Nothing Ventured

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Ari Shah welcomes Irena Spazzapan, Managing Partner at Systemic Capital, a venture capital fund focused on addressing planet-scale challenges through technology. Irena shares her journey from Goldman Sachs to venture building, emphasising the importance of software-first, asset-light models in tackling climate issues like decarbonisation and electrificatio...

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish dives into the latest trends and insights from the venture capital landscape as of June 2025. He reflects on the significant developments in Q4 2024 and Q1 2025, highlighting Nvidia's remarkable performance, which saw revenue soar to $39 billion and $44 billion in consecutive quarters. Despite facing challenges like export controls and the US-China...

In this episode of Nothing Venture, host Aarish Shah sits down with Oli Harris, a partner at Dream Ventures, to explore the intriguing parallels between poker and venture capital. Oli shares his background as an entrepreneur and discusses the unique approach Dream Ventures takes in investing, leveraging a gambler's instinct to identify elite technology and consumer companies. The conversation delv...

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes Varun Rekhi:, a growth investor at Speed invest, to discuss the evolving landscape of venture capital in Europe. Varun shares insights on why he believes Europe's flywheel is broken, highlighting that the continent faces an output problem rather than an input problem. He emphasises the need for a "roaring 20s mentality" in Europe, akin...

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes Aly Madhavji, managing partner at Blockchain Founders Fund, to discuss the evolving landscape of Web3. They delve into the importance of addressing consumer skepticism and the need for effective education about Web3 technologies. Aly shares insights on how to onboard millions of users seamlessly, highlighting innovative approaches such...

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes Alvaro Alvarez del Rio, founder of Boost Capital Partners. Alvaro shares insights from his extensive experience in venture capital, having invested in over 120 software startups with a total exit value exceeding $10 billion. The discussion focuses on how Boost Capital leverages gaming principles to enhance user experiences and drive gr...

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah sits down with Roger Wade, the visionary founder behind Boxfresh and Boxpark, two iconic British brands. Roger shares his inspiring journey from humble beginnings on a South London council estate to building successful companies, including scaling Boxpark into a cultural landmark in East London. He discusses the importance of having a clear des...

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes Alex Theuma, founder and CEO of SaaStock, and Kenneth Thomas, Principal at BackFuture Ventures. They delve into the importance of building a strong network over a decade to successfully launch a venture capital firm like BackFuture. The conversation touches on the qualitative aspects of venture capital, emphasizing the significance of...

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes back repeat founder, angel investor, and blockchain expert Jay Gujral for the second part of their insightful conversation. Jay shares his entrepreneurial background, discussing how both of his parents were involved in business, including his father's art shop, Athena. The discussion delves into the current state of the market, particu...

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah sits down with Jay Gujral, a seasoned entrepreneur and angel investor with a deep understanding of blockchain technology. Jay shares his journey from founding Gradlancer, a student freelance marketplace, to his current venture, Record, which aims to provide robust data integrity solutions for businesses. The conversation explores the challenges...

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah is joined by Ed Ebbern and Will McManners, founding partners of MD1 Ventures, Europe's first dedicated national security VC fund. With backgrounds in special forces and defense innovation, they explore the evolving adversarial landscape and the importance of asking better questions in an age of overwhelming data. The discussion highlights the n...

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes Mike Bank, founder of Underdog, a pre-accelerated syndicate that supports solo and non-traditional founders in launching revenue-generating businesses while maintaining their day jobs. Mike shares insights from his extensive experience as an investment banker, early-stage VC, and angel investor, discussing the challenges and opportunit...

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes Mike Bank, the founder of Underdog, a pre-accelerated syndicate aimed at supporting solo and non-traditional founders in launching revenue-generating businesses while maintaining their day jobs. Mike shares insights from his extensive career in investment banking, early-stage VC, and as a prolific angel investor with around 100 early-s...

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah sits down with Sam Kaplan, a partner at Five Seasons Ventures, a pan-European venture capital fund focused on investing in iconic and sustainable consumer brands. With an extensive background that includes roles at Citi and Birch Creative Capital, Sam shares invaluable insights into the venture capital landscape. They discuss the intricacies of...

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes Maya Ghayad, a partner at ID4 Ventures, to discuss the evolving landscape of the venture capital industry. With nearly a decade of experience, Maya shares her insights on the significant changes happening within VC, including the phenomenon known as "the death of the middle." They explore the challenges early-stage founders face when n...

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes Simon Kohl, founder of Latent Labs, a startup at the forefront of generative models for computational protein design. Simon shares his journey from studying physics at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology to his pivotal role in DeepMind's AlphaFold projects, where he developed key uncertainty metrics for protein structure predictions....

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes investment manager Piotr Bukanski from Beringea. Piotr shares insights from his extensive background in finance, including his time at Merrill Lynch and his current focus as a generalist investor in B2B data, climate tech, and fintech. The conversation delves into the transferable skills from investment banking to growth investing, the...

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes leadership development expert Gillian Davis. They dive into her impressive journey, from her early beginnings in her family's executive recruitment business in Canada to co-authoring the book "First Time Leader" at just 28. Gillian shares her insights on practical leadership strategies, particularly in the tech industry, having worked...

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah interviews Zoltan Vardy, a seasoned B2B sales advisor and author of "The Launch Code." With nearly four decades of experience and over $2 billion in sales closed for major companies like CBS and NBCUniversal, Zoltan shares invaluable insights on mastering founder-led sales. The discussion focuses on transforming chaos into structure, overcoming...

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes Dr. Tanja Emmerling, a partner at High Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) and head of the Berlin team. With over a decade of experience in venture capital, Tanja shares her insights into the European tech landscape, highlighting HTGF's role as the most active seed investor in Europe. The discussion covers critical topics such as the impact of ta...

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah speaks with Ozan Unlu, co-founder and CEO of EdgeDelta, a pioneering company in the telemetry pipeline space focusing on observability and security. Ozan shares insights from his unique journey through engineering, sales, and entrepreneurship, delving into the nuances of transitioning from technical roles to commercial leadership. The discussio...

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes Ioto Iotov, founder of Mainset, a venture capital firm focused on fintech and SaaS ventures. Ioto shares his unique journey from South Africa, detailing his background as a chartered accountant and competitive swimmer, and his path to earning an MBA from Columbia Business School. The discussion covers the importance of understanding th...

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah interviews entrepreneur and mentor Henry Joseph Grant, who shares insights from his extensive experience in scaling startups and driving innovation. The discussion delves into the transformative impact of the iPhone on business, particularly in launching Just Eat, a brand that grew from startup to a $2.44 billion IPO. Henry emphasises the impor...

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes Jeff Crusey, a partner at 7% Ventures and seasoned VC with extensive experience in deep tech and startups. The discussion explores the limits of software functionality and usability, the implications of the UK’s approach to de-risking venture investments, and whether US VCs are fostering monopolies. Jeff shares insights on the impact o...

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes cognitive and behavioural scientist Kristina Barger . With a diverse background in clinical psychology, tech innovation, and entrepreneurship, Christina shares her insights on the unique challenges faced by founders. The discussion delves into the traits of overachievers, the fine line between ambition and perfectionism, and the common...