Clock Speed with Shamus Madan

In this episode, Shamus Madan talks with Heather Hartnett about her journey with Human Ventures. They delve into the tech ecosystem, discuss evaluating potential ventures, and share insights into their founder community. Heather also provides advice for aspiring fund managers, the role of hospitality in business, and the dynamics of social media.

In this episode, Shamus Madan interviews David Abney, former CEO of UPS. They discuss Abney's early career, the future of logistics with AI, and UPS's unique strategies like the right-turn policy. The conversation also covers the role of partnerships, acquisition strategies, key takeaways for future business leaders, and essential skills for success.

In this episode, Shamus Madan talks with Brian Scudamore about his entrepreneurial journey, the expansion of The Rubbish Boys, and the role of franchising in business growth. They discuss Elon Musk's strategy of firing and rehiring employees, Brian's experiences on the Oprah and Ellen shows, and Shamus's podcasting journey. They also discuss handling rejection and creating a $700,000,000 business.

In this episode, Shamus Madan interviews Brian Smith, founder of UGG. They delve into UGG's origin story and its connection to surfing, discuss the brand's growth phases and struggles, and explore the pivotal shift in UGG's advertising strategy. They also talk about the power of emotions in advertising, the challenges faced in Brian's entrepreneurial journey, and key lessons from building UGG.

In this episode, Shamus Madan interviews Noor Sweid, discussing her background, the role of vulnerability in leadership, and the challenge of maintaining company culture during expansion. They delve into the intricacies of outperforming the S&P 500 for funds, top startups in the Middle East, reasons for rejecting investment opportunities, and pursuing a career in venture capital.

In this episode, Shamus Madan converses with Oscar Höglund, discussing his journey from being a 'number guy' to CEO and the creation of Epidemic Sound. They examine the significance of music in content creation, the evolution of Epidemic Sound's business model, and the role of partnerships in its success. They also explore the future of the music industry, the impact of AI, and the challenges and...

In this episode, Shamus Madan talks with Bill George about his book "True North" and ethical hiring practices. They critique Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg's leadership, explore the effects of investor hype, and discuss the role of coaching in leadership. They also discuss the impact of leadership change, the importance of prioritizing company over ego, and learning from outside your industry.

In this episode, Shamus Madan chats with Mike Evans about his entrepreneurial journey, starting with his MIT experiences and early startup involvement. They discuss the creation and challenges of Grubhub, its profitability strategies, and Evans' reflections on the company. They delve into the role of leverage in business negotiations, introduce Fixer, and share lessons from Grubhub's success. The...

In this episode, Shamus Madan talks with Rebecca Kaden about her journey into venture capital, the startup culture in New York, and the significance of network effects in startups. They discuss memorable investment meetings, tips for pitching, and how to approach VCs. They also explore the future of venture capital, efficient company building, and potential growth areas.

In this episode, Shamus Madan talks with Gad Allon about his work with early-stage firms and large corporations. They discuss the importance of networking, overcoming growth constraints, customer acquisition challenges, and common mistakes by student entrepreneurs. The conversation concludes with key takeaways for aspiring founders.

In this episode, Shamus Madan talks with Ashley Aydin about her early career experiences and how they shaped her venture capital journey. They discuss the need for diversity in venture capital, the importance of role models, and Aydin's vision for a diversified startup pipeline. They also share tips for founders and insights on understanding their perspective.

In this episode, Shamus Madan talks with Scott D. Clary about his experience in tech sales, the key lessons he's learned, and the importance of storytelling in marketing. They discuss strategies for podcast growth, content repurposing, and venture capital fundraising, while also highlighting the need for business success beyond attracting venture capitalists.

In this episode, Shamus Madan chats with venture capitalist, Jai Das. They discuss Das's journey into the field, the importance of trust in venture capital, and his investment criteria. They also delve into lessons from pre-dotcom bubble investing, strategies for identifying long-term growth companies, and the future of enterprise software with the rise of blockchain.

In this episode, Shamus Madan sits down with Brett Martin, the mind behind Kumospace. They delve into the future of video chat, tackling Zoom fatigue, and the unique ways Kumospace personalizes remote work. They also discuss the future of virtual offices, lessons learned from previous startups, and monetization strategies. Martin concludes with advice for young entrepreneurs.

In this episode, Shamus Madan and Glenn Hubbard discuss Adam Smith's economic theories, modern economic growth strategies, and the 9/11 economic impact. They delve into the effect of Bush-era steel tariffs and the financial crisis, explore CEOs' perspectives on political dislocations and inflation, and assess the current GDP and unemployment scenario. The future of work, the 'quiet quitting' trend...

In this episode, Shamus Madan converses with Lee Jacobs about his early investment journey, the influence of sociology on business, and his experiences with AngelList. They discuss venture capital competition, Jacobs' unique investment strategies, and provide advice for founders in crowded markets. They analyze an investment in Notion and forecast economic trends for 2022 and 2023.

In this episode, Shamus Madan chats with Yoav Vilner, founder of AppChamp and Walnut. They discuss Vilner's entrepreneurial journey, the role of network effects and growth hacking in business, and how Walnut is revolutionizing the product demo industry. The conversation also covers the importance of visuals in website design, strategies for startups to attract investors, and the significance of st...

In this episode, Shamus Madan chats with Ben Samaroo about his transition into the crypto industry and the evolution of DeFi. They delve into the inception of WonderFi, its mission, and the importance of team dynamics in its acquisitions. Further discussions include strategic partnerships, preparing for potential market crashes, and the crucial role of education in the DeFi industry.

In this episode, Shamus Madan chats with Aarthi Ramamurthy about her transition from Facebook to Clubhouse, the importance of curiosity and constant learning in tech, and her investment strategies. They also discuss the power of cold emailing and the journey of the MBIT podcast.

In this episode, Shamus Madan chats with Mercedes Bent about her journey from Goldman Sachs to venture capital, emphasizing the importance of sales and partnerships. They discuss strategies for customer retention in crypto, the globalization of pop culture, and how to overcome uncertainty in the venture capital industry. The conversation wraps up with key takeaways and Mercedes' advice for success...

In this episode, Shamus Madan chats with Vitaliy Katsenelson about his journey into investing, the concept of value investing, and the role of managerial ability in assessing a company's worth. They debunk stock chart misconceptions, discuss the importance of people in a company's success, and how value investing adapts to market conditions. Vitaliy also shares his networking strategies in the inv...

In this episode, Shamus Madan interviews Touraj Parang, discussing Parang's startup journey, navigating recession, and venture capitalism. They delve into the significance of an early exit strategy, building strategic relationships, and the crucial role of trust. The episode concludes with valuable takeaways for startup founders.

In this episode, Shamus Madan chats with Bill George about his book "True North," the "Great Resignation," and his time at Medtronic. They delve into the importance of a strong founding team, the significance of aiding others to reach their potential, and building a company culture at scale. They also discuss Facebook's pivot to Meta.

In this episode, Shamus Madan converses with venture capitalists Hunter Walk and Kate Shillo Beardsley. They delve into their venture capital journeys, discuss the rise of new consumer products and fintech, and explore contrarian strategies. They also examine the evolution of the self-driving car market and government contractors, the significance of customer focus, and the transition from operati...

In this episode, Shamus Madan interviews Matt Mahar, CEO of Cana. They discuss Mahar's shift from athleisure to smart home tech, the problems in the beverage industry, and Cana's innovative solution: Cana 1, the first molecular beverage printer. They explore the potential market expansion, customizable drink options, and Cana's environmental impact. The conversation ends with future predictions ab...