In this episode of Road to CTO, we sit down with Charles Chase, a serial entrepreneur and investor, who shares his journey from aspiring accountant to building multiple successful companies, including Velocify. Charles reveals how a pivotal moment in the late 90s sparked his passion for programming, leading him to abandon his original career path and dive into tech.

Despite mastering coding, Charles chose not to follow the traditional route into CTO roles. Instead, he embraced operational leadership, seeing company-building as a form of engineering. He believes creating systems, processes, and teams requires the same careful design as good software.

Now based in Barcelona, Charles shares his unique perspective on entrepreneurship, emphasizing the psychological qualities needed to succeed. His investment philosophy focuses on the person behind the product, prioritizing vision and problem-solving over the product itself.

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🎬 You can watch the video of this episode on the Life on Mars podcast website: https://podcast.marsbased.com/

Are your ChatGPT prompts messy and inconsistent? You might be falling into the trap of spaghetti prompting, random, unstructured inputs that lead to weak responses.

In this episode, we break down the difference between spaghetti prompting and prompt engineering, showing you how to structure prompts for accurate, consistent, and high-quality results.

What you'll learn:

How to give clear context and set specific goals
Why defining output format matters
The power of real examples
Iterating your prompts like an engineer, not a guesser

Stop wasting time on guesswork. Start prompting with purpose. Listen now and upgrade your AI game!

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🎬 You can watch the video of this episode on the Life on Mars podcast website: https://podcast.marsbased.com/

Quantum computing is no longer just a futuristic concept, it’s quickly becoming a practical reality. In this must-watch panel discussion, three quantum pioneers dive deep into the real progress being made and what’s coming in the next few years. From breakthroughs in drug discovery to tackling cybersecurity challenges, quantum's first impacts will be felt in unexpected ways. Get ready for an eye-opening conversation that cuts through the hype and gives you the insights you need to prepare for this technological revolution. Don't miss it!

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🎬 You can watch the video of this episode on the Life on Mars podcast website: https://podcast.marsbased.com/

What happens when AI stops just following commands and starts making decisions on its own?

At the Corporate Innovation Summit, industry leaders dive into the world of agentic AI—intelligent systems capable of autonomous action. This first panel explores:

🔹 NVIDIA’s journey from gaming to AI dominance and how it became an infrastructure powerhouse.
🔹 AI in law firms—from transforming due diligence to redefining client interactions.
🔹 Finance’s approach to AI, balancing accessibility and security over chasing top engineers.
🔹 The real meaning of "open-source AI" and the challenges of transparency and control.

Join us for a deep dive into AI’s rapid evolution, how industries are adapting, and what’s next for businesses embracing autonomous intelligence.

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🎬 You can watch the video of this episode on the Life on Mars podcast website: https://podcast.marsbased.com/

In this exciting episode of Life on Mars, Alex have a great conversation with Simone van Neerven, founder of reBel.la, to explore how challenging the status quo can drive creativity and change. With a career that began at KLM and evolved into building her own brand, Simone shares her personal journey—from corporate life to embracing her rebellious spirit—and how it’s helped her break barriers and inspire others.

Through honest stories and sharp insights, Simone highlights the powerful role rebels play in driving innovation within companies. She emphasizes the value of building community, fostering collaboration, and embracing individuality to spark new ideas.

This conversation goes beyond theory—it’s a practical guide to finding and embracing your inner rebel, even in environments that resist change. Simone offers actionable advice for anyone looking to challenge corporate norms and create space for bold, fresh thinking.

Whether you're feeling boxed in by traditional systems or just curious about how rebellion can fuel innovation, this episode is packed with inspiration and practical takeaways.

Tune in, and discover how embracing your unique perspective can unlock new possibilities.

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🎬 You can watch the video of this episode on the Life on Mars podcast website: https://podcast.marsbased.com/

Are you ready to explore the dynamics of running a successful consultancy in today’s fast-evolving tech landscape? Join us as we sit down with Szymon Boniecki, co-founder of Monterail, a pioneering Ruby on Rails agency. In this engaging episode, we dive into Monterail's remarkable journey over the past 14 years, sharing lessons on growth, the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), and the delicate balance between client expectations and service quality.

The conversation highlights the importance of adaptability in the face of changing industry demands—from discovering the right marketing strategies to understanding the nuances of maintaining client relationships. Szymon sheds light on how embracing a primarily inbound marketing approach has bolstered Monterail's reputation and client acquisition over the years.

We tackle pressing questions such as: How do you remain competitive in an era where AI promises more efficiency at lower costs? How do you manage your operational scale while still delivering exceptional value to your clients? The episode offers insightful answers along with practical strategies that any aspiring consultant or established agency leader can implement.

With heartfelt anecdotes from both Szymon and host Alex, listeners will find themselves not just inspired, but also equipped with actionable takeaways to elevate their own business strategies. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights from industry leaders! Make sure to subscribe, share, and leave us your thoughts—how do you approach growth and adaptation in your consultancy?

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🎬 You can watch the video of this episode on the Life on Mars podcast website: https://podcast.marsbased.com/

Welcome to another captivating episode of the Life on Mars podcast by MarsBased! 🎙️ In this electrifying discussion, we dive headfirst into the dynamic world of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) with our brilliant guest, Clemens Rossberg. 🌟 Interviewed by our very own Alex Rodriguez Bacardit, this episode is a must-listen!

Tune in to discover:

📌The latest trends shaking up the M&A market in 2025
📌Key factors driving the recent surge in M&A deals
📌Expert insights on whether this growth is a lasting trend or a fleeting phenomenon

Don’t miss out on this must-listen episode! Get the scoop on what's happening in the ever-evolving world of M&A and stay ahead of the curve. 🚀

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🎬 You can watch the video of this episode on the Life on Mars podcast website: https://podcast.marsbased.com/

What if economic downturns could be a springboard for growth instead of a setback? Join Àlex, the CEO and founder of MarsBased, as he shares the inside scoop on how his company not only weathered the technological market storm of 2024 but emerged stronger. Learn from their journey through industry challenges, management demands, and the strategic pivots that led to exciting collaborations and a revenue milestone of 2.5 million euros, all while remaining bootstrapped and expanding the team.

Despite grappling with project estimation issues and sudden contract cancellations, the story of MarsBased is one of resilience and adaptability. Àlex recounts the emotional journey of navigating a tense Q1 and the strategic decisions that helped regain stability. From transparent communication practices to celebrating MarsBased's decade-long journey, this episode paints a vivid picture of staying the course amidst uncertainty. Get insights into how MarsBased's strategic shift to smaller projects and consulting work opened doors to contracts with entities like Mobile World Capital.

Join us as we explore MarsBased’s technological strategy evolution, focusing on the decision to standardize their tech stack with Ruby on Rails and React. Àlex explains how this strategic move ensures reliable, cost-effective solutions for their clients without compromising quality. Discover the balance between embracing innovation in areas like VR and AI while staying committed to proven technologies. As the episode wraps up, Àlex invites listeners to share feedback and ideas, reinforcing the collaborative spirit of the MarsBased journey.

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🎬 You can watch the video of this episode on the Life on Mars podcast website: https://podcast.marsbased.com/