In this episode, Kristian Marquez is joined by James Paul Costa, founder of Grapetree Ventures. Drawing on a background that includes the Naval Academy and early-stage tech growth, James breaks down the psychological frameworks necessary for elite leadership. They discuss the "Clock on the Wall" strategy for conflict resolution, the importance of "re-attachment" in habit formation, and why solving the world's biggest problems might actually be easier than solving small ones.

Learn more about Grapetree Ventures work at: https://grapetreeventures.com/

Connect with James Paul Costa on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamespaulcosta/

Think you'd be a great guest on the show?

Apply at https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/

Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work? https://finstratmgmt.com

Grace Brown, CEO of Andromeda, joins the show to discuss "Abby," a social humanoid robot tackling the global loneliness epidemic. We explore the challenges of hardware development, the importance of personality in AI, and Grace's strategic move to the US to scale her vision.

Learn more about Andromeda work at: https://dromeda.com.au/

Connect with Grace Brown on LinkedIn at: http://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-brown-619b59161

Think you'd be a great guest on the show?

Apply at https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/

Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work?

https://finstratmgmt.com

How does a tech company move from basic data logging to providing "reasoning agents" for the world's largest sales teams? In this episode, Jason Ambrose, CEO of People.ai, breaks down the transformation of sales through AI. We discuss the "hard science" of activity capture, the importance of data filtering in European markets, and the psychology of trust in business. Whether you are a founder navigating the AI hype or an investor looking for substance, this conversation provides a grounded look at the future of enterprise software.

Special Announcement:

People.ai announced a new Model Context Protocol (MCP) integration for its SalesAI Platform for revenue/sales teams. Now they can access complete revenue intelligence – including both structured and unstructured data – directly within their existing AI workflows.

Read about it here:

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260218140075/en/People.ai-Brings-Complete-Revenue-Intelligence-to-AI-Workflows-Through-Model-Context-Protocol-MCP-Integration

Learn more about People.ai work at: https://www.people.ai/

Connect with Jason Ambrose on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonambrose/

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/

Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work? https://finstratmgmt.com

In this episode, Kristian Marquez talks with David Yang, co-founder of Newo.ai, about the future of AI in the workforce. Discover how AI "Front Desk" agents are saving businesses hundreds of thousands in lost revenue by ensuring no call goes unanswered. David shares the technical journey of building zero-hallucination AI and discusses his fascinating perspective on AI consciousness and the upcoming era of 300 million non-biological employees.

Learn more about Newo.ai work at: https://newo.ai

Connect with David Yang on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-yang-phd/

Think you'd be a great guest on the show?

Apply at https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/

Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work?

https://finstratmgmt.com

Join Kristian Marquez as he speaks with Sandhya Venkatachalam, an early-stage AI investor at Axiom Partners. In this episode, Sandhya breaks down why the traditional SaaS model is dying and how AI "workers" are set to revolutionize the labor market. From the in-office culture of Silicon Valley to the grit required to build a VC firm, this conversation covers the high-level strategies and tactical plans necessary for success in 2026 and beyond.

Learn more about Axiom Partners work at: https://axiompartners.vc/

Connect with Sandhya Venkatachalam on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandhyavenkatachalam

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/

Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work? https://finstratmgmt.com

In this episode, Kristian Marquez sits down with John Hargrave, CEO of Media Shower, to discuss how AI is fundamentally changing search and content marketing. John explains the concept of "AI SEO" (or Generative Engine Optimization) and why original data is the only way to remain visible in a conversational internet. We also dive into John’s new book, The Intelligent Crypto Investor, where he outlines a "value investing" approach to digital assets, applying the wisdom of giants like Warren Buffett to the modern crypto market.

The Intelligent Crypto Investor: https://www.amazon.com/Intelligent-Crypto-Investor-John-Hargrave/dp/1394366426

Learn more about Media Shower work at: https://www.mediashower.com/

Connect with John Hargrave on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhargrave/

Think you'd be a great guest on the show?

Apply at https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/

Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work?

https://finstratmgmt.com

In this episode of The Innovators & Investors Podcast, host Christian Marquez sits down with Eugene Johnson, founder and CEO of Revi, to explore how his company is revolutionizing in-person transactions by bridging traditional point-of-sale systems with digital commerce.

Eugene shares the origins of Revi, the challenges faced during the pandemic, and how the company pivoted to focus on data-driven customer engagement and AI-native product development. The conversation delves into the critical role of mentorship, resilience, strategic hiring, and leadership in scaling a business, along with Eugene’s unique perspective as both a CEO and pastor.

Listeners will gain valuable perspectives on navigating rapid technological change, fostering strong company culture, and preparing for the future of commerce in an AI-driven world.

Learn more about Revi's work at: https://www.getrevi.com/

Connect with Eugene Johnson on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eugenekjohnson1/

Think you'd be a great guest on the show?

Apply at https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/

Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work?

Check out his website at https://finstratmgmt.com

How do you turn a smartphone into a professional-grade motion analysis laboratory?

Join host Kristian Marquez as he speaks with Josh Kohn, CEO of Meridian Performance Systems. From Army Ranger to Investment Banker to Tech Founder, Josh discusses how his company uses on-device computer vision to revolutionize golf putting and solve massive quality assurance problems in the manufacturing industry. Learn why Josh believes the most valuable AI tools are the ones that can "see" the physical world with precision and how his military leadership background shapes his approach to scaling a high-growth startup.

Learn more about Meridian Performance Systems work at: https://meridiankps.com/

Connect with Josh Kohn on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-kohn/

Think you'd be a great guest on the show?

Apply at https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/

Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work?

https://finstratmgmt.com