Your Window Into the Innovation Economy

Blogs, Webinars and Podcasts covering technology, start-ups, and venture investing

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October 29, 20242 min read
Episode #68: Meet the Startup Bringing Blockbusters to Your Tabletop
In this episode of the Tech Optimist Podcast, Jason Bird talks with David T. Scott, CEO of Evil Genius Games, about the company’s digital-first platform that modernizes tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) using licensed movie franchises like John Wick and Pacific Rim. With a focus on inclusivity and community-driven content, Evil Genius Games is reshaping the TTRPG experience to attract a new generation of gamers.
by Alumni Ventures
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 Webinar - January 23rd 2025
Bitcoin’s Path to $1M: A VC’s Analysis
Join Alumni Ventures Founder and CEO Mike Collins as he unpacks Bitcoin’s potential to redefine the global store of value. Drawing on his extensive expertise as the leader of one of the most active venture capital firms in the world, Mike will use Disruption Theory to explore why Bitcoin may have a path to reaching $1 million per coin.
by Alumni Ventures
October 25, 20242 min read
Episode #67: Meet the Startup Unlocking Crypto-Backed Loans
In this episode of the Tech Optimist podcast, Mike Collins speaks with Dhruv Patel and Himanshu Sahay, the co-founders of Arch Lending, a New York-based FinTech startup revolutionizing crypto-backed loans.
by Alumni Ventures
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 Webinar - November 21st 2024
The War Below: The Global Battle to Power Our Lives
In this compelling discussion, host Drew Wandzilak from Alumni Ventures welcomes esteemed author Ernest Scheyder, whose book, The War Below, is longlisted for the National Book Award for Nonfiction and the 2024 Financial Times and Schroders Business Book of the Year Award.
by Alumni Ventures
October 24, 20242 min read
Episode #66: Three Breakthroughs: Digitizing Smell Using AI
Mike Collins and Naren Ramaswamy explore three pivotal technological advancements shaping our world in this Three Breakthroughs episode of the Alumni Ventures Tech Optimist Podcast. They begin with a groundbreaking achievement in neuroscience: the first-ever complete map of a fruit fly’s brain, shedding light on brain function and offering potential insights for AI and medical innovations.
by Alumni Ventures
October 23, 20242 min read
Alumni Ventures Invests in Mantel to Revolutionize Carbon Capture with Molten Salt
Alumni Ventures (AV), one of the world’s most active venture capital firms, is a proud investor in Mantel. With its proprietary molten salt-based carbon capture technology, Mantel is poised to lead the charge in decarbonizing heavy industry and achieving large-scale carbon emission reductions. AV invested in the company’s $30 million Series A co-led by Shell Ventures and Eni Next, with participation from Engine Ventures, bp Ventures, New Climate Ventures, Hartree, Arosa Ventures, Vale Ventures, Newlab and MCJ Collective.
by Alumni Ventures
October 23, 20242 min read
Alumni Ventures Invests in Work & Mother to Improve Workplace Lactation Solutions
Alumni Ventures (AV), one of the world’s most active venture capital firms, is a proud investor in Work & Mother. The company provides amenities and technology that help mothers breastfeed in safe, well-equipped environments at their workplaces. AV invested in Work & Mother’s $3.5 million seed round led by Building Ventures, with participation from Artemis Fund, Claritas Capital, and Second Century Ventures.
by Alumni Ventures
October 23, 202414 min read
Evaluating Web3 Startups
Post the noise of memetokens and the drama of crypto company meltdowns making headlines, the hype bubble has finally popped. This has left a space where “irrational exuberance” has given way to a return of sense and sensibility. As the dust settles, the focus shifts from wild speculation to startups that are actually building sustainable innovations in Web3 — those with real value and not just flashy promises. Respected firms like McKinsey, BlackRock, and even Disney are recognizing the potential of this space, with reports and initiatives that underscore the transformative potential of blockchain technology. Now is the time to look beyond the headlines and see the opportunity in this evolving landscape, where the true builders are laying the foundations for the next era of the digital economy.
by Sophia Zhao
October 23, 20242 min read
Episode #65: Meet the Startup Bringing Lactation Suites to the Modern Office
In this Meet the Startup episode of the Alumni Ventures Tech Optimist Podcast, Ron Levin, Managing Partner at Alumni Ventures, sits down with Abbey Donnell, the founder and CEO of Work & Mother. They discuss how Work & Mother is reshaping the modern workplace by providing fully equipped lactation suites that help companies meet legal requirements while supporting working mothers.
by Alumni Ventures
October 22, 20249 min read
The Power & Promise of AI in Financial Services
In the ever-changing world of financial services, AI and related technologies are revolutionizing operations and legal strategies, and as both General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of a forward-thinking venture capital platform, I’m actively navigating their profound impact on industry regulations and relationships with external legal firms.
by Michael Phillips
October 18, 20242 min read
Episode #64: Meet the Startup Revolutionizing Carbon Capture
In this Meet the Startup episode of the Alumni Ventures Tech Optimist Podcast, we dive into the innovative world of carbon capture with Cameron Halliday, co-founder and CEO of Mantel. Joined by Alumni Ventures Managing Partner Chris Sklarin, Cameron discusses Mantel’s groundbreaking technology that leverages molten salt-based materials to capture CO2 emissions from industrial sources like cement and steel plants.
by Alumni Ventures
October 18, 20242 min read
How do you stay open-minded?
How do leaders stay open-minded in a world full of opinions and decisions? This conversation explores personal strategies for maintaining openness and balancing diverse perspectives. Watch the full video to uncover insights you won’t want to miss.
by Alumni Ventures

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