The Seed Podcast

Hassan Baraka and Jan Sternberg
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The Seed Podcast is dedicated to making it easier for young people to break into the world of venture. As newcomers ourselves, we connect with professionals who have advanced in the industry to share valuable insights with our audience. Our goal is to present a well-rounded view of the venture space, featuring conversations that explore all key perspectives within the industry.

  1. Breaking Stigmas and Building with AI

    3d ago

    Breaking Stigmas and Building with AI

    In this special episode of The Seed Podcast, co-hosts Hassan and Jan step out from behind the interviewer mic to share their own entrepreneurial journeys. The duo dives deep into the realities of launching a startup, exploring the highs and lows of building tech in today's fast-paced world. Hassan breaks down the mission behind Rose, a hybrid couple's therapy platform aimed at breaking relationship stigmas through a blend of human counseling and artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, Jan shares the origin stories of his own ventures, including a health-tracking app designed to optimize sleep and nutrition. From mastering the perfect pitch to decoding how large language models actually process data, this conversation offers an open, honest look at what it takes to turn student ideas into real-world AI innovations.

    28 min
  2. From Marvel to AI: The New Hollywood

    May 27

    From Marvel to AI: The New Hollywood

    What really happens behind the scenes of the world’s biggest blockbuster movies and what happens when a Hollywood insider decides to leave stability behind to bet everything on artificial intelligence? In this episode of The Seed Podcast, hosts Hassan and Jan sit down with Aaron Bhugobaun, a media production veteran who has worked on massive releases for Marvel, Disney, and Universal. From approving world-class VFX on films like Thor: Ragnarok and Spider-Man: No Way Home to managing pipelines for YouTube creators pulling in 9 billion views a month, Aaron has seen the entertainment machine from the inside out. Link to Aaron Bhugobaun

    58 min
  3. How to Build a Buyable Business

    May 20

    How to Build a Buyable Business

    What does it actually take to build a business that someone wants to buy? In this episode, we sit down with entrepreneur and investor Peter Hart to break down the realities of building, scaling, and acquiring companies. Peter shares his journey from funding his first venture with €6,000 of waitering money to surviving the intense pressure of Shark Tank (Die Höhle der Löwen), and eventually pivoting into a private equity firm that has acquired 7 companies. Whether you are just starting out with a laptop and a dream or looking for an exit strategy, Peter’s raw, no-BS insights will change how you look at your business operations. Follow Peter on LinkedIn and see all his companies there!

    25 min
  4. The Brutal Truth About Scaling Sales

    May 13

    The Brutal Truth About Scaling Sales

    In this episode of The Seed Podcast, we are joined by Juan Prim, a two-time author and mentor who has navigated the high-stakes world of international corporate business and successful tech exits. Juan dives deep into the realities of the "Brutal Sales" mindset, explaining why traditional business schools often miss the mark on teaching the grit required to scale a company from scratch. We explore the evolving landscape of work, where Juan argues that while AI is rapidly transforming white-collar professions, the role of the entrepreneur remains the one position that cannot be automated. He shares his personal journey from cold-calling at a Spanish startup to managing massive investment rounds and eventually moving into the "acquisition CEO" space. Whether you are a student looking to break into the AI hub of Barcelona or a founder trying to understand what investors truly want beyond a pitch deck, this conversation offers a raw, unfiltered guide to surviving and thriving in the modern business ecosystem. -------- Follow Juan on LinkedIn Check out his books: "The Lean Funding" and "Metodología Brutal Sales"

    40 min
  5. He Created the Biggest AI Event in Spain

    May 6

    He Created the Biggest AI Event in Spain

    In this episode of The Seed Podcast, we sit down with Jérémie Benhamou, a French entrepreneur who has spent the last eight years transforming the technological landscape of Barcelona. Jérémie shares his fascinating journey from building the Spanish subsidiary of Extia - growing a team to 150 people in the middle of a global lockdown - to his latest ventures, TheTechNation. We dive deep into Jérémie's "intrapreneurial" spirit and his transition into the world of Generative AI. He explains why he believes Barcelona has surpassed other European cities to become a premier tech hub and shares behind-the-scenes insights into organizing the AI Summit Barcelona, a massive event bringing together 10,000 innovators. Key topics we cover: The Pivot to AI: Why Jérémie shifted from traditional consulting to an AI-first agency model The "Crouly" Vision: How AI agents and human "dream teams" are revolutionizing tech services Survival Skills: Why curiosity is the only soft skill that matters in the age of AGI The Future of Work: Jérémie’s bold take on why manual emails will soon be a thing of the past and how we are moving toward a "dev-less" world LinkedIn: Jérémie Benhamou Websites: AI Summit Barcelona | TheTechNation

    40 min
  6. Why Founders Inc is the “Pre-YC” for Hardware

    Apr 29

    Why Founders Inc is the “Pre-YC” for Hardware

    Can a single month in Silicon Valley teach you more than a four-year degree? In this episode of The Seed Podcast, we sit down with Victoria Clotet, the powerhouse CPO of Twintual, to discuss her rapid ascent from a CS student at the University of Virginia to the heart of the tech world. Victoria shares how she bypassed the traditional "Big Tech" route to dive into Founders Inc, an intense one-month accelerator known as the "Pre-YC" for hardware and high-stakes software. We explore the "insane" mentality required to build a unicorn and why the Valley remains the ultimate proving ground for ambitious builders. Victoria pulls back the curtain on her latest venture, Twintual, an AI-driven "second self" designed to manage and respond to your messages across email, Slack, and Discord. She breaks down the critical role of a Chief Product Officer, emphasizing why founders must prioritize user feedback and "ship" their first version before they feel ready. Whether you are a student wondering how to leverage your professors' industry experience or an aspiring entrepreneur looking for the right visa strategy to enter the US, Victoria’s "no-nonsense" advice on networking and relentless iteration is essential listening. Connect with our Guest: LinkedIn: Victoria Clotet Twintual Website: twintual.com

    34 min
  7. Smarter Outreach: How AI is Changing Venture Capital

    Apr 22

    Smarter Outreach: How AI is Changing Venture Capital

    In this episode of the Seed Podcast, hosts Hassan and Jan sit down with Leo Bradshaw, the visionary co-founder and CEO of Upcap. Leo shares his remarkable transition from a decade in private equity and deal advisory to becoming a repeat startup operator and entrepreneur. Leo delves into his experience scaling Peckwater Brands, where he successfully raised over £30 million and navigated the complexities of internationalization across 11 countries. He offers invaluable insights into: The critical importance of market timing and recognizing opportunitiesThe challenges of fundraising and how to effectively engage investorsThe role of AI in streamlining the fundraising process for high-growth foundersThe necessity for founders to embrace ambiguity and build a strong company culture Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned founder, Leo's advice on strategic outreach, financial modeling, and the accelerator experience is a must-listen. Connect with Leo and Upcap: LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/leobradshaw/ Upcap: ⁠https://upcap.ai

    46 min
  8. Forget LinkedIn, This AI Finds Better Jobs for You

    Apr 15

    Forget LinkedIn, This AI Finds Better Jobs for You

    Did you know youth unemployment in Spain is at 25%? Meet James Archidona: Co-Founder from Joblanders. He wants to revolutionise the job market by creating an engine that connects applicants and recruiters on a "match basis” rather than having applicants sending hundreds of applications and recruiters receiving thousands. He leverages AI and a large data base to power that engine. In this episode we dig deeper into James' story, why and how he founded his company, job market dynamics for young people, and the future of AI. Stay tuned! If you’re a student, aspiring founder, or simply curious about how to enter the world of startups, this episode gives you a raw and honest look at the beginning of that journey. And if you are  a current job seeker, this one is perfect for you too. Follow his journey on: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-archidona-11018431/  Website: https://www.joblanders.com/  —------ Want to see more from the Seed Podcast? Find the episodes’ best moments on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theseedpodcast_/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-seed-podcast/

    34 min
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About

The Seed Podcast is dedicated to making it easier for young people to break into the world of venture. As newcomers ourselves, we connect with professionals who have advanced in the industry to share valuable insights with our audience. Our goal is to present a well-rounded view of the venture space, featuring conversations that explore all key perspectives within the industry.

Information

  • Creator
    Hassan Baraka and Jan Sternberg
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Hassan Baraka and Jan Sternberg
  • Show Website
    The Seed Podcast