Welcome back to Open Tech Talks, and thank you, genuinely, for the continued support, messages, and thoughtful feedback. This show has been running for years now, and what keeps it meaningful is the shared curiosity of this community.

We're in a very different phase of the AI journey.

The conversation has clearly moved past "Can we build this?"

Now it's about "Should we build this?", "Is this sustainable?", and "Does this actually create value?"

Over the last year, I've personally noticed something interesting while working with enterprises, founders, and investors: AI has lowered the cost of building but raised the cost of judgment.

It's easier than ever to create products, prototypes, and even companies. But deciding what's worth building, when to raise capital, and how to scale responsibly has become harder, not easier.

That's why today's conversation matters.

This episode is not about chasing trends or predicting the next AI unicorn.

It's about long-term thinking, founder discipline, and understanding capital, timing, and execution in an AI-driven world.

Today's guest has spent decades working across venture capital, startup growth, and exits through multiple technology cycles and brings a grounded perspective that's especially valuable right now.

Let's welcome Scott Kelly to Open Tech Talks.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Scott Kelly and His Ventures 02:00 The Transformative Impact of AI 04:03 Successful Investments and Entrepreneurial Journeys 05:53 Lessons for Entrepreneurs and Pitching Tips 10:06 Navigating the AI Landscape in Startups 11:52 Industry Applications of AI 14:54 Pitch Events and Investor Engagement 17:03 Investor Perspectives on New Technologies 19:52 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Episode # 179

Today's Guest: Scott Kelly, Founder & CEO, Black Dog Venture Partners

He has been working on both sides, with entrepreneurs and investors alike, for more than three decades. Harnessing his innovative skills, vast experience training thousands of salespeople, and tapping into his vast network of investors.

Website: Black Dog Venture Partners
Youtube: VC FastPitch

What Listeners Will Learn:

How AI is changing the economics of building and scaling startups
Why many founders may not need venture capital as early as they think
Lessons from past technology cycles that still apply in the GenAI era
How investors evaluate AI-driven businesses beyond surface-level hype
Why timing, discipline, and execution matter more than tools
What founders often misunderstand about pitching, capital, and exits
How AI lowers build costs but raises the importance of strategic judgment

Resources:

Website: Black Dog Venture Partners
YouTube: VC FastPitch

Building Startups in the AI Era Lessons from 30 Years of Venture Capital with Scott Kelly