The Silicon Valley Podcast

From college dropout to acclaimed designer to CEO of project-management pioneer Flow, Daniel Scrivner’s path to success has been anything but typical — and he wouldn’t have it any other way. It only took one web design class over a summer break in high school, and Daniel was hooked. He would eventually drop out of college to focus on mastering the art and science of design, first honing his talent as a freelancer, then joining an LA-based advertising firm in 2007. Barely a year later, he relocated to San Francisco to take a coveted design position at Apple. After three years of soaking up every bit of insight and wisdom he could, Daniel left Apple and joined the team at a small but promising startup: Square. He quickly worked his way up to Director of Design, responsible for overseeing everything from product design to video production. In his time at the company, he left his fingerprint on almost every aspect of Square's design aesthetic. Daniel left Square in 2016 to found his own design counsel and venture capital firm, Blackletter Ventures. Then, in February 2019, he took over as CEO of Flow. He’s spent the last year slowly, methodically, and tirelessly reinventing their product from scratch. Under his leadership, the business is back to profitability and growth — and he’s just getting started.   We Talk About Why is there such a high turnover at startups? What was it like before and after square went public? What it like to switch from working at a startup to being an investor in 100 plus startups?   Connect with Daniel Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielscrivner/ Flow Website https://www.getflow.com/?utm-source=linkedin     CONNECT WITH SHAWN https://linktr.ee/ShawnflynnSV Shawn Flynn’s LinkedInAccount Silicon Valley LinkedInGroup Account Shawn Flynn’s FacebookAccount Email Shawn@thesiliconvalleypodcast.com    

Axel Schultze started and successfully exited 4 companies, the biggest reaching $5 Billion in revenue, the second close to $1 Billion. Axel is a published author, patent holder, 2015 listed in the global 100 most influential startup accelerators, 2008 won the SF Entrepreneur Award, 2006 chaired the SaaS Channel Committee at the SIIA, 2003 early adviser of LinkedIn. 2001 Founder & CEO of Silicon Valley based BlueRoads a partner management software. Initially funded by The Angels Forum, then venture funded by Eldorado Ventures, Cardinal Ventures and Arrow Path. Named most successful channel management company in 2006. Exit in 2007.  1997 Pioneered equity based crowdfunding - Sold it in 2001.  1996 Founder & CEO Infinigate, Leading European IT security provider. Funded through private placement on Webstock. Today over $600 Million in revenue.  1983 Founder & CEO Computer 2000 a $5 Billion high tech distributor. With a highly disruptive business model bypassed 8,000 tech distributors and became the third largest in the world. VC Funded by Deutsche Bank WFG. IPO in 1996. merged with Tech Data at $5 Billion in revenue in 1998.   We Talk About            What questions should one ask themselves or brainstorming should be done before starting a company? What is the best advice for someone is plans on starting and growing a billion-dollar company with their significant other? Why does brainstorming to create a billion-dollar idea seem to fail when it is done in a corporate setting, but succeed when it is done by a startup?   Connect with Axel Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/axelschultze/ Website https://bluecallom.com/     CONNECT WITH SHAWN https://linktr.ee/ShawnflynnSV Shawn Flynn’s LinkedInAccount Silicon Valley LinkedInGroup Account Shawn Flynn’s FacebookAccount Email Shawn@thesiliconvalleypodcast.com      

Bob Car was the Founder and CEO of Heatland Payment Systems, one of the largest payment processors in the United States, which he sold in 2016 for over 4 billion dollars. He is now the CEO and Chairman of the Board for Beyond Inc. which strives to simplify operations, reduce costs and streamline payments for owners of small and mid-size businesses across the country.    We talk about What’s it like to sell a company for over 4 billion dollars? How did the CEO impact on individual employees change as the company grew from 10, 100, 1000 employees? How should one think about life, and what they do?   Connect with Bob Carr Website https://www.getbeyond.com/ https://www.giveback.ngo/   CONNECT WITH SHAWN https://linktr.ee/ShawnflynnSV Shawn Flynn’s LinkedInAccount Silicon Valley LinkedInGroup Account Shawn Flynn’s FacebookAccount Email Shawn@thesiliconvalleypodcast.com      

Paul Kallmes is an independent technology professional with a focus on foreign start-ups coming to the US, with a specialty in the strategic management of intellectual property. His nearly 20 years of IP and technology licensing and management have given him a broad base in the nuance and complexities of developing and deploying intangible assets to the benefit of IP owners and users alike. He has extensive experience in various industries in IP management and manufacturing. He has extensive international experience working with companies in the US, Europe and Asia on patent portfolio development, market entry strategies, product development and roll-out, and early-stage fund-raising activities. Intangible assets and intellectual property are becoming ever more important in today's economy, and every company in a technology space needs to take their IP issues seriously or risk being left behind by their competitors. His current focus on assisting start-ups from various European and Asian countries allows him to see a wide range of opportunities that will make positive contributions to various markets in the US and around the world.    We Talk About How should an outsider go about building a network in Africa? What have been some of the pit falls of Western money entering the African ecosystem? Accelerators and Incubators in Africa, how do they compare with those in Silicon Valley?       Connect with Paul https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-kallmes-8a0376/ CONNECT WITH SHAWN https://linktr.ee/ShawnflynnSV Shawn Flynn’s LinkedInAccount Silicon Valley LinkedInGroup Account Shawn Flynn’s FacebookAccount Email Shawn@thesiliconvalleypodcast.com      

Max Shapiro Founded PeopleConnect in 2000 to help early-stage high-tech companies find the talent they need to succeed. Their clients are in technology, biotech, cleantech, apps, services, medical devices, and consumer products. He is also involved in areas that also support the startup community: ● Angel Investor and member of Keiretsu Forum since 2001 ● Co-founder of Runway Innovation Hub ● Creator & Producer of PitchForce PitchForce is a weekly pitch event for early stage companies with a panel of establish angel investors and CEO's   On today Show we Talk about How should a startup prepare themselves for a pitch event? How should an investor or a startup follow-up any contacts that they made at a pitch event? How much equity should be given to a new hire at a startup?     Connect with Max Email max@peopleconnectstaffing.com Company peopleconnectstaffing.com  Linkedin linkedin.com/in/maxshapiro Twitter PeopleConnectS   CONNECT WITH SHAWN https://linktr.ee/ShawnflynnSV Shawn Flynn’s LinkedInAccount Silicon Valley LinkedInGroup Account Shawn Flynn’s FacebookAccount Email Shawn@thesiliconvalleypodcast.com

Sandra Shpilberg is the Founder and CEO of Adnexi, a disease intelligence platform for the next generation of biopharma treatments. Prior to this, Sandra was the Founder and CEO of Seeker Health, a breakthrough digital patient finding platform, which accelerates drug development and commercialization for biopharmaceutical companies. Seeker Health was acquired by EVERSANA in September 2018. She’s the author of New Startup Mindset, a book on her non-traditional founder’s journey and lessons learned starting, building and exiting this company. She’s a featured contributor at Thrive Global, InsightTimer and Hackernoon. On today Show we Talk about What question should a founder or founder team should ask themselves about a company before starting it? How important is positioning one’s company? The temptation to take venture funding and the positives and the negatives of going down that path?   Connect with Sandra Shpilberg adnexi.com sandrashpilberg.com  Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-shpilberg-b7b334/ Website https://www.sandrashpilberg.com/       CONNECT WITH SHAWN https://linktr.ee/ShawnflynnSV Shawn Flynn’s LinkedInAccount Silicon Valley LinkedInGroup Account Shawn Flynn’s FacebookAccount Email Shawn@thesiliconvalleypodcast.com  

Sam is a CEO coach, interim CEO/CTO/CFO, a Silicon Valley advisor and the author of 21 Secrets of Successful Startups, a book about world-class execution for startups. As a serial entrepreneur, he has been CEO, CTO, or VP Engineering / TechOps for five companies, driving multiple acquisitions. As a hands-on “roll up the sleeves” startup advisor, Sam draws from his 30+ years of successes and failures to train and help entrepreneurs with execution, fundability, fundraising, strategy, product/market fit, product management, finance, operations, legal, talent development and founder wellness.      We Talk About   When a company is just starting out, how does it plan what it is going to execute, or how should it plan its execution and are there normally problems with this? When a company is acquired how should an employee negotiate his new role and benefits with the acquiring company, or does even have that option? What is the meaning of “A founder wellness is under-appreciated.”        Connect with Sam Wong Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-wong-startup/ Website https://www.fundablestartups.com/       CONNECT WITH SHAWN https://linktr.ee/ShawnflynnSV Shawn Flynn’s LinkedInAccount Silicon Valley LinkedInGroup Account Shawn Flynn’s FacebookAccount Email Shawn@thesiliconvalleypodcast.com      

After living in East Africa for 3+ years he is now based in Copenhagen where he runs a business setting up and running podcasts for companies around the world. While in East Africa he started the The East Africa Business Podcast which is a podcast about the business environment in East Africa based around interviews with entrepreneurs, investors and organizations looking to help the region grow. We Talk About What are some of the challenges that Entrepreneurs face in Kenya? If a Westerner were to move to Africa to start a business. What does that person need to know to be successful? Where are the opportunities in Africa in both the countries and tech in the next 5 years?     Connect with Sam Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/samfloy/ Email sam@samfloy.com Website https://theeastafricabusinesspodcast.com/     CONNECT WITH SHAWN https://linktr.ee/ShawnflynnSV Shawn Flynn’s LinkedInAccount Silicon Valley LinkedInGroup Account Shawn Flynn’s FacebookAccount Email Shawn@thesiliconvalleypodcast.com    

Helen Pastorino has more than 40 years of experience in transforming the real estate industry via technology. She co-founded Alain Pinel Realtors, one of the San Francisco Bay Area's most prestigious real estate companies, driving billions of dollars of annual sales. Today, she is founder and CEO of Pertria, a real estate sales, investment, and property management firm that guides clients in creating investment strategies that generate income, benefit from real estate appreciation, and achieve capital gains objectives. Helen concurrently serves as interim President and Board member of Startup Sandbox, a bioscience incubator in Santa Cruz, CA. Startup Sandbox incubates biotechnology entrepreneurs as they translate basic and applied research into commercially successful businesses. With wide-ranging interests, Helen serves as CEO of the World Tomato Society, growing the organization as a global community with one of the world's largest tomato databases and almost one million members.   On today Show we Talk about: What was it like to meet and work with Steve Jobs? How does one implement technology in a company? What is it like to be on the bleeding edge of technology? What does the real estate market look like post Covid? What is the true legacy of a CEO?     Connect with Helen Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenpastorino/   Websites World Tomato Society https://www.worldtomatosociety.com/ Pertria https://pertria.com/ Startup Sandbox https://www.startupsandbox.org/   CONNECT WITH SHAWN https://linktr.ee/ShawnflynnSV Shawn Flynn’s LinkedInAccount Silicon Valley LinkedInGroup Account Shawn Flynn’s FacebookAccount Email Shawn@thesiliconvalleypodcast.com  

Jenny Huang has 20 years of experience as a strategic marketing consultant, a brand marketer and communicator in the hardware, software, mobile app, and telecommunications industries, serving start ups and progressive companies. She has worked with Fortune 500 companies such as Intel, Intuit and British Telecom, where she launched and managed regional co-branded programs with PC OEM partners, their retailers and resellers; invigorated new user acquisition to drive growth, and established regional brand presence.   On todays show we talk about:   How do you see marketing and promotion for companies changing with technology? If a company wanted to be interviewed for an article or get exposure, what are some of the best ways to go about doing it? The process for creating and implementing a social media calendar. With marketing and PR, what really excites you for 2021?   Connect with Jenny Website jennyhuangmarketing.com   Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennychuang/ Email jenny@jennyhuangmarketing.com     CONNECT WITH SHAWN https://linktr.ee/ShawnflynnSV Shawn Flynn’s LinkedInAccount Silicon Valley LinkedInGroup Account Shawn Flynn’s FacebookAccount Email Shawn@thesiliconvalleypodcast.com