On this week’s episode of Silicon Valley Impact, we’re sitting down with two leaders operating at the intersection of venture capital, emerging technology, global markets, and media:

Radhika Iyengar, Managing Partner of Silicon Valley-based StarChain Ventures, and Piyush Puri, President and Board Director of BCCL Worldwide Inc. (BWI), the North American division of The Times of India Group, India’s largest multimedia conglomerate.

Radhika Iyengar is Managing Partner of StarChain Ventures, where she backs seed-stage startups using AI and Data Intelligence to transform enterprise healthcare, life sciences, and finance. She is a Top 100 Woman of the Future, TEDx speaker, Silicon Valley Woman of Influence, eight-time founder, and expert in AI, Data Intelligence, and enterprise blockchain.

Through her venture lab, Radhika has advised startups that have collectively raised more than $900 million, produced four exits and two unicorns, and generated more than $4 billion in value. She has also served as CEO of an AI and Web3 cybersecurity company focused on zero-trust security in healthcare.

Radhika is the bestselling co-author of Enterprise Blockchain Has Arrived and has keynoted and lectured at more than 50 technology conferences worldwide, including engagements at Stanford, Harvard, MIT, Google, and Intel. Her expertise in blockchain and healthcare has been featured by CNN International, Business Insider, and Forbes Japan.

She has also advised government leaders on emerging technologies, including serving on the California Blockchain Working Group, advising Governor Gavin Newsom and the California State Legislature.

Piyush Puri is President and Board Director of BCCL Worldwide Inc. (BWI), the North American division of The Times of India Group.

He is also the founding partner of Mercurius Media Capital, an independent venture fund that brings together premium media assets to support high-growth startups.

Piyush oversees The Times Group’s strategic investment arm, Brand Capital International (BCI), where he has helped more than 30 portfolio companies expand from international markets into India. He also leads the monetization of the group’s media platforms across North America and drives new business initiatives throughout the market.

Piyush holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), an MBA from XLRI School of Business, and a Master’s Degree in the Psychology of Leadership from Penn State University. He is a CFA Charterholder and also holds a Master’s Degree in Modern & Contemporary Art.

Venture. AI. Global markets. Media. Leadership.

This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact!

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Silicon Valley Venture, LLC, the parent company of Silicon Valley Impact, is proud to be a global venture partner to great companies and organizations, including MoralesHR, STAK Ventures, and 1900 Broadway Tower – Oakland.

Together, we are connecting innovators, investors, senior executives, institutional partners, and global talent to one of the world’s largest full-stack venture ecosystems—more than 1.2 million square feet of Live, Work, Play, Go.

It’s about creating the access, alignment, community, infrastructure, and opportunity founders and organizations need to accelerate their ventures and compete globally.

Learn more: https://moraleshr.com/ https://stakspace.com/

EVENT PARTNERSHIPS

Join us in San Francisco on October 28, 2026, for One Way Summit 2026.

Get on the waitlist before tickets are released: https://lnkd.in/gVsa23gj

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment and informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a qualified professional before making financial or business decisions.

On this week's episode of Silicon Valley Impact we are talking with Ray Dargham, Founder and CEO of Step, and we’re talking about how relationships are the real currency. From Beirut to the Bay: building more than a business: community, trust & connection.

Step is a global tech and startup platform connecting founders, investors, operators, and technology leaders across MENA, Silicon Valley, and emerging markets.

Ray founded Step while still in college, beginning as an entrepreneurship workshop series hosted in art galleries in Beirut. After graduating, he moved the platform to Dubai and transformed it into one of the Middle East’s leading technology and startup conference brands. Today, Step serves as a bridge between the MENA and U.S. startup ecosystems, with flagship events in Dubai and San Francisco.

Over 14+ editions, Step has welcomed more than 100,000 attendees, showcased 3,000+ startups, and featured 800+ global speakers from companies including LinkedIn, Brex, Deel, Replit, Careem, and Tabby. The platform has also brought together hundreds of venture capital firms, accelerators, corporate innovation teams, and ecosystem leaders from around the world.

For more than a decade, Ray has led Step’s vision, strategy, partnerships, and growth while maintaining its founder-first, community-driven approach. His work sits at the intersection of technology, media, venture, community building, and cross-border startup growth, with a particular focus on connecting emerging ecosystems with established global markets.

Ray has been featured on the cover of Forbes Middle East, recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30, and interviewed by Euronews, CNBC Arabia, Al Arabiya, Startup Grind, JA Europe, and other global media outlets. He continues to build and advise technology platforms, venture networks, and founder-centric communities that create meaningful connections between entrepreneurs, investors, and markets around the world.

This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact!

Follow us on and listen to all our episodes on:

🎙️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J

🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823

📺 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@siliconvalleyimpact

Silicon Valley Venture, LLC, the parent company of Silicon Valley Impact, is a proud global venture partner to great companies, MoralesHR and STAK Ventures, and 1900 Broadway Tower - Oakland. Check out https://moraleshr.com/ and https://stakspace.com/ to gain access to the worlds largest full stack venture ecosystem. It's over 1.2 million square feet of Live, Work, Play, Go; everything innovators, investors, ecosystem influencers, institutional partners, and global talent needs to gain a global advantage, access, alignment, and accelerate your venture.

Event Partnerships:

Join us in San Francisco on August 27th, 2026 for Step. Use promo code SVV20 and get your tickets here: https://lnkd.in/gTuYJPeA

Join us in San Francisco on October 28th, 2026 for One Way Summit 2026. Go to Luma to learn more and get on the waitlist before tickets are released: https://lnkd.in/gVsa23gj

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions.