The Venture Playbook Podcast by Sia

Better Data Protection: A conversation with Lucie Loiseau, Founder of Data Cash Solution

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 18:18:01 GMT

In this episode of the Venture Playbook podcast, host Ambre Julhia interviews Lucie Loiseau, founder of Data Cash Solution, an Irish company providing data protection and management services. Lucie discusses her career in finance across France and Switzerland, her move to Ireland, and the advantages and challenges of building a business here. She also shares insights on using AI responsibly in data management, emphasizing the need for strong governance and practical problem-solving. The episode highlights Lucie’s optimistic approach to entrepreneurship and her belief that challenges are key opportunities for growth.

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Building an open-source business: a conversation with Bob van Luijt, CEO and co-founder at Weaviate.

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 14:19:56 GMT

In this episode of the Venture Playbook podcast, host Marcin Lukowicz interviews Bob Van Luijt, co-founder and CEO of Weaviate, AI-native database for a new generation of software. Bob shares his unconventional journey to a technology entrepreneur, emphasizing the organic nature of his career path driven by curiosity and passion. He discusses the inception and growth of Weaviate, highlighting the importance of open-source as a distribution model and the approach of a remote-first company. Bob also reflects on the evolving landscape of AI, predicting significant changes in software development over the next decade. He concludes with advice to entrepreneurs to occasionally pause and appreciate their journey.

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Opening a market in Shanghai: A conversation with Enjoyce Zhu, Head of China at Sia.

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 17:22:45 GMT

In this episode of the Venture Playbook podcast, host Ambre Julhia speaks with Enjoyce Zhu, Head of China at Sia and founder of the Shanghai Sia office. They discuss the opportunities and challenges of establishing Sia’s first presence in the Chinese Mainland, the strategic focus on luxury, lifestyle, hospitality, and FMCG sectors, and how global branding supports local growth. Enjoyce also shares her perspective on the role of data and AI in driving digital transformation, the innovative trends shaping consumer engagement in China, and Sia’s approach to supporting clients in this rapidly evolving market.

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Climate-Tech Ventures Today: A conversation with Lauren Pilgreen, Associate Director of Product and Innovation at Sustainable Ventures

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 16:34:40 GMT

In this episode of the Venture Playbook podcast, host Emily Orlik speaks with Lauren Pilgreen, Head of Startup Innovation at Sustainable Ventures, the leading growth partner for some of the most exciting climate technology start ups in the UK. Sustainable Ventures support entrepreneurs from idea to exit and help them scale through access to funding, workspace, expert business services and a thriving community of peers and partners. Start ups in Sustainable Ventures have a survival rate of around 85% compared and industry average of 40%, demonstrating the success of the approach. Lauren tells us about what's important for climate-tech start-ups today and what the future holds.

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Innovating in Insurance: A conversation with Sebastian Rahlf, Global Head of Brand Experience & Product Management at Allianz Trade

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 17:06:09 GMT

In this episode of the Venture Playbook podcast, host Emily Orlik speaks with Sebastian Rahlf, Global Head of Brand Experience & Product Management at Allianz Trade. Sebastian works at Allianz Trade HQ in Paris - a company that has 75000+ clients around the world and protects €1,400 billion business transactions globally. Ultimately they give companies the confidence to trade, and be paid. Sebastian shares with us his experiences of innovation (and it would be amiss not to also explore what it was like to sponsor the Paris Olympics!).

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The Power of Community: A conversation with Dupsy Abiola, Innovation Leader.

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 09:53:43 GMT

In this episode of the Venture Playbook podcast, host Emily Orlik speaks with Dupsy Abiola, an independent innovation leader who has held fascinating roles such as Chief of Staff at Monzo, Head of Global Innovation at International Airlines Group, and strategic advisor to the Venture Cafe (a network of innovators recently launched in London). Dupsy shares her story and what innovation means to her, be it in the context of a FTSE 100 company or of a start up. She walks us through concepts such as the four Ps of innovation success (Priority, People, Process and Permission to fail forward), an approach to innovation that aims to ensure the success of change.

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Operating flexible workplaces at scale: A Conversation with Paul Dutnall, COO at Work.Life.

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 17:19:12 GMT

In this episode of the Venture Playbook podcast, host Marcin Lukowicz and co-host Mo Rajput speak with Paul Dutnall, COO at Work.Life. Work.Life was founded in 2015 and provides access to offices, co-working spaces, and event spaces in 14 locations across England. Paul takes us through his journey to becoming a COO and Work.Life's business model.

This episode offers insight into the commercial real estate industry as well as hospitality in a post-pandemic era.

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How AI and radar technology are transforming road safety: A Conversation with Barry Lunn, Founder and CEO of Provizio

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 16:20:21 GMT

In this episode of the Venture Playbook podcast, hosts Emily Orlik and Ambre Julhia speak with Barry Lunn, the founder and CEO of Provizio. Provizio is a deep-tech company on a mission to prevent road accidents, with their pioneering AI and radar enabled car safety technology. In this conversation, we explore Barry’s experience of launching and growing businesses (he sold his previous company for $50 million in 2017), the value proposition and development of Provizio’s technology, the business landscape of Ireland, and how to balance big vision with the day-to-day grind of starting something from scratch.

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Understanding Blockchain: A Conversation with Lory Kehoe, Founder of Blockchain Ireland

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 08:40:56 GMT

In this episode of the Venture Playbook podcast, we engage with Lory Kehoe, Chair of Blockchain Ireland. We explore Lory's journey into the blockchain space, the founding of Blockchain Ireland, and its evolution into a significant player in the blockchain ecosystem. The conversation covers the role of state agencies, the business model of Blockchain Ireland, and the importance of education in the blockchain space. Lory shares insights on the digital euro, stablecoins, and the future of digital currencies, while also discussing the impact of meme coins and the need for innovation in the sector.

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See her. Fund her. Buy from her: A Conversation with Anne Ravanona, CEO of Global Invest Her

Thu, 29 May 2025 08:02:12 GMT

In this episode of the Venture Playbook podcast, host Ambre Julia and co-host Ciara Close interview Anne Ravanona, a global advocate for women entrepreneurs. Anne shares her professional journey, the founding of Global Invest Her, and her mission to close the funding gap for women entrepreneurs.

She discusses the importance of access to capital, markets, and networks, emphasizing that the system is broken rather than women being risk-averse. Anne introduces the platforms she has developed to support women entrepreneurs and highlights the significance of the funding blueprint in addressing the unique challenges faced by women in different markets.

In this conversation, Anne Ravanona discusses the importance of cultural insights in creating entrepreneurial blueprints for women, emphasizing the role of corporates in supporting women entrepreneurs. She highlights the challenges and opportunities within the DEI landscape and the transformative impact of AI on business and employment. Ravanona advocates for empowering women through innovation and the strategic use of AI, urging listeners to recognize their potential to effect change in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

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Revolutionising Digital Payments: A Conversation with Kealan Lennon, CEO of CleverCards

Thu, 15 May 2025 08:04:00 GMT

In this episode of the Venture Playbook podcast, host Mo Rajput speaks with Kealan Lennon, founder and CEO of Clever Cards, a fintech company transforming the digital payments landscape. Kealan shares his extensive background in finance and entrepreneurship, detailing his journey into the fintech space and the inception of Clever Cards. The conversation explores Clever Cards' growth strategies, market positioning, and future plans, including partnerships and scalability. Kealan also discusses emerging trends in digital payments, the empowerment of small businesses, and the strategic vision for Clever Cards as it evolves into a payment ecosystem.

Takeaways

Clever Cards enables instant digital payments for businesses.
Understanding customer needs is crucial for growth.
Partnerships can significantly enhance business scalability.
Embedded finance is a key trend in the payment space.
Clever Cards empowers small businesses with financial tools.
Focus on customer satisfaction drives market success.
Ireland's supportive environment fosters fintech innovation.
Rocket ship growth is achievable with the right strategy.
Digital payments are transforming traditional business models.
Clever Cards aims to create a comprehensive payment ecosystem.

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Leading Change from Idea to Impact: A Conversation with Ruairí Kell, Head of Innovation at Dublin Airport Authority

Thu, 01 May 2025 08:15:21 GMT

In this episode of the Venture Playbook podcast, host Colm Heaney speaks with Ruairí Kell, head of innovation at Dublin Airport Authority. They discuss Ruairí 's journey through corporate innovation, consulting, and startups, emphasising the importance of a holistic view in innovation. The conversation explores the role of AI and automation in airports, the future of passenger experience, sustainability challenges, and the need for flexibility in driving innovation within complex organisations.

Takeaways

Venture building requires a holistic view of opportunities and challenges.
Innovation is shifting towards human-centred and systems thinking approaches.
AI and automation are key to improving efficiency in airports.
Passenger experience will evolve with advancements in security and operations.
Sustainability is a growing focus for airports amid regulatory pressures.
Incremental innovation can lead to significant changes over time.
Flexibility is crucial when projects face challenges or need to pivot.
Collaboration across teams enhances the innovation process.
Understanding the passenger journey is essential for effective innovation.
Airports must balance operational efficiency with environmental responsibility.

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