Billion Dollar Moves™ with Sarah Chen-Spellings | Global Venture Capital

Sarah Chen-Spellings
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Billion Dollar Moves™ with Sarah Chen-Spellings | Global Venture Capital

Lead, build, and invest better. Join award-winning entrepreneur and investor Sarah Chen-Spellings as she travels across the globe in search of what she calls the 'unexpected leader'. Every week, we deconstruct the Billion Dollar Moves of unicorn founders & funders; many of them underestimated long before they became iconic. Many of them, unexpected leaders, just like you. This show is about unfiltered conversations about success, failure, fear, and courage in the pursuit of the next big thing in tech and venture. Billion Dollar Moves is proud to be part of the Hubspot Podcast Network with 10 million downloads a month as a group.

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    The 10.8X Playbook: Scaling with Speed w/ Prasad Vanga, Anthill Ventures

    India is on the move. Now the world’s fifth-largest economy, it’s on track to hit $5 trillion in GDP by 2027, fueled by over 900 million people under the age of 35.  And yet, despite delivering outsized returns and capital efficiency, women-led startups still receive less than 10% of total venture funding. That’s why Beyond The Billion launched in India last year—to catalyze capital at scale for women-founded companies and reshape the future of wealth creation. As the founder & CEO of Anthill Ventures, Prasad has built a global portfolio of 75 companies spanning India, the U.S., Europe, Israel, and Southeast Asia. With two unicorns, an IPO, and an impressive 10.8x multiple over seven years, Anthill is redefining speed scaling across media, healthtech, and urbantech. Now, as Beyond The Billion’s newest consortium member, Prasad and Anthill are doubling down on fueling the next wave of game-changing startups.  In this episode, we unpack his journey—from his unique approach in blending corporate scalability with startup agility to the success of his portfolio with over 40% being female founders/co-founders. Let’s dive in! Timestamps/Key Takeaways 0:00 - Intro 02:26 - “To scale with speed, you don’t need capital” 05:00 - Prasad’s unique lens as a founder and investor; Anthill’s framework to drive success in early stage companies 09:16 - Platform strategy: from corporate to VC 11:41 - Anthill’s portfolio with female representation at 45% 14:15 - The rise of Family offices in India 16:55 - The investment landscape in India; the powerful young generation 19:11 - Anthill’s playbook to achieve 10.8X multiples; the exit opportunities in India 22:22 - Billion Dollar Question About Prasad Prasad Vanga is the founder & CEO of Anthill Ventures, a speed scaling platform for early growth stage startups in Urban Lifestyle. Anthill has built a global portfolio of 75 companies across India, US, Europe, Israel and SE Asia. With 2 unicorns, 1 Spac and 1 IPO, Anthill is at a 11.6X multiple over 7 years. In his current role Prasad leads global strategy, fund management and venture building at Anthill Prasad has over 20 years of experience in helping senior executives from large organizations like Nike, Nestle, Novartis and Google to drive business transformations. His expertise is to help senior leaders discover the core competence of their organisations and design a change management framework that allows them to leverage their culture to drive large transformations.  FOLLOW PRASAD: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prasadvanga/ About Anthill Anthill is a Speed Scaling Ecosystem that invests in, and scales, early-stage companies in Media, Urban Tech and Health Tech. Our DNA lies in our ability to make targeted and timely interventions to scale startups and transport them to stronger growth trajectories. Driven by a strong team across USA, Singapore, and India as well as Venture Partners and Mentors across the globe, Anthill has partnered with some of the most innovative Corporations and Governments in Asia to give startups valuable connections and resources needed to achieve rapid growth. MORE INFO: https://anthillventures.com - PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.com Watch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobal Join the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmoves FOLLOW SARAH: LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobal Instagram: https://instagram.com/sarahchenglobal Twitter: https://twitter.com/sarahchenglobal

    27 min

  2. FEB 13

    La French Tech & Beyond: Shaping France’s 25K Startup Boom w/ Fleur Pellerin, Korelya Capital

    From shaping France’s digital transformation as a government minister to leading a €750 million investment fund, Fleur Pellerin is a force to be reckoned with. In this episode, recorded in the heart of Paris, we sit down with Fleur, the founder of Korelya Capital, to explore her extraordinary journey—from her early days as an adopted child from Korea to breaking barriers in politics, tech, and venture capital. Timestamps / Key Takeaways   0:00 - Intro   01:56 - Billion Dollar Questions   03:44 - From an adopted child in Korea to a former minister of France; the influence of Fleur’s mother   07:30 - The journey from business school to politics; her impact on digital, cultural, and communications policies in France   10:22 - Three key factors behind La French Tech: Station F, policy initiatives, and ecosystem building   12:23 - The state of the French startup ecosystem today; Bpifrance and the government's role in the investment industry   15:11 - Fleur’s decision to transition into investing; building Korelya Capital   17:59 - Growing global interest in Europe, particularly from Asia   19:50 - Investment strategy: from tech to consumer brands, and backing Bolt   24:24 - The challenge of limited exits in European and Asian markets   26:48 - The role of family offices in the French investment landscape   28:38 - Emerging trends, strategies, and structures shaping the industry   30:21 - Lessons learned from mistakes and partnerships   33:56 - A message for funders and capital allocators on funding women; incentives for driving positive change   36:41 - One key takeaway for funders and founders worldwide About Fleur Fleur Pellerin is a French businesswoman, former civil servant and Socialist Party politician who served as a French government minister from 2012 to 2016 CEO & Founder of Korelya Capital, European VC Fund. French Junior Minister for SMEs, Innovation and the Digital Economy FOLLOW FLEUR: https://www.instagram.com/fleurpellerin/?hl=en https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleur_Pellerin https://www.linkedin.com/in/fleurpellerin/ - PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.com Watch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobal Join the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmoves FOLLOW SARAH: LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobal Instagram: https://instagram.com/sarahchenglobal Twitter: https://twitter.com/sarahchenglobal

    40 min

  3. FEB 6

    The Billionaire Mindset: Robert Herjavec on Risk, Wealth & Scaling to $1B

    From a small Croatian village to building billion-dollar businesses, Robert Herjavec knows what it takes to turn risk into reward. In this special episode, recorded at Biban 2024 and brought to you by Monsha’at, we dive into Robert’s journey—bootstrapping his first company from his basement, making strategic exits to giants like AT&T and Nokia, and mastering the art of wealth creation. Whether you're aiming for your first million or your next billion, Robert’s insights on resilience, risk, and reinvention will leave you inspired to make your own Billion Dollar Moves. Timestamps / Key Takeaways 0:00 - Intro 01:46 - First impressions of Saudi Arabia’s entrepreneurial spirit; perspective on wealth 02:55 - Critical strategies for Saudi Arabia entrepreneurs to succeed in Western markets 04:11 - Building a $1 million versus $100 million business 05:41 - The influence of Robert’s immigrant background on his leadership 06:24 - How to choose an idea to double down on 08:07 - Unexpected lessons learned from 21 years of Shark Tank 12:32 - Investment made through Shark Tank; are those good deals? 14:02 - The opportunity for women-led innovation in Saudi Arabia About Robert Herjavec Robert Herjavec is a Croatian-Canadian businessman, investor, and television personality. Herjavec founded BRAK Systems, a Canadian integrator of Internet security software, and sold it to AT&T Canada in 2000 for $30.2 million. FOLLOW ROBERT: Instagram | LinkedIn | X/Twitter - PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.com Watch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobal Join the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmoves FOLLOW SARAH: LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobal Instagram: https://instagram.com/sarahchenglobal Twitter: https://twitter.com/sarahchenglobal

    18 min

  4. JAN 30

    Best of 2024: Masterclass in Leadership, Innovation, and Resilience

    As we step into 2025, let’s pause to reflect on the lessons that shaped us in 2024. This week on Billion Dollar Moves, we’re bringing you a curated collection of the most impactful insights from our incredible guests over the past year. From overcoming rejection and pioneering in business to purposeful investing, bold leadership, and breaking stereotypes, this episode is packed with strategies and stories that defined a year of transformation. Get ready to relive these moments and glean inspiration to make your own #BillionDollarMoves in 2025! Timestamps/Key Takeaways 0:00 - Intro 0:40 - Key Takeaway 1: Resilience Through Rejection and Growth – Failure is but part of the process 01:11 - Melanie Perkins: From over 100 VC rejections to building Canva into a $26B startup 02:07 - Iman Abuzeid: Rejection is the norm; tips for selective fundraising 04:09 - Key Takeaway 2: Pioneering in Business 04:43 - Julie Wainwright: Just because something hasn’t been done doesn’t mean it can’t 06:24 - Anjali Sud: Pivoting Vimeo into a SaaS platform and navigating public listing 09:15 - Steve Chen: The ‘One-Way Ticket’: “If I have an idea, I'm just going to regret it if I don't take this opportunity now to actually try it out.” 11:01 - Key Takeaway 3: Purposeful Investing 11:40 - Jack Selby: Impact of capital and investing in art, film, and women in tech 13:27 - Beyond ChatGPT: Balancing advancement with ethics in AI investments. 17:10 - Key Takeaway 4: Leadership and Strategic Vision 17:33 - Glenda McNeal: Building partnerships and consumer focus as a growth leader 19:20 - Key Takeaway 5: Breaking Stereotypes 19:40 - Shama Amalean Skinner: Redefining women’s health and addressing stigma through advocacy 22:06 - Closing Remarks Best of 2024 Full Episodes: CEO Series: Melanie Perkins https://www.billiondollarmoves.com/ceo-series-melanie-perkins-canva/ [BITE] Iman Abuzeid: Rise of A Rare Unicorn https://www.billiondollarmoves.com/resilience-black-female-unicorn-iman-abuzeid-incredible-health/ Anjali Sud: From Vimeo to Tubi https://www.billiondollarmoves.com/vimeo-tubi-anjali-sud-leveraging-disruption/ CEO Series: Julie Wainwright https://www.billiondollarmoves.com/ceo-series-julie-wainwright-the-realreal/ Steve Chen: Journey After YouTube https://www.billiondollarmoves.com/journey-after-youtube-steve-chen-draco/ Jack Selby: Purposeful Investing in AI https://www.billiondollarmoves.com/purposeful-investing-in-ai-jack-selby-thiel-capital/ Beyond ChatGPT: AI Insights and Impact w/ OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Trill Impact https://www.billiondollarmoves.com/beyond-chatgpt-openai-google-deepmind-trill-impact/ Glenda McNeal: The Power of Influence and The Art of Partnerships https://www.billiondollarmoves.com/power-of-influence-art-of-partnerships-glenda-mcneal-american-express/ Shama Amalean Skinner: Why ‘Taboo’ Brands Win https://www.billiondollarmoves.com/breaking-barriers-taboo-brands-shama-amalean-skinner-former-coo-thinx/ - PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.com Watch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobal Join the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmoves   FOLLOW SARAH: LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobal Instagram: https://instagram.com/sarahchenglobal Twitter: https://twitter.com/sarahchenglobal

    23 min

  5. JAN 23

    CEO Series: Lisa Su, AMD

    Happy 2025, movers and shakers! We're back for the 2025 season, and let me tell you—this is not just another episode.  We’re kicking off the new year and the highly anticipated return of the Billion Dollar CEO Series! You asked for it, and we’re delivering—bigger and better than ever. To launch the series, we’re deconstructing #billiondollarmoves of none other than the unstoppable Lisa Su, Chair and CEO of AMD. From spearheading game-changing innovations to orchestrating one of the greatest corporate turnarounds in tech history, Lisa’s story is one of resilience, vision, and leadership at its finest. So grab your coffee (or your GPU-powered supercomputer) and tune in, because this is an episode you do not want to miss. Let’s dive in! Timestamps / Key Takeaways 0:00 - Intro 01:24 - The Engine Behind Today’s Digital World 04:52 - Lisa Su’s MIT and the Early Career Years 07:16 - The AMD Turnaround 10:56 - Pioneering Supercomputing with El Capitan 13:24 - The Challenges Ahead: Chip Industry and AMD 16:26 - Lisa Su’s Leadership Philosophy and Style 18:29 - 5 Questions for Leaders Inspired by Lisa Su’s Journey About Lisa Dr. Lisa Su, Chair and CEO of AMD, has spearheaded the company’s transformation into a global leader in high-performance and adaptive computing, driving advancements in computing and AI to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges. Since joining AMD in 2012, she has held pivotal roles, including Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and later CEO, where she unified AMD’s operations, product strategy, and market execution into a cohesive, industry-leading organization. Lisa is TIME's CEO of the Year, one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in AI, received the 2024 Bower Award for Business Leadership, has been honored in multiple "most powerful women" lists for several years, and received the Distinguished Leadership Award from the Committee for Economic Development (CED).  Learn more about Lisa: Wikipedia FOLLOW LISA ON X | FOLLOW LISA ON LINKEDIN Resources: Lisa Su, Chair and CEO, AMD | Behind the Tech with Microsoft's CTO Kevin Scott https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd65Ok379ZI AMD's CEO Wants to Chip Away at Nvidia's Lead | The Circuit with Emily Chang https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ve5SAFPYZ8 CEO of the Year Lisa Su Talks Competition and Collaboration in the Semiconductor Industry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIokM_4i1i0  How to Build a Thriving AI Ecosystem with Lisa Su, CEO of AMD https://a16z.com/how-to-build-ai-ecosystem-lisa-su-ceo-of-amd/ AMD CEO Lisa Su on the AI revolution | Decoder with Nilay Patel https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/amd-ceo-lisa-su-on-the-ai-revolution/id1011668648?i=1000629660416  Lisa Su CEO of AMD | In Good Company with Nicolai Tangen https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-good-company-with-nicolai-tangen/id1614211565?i=1000581623355  How Chip Giant AMD Finally Caught Intel | CNBC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gLm0Jo0cnk - PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.com Watch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobal Join the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmoves FOLLOW SARAH: LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobal Instagram: https://instagram.com/sarahchenglobal Twitter: https://twitter.com/sarahchenglobal

    22 min

  6. 12/26/2024

    [BITE] Redefining CVC with Intel Capital's $20B Portfolio w/ Nick Washburn, Intel Capital

    This week, we're taking you back into the dynamic world of corporate venture capital with a must-listen conversation featuring Nick Washburn, Senior Managing Director at Intel Capital — one of the most prolific and impactful CVCs, with over $20 billion invested across the tech ecosystem. Why now? Gearing up for 2025 — after the rollercoaster of recent years, investor sentiment is shifting dramatically. Institutional giants like pension funds and family offices are reportedly increasing their VC allocations by as much as 33% in the next 12 months! If you missed out the original episode, or would like to revisit these key takeaways — this episode is for you. Whether you're a founder, an innovator, or a capital allocator, Nick's wisdom is packed with actionable takeaways, and life lessons really, that will leave you energized and ready to seize the opportunities 2025 has to offer. Timestamps / Key Takeaways 0:00 - Intro 01:15 - Key takeaway #1: "Chasing the Puck" 02:55 - Key Takeaway #2: "The Anti-Pattern Matcher" 05:11 - Key Takeaway #3: "Building Legendary Companies" 08:51 - Key Takeaway #4: "Patience and Discipline in Venture" 12:06 - Key Takeaway #5: "Focus on What You Can Control" 13:55 - Closing Remarks Full Episode: Inside Intel Capital: How a Multi-Billion Dollar Portfolio Sets the Standard for CVCs w/ Nick Washburn, Intel Capital About Nick Washburn Nick Washburn is a Senior Managing Director of Intel Capital located in Denver, CO. He joined Intel Capital in 2014. Nick is a voting member of Intel Capital’s investment committee and co-manages Intel Capital’s cloud investment domain. He focuses on early-stage investments in cloud-native infrastructure, developer tools, artificial intelligence/machine learning, and data platforms. Nick currently serves as a director or observer on the boards of Augtera Networks, Fly.io, Freshpaint, Moderne, OtterTune, and Tetrate. He also works closely on Intel Capital’s investments in Anyscale and Upbound. In addition, Nick currently serves as a director on the board of the National Venture Capital Association, and he is a member of the Kauffman Fellows, Class 25. He is a proud father to amazing twin boys, he loves playing ice hockey, and he is an avid lover of all things outdoors, including skiing, mountain biking and rock climbing. FOLLOW NICK: LinkedIn PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.com Watch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobal Join the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmoves   FOLLOW SARAH: LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobal Instagram: https://instagram.com/sarahchenglobal Twitter: https://twitter.com/sarahchenglobal

    16 min

  7. 12/19/2024

    $150M Revenue & $500M Capital: Transforming Mobility Markets with Financial Inclusion w/ Tingting Peng, Moove

    This week, we sit down with Tingting Peng, the Chief Transformation Officer of Moove, the African-born fintech tackling financial inclusion through innovative mobility solutions. With over $500 million raised in equity and debt financing, and a customer base of 30,000 drivers across global markets, Moove is redefining vehicle ownership and creating pathways to economic empowerment. Tingting shares her incredible journey — from navigating the high-stakes world of hedge funds to embracing purpose-driven leadership at Moove. She opens up about the pivotal moments that shaped her career, including the global financial crisis and her mid-career pivot into social enterprise. We also dive into her role in scaling Moove’s operations to $150 million in annual recurring revenue, building strategic partnerships with giants like Uber, and driving innovation in emerging markets. Get ready for a masterclass on resilience, leadership, and the power of purpose in building a successful business! Timestamps / Key Takeaways 0:00 - Intro 02:36 - Billion Dollar Questions 04:52 - The pivots in Tingting’s career - from hedge fund manager to yoga teacher to today’s Moove 08:46 - The journey of becoming the first executive hired of a Nigerian-founded startup 11:10 - Leadership qualities to seek in founders; the co-founder dynamics 15:56 - Driving financial inclusion in mobility industry; obstacles faced and solutions provided in Nigeria 22:03 - Surprising learnings from gender analysis; managing volatility in different markets 27:03 - Pulling out from Egypt and Kenya: key learnings 31:40 - Strategic partnership with Uber and beyond 34:38 - Building a global business from early - partnership with OEM and making impact 40:23 - Hardest lessons learned; “always in fundraising mode” About Tingting Tingting is Chief Capital, Strategy, and Impact Officer at Moove, a mobility fintech focused on revenue-based financing for gig workers globally. She is also an angel investor and advisor to startups across healthtech, climate tech, HR tech and fintech. As a former investment banker, hedge fund analyst and private equity investor, Tingting has extensive experience across private markets asset classes and a passion for building and scaling impactful businesses at the intersection of tech, finance, and wellbeing. She is a graduate of MIT with an MBA from London Business School. Tingting is a member of the Milken Institute’s Young Leaders Circle and has been recognised by Fintech Magazine as a Top 100 Women in Fintech 2023 and by the Financial Technology Report as a Top 25 Women Leader in Financial Technology of 2022. - PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.com Watch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobal Join the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmoves   FOLLOW SARAH: LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobal Instagram: https://instagram.com/sarahchenglobal Twitter: https://twitter.com/sarahchenglobal

    48 min

  8. 12/12/2024

    [REPLAY] Rise from Failure: Living Your Purpose w/ Suneel Gupta, Best-Selling Author, Everyday Dharma

    As the year comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the lessons learned, the challenges faced, and the habits that have shaped our journey. This week, we are revisiting an episode that dives deep into these themes with Suneel Gupta. Once labeled the "face of failure" in *The New York Times,* Suneel turned his setbacks into powerful lessons, going on to become the founding CEO of RISE, a wellness company named App of the Year by Apple. Now a bestselling author, renowned speaker, and Harvard Medical School visiting scholar, Suneel studies the habits of extraordinary individuals to help us all lift our performance and deepen our sense of purpose. In this replay, Suneel shares actionable insights on building resilience, finding purpose, and creating habits that sustain us—perfect reflections to carry into the new year. Tune in for an inspiring conversation to help you close out this year strong and step into the next with clarity and intention. TIMESTAMP 0:00 Intro 04:00 The face of failure on The New York Times 06:46 The alignment and arrival fallacy 08:15 Behind the success with Rise app 11:24 Deeper questions from the next generation: meaning or money? 15:30 Burnout among successful people 17:13 The role of resting and paradox of productivity 19:55 The need to perform and living up to expectations 21:43 Chisel back to dharma through questions 26:07 The struggle to monetise while living up to purpose 29:32 Expressions of dharma 34:18 Work and play as adults 37:29 Jealousy as an indicator of your dharma 40:28 Takes on racial hate and identity in US 43:01 Billion Dollar Questions About Suneel Gupta “Today I write, speak and teach about the changing world of work and what we do internally in order to succeed externally.” Once seen as the “face of failure” in the New York Times, Suneel Gupta understands that the road to success is not always smooth. Suneel learned from his mistakes and went on to become a founding CEO of RISE, a breakthrough wellness company named App of the Year by Apple. As an author and visiting scholar at Harvard Medical School, Suneel studies the most extraordinary people on the planet to discover and share simple, actionable habits to lift our performance and deepen our daily sense of purpose. His work has been featured by major outlets including CNBC, TED, and the New York Times.  Now a bestselling author, renowned speaker, Harvard Medical School visiting scholar, and host of a global Documentary Series, Suneel studies, discovers and shares simple, actionable habits that lift our performance and deepen our state of well-being. FOLLOW SUNEEL: Website | https://www.suneelgupta.com/ LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/suneelkgupta/ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/suneelgupta/ - PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://billiondollarmoves.com Watch on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/sarahchenglobal Join the community: https://sarah-chen.ck.page/billiondollarmoves FOLLOW SARAH: LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sarahchenglobal Instagram: https://instagram.com/sarahchenglobal Twitter: https://twitter.com/sarahchenglobal

    49 min
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About

Lead, build, and invest better. Join award-winning entrepreneur and investor Sarah Chen-Spellings as she travels across the globe in search of what she calls the 'unexpected leader'. Every week, we deconstruct the Billion Dollar Moves of unicorn founders & funders; many of them underestimated long before they became iconic. Many of them, unexpected leaders, just like you. This show is about unfiltered conversations about success, failure, fear, and courage in the pursuit of the next big thing in tech and venture. Billion Dollar Moves is proud to be part of the Hubspot Podcast Network with 10 million downloads a month as a group.

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