Tech Scenes with Jeff James Martin

Jeff James Martin
  • 5.0 (2)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
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Join us as we go from city to city, meeting CEOs, founders, and investors who are shaping the venture-backed landscape. From Seattle's vibrant coffee shops to the iconic streets of Silicon Valley and Austin's BBQ joints, get an inside view of the venture-backed landscape with 'Tech Scenes.' 'Tech Scenes' is a show produced by Jeff James Martin, CEO and Founder of Collective Genius and author of 'Peak Teams - Mastering the Habit of Unstoppable Venture-backed Companies.' Learn more about Collective Genius at www.collective-genius.com

  1. Tech Scenes Santa Barbara with Ryan Millner CEO and Cofounder of Unwrap

    7H AGO

    Tech Scenes Santa Barbara with Ryan Millner CEO and Cofounder of Unwrap

    “What if we could read every piece of customer feedback, every single day?” In this episode of Tech Scenes Santa Barbara, Jeff Martin sits down with Ryan Millner, Co-founder & CEO of Unwrap, to explore how AI is transforming how companies truly understand their customers. Ryan’s journey spans early startup experience at Graphiq (acquired by Amazon) and years at Amazon helping scale Alexa’s intelligence systems — giving him firsthand insight into the power and limitations of natural language processing. That experience led to a simple but powerful idea: companies struggle to understand customer feedback at scale — what if AI could solve that? Unwrap was built to do exactly that. The platform ingests massive volumes of customer feedback — from support tickets, calls, surveys, and social channels — and turns it into clear, actionable insights for product, engineering, support, and executive teams. Companies like DoorDash, Stripe, and Southwest Airlines use Unwrap to stay in sync with what their customers are actually experiencing. The conversation dives into the rise of AI-native products, the acceleration of learning loops inside organizations, and the growing gap between those building with AI and those unaware of its capabilities. Ryan also shares insights on pricing, moving upmarket, and why the bar for product excellence is rising faster than ever. They also explore the realities of building in AI — from guardrails and data privacy to deciding when to build vs. buy — and why focusing on core competency is more important than ever in an AI-driven world. Chapters 00:00 The Rise of AI and Customer Understanding 01:28 What Unwrap Does and Why It Matters 04:40 The Evolution of AI Interfaces and Chat 07:48 Guardrails, Data Privacy, and Enterprise Complexity 10:43 Founder Journey and the Idea Behind Unwrap 13:20 Learning Loops in the Age of AI 15:16 Why This AI Moment Is Different 17:31 Build vs Buy in an AI World 20:19 What People Still Don’t Understand About AI 26:19 Startup Lessons: Pricing and Moving Upmarket 28:37 AI Coding and the Future of Product Development 29:29 The Ever-Rising Bar for Product Excellence Watch now to understand how AI is reshaping the feedback loop between companies and customers — and why the teams that learn fastest will win. 🌐 Visit Collective Genius™ to build your growth team with the Peak OS™ 👉 https://www.collective-genius.com/ 📘 Learn more about the book Peak Teams – Mastering the Habit of Unstoppable Venture-Backed Companies 👉 https://a.co/d/hp5Jtnu ⏱️ Got 5 minutes? Take the Peak Teams Assessment to see where your team can level up 👉 https://www.collective-genius.com/peak-teams-assessment #TechScenes #UnwrapAI #AI #CustomerExperience #ProductDevelopment #Startups #Leadership #NLP #Innovation #PeakTeams

    33 min
  2. Tech Scenes Malibu Canyon with Casey Allen of Enterprise Rising

    FEB 25

    Tech Scenes Malibu Canyon with Casey Allen of Enterprise Rising

    “Start deep and narrow.” - Casey Allen In this episode of Tech Scenes Malibu, Jeff Martin sits down with Casey Allen, founder of Enterprise Rising, to talk about grit, failure, and building the Midwest startup ecosystem from the ground up. Casey’s journey didn’t start with privilege. Raised by a single mom and determined to create opportunity, he became an entrepreneur out of necessity — launching his first company at 18. He went on to start four more profitable companies, but without major exits. His reflection? Early success without mentors left him stuck below the $1M revenue ceiling. Now, he’s committed to changing that for the next generation of founders. The conversation dives into the rise of Midwest SaaS, the launch of Enterprise Rising as a focused room for enterprise tech founders, and why community matters more than hype. They explore the impact of AI on entrepreneurship, the increasing importance of unit economics, and why founders must raise their bar for metrics and discipline in today’s funding environment. Casey also shares candid lessons on failure, ego, and what it really takes to build something meaningful outside Silicon Valley — emphasizing that the future of innovation isn’t coastal, it’s distributed. Chapters: 00:00 The Midwest Startup Landscape 02:09 Enterprise Rising Conference: A Celebration of SaaS 04:50 The Impact of AI on Entrepreneurship 09:05 Unit Economics and the New Funding Landscape 11:48 The Importance of Metrics in Startups 16:16 Embracing Failure in Entrepreneurship 19:46 The Journey of a Founder 27:02 Creating Community for Entrepreneurs 32:29 The Art of Hosting Meaningful Events Watch now to hear why the Midwest startup ecosystem may be one of the most underrated forces in tech — and what founders must master to thrive in today’s environment. 📘 Learn more about the book Peak Teams – Mastering the Habit of Unstoppable Venture-Backed Companies 👉 https://a.co/d/hp5Jtnu 🌐 Visit Collective Genius™ to build your growth team with the Peak OS™ Software 👉 https://www.collective-genius.com/ ⏱️ Got 5 minutes? Take the Peak Teams Assessment to see where your team can level up 👉 https://www.collective-genius.com/peak-teams-assessment #TechScenes #EnterpriseRising #MidwestStartups #SaaS #Entrepreneurship #FounderJourney #StartupMetrics #CommunityBuilding #AI #PeakTeams

    48 min
  3. Tech Scenes Beverly Hills with Peter Brack

    FEB 10

    Tech Scenes Beverly Hills with Peter Brack

    “Leadership isn’t about having fewer fears — it’s about learning how to lead with them.” - Peter Brack In this episode of Tech Scenes Beverly Hills, Jeff Martin sits down with Peter Brack, a trusted executive coach to some of the world’s most accomplished founders and CEOs. Peter works with high-performing leaders backed by firms like Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, General Catalyst, and Y Combinator, helping them build enduring companies while navigating the internal and external complexity that comes with growth. His career spans the full arc of company-building — from launching CNN and Turner Broadcasting in Asia at Time Warner, to serving as President of Time Inc. Asia Pacific, to co-founding and leading two companies through IPOs on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Now, as a credentialed executive coach (ICF), Coaching Fellow at the Institute of Coaching, and co-founder of an early-stage venture firm and startup studio, Peter brings rare perspective into what truly shapes great leadership over time. The conversation explores fear, confidence, and decision-making at the highest levels, the methodologies behind effective coaching, and how founders and CEOs can scale themselves alongside their organizations. They also dive into team dynamics, organizational growth, and why the inner work of leadership becomes more—not less—important as companies grow. Chapters 00:00 Leadership at the Highest Levels 04:12 The Role of Fear in Leadership 09:03 Confidence vs Certainty 14:27 Founder and CEO Dynamics 20:41 Coaching Methodologies That Work 27:18 Scaling the Leader as the Company Scales 33:56 Team Dynamics and Organizational Growth 41:02 Decision-Making in Complexity 48:15 Preparing for the Next Chapter Watch now to hear how elite founders and CEOs think about leadership beneath the surface — and what it really takes to build companies that endure. 📘 Learn more about the book Peak Teams – Mastering the Habit of Unstoppable Venture-Backed Companies 👉 https://a.co/d/hp5Jtnu 🌐 Visit Collective Genius™ to build your growth team with the Peak OS™ 👉 https://www.collective-genius.com/ ⏱️ Got 5 minutes? Take the Peak Teams Assessment to see where your team can level up 👉 https://www.collective-genius.com/peak-teams-assessment #TechScenes #Leadership #ExecutiveCoaching #CEOLife #Founders #TeamDynamics #BusinessStrategy #PersonalGrowth #PeakTeams

    42 min
  4. Tech Scenes Unplugged with Cody Bardo, CEO and Co-founder of Trust & Will

    FEB 4

    Tech Scenes Unplugged with Cody Bardo, CEO and Co-founder of Trust & Will

    “Always be transaction ready.” - Cody BarboIn this episode of Tech Scenes, Jeff Martin sits down with Cody Barbo, Founder & CEO of Trust & Will, to explore how WealthTech, AI, and thoughtful design are reshaping one of the most overlooked — and most important — areas of financial life: estate planning.Cody shares the journey of building Trust & Will from the ground up, modernizing an industry that historically felt complex, expensive, and inaccessible. Since launching in 2017, Trust & Will has helped more than 1 million Americans start their estate plans, raised $83M+ in capital, completed the first electronic will in history, and partnered with institutions like AARP, UBS, Fifth Third Bank, Northwestern Mutual, and more.The conversation dives into the evolution of WealthTech, what it means to be AI-first in a highly regulated industry, and how Trust & Will’s newest platform, EstateOS™, is redefining how families and professionals plan, manage, and preserve legacies. Cody also reflects on scaling teams, staying transaction-ready as a startup, and balancing leadership, growth, and family as a founder and dad of two.Chapters00:00 The Evolution of WealthTech and AI Integration06:35 The Journey of Trust & Will: Founding Story13:28 Building a Digital Estate Planning Platform19:31 Scaling Operations and Team Dynamics35:07 Navigating Growth and Future Aspirations47:40 Personal Reflections and Future DirectionsWatch now to hear how Cody is transforming estate planning into a modern pillar of financial care — and why AI, trust, and experience design matter more than ever in building enduring companies.📘 Learn more about the book Peak Teams – Mastering the Habit of Unstoppable Venture-Backed Companies👉 https://a.co/d/hp5Jtnu🌐 Visit Collective Genius™ to build your growth team with the Peak Operating System™👉 https://www.collective-genius.com/⏱️ Got 5 minutes? Take the Peak Teams Assessment to see where your team can level up👉 https://www.collective-genius.com/peak-teams-assessmentMusic by: andrewapplepie.bandcamp.com#TechScenes #TrustAndWill #WealthTech #AI #EstatePlanning #StartupJourney #Leadership #FounderStories #DigitalTransformation #PeakTeams

    52 min
  5. Tech Scenes Unplugged with Marshall Hawks Author of Venture Debt Deals

    JAN 14

    Tech Scenes Unplugged with Marshall Hawks Author of Venture Debt Deals

    “Execution is everything in startups.” - Marshall Hawks, author of Venture Debt Deals In this episode of Tech Scenes Unplugged, Jeff Martin sits down with Marshall Hawks, author of Venture Debt Deals and a longtime leader in venture banking and lending. Before becoming an author, Marshall spent more than two decades in venture banking, including sixteen years at Silicon Valley Bank, where he held nine different roles across three countries. Most recently, he led SVB’s Relationship Management organization in Northern California and oversaw the bank’s in-house private credit team, the Strategic Capital Group. Over his career, Marshall has worked closely with hundreds of startups — including Airbnb, Twitch, Fitbit, Planet Labs, Tubemogul, and Egnyte — giving him a rare, front-row view into how founders use (and sometimes misuse) venture debt. The conversation dives deep into the mechanics of venture debt, how banks actually think about underwriting risk, and why venture debt can be a powerful — but often misunderstood — tool for extending runway and minimizing dilution. Marshall also shares candid insights on team dynamics, execution, and how the venture lending landscape has evolved in the wake of SVB’s collapse. They explore what great lenders look for, how founders should evaluate financing options, and why building strong relationships with capital partners is just as important as raising the money itself. Chapters: 00:00 The Role of Banks in Venture Debt 01:34 Introduction to Venture Debt Deals 04:03 The Journey to Authorship 09:07 History and Evolution of Venture Lending 12:22 Understanding Venture Debt 17:49 The Underwriting Process in Venture Debt 21:44 When to Use Venture Debt 25:19 Evaluating Team Dynamics 29:33 The Importance of Team Functionality 36:31 Case Study: Airbnb’s Success 46:03 The Impact of SVB’s Failure 51:26 Conclusion and Book Release Watch now to understand how venture debt really works, what founders often get wrong about it, and how the best teams use capital as a strategic advantage — not a crutch. 📘 Learn more about the book Peak Teams – Mastering the Habit of Unstoppable Venture-Backed Companies 👉 https://a.co/d/hp5Jtnu 🌐 Visit Collective Genius™ to build your growth team with the Peak Operating System™ 👉 https://www.collective-genius.com/ ⏱️ Got 5 minutes? Take the Peak Teams Assessment to see where your team can level up 👉 https://www.collective-genius.com/peak-teams-assessment #TechScenes #VentureDebt #Startups #Financing #Entrepreneurship #VentureCapital #SVB #Leadership #TeamDynamics #PeakTeams

    56 min
  6. Tech Scenes Unplugged with Boris Sofman Co-Founder and CEO of Bedrock Robotics

    JAN 7

    Tech Scenes Unplugged with Boris Sofman Co-Founder and CEO of Bedrock Robotics

    “AI is a gigantic multiplier.” - Boris Sofman, Co-Founder and CEO of Bedrock Robotics In this episode of Tech Scenes, Jeff Martin sits down with Boris Sofman, Co-Founder and CEO of Bedrock Robotics, to explore how AI and robotics are transforming the physical world — starting with heavy machinery and construction. Boris brings rare, deep experience across consumer robotics, autonomous vehicles, and now autonomous construction. Prior to Bedrock, he spent five years as an engineering executive at Waymo, helping scale autonomous trucking and the Waymo One robo-taxi network, which has logged over 100 million fully driverless miles. Before that, Boris spent a decade building Anki, shipping millions of robots globally and scaling the business to over $100M in annual revenue. The conversation dives into the real challenges of physical AI, why edge intelligence matters more than ever, and how Bedrock’s vision of a “digital operator” for heavy machinery could unlock massive gains in productivity, safety, and predictability across construction and infrastructure. They also explore team dynamics in advanced AI development, lessons from deploying autonomy in the real world, and how AI is reshaping creativity, work, and entire industries. Chapters 00:00 The Role of AI in Productivity 02:22 Automation in Heavy Machinery 05:06 Insights from Waymo and Autonomous Driving 07:48 Challenges in Physical AI vs Digital AI 10:36 The Future of Edge AI and Robotics 13:19 The Evolution of Humanoid Robots 16:03 Managing AI Development and Team Dynamics 18:50 The Vision Behind Bedrock’s Digital Operator 21:51 Unlocking Construction Efficiency 24:38 The Shift in Team Collaboration and Structure 27:17 The Future of Work and AI’s Impact 29:50 The Democratization of Creativity 32:50 Final Thoughts and Personal Reflections Watch now to understand why autonomous construction isn’t just a breakthrough — it’s an economic necessity — and how AI is becoming the ultimate force multiplier for the physical world. 📘 Learn more about the book Peak Teams – Mastering the Habit of Unstoppable Venture-Backed Companies 👉 https://a.co/d/hp5Jtnu 🌐 Visit Collective Genius™ to build your growth team with the Peak Operating System™ 👉 https://www.collective-genius.com/ ⏱️ Got 5 minutes? Take the Peak Teams Assessment to see where your team can level up 👉 https://www.collective-genius.com/peak-teams-assessment #TechScenes #AI #Robotics #Automation #ConstructionTech #FutureOfWork #Productivity #Waymo #BedrockRobotics #Leadership #PeakTeams

    42 min
  7. Tech Scenes with Seth Levine Co-Author of Capital Evolution and Partner at Foundry

    12/17/2025

    Tech Scenes with Seth Levine Co-Author of Capital Evolution and Partner at Foundry

    "We want to create more capitalists." In this episode of Tech Scenes Unplugged, Jeff Martin sits down with Seth Levine, Partner at Foundry and co-author of The New Builders and Capital Evolution. Seth has spent his career at the intersection of venture capital, entrepreneurship, and social impact — backing companies, funds, and ideas that aim to redefine capitalism for the modern era. The conversation explores the intersection of technology, capitalism, and the future of work. Seth shares insights from his latest book, Capital Evolution, examining how AI, innovation, and ownership models can drive a more inclusive and dynamic form of capitalism — one that rebuilds the middle class, empowers employees, and strengthens community. They also discuss lessons from interviews with CEOs, the need for collaboration between business and government, and why offsite meetings remain one of the most powerful tools for strategic alignment and leadership connection. Chapters 00:00 Techno-Optimism and the Future of Work 01:38 Exploring the Future of Capitalism 08:23 Insights from CEO Interviews 11:43 Rebuilding the Middle Class 19:45 The Impact of AI on Employment 24:30 Collaboration Between Business and Government 26:55 Concrete Actions for CEOs 48:13 The Importance of Offsites and Team Alignment 53:51 Personal Reflections and Future Aspirations Watch now to explore how Seth and the next generation of leaders are evolving capitalism — and why optimism, ownership, and collaboration are key to shaping a better future of work. 📘 Learn more about the book Peak Teams – Mastering the Habit of Unstoppable Venture-Backed Companies 👉 https://a.co/d/hp5Jtnu 🌐 Visit Collective Genius™ to build your growth team with the Peak Operating System™ 👉 https://www.collective-genius.com/ Music by: andrewapplepie.bandcamp.com ⏱️ Got 5 minutes? Take the Peak Teams Assessment to see where your team can level up 👉 https://www.collective-genius.com/peak-teams-assessment #TechScenes #SethLevine #CapitalEvolution #Foundry #AI #FutureOfWork #Entrepreneurship #Capitalism #Leadership #EmployeeOwnership #PeakTeams

    1h 5m
  8. Tech Scenes Unplugged with Chris Andrew CEO and Cofounder of Scrunch

    12/03/2025

    Tech Scenes Unplugged with Chris Andrew CEO and Cofounder of Scrunch

    "You have to hire for judgment." - Chris Andrew In this episode of Tech Scenes Unplugged, Jeff Martin sits down with Chris Andrew, CEO and co-founder of Scrunch — the platform helping brands navigate the AI-first customer journey. Scrunch enables companies to monitor their brand presence, gain actionable insights, and generate AI-friendly versions of their sites to influence LLM results. The conversation dives deep into the transformative impact of AI on customer engagement and marketing, exploring how buyer journeys are becoming increasingly AI-driven. Chris shares lessons on building adaptable teams, optimizing content for AI search, and making fast, thoughtful decisions in an environment defined by constant change. They also discuss leadership, empathy, and how the future of commerce will shift toward personalized, chat-based experiences — redefining how brands connect with customers in an AI-powered world. Chapters 00:00 The AI Revolution in Customer Engagement 02:23 Building an AI-First Buyer Journey 05:18 The Role of Content in AI Search 07:56 Leadership and Team Dynamics in Startups 11:14 Hiring for Growth and Adaptability 13:39 Navigating Change in a Fast-Paced Environment 16:55 The Future of Commerce and Consumer Behavior 19:33 Personal Insights and Reflections 22:27 The Journey of Building Scrunch 25:30 Patience in Product Development 28:41 Decision-Making in a Rapidly Changing Landscape 31:18 Cultural Reflections and Personal Favorites Watch now to explore how Chris and Scrunch are helping brands stay visible, adaptive, and authentic in the era of AI-driven commerce. 📘 Learn more about the book Peak Teams – Mastering the Habit of Unstoppable Venture-Backed Companies 👉 https://a.co/d/hp5Jtnu 🌐 Visit Collective Genius™ to build your growth team with the Peak Operating System™ 👉 https://www.collective-genius.com/ ⏱️ Got 5 minutes? Take the Peak Teams Assessment to see where your team can level up 👉 https://www.collective-genius.com/peak-teams-assessment Music by: andrewapplepie.bandcamp.com #AI #Scrunch #TechScenes #CustomerJourney #Marketing #Startups #Leadership #Commerce #ContentOptimization #PeakTeams

    36 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Join us as we go from city to city, meeting CEOs, founders, and investors who are shaping the venture-backed landscape. From Seattle's vibrant coffee shops to the iconic streets of Silicon Valley and Austin's BBQ joints, get an inside view of the venture-backed landscape with 'Tech Scenes.' 'Tech Scenes' is a show produced by Jeff James Martin, CEO and Founder of Collective Genius and author of 'Peak Teams - Mastering the Habit of Unstoppable Venture-backed Companies.' Learn more about Collective Genius at www.collective-genius.com

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