The CTO Show with Mehmet Gonullu

Mehmet Gonullu
  • 5.0 (15)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Broadcasting from Dubai, The CTO Show with Mehmet explores the latest trends in technology, startups, and venture funding. Host Mehmet Gonullu leads insightful discussions with thought leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs from diverse industries. From emerging technologies to startup investment strategies, the show provides a balanced view on navigating the evolving landscape of business and tech, helping listeners understand their profound impact on our world. mehmet@yassiventures.com

  1. 3D AGO

    #573 AI Is Becoming a Commodity. The Real Game Is Value and Control With Shashank Tiwari

    AI is no longer just about models, prompts, or experimentation. It is becoming infrastructure. In this episode, I sit down with Shashank Tiwari, CEO and Founder, to unpack one of the biggest shifts happening right now: AI is rapidly commoditizing, and the real value is moving up the stack. We explore how enterprises are moving from hype to real ROI, why AI agents introduce new risks, and how governance, control, and reliability are becoming critical in the age of autonomous systems. This conversation goes beyond the noise to focus on what actually matters for builders, operators, and investors. ⸻ 👤 About the Guest Shashank Tiwari is the CEO and Founder of Uno.ai, a Silicon Valley-based company focused on AI-driven automation in governance, risk, and compliance (GRC). With deep expertise in enterprise systems, AI agents, and risk management, Shashank works closely with large organizations in highly regulated industries such as banking, healthcare, and critical infrastructure. His work focuses on automating human-centric tasks while maintaining accuracy, reliability, and control. https://www.linkedin.com/in/tshanky/ ⸻ 🔑 Key Takeaways • AI models are rapidly becoming commoditized infrastructure • The real differentiation is shifting to applications, workflows, and execution • AI agents introduce new categories of risk and governance challenges • Enterprise AI adoption is moving from experimentation to ROI-driven use cases • Automation must balance productivity with reliability and control • The future of AI is solution-centric, not model-centric • Coding is getting faster, but building products remains complex • AI may increase productivity, but it also amplifies risks at scale ⸻ 📚 What You’ll Learn • Why LLMs are becoming the “operating system” of AI • Where real value is created in the AI stack • How enterprises are measuring AI ROI today • Why AI agents create new threat vectors • The challenges of AI governance and compliance • Why “vibe coding” does not replace product thinking • How organizations should think about control in autonomous systems • What the future of AI applications looks like beyond hype ⸻ ⏱️ Episode Highlights 00:00 Introduction and guest welcome 02:30 From generative AI to AI agents: what changed 05:00 Why AI is becoming commoditized 07:00 The myth and reality of AGI 10:30 AI and new risk landscapes 14:00 AI as a new threat vector in enterprises 18:00 Governance, compliance, and control challenges 22:00 Shadow AI and visibility gaps 26:00 Why you cannot “opt out” of AI 29:00 From hype to ROI: how enterprises are thinking 34:00 AI productivity vs real business impact 37:00 The reality of AI coding and “vibe coding” 43:00 Why building products is still hard 48:00 AI, creativity, and the future of development 51:00 What’s next: automation of human-centric work 54:00 Elevating GRC beyond processes 56:00 Closing thoughts ⸻ 🔗 Resources Mentioned • Uno.ai • NIST AI Risk Management Framework • ISO 42001 (AI Management Systems)

    58 min

  2. 6D AGO

    #572 AI Can Source Talent. It Still Can’t Close Humans With Will Spengler

    In this episode, Mehmet Gonullu sits down with Will Spengler, Founder and Principal of Frederick Fox, to explore how hiring, entrepreneurship, and scaling professional services businesses are evolving in the age of AI. Will shares his journey from working in staffing firms to building a 70-person company organically, without venture capital. The conversation dives deep into the realities of scaling a services business, the importance of relationships as a competitive moat, and why AI, despite its capabilities, still cannot replace the human element in hiring. They also discuss how founders should think about hiring finance talent, common mistakes in early-stage hiring, and the leadership lessons learned from building a business from the ground up. ⸻ 👤 About the Guest Will Spengler is the Founder and Principal of Frederick Fox, a staffing and recruiting firm specializing in accounting, finance, technology, and sales roles. Since launching in 2019, Will has grown the company to nearly 70 employees, scaling organically without venture capital or private equity funding. Frederick Fox focuses on building long-term partnerships with both clients and candidates, with a strong emphasis on human relationships and performance-driven culture. ⸻ 🚀 Key Takeaways • AI is transforming sourcing and data analysis, but human relationships remain critical in hiring • Bootstrapping a business forces discipline, clarity, and strong execution • The real moat in professional services is trust and long-term relationships • Hiring finance talent requires matching both industry and company stage • Over-hiring or hiring from large companies can hurt early-stage startups • Scaling requires a clear vision, strong leadership, and people management skills • Entrepreneurship comes with significant personal and family trade-offs • Learning in business comes primarily from failure and iteration, not theory ⸻ 🎯 What You’ll Learn • Why AI cannot fully replace recruiters or human interaction in hiring • How to scale a professional services business without external funding • The right way to hire your first accountant, controller, or CFO • Common hiring mistakes founders make in early-stage companies • How to build a culture of ownership and performance • Why relationships are becoming more important in an AI-driven world • What it really takes to build and lead a growing company ⸻ ⏱️ Episode Chapters 00:00 Introduction and guest background 01:00 Building Frederick Fox and early journey 03:00 Identifying the opportunity in staffing 05:00 Scaling a business without venture capital 07:00 The importance of vision and planning 09:00 Hiring finance talent in startups 13:00 Where to find top accounting and finance talent 15:00 AI’s impact on recruiting and hiring 19:00 Human relationships as a competitive advantage 22:00 Building internal tools and automation 25:00 Creating ownership through equity 28:00 Leadership lessons and personal growth 32:00 Learning through failure in business 35:00 The reality of entrepreneurship 39:00 Closing thoughts and where to connect ⸻ 🔗 Resources Mentioned • Frederick Fox: https://www.frederickfox.com • Will Spengler on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wspengler/

    42 min

  3. FEB 9

    #571 Scaling With Intelligence: Building an Autonomous Business With Amos Bar-Joseph

    In this conversation, Mehmet sits down with Amos Bar-Joseph, Founder and CEO of Swan AI, to unpack what it really means to build an autonomous company. Amos shares how he moved away from the traditional “growth at all costs” startup model toward a lean, intelligence-driven approach powered by human-AI collaboration. Together, they discuss: • Why headcount is no longer the main growth lever • How founders can become “100x operators” with AI • The future of GTM in an agentic world • Why autonomy beats bureaucracy • How to scale without losing culture This is a deep dive into the next-generation startup playbook. ⸻ 👤 About the Guest Amos Bar-Joseph is the Founder and CEO of Swan AI. A serial entrepreneur with two prior exits, Amos is building one of the first truly autonomous businesses. His work focuses on human-AI collaboration, agentic workflows, and redefining how modern companies scale. He is also the author of The Big Shift newsletter and a leading voice on AI-native organizations. ⸻ 🎯 Key Takeaways • Startups can scale with intelligence, not headcount • AI should amplify human “zones of genius,” not replace them • GTM success depends on how buyers want to buy, not how founders want to sell • Context engineering is becoming a core GTM skill • Flat, autonomous teams require stronger leadership, not less • Decision velocity is the biggest startup advantage • Capital matters, but leverage matters more ⸻ 📚 What You’ll Learn By listening to this episode, you’ll learn: ✅ How to design an autonomous business model ✅ Where humans should stay in the loop with AI ✅ How to use agents to accelerate product-market fit ✅ Why relevance beats personalization in outreach ✅ How to build scalable GTM systems ✅ How leadership changes in flat organizations ✅ How to preserve culture while scaling ⸻ ⏱️ Episode Highlights & Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction & Amos’ background 02:00 – Why the traditional startup model is broken 04:30 – Building with three people and AI 07:00 – Zone of Genius + AI amplification 09:30 – Human-in-the-loop GTM strategy 12:00 – Choosing the right growth model 15:00 – Selling with empathy 18:00 – Personalization vs relevance 21:00 – Context engineering in GTM 24:00 – AI and product-market fit 27:00 – Decision velocity as a startup advantage 31:00 – Autonomous leadership challenges 35:00 – Culture without hierarchy 38:00 – Fundraising in an AI-native world 41:00 – The “Swan” philosophy vs unicorns 44:00 – Future vision for Swan AI 46:00 – Where to follow Amos 47:00 – Closing remarks ⸻ 🔗 Resources Mentioned • Swan AI Platform: https://getswan.com/ • Amos Bar-Joseph on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amos-bar-joseph/ • Autonomous GPT (ChatGPT Store): https://chatgpt.com/g/g-6800e20892b8819181df24a31ccdbf96-autonamos

    47 min

  4. FEB 6

    #570 The Quantum Founder Mindset: Wisdom, AI, and Conscious Leadership with Alessandro Grampa

    In this deep and thought-provoking episode, Mehmet sits down with Alessandro Grampa, Founder of Whole Grain Wisdom, to explore what it truly means to be a “Quantum Founder” in the age of AI, hyper-growth, and burnout. From panic attacks and founder stress to meditation, neuroscience, ancient wisdom, and artificial intelligence, Alessandro shares his personal transformation and the framework he now uses to help high performers reconnect with purpose, resilience, and inner coherence. This is not a typical startup conversation. It is a masterclass on conscious leadership, mental resilience, and building meaningful companies without losing yourself in the process. ⸻ 👤 About the Guest: Alessandro Grampa Alessandro Grampa is the Founder of Whole Grain Wisdom, a platform that bridges modern science with ancient wisdom to help entrepreneurs and high performers unlock their highest potential. With over 13 years of entrepreneurial experience, Alessandro transitioned from hustle-driven burnout to becoming a guide for founders seeking balance, clarity, and purpose. His work integrates neuroscience, meditation, biohacking, quantum physics, and spiritual practices. Today, he works with select founders through deep transformation programs focused on mind, body, and consciousness alignment. https://www.linkedin.com/in/alessandro-grampa/ ⸻ 🎯 Key Takeaways • Why 3 out of 4 founders struggle with mental and emotional health • How external validation drives burnout in entrepreneurship • What “Quantum Founder” really means • The hidden role of meditation and retreats among elite founders • Why consistency alone is not enough for real growth • How AI can amplify self-awareness and consciousness • The link between neuroscience, ancient wisdom, and leadership • How founders can rewire their mindset for long-term success • Why purpose matters more than ever in the AI era ⸻ 📚 What You’ll Learn in This Episode By listening to this episode, you’ll learn: • How to manage founder stress and prevent burnout • Why many successful entrepreneurs still feel “empty” • How to develop inner clarity in high-pressure environments • The difference between hustle culture and conscious growth • How top founders use meditation, retreats, and reflection • How to use AI as a tool for self-development • Why consciousness is becoming a leadership advantage • How to reconnect with your original purpose as a founder ⸻ ⏱️ Episode Highlights & Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction and Alessandro’s journey 02:10 – From panic attacks to meditation 05:30 – Discovering Eastern philosophy and biohacking 08:40 – Why most founders hide mental struggles 11:50 – External validation vs inner coherence 15:20 – What is a “Quantum Founder”? 18:30 – How elite founders use meditation retreats 22:10 – Recognition vs repetition in personal growth 26:40 – Science meets ancient wisdom 30:50 – Consciousness and reality perception 35:10 – AI as a tool for self-awareness 38:45 – The future of leadership in the AI era 42:30 – When is the right time to start inner work? 45:10 – How to work with Alessandro 47:00 – Final reflections and closing ⸻ 🔗 Resources Mentioned • Whole Grain Wisdom: https://wholegrainwisdom.com

    49 min

  5. FEB 2

    #569 Human-Centered FinTech: Rethinking Credit in an Agentic World with Tamara Laine

    In this episode, Mehmet sits down with Tamara Laine, Founder and CEO of MPWR, to explore how AI and agentic systems are reshaping the future of lending. They discuss why traditional credit scores fail gig workers and modern professionals, how alternative data can unlock financial inclusion, and what it really means to build human-centered fintech in an AI-first world. From explainable AI to ethical lending and the future of work, this conversation goes deep into how finance must evolve to serve the new economy. ⸻ 👤 About the Guest: Tamara Laine Tamara Laine is the Founder and CEO of MPWR, an AI-native fintech company building agentic ecosystems for inclusive lending. With a background in journalism and startups, Tamara focuses on system-level change in finance, helping underserved and “thin-file” borrowers access fair credit through behavioral and alternative data. She is a strong advocate for ethical AI, transparency, and human-centered technology design. ⸻ 🔑 Key Takeaways • Why traditional credit scores exclude more than 50% of potential borrowers • How AI enables more accurate and fair lending decisions • The role of behavioral and alternative data in modern credit models • Why explainability is critical in financial AI systems • How regulation can enable or block innovation • The future of work and its impact on financial systems • Why purpose still matters in an AI-driven economy • How founders can build startups through complementary partnerships ⸻ 🎯 What You’ll Learn By listening to this episode, you’ll learn: • How agentic AI is changing lending infrastructure • Why gig workers and freelancers are underserved by banks • How financial identity may become portable in the future • What “human-in-the-loop” means in fintech • How to design ethical, transparent AI systems • Why unintended consequences matter in technology • How entrepreneurship is evolving in the AI era ⸻ ⭐ Episode Highlights • The limitations of legacy credit scoring systems • AI-powered cashflow and behavior analysis • Explainable lending decisions in real time • Financial inclusion for nomadic workers • Surveillance vs. personalization in finance • Universal Basic Income and purpose • The rise of one-person, AI-powered companies • Founder dynamics and team building ⸻ ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction & Guest Background 02:00 – Why Credit Systems Are Broken 04:00 – Gig Economy and Underserved Borrowers 06:00 – Alternative Data in Lending 08:30 – Portable Financial Identity 11:00 – Regulation and Global Credit 13:30 – Explainable AI in Finance 15:30 – Trust, Transparency, and Surveillance 18:00 – Ethical AI and Unintended Consequences 22:00 – Future of Work and Solopreneurs 25:30 – Universal Income and Purpose 29:00 – Building Startups Through Partnerships 32:00 – Final Thoughts & Where to Find Tamara ⸻ 🔗 Resources Mentioned • MPWR Website: https://mpwrai.com/ • MPWR Money Platform: https://mpwr.money • Connect with Tamara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamaralaine/

    45 min

  6. JAN 30

    #568 Beyond Silicon: Building the First Living Computer with Ewelina Kurtys

    In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, Mehmet sits down with Ewelina Kurtys, Strategic Advisor at FinalSpark, to explore one of the most radical frontiers in technology: biological computing powered by living neurons. FinalSpark is building next-generation processors using human neurons instead of silicon, aiming to solve AI’s biggest challenge: energy efficiency and scalability. From AI infrastructure to neuroscience, ethics, and commercialization, this conversation dives deep into what it really takes to move computing beyond chips and into biology. ⸻ About the Guest: Ewelina Kurtys Ewelina Kurtys is a neuroscientist and Strategic Advisor at FinalSpark. With a background spanning academia, startups, and artificial intelligence, she now works at the intersection of AI, hardware, and biology. At FinalSpark, she helps shape the strategy behind building the world’s first remote-access biocomputing platform using living neurons. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ewelinakurtys/ ⸻ 🔍 Key Takeaways • Why silicon is reaching its physical and economic limits • How living neurons are up to 1 million times more energy efficient than traditional chips • The hidden cost of AI and why current models are unsustainable • How biological processors are programmed and trained • Why biocomputing may reshape AI infrastructure • The ethical and regulatory dimensions of using human cells • Why centralized “bio-servers” may replace traditional data centers • What it takes to commercialize deep science innovation ⸻ 🎯 What You’ll Learn By listening to this episode, you will learn: • How biological computing works in practice • Why AI’s future depends on new hardware paradigms • What makes neurons powerful information processors • How startups can compete with Big Tech through radical innovation • The investment and research timeline behind deep tech breakthroughs • How biocomputing could reduce AI’s carbon footprint • Where philosophy, ethics, and engineering intersect ⸻ ⏱️ Episode Highlights & Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction to biocomputing and FinalSpark 02:00 – Why living neurons beat silicon on efficiency 04:00 – From AI software to biological hardware 06:00 – The real cost of running large AI models 08:00 – How neurons are programmed and trained 10:00 – Using dopamine and chemical signals for learning 12:00 – Sourcing stem cells and neuron lifespan 14:00 – Commercial use cases for bio-computers 15:00 – Why portable bio-AI is unlikely (for now) 17:00 – Climate impact and energy efficiency 18:30 – Open innovation and university partnerships 20:30 – Ethics and public perception 22:00 – Responding to skeptics 23:00 – Is it still “artificial” intelligence? 24:30 – Brain-computer interfaces and future implications 26:00 – The 10-year roadmap and funding plans 27:30 – Advice for young scientists 28:30 – Where to learn more ⸻ 📚 Resources Mentioned • FinalSpark Website: https://finalspark.com • FinalSpark Research Paper (Frontiers): https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/artificial-intelligence/articles/10.3389/frai.2024.1376042/full

    30 min

  7. JAN 26

    #567 Engineering Creativity: Peadar Coyle on Scaling AI Audio Infrastructure

    In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, Mehmet sits down with Peadar Coyle, Co-Founder and CTO of AudioStack, to explore how AI is transforming audio production from a creative craft into scalable infrastructure. Peadar shares how AudioStack built production-grade AI systems for media and brands worldwide, why audio is becoming a systems problem, and how founders and CTOs can balance speed, quality, and creativity in the age of generative AI. From programmatic advertising in the UAE to shipping daily in fast-moving startups, this conversation dives deep into the technical, strategic, and cultural realities of building AI-powered platforms. ⸻ 👤 About the Guest: Peadar Coyle Peadar Coyle is the Co-Founder and CTO of AudioStack, an AI-native audio production platform serving global media and entertainment companies. With a background in data engineering, open-source development, and philosophy, Peadar brings a rare blend of technical depth and human-centered thinking to AI systems design. He is passionate about building reliable, ethical, and scalable infrastructure for creative industries. https://www.linkedin.com/in/peadarcoyle/ ⸻ 🔑 Key Takeaways • Why audio production is shifting from “creative workflows” to “AI infrastructure” • How AI accelerates creativity instead of replacing it • The importance of shipping small, fast, and safely • Why observability and human-in-the-loop systems still matter • How to scale generative AI without losing trust • What founders get wrong about “AI prototypes vs real products” • How to build strong engineering culture in fast-changing environments • Why the last 10% of AI products is still the hardest ⸻ 🎯 What You’ll Learn in This Episode • How AudioStack automated large-scale localized audio campaigns • How to balance customer demands with technical quality • How CTOs should rethink productivity with AI agents • What “production-ready AI” really means • How AI is changing product, engineering, and leadership roles • Why creativity remains a human advantage • How to prepare teams for continuous technological change ⸻ ⏱️ Episode Highlights & Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction & Peadar’s background 02:00 – Why AudioStack was founded 03:30 – Audio as infrastructure vs creativity 05:00 – How AI accelerates creative iteration 07:00 – UAE use case: Programmatic localized ads 09:00 – Orchestration, latency, and reliability challenges 11:00 – Observability and human-in-the-loop AI 14:00 – Evaluating AI systems in production 16:00 – Ethics, copyright, and trust in generative audio 18:30 – Shipping fast: Engineering culture at AudioStack 20:30 – Balancing customer needs with technical debt 23:00 – Building culture in the AI era 26:00 – How CTO roles are changing 28:00 – Product + Engineering convergence 30:00 – What makes great audio in the future 32:00 – Advice for founders in creative AI 35:00 – Final thoughts and recommendations ⸻ 📚 Resources Mentioned • AudioStack Platform: https://www.audiostack.ai • Claude Code & AI Agents • AI Evaluation & Observability Tools • ISO/IEC 42001 (AI Management Systems) • SOC 2 Compliance Standards

    38 min

  8. JAN 23

    #566 Scaling Trust in Logistics: David Soileau on AI, Operations, and Leadership

    In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, Mehmet sits down with David Soileau, Co-Founder and CRO of Gophr, to explore how modern software, AI, and disciplined leadership are transforming industrial logistics. David shares his journey from the Marine Corps to building a nationwide on-demand delivery platform. He explains how Gophr pivoted during COVID and natural disasters, rebuilt its business model around accountability, and scaled with minimal overhead. The conversation dives deep into operational excellence, trust in B2B platforms, AI-powered logistics, and what it really takes to survive in a low-margin, high-pressure industry. ⸻ 👤 About the Guest: David Soileau David Soileau is the Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer of Gophr, an on-demand logistics platform serving industrial, pharmaceutical, and enterprise customers across the United States. Before entrepreneurship, David spent 12 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and worked in industrial operations. His background in discipline, execution, and mission-driven leadership has shaped Gophr’s culture and growth strategy. Today, he leads revenue, partnerships, and expansion efforts while helping enterprises modernize their delivery infrastructure. ⸻ 🎯 Key Takeaways • Why accountability and visibility are the foundation of trust in logistics • How Gophr successfully pivoted during COVID and hurricanes • The role of AI in vehicle selection, documentation, and compliance • How to scale a logistics company with only five full-time staff • Why low-margin industries demand technology-first thinking • Lessons from military leadership applied to startup execution • How to balance automation with human oversight ⸻ 📚 What You’ll Learn By listening to this episode, you’ll learn: • How to design logistics platforms that enterprise buyers actually trust • Why real-time tracking and digital documentation matter more than features • How AI can reduce operational errors in physical infrastructure businesses • How founders can grow under pressure without burning cash • What operational excellence looks like in practice • How to build resilience into your business model ⸻ ⏱️ Episode Highlights & Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction and David’s background 02:10 – From marketplace to industrial logistics platform 04:30 – The hidden costs of unreliable delivery 07:20 – Building accountability through tracking and visibility 10:15 – Operational metrics that matter in logistics 13:40 – Scaling discipline and execution 16:30 – AI-powered features at Gophr 18:50 – Human-in-the-loop vs full automation 22:00 – Risk management during crises 24:40 – Margins and running lean in logistics 27:10 – Military leadership in startups 30:45 – Goal-setting and execution frameworks 34:20 – Common founder mistakes in operations-heavy businesses 36:50 – Gophr’s growth vision 39:00 – Final advice for entrepreneurs ⸻ 🔗 Resources Mentioned • Gophr Website: https://gophrapp.com/ • David Soileau on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidtheguy/

    42 min
See All (572)

Trailer

5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Broadcasting from Dubai, The CTO Show with Mehmet explores the latest trends in technology, startups, and venture funding. Host Mehmet Gonullu leads insightful discussions with thought leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs from diverse industries. From emerging technologies to startup investment strategies, the show provides a balanced view on navigating the evolving landscape of business and tech, helping listeners understand their profound impact on our world. mehmet@yassiventures.com

Information