Alchemist Accelerator: Influencer Series Fireside Chat

Hosted by Ravi Belani, Founder and CEO of Alchemist Accelerator
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The Influencer Series Fireside Chat, hosted by Alchemist Accelerator Founder & CEO Ravi Belani, offers intimate, high-energy conversations with influential leaders. Prominent VCs, startup founders, corporate executives, and academics come together for authentic, unscripted "dinner table" dialogues. After a decade connecting 4,000+ leaders and sparking 15,000+ influential relationships, the Influencer series now invites you to join the conversation.

Episodes

  1. Why Enterprises Still Don’t Trust AI and What It Really Takes to Deploy It in Regulated Industries

    4D AGO

    Why Enterprises Still Don’t Trust AI and What It Really Takes to Deploy It in Regulated Industries

    Most enterprise AI projects today are built on models that can recognize and generate patterns — but what happens when pattern recognition isn’t enough? In this episode of the Alchemist Influencer Series, Vin Sharma, CEO and Founder of Vijil (and former AWS, Intel, and HP exec), joins Ravi Belani to explore the deeper realities of AI adoption — especially in regulated industries like banking, legal, and insurance. Drawing from his time leading deep learning at AWS and studying the philosophy of technology, Vin shares why trust is the critical missing piece — and why AI systems must be reliable, secure, and safe before being deployed in mission-critical environments. You’ll learn: Why most LLM-based agents will hit failure modes in industries that matter How society and regulation shape the future of AI — not just tech breakthroughs What “trustworthy AI” really means (and how to build for it) How Vin’s company Vijil is tackling this head-on with enterprise-ready agents Lessons from Amazon’s writing culture and how it shaped his startup playbook If you care about the future of AI, safety, and real-world deployment, don’t miss this conversation. 📣 We’d love your feedback! Please take a moment to fill out our short form:https://bit.ly/3H4XkiJ

    18 min
  2. Why Enterprises Are Still Hesitant to Adopt AI Teammates Despite the Hype

    SEP 11

    Why Enterprises Are Still Hesitant to Adopt AI Teammates Despite the Hype

    In this episode, Garuda Ventures co-founder Rishi Taparia joins Alchemist Accelerator CEO Ravi Belani to explore why the promise of AI teammates often stalls in the real world. Drawing on his experience as a VC, operator, and startup builder, Rishi explains why psychological friction, status dynamics, and expectation mismatches are bigger barriers than the tech itself. You’ll learn: Why “AI teammates” are fundamentally different from tools—and why that matters How expectations vs. reality derails enterprise adoption Why status loss makes managers hesitant to deploy AI agents What startups need to understand before selling AI into the enterprise How to build trust and credibility inside slow-moving organizations If you're building AI for the enterprise—or selling into it—this conversation will challenge your assumptions and give you a more grounded GTM strategy. We’d love to know what you think of the podcast!Please take 1 minute to complete our short feedback form:👉 https://bit.ly/3H4XkiJ

    17 min
  3. AI Startup Secrets and Must-Know Tips for Founders!

    AUG 28

    AI Startup Secrets and Must-Know Tips for Founders!

    In this episode, Alchemist Partner and GenAI expert Gnani Palanikumar reveals how AI agents are reshaping real industries like healthcare, supply chain, and life insurance. From reducing data prep time by 80 percent to enabling faster decisions, AI teammates are starting to do the work humans don’t have time for. Gnani shares the mistakes founders keep making with GenAI and the exact process he uses to help startups build products customers are ready to buy. In this episode: - Why data scientists are stuck doing grunt work - Where AI teammates create real value today - The right way to validate startup ideas before building - How to secure early adopters without a finished product - Why customer interviews are powerful If you’re building in AI, healthcare, or any complex B2B market, this is the playbook you didn’t know you needed. We’d love your feedback Take 60 seconds to let us know what you think: https://bit.ly/3H4XkiJ

    13 min
  4. Why Using Just One AI Agent Is Slowing You Down

    AUG 14

    Why Using Just One AI Agent Is Slowing You Down

    Relying on a single AI model might be holding your team back. In this episode, Not Diamond co-founder and former VC Jeffrey Akiki joins Alchemist Accelerator CEO Ravi Belani to share why the smartest AI systems don’t depend on just one model or agent. They use a network of specialized agents, routed in real time for speed, cost, and performance. You’ll learn: Why “bigger” AI isn’t always better How model routing can outperform even top-tier LLMs Why modularity and transparency matter for enterprise AI What startups can do to compete with the big players How Jeffrey’s VC background shaped his founder journey We’d love your feedback.Take 60 seconds to share your thoughts: https://bit.ly/3H4XkiJ

    15 min
  5. Why Most Enterprise AI Projects Fail and How AI Agents Could Finally Make Them Work

    JUL 31

    Why Most Enterprise AI Projects Fail and How AI Agents Could Finally Make Them Work

    Ever wondered why most enterprise AI projects never make it past flashy demos into real-world applications? Manjeet Singh, Senior Director of Product Management at Salesforce, sits down with Alchemist Accelerator CEO Ravi Belani to uncover why so many companies get stuck—and what it truly takes to move AI from proof-of-concept to full-scale production. In this episode, you'll learn: Why even promising AI demos rarely reach production The key barriers companies face: accuracy, trust, and data security Emerging opportunities for both startups and established enterprises Practical frameworks and tools (like LangChain and LLaMA Index) you can use right now Manjeet also shares his perspective on AI "agents," intelligent assistants designed to tackle daily tasks, and why he's excited about the future intersection of AI with health and wellness. If you're serious about moving your AI beyond the lab, this conversation is for you. We would love to know what you think about our podcast. Please take a minute to complete our short feedback form: https://bit.ly/3H4XkiJ

    16 min
  6. Is AI Taking Over Our Jobs or Making Them Better?

    JUL 17

    Is AI Taking Over Our Jobs or Making Them Better?

    What if AI doesn’t just disrupt industries, but rewrites the rules of work and value? In this thought-provoking Fireside Chat, Ben Parr, Co-Founder of OctaneAI and Partner at TheoryForge Ventures, joins Ravi Belani to explore how automation is already reshaping hiring, productivity, and opportunity and why the real tipping point is closer than we think. Ben shares his vision for a future where AI either empowers people or leaves them behind, depending on the choices we make now. From universal basic income to AI agents that pay you to work for them, this episode dives into the intersection of policy, innovation, and what it takes to build meaningful AI startups in 2025. We would love to know what you think about our podcast. Please take a minute to complete our short feedback form: https://bit.ly/3H4XkiJ

    19 min
  7. CVC Secrets: The Truth About Corporate Venture Capital!

    JUL 3

    CVC Secrets: The Truth About Corporate Venture Capital!

    Can a corporate venture arm operate with full financial independence and still deliver strategic value? In this episode of the Alchemist Accelerator Influencer Series, host Ravi Belani sits down with Jason Sydow, Partner at Next47, to explore how corporate venture capital (CVC) firms can successfully balance financial returns with corporate alignment or choose to focus on one without sacrificing value. Jason walks through the transformation of Next47 from Siemens’ legacy CVC into a fully financially-driven fund with a billion-euro mandate, while still leveraging deep relationships to support portfolio startups through their go-to-market team. From structuring investment decisions to navigating internal trust and strategic veto rights, Jason shares lessons any CVC leader should hear. 🎧 Whether you're running a CVC, building one, or trying to partner with one this episode is packed with insight. We’d love to know what you think about our podcast. Please complete our short feedback form: https://bit.ly/3H4Xk

    21 min
  8. How CVC's can Bridge the Deep Tech Startup Funding Gap

    JUN 20

    How CVC's can Bridge the Deep Tech Startup Funding Gap

    How do we keep groundbreaking deep tech startups alive past Series B? In this episode, Ravi Belani talks with Tom Gwinn, Investment Manager at Evonik Venture Capital, about why so many promising deep tech startups struggle to get enough funding and how corporate venture capital can help close that gap. Tom shares practical ideas on how CVCs can pool resources, share risks, and provide patient capital for breakthroughs in climate tech, quantum computing, biotech, and more. Expect real talk on what works, what doesn’t, and what needs to change. We would love to know what you think about our podcast. Please take a minute to complete our short feedback form: https://bit.ly/3H4XkiJ

    18 min
  9. Unless Tied to Hardware or Network Effects, Will AI Render Standalone Software Obsolete as an Asset Class?

    JUN 4

    Unless Tied to Hardware or Network Effects, Will AI Render Standalone Software Obsolete as an Asset Class?

    In this compelling episode of Alchemist Accelerator’s Influencer Series Fireside Chat Podcast, Ravi Belani sits down with Kristian Marquez, Founder & CEO of FinStrat Management, for a wide-ranging conversation that traverses the future of standalone software, the resurgence of U.S. manufacturing, AI in robotics, and the global implications of demographic decline. Kristian shares his unique perspective at the intersection of finance, innovation, and geopolitical strategy, offering insights highly relevant to founders, investors, and corporate innovators navigating today’s rapidly shifting landscape. Click to learn more about FinStrat Management: https://bit.ly/44IB4FiThank you to our Sponsors for making the Alchemist Accelerator’s Influencer Series possible. Notable Partners include: 1. BASF Venture Capital: https://bit.ly/3ZqFw842. FinStrat Management: https://bit.ly/3YTAlNO3. WilmerHale: https://bit.ly/45iAGgSWe would love to know what you think about our podcast, please complete our short feedback form: https://bit.ly/3H4XkiJIf you would like to plug in as a mentor, investor, customer or other role, email Ravi or let him know here: https://bit.ly/44JPlSd

    17 min
  • 9 Episodes

About

The Influencer Series Fireside Chat, hosted by Alchemist Accelerator Founder & CEO Ravi Belani, offers intimate, high-energy conversations with influential leaders. Prominent VCs, startup founders, corporate executives, and academics come together for authentic, unscripted "dinner table" dialogues. After a decade connecting 4,000+ leaders and sparking 15,000+ influential relationships, the Influencer series now invites you to join the conversation.

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