The CTO Show with Mehmet Gonullu

In this inspiring episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet , I sit down with Ahmed Mahmoud (Founder & CEO) and Ahmed Elshahawy (CTO) of DXwand , a MENA-born AI startup reshaping how businesses unlock growth with generative AI, knowledge mining, and document intelligence. The conversation takes you through their courageous leap from successful corporate careers (Microsoft, IBM, EY) into the startup...

What happens when the very platforms meant to connect us instead manipulate us? In this eye-opening conversation, Tim O’Hearn — former black-hat growth engineer, bestselling author of Framed: A Villain’s Perspective on Social Media — joins Mehmet to expose the hidden mechanisms behind social media addiction, fake engagement, and the dark psychology driving today’s online behavior. Whether you’re a...

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet , we dive into the unique intersection of venture capital, healthcare innovation, and frontier tech with Cameron Sabet , a Georgetown medical student and Principal at Multifaceted Capital. Cameron shares his unconventional path from academia to venture capital, and how he evaluates startups through both a clinical and investor lens. From AI-powered healt...

In this deeply reflective episode, Mehmet welcomes futurist, bestselling author, and technologist Sam Rad to explore how we navigate—and thrive—in a world reshaped by exponential tech. From AI and quantum computing to deepfakes and biotech, this conversation is less about predicting the future and more about reclaiming what it means to be human. 🔑 Key Takeaways • Why acceleration , not just chang...

In this thought-provoking episode, Mehmet sits down with Joel Quintela , a business psychologist and former computer systems engineer, to break down the biggest hiring blind spots—and how to fix them. Joel shares how psychology, structured assessments, and poker strategies can help founders and leaders hire better, retain top talent, and create winning teams. You’ll learn how to go beyond gut feel...

🔍 Episode Overview In this episode, Mehmet sits down with Lucas Lovell , VP of Product at Paddle , to unpack the powerful yet often overlooked role of payments in SaaS growth. From navigating tax compliance and pricing localization to optimizing for global expansion, Lucas shares product leadership insights and the future of billing in an AI-powered world. Whether you’re a founder scaling globall...

In this high-impact episode, Mehmet sits down with Jess Schultz , a fractional CRO/CMO and angel investor, to unpack what truly drives early-stage startup success. From the importance of founder-led sales to building a go-to-market (GTM) motion that actually works, Jess shares practical advice that bridges theory and execution. Whether you’re a technical founder hesitant to sell, or an early-stage...

🔍 Episode Overview In this forward-looking conversation, Mehmet welcomes Colin Fitzpatrick, founder of Griffin AI and long-time tech leader, to unpack the convergence of artificial intelligence, Web3, and robotics. From “vibe coding” and AI agents to programmable avatars and robotic personal assistants, Colin paints a vision of a world being reshaped by exponential technology. They also explore h...

In this mind-expanding episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet , futurist investor and international entrepreneur Steven Zeller joins us to explore the cutting edge of human advancement through technology. From genetic engineering and health tech breakthroughs to brain-computer interfaces , quantum computing , and the philosophical questions of immortality , Steven shares a vision of the near future t...

In this episode, Mehmet sits down with Srini Parthasarathy , CTO of Shardeum , a Layer 1 EVM-compatible blockchain that’s rewriting the rules of scalability, decentralization, and transaction efficiency. Srini shares his journey from building NFT platforms and working at AWS to leading a project that’s tackling the blockchain trilemma head-on. Whether you’re a developer, founder, or Web3 investor,...

“AI won’t replace marketers—but marketers who use AI will replace those who don’t.” – Prashant Agrawal In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet , we sit down with veteran marketer and educator Prashant Agrawal to explore how AI is transforming the marketing function. From his roots in traditional FMCG marketing to his deep dive into the world of LLMs and AI tools, Prashant shares a refreshingly...

“The cost of non-compliance is much higher than the cost of getting it right from day one.” – Vikas Panchal In this episode, Mehmet sits down with Vikas Panchal , General Manager – MENA at Tally Solutions , and a seasoned leader with two decades of experience in helping small and medium enterprises (SMEs) modernize their operations. Together, they dive into the evolving role of AI and automation i...

“You either earn or you learn — both are wins.” – Allan Abbas In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet , Allan Abbas joins us to explore the world of fintech innovation, startup growth, and what it takes to build a game-changing product in the Middle East. Allan, a former Amazon leader turned founder, shares his personal journey from bootstrapping his first startup to co-founding Emflex — a com...

“My grand vision is to make the RFP obsolete — and I believe AI can make that happen.” — Peter Bonney , CEO & Founder of Fastbreak In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet , we’re joined by Peter Bonney , CEO and Founder of Fastbreak , to discuss how AI is transforming one of the most painful processes in enterprise sales: responding to RFPs . With over 9 years of experience navigating the...

In this episode, Mehmet speaks with Zeke Camusio , founder of Data Speaks , an AI-powered platform helping marketers and founders finally solve the attribution puzzle. From cutting through vanity metrics to deploying machine learning for media mix modeling, Zeke shares a tactical playbook for maximizing return on every marketing dollar —without increasing ad spend. Whether you’re a founder navigat...

AI is reshaping consumer behavior like never before, creating both opportunities and challenges for businesses. In this episode, I sit down with Shahar Boyayan , an expert in consumer psychology and AI-driven behavior, to discuss how businesses—especially small businesses and entrepreneurs—must adapt to this shift. We explore hyper-personalization, AI-driven marketing, the ethics of AI in business...

In this episode, I sit down with Alex Malkov and Andrey Kuznetsov , co-founders of Haqq Network , to explore how Islamic finance and blockchain are merging to create ethical DeFi solutions . Haqq Network aims to bring Sharia-compliant financial products into the Web3 space, addressing fairness, transparency, and financial inclusion. We discuss real-world tokenization , the role of AI in DeFi , and...

In this episode, I sit down with Nadav Boaz , a seasoned entrepreneur and AI-driven product builder, to explore how AI is reshaping business, product development, and sales. Nadav shares his insights on launching AI-powered startups, the evolving landscape of human-to-AI interactions, and why competitive advantages are shifting away from technology itself. We also dive into thought-provoking quest...

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet , I sit down with Alec Crawford , an AI and cybersecurity expert with decades of experience in financial institutions like Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Deutsche Bank. Alec is now leading AI-driven cybersecurity solutions, focusing on AI Governance, Risk, Compliance, and Cybersecurity (AI GRCC) . We dive into: 🔹 How AI is reshaping cybersecurity—bo...

In this episode, I sit down with John Cousins , a serial entrepreneur, investor, and educator, to discuss financial literacy, startup success, AI’s impact on learning, and the future of solopreneurship . With experience spanning MIT, IPOs, hedge funds, and AI-driven education , John shares powerful insights on navigating the world of business, investment, and entrepreneurship. 🔹 Key Takeaways fro...

AI is transforming healthcare at an unprecedented pace, from medical imaging advancements to the potential of robotic-assisted surgeries and predictive medicine . In this episode, Dr. Robert Toth , Founder of Thetat Tech AI , joins us to discuss how AI is revolutionizing radiology, diagnostics, and patient care , the ethical and regulatory challenges ahead, and what the future holds for AI-driven...

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet , we dive deep into the future of finance with Agne Linge, Head of Growth at WeFi . Fresh from Davos , Agne shares insights into the latest trends in DeFi, AI-powered fintech, and the evolving global economy . We explore how blockchain and AI are reshaping banking , why traditional financial institutions are falling behind , and how decentralized finance...

Struggling to scale your tech team? Not sure when to move beyond an agency and build in-house? In this episode, we dive deep into engineering team optimization, startup scaling challenges, and the future of AI in development with Vygandas Pliasas —a Fractional CTO and expert in engineering management. 🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✅ When startups should transition from an agency to an in-...

“Reducing the amount of time to receive cash unlocks working capital and fuels business growth. AI is transforming this process like never before.” – Fabio Fleitas In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet , we dive into the world of fintech and AI-driven financial operations with Fabio Fleitas , Co-Founder and CTO of Tesorio . Tesorio is revolutionizing cash flow automation , helping businesses...

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet , we dive deep into the evolving landscape of digital marketing with Merag Shahzad , a digital marketing expert and strategist. Merag shares insights on AI’s role in marketing , how brands can balance automation with authenticity, and the future trends shaping digital engagement. We explore the must-have tools for marketers, discuss the overuse vs. under...