LinkedIn Profile: Ms. Thelma Ekiyor-Solanke

In this episode, we dive into the Nigeria Office for Philanthropy & Impact Investing (NPO) with distinguished panel members Ms. Thelma Ekiyor-Solanke, Ms. Ayodele Olojede, Ms. Elizabeth Oguegbu, and Mr. Tola Adekunle-Johnson. They share insights into the NPO's objectives, strategies, and initiatives aimed at fostering job creation and economic growth in Nigeria.

• Ms. Thelma Ekiyor-Solanke: Chairperson of the NPO, providing a brief overview of her role and background.
• Ms. Ayodele Olojede: Representative from Wema Bank and NPO Implementing Committee member, sharing her expertise and involvement.
• Ms. Elizabeth Oguegbu: Representative from Access Bank and NPO Implementing Committee member, introducing her role and contributions.

• The origin and evolution of the Nigeria Office for Philanthropy & Impact Investing.
• The role and significance of the NPO in Nigeria's economic landscape.

• How the NPO collaborates with the Vice President's office to streamline efforts.
• The integration of public and private sector initiatives.

• Primary objectives of the NPO and the strategies in place to achieve them.
• Key focus areas and intended outcomes.

• Developing a robust pipeline of companies.
• Resources and support required to scale up job creation efforts.

• Definition and criteria for women recipients (founders, co-founders, advisors).
• Long-term goals and impacts of this allocation criterion.

• Conditions and potential matching investment requirements tied to grants.
• Efficiency in deploying grants to ensure timely job creation.

• Specific sectors targeted for capital deployment.
• Rationale behind the selection of these sectors.

• Possibilities of other African countries adopting a similar model.
• Expected outcomes and benefits for the broader African continent.

• Opportunities for Silicon Valley investors to partner with and invest in the NPO initiative.
• Ways to foster collaboration and mutual growth.

• Plans for companies to expand into new markets.
• Strategies for growth and international expansion.

• Assurance mechanisms for proper utilization of grant money.
• Governance structures tied to financial assistance.

• Information companies need to provide to secure funding.
• Criteria and eligibility requirements for applicants.

• Additional support provided to companies beyond funding.
• Resources and mentorship available to aid business growth.

• Importance of technology and innovation in the NPO's investment strategy.
• Future trends and opportunities.

Guest: John Hittler | LinkedIn

Overview: In this episode, we dive deep into the extraordinary journey of John Hittler, a CEO Trusted Advisor, 9-time Founder and CEO, funding source, author, TEDx speaker, and father of seven. John shares his wealth of experience, insights into leadership, and strategies for balancing a demanding career with personal life.

Discussion Points:

1. Career History

• John provides an overview of his career path, highlighting key milestones and achievements.

• As a busy professional with multiple roles, John discusses how he efficiently manages his time and responsibilities.

• John shares notable challenges and setbacks he has faced in his career and the strategies he used to overcome them.

• Reflecting on the companies he has started, John recounts some memorable experiences and lessons learned.

• John explains his motivation for founding Evoking Genius after successfully starting nine other companies.

• Insight into the specific methodologies or frameworks John utilizes with his clients to drive success.

• Discussing the key characteristics that differentiate elite leaders from the average person and what makes them successful.

• What a first session with John looks like and how he sets the stage for productive coaching relationships.

• John's approach to identifying and leveraging unique strengths and talents within an organization.

• Strategies for supporting leaders in maintaining balance and preventing burnout in high-pressure environments.

• Anonymous success stories showcasing how John has helped clients achieve their goals.

• How John stays informed and ensures his insights and strategies remain relevant in the ever-evolving business landscape.

• Advice for aspiring leaders or entrepreneurs on fostering innovation and creativity within their teams.

• Addressing common challenges and misconceptions encountered when working with organizations and how John handles them.

• Exploring common misconceptions people have about CEOs and the realities of their roles.

• Information on how to learn more about John and his current projects, along with contact details for further engagement.

Ep 228 Unlocking Venture Capital Insights with Brian Bell: Strategies, SPVs, and Future Trends

Brian Bell Bio

Managing Partner at Team Ignite Ventures | ex AI at AWS, Microsoft, and several startups.

Main Discussion

1. Background and Experience

• Brian’s Journey: Brian shares a brief introduction to his background, career path, and how he became a venture capitalist.

• Evolution of Venture Capital: Brian discusses the evolving landscape of venture capital, including current trends and future outlooks.

• Starting in VC: Practical advice from Brian for those aspiring to enter the venture capital industry.

• Investing and Managing SPVs: Insights into Brian’s experience with SPVs, including the benefits and challenges.

• Future Value-Add: Brian’s perspective on where the most significant value-add for venture capitalists will lie in the future from both the investor and company perspectives.

• Importance of VC Brand: Discussion on the future significance of having a venture capital brand on a company's cap table.

• Tracking Investments: How angel investors typically keep track of their portfolio companies.
• Effective Communication: Examples of how companies effectively maintain communication with their investors.

• Timing and Strategy: Brian’s thoughts on why some founders wait until the last minute to seek capital or consider selling their companies.

• Implications of Write-Offs: The impact of writing off an investment in terms of taxes, returns, and LP reports.

• Types of Reports: Insights into the types of reports venture capitalists typically provide to their limited partners.

• Advantages of Newsletters: The benefits for both venture capitalists and founders in maintaining a newsletter.

• Marketing Efforts: Brian’s approach to managing his marketing efforts and building his personal brand.

• Pros and Cons of Moving: Brian shares his experiences and thoughts on relocating from Silicon Valley, including the pros and cons of his new living situation.

• Staying Connected: Information on how to learn more about Brian and his current ventures, including the best ways to connect with him.

Connect with Brian

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bblinkedin/

Subscribe to Brian’s substack https://brianrbell.substack.com/

Sara Zare Bio

Leadership philosophy: Inform, Enable, Empower - and witness the magic.

Mission: building the "3 Founder Unicorns" community.

Slogan: quoting Alexander Hamilton -- as he allegedly sang: I am not throwing away my shot!

Armed with degrees in Mechanical, Electrical, Nano, Bio, and Software Engineering from prestigious institutions in the USA, Germany, and Iran, coupled with fluency in English, German, and Persian, my perspective is detailed and holistic as well as local and global. My insatiable curiosity about human psychology, on top of my background, afford me a unique vantage point on the interplay of engineering, science, and the mosaic of human aspiration, desire, and motivation.

My track record in the productization of emerging technologies, transformative leadership impacting hundreds of teams at Google and beyond, and an insatiable curiosity for historical reflection and future forecasting, form the cornerstone of my fascination with '3 Founder Unicorns'. A vision of a future where innovation is democratized, enabling the creation of highly profitable startups with minimal capital, at unprecedented speeds. Hence I am building and leading the 'Gen-AI-Enabled Founder Community', where super savvy, creative and capable entrepreneurs gather to teach each other and learn from each other how to build their own Virtual Workforce.

In this weeks episode, we talk about

How Ai is impacting Silicon Valley

The Future of Venture Capitalism and how it will never be the same

The opportunities for everyone with the power of AI

Should we afraid of AI

And Much more…

Connect with Sara on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarazare/

In this episode of The Silicon Valley Podcast, we delve into the dynamic world of investment banking with the esteemed Vincent Monteparte, a visionary leader with over 25 years of experience in managing strategic enterprise initiatives across various industries.

Vincent Monteparte serves as a Board Director and Chair of the Audit Committee for Dalrada Financial Corporation (DFCO), a Healthcare, Technology, and Clean Energy Company. Additionally, he holds Board Director positions for Measurabl, a global sustainability SaaS Software company, and Slingshot Aerospace, a computer vision AI SaaS software company for the commercial/government satellite industry. He also serves on the boards of Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Business and the College of Business and Engineering for Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

With a background spanning mergers & acquisitions for the middle market, board leadership & governance, market expertise & positioning, and strategic business investment & planning, Vincent brings a wealth of knowledge to the table.

Here are some key questions we explore with Vincent:

1. How early should a business owner start to talk to an investment banker for planning the sale of their business, and when should a company start to prepare for an exit?
2. How important is it for a founder to plan for an exit?
3. How does one think about the valuation of their company?
4. What are some warning signs that an investment banker can see that may indicate a deal will not work?
5. After the sale is complete, what do you want your client to say about you as an investment banker?
6. How will investment banking change with the addition of new technology?

We also touch on the evolution of investment banking over the years and explore the potential competition between Venture Capitalists and family offices for deals in the future.

Join us for this enlightening discussion with Vincent Monteparte as we uncover the intricacies of investment banking and gain valuable insights into the world of finance and deal-making.

Connect with Vincent Monteparte on LinkedIn

Ron Whittier Interview Introduction

Intel Corporation was founded in 1968 by Robert Noyce and Gordon Moore, who left Fairchild Semiconductor to start their own company. In the early years from 1970 to 1978, Intel went through major inflection points that helped transform it from a startup to an industry leader.

Ron Whittier, who joined Intel in 1970 as an engineering manager, played a key role in navigating many of these pivotal moments. This included instilling the pioneering "Intel Culture" driven by Andy Grove, expanding into new product lines like microprocessors, raising funds through Intel's first public offering in 1972, and then rapidly scaling up design and manufacturing capabilities.

From 1978 to 2000, Intel experienced explosive growth riding the PC revolution and the emergence of the world-wide web. Ron helped the company successfully navigate through additional inflection points like improving manufacturing processes under Craig Barrett's leadership, the famous decision to exit the DRAM business to focus on microprocessors, developing major marketing campaigns like "Intel Inside", transitioning to being a sole microprocessor supplier, and forming new groups like the Intel Architecture Labs and Intel Capital.

Through recognizing and deftly navigating these many inflection points, Ron and Intel's leadership team transformed the company into a global technology powerhouse.

We talked about

• How did Intel balance looking for outside ideas and developing things internally?
• When you listen to historians talk about the history of Intel, what are they missing or not getting 100% correct?
• What words do you want to say to the next generation of Intel employees and entrepreneurs out there?
• Did you ever look at the other companies in Silicon Valley and think that their businesses were being run in ways that you wished to model?

And much more…

Martin Tobias: Navigating the Landscape of Investment and Entrepreneurship

In the ever-evolving world of investment and entrepreneurship, few voices resonate with the depth of experience and insight quite like that of Martin Tobias. With a career spanning decades and ventures across various industries, Martin brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective to the table.

A Passion for the Formation Stage

"I have always been excited in the formation stage of things," Martin shares. "The early stuff. Who is the customer? What is the product? And how do we sell it? That is the part I like." For Martin, the early stages of a venture present the most intriguing challenges and opportunities. It's where decisions are made, bets are placed, and the course of action is charted. Over the years, Martin has been at the helm of numerous ventures, raising over $500M in equity, project finance, and working capital.

Investor, Mentor, Entrepreneur

Beyond his role as a CEO and investor, Martin's entrepreneurial journey is peppered with diverse experiences. From owning bars and restaurants to venturing into renewable energy and technology investing, Martin's portfolio reflects his insatiable curiosity and drive to solve complex problems. He has personally invested in over 70 startups and led several through venture funds, all while engaging in charitable endeavors through the Martin Tobias Family Foundation.

Exploring Industry Dynamics

In our conversation with Martin, we delved into several key areas shaping the investment and entrepreneurship landscape:

1. Evolution of Preseed and Seed Stages: Martin shared insights into how these stages have evolved over the years and the implications for founders navigating early-stage funding.
2. Enhanced Connections Between Founders and Investors: We discussed emerging solutions and trends facilitating better connections between founders and investors, essential for fostering successful partnerships.
3. AI in Investor Meetings: Martin shed light on how founders are leveraging AI to prepare for investor meetings, streamlining the pitching process and unlocking new efficiencies.
4. Opportunities Amidst Global Challenges: Despite the current global landscape's challenges, Martin remains optimistic about the unique opportunities it presents for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Connect with Martin Tobias

To learn more about Martin's work and insights, you can connect with him on LinkedIn or visit Incisive VC, where he continues to make an indelible mark on the world of investment and entrepreneurship.

• LinkedIn: Martin Tobias
• Incisive VC: Explore Here

In a world brimming with possibilities, Martin Tobias stands as a beacon of wisdom and inspiration, guiding entrepreneurs and investors alike on their journey towards success.

Michael J. Firestone, CFA

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeljfirestone/

Fire Capital Management, LLC is a boutique investment management company that helps people achieve their dreams. We empower our clients to re-imagine what is possible to accomplish with their investments, social impact goals, and family legacy. The firm offers private wealth management and multi-family office services to HNW individuals, families, and foundations. Fire Capital Management is strategically headquartered in the heart of innovation economy, San Francisco, CA.

Sophie Tsang, MBA

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophietsang/

Sophie’s Civil Engineering background and marketing expertise contribute to her broad understanding and high efficiency in marketing real estate properties. She has been consistently a top performer since 2005, and personally ranks the highest 1% by volume of all Silicon Valley Realtors. Also a WSJ Real Trends 2022 America's Best Honoree.

As a seasoned negotiator, Sophie’s no-nonsense marketing system and meticulous attention to details have been key success factors. She is known as the The Fixer, or Miracle Worker, frequently helps sellers sell their homes when other agents had failed or given up. She helps buyers get into homes when they previously struggled. 20+ years in Real Estate, Sophie has honed her skills on getting the best possible results for her clients. Her trusted network of vendors and use of cutting-edge technology ensure each step of each transaction is executed to achieve next level result!

Sophie is a proud parent of 2 Eagle Scouts (in college). She has done guest speaking at Faith Radio, and written a column for World Journal Newspaper to share her Real Estate knowledge. Sophie is a Palo Alto Rotarian and a Paul Harris Fellow, also a Golden Gate Keeper (Golden Gate National Park Conservancy).

Jeanie (Kim) Colclough

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcolcloughtravel/

In my professional role as a travel advisor, I specialize in creating soft adventure experiences for my clients. My favorite types of trips to book include:

Cultural Immersion Vacations — These trips are designed to get travelers interacting with local people, experiencing cultural events and dining on authentic cuisine.

Culinary Tours — Perfect for foodies and wine lovers, culinary tours allow travelers to experience the unique flavor of their destination.

Active Vacations

As I carve my own path within the travel industry, I have made this quote my motto: "Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind." These words of Seneca define the need for travel as part of our human experience.

When we book a vacation to a new destination, whether it's a tropical island filled with the potential for relaxation or an ancient city built for learning and exploring, we know we will be changed by the experience. Travelers come home feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, while also yearning for more at the same time.

Contact me today to book your next adventure! I look forward to helping you every step of the way.

We discuss:

What are the most common mistakes people on the panel see people make as soon as they have a large sum of money?

Depending on the exit price, what are some options a seller must know to do the right things to create generational wealth or maintain the exit for a needed amount of time?

After they exit their companies or sell a part of them, many people want to diversify their wealth; what are some ways that they choose to do this?

What issues do they face if they are looking to invest in real estate?

What about if they want to start investing in real estate projects? Are there any problems they might face?

If an owner doesn’t properly plan before the sale, what can they do afterward to mitigate taxes?

The most common thing owners say the first thing they will do after selling a business is to go on a trip. What are things they should consider?

If there are economic changes, how would they impact the new life of the former business owner? What should a person think or do if their assets from the sale significantly drop?

What about options for living abroad? What are the first steps someone could take to try life overseas out?