I am thrilled to have Akshat Mandloi, the co-founder of Smallest.ai, a voice AI startup recently named among Inc42's "30 Startups to Watch" for 2025. A former senior data scientist at Bosch and IIT Guwahati alum, he's building hyper-realistic voice agents that support 30+ languages with ultra-low latency for enterprises worldwide.

In this conversation, Akshat Mandloi, co-founder of Smallest AI, discusses his journey from working at Bosch to starting his own company, the challenges of operating in different markets, and the intricacies of developing voice AI technology. Akshat shares insights on language prioritization, the competitive landscape, and what it means to create enterprise-ready solutions. The conversation also touches on funding, building a strong company culture, hiring practices, and the future of voice AI technology.

Timestamps

00:00 The Journey to Smallest AI

02:11 Navigating Operational Challenges

05:12 Language Prioritization in Voice AI

06:57 Building a Competitive Edge in Voice AI

10:15 The Build vs. Buy Debate

12:11 Funding and Investor Insights

14:11 Cultivating a High-Ownership Culture

16:21 Designing for User Needs

18:17 Remote Work vs. In-Person Collaboration

19:11 The Future of Voice AI

21:07 Speed as a Competitive Advantage

22:57 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

25:01 Vision for the Future

Akshat's Links

LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/akshat-2503/

Website - https://smallest.ai/

My Links

Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe

YouTube: youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/

I am excited to have Bani K Maini: an AI product leader who transforms complex enterprise operations into scalable solutions that actually get adopted. From cutting forecasting errors by 74% to scaling platforms across 600+ sites in seven countries, she's built AI products for Fortune 500 companies - and conducted 70+ executive interviews at Stanford on how GenAI is reshaping enterprises.

In this conversation, Bani Maini, an AI product leader, shares her journey from early exposure to technology in Japan to her current role in transforming enterprise operations through AI. She discusses the challenges of AI adoption across different cultures and regions, emphasizing the importance of understanding local nuances. Bani highlights the non-obvious challenges in rolling out AI products, such as process variance and data issues, and stresses the need for a clear problem-solving approach. She also differentiates between traditional machine learning and generative AI, providing insights into their respective applications.

Timestamps

03:22 Understanding Enterprise AI Adoption Challenges

06:22 Cultural and Regional Differences in AI Adoption

09:18 Non-Obvious Challenges in AI Rollout

11:58 Navigating Inflection Points in AI Integration

15:11 Misconceptions About Generative AI in Enterprises

18:19 Identifying AI Use Cases and Metrics for Success

21:06 Traditional ML vs. Generative AI: Decision Framework

24:19 Generative AI in Supply Chain Optimization

27:18 Turning Unstructured Data into Actionable Intelligence

30:05 Organizational Structure for Global AI Teams

33:25 Driving User Adoption Across Cultures

36:13 Shifts in Enterprise AI Thinking

39:22 Reflections on Scaling AI Products

42:14 Final Thoughts and Resources

Bani's Links

LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/bani-k-maini-210b5b48/

My Links

Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe

YouTube: youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/

I am thrilled ot have Lars Leckie, a Partner at Aspenwood Ventures, bringing a rare founder-turned-investor perspective to early-stage investing. He co-founded AutoFarm (now Novariant), pioneering GPS and robotics in agriculture, where he built sales teams across three continents

In this conversation, Lars Leckie shares his unique journey from coding and gaming to becoming a partner at AspenWood Ventures. He discusses the critical lessons learned from his early experiences in sales and strategy, emphasising the importance of understanding customer needs and the divide between engineering and sales cultures. Lars also delves into the evolving landscape of venture capital, the impact of AI on business models, and the significance of geographic proximity in tech innovation.

Timestamps

00:00 From Gaming to Agriculture: Lars Läcki's Journey

03:23 Lessons from Sales and Strategy in Startups

06:12 The Investor's Perspective: Balancing Technology and Market

09:03 Navigating the Venture Capital Landscape

12:15 The Future of IPOs and Private Capital

15:23 AI's Impact on Revenue and Business Models

18:04 Consumer vs. Enterprise AI: The Competitive Landscape

25:47 The Dynamics of Disruption in AI

28:27 AI Agents: The Future of Sales

30:26 The Role of Geographic Proximity in Tech

36:48 Education in the Age of AI

41:21 The Future of Venture Capital

Lars's Links

LDN/ X – https://www.linkedin.com/in/larsleckie/

Website - https://aspenwoodvc.com/

My Links

Podcast: https://lifeselfmastery.com/itunes

Newsletter: https://partner-grow.beehiiv.com/subscribe

YouTube: youtube.com/lifeselfmastery

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rohitmal

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit857/