Podcast
The Innovators & Investors Podcast
Hosted by FinStrat Management, Inc. · EN
The Innovators & Investors Podcast: Connecting the Startup Ecosystem. We are on a mission to bridge the gap between founders, investors, and industry leaders across the early-stage ecosystem. By bringing together visionaries from cutting-edge startups, venture capitalists, family offices, angel investors, accelerators, and studios, we offer a platform for sharing invaluable insights, market trends, and first-hand experiences. Whether you’re an entrepreneur navigating the challenges of building a business or an investor seeking opportunities in emerging technologies, our podcast provides a front-row seat to the dynamic world of innovation and investment. Tune in to gain a comprehensive understanding of the startup landscape, stay ahead of the curve, and benefit from the collective wisdom of those shaping the future.
Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at
https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/
16episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Redefining Digital Consciousness with Vishnu Hari of ego | The Innovators & Investors Podcast
2w ago00:44:32Tap to summarizeCan AI have a personality? Vishnu Hari, Founder and CEO of ego, joins Kristian Marquez to discuss why the future of AI isn't just "smarter" assistants, but "flawed" digital humans. From modding GTA to researching exoplanets with the pioneers of deep learning, Hari shares his journey and ego AI's mission to build AI that possesses intent, consciousness, and behavioral authenticity. Learn about the Behavioral Turing Test and why the next frontier of the Metaverse depends on filling virtual worlds with digital life.Learn more about ego AI work at: https://www.egoai.com/Read the "Behavior is All You Need" research paper: https://www.egoai.com/research/behavior-is-all-you-needConnect with Vishnu Hari on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ego-aiThink you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work? https://finstratmgmt.com
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Applying Global Brand Platforms to Early-Stage Growth with Jennifer Zimmerman of X&O | The Innovators & Investors Podcast
3w ago00:45:08Tap to summarizeHow do you build a brand that stands out in a crowded venture capital landscape? Jennifer Zimmerman, former CMO of General Catalyst and current expert in residence at X&O, joins Kristian Marquez to break down the science of Master Branding. With a background managing Fortune 100 brands, Jennifer shares why startups need a "Point of View" rather than just a "Point of Difference." Learn the three pillars of brand storytelling and how to turn complex technology into a compelling human narrative. Learn more about X&O work at: https://heyxo.co/ Connect with Jennifer Zimmerman on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-zimmerman-711a9454/ Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/ Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work? https://finstratmgmt.com
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Strengthening the Competitive Edge of American Startups with Bobby Franklin of NVCA | The Innovators & Investors Podcast
4w ago00:43:21Tap to summarizeBobby Franklin, President and CEO of the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), joins the show to discuss the critical intersection of venture capital and public policy. From his early days navigating wireless mergers at Alltel to his decade-long tenure leading the CTIA, Franklin shares how his unique background prepared him to advocate for the American startup ecosystem. Tune in to learn how the NVCA works to empower the next generation of transformative companies through strategic investment and national policy initiatives.Learn more about Nvca work at: https://nvca.org/Connect with Bobby Franklin on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyfranklin/Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work? https://finstratmgmt.com
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Investing in Human Capital for a Sustainable Planet with Cyrus Wadia of Activate | The Innovators & Investors Podcast
Apr 2800:41:41Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Kristian Marquez speaks with Cyrus Wadia, CEO of Activate. They dive into how Activate supports scientists and engineers through a two-year fellowship that provides the funding, mentorship, and community needed to turn lab discoveries into world-changing businesses. Wadia shares his journey from chemical engineering to the White House and eventually to leading one of the most significant deep-tech incubators in the country.Learn more about Activate work at: https://activate.org/Connect with Cyrus Wadia on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cyruswadia/Think you'd be a great guest on the show?Apply at https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work?https://finstratmgmt.com
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Mastering Growth Equity with Melanie Nabar of Volition Capital | The Innovators & Investors Podcast
Apr 2100:43:40Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Kristian Marquez welcomes Melanie Nabar, an investment professional at Volition Capital. They discuss the nuances of growth equity, the importance of a "bootstrapped mentality" even in funded companies, and how to build scalable customer success functions. Whether you are a founder looking for your next round or an investor refining your thesis, this conversation offers high-value lessons on market resilience and operational excellence.Learn more about Volition Capital work at: https://www.volitioncapital.com/Connect with Melanie Nabar on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melaniejordannabarThink you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work? https://finstratmgmt.com
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Driving Efficiency in Biotech Research with Andrey Doronichev of BIOPTIC | The Innovators & Investors Podcast
Apr 1400:38:33Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Kristian Marquez welcomes Andrey Doronichev, founder of BIOPTIC and former Director of Product Management at Google. Andrey shares how his experience scaling YouTube to a billion users informed his transition into the biotech sector. We explore how AI is automating competitive intelligence in pharma, the lessons learned from Google’s Stadia project, and why the next decade of drug discovery belongs to AI-native companies.Learn more about Optic work at: https://bioptic.io/Connect with Andrey Doronichev on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doronichev/Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work? https://finstratmgmt.com
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Building Scalable Venture Strategies with James Paul Costa of Grapetree Ventures | The Innovators & Investors Podcast
Apr 700:42:03Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Kristian Marquez is joined by James Paul Costa, founder of Grapetree Ventures. Drawing on a background that includes the Naval Academy and early-stage tech growth, James breaks down the psychological frameworks necessary for elite leadership. They discuss the "Clock on the Wall" strategy for conflict resolution, the importance of "re-attachment" in habit formation, and why solving the world's biggest problems might actually be easier than solving small ones. Learn more about Grapetree Ventures work at: https://grapetreeventures.com/Connect with James Paul Costa on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamespaulcosta/Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work? https://finstratmgmt.com
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Scaling Global Impact with Social Humanoids with Grace Brown of Andromeda | The Innovators & Investors Podcast
Mar 3100:43:51Tap to summarizeGrace Brown, CEO of Andromeda, joins the show to discuss "Abby," a social humanoid robot tackling the global loneliness epidemic. We explore the challenges of hardware development, the importance of personality in AI, and Grace's strategic move to the US to scale her vision.Learn more about Andromeda work at: https://dromeda.com.au/Connect with Grace Brown on LinkedIn at: http://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-brown-619b59161Think you'd be a great guest on the show?Apply at https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work?https://finstratmgmt.com
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Scaling Revenue Intelligence with Jason Ambrose of People.ai | The Innovators & Investors Podcast
Mar 2400:46:33Tap to summarizeHow does a tech company move from basic data logging to providing "reasoning agents" for the world's largest sales teams? In this episode, Jason Ambrose, CEO of People.ai, breaks down the transformation of sales through AI. We discuss the "hard science" of activity capture, the importance of data filtering in European markets, and the psychology of trust in business. Whether you are a founder navigating the AI hype or an investor looking for substance, this conversation provides a grounded look at the future of enterprise software.Special Announcement: People.ai announced a new Model Context Protocol (MCP) integration for its SalesAI Platform for revenue/sales teams. Now they can access complete revenue intelligence – including both structured and unstructured data – directly within their existing AI workflows.Read about it here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260218140075/en/People.ai-Brings-Complete-Revenue-Intelligence-to-AI-Workflows-Through-Model-Context-Protocol-MCP-IntegrationLearn more about People.ai work at: https://www.people.ai/Connect with Jason Ambrose on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonambrose/Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work? https://finstratmgmt.com
Transcribe →Eliminating Missed Revenue with David Yang of Newo.ai | The Innovators & Investors Podcast
Mar 1700:41:10Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Kristian Marquez talks with David Yang, co-founder of Newo.ai, about the future of AI in the workforce. Discover how AI "Front Desk" agents are saving businesses hundreds of thousands in lost revenue by ensuring no call goes unanswered. David shares the technical journey of building zero-hallucination AI and discusses his fascinating perspective on AI consciousness and the upcoming era of 300 million non-biological employees.Learn more about Newo.ai work at: https://newo.aiConnect with David Yang on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-yang-phd/Think you'd be a great guest on the show?Apply at https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work?https://finstratmgmt.com
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