• Raw and Real Entrepreneurship

  • Written by: Susan Sly
  • Podcast

Raw and Real Entrepreneurship

Written by: Susan Sly
  • Summary

  • Get ready to step into the unfiltered world of entrepreneurship with the award-winning entrepreneur Susan Sly on the "Raw and Real Entrepreneurship" podcast. Recognized and featured by major media outlets such as Forbes, MIT Sloan Management Review, CNBC, Fox, and CNN, Susan brings an exceptional blend of real-world experience and hard-earned knowledge to the podcasting stage. As the co-founder of a leading AI company, Susan harnesses her unique insider perspective to delve deep into the hearts and minds of the world's most successful entrepreneurs. She presents a candid and detailed account of their journeys, featuring enlightening discussions with illustrious founders like Glenn Stearns, Jesse Itzler, and Brandon Steiner. "Raw and Real Entrepreneurship" captures the grit, passion, and relentless spirit of the entrepreneurial world in all its unforgiving yet rewarding glory. From the humble beginnings to the defining moments that change a business's path, Susan and her guests explore the intricate facets of entrepreneurship that are seldom discussed in mainstream narratives. Whether you are a seasoned business owner, a budding entrepreneur, or simply intrigued by the entrepreneurial landscape, this podcast is a treasure trove of hard-hitting truths and invaluable lessons. With Susan's industry insider perspective and her guests' unabashed honesty, listeners will gain a unique understanding of what it truly takes to succeed in the world of entrepreneurship. Join Susan Sly every week for a new episode of "Raw and Real Entrepreneurship." Immerse yourself in the authentic, inspiring, and empowering stories of those who have dared to turn their entrepreneurial dreams into reality. Embark on your journey to success today with "Raw and Real Entrepreneurship".
    Copyright ©2024
    Show more Show less
Episodes
  • The Realities of Startups, Pitching & AI’s Next Wave with Hikari Senju, Founder of Omneky
    Mar 6 2025
    In this episode of Raw and Real Entrepreneurship, host Susan Sly sits down with Hikari Senju, Founder of Omneky, to discuss his journey from a creative childhood to scaling innovative startups. Hikari dives into his early entrepreneurial experiences, the rise of generative AI, and how AI is transforming advertising. He also reveals the challenges of raising capital—having pitched to hundreds of investors—the power of networking, and how introverts can thrive in business. Susan and Hikari break down the realities of acquisitions, the importance of finding the right investors, and the vision behind Omneky. This episode is packed with real-world insights on building, funding, and scaling a business in the AI era. About Hikari Senju: Hikari Senju is a computer science graduate from Harvard University with a passion for technology and design. He founded his first startup, QuickHelp, an on-demand tutoring app, which he later sold to Yup.com and became their Head of Growth. During his time at Yup.com, Senju observed inefficiencies in content spending and the potential of AI in advertising, which inspired him to establish Omneky in 2018. Senju’s background in computer science, entrepreneurship, and his experience with AI technologies led him to create Omneky, an AI platform that generates, analyzes, and optimizes personalized ad creatives at scale. Connect with Hikari: Website https://www.omneky.com/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/hikari-senju-63780199/ About Susan Sly: Susan Sly is the maven behind Raw and Real Entrepreneurship. An award-winning AI entrepreneur and MIT Sloan alumna, Susan has carved out a niche at the forefront of the AI revolution, earning accolades as a top AI innovator in 2023 and a key figure in real-time AI advancements for 2024. With a storied career that blends rigorous academic insight with astute market strategies, Susan has emerged as a formidable founder, a discerning angel investor, a sought-after speaker, and a venerated voice in the business world. Her insights have graced platforms from CNN to CNBC and been quoted in leading publications like Forbes and MarketWatch. At the helm of the Raw and Real Entrepreneurship podcast, Susan delivers unvarnished wisdom and strategies, empowering aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business veterans alike to navigate the challenges of the entrepreneurial landscape with confidence. Connect With Susan: Website https://susansly.com Website https://thepause.ai/ LinkedIn @susansly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show more Show less
    50 mins
  • AI Startups, Fundraising & The Pivot That Changed Everything with Susan Groeneveld, Founder of Sylvester.ai
    Feb 27 2025
    In this episode of Raw and Real Entrepreneurship, Susan Sly sits down with Susan Groeneveld, Founder of Sylvester.ai, to discuss the bold pivot that reshaped her AI startup. Initially launched as a B2C pet health platform, Susan made the strategic decision to shift to B2B, securing key contracts to expand into veterinary clinics and successfully raising funding in today’s tough investment climate. Susan G shares practical insights on raising venture capital, the unique challenges female founders face, and how to attract the right investors. She also dives into AI’s impact on pet health, the power of strategic pivots, and why founders must think bigger to scale successfully. If you're an entrepreneur navigating AI, health tech, or pet care, this episode is filled with actionable strategies to help you scale, secure funding, and build a high-growth business. About Susan Groeneveld: Susan Groeneveld is a serial entrepreneur specializing in agriculture, animal health, and AI-driven technology. With 25 years of experience, she has led commercialization for global companies, co-founded an award-winning marketing agency, and launched Sylvester.ai, an AI platform transforming pet health. A 2023 top 5 finalist for Entrepreneur of the Year in Women in AI, Susan is a leader in innovation, scaling startups, and tackling global challenges in agriculture and veterinary care. Connect with Susan Groeneveld: Website https://www.sylvester.ai/ LinkedIn @susangroeneveldab Instagram @sylvester_tech/ About Susan Sly: Susan Sly is the maven behind Raw and Real Entrepreneurship. An award-winning AI entrepreneur and MIT Sloan alumna, Susan has carved out a niche at the forefront of the AI revolution, earning accolades as a top AI innovator in 2023 and a key figure in real-time AI advancements for 2024. With a storied career that blends rigorous academic insight with astute market strategies, Susan has emerged as a formidable founder, a discerning angel investor, a sought-after speaker, and a venerated voice in the business world. Her insights have graced platforms from CNN to CNBC and been quoted in leading publications like Forbes and MarketWatch. At the helm of the Raw and Real Entrepreneurship podcast, Susan delivers unvarnished wisdom and strategies, empowering aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business veterans alike to navigate the challenges of the entrepreneurial landscape with confidence. Connect With Susan: Website https://susansly.com Website https://thepause.ai/ LinkedIn @susansly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show more Show less
    51 mins
  • AI Disruption, Female Founders, & Raising Capital with Melinda Wittstock, Founder of Podopolo
    Feb 4 2025
    AI is shaking up industries, but what does it mean for female founders in today’s challenging funding environment? In this episode of Raw and Real Entrepreneurship, Susan Sly sits down with five-time entrepreneur Melinda Wittstock—AI innovator, venture partner, and CEO of Podopolo. They break down the impact of AI disruptors like DeepSeek, the funding freeze on U.S. grants, and why women-led startups deliver higher returns yet still struggle for capital. Melinda shares raw insights on hiring, scaling, and staying scrappy in tough times. If you’re a founder navigating today’s startup landscape, this episode is a must-listen. About Melinda Wittstock: Melinda Wittstock is a 5-time entrepreneur, AI innovator, and Founder and CEO of Podopolo, the AI and blockchain-powered podcast platform revolutionizing discovery, engagement, and monetization. Honored as 2024’s “AI Pioneer of the Year,” she also invests in women-led startups as a venture partner at Zero Limits Capital. A former award-winning journalist for the BBC, Times of London, and CNBC, she created a BBC TV show reaching 20 million viewers and was praised by Steve Jobs for her interviewing skills. Melinda hosts Wings of Inspired Business, empowering female founders to succeed without tradeoffs. Connect with Melinda: Website: https://melindawittstock.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindawittstock About Susan Sly: Susan Sly is the maven behind Raw and Real Entrepreneurship. An award-winning AI entrepreneur and MIT Sloan alumna, Susan has carved out a niche at the forefront of the AI revolution, earning accolades as a top AI innovator in 2023 and a key figure in real-time AI advancements for 2024. With a storied career that blends rigorous academic insight with astute market strategies, Susan has emerged as a formidable founder, a discerning angel investor, a sought-after speaker, and a venerated voice in the business world. Her insights have graced platforms from CNN to CNBC and been quoted in leading publications like Forbes and MarketWatch. At the helm of the Raw and Real Entrepreneurship podcast, Susan delivers unvarnished wisdom and strategies, empowering aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business veterans alike to navigate the challenges of the entrepreneurial landscape with confidence. Connect With Susan: Website https://susansly.com Website https://thepause.ai/ LinkedIn @susansly  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show more Show less
    52 mins

What listeners say about Raw and Real Entrepreneurship

Average Customer Ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.