The Venture Variety Show

Episode Title: How Overlap Helps Frontier Tech Founders Scale Smarter With Justin Stevens, Founder & CEO of Overlap Holdings Keywords Frontier Tech, Debt Financing, Venture Capital, Capital-Intensive Startups, Fundraising Strategy, Equity vs Debt, Startup Advice, Relay Race Funding, Financial Structuring Episode Summary What if your cap table isn’t your only tool for growth? In this episode, Justi...

Episode Summary In this episode of The AI Cognitive Shift , host Alastair Goldfisher interviews Andy Mowat, founder of Whispered, a platform reinventing how executives find their next role. They discuss the hidden job market, the growing role of AI in recruitment, and why personal relationships still carry more weight than résumés. Andy explains how Whispered blends AI with a human-first approach...

Beyond the Honeymoon: How Honeyfund Is Growing Up and Gearing Up with AI 🎙️ Sara Margulis on staying scrappy, building a $10M business, and why AI is the next leap for love tech Episode Summary: Sara Margulis founded Honeyfund nearly 20 years ago—before the iPhone, before “crowdfunding” was a thing, and long before AI was on every startup’s roadmap. In this episode, we talk about what it takes to...

Podcast Title: Venture in the Age of AI: Don Butler on Jobs, Tools, and the Future of VC Refined Description: Don Butler has seen a few cycles. He joined Thomvest Ventures in February 2000—just as the dot-com bubble was about to burst. Now, 25 years later, he’s watching another massive shift take hold: AI. In this episode of The Venture Variety Show , Don and I dive into how artificial intelligenc...

Show Notes – The AI Cognitive Shift: Xiaoyin Qu, heyBossAI Guest: Xiaoyin Qu, founder of heyBossAI Host: Alastair Goldfisher Length: ~30 minutes Originally recorded for The AI Cognitive Shift (in collaboration with AiNews.com ) In this episode: Xiaoyin Qu made headlines by stepping down as CEO of heyBossAI and handing the role to an AI agent named Astra. In this conversation, she shares the thinki...

Episode Title: Unlocking the Power of Storytelling in Venture — with Beck Bamberger Summary: In this episode of The Venture Variety Show , I chat with Beck Bamberger — founder of BAM and author of the new book Flack Fairy . We dive into why storytelling is such a critical (and often overlooked) skill for venture-backed founders, how to navigate the tricky world of PR and media, and what role AI is...

In this episode of The Venture Variety Show , Alastair Goldfisher talks with Doug Levin — founder of Black Duck Software, Harvard lecturer, startup advisor, investor, and author of Lessons from a Startup Life on Substack. They explore how the post-ChatGPT boom has reshaped the startup world, why investors are drawn to small, nimble AI teams, and why product-market fit is a continuous process, not...

Title: AI, Lawsuits, and the Death of the Billable Hour? | Alon Shwartz, Trellis Show Notes: In this episode of The Venture Variety Show , I sit down with Alon Shwartz, co-founder and COO of Trellis, to explore how AI is transforming one of the oldest professions: law. Trellis is a legal tech startup using generative AI to make state trial court data searchable and accessible. Alon shares how this...

🎧 Episode: “The Exit Bottleneck and the Path Forward” In this episode of The Venture Variety Show , I talk with Louis Lehot , a Silicon Valley-based attorney at Foley & Lardner who works closely with startups, investors, and acquirers across the venture ecosystem. We dig into what’s really holding back venture capital right now—and what might finally break things loose in 2025. In this episode, L...

Episode Title: The Artist AI Didn't Replace - A Conversation with Daniel Ambrosi Description: Join host Alastair Goldfisher for the inaugural episode of "The AI Cognitive Shift," a podcast series brought to you in collaboration with AiNews.com . This series delves into how artificial intelligence is reshaping our cultural and societal landscapes through intimate conversations with innovators at th...

Title: Emily Peters on Art, AI, and the Future of Health Equity Summary: In this episode, Alastair Goldfisher speaks with Emily Peters, a healthcare brand strategist and author of "Artists Remaking Medicine," about the intersection of art, technology, and healthcare. Emily shares insights from her work in the digital health space, her personal journey as a patient, and her belief in the power of c...

Podcast Title: The Venture Variety Show: How AI is Reshaping Venture Capital with Fred Campbell of TRAC.vc Show Notes: Episode Description: Is AI the future of venture capital? In this eye-opening episode of The Venture Variety Show, host Alastair Goldfisher dives deep into the data-driven revolution transforming the investment landscape. Alastair interviews Fred Campbell, Managing Partner and Co-...

keywords venture capital, marketing strategy, storytelling, consistency, earned media, video content, podcasting, founder support, work-life balance, authenticity summary In this episode of The Venture Variety Show, Alastair Goldfisher interviews Kayla Liederbach, a seasoned VC marketing expert. Kayla shares her journey into venture capital, her experiences at SOSV, and the importance of consisten...

keywords AI, robotics, technology, investment, labor force, productivity, industrialization, manufacturing, defense tech, automation summary In this conversation, Marvin discusses his shift in investment focus towards AI, robotics, and manufacturing, emphasizing the importance of re-industrialization in America. He reflects on the implications of technology on the labor force, acknowledging both j...

AI Show Notes keywords coaching, leadership development, Sounding Board, executive coaching, venture capital, technology in coaching, democratizing coaching, pandemic impact, coaching trends, healthcare coaching summary In this conversation, Alastair Goldfisher interviews Christine Tao, co-founder and CEO of Sounding Board, a company that provides executive coaching services. They discuss the foun...

AI Show Notes keywords entrepreneurship, investment, Silicon Valley, personal development, startup advice, venture capital, networking, writing, core values, building startups summary In this episode of The Venture Variety Show, Alastair Goldfisher interviews Marvin Liao, a seasoned investor and entrepreneur. They discuss the importance of personal development in entrepreneurship, the current inve...

Episode Title: Navigating the Bifurcation of Venture Capital with Courtney McCrea Episode Summary: In this Valentine’s Day episode of The Venture Variety Show , Alastair Goldfisher talks with Courtney McCrea, co-founder of Recast Capital. They discuss the challenges and opportunities for emerging managers in the venture capital industry, which is increasingly dominated by large, established firms....

keywords Gavin Myers, venture capital, built world, AI in construction, M&A activity, investor relations, technology investments, entrepreneurship, private equity, communication with LPs summary In this conversation, Gavin Myers shares his journey from investment banking to founding Prudence, a venture capital firm focused on the built world. He discusses the importance of technology in real estat...

In this episode of The Venture Variety Show , I sit down with Jodi Lomask , founder of Creative Journey , to explore how psilocybin and guided nature-immersive retreats are helping high achievers unlock creativity, clarity and vision. On the podcast, Lomask shares how she transitioned from decades as a professional choreographer to guiding startup founders, VCs and innovators through transformativ...

In this special short episode of The Venture Variety Show , Alastair Goldfisher reflects on 2024 and shares exciting updates about what’s coming in the new year. Highlights from This Episode: A big thank you to our listeners for supporting the launch of The Venture Variety Show this year. Updates on the upcoming lineup of incredible guests, including founders, VCs, LPs, artists, marketing professi...

In this episode of The Venture Variety Show , we meet with Christine Tao, co-founder and CEO of Sounding Board, a tech-enabled coaching and mentoring platform. Christine shares her journey from her previous work at Tapjoy, Google and YouTube, to partner with Lori Mazan to launch Sounding Board , a venture-backed startup that has raised almost $50 million in funding. Christine and I chatted about t...

In this conversation, Alastair Goldfisher and Scott Brown discuss the evolution and significance of platform roles in venture capital. Scott emphasizes the importance of value addition beyond capital, the impact of relationships, the changes brought about by the pandemic and advice for those looking to get into a platform role. Scott also shares insights on best practices for VC platforms and offe...

Welcome to The Venture Variety Show! I’m Alastair and this is an intro to my video podcast. This podcast will explore the intersection of venture capital, startups, media and platforms. Join me as we dive into trends, strategies and success stories that shape the startup and venture communities. Expect engaging conversations and golden nuggets of wisdom to help you level up! Get full access to The...