Scouting for Growth
Scouting for Growth is a podcast hosted by Sabine VanderLinden, founder of Alchemy Crew Ventures, that explores the intersection of FinTech, InsurTech, HealthTech, and other regulated industries. Each episode features conversations with founders, operators, and institutional leaders about how corporates think, how capital flows, and what it takes to build and scale ventures. The podcast focuses on the Venture-Client Model, where a growth venture earns a corporation as a customer before securing venture capital.
Episodes
Manjit Rana: Moving at the Speed of Trust
Insurance has become extraordinarily good at finding the few. The next competitive advantage may come from clearing the many.
In this episode of Scouting for Growth, I sit down with Manjit Rana, Executive Vice President for Insurance across the UK, EMEA and APAC at Clearspeed, to explore a deceptively simple question: can insurers establish trust at the same speed at which they are automating deci
Prof Gianvito Lanzolla: Strategy in the World of Data and AI
AI is changing the economics of business. But it is not rewriting the fundamentals of strategy.
In this episode of Scouting for Growth, I sit down with Professor Gianvito Lanzolla, Professor of Strategy at Bayes Business School, advisor to boards and CEOs, and co-author of Diversification in the World of Data and AI, to examine what actually creates competitive advantage when access to intelligenc
Agentic Distribution: AI Can Find the Customer. Can You Keep Them?
Discovery is becoming abundant. Customer ownership is not.
In this solo episode of Scouting for Growth, I go inside the Distribution Intelligence Layer and examine what happens when AI assistants become a new front door to the market. Customers can increasingly discover products, compare options, generate quotes, and decide what to do next before they ever reach a company website. The strategic qu
The Enterprise Intelligence Stack: Why Four Excellent Tools Produce Nothing
Four excellent tools can still produce nothing. Intelligence only creates value when it connects, compounds, and scales.
In this solo episode of Scouting for Growth, I introduce the Enterprise Intelligence Stack, a practical framework for understanding why promising agentic pilots stall, why different AI agents can operate with completely different views of the same customer, and why the third pil
Kevin Maney: The Category Creation Formula for Winning Markets in the AI Era
Kevin Maney: The Category Creation Formula for Winning Markets in the AI Era
AI is making products easier to build, but meaningful differentiation harder to sustain. A stronger feature set, a faster model, or simply adding an “AI-powered” label may not be enough to convince customers that a new market should exist in the first place.
Kevin Maney, bestselling author, technology commentator, and fou
Denise Garth: The Frontier Insurer, One Year In
Denise Garth: The Frontier Insurer, One Year In
Denise Garth returns to Scouting for Growth one year after the Frontier Firm idea began to move from a strategic aspiration into insurer operating models, technology roadmaps, and boardroom priorities.
As Chief Strategy Officer at Majesco, Denise offers a sharper test for the Frontier Insurer: Is the organization simply using AI? Is it redesigning se
Bárbara Fernández: Human-Agent Collaboration, Agentic AI, and the Rise of the Human Boss
Bárbara Fernández: Human-Agent Collaboration, Agentic AI, and the Rise of the Human Boss
The future of work will not be won by humans who move faster. It will be shaped by humans who know how to orchestrate intelligence.
In this episode of Scouting for Growth, Sabine VanderLinden sits down with Bárbara Fernández, Deputy Director of MAPFRE Open Innovation and Head of insur_space, to explore one of
Carlos Falcón: Rebuilding the Insurance Core for AI, Venture Scouting and the Frontier Firm
Carlos Falcón: Rebuilding the Insurance Core for AI, Venture Scouting and the Frontier Firm
Insurance does not have an innovation shortage. It has an absorption problem.
In this episode of Scouting for Growth, Sabine VanderLinden sits down with Carlos Cendra Falcón, Scouting and Investment Lead at MAPFRE Open Innovation, to explore one of the most pressing questions facing insurers today: can the
Reggie Townsend: Making Responsible AI Irresistible
Reggie Townsend: Making Responsible AI Irresistible
Responsible AI has a design problem. Too often, it is treated as a compliance exercise, a policy document, or a late-stage control, when it should be the operating system that enables organizations to innovate with confidence.
In this episode of Scouting for Growth, Sabine VanderLinden welcomes back Reggie Townsend, Vice President of AI Ethics, G
Dale Diamond: When a $25K Claim Becomes a $7M Verdict or More
Dale Diamond: When a $25K Claim Becomes a $7M Verdict or More
A small claim is no longer a small claim. It can be the first signal of a verdict that changes everything.
Dale Diamond, J.D., Vice President of Claims at NAMICO, joins Sabine VanderLinden to unpack one of the most urgent realities facing mutual insurers today: nuclear verdicts are not random events. They are often predictable. And if t
Willem Paling: From Messy Middles to Autonomous Agents and the Race for Trust at Scale
Willem Paling: From Messy Middles to Autonomous Agents and the Race for Trust at Scale
While the insurance sector has long flirted with artificial intelligence, a vast majority of firms find themselves paralyzed in perpetual pilot phases. In this installment of Scouting for Growth, I sit down with Willem Paling, Executive Manager of AI and Analytics at IAG, to decode the transition from mere exper
Patrick Van Deven: The Frontier Firm's Moat isn't Data. It's The Layer that Governs It.
Patrick Van Deven: The Frontier Firm's moat isn't data — it's the layer that governs it.
In this episode of Scouting for Growth, Sabine VanderLinden sits down with Patrick Van Deven to unpack one of the biggest hidden blockers to becoming a true AI-native enterprise: legacy data infrastructure.
As organizations rush toward the “Frontier Firm” vision championed by Microsoft — intelligence on tap, h
Brad Wetherall: AI Search, Agentic AI, and How Corporations Must Adapt to Digital Discovery
Brad Wetherall: AI Search, Agentic AI, and How Corporations Must Adapt to Digital Discovery
In this episode of Scouting for Growth, Sabine VanderLinden is joined by Brad Wetherall, former Director of Operations at Google and current COO of Esquire Digital, to unpack the transformative impact of AI on search engines and digital visibility.
The conversation explores how search is moving beyond trad
The App Era Is Over: Wallet-Native Insurance & the Agentic Frontier — Marc Lampe × Ernesto Suarez Talk Collaboration
The App Era Is Over: Wallet-Native Insurance & the Agentic Frontier — Marc Lampe × Ernesto Suarez Talk Collaboration
In this episode of Scouting for Growth, Sabine VanderLinden sits down with Ernesto Suarez and Marc Lampe to explore why the future of insurance is moving beyond apps and into wallet-native, AI-ready experiences.
The conversation begins with a powerful reminder of why customer ex
David Daiches: Inside INSHUR — From Manhattan Uber Rides to Insuring Autonomous Fleets
David Daiches: Inside INSHUR — From Manhattan Uber Rides to Insuring Autonomous Fleets
In this episode of Scouting for Growth, Sabine VanderLinden speaks with David Daiches, co-founder and COO of Insure, about building insurance solutions for the on-demand economy. The conversation traces Insure’s origins to a simple yet powerful insight: traditional insurance models were not designed for gig work
Alan Martin: Why Insurers Who Invest in Wellness Win — The Healthcare Innovation Playbook still works
Alan Martin: Why Insurers Who Invest in Wellness Win - The Healthcare Innovation Playbook still works
In this episode, Sabine VanderLinden sits down with Alan Martin, founder of Resilient Risk and Health Solutions, to challenge the fundamentals of life and health insurance. The conversation highlights a growing disconnect between insurers, customers, and the health tech ecosystem, and why current
Xavier Lestrade: From Insurance to Personalized Care Pathways: The New Blueprint for Growth
Xavier Lestrade: From Insurance to Personalized Care Pathways
In this episode of Scouting for Growth, Sabine VanderLinden explores the transformation of health insurance from a claims-paying model to a care partnership approach with Xavier Lestrade, Managing Director of AXA Health International within AXA Global Healthcare.
The conversation delves into how AXA Global Healthcare is redefining indu
From Org Charts to Work Charts: What the MIT Frontier Firm Paper Means for Insurance, Finance & Risk
From Org Charts to Work Charts: What the MIT Frontier Firm Paper Means for Insurance, Finance & Risk
In this episode of Scouting for Growth, Sabine VanderLinden explores a 2026 research paper from MIT CISR on how business models are evolving in the age of agentic AI. Drawing on longitudinal data from nearly 2,400 companies, the research highlights a major shift from traditional digital busines
The Risk Intelligence Gap: How Exposure Data Deficiency Is Reshaping Property Underwriting
The Risk Intelligence Gap: How Exposure Data Deficiency Is Reshaping Property Underwriting
In this episode of Scouting for Growth, Sabine VanderLinden is joined by Anthony Peake, CEO of Intelligent AI, to dissect the "Risk Intelligence Gap" reshaping the property insurance landscape. We are both dissecting the recent white paper Anthony commissioned during Q1 2026.
With 93% of UK and 90% of US com
Trust Is the Operating System of the Agentic Enterprise
Trust Is the Operating System of the Agentic Enterprise
In this episode, Sabine VanderLinden is joined by Franklin Manchester, Global Insurance Strategic Advisor at SAS, and Steven Abel, Global Technology Partner and Deputy Global Head of AI & Transformation at Oliver Wyman. Together, they unpack the concept of "trust by design" in the context of agentic enterprises and AI adoption.
The conve
The Capacity Gap
In this riveting solo episode, Sabine VanderLinden confronts what she calls "the capacity gap"—a silent barrier that undermines organizational success in today's complex business landscape. Rather than blaming common culprits like strategy, leadership, or talent, she reframes the issue as a structural mismatch between ambitious goals and the finite resources available to deliver on them.
Drawing
Florian Graillot: How Intelligence on Tap and Agent-Human Teams Are Redesigning Risk
In this episode of "Scouting for Growth," Sabine VanderLinden welcomes Florian Graillot, founding partner at Astorya VC, for an in-depth conversation about the evolving landscape of risk management and insurance innovation. The discussion explores how risk management is shifting from static predictions to adaptive strategies designed for tomorrow's uncertainties, emphasizing the rise of the “front
Karl Grandl: The Intelligent Experience Layer Re-Architected
In this episode of Scouting for Growth, Sabine VanderLinden welcomes industry veteran Karl Grandl, now of Miss Moneypenny Technologies, for a wide-ranging conversation on the real transformation underway in financial services and insurance.
Sabine VanderLinden sets the stage by emphasizing that digitization is no longer enough—true change means re-architecting operating models for velocity, intel
Manish Shah: The Intelligent Core — How AI Is Redefining Insurance from the Inside Out
In this episode of Scouting for Growth, Sabine VanderLinden sits down with Manish Shah, President and Chief Product Officer at Majesco, to explore the rapidly changing landscape of insurance core systems.
Together, they examine how AI is shifting the industry from being purely a protector to one that also focuses on prevention and dynamic participation. The conversation covers everything from the
Gil Arazi: Redesigning Insurance Through Prevention, Risk, Growth, and Trust
In this episode of Scouting for Growth, Sabine VanderLinden welcomes Gil Arazi—a serial entrepreneur, executive, and leading insurtech investor—to explore the urgent transformation taking place in insurance. Gil Arazi argues that the industry’s traditional role of simply paying claims post-loss is outdated and that prevention is the new north star for sustainable growth.
Their conversation dives i
The Frontier Firm Playbook: How Leaders Are Building Agentic Enterprises at Scale
In this forward-thinking episode, Sabine VanderLinden returns to kick off the year with a transformative discussion on “frontier firms” and the rise of agentic enterprises.
As digital transformation accelerates, leaders face challenges like increasing climate risks, cyber threats, and widening protection gaps—pushing businesses (especially in regulated industries like insurance) to rethink strateg
Sangha Penesetti: Reinventing Enterprise’s Future Through Flexible Work
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Sangha Penesetti, founder and CEO of goZeal, who didn’t just break the glass ceiling—she installed a flexible skylight.
Today we’ll dive into the economics of equity, why flexible work is not a perk but a performance driver, and how insurers can win by rethinking who gets a seat at the table—and how that table is set.
KEY TAKE
Marinela Profi: Building the Trust Frontier or How Agentic AI Is Redefining Enterprise Decision-Making
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Marinela Profi, Global Market Strategy Lead for AI, GenAI and Agentic AI at SAS, about the rise of agentic AI and how we will move from hype to real, reliable AI.
In today’s episode, we’ll discuss: Why LLMs alone don’t solve business problems – and what does, how governance is becoming the new frontier of AI trust, and what le
Andrei Craciunescu: Redesigning Insurance for the AI-Powered Startup Era
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Andrei Craciunescu, founder and CEO of RiskCube, about why the next generation of insurance will be built like software: adaptive, transparent, and embedded into every business platform.
They also discuss how AI and data are transforming the broker's role from middleman to intelligent orchestrator, and what the insurance exper
Rob Schimek: Redesigning for a Connected Future
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Rob Schimek, Group CEO at bolttech, about how bolttech’s connector model is redefining global insurance distribution, from telcos to auto makers and beyond.
They also talk about why the future of protection will depend on trust, data and design more than policy documents and premiums, and what leadership really looks like when
Trust-by-Design: Lessons from the AI Frontier
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to us about all she’s learned from the numerous guests on the show recently, from startup founders who build AI to simplify the chaotic insurance back office, to innovation leaders in Fortune 500 firms wrestling with ethics, regulation, and talent shortages.
After dozens of conversations here’s what Sabine has learned: AI isn’t j
Stephen Brittain: Why Venture-Client Models Are Rewriting the Rules of Corporate Innovation
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Stephen Brittain, co-founder of InsurTech Gateway, a pioneering venture builder focused on bringing early-stage startups into the heart of the insurance world – a regulated industry that typically moves at glacial speed.
Over the past decade, Stephen has helped launch and scale ventures inside one of the most regulated, risk-a
Sebastian Denef: Scaling Agentic AI from Berlin to the World
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Sebastien Denef, CEO and co-founder at AGENTS.inc, a company at the forefront of building intelligent agent platforms for enterprises.
On this episode we explore how agentic AI architectures are reshaping industries, what it takes to scale agentic AI solutions across siloes, and why the winners in this space will be those who
Agentic Frontier: Re-imagining Enterprise AI with EY x Microsoft
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Ulrich (Uli) Homann, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft, and Mark Luquire, EY Global Microsoft Alliance Co-innovation Leader, about how to build an agentic AI enterprise that doesn’t just work faster, but works smarter and, most importantly, works for everyone.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
In the past automation has been very task driven a
Laurna Castillo: How Wildfire Resilience is Rebuilding California
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Laurna Castillo, Senior Vice President of Product at CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA insurer serving millions of customers across the western United States.
Laurna has become a leading voice in reimagining how the insurance industry – and entire communities – can build resilience in the face of escalating wildfire risk. On this ep
Yo Kwon: How AI Claim Letters Cut Errors, Costs, and Cycle Times
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Yo Kwon, CEO at Voltaire.Claims.
Together, we pull back the curtain on how enterprise operations (and in particular finance and insurance operations) are being reinvented – not tomorrow, but right now.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
I was working with my co-founder on Ai technology trying to work out what would be applicable for wide
Bobbie Shrivastav: Building the Insurance Ops OS - Generative AI Workflows That Cut 70% of Manual Work
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Bobbie Shrivastav, co-founder and CEO of Solvrays about building AI-driven workflows that aim to eliminate 70% of manual back office work with governance, auditability, and with human-in-the-loop controls directly built in. They also talk about what makes vertical AI for insurance defensible and measurable, compressing sales a
Amrit Santhirasenan: Talks Agentic Underwriting… From Theory to Enterprise Transformation
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Amit Santhirasenan, co-founder and CEO of hyperexponential, an actuary and software engineer who has built the AI native pricing and underwriting platform used by leading specialty carriers.
In this episode we cover how to turn messy submissions into structured signals your pricing model can trust – without hiring an army, mul
Will Ross: The Federato Playbook — RiskOps, Appetite, and Winnability for Profitable Growth
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Will Ross, Co-Founder & CEO of Federato, and if you’re an underwriting transformation leader—drowning in Excel, stale pilots, and disconnected data sources—this episode is for you.
Will Ross isn’t here to sell you hype. He’s here to show what it looks like when AI actually delivers: faster quotes, better decisions, happier
Sara Mikulski: One Source of Truth, Zero Excuses
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Sara Mikulski, CTO at Kingstone Insurance, about the moment in her career that convinced her that the claims ecosystem could be rebuilt around a single, trusted data spine.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
When I started my career, success looked like stabilisation: getting to a point where we all understood what was happening in which system, w
Arvind Sontha: Kyber’s AI Automation Transform Insurance Claims
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Arvind Sontha, COE and co-founder of Kyber, an AI startup redefining how carriers handle claims correspondence.
The insurance industry is undergoing a seismic shift as carriers face mounting pressure to deliver faster, more transparent, and compliant communications to policyholders and clients, making the need for digital clai
Charlie Wendland: How AI and Human Empathy Are Transforming the Future of Claims
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Charlie Wendland, chief claims officer at Branch Insurance.
The world of claims management is undergoing a seismic shift, with AI at its heart. Insurers leveraging AI have reported a 75% reduction in claims handling time and 50% increase in fraud detection accuracy. Cutting claims processing times allows adjustors to focus on
Barbara Schonhofer & Carmen Powell: Empowerment, Leadership, Inclusion & Future Growth
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Barbara Schonhofer and Carmen Powell, two influential voices who have navigated and thrived in the ever-evolving insurance industry.
In today’s conversation, we explore the sector’s evolution, the future of work, and best practices for continuous networking and development.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
When I started my career in 1972, men
Yandy Plasencia: Data Reconciliation for the CFO
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Yandy Plasencia, founder and CEO of DataHaven Software.
In today’s conversation, we talk about Yandy’s journey and vision as well as how mid-sized insurance companies can explore and empower their finance teams, especially their CFOs, by automating data reconciliation and unlocking real-time insights.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Mike Gulla: Power Outage Coverage Reinvented Amid 78% Surge
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Mike Gulla, CEO of Adaptive Insurance, whose team is redefining what it means to be resilient in an era of climate uncertainty and operational volatility.
We’ll explore why now is the time for parametric and adaptive insurance, what inspired the creation of Adaptive, and how emerging technologies like AI, big data, and cloud c
Sterling Parker: Why Tech at Work Is Reshaping Flexible Work
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Sterling Parker, Senior Vice President of Global Solutions and Services at Ivanti.
Sterling is a recognised leader in workplace technology and digital transformation, with deep expertise in helping organizations of all sizes – from global enterprises to fast-growing startups – navigate the evolving world of work.
In this episo
Sam White: Redefining Insurance, Leadership, and Innovation
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Sam White , CEO of Stella Insurance. Sam is not just a leader in the insurance industry; she’s a trailblazer, entrepreneur, and advocate for creating a fairer, more inclusive world.
In today’s conversation, we’ll dive into Sam’s incredible journey as an entrepreneur, her vision for Stella Insurance, and how she’s challenging t
Amélie Breitburd: How Coopetition Could Double Europe’s Insurance Market
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Amélie Breitburd, the former CEO of Lloyd’s Europe, and a leading voice in the movement to rethink how we insure against tomorrow’s biggest shocks – from climate and cyber to the long-tail risks the industry still avoids.
In today’s conversation, we’ll unpack her journey to Lloyd’s, explore the institution’s evolving role in a
The CamCom x ERGO Story: Scaling AI from Vision to Value
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Geetha Sham, MD and President of CamCom in Europe, and Sathes Singam, innovation scout and programme manager at ERGO Group.
In this episode, we will explore how ERGO’s Venture Client model turned a promising pilot into a production-grade capability, then we will investigate what it really takes to deploy AI in regulated multi-
Joel Agard: Driving into Zurich Insurance’s Venture Client Engine
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Joel Agard, Group Head of Innovation at Zurich Insurance, who has been driving bold, transformative startup collaborations across 40+ markets.
His work has reshaped the way a global insurance giant works with startups, proving that innovation isn’t just about flashy tech – it’s about building real, meaningful partnerships that
Gregor Gimmy: Pioneer of the Venture Client Model
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Gregor Gimmy, founder of 27pilots, a company dedicated to helping companies build and scale Venture Client units, and allows them to benefit from startup innovations faster at a large scale and significantly lower cost and risk than traditional corporate venturing methods.
On this episode we will explore how this Venture Clien
Let’s Kickoff The Venture Client Series
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL discusses the launch of a new series exploring the Venture Client Model, which is turning corporate innovation on its head.
Instead of merely investing in startups and crossing fingers, big companies buy from startups to drive innovation – today, not years from now.
Imagine a world where a major Fortune 500, an automotive manufacturer,
Lou Smith: Transforming Insurance with Neuron by WTW
Sabine VdL talks to Lou Smith, a true trailblazer in financial services and insurance.
In today’s episode, we’ll dive into Lou’s incredible journey, explore the vision behind Neuron, and discuss the key takeaways from the latest report that insurance providers need to consider.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
We all have moments in life where the last thing we want to look at is our credit rating and history, but
James Birch: Ki Insurance’s Algorithmic Underwriting Revolution
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to James Birch, Director of Strategic Technology Solutions at Ki Insurance—the first fully algorithmic syndicate in the history of Lloyd’s of London.
In today’s conversation, we’ll explore: James’s journey from VC to algorithmic-underwriting pioneer, what a “director of strategic technology solutions” actually does day-to-day ins
Mark Stern: Transforming Customer Journeys with Physical-Digital Experience Design for Growth
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Mark Stern, founder and CEO of Custom Box Agency, an award-winning boutique specializing in bringing digital offers to life through innovative offline ‘box experiences.’
Today, he’ll share how he made the leap from corporate to startup life, offer practical tips for integrating physical touchpoints into a digital world, and di
Colin Hirdman: LinkedIn Growth Hacks, AI and Ethical Automation (Ethical Automation)
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Colin Hirdman, the antidote to automated mediocrity. As a lifelong entrepreneur and co-founder of Monkey Island Ventures, he has spent two decades scaling SaaS tools, digital agencies, and now Rainmaker – a ‘white-glove’ service that ethically automates LinkedIn outreach to turn connections into revenue.
Colin discusses Rainma
Gia Laudi: Why B2B SaaS Leaders Must “Forget The Funnel” and Embrace Customer-Led Growth
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Georgiana ‘Gia’ Laudi, a strategic advisor, keynote speaker, and co-founder of Forget The Funnel, a consultancy focused on helping B2B SaaS companies drive predictable, recurring revenue through a truly customer-led approach.
In this episode, Gia and I will explore why so many companies get stuck throwing “spaghetti at the wal
Ron Rock: Why Ohio is the Ultimate Launchpad for International Startups
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Ron Rock, former Managing Director for the Financial Services Sector at JobsOhio, now guest editor at FF News.
When you think "FinTech hub," your mind might automatically jump to Silicon Valley or New York. But there’s a powerhouse in the heartland that's giving these coastal giants a run for their money: Ohio.
In our conversa
Alon Kaufman: Unlocking the Future of Privacy Preserving Data Collaboration
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Alon Kaufman, CEO and Co-Founder of Duality Technologies, a company that is revolutionising the way organisations collaborate on data while preserving privacy and security.
During today’s conversation, we’ll explore the vision behind Duality Technologies, the real-world problems it is solving, and how organisations can future-
Sara Simeone: NoCodeLab Vibe Coding or Launching AI Startups with No-Code
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Sara Simeone, an award-winning entrepreneur behind NoCodeLab.ai, the First Vibe Coding Launchpad that helps non-technical dreamers ship AI-powered products in just five weeks—no keyboard sorcery required.
Whether you’re a Gen Z founder sketching ideas on a dorm whiteboard, an investor scouting the next scalable platform, or a
Ivan and Olha Pylypchuk: Unlocking the Power of Agentic AI
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Ivan Pylypchuk, the CEO of Softblues, and Olha Pylypchuk, the company’s COO.
In today’s discussion, we’ll explore: What Agentic AI is and why it’s poised to disrupt traditional business processes, how Ivan and Olha are leveraging multi-agent systems to solve domain-specific challenges and deliver business transformation, and t
Areiel Wolanow On Unleashing AI, Quantum, and Emerging Tech
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine meets Areiel Wolanow, the managing director of Finserv Experts, who discusses his journey from IBM to founding FinServ Experts, emphasising the importance of focusing on business models enabled by technology rather than the technology itself.
Areiel delves into the challenges and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence, responsi
Lisa Bechtold: From AI Governance to AI Transformation
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Lisa Bechtold, a global executive and strategic leader in technology and law, who at the time served as the head of AI governance from a transformative viewpoint at Zurich Insurance Group. Lisa is now with Nestlé.
In this episode, we explore the challenges and opportunities of the current AI transformation, what it takes to dr
Alex Schmelkin: Transforming Insurance Underwriting with GenAI and AI Agents
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Alex Schmelkin, a visionary entrepreneur who's reshaping the future of insurance operations. Alex is the Founder and CEO of Sixfold, a company at the forefront of harnessing Generative AI to empower insurance underwriters with groundbreaking tools and capabilities.
Today, we'll explore how Sixfold is leveraging Generative AI t
Anneli Scopazzi: AI-Driven Talent Management and Upskilling Strategies for High-Growth Ventures
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Anneli Scopazzi, CEO and Founder of Boulevard Recruiting. With a background rooted in fast-growth startup environments, Anneli has become an authority on matching world-class talent to the right opportunities—particularly in an era brimming with AI-driven disruption.
Expect a compelling conversation about how technology is cha
Emmanuel Djengue: Driving Tech Innovation & Sustainable Growth
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Emmanuel Djengue, a dynamic professional whose passion for technology and user-focused innovation has shaped his remarkable career path. From leading tech initiatives to connecting diverse people and ideas, Emmanuel exemplifies the very spirit of relentless curiosity and strategic thinking that we celebrate on this show.
We’ll
Anna Bojic: Disrupting Customer Engagement with Digital Wallet Technology
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Anna Bojic, founder and CEO of Miss Moneypenny Technologies, which is on a mission to transform wallet apps into dynamic, customer-focused engagement tools.
On this episode, Anna will share how her artistic roots inspired her approach to scaling Miss Moneypenny Technologies, especially in collaboration with leading insurance b
Danilo Raponi: Driving Insurance Innovation & Sustainability at Generali (Driving Insurance Innovation & Sustainability)
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Danilo Raponi about the trends and topics from this year’s ITC London event, including AI, sustainability, new startups, and why InsurTech isn’t dead.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Climate change is the biggest risk, along with misinformation and generative AI, because its misuse can amplify its spread, affecting many economies and
John Hewitt: How CEOs Building Their Empire
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to John Hewitt, a true pioneer in the tax preparation and financial services industry, having founded and scaled two companies to over $500 million in value - Jackson Hewitt Tax Service and Liberty Tax Service.
Throughout his illustrious 55-year career, John has always kept his driving purpose in sight – to change lives. He takes
Danny Nathan: Driving Innovation and Venture Growth with Apollo 21
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Danny Nathan, founder of Apollo 21, an innovation and product design studio based in New York City.
Learn about the transformative role of emerging technologies like AI, quantum computing, and cloud services in reshaping traditional business models. Danny discusses how Apollo 21 integrates these frontier technologies to solve
Scott Gunther: Corporate Venture Capital, the Venture Client Model, and Driving Innovation in 2025
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Scott Gunther, who is not only a corporate venture capitalist and start-up enthusiast—he’s also the secret ingredient that helps big businesses think like nimble innovators!
In this episode, we’ll hear how Scott’s unique blend of strategic vision and hands-on execution has set him apart in both blue-chip boardrooms and early-s
Staci Gray: Empowering Entrepreneurs to Scale Their Businesses Through People, Processes, and Personal Transformation!
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Staci Gray, Founder and CEO of Organize To Scale, whose journey is nothing short of inspirational. Imagine graduating high school at 16, diving headfirst into the entrepreneurial world, and buying your first property at 18.
When her mother was diagnosed with stage four cancer, Staci leaped into action. Taking the reins of her
State of the Nation in Insurance Venturing
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to a panel of global experts to explore the bold new frontiers shaping insurance technology in 2025 and beyond, including microinsurance in Africa, digital disruption in Latin America, the evolving tech scene in the US, Asia, Europe and the UK.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
AI cannot just be something we add on top of existing infrastructure,
Carolina Klint: Unveiling Key 2025 WEF Risk Insights
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Carolina Klint, Managing Director and Chief Commercial Officer for Continental Europe at Marsh McLennan, who shares her views on the latest WEF report and its implications for businesses and insurers worldwide.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
My goal in speaking about and promoting the Report is to place the topics of risk and resilience on t
Michael Lingelbach: Inside Hedra’s Agentic AI Revolution—Why Long-Form Video Is the Next Big Thing
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Michael Lingelbach, CEO and co-founder of Hedra, a company specializing in long-form generative video and agentic AI solutions. In just over a year, Michael and his team have seen explosive growth and raised backing from leading tech investors, including Index Ventures and Andreessen Horowitz.
From marketing and social media c
Denise Garth: Key Trends and Strategies for 2025 Shaping The Future of Insurance
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Denise Garth, a globally recognized InsurTech thought leader and Chief Strategy Officer at Majesco.
In our talk today, we dive into the top trends shaping insurance and InsurTech as we head toward 2025—from next-gen technology enablers to constantly evolving customer expectations. Denise will share her insights on where the in
Top 2025 Technology Trends That You Need To Know
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks about the technology trends shaping the future of insurance and finance in 2025, the big shifts, from AI wizardry to climate tech disruptors, that are revolutionizing how we manage risk, measure reward, and generally conduct business in these fast-changing industries.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
AI in insurance alone is predicted to jump fro
Zaid Ammari: From Banking to Becoming a Digital PPC Pioneer
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Zaid Ammari. What sets Zaid apart is his ability to transform complex data into actionable insights, empowering businesses to make smarter marketing decisions. His mantra, 'work smarter, not harder,' is reflected in his approach to managing PPC campaigns and optimising SEO strategies.
In today's episode, Zaid will share his in
Paul Austin: How Psychedelics and Microdosing Are Revolutionising Business
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Today, Paul joins us to delve into how psychedelics are revolutionizing personal transformation and professional success. We'll explore how these tools can be harnessed
Beate Chelette: Scaling Secrets from The Growth Architect
On this episode of the Scouting For Growth podcast, Sabine VdL talks to Beate Chelette, known as the Growth Architect, about her journey from being a broke single mom immigrant with $135,000 in debt to selling her business to Bill Gates for millions.
In this episode, Beate shares her hard-won wisdom on what it really takes to pressure-test your idea, build a solid foundation, and scale your busine
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