Geeks Of The Valley

In this episode, we welcome John Sleeting, Executive Partner at Clearwater Capital Partners and host of the podcast Entrepreneurial Legacies. We dive deep into the challenges and opportunities unique to entrepreneurial families, exploring topics such as pre-liquidity event planning, intergenerational wealth transfer, and the role of family offices in navigating global markets. John Sleeting is an Executive Partner at Clearwater Capital Partners (CCP) and Managing Partner of Clearwater Capital's Family Office Practice. With over thirty years of finance and capital markets experience, John is uniquely positioned to serve a select group of successful ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families in the development and integration of estate and financial planning strategies, investment portfolio management, estate and wealth transfer strategies, strategic philanthropy and administration, cash-flow planning, risk management insurance solution structuring, as well as family governance and education.    John strives to serve as a client’s “Family Chief Financial Officer” to facilitate inter-generational wealth management strategy creation and implementation. John received his Certificate in Financial Management for the Family Office (CFMFO) through Pepperdine University, was a Charter Member of the Family Office Club, and is Clearwater Capital's Leader within the nationally recognized Family Office organization the Family Wealth Alliance (FWA).   John holds a B.S. in Management with Honors from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and an MBA in Finance from the University of Maryland. His professional development includes programs at Yale University and GE’s Executive Management and Advanced Financial Management courses.  John serves as Chairman of a Family Holding Company Board, Director for two Private Grant-making Family Foundations, a Private Operating Foundation, Clearwater Capital Partners Board of Directors, and the Clearwater Capital Foundation.   Clearwater Capital Partners is an independent wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients across the U.S. With a focus on professionalism and sophisticated advice, the firm is dedicated to helping clients navigate the complexities of financial decisions in an ever-changing world.   Learn more about John W. Sleeting here  Connect with John W. Sleeting on LinkedIn  Learn more about Clearwater Capital Partners here  This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be regarded as personalized investment advice or relied upon for investment decisions and is not intended to provide legal or tax advice. John Sleeting is an employee of Clearwater Capital Partners. All opinions expressed by participants are solely their own opinion and do not reflect the opinion of Clearwater Capital Partners. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geeksofthevalley/support

Ever wondered how small indie studios become global game changers? Jason Della Rocca—game industry entrepreneur, funding advisor, and co-founder of Execution Labs—shares his extensive experience in transforming the game industry. He provides unique insights into pitching, funding, and ecosystem development, offering a glimpse into what it takes to thrive in the competitive game industry. Jason Della Rocca is a game industry entrepreneur, funding advisor, and cluster expert. He specializes in business/partnership development, pitching/funding, and ecosystem/cluster development. As the co-founder of Executions Labs, he was a hands-on early-stage investor to over 20 independent game studios from North America and Europe. Between 2000-09 he served as the executive director of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), and was honored for his industry-building efforts with the inaugural Ambassador Award at the Game Developers Conference. In 2009, Jason was named to Game Developer Magazine’s “Power50,” a list which profiles 50 of the most important contributors to the state of the game industry. As a sought-after expert on the game industry, Jason has lectured at conferences and universities worldwide. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasondellarocca/ Website: https://www.executionlabs.com/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geeksofthevalley/support

Osvaldo Giménez serves as the President of Fintech at Mercado Libre, and is also the CEO of Mercado Pago, its financial services division. Osvaldo shares his journey, the challenges of building fintech solutions for diverse markets, and the strategies that have made MercadoLibre Latin America's largest e-commerce powerhouse, Mercado Pago is Mercado Libre’s financial services unit accounting for over 50M active users and over $50B in transaction volume, where he oversees the business strategy, including product development and promotion. Mr. Giménez joined Mercado Pago in 2004 and became President in 2020. Osvaldo was previously Country Manager for Mercado Libre in Argentina and was responsible for launching the digital trading platform in Chile, Uruguay and Peru following the firm’s IPO. Before joining Mercado Libre, Giménez was an associate consultant at Booz Allen and Hamilton and worked in the fixed income department at Santander in New York. Giménez graduated with a degree in industrial engineering from ITBA (Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires) and holds an M.B.A. from Stanford University. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/osvaldogimenez/Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mercadolibre --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geeksofthevalley/support

In this episode, we sit down with Russell Palmer, CEO & Co-Founder of CyberFilm AI and the co-creator of the first and leading Generative AI app for screenwriters and filmmakers called SAGA (⁠WriteOnSaga.com⁠). We explore how Generative AI is transforming the world of filmmaking. Russell shares his journey from his engineering and product management roots at Microsoft and JPMorgan to co-creating the first AI app tailored for screenwriters and filmmakers. He has a background in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, and has worked for the last 15 years as a Product Manager at companies like Microsoft, Samsung’s AI Lab “Viv Labs”, and JPMorgan’s Palo Alto AI Lab. He founded the company with his brother Andrew, an accomplished Hollywood filmmaker and indie writer / screenwriter / actor / director / producer, who has worked on shows including “Suits” and “The Boys” out of Toronto where he also runs an award-winning Production Company “Synapz Productions”.  Russell and Andrew have been building SAGA since 2021 to democratize Hollywood film production, enabling people to make more of their best work faster, and break in to Hollywood career with a portfolio of films they can create on indie budgets with small teams that look like Hollywood productions --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geeksofthevalley/support

Rick is the CEO of Illumination International, a family office based between the US and Asia. He is a seasoned investor specializing in distressed consumer assets, with an impressive track record of managing a diversified portfolio of over six businesses. His expertise extends into the real estate sector, where he has successfully developed and constructed multi-family residential complexes in the Midwest. Rick is also recognized for his strategic procurement abilities and commodity specialization, further enhanced by his high-level political connections. Rick graduated from Purdue University, where he studied Business Administration and Management. He furthered his education by earning a master's degree in Entrepreneurship from the University of Southampton Business School. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iyang-li-3b54a9a0/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geeksofthevalley/support

Craig S. Smith, born on October 13, 1955, in Spokane, Washington, is an American journalist and former executive at The New York Times. Until January 2000, he wrote for The Wall Street Journal, notably covering the rise of the Falun Gong movement in China. In 2000, he joined The New York Times as the Shanghai bureau chief, reporting extensively on the practice of harvesting organs from executed prisoners in China. In 2002, Smith moved to Paris and reported from over forty countries, including Iraq, Israel, and Kyrgyzstan. He covered significant conflicts such as the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, the 2003 Iraq War, and the 2006 Israeli-Lebanese War, as well as the 2005 unrest in the French banlieues. In 2008, he became the executive editor of a financial news venture by Hong Kong billionaire Richard Li Tzar Kai and later served as senior vice president of Li's Pacific Century Group. Smith returned to The New York Times in late 2011 as China managing director, where he founded and ran their first foreign language site, cn.nytimes.com. In late 2016, he came back to the U.S. as a writer at large for the Times, focusing on Canadian stories, before retiring in 2018. He now writes about artificial intelligence for the Times and other publications. Additionally, he served as a special government employee for the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence and hosts the podcast "Eye on AI," which is ranked number 2 among AI-related podcasts by Feedspot. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-s-smith-58680010/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geeksofthevalley/support

Dr. Seth Dobrin is the founder and CEO of Qantm AI, a leader in artificial intelligence (AI) with over two decades of experience driving innovation in the tech space. Formerly IBM’s inaugural Global Chief AI Officer, Dr. Dobrin has made significant contributions in developing human-centered AI strategies that drive business modernization and data-driven insights. His work has been recognized globally, earning accolades such as AIConics Innovator of the Year and a spot among the Top 10 Most Influential Chief AI Officers in 2023. Dr. Dobrin’s multidisciplinary background, including a Doctorate in Molecular and Cellular Biology, allows him to integrate AI, data, and business transformation seamlessly. A vocal advocate for responsible and inclusive AI, Dr. Dobrin continues to be a thought leader at major technology conferences, and his work has been featured in outlets like BBC, Forbes, and NPR. Tune in to learn how AI is reshaping industries and what the future holds for this groundbreaking technology. Website: https://qantm.consulting/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sdobrin/Substack: https://siliconsandstudio.substack.com/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geeksofthevalley/support

Eric Davich is the Founder and CEO of Jammy, a mental health coaching app with music committed to enhancing the emotional well-being of young adults. Prior to Jammy, he co-founded Songza, later acquired by Google, and was an early team member of Amie Street, acquired by Amazon. During his 8.5 years at Google, he led various partnership marketing functions for Android, YouTube Subscriptions, and Google Play. His depth in music, mindfulness, and mental health comes from a lifelong practice in emotional regulation through music, meditation, studying mindfulness, and facilitating Google's 'Fundamentals of Mindfulness' course. Recognized in Forbes '30 Under 30,' Davich's blend of technological expertise, entertainment experience, and mindfulness knowledge uniquely equip him to drive innovations in mental health technology. Website: http://jammy.chatLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericdavich/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geeksofthevalley/support

John Patrick Mullin is a Hong Kong-based entrepreneur and builder, specializing in DeFi, blockchain technology, digital assets, and Web3. He is the CEO and co-founder of MANTRA and SOMA.finance, with over 10 years of experience in crypto and digital asset investment. John's journey began with Bitcoin in 2013 while studying International Business at SLU-Madrid. He later earned dual Master's Degrees in Management and Economics, working as a senior research analyst at a prominent Chinese State-Owned bank. Inspired by his passion for FinTech, John left his banking job to co-found a crypto exchange project in Hong Kong. Although it was ahead of its time, this endeavor solidified his desire to be an entrepreneur. He went on to establish MANTRA, a Layer 1 blockchain for RWA tokenization, and SOMA.finance, a US-regulated decentralized finance application. John has raised substantial funding for these ventures and has spoken at leading universities worldwide. He enjoys sports, travel, and connecting with motivated individuals. John is happily married and shares his life with two furry companions. Follow him on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/jp_mullin888. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-patrick-mullin/Twitter: https://x.com/jp_mullin888 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geeksofthevalley/support

Nitin Mahajan, a visionary in the tech industry, is actively transforming the tech universe one company at a time while currently building 88 Ventures to achieve unprecedented success. Recognizing the transformative power of AI, Nitin is passionate about ensuring its widespread adoption in a way that positively impacts lives and maximizes its reach to the masses. 88 Ventures serves as the culmination of Nitin's unwavering dedication, extensive knowledge, and far-reaching vision. Through this venture, he envisions unlocking new opportunities and fostering meaningful connections in the professional world by embracing the potential of technology. In addition to his role at 88 Ventures, Nitin has also embraced the role of an Angel Investor, supporting individuals with grand ambitions and empowering them to bring their unique visions to life. His mission is to uplift those whose aspirations may go unnoticed by others. If you share Nitin's values and are driven to build profitable bootstrap businesses while making a positive impact, he is here to guide you on your journey. Reach out to Nitin, and rest assured that you will connect with someone who understands your vision and is committed to helping you succeed. Just drop him a text, and a world of possibilities awaits! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitinmahajan2/Website: https://88ventures.org/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geeksofthevalley/support

Eddy Chan is a founding partner of Intudo Ventures, an independent venture capital firm exclusively focused on investing in Indonesia. With approximately US$300 million in committed capital, Intudo Ventures serves as the "Indonesia-beachhead" strategy provider for top-tier institutions, Forbes Midas List investors, family offices worldwide, and a network of over 35 hyperlocal Indonesian conglomerates and families. Eddy's extensive background includes venture investments in startups like PayPal and Palantir, founding and operating venture-backed technology companies, practicing corporate law, and working as an investment banker. He holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and a B.S. in Business Administration from UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business. Intudo Ventures stands out as the largest early-stage investment team in Indonesia, supporting companies like Xendit, Pintu, Pinhome, and more. Eddy has been a featured speaker at prominent events, including SuperReturn Asia and Harvard Asia Business Conference, and actively engages with Indonesian talent through professional and student associations. With his expertise and connections, Eddy Chan plays a pivotal role in shaping Indonesia's venture capital landscape and driving Intudo Ventures' success in the market. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddychan/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geeksofthevalley/support

Brendan Rogers is the Co-Founder of 2am [VC], an early-stage India Fund. Previously, he co-founded Wag! (NASDAQ) PET, the largest pet platform in the US. Brendan is a respected advisor and mentor to numerous companies, accelerators, and universities globally. He is a sought-after speaker at major startup conferences worldwide and has appeared on top podcasts in the industry, gaining millions of views. Prior to Wag!, Brendan co-founded a social discovery service with 50 million users across 10 countries, which was acquired by IAC in 2014. His entrepreneurial journey reflects his dedication, innovation, and influence in the startup ecosystem. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanprogers/Website: https://www.2amvc.com/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geeksofthevalley/support

Joby Bernstein and is running for Congress (CA-16) because it’s time for fresh leadership in Silicon Valley. He is deeply committed to addressing the pressing issues his district faces, from climate change to education and immigration. Palo Alto is his home. Joby is an avid nature seeker, and spends his free time biking on Skyline and trail running in Wunderlich Park. But you don’t have to look far beyond his doorstep today to realize that our planet is in trouble. To effectively turn the tides on climate change, we’ll need to invest in protecting the environment, cultivate the best minds with accessible higher education, and retain the best talent through immigration reform. Joby wants to bring fresh energy and innovative solutions to these challenges and help his community and nation thrive today and into the future. With a background in business, policy, and sustainability, he brings unique perspectives - backed by research and analytics - on how we can revitalize our country for generations to come. Website: https://www.jobyforcongress.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joby-bernstein/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geeksofthevalley/support

Matthew King is an Entrepreneurial Investor passionate about venture investing & building, deeptech, sustainability, mental health, wellness, automotive, luxury goods, and hospitality.Currently Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Valhalla Ventures, a venture capital firm backing visionary founders at the forefront of social and technological breakthroughs.Inveterate connector of extraordinary human beings who frequently colors outside the lines and thrives on helping founders accomplish legendary outcomes while helping investors produce stellar returns & impact.Valhalla Ventures backs visionaries building enduring moats.Today, the most enduring moats exist in physical technology (think industrials, space, chips, biology, defense, energy, etc) and media IP (think games).Valhalla manages $200M+ in assets with $150M in committed capital across all vehicles to date. Our primary focus currently is deploying $35M in dry powder in Seed and Series A financings (and in between), investing $1M to $3M per company with a 5% minimum ownership target. Valhalla's Limited Partner community includes:1) C-suites/Managing Partners (current and former) of: Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America, Citadel, Bridgewater Associates, Oaktree Capital, Apollo Global, Point72, PayPal, Alibaba, Hillhouse Capital, NBC Universal, General Motors, Swiss Re, Discover, PizzaHut, DoorDash, DocuSign, Sandoz, Gusto, Guinness, Bitmain, Thomson Reuters, Yahoo, Zynga, the Dallas Cowboys, BlockTower Capital, and TopGolf; and2) Board Members (current and former) of: BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, MasterCard, MIO Partners, Fortress, BNY Mellon, RBC, Altria, ARM Semiconductor, SoFi, Warburg Pincus, Kraft, SABMiller, Cognizant, Western Union, Raine Group, Harvard Business School, Harvard Law School, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Stanford's Graduate School of Business, Wharton, and Johns Hopkins University.Outside of work what energizes me is travel (40+ countries visited or lived in), electronic music, nature, and Burning Man (12x). --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geeksofthevalley/support

Josh Chapman is a co-founder and Managing Partner at Konvoy, a venture capital firm that invests in early stage companies in the video gaming industry. Their firm focuses on companies building technology, infrastructure, and platforms in the gaming industry. Prior to founding Konvoy, Josh worked at Blackrock and Morgan Stanley in New York City.  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshchapmanb/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geeksofthevalley/support

Ken joined GB in 2021. As General Partner, he oversees the entire fund activities including strategy development, investment in Japanese and overseas startups, post-investment support, support for collaboration with corporations, fundraising, and forming/operating CVC funds. He is an expert in growth strategy and digital transformation based on his 17-year experience of strategic consulting. He also focuses on overseas fund deployment and investment. Ken joined GB after working at NTT Group and McKinsey & Company. Ken was engaged in more than 270 projects with 1,500 consultants across 10 regions worldwide at McKinsey & Company. From 2011, Ken was the leader of technology, media & telecommunications group (TMT) at McKinsey Japan office. Ken has been passionate about driving technology-enabled business transformation that significantly increases competitive advantage of global TMT companies in Japan and overseas. Projects included company-wide transformation, growth strategy development, M&A/PMI, business portfolio restructuring, acceleration of new businesses/business growth, and establishment of global business. Prior to McKinsey, Ken joined NTT's R&D center as a software engineer / researcher, and later on became founding member of launching NTT Group's US office to start overseas operations. Ken has lived and worked in 3 continents including Europe (Switzerland), US (NY, MA, and CA) and Japan (Tokyo, Hokkaido, and Yamaguchi). He enjoys playing soccer/tennis and running. Along with traveling, he has relocated more than 30 times so far. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenkajii/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geeksofthevalley/support

Virginie Hello is an accomplished professional currently serving as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Rainmaking APAC, a globally recognized venture builder established in Denmark over 15 years ago. Rainmaking APAC has achieved remarkable success, boasting a diverse portfolio of more than 55 ventures, investments in nearly 1,000 startups, and strategic partnerships with over 100 leading corporations worldwide. While the task of building corporate ventures may appear daunting, Rainmaking APAC has thrived due to two key differentiators that set it apart from others in the industry. Firstly, their unique risk-sharing model enables them to invest capital alongside corporate partners, aligning incentives and fostering collaborative growth. Secondly, the organization's teams consist of accomplished founders and investors who bring an authentic entrepreneurial approach to their work. In her current role, Virginie Hello is dedicated to ensuring that each venture is led by exceptional talent and that the ideas and outcomes delivered not only meet but exceed expectations. Her focus lies in creating value for both corporate partners and the customers who benefit from the ventures. With a united team, Virginie strives to cultivate an environment where shared values of Entrepreneurship, Impact, and Kindness serve as the guiding principles in building exceptional ventures. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/virginie-hello/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geeksofthevalley/support

Raj comes with a deep background across payments, tech and Web3 in a multitude of roles - operator, investor and consultant. Raj's Past Experience: Ex CEO, OYO Vacation Homes, a top 3 specialist vacation rental business (fully owned sub of OYO).Ex Global Head of Investments and M&A for PayU, a Prosus Company (Prosus is a leading listed global technology investment company). Made investments globally across fintech companies including in Payments, Credit, Remittances and Crypto / Blockchain.Ex McKinsey Partner serving banks, insurance companies, payments players and asset managers across the Asia Pacific. Leader of McKinsey’s Payments practice across the Asia Pacific. Raj's Social Media LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raj-kamal-488a908/Twitter: https://twitter.com/OneRajkamal --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geeksofthevalley/support

Burak Büyükdemir is a well-known investor, startup ecosystem builder, author, and founder. He is the founder of Etohum, a leading accelerator and seed investor organization in Turkey, as well as the founder of Startup Istanbul and Startup Turkey. Through these programs, he has supported and invested in over 100 startups, providing training, mentorship, and seed investment to help them grow and develop. He is known for his work supporting the global startup ecosystem and has a strong global network of contacts in the startup world. In addition to his work with startups, Burak has also written a book about the founding stories of internet startups in Turkey and has served as a part-time lecturer at Istanbul Technical University and Bahcesehir University. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/burakbuyukdemir/Pitch Burak: https://airtable.com/shr8X5VdR7JTJ7X3q --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geeksofthevalley/support

Ryo Umezawa is a Partner leading Antler’s expansion into Japan. Prior to Antler, Ryo was a Principal at East Ventures, Japan, an early stage venture capital firm. As a serial entrepreneur, Ryo founded two companies, including AllCoupon Japan (acquired), and was Japan’s country manager for companies such as Tinder, Homeaway (Expedia Group) and Hailo. Ryo spent 10 years in the Philippines prior to studying International Business and Economics at Sophia University in Tokyo. Ryo has been selected as a Leader of Tomorrow at the 40th + 44th St. Gallen Symposium, as well as one of the first members of World Economic Forum, Global Shapers Community (GSC) in its Tokyo hub. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryoumezawa/ ロング： 10年間のフィリピン滞在を経て、2007年上智大学・比較文化学部卒業。在学中の2005年からインターンとしてジェイ・シードに参画し、複数の投資先企業で事業立ち上げやマーケティング業務に携わる。2008年から株式会社トラフィックゲート（現リンクシェア・ジャパン株式会社）にてiPhoneのアドネットワーク事業やアプリプロデュースを経験したあと起業。その後スタートアップや上場企業の顧問や株主として累計30社＋に携わり、グローバルスタートアップタクシー配車アプリの日本法人HAILO株式会社の代表取締役社長、バケーションレンタル事業を展開しているNASDAQ上場企業HomeAwayの日本支社長、ソーシャルマッチングアプリ最大手のTinder日本支社長、East Ventures株式会社にてPrincipalを務め、現在はグローバル投資ファンドAntlerのパートナー・Antler株式会社の代表取締役、クリエイターニンジャ株式会社の代表取締役社長、株式会社nommocの取締役。 ライフワークとしては2010年及び2014年にSt. Gallen SymposiumにLeaders of Tomorrowに選出、続く2011年には世界経済フォーラム（World Economic Forum：通称ダボス会議）グローバルシェイパーズコミュニティ（Global Shapers Community）日本の若手リーダーに選出され活動。 ショート： 10年間のフィリピン滞在を経て、2007年上智大学・比較文化学部卒業。在学中の2005年からインターンとしてジェイ・シードで事業立ち上げやマーケティング業務に携わる。2008年から株式会社トラフィックゲート（現リンクシェア・ジャパン株式会社）にてアドネットワーク事業やアプリプロデュースを経験後に起業。タクシー配車アプリの日本法人HAILO株式会社代表取締役社長、バケーションレンタル事業HomeAway日本支社長、マッチングアプリTinder日本支社長、投資ファンドEast VenturesのPrincipalを経て、2022年グローバル投資ファンドAntlerのパートナーに就任。 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geeksofthevalley/support