I am excited to have Param Shah, the CEO of Lynnfield, a serial entrepreneur with a proven track record of building and scaling successful technology companies.

In this episode, Param shares his journey from leaving Johns Hopkins mid-degree to build Factory Four, selling it in 2020, and going on to found Linfield, a holding company that buys and holds small businesses from retiring owners. Discover insights on the "silver tsunami" of business succession, how to structure deals so sellers keep skin in the game, using AI inside traditional businesses, and designing a life around ambition, impact and health.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Param and his background

00:59 Leaving Johns Hopkins to build Factory Four

03:05 Life the day after an acquisition

04:54 From experiments to Linfield and the silver tsunami

08:23 Why Millennials and Gen Z aren't taking over family businesses

11:04 Founder as moat vs founder as ceiling

14:06 Family involvement and seller continuity

15:55 The Linfield thesis: fit, risk and uncertainty

18:49 Why Linfield doesn't raise a fund

21:31 Using AI in deal sourcing and portfolio companies

25:16 Will more MBAs buy small businesses?

27:53 Why acquisition entrepreneurship needs its own Y Combinator

28:51 What permanent capital allows that a PE fund can't

30:48 Lotus Life Foundation and curing infant blindness in India

35:21 Moving from scarcity to abundance

Param's Links

LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/pshah27/

Website – https://www.lynnfieldgroup.com/companies

My Links

Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe

YouTube: youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/

Course: https://www.udemy.com/course/outbound-sales-mastery/

I am excited to have Neel Kumar, co-founder of Rentify in Dubai. After leading products at Viacom18 and ZEE5 and exiting coto, he's building Earn AI, an agentic operating system for the rental economy.

In this episode, Neel Kumar from Rentify shares his journey from media to startups, the evolution of Rentify, and insights into AI-driven property management. Discover how his experiences and strategic decisions shape innovative solutions in the rental economy.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Neel Kumar and Rentify

03:10 The origin story of Rentify in Dubai

05:14 Deciding to build again after exiting Koto

07:12 The role of AI in Rentify's evolution

09:01 From rent payments to AI-powered workflows

12:18 What is agentic AI and how does it work?

13:50 Balancing automation and human decision-making

15:37 Gaining trust from landlords and property managers

17:00 Partnership strategies with banks and property managers

18:37 Lessons from raising capital in the GCC market

19:23 Building natively in Arabic for regional markets

20:04 Managing remote teams across multiple countries

22:54 Lessons from building and exiting startups

24:52 The importance of experimentation in startups

25:45 Advice for corporate founders transitioning to startups

27:33 Neel's sports hobbies and their role in creativity

30:20 Reflections on building Rentify and future plans

Neel's Links

LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajneel-kumar/

Website - https://gorentify.com/

My Links

Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe

YouTube: youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/

Course: https://www.udemy.com/course/outbound-sales-mastery/

I am thrilled to have Marcus Dantus, founder and chairman of Startup Mexico and a Shark on Shark Tank Mexico for 14 seasons. He built Mexico's first internet portal, founded Wayra Mexico, and has backed 30+ startups.

In this episode, Marcus Dantus shares his journey from building Mexico's first internet portal to investing in startups and fostering entrepreneurship across Latin America. Discover insights on startup ecosystems, investment strategies, and the future of AI in business.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Marcus Dantus and his background

01:51 Early internet ventures in Mexico and lessons learned

03:50 Career pattern: Telecom, medical devices, incubators

05:59 Pivoting and business model innovation

08:02 Working with large corporations and startups

09:58 Evolution of the Mexican startup ecosystem

12:07 Focus on traditional SMBs and Ruta Excel

13:59 Insights from 14 seasons of Shark Tank Mexico

16:01 Evaluating founders in the first 60 seconds

17:47 Designing effective first meetings with investors

20:00 Avoiding exaggeration and creating FOMO

22:04 Lessons from backing over 80 startups

23:59 The state of angel investing in Latin America

25:58 Global perspectives: Europe, US, and Latin America

27:54 AI's impact on jobs and businesses in Latin America

30:10 Preparing young entrepreneurs for the future

33:47 Balancing energy and commitments in a busy schedule

36:08 Advice for founders about resilience and persistence

Marcus's Links

LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcusdantus/

Website – http://www.startupmexico.com

My Links

Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe

YouTube: youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/

Course: https://www.udemy.com/course/outbound-sales-mastery/

I am thrilled to have Todd Caponi, a sales historian, keynote speaker, and three-time author whose work sits at the intersection of transparency and behavioral science. He's a multi-time C-level sales leader who led teams through two successful exits.

In this episode, Todd Caponi, a sales historian and author, shares insights on transparency, negotiation, and the evolution of sales strategies. Discover how historical practices influence modern sales, the importance of transparency, and how AI impacts the sales profession in 2026.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Todd Caponi

03:22 The Journey into Sales and Negotiation

06:38 The Evolution of Negotiation Practices

10:43 Understanding Transparency in Sales

16:12 The Cost of Discounting in Sales

19:17 The Human Element in Sales

23:01 The Impact of AI on Sales Negotiation

27:09 Cold Calling in the Age of AI

30:15 Lessons from Sales History

34:18 Negotiation at High Stakes

Todd's Links

LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddcaponi/

Book – https://toddcaponi.com/four-levers-negotiating/

My Links

Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe

YouTube: youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/

Course: https://www.udemy.com/course/outbound-sales-mastery/

I am excited to have Vineet Budki has spent fifteen years turning volatility into a career - from Emirates cabin crew to CEO of Sigma Capital, a $100M crypto fund with 300+ investments.

In this episode, Vineet Budki from Sigma Capital shares his journey from building startups in India to running a crypto fund, and why education is still the biggest unlock for crypto adoption. He breaks down how to build a diversified portfolio, why NFTs are really membership clubs with utility, how AI will take emotion out of investing, and what it takes to build a fund that scales.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Vineet Budki's Journey

01:48 Early Startup Experiences in India

04:12 Transition into Crypto and Fund Building

05:20 The Role of Education in Crypto Adoption

06:45 Understanding Bitcoin's Utility

09:03 Crypto Portfolio Strategy and Diversification

12:13 Different Types of Cryptocurrencies and Use Cases

17:11 NFTs: Utility and Future Potential

20:12 Valuations and Market Growth in Crypto

21:52 Impact of AI on Crypto Investing

23:02 Building a Scalable Crypto Fund

25:51 Future Trends in Venture Capital and Crypto

28:55 Learning and Adapting in a Rapidly Evolving Space

31:01 Advice for Young Entrepreneurs and Investors

Vineet's Links

LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/vineetbudki/

Website – https://sigmavc.com/

My Links

Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe

YouTube: youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/

Course: https://www.udemy.com/course/outbound-sales-mastery/

I am thrilled to have Sam Marchant a Partner at 21 Ventures, backing pre-seed and seed founders across MENA and Southeast Asia with $500K–$1.5M cheques in AI, FinTech, and Industrials.

In this episode, Sam Marchant, a partner at Twenty One VC, shares his unconventional journey into venture capital, insights on investing in MENA and Southeast Asia, and the impact of AI on startups and investment strategies. Discover how regional markets are evolving and what founders need to succeed today.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Sam and his journey into VC

01:14 Sam's unconventional path into venture capital

02:09 Early entrepreneurial experience with a low sugar cereal business

03:00 Balancing IQ and EQ in VC decision-making

04:04 Launching AI-focused venture builder Inaugural

04:57 Joining Twenty One Ventures and regional market insights

07:15 Building media assets to highlight regional startups

08:32 Market inflection points in MENA and Southeast Asia

11:21 Sector focus: Overfunded and underfunded areas

13:51 Supporting founders beyond capital: fundraising, commercial, human

17:41 Leading rounds in a competitive market

20:32 Big vision and innovation in the Middle East

24:45 Key traits for founders: belief, focus, commitment

27:43 Cultural diversity and universal goals in Dubai

29:13 The future of AI agents and user experience

32:20 Building a media business to showcase regional talent

Sam's Links

LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-marchant/

Website – https://www.21vc.com/

My Links

Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe

YouTube: youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/

Course: https://www.udemy.com/course/outbound-sales-mastery/

I am happy to have Kira Shishkin, the founder and CEO of informed.now, the leading news-by-SMS service reimagining how Americans stay informed without the bias and noise of traditional media.

In this episode, Kira Shishkin, founder and CEO of informed.now, shares insights on building a bias-free, primary source-driven news platform, the importance of trust in media, and innovative growth strategies. Discover how his background and experiences shape his approach to creating healthier news consumption habits.

Timestamps

00:00 Meet Kira Shishkin

02:16 The Path to Entrepreneurship

02:43 Navigating Today's Media Landscape

05:40 The News Compression Challenge

07:53 Measuring Impact on Misinformation

10:05 How informed.now Grows

12:18 Lessons from Past Ventures

14:15 Community vs Company

18:21 Hiring While Bootstrapped

19:44 How Background Shapes Trust

21:18 Fighting Sensationalism

23:55 Understanding Your Customer

25:40 Advice for Portfolio Founders

27:57 Lessons from the Investor Side

29:31 The Future of News

Kira's Links

LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirashishkin/

Website – https://informed.now/

My Links

Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe

YouTube: youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/

Course: https://www.udemy.com/course/outbound-sales-mastery/

I am excited to have Renat Gersch who is the co-founder of 10xGTM and a product marketing and go-to-market strategist with 15 years of experience scaling B2B SaaS companies.

In this episode, Renat Gersch, a seasoned product marketing strategist with over 15 years of experience in B2B SaaS, shares insights on go-to-market strategies, positioning, and building successful startup teams. Discover how to translate vision into traction, avoid common pitfalls, and leverage AI for growth.

-----------------------------------------------

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Renat Gersch and Her Journey

02:52 The Unicorn Experience: Growth and Challenges

08:11 Positioning: The Key to Buyer Engagement

13:41 The Role of Sales in Building a Pipeline

23:59 Founders and Sales: Timing and Strategy

29:31 Building a Strong Co-Founder Relationship

33:23 The Go-to-Market Roadmap Across Industries

36:48 Healthy Conviction vs. Self-Deception in Founders

39:55 The Reality of Early Pipeline Building

42:52 Advice for Founders: Focus and Growth

45:05 Reflections on Career Growth and Loyalty

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Subscribe on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/3G514tA5EuZ8Py9ofTXj8T

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts:

https://open.spotify.com/show/3G514tA5EuZ8Py9ofTXj8T