Wharton Tech Toks

Employee acquisition, retention, and management are top-of-mind objectives across SMBs and enterprises alike. AI offers an opprotunity to dramatically improve companies' abilities to respond to employee needs and proactively drive better employee experiences--and Eightfold AI is at the forefront of this. Join Manasi Patwa and Cynthia Zhou as they speak with Matias Spinetta, Global Vice President of Revenue Operations at Eightfold. If you were curious about drivers of go-to-market success and creative strategy in a fast-growing enterprise AI leader, this episode provides a deep-dive into this arena - along with an insightful discussion around what will define differentiated B2B AI companies in the long-term.

For those interested in the intersection of tech and entertainment, join Steph Kim in this exciting episode as she dives into YouTube creator empowerment with Monica Khan (EVP, Creator Team) and Tyler L. Woods (Director, Creator Experience Strategy & Programs) of Spotter, named one of TIME100's Most Influential Companies in 2023. In addition to providing top creators — from MrBeast to Airrack — with upfront capital, Spotter offers support through innovative AI tools, community, insights, and more. Monica and Tyler share their favorite creator success stories and offer advice for breaking into the industry.

Akhil Iyer from Shield Capital joins the discussion, bringing his expertise in dual-use technologies after eight years in the Marines. He explores the intricate balance between military and commercial tech, emphasizing the pivotal role of AI, cybersecurity, and drones. Akhil highlights how government contracts are shaping venture capital dynamics and the importance of innovation in defense. The conversation also delves into future trends, particularly in the competitive US-China landscape, predicting significant impacts on technology deployment and logistics.

In this episode, Steph Kim chats with Oscar Höglund, Co-Founder and CEO of Epidemic Sound, the leading platform for world-class music and sound effects for brands and creators, with an expansive catalog seen and heard over 2.5 billion times a day worldwide. They discuss Epidemic Sound's innovative subscription-based model that simplifies music licensing and offers transparency and simplicity for both musicians and creators. Oscar opens up about his CEO role that has evolved from obsessing over ideas and product-market fit to focusing on scale. He emphasizes the importance of balancing paranoia and ambition in entrepreneurship.

Join Daniel Berkovits, the VP of Strategy of Via, to talk about how Via is digitizing the historically analog world of public transit to improve the experience of riders around the world.

Camille Van Horne, Director of Product Management at Instacart and a Stanford MBA grad, shares her insights on the grocery delivery giant's evolution. She discusses the launch of Instacart Platform, emphasizing in-store innovations like caper carts and electronic shelf labels. Camille also reveals how Instacart is leveraging AI for personalized experiences and fulfillment solutions while partnering with grocers. Her perspective on product management highlights the importance of emotional intelligence and long-term vision in navigating the complexities of grocery retail.

Benjamin Orthlieb, VP of Corporate Development at LinkedIn, dives deep into the world of corporate strategy. He discusses the critical build vs. buy decision-making framework and how corporate development shapes LinkedIn's strategy. Orthlieb emphasizes the importance of cultural fit during acquisitions and shares insights on Gen AI and emerging tech trends. He also provides advice on navigating careers in tech and the significance of concise communication. Finally, he highlights the qualities that make founders stand out in angel investing.

In this episode, we're joined by Mike Collett, founder and managing partner of Promus Ventures, a VC firm focused on deep tech. We explore the evolving world of robotics, discussing everything from robotics-as-a-service to AI integration. Mike shares insights from his over two decades in venture capital on how robotics is transforming industries and impacting investors. Tune in to gain a unique perspective on where the technology is headed and how it's reshaping our world.

In today’s episode we are joined by Elisha Jacobs, Senior Associate at RedBlue Capital. Elisha helps unpack the complexities of venture capital within the mobility sector. Discover the future of transportation through investments in groundbreaking technologies and models that could redefine how we move goods and people around the globe. For anyone interested in the mobility sector, this episode serves as a great overview of the sector.

“We think about ways where we can combine human insight together with ML models that are able to think about the world around them and really expand the scope of what humans can do.” In this episode, Emma is joined by Vijay Karunamurthy, Field CTO at Scale AI, a company at the heart of the AI revolution. This episode focuses on the integral processes of AI testing and evaluation, highlighting the importance of ethical frameworks in the development of AI. Vijay shares examples from his work, illustrating the practical applications of these processes in ensuring AI technologies are both effective and responsible. A great listen for those interested in the intersection of AI, ethics, and practical applications!