Nothing Ventured

Aarish Shah - EmergeONE
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Nothing Ventured

In conversation with the people who make the start-up world go round. Join Aarish Shah as he talks to founders, investors, and operators across the tech and venture ecosystem exploring some of the lesser-heard stories and challenges they've faced as they try to build the future.https://nothingventured.tech/Follow Nothing Ventured on socialTwitter https://twitter.com/NVPodFacbook https://www.facebook.com/NothingVenturedPodTikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@nothingventuredpodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/nothingventuredpod/

  1. Ozan Unlu: Navigating the Shift: From Technical Founder to Commercial Leader | Episode 62

    6 DAYS AGO

    Ozan Unlu: Navigating the Shift: From Technical Founder to Commercial Leader | Episode 62

    In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah speaks with Ozan Unlu, co-founder and CEO of EdgeDelta, a pioneering company in the telemetry pipeline space focusing on observability and security. Ozan shares insights from his unique journey through engineering, sales, and entrepreneurship, delving into the nuances of transitioning from technical roles to commercial leadership. The discussion covers the importance of understanding customer needs, the challenges of fundraising in a shifting economic landscape, and the distinction between selling high-tech solutions versus consumer products. Ozan emphasizes the significance of continuous data curation in solving complex problems related to observability and security. Tune in to explore these themes and more as Ozan provides valuable perspectives for entrepreneurs and leaders in the tech industry. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction to EdgeDelta and Ozan Unlu 00:01:00 - The Transition from Technical to Commercial Roles 00:03:00 - Understanding Your Customer 00:06:00 - Sales Strategies: Spaceships vs. T-Shirts 00:09:00 - Navigating Enterprise Sales Cycles 00:10:30 - The Importance of Product-Led Growth 00:12:00 - Fundraising Dynamics: Seed vs. Later Stages 00:14:00 - Valuation Expectations in Different Market Conditions 00:16:30 - The Impact of Growth vs. Efficiency 00:19:00 - Balancing Growth and Profitability 00:22:00 - The Role of Continuous Curation and Inference 00:25:00 - The Challenge of Processing Large Data Volumes 00:28:00 - The Future of AI and Quantum Computing 00:30:00 - The Importance of Data Tiering 00:32:00 - Contrarian Conviction: Self-Awareness in Career Choices 00:45:00 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts Find Ozan Unlu online at: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ozanu/ Twitter: https://x.com/Ozannlu Company: https://edgedelta.com This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B. Get in touch at https://emergeone.co.uk/contact-us/ or join the CFO team at https://emergeone.co.uk/join-the-cfo-team/ Sign up for EmergeOne’s weekly newsletter, Off Balance at https://off-balance.beehiiv.com/subscribe

    50 min
  2. Ioto Iotov: Learning the foundations and the language of business | Episode 61

    FEB 13

    Ioto Iotov: Learning the foundations and the language of business | Episode 61

    In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes Ioto Iotov, founder of Mainset, a venture capital firm focused on fintech and SaaS ventures. Ioto shares his unique journey from South Africa, detailing his background as a chartered accountant and competitive swimmer, and his path to earning an MBA from Columbia Business School. The discussion covers the importance of understanding the foundations and language of business, as well as the long-term relationships that venture capitalists cultivate with businesses. Ioto highlights the rapid growth of the fintech sector, accounting for 3% of financial services revenue and growing at 15% year-on-year, and addresses the challenges financial institutions face in servicing SMEs and SMBs. He also emphasises the importance of empathy in connecting with founders and the value of observation and experience in the venture capital landscape. Tune in to gain insights into the evolving world of fintech and the mindset required for successful investing. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction to the Episode 00:00:10 - Guest Introduction: Ioto Iotov 00:00:31 - Ioto's Career Background 00:00:41 - Mainset Venture Capital Overview 00:00:53 - Importance of Financial Literacy 00:01:04 - Long-term Relationships in Business 00:01:51 - Empathy and Experience in Venture Capital 00:02:01 - Host Introduction and Podcast Overview 00:02:23 - Encouragement to Engage with the Podcast 00:02:38 - Diving into Financial Literacy 00:03:03 - The Value of Financial Literacy for Founders and VCs 00:03:22 - Financial Literacy Beyond Venture Capital 00:03:53 - Profitability vs. Growth in Venture Capital 00:04:38 - Long-term Investment Perspective 00:05:00 - Valuation and Financial Sophistication 00:05:22 - Frameworks for Business Assessment 00:05:50 - Competitive Positioning and Pricing Power 00:06:33 - Financial Literacy as a Foundational Skill 00:07:06 - The Role of Unit Economics 00:08:25 - Importance of Understanding Business Metrics 00:09:00 - ROI on Business Decisions 00:10:02 - Market Trends: Profitability and Sustainable Growth 00:11:08 - The Shift from Growth at All Costs to Profitable Growth 00:12:07 - Bootstrapping vs. Venture Capital 00:13:00 - The Reality of Fundraising and Capital Availability 00:14:02 - Founders' Responsibility in Capital Management 00:15:09 - Efficient Growth and Return on Investment 00:15:21 - The Impact of Interest Rates and Market Conditions 00:16:07 - Managing Large Capital for the First Time 00:17:28 - Different Capital Needs for Different Businesses 00:17:48 - Pathways to Profitability 00:18:15 - Valuation Methods in Venture Capital 00:18:36 - Mainset's Investment Thesis in Fintech 00:19:21 - The Enduring Nature of Financial Services 00:20:05 - The Role of Financial Services in the Economy 00:21:09 - The Growth of Fintech 00:21:53 - Trends and Excitement in Fintech 00:22:59 - Collaboration vs. Competition in Fintech 00:23:22 - Challenges of Innovating in Large Financial Institutions 00:24:08 - Outsourcing Innovation to Startups 00:25:32 - Banks' Product Offerings for SMEs 00:26:16 - The Rise of Treasury Management Tools 00:27:02 - Banks' Retreat from Servicing SMEs 00:28:01 - Office of the CFO and SME Market Challenges 00:29:09 - The Difficulty of Scaling SME-focused Solutions 00:30:50 - The Challenge of Building a Better Excel 00:32:17 - The Role of ERP Systems in SMEs 00:33:07 - Venture Capital and Market Size Considerations 00:34:04 - The Consequences of Taking VC Funding 00:35:24 - The Importance of Joy in Business Partnerships 00:36:32 - Transparency and Alignment in Venture Capital 00:37:07 - The Importance of Exit Strategy Conversations 00:38:08 - The Time Sensitivity of Investment Returns 00:38:44 - Dual Responsibility of Emerging VCs and Founders 00:39:13 - Empathy Towards Founders 00:40:07 - The Highs and Lows of Entrepreneurship 00:41:10 - The Value of Experience in Venture Capital 00:42:10 - The Debate: Operators vs. Investors 00:43:22 - The Importance of Understanding Business Operations 00:44:24 - Socioeconomic Backgrounds and Breaking into VC 00:45:21 - Improving Diversity at the GP Level 00:46:08 - The Challenge of Building a Track Record in VC 00:47:02 - Finding Ingenious Ways to Overcome Lack of Means Find Ioto Iotov online at: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iotoiotov/ Twitter: https://x.com/IotoIotov Company: https://mainset.co.uk This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B. Get in touch at https://emergeone.co.uk/contact-us/ or join the CFO team at https://emergeone.co.uk/join-the-cfo-team/ Sign up for EmergeOne’s weekly newsletter, Off Balance at https://off-balance.beehiiv.com/subscribe

    59 min
  3. Henry Joseph-Grant: Does VC stand for Venture Colonialism? | Episode 60

    FEB 6

    Henry Joseph-Grant: Does VC stand for Venture Colonialism? | Episode 60

    In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah interviews entrepreneur and mentor Henry Joseph Grant, who shares insights from his extensive experience in scaling startups and driving innovation. The discussion delves into the transformative impact of the iPhone on business, particularly in launching Just Eat, a brand that grew from startup to a $2.44 billion IPO. Henry emphasises the importance of comfort, convenience, and choice in technology, while also highlighting the delicate balance of asking for money versus advice. The conversation explores themes of product-led growth, strategic decision-making in times of cuts, and the unique cross-pollination opportunities at the Web Summit, connecting startups with Fortune 500 companies and investors. Additionally, Henry reflects on the challenges faced by the West in venture capital and economic growth. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion filled with practical advice for entrepreneurs and innovators alike. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Henry Joseph Grant 00:00:32 - Leveraging the iPhone for Just Eat's Success 00:01:36 - The Cost of Comfort, Convenience, and Choice in Tech 00:02:01 - Host Introduction and Podcast Promotion 00:02:50 - Henry's Return to Podcasting 00:03:43 - Early Days at Just Eat 00:05:17 - Funding Just Eat Through Restaurant Fees 00:05:57 - Guerrilla Marketing at Freshers' Fairs 00:08:22 - The Importance of Doing Things That Don't Scale 00:09:57 - Educating the Market and Overcoming Challenges 00:12:07 - Internal Politics and Leadership at Just Eat 00:14:02 - Owning the Marketplace and Handling Competitors 00:16:42 - Evolution of the Food Delivery Industry 00:18:41 - The Future of Food Delivery: Dark Kitchens and Innovation 00:19:47 - Henry's Diverse Career and Industry Adaptability 00:21:21 - The Impact of Marketplaces and Adding Value 00:23:32 - Legacy and Impact Beyond Monetary Value 00:26:11 - Joining Talixo and Relocating to Berlin 00:28:57 - Overhauling Sales and Partnerships at Talixo 00:30:24 - Achieving Near Profitability and the Impact of COVID-19 00:33:11 - The Importance of Making Cuts the Right Way 00:35:05 - Different Approaches to Handling Cuts During the Pandemic 00:37:43 - Founding Sendoff After a Personal Tragedy Find Henry Joseph Grant online at: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henryjosephgrant/ Twitter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henryjosephgrant/ Company: https://www.henryjosephgrant.com/ This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B. Get in touch at https://emergeone.co.uk/contact-us/ or join the CFO team at https://emergeone.co.uk/join-the-cfo-team/ Sign up for EmergeOne’s weekly newsletter, Off Balance at https://off-balance.beehiiv.com/subscribe

    1h 19m
  4. Jefff Crusey: When Mythology Breaks Reality in Venture | Episode 59

    JAN 30

    Jefff Crusey: When Mythology Breaks Reality in Venture | Episode 59

    In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes Jeff Crusey, a partner at 7% Ventures and seasoned VC with extensive experience in deep tech and startups. The discussion explores the limits of software functionality and usability, the implications of the UK’s approach to de-risking venture investments, and whether US VCs are fostering monopolies. Jeff shares insights on the impact of SEIS and EIS on UK VC numbers and contrasts rent-seeking behaviours with genuine value production in the business landscape. They also debate the necessity of new neobanks and question the concentrated power within the US VC industry. Finally, Jeff expresses his contrarian view on space exploration, arguing against sending people to Mars. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation on the current state and future of venture capital. 00:00:00 - Introduction to Jeff Crusey Welcome to the episode featuring Jeff Crusey, partner at 7% Ventures, discussing his background and expertise in deep tech. 00:02:01 - The Evolution of Deep Tech Exploring why deep tech is gaining popularity now and comparing investment approaches in the UK and US. 00:05:36 - Mindset Differences in VC Discussing the abundance versus scarcity mindset in US and UK venture capital. 00:08:18 - Challenges for UK Founders Examining the risk aversion in the UK VC landscape and its impact on founders. 00:10:21 - The Flight of Talent Concerns about UK founders leaving for the US and the implications for the local ecosystem. 00:12:13 - First Principles Thinking in VC Jeff's frustrations with the lack of first principles thinking in the US VC ecosystem. 00:14:06 - FOMO and Market Dynamics The influence of FOMO on investment decisions and the implications for startups. 00:15:51 - Capital as a Moat in Deep Tech Discussing the importance of capital in deep tech and the challenges in the UK and Europe. 00:19:11 - The Role of Government Funding Analysing the impact of SEIS and EIS on the UK VC landscape and the need for a clearer picture. 00:20:05 - Comparing Sovereign Wealth Funds The differences between government-backed funds in the UK and Europe versus the US. 00:22:00 - Rent-Seeking vs. Value Production Differentiating between rent-seeking companies and those that produce real value. 00:24:30 - The Neobank Phenomenon Critiquing the proliferation of neobanks and their actual value proposition. 00:27:10 - US vs. UK Banking Systems Comparing the banking landscape in the US and UK, and questioning the need for more neobanks. 00:29:18 - Concerns About VC Consolidation Discussing the implications of VC consolidation and the potential for cartel-like behaviour. 00:31:12 - The Mythology of VC Exploring how the narrative around VCs can distort reality and impact investment decisions. 00:34:31 - The Role of Founders in Value Creation Highlighting the importance of founders in creating value, rather than VCs taking centre stage. 00:36:11 - Contrarian Conviction: Mars Exploration Jeff's belief that sending humans to Mars is not sensible and the case for robotic exploration instead. 00:40:07 - The Future of Automation Discussing the potential for fully automated manufacturing and the implications for human labor. 00:45:39 - Conclusion and Where to Find Jeff Wrapping up the conversation and sharing where to connect with Jeff Crusey online. Find Jeff online at: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffcrusey/ Twitter: http://www.x.com/@JeffCrusey Web: https://www.7pc.vc/ This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B. Get in touch at https://emergeone.co.uk/contact-us/ or join the CFO team at https://emergeone.co.uk/join-the-cfo-team/ Sign up for EmergeOne’s weekly newsletter, Off Balance at https://off-balance.beehiiv.com/subscribe

    46 min
  5. Kristina Barger: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Founder Mental Health | Episode 58

    12/26/2024

    Kristina Barger: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Founder Mental Health | Episode 58

    In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes cognitive and behavioural scientist Kristina Barger . With a diverse background in clinical psychology, tech innovation, and entrepreneurship, Christina shares her insights on the unique challenges faced by founders. The discussion delves into the traits of overachievers, the fine line between ambition and perfectionism, and the common misconception that confidence equates to competence. Christina emphasises the importance of maintaining a balanced life outside of business, highlighting the necessity of social connections and hobbies. Additionally, she discusses her work on ethical AI initiatives in mental health and the significance of decision-making in high-stakes environments. Tune in for valuable perspectives on navigating the entrepreneurial journey.

    1h 10m
  6. Uzma Choudry: Building a Unique European BioTech Ecosystem | Episode 57

    12/19/2024

    Uzma Choudry: Building a Unique European BioTech Ecosystem | Episode 57

    In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes Dr. Uzma Choudry, an expert in deep tech and biotech investing. Uzma shares her extensive experience in developing the European tech bio ecosystem, including her role in managing a portfolio of over one and a half billion pounds at one of Europe's largest funds. The conversation delves into the current state of the life sciences venture market, highlighting the recent debloating of the venture bubble and the withdrawal of generous capital. Uzma explains the unique challenges in biotech, where the focus is primarily on de-risking technology and science rather than immediate revenue scaling. She emphasises the necessity for deep pools of capital in biotech investments and discusses how platform companies can showcase their value through their assets. Tune in for insights on sustainable growth and commercialization in the life sciences sector.

    52 min
  7. Chris Donegan: The Investor's Dilemma: Understanding Complex Investments | Episode 56

    12/12/2024

    Chris Donegan: The Investor's Dilemma: Understanding Complex Investments | Episode 56

    In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes seasoned investor and entrepreneur Chris Donegan. With a rich background in molecular neurobiology and business strategy, Chris shares his insights on the current state of innovation and investment. The conversation explores whether the present and future are more promising than the past, and delves into the ongoing industrial revolutions—highlighting the transition into the AI age. Chris discusses the nuances of investing in advanced technologies, questioning whether a deep technical understanding, such as knowledge of qubits for quantum computing or molecular biology for biotech, is necessary for successful investment. Tune in for valuable perspectives on adapting to change and unlocking value through intellectual property in today's rapidly evolving landscape.

    58 min
  8. Hannah Meiton: Navigating The Nordics | Episode 55

    12/09/2024

    Hannah Meiton: Navigating The Nordics | Episode 55

    In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Arish Shah welcomes Hannah Meiton, founding partner at Ampli Ventures, a venture capital firm based in Stockholm that specializes in early-stage investments in Nordic B2B SaaS companies. Hannah shares her insights on the importance of founders actively promoting their businesses, emphasizing that simply building a great product is not enough. She discusses the tendency of Nordic startups to undersell themselves and the importance of visibility in the early stages of development. Additionally, Hannah reflects on her experience in scaling businesses and how that informs her investment philosophy, advocating for a hands-on approach to help companies transition from founder-led operations to sustainable, scalable enterprises. The conversation also touches on the potential shift in venture capital towards more concentrated portfolios, reducing reliance on a few key companies for fund returns. Tune in for valuable insights into the evolving landscape of venture capital and the vital role of sales in a founder's journey.

    43 min
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About

In conversation with the people who make the start-up world go round. Join Aarish Shah as he talks to founders, investors, and operators across the tech and venture ecosystem exploring some of the lesser-heard stories and challenges they've faced as they try to build the future.https://nothingventured.tech/Follow Nothing Ventured on socialTwitter https://twitter.com/NVPodFacbook https://www.facebook.com/NothingVenturedPodTikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@nothingventuredpodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/nothingventuredpod/

Information

  • Creator
    Aarish Shah - EmergeONE
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    207
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Aarish Shah - EmergeONE
  • Show Website
    Nothing Ventured

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