Atom Venture Podcasts

Dive into the world of agile business collaboration with Bhairav Patel and Mike Orchard in this episode of Atom CTO Podcast. We'll be delving deep into Skills Hivex, a revolutionary platform reshaping the way small and medium enterprises, freelancer groups, and corporates operate and adapt in today's fast-paced, digital-first business environment. Skills Hivex, an advanced version of the original Skills Hive, highlights the power of collaborative approach for a truly flexible and adjustable business model. In a landscape where companies strive to respond swiftly to ever-changing market dynamics, customer needs, and resource management, Skills Hivex comes as a lifeline. The platform's unique contribution is not just a function of stabilizing the workflow. In the era of the post-COVID workforce, remote and flexible work patterns have showcased enormous benefit to businesses and freelancers alike. Skills Hivex has grabbed this trend to erect a network of trusted professionals in a peer-to-peer interacti

In this episode of the Atom CTO Podcast, we talk with Toni Grunwald the Managing Partner at Max Ventures. https://maxventures.es/ Max Ventures is well-known for its comprehensive support of early-stage startups, providing seed funding and strategic mentoring. Anchored by Toni's vast experience and deep understanding of the startup world, Max Ventures serves as a valuable resource for startups navigating the challenging business landscape.

This week's guest is Toni Grunwald from Max Ventures: https://maxventures.es/

In this episode we take a deep dive into the challenging yet rewarding world of Startup CTOs as we converse with one of the seasoned experts in the field, Bill Bolden. Bill has for the past 20 years been working for early stage start-ups taking them from 0 to 1. In this wide ranging conversation we cover the following areas: - The traits of good founders vs poor ones - How technical does a start-up founder need to be? - What are the red flags to be aware of when dealing with techies - What are the current implications of this new AI revolution - What makes a successful start-up

This week's podcast guest is CTO Bill Boulden

Welcome to another enlightening episode of the Atom CTO Podcast. This time, we're thrilled to have Xavier Ballester, Director of the Angel Investment Network join us for a deep dive into the world of angel investing. https://www.angelinvestmentnetwork.co.uk/ Angel investment is a critical element of a start-up's early phase of growth. With this engaging conversation, we're aiming to deliver a comprehensive understanding of this financing model for entrepreneurs on a quest for capital. Xavier sheds invaluable insights into angel investment, acquired through his extensive experience in the field. At the Angel Investment Network, Xavier and his team have proved instrumental in democratizing access to angel investors for nearly two decades. In this episode, Xavier takes us through the spectrum of an angel investor's characteristics, explains the process of evaluating start-up proposals, and how start-ups can navigate the convoluted investment journey. You'll also hear perspectives from an angel investor's vie

This week's guest is Xavier Ballester, the Director of the Angel Investment Network

Welcome to another episode of the Atom CTO Podcast. We join Bhairav in exploring the crucial aspects of incubators and accelerators with Sudeshna Mukhopadhyay, engineer and co-founder of Intellect AI. The world of incubators and accelerators pose a significant opportunity for startups, yet mastering them can prove quite daunting. With her personal experiences and detailed insight, Sudeshna helps us demystify these entrepreneurial support systems, their roles, and how to maximize their offerings. In this episode, we delve into understanding how incubators cater to budding founders with robust support resources to help turn their initial business ideas into early-stage realities. On the other end of the spectrum, we examine accelerators that cater to established startups, providing them with the essential support needed for scaling their business. We also look at the importance of proper mentorship within these platforms to ensure the future success of these startups. We also discuss Intelekt AI, the co

This week's 5 questions is with Sudeshna Mukhopadhyay, the co-founder of Intelekt AI

Join Bhairav and Adib on this enlightening episode of the Atom CTO Podcast. They’ll offer valuable insights on the complexities of equity splits and the best approach to hiring for a flourishing startup. They’ll break down the process of equity splits among co-founders while highlighting the vital nature of vesting agreements in startups. Explore why equity is not only representative of what has been done in the past but also the work that will be done in the future. Additionally, Bhairav and Adib dive into the rigorous terrain of hiring the right people for your startup. From understanding equity offerings to employees, the role of advisors in a startup, to distinguishing between a co-founder and an employee, it's all covered in this episode. Equip yourself with the essential dos and don'ts of creating a flourishing startup with their expert knowledge and industry insights.

I ask the usual 5 questions to Adib Bamieh, the founder of Bamboo Orchard: https://bamboo-orchard.com/

In this episode, we undertake a deep dive into the world of change management and its implications for both startups and large-scale organizations. Our guest, Ian Sutherland has over 30 years experience in the field of change management and he describes the formula underpinning successful change management. Join us as we investigate change management, unpack its theoretical underpinnings, and discuss its critical role in ensuring business longevity. Throughout this discussion, we'll dissect the distinct approaches to change management within startups and larger corporations. We delve deep into the blueprint for effective change management, examining the necessity for identifying dissatisfaction, developing a crystal-clear future vision, prioritizing initial steps and effectively countering resistance to change. Ian also talks of the importance of storytelling, emphasising how any change management project must be able to tell those involved what is being done and why.

This week's podcast guest is Ian Sutherland - a veteran of change management

In this episode we have an insightful conversation with Pankaj Patel, a seasoned property businessman with an inspiring narrative punctuated by ups, downs and moments of resilience. Pankaj eloquently traces his journey over two decades, dissecting past failures, highlighting triumphs, and uncovering lessons learned through his path, from an electronics engineer to an innovative property entrepreneur. He unfolds a fascinating tale of stamina and resilience in the face of adversity. A victim of an unexpected health crisis resulting in Aphasia, Pankaj recounts his tenacious recovery journey, coupled with the arduous task of salvaging his business simultaneously. This testing period allowed him to reset his companies' ethos, delegating responsibilities, and paving the way for a more flexible, quality-oriented work environment.

The trailer to the main event! Pankaj Patel answers 5 questions

In this episode of the Atom CTO Podcast, Bhairav and Samuel Villegas (from Two Five One EU) dissect the concept of failure in startups: a delicate yet critical aspect of entrepreneurship. They challenge the traditional stigma of failure, framing it instead as a pivot point that could lead to a more successful journey. They continue to break down the reasons behind startup failures, factoring in aspects such as emotionality and over-optimism, and the potential consequences of an inability to accept reality and change course. Drawing attention to entrepreneurs' journey, they deliberate the transition from an employee to a founder; highlighting that industry experience though important, isn’t all encompassing. They share their views on the growth and insights that come from failures, focusing on second-time founders, while reframing our perception of success and failure in the entrepreneurial world. Tune in for an enlightening discussion on these realities in the startup ecosystem.

In this trailer we ask CTO and podcast host Samuel Villegas the usual 5 questions

In today’s Atom CTO Podcast episode, we have an engrossing tête-à-tête with Ernest Daddy, a luminary in the tech entrepreneurship ecosystem. He narrates his unconventional journey - a pathway from Ghana to the UK, and his foray into the niche domain of technical CTO entrepreneurship, defying the standard norms of non-technical founders dominating the industry. Ernest recounts his vast experience of nurturing deep tech companies for more than three decades, providing valuable insights into the art of scaling them. He also shares his ‘in-the-trenches’ knowledge of deep tech business startups, bridging the academia-industry gap, and his journey from being a technician to eventually owning a consulting firm.

In this podcast, I ask the usual 5 questions to Ernest Daddey, a veteran CTO

On this episode of The Atom CTO Podcast, we explore the remarkable career of a tech stalwart, Mark Zurich of Fair Meadow Technologies. Holding an illustrious career spanning 35 years, Mark sheds light on technology's transformational role in shaping business landscapes. His expertise comes from a wealth of knowledge and experience, having led tech teams at esteemed companies like General Electric, Nokia, and BlackBerry. Mark's educational grounding in engineering coupled with his interest in coding amalgamate to shape his unique tech industry perspective. Throughout his career he's grown through many roles, from evening shifts in computer labs to spearheading major projects at giant companies, and leading large globally distributed teams. An undeniably valuable take is his success with large projects, such as BlackBerry Messenger, that denotes his in-depth industry knowledge and pragmatic leadership skills.