GSD Venture Studios Podcasts by Gary Fowler

GSD Venture Studios
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Gary Fowler, President, CEO and Founder, GSD Venture Studios https://www.linkedin.com/in/fowlerinternational/ Gary is an award-winning serial entrepreneur and investor with 17 companies, two Unicorns and a successful IPO. Gary was on the original management team of ClickSoftware that was sold to SalesForce for 1.35 billion, and was the co-founder at the award-winning AI company, Yva.ai that was acquired by Visier. He has over 30 years of experience and is the CEO, President and Founder of GSD Venture Studios, a Silicon Valley-based Family Office, Venture Studio, and Hyper-Accelerator with 1

  1. FEB 4

    The Agentic Ecosystem of 2026: Navigating the Future of Autonomous AI with Deniz Soylular

    Join Deniz Soylular, Co-founder and CPO of Mindra, for a forward-looking discussion on the next major evolution in technology: Agentic AI. As a pioneer in AI infrastructure, Deniz is building the multi-agent systems that allow AI to move from simple chatbots to autonomous workers. In this episode, we explore what the agentic ecosystem will look like over the next year, how established companies must adapt to keep pace, and what it takes to lead as a young entrepreneur in the fastest-moving tech landscape in history. 🎯 Insights You’ll Learn: ✓ The Agentic Shift: Moving from passive AI tools to autonomous multi-agent systems ✓ 2026 Roadmap: How the agentic ecosystem will evolve in the next 12 months ✓ Strategic Adaptation: How existing companies should react to the rise of AI agents ✓ Product Design for 2026: What defines a winning "Agent-First" product or idea ✓ The Founder’s Journey: Challenges and advantages of being a young tech entrepreneur ✓ Scaling Infrastructure: Insights from raising $1.2M in pre-seed for AI agents ✓ Bridging the Gap: Turning academic AI research into scalable, market-ready products 🌍 Why This Matters: We are entering an era where AI doesn't just answer questions—it executes workflows. This transition to agentic systems is fundamentally changing how software is built, sold, and used. For companies and founders, understanding the infrastructure behind these autonomous agents is no longer optional; it is the blueprint for staying relevant in 2026 and beyond. 👤 Expert Background: • Co-founder and CPO of Mindra, an AI infrastructure startup • Lead Developer of autonomous multi-agent systems with $1.2M in pre-seed funding • Computer Science professional with a background from Koç University • Innovation leader recognized for advancing scalable AI technologies • Expert in bridging the divide between AI research and commercial product development 🎙️ Hosted by Gary Fowler, CEO of GSD Venture Studios, global AI entrepreneur, investor, and innovation leader spotlighting founders navigating the realities of building in the AI era. 💡 Perfect For: AI researchers, startup founders, product managers, enterprise strategists, and young entrepreneurs looking to build in the agentic AI space. 🚀 Timely Topic: As 2026 becomes the year of the "Agentic Enterprise," the biggest opportunities lie not in the models themselves, but in the infrastructure that allows them to collaborate and solve complex problems autonomously. Subscribe for more global founder conversations from GSD Venture Studios: https://gsdvs.com #AgenticAI #Mindra #AIAgents #MultiAgentSystems #StartupGrowth #YoungEntrepreneurs #AIInfrastructure #DenizSoylular #GaryFowler #GSDVentureStudios

    30 min

  2. FEB 4

    The Future of Learning: How AI is Reshaping the EdTech Landscape with Joash Lee

    Join Joash Lee, Founder and CEO of Sedifly, for an insightful discussion on the rapid evolution of the educational consulting industry. As a seasoned founder and venture capitalist, Joash has a unique vantage point on how AI is not just automating tasks, but fundamentally changing how students learn and how institutions deliver value. In this episode, we explore the shift from static educational models to adaptive, AI-enhanced experiences and what this means for the next generation of EdTech startups. 🎯 Insights You’ll Learn: ✓ The impact of AI on the educational consulting and EdTech landscape ✓ Building for scale: Lessons from creating products generating $10M+ in annual revenue ✓ The dual perspective: Balancing the roles of an EdTech founder and a VC General Partner ✓ How AI is democratizing access to high-level educational strategy and mentorship ✓ What investors are looking for in the next wave of AI-driven education startups ✓ Strategies for maintaining high engagement in a digital-first learning environment ✓ Navigating the transition from early-stage growth to managing a high-performance portfolio 🌍 Why This Matters: Education is undergoing its most significant transformation since the dawn of the internet. With AI capable of providing personalized tutoring and administrative automation, the traditional "middlemen" of educational consulting must adapt or vanish. Joash Lee is at the forefront of this shift, leveraging his experience as both a builder and an investor to identify where the true value lies in a post-AI educational world. 👤 Expert Background: • Founder and CEO of Sedifly, a leading EdTech and educational consulting firm • General Partner and CMO at Iron Key Capital, an early-stage VC firm • Proven track record of building EdTech products with $10M+ annual revenue • Experienced investor managing a portfolio with a 4.4x MOIC • Member of the Forbes Business Council 🎙️ Hosted by Gary Fowler, CEO of GSD Venture Studios — global AI entrepreneur, investor, and innovation leader spotlighting founders navigating the realities of building in the AI era. 💡 Perfect For: EdTech founders, educational consultants, venture capitalists, university administrators, and anyone interested in the future of human capital development through technology. 🚀 Timely Topic: As the "AI in Education" market continues to explode, the next generation of winners will be those who can combine pedagogical expertise with scalable, AI-driven infrastructure. Subscribe for more global founder conversations from GSD Venture Studios: https://gsdvs.com #EdTech #AIinEducation #VentureCapital #StartupGrowth #EducationalConsulting #Sedifly #JoashLee #GaryFowler #GSDVentureStudios

    33 min

  3. FEB 4

    Why CRE’s AI Revolution is Stalling (and How to Fix It) ft. David Huesser

    The disconnect between high interest in AI and actual readiness for scaled implementation is rampant in commercial real estate and retail. In this episode of the simplenight series, we sit down with David Huesser, a C-Suite Shopping Center Executive with a legendary track record spanning North America and the Middle East. From his early career with RioCan REIT and Simon Property Group to his role as Director of Asset Management for Al Futtaim in Dubai, David has seen every facet of the real estate life cycle. #CommercialRealEstate #RetailInnovation #AIImplementation #Simplenight #PropTech #DavidHuesser #DigitalTransformation #AssetManagement

    40 min

  4. JAN 30

    From Hacker to Startup Founder: Building Cyber Resilience in an AI-Driven World with Gonçalo Gil

    Join Gonçalo Gil, CEO and Co-founder of ROOTKey, for an inside look at the high-stakes world of cybersecurity. As a former world-ranked ethical hacker, Gonçalo has transitioned from the offensive frontlines to building the next generation of cyber resilience. In this episode, we explore how AI has leveled up the capabilities of cybercriminals—allowing them to automate attacks with unprecedented speed and sophistication—and why traditional defense is no longer enough. Learn how ROOTKey is leveraging blockchain and zero-trust frameworks to ensure that even when an attack occurs, data remains immutable, verifiable, and quickly recoverable. 🎯 Insights You’ll Learn: ✓ The transition from world-ranked ethical hacker to "full-stack" startup founder ✓ How AI is accelerating the speed, scale, and realism of modern cyberattacks ✓ Cyber Resilience vs. Cyber Security: Why the ability to "bounce back" is the new priority ✓ Leveraging blockchain as a trust layer for data integrity and authenticity ✓ Emerging threats in 2026: From AI-orchestrated reconnaissance to agentic attacks ✓ How to build a "Decision Digital Twin" for secure data recovery after a breach ✓ Strategic advice for founders on staying agile in a volatile, AI-driven threat landscape 🌍 Why This Matters: In 2026, the question is no longer "if" a company will be targeted, but "how" it will survive. As AI agents begin to autonomously execute reconnaissance and exploitation, the gap between breach and recovery can determine a company's survival. Gonçalo Gil is bringing a hacker's mindset to the boardroom, providing the tools and strategy needed to transform cybersecurity from an IT cost center into a strategic pillar of business continuity. 👤 Expert Background: • CEO & Co-founder of ROOTKey, a platform for data integrity and cyber resilience • Former world-ranked ethical hacker with deep technical execution expertise • Recognized with the Youth Startup Award (Unicorn Factory Lisboa) and Santander X Portugal Awards • Active speaker and mentor in the global cybersecurity and startup ecosystem • Strategic leader in bridging blockchain technology with enterprise security requirements 🎙️ Hosted by Gary Fowler, CEO of GSD Venture Studios — global AI entrepreneur, investor, and innovation leader spotlighting founders navigating the realities of building in the AI era. 💡 Perfect For: CISOs, CTOs, startup founders, cybersecurity professionals, blockchain enthusiasts, and enterprise leaders focused on risk management and data integrity. 🚀 Timely Topic: With AI-powered cyberattacks becoming the "new normal" for 2026, the winners in the digital economy will be those who prioritize resilience and verifiable trust as their foundation for growth. Subscribe for more global founder conversations from GSD Venture Studios: https://gsdvs.com #CyberResilience #EthicalHacking #ROOTKey #AIThreats #BlockchainSecurity #StartupGrowth #DataIntegrity #GoncaloGil #GaryFowler #GSDVentureStudios

    31 min

  5. JAN 30

    Original Intelligence: Why Humans are the Key to AI Success with Jonathan Aberman

    Join Jonathan Aberman, CEO and Co-Founder of Hupside, for a provocative conversation on why the majority of AI adoptions fail. While AI is a powerhouse for efficiency, it lacks the ability to be truly original—a trait Jonathan defines as Original Intelligence. In this episode, we explore how Hupside is measuring and quantifying human originality to help businesses create real value and differentiation in an increasingly automated world. 🎯 Insights You’ll Learn: ✓ Why AI efficiency alone cannot create business differentiation ✓ The Human Equation: Why AI adoptions fail without an Original Intelligence focus ✓ Measuring the unmeasurable: How Hupside quantifies human originality ✓ Original Intelligence vs. Artificial Intelligence: Understanding the value of the human edge ✓ Lessons from a Tech Titan: Navigating the intersection of VC, academia, and startups ✓ The future of the AI workforce: Transitioning from productivity to value creation ✓ Strategic advice for leaders on commercializing technology without losing the human spark 🌍 Why This Matters: As AI becomes a commodity, the "efficiency gap" is closing for everyone. In 2026, the only remaining moat for a company is its ability to be original. Jonathan Aberman is leading a movement to prove that human potential is not a variable to be replaced, but the ultimate asset to be measured and optimized. For startups and enterprises alike, understanding Original Intelligence is the difference between blending in and leading the market. 👤 Expert Background: • CEO & Co-Founder of Hupside, the leader in measuring human originality • Partner at Ruxton Ventures, specializing in technology commercialization • Former Dean of the School of Business and Technology at Marymount University • Named "Tech Titan" by Washingtonian and a "Power 100" leader by WBJ • Recognized as one of the 50 Most Influential Entrepreneurs in Virginia 🎙️ Hosted by Gary Fowler, CEO of GSD Venture Studios — global AI entrepreneur, investor, and innovation leader spotlighting founders navigating the realities of building in the AI era. 💡 Perfect For: Startup founders, CHROs, venture capitalists, innovation strategists, and business leaders struggling to make AI deliver long-term competitive advantages. 🚀 Timely Topic: With AI reaching peak adoption, the next wave of winners will be those who stop using AI to replace people and start using it to amplify the originality that only humans can provide. Subscribe for more global founder conversations from GSD Venture Studios: https://gsdvs.com #OriginalIntelligence #AIWorkforce #StartupGrowth #HumanPotential #Hupside #InnovationStrategy #VentureCapital #JonathanAberman #GaryFowler #GSDVentureStudios

    37 min

  6. JAN 30

    Scaling Through Synergy: Unlocking the Hidden ROI of Partnerships with Jens Visser

    Join Jens Visser, Founder and CEO of Partnify, as he explores the "hidden goldmine" within every business: existing partnerships. Drawing from his deep background in consulting and digital transformation, Jens breaks down why most B2B collaborations fail due to "analogue" communication and fragmented tools. In this episode, Jens reveals how to use technology to move beyond transactional relationships and toward true co-creation, turning partnerships into a predictable, scalable engine for sustainable growth. 🎯 Insights You’ll Learn: ✓ Why the "Growth at All Costs" model is being replaced by Partnership-Led Growth ✓ The "Communication Gap": Why misaligned internal workflows kill collaboration ✓ How to turn complex, messy B2B relationships into clear, shared contexts ✓ The role of AI in identifying and optimizing hidden growth potential in ecosystems ✓ Moving from "Vibe-Based" partnerships to data-driven, measurable co-creation ✓ Lessons from consulting: How digital transformation applies to relationship management ✓ Strategies for scaling a startup by deepening existing ties rather than just chasing leads 🌍 Why This Matters: In a saturated market, the cost of customer acquisition (CAC) is skyrocketing. The smartest founders are realizing that sustainable growth doesn't always come from a new ad campaign—it comes from strengthening the network you already have. Jens Visser is building the infrastructure that allows companies to scale through synergy, making collaboration a competitive advantage rather than an administrative burden. 👤 Expert Background: • CEO & Founder of Partnify, the platform for ecosystem and partnership success • Expert in Digital Transformation, with a career spent optimizing complex business systems • Sales & Consulting Veteran, specializing in B2B growth and workflow alignment • Visionary Leader focused on moving business from "transactional" to "collaborative" models 🎙️ Hosted by Gary Fowler, CEO of GSD Venture Studios — global AI entrepreneur, investor, and innovation leader spotlighting founders navigating the realities of building in the AI era. 💡 Perfect For: Partnership managers, B2B founders, Sales leaders, Ecosystem strategists, and anyone looking to lower CAC through collaborative business models. 🚀 Timely Topic: As the tech world shifts away from siloed operations, the next generation of winners will be the "Connectors"—those who can effectively bridge the gap between their organization and the rest of the world. Subscribe for more global founder conversations from GSD Venture Studios: https://gsdvs.com #PartnershipGrowth #B2BStrategy #Partnify #StartupScale #EcosystemEconomy #BusinessCollaboration #DigitalTransformation #GaryFowler #JensVisser #GSDVentureStudios

    27 min

  7. JAN 29

    Innate Immunity: Vaccinating the World’s Smallest Food Producers with Dr. Annette Kleiser

    Join Dr. Annette Kleiser, CEO of Dalan Animal Health, for a conversation on a feat once thought biologically impossible: vaccinating insects and invertebrates. With over 25 years of biotech leadership, Dr. Kleiser is the visionary behind the world’s first USDA-approved vaccine for honeybees. In this episode, we explore how Dalan’s proprietary platform unlocks the power of innate immunity to protect honeybees and shrimp—underserved but critical species that underpin our global food systems and biodiversity. 🎯 Insights You’ll Learn: ✓ The science of the impossible: How do you actually vaccinate an insect? ✓ Protecting the pollinators: Solving American Foulbrood disease in honeybees ✓ Scaling to aquaculture: Why vaccinating shrimp is a breakthrough for global food security ✓ The power of innate immunity: A new frontier in animal health and disease prevention ✓ Lessons from 25 years in biotech: Moving from Munich research to global startup success ✓ Building for "underserved" species: The business case for protecting non-traditional livestock ✓ Navigating USDA approval for a first-of-its-kind biological product 🌍 Why This Matters: Honeybees and shrimp are essential to our survival, yet they have been historically left behind by modern medicine. Disease outbreaks in these populations can collapse entire ecosystems and food chains. Dr. Kleiser and her team at Dalan Animal Health are not just building a company; they are creating a new category of preventive care that ensures the resilience of the smallest, most vital contributors to our planet's economy. 👤 Expert Background: • CEO of Dalan Animal Health, pioneers in invertebrate immunology • Developer of the world’s first USDA-approved vaccine for insects • Ph.D. from Ludwig Maximilian University (Munich) with a background in Biology • 25+ years of experience in biotech leadership and corporate strategy • Innovation leader in disease prevention for aquaculture and apiculture 🎙️ Hosted by Gary Fowler, CEO of GSD Venture Studios — global AI entrepreneur, investor, and innovation leader spotlighting founders navigating the realities of building in the AI era. 💡 Perfect For: Biotech entrepreneurs, agricultural leaders, food-tech investors, environmentalists, and anyone interested in the future of one-health and sustainable food systems. 🚀 Timely Topic: As climate change and global trade increase the risk of cross-border animal diseases, the ability to protect our most vulnerable food producers through scalable vaccine platforms is a critical survival skill for the 21st century. Subscribe for more global founder conversations from GSD Venture Studios: https://gsdvs.com #AnimalHealth #Biotech #HoneybeeVaccine #Aquaculture #InnateImmunity #FoodSecurity #DalanAnimalHealth #GaryFowler #AnnetteKleiser #GSDVentureStudios

    28 min

  8. JAN 29

    Underwriting Intelligence: From Fighting PDFs to Building the Future of Risk with Maariyaah Afzal

    Join Maariyaah Afzal, Founder and CEO of Silas Insurtech, for a fascinating look at the intersection of deep domain expertise and cutting-edge technology. Maariyaah spent years in the trenches at AIG and Lloyd's of London, experiencing firsthand the frustration of spending more time fighting emails and PDFs than analyzing risk. In this episode, she shares her journey of pivoting from underwriting to software engineering to build the solution the industry desperately needed: an AI-driven platform that turns complex documents into structured, decision-ready insights. 🎯 Insights You’ll Learn: ✓ The turning point: Moving from a Lloyd's syndicate to learning to code ✓ Why fighting PDFs and emails is the hidden productivity killer in insurance ✓ The Insider Advantage: How domain expertise shapes superior AI products ✓ Why the advent of AI finally made "impossible" insurance solutions a reality ✓ Challenges of introducing innovation to a traditional, conservative sector ✓ Why understanding a user's daily frustration is more valuable than tech alone ✓ Building for the future: Turning unstructured data into structured risk insights 🌍 Why This Matters: Insurance is one of the world's most traditional, relationship-driven industries, yet it sits on an ocean of unstructured data that humans can no longer process efficiently. Maariyaah Afzal represents a new breed of founder—the "Insider-Builder"—who doesn't just understand the code, but understands the soul of the business. Her story is a blueprint for how to bridge the gap between legacy systems and the future of intelligent underwriting. 👤 Expert Background: • Founder & CEO of Silas Insurtech, an underwriting-intelligence platform • Former Commercial Property Underwriter at AIG and Lloyd’s syndicate • Software Engineer with hands-on experience in building insurance tech • Industry expert in Energy, Specialty, and Commercial Property insurance • Frequent speaker on Applied AI and domain-driven product development 🎙️ Hosted by Gary Fowler, CEO of GSD Venture Studios — global AI entrepreneur, investor, and innovation leader spotlighting founders navigating the realities of building in the AI era. 💡 Perfect For: Insurtech founders, underwriters, insurance executives, software engineers, and anyone interested in how AI is disrupting traditional, legacy-heavy industries. 🚀 Timely Topic: In an era where risk is becoming more complex and data-heavy, the next generation of insurance leaders will be those who stop managing documents and start mastering data. Subscribe for more global founder conversations from GSD Venture Studios: https://gsdvs.com #Insurtech #AIinInsurance #Underwriting #SilasInsurtech #DigitalTransformation #RiskManagement #FounderJourney #GaryFowler #MaariyaahAfzal #GSDVentureStudios

    25 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Gary Fowler, President, CEO and Founder, GSD Venture Studios https://www.linkedin.com/in/fowlerinternational/ Gary is an award-winning serial entrepreneur and investor with 17 companies, two Unicorns and a successful IPO. Gary was on the original management team of ClickSoftware that was sold to SalesForce for 1.35 billion, and was the co-founder at the award-winning AI company, Yva.ai that was acquired by Visier. He has over 30 years of experience and is the CEO, President and Founder of GSD Venture Studios, a Silicon Valley-based Family Office, Venture Studio, and Hyper-Accelerator with 1

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