Consensus in Conversation Consensus Digital Media

Two founders of 1953 Tequila, Lindsey Davis Stover and Shivam Mallick Shah, join Conor for a special in-person conversation to share how their ultra-premium, additive-free tequila is prioritizing sustainability, elevating women in the spirits industry, and also offering an awesome drinking experience.
Lindsey, Shivam, and the rest of the 1953 founding team met through Congressional campaigns for Virginia’s 10th district, and the idea for a women-led, luxury tequila company followed soon after. True to their mission, the founders secured a deal to source from an agave farmer who was passing his farm on to his daughters. Named after the year women in Mexico gained the right to vote, 1953 Tequila has shaken up the male-dominated spirits industry from day one, and it was recently named the Best Additive-Free Tequila by Men’s Journal.
As you’ll hear, Shivam Mallick Shah and Lindsey Davis Stover have big dreams for tequila and beyond.
Episode Highlights:
00:00 Lindsey on pitching her crazy idea for a tequila company
00:48 Conor Gaughan introduces Lindsey, Shivam, and 1953 Tequila 
02:00 Bureaucratic backgrounds and running for Congress
13:00 The idea to launch, women in spirits, and meeting agave farmers
20:32 Branding, the origin of the name, and making it additive free
28:10 Building in a new industry, getting to market, and finding distribution
33:09 Challenges as a women-led brand in a male-dominated industry 
36:37 Social impact opportunity, sustainability, and doing good 
41:35 Building for the future, remaining optimistic, and sources of inspiration
48:28 Where to learn more… or find a bottle! 
50:00 Outro and end credits
The book Lindsey mentioned: What Do You Do With An Idea? by Kobi Yamada
Shivam meant to mention she is reading: Big Bets: How Large-Scale Change Really Happens by her husband, Rajiv Shah.
If you liked this episode, listen next to John Little of Smooth Ambler Spirits Co. on Craft Distilling, Sustainable Growth, and Disrupting the Bourbon Industry
More on 1953 Tequila, Lindsey, and Shivam:
1953tequila.com and instagram.com/1953tequila
linkedin.com/in/lindsey-davis-stover-1b65707
linkedin.com/in/shivam-mallick-shah-54a953135
Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and threads.net/@ckgone
Have questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at CiC@consensus-digital.com
As Conor mentioned in the show, we're taking a break for his birthday and we'll be back the first week of May with more great conversations!
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify – it really makes a difference! 
Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manik Suri is implementing smart technology into cooling, ushering in the era of Cold Chain 2.0. Before founding GlacierGrid in 2020, Manik finished top of his class at Harvard, went to Cambridge for a masters in international relations, returned to Harvard for a law degree, co-founded the Governance Lab, with stops at storied institutions like DE Shaw and the White House Economic Council along the way. 
Cooling technology has lagged behind other industries in the clean energy transition, but GlacierGrid’s all-in-one management platform is using smart technology to bridge that gap and build a more sustainable, advanced, and efficient cold chain.
Hear Manik share how he’s pursuing dual passions for entrepreneurship and positive impact, why cooling technology is vital for the modern world, and how smart technology can decarbonize an entire industry. 
Episode Highlights:
00:00 Manik Suri on the planet’s cooling crisis
00:57 Conor Gaughan introduces Manik and GlacierGrid
07:00 Academic upbringing, Harvard, and international internships
16:03 Law school, The White House, and path to entrepreneurship
23:25 GlacierGrid’s rebrand, the hidden economy, and the cold chain
33:34 Pitching investors, aligning profits with impact, and future scale 
40:09 Exciting innovations, long-term thinking, and staying positive
48:07 Where to learn more 
49:03 Conclusion and end credits 
If you liked this episode, listen next to Nick Whitman of Divert on Food Waste, Renewable Energy, and Impact Technology
More on GlacierGrid and Manik Suri:
glaciergrid.com 
linkedin.com/company/glaciergrid
linkedin.com/in/maniksuri
Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and threads.net/@ckgone 
Have questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at CiC@consensus-digital.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify – it really makes a difference! 
Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stanford rocket scientist and fintech entrepreneur Karthik Balakrishnan is integrating high-tech infrastructure modeling with video game interface design to create a software platform that allows businesses to virtually test their plans for maximum sustainability and bottom-line impact. 
In 2018, Karthik co-founded software startup ACTUAL based on a unique premise: what if you could plug your business idea into a science-backed simulation that operates like a computer game? The software platform allows users to choose a sustainability strategy, map out its various permutations, and compare those simulation results, enabling businesses to explore the full range of possibilities for their capital and implement the most impactful without real-world risks.
Hear ACTUAL president and co-founder Karthik Balakrishnan talk about how SimCity influenced their approach, combining user interface with data visualization, and why gamifying decision making is so important for the future. 
Episode Highlights:
00:00 Karthik Balakrishnan on making specialist knowledge more accessible
00:53 Conor Gaughan introduces Karthik and ACTUAL
05:45 Growing up on the coasts and aerospace engineering at Stanford 
10:45 Rocket science, entrepreneurial spirit, and the generalist mindset
17:43 Fintech, founding Coin, and risk-taking versus reliability 
27:24 Angel investing, the Pioneer Fund, and an impact-based framework 
32:55 The origin of ACTUAL, the elevator pitch, and de-risking innovation 
42:49 Real world variables and misconceptions about sustainable software  
49:15 Exciting innovations, defeating defeatism, and staying positive
53:40 Where to learn more and end credits
If you liked this episode, listen next to Peter Godart of Found Energy on Aluminum Fuel, NASA, and Engineering Impact at Scale
More on ACTUAL and Karthik Balakrishnan:
actualhq.com
linkedin.com/company/actualhq
linkedin.com/in/kbalakri
Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and threads.net/@ckgone 
Have questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at CiC@consensus-digital.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify – it really makes a difference! 
Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we’re proud to share a special episode of the CLIMB by VSC podcast with Jay Kapoor, featuring his interview with Sunil Nagaraj. CLIMB is a weekly podcast where Jay and VSC Ventures co-founder Vijay Chattha speak with leading investors, founders, and industry experts about lessons and perspectives on company-building in the world of climate tech and climate adaptation. 
From CLIMB by VSC:
We're honored to host Sunil Nagaraj, a visionary investor in the intersection of deep tech and climate innovation, and founding partner of Ubiquity Ventures. Nagaraj's unique perspective on "software beyond the screen" and his commitment to supporting early-stage, tech-driven startups are at the forefront of our discussion. We dive into the essence of nurturing technologies with disciplined financing and the strategic scaling of startups to mitigate climate change.
Our conversation spans a variety of topics, from the complexities of venture capital in the climate tech space to the pivotal role of startups in driving substantial change. Sunil shares insights on the importance of focusing on high-impact areas and the potential pitfalls in the startup ecosystem, particularly emphasizing the significance of avoiding the "moonshot culture" that often hinders the progress of deep tech ventures.
About VSC Ventures:
VSC Ventures is an early-stage venture capital fund led by Jay Kapoor and Vijay Chattha where we invest in early-stage startups and support our founders with hands-on PR, storytelling, and go-to-market work with help from our award-winning PR agency VSC.
Links discussed in this episode:
Moonshot Culture is Strangling Deeptech article: https://www.ubqt.vc/p/moonshot-culture-is-strangling-deeptech
Ubiquity University: https://university.ubiquity.vc/
Episode Highlights
00:00 Conor Gaughan introduces CLIMB by VSC
02:42 Trailer 
03:17 Introduction
04:01 What defines a startup as truly 'Nerdy and Early'?"
07:11 What’s the first question investors make?
11:30 How do investors navigate unfamiliar markets?
16:17 The pros and cons of a singular investment strategy
21:49 How do 'crazy' ideas become genius investments
26:45 The 'Don't Repeat Yourself' mantra in Venture Capital
29:35 The cost of keeping secrets in Venture Capital
31:57 How trust accelerates organizational velocity
39:30 Should investors be more involved in early stage startups?
42:47 How can startups become better companies
47:19 The dangers of Moonshot Culture in Deep Tech
52:39 What's the one thing your startup should focus on?
55:07 Can technology truly turn the tide against climate change?
We’ll be back next week with a brand new episode of Consensus in Conversation. In the meantime, make sure to follow the CLIMB by VSC podcast for more great perspectives on company-building. 
Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and threads.net/@ckgone
Have questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at CiC@consensus-digital.com
Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Frank Heidinger believes that lots of small improvements over time can create a huge impact, and he’s using that concept to electrify the recreational boating industry, responsible for 1% of global carbon emissions. 
Frank is the founder and CEO of HALEVAI, a cutting-edge company making high-performance, fully electric recreational boats that will reduce the industry’s environmental footprint, shorten supply chains, and bring more manufacturing jobs to the U.S. A hospitality industry veteran and lifelong ocean advocate, Frank shares how  prioritizing customer experience, committing to incremental improvement, and embracing a “We Will” vision of the future can truly make all the difference. 
Hear Frank talk about the idea that led him to launch HALEVAI, combining materials sciences, design, and engineering to build boats, and the exciting future for (water-based) electric vehicles.
Episode Highlights
00:00 Frank Heidinger on energy, hospitality, and the natural environment
00:39 Conor Gaughan introduces Frank and HALEVAI
04:10 Brooklyn beginnings, creating experiences, and sustainable hospitality in the Maldives
13:58 The idea for electric boats, initial obstacles, and developing a design
20:30 The recreational boating market and marginal improvements
29:10 Pitching to investors, the spirit of innovation, and creating impact
36:30 Sustainability in luxury, open sourcing, and prioritizing customers
41:22 Frank’s vision for a sustainable future and where to learn more
45:43 Wrap up and end credits
If you liked this episode, listen next to Ben Bressler of Natural Habitat Adventures on Nature, Travel, and Pursuing Your Passion
 
More on HALEVAI and Frank Heidinger:
halevai.cominstagram.com/halevaipower/ linkedin.com/company/halevai linkedin.com/in/frank-heidinger-halevai 
Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and threads.net/@ckgone
Have questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at CiC@consensus-digital.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify – it really makes a difference! 
Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jay Kapoor believes there is massive opportunity in climate automation and that identifying hidden economies is key to building a more sustainable future. Jay is co-founder and general partner at VSC Ventures, a storytelling-focused VC firm investing in early stage climate tech and automation startups. 
In part two of our conversation with Jay, we dive into the nitty gritty: Jay shares how hidden economies inform his investing thesis, why automation is key to our climate tech transition, how early startups are already tapping into this opportunity, and what a sustainable future could really look like. 
If you missed last week’s episode, listen first to Jay Kapoor of VSC Ventures on Finding Purpose, Startup Storytelling, and the Founder with 1000 Faces. 
Episode Highlights:
00:00 Jay Kapoor on investing in climate automation
00:58 Conor Gaughan introduces Jay Kapoor and VSC Ventures
02:57 Looking for hidden economies as an investor
10:22 Using analogies to boost storytelling 
15:03 The huge potential in climate automation
31:34 Exciting innovations in the tech industry 
37:47 VSC’s portfolio companies
46:51 Envisioning a sustainable future with nuclear energy 
50:04 Where to learn more
51:35 Conclusion and end credits 
More on VSC Ventures and Jay Kapoor:
vscventures.com/portfolio linkedin.com/company/vsc-ventures linkedin.com/in/jaykapoor/twitter.com/JayKapoorNYCJay’s podcast: CLIMB by VSC
Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and instagram.com/ckgone 
Have questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at CiC@consensus-digital.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify – it really makes a difference! 
Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.