Something Ventured -- Silicon Valley Podcast

Jonathan Abrams is a busy guy.  He has two kids.  He co-founded The Founders Den, an entrepreneurial center in San Francisco,  He founded, built and sold Sociializr.  He's invested in nearly 50 startups, many of which have grown enormously, some beyond a billion dollars in valuation.  He founded Nuzzel, and is currently its CEO.  Nuzzel has become the largest aggregator of business, media and tech news in the world. But before all that, Jonathan founded Friendster and started the social networking industry.  Recently the Gimlet podcast "Startup" did two episodes about Friendster.  In THIS podcast, Jonathan talks about what they got right, wrong -- and what they missed.

Marcus Dantus is CEO of Startup Mexico.  Startups, entrepreneurs, venture capital -- it's all happening and growing in Mexico.  Marcus discusses the unique opportunities and challenges facing entrepreneurs and investors in Mexico.  He also provides the point of view of Mexicans on the election of Donald Trump, and Mexico's path forward. -- In the Something Venture podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the headlines, as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online and beyond.

Sharon Goldstein is Executive-in-Resience at XSeed Capital (xseedcap.com), and recently CMO of Shiphawk and Pixlee.  She also sits on the board of Hebrew Free Loan of San Francisco, which she discusses.  She walks us through her path from Industrial Engineering at Georgia Tech through Northwestern University to becoming a Silicon Valley EIR.  We also spend time discussing women in Silicon Valley, which of course takes us to...Uber.  Don't worry, we get past it!   -- In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online...and beyond.  Twitter:  @kentlind

Victor Echevarria (OK, YOU try pronouncing it) made the bold leap from Harvard Business School to Silicon Valley.  As founder of Frenting and team member at TaskRabbit, he was early to the sharing economy.  Victor explains the differences in the success factors behind sharing economy companies that disappeared and those that are now successful like AirBnB, Uber and Lyft.  Victor transitioned into healthcare, founding Remedy Labs.  Healthcare represents a huge portion of the US economy and affects everyone, but is rarely at the top of the list when Silicon Valley entrepreneurs look for businesses to transform.  Victor explains why and much more.   -- In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are transforming the way we view the world online and beyond. 

Carter Cohen is the future.  In 1991 Douglas Copeland published the book "Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture", and we've worked our way down the alphabet ever since.  In this podcast, Kent discusses technology -- and the future -- from the perspective of a 17-year old on his way to college.  Is Snapchat the future?  Or Facebook messenger?  Listen to learn this, and more.  Oh, and you'll probably feel better about the future too!   --   In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online -- and beyond.

In this second part of Kent's conversation with Neil Cohen, the discussion continues about which marketing trends everyone should keep an eye on for 2017.  Personalization, video, Snapchatting and more.  Neil Cohen is a sales strategy and marketing consultant, Lecturer at San Francisco State University, advisor to Startup Chile and Parallel18. And -- San Francisco Giants Fan. -- In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online and beyond. 

In honor of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's visit to the US, we talk to Lylan Masterman about Canada Venture Capital and Startups.  Lylan is an investor with White Star Capital which invests across the Atlantic.  Canadian tech -- turns out it's a much bigger topic than one might imagine.  After a botched podcast opening (he did work at aQuantive and went to Kellogg, not so much Merrill Lynch).  The VC ecosystem in Waterloo, Toronto, Montreal etc. are discussed.  Trends in VC and startups there, successful Canadian companies, and more.  Also discussed are the impacts of changing immigration dynamics on tech talent in Canada.   -- In the Something Ventured podcast Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are changing the way we view the world online and beyond.

Neil Cohen is one of our most engaging energetic guests.  Here is his take on marketing trends for 2017 across several categories, his take on branding masters like Red Bull and more.  Neil is a marketing veteran, professor at San Francisco State.  And a San Francisco Giants fan.     -- In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online and beyond?

Antonio Garcia Martinez, best-selling author of Chaos Monkeys (his New York times bestselling Facebook tell-all). If you haven't heard Antonio yet, enjoy his take on Silicon Valley, politics, Libertarianism -- and more. -- In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online and beyond.

Best selling author (Chaos Monkeys) Antonio Garcia Martinez is back.  If you haven't had the pleasure yet, you are in for something special.  After discussing his book the first time around, we realized he is one of the most thoughtful, original and provocative thinkers on the topic of politics.  In particular, his take on the relationship of Silicon Valley, and it's wealth, to politics -- is fascinating.  Part 1 of 2, enjoy.  Follow Antonio on Facebook or Twitter @antoniogm. -- In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online....and beyond.

Welcome back -- to fan favorite Mike Stutz part 2.  Mike Stutz is a Television Producer, movie director (Don't Change the Subject) just to name a few talents  Here is part 2 of his insightful take on the interaction of television, fake news, and TV's changing role in politics.  Also mentioned are US presidents named Jackson. -- In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online...and beyond.

Mike Stutz  is a reality TV show producer.  Credits include "Shinesty" on MTV; "Loaded" on CNBC, and "Santa Sent me to the ER" on TLC.  He is also producer, writer and director of the feature film "Don't Change the Subject".  In this episode, Mike returns to talk about reality TV, politics....and Andrew Jackson/Johnson.   -- In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online...and beyond.

Sarah Marie is an entrepreneur, executive and co-founder of Spec.fm podcast network and its CEO.  After a break last week for the US election (spoiler alert, it did not go as expected) we return to more positive territory.  Sarah continues her conversation about the path to Silicon Valley (which in her case did not involve Harvard or Stanford), the struggle to build a path in Silicon Valley, and the early success of her Spec podcast network.

Something Ventured Election Special with Joe Garofoli, Senior Political writer for the SF chronicle.  We cover the national election -- why everyone missed the rise of Trump, and what people are feeling in Pittsburgh.  Also covered are California ballot measures (marijuana legalization in particular).  We finish with a discussion of Bay Area measures, and San Francisco housing in particular.

Sarah Marie is co-founder and CEO of the fast-growing podcast network Spec Network (Spec.fm).  Sarah's entrepreneurial journey brought her to Silicon Valley from Minnesota, and involved an early stint at a bakery.  This is not your "Stanford/Facebook/XYZ VC" -- it's far more interesting.   Spec Network has become a leading design and developer podcast network, with podcasts such as "Design Details", "Immutable" and "Runtime", among others. Also discussed are the sometime challenges of navigating the streets of San Francisco -- and PC Games.     -- In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom Explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online...and beyond.

Chaos Monkeys' author Antonio Garcia-Martinez -- part 2 of 2.  In which he discusses Y-combinator, the inner workings of Facebook and much more.  Particularly interesting -- what happened when some (but not all) people at Facebook realized they were rich?     The book Chaos Monkeys (on iTunes here https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/chaos-monkeys/id1071356667?mt=11)  was recently described by Andrew Ross Sorkin of the New York Times as:   "Incisive.... The most fun business book I have read this year.... Clearly there will be people who hate this book — which is probably one of the things that makes it such a great read.”

Antonio Garcia-Martinez' "Chaos Monkeys" (Harper) was an instant New York Times bestseller.  Andrew Ross Sorkin in the New York Times said  "Incisive -- the most fun business book I've read this year.  Clearly there will be people who hate this book -- which is probably one of the things that make it such a great read". In this episode, Antonio covers a range of Silicon Valley topics - including some heroics from Y-combinator's Sam Altman.  Sam has since been in the news for supporting Donald Trump supporter and Silicon Valley investor Peter Thiel.   -- In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the word online...and beyond.  

We pre-empt podcasts planned with Antonio Garcia Martinez and Sarah Marie of Spec Network, because Donald Trump made us.  (don't worry -- we'll get to Antonio and Sarah Marie shortly)  Without repeating the things Mr. Trump said about sexual assault and sexual harassment -- we're reminded that sexism, in all of its forms, is wrong.  In this previously aired, but always timely podcast, Rachel Fairbanks covers a theme that has come up many times on Something Ventured:  harassment and assault in Silicon Valley are more prevalent than many think.  Hey, this ain't Harry Stebbings 20 Minute VC! -- In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online....and beyond.

Donald Trump would hate this podcast.  The story of an immigrant from China.  Ben Cheung built an AI company (pay attention, Westworld fans).  He discussed it in a previous podcast, when we talked about the struggle of the entrepreneur.  Just a few months after that, Microsoft came calling and bought his company.  Ben discusses the process of being approached and negotiating with Microsoft after Microsoft exec Qui Lu took an interest in Genee.  He also talks about what it's like working at Microsoft and -- for a Silicon Valley podcast -- has positive things to say about Microsoft! (Take that, TWIT).   -- In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online and beyond!

In this replay, we revisit our interview with Benjamin Cheung, the entrepreneur behind Genee.  This provides a glimpse of the entrepreneur at work -- a fascinating exploration now that we know the outcome:  He eventually sells his company to Microsoft!   -- In the Something Ventured Podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online and beyond.