 36:13 Shifts in Enterprise AI Thinking 39:22 Reflections on Scaling AI Products 42:14 Final Thoughts and Resources Bani's Links  LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/bani-k-maini-210b5b48/ My Links  Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/

    44 min
  2. You Might Also Like: The Oprah Podcast

    2D AGO · BONUS

    You Might Also Like: The Oprah Podcast

    Introducing Growing Your Passion into a Business with Oprah and Jürgen Ingels from The Oprah Podcast. Follow the show: The Oprah Podcast Oprah speaks with global entrepreneur, tech pioneer and venture capitalist Jürgen Ingels to discuss what it takes to start a successful business as detailed in his book "Start, Grow, Sell: 50 Tips for Entrepreneurial Greatness." During this lively discussion, Jürgen shares the concrete and practical lessons he learned during his own entrepreneurial journey - which also apply to all aspects of our daily lives. Including how to take an idea from startup to success, how to focus your talents, find investors and build the right team. We hear from entrepreneurs with questions for Mr. Ingels including a woman named Sanna who was inspired to leave the corporate world to open her dream clothing store Happy on Main in Concord, MA after overcoming a personal challenge. Also Shark Tank alum Ashley whose company Tones of Melanin makes stylish athleisure for students and graduates of HBCUs - or historically Black colleges and universities. Also Shark Tank alum Ashley whose company Tones of Melanin makes stylish athleisure for students and graduates of HBCUs - or historically Black colleges and universities. BUY THE BOOK! https://www.amazon.com/Start-Grow-Sell-Entrepreneurial-Greatness/dp/9401474133 00:00:00 - Welcome Jürgen Ingels, author of “Start, Grow, Sell” 00:04:50 - Jürgen’s first business venture 00:10:20 - Jürgen’s work ethic 00:11:40 - Jürgen changed payment systems 00:15:00 - Biggest business mistakes 00:18:30 - Going the extra mile 00:23:50 - Drive revenue and scale 00:28:20 - Keep your word 00:31:20 - 3 tips for scaling your business 00:34:40 - Entrepreneurs: better after 40 00:35:38 - Passion is crucial 00:37:30 - Always ask why 00:43:30 - Jürgen’s definition of a well lived life Follow Oprah Winfrey on Social: https://www.instagram.com/oprahpodcast/ https://www.facebook.com/oprahwinfrey/ Listen to the full podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0tEVrfNp92a7lbjDe6GMLI https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-oprah-podcast/id1782960381 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

  3. FEB 5

    Why Silicon Valley Still Wins with Lars Leckie of AspenWood Ventures

    I am thrilled ot have Lars Leckie, a Partner at Aspenwood Ventures, bringing a rare founder-turned-investor perspective to early-stage investing. He co-founded AutoFarm (now Novariant), pioneering GPS and robotics in agriculture, where he built sales teams across three continents In this conversation, Lars Leckie shares his unique journey from coding and gaming to becoming a partner at AspenWood Ventures. He discusses the critical lessons learned from his early experiences in sales and strategy, emphasising the importance of understanding customer needs and the divide between engineering and sales cultures. Lars also delves into the evolving landscape of venture capital, the impact of AI on business models, and the significance of geographic proximity in tech innovation. Timestamps 00:00 From Gaming to Agriculture: Lars Läcki's Journey 03:23 Lessons from Sales and Strategy in Startups 06:12 The Investor's Perspective: Balancing Technology and Market 09:03 Navigating the Venture Capital Landscape 12:15 The Future of IPOs and Private Capital 15:23 AI's Impact on Revenue and Business Models 18:04 Consumer vs. Enterprise AI: The Competitive Landscape 25:47 The Dynamics of Disruption in AI 28:27 AI Agents: The Future of Sales 30:26 The Role of Geographic Proximity in Tech 36:48 Education in the Age of AI 41:21 The Future of Venture Capital Lars's Links  LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/larsleckie/ Website - https://aspenwoodvc.com/ My Links  Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/

    47 min

  4. JAN 29

    Courageous Marketing: How Udi Ledergor Scaled Gong from Zero to Unicorn

    I am thrilled ot have Udi Ledergor, the Chief Evangelist at Gong, where he spent nine years helping build the company from zero to a multi-billion-dollar valuation. A five-time B2B marketing leader, bestselling author of Courageous Marketing, angel investor, and board member In this conversation, Udi Ledergor, Chief Evangelist at Gong, shares his journey from product management to leading marketing at a billion-dollar company. He emphasizes the importance of human-centric marketing, the need to challenge traditional best practices, and the significance of creating valuable content that resonates with audiences. Udi discusses the evolution of marketing strategies, the role of AI, and the importance of hiring passionate individuals for growth roles. He also highlights insights from his book, 'Courageous Marketing', offering practical advice for marketers and business leaders. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Udi Ledergor and His Journey 02:29 The Decision to Join Gong and Its Potential 04:57 Building a Human-Centric Brand in B2B SaaS 09:48 Risky Marketing Decisions That Paid Off 15:54 Courageous Marketing: Breaking Best Practices 19:37 Finding Channel Fit and Growth Strategies 21:35 SEO and Generative AI: Adapting to Change 24:28 Engaging the 95%: Marketing to Future Buyers 27:20 The Evolution of Marketing Touchpoints 31:07 Hiring for Growth: Skills vs. Potential 34:06 Transitioning from CMO to Chief Evangelist 37:51 Insights from 'Courageous Marketing' Udi's Links  LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/udiledergor/ Book - https://www.udiledergor.com/book My Links  Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/

    45 min

  5. JAN 22

    Railsware's Journey from Agency to SaaS Powerhouse with Sergiy Korolov

    I am excited to have Sergiy Korolov, who is the Co-CEO of Railsware and co-founder of multiple products In this conversation, Sergiy 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. Sergiy 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 The Journey from Developer to CEO 05:24 Transitioning from Service to Product 10:42 Mailtrap's Evolution and Monetisation 14:57 Controversial Onboarding: The Sign-Up Survey 18:49 Launching Coupler: A New Era 21:56 Technical Challenges in Email Delivery 25:58 Differentiation Strategy Against Giants 29:51 Managing Multiple Products Effectively 33:29 AI's Role in Railsware 38:41 Sales Strategy and Product Growth 42:47 Reflections and Lessons Learned Sergiy's Links  LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergiykorolov/ Website – https://railsware.com/ My Links  Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/

    47 min

  6. JAN 15

    Rise of Defence Tech from Brad Harrison from Scout Ventures

    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. Brad emphasises the value of both first-time and experienced founders, the significance of government contracts, and the evolving landscape of AI in defence tech. He also reflects on investment strategies, the importance of people in startups, and the metrics for evaluating fund performance. Timestamps 00:00 From Army Ranger to Venture Capitalist 03:17 The Birth of Scout Ventures 06:04 Mission-Driven Investment Focus 09:07 The Importance of Non-Dilutive Funding 12:10 Backing First-Time Founders 15:13 Case Studies: Unitas and ID.me 18:09 Navigating Government Contracts 21:17 Defensible AI in Defense Tech 24:05 B2B Startups and AI Integration 26:57 Evaluating Startups: People, Product, Market 30:09 Ownership Stakes in Early-Stage Investments 33:14 The Future of Liquidity in Venture Capital 35:57 Lessons Learned from Exits 39:16 Final Thoughts and Recommendations Brad's Links  LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradharrison/ Website – https://www.scout.vc/ My Links  Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/

    46 min

  7. JAN 8

    Emerging Market Lessons That Make Better Investors with Elias Mufarech from Collide Capital

    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 the importance of understanding market dynamics, especially when competing against big tech companies. Timestamps 02:56 Lessons from Operating in Emerging Markets 06:20 Changing Expectations in Venture Capital 09:21 The Role of Capital and Networks in Founding 12:16 American vs. Emerging Market Founders 15:03 Operational Support in Venture Capital 18:21 Assessing Big Tech Risks in Startups Elias's Links  LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/elias-mufarech/ Website – https://www.collidecap.com/ My Links  Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/

    31 min

  8. JAN 1

    Ankur Patel from Multimodal on Building Agentic AI for the Enterprise

    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 from chatbots, how enterprises evaluate risk, and why explainability is essential for adoption. Ankur breaks down pricing models for AI labor, the shift from seat-based SaaS to usage-based consumption, and the realities of selling to banks, insurers, and governments. Timestamps 00:01 – 01:46. Intro & journey from markets to ML 01:46 – 03:21. Why agentic AI is the next frontier 03:21 – 04:48. Multimodal's ambition vs prior startups 04:48 – 06:08. Judgment calls in lending workflows 06:08 – 07:47. Risk, unpredictability, and explainability 07:47 – 09:26. Compliance objections from financial institutions 09:26 – 11:46. Deploying AI in government 11:46 – 13:40. Pricing AI labor 13:40 – 15:34. Why seat-based SaaS breaks 15:34 – 17:44. ROI framing with banks and insurers 17:44 – 19:31. Common pricing mistakes 19:31 – 21:32. Usage pricing with budget predictability 21:32 – 23:51. Enterprise sales motion & channels 23:51 – 25:40. When to activate partnerships 25:40 – 27:32. Leadership lessons across domains 27:32 – 29:44. Content as a strategic advantage 29:44 – 32:39. Vertical AI will win 32:39 – 35:41. Future of agentic AI & student advice Ankur's Links  LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/ankurpatel9/ Website – https://www.multimodal.dev/ My Links  Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe YouTube:  youtube.com/lifeselfmastery Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/

    39 min
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5
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About

Life Self Mastery Podcast is an interview based show where I interview online entrepreneurs who started their businesses and scaled up their businesses to improve their lifestyles. Previous guests include Guy Kawasaki, Brad Feld, James Clear, Shu Nyatta, Ida Tin, Elizabeth Yin, Polina Pompliano, Evgenia Plotnikova, Anna Khan, Minnie Ingersoll, Sridhar Ramaswamy, Mac Conwell, Danielle Strachman, Jake Gibson, Wes Kao, Brian Requarth, Vivek Sodera, Eric Siu, Amit Garg, Nischal Shetty, Pranav Pai, Nir Eyal, Paul Shapiro, Nick Huber, Rob Walling, Andrew Dsouza, Fabrice Grinda, and 300+ incredible guests. partnergrow.substack.com

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