AlchemistX: Innovators Inside

Ian Bergman sits down with entrepreneur and author Alistair Croll, Founder of Fwd50 a to unpack ideas from his new book Just Evil Enough: The Subversive Marketing Handbook. They explore why product-market fit is no longer enough, how product-market-medium fit wins today, and why legitimacy—not features—decides who gets chosen in crowded markets.Croll shares a builder-friendly approach to go-to-market: crafting “zero-day” marketing moves, spotting weak signals, and exploiting asymmetries competitors can’t or won’t match. From Dropbox’s built-in virality to IKEA’s customer-assembled value chain and Taylor Swift’s “Taylor’s Version” legitimacy hack, Ian and Alistair map the playbook for standing out when anyone can “vibe-code” a product.You’ll hear a timely framework for the era of a million tiny horses (niche winners), the shift from an attention economy to an outcome economy, and a clear ethical line—Don’t Actually Be Evil—for running bold, subversive campaigns without crossing into fraud or harm.TakeawaysThink in mediums: Aim for product-market-medium fit; platforms have norms, mechanics, and governance you must design for.Compete on legitimacy: Make your offer incomparable so you’re chosen, not just compared.Hunt weak signals: Look for early indicators that, if true, unlock outsized advantage.Exploit asymmetry: Build plays rivals can’t respond to without breaking their own model.Disrupt the value chain: Merge, split, reorder, or reassign steps (à la IKEA, Talk) to create a new reason to choose you.Ship zero-day GTM: Treat distribution like product—engineer referral, incentives, and narrative into the build.Stay ethical: Subversive ≠ sinister. Set rules like “don’t assume consent” and “don’t commit fraud.”If this conversation sparks ideas, check out Just Evil Enough, and explore more resources at justevilenough.com. Subscribe and share with the innovation agitators on your team.For full show notes and resources visit: https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts

In this episode of the AlchemistX Innovators Inside Podcast, Ian Bergman sits down with Maura O’Neill to explore her bold mission with The Decade Project: reshaping U.S. entrepreneurship so that it reflects the full racial, ethnic, and gender makeup of the nation.Maura unpacks the economic and social potential of inclusive entrepreneurship — from unlocking trillions in GDP growth to empowering millions of new business owners. She shares the four pillars driving this transformation: access to capital, knowledge, connections, and belief — and reveals how innovation in financial instruments, mindset, and mentorship can spark systemic change.Drawing lessons from her time in both the public and private sectors, Maura reflects on what it takes to drive large-scale innovation inside complex systems, why diversity and dissent fuel better solutions, and how optimism and urgency can turn impossible goals into reality.Key Takeaways:The four levers to close the entrepreneurship equity gapWhy innovation in capital and funding models is overdueHow to balance audacity with structure when leading changeThe power of being “more curious than certain” in leadership and innovationWhat entrepreneurs and policymakers can learn from USAID’s transformation journeyA masterclass in purpose-driven innovation and the belief that ordinary people are capable of extraordinary things.🎧 Listen now to discover how Maura and The Decade Project are turning one of America’s biggest challenges into its next great opportunity.For full show notes and resources visit: https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts

In this episode of the AlchemistX Innovators Inside Podcast, Ian Bergman sits down with Ron Green, Co-Founder and CTO of KUNGFU.AI, to explore the evolution of artificial intelligence and what it means for business leaders today.Ron shares his 30-year journey in AI, from the early days of neural networks in the 90s to today’s frontier of reasoning models and reinforcement learning. He explains why we’re still at “day zero” of the AI revolution, the misconceptions that trip up companies, and the principles every leader should follow to unlock AI’s true ROI.Key takeaways include:Why “don’t reinvent the wheel” is the #1 rule for AI initiatives.How proprietary data—not raw technology—creates competitive advantage.The risks of deploying AI too quickly and how to mitigate them with safeguards.Why stakeholder alignment is the biggest predictor of AI project success.How to prepare your organization today for domain-specific, next-generation AI breakthroughs.Whether you’re a C-suite executive under pressure to “do something with AI” or a leader looking for sustainable advantage, this conversation is packed with clear lessons on how to move cautiously, deliberately, and with impact.For full show notes and resources visit: https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts

Ian Bergman sits down with Hassan Jaferi, Sr. Director at Myant Ventures and veteran of IP, tech transfer, and startup acceleration, to unpack the realities of turning academic breakthroughs into thriving businesses.From his early career as a patent examiner to building and mentoring deep tech ventures through Toronto Innovation Acceleration Partners, Hassan shares the pivotal lessons he’s learned about bridging the gap between research and commercialization. He explains why most startups fail to define the real problem, the critical role of industry engagement, and how founders can avoid wasting years chasing the wrong market.Key insights include:Why 50% of academic spinouts struggle to identify a true problem to solveThe importance of engaging industry early—and speaking in the language of problems, not solutionsThree hard-won lessons from scaling Bitnobi, a data-sharing startup that was recently acquiredHow founders should think about grant funding, bootstrapping, and the right time to raise venture capitalWhy embedding entrepreneurial experience inside universities can make or break tech transfer successWhether you’re building a deep tech startup, working in corporate innovation, or navigating university tech transfer, this conversation delivers practical lessons on what it really takes to move research from the lab to the market.For full show notes and resources visit: https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts

In this episode of the AlchemistX Innovators Inside Podcast, Ian Bergman welcomes back Robyn Bolton, author of Unlocking Innovation: A Leader’s Guide to Turning Bold Ideas into Tangible Results. Robyn explains why innovation consistently stalls in large organizations—and why the issue isn’t a shortage of ideas but a leadership challenge.Together, Ian and Robyn break down the ABCs of innovation—Architecture, Behavior, and Culture—and how leaders can align them to create lasting impact. They explore the risks and realities of leading innovation, why “stealth mode” kills momentum, and how to show meaningful value before the dollars show up.You’ll learn:- Why innovation fails without clear leadership ownership.- How leaders can align personal risk tolerance with organizational goals.- The importance of telling a value story from day one—not waiting for financial ROI.- Why innovation isn’t a recipe—and how to design for experimentation and learning.- How to thrive on the three-year clock that most corporate innovators face.This is a must-listen for leaders who want to stop treating innovation as a side project and start turning bold ideas into tangible results.For full show notes and resources visit: https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts

In this episode of the AlchemistX Innovators Inside Podcast, Ian Bergman sits down with John Rossman, Keynote Speaker & Advisor—former Amazon leader and author of Big Bet Leadership—to break down the operating system senior executives need to win transformational bets. From T‑Mobile’s Un‑carrier playbook to Amazon’s working‑backwards method, John explains why most corporate transformations stall—and how to build the second playbook that actually ships change.They dig into the three habits of “big bet” leaders—create clarity, maintain velocity, and accelerate risk & value—plus practical tools like narrative docs, DRIs/single‑threaded leadership, and the “Continue, Kill, Pivot (or Confusion)” decision cadence. John also shares why cost‑model innovation must pair with customer value, what it means to be an “active skeptic,” and the first step any leader should take tomorrow morning.You’ll learn:Why the hyper‑digital era demands a different leadership OSHow to frame a Big Bet Vector: name the problem and the future stateThe three habits: create clarity, maintain velocity, accelerate risk & valueHow to use writing & debate (not slides) to kill groupthink and analysis paralysisThe role of a senior DRI/single‑threaded leader in de‑risking innovationA clean governance loop: Continue, Kill, or Pivot—avoid “confusion”Why cost‑model innovation + 10x customer value drives real adoptionA simple starting move: write 3–5 hard problems in one paragraph eachFor John’s book and frameworks visit https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts.

In this episode of the AlchemistX Innovators Inside Podcast, Ian Bergman sits down with Roey Eliyahu and Michael Nicosia, co-founders of Salt Security—the company that pioneered the API security category. Together, they break down the early decisions that helped them go from idea to industry-defining solution.Roey shares how he went from coding at nine in Israel’s cybersecurity units to buying a one-way ticket to Silicon Valley with a bold pitch and a few thousand dollars. Michael recounts how their first four-hour meeting turned into a lasting partnership. What followed was a masterclass in customer discovery, iterative product development, and relentless market education.Key takeaways include:How to pitch a complex idea with clarity and impactWhy discovering your APIs is just the beginning of managing riskHow to qualify early adopters and validate product-market fitThe mindset shift required to sell innovation into large enterprisesThe critical role of posture governance in modern cybersecurityHow Salt Security aligned internal incentives with real customer outcomesFrom crawling to running in the API security space, Roey and Michael offer hard-won lessons in navigating ambiguity, building trust with enterprise buyers, and scaling a product that protects some of the world's biggest companies.If you're building a startup or buying enterprise tech, this conversation is packed with strategy, insight, and inspiration.For more episodes and resources, visit https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts.

In this episode of the AlchemistX Innovators Inside Podcast, Ian Bergman welcomes Matt Brady, Strategy & Growth Advisor at Innosight, to uncover how venture studios are reshaping the way corporations and universities launch disruptive startups. Dive into a masterclass on strategic innovation as Matt shares his winding journey from aerospace consulting at Booz Allen to pioneering the venture studio model for Fortune 500s. You’ll learn practical frameworks and real-world tactics to:Frame the right problems: Discover why rigorous problem selection and diligence underpin every successful startup venture.Set expectations: Learn how to align timelines, ROI metrics, and stakeholder incentives to avoid the “innovation team pendulum.”Map corporate pathways: Explore the “Sherpa” approach to navigating procurement, legal, and compliance so your venture avoids common roadblocks.Leverage strategic advantages: See how combining deep analytical rigor, experienced founders, and powerful partner networks creates “advantaged startups.”Drive real impact: Hear the inspiring case study of Gold Health—an opioid-crisis solution born from a partnership with UNC and Buncombe County, already saving lives across North Carolina.Whether you’re an innovation leader, intrapreneur, or aspiring founder, this episode delivers actionable insights on building, partnering, and scaling ventures inside large organizations.🔔 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so you never miss an insider’s guide to crafting the future of corporate innovation.For more episodes and resources, visit https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts.

In this episode of the AlchemistX Innovators Inside Podcast, Ian Bergman gets philosophical with Ciara Peter, Senior Vice President of Product at Robin, to explore how AI and hybrid work are reshaping the future of innovation. Ciara draws on 18 years in B2B SaaS and her product leadership at Robin to unpack:Redefining Product Management: Why the PM’s real job is strategic customer research and long-term ownership, not just feature delivery.Automating Busywork: How AI assistants can free teams from routine tasks—saving thousands of days of wasted effort—and surface the real problems to solve.Human Connection as a Competitive Edge: The case for intentional in-office days, serendipitous encounters, and why the “busywork” that builds empathy still matters.Designing the Ideal Hybrid Playbook: Introducing Robin’s collaboration score, space-booking automations, and data-driven policies that balance employee sentiment and workspace analytics.Measuring Success: Key KPIs—from adoption and retention to task funnels—that reveal whether new features truly land and deliver value.Tune in to discover actionable takeaways on harnessing AI to automate the mundane, crafting spaces that foster real human interaction, and leading product innovation in a world where technology accelerates teamwork—but only human insight sparks true transformation.For more episodes and resources, visit https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts.

In this episode of the AlchemistX Innovators Inside Podcast, Ian Bergman sits down with Celia Wanderley, Chief Innovation Officer and Head of AI at Bits In Glass, to unpack the mindset, methods, and guardrails that power today’s most effective innovation. Together, they explore how to stay ahead in a world of constant AI breakthroughs and turn proof-of-concepts into production-ready solutions. You’ll discover:How to prevent knowledge overload by weaving continuous, bite-sized learning into your workflow.Why treating innovation as a portfolio of experiments beats betting everything on a single project.What guardrails and data governance frameworks ensure you can take calculated risks—without exposing your organization to runaway liability.Tune in for actionable insights on bridging the gap between hype and reality, leveraging cutting-edge research in days not months, and building an innovation engine that delivers lasting business impact.For more episodes and resources, visit https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts.