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Silicon Valley mythology would have you believe entrepreneurs live in a world where every day is an exciting and intellectually stimulating experience. However, before enjoying any of those positive outcomes, entrepreneurs go through several rites of passage. The first entrepreneur rite of passage is finding that seed funding round. It's often one of the first major stumbling blocks, engaging with the venture community where you have no track record and where traction is a matter of survival. No one really wants to talk about this experience. Many entrepreneurs have lived through that sense of dejection, depression, and the embarrassment accompanying the failure to raise that seed round. But we found an early seed venture capital fund who was willing to be completely transparent about the qualification, key factors to engage, and the process to close a seed round.  My guest is Amit Garg, Co-founder of Tau Ventures, who has a defined focus on early-stage startup companies that provide AI solutions for healthcare and the enterprise sectors. Amit has been in the venture capital industry for over twenty including experience at two venture capital firms. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience investing in seed rounds, and his insights are invaluable for entrepreneurs looking to navigate this challenging stage.

You might recognize this personality in your social and dating relationships, the guy who wants to impress you, dominate the conversation, and make the decisions. You might be concerned about a long-term relationship or an intimate relationship.   The CDC published a study about homicide being the leading cause of death for women under the age of 44. The study included a grim statistic. Fifty-five percent of all women homicides were attributed to intimate partner violence, meaning the perpetrator was the married or unmarried intimate partner. So the question is: are there behavior patterns in the early phase of a relationship that are indicators of coercive control and abuse? And if so, what are the methods a woman can employ to verify those behavior patterns and determine the appropriate response before committing to a long-term relationship? 

The United States has two major political parties: Democratic and Republican. Ask an American voter which one she or he sides with, and the most likely answer is: “neither.” Recent polls say at least 4 in 10 Americans identify as politically independent, even if they tend to “lean” Republican or Democratic on the issues. Only 3 in 10 identify as Democrats and the other 3 in 10 identify as Republicans. The Gallup polling organization calls this a “near historical low” for both major parties. In 2016, Tom Campbell, a five-term former Republican congressman, made the difficult decision to leave the party and become an Independent. The move was bold and inspiring, and it sparked a growing interest among voters in California who are dissatisfied with partisan politics.  His willingness to leave partisan politics behind shows how people can make a difference even when they no longer hold public office, their experiences, and expertise to inform public policy decisions.  Tom joined in a call to discuss his experiences and the five key issues affecting the Country today. Fairness in the media The Twitter Files The war between Ukraine and Russia The southern border of the United States The growing dissatisfaction with the two-party system Tom Campbell teaches Law at Chapman University and is the Chair of Common Sense California (CACommonSense.org), an organization focused on creating an independent party in California. See: https://CAcommonsense.org

One much-overlooked area in intimate personal relationships is the destructive nature of narcissistic and controlling personalities. We see narcissistic, controlling behavior in politics, business, the media, and entertainment. According to articles in  Medical News Today, a controlling personality is a red flag in any relationship, especially in family relationships. Spouses or intimate partners are often subjected to this behavior in private, in the form of covert abuse and coercion.  Covert abuse covers all types of cruelty, manipulation, and harm inflicted on another person, whether or not that harm leaves physical scars.  So the question is:  Why are we, as a society, not talking about this, not educating women about the behavior patterns that are predictors of violence in a relationship? My guest is Ruth Darlene, Founder and CEO of Women of Silicon Valley, a non-profit company dedicated to helping women break out of a relationship dominated by abuse and coercive control.   

California is leading the movement to reclassify felony crimes as misdemeanors.  Proposition 47 reclassified a wide range of theft and drug possession crimes from felonies to misdemeanors.   Proposition 47 did not spell out specific details on extenuating circumstances for prosecuting these crimes as misdemeanors. The legal system began to create definitions and sentencing guidelines for these reclassified misdemeanors. But many district attorneys simply made the decision not prosecute these misdemeanors.     Law enforcement was also criticized in responding to violent and non violent criminal behavior.  Local and state politicians supported movements to “defund the police”.  Retirement and resignations among law enforcement dramatically increased.    But the rise in property crime, violent theft, fraud and drug activity has been dramatic and has taken a serious toll on our sense of public safety.  So the question is, are we collectively ready to address the level of crime taking place in our communities today, and if so, what are the priorities and rebuilding our relationship with law enforcement. My guest is Angela Averiett, who is a new chief of police in los Altos, California in the heart of Silicon Valley. Angela.  Chief Averiett speaks about the key issues in addressing crime and the relationship of law enforcement with the community.

As of July 2022, drought conditions were most severe in the States of California, Texas, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico. In California. In California, 30% of the State’s annual water supply comes from the snowpack in the Sierra Mountains. As of April 2022, the California Department of Water Resources measured the snowpack at only 38% of the long-term average.   Gary Kremen and Newsha Ajami provide a thoughtful and insightful perspective on the depth of the problem.  We discuss the threats to the economy, the options from conservation, recycling, and desalinization, along with the potential to use technology to provide a reliable supply of water. 

Bad laws did not start out as "bad."   These laws started with reasonable assumptions, purpose, and intent. However, some laws end up creating severe and harmful adverse outcomes upon implementation. Our conversation with Ted Stroll focuses on the harm being created when the legislature does not respond to the unintended consequences.  

The CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics has reported an estimated 107,622 deaths from drug overdoses in the United States during 2021. In addition, several states have recorded unusually high drug overdoses among young people, such as West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.  As a country, we have not been able to slow the smuggling or address the growing use of Fentanyl.   This interview with W. C. Ballinger, author of Descending Eagle, discusses his book about the Mexican drug cartels, fentanyl, and the CIA’s plan to bring down the cartels.  W. C. Provided insights on the Nacro drug trade based on his 20 years of experience in law enforcement tracking down and arresting violent fugitives.  

There is evidence of discontent among the voters in CA.  It comes from the growing disappointment with specific laws, regulations and policies passed by the California State legislature in recent years. The problem can be described as the Law of Unintended Consequences. Several Laws passed by the California legislature, created conditions that were not part of the sponsors’ original intent.   Most reasonable people can accept that logic. Every government administration has had this experience.  But in California, we have a unique predicament.  The super majority legislature who passed these laws, appears unwilling or unable to take action to correct the laws causing the unintended consequences.  The rise in crime is just one specific, undeniable area.  Join me the conversation with Liz Lawler, an CA Assembly District 28 candidate who has a common sense approach to addressing these consequences.  

We are in the midst of a perfect wildfire storm.  Warm temperatures, an ongoing drought, reduced snowpack, and reduced rainfall are contributing to a tinderbox potential for wildfires for this summer of 2022.  In 2021, California recorded 8,835 wildfires burning 2.5 million acres. The last seven years have seen a geometric increase in the frequency and destruction caused by wildfires. On November 8, 2018, the most deadly wildfire in California’s recorded history started in the area of Paradise, California.  The town had a population of 27,000 and was virtually wiped off the face of the earth in 8 hours. Recent developments using AI to detect early wildfires along with a coordinated State and local government fire prevention agency is starting to turn the tide.

First-generation candidate Jon Elist for the U.S. Senate sits down in a Zoom call to discuss the top five issues in his bid to be the new Congressional Senator representing California.  Topics include inflation, immigration, homelessness, national security, and why he is willing to move from being the CEO of a healthcare company to a six-year term as a U.S. Senator.  

California will hold its primary election on June 7, 2022.  Effective January 1, 2011, California changed the way primary elections operate, with a law titled, The Top Two Candidates Open Primary Act. Most of the offices that were previously known as "partisan" are now known as "voter-nominated" offices.  All candidates for voter-nominated offices are listed on one ballot and only the top two vote-getters in the primary election – regardless of party preference - move on to the general election. But this election has a unique twist.  Based on the loss of population in California from the 2020 census, California has one less congressional representative.  The redistricting process also redrew most of the boundaries of the Congressional Districts and in some situations, entirely new districts were created, We sat down with a candidate for the Congressional Seat.  Peter Ohtaki is a bay area native who is running to represent the 16th Congressional District in California, an area that includes a large part of Silicon Valley. Peter identified the top six priorities for this district and provided specific policies on how to address and resolve the issues plaguing California as well as many states. The six priorities addressed in this interview are: Crime Inflation National Security State-wide Zoning Laws, specifically AB9 Infrastructure Responsible Fiscal Management ( see the tab "Interest on National Debt")

We admire the person who overcomes adversity to succeed in a chosen profession or line of work. Perseverance, tenacity, and passion create the drive to expand the horizons of the “possible”.  This is the story about an individual who transformed his early life struggles into a desire to improve the opportunities in marginalized communities. Our conversation in this podcast is an eye-opener about the challenges of growing up in a marginalized community. Hard work led to a scholarship to attend UCLA, followed by law school. But that was just the start as Ajwang decided to address the inequities of his early years by seeking elected office. Recognizing the leverage of our legal system, he has decided to run for the congressional representative for California's 16th Congressional District in the heart the Silicon Valley.

Revenue-based financing is gaining traction as an alternative to the traditional startup debt and equity structures. This structure, referred to as revenue-based financing, represents a third rail for entrepreneurs to obtain working capital and for investors to reduce the risk of loss in their investment.  

There is good news for startup companies.  Corporate acquirers are looking for niche products and technologies to fill a gap in their product line or simply grow through acquisition.  There are more opportunities than ever before to be viewed as an attractive company for acquisition.   But getting noticed by potential acquires requires research, a thorough internal review of valuation points, engagement, and negotiating skills.  This podcast is the first of a two-part conversation with an advisor to sellers and a corporate buyer.  Part 1 discusses how to position your startup as qualified for potential acquisition and how to identify the assets critical to getting a high valuation.  We review the perspectives of the buyer and the sellers.  The buyer in this conversation reviews his playbook for an acquisition, including the qualifying metrics and the multiple points in arriving at a valuation.

The buyer has qualified your startup as a potential candidate for acquisition and now the real work begins, defining how the assets of your startup will fit the needs of the acquiring company.   My guests,  Garry Guseinov and Mark Addison, provide insights into situations that resulted in successful outcomes for all parties or encountered setbacks and ofter failed to close.  The final part of this conversation involved a discussion of the value and role of investment bankers.

Speaking with a tech entrepreneur in eastern Slovakia, just 100 miles from the Ukrainian border, we get insights into the original Declaration of Ukrainian Independence, the gradual move toward the West, statements about joining NATO and joining the European community. Adding fuel to the conflict, the eastern provinces of Ukraine are Russian-speaking and appear to have cultural ties to Russia. But now Russia has undertaken a devastating invasion, caused over 3 million refugees, and seems committed to destroying the country.  My guest has relationships with Russia and Ukraine and has observed the growing conflict, the human suffering, and the loss of life. Join us in this podcast that concludes with a suggested “End Game” for Russia, the question of who will rebuild the country, and will Ukraine be able to recall its most capable and talented citizens from exile in European countries.

Never before have we had close-up access to personal stories, photographs, and videos showing the violence and destruction of war.  But I did sense that part of the story was being overlooked.  Ukraine has been transformed from the country it was 30 years ago when it gained independence from the Soviet Union.  The country has built an impressive technology sector providing application development services and products which contribute to the employment opportunities for its citizens.   So the question is:  What is the perspective from the younger generation in Ukraine about the Russian invasion. This generation is connected to the global community via the internet, educated, and well informed. Many have not have lived under the rule of Russia. Information for Donations to Ukrainian Families: https://1Kproject.org  

Today, the average life expectancy in the U.S. is 78 years.  It’s a remarkable achievement in light of the fact that the average life expectancy during the 18th and 19th centuries was less than 50 years old.  Innovations in medical treatment, food production, and hygiene standards have all played a key role. However, the celebration of a longer average life span has been met with a sobering reality about the quality of those later years.   There is a general acceptance that most of us will experience memory loss as a natural part of the aging process. Memory loss seems to start around the age of 55 years old, and it’s a subtle condition that most of us will barely notice.  Memory Loss can be the precursor to various forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s Disease.  Currently, there is no effective medical treatment for memory loss. But there is a body of published research about how certain lifestyle choices will promote general good health and restrict memory loss.  Today’s discussion is about the causes of memory loss and what you can do to prevent the onset or slow its progression.

Professional sports face a number of common challenges starting with developing a winning team as well as maintaining brand value within the community and with ticket buyers. While Loyalty, community support, and financial viability are easier with a winning team, in today's connected world, every venue is vying for the attention of the consumer. On a completely separate path, the Smart City movement has defined its mission as bringing the benefits of the digital revolution to city services.  Local and regional governments have picked up this trend and are incorporating the latest digital technologies into their infrastructure projects. There is a confluence where these two forces are becoming partners to improve the deliver a compelling engagement for those attending the sports or entertainment event.  The Irish economic planners have identified the Smart City movement as a space where they can be a leading user and provider of technology solutions. Today I have three guests representing both the government and the private sector who will discuss the strategy to create and deploy technology for the Smart Stadium. My guests are David Brody, Vice President, IDA Ireland, Professor Noel O’Connor, CEO at the Centre for Data Analytics, Dublin City University, and Pat Dempsey, Strategic Projects Director at the Centre for Data Analytics. This podcast addresses the following topics: The current state of technology research and development taking place in Ireland today. The Smart Stadium project as part of the Smart City movement. What defines a Smart Stadium? What technologies are utilized in a Smart Stadium? What type of government-corporate partnerships participate in a Smart Stadium project? How do the data scientists participate in the Smart Stadium?