The Silicon Valley Podcast

Ep 182 Technology Between Two Great Countries with Marco Sermoneta

Marco Sermoneta
Ambassador Marco Sermoneta is the Consul General of Israel to the Pacific Northwest, based in San Francisco. A career diplomat since 1993, he will be building partnerships and coalitions of support for Israel with the people and governments of Northern California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Alaska. He plans to focus on strengthening relations in the areas of innovation and technology, trade, agriculture, tourism, sustainability and the environment, and culture.  He looks forward to working together with the active Jewish communities, businesses, and Israeli entrepreneurs in San Francisco, Seattle and Portland. A native Italian and fluent Spanish speaker, he intends to work closely with the Italian American and Hispanic American communities. He is eager to work with the Americans of Asian descent, including the Japanese and Indian communities, based on his diplomatic experiences.
Marco served as Israel’s Ambassador to Colombia and strengthened the political and trade relations significantly with the first ever visit of an Israeli Prime Minister to the country, and with the ratification of the Free Trade Agreement during his tenure.  This set the framework for commerce and economic cooperation which has flourished until today.  Throughout Marco’s tenure there was increased cooperation on technology, innovation, development, and defense issues.
As Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Jamaica, he was instrumental in strengthening relations in a number of areas including agriculture, development, and defense. Israel was one of the first countries to respond to the devastating earthquake of Haiti in 2010, providing immediate humanitarian assistance and long-term trauma-care knowledge. Additionally, he served as Deputy Ambassador to Japan helping represent Israel as the Indo-Pacific Region became more of a focus for Israeli foreign policy. 
He was the Head of the European Multilateral Organizations desk in the European Division of the Foreign Ministry, which included NATO, OSCE and others. He played an important role in the Papal Visit of John Paul II to Israel in 2000. Previously he served as the Political Counselor of the Israeli Mission to the United Nations focusing on social affairs, human rights, economics, and sustainability. He helped Israel gain a more appropriate representation on various UN Committees and staff, and helped many Israeli NGOs obtain UN recognition and accreditation. At the start of his career, he was a Deputy Chief of Mission in both Mumbai and Dublin.
Born in Rome, Marco’s family was active in the Roman Jewish Community, who trace their origins to the Second Temple period 2,000 years ago. He immigrated to Israel as a child on the day before the Yom Kippur War started in 1973 growing up in Lod, a city with various economic and social challenges. For him, being accepted as a Cadet in the Israeli Foreign Ministry, and representing Israel, is a personal and professional dream. 
Before joining the Foreign Ministry, he was assistant to the night editor of the Jerusalem Post, wrote articles for the paper, and worked in a bookstore. Besides international diplomacy, Marco has been writing and publishing poetry for the past 20 years. He also translates Italian and English poetry into Hebrew. He received a BA in English Linguistics and International Relations from Hebrew University and served in a field intelligence unit in the IDF. He enjoys Italian cooking and music, and is hoping to expand his vinyl record collection during his time in San Francisco.
 
We talk about:
How can a Silicon Valley company get in contact with investors from Israel?
How can the Israel consulate help companies here and abroad?
How has the technology that has been developed in Israel spilll over to other countries into other parts of the world or has it?
And  much more…
Connect with Marco
https://embassies.gov.il/san-francisco
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco-sermoneta-28907a18/
 

Ep 181 From Bootstrapping to IPO, CEO at Every Stage with Mark McClain

Mark McClain
I’ve been an entrepreneur in the identity management market for more than 20 years, cofounding two companies that have driven innovation in the market. SailPoint (NYSE:SAIL), has built its business on the foundational principle that identity is power. We have been in business for more than 15 years, and the company continues to grow with profitability. Our commitment to innovation and consistently high customer satisfaction are among the reasons the biggest, most complex organizations in the world rely on SailPoint to help them improve security while staying agile.As CEO, I’m passionate about building a corporate culture that brings good people together to accomplish great things. I love giving back to our community and working with up-and-coming entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and expand Austin’s influence in technology. I speak frequently at investor and industry events and write for the SailPoint blog and a variety of industry publications. I have also been recognized as a highest-rated CEO by Glassdoor and by EY as an Entrepreneur of the Year.Specialties: leadership, organizational development, innovation, culture, business operations, strategy, start-ups
 
We talk about
 
From raising Venture Capital, Private equity, to going public… How has the company changed at each of these stages?
How does a board change with each stage of a company?
What are companies missing when they talk about corporate culture?
 
And much more
 
Connect with Mark
 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmcclainceo/
Website
https://www.sailpoint.com/

Ep 180 Never Say Whatever with Richard Moran

Possible Show notes for  Richard Moran 
 
Richard Moran
 
Richard A. Moran is a General Partner at Tonic Bioventures. He is a noted San Francisco based business leader, workplace pundit, bestselling author, consultant and venture capitalist. He is best known for his series of humorous business books beginning with bestselling, Never Confuse a Memo with Reality that started the genre of "Business Bullet Books."​
 
 
 
 
We talk about:
 
What tips can you give companies from the side of a Venture Capitalist, on not running out of Money.
 
What is the meaning of the word “Whatever”?
 
How can one change a “whatever” business culture?
 
As a Venture Capitalist, how did you do analysis on companies before investing?
 
Contact:
 
Twitter richmoran
Blog  richardmoran.com 
 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardamoran/

Ep 179 Corporate Mergers and Acquistions with Sean Steele

Sean Steele
 
I build or enable businesses to fulfil their potential impact in the world. I thrive on helping leaders and their teams understand and exceed their own expectations of themselves. I love the process of scaling up businesses and specialise in the $2m-$50m revenue range. I have deep experience in education and services businesses in the APAC region.
 
Creating value by developing perspective, vision, strategy, product, foundations, operating frameworks, rhythms, talent, culture, alignment and sales and marketing capability is my thing.
 
I’m blessed to have done this with a range of different hats on (Executive, CEO, Chair, Director, Mentor) and therefore have experienced the thrill of overcoming the inevitable challenges myself, and I love helping others do the same.
 
 
More from Sean Steele, all free resources:
His 8-Steps to Fast-Tracking Growth and Valuation checklist: SeanSteele.com.au/checklist
His ScaleSmart weekly thought piece on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/scalesmart-7025214107435876352/
His ScaleUps Podcast: ScaleUpsPodcast.com
or connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seansteeleprofile/
Regards, 
 
 
We talk about
 
How does a buyer look at a strategic Acquisition?
How does one go about getting every dollar they deserve when selling a business?
When does the integration conversation start to occur when buying a company?
Sean’s philosophies on integration
 
And more…

Ep 178 Getting Acquired with Paul Kelley

Show Notes Paul Kelly
 
Paul Kelly
I love building stuff; businesses, teams, events, partnerships, relationships, and anything with wood.Dynamic and organized, ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines across time zones.Results driven - Navigates well through ambiguity and is adaptable to change.Managed a SF Based brokerage with 20+ agents for over a decade.Managing Broker of a SF based boutique firm for 5 years, Synesis Advisors , which I co-founded.Engaged in 100’s of transactions from Main Street to lower middle market ($10MM-$40M~)Communicates and influences effectively across organizational levels and personalities.Having been self-sufficient since my youth has fostered my self-starter, highly competitive demeanor today.I am a convergent thinker and problem solver, often pivoting from team member to head coach to janitor.Communication is key. I strive for clarity in interactions which allows the highest probability for a successful outcome.Confident in my abilities while humble enough to know when to listen. Two ears one mouth has been a motto of mine for decades.I value honesty and relationships and one’s moral compass. I learned long ago that integrity is paramount for a leader’s success. From a football field to a brokerage office, in the absence of integrity there is no defense.I value ingenuity and proactivity. I have met many remarkably successful people. I found the common denominator in their successes was not timing, intelligence, connections, etc., it was the simple fact that they went and did it.
We talk about
How can one build “Goodwill” over a transaction?
What do you think is “key” to getting a transaction done that people might not think about? 
Where do sellers struggle the most when getting companies ready to sell? 
What are some of the biggest reasons why a company does not sell? 
What trends are happening now with SaaS companies? 
And much more
Connect with Paul Kelly
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauljonkelley/
Twitter
pauljonkelley

Ep 177 ChatGPT, Generative AI with Maya Ackerman PH.D

Shownotes for Maya Acherman PHD
 
Professor Ackerman is a world-renowned researcher in generative AI and CEO/co-founder of WaveAI. A pioneer in the space, Ackerman has been researching generative AI models for text, music and art since 2014. Dr. Ackerman was an early advocate for human-centered generative AI, bringing awareness to the power of AI to profoundly elevate human creativity. Ackerman has over 50 peer reviewed research publications and her research has been cited in over 1200 publications.
 
Named “Woman of Influence” by the Silicon Valley Business Journal, interviews with Dr. Ackerman appear on NBC News, New Scientist, NPR, Grammy.com, SiriusXM and international television stations across the globe. Dr. Ackerman is a member of the Steering Committee of the Association on Computational Creativity and has been on the program and reviewing committees of twenty different AI journals and conferences. A sought-after speaker, she appeared on many top stages, including the United Nations, IBM Research, Microsoft and Stanford University.
 
Dr. Ackerman is the recipient of awards from the Association of Computational Creativity, Office of Naval Research, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and more. She earned her PhD from the University of Waterloo, held postdoctoral fellowships at Caltech and UC San Diego and is on the faculty of the Computer Science and Engineering Department at Santa Clara University.
 
Personal website: http://www.maya-ackerman.com
 
We talk about
What is generative Artificial Intelligence?
How are Chat GPT and Open AI changing the world?
Is Chat GPT the Google search killer such as what is being mentioned in the new?
What are the next steps for this technology?
 
And much more…
 
Connect with Maya Acherman
 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mackerma/
Websites
wave-ai.net (Company)
maya-ackerman.com (Personal)
Email
ackermanmaya@gmail.com

Ep176 Companies Orphaned by Traditional VC’s with Arun Mittal

Arun Bio
 
We founded MBM Capital with one mission: create a new, profitable pathway for founders whose companies are orphaned by traditional VC.
 
Arun has over 20 years of investment, operations and turnaround experience, including at firms such as Shinsei Bank (early employee at JC Flowers / Rippledwood led turnaround), StoneCastle, Klarna and LedgerX. He has invested over $500mm of capital during his career in speciality finance companies, community banks, fintech and other special situations.
 
 
We talk about
 
How does one come up with their fund’s thesis?
What type of numbers in general terms do Private Equity groups like to see?
How does interest rates change your decisions when making an offer on a company?
How do you go about thinking about structuring a deal, both price and terms, when you make an offer on a company?
How do you analyze different value drivers of a company?
And much more
 
 
Connect with Arun
 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/arunmittal/
arun.mittal@gmail.com
917-804-6533
https://www.mbmcapital.co/

Ep 175 Lessons from Silicon Valley Panel 4

Daran Herrman  CEO at Goboto | Host of Establishing your Empire with 10+ years of experience in managing online businesses, including managing strategy development, global eCommerce solutions, online marketing & multi-channel retail partnerships for business & consumer market sectors.  (2) Daran Herrman | LinkedIn 
Sam Wong https://www.linkedin.com/in/startupsam/
Sam is a CEO coach, fractional CEO/CTO/CFO, a Silicon Valley advisor and the author of 21 Secrets of Successful Startups, a book about world-class execution for startups. Sam also provides online training for entrepreneurs at FundableStartups.com. As a serial entrepreneur, he has been CEO, CTO, or VP Engineering / TechOps for five companies, driving multiple acquisitions. As a hands-on “roll up the sleeves” startup advisor, Sam draws from his 30+
Roger King https://www.linkedin.com/in/rogermking/
CEO of Chiefpeople20 years experience in recruiting at both the executive level and the individual contributor level. Interested in companies
Brian Sparkes https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian%F0%9F%92%A5-sparkes-9967a8a0/
Experienced consultant with a demonstrated history of working in higher education, and startup culture. Experienced in high stakes communication, presentation skills, strengthening emotional intelligence in leadership and teams, business development, building business culture, community and social capital.
Jason https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonnyeh/
A Bay Area local & Entrepreneur Evangelist who believes in making a difference, utilizing my “Why” and thinking outside of the box to create phenomenal results. I have held leadership roles in marketing, sales, business development, project management, training, and consultation in industries/sectors such as Fintech, Healthcare, Medical IOT, Travel & Hospitality. I also serve as the Membership and Partnership Director with the BayAngels, a leading angel investor organization in the Bay Area, helping aspiring professionals and entrepreneurs to be top players in Silicon Valley and other markets, such as China and India. Self-motivated and stellar leader describe my personality. In my leisure time, I love traveling, networking, and volunteering in various communities.
 
We talk about:
Bad investments in Silicon Valley.
Key takeaways from the Silicon Valley ecosystem.
What are the benefits of being with an Angel group.
 
And much more

Ep 174 Your Exit Process from Austin-Panel 3

Show notes for panel 3 Your Exit Process. The Business Capital & Exit Strategy Summit
 
Jerome Fogel https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeromefogel/
Jerome Fogel is the co-founder of Fogel & Potamianos LLP. He is known as a dealmaker and innovator in the legal community. He represents successful entrepreneurs, small and lower middle market companies, and high-profile sports and entertainment leaders. He also serves as the go-to offsite general counsel for a number of organizations. ​He has participated in over 100 corporate, non-profit, and entertainment transactions including company formations, mergers & acquisitions, equity financing, high-profile partnerships, talent agreements, digital music distribution, television distribution, publishing, licensing, and commercial transactions.
 
 
Shawn Flynn mid-market investment banker and Podcast Host.
Shawn started his career as a business owner, founding, and growing a successful company in Beijing China before returning to the US to work with companies ranging from fast growing Silicon Valley startups to established overseas public companies. He brings his international experience working with all stages and sectors of businesses to his role as Principal at a premier middle market investment bank with expertise in mergers and acquisitions, raising growth capital, and secondaries.
Shawn holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from UCSD and speaks Mandarin and Spanish (lived abroad for almost 8 years) and he is the host of the award-winning Podcast "The Silicon Valley Podcast"
You can connect with Shawn at
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnpflynn/
Podcast https://link.chtbl.com/TheSiliconValleyPodcast
 
Hall Matin https://www.linkedin.com/in/halltmartin/
Through TEN Capital, I help #startup and growth companies everywhere raise #funding from #angels, family offices, venture capital and high net worth individuals.Through the Texas Entrepreneur Networks I established a funding program to match entrepreneurs with investors I also run the Wilco Funding Portal which has raised over $3M for companies based in Williamson County.Through the Texas Open Angel Network I educate angel investors on how to make investments into startups and growing companies. As part of TOAN, I host the Investor Connect podcast series in which I interview venture capital, angel, and family offices investors on how they invest in startups and growth companies. I assist in the formation and launch of startup investment groups, mentorship programs and accelerator programs which includes the First Look Forum, Idea to IP at UT, Incubation Station(SKU), AccelerateNFC, and others. I formed the TEN Advisory program consisting of highly capable professionals to provide business services to startup and growth companies.
 
 
 
How does one do due diligence on the buyer?
When should a company bring in an investment banker to help them sell their company?
What is the process to sell your business?
How to increase the odds of a deal closing.
Who should be on your team when selling a company?

Ep 173 Scaling Your Company, Austin-Panel 2

Shownotes for Austin Panel 2
 
Sam Wong https://www.linkedin.com/in/startupsam/
Sam is a CEO coach, fractional CEO/CTO/CFO, a Silicon Valley advisor and the author of 21 Secrets of Successful Startups, a book about world-class execution for startups. Sam also provides online training for entrepreneurs at FundableStartups.com. As a serial entrepreneur, he has been CEO, CTO, or VP Engineering / TechOps for five companies, driving multiple acquisitions. As a hands-on “roll up the sleeves” startup advisor, Sam draws from his 30+
 
Jerome Fogel https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeromefogel/
Jerome Fogel is the co-founder of Fogel & Potamianos LLP. He is known as a dealmaker and innovator in the legal community. He represents successful entrepreneurs, small and lower middle market companies, and high-profile sports and entertainment leaders. He also serves as the go-to offsite general counsel for a number of organizations. ​He has participated in over 100 corporate, non-profit, and entertainment transactions including company formations, mergers & acquisitions, equity financing, high-profile partnerships, talent agreements, digital music distribution, television distribution, publishing, licensing, and commercial transactions. ​
 
Daran Herrman https://www.linkedin.com/in/daranherrman/
10+ years of experience in managing online businesses, including managing strategy development, global eCommerce solutions, online marketing & multi-channel retail partnerships for business & consumer market sectors.
A winning financial and visual track record in online and omni-channel marketing with multi-channel campaigns across
 
 
We talk about
 
What are the milestones investors will want to see at each stage of your company’s development?
How do you set aside equity for the founding team members?
How do you built your advisory board?
How quickly should your company grow?
And much more…