Bluelight founder and CEO Preet Anand discusses the ups and downs of his startup in this first of 2 episodes.  In "Something Ventured" fashion the first episode covers -- yes -- housing in Silicon Valley.  Also discussed are Preet's experiences at Zynga, and observations of life in the Bay Area.   -- In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley Veteran Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online...and beyond.

Internet exec and  San Francisco State professor Neil Cohen talks marketing.  Often misunderstood in Silicon Valley, the marketing role is a key one for almost any successful company of any size.  Also in this episode -- Neil and Kent poke fun at some Silicon  Valley marketing fails -- and those billboards on the 101. -- In the Something Ventured podcast Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online....and beyond.  

Neil Cohen is a marketing executive and advisor with experience ranging from Sega and Hilton to numerous successful startups.  He is a board member of SF State UCORP and a Mentor to StartupMexico.  In this podcast, Neil and Kent discuss the booming entrepreneurial scene in Mexico City, and contrast it to Silicon Valley -- In the Something Ventured podcast Silicon Valley veteran Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online and beyond.

On October 30, 2014, Tim Cook -- Apple's CEO -- came out as gay.  He never denied it, but now said  " I haven't acknowledged it publicly, until now". Tim Cook and other gay Silicon Valley executives were discussed in an earlier podcast with executive Vincent Robinson.  Here, we replay that episode. Happy holidays.  Kent Lindstrom.... @kentlind -- In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people changing the way we view the world online and beyond.  

Peter Shanley is an executive at Neo Innovation, and previously worked at Yahoo, Hewlett Packard and Betable.  He discusses "Learn Startup" concepts for big companies. Part 2 of 2.   In the Something Ventued podcast, Silicon Valley Insider Kent Lindstrom explores the relaity behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online and beyond.

Jim Egbert, the Silicon Valley executive for a major financial firm, returns to talk to Kent about the first 25 episodes of Something Ventured.  Silicon Valley topics covered range from Burning Man to the structure of the internet.  Part 2 of 2.   In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online and beyond.

Jim Egbert talks to Kent about the first 25 episodes of "Something Ventured". Issues in Silicon Valley discussed included -- being a gay CEO, sexism, librarians (yep, librarians), racism, hipsters and more. In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online and beyond.

Peter Shanley has worked at large technology companies like Yahoo and Hewlett Packard -- but started in San Francisco running a housing project in San Francisco's most economically challened neighborhood -- the Tenderloin.  In the first part of our conversation with Peter, he talks aobut what drives the housing crunch in San Francisco, and various issues around San Francisos's difficult social problems.   In the Something Ventured podcast Slicon Vallen insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines, as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online...and beyond.

In the second part, Jim Egbert continues the discussion of hwo firms can source talent, beyond a certain set of people in Silicon Valley.  Also included are some sound and not-so-obvious ways to manage an engineering career.

Jim Egbert has been an executive at small and large companies, established ones and startups.  He currently is the Silicon Valley executive for one of hte world's largest payment companies. In this episode he darws on his experience running a software firm from Budapest.  In particular -- the employer's point of view is discussed.  What to do  in a world where new college graduates can command $100,000 salaries and free meals?  The sustainability of the situation, as well as emerging sources of engineering talent are discussed.  Part 1 of 2.