Ever wondered how someone goes from hosting festivals in a tiny German village to making waves in Silicon Valley’s tech scene? Golden Retriever energy. Ok not entirely, but still. This week on Something New, Steph and Leeor chat with Andrej Safundzic, the visionary founder of Lumos. With a life motto of “Screw it, just do it,” Andrej has built a career defined by bold decisions and fearless innovation.

In this episode, Andrej dives into his fascinating path—from founding social enterprises in Uganda to spearheading tech-driven projects for the German government. He shares invaluable lessons learned in Silicon Valley, discussing how Lumos is pioneering cybersecurity and identity management. Along the way, he offers practical insights on team-building, managing risks, and raising venture capital in a hyper-competitive market.

In the opening discussion, Teel Lidow, a legal and financial expert in the venture capital landscape, shares crucial insights for emerging fund managers with Steph and Leeor. He emphasizes the importance of understanding fundraising dynamics and the misconception that management fees should cover all fund expenses. Teel suggests focusing on fundraising as the key to success and notes that operational challenges are manageable once capital is secured. He outlines the average costs associated with running a fund, dispelling myths about the financial barriers to entry for new managers. He’s also Leeor’s go-to guy!

Key Discussion Points:

• From Social Impact to Tech Innovation: How Andrej’s work in Uganda and Germany shaped his entrepreneurial vision.
• Finding Your Market ‘Mountain’: The importance of iterative building and knowing when to pivot.
• Silicon Valley’s Unique Ecosystem: Andrej’s strategies for fundraising and creating strong networks in a new and fast-paced environment.
• Mastering the Art of the Pivot: Navigating tough decisions and knowing when to stick to your guns or change course.
• Innovation vs. Stability: How Andrej balances rapid iteration with team cohesion and long-term goals at Lumos.

Guest Info: Andrej Safundzic is the founder of Lumos, a Silicon Valley startup revolutionizing cybersecurity through innovative access and identity management solutions. His career spans social impact projects, government innovation, and tech entrepreneurship, all fueled by his relentless “Screw it, just do it” philosophy.

Follow Leeor on Twitter at @lmushin and Steph at @stephmui. Discover more episodes at SomethingNewPod.com.

What if social media interactions were exclusively powered by AI? This week on Something New, Steph and Leeor talk with Michael Sayman, a social media prodigy and founder of Social AI, an innovative platform where AI personalities engage users in place of traditional social connections. Michael, who started his career at Facebook as a teenager, shares how his journey through the tech industry shaped his thinking and led him to reimagine what social networks could be.

In this episode, Michael discusses his early days developing apps and meeting Mark Zuckerberg, his insights on the vulnerabilities of tech giants like Meta, and his motivation for launching Social AI. He explains how Social AI aims to redefine the concept of social interactions by using AI to create dynamic, engaging conversations without human users. Michael also explores the role of iteration in product development and how AI might transform our interactions online by offering a new, personalized way to “talk” with the internet itself.

Steph and Leeor also discuss an unexpected discovery on Twitter—a mysterious account under the name “Arfhur Rock”, which has been anonymously revealing insider information about private funding rounds and company metrics before they’re public. The account, which resembles past VC anonymous accounts like “Genuine Info,” has already gained a cult following for its accurate predictions and details, leaving Steph and Leeor wondering about the identity and motivations of the person behind it. This discovery sets the stage for a lively conversation with their guest, Michael Sayman, on innovation and transparency in tech.

Key Discussion Points:

• Michael’s Journey into Tech: How a teenage Michael caught the attention of Facebook, beginning a career that included roles at Google, Roblox, Twitter, and more.
• Insights on Social Media’s Evolution: Michael’s perspective on how social platforms must innovate without the safety net of hardware, and how Meta’s product challenges influenced his approach.
• The Concept of Social AI: Social AI’s unique model of using AI personalities to simulate social engagement, expanding the role of social media beyond person-to-person interactions.
• Building Through Iteration: Why experimenting with rapid iterations is central to creating meaningful social products.
• AI and Social Interaction: Michael’s vision of how AI can enhance the social experience, allowing users to interact directly with vast online data in engaging, customizable ways.

Guest Info: Michael Sayman is a tech entrepreneur and the founder of Social AI, a groundbreaking social network that combines AI technology with social media to create a novel user experience. Michael started developing apps as a young teen, which led to an early career at Facebook and roles in other top tech companies. Through Social AI, he is pioneering a new kind of digital interaction, inviting users to explore conversations in a world populated by AI.

Follow Leeor on Twitter at @lmushin and Steph on Twitter at [@stephmui].
Discover more episodes at SomethingNewPod.com.

What happens when peer mentorship meets mental health care? This week on Something New, Steph and Leeor sit down with Patrick Gilligan, founder of Somethings, a mental health startup aimed at providing peer support to teens. Patrick shares his personal journey of overcoming mental health challenges and explains how it led him to create a platform that offers teens a relatable and accessible alternative to traditional therapy through peer mentoring.

In this episode, Patrick discusses the role of peer mentors—individuals who have lived through similar struggles—and how they can provide emotional support and guidance that often resonates more deeply than conventional therapy. From building a community that normalizes mental health conversations to working with healthcare systems, Patrick provides insight into scaling a mental health startup in a highly complex and sensitive space. He also shares his vision of how technology, including AI, can complement but not replace the human aspect of mental health care.

Key Discussion Points:

• Patrick’s Personal Journey: How Patrick’s own experiences with mental health challenges inspired him to start Somethings.
• Peer Support vs. Traditional Therapy: The unique value of peer mentors in helping teens navigate their mental health journeys.
• The Youth Mental Health Crisis: How social media, stigma, and the current state of mental health care are impacting today’s youth.
• Partnering with Healthcare Systems: How Somethings is collaborating with health insurance companies and schools to reach more teens.
• The Role of AI in Mental Health Care: Patrick shares his perspective on how AI can assist in mental health care without replacing human connection.

Guest Info:

Patrick Gilligan is the founder of Somethings, a mental health platform dedicated to supporting teens through peer mentorship. After overcoming his own struggles with mental health, Patrick saw the need for a more personal and accessible approach to mental health care for young people, leading him to develop Somethings, which combines community, technology, and human connection. Listen in on his podcast "Self-Disclosed" https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/self-disclosed-a-teen-mental-health-podcast/id1762835077.

Follow Leeor on Twitter at https://twitter.com/lmushin and Steph on Twitter at https://twitter.com/stephmui.

Discover more episodes at https://somethingnewpod.com.