Episodes

  • From Dropbox to VC: Christine Keung, GP at J2 Ventures on Thriving in Chaos

    From Dropbox to VC: Christine Keung, GP at J2 Ventures on Thriving in Chaos
    Sep 18 2025
    Christine Keung has built through chaos - again and again.

    From scaling Dropbox during its rocket-ship growth…
    To serving as Chief Data Officer for San Jose at the height of the pandemic…
    To now backing founders as a GP at J2 Ventures…

    Chaos isn’t something she avoids.
    It’s where she thrives!

    In this episode, Christine shares:
    • The blind spots that trip up early founders
    • Green flags she looks for when investing in teams
    • Why chaos creates the best opportunities for growth
    • How her first-gen upbringing shaped her career in venture
    • Why government and startups are more alike than you think

    If you’re building a company - or leading through uncertainty - this episode is your blueprint.

    👉 Connect with me on LinkedIn and tell me your biggest takeaway: linkedin.com/in/shaneraymartin
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    38 mins
  • From Blackstone to Backing the Next Generation of VC Fund Managers with Scott Sherman

    From Blackstone to Backing the Next Generation of VC Fund Managers with Scott Sherman
    Sep 11 2025
    Scott Sherman has worked with 500+ fund managers in his career.

    From his days at Blackstone to today at Mesa Lane Capital, he’s seen what makes a GP rise - and what makes them crash.

    Here’s the kicker: most VC fund managers don’t fail because they can’t invest.

    They fail because they forget they’re also running a business.

    In this episode, Scott breaks down:
    • The #1 mistake new GPs make in Fund I
    • Why trust and integrity matter more than big-name logos
    • How the best GPs structure their firms from day one
    • The operational “unsexy stuff” that sets the top 1% apart
    • Why emerging managers can still deliver the best returns in venture

    If you’re raising a fund - or thinking about it - this episode is your roadmap.

    👉 Connect with me on LinkedIn and let me know how you’re applying Scott’s tips: linkedin.com/in/shaneraymartin
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    31 mins
  • PEACETECH CEOs: Stop Making This $10M Sales Mistake

    PEACETECH CEOs: Stop Making This $10M Sales Mistake
    Sep 4 2025
    Most startup CEOs are spreading themselves too thin - too many channels, too many customer types, too many offers.

    On top of that: THEY DON'T ASK FOR THE BUSINESS.

    That’s the $10M mistake.

    In this episode, I share the Rule of One:
    • One Channel – go where your buyers actually live.
    • One Customer – focus on the person with pain and budget.
    • One Offer – make it so good they feel silly saying no.

    When you simplify, you multiply.

    This is your fastest path to revenue.

    👉 If this hit home, let’s connect on LinkedIn. I’d love to hear what you’re working on and how you’re applying the Rule of One.

    God bless, go get 'em!
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    4 mins
  • 60 Funds, 17 Years, Billions Raised — Chris Rizik Tells All

    60 Funds, 17 Years, Billions Raised — Chris Rizik Tells All
    Aug 28 2025
    Chris Rizik has done what most VCs only dream of.

    He’s invested in 60 VC funds supporting 800+ startups while reshaping the entire Midwest startup ecosystem.

    In this episode, Shane sits down with Chris — NVCA Venture Vanguard Award winner, Michigan VC Hall of Fame inductee, and Managing Partner of Renaissance VC — to share the mindset and strategies that made him one of the most respected voices in venture capital.

    ✅ What you’ll learn:

    • The #1 trait Chris looks for in a GP before investing
    • Why democratizing venture capital leads to stronger returns
    • The toughest lessons every VC must learn (and how to know when to walk away)
    • How specialized funds can outperform mega-funds in the AI era
    • What today’s GPs must do to stand out

    If you’re a tech founder, fund manager, or investor, this conversation is packed with wisdom you won’t find in any pitch deck.

    🎧 Hosted by Shane Ray Martin — Investor at B Ventures Group, the world’s first PeaceTech VC fund, LinkedIn Top Voice in Negotiation, and Certified Peace Mediator — helping founders grow both peace and profit.

    👉 Message and connect with Shane: linkedin.com/in/shaneraymartin

    PS - On October 1st, Chris is hosting UnDemo Day in Detroit, MI! Check out the full details: renvcf.com/undemo-day/
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    36 mins
  • From Rock Bottom to Closing Billion-Dollar Deals with Devon Coombs, CPA, MBA

    From Rock Bottom to Closing Billion-Dollar Deals with Devon Coombs, CPA, MBA
    Aug 20 2025
    In this awesome episode, you met Devon Coombs — a former homeless 21-year-old who rose to negotiating multi-billion-dollar AI deals at Google.

    Devon’s testimony is about resilience. Hard work. Wisdom. Taking action. It’s about breaking generational cycles, finding purpose in adversity, and choosing to make a difference.

    You’ll learn:

    ✅ How Devon went from living in his car to leading at Google
    ✅ Why billion-dollar deals can’t replace meaning and service
    ✅ The 3 pillars he uses to measure life beyond outcomes
    ✅ Practical advice for anyone starting a business in 2025
    ✅ How to turn setbacks into your stepping stones

    Whether you’re an entrepreneur, leader, or someone facing your own battles - Devon’s story will remind you what’s possible. You can book a strategy call with him here.

    🎧 Hosted by Shane Ray Martin — Investor, Author, LinkedIn Top Voice in Negotiation, and Certified Peace Mediator — helping PeaceTech companies scale and raise funding.

    👉 Follow Shane: linkedin.com/in/shaneraymartin
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    49 mins
  • $100B+ PeaceTech Boom? 3 Reasons It’s Happening Now

    $100B+ PeaceTech Boom? 3 Reasons It’s Happening Now
    Aug 14 2025
    For the first time in history, peace might be more profitable than war.

    Here are 3 reasons why PeaceTech could become a $100B+ industry and how you can join the movement.

    1️⃣ Founders are building tech for peace

    Think AI for negotiations, satellite tools for conflict monitoring, and agentic platforms that prevent violence before it starts. These startups are not just ideas — they’re scaling fast in hotspots around the world.

    Example: Imagine AI mediates peace talks between nations…it's not impossible!

    2️⃣ Investors are joining

    Family offices, LPs, and advisors worldwide are investing in peace-focused technology — not just defense. This is a brand-new asset class with huge potential for returns and global peace.

    3️⃣ The opportunity is open to you

    Whether you’re a founder, investor, or leader in your field, you can be part of an ecosystem that’s growing faster than anyone imagined.

    If this excites you, let’s connect.

    Email me at s@bventuresgroup.com or connect with me on LinkedIn. Together, we can build a world where peace is not just possible — it’s profitable.

    Let's do this!
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    8 mins
  • How CEO Rosie Bailey Is Turning Everyday Haggling into a AI Negotiation Empire

    How CEO Rosie Bailey Is Turning Everyday Haggling into a AI Negotiation Empire
    Aug 7 2025
    Rosie Bailey has turned haggling into a cutting-edge AI negotiation company - taking lessons from a sneaker market in Istanbul to powering over 1.5M human–machine negotiations with Nibble.

    In this episode, she shares how trust, humor, and tech are transforming negotiations across industries - from property rentals to telecom renewals to fashion inventory management.

    What You’ll Learn:

    • Why trust is the foundation of every great negotiation in 2025
    • How humor makes AI feel more human and close more deals
    • The biggest fears brands have about automated negotiation
    • How Nibble increases conversion, reduces churn, and saves time

    👉 Hosted by Shane Ray Martin - investor at B Ventures Group, startup advisor, author, peace mediator, and LinkedIn Top Voice in Negotiation.

    I really enjoyed this conversation. Rosie’s smart, funny, and years ahead of the curve - and I know you’ll find it fascinating. This space has massive potential.

    👋 Are you a founder called to build for profit and peace?
    💼 Are you an investor targeting great returns and care about global peace?

    📩 Email Shane: s@bventuresgroup.com
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    41 mins
  • Founders + Investors: PeaceTech Pitch Day 2025

    Founders + Investors: PeaceTech Pitch Day 2025
    Jul 31 2025
    Most CEO's use AI to sell stuff.

    These 7 are building tools to stop war before it starts:

    🧠 Arvid Bell – Anadyr Horizon
    🕊️ Ola Mohajer – Transcend AI
    🌍 Adam Boaz – HeadOn
    🌱 Tara Gupta – Map Collective
    🤝 Shawn Guttman – Didi AI
    🌐 Justin E. Lane – CulturePulse
    🛠️ Avi Yashchin – Subconscious AI

    We brought them together to pitch live to 7 top VCs.

    💥 Real-time feedback
    👀 315+ registered
    🚀 80+ attended
    🕊️ All building PeaceTech-tech that prevents conflict.

    Building tech for peace?
    Share your pitch deck s@bventuresgroup.com

    Want to join our newsletter?
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    Want to connect on LinkedIn?
    https://www.linkedin.com/company/b-venturesgroup
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    48 mins