The Future of Supply Chain: a Dynamo Ventures Podcast

From time to time, we’ll re-air a previous episode of the show that our newer audience may have missed. During this episode, Santosh is joined by Dr. Tom Goldsby, Chair of Logistics at the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee. Santosh and Tom discuss the complexities of supply chain management and other important topics. Tom shares his background, the growth of the University of Tennessee's supply chain program, and the importance of nearshoring and agility in today's volatile environment. They also explore the evolution of parcel logistics, the challenges of last-mile delivery, the impacts of AI on supply chain innovation for the future, and more.Highlights from their conversation include:Tom’s Background in Supply Chain and Logistics (1:22)The Impact of Nearshoring (6:41)Geopolitical Considerations (9:38)Agility in Supply Chain (13:04)Adapting to Pandemic Challenges (16:16)Parcel Logistics Evolution (19:49)USPS incentives and parcel network changes (23:25)Walmart's last mile and returns strategy (24:01)Rapid fire Segment: AI, Port of Baltimore, and Trucking (25:09)Final Thoughts and Takeaways (28:24)Dynamo is a VC firm led by supply chain and mobility specialists that focus on seed-stage, enterprise startups.Find out more at: https://www.dynamo.vc/

From time to time, we’ll re-air a previous episode of the show that our newer audience may have missed.During this episode, Santosh is joined by Radu Palamariu, the Managing Director for Europe and Asia Pacific at Alcott Global, a company that provides executive search solutions for the world's top companies in eCommerce, supply chain, logistics, and other sectors. During the episode, Radu shares insights on the importance of talent in the supply chain industry and the current market dynamics. He talks about Alcott Global's focus on recruitment for the global value chain and its initiatives to recognize supply chain leaders. He also discusses the shift to an employer market, driven by economic and geopolitical factors, and the demand for talent capable of driving change. He also stresses the need for investment in technology and innovation, particularly in Asia and the Middle East, and the challenges of attracting talent to manufacturing. The episode also covers leadership transitions and the strategic approach to appointing independent board directors.Highlights from their conversation include:Alcott Global’s Mission (1:00)Radu’s Background in Search and Talent (3:27)State of the Supply Chain Industry (6:46)Skills in Demand in Supply Chain (8:54)Investment and Innovation in Supply Chain (15:18)Attracting Talent to Supply Chain (19:52)Contributing to the Greater Good (22:22)Transitioning leadership in a growing company (24:25)Challenges of scaling a company (26:13)AI's role in the supply chain (32:18)Final thoughts and takeaways (34:39)Dynamo is a VC firm led by supply chain and mobility specialists that focus on seed-stage, enterprise startups.Find out more at: https://www.dynamo.vc/

During this episode, Santosh is joined by Joe Darcy, Investment Director at Volvo Group VC, as they explore the intersection of corporate venture capital, industrial innovation, and technology. Joe shares insights into Volvo's strategic venture approach, emphasizing their 28-year history of investing in startups that can benefit both the company and its customers. The conversation also delves into the nuanced world of corporate venture capital, with a particular focus on AI's role in industrial settings, highlighting the importance of "human-in-the-loop" technologies. Joe discusses the firm's investment strategy, which balances financial returns with strategic opportunities, and provides a personal narrative of his journey from Wall Street to venture capital. Key takeaways include the evolving relationship between startups and large corporations, the potential of AI to augment rather than replace human workflows, the critical importance of long-term partnerships in driving technological innovation in the industrial sector, and so much more. Highlights from their conversation include:Overview of Volvo Group VC (0:57)Joe Darcy’s Background (2:17)Volvo Group VC’s Investment Approach (4:33)Types of Startups Volvo Invests In (7:55)Stage Fit and Investment Criteria (10:08)Venture Capital Realities and Founder Advice (12:10)Overhyped vs. Underappreciated Trends (14:07)Non-AI Areas of Interest (16:50)Contrarian Take on AI and Industry (17:49)Rapid Fire Segment to Close: Myths, Heroes, and Hobbies (18:39)Final Thoughts and Takeaways (20:58)Dynamo is a VC firm led by supply chain and mobility specialists that focus on seed-stage, enterprise startups.Find out more at: https://www.dynamo.vc/

During this episode, Santosh is joined by Jake Wieseneck, Principal at Maniv, a venture capital firm focused on mobility and transportation technologies. Jake shares insights into Maniv's investment strategy, emphasizing their focus on decarbonization and the digitization of transportation. The conversation also explores emerging trends in AI, particularly its application in verticalized industries like maintenance, freight, and manufacturing. Key discussions include the evolving Series A fundraising landscape, the importance of domain expertise in AI applications, and the potential transformation of automotive OEMs. Jake highlights the firm's approach to investing in companies with clear cost imperatives and multiple business model pathways, while also providing a bold prediction that automotive companies will become broader technology providers by the end of the decade. Don’t miss this conversation! Highlights from their conversation include:Jake’s Background and Path to Mobility Investing (1:09)Maniv’s Investment Strategy and Industry Partnerships (3:34)Bidirectional Value with Strategic Partners (6:02)Current Market Dynamics and Exciting Trends (8:08)AI and Mobility: Investment Focus Areas (9:45)Series A Market Expectations and Guidance (11:27)Optionality and Transparency for Founders (13:23)Investor-Founder Alignment and Board Dynamics (18:22)Defensibility and Moats in AI-Driven Businesses (20:23)Distribution, Data, and Domain as Competitive Advantages (22:19)Decarbonization and Electrification Investment Approach (27:28)Bold Predictions for the Automotive Industry (30:22)Rapid Fire Segment to Closs (31:31)Dynamo is a VC firm led by supply chain and mobility specialists that focus on seed-stage, enterprise startups.Find out more at: https://www.dynamo.vc/

During this episode, Santosh is joined by Adam Honig, CEO of Spiro.ai. During the conversation, Adam and Santosh discuss the limitations of traditional CRM systems and introduce an "anti-CRM" approach tailored for the industrial sector. Adam shares his experiences in sales and technology, highlighting how Spiro.ai uses AI to automatically collect and update customer data, reducing manual entry and improving sales productivity. The conversation also explores challenges in industrial sales, including generational knowledge transfer, technology adoption, and the need for practical, actionable insights. Key takeaways include the importance of proactive relationship management, the potential of AI to streamline sales processes, the need for flexible, user-friendly solutions that provide real value to sales teams, and so much more. Highlights from their conversation include:Adam’s Background and CRM Experience (1:01)The Fundamental Flaws of Traditional CRMs (3:03)Proactive Relationship Management Explained (6:53)Why Focus on the Industrial Sector? (8:30)Actionable Insights and Business Impact (10:40)AI Adoption in Industrial Sales (12:53)Advice for Industrial Leaders on Digital Transformation (14:51)Common Sales Mistakes in Manufacturing (17:00)CRM 1.0 vs. CRM 2.0: What’s Changed? (19:10)The Future of CRM and Systems of Record (23:22)Final Thoughts and Takeaways (24:33)Dynamo is a VC firm led by supply chain and mobility specialists that focus on seed-stage, enterprise startups.Find out more at: https://www.dynamo.vc/

From time to time, we’ll re-air a previous episode of the show that our newer audience may have missed.During this episode, Santosh is joined by Jaime Tabachnik, Co-Founder and CEO at Solvento, a company unlocking the flow of money for truckers in Latin America. During the conversation, Santosh and Jaime discuss the intersection of freight and finance. Jaime shares his transition from civil engineering to logistics and payments, and how his experience led to founding Solvento. The company aims to help SMEs in the Mexican trucking industry by providing software and financial solutions to improve cash flow and efficiency. They discuss Solvento's $50 million lending facility, the specifics of the Mexican trucking market, and the impact of nearshoring. Jaime also addresses venture capital investment in lending models, the potential for transformative change in the Mexican economy, and more.Highlights from their conversation include:Solvento and Logistics Payment Automation (0:41)Jaime’s background in Supply Chain and Logistics (1:51)Solvento's Infrastructure for Freight Industry (9:46Lending Facility and Quick Pay Solutions (15:49)Mexican Trucking Industry Insights (22:34)Nearshoring and the Mexican Supply Chain (25:53)Lending Models in Emerging Markets (28:39)VC Investment and Capital Efficiency (30:51)Jaime’s Motivation and Industry Impact (32:05)Rapid Fire: Security, Elections, and Interest Rates (34:01)Final thoughts and takeaways (37:01)Dynamo is a VC firm led by supply chain and mobility specialists that focus on seed-stage, enterprise startups.Find out more at: https://www.dynamo.vc/

During this episode, Santosh is joined by Michael Murray, Senior Director, Global Supply Chain Management at DSV Inventory Management Solutions. Michael discusses the complex semiconductor supply chain landscape and explores critical topics such as the Section 232 trade investigation, challenges of onshoring, and strategies for managing inventory amid global trade tensions. He also emphasizes the importance of transparency, strategic partnerships, and creative solutions like consigned inventory to balance supply risk and cost efficiency. Key takeaways include the need for closer collaboration between suppliers and manufacturers, adapting to changing trade policies, and viewing supply chain relationships as strategic partnerships rather than transactional interactions. The conversation provides insights into how semiconductor companies are navigating national security concerns, tariff challenges, the evolving global manufacturing environment, and so much more. Highlights from their conversation include:DSV Inventory Management Solutions Overview (0:58)Michael’s Background and Career Journey (2:26)Section 232 Investigation Explained (3:44)Trade War and Near-Term Disruptions (5:11)Trade Compliance and Coding (7:49)Cost vs. Control in Sourcing (10:38)Balancing Lean and Resilient Inventory (13:01)Strategic Partnerships and Trust (17:26)Macro View: Future of Supply Chains & Trade Policy (18:08)This or That Segment and Parting Thoughts (19:59)Dynamo is a VC firm led by supply chain and mobility specialists that focus on seed-stage, enterprise startups.Find out more at: https://www.dynamo.vc/

Join Joel Wayment, VP and GM of 3PL logistics at Cardinal Health, as he dives into the fascinating world of pharmaceutical cold chain logistics. He explains how innovative packaging and sustainable practices are essential in transporting ultra-sensitive medical products. Discover how technologies like AI enhance supply chain visibility and decision-making. Joel also discusses the industry's evolution post-COVID-19 and the challenges of ensuring safe delivery of critical healthcare products. Plus, hear about the balance between regulation and flexibility in logistics!

Highlights from their conversation include:Overview of Highway and Michael's Background in Freight (1:35)Rise of Freight Fraud (2:29)Types of Fraud Encountered (5:52)Fraudulent Carrier Tactics (8:11)Highway's Carrier Vetting Process (10:23)Impact of Freight Fraud (11:53)Highway's Identity Engine (16:57)Comparison with Other Tools (19:09)Quality of Assets in Freight (22:23)Freight Fraud Index Launch (24:03)Compromised Email Inboxes and Phone Spoofing Tactics (26:04)Myths About Freight Brokers (28:06)Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks (29:07)Dynamo is a VC firm led by supply chain and mobility specialists that focus on seed-stage, enterprise startups.Find out more at: https://www.dynamo.vc/

Highlights from their conversation include:David’s background and journey in co-founding sennder (0:41)European Freight Market Dynamics (2:39)The State of the European Freight Industry (4:47)Diversification and Business Strategy (6:14)Influence of Market Dynamics on Strategy (8:40)Outlook for 2024 and Managed Transportation Capability (10:47)Profitability and Investment in Technology (12:20)Technology Adoption and Future Services (15:17)Challenges and Opportunities of Leveraging Technology (20:26)Key Technology Metrics and Path to Profitability (22:26Inorganic Growth and Acquisitions (24:41)Challenges of the European trucking industry (28:55)Final thoughts and takeaways (32:32)Dynamo is a VC firm led by supply chain and mobility specialists that focus on seed-stage, enterprise startups.Find out more at: https://www.dynamo.vc/