Clock Speed with Shamus Madan

In this episode, Shamus Madan talks with Campbell Baron about his journey from podcasting to founding Mantra, a successful edtech startup. They discuss Campbell's early media journey, his transition to TikTok, and the intersection of media and technology. Mark Cuban and Tim Draper share insights on building billion-dollar businesses. The episode concludes with overcoming challenges in entrepreneurship. Hey everyone, welcome to the MBIT Podcast in which we discuss tech and entrepreneurship. Today the 19-year-old startup founder Campbell Baron joins us to discuss his company Montra and how it makes it easier to create video courses. Formerly, Campbell was the host of "The Ones Who Succeed" podcast interviewing guests like Chris Sacca, the founders of Dollar Shave Club, and more. After his podcast, Campbell decided to educate the next generation on business news using TikTok. Then Campbell discusses his journey in the media space and how it lead him to start a company. Twitter of Host: @mbitpodcast Twitter of Guest: @campbelljbaron Learn More About Montra Here: https://montra.co/ (0:00) Introduction and Campbell Baron's journey from podcasting to founding Mantra (1:45) Campbell's connection with successful founders and the start of his podcast (3:09) Transition to TikTok and the intersection of media and technology (5:01) Campbell's early media journey and break into journalism with CBC (8:48) Transitioning to Mantra and the idea behind the startup (10:28) The development and iteration process of Mantra at BetaWorks (14:32) Decision to focus on edtech and the business model behind Mantra (19:45) Building Mantra in public versus in private and content strategy (29:15) Guest appearance: Mark Cuban and his early business journey (38:50) Building a billion-dollar business and lessons learned from failures (49:50) Guest appearance: Tim Draper on building successful startups (58:30) Sponsor: FreshBooks (1:02:10) Overcoming challenges in entrepreneurship and closing remarks from Shamus Madan

In this episode, Shamus Madan chats with Thor Ernstsson, discussing his journey from Feedback Loop to Strata. They delve into the application of AI in Strata, lessons from past ventures, and Strata's future plans. Thor also shares his approach to email management and relationship maintenance, plus advice on networking. Hey everybody, welcome to the MBIT Podcast, thanks for tuning into the show today. First off if you are enjoying the pod, make sure to share these episodes with a friend. Today we have Thor Ernstsson the Founder & CEO of Strata.cc. Strata is using AI to strengthen your professional relationships. On the podcast Thor discusses the importance of investing in your relationships, how Strata makes it easier to do so, and how Thor's previous startups contributed to the creation of Strata.cc. Learn More About Strata Here: https://strata.cc Twitter of Host: @mbitpodcast Twitter of Guest: @ThorErnstsson Check Out The Grind Sell Elevate Podcast Below: https://apple.co/37n2XqK (0:00) Introduction to Thor Ernstsson and Strata (2:31) Evolution from Feedback Loop to Strata (4:13) Implementation of AI in Strata (7:17) Applying lessons from previous businesses to Strata (10:37) Sponsor: Promo code for MBIT listeners to gain access to Strata (13:40) Strata's business model and future plans (15:43) Collaborations with event organizers for networking (17:02) Strata's approach to managing heavy inboxes and filtering emails (19:21) How Strata aids in maintaining relationships (20:02) Thor's advice on networking (21:37) Wrap up and closing remarks

In this episode, Shamus Madan chats with Andrew Yates, the mind behind promoted.ai. They discuss hiring challenges in tech, promoted.ai's goals, journey to Y Combinator, and strategies against tech giants. They also delve into misconceptions about ads and the changing consumer sentiment. Running a successful marketplace is hard. Andrew Yates is the co-founder and CEO of Promoted, a tech startup that helps marketplaces maximize conversions through optimizing for better search results as well as real-time personalization for new and anonymous users. Promoted.ai was part of Y-Combinator's 2021 batch. Before starting Promoted.ai, Andrew worked at Pinterest and Facebook, where he led ads ranking, auction, and marketplace engineering and research teams. Learn More About Promoted Here: Promoted.ai Twitter of Host: @mbitpodcast (0:00) Introduction and Guest Background: Andrew Yates and promoted.ai (1:17) Hiring Challenges in Tech Industry (4:16) Vision, Goals, and Industry Size of promoted.ai (7:41) Clientele and Journey to Y Combinator (12:24) Competitive Strategies Against Tech Giants (15:20) In-house Team Building and Business Model of promoted.ai (18:46) Differentiation from Big Tech Companies (20:44) Misconceptions about Ads and Objective Function Maximization (24:16) Changing Consumer Sentiment and Philosophy of promoted.ai (27:04) Conclusion of Interview with Andrew Yates

In this episode, Shamus Madan talks with Ryan Shearman, founder of Aether Diamonds. They discuss the inspiration and environmental focus of Aether, Ryan's formative experiences, and the diamond creation process. They also delve into misconceptions about lab-grown diamonds, the potential shift into B2B, and the future of the diamond industry. Hey everybody, welcome to the MBIT podcast in which we discuss tech, venture capital, and entrepreneurship. Today is an extremely exciting episode in which the startup Aether Diamonds raised $18 Million to create diamonds from THIN AIR. Yes, you read that right. Twitter of Host: @mbitpodcast Twitter of Guest: @ryanshearmanNYC Learn More About Aether Here: https://aetherdiamonds.com/ (0:00) Introduction to the episode and guest Ryan Shearman (2:20) Inspiration behind Aether Diamonds and its environmental focus (6:07) Impact of Ryan's childhood experiences on his environmental consciousness (8:15) The process, impact, and marketing of Aether Diamonds (11:20) Pricing and differentiation of Aether Diamonds (13:04) Partnership with Climeworks and the diamond creation process (15:18) Potential shift to B2B and use of series A funding (18:46) Addressing misconceptions about lab-grown diamonds and the origin of "Aether" (21:29) Impact on diamond prices with economies of scale (24:54) Conclusion and how to learn more about Aether Diamonds

In this episode, Shamus Madan interviews Daniel Jakaitis about his company ChatKick. They discuss its inception, role in hiring decisions, and adaptation to market dynamics. Jakaitis shares insights on enhancing candidate experience, transitioning from bootstrapping to VC, and challenges with investors. They wrap up with key takeaways and the future of labor market. Welcome everyone to the MBIT Podcast, I am your host Shamus Madan, and today Daniel Jakaitis joins the pod to discuss his business Chatkick and how it hopes to revolutionize the talent acquisition industry. Twitter of Host: @mbitpodcast Twitter of Guest: @DanJakaitis If you are a founder and want to learn more about how Chatkick can help your business become more efficient and effective in talent acquisition you can learn more about Chatkick here: https://chatkick.com/ (0:00) Introduction and background of guest, Daniel Jakaitis (1:08) ChatKick: The inception and its role in hiring decisions (4:01) Operational mechanism of ChatKick in the hiring process (6:21) Adapting ChatKick to the changing hiring market dynamics (7:56) Enhancing candidate experience and fairness with ChatKick (10:06) Relevance and target market of ChatKick (11:42) Transition from bootstrapping to venture capital for ChatKick (14:05) Challenges with pre-seed and seed round investors (15:05) Wrap-up: Key takeaways about ChatKick and the future of the labor market (16:54) Closing remarks and request for reviews

In this episode, Shamus Madan chats with Simon Grunfield about the implications of the Canadian trucking protest and Russia-Ukraine situation on crypto. They delve into Ukraine's crypto donations, crypto laundering, and the human element in crypto hacks. Grunfield shares Simba Chain's token issuance plans and insights on centralized exchanges, and they discuss the impact of crypto hacks on investor faith and insurance options. They also explore the Travel Rule in cryptocurrency, securing keys on blockchain, the future of KYC AML in NFT marketplaces, and the rise of transparency in DAOs. Hey everyone, thanks for joining the MBIT podcast in which we discuss finance, tech, and entrepreneurship. In today’s episode, we will be discussing the Trudeau trucking incident and how that could cause a push for crypto. Second, we will be digging into the couple that laundered $3.6B in crypto. Simon Grunfeld makes his second appearance on the pod to talk more on these topics. Twitter of Host: @mbitpodcast Twitter of Guest: @simongrunfeld Disclaimer: The episode is not financial or investment advice. (0:00) Introduction and guest introduction: Simon Grunfield (0:31) Discussion on the trucking protest in Canada and its impact on crypto (1:59) Comparison with the Russia-Ukraine situation and its crypto implications (3:45) Discussion on Ukraine receiving crypto donations and speculation on Russia's potential engagement with crypto (6:34) Insight on crypto laundering and the human engineering component in crypto hacks (11:01) Introduction to Simba Chain's plans for a token issuance and discussion on blockchain security (13:22) Simon Grunfield's insights on centralized exchanges, shift towards decentralization, and KYC and AML in crypto exchanges (18:02) The impact of cryptocurrency hacks on investor faith and insurance options for cryptocurrency losses (22:48) Introduction to the Travel Rule in cryptocurrency and discussion on securing keys and encrypted information on blockchain (28:19) Future of KYC AML in NFT marketplaces, role of SimbaChange, and rise of transparency in DAOs (29:12) Shamus Madan concludes the episode, thanks the audience, and reminder to leave a review

In this episode, Shamus Madan interviews Daniel Gouldman on the potential of cryptocurrency beyond investment. They discuss the predatory nature of traditional banking, the transaction process with Unbanked debit card, and the future of banking. The conversation also covers raising capital, the financial stress of building a business, and the importance of making the first dollar. Hey everybody, welcome to the MBIT podcast in which we discuss entrepreneurship, finance, and tech. Today we whipped up a riveting episode discussing how Unbanked is revolutionizing the banking industry by integrating DeFi protocol. To talk more on these topics we have a very special guest Daniel Gouldman. Disclaimer: The podcast is not financial advice, is not investment advice, and is not a research report. Always make sure to do the due diligence before investing. Investing is risky. Twitter of Host: @mbitpodcast Twitter of Guest: @danielgouldman1 Find Unbanked Here: https://unbanked.com/ (0:00) Introduction and guest background - Daniel Gouldman (1:46) Cryptocurrency and its potential beyond investment (4:40) Discussing the predatory nature of traditional banking (7:20) Transaction process with Unbanked debit card (9:13) Future of banking and financial transactions (12:02) Raising capital and choosing safe notes (17:33) The financial stress of building a business (19:15) The importance of making the first dollar (21:54) Building a successful business by starting small (24:12) Wrap up and closing remarks

In this episode, Shamus Madan engages Chris Yeh in a conversation about his entrepreneurial journey, the concept of blitzscaling, and winner-take-most markets. They discuss the story behind their book on blitzscaling, the importance of team dynamics, venture capital roles, and key business growth metrics. A case study of Airbnb illustrates when to stop blitzscaling. They conclude with investment criteria and the importance of addressing customer needs. Hey everybody, welcome to the MBIT podcast in which we discuss entrepreneurship and tech. Today we have a fascinating episode discussing blitzscaling, what it is, and how it can be used to expand your business. We have a very special guest Chris Yeh to talk more on these topics. Twitter of Host: @mbitpodcast Twitter of Guest: @chrisyeh Check Out More of Chris Yeh & His Book Below! http://twitter.com/chrisyeh | http://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisyeh | https://chrisyeh.com/ Get my book, “Blitzscaling: The Lighting-Fast Path to Building Massively-Valuable Companies”: https://www.blitzscaling.com/ Get help bringing the benefits of blitzscaling to your company: https://www.blitzscalingacademy.com/ Get my book, the New York Times, Amazon, and iBooks bestseller “The Alliance”: https://www.theallianceframework.com/ (0:00) Introduction and Guest Chris Yeh's Journey into Podcasting (3:04) Chris Yeh's Entrepreneurial Background and Initial Venture (4:41) Introduction to Blitzscaling and Winner-Take-Most Markets (7:14) The Story Behind the Book on Blitzscaling by Shamus Madan and Chris Yeh (12:34) The Importance of Team Dynamics in Business Success and the Role of Venture Capitalists (13:32) Comprehensive Metrics for Business Growth and Customer Satisfaction (15:33) Case Study: When to Stop Blitzscaling Using Airbnb as Example (17:30) Criteria for Investing in a Company at Blitzscaling Ventures (20:49) Final Thoughts on Starting a Company and Importance of Customer Needs (24:21) Closing Remarks and Acknowledgements

In this episode, Shamus Madan converses with Avery Akkineni, President at Vania NFT, about the launch of V Friends and the inception of Vayner NFT. They discuss the rapid growth of OpenSea's trading volume, the mission of Vayner NFT, and provide tips for investing in NFTs. They delve into how Vayner NFT guides brands in the decentralized world and share key takeaways for brands and consumers in the NFT and blockchain space. The conversation winds up with Avery's advice for consumers entering the NFT community. Hey everyone, I am your host, Shamus Madan; welcome to the MBIT podcast in which we discuss finance, technology, and entrepreneurship. We have an exciting episode for you guys discussing NFT’s and how brands can leverage them. To do that we have an extraordinary guest Avery Akkineni the President of VaynerNFT. Twitter of Host: @mbitpodcast Twitter of Guest: @vaynernft & @avery_akkineni Disclaimer: The podcast is not financial or investment advice. (0:00) Introduction and guest introduction: Avery Akkineni, President at Vania NFT (1:29) Launch of V Friends and the inception of Vayner NFT (4:00) Discussion on the rapid increase of OpenSea's trading transaction volume (6:52) Collecting digital assets and the mission of Vayner NFT (9:11) Tips for investing in NFTs (10:26) Steps Vayner NFT provides to brands for navigating the decentralized world (12:04) Key takeaways for brands and consumers in the NFT and blockchain space (12:33) Final advice for consumers entering the NFT community (13:05) Closing remarks from Shamus and Avery (13:16) Reminder for reviews and podcast disclaimer (13:37) Sign off by Shamus Madan

In this episode, Shamus Madan discusses the effect of Apple's privacy changes on Facebook's revenue and the historic impact of Facebook's market cap loss. He delves into Chainalysis data and fraud in the NFT industry, offering NFT investment tips. Shamus also analyzes the value of Board Apes NFTs and discusses Peloton's leadership changes. The episode wraps up with a promotion for the Milestone's Motivation and Money podcast. Hello everyone, and welcome to MBIT, I am your host, Shamus Madan. Today we will be discussing the reason why Facebook has lost a quarter trillion dollars in market cap, and data collected by Chainalysis uncovering a little-known secret in the NFT industry.Disclaimer: The podcast is not financial advice, not a research report, and not a recommendation to buy or sell any NFTs or crypto.Twitter of Host: @mbitpodcast (0:00) Introduction and disclaimer (1:23) Apple's privacy changes and Facebook's revenue (2:36) History and impact of Facebook's market cap loss (4:42) Chainalysis data and NFT industry fraud (5:40) NFT investment tips (6:46) Value analysis of Board Apes NFTs (7:49) Peloton's leadership changes (9:12) Closing remarks and Milestone's Motivation and Money podcast promotion