The Venture Variety Show

In this episode of The Venture Variety Show, Alastair Goldfisher speaks with Chia-Lin Simmons, CEO of LogicMark, about what it really takes to modernize an old safety category and build AI-driven health technology inside a public company.LogicMark began in the traditional personal emergency response space, often associated with reactive “I’ve fallen and can’t get up” alerts. Simmons explains how the company is shifting toward predictive and preventative care using AI, connected devices, and multi-sensor data, while operating under the transparency and accountability required of public markets.The conversation also explores leadership lessons for founders and operators, including how public company discipline can coexist with startup urgency, why AI projects fail when they start with hype instead of human problems, and how technology can help families and caregivers navigate the growing pressures of an aging population.This episode is especially relevant for founders, investors, and operators working at the intersection of AI, startups, healthtech, and leadership.Sound bites“We’re like a startup with a ticker symbol.”“Implementing cool tech without knowing what you’re trying to solve is burning cash.”“Technology should help bring us closer together.”Chapters with timestamps00:00 Meet Chia-Lin Simmons01:05 What LogicMark Does and Why the Category Is Changing03:10 Becoming a Pivot CEO at a Public Company05:10 From Reactive Alerts to Predictive Care08:10 How AI Learns Behavior and Reduces False Positives11:00 Building New Technology Inside an Old Business13:40 Public Company Accountability vs Startup Hype16:20 Advice for Founders Building with AI18:40 The Human Impact of Caregiving Technology21:30 Final TakeawaysKeywords AIstartupspublic companieshealthtechleadershipfoundersventure capitalcaregiving technologyaging at homepredictive technology Get full access to The Venture Lens at theventurelens.substack.com/subscribe

I’ve spent a lot of time this year writing about how AI is changing the rhythm of work.In September, I covered new research from Read AI showing that workers using AI tools were far more likely to start Mondays with clarity instead of stress, and that Fridays were becoming more productive. Since then, I wanted to go deeper and hear directly from the people building these tools.That’s why I sat down with David Shim, CEO and co-founder of Read AI. This conversation originally ran on The AI Cognitive Shift channel, and I wanted to re-air it here on The Venture Variety Show because it puts into context the data I wrote about earlier.This episode isn’t about available AI tools. It’s about how AI is already changing how work actually gets done.The End of Taking NotesOne of the ideas behind Read AI is also one of the more revealing.For years, meetings relied on memory, scattered notes and the hope that someone would follow through. As Shim pointed out in the podcast, that approach never really worked at scale.“Why would you go in and use your memory where you’re going to forget it because you’ve got five meetings in a row?” Read AI started by removing that friction. Instead of assigning one person to capture what happened, AI quietly creates a shared record of the conversation and the next steps.Shim described this shift as moving away from hoping people remember what was decided toward building a system of record for productivity, one that connects meetings, emails and messages in context.Once teams experience that change, resistance drops fast. Not because AI is flashy, but because it solves a problem no one actually wanted to own in the first place.Why Mondays and Fridays Feel DifferentShim and I discussed the Read AI research that I wrote about earlier this year.Shim said that people dread Mondays less because AI eliminates the cold start. Instead of wondering what they forgot over the weekend, workers begin the week a better view of what’s unfinished and what matters most.Fridays have changed, too. That’s because by Thursday, people already know what remains open, which does away with the late-afternoon scramble and the feeling that something important slipped through the cracks.As Shim put it, a lot of workplace stress comes from uncertainty. AI reduces that.Why This Conversation MattersThis episode builds on the reporting I did earlier this year, but it adds something data alone can’t.AI isn’t arriving as a dramatic overhaul. It’s becoming infrastructure. Fewer notes. Fewer follow ups. Clearer weeks. Less mental drag.If you want to hear the original version of this conversation, you can find it on The AI Cognitive Shift channel.And you can watch or listen to the newly edited full episode on The Venture Variety Show, which is also available on YouTube, as well as Apple Podcasts and Spotify.If this sparked ideas, share it with someone rethinking how work actually gets done.And if you want more conversations like this, subscribe to The Venture Variety Show here on Substack. Get full access to The Venture Lens at theventurelens.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of The Venture Variety Show, Raj Singh, VP of Product at Mozilla and a two-time AI founder, explains why AI agents work in demos but fail inside real organizations.Raj breaks down the gap between hype and execution, the mindset shift teams need before automation can take hold, and why the AI era is rewarding high-agency generalists over deep specialists. We also get into job design, organizational change, and the classic founder mistake of leading with AI instead of the problem.This is a grounded look at what AI can and cannot do today — and why the next wave of builders will need sharper judgment, not bigger models.Sound Bites“A lot of these agents that are getting deployed in the enterprise… they're just not good enough.”“The real unlock in organizations is not about building agents, it's about unlocking that mindset shift.”“Everyone within an organization needs to shift into this mindset of becoming a super individual contributor.”KeywordsAI agents, startups, automation, founders, generalists, product development, Mozilla, workflow design, future of work, organizational changeChapters00:00 Meet Raj Singh (Mozilla)00:26 How AI Is Reshaping the Browser03:20 Why Content Consumption Has Changed06:18 The Problem With Most AI Agents09:20 What AGI Debates Miss12:00 Job Security and the AI Shift14:40 Generalists vs Specialists in the AI Era17:55 Rethinking How Teams Work19:30 The Founder Mistake: Leading With AI21:40 Raj’s Advice for Builders22:55 Closing Thoughts Get full access to The Venture Lens at theventurelens.substack.com/subscribe

Reinvention Is a SkillSummaryThis episode goes deep on reinvention and leadership. Cathy Brooks has built a career across journalism, Silicon Valley, dog training, coaching, construction, and brand work. She explains how to carry your skills into a new chapter, why reinvention is a learned skill, and how to approach career change with intention.We also talk about how AI fits into the process. Cathy uses AI to sort skills, identify patterns, and point toward roles that match those strengths. But she warns against letting AI define your voice. Her point is clear. AI is a tool, not a crutch.The conversation also touches on boundaries and why clear communication and consistency create more freedom for teams and individuals. Cathy shares real stories from her work with leaders and from running a dog training facility, which serve as sharp examples of behavior, structure, and human dynamics.This is a different kind of episode for the show, but it lands at a time when many people across Silicon Valley and beyond are navigating change.Key ThemesReinvention as a learned skillCareer navigation at any agePen-to-paper frameworks for clarityAI as a practical tool, not a shortcutWhy structure and boundaries create freedomLeadership vs managementHow communication patterns shape teamsResilience during job searchesEarly career decisions and intentional choicesTakeawaysReinvention is not a crisis. It is a repeatable process.Your skills move with you. Your job title does not define you.Boundaries build safety and trust inside teams.Clarity and consistency matter more than charisma.AI can help you categorize skills and refine your resume. It cannot replace your voice.Career growth starts with honest lists of what you do well and what you avoid.Intentional choices beat reactive ones, no matter your age or stage.Direct Quotes“Don’t just swing like Tarzan and grab the next vine. Be intentional about it.”“Do not generate your resume using AI. Use AI to give you bullet points and then be a human and talk like a person.”“Humans are so lazy.”“Leaders empower. Leaders elevate.”Chapters 00:00 Cold open on early career decisions00:32 Intro and welcome01:12 What do you do and why the question is flawed02:30 Reinvention and how career identity changes04:55 Carrying your skills across different arcs06:39 Self awareness and honest assessment07:21 Reinvention, community, and modern work09:08 Adaptability and early-career patterns10:28 Trusting your instincts in career decisions11:17 The job search reality12:33 Why online applications rarely work13:05 Pen to paper. A practical reinvention method14:11 Younger workers and intentional choices14:52 Using AI as a tool, not a shortcut16:29 Why humans lean on shortcuts17:40 Dog training and leadership behavior18:36 Boundaries, clarity, and team culture19:51 Leadership vs management20:48 Structure creates freedom21:55 Outro Get full access to The Venture Lens at theventurelens.substack.com/subscribe

Why Fewer Seed Rounds Get Covered — and What Founders Can Do About ItDescription:PR strategist Katy Goldstein, founder of KG Comms, joins The Venture Variety Show to explain why fewer seed-stage companies are getting coverage in 2025 and how founders can adapt. She shares original research showing only about 10% of seed funding announcements make it into tier-one publications, and she breaks down the four traits that improve the odds: funding size, founder story, macro alignment and traction. We also discuss how the rise of independent media is changing the game and why smart founders are broadening their strategy. Whether you’re raising a round or pitching a story, this episode is a reality check you’ll want to hear.Chapters:00:00 – The new PR landscape for startups01:26 – Katy’s background and why she started KG Comms03:08 – More startups, fewer reporters: the PR mismatch04:15 – What percent of seed rounds make the news?05:44 – Four traits that improve your media chances08:39 – Why diverse founders face structural coverage gaps10:05 – Why it's still hard to get into WSJ or Bloomberg11:11 – Picking the right outlet based on your goals13:42 – Founder FOMO and misaligned expectations14:30 – Why funding size still matters most16:16 – Constant media layoffs and consolidation17:16 – The rise of podcasts, newsletters, and indie media19:12 – What independent media can do that legacy can’t21:13 – Crystal ball: where media and PR go from here Get full access to The Venture Lens at theventurelens.substack.com/subscribe

How DVC Rebuilt Venture: 170 LPs, No Analysts, and an AI-Powered ApproachIn this episode of The Venture Variety Show, husband-and-wife founders Nick Davidov and Marina Davidova share how their firm DVC is redefining venture capital by connecting a 170-member LP community through AI.They discuss how this model helped early investments like Perplexity AI, why founder well-being is as critical as funding, and how community can transform the VC–founder relationship.DVC’s story isn’t just about efficiency — it’s about empathy, resilience, and the human energy behind innovation.Sound Bites“Instead of hiring analysts, we hired very good LPs.”“Be attentive to what you eat, don’t drink alcohol — that’s how you conquer the world.”“We can have a partners’ meeting while doing the dishes.”Keywordsventure capital, DVC, AI, community, startup support, diversity, mental health, founder resilience, LPs, investment strategies, startups, founders, early-stage, future of workChapters00:00 Find Your Tribe — Cold Open00:26 Meet Nick & Marina Davidov02:30 Why Traditional VC Is Broken06:38 Inside DVC’s LP Community Model09:45 How LPs Help Founders Succeed12:44 Founder Health & Resilience in the AI Era16:07 Energy Levels and Leadership Culture18:31 Working Together — and Doing the Dishes19:21 AI as the New Infrastructure for Venture23:33 The Smell of Product-Market Fit25:21 Final Takeaways — Find Your TribeShow SummaryNick and Marina Davidov, co-founders of DVC, join The Venture Variety Show to discuss how they’ve reimagined venture capital as a community-first, AI-enabled system. Instead of analysts, they rely on 170 active LPs — mostly engineers and founders — to help portfolio companies grow through hiring, partnerships, and technical guidance.They also share how mental health, physical energy, and strong relationships fuel startup success — plus a story from their teenage daughter that perfectly captures what “product-market fit” really smells like. Get full access to The Venture Lens at theventurelens.substack.com/subscribe

Episode SummaryIn this episode, I talk with Christina Farr about why storytelling has become a leadership skill — not a marketing exercise. Christina shares lessons from her new book The Storyteller’s Advantage and her work advising founders and CEOs. We discuss how storytelling shapes company culture, drives recruiting, and strengthens relationships with investors and teams.Christina also explains why every leader — from startup founder to Fortune 500 CEO — needs to own their narrative and why “storytelling now appears in CEO job descriptions.”Key TakeawaysStorytelling is infrastructure for leadership, not fluff.The best CEOs and founders use narrative to recruit, inspire, and build culture.Personal stories can unify teams and strengthen trust.Communications belongs next to the CEO, not buried under marketing.Anyone can learn to be a better storyteller with intention and practice.Chapters00:00 – Meet Christina Farr02:28 – Why Leaders Need Stories04:56 – From Reporting to Advising07:32 – Storytelling as a Leadership Skill10:09 – Anyone Can Learn Storytelling13:18 – Vulnerability and Control16:41 – Owning Your Narrative19:48 – Final Takeaways Get full access to The Venture Lens at theventurelens.substack.com/subscribe

In my recent story on voice AI ("AI Finds Its Voice), I wrote about how the technology is changing the customer-support playbook. In this follow-up episode of The Venture Variety Show, the voice AI story goes deeper with Tom Chen, Chief Product Officer at Aircall.Chen talks about how AI is moving beyond chat to transform live conversations, helping human agents respond faster, stay on script and deliver better service. He also points out that AI is giving managers better insights, from automatic call grading to coaching prompts that improve performance around the clock.As he puts it, “If you don’t have always-on, AI-powered communication in the next five years, you’ll be at a competitive disadvantage.” He also predicts that the next leap will come from voice-to-voice models, systems that understand tone, emotion and context directly from speech.In addition to Substack, you can watch Episode 37 of The Venture Variety Show, featuring Tom Chen of Aircall, on YouTube, as well as Apple Podcasts and Spotify.The podcast was originally recorded for The AI Cognitive Shift, produced in collaboration with AiNews.com. Get full access to The Venture Lens at theventurelens.substack.com/subscribe

Carrie Rich isn’t chasing trends. She’s backing people — especially overlooked founders solving real-world problems.As co-founder of The Global Good Fund and Global Impact Fund, Rich has helped fund and coach hundreds of underrepresented entrepreneurs. In this episode, she explains how to raise capital without warm intros, why resilience matters more than revenue, and what founders can do to get investors to believe in them.We also talk about what sets impact companies apart, and how she helped Asusu — now a unicorn — get their first check.Whether you’re a founder forging your own path or an investor looking beyond the usual suspects, this one’s for you.Chapters00:00 Cold Open: Overlooked Founders = Big Opportunity 00:26 Intro to Carrie Rich and Global Good Fund 01:15 How the Fund Got Started 02:57 Evolution of Social Enterprises 03:44 Who They Target and Why 05:07 The Asusu Case Study 08:30 How the Impact Fund Grew from a Pilot 10:09 Fundraising Advice for First-Time Founders 12:05 Resilience, Teams, and Storytelling 13:44 Raising Outside the Traditional VC System 15:12 How to Build Relationships Without Warm Intros 16:51 Misconceptions About Impact and Returns 18:13 Final Thoughts and Book Tease 20:39 Outro Get full access to The Venture Lens at theventurelens.substack.com/subscribe

SummaryIn this episode of The Venture Variety Show, Alastair Goldfisher speaks with Liz Tarullo, co-founder and CEO of Nolia Health. After her father’s stroke, Tarullo experienced firsthand the challenges of family caregiving — an experience shared by more than 53 million Americans. That personal crisis inspired her to launch Nolia, a tech-enabled healthcare startup that blends clinical expertise with AI-powered support to help caregivers manage the daily realities of aging in place.We discuss why Tarullo believes “our healthcare system is at a breaking point,” how AI can act as a force multiplier without replacing human connection, and why new federal billing codes are opening the door for caregiver-focused startups.This conversation is essential listening for founders, investors, and operators interested in how AI, policy, and human-centered design are reshaping the future of healthcare.Sound Bites“The healthcare system is at a breaking point.”“Technology can standardize and make things efficient, but people still need to be seen and validated.”“You don’t have to walk this journey alone.”KeywordsAI in healthcare, caregiving startups, family caregivers, personalized care, healthcare innovation, aging population, telehealth, clinical support, healthcare system, policy shiftsChapters00:00 – Healthcare System at a Breaking Point00:13 – Founder Story: Building Nolia Health03:41 – AI in Caregiving: Tech-Enabled Healthcare07:52 – Daily Routines & 24/7 AI Support for Families12:46 – Human Connection in AI Healthcare14:09 – Policy Shifts & The Future of Caregiving19:33 – Nolia Health Expansion & Closing Insights Get full access to The Venture Lens at theventurelens.substack.com/subscribe