The Silicon Valley Podcast

Guest: Shawn Villaron, Vice President of Customer and Strategic Initiatives, Office Product Group at Microsoft | Former VP & GM of PowerPoint | Bay Area Site Leader | Executive Sponsor of HOLA

In this episode, we sit down with Shawn Villaron, a 29-year veteran at Microsoft who has helped shape some of the company’s most widely used products and strategies. Now serving as Vice President of Customer and Strateg...

Guest: Pankaj Patel, Founder and CEO of Nile | Former EVP and Chief Development Officer at Cisco | Partner at JC2 Ventures | Senior Advisor at March Capital

In this episode, we sit down with Pankaj Patel, one of the most influential leaders in enterprise technology. As the former engineering head of Cisco’s $38 billion portfolio ...

Join us for an insightful conversation with Taylor Brandt, a Partner at Headline, where we dive into the world of venture capital and B2B software. Taylor specializes in vertical SaaS, B2B marketplaces, and commerce infrastructure as a Partner in Headline’s

In this episode, we explore Taylor's unique perspective, shaped by her background in marketing and analytics engineering:

We cover key topics for founders and aspiring VCs, incl...

Mercedes Bent, formerly a Partner at Lightspeed, and a leading investor in fintech, AI, and consumer companies.

Guest Bio: Mercedes Bent is a seasoned investor with a background that spans venture capital, startups, and institutional finance. As a former Partner at Lightspeed, she spent over five years leading investments in companies like Stori, Mexico's first tech unicorn co-founded by a woman. Before her time in VC, she served a...

Bio: Ross is a founder, engineer, and early-stage technology investor who focuses on helping significant ideas scale up. He believes in working with "amazing people who build products indistinguishable from magic." His unique strength lies in connecting people.

Episode Summary:

In this episode, we sit down with Ross Fubini to discuss his journey from building companies to investing in them. Ross shares how he developed the thesis ...

In this episode, we sit down with Ben Van Roo, CEO and Co-Founder of Legion Intelligence and a seasoned leader whose career spans building cutting-edge AI solutions for both the public and private sectors. From working with the Department of Defense at RAND to leading data science at Chegg, serving as EVP of National Security at Primer AI, and now driving innovation at Yurts, Ben brings a rare perspective on AI, le...

Guest: George Panagiotakopoulos, Innovation Ecosystem Development -Advisor, Berkeley SkyDeck

Episode Summary:

Join us as we sit down with George Panagiotakopoulos, who works with UC Berkeley who has a unique vantage point from his work in Europe, Asia, and beyond, George shares his insights on building global innovation ecosystems and the nuances of cross-border collaboration. We'll explore how Berkeley is expanding its accelerator...

Guest: Dr. Tom Coughlin, President, Coughlin Associates, IEEE Past President (2025)

Website: https://tomcoughlin.com

FMS Conference: https://futurememorystorage.com/

Episode Summary: Join us for an enlightening conversation with Dr. Tom Coughlin, a seasoned digital storage analyst and consultant with over 40 years in the industry. Tom, the President of Coughlin Associates and former IEEE President, shares unparalleled insights into...

“Buying a Business the Right Way — Lessons from the Front Lines” Guest: Jed Morris — Acquisition Entrepreneur, Operator, and Advisor Connect with Jed on LinkedIn

In this episode of The Silicon Valley Podcast, we sit down with Jed Morris, a seasoned acquisition entrepreneur with firsthand experience navigating the highs and lows of buying and operating businesses. Jed shares candid lessons from his own journey — including what wen...

In this episode, we sit down with Arto Bendiken, a self-taught polymath, technologist, and entrepreneur whose journey spans building custom software in Finland at 13, contributing to defense communications for the U.S. Navy, scaling blockchain infrastructure at Aurora Labs, and now launching Haltia.AI in Dubai.

We dive deep into the evolution of Web3, the intersection of AI and crypto, real-world blockchain appl...

Guest: Anita Koimur, Co-founder & COO of LiveFlow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitakoimur/

Episode Summary: Join us as we sit down with Anita Koimur, a seasoned entrepreneur and the brilliant mind behind LiveFlow. Anita shares her compelling journey from a successful career in Business Development to co-founding a groundbreaking company. We delve into her experiences, including her time at the prestigious Y Combinator...

In this episode, we sit down with Ron Petrinovich, a seasoned entrepreneur and co-founder of Freedom Equity Group (FEG). With deep roots in Silicon Valley and a legacy shaped by family, faith, and business acumen, Ron shares pivotal moments from his entrepreneurial journey—including multiple business restarts, scaling a company to national success, and eventually exiting in 2024.

Ron offers candid insights into what it takes to bui...

In this episode of The Silicon Valley Podcast, we sit down with Rick Otton, author of How to Sell Without Ever Saying a Word, and a global expert in communication, influence, and what he calls Subliminal Science.

Rick has built a career challenging traditional sales tactics, instead unlocking the power of subconscious communication and emotional decision-making. Introduced through M&A strategist Craig Keegan, Rick shares the le...

Episode Summary:

In this episode of The Silicon Valley Podcast, we sit down with Jeffrey Tiong, the visionary founder and CEO of Patsnap, a global leader in IP and R&D intelligence. From identifying a market gap in patent data to building a unicorn that serves some of the world’s top innovators, Jeffrey shares the insights behind his entrepreneurial journey—and where he sees the future of innovation heading.

We explore how the ...

In this episode, we sit down with Keshia Theobald-van Gent, a seasoned venture capital investor with deep expertise in fund economics, portfolio strategy, and founder alignment. Keshia shares her sharp insights into how today’s most successful VCs operate and what emerging fund managers and founders need to know to succeed in this dynamic ecosystem.

Whether you're a founder seeking to better understand how VCs evaluate your startup...

Episode Description: In this insightful episode, we sit down with Mohamed Ahmed—engineer-turned-founder, investor, and author—to explore the real mechanics of venture capital, startup life, and personal growth. Mo brings his unique perspective from launching a successful startup, exiting, and now advising others through the VC lens. Whether you're an entrepreneur, investor, or someone navigating your own career transition, this ep...

In this episode, Shawn sits down with John Bisack, an experienced operational strategist and advisor who specializes in helping private equity-backed companies navigate the critical post-acquisition phase. With a background in transforming businesses for profitability, growth, and long-term scalability, John brings deep insights into what it really takes to deliver on the promises of a private equity deal—beyond the closing table.

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In this episode, Shawn sits down with Paul Adler, a veteran strategist in global revenue growth and a trusted advisor for companies entering the complex world of Federal Government markets. With decades of experience guiding businesses through the intricacies of federal contracting, Paul shares practical insights, battle-tested strategies, and hard-won lessons for founders and executives ready to scale through government channels.

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In this episode, we’re joined by Stan Christensen, a veteran dealmaker, negotiation expert, and founder of Arbor Advisors. With over two decades of experience teaching negotiation at Stanford University and leading high-stakes transactions in the tech world, Stan offers a masterclass in how to navigate complex deals, align incentives, and come out ahead—whether you're raising capital, selling your company, or simply trying to keep ...