Silicon Valley Impact

Welcome to Silicon Valley Impact, where insight meets innovation in the world of business. Join hosts Brian Sparkes and Brian Bernasconi as they delve into the stories of local and global businesses that are making a real impact. Whether you’re a startup founder, a small business owner, or someone looking to navigate the dynamic business ecosystem, this show is your guide to success. Tune in to gain valuable insights, discover new strategies, and stay ahead of the curve in today’s ever-evolving business landscape. Get ready to be inspired and informed on Silicon Valley Impact!

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S3 · E26
October 13 · 59 min
The Builder’s Builder: Netlify CEO Matt Biilmann - S3 E26
On this week’s episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we’re talking with Mathias “Matt” Biilmann, CEO and co-founder of Netlify, the AI-native web platform where developers and AI agents build together. Matt coined the term Agent Experience (AX) to describe how people and AI can collaborate to build a better, more open web. Before that, he pioneered the Jamstack movement, an approach that transformed how the web is built and deployed. Today, he leads a community of more than 14 million developers and holds to a simple but powerful belief: everyone who builds online is a developer. A builder at heart, Matt is always working to improve web architecture, champion developer experience (DX), and help developers unlock the full power of the web. All this and much more, on Silicon Valley Impact! Follow us on and listen to all our episodes on: 🎙️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J 🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823 📺 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@siliconvalleyimpact Silicon Valley Venture, LLC, the parent company of Silicon Valley Impact, is a proud global venture partner to great companies, MoralesHR and STAK Ventures, and 1900 Broadway Tower - Oakland. Check out https://moraleshr.com/ and https://stakspace.com/ to gain access to the worlds largest full stack venture ecosystem. It's over 1.2 million square feet of Live, Work, Play, Go; everything innovators, investors, ecosystem influencers, institutional partners, and global talent needs to gain a global advantage, access, alignment, and accelerate your venture. Event Partnerships: Join us in San Francisco on October 13th-15th for TechCrunch. Use Promo Code: siliconvalleyv25 and use the link here: https://techcrunch.com/events/techcrunch-disrupt/?utm_source=siliconvalleyventures&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=disrupt2026&utm_content=partnerdiscount&promo=siliconvalley25&display=true Join us in San Francisco on October 28th, 2026 for One Way Summit 2026. Go to Luma to learn more and get on the waitlist before tickets are released: https://luma.com/onewaysummit2026 Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions.
S3 · E25
October 6 · 47 min
Going Global with JETRO: New Markets, New Opportunities - S3 E25 Tokyo Japan
On this week’s episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we’re in Tokyo, Japan, at JETRO, exploring how founders can access new markets, build international partnerships, and grow across borders. Joining us are Mayako Ishiguro, JETRO Program Manager; Will Ferguson, Manager of Startup and Innovation Programs at JETRO USA; and Hiroshi Takeuchi, Founder of ExportAI and Managing Director of Genero Inc. As Japan’s government-backed organization for international trade and investment, JETRO helps foreign companies establish a presence in Japan and Japanese startups expand globally through market insights, business guidance, and connections to partners, accelerators, and investors. Hiroshi also shares his journey from telecom and open-source technology to AI-powered commerce. His company, ExportAI, simplifies export regulations and automates compliance—starting with sake, with ambitions to expand across 1,000 industry verticals. What does it take to turn local innovation into global opportunity? Join us for the conversation. This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact! Follow us on and listen to all our episodes on: 🎙️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J 🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823 📺 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@siliconvalleyimpact Silicon Valley Venture, LLC, the parent company of Silicon Valley Impact, is a proud global venture partner to great companies, MoralesHR and STAK Ventures, and 1900 Broadway Tower - Oakland. Check out https://moraleshr.com/ and https://stakspace.com/ to gain access to the worlds largest full stack venture ecosystem. It's over 1.2 million square feet of Live, Work, Play, Go; everything innovators, investors, ecosystem influencers, institutional partners, and global talent needs to gain a global advantage, access, alignment, and accelerate your venture. Event Partnerships: Join us in San Francisco on October 13th-15th for TechCrunch Disrupt. Use Promo Code: siliconvalleyv25 and use the link here: https://techcrunch.com/events/techcrunch-disrupt/?utm_source=siliconvalleyventures&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=disrupt2026&utm_content=partnerdiscount&promo=siliconvalley25&display=true Join us in San Francisco on October 28th, 2026 for One Way Summit 2026. Go to Luma to learn more and get on the waitlist before tickets are released: https://luma.com/onewaysummit2026 Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions.
#44
September 21 · 1 hr 8 min
What happens when AI moves beyond technology — and starts reshaping how we invest, build companies, make decisions, and connect with one another?
On this week’s episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we bring together three leaders approaching that question from very different perspectives: Jorden Woods, Managing Partner at StarChain Ventures; Dr. Jeannice Fairrer Samani, AI governance and digital transformation strategist and CEO of Fairrer Samani Group; and Tom O’Malley, Founder & CEO of Meshi AI. From investing in the next generation of AI companies and building responsible intelligence systems to reimagining professional networking through AI agents, this conversation explores where AI is creating real opportunity—and what it will take for founders, investors, organizations, and people to capitalize on what comes next. Jorden Woods is Managing Partner at StarChain Ventures, backing seed-stage startups in AI, Data Intelligence, and enterprise blockchain transforming high-stakes industries including finance, banking, healthcare, and life sciences. An exited AI founder and Caltech-trained astrophysicist, Jorden has raised more than $50 million for his own startups and generated millions in revenue. Through his venture lab, startups he strategically advised have raised $900M+, produced three exits and two unicorns, and generated more than $4 billion in shareholder value. He is the bestselling co-author of Enterprise Blockchain Has Arrived and has keynoted and lectured at more than 50 technology conferences worldwide, including at Stanford, MIT, and Google. Jorden is also an AI and enterprise blockchain thought leader and technical advisor to Fortune 500 companies. Dr. Jeannice Fairrer Samani is a Silicon Valley AI governance and digital transformation strategist, CEO and Managing Director of Fairrer Samani Group, and creator of the SMART Intelligence Layer™. For more than two decades, she has architected data and intelligence systems for organizations including Apple, Cisco, the International Telecommunication Union, the City of San José, and Santa Clara County. An educator and NSF I-Corps instructor, Jeannice helps leaders, founders, and institutions translate emerging technology into responsible innovation, workforce capability, and sustainable economic growth. She has spoken in 41 countries and brings a systems-level perspective to how AI can create investable businesses, stronger organizations, and broader economic opportunity. Tom O’Malley is Founder & CEO of Meshi AI, building AI agents that remove the social stress and spam from professional networking while dramatically expanding the power of your effective network. A four-time founder, Tom previously built ventures including Currnt, Y Combinator-backed Yardbook, and La Leyenda. Prior to Meshi AI, Tom held senior strategy and sales leadership roles at Oracle, Avaya, and Qwest Communications. He holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and brings a combination of entrepreneurial, enterprise, and AI experience to rethinking how professionals build meaningful networks. His philosophy: “To connect is human. To network is math.” This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact! Follow us on and listen to all our episodes on: 🎙️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J 🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823 📺 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@siliconvalleyimpact Silicon Valley Venture, LLC, the parent company of Silicon Valley Impact, is a proud global venture partner to great companies, MoralesHR and STAK Ventures, and 1900 Broadway Tower - Oakland. Check out https://moraleshr.com/ and https://stakspace.com/ to gain access to the worlds largest full stack venture ecosystem. It's over 1.2 million square feet of Live, Work, Play, Go; everything innovators, investors, ecosystem influencers, institutional partners, and global talent needs to gain a global advantage, access, alignment, and accelerate your venture. Event Partnerships: Join us in San Francisco on October 28th, 2026 for One Way Summit 2026. Go to Luma to learn more and get on the waitlist before tickets are released: https://lnkd.in/gVsa23gj Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions.
S3 · E23
September 8 · 1 hr 1 min
Where Capital Meets Influence - S3 E23
On this week’s episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we’re sitting down with two leaders operating at the intersection of venture capital, emerging technology, global markets, and media: Radhika Iyengar, Managing Partner of Silicon Valley-based StarChain Ventures, and Piyush Puri, President and Board Director of BCCL Worldwide Inc. (BWI), the North American division of The Times of India Group, India’s largest multimedia conglomerate. Radhika Iyengar is Managing Partner of StarChain Ventures, where she backs seed-stage startups using AI and Data Intelligence to transform enterprise healthcare, life sciences, and finance. She is a Top 100 Woman of the Future, TEDx speaker, Silicon Valley Woman of Influence, eight-time founder, and expert in AI, Data Intelligence, and enterprise blockchain. Through her venture lab, Radhika has advised startups that have collectively raised more than $900 million, produced four exits and two unicorns, and generated more than $4 billion in value. She has also served as CEO of an AI and Web3 cybersecurity company focused on zero-trust security in healthcare. Radhika is the bestselling co-author of Enterprise Blockchain Has Arrived and has keynoted and lectured at more than 50 technology conferences worldwide, including engagements at Stanford, Harvard, MIT, Google, and Intel. Her expertise in blockchain and healthcare has been featured by CNN International, Business Insider, and Forbes Japan. She has also advised government leaders on emerging technologies, including serving on the California Blockchain Working Group, advising Governor Gavin Newsom and the California State Legislature. Piyush Puri is President and Board Director of BCCL Worldwide Inc. (BWI), the North American division of The Times of India Group. He is also the founding partner of Mercurius Media Capital, an independent venture fund that brings together premium media assets to support high-growth startups. Piyush oversees The Times Group’s strategic investment arm, Brand Capital International (BCI), where he has helped more than 30 portfolio companies expand from international markets into India. He also leads the monetization of the group’s media platforms across North America and drives new business initiatives throughout the market. Piyush holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), an MBA from XLRI School of Business, and a Master’s Degree in the Psychology of Leadership from Penn State University. He is a CFA Charterholder and also holds a Master’s Degree in Modern & Contemporary Art. Venture. AI. Global markets. Media. Leadership. This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact! Follow us and listen to all our episodes on: 🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@siliconvalleyimpact Silicon Valley Venture, LLC, the parent company of Silicon Valley Impact, is proud to be a global venture partner to great companies and organizations, including MoralesHR, STAK Ventures, and 1900 Broadway Tower – Oakland. Together, we are connecting innovators, investors, senior executives, institutional partners, and global talent to one of the world’s largest full-stack venture ecosystems—more than 1.2 million square feet of Live, Work, Play, Go. It’s about creating the access, alignment, community, infrastructure, and opportunity founders and organizations need to accelerate their ventures and compete globally. Learn more: https://moraleshr.com/ https://stakspace.com/ EVENT PARTNERSHIPS Join us in San Francisco on October 28, 2026, for One Way Summit 2026. Get on the waitlist before tickets are released: https://lnkd.in/gVsa23gj Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment and informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a qualified professional before making financial or business decisions.
S3 · E22
September 1 · 1 hr 2 min
From Beirut to the Bay: building more than a business: community, trust & connection. S3 E22
On this week's episode of Silicon Valley Impact we are talking with Ray Dargham, Founder and CEO of Step, and we’re talking about how relationships are the real currency. From Beirut to the Bay: building more than a business: community, trust & connection. Step is a global tech and startup platform connecting founders, investors, operators, and technology leaders across MENA, Silicon Valley, and emerging markets. Ray founded Step while still in college, beginning as an entrepreneurship workshop series hosted in art galleries in Beirut. After graduating, he moved the platform to Dubai and transformed it into one of the Middle East’s leading technology and startup conference brands. Today, Step serves as a bridge between the MENA and U.S. startup ecosystems, with flagship events in Dubai and San Francisco. Over 14+ editions, Step has welcomed more than 100,000 attendees, showcased 3,000+ startups, and featured 800+ global speakers from companies including LinkedIn, Brex, Deel, Replit, Careem, and Tabby. The platform has also brought together hundreds of venture capital firms, accelerators, corporate innovation teams, and ecosystem leaders from around the world. For more than a decade, Ray has led Step’s vision, strategy, partnerships, and growth while maintaining its founder-first, community-driven approach. His work sits at the intersection of technology, media, venture, community building, and cross-border startup growth, with a particular focus on connecting emerging ecosystems with established global markets. Ray has been featured on the cover of Forbes Middle East, recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30, and interviewed by Euronews, CNBC Arabia, Al Arabiya, Startup Grind, JA Europe, and other global media outlets. He continues to build and advise technology platforms, venture networks, and founder-centric communities that create meaningful connections between entrepreneurs, investors, and markets around the world. This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact! Follow us on and listen to all our episodes on: 🎙️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J 🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823 📺 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@siliconvalleyimpact Silicon Valley Venture, LLC, the parent company of Silicon Valley Impact, is a proud global venture partner to great companies, MoralesHR and STAK Ventures, and 1900 Broadway Tower - Oakland. Check out https://moraleshr.com/ and https://stakspace.com/ to gain access to the worlds largest full stack venture ecosystem. It's over 1.2 million square feet of Live, Work, Play, Go; everything innovators, investors, ecosystem influencers, institutional partners, and global talent needs to gain a global advantage, access, alignment, and accelerate your venture. Event Partnerships: Join us in San Francisco on August 27th, 2026 for Step. Use promo code SVV20 and get your tickets here: https://lnkd.in/gTuYJPeA Join us in San Francisco on October 28th, 2026 for One Way Summit 2026. Go to Luma to learn more and get on the waitlist before tickets are released: https://lnkd.in/gVsa23gj Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions.
S3 · E21
August 25 · 57 min
From Chips to Creators: Two Paths to Building Value - S3 E21
On this week’s episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we’re talking with B Dweik (BD), Chief Investment Officer of Bluestone Flagship Investors, and Dileep Dhakal, Founder & CEO of Veel App. BD is the Chief Investment Officer of Bluestone Flagship Investors, a fractional family office he co-founded in Silicon Valley alongside four other technology entrepreneurs. With more than 24 years as a microchip design engineer, BD worked with IBM and ARM on technology powering everything from iPhones and iPads to Teslas and spacecraft. Today, he applies that same engineering mindset to investing and wealth creation, helping busy professionals build and protect wealth through carefully vetted, cash-flowing real estate opportunities. BD’s journey into real estate began unexpectedly at age 20, when he rented out rooms in his first property and became a landlord almost by accident. That experience grew into a decades-long passion for investing, even as he built his career in technology—including a startup exit through Cisco’s acquisition in 2015. He’s also passionate about bringing financial literacy and essential life skills to children ages 8–12 in developing countries, helping the next generation build strong financial foundations early. Dileep Dhakal is a tech entrepreneur, product leader, and Founder & CEO of Veel App, a global user-generated video platform connecting brands and creators across more than 120 countries. Before founding Veel, Dileep built and led projects and engineering teams at companies including Apple, Walmart, and Google AI. He also completed two startup exits earlier in his career, giving him firsthand experience building and scaling innovative products from the ground up. His approach to product development centers on the “Minimum Lovable Product”—building products people don’t just use, but genuinely love and engage with. Dileep’s passion for technology began in high school, where he started coding and building web applications. He later attended UC Berkeley and today splits his time between San Francisco and Nepal, where he continues to support the local technology ecosystem and speak at developer and creator summits. From engineering wealth and investing to building global technology platforms and the creator economy, this conversation brings together two very different entrepreneurial journeys—and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact! Follow us on and listen to all our episodes on: 🎙️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J 🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823 📺 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@siliconvalleyimpact Silicon Valley Venture, LLC, the parent company of Silicon Valley Impact, is a proud global venture partner to great companies, MoralesHR and STAK Ventures, and 1900 Broadway Tower - Oakland. Check out https://moraleshr.com/ and https://stakspace.com/ to gain access to the worlds largest full stack venture ecosystem. It's over 1.2 million square feet of Live, Work, Play, Go; everything innovators, investors, ecosystem influencers, institutional partners, and global talent needs to gain a global advantage, access, alignment, and accelerate your venture. Event Partnerships: Join us in San Francisco on August 27th, 2026 for Step. Use promo code SVV20 and get your tickets here: https://lnkd.in/gTuYJPeA Join us in San Francisco on October 28th, 2026 for One Way Summit 2026. Go to Luma to learn more and get on the waitlist before tickets are released: https://lnkd.in/gVsa23gj Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions.
S3 · E20
August 18 · 1 hr 7 min
From Fundraising to Blitzscaling! S3 E20
On this week’s episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we’re talking with Chris Yeh, Founding General Partner of Blitzscaling Ventures, and Mehron Sharq, investor and Founder of Inside Round Advisory, about startups, venture capital, fundraising, and what it really takes to build and scale. Lock in for an incredible conversation. Chris Yeh has founded, advised, or invested in more than 100 high-tech startups since 1995, including companies like Ustream and UserTesting. He is the co-author, with Reid Hoffman, of Blitzscaling: The Lightning-Fast Path to Building Massively Valuable Companies, and co-author of the New York Times bestseller The Alliance. Chris holds two degrees from Stanford University and an MBA from Harvard Business School, where he was named a Baker Scholar. Mehron Sharq is a venture investor, operator, and Founder of Inside Round Advisory, where he helps early-stage founders master the fundraising process—from narrative and investor positioning to meetings, process strategy, and negotiation. He began his career in institutional capital at Hall Capital Partners before moving into venture, evaluating companies, backing founders, and building companies of his own. A two-time founder with one successful exit, Mehron brings both sides of the table to the conversation: founder and investor. This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact! Follow us on and listen to all our episodes on: 🎙️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J 🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823 📺 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@siliconvalleyimpact Silicon Valley Venture, LLC, the parent company of Silicon Valley Impact, is a proud global venture partner to great companies, MoralesHR and STAK Ventures, and 1900 Broadway Tower - Oakland. Check out https://moraleshr.com/ and https://stakspace.com/ to gain access to the worlds largest full stack venture ecosystem. It's over 1.2 million square feet of Live, Work, Play, Go; everything innovators, investors, ecosystem influencers, institutional partners, and global talent needs to gain a global advantage, access, alignment, and accelerate your venture. Event Partnerships: Join us in San Francisco on August 27th, 2026 for Step. Use promo code SVV20 and get your tickets here: https://lnkd.in/gTuYJPeA Join us in San Francisco on October 28th, 2026 for One Way Summit 2026. Go to Luma to learn more and get on the waitlist before tickets are released: https://lnkd.in/gVsa23gj Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions.
S3 · E19
August 4 · 1 hr 4 min
The Future Is Built, Then Funded - S3 E19
On this week's episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we're joined by Ben Stein, Founder and General Partner at Cartography Capital, and Zach Betts, General Partner at Zandia Ventures. Benjamin Stein is the Founder and General Partner of Cartography Capital, a deep tech venture firm investing in founders building at the intersection of infrastructure, sustainability, and emerging technologies. Before launching the firm, Ben was an operator, joining Square around employee #120 through its IPO and helping scale Opendoor from three to more than 20 markets. An active angel investor since 2017, he made one of the earliest investments in Teamshares, the employee ownership platform now publicly traded on Nasdaq (TMS). Ben lives and invests in San Francisco and is based out of Oakland. Zach Betts is the General Partner at Zandia Ventures, a Bay Area-based investor-operator focused on accelerating startups across technology and life sciences. With more than 25 years of leadership experience, Zach advises founders, investors, and innovation ecosystems on commercial strategy, partnerships, capital planning, and operational growth. His work centers on helping breakthrough healthcare, medical device, and AI companies transform innovative ideas into scalable, market-ready businesses. This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact. Follow and subscribe: 🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@siliconvalleyimpact Silicon Valley Venture, LLC, the parent company of Silicon Valley Impact, is proud to partner with MoralesHR, STAK Ventures, and 1900 Broadway Tower in Oakland. Visit https://moraleshr.com/ and https://stakspace.com/ to learn more about one of the world's largest full-stack venture ecosystems—more than 1.5 million square feet of Live, Work, Play, and Go. Designed for innovators, investors, senior executives, institutional partners, and global talent, it's built to provide the access, alignment, and acceleration needed to grow world-changing ventures. Event Partnerships 📍 STEP San Francisco — August 27, 2026 Use promo code SVV20 and register here: https://lnkd.in/gTuYJPeA 📍 One Way Summit 2026 — October 28, 2026 Join the waitlist on Luma: https://lnkd.in/gVsa23gj Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests of Silicon Valley Impact are for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial, legal, or investment advice. Please consult a qualified professional before making financial or business decisions.
S3 · E18
July 7 · 1 hr 4 min
The Art of Investing and Building in Silicon Valley - S3 E18
On this week's episode of Silicon Valley Impact we are talking with Kirby Harris, Co-Founder at Base Ventures; and Scott Swanson, Founder & CEO of Bonder about The Art of Investing and Building in Silicon Valley. Kirby is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Base Ventures, a Berkeley, CA based early-stage venture firm investing in 120+ companies including unicorns 6sense, Gecko Robotics, and Genies, with a portfolio valued over $11 billion. A Morehouse College graduate and Kauffman Fellow, Kirby brings over two decades of venture capital and private equity experience, including leadership roles in Community aligned investing and project finance. Kirby excels at identifying and supporting founders to scale transformative ideas into enduring companies. Scott is the Founder and CEO of Bonder, the world’s first patented connection engine for the physical world. Bonder is a connective layer for everywhere you go. A store, a venue, a social space. It links the people, staff, departments, offers, and commerce within, in real time, with precision and purpose. Venues reach their guests directly. People get VIP treatment everywhere they go, with instant access to the right people, the right offers, the right moment. What Google built for searching, Bonder is building for connection. Scott spent two decades immersed in Global Infrastructure and Technology within Silicon Valley before founding Bonder. He also trained for over 20 years under Kobun Chino Otogawa Roshi, the same teacher who guided and was a mentor to Steve Jobs. Bonder’s mission is to build the most advanced and accurate connection engine in the world, and restore the human experience to healthy interaction beyond data collection, ads or intrusive behavior. This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact! Follow us on and listen to all our episodes on: 🎙️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J 🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823 📺 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@siliconvalleyimpact Silicon Valley Venture, LLC, the parent company of Silicon Valley Impact, is a proud global venture partner to great companies, MoralesHR and STAK Ventures, and 1900 Broadway Tower - Oakland. Check out https://moraleshr.com/ and https://stakspace.com/ to gain access to the worlds largest full stack venture ecosystem. It's over 1.2 million square feet of Live, Work, Play, Go; everything innovators, investors, ecosystem influencers, institutional partners, and global talent needs to gain a global advantage, access, alignment, and accelerate your venture. Event Partnerships: Join us in San Francisco on August 27th, 2026 for Step. Use promo code SVV20 and get your tickets here: https://lnkd.in/gTuYJPeA
S3 · E17
June 30 · 1 hr 7 min
AI is changing how we work—but who is building the systems, communities, and infrastructure that will shape what's next? S3 E17
100 episodes. Hundreds of conversations. Countless lessons from the entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators shaping the future. Thank you for being part of the Silicon Valley Impact journey. AI is changing how we work—but who is building the systems, communities, and infrastructure that will shape what's next? To celebrate our 100th episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we sit down with two remarkable leaders driving innovation from different angles: Dr. Anna Zakowska, Managing Partner at Dragons and Angels Fund and a nine-time founder, and Qi Diaz, Executive Director of Hacker Dojo. Dr. Anna Zakowska is an AI executive, entrepreneur, and enterprise technology leader specializing in building production-grade AI systems for some of the world's largest organizations. Over the past five years, she has architected and deployed more than 1,000 enterprise AI solutions—including large language models (LLMs), retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and multi-agent systems—across financial services, healthcare, and retail, helping organizations automate complex workflows, reduce manual review by up to 90%, and make real-time decisions at scale. As a founder and executive, Anna has scaled AI organizations from the ground up, growing engineering teams to more than 55 people, raising $149 million in capital, and managing more than $1 billion in assets. She holds a Ph.D. in Data Science, an MBA from Pepperdine University, completed executive education at Harvard, and is a sought-after keynote speaker on AI, innovation, and enterprise transformation. Today, she is building the next generation of enterprise AI infrastructure through autonomous multi-agent systems designed for real-world deployment and competitive advantage. Joining her is Qi Diaz, a community builder, nonprofit leader, and education innovator dedicated to empowering people through technology, entrepreneurship, and hands-on learning. As Executive Director of Hacker Dojo in Mountain View, Qi leads one of Silicon Valley's most recognized maker and innovation communities, connecting entrepreneurs, engineers, students, and creators to collaborate and build. A founding member of Enkeyai, Qi develops technology-driven programs that support teachers, students, and educational communities. Previously, as Executive Director of The Institute for Applied Tinkering, she championed project-based learning and innovation in education. At DreamCatchers, Inc., her leadership in strategic partnerships and grant writing increased funding by 60%, expanding access to transformative programs. Her commitment to educational opportunity and community impact has earned both the prestigious Tall Tree Award and congressional recognition. Join us as we explore the future of enterprise AI, the power of community-driven innovation, and what it takes to build technologies—and ecosystems—that create lasting impact. This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact! Follow us on and listen to all our episodes on: 🎙️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J 🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823 📺 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@siliconvalleyimpact Silicon Valley Venture, LLC, the parent company of Silicon Valley Impact, is a proud global venture partner to great companies, MoralesHR and STAK Ventures, and 1900 Broadway Tower - Oakland. Check out https://moraleshr.com/ and https://stakspace.com/ to gain access to the worlds largest full stack venture ecosystem. It's over 1.2 million square feet of Live, Work, Play, Go; everything innovators, investors, ecosystem influencers, institutional partners, and global talent needs to gain a global advantage, access, alignment, and accelerate your venture. Event Partnerships: Join us in San Francisco on August 27th, 2026 for Step. Use promo code SVV20 and get your tickets here: https://lnkd.in/gTuYJPeA Join us in San Francisco on October 28th, 2026 for One Way Summit 2026. Go to Luma to learn more and get on the waitlist before tickets are released: https://lnkd.in/gVsa23gj Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions.
S3 · E16
June 23 · 1 hr 9 min
From Fashion to Robotics: Building the Future Through Innovation - S3 E16
On this week's episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we sit down with three remarkable innovators shaping the future of fashion, entrepreneurship, accessibility, and technology: Azadeh Riaz, Founder and CEO of House of Azadeh; Ella Shukho, a venture ecosystem leader and startup growth strategist; and Zain Samdani, co-founder of Exoheal and Please Touch This Art. Azadeh is an internationally recognized fashion designer, entrepreneur, and creative visionary with more than 35 years of experience in luxury fashion. After beginning her career designing couture for the Saudi Royal Family, she became the original designer behind Bebe's signature aesthetic, helping transform the company into a nationally recognized public brand. Today, she leads House of Azadeh, a modern luxury retail concept with boutiques in San Francisco and Los Altos, and is the creator of CLOH, an AI-powered platform designed to help people build intentional wardrobes and reconnect with the art of dressing. Ella is a venture ecosystem leader and partnership strategist who specializes in connecting founders, investors, and enterprise organizations to create growth opportunities. Her experience includes leading partnership initiatives at Alma and managing 500 Global's flagship accelerator program, where she worked with high-growth startups across AI, enterprise software, healthtech, cloud computing, and other emerging technologies. She is passionate about helping innovative companies scale through strategic relationships and ecosystem development. Zain is an entrepreneur, innovator, and advocate for accessible technology. He is the co-founder of Please Touch This Art, a startup making visual art more accessible for blind and visually impaired individuals through tactile experiences and inclusive design. He is also the co-founder of Exoheal, an assistive robotics company developing AI-powered wearable technology to help stroke survivors and individuals with hand paralysis regain mobility and independence. His work has earned international recognition, including a Microsoft Imagine Cup World Championship, The Diana Award, and the Gold Award at the World Government Summit in Dubai. Join us as we explore entrepreneurship, innovation, accessibility, venture capital, AI, fashion, and the power of building products that create meaningful impact. This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact. Follow us on and listen to all our episodes on: 🎙️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J 🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823 📺 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@siliconvalleyimpact Silicon Valley Venture, LLC, the parent company of Silicon Valley Impact, is a proud global venture partner to great companies, MoralesHR and STAK Ventures, and 1900 Broadway Tower - Oakland. Check out https://moraleshr.com/ and https://stakspace.com/ to gain access to the worlds largest full stack venture ecosystem. It's over 1.2 million square feet of Live, Work, Play, Go; everything innovators, investors, ecosystem influencers, institutional partners, and global talent needs to gain a global advantage, access, alignment, and accelerate your venture. Event Partnerships: Join us in San Francisco on August 27th, 2026 for STEP. Use promo code SVV20 and get your tickets here: https://luma.com/StepSF26?tk=yMvcCv Join us in San Francisco on October 28th, 2026 for One Way Summit 2026. Go to Luma to learn more and get on the waitlist before tickets are released: https://luma.com/onewaysummit2026 Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions.
S3 · E15
June 16 · 1 hr 9 min
Saving Lives, Funding Innovation, and Reinventing Health - S3 E15
On this week's episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we sit down with Darnell Adler, Founder and CEO of Lifeline AI and Red Bull Basement World Champion 2026; Felipe Gurgel, Principal at Actions Capital; and Ziv Lautman, PhD, a researcher, entrepreneur, and educator working at the intersection of human physiology, wearable technology, and artificial intelligence. Darnell Adler is the Founder and CEO of Lifeline AI and the Red Bull Basement World Champion 2026. His mission is bold but simple: to become the global standard for how people call for help. Through Lifeline AI, Darnell is reimagining emergency reporting infrastructure from the ground up—building technology that is discreet by design, immediate by nature, and focused on making the world safer for everyone. Raised in San Francisco and educated at the University of Southern California, Darnell developed a passion for solving real-world problems through innovation. Surrounded by builders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries, he embraced the challenges of entrepreneurship and learned the resilience required to turn ambitious ideas into reality. Today, he is combining technology, purpose, and perseverance to build solutions that have the potential to save lives on a global scale. Felipe Levi Gurgel is an investor, operator, and startup enthusiast with a passion for helping founders build and scale transformative companies. He is currently a Principal at Actions Capital, where he invests in startups across AI, healthcare, and fintech. Before transitioning into venture investing, Felipe spent more than a decade building and growing startups, including serving as one of the earliest employees at Wellhub (formerly Gympass), one of the world's leading corporate wellness platforms. Originally from Brazil and now based in the Bay Area, he brings a unique perspective shaped by both operating and investing, with a strong focus on connecting founders, investors, and opportunities that drive innovation. Ziv Lautman, PhD, is a researcher, entrepreneur, and educator working at the intersection of human physiology, wearable technology, and artificial intelligence. He completed his doctoral training in the lab of Michael Snyder at Stanford University, where he developed personalized, interpretable AI models that leverage continuous biometric data for early disease detection and dynamic health monitoring. Ziv currently teaches Stanford's popular Engineering Wellness course (CHPR 267) and is a recipient of both the Stanford Human-Centered AI Fellowship and the Stanford Graduate Fellowship in Science and Engineering. Prior to Stanford, he co-founded an environmental health technology company focused on large-scale air quality prediction. Following its acquisition by Google, the company became a global leader in air pollution modeling, building partnerships with Fortune 500 organizations and helping bring air quality insights to billions of devices worldwide. This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact! Follow us and listen to all our episodes on: 🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@siliconvalleyimpact Silicon Valley Venture, LLC, the parent company of Silicon Valley Impact, is proud to partner with MoralesHR, STAK Ventures, and 1900 Broadway Tower Oakland. Visit https://moraleshr.com/ and https://stakspace.com/ to gain access to one of the world's largest full-stack venture ecosystems. With more than 1.2 million square feet dedicated to Live, Work, Play, and Go, the platform provides innovators, investors, senior executives, institutional partners, and global talent with the access, alignment, resources, and relationships needed to accelerate growth and gain a competitive advantage. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with qualified professionals before making any financial, investment, or business decisions.
S3 · E14
June 9 · 1 hr 7 min
The New Growth Playbook: AI, Partnerships, and Executive Performance - S3 E14
On this week's episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we bring together three exceptional leaders at the forefront of sales, partnerships, growth, AI, and executive performance. Nicole Ward is Senior Vice President of Sales at Aon, founder of the Executive Athlete platform, author of Biohacking for the Sales Athlete, and host of both the Aon at the Top and Executive Athlete podcasts. Nicole helps executives, board members, and C-suite leaders optimize their performance by exploring the intersection of leadership, physiology, and resilience. Her work challenges traditional thinking by positioning the body as a critical component of strategy, decision-making, and sustained executive success. Gayathri Padmanabhan leads North America Partnerships at ElevenLabs, one of the world's fastest-growing AI companies. With more than a decade of experience building and scaling strategic partner ecosystems at organizations including Freshworks and Intercom, Gayathri has consistently transformed partnerships into powerful growth engines, helping companies accelerate adoption, revenue, and market expansion. Danilo Campisi is an investor, growth strategist, and Senior Strategic Enterprise Partnerships leader at Uber, where he works with some of the world's largest Fortune 500 companies. With more than 15 years of experience spanning technology, AI, marketing, and business growth, Danilo has helped scale organizations from startup to global enterprise. A member of the founding team at AirHelp, he later held leadership roles at Kiwi.com and Meta, where he advised major brands on digital transformation and AI-powered growth strategies. He also serves on the advisory board of the University of San Francisco's Strategic AI Program. Join us for a dynamic conversation covering leadership, artificial intelligence, strategic partnerships, performance optimization, innovation, and what it takes to build and scale organizations in today's rapidly evolving business environment. And don't miss our spontaneous exercise: "Launch the Water Company." Tune in as Nicole, Gayathri, Danilo and Brian Sparkes take on the challenge of going to market from three completely different perspectives—Sales, Partnerships, and Go-to-Market Strategy—revealing how world-class operators think about turning a simple product into a scalable business. This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact! Follow us on and listen to all our episodes on: 🎙️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J 🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823 📺 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@siliconvalleyimpact Silicon Valley Venture, LLC, the parent company of Silicon Valley Impact, is a proud global venture partner to great companies, MoralesHR and STAK Ventures, and 1900 Broadway Tower - Oakland. Check out https://moraleshr.com/ and https://stakspace.com/ to gain access to the worlds largest full stack venture ecosystem. It's over 1.2 million square feet of Live, Work,
S3 · E13
May 19 · 1 hr
Why Founder Wellness Is the Next Competitive Advantage - S3 E13
On this week’s episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we sit down with Tess Robinson, Managing Partner at FTB Capital Group, where she leads the Longevity Fund — investing in startups at the intersection of innovation, inclusion, impact, and human wellbeing. Tess believes the best companies are built by founders who prioritize longevity over burnout. Based in the Bay Area, Tess creates spaces for honest conversations around entrepreneurship and sustainable company building. Through HER Connections, she provides fractional COO and CMO support to founders seeking scalable operational systems without the overhead of full-time executives. Her work focuses on helping startups build sustainable infrastructure while protecting founder wellness — because growth should never come at the expense of health. As the founder of Pacific Standard Co., Tess is also launching Silicon Valley’s first Founder Total Performance Accelerator, built on the belief that elite performance and long-term wellbeing can coexist. She also co-hosts Answering AI with Joe Vazquez — a podcast designed to help everyday listeners better understand AI without needing to be deeply embedded in the tech world. This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact. Follow and listen here: 🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@siliconvalleyimpact Silicon Valley Venture, LLC — the parent company of Silicon Valley Impact — is proud to partner globally with MoralesHR, STAK Ventures, and 1900 Broadway Tower Oakland. Learn more: 🔗 https://moraleshr.com/ 🔗 https://stakspace.com/ Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by hosts and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Please consult a qualified professional before making financial or business decisions.
S3 · E12
May 12 · 1 hr 4 min
AI, Grit & Global Talent: Two VCs Shaping Silicon Valley’s Future - S3 E12
On this week's episode of Silicon Valley Impact we have Mala Ramakrishnan, Managing Partner of Progressive Ventures; and Manan Mehta, Co-Founder and General Partner of Unshackled Ventures. Mala is a founder, venture capitalist, and product executive focused on AI, enterprise SaaS, and emerging technologies. As Founder and Managing Partner of Progressive Ventures, she invests in high-growth startups across ecosystems including YC, StartX, and SkyDeck, with portfolio companies such as Anthropic, xAI, and Perplexity AI. A multi-exit entrepreneur and operator, Mala has spent more than two decades building and scaling products and companies from 0-to-1 and 1-to-100. She has held leadership roles at Meta, Cloudera, Oracle, Veeva Systems, and Ethyca, while also co-founding and exiting multiple ventures deployed at Fortune 500 scale. In addition to investing and operating, Mala is the founder of Founders Creative, a Silicon Valley AI community of 18,000+ builders, a contributor to Forbes Business Council, and a member of Stanford Women on Boards. She is known for her operator-first mindset, strategic product leadership, and passion for helping founders scale transformative technologies. Manan is the Co-Founder and General Partner of Unshackled Ventures, a pioneering venture fund built to support immigrant founders navigating the complexities of building startups in the United States. A former founder and CEO whose social media company was acquired by Smule, Manan co-founded Unshackled Ventures to remove immigration barriers for entrepreneurs by providing visa, legal, and employment infrastructure that enables founders to start companies from day one. Known for investing at the earliest stages—often pre-product, pre-revenue, and even pre-incorporation—Manan backs founders based on execution ability, resilience, and personal connection to the problems they are solving rather than traditional traction metrics. He is widely respected for his unwavering support of immigrant entrepreneurs and for viewing global talent as one of America’s greatest competitive advantages. Beyond capital, Manan emphasizes the human side of entrepreneurship, positioning Unshackled as both an investment partner and a support system for founders navigating the emotional realities of building a company. He is also deeply committed to authentic community building, founder trust, and cultivating diverse, high-performing teams across the venture ecosystem. This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact! Follow us on and listen to all our episodes on: 🎙️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J 🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823 📺 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@siliconvalleyimpact Silicon Valley Venture, LLC, the parent company of Silicon Valley Impact, is a proud global venture partner to great companies, MoralesHR and STAK Ventures, and 1900 Broadway Tower - Oakland. Check out https://moraleshr.com/ and https://stakspace.com/ to gain access to the worlds largest full stack venture ecosystem. It's over 1.2 million square feet of Live, Work, Play, Go; everything innovators, investors, ecosystem influencers, institutional partners, and global talent needs to gain a global advantage, access, alignment, and accelerate your venture. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions.
S3 · E11
April 21 · 1 hr 6 min
Building, Backing, and Becoming: What It Really Takes to Win! S3 E11
On this week’s episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we sit down with Naeem Zafar, CEO Coach, Board Advisor, entrepreneur, professor, an angel investor; Ryan Green, Principle at Antler; and Stephanie El-Chakieh, Pharm.D., M.Sc., Founder/CEO of WellVerve, and Author, for a conversation at the intersection of venture, innovation, and human performance. Naeem is a seasoned CEO advisor and board leader with deep experience building, scaling, and exiting high-tech companies. He has led five ventures as CEO and supported dozens more as a board member and strategic advisor, including TeleSense. He is also a dedicated educator, teaching entrepreneurship at University of California, Berkeley since 2005 and at Northeastern University since 2017, where he serves as Faculty Director and Professor of the Practice. Naeem is the author of five books on entrepreneurship and is committed to sharing Silicon Valley insights with founders around the world. He has served on multiple boards, including as Chair of OPEN Silicon Valley and AspirePK, and is the Founding President of the Brown University Club of Silicon Valley. Ryan is a Principal at Antler, where he focuses on pre-seed investing and bringing exceptional founders into Antler’s San Francisco residency. His background spans deep-tech and AI investing, as well as go-to-market, product, and deployment leadership at early-stage startups. He began his career at Deloitte in industrial cybersecurity and holds a degree in Computer Engineering from University of Notre Dame. Stephanie is a scientist, holistic health expert, and Founder & CEO of WellVerve. Her work bridges pharmaceutical science with integrative wellness, focusing on whole-person health, emotional intelligence, and human relationships. She holds a Doctorate in Pharmacy and a Master’s in Advanced Pharmacotherapy from the University of Montreal and practiced as a pharmacist for 14 years. Certified in functional medicine, herbal medicine, yoga, and reiki, Stephanie combines clinical expertise with holistic approaches to advance health, mental well-being, and personal transformation. This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact. Follow us on and listen to all our episodes on: 🎙️Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J 🍎Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823 📺 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@siliconvalleyimpact About Silicon Valley Impact Silicon Valley Impact, produced by Silicon Valley Venture LLC, connects listeners to the people, ideas, and strategies shaping innovation. In partnership with MoralesHR and STAK Ventures, the platform brings access to a global network of founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders.
S3 · E10
April 14 · 59 min
The Playbook for Scaling Innovation Across Industries and Borders S3 E10
On this week's episode of Silicon Valley Impact we speak with Sobhan Khani, President and Partner at Plug and Play Tech Center, and one of the earliest team members who helped scale the company from a 20-person Bay Area startup into a global innovation platform with over 800 employees worldwide. Over the past decade, Sobhan has played a key role in expanding Plug and Play across multiple industries, including mobility, energy, fintech, and real estate. He has launched new verticals, opened international hubs, and partnered with some of the world’s largest corporations to help them adopt and integrate emerging technologies. His journey has taken him from building early mobility programs in Stuttgart alongside Mercedes-Benz to scaling Plug and Play’s Smart Cities platform across four global markets—driving 20x revenue growth in his first year as VP. Today, Sobhan oversees a broad portfolio of U.S. and international operations, working closely with Fortune 500 companies, governments, and investors to bridge the gap between innovation and real-world enterprise adoption. He is particularly focused on the future of corporate innovation—where meaningful partnerships outperform hype—and on the growing movement around health optimization, where technology empowers individuals to take ownership of their well-being. A global operator at heart, Sobhan spends much of his time connecting with founders, investors, and policymakers across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, staying close to where the next wave of innovation is emerging. This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact! Follow us on and listen to all our episodes on: 🎙️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J 🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823 📺 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@siliconvalleyimpact Silicon Valley Venture, LLC, the parent company of Silicon Valley Impact, is a proud global venture partner to great companies, MoralesHR and STAK Ventures, and 1900 Broadway Tower - Oakland. Check out https://moraleshr.com/ and https://stakspace.com/ to gain access to the worlds largest full stack venture ecosystem. It's over 1.2 million square feet of Live, Work, Play, Go; everything innovators, investors, ecosystem influencers, institutional partners, and global talent needs to gain a global advantage, access, alignment, and accelerate your venture. Event Partnerships: Join us in Long Beach, April 22-25th for the IIT 2026 Conference. Get your tickets register here: https://www.iit2026.org/register Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions.
S3 · E9
April 7 · 1 hr 8 min
AI Agents Are the New Employees — Are We Ready? S3 E9
On this week’s episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we sit down with three leaders shaping the future of AI, security, and venture: Eugene Malobrodsky (General Partner, One Way Ventures), Anna Kovaleva (Omnissa), and Irina Tagintseva (AI Architect, Apple). Eugene Malobrodsky is a General Partner at One Way Ventures and a serial founder behind AnchorFree, the company behind Hotspot Shield with over 650M downloads. He later co-founded Pango, scaling consumer cybersecurity products globally and incubating Twingate, a zero-trust enterprise security company that has raised over $40M. Today, Eugene brings a founder-first lens to investing and has helped build One Way’s Pathfinder Collective—an advisory network that includes founders behind companies like Slack and LinkedIn. Anna Kovaleva is a product leader at Omnissa (formerly VMware’s End User Computing business, backed by KKR), where she builds AI agents and identity platforms used by Fortune 500 companies and millions of users worldwide. Her work sits at the intersection of agentic AI, identity, and Zero Trust security—exploring how autonomous systems operate safely at enterprise scale. A Stanford MBA and former BCG consultant, Anna brings 15+ years of experience across AI, enterprise SaaS, and marketplaces, with a strong focus on the future of AI agents as a new class of identity. Irina Tagintseva is an AI architect, enterprise systems leader, and cloud strategist with 14+ years of experience across infrastructure, DevSecOps, and AI platforms. At Apple, she has led the development of MLOps systems powering GenAI-driven sales, and previously drove global-scale automation initiatives at Gap. She began her career in business development at an AI startup later acquired by Google, working alongside Tristan Harris. Irina holds a degree from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. We cover: → The rise of agentic AI and what it means for enterprise systems → AI as identity: how agents will interact, operate, and be governed → The future of cybersecurity in a world of autonomous systems → Founder-led venture, immigrant-driven innovation, and building at global scale This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact — where business insight meets startup innovation. Follow us on and listen to all our episodes on: 🎙️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J 🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823 📺 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@siliconvalleyimpact Silicon Valley Venture, LLC, the parent company of Silicon Valley Impact, is a proud global venture partner to great companies, MoralesHR and STAK Ventures, and 1900 Broadway Tower - Oakland. Check out https://moraleshr.com/ and https://stakspace.com/ to gain access to the worlds largest full stack venture ecosystem. It's over 1.2 million square feet of Live, Work, Play, Go; everything innovators, investors, ecosystem influencers, institutional partners, and global talent needs to gain a global advantage, access, alignment, and accelerate your venture. Event Partnerships: Join us in Long Beach, April 22-25th for the IIT 2026 Conference. Get your tickets register here: https://www.iit2026.org/register
S3 · E8
March 17 · 1 hr 5 min
The AI Infrastructure Race: Where the Next Billion-Dollar Startups Will Come From - S3 E8
On this week’s episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we sit down with Benny Liao, Principal at Acorn Pacific Ventures, and Ryan Wang, General Partner at Solaris Venture Partners, for a conversation on AI infrastructure, frontier technology, and the evolving landscape of global venture capital. Benny Liao is a Principal at Acorn Pacific Ventures, a Silicon Valley–based venture capital firm focused on early-stage investments in AI infrastructure and enterprise software. Before entering venture capital, Benny was the founder and CEO of a fintech startup in Southeast Asia, where he raised more than $10 million in equity and venture debt and led the company through growth and exit. Having experienced the startup journey firsthand, he transitioned into venture capital to work closely with founders building the next generation of technology companies. At Acorn Pacific Ventures, Benny focuses on backing technical founders building AI infrastructure, enterprise software, and data platforms—particularly the foundational tools powering the broader AI ecosystem. Drawing on his experience as both founder and investor, he is passionate about helping entrepreneurs navigate fundraising, avoid common pitfalls, and build companies that solve meaningful problems. Ryan Wang is a technology futurist and venture investor working at the intersection of AI, spatial computing, robotics, and frontier technology. As General Partner at Solaris Venture Partners, Ryan advises global capital and corporate leaders on emerging opportunities across the rapidly evolving AI and robotics sectors. A pioneer in cross-border investment, he co-founded Outpost Capital in 2015—one of the first early-stage funds focused on frontier technologies spanning the U.S. and Asia. Ryan has also built companies at the edge of innovation. He served as COO of MOAC Blockchain, helping scale the protocol into the Top 30 projects on CoinMarketCap, and co-founded Zebra Labs, an innovator in AI-driven music and metaverse intellectual property. Earlier in his career, Ryan worked in investment banking with Citigroup and Société Générale in New York. He has also lectured at USC, the University of Washington, and Nanyang Technological University, and holds a master’s degree from New York University. This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact! Follow us on and listen to all our episodes on: 🎙️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J 🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823 📺 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@siliconvalleyimpact Silicon Valley Venture, LLC, the parent company of Silicon Valley Impact, is a proud global venture partner to great companies, MoralesHR and STAK Ventures, and 1900 Broadway Tower - Oakland. Check out https://moraleshr.com/ and https://stakspace.com/ to gain access to the worlds largest full stack venture ecosystem. It's over 1.2 million square feet of Live, Work, Play, Go; everything innovators, investors, ecosystem influencers, institutional partners, and global talent needs to gain a global advantage, access, alignment, and accelerate your venture. Event Partnerships: Join us in Long Beach, April 22-25th for the IIT 2026 Conference. Get your tickets register here: https://www.iit2026.org/registe
S3 · E7
March 10 · 1 hr 4 min
Performance with Purpose: The Discipline Behind Elite Venture Investors
On this week's episode of Silicon Valley Impact we speak with Bryce Gilleland, General Partner of Cal Innovation Fund II; and Chima Osuka, Senior Partner at Suncoast Ventures. Bryce is the General Partner of Cal Innovation Fund II, a venture fund investing in startups founded by entrepreneurs from UC Berkeley and the University of California ecosystem. His mission is to tenaciously support founders in achieving performance with purpose—building companies that deliver both strong returns and meaningful impact. Bryce previously operated the #1 performing hedge fund in the world in 2020, generating 846% net returns while scaling assets from $8 million to $600 million and bringing on more than 150 limited partners. Earlier in his career, he spent more than a decade in energy markets at PG&E and Southern California Edison, analyzing policy and designing initiatives that saved over $1 billion in costs while advancing environmental outcomes. Today, Bryce is focused on backing capital-efficient founders emerging from the Cal and UC ecosystems, investing in leaders building companies at the intersection of innovation, scale, and impact. Through the California Innovation Fund model, 50% of firm profits are donated back to Berkeley’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, ensuring investors keep 100% of their returns while fueling the next generation of builders. Chima is a venture investor at Suncoast Ventures, where his path from elite athlete to entrepreneur has shaped a disciplined approach to investing and founder support. His early exposure to healthcare came from working in his family’s chain of clinics in the Bay Area, giving him firsthand insight into healthcare delivery and innovation. Before entering venture capital, Chima spent over a decade advising corporate VCs and accelerators in London, helping organizations refine innovation strategy and startup engagement. He also led Google Launchpad programs across Latin America, partnering with regional leaders to advance entrepreneurship and technology ecosystems. Chima later helped launch Diverse Angels, a syndicate enabling diverse fund managers to invest in more than 50 startups, reinforcing his commitment to expanding access in venture capital. He also led the creation of Anthem’s incubation and innovation arm at Elevance Health, developing a fast-track program to help startups reach market readiness faster. Before the venture, Chima was both an entrepreneur and elite athlete—launching a chain of health-focused cafés, competing as a U.S. Olympic boxer, and playing football at San Jose State University. Today, he’s known for pairing disciplined strategy with hands-on support for founders building the next generation of impactful companies. This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact! Follow us on and listen to all our episodes on: 🎙️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J 🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823 📺 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@siliconvalleyimpact Silicon Valley Venture, LLC, the parent company of Silicon Valley Impact, is a proud global venture partner to great companies, MoralesHR and STAK Ventures, and 1900 Broadway Tower - Oakland. Check out https://moraleshr.com/ and https://stakspace.com/ to gain access to the worlds largest full stack venture ecosystem. It's over 1.2 million square feet of Live, Work, Play, Go; everything innovators, investors, ecosystem influencers, institutional partners, and global talent needs to gain a global advantage, access, alignment, and accelerate your venture. Event Partnerships: Join us in Long Beach, April 22-25th for the IIT 2026 Conference. Get your tickets register here: https://www.iit2026.org/register Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions.

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