Venture with Grace

Manmeet Singh Bhasin is a seasoned technology entrepreneur and investor, currently leading WMC Global in AI-driven cyber threat intelligence. In this conversation, he delves into the evolution of data privacy and security, highlighting how recent regulatory changes spur innovation. Manmeet shares insights on investment strategies in AI/ML, emphasizing the importance of a strong founder team. He also contrasts service and product margins, discusses the hiring trends for the AI era, and offers valuable fundraising advice for startups looking to achieve product-market fit.

Conor Brennan-Burke, Founder and CEO of Hyperspell, creates memory and context infrastructure for AI agents. He shares his journey from homeschooling to tech founder in multiple countries. Conor discusses the importance of customer relationships in differentiating AI companies. He explores how memory features in AI enhance personalization and adaptability in real products. He also touches on building a no-code integration solution and prioritizing security for enterprise clients. Plus, he reveals his love for DJing and favorite books!

Lari Hamalainen, a Senior Partner at McKinsey and expert in GenAI and technology strategy, shares his insights on enterprise transformation. He discusses the differences between startups and established businesses, stressing the need for balance between reliability and innovation. Lari highlights the challenges of adopting AI tools, focusing on change management. He contrasts task automation with reimagining processes, plus offers strategies for startups to succeed in enterprise environments. He underscores the importance of building trust and the future of AI in business.

Allen Wang, co-founder and CEO of Ditto AI, shares insights on revolutionizing Gen Z dating. He recounts Ditto's unique origin story driven by a friend's quest for love. The duo tackles marketing strategies, safety measures on campuses, and the importance of memorable events for viral growth. Allen explains matching users based on vibes, not just hobbies, and discusses monetization strategies focused on real-life connections. With plans for geographic expansion, Ditto aims to create a platform that fosters genuine experiences beyond dating.

Mahi de Silva, Co-Founder and CSO of Higgsfield AI, is an expert in generative media and creator-focused AI. He shares fascinating insights on how AI is reshaping video creation, emphasizing the importance of storytelling in democratizing content production. Mahi highlights the pivot from mobile to web tools, catering to professional creators and ensuring a sustainable business model. He discusses the rise of short-form content and the keys to virality in creator tools, all while positioning Higgsfield as a game-changer in the creator economy.

Tony Conrad, Partner at True Ventures and co-founder of about.me, shares insights on the current landscape of AI and venture capital. He reveals the overhyped aspects of AI and what's often overlooked in the industry. Tony emphasizes the importance of community and network effects in building successful businesses. He discusses the critical role of emotional intelligence in supporting founders and the significance of genuine relationships in VC. With a renewed focus on mentoring and emerging trends, Tony's passion for innovation and collaboration shines through.

Vivek Krishnamurthy, a Partner at Commerce Ventures, is a FinTech and InsurTech expert with a background in investment banking. He dives into the current macro trends and the evolving landscape of M&A in these industries. Vivek discusses the transformative potential of AI, emphasizing its role in reducing integration friction and enhancing data portability for better financial outcomes. He also touches on the future of stablecoins, tokenization, and their competitive edge in remittances, painting a vivid picture of where money management is headed.

Adam D’Augelli is a Partner at True Ventures, a leading early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2005. With a foundational mission to empower entrepreneurs at the initial stages of company creation, True has partnered with over 1,050 Founders across more than 500 companies. The firm’s 12 funds have been a part of seven IPOs and over 60 acquisitions.Adam joined True as an analyst in 2010, immediately after graduating magna cum laude from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in science and a master’s degree in finance. Adam currently serves on the NVCA’s Board of Directors. Adam has led True’s investments in Splice, Pendulum Therapeutics, Deep Genomics, Kettle, Radiant Graph, Dinamo Bio, The Nuclear Company, SuppCo, Howie, and others currently in stealth. His notable past investments include HashiCorp (NASDAQ: HCP), TripleLift (acquired by Vista Equity), Ring (acquired by Amazon), Runscope (acquired by CA Technologies), and Moleculo (acquired by Illumina).Topics: The State of the Seed Market 2025: Why this is the best—and hardest—time to be a seed investorAbundance vs. Scarcity: How compounding innovation across AI, biotech, and blockchain is reshaping early-stage opportunityBuilding for the Next 30 Years: Why the future of venture belongs to investors with clear differentiation and conviction#VentureCapital #SeedStage #TrueVentures #FrontierTech #AIInnovation

Soham Mazumdar is a serial entrepreneur and technology leader, currently the Co-Founder and CEO of WisdomAI, an AI-powered data insights platform that helps enterprises query their data using natural language. Previously, he co-founded Rubrik, where he served as Chief Architect and helped scale the company to IPO. Soham also co-founded Tagtile (acquired by Facebook), led core search infrastructure at Google—earning the prestigious Founders’ Award—and held engineering roles at Facebook. An alumnus of IIT Kanpur and UIUC, he was named an IITK Distinguished Alumnus and a Silicon Valley 40 Under 40 honoree. Throughout his career, Soham has been at the forefront of cloud, security, and AI innovation.Topics: AI’s Role in Enterprise IntelligenceFrom Zero to IPOThe Shift from BI to AI-Assisted Insight#VCPodcast #AIStartups #EnterpriseAI #TechFounders #Rubrik #WisdomAI

5Moritz Sudhof is the Co-founder and CEO of Bigspin. He additionally sits on the AI Task Force for the International Coaching Federation, specifically focused on the impact of artificial intelligence in coaching. Holding a BS and MS in Computer Science from Stanford, Moritz has authored influential research on emotion and politeness in language and collaborated on AI research with institutions such as Stanford University, Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, and the Federal Reserve.Passionate about using AI to foster empathy and understanding, Moritz led development of the first AI-enabled employee engagement solution as Chief Data Scientist at Kanjoya and then Principal Data Scientist at Ultimate Software (now UKG). Most recently, Moritz co-founded Motive Software, a company dedicated to helping organizations leverage language data to better understand and support their people. Moritz served as CEO until BetterUp acquired Motive in 2021. He's most excited to participate in building a future where AI responsibly helps every person become their best.Topics: AI, Coaching & Human-Centered IntelligenceFuture of Work & AI EnablementBuilding & Scaling Responsible AI Startups#AI #ResponsibleAI #FutureOfWork #HumanCenteredAI #LeadershipDevelopment