ICONS Podcast

Icons Podcast
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Biweekly

Rare, unfiltered conversation you won’t find anywhere else. The ICONS Podcast is where the next generation of visionaries gets mentored by icons — from Emmett Shear (OpenAI, Twitch) to Connie Chan (a16z), Jeremy Liew (Lightspeed), and Bing Chen (Gold House). Season 1 launches now!

Episodes

  1. 21h ago

    Kevin Jiang: From Founding SoftBank’s $100B Vision Fund to Launching Mangusta Capital at 32

    What makes someone walk away from one of the biggest venture funds in the world to start from scratch?In this ICONS episode, I sit down with Kevin Jiang, a founding team member of SoftBank’s $100B Vision Fund and now founding partner of Mangusta Capital — a next-gen AI-native venture fund backed by the Luxottica family (Ray-Ban, Oakley) and designed to back mission-driven, high-conviction founders.

  2. 1d ago

    Fiona Ma California State Treasurer: Manages $3 Trillion for the World's 4th Largest Economy

    Join us for an inspiring conversation with Fiona Ma, California State Treasurer and a powerhouse in public service. In this episode, Fiona shares her journey from immigrant roots to managing the financial operations of the world’s 4th largest economy (3:00 - 5:55). Key highlights from this discussion include: Shaping California's Economy: Discover how Fiona leverages her office to fund critical infrastructure, including affordable housing, education, and small businesses (5:55 - 11:11).Political Resilience: Fiona opens up about her unconventional path to politics, her secrets to never losing an election, and why she is a vocal advocate for the voiceless (14:48 - 20:39).Fundraising & Branding: Learn her unique approach to fundraising, the importance of personal connection, and how she protects her reputation in the public eye (28:01 - 38:08).Tech and AI Innovation: Gain insights into how Fiona is embracing AI in government and why she is a champion for keeping tech innovation thriving in San Francisco (45:48 - 57:35).Overcoming Adversity: Hear about the hardest days in her career, including navigating a challenging, frivolous lawsuit, and what keeps her motivated to serve (1:00:15 - 1:16:17).Whether you are an aspiring leader, an entrepreneur, or simply interested in how California functions, this episode is packed with wisdom on tenacity, sacrifice, and the power of breaking glass ceilings.

  3. 2d ago

    The 4 Hidden Signs A Brand Will Be Worth Billions - Nicole Quinn

    Nicole Quinn is one of the most iconic consumer investors of her generation: the VC behind Lady Gaga's Haus Labs, Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop, Calm, Cameo, Rothy's, Zola, Beehiiv and more. In this episode of the Icons podcast, she sits down with us to break down how she built a career at the intersection of finance, brand and creativity: from a decade at Morgan Stanley (working on the Facebook, Groupon and Pandora IPOs) to nearly ten years at Lightspeed Venture Partners, where she's now a Venture Partner, and co-founding Connect Ventures, where she serves as Managing Partner.We go deep on how she spots the next big consumer brand before it's mainstream, what actually makes a founder succeed, how she partners with A-list celebrity founders, why AI is about to reshape consumer products, and how motherhood reframed her entire approach to work. If you're a founder, an aspiring investor, or anyone trying to build a personal brand and back yourself, this one's for you.

  4. 3d ago

    How I Built a $10 Billion TV Network From Nothing - Larry Namer

    Join media mogul Larry Namer, the visionary founder of E! Entertainment, as he recounts his extraordinary journey from building a network with limited funds and countless rejections to creating a global entertainment empire. In this insightful conversation, Larry shares his masterclass on entrepreneurship, the power of scrappy innovation, and his expert perspective on spotting cultural trends long before they go mainstream.From jumping fences at the Oscars to launching iconic programs like Talk Soup and catapulting stars like the Kardashians and Howard Stern into fame, Larry discusses why traditional rules no longer apply in the modern creator economy. He also dives deep into his forward-thinking views on the future of AI in media, the rise of vertical dramas, and the importance of humanizing technology to tell better stories.

  5. 06/28/2025

    Erin Harkless Moore:Managing Director, Investments@Pivotal Ventures (Melinda French Gates Company)

    Erin Harkless Moore | Pivotal Ventures | Women in VC | Melinda French GatesHow did Erin go from Goldman Sachs and Harvard to becoming one of Melinda French Gates’ most trusted advisors?This conversation covers:• How Pivotal Ventures is shifting power in venture capital• What most VCs get wrong about impact investing• How to lead with clarity, conviction, and consistency• Real advice for underrepresented founders and investorsSubscribe for more ICONS episodes featuring the most impactful leaders in venture, tech, and social change. Iconscommunities.com

    Erin Harkless Moore:Managing Director, Investments@Pivotal Ventures (Melinda French Gates Company)

  6. 06/06/2025

    Carter Reum: Investor in 14 Unicorns. Founder of M13. Power Couple with Paris Hilton.

    Carter backed 14 unicorns, founded M13, and married another ICON- Paris Hilton. In this episode, we sit down with Carter Reum - co-founder of M13, early investor in companies like Ring, Lyft, and ClassPass. Carter opens up about the mindset required to build great companies, why storytelling is a founder’s secret weapon, and how pattern recognition powers his deal flow. Whether you’re navigating startup chaos or making long bets on AI, this conversation is a masterclass in resilience, vision, and the art of backing greatness before the world sees it. Learn more about the Icons podcast at: iconscommunities.com

    Carter Reum: Investor in 14 Unicorns. Founder of M13. Power Couple with Paris Hilton.

  7. 05/30/2025

    Jeremy Liew: 9x Forbes Midas List, First Consumer Internet Investor, General Partner Lightspeed

    Multiple Decacorns, the first consumer investor ever, the genius that backed Snapchat, Affirm, and Honest Company. My personal icon and legend Jeremy Liew, General Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners unpacks the strategies to become a top investor and founder. He shares the playbook on how to pitch to top investors and how to develop your home ground advantage.Learn more about the Icons podcast at: iconscommunities.com

    Jeremy Liew: 9x Forbes Midas List, First Consumer Internet Investor, General Partner Lightspeed

  8. 05/30/2025

    Jeff Evans x Chainsmokers: The $100M Rise of Mantis VC, What Makes a Founder Truly Backable

    In this episode of ICONS, Jeff Evans—co-founder of Mantis VC—reveals how he teamed up with The Chainsmokers to build one of the most founder-loved funds in tech.🎙 From backing Underdog Fantasy pre-product to the 4 traits Jeff looks for in every great founder, this conversation is a masterclass for:First-time VCsFounders raising capitalBuilders looking for an edge🔥 What we cover:– How Mantis raised $100M during COVID lockdowns, including from Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon– Why “the founder, the founder, the founder” is Jeff’s golden rule– The real reason top founders let Mantis on their cap table– What it takes to lead, inspire, and actually execute– Lessons from hiring, failing, and sprinting before your feet hit the ground📌 If you're building a startup or fund, this is required listening.Subscribe for more unfiltered insights from icons in tech, investing, and culture.Visit us at iconscommunities.com

    Jeff Evans x Chainsmokers: The $100M Rise of Mantis VC, What Makes a Founder Truly Backable

  9. 05/01/2025

    Emmett Shear Masterclass: Founder of Twitch, CEO of OpenAI, Tech Entrepreneurship Advice

    🔥 PREMIERE EPISODE: Emmett Shear Breaks His SilenceThe ICONS Podcast launches with an unprecedented conversation: Emmett Shear — Interim OpenAI CEO, Twitch founder, and YC visionary — speaks publicly for the first time about what really happened during his time at OpenAI. Don’t miss this rare, unfiltered interview with one of tech’s most elusive leaders.About ICONS: Iconscommunities.comRare, unfiltered conversation you won’t find anywhere else. The ICONS Podcast is where the next generation of visionaries gets mentored by icons — from Emmett Shear (OpenAI, Twitch) to Connie Chan (a16z), Jeremy Liew (Lightspeed), and Bing Chen (Gold House). Season 1 launches now!Please subscribe! https://becreatives.co/ (CODE Icons for $150 off) https://aiify.io/ (CODE Icons for up to 50% off event tickets)https://www.foundersbay.com/

    Emmett Shear Masterclass: Founder of Twitch, CEO of OpenAI, Tech Entrepreneurship Advice
  • 9 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Rare, unfiltered conversation you won’t find anywhere else. The ICONS Podcast is where the next generation of visionaries gets mentored by icons — from Emmett Shear (OpenAI, Twitch) to Connie Chan (a16z), Jeremy Liew (Lightspeed), and Bing Chen (Gold House). Season 1 launches now!

Information

  • Creator
    Icons Podcast
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Icons Podcast
  • Show Website
    ICONS Podcast