In the ever-evolving landscape of business communication, platforms like WhatsApp are no longer just messaging apps but have transformed into powerful platforms enabling businesses to connect with their customers in groundbreaking ways. In the latest episode of Startups in Focus, our Managing Director Carlos Espinal and our Principal Felix Martinez, dive deep into this topic with Tarek Khalil and Mohamed Elbadwihi, co-founders of Rasayel, exploring how they are leveraging WhatsApp to redefine business communication. They also explore: - the evolution of WhatsApp as a platform and its impact on business communication, driven by its mass usage and business demand, highlighting the complexities of compliance and global usage variations; - the strategic choice of focusing on WhatsApp due to its global prevalence and trusted infrastructure; - the potential of building a billion-dollar company on platforms like WhatsApp, drawing parallels with Salesforce and Shopify; - how to navigate platform risks. About Rasayel: Rasayel focuses on enabling businesses to interact with customers via WhatsApp, which they see as the future of business communication, offering a more personal and immediate interaction compared to emails and phone calls. Tarek and Mohammed foresee significant business opportunities as WhatsApp evolves, aiming for Rasael to become a leading player on the platform. Show Notes: Tarek Khalil - linkedin.com/in/tarek-khalil-wa/ Mohamed Elbadwihi - linkedin.com/in/amuno Carlos Espinal - linkedin.com/in/carloseduardoespinal/ Felix Martinez - linkedin.com/in/felixjmartinez/ Rasayel - rasayel.io Seedcamp - seedcamp.com Get in Touch with Rasayel: For businesses, investors, or users eager to explore further into Rasayel, the easiest way to reach them is—fittingly—through WhatsApp via their website. Dive Deeper: Betting on WhatsApp - Tarek Khalil, Co-founder and CEO of Rasayel, wrote a thesis for anyone who wants to understand, build, or invest in the future of the WhatsApp platform. [https://justmessaged.substack.com/p/betting-on-whatsapp] Overview: 00:00 Can WhatsApp Sustain a Billion-Dollar Company? 00:25 Introduction to the Podcast and Guests 01:05 Founders' Backgrounds and Journey 03:16 Lessons Learned from Previous Startups 05:29 The Birth of Octopods and Rassayel 08:10 How Rassayel Helps Businesses 10:36 WhatsApp as a Platform 13:34 Platform Risks and Meta's Strategy 21:24 Global Usage of Messaging Apps 23:53 Global Messaging Trends and WhatsApp's Dominance 24:47 Trust and Confidentiality in Messaging Platforms 25:47 WhatsApp's Strategic Development and Market Penetration 27:45 Navigating Multiple Messaging Channels 32:07 WhatsApp Business Platform: Features and Compliance 37:34 Future of Business on WhatsApp 45:03 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode, Carlos interviews General Stanley McChrystal, a distinguished military leader with 34 years of experience commanding at a four-star level, including significant roles in Iraq and Afghanistan. They discuss General McChrystal's career, including his extensive awards like the Defense Distinguished Service Medal. General McChrystal shares his post-military endeavors, including founding the McChrystal Group and teaching leadership at Yale. The conversation delves into General McChrystal's books, particularly 'Leaders' and 'Team of Teams', exploring how writing these books shaped his views on leadership. Key themes include: - understanding the complexities of leadership; - the interplay between leaders, followers, and context, - and the role of character and self-discipline in effective leadership. The episode also covers practical insights on managing and transforming organizational cultures. General McChrystal shares personal anecdotes and reflections on leadership mistakes, personal development, and mentoring. 00:00 Introducing General Stan McChrystal 01:26 General McChrystal's Career Evolution and Achievements 01:48 Discussion on Leadership 07:15 The Three Myths of Leadership 09:58 The Role of Followers and Breaking the Cycle 13:15 Leadership Evolution and Organizational Dynamics 16:58 Challenges in Leadership and Adaptability 20:52 Team Dynamics in Startups and Large Organizations 23:40 Adapting Leadership Styles and Overcoming Mistakes 30:09 Commander's Dilemma: Vehicle Maintenance and Leadership Challenges 31:48 Leadership in Counter-Terrorism Operations 32:35 The Importance of Character in Leadership 35:42 Defining and Reflecting on Character 39:43 Personal Development and Daily Routines 45:26 Mentorship and Learning from Mistakes 55:54 Military Traditions and Cultural Questions 57:37 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Show Notes: General Stan McChrystal - linkedin.com/in/stanmcchrystal Carlos Espinal - linkedin.com/in/carloseduardoespinal mcchrystalgroup.com seedcamp.com General McCrysyal's books - mcchrystalgroup.com/about/books

The latest episode of Startups in Focus features Leonid Feinberg, founder of Verax, a Seedcamp-backed company that provides enterprise-grade trust solutions for generative AI. Having a strong background in security and cloud services, including a previous company acquired by Amazon, Leonid shares insights on managing AI-related risks and offers practical advice for future customers regarding AI's potential and trust management. In conversation with our Managing Director Carlos Espinal, he delves into the challenges and solutions associated with deploying generative AI in production. He also explains how Verax's Control Center helps enterprises gain visibility and mitigate risks by analyzing and modifying AI responses in real-time. Furthermore, they discuss the current and future landscape of AI data management, the evolving best practices in AI, and the geopolitical implications of AI. Show Notes: Leonid Feinberg - linkedin.com/in/leonidf Carlos Eduardo Espinal - linkedin.com/in/carloseduardoespinal Verax AI - verax.ai Seedcamp - seedcamp.com Overview: 00:00 Introduction to Today's Guest: Leonid Feinberg, Co-founder and CEO of Verax 00:53 Leonid's Background and Journey to Founding Verax 01:33 Understanding Verax: Enterprise Trust Solution for Generative AI 02:48 Architectural Insights: Rolling Out LLMs in Enterprises 05:02 Challenges and Best Practices in AI Deployment 08:01 Future of AI and Data Management 12:16 Verax's Role in Enterprise AI Trust 18:39 Geopolitics and AI: Global Implications 26:15 Advice for future AI Customers 28:21 Conclusion

In a new episode of Startups in Focus, our Managing Partner Carlos Espinal is joined by Ryan Donnelly, co-founder and CEO of Enzai, an AI governance platform that allows organisations to adopt best-in-class AI governance policies and measure against them. They discuss: - the impact of AI as a technological revolution similar to the mobile shift, dotcom boom, and web invention - the importance of regulations and standards in ensuring AI's responsible use and trustworthiness - the challenges and opportunities in AI adoption - Enzai’s mission of enabling organizations to leverage AI technology effectively and responsibly, in compliance with emerging regulations - Enzai's vision of enabling trust in AI future regulatory landscapes and the necessary frameworks for AI adoption. Tune in for an insightful discussion on the future of AI governance and compliance. Show Notes Ryan Donnelly - linkedin.com/in/ryan-donnelly-enzai Carlos Espinal - linkedin.com/in/carloseduardoespinal Enzai - enz.ai Seedcamp - seedcamp.com Reach out to Ryan and his team at [email protected].  Time stamps: 00:00 Introduction to the AI Technological Revolution 00:36 Meet Ryan Donnelly: Co-founder and CEO of Enzai 01:14 The Inspiration Behind Enzai 02:19 Understanding Enzai’s Customers 03:13 The Role of Regulations in AI 05:07 The Evolution of AI Regulations 10:26 The Importance of Standards in AI 14:20 Enzai's Vision for the Future 15:49 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

The latest episode of This Much I Know is an in-depth exploration of leadership, personal growth, and the transformative power of understanding one's own history and motivations. Carlos's guest, Jerry Colonna, Co-founder and CEO of Reboot, shares his journey from being a venture capitalist to becoming an executive coach, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and human connection in business and personal development. His reflections on the challenges and complexities of leadership are interwoven with personal anecdotes, and the painful but enlightening process of self-discovery he experienced. Carlos and Jerry discuss the societal implications of leadership decisions, the moral and ethical responsibilities of leaders in today's world, and the potential for venture capital to contribute positively to societal challenges. Central to the conversation is the concept of "Reunion," derived from Jerry Colonna's eponymous book, highlighting the necessity for leaders to confront their own pasts and the "othering" that divides people, to foster more empathetic and effective leadership. Show Notes: Jerry Colonna linkedin.com/in/jerry-colonna-reboot Carlos Espinal – linkedin.com/in/carloseduardoespinal Reboot - reboot.io Seedcamp - seedcamp.com Jerry Colonna's new book Reunion: Leadership and the Longing to Belong - reunion.reboot.io

In the newly launched "Startups in Focus" series, our Managing Partner Carlos Espinal chats with Johannes Keienburg, co-founder and CEO of Cakewalk. Their conversation revolves around the importance of access control, visibility, and security in organizations. Johannes shares insights on the need for access management processes from the early days of an organisation, the challenges of data security, the evolution and future of access controls. Show notes: Johannes Keienburg - linkedin.com/in/johannes-keienburg/ Carlos Espinal – linkedin.com/in/carloseduardoespinal Cakewalk getcakewalk.io Seedcamp seedcamp.com

In a new episode of This Much I Know, Carlos's guest is Chris Tottman, General Partner at Notion VC, one of Europe's top-tier VC firms. Chris shares insights on: - his journey as an entrepreneur and Venture Capital investor - the evolution of venture capital in Europe - how founders can become successful in company building. - the role of mentorship in the VC industry. He also highlights the significance of founder-led sales, strategic pricing, understanding customer needs, fundraising challenges, and more. Show Notes: Chris Tottman - linkedin.com/in/chris-tottman Carlos Espinal – linkedin.com/in/carloseduardoespinal Notion VC - https://www.notion.vc/ Included - https://included.vc/ Seedcamp - seedcamp.com Chris's Book 'THE GO TO MARKET HANDBOOK FOR B2B SaaS LEADERS' - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CJ45462M?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_CBFYWJN41F41CBK033SA

In a follow-up to their Seedcamp Firsts conversation on data, our Venture Partner Devin Hunt and Candice Ren, Founder of analytics agency 173Tech and a member of the Seedcamp Expert Collective, dive deep into A/B testing and good data science practices. With new and exciting AI technology emerging around recommendation engines, how can product leads evaluate which solution is better and how to really measure a “better recommendation”? Focusing on a specific case study - a furniture marketplace, Candice, who worked on A/B testing and recommendation engines for Bumble, Plend Loans, MUBI, Treatwell and many others, shares her thoughts on: - the intricacies of setting up and analyzing an A/B test experiment focused on comparing two different recommendation algorithms - how you set your hypothesis - the best way to segment your user basis - how to select what you are controlling for (e.g. click-through rate) - how to interpret test results and consider broader business metrics impact. Candice and Devin also emphasize the importance of granular testing, proper test design, and documentation of test results for informed decision-making within a company's testing framework.

In a new Seedcamp Deep Dive, Carlos's guest is Di Cook, AI Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), research affiliate at the Center of the Study for Existential Risk at the University of Cambridge, and a doctoral candidate in war studies at King's College in London. Her research interests lie at the intersection of defense, intelligence, and AI. Their conversation revolves around the societal and security implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI), from the existential risks that AI could create, to the role of AI in national and international security. They also explore how AI technologies, and especially synthetic media, are augmenting and exacerbating societal and ethical issues and discuss potential initiatives and policies that can help to address these issues. They also examine the risks, potential misuses, and opportunities presented by AI, especially in the field of open-source intelligence (OSINT). Last but not least, they delve into different stakeholder's roles in re-establishing societal trust. Show Notes: Di Cooke - linkedin.com/in/dcooke34/ Carlos Espinal – linkedin.com/in/carloseduardoespinal Centre for Strategic and International Studies - csis.org Seedcamp - seedcamp.com

In the latest Seedcamp Deep Dive, Carlos is joined by Kyran Schmidt, co-founder of Outverse, a community-first solutions platform; Jonathan Reimer, co-founder of crowd.dev, a developer data platform; and our Partner Sia Houchangnia.  They discuss: - the importance of community-building for tech startups; - why intentionality and fostering a sense of belonging in community development are essential; - types of communities namely product and practitioner communities; - challenges, and strategies in creating and managing communities;  - the community tech stack and specific tools (e.g., Discord, WhatsApp);  - key success metrics and budget management considerations;  - and more. Overview: 00:38 - Introduction to the Power of Communities 06:47 The Role of Community in Product-Led Growth 18:02 Defining Community and Its Importance 26:28 Managing Community Dynamics: Heroes vs Nutters 28:50 The Importance of Community Culture 29:43 Building, Designing and Scaling Community  33:49 Community Segmentation and Success Metrics 37:49 The Role of Founders in Community Building 57:47 Community Building: Tool Stack and Budgeting 1:05:31 Concluding Thoughts on Community Building Show Notes: Jonathan Reimer - linkedin.com/in/jonathimer Kyran Schmidt - linkedin.com/in/kyran-schmidt Sia Houchangnia - linkedin.com/in/siahouchangnia Carlos Espinal - linkedin.com/in/carloseduardoespinal crowd.dev - crowd.dev Outverse - outverse.com Seedcamp - seedcamp.com Resources:  How to build a developer community: a step-by-step guide‍ CrowdDev's blog (includes many articles about community building) [Seedcamp Firsts] How to create and scale an iconic community. Lessons from Sorare – Features Dan O’Kelly, an early Community - - Lead at Seedcamp-backed fantasy sports unicorn Sorare in conversation with our Partner Sia Houchangnia  Appwrite's community and blog [appwrite.io]

In a new episode of Seedcamp Firsts, Candice Ren, Founder of 173Tech and a member of the Seedcamp Expert Collective, talks with our Venture Partner Devin Hunt about how data relates to building a great product at your startup.  Candice, who contributed to building Bumble's data analytics function and team, explains the importance of understanding and utilizing company data effectively in startups. She provides insights into establishing Northstar metrics, user journey analytics, feature analytics, data dictionaries, and strategies for effective data sharing among teams. Learn about:  - the user journey as your source of data; - the difference between product/app and features analytics;  - how to think about your data stack;  - what to track and why you shouldn't track everything; - why you need a master dashboard and what should it include.