Under The Hood X Le Studio: Recent Episodes
Le Studio
A podcast by Le Studio where we talk about the true ins and outs of entrepreneurship with real-life innovators.
Listen in as host, Karine Sarkissian explores the world of creative entrepreneurship with Jon Portman, designer, animator, and co-founder of Gentle Beast.
In this conversation, Karine dives into Jon’s journey from art director to launching a dog training platform. Discover the challenges and triumphs he has faced, and gain insights into collaboration between creative and non-creative co-founders, navigating entrepreneurship, and leveraging storytelling in business. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned professional, this episode offers inspiration and knowledge to fuel your own creative journey. Tune in to learn from Jon’s experiences and uncover the secrets to building an innovative company.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonportman/
https://www.gentlebeast.com/
Join us as we explore the world of female entrepreneur Katy Cottam, Founder and CEO of Luna Daily.
In this conversation, host Sophie Durey dives into Katy’s journey from her beginnings in the cosmetics industry and a plant-based food startup to leading a pioneering brand dedicated to normalizing conversations around women's health. Discover the challenges and triumphs she has faced along the way and gain valuable insights into breaking societal stigmas, the power of being a generalist, and the importance of building a strong team. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or a supporter of women’s health, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge and inspiration to fuel your own journey. Tune in to learn from Katy’s experiences and uncover the secrets to running a successful, purpose-driven company.
Resources:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/katy-cottam-b6556043/?originalSubdomain=uk
- https://us.luna-daily.com/
Listen in as Sophie explores the world of tech entrepreneurship with Roy Stillwell, Founder, CEO, and Chief Scientist at Nearwave. In this conversation, Sophie dives into Roy’s journey from his beginnings as an engineer to his role at the forefront of a groundbreaking company. Discover the challenges and triumphs faced along the way, and gain valuable insights into the startup landscape, fundraising strategies, and the importance of resilience in building a successful venture. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned industry professional, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge and inspiration to fuel your own entrepreneurial journey. Tune in to learn from Roy’s experiences and uncover the secrets to startup success.
In this episode, Sophie and Jeremy Brown, Founder of Social Impact World explore the evolving landscape of social impact in corporate environments and its importance for startups. They discuss perspectives on social impact, challenges for corporations, and the role of social impact leaders. From integrating initiatives to harnessing purpose-driven models, each discussion offers insights and advice for executives and founders alike. Whether seeking innovative strategies or aiming to embed social responsibility, this episode provides actionable inspiration for creating a sustainable future.
Join host Karine Sarkissian as she discovers the world of entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia with Dr. Sandra Medina and Luisa Javier, founders of Wayakit. Explore their journey as female entrepreneurs, and uncover how mentorship, resilience, and acts of kindness have fueled their success. Gain valuable insights into fostering a supportive network and embracing innovation within the dynamic landscape of Saudi entrepreneurship.
Join Sophie Durey and Fabrice Serfati, GP and Managing Director at Ignia Partners, for an insightful discussion on the evolving venture capital landscape in Latin America. Fabrice shares valuable insights into investment trends, regional dynamics, and essential strategies for startup success. From market maturity to building a strong network, discover actionable advice for founders in this dynamic ecosystem. Tune in for expert perspectives on thriving in Latin America’s vibrant startup scene.
Resources:
- http://ignia.vc/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabriceserfati/
- https://open.spotify.com/show/0hP0KlIY65JtYCdNPyetVz?si=d50059267238461b
- Scaling People: Tactics for Management and Company Building: https://a.co/d/cYruqKT
Dive into the world of Omnom Chocolate with host Sophie Durey as she chats with CEO Óskar Þórðarson. From sustainable sourcing practices to expanding into global markets, Omnom is sweetening the world one bar at a time.
Óskar shares insights on everything from supply chain sustainability to navigating the competitive US market. Plus, get a taste of the personal side of entrepreneurship as he discusses the importance of mental health and work-life balance.
Whether you’re a chocolate enthusiast, an aspiring entrepreneur, or simply love a good success story, this episode is for you. Tune in to hear how Omnom Chocolate is spreading sweetness while staying true to its roots.
Explore the dynamic world of social impact and innovation with Lauren Taylor, principal at REDF. Lauren shares insights into REDF’s approach to fostering community-driven businesses.
Unpack key resources needed for social entrepreneurs, from impact measurement to the art of storytelling. Dive into the challenges, opportunities, and the importance of self-care in the transformative space of triple-bottom-line businesses.
Join us for an inspiring journey into the heart of social entrepreneurship, and gain valuable advice and resources for those aspiring to make a meaningful impact.
Discover the evolving intersection of law and innovation with Emily, a skilled and experienced intellectual property (IP) lawyer. Unpack the essentials of IP for early-stage companies, ethical AI considerations, and the global challenges of content ownership.
Explore how IP becomes a strategic ally in business growth as Emily highlights the dynamic creative nature of IP law and emphasizes its role as a catalyst for innovation.
Join us for a concise summary of IP and technology, and let's reshape the narrative around the law's role in driving innovation.
Unlock the world of AI and entrepreneurship in this riveting episode. Join host Sophie Durey as she learns about Shomit Ghose, a seasoned Silicon Valley investor, entrepreneur, and AI enthusiast. Shomit shares profound insights about the transformative evolution of AI and navigating the ethical landscape. Discover the emerging trends in AI, learn about the essential qualities for entrepreneurs, and the pivotal role of resilience. Tune in for a captivating conversation that transcends the tech world and touches on the core of human connection.
Explore the crossroads of design, AI, and human creativity with Tara Tan, Founding Partner at Strange Ventures. Gain insights into the impact of strategic design on market leadership, the ethical considerations of AI, and the dual nature of open source technology. Tara’s unique perspective offers a compelling journey through entrepreneurship, innovation, and the delicate balance between fostering positive impacts and addressing potential challenges. Join us for a dynamic conversation that transcends boundaries and shapes the future of technology and creativity.
Dive into the world of social entrepreneurship with Whitley O’Connor, Co-Director of Social Enterprise at Curbside Enterprises. Explore the differences between running for-profit and nonprofit ventures, learn from successful models, and navigate ethical considerations in social impact. Get insights into the challenges and triumphs of building and scaling social enterprises. Whitley shares the personal side of his social impact work, discussing the importance of a long-term vision and strategies for maintaining mental health. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or an aspiring change-maker, this episode inspires with valuable insights for those passionate about making a meaningful impact. Listen now and join the conversation at the intersection of business and social impact!
Join us in this episode as we dive into the fascinating journey of David Dietz, a conflict journalist turned social entrepreneur, and his insights into community building and global philanthropy. Host Karine Sarkissian explores David’s personal milestones, to navigating the realms running a sustainable business.
Discover the transformative power of community, as David shares stories about Nexus, a global network of change-makers spanning philanthropy, impact investment, and social innovation. Explore the intersection of cultural nuances and philanthropy, as it connects diverse communities in their pursuit of positive change.
From acts of kindness that transcend borders to strong friendships and relationship, this episode offers a rich selection of stories. Join us for a thought-provoking conversation on the power of community, innovation, and gratitude, leaving you inspired to foster positive change in your own corner of the world.
Tune in for an engaging dialogue that dives into the heart of meaningful connections, cultural diversity, and the shared responsibility we all have in creating a better future.
In this episode, we sit down with Matias Gandulfo, co-founder of Bay Padel, as he shares his incredible journey from engineer and soccer player to entrepreneur. Matias discusses his background, including his experiences prior to coming to the United States, and how a personal connection to Padel inspired the creation of Bay Padel. We delve into the challenges and triumphs they've encountered along the way and how Matias's engineering expertise has played a pivotal role in building their successful venture. Join us for an inspiring conversation about sports, entrepreneurship, and the incredible people who've shaped this journey.
Find BayPadel:
https://baypadel.us/
https://instagram.com/bay.padel/
Join their Whatsapp Community
Join us in the latest episode of Under the Hood X Le Studio as Karine Sarkissian interviews Aditi Maliwal, Partner at Upfront Ventures. Aditi shares her incredible journey into the world of venture capital, along with captivating investing stories and her insights into current venture funding trends. Discover what it takes to thrive in the world of investment and entrepreneurship. Listen now!
In our latest episode, Sophie Durey engages in a compelling conversation with Tximista Lizarazu, CEO & Co-Founder at Fraîche. Tune in as they delve into Tximista's background and the journey that led to the creation of Fraîche in New York. Discover how sustainability emerged as the driving force behind Fraîche and the pillars that propel their impactful mission. Don't miss the inspiring initiative where they donate surplus food to charity, embodying their commitment to zero waste.
Dive into a special episode of 'Under the Hood X Le Studio' as we flip the script and bring back one of our early guests, Hrag Sarkissian, Founding Partner at Tamar Capital and Co-founder & CEO at eSkootr Championship (eSC), to take the interviewer's seat. In this unique opportunity, Hrag, who also happens to be the brother of our co-founder Karine Sarkissian, delves into her fascinating journey. Explore Karine's background, her role in conceiving Le Studio, her dynamic partnership with Sophie Durey, and the exciting future plans she has in store for our community. Tune in for a candid and personal conversation that uncovers the heart and soul of Le Studio.
Dive into the fascinating journey of Le Studio's co-founder, Sophie Durey, in this special episode of "Under The Hood X Le Studio." In an inspiring swap of seats, previous guest Brigit Blote takes on the role of host to uncover Sophie's remarkable path from her beginnings to her current roles at Tamar Capital and Le Studio. Join us as we explore Sophie's transition from a passion for non-profit work to becoming a dedicated impact investor. Discover her insights on sustainability, the significance of women leadership, and the pivotal role kindness plays in the world of business. Get ready for an engaging conversation that offers a glimpse into the woman behind Le Studio's impactful initiatives.
Join host Sophie Durey in an enlightening episode of Under the Hood X Le Studio as she engages in a captivating conversation with Brigit Blote, the CEO and co-founder of Fomeno. Explore the origins of Fomeno, its deep-rooted commitment to sustainability, and its unexpected growth through viral TikTok videos. Gain insights into Fomeno's marketing strategy, their foray into AI, and the challenges and triumphs of building a company in South Dakota. Discover how Brigit manages personal and professional life while navigating big milestones. Tune in for an inspiring exploration of sustainability and entrepreneurship.
Join Karine Sarkissian in the latest episode of "Under the Hood X Le Studio" as she sits down with the incredible guest, Lopa Desai, to delve into captivating discussions on career shifts, human-centered design, and the significance of collaboration and partnership.
Lopa shares her personal journey of transitioning from the world of design to investing, offering valuable insights and advice for anyone seeking a similar path. Discover how Lopa emphasizes the importance of nurturing creativity within ourselves, regardless of our professional backgrounds.
Uncover her unique perspective on human-centered design, and learn how it can transform businesses and enhance problem-solving. Moreover, dive into Lopa's thoughts on partnership and collaboration, as she emphasizes the need to build meaningful connections and earn trust rather than relying solely on financial contributions.
This episode will inspire you to tap into your creative potential, embrace collaboration, and forge genuine partnerships in your own career and beyond.
Join our host Karine Sarkissian on the latest episode of Under The Hood X Le Studio Podcast as she engages in an enlightening conversation with Thomas Knowles, Partner at Gratitude Railroad. They dive deep into topics such as work-life balance, Thomas's professional journey leading him to Gratitude Railroad, and the distinctions between traditional venture capital and impact-oriented VC. Get inspired as Thomas shares real-life examples of impactful investments made by Gratitude Railroad and the post-investment tracking they implement. Plus, don't miss his intriguing insights on SVB. Tune in now for an episode that will broaden your perspective on the intersection of business and impact.
In the latest episode of Under the Hood X Le Studio Podcast, our host Sophie Durey engages in an inspiring conversation with Michael Robinov, the Co-Founder & CEO at Farm To People. Join them as they delve into the fascinating journey behind this innovative food business and explore the values that drive its success.
Michael shares his personal experiences that ignited his passion for sustainable food systems, revealing how it led him to pitch the idea to his father and embark on the creation of Farm to People. Tune in to discover the pivotal moments and challenges that shaped Michael's entrepreneurial path.
As an avid traveler, Michael emphasizes the importance of stepping outside of one's comfort zone. He reveals how his exposure to diverse cultures and ideas influenced his approach to business, constantly pushing him to embrace new perspectives and foster innovation.
One of the core principles that sets Farm to People apart is its community-centric focus. Michael believes in the power of connecting local producers with consumers, cultivating a sense of belonging and shared responsibility. Uncover his insights on building a business rooted in community values rather than just a profit-driven model.
Aspiring entrepreneurs won't want to miss Michael's valuable advice. Drawing from his own experiences, he imparts wisdom on navigating the entrepreneurial landscape and overcoming obstacles with resilience and determination. Get ready to be inspired and motivated to take your own entrepreneurial journey to new heights.
Finally, Michael highlights the significance of customer feedback. He discusses how Farm to People places their customers at the forefront, viewing them as an essential source of insight and guidance. Discover the strategies Michael employs to ensure customer satisfaction and continuously improve their offerings.
Join Sophie Durey and Michael Robinov on this episode of Under the Hood X Le Studio Podcast as they unravel the compelling story of Farm To People, offering valuable lessons, perspectives, and inspiration for entrepreneurs and food enthusiasts alike.
In this Under The Hood X Le Studio episode, host Karine Sarkissian chats with Ibrahim AlHusseini, Managing Partner at FullCycle. Ibrahim shares his background, impact investing journey, and views on climate change. He talks about FullCycle's efforts to create bridges in the sustainability and impact investing world and the importance of education and awareness. The discussion also covers the topic of hype cycles and how they can be created by social bubbles. Tune in for an inspiring and insightful conversation!
Are you looking for inspiration and insights into cross-culture midset and VC? Look no further! Tune in to the latest episode of our podcast, where host Karine Sarkissian sits down with Chris Shen, co-founder of Revere VC. Together, they explore the benefits of learning from other cultures to improve self-awareness and people skills and the exciting potential of democratizing VC through Revere's disruptive approach. Discover how this new model creates exciting opportunities. Don't miss out on this game-changing conversation - listen now!
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shencw151/
Website: https://www.reverevc.com/
Welcome to the latest episode of our podcast, where we invite you to join host Sophie Durey as she sits down with Lori Van Dam, CEO of the Hult Prize, for an insightful and inspiring conversation.
In this episode, Lori shares her incredible journey in the non-profit space and provides a unique perspective on the future of entrepreneurship. Listeners will gain valuable insights into the power of entrepreneurship as a tool for positive change and learn from Lori's personal experiences as a woman in business.
With her deep knowledge and expertise, Lori shares her thoughts on the challenges and opportunities facing entrepreneurs today and discusses key takeaways that she has gained from her own journey. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in making a positive impact in the world, whether you're an entrepreneur, non-profit leader, or simply someone who wants to learn more about social entrepreneurship.
So don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to gain valuable insights and inspiration from a remarkable leader with great experience in the non-profit space. Tune in to our podcast today and join us on this journey of discovery and growth.
We are thrilled to release our latest podcast episode featuring an inspiring conversation with Jack McNamara, former professional hockey player turned founder, and our host Sophie Durey.During the episode, Jack shared his unique journey from the world of sports to entrepreneurship and how his experience in hockey taught him valuable lessons that he has been able to transfer into building his company, Tru.Jack's story is a testament to the power of perseverance, resilience, and adaptability, and we can't wait for you to hear about his inspiring journey.
If you want to learn more about Jack or Tru you can visit their website https://drinktru.com/
Alex West Steinman and Bethany Iverson, Co-founders of The Coven. During our latest episode, Alex and Bethany had a wonderful conversation with Sophie. They shared some of the unexpected challenges The Coven had faced with the pandemic, and how they overcame social distancing as a business and also as a team. Furthermore, they tell us about some of the key learnings they collected during their journey as co-founders and during their latest fundraising round. The Coven is a uniquely impactful model and they share how impact has always been at the core of their strategy, and how, by expanding their business model to a franchise model, they are unlocking the possibility of greater impact.
Christina Andreou, Head of Global Sustainability at o9 Solutions tells Sophie about how she came into the Sustainability space. What are some of the challenges she faced building an internal Social Impact team at O9 Solutions, her experience combining the Design Thinking methodology with sustainability, and some other topics she likes.
Our Third and final Le Studio Reacts is Live! Karine and Sophie look back at the three interviews of this series on fundraising and chat about their own experience as investors.
Shahan Sarkissian, our last guest for the Fundraising series. In this episode, Karine Sarkissian chats with her brother Shahan, Founding Partner at Tamar Capital, Co-founder at Tioopo Capital. Shahan shares his journey from an engineer to a fund manager. He has a very unique perspective on fundraising since he has been on both sides of the table. If you want to learn more about Tamar or Tioopo follow the links:
Tamar Capital: https://tamar.capital/
Tioopo Capital: https://www.tioopocapital.com/
Tamar Real Estate: https://www.tre.capital/
In this episode on fundraising, Sophie Durey chats with Jessica Karr, General Partner at Coyote Ventures. Jessica tells us about her personal and professional journey in becoming an impact investor and starting Coyote Ventures. She shares insights on the fundraising process from her investor’s perspective and she teaches us about the fundraising process for a fund.
If you want to learn more about Jessica or Coyote Ventures you can find it here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicarkarr/
https://www.coyote.ventures/
Our third season of Under The Hood X Le Studio is live! This time Sophie has the opportunity to chat with Manik Suri, Founder and CEO of Therma, a technology startup whose mission is to help protect our food, health, and planet. Therma is one of Tamar Capital’s portfolio companies, and we are incredibly excited to share their success in this podcast. During this conversation, Manik shares with us some of the most important lessons he has learned throughout the different rounds of fundraising for Therma. Grab your pens, this episode is full of amazing tips!
Sophie and Karine chat about Impact in our second Le Studio Reacts episode. This one is a bit different from our last Le Studio Reacts because Impact is a core pillar for Le Studio and Tamar Capital. Karine and Sophie share their personal experience around impact investing, and what they have learned about impact measurement along the way.
In this episode on impact, Karine Sarkissian chats with Kim Kolt, General Partner at Bay Bridge Ventures and founder at For Good Ventures. Kim tells us about her personal and professional journey in becoming an impact investor. She shares insights from the investor’s perspective and tells us about some of the efforts she continues to make to ensure that impact-first companies are getting the support they need regardless of their stage.
As part of our Impact series, Sophie Durey chats with Yuliya Tarasava, Co-founder and COO at C note. Yuliya tells us about her journey from product creation on Wall Street to impact investing through C note. Her personal experiences have allowed her to gain the knowledge and skills to shift from a traditional financial institution to the creation of an impact investment technology platform that allows institutional and retail investors to work on issues and causes they care about around communities.
Our first episode from our Impact series- Karine chats with Harry Rappaport, Finance and Strategy at Urchinomics. Harry tells us about his personal and professional journey from being an impact investor to working in the Ocean's space. He shares about his passion for the work he does today at Urchinomics, a company focused on kelp forest restoration. He also tells us more about blue carbon credit initiatives and how aquaculture projects can make a huge difference in restoring our oceans’ biodiversity and ecosystems. Follow along to learn more!
Our 1st Le Studio Reacts episode! Sophie and Karine chat about their favorite moments and key takeaways from this series’ interviews. In this episode, they go through the ideation interviews and share tools around the challenges mentioned by our innovators. Our dynamic duo highlights their favorite moments from the series and gives their opinion on some of the topics tackled in the last three episodes.
When a moment in your life gives you the idea for your next venture: Pierre Giraud and Indigo. Our third episode focuses on big ideas that are also extremely personal. We chat with Pierre Giraud, founder & CEO of Indigo, a mental wellness venture studio, based in NY.
Our second episode from our ideation series-Sophie chats with Urs Naber, Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer at ZEIT Medical. Urs tells us about the challenges of transforming a great idea and technology into a viable product.
Our first episode from our ideation series- Karine chats with her brother, Hrag Sarkissian- CEO and co-founder at eSC. Hrag tells us about his journey with launching a new business: an e-Skooter Championship. Through awareness building around brand-led storytelling and harnessing the strength of a good team, eSC has launched a sport that is inclusive, sustainable, and fostering positive change. This is a brand new motorsport with an accessible twist: a grassroot fan base, and a gender-neutral and diverse list of riders. Follow along to learn more!
This is a short episode where we introduce the podcast and ourselves, Karine and Sophie!