The Long Game w/ Elijah Murray

Ajay Srivatsavai, a veteran asset management executive with 20 years of experience, discusses why private equity is lagging in the AI race. He analyzes the complexities of technology adoption within the industry and the challenges posed by unstructured data. Ajay highlights the critical need for private equity firms to balance building versus buying technology solutions. The conversation delves into how AI can enhance investment decision-making and transform business strategies, offering insights into the future of a $15 trillion industry.

Welcome to Episode #085 of The Long Game, where I have conversations about tech startups, AI, entrepreneurship, and the ideas and principles to make it all happen.Kenneth Correra shares his groundbreaking experience of running his business with AI guidance, achieving 25% growth without increasing headcount. From creating an AI board of directors to implementing multi-agent systems in various industries, Kenneth provides practical insights into the future of human-AI collaboration.TOPICS:​Building and implementing AI agent networks​Real-world applications in pharmaceutical sales and manufacturing​How AI augments rather than replaces human work​The failed experiment of an AI boss​Practical implementation of multi-agent systemsChapters(00:00) Welcome & Introduction(01:43) The Year of AI Agents(02:44) Defining AI Agents vs Traditional Software(06:11) Real-World Applications(07:38) Case Study: AI in Pharmaceutical Sales(17:38) AI Board of Directors Experiment(24:26) Future of AI and Human Collaboration(34:42) Specialized AI Assistants(42:00) Case Study: AI in Meat Processing(47:01) AI's Role in Job Optimization(53:39) The AI Boss Experiment(57:26) Closing Thoughts#TheLongGame #AIAgents #DigitalTransformation #BusinessAutomation #AIImplementation#MultiAgentAI #AIBoard #BusinessInnovation #AIProductivity​ Website: https://hoo.be/elijahmurray• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elijahmurray• Twitter: https://twitter.com/elijahmurray• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elijahmurray• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elijahmurray/• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-game-w-elijah-murray/

Kal Amin is the President at 1848 Ventures, bringing 25 years of experience from companies like Google, Spotify, and Flipboard. In this conversation we explored how venture studios are evolving with AI, focusing on key topics like building defensible AI companies, the upcoming transfer of SMB ownership to a new generation, and how technology is changing the landscape for small business owners.EPISODE LINKS:• 1848 Ventures: https://1848ventures.comTIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Intro(02:00) What is an SMB? The $33M opportunity(04:15) Why hasn't this been done before?(07:23) How 1848 Ventures builds companies(11:45) The venture studio advantage(15:30) The great SMB transfer(19:40) Building defensible AI companies(23:15) Data as the new moat(25:00) Kal's journey (AOL, Google, Spotify)(31:45) What makes a great founder in 2024?(36:20) Why building products isn't enough(38:30) Finding and developing startup leadersCONNECT:• Website: https://hoo.be/elijahmurray• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elijahmurray• Twitter: https://twitter.com/elijahmurray• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elijahmurray• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elijahmurray/• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-game-w-elijah-murray/• Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elijahmurray• RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/3e31c0c/podcast/rss

Jenny Fielding is a veteran venture capitalist, entrepreneur, and Cornell professor bringing unique insights from multiple angles of the startup ecosystem. In this conversation, we explored the evolving landscape of startup funding, discussing how AI tools are changing the game for entrepreneurs, the return of bootstrapping as a viable strategy, and what VCs are really looking for in today's market.Timestamps:(00:00) Intro and Welcome(02:00) Current State of Venture Capital(05:00) Bootstrapping vs Traditional VC(09:30) Finding the Right Balance in Funding(13:00) Lessons from 2021's Funding Frenzy(16:00) What VCs Look for in Entrepreneurs Today(19:00) Evolution of Entrepreneurship Culture(24:00) Jenny's Book & Global Entrepreneurship(26:30) Key Traits of Successful Entrepreneurs(29:30) Women in Venture Capital(32:00) Building Diverse Networks in NYC(35:00) Looking Ahead to 2025(36:00) Closing Thoughts & Where to Find JennyEPISODE LINKS:Jenny's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennyfielding/Jenny's Webpage: https://www.jennyfielding.com/Jenny's Twitter: https://x.com/jefieldingEveryWhereVC: https://everywhere.vc/

Adam Nathan is the founder and CEO of Blaze.ai, a marketing platform built for solo entrepreneurs and small business owners. In this conversation, we explored Adam’s journey from big tech to startup life, the challenges of standing out in a saturated AI market, and how Blaze.ai empowers “teams of one” to compete like Fortune 500s.We also discussed key insights around VC dynamics, the mindset of a founder, and Adam’s vision of AI as a practical tool—not just hype.EPISODE LINKS:Blaze.ai Website: https://www.blaze.ai/Adam Nathan on Twitter: https://x.com/adampnathanAdam Nathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adampnathan/TIMESTAMPS:(00:01:07) The Entrepreneurial Journey Begins(00:04:36) The Reality of Startup Life(00:10:40) Navigating Pivots and Market Challenges(00:11:22) Navigating Venture Capital and Business Pivots(00:17:25) Embracing AI and the Birth of Blaze(00:25:11) The Reality of Startup Life(00:26:56) Introducing Blaze: AI for Small Businesses(00:26:56) Introducing Blaze: AI for Small Businesses(00:30:05) The Future of AI in Business(00:39:17) The Role of AI in Enhancing Human CreativityCONNECT:Website: https://hoo.be/elijahmurrayYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elijahmurrayTwitter: https://twitter.com/elijahmurrayInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/elijahmurrayLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elijahmurray/Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-game-w-elijah-murray/Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elijahmurrayRSS: https://anchor.fm/s/3e31c0c/podcast/rss

Mike Todasco, a former innovator at PayPal and current educator, dives into how AI is transforming coding and creativity. He discusses 'vibe coding,' where AI generates code from voice prompts, reshaping the software landscape. The rise of AI-powered solopreneurs and its implications for the job market are also examined. Todasco emphasizes the importance for new generations to embrace AI tools and highlights the potential for emotional connections with AI, especially in shaping future interactions.

Garrett Rice is a tech entrepreneur and AI hiring innovator who has spent 25 years building and scaling startups. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of Callings.ai, a platform helping job seekers find meaningful careers.In this conversation, we explored:Lessons from Steve Jobs and the impact of NeXT on modern product development.AI’s role in job hunting, resume optimization, and standing out in the hiring process.Networking and career growth strategies in a competitive job market.EPISODE LINKS:Garrett Rice LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrettrice/Callings.ai: https://www.callings.ai/app/landingTIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Intro and background00:00:12 Working with Steve Jobs: A Grand Adventure00:01:11 The Visionary Impact of Next Machines00:05:06 Building Products: Lessons from Apple00:15:38 The Harsh Reality of Job Hunting00:19:32 Revolutionizing the Job Hunt with AI00:22:31 Using AI to Find Job Opportunities00:23:55 Balancing Effort and AI Assistance00:27:12 The Future of Job Markets and AI00:35:00 Standing Out to AI in Job Applications00:40:29 Networking and Final Tips for Job Seekers00:42:00 ClosingCONNECT:Website: https://hoo.be/elijahmurrayYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elijahmurrayTwitter: https://twitter.com/elijahmurrayInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/elijahmurrayLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elijahmurray/Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-game-w-elijah-murray/Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elijahmurrayRSS: https://anchor.fm/s/3e31c0c/podcast/rss

Gregory Offner is the Founder and CEO of Global Performance Institute, an award-winning keynote speaker, and the author of The Tip Jar Culture: How to Re-Engage and Reignite Your Workforce.In this conversation, we explore his journey from dueling pianist to professional speaker, the career-altering vocal cord injury that forced him to pivot, and how he now helps leaders drive workforce engagement. We also dive into the evolving role of AI in workplace culture and discuss strategies for creating a more fulfilling employee experience.EPISODE LINKS:Gregory Offner’s Website: https://www.gregoryoffner.com/meeting-planners/Gregory Offner on Twitter: https://x.com/gregoryoffnerjrGregory Offner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregoryoffnerjr/The Encore Experience: https://vimeo.com/1041523578The Tip Jar Culture: How To Re-Engage and Reignite Your Workforce: https://a.co/d/c9QVsTITIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Intro and background00:01:18 The Art of Dueling Pianos00:12:52 Transition to Keynote Speaking00:16:43 The Power of Strangers and Seeking Help00:18:00 Taking the Leap: From Idea to Action00:21:00 Virtual Piano Bar: Innovating in Crisis00:22:00 Networking, Support and Authenticity00:25:00 Creating Impact: Speaking and Beyond00:27:00 Strategies for Keeping Employees Engaged00:30:00 ClosingCONNECT:Website: https://hoo.be/elijahmurrayYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elijahmurrayTwitter: https://twitter.com/elijahmurrayInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/elijahmurrayLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elijahmurray/Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-game-w-elijah-murray/Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elijahmurrayRSS: https://anchor.fm/s/3e31c0c/podcast/rss

Brett Farmiloe is the Founder & CEO of Featured, a platform that connects experts with publishers for greater exposure. A serial entrepreneur, Brett previously founded Markitors, a digital marketing agency, and launched a career education startup that took him on a cross-country journey interviewing 300+ people about their careers.In this conversation, we explore:The role of creativity in AI businessesWhy new data is critical for AI productsSEO and content marketing trendsMarket validation, customer feedback, and scalingEPISODE LINKS:Brett’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettfarmiloe/Brett’s Website: https://featured.com/TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Intro and background00:11:04 Featured00:16:28 AI Landscape in Business00:20:33 Democratization of Content Creation00:21:33 The Need for Knowledge Sharing00:24:07 SEO and Niche Content00:26:12 Monetizing Unique Knowledge00:28:27 The Future of AI and Content Creation00:31:42 Featured in Action00:33:23 The Changing Landscape of Publishing00:38:18 Entrepreneurial Insights and Product Market Fit00:42:03 ClosingCONNECT:Website: https://hoo.be/elijahmurrayYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elijahmurrayTwitter: https://twitter.com/elijahmurrayInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/elijahmurrayLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elijahmurray/Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-game-w-elijah-murray/Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elijahmurrayRSS: https://anchor.fm/s/3e31c0c/podcast/rss

Lucas Lovell is the Director of Product at Paddle, a global payments platform helping SaaS founders optimize their pricing, payments, and go-to-market strategies. He has firsthand experience launching and scaling startups across multiple international markets.In this conversation, we explore:The merchant of record model and its impact on SaaS businessesLocalization strategies for pricing, payments, and expansionThe decision-making process for international expansionHow AI is shaping the future of payments and automationLucas shares his personal experiences from running a startup through COVID, the pitfalls of not localizing correctly, and his insights on the evolving global SaaS landscape.EPISODE LINKS:Lucas Lovell on Twitter:https://x.com/lucas_lovellLucas Lovell on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucaslovell/Paddle:https://www.paddle.com/TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Intro and Background00:01:12 Paddle00:01:44 The Merchant of Record Model00:05:38 Localization Strategies for SaaS00:07:31 Importance of Currency and Language Localization00:10:22 Local Payment Methods and Pricing Strategies00:14:13 Expanding Internationally00:18:54 Prioritizing Global Expansion for SaaS00:19:30 When Should SaaS Founders Consider Global Expansion?00:20:21 Challenges and Strategies in International Markets00:22:18 Case Study: Multilingual Customer Support Platform00:24:10 Emerging Trends in the Payment Space00:26:10 AI and the Future of Transactions00:31:04 Paddle, AI and Customer Value00:38:31 Advice for SaaS Founders00:39:26 ClosingCONNECT:Website:https://hoo.be/elijahmurrayYouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@elijahmurrayTwitter:https://twitter.com/elijahmurrayInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/elijahmurrayLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/elijahmurrayApple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-game-w-elijah-murraySpotify:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elijahmurrayRSS:https://anchor.fm/s/3e31c0c/podcast/rss