AI Agents Are Quietly Turning Your Back Office Into a Growth EngineMost companies still treat finance and operations as cost centers. Sumant Shringari thinks that’s outdated — and dangerous.In this episode, Sumant explains how his company Pontus uses AI agents, automation, and machine learning to turn back-office chaos into serious business value. Finance isn’t just about reporting anymore — it’s becoming a core growth engine. By eliminating inefficiencies and unlocking operational leverage, companies are converting bloat into scalable revenue. Forget “support functions” — this is where your next margin expansion lives. If you're not deploying AI to turn operational chaos into value, you’re already falling behind.Sumant Shringari is the founder of PONTUS, where he helps the world’s largest enterprises eliminate inefficiency through outcome based automation. Before launching PONTUS, he led product at Gordian Software, powering revenue gains for travel giants like Booking.com and Priceline. A former AI researcher, Sumant has published several papers at the intersection of artificial intelligence and biology. He holds five degrees from the University of Pennsylvania—which, in hindsight, may have been excessive.#AI #AIagents #Automation #Finance #OperationalEfficiency #CostCenters #ValueDrivers #BusinessTransformation #TechnologyAdoption #MachineLearningConnect with Sumant ShringariPublished Academic Work from Sumant ShringariConnect with PONTUS🔗 LinksPontus Business Case FrameworkLenny’s Podcast + NewsletterWes Kao's NewsletterPattern Recognition and Machine Learning (Information Science and Statistics) by Christopher BishopAndrej KarpathySelling With: The art of selling with champions to shape internal buying conversations & close enterprise deals by Nate Nasralla Enjoyed the episode? Drop us a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — it helps more builders find us. 📺 Watch on YouTube 🔥 Subscribe for weekly drops 📲 Follow us on socials here 🎙️ The AI-First Business Podcast AI isn’t coming—it’s already built. This is the podcast where you meet the ones who did it first. No panel chatter, no posturing—just sharp strategy, fast builds, and the people reshaping products, ops, and industries with AI. Disclaimer: Views are personal and do not reflect any affiliated organizations. Content is for informational purposes only.
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Why VCs Love Layer Cakes: Startup Growth with Tyler Sosin of Menlo Ventures
What do venture capital, layer cakes, and early-stage startups have in common? Tyler from Menlo Ventures breaks it all down. With 15 years in the VC game, Tyler’s focus on FinTech and vertical SaaS has led him to develop the “layer cake” approach—building businesses with stacked, sustainable revenue models. He dives into the importance of long-term customer retention, adding products post-acquisition, and spotting early product-market fit.But is the layer cake model the best strategy? While Tyler champions sustainable, customer-focused growth, not everyone’s convinced. Are traditional growth models better at managing risks like customer dependency and market volatility? Tune in to hear Tyler’s take on startups, Menlo’s hands-on support for founders, and why he thinks "flat revenue cohorts" are the key to long-term success.If you’ve ever wondered how venture capitalists spot the next big thing—or how "beautiful layer cakes" fit into all of this—this episode has you covered.Topics Covered:The "layer cake" business model for scaling startups.FinTech and vertical SaaS investment strategies.Menlo Ventures' hands-on approach to building great teams.For: Founders, aspiring VCs, and anyone curious about how startups grow—or fail.Connect with Tyler Sosin hereTyler Sosin LinkedinMenlo VenturesConnect with Ash Akhan hereAsh Akhan LinkedinEpisode References:GoCardless Y CombinatorEnjoyed the episode? Drop us a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — it helps more builders find us. 📺 Watch on YouTube 🔥 Subscribe for weekly drops 📲 Follow us on socials here 🎙️ The AI-First Business Podcast AI isn’t coming—it’s already built. This is the podcast where you meet the ones who did it first. No panel chatter, no posturing—just sharp strategy, fast builds, and the people reshaping products, ops, and industries with AI. Disclaimer: Views are personal and do not reflect any affiliated organizations. Content is for informational purposes only.
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AI in Cybersecurity: A Threat That Learns Faster Than You
AI wasn’t always a welcome guest in cybersecurity—but that changed with Darktrace.🎙️ In this episode, CISO Michael Beck shares how he left the UK government to tackle a new kind of threat landscape: one where traditional defenses were no longer enough, and AI had to prove its worth in the face of deep industry skepticism .📌We break down:🔍 The early resistance: Why AI in cybersecurity was dismissed—and what it took to gain trust 📈 Darktrace’s blueprint: How anomaly detection and continuous learning redefined cyber defense ⚙️ Adoption lessons: What teams need to know when integrating AI into legacy systems 🧍♂️ The human factor: Why perception, communication, and credibility are as important as the tech itself This episode is for:👩💼 Leaders navigating AI integration🛠️ Builders scaling in critical industries🧠 Anyone curious how trust, timing, and innovation collide in high-stakes environments Connect with Michael Beck:LinkedinPodcase Episode: Gen AI in Cybersecurity: Innovations, Threats, and Defence Strategies with DarktraceDarktrace:WebsiteThe AI Arsenal: Understanding the Tools Shaping CybersecuritReferences:National Cyber Security Center (NCSC)Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report (2025)Red Team / Blue TeamBook Reco: Financial IntelligenceMovie Reco: WarGamesMITRE ATT&CK🎯 Did we hit the mark for you? Help us win favor with the algorithm gods, drop a 5 ⭐️ rating and like!📺 Watch the full episode now on Youtube🔥 Want early-access and exclusive content? Subscribe on Substack or follow our channelsEnjoyed the episode? Drop us a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — it helps more builders find us. 📺 Watch on YouTube 🔥 Subscribe for weekly drops 📲 Follow us on socials here 🎙️ The AI-First Business Podcast AI isn’t coming—it’s already built. This is the podcast where you meet the ones who did it first. No panel chatter, no posturing—just sharp strategy, fast builds, and the people reshaping products, ops, and industries with AI. Disclaimer: Views are personal and do not reflect any affiliated organizations. Content is for informational purposes only.
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From Crime to Code: Duane’s Journey to Tech Entrepreneurship
What happens when a life shaped by East London streets, children’s homes, and prison pivots to building tech startups? Meet Duane—who found his way to becoming tech founder from a different angle. In this episode, Duane breaks down his wild transformation from running with the wrong crowd to running his own B2B tech ventures in accounting, HR, and payroll. Spoiler: coding saved the day.Key Highlights:From children’s homes to prison, Duane’s early environment shaped his path—until it didn’t.Prison reflections sparked a shift: what’s your plan, or are you just part of someone else’s?Tech became the escape route, with coding opening doors to building successful businesses.Duane doesn’t hold back, sharing raw insights into how resilience, reflection, and intentional living redefined his future. This one’s for the hustlers and tinkerers navigating life’s curveballs. Tune in for a story of grit, growth, and second chances in the tech game.Connect with Duane Jackson hereConnect with Ash Akhan here#Entrepreneurship #TechFounder #ResilienceEnjoyed the episode? Drop us a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — it helps more builders find us. 📺 Watch on YouTube 🔥 Subscribe for weekly drops 📲 Follow us on socials here 🎙️ The AI-First Business Podcast AI isn’t coming—it’s already built. This is the podcast where you meet the ones who did it first. No panel chatter, no posturing—just sharp strategy, fast builds, and the people reshaping products, ops, and industries with AI. Disclaimer: Views are personal and do not reflect any affiliated organizations. Content is for informational purposes only.
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From GoCardless to Global: Steve Domin’s Blueprint for Travel’s Next Revolution
The hustle is born from finding solutions no one else has thought of.What’s the secret sauce behind startup success? Steve dives into the chaotic early days of GoCardless—think empty offices, language barriers, and an emerging Shoreditch tech scene. From gritty beginnings to creating Duffel, a travel tech innovator, this episode unpacks the lessons, laughs, and challenges that shaped some of the UK’s most notable entrepreneurs.Discover how the GoCardless alumni network sparked industry-changing ventures and why APIs are revolutionizing the future of travel. Plus, hear Steve’s take on navigating cultural shifts, balancing creativity with business, and why the startup grind might just be worth it.Whether you're an entrepreneur, a tech enthusiast, or just here for the stories, this one’s for you.Connect with Steve Domin hereSteve Domin LinkedinDuffelDuffel LinkedinConnect with Ash Akhan hereAsh Akhan LinkedinEpisode References:| GoCardless | GoCardless || Y Combinator | Y Combinator |#VentureCapital #FinTechInnovation #StartupFunding #LayerCakeStrategy #BusinessGrowth #InvestmentTrends #TechEntrepreneurship #SaaSInvestment #TheFutureofFinance #Startups #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #BusinessTransformation #AIInnovation #Leadership #AIFuture #TechStartups #DigitalTransformation #InnovationPlaybook #AIadoptionEnjoyed the episode? Drop us a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — it helps more builders find us. 📺 Watch on YouTube 🔥 Subscribe for weekly drops 📲 Follow us on socials here 🎙️ The AI-First Business Podcast AI isn’t coming—it’s already built. This is the podcast where you meet the ones who did it first. No panel chatter, no posturing—just sharp strategy, fast builds, and the people reshaping products, ops, and industries with AI. Disclaimer: Views are personal and do not reflect any affiliated organizations. Content is for informational purposes only.
AI isn’t coming—it’s already built. Hosted by Tina Yazdi, this is the podcast where you meet the ones who did it first. No panel chatter, no posturing—just sharp strategy, fast builds, and the people reshaping products, ops, and industries with AI.
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