The Innovators & Investors Podcast

In this episode of the Innovators and Investors Accelerate Series , host Adam Chen sits down with Alex Kirby, the founder and CEO of Total Family , a SaaS platform flipping the traditional wealth management paradigm on its head. As the financial sector braces for an unprecedented multi-generational wealth transfer, capital flight is proving to be a quiet crisis: wealth advisors routinely lose 50%...

Sonali Vijayavargiya, Managing Director of Augment Ventures, joins Kristian Marquez to discuss the firm's 15-year journey investing in foundational technologies. They explore why industry "operators" make the best founders, the geographic bridge between Michigan and California, and how AI is transitioning from a buzzword to an active decision-making layer in the industrial sector. Learn more about...

In this episode, we explore the intersection of law and AI with Logan Brown, founder of Soxton. We discuss why the billable hour is outdated, how AI can reduce legal costs for startups by 90%, and the importance of maintaining human expertise in an automated workflow. Learn more about Soxton work at: https://www.soxton.ai/ Connect with Logan Brown on LinkedIn at: http://www.linkedin.com/in/logan-b...

Episode Overview: In the mid-2026 landscape of shifting markets and sweeping tech layoffs, early-stage companies face a unique paradox: an unprecedented surplus of pedigree talent hidden behind broken evaluation systems. In this episode of the Innovators and Investors Podcast, host Adam Chen sits down with Kingshuk Khan, a former Google and IBM engineer and the founder and CEO of Ikigai. Khan brea...

Glenn Borok, Principal at Alumni Ventures, joins Kristian Marquez to discuss the democratization of venture capital and the "moats" of the AI era. Topics include the unique culture of Silicon Valley, sourcing deals through professional alumni networks, and the transition from operator to investor. Learn more about Alumni Ventures work at: https://www.av.vc/ Connect with Glenn Borok on LinkedIn at:...

In this episode of The Innovators & Investors Podcast, host Kristian Marquez is joined by Anar Bayramov, Head of Product at Polygraf. They explore the inherent security flaws in current Large Language Models and how Polygraf is creating a safer environment for enterprises to adopt AI. From the risks of "prompt injection" to the benefits of Small Language Models running on the edge, this conver...

In this episode, we explore the rise of Shotsy, the leading companion app for GLP-1 medication users. Founder Aja Beckett discusses her transition from a software engineer to a health-tech entrepreneur, the importance of community-led growth, and the nuances of building a subscription business in the modern healthcare landscape. Learn more about Shotsy work at: https://www.shotsyapp.com/ Connect w...

In this episode, Kristian Marquez sits down with Harry Statter, the founder of Frontline Wildfire Defense. They discuss the shift from landscape ecology to wildfire mitigation, the science of ember-driven ignitions, and how automated technology is saving homes where traditional methods fail. Learn how Frontline achieved a 96% effectiveness rate in recent California fires and why the insurance indu...

Join host Kristian Marquez as he sits down with serial entrepreneur and investor Rick Marini. In this episode, Marini walks through his legendary career, from the viral success of Tickle to the $2 billion IPO of Grindr. Discover how he is now disrupting the crypto trading space with Rails, a hybrid exchange designed for speed, security, and total compliance. Learn more about Rails work at: https:/...

Can AI have a personality? Vishnu Hari, Founder and CEO of ego, joins Kristian Marquez to discuss why the future of AI isn't just "smarter" assistants, but "flawed" digital humans. From modding GTA to researching exoplanets with the pioneers of deep learning, Hari shares his journey and ego AI's mission to build AI that possesses intent, consciousness, and behavioral authenticity. Learn about the...

How do you build a brand that stands out in a crowded venture capital landscape? Jennifer Zimmerman, former CMO of General Catalyst and current expert in residence at X&O, joins Kristian Marquez to break down the science of Master Branding. With a background managing Fortune 100 brands, Jennifer shares why startups need a "Point of View" rather than just a "Point of Difference." Learn the thre...

Bobby Franklin, President and CEO of the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), joins the show to discuss the critical intersection of venture capital and public policy. From his early days navigating wireless mergers at Alltel to his decade-long tenure leading the CTIA, Franklin shares how his unique background prepared him to advocate for the American startup ecosystem. Tune in to learn ho...

In this episode, Kristian Marquez speaks with Cyrus Wadia, CEO of Activate. They dive into how Activate supports scientists and engineers through a two-year fellowship that provides the funding, mentorship, and community needed to turn lab discoveries into world-changing businesses. Wadia shares his journey from chemical engineering to the White House and eventually to leading one of the most sign...

In this episode, Kristian Marquez welcomes Melanie Nabar, an investment professional at Volition Capital. They discuss the nuances of growth equity, the importance of a "bootstrapped mentality" even in funded companies, and how to build scalable customer success functions. Whether you are a founder looking for your next round or an investor refining your thesis, this conversation offers high-value...

In this episode, Kristian Marquez welcomes Andrey Doronichev, founder of BIOPTIC and former Director of Product Management at Google. Andrey shares how his experience scaling YouTube to a billion users informed his transition into the biotech sector. We explore how AI is automating competitive intelligence in pharma, the lessons learned from Google’s Stadia project, and why the next decade of drug...

In this episode, Kristian Marquez is joined by James Paul Costa, founder of Grapetree Ventures. Drawing on a background that includes the Naval Academy and early-stage tech growth, James breaks down the psychological frameworks necessary for elite leadership. They discuss the "Clock on the Wall" strategy for conflict resolution, the importance of "re-attachment" in habit formation, and why solving...

Grace Brown, CEO of Andromeda, joins the show to discuss "Abby," a social humanoid robot tackling the global loneliness epidemic. We explore the challenges of hardware development, the importance of personality in AI, and Grace's strategic move to the US to scale her vision. Learn more about Andromeda work at: https://dromeda.com.au/ Connect with Grace Brown on LinkedIn at: http://www.linkedin.com...

How does a tech company move from basic data logging to providing "reasoning agents" for the world's largest sales teams? In this episode, Jason Ambrose, CEO of People.ai, breaks down the transformation of sales through AI. We discuss the "hard science" of activity capture, the importance of data filtering in European markets, and the psychology of trust in business. Whether you are a founder navi...

In this episode, Kristian Marquez talks with David Yang, co-founder of Newo.ai, about the future of AI in the workforce. Discover how AI "Front Desk" agents are saving businesses hundreds of thousands in lost revenue by ensuring no call goes unanswered. David shares the technical journey of building zero-hallucination AI and discusses his fascinating perspective on AI consciousness and the upcomin...

Join Kristian Marquez as he speaks with Sandhya Venkatachalam, an early-stage AI investor at Axiom Partners. In this episode, Sandhya breaks down why the traditional SaaS model is dying and how AI "workers" are set to revolutionize the labor market. From the in-office culture of Silicon Valley to the grit required to build a VC firm, this conversation covers the high-level strategies and tactical...

In this episode, Kristian Marquez sits down with John Hargrave, CEO of Media Shower, to discuss how AI is fundamentally changing search and content marketing. John explains the concept of "AI SEO" (or Generative Engine Optimization) and why original data is the only way to remain visible in a conversational internet. We also dive into John’s new book, The Intelligent Crypto Investor , where he out...

In this episode of The Innovators & Investors Podcast, host Christian Marquez sits down with Eugene Johnson, founder and CEO of Revi, to explore how his company is revolutionizing in-person transactions by bridging traditional point-of-sale systems with digital commerce. Eugene shares the origins of Revi, the challenges faced during the pandemic, and how the company pivoted to focus on data-dr...

How do you turn a smartphone into a professional-grade motion analysis laboratory? Join host Kristian Marquez as he speaks with Josh Kohn, CEO of Meridian Performance Systems. From Army Ranger to Investment Banker to Tech Founder, Josh discusses how his company uses on-device computer vision to revolutionize golf putting and solve massive quality assurance problems in the manufacturing industry. L...

How do you transition from protecting $100 billion in M&A to running a global entertainment empire? In this episode, Brandon Williams discusses the importance of corporate infrastructure in the world of innovation. We dive into the grit required to launch Family Feud in Africa, the strategy behind the Steve Harvey Global restructuring, and why persistence is the ultimate currency in high-level...

What happens when you have 175,000 users but realize you're looking at the wrong data? In this episode, Kristian Marquez sits down with Jeremy Toeman, the founder of Augie Studio and current SVP of AI Innovation at JWX. Jeremy shares the candid story of Augie’s "beast mode" pivot, the reality of being acquired by a major industry player, and why he believes AI is turning everyone into a "competent...