The Venture Playbook Podcast by Sia

In this episode of the Venture Playbook podcast, host Marcin Lukowicz interviews Bob Van Luijt, co-founder and CEO of Weaviate, AI-native database for a new generation of software. Bob shares his unconventional journey to a technology entrepreneur, emphasizing the organic nature of his career path driven by curiosity and passion. He discusses the inception and growth of Weaviate, highlighting the importance of open-source as a distribution model and the approach of a remote-first company. Bob also reflects on the evolving landscape of AI, predicting significant changes in software development over the next decade. He concludes with advice to entrepreneurs to occasionally pause and appreciate their journey.

In this episode of the Venture Playbook podcast, host Ambre Julhia speaks with Enjoyce Zhu, Head of China at Sia and founder of the Shanghai Sia office. They discuss the opportunities and challenges of establishing Sia’s first presence in the Chinese Mainland, the strategic focus on luxury, lifestyle, hospitality, and FMCG sectors, and how global branding supports local growth. Enjoyce also shares her perspective on the role of data and AI in driving digital transformation, the innovative trends shaping consumer engagement in China, and Sia’s approach to supporting clients in this rapidly evolving market.

In this episode of the Venture Playbook podcast, host Emily Orlik speaks with Lauren Pilgreen, Head of Startup Innovation at Sustainable Ventures, the leading growth partner for some of the most exciting climate technology start ups in the UK. Sustainable Ventures support entrepreneurs from idea to exit and help them scale through access to funding, workspace, expert business services and a thriving community of peers and partners. Start ups in Sustainable Ventures have a survival rate of around 85% compared and industry average of 40%, demonstrating the success of the approach. Lauren tells us about what's important for climate-tech start-ups today and what the future holds.

In this episode of the Venture Playbook podcast, host Emily Orlik speaks with Sebastian Rahlf, Global Head of Brand Experience & Product Management at Allianz Trade. Sebastian works at Allianz Trade HQ in Paris - a company that has 75000+ clients around the world and protects €1,400 billion business transactions globally. Ultimately they give companies the confidence to trade, and be paid. Sebastian shares with us his experiences of innovation (and it would be amiss not to also explore what it was like to sponsor the Paris Olympics!).

In this episode of the Venture Playbook podcast, host Marcin Lukowicz and co-host Mo Rajput speak with Paul Dutnall, COO at Work.Life. Work.Life was founded in 2015 and provides access to offices, co-working spaces, and event spaces in 14 locations across England. Paul takes us through his journey to becoming a COO and Work.Life's business model.This episode offers insight into the commercial real estate industry as well as hospitality in a post-pandemic era.

In this episode of the Venture Playbook podcast, hosts Emily Orlik and Ambre Julhia speak with Barry Lunn, the founder and CEO of Provizio. Provizio is a deep-tech company on a mission to prevent road accidents, with their pioneering AI and radar enabled car safety technology. In this conversation, we explore Barry’s experience of launching and growing businesses (he sold his previous company for $50 million in 2017), the value proposition and development of Provizio’s technology, the business landscape of Ireland, and how to balance big vision with the day-to-day grind of starting something from scratch.

In this episode of the Venture Playbook podcast, we engage with Lory Kehoe, Chair of Blockchain Ireland. We explore Lory's journey into the blockchain space, the founding of Blockchain Ireland, and its evolution into a significant player in the blockchain ecosystem. The conversation covers the role of state agencies, the business model of Blockchain Ireland, and the importance of education in the blockchain space. Lory shares insights on the digital euro, stablecoins, and the future of digital currencies, while also discussing the impact of meme coins and the need for innovation in the sector. 

In this episode of the Venture Playbook podcast, host Ambre Julia and co-host Ciara Close interview Anne Ravanona, a global advocate for women entrepreneurs. Anne shares her professional journey, the founding of Global Invest Her, and her mission to close the funding gap for women entrepreneurs. She discusses the importance of access to capital, markets, and networks, emphasizing that the system is broken rather than women being risk-averse. Anne introduces the platforms she has developed to support women entrepreneurs and highlights the significance of the funding blueprint in addressing the unique challenges faced by women in different markets. In this conversation, Anne Ravanona discusses the importance of cultural insights in creating entrepreneurial blueprints for women, emphasizing the role of corporates in supporting women entrepreneurs. She highlights the challenges and opportunities within the DEI landscape and the transformative impact of AI on business and employment. Ravanona advocates for empowering women through innovation and the strategic use of AI, urging listeners to recognize their potential to effect change in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.