Venture Ahead 3wc54

In this episode of Venture Ahead, entrepreneur and venture capitalist Ricardo Aizenman shares insights from his career at KPMG and Citibank, his experience founding Ironman Capital, and his work ing Latin American startups. He discusses the role of technology in financial inclusion and reflects on how his MBA from IE Business School shaped his success. The conversation also touches on his social impact work through an NGO focused on disaster relief in Latin America. Episode structure: Intro: 1:17 Initial question: 6:28 Interview: 7:18 Entrepreneur’s inbox: 23:07

In this episode of Venture Ahead, Iñaki Berenguer shares his journey from scientist to serial entrepreneur and venture capitalist, drawing on his experiences founding and scaling multiple tech companies. He reflects on the value of creating innovative products, navigating personal sacrifices, and transitioning from founder to investor. The discussion covers his approach to investment, emphasizing team qualities, market timing, and innovation in rapidly changing fields like AI, life sciences, and healthcare. Iñaki also highlights the transformative potential of AI in democratizing healthcare, improving patient outcomes, and enhancing longevity, offering guidance for aspiring entrepreneurs and investors. Episode structure: Intro: 1:14 Initial question: 3:00 Interview: 4:05 Entrepreneur’s inbox: 27:00

In this episode of Venture Ahead, Catalina Valentino, CEO and co-founder of Elixr, shares her inspiring entrepreneurial journey and vision for sustainable smart cities.   She discusses her rapid academic and professional rise, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and the transformative potential of technologies like blockchain and digital twin planning. The conversation highlights her dedication to creating impactful, human-centric solutions while addressing the realities of the entrepreneurial lifestyle and pivoting to find your path. Episode structure: Intro: 1:08 Initial question: 6:24 Interview: 7:16 Entrepreneur’s inbox: 26:54

In this episode of Venture Ahead by IE University, Alejandro Artacho, CEO and co-founder of Spotahome, shares his journey from identifying inefficiencies in the real estate market to building a groundbreaking digital rental platform. Artacho discusses the early challenges of establishing trust among landlords, the complexities of balancing supply and demand, and the importance of building a versatile, committed team. He offers strategic insights on capital management, advocating for bootstrapping and selective fundraising, and announces Spotahome’s latest service: guaranteed rent for landlords in Europe. Alejandro also reflects on the role of digital innovation in transforming real estate and the entrepreneurial principles guiding Spotahome’s continued expansion. Episode structure: Intro: 1:04 Initial question: 4:49 Interview: 5:44 Entrepreneur’s inbox: 21:53

In this episode of Venture Ahead, Valeria Salgado interviews Mateo Salvatto, the young CEO and founder of Asteroid, a company that creates technology for people with disabilities. Mateo shares his inspiring entrepreneurial journey: from developing software to help his mother’s deaf students, to leading a global company serving over 400,000 s. The conversation covers key topics such as the challenges of bootstrapping a startup in Argentina, navigating cultural and financial barriers in Latin America, expanding into Europe, and the importance of resilience and adaptability in entrepreneurship. Mateo also offers insights into his motivations, driven by the emotional impact of his work and the sense of responsibility to make a difference, quoting Argentine liberator José de San Martín to highlight his commitment. Episode structure: Intro: 1:02 Initial question: 3:56 Interview: 7:12 Entrepreneur’s inbox: 14:01

In this episode of Venture Ahead, Valeria Salgado, a BBA student at IE University, interviews Enrique Linares, mentor, investor, and co-founder of LetGo and Plus Partners, about his entrepreneurial journey. Enrique shares his experiences founding Spain's first unicorn startup, navigating challenges during the 2008 financial crisis, and expanding his ventures across Spain, Brazil and the US. He emphasizes the importance of resilience, teambuilding and learning from experience. Enrique also highlights the need for balancing rapid growth with sustainability, managing work-life balance, and leveraging mentorship to future entrepreneurs. Episode structure: Intro: 1:02 Initial question: 4:34 Interview: 6:04 Entrepreneur’s inbox: 25:52

In this episode of Venture Ahead, Leanne Mair, founder of Benefactum Consulting, shares her journey from asset management to entrepreneurship, focusing on promoting gender and racial equality in the workplace. She discusses the unique challenges faced by women of color, the importance of addressing intersectionality in equity efforts, and how businesses can take actionable steps to foster inclusion. Through listener questions, Leanne offers insights on how organizations can move beyond diversity targets and create sustainable, ive environments for women to succeed. Episode structure: Intro: 01:15 Initial question: 5:56 Interview: 7:18 Entrepreneur’s inbox: 22:42

In this Venture Ahead episode, Michael Baum, founder of Splunk and successful entrepreneur, shares his journey in the tech industry and offers deep insights into startup growth, investment strategies, and the concept of "conscious innovation." He talks about the evolution of Splunk, its acquisition by Cisco, and the importance of data-driven decision-making in business. Michael discusses the challenges faced by young entrepreneurs, emphasizing resilience, co-founder dynamics, and the importance of thinking big. He also explores the ethical and societal impact of technology, highlighting the need for long-term sustainable innovation in areas like AI, electric vehicles, and battery technology. Baum encourages entrepreneurs to focus not only on profitability but also on making a positive impact on the world. Episode structure: Intro: 00:52 Initial question: 4:05 Interview: 4:33 Entrepreneur’s inbox: 23:34

In this episode of Venture Ahead, host Samantha Zorn interviews Daniel Fletcher, CTO and CIO of Primavera Sound. Daniel shares his fascinating journey in the entertainment sector, highlighting the critical lessons he’s learned about entrepreneurship through both successes and failures, including the sale of his tech company. He emphasizes the importance of failure as a stepping stone in the entrepreneurial process and discusses his daily motivations rooted in creativity, networking, and continuous learning. The conversation also explores Daniel’s transition into the music industry, his ion for music production, and the role of digital transformation in adapting business models. They delve into the post-pandemic resurgence of live performances, the unique experiences they offer, and the challenges of replicating these digitally. The episode concludes with a discussion on the significance of partnerships, innovation, and financial understanding in fostering successful collaborations within the music industry. Episode structure: Intro: 1:29 Initial question: 3:33 Interview: 3:58 Entrepreneur’s inbox: 25:49

In this episode of Venture Ahead, host Valeria Salgado interviews Ida Tin, co-founder of Clue, a pioneering femtech app reshaping women's health.   They discuss the entrepreneurial journey behind Clue's evolution from a menstrual tracker to a comprehensive health platform, the challenges of fundraising in a male-dominated landscape, and the importance of diverse teams. The conversation also highlights the cultural shift towards open discussions about women's health issues and the need for -centric approaches in health technology.   Tune in for an inspiring look at the future of femtech and female empowerment. Episode structure: Intro: 01:00 Initial question: 2:31 Interview 4:00 Entrepreneur’s inbox 17:42

In this episode of Venture Ahead, host Valeria Salgado talks with Videesha Boeckle, junior partner at Altitude VC, about her journey in venture capital.   They discuss her motivations, influenced by her father's entrepreneurial spirit, and insights from her work managing B2B investments at Signals VC. Boeckle highlights the most important aspects for startups in their early stages. The conversation also touches on work-life balance, conflict resolution, and diversity in the industry.   They explore emerging sectors like energy and manufacturing, and the role of technology and generative AI in investment strategies.   The episode wraps up with advice for aspiring women in venture capital, emphasizing mentorship and the importance of voicing their perspectives. Episode structure: Intro: 1:02 Initial question: 2:18 Interview 2:56 Entrepreneur’s inbox 23:04

In this episode of Venture Ahead, host Valeria Salgado engages with Nico de Luis, the co-founder and CEO of Shakers, a cutting-edge marketplace platform that connects tech talent with exciting projects. The conversation explores Nico’s diverse journey from banking and consulting to entrepreneurship, emphasizing the transformation of work culture towards flexible, project-based collaborations. Nico shares insights on how Shakers leverages artificial intelligence to match skilled freelancers with meaningful opportunities, focusing on aligning freelancers' motivations and values with project needs. The discussion also delves into the essential qualities for entrepreneurial success, highlighting the dynamics of co-founder relationships and the importance of complementary skill sets in navigating challenges. us for a deep dive into the future of work and valuable lessons for those trying to start their entrepreneurial journey.

In this first episode of Venture Ahead, hosted by IE University students Samantha Zorn and Valeria Salgado, serial entrepreneur Uri Levine, co-founder of Waze and Moovit, shares some of the entrepreneurial journey and insights that he explains in his book "Fall in Love with the Problem, Not the Solution." Levine stresses the importance of solving real-world problems as the key to startup success, and dives into storytelling as a powerful tool for entrepreneurs to emotionally engage stakeholders. For Levine, disruptive solutions such as those introduced by Waze, Uber and Netflix reshape the market and drive massive behavioral changes. He also explores business models for free services, emphasizing the importance of engagement, crowdsourcing and data monetization. With personal stories of failure and success, Uri offers valuable lessons on how embracing failure can drive growth and innovation. Episode structure: Intro: 1:02 Initial question: 1:18 Interview: 2:09 Entrepreneur’s inbox: 24:15

Meet the hosts for the inaugural season of Venture Ahead: Valeria Salgado, IE University student and president of the IE Entrepreneurship Club, and Samantha Zorn, student in the International MBA.