Shows
Pioneer Series#15 - Jean Arnaud: Building with Purpose, Philosophy in TechMost founders obsess over what they're building, but completely skip the why.In this episode, tech philosopher Jean Arnaud breaks down why that's backwards. After studying at Stanford and building (then pivoting from) a metaverse education startup, Jean's learned that without a clear philosophy, you're basically building blind.We dive into:Why "accelerating for acceleration's sake" leads nowhereThe real difference between California and East Coast investor mindsetsHow his "failed" metaverse company taught him about market timingWhy money should never be your primary goal (and what should be instead)Jean's take...
2025-08-0546 minPioneer Series#14 - Samantha Tabone: VC Secrets, Human 3, Deep TechEver wonder how to really get VCs to listen? Extremely interesting conversation with Samantha Tabone: General Partner at XEIA Ventures. She invests in early-stage companies driving "Human 3" - the next era of health, wellbeing and performance through life sciences, AI, hardware, and deep tech. Extremely interesting convo on:- Deep tech startups + due diligence- How to reach out to VCs…- The next era of health - Human 3- Startup ideas with untapped potentialEpisode Links:Samantha's LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/samtaboneXEIA Ventures: https://www.xeiavp.com/
2025-07-2959 minPioneer SeriesAI Robots, Drones, $20m+ Series A? -- Amarjot Singh, Skylark LabsAmarjot Singh, Founder of Skylark Labs, is revolutionizing physical AI. He's building brain-inspired foundational robotic models that run efficiently on edge devices, challenging the LLM scaling paradigm. A must-listen for founders and future-builders in deep tech.Episode Links:Amarjot's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amarjot-singh-phd-b5269815/Skylark Labs: https://skylarklabs.ai/Other Resources Mentioned: Ryan Holiday, Calm AppPodcast Links:Substack: https://thinkingthomas.substack.com/ X: https://x.com/fortoulthomasApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pioneer-series/id17...
2025-07-2253 minPioneer Series#12 - BK Nayak: Billion Dollar Patents, Living to 200 and the Future of Healthcare with AI🚨 He generated billions from a single patent.Now he's on a mission to help humans live to 200 years old.Meet Dr. BK Nayak (PhD in Electrical Engineering, MIT MBA), and the mind behind a breakthrough in optical connectivity that reshaped an entire industry.Today, he’s building Spike Well, an AI company reimagining healthcare, not to treat illnesses, but to prevent them entirely.I sat down with Dr. Nayak on the Thinking Tech podcast, and what he shared blew me away:💡 “With personalized medicine and ai, human lifespan easily go to 200 yea...
2025-05-2757 minPioneer Series#11 - Nicholas Khami: The Real Magic of Building a YC-Backed Startup (It’s Not the Tech)Nick quit his job to build Trieve.1 year later, he joined YC with $3.5M raised.Here's the story:Trieve is an AI search platform powering 30k+ experiences.But it isn't just a search bar.It's building the future of online retail: replicating the human retail associate experience online using AI.Imagine a personal retail shopper that you can talk to.• Voice Input? Yes.• Image Search? Upload a pic, find similar items.• Even Image Generation? See what you'd look like wearing those shoes by uploading your photo. Wild.I asked Nick the #1 mistake founders make.What he said goes against most a...
2025-05-2052 minPioneer Series#10 - Iulian Serban: PhD to $14M Raised and Korbit AI, The Future of AI in Software EngineeringMeet Iulian Serban.From coding at 12 to raising $14M with Khosla and Bengio.Here's his crazy story:In 2014, he started his PhD at Mila under Yoshua BengioIn 2017, he co-founded Korbit AI.It was the first AI-powered tutor, before ChatGPT existed.2 years later, they raised $2M+ and grew to 20,000+ users.But they hit a wall, they struggled with engagement.So Iulian pivoted: AI code reviews for engineers.And it clicked.In 2023, they raised $11.3M and are growing like crazy.I spoke with Iulian on...
2025-05-141h 15Pioneer Series#9 - Irena Xhurxhi: From Albania to AI at AmazonFrom Albania to Amazon, Irena's story is incredible: • 2013: Left Albania to chase a dream in the US • 2015: Juggled a full-time job, PhD studies, and raising two kids • 2021: Applied to ONE tech job - and got into Amazon • 2025: Leading Amazon’s AI revolution and inspiring changeShe shares her hard-earned lessons on resilience, embracing uniqueness, and her vision of the future with AI. Chapters0:00 Introduction and Personal Reflections3:35 Academic and Professional Challenges8:14 Balancing Family and Career14:48 Le...
2025-05-0658 minPioneer Series#8 - Nao Yukawa: Unlocking Human Potential with AIWe dive deep into the intersection of health and productivity with Nao Yukawa, co-founder of Lifestack and DeMind. Nao has a fascinating journey, from studying in Japan to moving to San Francisco and New York, navigating the startup world during the pandemic, and developing the revolutionary AI-integrated calendar app, Lifestack. This episode is packed with insights on innovation, the startup landscape, and the future potential of brain-computer interfaces.Chapters0:00 Introduction to Health-Driven Productivity1:13 Exploring Lifestack: The AI-Integrated Calendar App3:00 From Japan to San Francisco: An Entrepreneurial Journey5:47 A Meditation Crypto App8:31 Founding DeMind: A New Beginning13:04 The Vision Behind...
2025-04-2946 minPioneer Series#7 - Nick Lawton: The Future of Work with SideShiftJoin us with Nick Lawton, the founder of Side Shift, a platform dedicated to connecting Gen Z with part-time work opportunities. Hear about Nick's journey and discover how Side Shift is transforming the recruitment process for local businesses, startups, and brands by providing a seamless connection to talented Gen Z individuals. Learn about the challenges and rewards of building a startup, the importance of community, and how AI tools are shaping the future of job recruitment. Whether you are a college student, a recent grad, or a business owner, this conversation is packed with insights on innovation, growth, and...
2025-04-2141 minPioneer Series#6 - Blake Richards: Intelligence, AI and the BrainIn this episode, we dive deep into the fascinating world of AI and neuroscience with Dr. Blake Richards, a researcher at Mila and an associate professor at McGill University. Dr. Richards shares his insights on the critical intersection of these fields, discussing the principles of intelligence, the importance of studying the brain for artificial systems, and his academic journey. We explore the efficiency of AI systems, potential risks, and the broader implications of AI in real-world applications. Dr. Richards also offers his perspective on the challenges and opportunities within the Montreal AI ecosystem and the vital role of collaboration...
2025-04-1750 min
AI with Sach#24 - The Creator Economy, EdTech, and AI's Impact with Thomas FortoulIn this episode, I sat down with Thomas Fortoul, host of the Thinking Tech podcast, to explore the rapidly evolving world of AI and its impact on the future of work. We dove into the challenges of navigating information overload, cultivating critical thinking, and the transformative power of AI across various industries. Join the conversation as we discuss the creator economy, the importance of education, and the ethical considerations surrounding AI's growing influence.
2025-04-0230 minPioneer Series#5 - Marie-France Ouimet: The Art of Pivoting, Exploring AI in Business, and eMBAsJoin us for an insightful episode as we sit down with Marie France, a seasoned executive and MBA graduate with a rich background in technology, data analytics, and leadership. Marie shares her intriguing career pivots across industries like entertainment, banking, retail, and healthcare. Learn about her strategic approach to data management, the importance of a well-rounded business strategy, and the transformative potential of AI in various sectors. Plus, get a sneak peek into her upcoming projects and thoughts on fostering innovation and ethical considerations in today's rapidly evolving landscape. You don't want to miss out on this one!
2025-04-0141 minPioneer Series#4 - Kate Arthur: Are we Literate? Redefining Literacy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.We welcome Kate Arthur, a British-Canadian entrepreneur renowned for her work in AI and computational literacy to discuss her latest book, 'Am I Literate?', which explores the intersections of literacy, storytelling, and technology,We explore her diverse background, the transformative power of combining arts and sciences, and the vital role of education in a rapidly advancing technological age. Kate emphasizes the necessity of strong foundational skills in literacy and numeracy as prerequisites for AI literacy, and highlights the importance of ethics in technology. Tune in to uncover insights into Kate's inspiring journey, the concept of 'Burns luck...
2025-03-2559 minPioneer Series#3 - Philip Hazeltine: l'IA et le droitNous accueillons Philip Hazeltine, PDG et cofondateur de Neolegal. Ancien avocat fiscaliste et membre du conseil d'administration d'Investissement Québec, Philip discute de la mission de Néolégal : transformer le secteur juridique en utilisant la technologie. Philippe partage également ses insights sur l'entrepreneuriat, la résilience et l'importance de l'équilibre travail-vie personnelle tout en avançant dans un domaine traditionnellement lent à adopter les nouvelles technologies comme l'intelligence artificielle.---We welcome Philip Hazeltine, CEO and co-founder of Néo Légal. A former tax lawyer and board member of Investissement Québec, Philip discusses N...
2025-03-1148 minPioneer Series#2 - Sacha Gucciardo: AI, Data, and the FuturePrepare to dive deep into the world of AI and data with Sacha Gucciardo, a data analytics consultant, on this episode of the Thinking Tech podcast. Sacha takes us on a journey from his beginnings as a data engineer at Bombardier, to his current role at Slalom, where he crafts innovative solutions using AI, data, and cloud technologies for his clients. This episode isn't just about technology; it's about the future of education, the importance of human connection, and the ethical responsibilities that come with wielding powerful AI tools.Chapters0:00 – Introduction and Ba...
2025-03-0439 minPioneer Series#1 - Joshua Pottel: Revolutionizing Drug DiscoveryThis episode features Joshua Pottel, CEO of Molecular Forecaster, a Montreal-based company at the forefront of using computational tools to accelerate drug discovery. Pottel discusses his journey, offering valuable insights for students, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in the biotech industry and Montreal's growing ecosystem.Chapters:00:00 – Introduction & Guest Background05:23 – Sparking Interest in Chemistry and Computational Drug Discovery11:06 – The Creation and Evolution of Molecular Forecaster15:53 – Team Building and Company Culture30:35 – Startup 101 and Learning on the Job41:03 – Distinguishing Yourself and Leaning on Your Strengths42:05 – AI...
2025-02-2558 min2025-02-2100 min
PwC en direct : le liveComment se préparer et faire face à un afflux massif de réclamations contractuelles résultant de la crise du COVID ?Intervenants :
Fabienne Borde, Associée Forensic Services
Thomas Esteve, Associé Forensic Technology Solutions
Céline Fortoul, Directeur Forensic Services
Edith Baccichetti, Avocat associé
2020-06-3027 min