The Tesoro AI Podcast

Big Tech doesn’t just compete for AI talent, it reshapes the entire hiring market. In this conversation, Darius Gant explains how big companies influence salaries, talent supply, hiring expectations, and even how startups think about recruiting AI engineers. You’ll learn: If you’re building an AI company or hiring AI talent, understanding these dynamics is critical. […]

You’re searching for AI talent and every recruiter quotes a different price. Some are cheap. Some charge a premium. And nobody explains what’s actually behind the number. In this video, Andrea from Tesoro AI breaks down what goes into the cost of specialized AI recruiting why volume-based pipelines fail for ML Engineers and AI Scientists, […]

Hiring for AI roles is uniquely difficult titles and buzzwords don’t always reflect real capability. In this episode, we explain the recruiter “signals” we use to evaluate AI candidates and reduce hiring risk. 𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼, 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿: • What a recruiting signal is (evidence you can trust) • Proof of work (“artifact signals”): what […]

Struggling to hire 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗜 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 who can actually ship with LLMs and agents—not just talk about them? This video lets you 𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 with an AI product leader who’s facing that exact challenge. To protect our customer’s privacy, we’ve replaced their video with an 𝗔𝗜 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗿, but the 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 […]

In the world of cybersecurity, speed and precision are everything. A single vulnerability can disrupt an entire city’s power grid or halt production in a refinery. Yet, traditional security models have struggled to keep up with the growing complexity of modern systems. On the Tesoro AI Podcast, host Darius Gant spoke with Harry Thomas, founder […]

When Austin Clements co-founded Slauson & Co., he wasn’t just launching another venture capital firm. He was rewriting the narrative of who gets funded, who gets a seat at the table, and how inclusive wealth creation can reshape innovation in America. On the Build Tech Stack Equity, Austin sat down with Darius Gant to discuss […]

In this episode of the Tesoro AI podcast, we sit with Frank Cohen, a Silicon Valley expert specializing in performance architecture and extreme performance testing. Frank shares insights from his 35-year career, including his work with PepsiCo during the Super Bowl, and the development of performance testing software like Push to Test and App Vance. He discusses the growing role of AI in job markets and how it has transformed traditional processes, including how tools like ChatGPT can aid job seekers. The conversation also delves into how AI can enhance application testing and performance across various industries, and the importance of ethical practices and sustainability in AI development. Frank highlights his new venture, Clever Moe, focusing on consulting services and the future of AI-driven solutions.

In this episode of the Build Tech Stack Equity Podcast, host Darius Gant interviews DeShuna Spencer, founder of Kweli TV, a streaming service dedicated to showcasing Black stories from around the world. DeShuna shares her journey from journalism to creating a tech platform, discussing her experiences with covering crime stories, the lack of diverse narratives in mainstream media, and her mission to provide authentic, impactful Black content. Kweli TV offers a wide range of content, including documentaries, dramas, comedies, and children's programming, aiming to celebrate and connect the global Black community. DeShuna also delves into the technical challenges she faced, including early funding struggles and platform development, and shares future plans for immersive content and gaming.

The landscape of fundraising is in constant flux. For entrepreneurs, what worked five years ago may not be enough to secure the capital needed to scale in today’s competitive environment. In a recent Power Hour discussion, private equity expert and Tesoro AI founder Darius Grant broke down the new fundamentals for raising capital, emphasizing that […]

In this episode of the Tesoro AI podcast, we speak with Albert Gozzi, founder of Aleph, about transforming financial processes using AI. They discuss the evolution of Gozzi's career from management consulting at Bain & Company to becoming COO/CFO of an early-stage startup, and ultimately founding Aleph to solve core financial data issues. Gozzi elaborates on Aleph's capabilities in data cleaning, variance analysis, and version control, underlining the significance of AI in enhancing accuracy and accelerating workflows. They also touch upon future developments in AI for finance and how businesses can leverage these advancements for greater productivity and efficiency.

In this episode of the Tesoro AI Podcast, Darius Gant sits down with Prem Kumar, co-founder of Humanly, to explore how true two-way AI conversations are reshaping the candidate experience. Prem shares how a personal brush with being “ghosted” as an applicant inspired him to build a platform that engages every candidate—applicants and sourced prospects alike—across chat, email, SMS, and voice, all while embedding compliance guardrails like real-time pay-transparency for each locale. You’ll learn how Humanly’s skill-based matching engine infers hidden competencies from past hires, plugs invisibly into your ATS and HRIS workflows, and even offers candidates a voice-activated agent for interview prep and career guidance—long before they ever speak with a human recruiter. Plus, discover the auditing processes Humanly employs to surface and mitigate bias in real time, ensuring a fair and transparent process for all.

In this episode, we interview Christina Campero, an entrepreneurial force behind Prosperia, a tech startup focused on AI in healthcare. Christina discusses her professional journey, moving from a background in bioscience and healthcare consulting to co-founding Prosperia. The startup uses AI to scan retina images for early detection of diabetic retinopathy and other eye diseases, a crucial service in Mexico due to a high prevalence of diabetes and limited access to ophthalmologists. The conversation covers the development process of their AI model, partnerships with primary healthcare touchpoints, and the advantages of operating in Mexico. They also explore the challenges and breakthroughs in fundraising for a Latin American AI healthcare startup, including securing a seed round from a Swedish fund. The episode ends with a look at Prosperia’s future goals, including expanding their AI applications to detect other health conditions.

In this episode of the Tesoro AI podcast, host Darius Gant interviews Daniel, a seasoned technologist with experience at top tech companies like Google, Twitter, and Airbnb. They delve into Daniel’s early career and the launch of his startup, Jetify, which aims to accelerate the software development lifecycle. The conversation explores the evolution of AI […]

In this episode of the Tesoro AI podcast, host Darius Gant speaks with George, the founder of Fairos, about the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. George shares insights into his background, transitioning from big data and data science to founding an AI-focused startup. The discussion delves into the significant gap between AI investment and […]

In this episode of the Tesoro AI podcast, host Darius Gant welcomes Dmitri Lesnik, Co-founder of Stratyfy, to discuss the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. Dmitry delves into his background in physics and AI, having developed influential algorithms since his PhD studies in Germany. He highlights Stratyfy’s focus on probabilistic logic and interpretable AI, emphasizing […]

In this episode of the Tesoro AI podcast, we sit with Robin Toluie, a key figure behind PhysicsX, a company leveraging AI and machine learning to accelerate simulation and design processes across various advanced industries. They delve into Robin’s extensive background in both theoretical physics and high-stakes automotive engineering with leading companies like Mercedes AMG […]

In this episode of the Build Tech Stack Equity Podcast, we sit with Claudio Barahona, a venture capitalist with Alaya Capital, to explore his journey from an eSports entrepreneur to a prominent VC in Latin America. Claudio shares his background, including growing up in Germany and Chile, building a successful eSports company, and transitioning to […]

In this episode of the Tesoro AI podcast, we sit with Christina Kosmowski, LogicMonitor CEO. Christina shares her extensive experience and insights into the intersection of AI, data centers, and digital transformation. She discusses her career journey from leadership roles at Salesforce, Slack, and now Logic Monitor, highlighting the significant inflection points in cloud computing […]

In this episode of the Build Tech Stack Equity Podcast, Eduardo Kupper, the founder of Airborne Ventures, shares his unique professional journey from an Air Force pilot in Brazil to a Wharton MBA graduate and successful venture capitalist. The conversation delves into his diverse experiences in management consulting at McKinsey, tech entrepreneurship through Rocket Internet, […]

In this episode of the Tesoro AI podcast, host Darius Gant interviews Sarah Nagy, founder of Seek. They discuss Sarah’s journey from astrophysics and finance to founding an AI-driven data analytics startup. Sarah explains Seek’s mission to simplify data accessibility and analysis using large language models (LLMs). With her extensive background in quantitative finance and […]

In this episode of the Tesoro AI podcast, host Darius Gant talks with Chris from Enso Data about how artificial intelligence is transforming sleep medicine. Chris delves into his career journey from engineering to healthcare, the founding of Enso Data, and how the startup uses AI to improve diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea. They […]

In this episode of the Tesoro AI podcast, host Darius Gant interviews Zvonimir Sabljic ‘Z’, the founder of Pythagora, an AI-based tool that automates coding tasks and helps build applications from scratch. Z discusses his career journey, starting with a collaborative whiteboard startup that was eventually acquired by Miro. The conversation then shifts to Pythagora, […]

In this episode, Adrian Mendoza, co-founder of Mendoza Ventures, shares his journey from getting started in web design in the early 90s, to founding startups, and eventually transitioning into venture capital. He details his career progression, his experiences in the tech and design intersection, and his work at companies like Disney and startups during the […]

In this episode of the Tesoro AI podcast, we speak with Hunter Brooks, co-founder and CEO of Ellipsis. We discuss Hunter’s journey from a self-taught developer with a background in astrophysics to creating an AI-driven code review tool. Hunter elaborates on his professional experiences at companies like Capital One and Amazon, where he gained exposure […]

In this episode, we sit with Kevin Moore, the fund manager at Serac Ventures. Kevin shares his unconventional journey to venture capital. Starting with a degree in civil engineering, Kevin transitioned through roles as a financial advisor, a regulatory worker at the Federal Reserve Bank, and eventually into the VC world. He emphasizes the importance […]

In this episode of the Tesoro AI podcast, host Darius Gant converses with Steven Atneosen , a seasoned serial entrepreneur and executive with a diverse background in law, corporate strategy, and technology. Steven shares his career trajectory from a fascination with automobiles to the legal profession, and eventually into the world of AI and tech […]

Brandon Tory Thorpe, a multifaceted tech innovator hailing from Brockton, Massachusetts. Brandon shares his journey from being a young tech enthusiast driven by his passion for computers and reverse engineering, to his professional career in electrical engineering, working with industry giants like Apple and Google. He reveals his transition into the creative world, pursuing music […]

In this episode, we sit with Marcus Lampinen, the founder of Prifina. Marcus discusses how AI is revolutionizing the way individuals can manage and control their personal and professional data. We then delve into Marcus’s background and how his passion for data led to the creation of Prifina, a user-controlled data company aimed at ensuring […]

In this episode we speak with Marlon Nichols, co-founder of MaC Ventures, who discusses his diverse career path from starting as an early employee at an enterprise software company, moving into consulting, and ultimately venturing into the world of venture capital. He explains the founding and growth of MaC Ventures, sharing insights into their investment […]

In this episode, we sit with Omar Tabba, Chief Product Officer at Brainbox AI, to delve into the transformative use of artificial intelligence in building automation and energy efficiency. With over 20 years of experience, Omar shares his journey into the AI sector, real-world applications of AI in managing HVAC systems, and Brainbox AI’s innovations […]

In this episode we sit with Gerald Kierce, co-founder and CEO of Trustible AI, a leading technology provider focused on responsible AI governance. Gerald provides insights into his background, including his experience at FiscalNote and his vision for Trustible AI. The discussion covers how Trustible AI helps organizations manage AI risks, comply with emerging regulations, […]

Guru Sethupathy has dedicated nearly two decades to understanding the impact of powerful technologies, such as AI, on business value, risks, and the workforce. He has written research papers on bias in algorithmic systems and the implications of AI technology on jobs. At McKinsey, he advised Fortune 100 leaders on harnessing the power of analytics […]

Yi Zhang is the co-founder & CEO of Relari AI. Relari is the testing and simulation platform for Generative AI systems. AI teams use Relari to generate large scale synthetic data to systematically test and improve their LLM-powered applications. Relari is backed by top investors like Y Combinator, Soma Capital and General Catalyst. Prior to […]

In this episode of the Tesoro AI podcast, host Darius Gant chats with Maria Telleria, the co-founder of Canvas, an AI-driven robotics startup that’s transforming the construction industry. Maria shares her journey from MIT to the startup world, the challenges and opportunities in implementing AI and robotics in unstructured environments, and how Canvas is improving […]

In this episode, host Darius Gant chats with Theo Williams, a venture capitalist specializing in space tech at Third Vector. They discuss Theo’s journey from finance to tech, his insights into alternative investments, and his transition into venture capital. Theo shares his expertise in space technology, particularly focusing on space data as a service, data […]