Wharton Tech Toks

Join Manasi Patwa and Julien Guiot in a conversation with Cassie Miao, Director of M&A and Ventures at Databricks. In this episode, we dive into sourcing and due diligence best practices in corporate venture and discuss the fastest-growing areas within data infrastructure and data intelligence. Cassie also sheds light on skills associated with a successful career in tech corporate development.

Employee acquisition, retention, and management are top-of-mind objectives across SMBs and enterprises alike. AI offers an opprotunity to dramatically improve companies' abilities to respond to employee needs and proactively drive better employee experiences--and Eightfold AI is at the forefront of this. Join Manasi Patwa and Cynthia Zhou as they speak with Matias Spinetta, Global Vice President of Revenue Operations at Eightfold. If you were curious about drivers of go-to-market success and creative strategy in a fast-growing enterprise AI leader, this episode provides a deep-dive into this arena - along with an insightful discussion around what will define differentiated B2B AI companies in the long-term.

For those interested in the intersection of tech and entertainment, join Steph Kim in this exciting episode as she dives into YouTube creator empowerment with Monica Khan (EVP, Creator Team) and Tyler L. Woods (Director, Creator Experience Strategy & Programs) of Spotter, named one of TIME100's Most Influential Companies in 2023. In addition to providing top creators — from MrBeast to Airrack — with upfront capital, Spotter offers support through innovative AI tools, community, insights, and more. Monica and Tyler share their favorite creator success stories and offer advice for breaking into the industry.

Akhil Iyer from Shield Capital joins the discussion, bringing his expertise in dual-use technologies after eight years in the Marines. He explores the intricate balance between military and commercial tech, emphasizing the pivotal role of AI, cybersecurity, and drones. Akhil highlights how government contracts are shaping venture capital dynamics and the importance of innovation in defense. The conversation also delves into future trends, particularly in the competitive US-China landscape, predicting significant impacts on technology deployment and logistics.

In this episode, Steph Kim chats with Oscar Höglund, Co-Founder and CEO of Epidemic Sound, the leading platform for world-class music and sound effects for brands and creators, with an expansive catalog seen and heard over 2.5 billion times a day worldwide. They discuss Epidemic Sound's innovative subscription-based model that simplifies music licensing and offers transparency and simplicity for both musicians and creators. Oscar opens up about his CEO role that has evolved from obsessing over ideas and product-market fit to focusing on scale. He emphasizes the importance of balancing paranoia and ambition in entrepreneurship.

Join Daniel Berkovits, the VP of Strategy of Via, to talk about how Via is digitizing the historically analog world of public transit to improve the experience of riders around the world.

Join Steph Kim as she chats with Camille Van Horne, Instacart's Director of Product Management, as they discuss the evolution and expansion of Instacart's services, including the launch of Instacart Platform. She shares insights on how Instacart is adapting to changing consumer behavior and the demand for convenience and personalization in grocery retail. They also discuss Instacart's approach to AI and the importance of long-term thinking and emotional intelligence in the product management role.

In this episode, we are joined by the VP and Head of Corporate Development at LinkedIn, Benjamin Orthlieb. We explore what corporate development entails at LinkedIn, build vs. buy decisions, and themes in the future of work that Ben is personally excited by.

In this episode, we're joined by Mike Collett, founder and managing partner of Promus Ventures, a VC firm focused on deep tech. We explore the evolving world of robotics, discussing everything from robotics-as-a-service to AI integration. Mike shares insights from his over two decades in venture capital on how robotics is transforming industries and impacting investors. Tune in to gain a unique perspective on where the technology is headed and how it's reshaping our world.

In today’s episode we are joined by Elisha Jacobs, Senior Associate at RedBlue Capital. Elisha helps unpack the complexities of venture capital within the mobility sector. Discover the future of transportation through investments in groundbreaking technologies and models that could redefine how we move goods and people around the globe. For anyone interested in the mobility sector, this episode serves as a great overview of the sector.