Lubo Smid Podcast

A huge gap in most web3 strategies? Forgetting that 99.99% of your audience aren’t web3 fans. As a metaverse/NFT advisor to Fortune 500 brands, Diego’s top skill is zooming out. He shares why AR is the interface with blockchain as the backbone, why VR won’t go mainstream unless we’d all like a trip to rehab — and what it’ll take to ease the average Joe into a new reality.  Diego Borgo on LinkedIn:...

“My ego interfered with my potential.” David Meltzer became a millionaire in his early 20s. His first exit was over $3.4 billion, and he led the agency that inspired the movie Jerry Maguire. But then he lost it all: several homes, the money and nearly his marriage. He shares how he made his way back to the top through appreciation — with a little help from his servant: technology.  David Meltzer o...

As the co-founder/CEO of Sparring, a legal partner for tech founders, Marek is an entrepreneur first — a trait that’s helped Sparring disrupt an industry notoriously resistant to change. The Forbes 30 Under 30 talks taking the mystery out of legal docs, refusing to work with oligarchs and why companies get “killed” due to mishandling shareholder agreements and regulations.  Product featured: Sparr...

On paper, Harry was a college kid that rode the “Gen Z creator” wave to fast success. He co-founded content monetization platform Fanfix, saw it get acquired by SuperOrdinary in 10 months and is now the co-CEO. But the truth is, raising capital at a young age is grueling, and there wasn’t much of it. So how did a few students build a premium product? “We were very scrappy.” Product featured: Fanfi...

Legendary pitch master Tom House coached Drew Brees and Tom Brady. These days, he’s working with Rocky, Jason Goldsmith and Luke Collis as the founding team behind Mustard — the only motion analysis coaching app providing real-time analytics and instruction from GOATs. Rocky shares how he built this dream team and why AI changes the game for injury prevention. Product featured: Mustard https://tea...

Philz Coffee is the largest independent 3rd-wave coffee company in the US, yet it’s retained the warmth instilled into its DNA back in 2003. Maybe it’s because co-founder Jacob obsesses over hiring, or because the now-investor knows “raising money can make you dumb.” He explains what makes a high-potential product, how to remain mindful when syncing brands with tech and a lot more.  Product featur...

After gaining star power on the big screen, Ryan joined forces with NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers to build OSDB — a digital sports platform with the most extensive sports info on the web. The actor turned entrepreneur shares how the duo is creating the IMDb of sports, advice for entering the tech industry and what it's like "not building for the 1% of top athletes, but for the other 99%.&...

Joining us to discuss the newest version of OpenAI’s large language model is Jozef Reginac, our very own Data Science Engineering Director and a big machine learning enthusiast. Jozef helps answer what’s new with GPT-4, including how can individuals and companies utilize the updates while keeping themselves safe? And is pausing the advanced AI development for 6 months really necessary? Jozef Regin...

As an angel investor behind 20+ companies, future fund manager and Thrive Market’s ex-Chief of Staff, Nolan’s got some wisdom. Why (or why not) work with close friends? How does “zooming out” separate great founders from the average? He gets into it all, plus how to earn respect from business leaders and investors, and why “vanity metrics” help no one.  Nolan Romero Green on LinkedIn: https://www....

Bye, dusty family album. Hello, meaningful Artifact: recording family histories via studio-level quality with the help of pro interviewers. Applauded by the Wall Street Journal and co-founded by WeWork alum Ross Chanin, Artifact has 10,000 customers across 15 countries. But it didn’t start as a company, and Ross never viewed it as having to be a tech, venture-backed startup. Product featured: Arti...

The Web3 Studio Founder & Lead at Skoda kicked off Skodaverse with a bang — but also very carefully. From finding web3 enthusiasts across departments to identifying untapped e-mobility potential, it was a 24/7 commitment. All to build a 3D world packed with virtual test drives, an NFT gallery, events and full-body avatars… while making the tech behind it seem “invisible.”  Product featured: Sk...

Joining us to discuss the SVB elephant in the room is the co-founder/CEO of community-based media platform TheFutureParty. Boye analyzes how unreliable banks accelerate the stock option of cryptocurrency and why “nothing is truly decentralized.” Is gold the safest bet? Or is it real estate? And looking at AI — are human beings just math equations?   Topics based on: STRV Tech Trends Reports https:...

After working for Miami HEAT and ESPN, Tiffany Kelly founded Curastory — an all-in-one influencer video creation platform trusted by the NBA, Calm and StockX. The 30 Under 30 leader shares why you should never try to fit every investor, the dangers of FOMO and how creating a product before having the tech is like “building the plane as you’re in the air.” Product featured: Curastory https://curast...

After growing Opendoor for years, Tasneem co-founded home-swapping network Kindred, a sustainable rival to Airbnb. By now, launching products is second nature. Some advice? Attach yourself to the problem, not the solution — which will change. Spend months getting to know your co-founder to eliminate a ton of risk. And with a give-to-get product, place trust above all. Product featured: Kindred htt...

Conscious capitalism is a powerful concept, but it takes work. Inspired to get it right, Adam co-founded diversity-driven recruiting platform Untapped (valued at $400M). He shares why passion is extremely overrated, how being one of two co-CEOs feels like a co-founder dynamic on steroids and why, if you raise venture capital, it’s your duty to go as big as you can. Product featured: Untapped https...

Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes as an infant, Phil was told he’d be dead or blind by age 25. He defied all odds, thriving as a pro cyclist and founding Supersapiens, the world’s only min-by-min energy management system used by top athletes like Ironman World Champ Jan Frodeno to keep going… and going. Glucose monitoring is the future of performance — and a healthy life. Product featured: Supersapie...

We welcome back the co-founder/CEO of community-based media platform TheFutureParty to dissect this month’s biggest AI news. It’s clear that every browser will soon be run by AI. How can Twitter benefit? Will Apple announce its own AI search engine this year? And once we allow AI to take over the entire public space (which feels inevitable), what are the consequences? Topics based on: STRV Tech Tr...

There’s a side of the veterinary world we don’t see. Antiquated clinics, poor work-life balance and stress lead to high churn and suicide rates. Led by founder/CEO Steven, Modern Animal uses interior design, technology and fair compensation to change that. With goals far beyond profitability, building a company can feel like eating glass. His advice? “You have to love hard.” Product featured: Mode...

“The selfie is the new autograph” — the first eureka moment for Cameo co-founders, including CEO Steven. What did it take to raise $65 million without a pitch deck and ultimately reach a $1 billion valuation? A hustler, hacker and hipster trio is a good start. Then roll out the red carpet for users, keep the product super simple and don’t ever think you’re done (Cameo Kids, anyone?). Product featu...

How do you create a league made for tech fans and capture the attention of sports fans while you’re at it? As the President of The Drone Racing League and with 20+ years of experience in the NBA, Rachel will tell you how. The F1 for the skies has entered 320 million households, going mainstream at record speed… and her visionary leadership plays a big role in all of it. Product featured: The Drone...

Igor’s educational YouTube channel The AI Advantage gains thousands of new subscribers nearly every day as he continues to unlock people’s superpowers by discovering AI’s endless possibilities. We discuss the true power of ChatGPT, the life-changing effects of having a virtual assistant at our fingertips and why things may seem cool now, but it’s all just beginning. Channel featured: The AI Advant...

We’re back with the co-founder/CEO of community-based media platform TheFutureParty! Boye pops by to share his predictions for 2023. Does any VR device other than contact lenses make sense? Is appointment usability the next big thing for apps? Do businesses need AI to remain profitable? And what’s next for OpenAI, which we’re all playing with like kiddos with a new toy? Topics based on: STRV Tech...

Khadesha was on her way to becoming a surgeon when a life-threatening diagnosis put her dream of helping humankind on pause. But she persevered and brought that dream back with Agapé, a YC-backed wellness app for couples that nurtures physical and emotional intimacy — all rooted in scientific research and relationship therapy loved by millions of couples worldwide. Product featured: Agapé https://...

Is the NFT bubble about to burst? Not if you ask Tino. As the founder of Rumpel crew NFT and streetwear brand Life is Porno, former brand manager at Red Bull, author, podcast host and more, Tino believes in the power of communities — and getting the most out of them. We talk healthy growth, profit, knowing what’s “too good to be true” and grinding when times are tough. Product featured: Rumpel cre...

When you’ve worked at Microsoft, Amazon, Netflix and SpaceX, what’s left to do? For David, it all led to being the CTO of order fulfillment company ShipMonk. We got him talking about his current role, the interview processes at the behemoths he’s worked for, why he believes Elon doesn’t care about the stock market and what it’ll look like when AI’s driving around town. Product featured: ShipMonk h...