The CTO Show with Mehmet Gonullu

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we are joined by John Horn, the CEO of StubGroup, a leading digital advertising agency. John shares his extensive experience in helping businesses navigate the complex world of digital advertising, with a particular focus on SaaS companies. We dive deep into the challenges SaaS companies face in a crowded marketplace and explore how they can effectively align their go-to-market strategies with digital marketing, especially through platforms like Google Ads. John emphasizes the importance of problem-oriented marketing, where understanding and addressing the specific pain points of potential customers is key. He discusses how Google Ads can be a powerful tool for scaling SaaS businesses, especially for targeting small businesses and individual users. The conversation also touches on the differences in strategies between B2B and B2C SaaS companies, with insights into how to effectively leverage platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn for B2B marketing. We also explore the critical role of data-driven decision-making in digital advertising. John provides practical advice on tracking key metrics and understanding the conversion patterns that drive successful campaigns. He also discusses the importance of giving AI-driven platforms like Google and Facebook accurate data to optimize ad targeting and performance. Additionally, John addresses the challenges of Google Ads account suspensions, a common issue that can significantly impact startups. He shares best practices for avoiding suspensions and the importance of seeking expert help to navigate the complexities of Google’s policies. Finally, John talks about his passion for teaching digital advertising to thousands of students and how he keeps his content relevant in a fast-changing industry. More about John: Joh is the CEO of StubGroup, a digital advertising agency, and Premier Google Partner. Google ranks him in the top 1% of all Google Partners worldwide for performance and customer care. StubGroup has generated over half a billion dollars in revenue for its clients across many different verticals, including B2B, B2C, SaaS, startups, and more. Stubgroup has also helped over 2000 clients across 15k campaigns with their paid ads and suspension issues.  https://stubgroup.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnjhorn1 01:06 John Horn's Background and StubGroup Overview 02:04 Digital Marketing Strategies for SaaS Companies 03:19 Problem-Oriented Marketing and Google Ads 05:29 B2B vs. B2C Marketing Strategies 08:32 Importance of Metrics and Data-Driven Marketing 12:25 Scalability and Challenges with Google Ads 15:29 Targeting and AI in Digital Marketing 19:14 Privacy Regulations and Retargeting 22:24 Google Ads Account Suspensions 26:04 Best Practices and Seeking Professional Help 30:00 John Horn's Passion for Teaching and Staying Updated

In this episode of “The CTO Show with Mehmet,” Mehmet Gonullu is joined by Andrew Sykes, a lifelong entrepreneur, professor at the Kellogg Sales Institute, and lead facilitator at Serene Life. Andrew shares his journey from South Africa to the United States, where he now calls Chicago home. With a rich portfolio career, Andrew discusses the diverse hats he wears—from founding “Habits at Work,” a company focused on helping leaders and salespeople develop magnetic habits, to teaching the fine art of entrepreneurial selling at one of the world’s top business schools. The conversation dives deep into the challenges and opportunities in sales, particularly focusing on the trust deficit that salespeople often face. Andrew highlights how sales professionals can transform this challenge into an opportunity by prioritizing authenticity, empathy, and a genuine commitment to serving their customers. He emphasizes the importance of storytelling as a powerful tool not only for sales but also for leadership. According to Andrew, effective storytelling allows entrepreneurs and leaders to build trust, connect emotionally with their audience, and inspire action. Andrew also discusses the concept of “entrepreneurial selling,” which he defines as the ability to sell and influence without the usual advantages of established brands, track records, or large budgets. He explains that this mindset is crucial for both startups looking to gain their first customers and for enterprise salespeople who want to excel in a competitive market. The episode also touches on Andrew’s innovative work with Serene Life, where he helps leaders unlock their full potential and become “unrecognizable to themselves” in all the best ways through intense, transformational experiences. As the episode concludes, Andrew leaves listeners with a powerful message about the role of voice and storytelling in creating the future. He encourages everyone to view their voice as an instrument of change and to use it wisely to build the reality they want to see. More About Andrew: https://www.andrewsykes.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewsykes1/ https://habitsatwork.com/ 01:14 Andrew Sykes' Background and Career Journey 03:23 The Importance of Trust in Sales 06:04 Challenges and Solutions in Building Trust 18:01 Mindsets and Habits for Effective Sales 28:38 The Power of Storytelling in Sales 29:55 The Three Pillars of Selling 30:45 The Power of Storytelling in Sales 32:06 Changing Minds: Facts vs. Stories 37:01 Authenticity in Sales 39:38 Entrepreneurial Selling Explained 43:25 Leadership and Sales: A Shared Skillset 44:55 The Magic Eight for Rapid Skill Development 50:04 Final Thoughts and Connecting with Andrew

In this episode of “The CTO Show with Mehmet,” we are joined by Benjamin Bohman, CTO and founder of Stratashield AI. With a rich background in technology spanning 25 years, Ben shares his unique journey from starting as an IT department head at 22 to founding his own AI company. He emphasizes that you don’t need to be a techie to succeed in technology, recounting his initial experience of not even owning a computer before diving into the tech world. Ben discusses the rapid evolution of AI and its impact on businesses. He notes that while AI has taken the world by storm over the past two years, many businesses are still not ready to fully adopt it. He explains that a significant reason for this hesitation is the lack of budget allocation for AI initiatives. Ben advises against rushing into AI adoption and stresses the importance of AI readiness, which begins with having clean, organized data. He highlights that messy and disparate data systems are a major hurdle for companies looking to implement AI effectively. Throughout the episode, Ben and Mehmet explore the misconceptions surrounding AI, particularly the belief that AI is either the Terminator or just a chatbot. Ben clarifies that AI’s potential lies in its ability to enhance business processes through data-driven insights and recommendations, rather than making decisions independently. He emphasizes the importance of having a clear business use case and return on investment (ROI) before implementing AI. The conversation delves into the ethical considerations and security risks associated with AI. Ben underscores the need for businesses to secure their data and ensure that AI systems are used responsibly. He shares insights on how companies can prepare for AI adoption by cleaning up their data lakes and ensuring proper categorization and sequencing of data. Ben also discusses the challenges and opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in leveraging AI. He advises SMBs to be cautious when selecting AI vendors, as many AI startups may not be around in a few years. He suggests focusing on secure and affordable AI solutions that allow businesses to own and control their data. The episode concludes with Ben’s vision for the future of AI in the workplace. He envisions AI acting as a co-pilot, handling mundane tasks and freeing up employees’ time for more complex and creative work. He highlights the potential for AI to transform call centers by handling routine inquiries and allowing human agents to focus on more challenging issues. More About Ben: Benjamin Bohman is the founder of Stratishield AI, with a career spanning over two decades in the technology arena, beginning with a transformative 13-year tenure as an IT leader at a global printing corporation. Here, he led the charge in implementing groundbreaking technologies that revolutionized flow and process-management for manufacturing. This foundation paved the way for his current role, where he channels his profound understanding of business operations and the potential of AI into Stratishield AI's mission. https://stratishield.ai/ 01:03 Ben Bohman's Background and Journey 03:21 AI in Business: Adoption and Readiness 08:50 Misconceptions and Use Cases of AI 15:59 AI for Small and Medium Businesses 20:39 The Future of AI and Ethical Considerations 40:44 Closing Remarks and Contact Information

In this episode of “The CTO Show with Mehmet,” our host, Mehmet, welcomes Rodolph Khlat, the co-founder of Smartr AI, a Dubai-based software development automation engine. Rodolph shares his fascinating journey from a young entrepreneur to a leader in AI-driven software development. He discusses the origins of Smartr AI, a company dedicated to making software development faster and more efficient through automation and artificial intelligence. Rodolph explains how he and his co-founder started as small developers fresh out of college, eventually discovering a unique technique that allowed them to deliver high-quality code in a fraction of the time. This discovery led to the creation of Smartr AI, a product designed to onboard junior developers and enable them to produce work at the level of senior developers. With Smartr AI, they have completed numerous projects across several countries, including partnerships with notable clients like Telus and the Dubai Corporate Games. Throughout the conversation, Rodolph highlights the challenges and feedback they’ve received from the developer community. He emphasizes the importance of non-intrusive integration into developers’ workflows and shares insights from their Beta program, which currently has 50 developers testing the product. He also touches on the broader market validation they’ve achieved and their plans for expanding Smartr AI’s capabilities. Mehmet and Rodolph delve into the differentiation between Smartr AI and other low-code/no-code platforms. Rodolph explains that while low-code/no-code solutions cater to non-technical users, Smartr AI is designed for actual developers, offering deeper customization and avoiding vendor lock-in. They discuss the potential for AI to assist, but not replace, human developers, envisioning a future where AI handles repetitive tasks, allowing developers to focus on more complex and creative aspects of coding. The discussion also covers the entrepreneurial landscape in Dubai and the wider MENA region. Rodolph praises Dubai’s supportive environment for startups, citing its streamlined processes and focus on eliminating bureaucratic noise, which allows entrepreneurs to concentrate on building and scaling their businesses. Mehmet echoes this sentiment, noting the growing interest from international founders looking to move to Dubai for its favorable business climate. More about Rodolph: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khlat/ 01:13 Guest Background and Startup Journey 01:56 Challenges and Solutions in Software Development 04:40 Market Validation and Feedback 07:01 Automation and AI in Software Development 10:07 Low Code vs. Smartr AI 16:16 AI's Role in Software Development 20:46 Smartr AI for Non-Technical Users 31:30 Entrepreneurial Landscape in Dubai 34:57 Final Advice and Closing Remarks

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we are joined by Shehab Beram, the founder of VisionX, the first personal branding studio for product leaders.  Shehab shares his extensive journey from Malaysia to Istanbul, discussing his roles and experiences across various companies like Qawafel, Taker, and Mrsool. He provides insights into his work managing products and emphasizing the importance of personal branding for product leaders. Shehab delves into the core responsibilities and challenges of product management in the MENA region, highlighting the evolving landscape and the need for a shift from a sales-driven to a value-driven mindset. He explains his approach to problem discovery, solution ideation, and the art of launching products effectively. Shehab also touches on the significance of product marketing management and its critical role in successful product launches. The conversation shifts to the cultural aspects of product management in the MENA region, where Shehab underscores the need for better understanding and adoption of the product manager’s role beyond just shipping features. He stresses the importance of being user-centric and leveraging data to make informed decisions. The discussion also covers the balance between product-led and sales-led growth, with Shehab providing practical examples from his experience. Mehmet and Shehab explore the broader startup ecosystem in the MENA region, contemplating its potential to compete with global hubs like Silicon Valley. Shehab believes that the region has immense potential but needs to adopt a global mindset to scale successfully. He encourages founders to think beyond local markets and strive for global impact. Shehab also shares his thoughts on the role of AI in product management, advising against integrating AI for the sake of it and emphasizing the need to solve real customer problems. He concludes by encouraging product managers to be proactive in competitive analysis, not just to replicate competitors but to innovate and add true value to their customers. More about Shehab: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shehab-beram https://www.shehabberam.com 01:06 Shehab Beram's Professional Journey 06:31 Product Management in the MENA Region 09:07 Challenges and Strategies in Product Management 22:05 Product-Led vs. Sales-Led Growth 30:52 The Role of Competitive Analysis 35:23 Adopting AI in Product Management 42:50 Global Thinking for MENA Startups 49:05 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

n this episode of “The CTO Show with Mehmet,” we are joined by Eoghan O’Donnell, the Chief Innovation Officer at Innovecs. Eoghan takes us through his extensive journey in the tech industry, starting from his early days in Ireland with Symantec, where he worked on the Norton antivirus suite, to his roles at McAfee and Amazon. He shares his experiences of moving across continents, living in Ukraine, and ultimately settling in Australia for family reasons while continuing to work for Innovecs. Eoghan discusses the evolving role of innovation in today’s business landscape, highlighting the increasing importance of Chief Innovation Officers and Chief AI Officers, especially in forward-thinking cities like Dubai. He explains how innovation isn’t just about creating new technologies but also about leveraging existing ones in novel ways to solve problems across various industries, including health tech, clean tech, gaming, and supply chain management. A significant portion of the conversation delves into AI and its transformative potential. Eoghan shares his insights on how AI is reshaping customer experiences, particularly in the consumer goods sector, with personalized shopping experiences and advanced data analytics. He also touches on the challenges businesses face when integrating AI into their operations, emphasizing the importance of understanding and managing data, having access to the right technologies, and possessing the necessary expertise. Eoghan also explores the exciting advancements in the Internet of Things (IoT) and its impact on various industries. He explains how IoT is driving efficiencies, creating new business models, and seamlessly connecting the physical and digital worlds. The discussion covers smart manufacturing, connected logistics, and the concept of digital twins, which use sensor data to predict and prevent equipment failures. The episode also covers the intersection of AI and gaming, where Eoghan highlights innovations such as automated game testing, personalized gaming experiences, and AI-generated game assets. He explains how AI is enhancing the gaming industry by learning from player behaviors and making games more engaging and challenging. More about Eoghan:  Eoghan O’Donnell has over two decades of experience in the software development industry, having worked at Symantec Corporation, McAfee, and, most recently, Amazon. Eoghan has a proven track record in fostering innovation, leading his teams to develop software solutions that enhance UX and efficiency.  As a Chief Innovation Officer, Eoghan embraces new technologies and services, harnesses AI, recognizes industry trends, and fosters innovation, leading to significant organizational growth and client satisfaction. https://innovecs.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/eoghan-o-2687213/ 01:04 Eoghan's Career Journey 03:06 Role of Chief Innovation Officer 04:57 Innovation and AI in Business 07:43 AI in Consumer Industries 12:06 Challenges in Implementing AI 16:26 The Future of IoT 21:47 Autonomous Vehicles and Robotics 26:35 AI in the Gaming Industry 34:44 Outsourcing and Compliance in Tech 38:36 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Francis Lacoste, an executive coach with a rich background in engineering leadership at Salesforce and Heroku, shares insights on the transformative journey of technical co-founders. He emphasizes the importance of culture during startup growth, highlighting how to maintain cohesion and alignment with the company’s North Star. The conversation dives into the 'inner game' of leadership, focusing on emotional intelligence and psychological safety. Additionally, Francis discusses the role of tailored coaching in navigating the complexities of startup dynamics and adapting to rapid AI advancements.

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we have the pleasure of speaking with Jean-Philippe Diel, the founder of SymbionIQ, who joins us from New Zealand. Jean-Philippe shares his fascinating journey from his early days in FMCG to his passion for technology and eventual transition into the tech industry. He describes his experiences working with major companies like Samsung and his ventures into entrepreneurship, which ultimately led to the creation of SymbionIQ. Jean-Philippe delves into the inspiration behind SymbionIQ, highlighting the concept of using motion capture and sensors to record and analyze movements. This technology aims to revolutionize remote training by enabling users, such as yoga instructors and physical activity trainers, to create detailed, interactive lessons. He explains how the integration of haptic feedback and AI enhances the learning experience by providing real-time corrections and personalized guidance. The conversation explores the broader vision of SymbionIQ, which includes building a decentralized healthcare ecosystem that prioritizes data privacy and user control. Jean-Philippe discusses the challenges of the current healthcare system, emphasizing the need for a shift from a “sick care” model to one focused on health span and longevity. He introduces the concept of a protocol network economy, where blockchain technology ensures users maintain ownership of their health data, enabling a more holistic and personalized approach to healthcare. Jean-Philippe also touches on the potential for integrating augmented reality and virtual reality into SymbionIQ’s platform. By using devices like the Apple Vision Pro, users can interact with their digital selves, receiving precise feedback and guidance in real-time. This innovative approach aims to make fitness and health training more accessible and effective. The episode concludes with a discussion on the future of SymbionIQ and its potential impact on the healthcare industry. Jean-Philippe shares his plans for raising a pre-seed round to further develop the platform and expand the team. He envisions a collaborative ecosystem where multiple startups can build on SymbionIQ’s backend, creating a comprehensive and user-centric health management system. More about Jean-Philippe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanphilippediel/ http://www.symbioniq.com/ 01:12 Jean Philippe's Background and Career Journey 02:49 The Birth of Symbionic 05:46 Symbionic's Vision and Data Privacy 10:29 Building a Health Data Ecosystem 13:45 Challenges in Health Data and AI 25:34 Addressing Data Biases and Sovereignty 30:53 Recovering Seed Phrases and Blockchain Security 31:49 User Experience in Web3 Solutions 32:38 Jurisdiction and Regulation in Health Tech 33:13 Innovative Environment in Dubai 34:51 Integrating AI and Blockchain 36:36 Federated Learning and Edge AI 40:08 Future of Motion Capture and VR Integration 46:25 Building a Health Ecosystem 51:02 Raising Funds and Future Vision

In this episode of “The CTO Show with Mehmet,” Mehmet is joined by Vivek Ramachandran, the CEO and founder of SquareX, for an in-depth discussion on cybersecurity, AI, and browser security. Vivek, a veteran in the cybersecurity field with over 20 years of experience, shares his journey from working at Cisco Systems to becoming an entrepreneur and starting multiple companies, including SquareX. He delves into his fascination with breaking security systems and how this led him to focus on offensive cybersecurity research and training. Vivek explains the current gaps in cybersecurity, particularly in how traditional security solutions like Secure Web Gateways (SWGs) and endpoint security products are insufficient in today’s complex web application environment. He highlights how attackers exploit these gaps, particularly through browsers, which are now the primary workspace for many employees. Vivek’s insights into how attackers use AI to create sophisticated phishing attacks and malware emphasize the need for advanced, browser-native security solutions. SquareX’s innovative approach involves deploying a browser extension that monitors and analyzes browser and DOM events in real-time using machine learning models. This allows for anomaly detection, policy enforcement, and proactive isolation of suspicious activities and files, thus providing a robust layer of security right where the user interacts with the web. Vivek also discusses the importance of context-aware security measures, which traditional SWGs lack, and how SquareX aims to fill this void. The conversation also touches on the broader implications of AI in cybersecurity, both as a tool for attackers and defenders. Vivek discusses how AI can be leveraged to enhance security measures, streamline security operations through natural language interfaces, and perform real-time threat detection and response. He also shares practical advice for C-level executives on adapting to the rapid advancements in AI and integrating it effectively into their security posture. In a lighter segment, Vivek talks about his initiative to create the first hacker comic book, aimed at educating young people about the positive aspects of hacking and cybersecurity. This project reflects his passion for cybersecurity and his desire to change the mainstream perception of hackers. Towards the end of the episode, Vivek offers valuable advice for aspiring founders, emphasizing patience, resilience, and the importance of realistic expectations. He also highlights the importance of building a company with a deep understanding of the problem space, which in cybersecurity, often comes from having an offensive background. More about Vivek: Vivek Ramachandran is the Founder of SquareX, which is building a browser-native security product to mitigate last mile attacks. SquareX has raised USD 6M seed round from Sequoia Capital SEA in April 2023.  Previously, he was the Founder, CEO of Pentester Academy which trained thousands of customers from government agencies, Fortune 500 companies, and smaller enterprises from over 90 countries. Pentester Academy was acquired by INE in 2021.  Vivek has been researching Wi-Fi security for over a decade. He discovered the Caffe Latte attack, broke WEP Cloaking, conceptualized enterprise Wi-Fi Backdoors, created Chellam (Wi-Fi Firewall), WiMonitor Enterprise (802.11ac monitoring), Chigula (Wi-Fi traffic analysis via SQL), Deceptacon (IoT Honeypots) and others. He is the author of multiple five star rated books on Wi-Fi security which have together sold over 20,000+ copies worldwide and have been translated to multiple languages. https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivekramachandran/ https://sqrx.com/ 01:13 Vivek's Journey in Cybersecurity 02:59 Identifying Market Gaps and Founding SquareX 04:32 Challenges in Cybersecurity and Browser Vulnerabilities 29:39 The Role of AI in Cybersecurity 50:34 Advice for Founders and Conclusion

In this episode of “The CTO Show with Mehmet,” we are joined by Brad Micklea, the CEO of Jozu. Brad shares his extensive experience in the tech industry, detailing his journey from leading the Amazon API Gateway to founding Jozu. Jozu is building what they believe is the first control plane for AI projects inside enterprises, aiming to help organizations accelerate their AI development and protect their operations. Brad discusses the current challenges enterprises face in integrating AI projects into production. He emphasizes the importance of having the right strategy and organizational structure to execute AI initiatives effectively. Brad shares his insights on the need for a solid connection between AI teams and product teams, ensuring that data scientists are embedded within the product teams to better understand and address customer needs. One of the core topics explored in this episode is KitOps, Jozu’s open-source project that aims to simplify the management of AI models and their deployment in production. Brad explains how KitOps provides a central registry for all AI project components, ensuring that organizations can manage dependencies and control versions effectively. This approach helps enterprises maintain control over their AI models, ensuring that sensitive data is protected and that AI-driven differentiation is retained within the organization. Brad also highlights the similarities and differences between MLOps and DevOps, illustrating how KitOps bridges the gap between these two disciplines. He explains the importance of using existing tools while centralizing AI project artifacts to streamline deployment and management processes. This integration allows enterprises to maintain a high level of control and security over their AI operations. Throughout the conversation, Brad offers valuable advice for tech founders and executives looking to integrate AI into their organizations. He emphasizes the importance of listening to customers and iterating on AI initiatives based on real-world usage and feedback. Brad shares his optimistic view of AI’s potential to unleash human creativity and transform various industries, drawing parallels to past technological disruptions like the internet and mobile computing. More about Brad: Brad is the Founder & CEO of Jozu and a project lead for the open source Kitops.ml project, a toolset designed to increase the speed and safety of building, testing, and managing AI/ML models in production. This is Brad’s second startup, his first (Codenvy, the market’s first container-based developer environment) was sold to Red Hat in 2017. In his 25 year career in the developer tools and DevOps software market, he’s been the GM for Amazon’s API Gateway, and built open- and closed-source products that have been leaders in Gartner Magic Quadrants. In his free time he enjoys cycling, reading, and vintage cars. https://jozu.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradmicklea/ 01:08 Brad Micklea's Background and Experience 02:41 Challenges in AI Implementation 04:16 Strategies for Effective AI Integration 04:54 The Role of Documentation in AI Strategy 05:48 Organizational Structure for AI Success 07:06 Moving AI Projects into Production 09:05 Managing AI Models in Production 10:22 Introduction to KitOps 12:27 Centralizing AI Project Components 20:37 KitOps and Enterprise Integration 21:37 Measuring AI Integration Success 25:45 Balancing Public and Private AI Models 27:12 Addressing the Skills Gap in AI 29:13 The Role of Open Source Models 30:41 Specialized AI Models: A Case Study 34:50 The Future of AI and Human Creativity 38:51 Advice for AI Startups 45:12 Building and Testing AI Prototypes 46:10 Conclusion and Final Thoughts