CTO Insights for Founders

IN THIS EPISODE: In this episode, our host Denise Silber welcomes recent HBS MBA, Kai-Tai Chang, General Partner at a quantitative crypto fund.  Kai-Tai Chang explains, step by step, how cryptocurrency works and  presents the key components and stakeholders in a session sure to interest crypto beginners and enthusiasts alike. Specialized in Alpha research, or detecting opportunities that offer returns above the market average, Kai-Tai Chang shares his journey from engineering to the world of cryptocurrencies, highlighting  technology’s potential to redefine financial systems. He addresses misconceptions about crypto currency, its uses, and the importance of regulation. He dives right into the environmental impact of crypto mining, describes his experience at Binance Labs, and explains how he managed to do his MBA at HBS while  simultaneously working  in crypto. The conversation also touches on the future of cryptocurrency and the importance of education and community engagement for those interested in entering the field. GUEST BIO: A newly-minted  Harvard MBA graduate, Kai-Tai Chang is a tech-driven serial entrepreneur and investor actively exploring opportunities in the blockchain and digital verticals. A French-born Chinese, he embraces diverse paths, prioritizing a life without regret. Transitioning from a data scientist role in Paris to entrepreneurship, and later serving as a PE manager in Beijing, he pivoted to a web3 VC investor position at Binance Labs. There, he invested in impactful ventures and steered strategic projects, leading growth initiatives and fostering collaborations for synergies. Currently, he serves as the General Partner at Emergence Capital, a quantitative crypto fund.

IN THIS EPISODE: In this podcast episode, Anthony Soohoo, an entrepreneur with experience in both startups and Fortune 100 companies, shares his insights on the value of corporate skills for entrepreneurs and vice versa. He discusses the differences between startup and corporate work environments, emphasizing the importance of an entrepreneurial mindset in large organizations for innovation and nimbleness. Anthony also reflects on his board experiences and the role of entrepreneurs in governance. Anthony Soohoo discusses how corporate skills can benefit entrepreneurs, touching on empathy and understanding organizational dynamics. Anthony talks about his advisory roles, including his involvement with Spryker and AI Fund, and his upcoming participation in a case study discussion at his alma mater. GUEST BIO: Anthony Soohoo is an entrepreneurial leader who has led businesses from zero to billions. Over his career, Anthony has led some of the largest business and digital transformations across media, retail, and tech. As EVP at Walmart, he helped lead the company's omnichannel transformation as they merged their physical and digital businesses together. At CBS, Anthony launched the company's first over-the-top streaming service, catapulting CBS.com into the largest television network site in the industry in the late 2000s. He has served as a co-founder & CEO at Dotspotter, acquired by CBS and at Dot & Bo, now part of Alibaba. He is currently a board member at Spryker Systems, Venture Advisor with AI Fund, and an Entrepreneur-In-Residence at Harvard Business School.

IN THIS EPISODE: In this inspiring episode, host Denise Silber sits down with HBS MBA  Pankaj Agarwal,  an EdTech entrepreneur who was born in an Indian village  and developed  a deep desire to pay it forward.  Today he and his team are  optimizing the education process in  thousands of Indian and Korean classrooms thanks to the  low-tech invention from Taghive,  his Samsung-backed startup headquartered in Seoul, Korea.  Because Panjak is a keen observer and deep thinker, you will learn as he shares his story, how simple technology can impact students and teachers  in a big way  and  create remarkable outcomes. Discover how his company, TagHive,  is bringing solutions to one of the  biggest problems for teachers: knowing which students have understood the lesson and are ready to move on. This episode is for any entrepreneur looking for inspiration and a new way of thinking about his or her life, goals, and hopes. GUEST BIO: Mr. Pankaj Agarwal, an alumnus of HBS is the Founder & CEO at TagHive, a Samsung funded education technology venture with operations in South Korea and in India. He is an inventor on over 75 international patents and was on the list of Fortune India 40 Under 40 in 2021. He was also one of the 10 winners of MIT TR35 India (Innovators Under 35) Award in 2017.  Prior to TagHive Mr. Agarwal was with Samsung Electronics for over a decade. Mr. Agarwal is the Founder and Chairman of the IIT Alumni Association of South Korea since 2015. He is also a board member of the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Korea and an adjunct professor at the Ewha Woman’s University.  Mr. Agarwal is a trained magician and is fluent in Korean. He has a Bachelor of Technology degree in EE from IIT Kanpur, an MS from Seoul National University, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.  

IN THIS EPISODE: In this episode, our host Philip Guarino is joined by Dr. Eric Dawson, CEO of RIVET, a company which channels the economic power of young people to fund their work as social innovators. Representing over three trillion dollars in consumer spending, today’s youth are a powerful economic force that is ever more committed to social causes. They don’t lack ideas- they lack resources. Eric discusses the vast potential and creativity of today’s young generation and how RIVET’s innovative microfinancing program empowers them to effect change.  This inspiring conversation highlights the potential of today's young minds in shaping a better future. GUEST BIO: Dr. Eric Dawson has led organizations and research at the intersection of youth culture, social innovation, and brands. Currently, he serves as the CEO of RIVET, the world’s first consumer-facing, social impact brand that leverages the collective consumer power of GenZ to fund young social innovators through a micro-financing platform. Dr. Dawson holds three degrees from Harvard University: a B.A in social studies; M.Ed in human development psychology; and an M.Div. in pastoral care and counseling. His doctorate is in Leadership and Innovation from New York University; his research focused on founder transitions and the relationship between founders and their successors

IN THIS EPISODE: Listen in on this week’s episode, as host Denise Silber sits down with HBS MBA and world class entrepreneur, CEO Deborah Yang, to discuss the new world of finance  in which GenAI-driven innovation helps us instantly visualize the characteristics of  our  investment portfolios as never before.   Deborah Yang heads up Daizy, a revolutionary AI-powered platform for advisors and wealth firms. As the recipients of the greatest wealth transfer of all time and  key drivers of sustainability,  Millennials and Gen Z will demand and command the integration of sustainability in their investing – And since Deborah Yang shares how Daizy answers the investor’s demands for personalized information that GenAI now makes possible, this is a can’t-miss conversation. The new access, via Daizy,  to a more complete  narrative of the  investment portfolio than ever before (and ready to integrate new future criteria as they unfold),  will help unlock untold value to investors everywhere. GUEST BIO: A seasoned veteran of the financial services industry, Deborah Yang is the CEO of Daizy, a beneficial AI communications platform for advisors and wealth firms. Deborah Yang, a worldclass expert in  sustainable investing, has served as the Global Head of ESG Index for MSCI and led many high growth franchises including factor indexes and regions including EMEA index and Asia over her 18 years at MSCI. A Harvard Business School MBA, Deborah was named to Financial News 100 Most Influential Women in European finance for six consecutive years. She is also the Co-President of Women in ETFs EMEA. Finally, Deborah Yang is a frequent conference speaker and interviewee in the leading financial and tech media.  

IN THIS EPISODE: In this episode, our host, Philip Guarino, is joined by Maik Taro Wehmeyer, Co-Founder & CEO at Taktile. Maik shares his journey from engineering and statistical optimization to pioneering machine learning in finance. In this segment, Maik explains the gap in decision infrastructure for platforms used in accounting, banking and other industries. This gap led to the creation of Taktile, a low-code/no-code platform which empowers credit and risk teams to generate highly accurate automated underwriting decisions more efficiently and at scale. Join us to learn how this innovative firm is using artificial intelligence to revolutionize decision-making technology for fintechs, banks and insurance companies alike.   GUEST BIO: Maik Wehmeyer is the CEO and Co-Founder of Taktile, a leading decision engine software that is empowering fintechs and banks across the globe to make smarter, faster, and more accurate automated risk decisions. Taktile’s low-code platform makes it simple for business teams to build, test, and optimize powerful automated decisions in a data-driven way. Prior to founding Taktile, Maik was an early member of QuantCo, McKinsey, and SAP. He has significant experience in the machine learning and financial services spaces, serving as a member of the EU Commission’s AI Alliance and the German AI Alliance.  

IN THIS EPISODE: In this episode, our host Denise Silber sits down with Matheus Riolfi HBS MBA and YC alum,  the very grounded and yet visionary Co-founder and CEO of Tint. Matheus Riolfi  who hails from a small city in Brazil, has developed an ability to observe, analyze and put into practice which has enabled him to build a success story, step by step through the learnings from his past failures and victories. Catch the pearls he distills about what it takes to launch a first-in-class startup, through this captivating episode featuring a dynamic founder with a very human touch. Have you asked yourself how you could best define the clients, before you define your product or service? Or who might support your launch before you even define your company?  Join us as Matheus shares invaluable insights for founders and future founders, addressing the essential elements required to start a successful venture. GUEST BIO: Matheus Riolfi, a 2013 MBA graduate of the Harvard Business School,  has over 15 years experience at high-growth technology companies. A seasoned entrepreneur, advisor, and investor, he is the Co-founder and CEO of Tint. Before this, Matheus Riolfi was the Director of International Expansion at Turo and launched the company in Canada, the UK, and Germany. He pioneered the operations, including designing risk management in different stages of the company and sourcing insurance in various countries. He is a licensed insurance broker in all 50 US states.

IN THIS EPISODE: In this episode our host, Philip Guarino, is joined by Jahn Karsybaev, a Managing Partner at Big Sky Capital, a VC for B2B enterprises in emerging markets. Together they discuss Jahn’s journey as an immigrant from entrepreneur to venture capitalist, his firm’s unique focus on emerging markets and how founders can best navigate the challenging funding environment. In this installment, Jahn sheds light on what he looks for in founders and how the right venture capital firm, board and advisors can play a crucial role in accelerating growth. Jahn discusses the importance of a right product-market fit and go-to-market strategy, the value of networking and how entrepreneurs can best future-proof their operations to propel long-term success. GUEST BIO: Jahn Karsybaev is a Managing Partner at Big Sky Capital, an early-stage fund investing enterprise SaaS companies. He is a former Technology Executive for Fortune 100 companies and a serial entrepreneur with multiple exits. Jahn is an alumnus of Harvard Business School, University of Montana and NSU. He holds multiple Board positions at various companies like mgBasePay, Cerebra AI, HBS Alumni Angels, Tarlan Payments and many more. Jahn is also a founder and executive host on Ivy Podcast: Interviewing Top Global Executives. Jahn Is a published author and his most recent book “The PM Imperative: Guide for Leading and Managing Projects & Delivering Value” is on Top 50 Amazon's Global Business Books. He is originally from Kazakhstan and currently resides in South Florida with his wife and three children. 

IN THIS EPISODE: In this episode our host, Denise Silber, is joined by Jenny Woo, alumna of the Harvard Graduate School of Education and founder/CEO of Mind Brain Emotion, a company that was born at the renowned Harvard Innovation Lab. Together they discuss how Jenny Woo designed and built her company to not only generate income but also, and amazingly so, to solve many of the pain points she identified in her own  life and in the business world. How did Jenny Woo achieve what seems to be impossible? What does it mean for you? Incredible as it sounds, Jenny Woo created her business and evergreen product line, while completing her PhD.  By identifying a major 21st century market need, and through an astute use of Kickstarter, she was able to simultaneously raise the necessary cash and get all the  market feedback she needed to launch.  And there’s much more to learn from this episode,  whether you are seeking to rethink your current venture or  to come up with a new one. This  episode will provide you with the inspiration and knowledge to build a profitable business that aligns with your values and, most importantly, allows you to thrive.Tune in and embark on a transformative journey towards a more fulfilling business and life. GUEST BIO: Dr. Jenny Woo, the Founder/CEO of Mind Brain Emotion , is an alumna of the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She is the creator of award-winning card games and mental health tools to help children and adults build emotional intelligence and social mastery. Her bestselling games, 52 Essential Conversations and 52 Essential Coping Skills for families, schools, and workplaces, have been featured by The Harvard Gazette, Business Insider, and Forbes. She is passionate about helping people realize their potential from classroom to boardroom. She has worked as a School Director, Cognitive Science Researcher, MBA Career Coach, Management Consultant, and HR professional in Talent & Succession Planning.  

IN THIS EPISODE: In this episode, our host, Philip Guarino, is joined by Vanessa Westphal, the co-founder of Choosy. Together they talk about the trends in food consumption, sustainability and biodiversity, and how artificial intelligence can help us make better decisions for our health and that of the planet. Consumers are paying more attention to what they eat. Although this isn’t a new trend, with the food industry responsible for over 1/3 of CO2 emissions, consumers are more conscious than ever of the environmental impact of what we eat. There is a shift towards consuming more plant-based, organic and sustainable foods. Yet making good decisions can still be complex, with opaque labeling and heavy industry marketing. Choosy is a novel solution, an AI-powered app that learns from our personal tastes and nudges us to eat better and sustainably. GUEST BIO: Vanessa  is an entrepreneur, innovator and thought leader. She studied electrical engineering and holds an MLA in Management with focus on Organizational Behavior from Harvard University. After nearly 10 years in the corporate environment, she has (co-)founded two companies and combines knowledge from the corporate & startup world. She has built an incubator, led an intrapreneurship program and coached founders. As co-founder of the German Tech Startup Choosy, Vanessa aims to make healthy, planet-friendly eating enjoyable for everyone. Choosy leverages AI to help individuals improve eating habits and tackling two of the most significant topics of our time with tech: planetary & human health.