Liftoff with Keith Newman: For Founders looking for a new growth playbook and further inspiration.

Former Journalist, Startup + GTM exec Keith Newman
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Former journalist turned Silicon Valley dealmaker and entrepreneur Keith Newman talks with Founders, Innovators and Influencers who share their stories of success, pain and impact with a bit of humor and nostalgia mixed in. Hear from Maverick Mark Cuban, SuperAngel Ron Conway, Ann Winblad, Mitch Kapor, Steve Blank and Founders of GameStop, Ancestry, JotForm, Fry's, Intuit, and many more. Find 80+ Episodes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-look-back-a-free-flowing-interview/id1560219589

  1. 3D AGO

    From Startup to IPO: Henry Schuck on Building ZoomInfo and Surfing the AI Wave

    In this special Liftoff Unicorn Conversation, Keith sits down with Henry Schuck, Founder & CEO of ZoomInfo, to explore the journey of building one of the most influential B2B data platforms in the world. Henry shares the story behind founding ZoomInfo in 2007, scaling through multiple growth stages, navigating the company’s IPO during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how ZoomInfo is now adapting to the AI era. This conversation dives into lessons for founders, entrepreneurs, and startup leaders on scaling a company, building a category-defining product, and staying ahead as technology continues to evolve. If you want insight into how a company grows from startup to public SaaS leader, this episode delivers the playbook. Connect with Henry Schuck: Website: https://www.zoominfo.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hschuck Sponsor Info: We are strategic business advisors with decades of leadership experience and a proven track record of driving businesses’ growth. We specialize in creating custom-tailored strategies to introduce your company, drive growth, build leadership teams, and ensure companies implement appropriate compensation programs. Our mission is to utilize our expansive network to benefit your company https://www.compass-strategic-advisors.com/ Subscribe for more founder insights and hit the bell for notifications! Follow us on our channels for exclusive startup content and behind-the-scenes insights from interviews like this one. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3cFpLXfYvcUsxvsT9MwyAD?si=f5a14e779777487d Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/liftoff-with-keith-newman/id1560219589 Substack: https://keithnewman.substack.com/ Newman Media Studios: https://newmanmediastudios.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/liftoffwithkeithTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@keithnewman74 For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: sponsorships@wherewithstudio.com #HenrySchuck #ZoomInfo #StartupJourney #SaaSLeadership #Entrepreneurship #FounderStories #AIinBusiness #StartupGrowth #TechLeadership #BusinessStrategy

    31 min

  2. MAR 24

    Context Over Content: How Sreedhar Is Redefining Revenue Activation in the AI Era

    AI is rewriting the rules of SaaS — but not everyone is building it the right way. In this episode of Liftoff, Sreedhar Peddineni, CEO & Co-Founder of GTM Buddy, shares lessons from: Scaling through the dot-com crashCo-founding Gainsight and pioneering customer success- Now building an AI-native revenue activation platformWe explore: Why sales teams don’t have a content problem — they have a context problemHow AI is collapsing product development costs toward zero- The rise (and risk) of AI wrapper productsWhy adoption is still the ultimate truth metricHow to avoid getting distracted by big enterprise “carrot” dealsWhy founders must build with AI — not just read about it- What real “agentic AI” might actually look like by 2026Sreedhar breaks down what practical AI really means :Not chatbots. Not hype. But delivering the right insight — inside the workflow — at the moment of need. A masterclass in disciplined product thinking in the middle of the AI noise cycle. Connect with Sreedhar Peddineni: Website: https://gtmbuddy.ai/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sreedharpeddineni Sponsor Info: We are strategic business advisors with decades of leadership experience and a proven track record of driving businesses’ growth. We specialize in creating custom-tailored strategies to introduce your company, drive growth, build leadership teams, and ensure companies implement appropriate compensation programs. Our mission is to utilize our expansive network to benefit your company https://www.compass-strategic-advisors.com/ Subscribe for more founder insights and hit the bell for notifications! Follow us on our channels for exclusive startup content and behind-the-scenes insights from interviews like this one. - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3cFpLXfYvcUsxvsT9MwyAD?si=f5a14e779777487dApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/liftoff-with-keith-newman/id1560219589Substack: https://keithnewman.substack.com/Newman Media Studios: https://newmanmediastudios.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/liftoffwithkeith - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@keithnewman74 For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: sponsorships@wherewithstudio.com #GTM #RevenueActivation #AIApplications #SalesTech #SaaSFounders #ProductLeadership #AgenticAI #StartupLessons #EnterpriseAI #FounderJourney

    34 min

  3. MAR 17

    Raising Future-Ready Kids: Why Personalized Education Is the Ultimate Startup

    What if the biggest innovation opportunity today isn’t in tech — but in education? In this episode of Liftoff with Keith, Keith sat down with Houlie Duque, Founder & CEO of HomeschoolToGo, to explore how personalized, project-based learning is reshaping the future of education.With over a decade of experience in Montessori and Cambridge systems, Houlie shares why traditional schooling — designed during the industrial revolution — may no longer prepare children for an AI-driven world. We dive into: Why curiosity, creativity, and adaptability matter more than gradesThe myth of “socialization” in traditional schoolsHow homeschooling can require less time — but deliver better outcomesWhy project-based learning builds real-world problem solversHow AI will eliminate repeatable jobs — and what skills children truly needHow families can homeschool without sacrificing career or incomeIf you're a founder, entrepreneur, or parent wondering how to prepare the next generation for a rapidly changing world — this episode will challenge your assumptions. FREE Masterclass: How to Offer High Quality Education in Under 10 Hours per Weekhttps://courses.homeschooltogo.org/freemasterclass-registrationConnect with Houlie Duque: Website: https://www.homeschooltogo.org/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/houlie-duque-3a4bb1169/ Sponsor Info: We are strategic business advisors with decades of leadership experience and a proven track record of driving businesses’ growth. We specialize in creating custom-tailored strategies to introduce your company, drive growth, build leadership teams, and ensure companies implement appropriate compensation programs. Our mission is to utilize our expansive network to benefit your company https://www.compass-strategic-advisors.com/ Subscribe for more founder insights and hit the bell for notifications! Follow us on our channels for exclusive startup content and behind-the-scenes insights from interviews like this one. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3cFpLXfYvcUsxvsT9MwyAD?si=f5a14e779777487d Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/liftoff-with-keith-newman/id1560219589 Substack: https://keithnewman.substack.com/ Newman Media Studios: https://newmanmediastudios.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/liftoffwithkeithTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@keithnewman74 For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: sponsorships@wherewithstudio.com #Homeschooling #FutureOfEducation #PersonalizedLearning #ProjectBasedLearning #Parenting #EntrepreneurParents #AIandEducation #CriticalThinking #NextGeneration #EducationReform

    28 min

  4. MAR 10

    How CruTrade Is Fixing the Broken Fine Wine Market with Blockchain & Provenance

    In this episode of Liftoff with Keith, Keith sat down with Devon Ferreira, CEO of CruTrade, to explore how technology is transforming the fine wine industry. Devon explains why the secondary wine market is broken—plagued by access issues, counterfeit risks, and bottle spoilage—and how CruTrade solves this through blockchain-verified provenance, RFID tracking, and tokenized wine trading that allows bottles to change hands without ever leaving storage. They dive into: Why 1 in 3 collector bottles risk damageHow compounding spoilage destroys valueWhat “tokenized wine” really meansWhy producers and collectors both lose in today’s system How storytelling—not just technology—builds great companies This is a masterclass in marketplace innovation, transparency, and storytelling—whether you’re a founder, investor, wine lover, or Web3 enthusiast. Connect with Devon Ferreira: Website: https://www.crutrade.io/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devonferreira/ Sponsor Info: We are strategic business advisors with decades of leadership experience and a proven track record of driving businesses’ growth. We specialize in creating custom-tailored strategies to introduce your company, drive growth, build leadership teams, and ensure companies implement appropriate compensation programs. Our mission is to utilize our expansive network to benefit your company https://www.compass-strategic-advisors.com/ Subscribe for more founder insights and hit the bell for notifications! Follow us on our channels for exclusive startup content and behind-the-scenes insights from interviews like this one. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3cFpLXfYvcUsxvsT9MwyAD?si=f5a14e779777487d Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/liftoff-with-keith-newman/id1560219589 Substack: https://keithnewman.substack.com/ Newman Media Studios: https://newmanmediastudios.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/liftoffwithkeith TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@keithnewman74 For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: sponsorships@wherewithstudio.com#CruTrade #FineWine #WineCollectors #Blockchain #Web3 #Tokenization #LuxuryMarkets #Marketplace #StartupPodcast #Founders #Entrepreneurship #DigitalTransformation #Provenance #WineIndustry

    29 min

  5. MAR 3

    Trustworthy AI: Why Explainability Will Define the Next Decade of Enterprise Technology

    Most AI companies are racing to build bigger models. Pat Condo is building something different: AI you can actually trust. In this episode of Liftoff, Keith sat down with Pat Condo, Founder & CEO of Seekr Technologies — a seven-time founder with three decades at the intersection of search, defence, enterprise software, and national security. Pat shares why most enterprise AI projects fail — and why it’s rarely the model’s fault. They explore: → Why explainability isn’t optional in mission-critical AI → The hallucination problem and why enterprises can’t tolerate it → How inference costs are quietly destroying AI ROI→ Why specialization beats hyperscaler ambition → What defence tech is teaching commercial AI buyers → Why policymakers shouldn’t only take advice from AI monopolies → The most underinvested AI opportunity today: manufacturing Seekr is betting that trust, transparency, and domain-specific expertise will outlast hype cycles and model-size wars. If you’re building, buying, or investing in AI — this conversation cuts through the noise. Connect with Pat Condo: Website: https://www.seekr.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-condo-96a905234/ Sponsor Info: We are strategic business advisors with decades of leadership experience and a proven track record of driving businesses’ growth. We specialize in creating custom-tailored strategies to introduce your company, drive growth, build leadership teams, and ensure companies implement appropriate compensation programs. Our mission is to utilize our expansive network to benefit your company https://www.compass-strategic-advisors.com/ Subscribe for more founder insights and hit the bell for notifications! Follow us on our channels for exclusive startup content and behind-the-scenes insights from interviews like this one. - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3cFpLXfYvcUsxvsT9MwyAD?si=f5a14e779777487dApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/liftoff-with-keith-newman/id1560219589 Substack: https://keithnewman.substack.com/ - Newman Media Studios: https://newmanmediastudios.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/liftoffwithkeith - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@keithnewman74 For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: sponsorships@wherewithstudio.com #ArtificialIntelligence #EnterpriseAI #TrustworthyAI #ExplainableAI #DefenseTech #AILeadership #StartupFounders #TechInnovation #AIInfrastructure #FutureOfAI

    37 min

  6. FEB 17

    The Scaler Mindset: How Elite Operators Build Hypergrowth Companies with Casey Woo

    Scaling is not about working harder — it’s about thinking differently. In this episode, Keith sat down with Casey Woo, former operator at WeWork, OpenAI, Flexport, and Zappos, founder of Operators Guild, and Managing Partner at FOG Ventures, to break down what it really takes to scale a company. Casey introduces the concept of the “Scaler” — the operator who thrives in complexity, builds systems that evolve, and helps companies move from chaos to clarity. He shares how the world’s fastest-growing startups fail not because of bad ideas, but because they lack the operating structure needed for sustainable growth. They dive into: Why scaling is a discipline, not a phase How great operators think across product, people, and processWhat founders misunderstand about growth- Why systems—not heroics—create durable companiesHow AI is changing the way companies scaleWhether you’re a founder, operator, or investor, this episode is a masterclass in building companies that don’t just grow — they scale. Connect with Casey Woo: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseywoo/ Sponsor Info: We are strategic business advisors with decades of leadership experience and a proven track record of driving businesses’ growth. We specialize in creating custom-tailored strategies to introduce your company, drive growth, build leadership teams, and ensure companies implement appropriate compensation programs. Our mission is to utilize our expansive network to benefit your company https://www.compass-strategic-advisors.com/ Subscribe for more founder insights and hit the bell for notifications! Follow us on our channels for exclusive startup content and behind-the-scenes insights from interviews like this one. - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3cFpLXfYvcUsxvsT9MwyAD?si=f5a14e779777487dApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/liftoff-with-keith-newman/id1560219589Substack: https://keithnewman.substack.com/Newman Media Studios: https://newmanmediastudios.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/liftoffwithkeith TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@keithnewman74 For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: sponsorships@wherewithstudio.com #TheScaler #StartupScaling #Hypergrowth #Operators #StartupOperators #Founders #VentureCapital #FOGVentures #OperatorsGuild #BusinessGrowth #ScalingStartups #Leadership #SaaS #TechStartups #FutureOfWork

    27 min

  7. FEB 10

    Scaling With Intelligence, Not Headcount: The Autonomous Business Era with Amos Bar-Joseph

    In this episode of Liftoff, Keith sits down with Amos Bar-Joseph, Co-Founder and CEO of Swan AI, to explore a radical shift in how modern companies scale. Amos shares why the traditional belief that growth equals headcount is breaking down—and how AI is enabling a new model: the autonomous business. At Swan, scale is no longer about adding people—it’s about increasing ARR per employee by embedding intelligence directly into workflows. They unpack: Why the old “cog culture” model is collapsing What collaborative autonomy really meansHow Swan’s AI GTM Engineer turns ideas into live go-to-market workflowsWhy execution—not creativity—is what AI should automateAnd why go-to-market innovation is now more important than product innovationThis is a must-listen for founders, operators, and GTM leaders navigating the AI-native era. Connect with Amos Bar-Joseph: Website: https://getswan.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amos-bar-joseph/ Subscribe for more founder insights and hit the bell for notifications! Follow us on our channels for exclusive startup content and behind-the-scenes insights from interviews like this one. - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3cFpLXfYvcUsxvsT9MwyAD?si=f5a14e779777487dApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/liftoff-with-keith-newman/id1560219589Substack: https://keithnewman.substack.com/Newman Media Studios: https://newmanmediastudios.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/liftoffwithkeithTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@keithnewman74 For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: sponsorships@wherewithstudio.com #AutonomousBusiness #AIinBusiness #CollaborativeAutonomy #FutureOfWork #GTMInnovation #SaaSFounders #StartupScaling #AIWorkflows #AgenticAI

    26 min

  8. JAN 27

    Why AI Still Lacks True Agency — And What Founders Must Build Instead

    In this episode of Liftoff, Keith sat down with Arshavir Blackwell, PhD, AI researcher, founder, and author of The Creative Agency’s Guide to AI, to unpack what’s really happening behind today’s AI boom.With decades of experience building neural networks—from Ask Jeeves to enterprise AI—Arshavir explains why most so-called “AI agents” still don’t have real agency, why vertical focus is the only way startups can survive Big Tech competition, and how the next generation of companies will be smaller, faster, and radically more capital-efficient.They explored AI interpretability, local vs frontier models, privacy-first AI, and what founders should actually be building over the next 24 months.Connect with Arshavir Blackwell: - Newsletter: insidetheblackbox.ai- Book: tinyurl.com/creativeagencybook- App: yourvoicecraft.ai- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arshavirblackwell Subscribe for more founder insights and hit the bell for notifications! Follow us on our channels for exclusive startup content and behind-the-scenes insights from interviews like this one. - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3cFpLXfYvcUsxvsT9MwyAD?si=f5a14e779777487d - Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/liftoff-with-keith-newman/id1560219589 - Substack: https://keithnewman.substack.com/ - Newman Media Studios: https://newmanmediastudios.com/ - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/liftoffwithkeith - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@keithnewman74 For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: sponsorships@wherewithstudio.com#Podcast #ArtificialIntelligence #AITrends #AIStartups #Founders #TechLeadership #FutureOfWork #LiftoffPodcast #AIInnovation

    34 min
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About

Former journalist turned Silicon Valley dealmaker and entrepreneur Keith Newman talks with Founders, Innovators and Influencers who share their stories of success, pain and impact with a bit of humor and nostalgia mixed in. Hear from Maverick Mark Cuban, SuperAngel Ron Conway, Ann Winblad, Mitch Kapor, Steve Blank and Founders of GameStop, Ancestry, JotForm, Fry's, Intuit, and many more. Find 80+ Episodes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-look-back-a-free-flowing-interview/id1560219589

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