Building Startups in the AI Era Lessons from 30 Years of Venture Capital with Scott Kelly
OPEN Tech Talks: AI worth Talking| Artificial Intelligence |Tools & Tips
Release Date: 01/18/2026
The Future of Multi Model AI Workflows with Jonathan Archer
OPEN Tech Talks: AI worth Talking| Artificial Intelligence |Tools & Tips
How can developers use multiple AI models without constantly switching tools or hitting rate limits? In Episode 199 of Open Tech Talks, Kashif Manzoor speaks with Jonathan Archer, co-founder of OpenLLM, about AI gateways, Bring Your Own Key (BYOK), multi-model AI workflows, AI coding agents, and the future of developer productivity. As developers increasingly use Claude, ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini, and other AI models, managing multiple subscriptions, API keys, usage limits, and development environments is becoming a real challenge. Jonathan explains how an AI gateway can provide a unified endpoint...
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Building the Right Foundations for AI with Sebastian Wernicke
OPEN Tech Talks: AI worth Talking| Artificial Intelligence |Tools & Tips
In Episode 196 of Open Tech Talks, host Kashif Manzoor speaks with Sebastian Wernicke, a data and AI expert with 20 years of experience working across data science, analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. The conversation explores how organizations should approach AI transformation without getting distracted by the latest technology trends. Sebastian shares a powerful principle that has guided his work: Purpose first, data second. Rather than starting with a new AI model or technology and looking for somewhere to use it, organizations should first understand the business...
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Building an AI Native Enterprise with Francis Brero
OPEN Tech Talks: AI worth Talking| Artificial Intelligence |Tools & Tips
In Episode 197 of Open Tech Talks, host Kashif Manzoor speaks with Francis Brero, VP of AI Strategy at HD Insights, about what it really means for an enterprise to become AI native. Francis shares his experience helping an established enterprise organization move into the AI era and explains why AI transformation is much more than adding an LLM or purchasing the latest AI tools. The conversation begins with a practical framework for identifying where AI can create value. Francis explains how organizations can break down jobs into smaller tasks, assess each task's value, and identify which...
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How to Adopt AI Without Creating Security Risks with Kate Marshall
OPEN Tech Talks: AI worth Talking| Artificial Intelligence |Tools & Tips
In Episode 196 of Open Tech Talks, host Kashif Manzoor sits down with Kate Marshall, a cybersecurity and AI adoption specialist, to discuss one of the biggest challenges facing organizations today: How can companies move quickly with AI while keeping their data, people, and systems secure? Kate brings nearly two decades of cybersecurity experience to the conversation and explains why AI adoption cannot be separated from cybersecurity, privacy, governance, and employee training. The conversation starts with the growing adoption of AI inside organizations and the different approaches taken by...
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How Small Businesses Can Win with AI Agents Before Enterprises Do with Anne Cantera
OPEN Tech Talks: AI worth Talking| Artificial Intelligence |Tools & Tips
Artificial Intelligence is no longer just for large enterprises with massive IT budgets. Today, even the smallest businesses can automate repetitive work, improve customer service, and reclaim valuable hours using AI. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Anne Cantera 01:12 The Role of AI in Small Businesses 03:43 Identifying Problems in Small Businesses 06:41 Implementing AI Solutions 10:24 Tech Stack and Feasibility for Small Businesses 12:30 Driving Towards Workable AI Products 13:43 Adoption Challenges and Experiences 15:43 Measuring ROI in AI Implementations 18:07 Advice for Small Business...
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The Future of AI Coding: Multi-Model Agents, Enterprise AI & Developer Productivity with Emilie Schario
OPEN Tech Talks: AI worth Talking| Artificial Intelligence |Tools & Tips
Artificial Intelligence has completely transformed software development. What started with autocomplete has evolved into AI coding agents capable of building entire applications from simple prompts. But as organizations adopt these tools, new challenges emerge: cost, security, vendor lock-in, enterprise governance, and the future role of software engineers. Today’s conversation isn’t about one product. It’s about understanding where software development is heading over the next few years. Joining me is Emilie Schario, VP of Engineering at Kilo, where she works on agentic engineering and...
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AI Skills Are the New Competitive Advantage with John Munsell
OPEN Tech Talks: AI worth Talking| Artificial Intelligence |Tools & Tips
One lesson I’ve learned throughout my career, from enterprise architecture to cloud transformation and now Generative AI, is this. Every technology revolution follows the same pattern. At first, companies invest in technology. Later, they realize they should have invested in people. I’ve seen organizations spend millions on software while allocating almost nothing to learning. Then six months later they ask, “Why aren’t people using the new platform?” The answer usually isn’t difficult. People don’t resist technology. People resist uncertainty. When employees understand how AI...
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AI Success Starts Before AI: Fix Your Knowledge, Strategy, and Governance First with Abby Clobridge
OPEN Tech Talks: AI worth Talking| Artificial Intelligence |Tools & Tips
One thing I’ve noticed after working with enterprise customers for more than 20 years is this. When AI projects fail, people usually blame the model. They blame ChatGPT. They blame the vendor. They blame the technology. But after sitting in hundreds of customer meetings, I rarely found AI itself to be the problem. The real problem was hidden somewhere else. The data was scattered. Nobody knew which document was the latest. Every department had its own tools. Everyone wanted AI, but nobody agreed on the business problem they were trying to solve. I remember one customer asking me, “Can AI...
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AI Can’t Replace Your Brand Story with Mona Bavar
OPEN Tech Talks: AI worth Talking| Artificial Intelligence |Tools & Tips
AI has changed the conversation. Not because machines suddenly became intelligent, but because millions of ordinary people suddenly gained access to something that felt extraordinary. I still remember when ChatGPT first became available. Like many people, I opened it with curiosity. I wasn’t looking for shortcuts. I wanted to understand what was actually happening. Every week since then, I have spoken with founders, researchers, engineers, and business leaders from around the world. One thing became very clear. Technology changes quickly. People don’t. Many businesses are still asking the...
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In the Age of AI, Human Growth Matters More Than Ever with Carlee Wolfe
OPEN Tech Talks: AI worth Talking| Artificial Intelligence |Tools & Tips
For the last two years, almost every conversation in technology has been about AI. New models. New tools. New agents. New automation. And honestly, I understand the excitement. I’ve spent more than 20 years working in technology, cloud, AI, and enterprise transformation. I’ve seen many waves of innovation. But this one feels different. Yet something has been bothering me. Every conference I attend, every LinkedIn post I read, every discussion I have with business leaders seems focused on one question: “What can AI do?” Very few people are asking: “What should I become?” A few years...
info_outlineWelcome back to Open Tech Talks, and thank you, genuinely, for the continued support, messages, and thoughtful feedback. This show has been running for years now, and what keeps it meaningful is the shared curiosity of this community.
We’re in a very different phase of the AI journey.
The conversation has clearly moved past “Can we build this?”
Now it’s about “Should we build this?”, “Is this sustainable?”, and “Does this actually create value?”
Over the last year, I’ve personally noticed something interesting while working with enterprises, founders, and investors: AI has lowered the cost of building but raised the cost of judgment.
It’s easier than ever to create products, prototypes, and even companies. But deciding what’s worth building, when to raise capital, and how to scale responsibly has become harder, not easier.
That’s why today’s conversation matters.
This episode is not about chasing trends or predicting the next AI unicorn.
It’s about long-term thinking, founder discipline, and understanding capital, timing, and execution in an AI-driven world.
Today’s guest has spent decades working across venture capital, startup growth, and exits through multiple technology cycles and brings a grounded perspective that’s especially valuable right now.
Let’s welcome Scott Kelly to Open Tech Talks.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Scott Kelly and His Ventures
02:00 The Transformative Impact of AI
04:03 Successful Investments and Entrepreneurial Journeys
05:53 Lessons for Entrepreneurs and Pitching Tips
10:06 Navigating the AI Landscape in Startups
11:52 Industry Applications of AI
14:54 Pitch Events and Investor Engagement
17:03 Investor Perspectives on New Technologies
19:52 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Episode # 179
Today’s Guest:
Scott Kelly, Founder & CEO, Black Dog Venture Partners
He has been working on both sides, with entrepreneurs and investors alike, for more than three decades. Harnessing his innovative skills, vast experience training thousands of salespeople, and tapping into his vast network of investors.
- Website: Black Dog Venture Partners
- Youtube: VC FastPitch
What Listeners Will Learn:
- How AI is changing the economics of building and scaling startups
- Why many founders may not need venture capital as early as they think
- Lessons from past technology cycles that still apply in the GenAI era
- How investors evaluate AI-driven businesses beyond surface-level hype
- Why timing, discipline, and execution matter more than tools
- What founders often misunderstand about pitching, capital, and exits
- How AI lowers build costs but raises the importance of strategic judgment
Resources:
- Website: Black Dog Venture Partners
- YouTube: VC FastPitch