What if venture capital is finally getting the reset it desperately needed? And what does that mean for the qualities and skills required for future founders, startup leaders, and even investors? In this episode of Poets & Thinkers, we explore the future of venture capital and startup building with Pascal Unger, managing partner at pre-seed VC firm focal. From his base in Miami, Pascal brings a unique perspective shaped by his Swiss roots and global experiences spanning coding, consulting at BCG, and finance before diving into the venture world.

Pascal takes us on a journey through the evolution of software – from systems of record in the 1980s to systems of engagement in the 2000s, and now to systems of intelligence that can automate entire workflows rather than just optimize them. He reveals why this shift is creating what many VCs believe to be the largest market opportunity in history, as software can now target not just software budgets but headcount budgets and enable companies to do exponentially more with existing resources.

Through compelling examples of how his portfolio companies are building data moats and reducing friction to adoption, Pascal illustrates what it takes to win in this new paradigm. However, this platform shift also challenges the VC model to its core because small teams can now go further and faster than ever, start generating revenue early, without requiring to raise a lot of venture capital.

Pascal challenges conventional wisdom about startup building, arguing that distribution and go-to-market strategy are now more critical than ever before. He shares his framework for assessing founders across six key dimensions – from learning speed to moral compass. His insights on the “liftoff round” concept and the compression of funding cycles offer a glimpse into how venture capital itself is being reimagined for the AI era.

In our discussion, we explore:

• Why software is evolving from optimizing workflows to automating entire outcomes
• How the trust barrier affects AI adoption and why humans still need to stay in the loop
• Why data moats and distribution strategies are more crucial than ever for startups
• The six dimensions investors should use to assess founders in an AI-first world
• How building has become more efficient while the bar for initial products has risen dramatically
• Why Europe risks becoming a “museum” due to lack of adaptability
• Where the VC industry is struggling and how it needs to reinvent itself to stay relevant

This episode is an invitation to understand how the fundamental rules of software, venture capital, and startup building are being rewritten in the AI era – and what it takes to thrive rather than just survive in this new paradigm.

Topics

02:45 - Pascal’s journey from Switzerland to BCG to founding Focal VC

05:10 - The evolution of software: from systems of record to engagement to intelligence

07:25 - Why systems of intelligence represent the biggest market opportunity in history

09:50 - The role of trust in AI adoption and keeping humans in the loop

13:35 - How startups can compete against foundation model providers with proprietary data

16:20 - Building data moats through integration strategies and reducing friction

20:25 - Trust-building measures for startups in high-stakes vs. low-risk use cases

24:10 - Why the minimum bar for softwar

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What if the very technology that promises to make us more efficient is actually creating “soul gaps” – spaces where human understanding and meaning simply cannot be replicated? In this deeply insightful episode of Poets and Thinkers, we explore the future of humanistic leadership with Michael Ventura, founder of SubRosa, author of “Applied Empathy,” and a fascinating polymath who bridges brand strategy, alternative medicine, and human development. From his practice at Esalen Institute to co-founding a pet food company with Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, Michael brings a unique perspective on how empathy serves as the new language of leadership.

Michael takes us on a journey through what empathy really means – distinguishing it from sympathy and compassion – and why it's become critical for leaders navigating increasingly diverse, multi-generational workforces. He shares compelling insights about how AI can replicate the technical aspects of creativity but misses the essential human elements, like where to place the divine spark of light in a Renaissance painting. Through examples ranging from political manipulation to Meta’s disturbing targeting of insecure teenagers, Michael reveals both the light and dark sides of applied empathy.

Throughout our conversation, Michael challenges us to slow down in a world obsessed with speed, arguing that patience – not just efficiency – should be a core leadership skill. He envisions a future where leaders move from having all the answers to asking all the right questions, creating space for diverse perspectives and collective intelligence. And we’ll even get a little teaser for Michael’s upcoming book on “constellation thinking” which promises to revolutionize how we understand purpose in our complex, multi-faceted modern lives.

In this discussion, we explore:

• Why empathy is not about being nice – it's about understanding without conversion
• How AI creates “soul gaps” where human meaning and divine sparks cannot be replicated
• The difference between cognitive empathy used for manipulation versus authentic connection
• Why leaders must transition from answer-givers to question-askers
• How patience becomes a revolutionary skill in our hyperconnected world
• The loss of shared cultural moments and emotional commons in our fragmented media landscape

This episode is an invitation to reclaim the deeply human skills that technology cannot replicate, and to use empathy not as weakness but as a strategic advantage in building more connected, innovative organizations.

Resources Mentioned

• Applied Empathy: The New Language of Leadership by Michael Ventura
• “The Dark Side of Empathy” - Michael’s New York Times op-ed
• “America's Uncontacted Tribes” article by Michael Ventura
• Center for Humane Technology - led by Tristan Harris
• Kismet – pet food company Michael co-founded with Chrissy Teigen and John Legend

Connect with Michael Ventura:

Website:

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What if the discomfort leaders feel right now, at the beginning of the AI age, isn’t a problem to solve, but the exact place where transformation happens? In this episode of Poets & Thinkers, we explore the future of organizational leadership and human potential with Meg Bear, a seasoned tech executive turned “future inventor” who brings a unique perspective as a fifth-generation Bay Area native and first-generation college graduate. From her advisory work with CEOs and boards to her mission of creating abundant futures that value our shared humanity, Meg offers a compelling vision for navigating unprecedented change.

Meg takes us on a journey through her unconventional life and career path – from engineering leadership at Oracle and president of SAP’s HCM (Human Capital Management) business to her current work helping organizations harness human ingenuity. She reveals why the traditional business leadership playbook – built on certainty and past experience – is not only obsolete but counterproductive in our current moment.

Drawing from her background as a cultural outsider who learned to navigate different worlds, Meg explains how the skills of adaptation and cross-cultural communication that immigrants develop are exactly what all leaders need now.

Throughout our conversation, Meg challenges the narrative that change is simply happening to us, instead advocating for agency in shaping the future we want to live in. She argues that we’re at a unique moment where discomfort is hitting “all layers of the stack” – from the board room and the c-suite to the ICs – and that this discomfort is not only natural but necessary for growth. Her vision for leadership emphasizes curiosity over certainty, collective intelligence over individual expertise, and the courage to embrace vulnerability as a pathway to learning.

In this transformative discussion, we explore:

• Why the space between what you can’t control and what you can impact is bigger than you think
• How traditional business leadership models based on certainty are failing in uncertain times
• Why emotions are data that reveal deeper fears about changing definitions of competence
• The need for psychologically safe spaces where experienced leaders can express confusion
• How untapped human ingenuity could be unlocked through more inclusive value creation in organizations of the future
• Why our “messy bits” are actually our greatest sources of strength and adaptability

This episode is an invitation for leaders to move beyond fear-based reactions to inevitable change, and instead embrace the agency we have to invent futures that serve our shared humanity.

Resources Mentioned

• Reid Hoffman on GenAI as the cognitive industrial revolution: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/gen-ai-a-cognitive-industrial-revolution
• The myth of exponential hypergrowth: https://longform.asmartbear.com/exponential-growth/
• Inventing the future: https://www.megbear.com/post/inventing-the-future
• Meg’s 2025 word of the year: https://www.megbear.com/pos

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Get in touch: ben@poetsandthinkers.co

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