Shows
The VentureFuel VisionariesIgniting Dairy Innovation – California Milk Advisory Board CEO Bob CarrollNow in its seventh year, the Real California Milk Excelerator has become a powerhouse for commercializing breakthrough dairy innovations. With over 60 startups and 100+ mentors participating to date, the program continues to elevate the dairy category by fueling scalable, consumer-ready products. In this episode, Bob Carroll, CEO of the California Milk Advisory Board, shares what’s new in the program and why dairy is having a major moment. From wellness trends to sustainable innovation, Carroll reveals how legacy industries can stay ahead through bold thinking and fresh partnerships. If you're into food innovation, scaling startups, or future-proofing traditional sectors, you don't wa...2025-07-2328 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesPilots to Portfolios: Comcast's Integrated Corporate Growth Startup StrategyJoin our Founder & CEO, Fred Schonenberg, alongside Laura Plunkett, Vice President, Startup Engagement, Head of Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs, and Marc Silberman, Partner at Comcast Ventures, for a fireside chat entitled From Pilots to Portfolios: Comcast’s Integrated Corporate Growth Startup Strategy recorded earlier this year during the Global Corporate Venturing & Innovation Summit 2025. The discussion delves into how LIFT Labs' strategic pilots with business units seamlessly complement Comcast Ventures' investment strategy in adjacent and emerging markets, with a particular focus on AI technologies. VentureFuel is proud to serve as the operating partner for the new accelerator—focused on identifying and supp...2025-07-0923 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesFuture Cities – CEO of Smart City Expo USA Aarti TandonAarti Tandon, CEO of Smart City Expo USA, is a visionary leader at the crossroads of technology, entertainment, and justice, known for driving innovation that builds smarter, more inclusive, and future-ready cities. With a diverse background as a lawyer, activist, and documentary producer, she brings a unique perspective on how cutting-edge technologies like AI and blockchain can drive global competitiveness and uncover how smart cities can shape a more modern and inclusive future for communities across America. There are some awesome startups, new technologies and stories within this episode across Sports Tech, Agentic AI, Data Sovereignty, Water Sensors. Autonomous Mobility...2025-06-0426 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesHealth Trends and Consumer Preferences in DairyDive into the latest health trends and shifting consumer preferences in the dairy industry with a dynamic panel featuring John Crawford, SVP of Client Insights for the Dairy Category at Circana; Donna Berry, Editor & Consultant at Dairy & Food Communications Inc.; Patrycja Kotowska, Category Strategy Manager at Sprouts Farmers Market; and Fred Schonenberg, Founder & CEO of VentureFuel. Recorded live at the Real California Milk Excelerator’s Future of Dairy Expo in November 2024, this discussion covers everything from lactose-free products to sourcing transparency and the growing demand for
products that align with consumer values.2025-01-2937 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesBalancing Tradition and Innovation in DairyIn this thought-provoking episode, John Talbot, CEO of the California Milk Advisory Board and Fred Schonenberg, Founder & CEO of VentureFuel; sit down with Elizabeth Crawford, Senior Editor at FoodNavigator-USA, to discuss the balance between tradition and innovation in the dairy industry. Recorded at the Real California Milk Excelerator’s Future of Dairy
Expo in November 2024, the conversation highlights how the dairy industry has evolved, with modern innovations coexisting alongside traditional practices to meet the needs of today’s consumers.2025-01-2233 min
Venture Visionaries with Thomas IgemeBrewing Innovation: Bridging Startups and Corporations with Fred Schonenberg, CEO VentureFuelJoin us for a compelling discussion with Fred Schonenberg, founder of VentureFuel, as we explore how his company bridges the gap between startups and corporations to foster innovation. Fred shares insights into navigating the complexities of large organizations, supporting underrepresented founders, and using storytelling to evaluate startups. Learn how VentureFuel has accelerated growth for over 50 organizations and how Fred is shaping the future of innovation.2025-01-2035 minThe VentureFuel Visionaries2024 Unwrapped – VentureFuel CEO Fred SchonenbergReflections on the innovative transformations of 2024 and looking ahead to uncover What's Next for leaders, innovators, and changemakers. VentureFuel VP of Growth, Vanessa Rosado, dives in with CEO and Founder, Fred Schonenberg, on 2024’s top technologies and startups (from Gen AI to Frozen Cottage Cheese), to 2025 predictions of industries to thrive and technologies to flourish. Learn how your organization can seize what’s next, now.2024-12-2528 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesRaising the Bar - All Real Nutrition CEO Niall HartyStarted in a small kitchen in Ireland, Niall Harty wanted to see if he could create nutritious protein bars made from real food ingredients. We explore how Niall and Co-Founder Ross McDowell have grown the company since we first met him as a participant in Bord Bia’s innovation program with VentureFuel. Now in over 2,000 stores across Ireland and the US from Sprouts to Pressed Juices. Beyond their clean labels, nutritional content and fantastic taste they also have created unique compostable packaging as well as funded ocean cleanup initiatives that make a “Real Impact.” We talk about the evolution from Founde...2024-11-1325 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesWhat Needs to Be Done - Stand Together Venture Lab Fellow Paolo NarcisoWhat Needs to Be Done? Is Better Possible? Where do the seeds of change begin, and can entrepreneurs really solve society’s biggest challenges? Paolo Narciso is a Build Fellow at Stand Together Ventures Lab. STVL invests and builds to change society with founders and teams who are obsessed with showing that better is possible. Today, we talk about how he is re-imagining healthcare as well as his book “From Founder to CEO,” a transformative guide for entrepreneurs navigating the crucial transition from founding to leading.2024-09-1831 min
Decoding InnovationWhy startup-corporate collaborations can propel market disruptionIn this episode of Decoding Innovation, Fred Schonenberg, the founder and CEO of VentureFuel, delves into how partnerships between startups and larger companies can drive efficient innovation. Startups bring a unique agility and innovative mindset that can be immensely beneficial for larger organizations facing complex challenges. By forming strategic partnerships, startups can offer fresh perspectives and creative solutions that help established companies navigate rapidly changing markets and technological landscapes. In turn, startups gain valuable industry insights, expand their networks and discover opportunities to scale their solutions. Such collaborations can form a symbiotic relationship that leverages t...2024-08-1241 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesExciting Re-Release: Dive into Collaboration to Grow with PepsiCo & the California Milk Advisory BoardWe are thrilled to announce the re-release of one of our more popular podcast episodes, featuring a captivating conversation on collaboration and growth with industry leaders from PepsiCo and the California Milk Advisory Board. Hosted by Fred Schonenberg, founder and CEO of VentureFuel, this episode delves deep into innovative strategies and real-world examples of successful partnerships.2024-07-2445 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesInteractive Characters & Immersive AI with Inworld AI CEO Kylan GibbsIn this episode, Vanessa Rosato sits down with Kylan Gibbs, CEO and Co-founder of Inworld AI. They delve into the groundbreaking work of Inworld AI, a platform that's transforming gaming and media by making virtual characters more lifelike and interactive. Kylan shares insights on the unique value proposition of Inworld, their innovative approach to AI in gaming, and what the future holds for the company. From the impact of interactive characters on storytelling to the social benefits of immersive AI, this conversation explores the cutting edge of technology and its potential to reshape our digital experiences.2024-07-1022 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesFrom Setback to Success - The Role of Resilience and Strategy in Gotham FC's Rise with Yael Averbuch and Nan VogelOriginally recorded at our 2024 Rogue Women event earlier this spring, Fred Schonenberg, VentureFuel’s Founder and CEO dived into the heart of Gotham FC’s remarkable comeback story with Yael Averbuch West, the General Manager and Head of
Soccer Operations; and Nan Vogel, Senior Vice President of Partnerships and Game Day at Gotham FC.
Hear how a mix of resilience, strategic foresight, and unwavering determination helped them pivot from enduring one of the league's toughest seasons to securing their inaugural NWSL championship.2024-06-0534 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesDriving Resilient Growth through Corporate- Startup Partnerships with Limor Schafman, Lizzie Naylor, Shira Averbuch, and Danielle CohnAt our 2024 Rogue Women event earlier this spring, Danielle Cohn, Founding Partner and CEO of The Wave Ventures, hosted a panel discussion with executives from corporate companies. The panel included Limor Schafman, Director of Operations and Programs at LG NOVA, a division of LG Electronics that collaborates with startups to develop businesses; Lizzie Naylor, Global Platform Manager for Start Path, Mastercard's acclaimed startup engagement program; and our own Shira Averbuch, Vice President of Innovation and Partnerships at VentureFuel.
Find out how these executives are partnering enterprise organizations with startups to drive growth and create new markets, together.2024-05-1539 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesWhat's Next Now: Building an Innovation EcosystemLast week, we had an 'Ask Me Anything' session with Danielle Cohn, CEO and Founding Partner of Wave Ventures, on Building an Innovation Ecosystem for Enterprise Organizations. The discussion centers on Danielle’s leadership in a top Fortune 30 innovation function. Danielle shared insights on founding an award-winning startup platform and emphasized creating innovation spaces in large organizations and nurturing startup engagement.2024-05-0857 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesFrom Underdog to Top Dog with Jamie Norwood & Cynthia Blotch, Isoken Igbinedion, Kathryn Harrison, and Kathleen CarboneOriginally recorded at our 2024 Rogue Women event earlier this spring, Kathleen Carbone, Principal, Director of Advisory, and a Senior Family Advisor at Parcion Private Wealth, led a panel discussion featuring founders from three startup companies.
On the panel were Jamie Norwood & Cynthia Plotch, the dynamic duo behind FemTech startup Stix, Isoken Igbinedion, Founder and CEO of Parfait, an AI-powered startup disrupting the $13 billion custom wig industry, and Kathryn Harrison, Founder and CEO of Magpie, the world's first AI powered inventory and sales management system for collectible sellers.
Hear how these founders went from overlooked during the hype to steady and...2024-04-1039 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesShow Her the Money with La Keisha Landrum PierreOriginally recorded at our 2024 Rogue Women event earlier this spring, La Keisha Landrum Pierre, General Partner & Co-Founder of Emmeline Ventures shares insights from her journey in venture capital, featured in the documentary "Show Her the Money." She talks about how the film is helping to rewrite the narrative on women and fundraising.
Before starting at Emmeline Ventures, La Keisha was the MD at NLA Ventures. Prior to that, she was the CEO at Sahara Reporters and co-Founder of Sahara Reporters’ Civic Media Lab, in partnership with MacArthur Foundation and Omidyar Network and others.2024-04-0319 min
AI UncoveredFred Schonenberg - The Vital Role of GenAI in EnterprisesWe welcome Fred Schonenberg to AI Uncovered. Fred is the founder and CEO of VentureFuel. He has created an innovation framework that bridges the VC, Angel, and Startup ecosystem with enterprises to deliver tangible technology solutions that drive growth. In his role at Venture Fuel, Fred has worked with over 100 companies from General Mills to Netflix.He is a frequent speaker at industry events such as SXSW, Ad Tech, and Advertising Week and is published in broad media publications including Huffington post, Creator Magazine and Ad Week. In this episode Tim and Fred discuss generative...2024-03-0437 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesDiversity & Innovation – Guerrero CEO Pedro Antonio GuerreroOn today’s show, I am honored to have Pedro Antonio Guerrero, CEO of Guerrero - an executive advancement company at the intersection of media, professional networks, and executive search. Pedro specializes in executive advancement and corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives – utilizing Guerrero Search and Guerrero Media to deliver on his mission. We talk about the intersection of diversity and innovation, why diverse perspective drives growth, and how to create pipelines through networks unfamiliar to your own.2024-01-2426 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesDisrupting with Impact – Dispact Ventures Founder Andrew MerinoffOn today’s show we have Andrew Merinoff. Andrew is the founder of Dispact Ventures, which is disrupting industries with impact investing. What started off as a small fund to assist his close friends and confidants eventually grew into a 16-venture portfolio. Andrew is also a seasoned entrepreneur and the Co-founder and CEO of Chinola Liqueur. With a passion for building companies, particularly in the Wine & Spirits space, Andrew has made a mark through innovation. We talk about SPVs, impact investing, the future of wine & spirits and innovating in traditional, established industries.2023-12-2722 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesShell and The Open Exploration of Energy - StudioX CEO Jeff AllynJeff Allyn is the CEO of StudioX, a first-of-its-kind open innovation studio powered by Shell that brings a collaborative approach to reimagine energy exploration and break down the silos of traditional R&D - they call it “open exploration.” We talk about their new model and how it is accelerating the pace of innovation in climate tech and the energy industry's transformation.2023-11-2929 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesData-driven Customer-centricity – Monterey AI Founder & CEO Chun JiangWhat is the future of product development in an increasingly complex and fast-paced world? How can organizations keep up with rising consumer expectations, accelerating timelines for new features and products, while also increasing the amount of personalization and the fit to emerging market needs without skipping a beat? Who will help enterprises better leverage the vast and disparate unstructured data sets that they’re sitting on quickly, accurately & in a simple and intuitive way? Enter Venture to Watch: Monterey AI, a graduate of the Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs Accelerator: Generative AI ’23 & YC S’22. Monterey AI is your Copilot for product insigh...2023-11-1522 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesPushing the Envelope - United Wholesale Mortgage’s Chief Innovation Officer Lee JelenicUWM is the #1 overall mortgage and purchase lender in the nation, where Lee Jelenic leads Client Experience, Innovation, Government Affairs, and Investor Relations. From Professional Hockey to Wall Street, from Ford to UWM, Lee has led tangible growth by embracing innovation. Today, we talk about being Productively Uncomfortable, the value of entering the “Uncomfort Zone,” challenging the why, measuring the success of innovation, and why success can be a headwind to new growth. We also discuss UWM’s CEO Mat Ishbia, his story from benchwarmer to billionaire, and how it inspires UWM to seize the moment.2023-09-1328 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesTech For A Better Life: Wildwood Ventures Principal Kristen GendronWhy do corporations work with startups? What is a venture studio? How can startups build faster by leveraging the studio model? Can consumer technologies make our lives better? Kristen Gendron is the COO and Principal at Wildwood Ventures, a new pre-seed venture studio and connected seed fund at the intersection of the outdoor and wellness economies. Kristen’s career includes building venture funds at VF Corp, Nike, and the US Agency for International Development; investing in and advising startups across ten sectors and twenty countries; and rolling up her sleeves as a co-CEO and fractional cofounder in early-stage businesses. Build wi...2023-08-2326 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesTime To Build – The Venture City’s Founder & CEO Laura González-EstéfaniHow do you scan for future growth? Is now the time to build? Where is VentureCapital heading (based on their Q1 2023 VC Benchmark report) and what does that mean for founders and corporations partnering with startups? We ask Laura who is the Founder & CEO of The Venture City and is also the General Partner of their Fund with over $145M under management. They have invested in over 100 seed to Series A startups across 14 countries. Her team is made up of founders who have been in the trenches and now not only deploy capital but help their startups build by focusing...2023-05-3130 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesAuthentic Entrepreneurship - Kinumi, Co:Create, SourceFounder Stories from three high-growth entrepreneurs whose unique perspectives and experiences help them rethink status quo solutions to some of industry & society's most pressing challenges. Featuring Nicole Schmidt, CEO of Source; Chekesha Kidd, Founder & CEO of Kinumi; and Tara Fung, Co-Founder and CEO of Co:Create. Moderated by Shira Averbuch, VP of Innovation at VentureFuel.2023-05-0333 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesWomen-First Financial Innovation – Ellevest CEO Sallie KrawcheckToday’s episode features Sallie Krawcheck the Co-founder and CEO of Ellevest, a financial company built by women, for women to reach their financial goals. Sallie is one of the highest ranked women ever to have worked on Wall Street, having held posts such as CEO of Smith Barney, CEO of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, and CFO of Citigroup. She is one of the most-read “Influencers” on LinkedIn and has been profiled as one of Fast Company’s “Most Creative People” in business, as well as in The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Forbes, and more. Ellevest has a community of more than 3...2023-03-1820 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesNetWORKING Excellence – Author David OlivenciaDavid Olivencia gives us an inside preview into his upcoming book NetWORKING Excellence with an actionable framework for the most important skill for career acceleration, community building and accomplishing goals. David is the CEO of Angeles Investors, has held executive roles at Verizon, Oracle, Ford, and Accenture; is an active Board Member of Chicago PBS, the National Museum of Mexican Art and has invested in over 70 startups, including 2 unicorns and 10 companies with valuations over $100M. We talk about how to network to meet investors, to improve deal flow of the right startups and how to jump up the corporate ladder...2023-02-0838 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesRebroadcast: Storyteaching - Encantos Co-Founder Steven Wolfe PereiraSteven Wolfe Pereira, the CEO and Co-Founder of Encantos, and award-winning bi-lingual edtech company (which I invested in). Encantos is rethinking education through a mix of physical and digital tools grounded in play. Steven is one of the top rated voices on LinkedIn, named by Adweek as one of the "50 Most Indispensable Executives in Marketing, Media and Tech". He has served as the Chief Marketing Officer of Datalogix (acquired by Oracle), Neustar (acquired by Golden Gate Capital) and Quantcast. We talk about storyteaching, inclusion, innovation as well as how to unscale and subscribe.2022-10-1527 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesHealthy Aging-In-Place – AARP Foundation and Blooming HealthCan startups help to end senior poverty and enable dignified aging in place? Paolo Narciso, VP of Product and Program Development and Optimization at AARP Foundation and Nima Roohi Co-Founder and CEO of Blooming Health share their collaboration reduced friction, overcame barriers and drove impressive results such as a 500% increase in enrollment, 82,000 engagements and staff time reduction from 57 days to 30 days. All as part of the AARP Foundation Innovation Program.2022-09-0827 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesNY MilkLaunch – Fueling Demand for Dairy with Gen Z ConsumersJoin us this week as we sit down to discuss the upcoming NY MilkLaunch Food & Beverage Product Innovation Accelerator Final Pitch Event, scheduled to take place on Thursday, August 25 from 5 to 7 p.m. ET. Fred Schonenberg, our Founder, CEO & Host has the tables turned on him, as he is interviewed by Vanessa Rosado, our Head of Brand Strategy about this year’s innovation program. NY MilkLaunch is accelerating 6 dairy-based startups and is part of New York State Dairy Promotion Orders’ initiatives to transform the dairy aisle with products that are designed to appeal to the next generation of milk consumers. Visi...2022-08-2419 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesHospitality Innovation – Founders From Pinktada, STAY OPEN & stayDAOIlana Grossman, Co-Founder & CMO of Pinktada and Steve Shpilsky, Co-Founder & CEO of STAY OPEN and StayDAO discuss how innovation will reshape hospitality and the role technology plays in addressing legacy challenges. This transformation is being fueled by Web3, NFTs, tokenization, blockchain and DAOs which are creating new products, services and business models to meet the needs of the next generation of travelers.2022-07-1330 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesHealthcare InnovationDuring this conversation, recorded at our latest event, What's Next Now: Health & Wellness we speak with three Healthcare Startup Founders about the challenges, opportunities and innovations reshaping the future of Health Tech. Hear from: Philip Fung, Founder & CEO of Kit.com, at-home medical exams, delivered; Shailja Dixit, CEO of Curio Digital Therapeutics, tailor-made cognitive behavioral therapy programs for women across the cycle of life; and Vasu Nadella, Co-Founder & CEO at Vital Bio, an ecosystem of devices, software & people designed to help all of us live healthier.2022-06-1524 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesFuture of Health – Vitamin Shoppe CEO Sharon LeiteSharon Leite, CEO of The Vitamin Shoppe, talks health & wellness trends, the evolution of retail and the role of innovation in the transformation of the company which is the leading specialty health-and-wellness retailer. The Vitamin Shoppe offers the largest assortment of vitamin, supplement, and sports nutrition products at retail in the U.S.Prior to joining The Vitamin Shoppe, Sharon was the North American President of Godiva Chocolatier, President of Sally Beauty, U.S. and Canada, and EVP of Pier 1. Sharon has been voted one of the Top Women in Retail, serves on the Board of the National Retail Federation...2022-05-2633 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesUrgent Optimism – The Earthshot Prize CEO Hannah JonesHannah Jones the CEO of The Earthshot Prize, a prize and a platform founded by Prince William and the Royal Foundation in 2020 to search, spotlight and scale solutions that can help repair and regenerate the planet in this decade. Five, one million-pound prizes will be awarded each year for ten years, providing at least 50 solutions to the world’s greatest environmental problems by 2030. Previously Hannah was Nike’s first Chief Sustainability Officer, was founder of Nike Valiant Labs, on the founding team of Microsoft’s philanthropy program in EMEA and twice named to Fast Company’s top 100 Creative People list. We talk...2022-05-1232 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesWomen & Wealth - A Roadmap for Financial EmpowermentA fireside chat moderated by Caroline Lewis, Managing Partner, Rogue Women's Fund and featuring: Sallie Krawcheck, CEO & Co-Founder, Ellevest2022-04-2023 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesFamily, Financial and Career Health – Coca-Cola, Features Capital, Clutch Wallet and Little OtterAn all-star panel comprised of corporate visionaries, startups and investors discuss going Rogue. Featuring Marie D. Quintero-Johnson, Vice President and Global Head of Corporate Development, The Coca-Cola Company; Jenny Barba, Founder of Features Capital; Sandhya Padmanabhan, Chief Marketing Officer, Little Otter; Bec Jones, CEO, Clutch Wallet2022-04-0525 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesEmpowering Female Entrepreneurs – Hot Bread Kitchen Diana Taylor and Leslie AbbeyDiana Taylor, former First Lady of New York City and Chairperson of Hot Bread Kitchen’s Board, and Leslie Abbey, CEO of Hot Bread Kitchen discuss how female entrepreneurs can forge new paths and make the impossible, possible. HBK creates economic opportunity for immigrant women and women of color through food entrepreneurship programs, job skills training, and an ecosystem of support in New York City.They envision an equitable world where all people have the opportunity and support to pursue personal, professional, and economic growth. The organization's unique model helps break through barriers and moves the food industry toward greater eq...2022-04-0124 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesFighting Invisibility - The Martin Agency CEO Kristen CavalloCan you be a cool swashbuckling mom and a visionary CEO? Once you meet Kristen Cavallo you will know it is possible. Kristen is the CEO of The Martin Agency (2 years in a row named Adweek’s US Agency of the Year) where she helps create impactful ideas for clients like GEICO, Oreo, UPS, Old Navy and Doordash. She is on a mission to fight invisibility - with breakthrough work, inclusive culture and by eradicating the wage gap by race and gender. We discuss leveling the playing field for women in leadership and tying diversity to business goals.2022-03-1630 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesBrave Commerce - Profitero President Sarah HofstetterHow can brands win in the ever-evolving omni-channel evolution? We ask Sarah Hofstetter the President of Profitero, the leading, global ecommerce intelligence platform. Previously Sarah spent 13 years at award-winning advertising agency 360i, most recently as Chairwoman and CEO, growing the agency from $5MM to $180MM by continuously pivoting company offerings to be aligned with changes in consumer behavior. She currently serves of the Board of Directors of Campbell Soup Company and is the host of the Brave Commerce podcast. We discuss “achievement over activity,” the intersection of customer behavior and brand readiness and taking a zero-based budgeting approach to decision. Be q...2022-03-0927 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesFrom Cyrpto to Investing – The Future of FinTech with Kristin Smith, Nisha Desai and Dax GrantThe pace of change has never been faster than it is today and that is especially true for the world of Financial Services. Disruption is coming from all sides whether it is the advent of blockchain and impact of cryptocurrencies, to the evolution of consumer expectations from their banks. Mobile, on-demand, transparent and purposeful, the next generation of banked consumers will demand more from their financial institutions than ever before. In this episode of the podcast, we sit down with Kristin Smith, the Executive Director of the Blockchain Association; Nisha Desai, the CEO and Founding Managing Partner of Andav Capital...2022-03-0253 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesVisionaries & Ventures - Cathy Hackl, Chief Metaverse Officer & Travis Montaque, Founder & CEO of HollerWhat’s the metaverse & why should you care? How are consumers expressing themselves digitally today? And what will that look like tomorrow? Where do brands have permission to participate? And how can they authentically engage in the absence of advertising? We speak with this year's Visionary of the Year: the Godmother of the Metaverse, Cathy Hackl, Chief Metaverse Officer at Futures Intelligence Group; and Travis Montaque, Founder & CEO of this year's Venture of the year: Holler; a Forbes 30 Under 30 and Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Most Daring” media leader of one of Fast Company's 2020 World's Most Innovative Companies. We discuss the future of media...2022-02-0253 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesCES 2022 - From Autonomous Vehicles to Nibbling Robotic Pets, the VF POV on this year's ShowThis week we speak with VentureFuel’s Founder & CEO, Fred Schonenberg. Normally, the host of our show, we put him in the hot seat to share his take on the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show. We’ll discuss everything from Autonomous Vehicles to Microplastics and Sustainability. Consider this episode your cheat sheet for the biggest highlights coming out of the annual Tech conference, and a go to reference for the trends, technologies & ventures you should be watching this year.2022-01-1225 min
DairyReporter PodcastDairy Dialog podcast 162: Arla Foods Ingredients, Cardbox Packaging, Real California Milk ExceleratorThis week we feature three interviews: Libor Miloševský, general manager, Cardbox Packaging; Henrik Andersen, CEO of Arla Foods Ingredients; and three guests related to the Real California Milk Excelerator - John Talbot, CEO of the California Milk Advisory Board, Fred Schonenberg, CEO of VentureFuel, and Sean Folkson, CEO of the winning company, Nightfood.2021-12-081h 02The VentureFuel VisionariesMom’s Upcyle – MOM’s Organic Market Category Manager Liz Dunn and Upcycled Food Association CEO Turner WyattThe creative transformation of by-products and waste materials into new products is one of the key emerging trends in eliminating food waste. Liz Dunn is the Category Manager of Personal Care, Apparel & lifestyle at MOM's Organic Market and Turner Wyatt is the CEO of the Upcycled Food Association, they join us to discuss their collaboration in featuring upcycled products at all MOM’s locations and why companies big and small are flocking to create products from what was once considered useless. We touch on food-waste, chocolate chip cookies good for the planet and why upcycled is the new organic.2021-11-1931 min
Let’s Talk DairyEpisode 10 — A ‘Shark Tank’- like competition for the dairy industryJohn Talbot, CEO of Tracy, Calif.-based California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), joins us for Episode 10 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast. He reveals the story behind the California Milk Excelerator, a “Shark Tank”-like competition CMAB hosts in partnership with VentureFuel, New York. He also discusses what the organizations look for in contest entrants and speaks to the importance of product innovation to the dairy industry overall.
Read More2021-11-1113 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesDisrupting Energy and Endurance - X2 Performance CEO Mark FrenchIf NBA superstar Kawhi Leonard, Giants Running Back Saquon Barkley, Super Bowl Champion Lavonte David of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Top Peloton Instructor Kendall Toole and professional athletes on over 25 pro teams across the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL were using clean ingredient products to increase their energy and endurance – wouldn’t you want to try it? Mark French is the CEO of X2 Performance which is disrupting the energy drink and supplement space. He shares how they have been able to scale across CVS, Subway and GNC and why knowing “the answers to the test” is a great way to build...2021-08-1127 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesThe Democratization of Innovation - Verizon Consumer Group EVP & CEO Ronan DunneRonan Dunne leads the teams responsible for providing wireline voice, data and TV products and services with wireless connected experiences to more than 100 million consumers every day. In addition, his teams are building the first 5G technology network that will redefine how customers live, work and play. We talk about Verizon’s multiple touchpoints for startup/corporate collaboration, the opportunity of 5G and the canvas it creates for innovators. Find out why Ronan believes Edge Computing will be the most transformational advancement of the next 10 years.2021-04-0622 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesWomen’s History Month - Featured VisionariesAs part of our celebration of Women’s History Month this episode takes insightful clips from the visionary women that have appeared on the podcast over the last few months. From VC Samara Hernandez talking about diverse portfolios and what she looks for in founders, to CEO Whisperer and Sunday Dinner Founder Lindsey Slaby discussing self-worth and ROI. Futurist Cathy Hackl does a speed round on new technology giving you a glimpse into what’s next and 3 female founders shaking up the food & beverage industry share their founder stories: Peekaboo Ice Cream, Snack Riot and Superfrau. #WomenInTech #FemaleFounders #RogueWomen.2021-03-1629 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesReinventing Retail – Lowe’s, RevTech, Pensa and VNTANAHow will retail evolve? We asked Ross Neumann, Head of Partnerships for Lowe’s Innovation Labs; David Matthews, Managing Director at RevTech Ventures; Richard Schwartz, President and CEO of Pensa Systems, a leading innovator in autonomous perception for retail inventory; and Ben Conway, Co-Founder and COO of VNTANA, the world’s first 3D Collaboration Platform. This is a live recording from our What’s Next, Now event series and we discuss 3D models, spatial computing, the harmonization of on-line and off-line and the digitization of on-shelf.2021-03-0249 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesCorporate Storytelling - Pass It Down CEO & Founder Chris CummingsCompany history, the founding story, and the why of your organization can anchor your decisions and make clear where to innovate. Often you need to go back before you go forward. Chris Cummings, CEO & Founder of Pass it Down, helps institutions transform their archives and history into interactive digital storytelling experiences. We chat about the importance of history, the future of museums and why the future often begins in the past.2021-01-1217 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesNow Normal – GK Digital Ventures Founder Greg KahnThe Internet of Things (IoT) industry has quickly transformed from a futuristic idea to the next massive evolution (McKinsey predicts IoT will deliver $6 trillion in economic impact by 2025). Greg Kahn is the President and CEO of the Internet of Things Consortium, a trade association focused on frontier technologies across IoT including home automation, smart cities, connected healthcare/wellness, connected cars and connected retail. Greg is also the CEO of GK Digital Ventures, which provides investor strategies, marketplace development and executive experiences, and data & technology support. He has been awarded the Business Role Model of the Year in 2020 by CEO World...2021-01-0530 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesStoryteaching - Encantos Co-Founder Steven Wolfe PereiraSteven Wolfe Pereira, the CEO and Co-Founder of Encantos, and award-winning bi-lingual edtech company (which I invested in). Encantos is rethinking education through a mix of physical and digital tools grounded in play. Steven is one of the top rated voices on LinkedIn, named by Adweek as one of the "50 Most Indispensable Executives in Marketing, Media and Tech". He has served as the Chief Marketing Officer of Datalogix (acquired by Oracle), Neustar (acquired by Golden Gate Capital) and Quantcast. We talk about storyteaching, inclusion, innovation as well as how to unscale and subscribe.2020-12-3026 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesCommercializing Serendipity – Plain Sight, CEO & Founder James ChapmanCommercializing Serendipity. As we work remotely and major conferences and networking events have morphed to digital, the biggest complaint is lack of serendipity. That moment where the ultimate connection is right next to you, hiding in Plain Sight, and you strike up a conversation. That’s why James Chapman created Plain Sight, a localized, social networking platform that connects you with the type of people you’re looking for both online and in physical spaces. We talk about the future of networking, commercializing serendipity and creating your own powerful community. Find Your Tribe.2020-12-0124 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesSnackcelerator Tonight! – John Talbot and Bob Carroll of Real California Milk$605bn – that’s how big snacking is globally. What if you could tap into that with a combination of emerging entrepreneurs, industry mentors and one of the ultimate super foods? The Real California Milk Snackcelerator does just that, and their
finals air live on YouTube on Nov. 19th @ 5 PM PST. Here is a sneak peek of the experience from the 3 architects of the program: John Talbot CEO of CMAB, Bob Carroll VP of Business Development CMAB and Fred Schonenberg, Founder of VentureFuel.
CMAB is one of the largest agricultural marketing boards in the US.2020-11-1919 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesCraft Alcohol DTC – Speakeasy Co. Co-Founder and CEO Josh JacobsDTC is one of the all-time great disruptions, but was seemingly impossible for the alcohol industry due to the prohibition laws in the US, until. Speakeasy Co. They enable craft brands nationwide to sell directly to consumers from their websites without disrupting the three tier system; giving brands the opportunity to fuel their own growth through lean DTC practices embraced by startups across every other food and bev category. We talk with Josh about the power of data, how to launch a spirits brand and the future of alcohol purchases.2020-11-0527 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesLive Events Post-Covid – Realife Tech Founder and CEO Adam GoodyerAs a fan, when you interact with tech at a stadium you expect it to be intelligent and responsive to who you are. Realife Tech creates personalized fan experiences at live events. They sit atop of all of the data sources at a live venue (ticketing, wifi) to create a unified view of customers for clients like AEG, O2, Live Nation. Today Adam Goodyer, the founder and CEO of Realife Tech, talks about getting fans back to live events via their Covid Safety Hub, how personalized fan experiences lead to increased opportunities for brands, team and event operators and the “Bu...2020-10-1528 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesDisrupting Auto - Shift Founder and Co-CEO George ArisonGeorge began his career as a project manager for Google before cofounding the first on-demand mobile transportation booking technology, Taxi Magic (now known as Curb), two years before Uber was even created. His new company, Shift, is an online marketplace disrupting the car industry and going public via a SPAC. We talk about the journey of this $100M Founder from Immigrant to Entrepreneur, what a SPAC is and how is scaling from an idea to a multi-million-dollar business. We also have a fascinating chat on how large companies can avoid disruption, but often do not.2020-10-0839 minThe VentureFuel VisionariesAI Grocery Checkout – Popspots Co-Founder & CEO, Marlow NickellPopspots operates Grocery TV, The largest digital advertising network in U.S. grocery. Their tech delivers AI enabled in-store advertising, out-of-stock management, and planogram compliance. What’s unique about Popspots is their use of AI to measure their audience and the value they add to the physical grocery stores, and grocery stores are not only an essential service but the center of our communities.2020-09-1715 min
The VentureFuel PodcastAI Grocery Checkout – Popspots Co-Founder & CEO, Marlow NickellPopspots operates Grocery TV, The largest digital advertising network in U.S. grocery. Their tech delivers AI enabled in-store advertising, out-of-stock management, and planogram compliance. What’s unique about Popspots is their use of AI to measure their audience and the value they add to the physical grocery stores, which are not only an essential service but the center of our communities.2020-09-1715 min
The VentureFuel VisionariesEnrich Conversations Everywhere – Holler Founder & CEO, Travis MontaqueHoller is on a mission to make your texts, posts, and DMs more expressive by creating original content meant for messaging (think GIFs/fun animated stickers in places like LinkedIn and Venmo) and then recommending the most relevant ones at just the right moment. 2020 Most Innovative Company (Fast Co), Entrepreneur Magazine’s Most Daring Entrepreneur, Forbes 30 Under 30 -- Founder & CEO Travis Montaque.
2020-09-1021 minThe VentureFuel PodcastEnrich Conversations Everywhere – Holler Founder & CEO, Travis MontaqueHoller is on a mission to make your texts, posts, and DMs more expressive by creating original content meant for messaging (think GIFs/fun animated stickers in places like LinkedIn and Venmo) and then recommending the most relevant ones at just the right moment. 2020 Most Innovative Company (Fast Co), Entrepreneur Magazine’s Most Daring Entrepreneur, Forbes 30 Under 30 -- Founder & CEO Travis Montaque.2020-09-1021 min
The VentureFuel VisionariesA.I. Democratizing Music – Amper Music CEO Drew SilversteinAmper is an artificial intelligence composer that allows you to create your own unique music instantly, tailored to any content, without any musical experience required. In fact, I used it to create our new podcast music. CEO Drew Silverstein and I talk about the fusion of music theory and AI. We discuss how you can unlock emotional intent through sonic branding and how to find your sound whether it be Orchestral Hip-Hop, How To Train Your Dragon or Jackson Browne. www.ampermusic.com
2020-09-0331 minThe VentureFuel PodcastA.I. Democratizing Music – Amper Music CEO Drew SilversteinAmper is an artificial intelligence composer that allows you to create your own unique music instantly, tailored to any content, without any musical experience required. In fact, I used it to create our new podcast music. CEO Drew Silverstein and I talk about the fusion of music theory and AI. We discuss how you can unlock emotional intent through sonic branding and how to find your sound whether it be Orchestral Hip-Hop, How To Train Your Dragon or Jackson Browne. www.ampermusic.com2020-09-0331 min
The VentureFuel VisionariesAugmenting Our Realities - Eyecandylab CEO & Co-Founder Robin Sho MoserFrom immersive ocean worlds for adidas in Paris, to AR Home Shopping Experiences with LG in Korea, to slime dripping from YOUR ceiling during a Nickelodeon broadcast - Eyecandylab is augmenting our experiences for the better, and doing it in a way that is both accessible and scalable with our current devices. We talk about the metaverse, why we can’t Shazam our way to the second screen and what’s next for television and sports.
2020-08-1324 minThe VentureFuel PodcastAugmenting Our Realities - Eyecandylab CEO & Co-Founder Robin Sho MoserFrom immersive ocean worlds for adidas in Paris, to AR Home Shopping Experiences with LG in Korea, to slime dripping from YOUR ceiling during a Nickelodeon broadcast - Eyecandylab is augmenting our experiences for the better, and doing it in a way that is both accessible and scalable with our current devices. We talk about the metaverse, why we can’t Shazam our way to the second screen and what’s next for television and sports.2020-08-1329 minThe VentureFuel PodcastThe Snackcelerator – CMAB’s CEO John Talbot and VP of Business Development Bob CarrollIf you open your fridge, chances are you’ve Got Milk. No other product has the same level of mass acceptance - yet, there is a need to innovate to stay close with the ever-changing consumer. CMAB is one of the largest agricultural marketing boards in the US and we chat about their new startup competition The Real California Milk Snackcelerator and the value of new ideas, outside perspectives and the future of dairy.2020-08-0419 min
The VentureFuel VisionariesThe Snackcelerator – CMAB’s CEO John Talbot and VP of Business Development Bob CarrollIf you open your fridge, chances are you’ve Got Milk. No other product has the same level of mass acceptance - yet, there is a need to innovate to stay close with the ever-changing consumer. CMAB is one of the largest agricultural marketing boards in the US and we chat about their new startup competition The Real California Milk Snackcelerator and the value of new ideas, outside perspectives and the future of dairy.
2020-08-0419 minThe VentureFuel PodcastCloud Creative Collection - Write Label CEO Gideon SteinCEO Gideon Stein shares the story of how an online community of comedians transformed into the data-driven, on-demand creative service that is Write Label, and how brands can outsource creativity for fast and effective results.2020-05-0819 min
The VentureFuel VisionariesCloud Creative Collection - Write Label CEO Gideon SteinCEO Gideon Stein shares the story of how an online community of comedians transformed into the data-driven, on-demand creative service that is Write Label, and how brands can outsource creativity for fast and effective results.
2020-05-0819 min
Esports Network PodcastWhat Brands Coming From Sports to Esports Need to KnowWith sports suddenly on hold during the Coronavirus, brands are flocking to esports. But while there are similarities in connecting with the esports audience, there are also some key differences. Fred Schonenberg, CEO of VentureFuel, joins the show to talk about how to be successful in reaching gamers.
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Follow Esportz Network on Twitter, Instagram...2020-04-0933 minThe VentureFuel PodcastPrivate Podcasting for Companies - Messy.fm Founder Molly BeckVentureFuel founder Fred Schonenberg chats with Messy.fm CEO Molly Beck about her podcasting platform, enterprise use cases and the growth of audio.2020-03-2610 min
The VentureFuel VisionariesPrivate Podcasting for Companies - Messy.fm Founder Molly BeckVentureFuel founder Fred Schonenberg chats with Messy.fm CEO Molly Beck about her podcasting platform, enterprise use cases and the growth of audio.
2020-03-2610 min