"The best teams are closing learning loops quickly." - Manish Patel

In this episode of Tech Scenes Unplugged, Jeff James Martin sits down with Manish Patel, Founder of Nava Venture Partners, to unpack what truly separates high-performing startups at the Series A stage. Drawing from his time leading product at Google—on transformative platforms like AdWords and Google Maps—Manish brings a rare perspective at the intersection of human experience, technology, and venture investing.

Together, they explore how fast-learning teams outperform fast-moving ones, why fewer objectives often lead to greater traction, and how founder vulnerability can actually create strength and cohesion within early teams. This isn’t a conversation about hype—it’s about precision, clarity, and scaling sustainably.

Manish also reflects on Nava’s investment philosophy and why they’re backing companies that aren’t just improving markets but rewriting them. They dig into the role of human-centered design, the misuse of OKRs in growing companies, and the dangers of capital-fueled misalignment. Whether you're an early-stage founder, operator, or investor, this conversation offers powerful insights on the habits that create long-term success.

Chapters:

00:00 The Importance of Learning Loops in Venture Capital

01:42 Understanding the Series A Stage

05:21 Focus and Alignment in Startups

10:59 The Role of Vision and Objectives

16:56 The Dangers of Rapid Growth and Capital Pressure

21:07 Human-Centered Design in Venture

28:31 The Misapplication of OKRs

33:07 The Need for Vulnerability in Leadership

Learn more about the book Peak Teams – Mastering the Habit of Unstoppable Venture-backed Companies

https://a.co/d/hp5Jtnu

Visit Collective Genius™ to Build Your Venture-backed Team with the Peak Operating System™

https://www.collective-genius.com/

#collectivegenius #peakoperatingsystem #peakos #techscenes #nava #venturecapital #seriesA #learningloops #startups #okrs #leadership #growthstrategy #jeffjamesmartin #founderfirst #humancentereddesign #teamalignment #vc #scalingstartups #techleadership #startuplessons #buildinpublic #execution

"The old way of selling is already dead." - Mark Walker

In this episode of Tech Scenes, we sit down with Mark Walker, CEO of Nue.io, to talk about how the future of software, AI, and pricing is reshaping how go-to-market teams operate. Mark shares his lessons from leading SaaS and compliance companies, building execution-driven cultures, and navigating fast-moving tech cycles. From sales innovation to team alignment, we unpack how dynamic teams are winning in a world of rapid change.

Mark brings deep experience from his time leading Strongpoint, Blanketware, and other high-growth companies, where he’s helped teams scale through smarter systems and sharper focus. At Nue.io, he’s now tackling how RevOps can enable teams to adapt quickly, price creatively, and execute with confidence. Whether you're a founder, operator, or team lead, Mark’s playbook for managing complexity while staying customer-centric is worth taking notes on.

We also explore what it takes to build a culture that gets things done—where clarity, collaboration, and cadence replace chaos. From AI’s disruptive force to the very human elements of leadership, this episode cuts across strategy and mindset, giving you insight into the modern operating model of high-performance teams.

Chapters:

00:00 The Future of Software and AI

01:20 Introducing New: A Revolutionary System

02:33 Understanding User Personas and Use Cases

05:00 Navigating the Rate of Change in Pricing Models

08:13 The Evolution of Sales Strategies

10:02 Lessons from SaaS and System Integration

14:00 The Shift in Pricing Models

17:06 AI's Impact on Software Development

20:08 Running New: Interoperability and Flexibility

22:46 Adapting to Rapid Change in Organizations

25:59 Enabling Teams for Success

32:09 Cross-Functional Collaboration in Teams

35:13 The Importance of Pausing for Reflection

37:05 Focus and Clarity in Team Objectives

41:06 Leveraging Individual Strengths in Teams

46:54 The Seriousness of Project Management

50:55 Execution as a Core Principle

54:45 The Desert Island Album

Learn more about the book Peak Teams – Mastering the Habit of Unstoppable Venture-backed Companies https://a.co/d/hp5Jtnu

Visit Collective Genius™ to Build Your Venture-backed Team with the Peak Operating System™ https://www.collective-genius.com/

#collectivegenius #peakoperatingsystem #peakos #vbos #nueio #revops #startup #SaaS #ceo #leadership #techscenes #execution #pricingstrategy #teamalignment #growthcompany #venturebacked #jeffjamesmartin

"You can tell someone’s values when things go badly." - Donald Davidoff

In this episode, Donald Davidoff shares the journey of building REBA™, a modern analytics company changing how the rental housing industry uses data. From founding the industry-defining LRO system to launching REBA™, Donald brings a deep history of innovation, leadership, and strategic thinking. We talk about the role of core values in decision-making, building culture in growth-stage startups, and how REBA™ is creating clarity through better coordination, OKRs, and customer focus.

The conversation also dives into the rental housing industry's lag in adopting modern tech, how REBA™ helps leaders make better decisions faster, and the transition from startup mode to scale. Donald unpacks lessons on internal service, process design, team dynamics, and why reverse engineering objectives can unlock alignment across functions.

Takeaways:

• You can tell someone's values when things go badly.

• Strong leaders must balance zooming in and out.

• The rental housing industry is traditionally behind in technology.

• REBA™ aims to connect data systems for better decision-making.

• Cultural fit is crucial in hiring processes.

• Documenting goals helps teams stay on track.

• Organizational clarity supports cross-functional success.

• Process should serve the team, not hinder it.

• Internal customer service matters as much as external.

• Music matters: yes, he picked Meat Loaf.

Chapters:

00:00 Values Revealed in Adversity

02:50 The Transition from Startup to Growth

06:00 Revolutionizing the Rental Housing Industry

12:07 The Birth of REBA™: Timing and Vision

18:07 Building a Strong Company Culture

23:04 Setting the Vision and Objectives

26:34 The Importance of Coordination and Focus

28:25 Understanding Roles and Responsibilities

32:01 Creating Clarity in Organizational Structure

36:24 Balancing Process and Flexibility

41:05 Customer Success and Internal Service

44:44 Desert Island Album Choice

📘 Learn more about the book Peak Teams – Mastering the Habit of Unstoppable Venture-backed Companies™:

https://a.co/d/hp5Jtnu

🌐 Visit Collective Genius™ to build your venture-backed team with the Peak Operating System™:

https://www.collective-genius.com/

Music by Andrew Applepie – https://soundcloud.com/andrewapplepie

#collectivegenius #peakoperatingsystem #peakos #vbos #reba #donalddavidoff #analytics #startupgrowth #leadership #founder #ceo #rentals #multifamily #realestate #teamculture #kpi #okr #customerexperience #venturecapital #techscenes #jeffjamesmartin