Liftoff with Keith Newman

What’s the point of making millions, if you don’t get to keep it?In this episode of Liftoff with Keith, we’re joined by Neil Jesani, a trusted CPA and entrepreneur who has leveraged 25 years of experience in tax and finance to become one of the top advisors that Founders go to when they need to scale their businesses from $20M to $100M+ without losing millions to preventable tax mistakes.From IPOs to M&As to the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBB), Neil helps high-achieving business owners protect their wealth through advanced tax planning and exit strategies that preserve maximum value during liquidity events. 💡 In This Deep-Dive Interview, You'll Learn:- Advanced tax strategies for founders scaling from $20M to $100M+- How to prepare for liquidity events and minimize your tax exposure- Real-world lessons from guiding founders through exits and IPOs- Why “building wealth” isn’t the same as “keeping wealth”, and what to do about it- The power of generational wealth planning, early and oftenIf you’re building, scaling, or prepping to exit, this episode is your financial playbook.📌 Don’t miss Neil’s expert advice on protecting what you’ve built, before it’s too late.👋 Connect with Neil:- Neil Jesani Tax Advisors: https://neiljesani.com/- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neiljesaniFollow more of Liftoff with Keith:- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@liftoffwithkeith?si=mTYVqyi1OcfhDbd0- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/liftoff-with-keith-newman/id1560219589- Substack: https://keithnewman.substack.com/- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/liftoffwithkeith- Newman Media Studios: https://newmanmediastudios.com/For sponsorship inquiries, contact: sponsorships@wherewithstudio.com👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more founder stories and exit insights!

Is your company’s AI strategy opening you up to massive security risks? In this powerful conversation, Claudionor Coelho, Chief AI Officer at Zscaler, reveals the hidden dangers of agentic AI—and how Fortune 500 companies are unintentionally exposing sensitive data through generative AI tools.Claudionor shares real-world examples of AI vulnerabilities, how attackers can exploit agent systems to extract private data, and why AI security must be treated with the same urgency as data security. From salary leaks to corporate data breaches, this discussion is a wake-up call for executives, CISOs, and AI teams alike.🔒 Key topics covered:- The explosive rise of agentic AI systems in 2024- How AI models can expose confidential data—without you knowing- The AI firewall Zscaler uses to stop data leaks- Why security and AI teams must work together- The global AI security landscape, from the U.S. to Brazil👉 Don’t miss Claudionor’s urgent call to action:Protect your AI systems like your data—before it’s too late.Subscribe for more game-changing insights!Follow more of the Liftoff with Keith:- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3cFpLXfYvcUsxvsT9MwyAD- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/liftoff-with-keith-newman/id1560219589- Substack: https://keithnewman.substack.com/- LinkedIn: /liftoffwithkeith - Newman Media Studios: https://newmanmediastudios.com/For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: sponsorships@wherewithstudio.com#AI #AIAgents #Cybersecurity #GenerativeAI #DataSecurity #EnterpriseAI

What does it take to build a $75M fashion brand in just 3 years - with zero industry experience?In this episode of Liftoff with Keith, Justin Baer, Founder and CEO of Collars & Co., shares how he went from a complete fashion outsider to leading one of the hottest menswear brands on the market. From viral shirts to a Shark Tank pitch that turned his business into a top 5% performer among all companies on the show, Justin reveals the secrets behind Collars & Co.’s meteoric rise.💡 In This Deep-Dive Interview, You'll Learn:- How Justin scaled Collars & Co. from $0 to $75M in record time- Why being an outsider can be your biggest advantage in fashion and e-commerce- Justin’s step-by-step journey to landing a spot on Shark Tank- Tips for fashion and tech founders you can implement today- The future of direct-to-consumer fashion brands and what’s next for Collars & Co.Whether you’re a fashion entrepreneur, e-commerce leader, or love stories of unexpected startup success, this episode is packed with real-world insights you won’t hear anywhere else.📌 Don’t miss Justin’s practical advice for launching and scaling a modern fashion brand, even if you’re starting from scratch.👕 Check out Collars & Co: https://collarsandco.com/👋 Connect with Justin:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinbaerFollow more of Liftoff with Keith:- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3cFpLXfYvcUsxvsT9MwyAD?si=56076fd0e8634f1e- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/liftoff-with-keith-newman/id1560219589- Substack: https://keithnewman.substack.com/- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/liftoffwithkeith- Newman Media Studios: https://newmanmediastudios.com/For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: sponsorships@wherewithstudio.com👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more founder journeys, startup tips, and inspiring business stories!#FashionStartup #Ecommerce #SharkTank #Entrepreneurship #JustinBaer #CollarsAndCo #StartupSuccess #DTC #D2C #LiftoffPodcast

Is AI finally ready for the enterprise? In this AI Infra Summit 2025 interview, Luke Norris, CEO of Kamawaza, reveals how Fortune 500 and Global 2000 companies are moving beyond AI experiments to real-world, production-level deployments—saving millions and reshaping industries.Luke shares insights from Kamawaza’s groundbreaking work with over 20 Fortune 500 clients, including a live demo with the Department of Homeland Security and massive cost savings for major enterprises. Learn why consulting firms are feeling the heat, how the AI partner ecosystem is evolving, and what’s next for enterprise AI—including game-changing breakthroughs in open-source models like Quen 3.0 and the rise of Model Context Protocol (MCP).🔥 Topics covered:- Why 2024 is the breakthrough year for enterprise AI- The end of consulting firms as we know them?- How Fortune 500s are cutting $20M+ in costs with AI- The future of AI models and agent ecosystems- Building scalable AI solutions for global enterprises💡 Don’t miss this eye-opening conversation on the future of AI in business!Follow more of the Liftoff with Keith:- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3cFpLXfYvcUsxvsT9MwyAD- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/liftoff-with-keith-newman/id1560219589- Substack: https://keithnewman.substack.com/- LinkedIn: /liftoffwithkeith - Newman Media Studios: https://newmanmediastudios.com/For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: sponsorships@wherewithstudio.com#AI #EnterpriseAI #GenerativeAI #Kamawaza #LukeNorris #AIRevolution #FutureOfWork

How do you build a billion-dollar AI business with Product-Led Growth?Discover the secrets behind Fireflies.ai’s unicorn success.In this episode of Liftoff with Keith, Krish Ramineni, Co-founder & CEO of Fireflies.ai, reveals how he scaled the market’s leading AI notetaker into a unicorn over a decade-long journey packed with lessons in innovation, product-led growth, and resilience.Once a Microsoft Product Manager, Krish now leads product, design, and GTM at Fireflies, championing a vision where humans and AI collaborate to achieve extraordinary things.💡 In This Deep-Dive Interview, You’ll Learn:- The PLG growth playbook that helped Fireflies win the market- How Krish blends product innovation with GTM strategy- Lessons from surviving (and thriving through) the AI hype cycles- Krish’s unique approach to leading product, design, and sales as a founder- Special offers for Fireflies and Perplexity Pro customers - don’t miss out!Whether you’re a SaaS founder, PLG operator, or AI enthusiast, this conversation is loaded with practical insights for anyone aiming to build a game-changing business.SPECIAL OFFER: If you love Fireflies and Perplexity, you're in for a treat!Fireflies customers on Pro and Business plans can sign up to receive one year of Perplexity Pro at no cost, while Enterprise customers can get three months of Perplexity Enterprise Pro free. Likewise, Perplexity Pro customers can receive three months of Fireflies Business, and Perplexity Enterprise Pro customers can get three months of Fireflies Enterprise. Check it out by visiting https://fireflies.ai/...📌 Don’t miss Krish’s biggest advice for founders navigating the AI revolution!👋 Connect with Krish:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krishramineniFollow more of Liftoff with Keith:- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3cFpLXfYvcUsxvsT9MwyAD?si=56076fd0e8634f1e- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/liftoff-with-keith-newman/id1560219589- Substack: https://keithnewman.substack.com/- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/liftoffwithkeith- Newman Media Studios: https://newmanmediastudios.com/For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: sponsorship@liftoffwithkeith.com👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more founder stories and startup insights!#SaaS #PLG #AI #StartupGrowth #KrishRamineni #FirefliesAI #FounderJourney #ProductLedGrowth #LiftoffPodcast

Can AI manage AI?Rapt AI CTO Anil shares how agentic AI management will transform data centers, reduce costs, and unlock exponential compute at scale.Anil reveals:▫️ The hidden cost of 5% GPU under-utilization▫️ Why current AI models are outpacing infrastructure▫️ The future of agentic AI for data centers▫️ The battle between chip-level vs. evolutionary innovation▫️ How Rapt AI is helping customers maximize tokens per wattA must-watch for AI engineers, data center architects, and tech leaders building the future.Follow more of the Liftoff with Keith:- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3cFpLXfYvcUsxvsT9MwyAD- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/liftoff-with-keith-newman/id1560219589- Substack: https://keithnewman.substack.com/- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/liftoffwithkeith/- Newman Media Studios: https://newmanmediastudios.com/For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: sponsorships@wherewithstudio.com

Scaling AI is more than just stacking GPUs, it's about making every dollar and watt count.Chris Sosa, Director of Engineering at AMD, reveals how they’re pushing the limits of AI hardware efficiency.Chris shares:▫️ The biggest bottleneck in scaling AI workloads today▫️ Why idle GPUs drain your budget▫️ The struggle between training vs. inference at scale▫️ How AMD’s ROCm stack is changing AI accessibility▫️ His vision for smarter AI orchestration and platformsA must-watch for engineers, AI builders, and tech leaders hungry for insights on the future of AI infrastructure.Follow more of the Liftoff with Keith:- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3cFpLXfYvcUsxvsT9MwyAD- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/liftoff-with-keith-newman/id1560219589- Substack: https://keithnewman.substack.com/- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/liftoffwithkeith/- Newman Media Studios: https://newmanmediastudios.com/For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: sponsorships@wherewithstudio.com

Most people think building AI infrastructure is all about software. But the real bottlenecks? Power, cooling, and optimizing hardware.Vik Malyala, Managing Director at Supermicro, reveals the surprising struggles in building data centers to meet the AI demand.He explains:▫️ Why most data centers aren’t ready for the AI boom▫️ How Supermicro optimizes hardware for maximum efficiency▫️ Why 200 kilowatts per rack is just the beginning▫️ The future of liquid cooling and energy sustainability▫️ How AI will move from massive clusters to the edge▫️ What every business needs to know before scaling AI infrastructureIf you want to understand the future of AI, hardware, and data centers, this is a must-watch.Follow more of the Liftoff with Keith:- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3cFpLXfYvcUsxvsT9MwyAD- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/liftoff-with-keith-newman/id1560219589- Substack: https://keithnewman.substack.com/- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/liftoffwithkeith/- Newman Media Studios: https://newmanmediastudios.com/For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: sponsorships@wherewithstudio.com

AI is evolving fast, but the economics are breaking down. RK Anand, co-founder of Recogni, reveals the hidden crisis inside AI's explosive growth.RK has spent his career building technology to power AI systems. From tokens to compute, he exposes the challenges in scaling AI profitably, and what it takes to fix the system.In this episode, RK shares:▫️ Why AI’s "token economy" no longer works▫️ The real reason AI models are getting 100x more expensive▫️ What it means when compute demand skyrockets▫️ How to build AI infrastructure that won’t break the bank▫️ Why energy and power are the biggest bottlenecks for AIIf you want to understand the real cost of AI, this is a must-watch.Follow more of the Liftoff with Keith:- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3cFpLXfYvcUsxvsT9MwyAD- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/liftoff-with-keith-newman/id1560219589- Substack: https://keithnewman.substack.com/- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/liftoffwithkeith/- Newman Media Studios: https://newmanmediastudios.com/For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: sponsorships@wherewithstudio.com

We’re racing to build AI, but who’s thinking about the why? Ashley Tarver, Microsoft’s Evangelist of Data and AI, explores the AI paradox: We expect AI to solve human problems, yet we don’t know what a perfect world looks like.Ashley shares:▫️ The AI paradox: why humans and AI don’t speak the same language▫️ How companies should approach ethics, bias, and safety in AI▫️ The role of Centers of Excellence in guiding AI strategy▫️ Why it’s too early to fully trust AI, but too important to ignore it▫️ The future of AI regulation and societal impactThis is the conversation that every company, and every citizen, needs to hear.Follow more of the Liftoff with Keith:- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3cFpLXfYvcUsxvsT9MwyAD- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/liftoff-with-keith-newman/id1560219589- Substack: https://keithnewman.substack.com/- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/liftoffwithkeith/- Newman Media Studios: https://newmanmediastudios.com/For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: sponsorships@wherewithstudio.com