• Michael Slawson: Professionalizing Sales at First Institutional Capital
    May 8 2026

    In this episode of the [A] Growth Ventures Podcast, Hamlet Azarian sits down with Michael Slawson, President of Apparel Advisors, and the go-to expert PE firms call when their portfolio companies need a serious go-to-market overhaul.

    With a background spanning international consulting, the World Bank, clean energy entrepreneurship in Kenya, and hypergrowth stints at Hum Capital and Clipboard Health, Michael brings a rare blend of global perspective and on-the-ground sales execution to every engagement.

    This conversation explores Michael's journey — from co-founding a pyrolysis-based clean energy charcoal company in East Africa and learning hard lessons about willingness to pay, to doing door-to-door pest control sales, to now building full GTM systems from scratch for sponsor-backed B2B companies.

    His central insight: go-to-market is never just a hire — it's a system built around four pillars: accounts, channels, messaging, and RevOps. And if you're not building that system with flexibility baked in, you're accumulating GTM debt that future you will regret.


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    46 mins
  • Jason Jones: From Investor to Builder: Launching Ventures and AI in Accounting
    May 13 2025

    In this episode of the [A] Growth Ventures Podcast, Hamlet Azarian sits down with Jason Jones, serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Tellen, a vertical AI company reinventing how accounting firms conduct audits.

    With a background in venture capital, hedge funds, fintech, and DeFi, Jason brings decades of experience in identifying disruptive trends and translating them into scalable businesses.

    This conversation explores Jason’s journey - from investing in early Web 1.0 companies and launching Lending Robot, to pioneering securitization protocols on the blockchain, and now building AI-powered tools for the audit and accounting space.

    His central insight: disruption always follows a recognizable pattern, and opportunity lies in spotting it early.

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    59 mins
  • Dennis Mortensen: Build a Better Startup - Obsess Over the Pain, Not the Tech
    Mar 23 2025

    In this episode of the [A] Growth Ventures Podcast, Hamlet Azarian sat down with Dennis Mortensen, a serial entrepreneur with four exits and a deep passion for building AI-powered products that solve real, tangible problems.

    As the founder of Launchbrightly, Dennis is tackling a unique but widespread issue in the SaaS world: outdated help docs caused by constant product updates.

    Beyond that, this episode is packed with powerful lessons for founders who want to build, validate, and scale startups correctly.

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    51 mins
  • Russell Palmer: Empowering Creators - How AI is Shaping the Future of Filmmaking
    Mar 23 2025

    In this episode of [A] Growth Ventures Podcast, Hamlet Azarian sits down with Russell Palmer, the CEO and Co-Founder of CyberFilm AI.

    Russell's journey from working at Microsoft and Samsung’s AI division to launching an AI-powered filmmaking tool is an inspiring story of innovation and perseverance.

    CyberFilm AI is designed to help filmmakers create high-quality films on an indie budget, giving storytellers the tools to bring their visions to life efficiently.

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    1 hr
  • Clate Mask: Lessons on Scaling and Supporting Small Businesses
    Mar 13 2025

    Want to 10x Your Business? It Starts with the Right Leadership.

    In the latest episode of the [A] Growth Ventures Podcast, Hamlet Azarian sat down with Clate Mask, co-founder and CEO of Keap (formerly Infusionsoft), to discuss scaling businesses, leadership evolution, and the role of AI in entrepreneurship.

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    34 mins
  • Ghassen BENHADJSALAH: How To Leverage AI To Create Value
    Mar 6 2025

    In the latest episode of the [A] Growth Ventures Podcast, the conversation centered around solving one of the most pressing challenges for businesses today: workplace disengagement.

    Hamlet Azarian talked with Ghassen Benhadjsalah, a serial tech entrepreneur and co-founder of inncivio. It’s a startup focused on modernizing workplace learning.

    With over 15 years of experience as a founder and a deep background in AI, machine learning, and fintech, Ghassen shared valuable insights on innovation, leadership, and building a team and product with lasting impact.

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    39 mins
  • Walter Paulsen: Lead Like a Pro – Thriving with AI and Innovation for CEOs
    Nov 12 2024

    In this episode of [A] Growth Ventures podcast⁠⁠, we hosted Walter Paulsen, the former founder of Blackhawk Network, who has had multiple successful exits, including a unicorn.

    Walter shared his insights on adopting AI, taking calculated risks, and aligning technology with long-term goals.

    His advice, emphasizing core values and sustainable growth, offers powerful guidance for leaders navigating today’s rapidly changing landscape.

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    44 mins
  • Robin Waite: Secrets to Business Growth from a Bestselling Author and Coach
    Nov 6 2024

    In this episode of [A] Growth Ventures Podcast⁠, Robin Waite, founder of Fearless Business and expert in pricing strategy, shared strategies for business growth by emphasizing value-based pricing.

    If you want to master pricing beyond numbers and learn why authentic video storytelling could be your brand's secret weapon, this episode with Robin is for you.

    You'll also discover strategies to avoid burnout while scaling with purpose.

    Dive into how to blend profit with purpose, reframe setbacks as growth fuel, and leverage AI to stay ahead in a changing landscape.

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    55 mins