Beginner's Mind
Blueprints for Builders and Investors
Hosted by Christian Soschner
From pre-seed to post-IPO, every company—especially in deep tech, biotech, AI, and climate tech—lives or dies by the frameworks it follows.
On Beginner’s Mind, Christian Soschner uncovers the leadership principles behind the world’s most impactful companies—through deep-dive interviews, strategic book reviews, and patterns drawn from history’s greatest business, military, and political minds.
With over 200 interviews, panels, and livestreams, the show ranks in the Top 10% globally—and is recognized as the #1 deep tech podcast.
With 35+ years across M&A, company building, board roles, business schools, ultrarunning, and martial arts, Christian brings a rare lens:
What it really takes to turn breakthrough science into business—how to grow it, lead it, and shape the world around it.
🎙 Expect each episode to deliver:
- Founder & Investor Blueprints: How breakthrough technologies scale from lab to IPO
- Historical & Biographical Frameworks: Timeless playbooks from the world's great builders
- Leadership & Communication Mastery: Tools to inspire, persuade, and lead at scale
Whether you're building the next biotech success, investing in AI, or leading a climate tech company through hypergrowth—this podcast gives you the edge.
Listen in. Apply what matters. Build companies that last.
📬 Join the newsletter & community: https://lsg2g.substack.com/
Beginner's Mind
#118: Ash Ravikumar - Beyond the Collider: CERN's Blueprint for Startup Breakthroughs
🎯 Empowering Entrepreneurs with Ash Ravikumar!
Join us for an enlightening conversation with Ash Ravikumar as he delves deep into the world of tech transfer, the essence of entrepreneurship, and the pivotal role of academics in innovation.
🚀 Main Points:
1️⃣ Optimizing Entrepreneurial Time: Ash's unique approach to maximizing time and processes to uplift entrepreneurs and startups.
2️⃣ The Heart of Tech Transfer: The indispensable role of academics and the trust dynamics in the tech transfer landscape.
3️⃣ Global Technological Race: Ash's insights on Europe's fragmented approach and the need for a unified front to rival tech giants like the USA and China.
👤 About Ash Ravikumar:
A visionary with a keen sense of innovation, Ash Ravikumar has been at the forefront of tech transfer, emphasizing the importance of academics and trust. With a passion for optimizing processes, he champions the cause of entrepreneurs, ensuring they have the tools and support to succeed.
💡 LINKS TO MORE CONTENT
Host: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christiansoschner/
Speaker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashravikumar/
🗣️ Top Quotes from Ash Ravikumar:
(00:03:15) "Life is beautiful; if our only complaint is about the weather, then life is truly good."
(00:57:26) "Success is not by chance; it's designed."
(01:12:16) "You won't compete with a large, unified country moving at a fast pace."
(01:55:59) "You're good at what you do. Seek experts outside of your realm; you don't have to understand everything."
(02:01:13) "Our only hope for addressing challenges, from climate change to poverty, lies in science."
⏰ Timestamps:
(00:03:15) Life's Beauty: Embracing Challenges and Weather
(00:09:56) The Serendipity of Tech Transfer and Global Impact
(00:14:23) Optimizing Time for Entrepreneurial Success
(00:20:50) Navigating IP Challenges in Startups
(00:25:38) Standardizing Agreements for Efficiency
(00:33:42) Building Trust and Serving Academics
(00:36:25) Academics' Service Level and Politics
(00:37:47) The Ugly Side of Equity in Startups
(00:48:32) European University Access vs. U.S. Student Debt
(00:54:15) The Power of Alumni Networks and Global Impact
(01:00:20) Leveraging Technology in Large Companies vs. Startups
(01:08:22) The Ecosystem: Europe's Technological Landscape vs. the US
(01:10:53) "Europe needs to beat the USA and China in technological advances."
(01:12:02) The Dilemma of Localized Photonics Centers
(01:18:13) The Global Mindset: From Europe to the U.S. and Beyond
(01:24:02) Patent System's Evolution: From Mechanics to Modernity
(01:31:10) AI in Business Planning: Efficiency vs. Insight
(01:35:29) Optimizing Superconducting Material Combinations
(01:40:44) Embracing AI: Beyond Fear and Biases
(01:45:39) Technological Biases: Unintended Consequences of Regulation
(01:54:08) The Dynamics of Billion-Dollar Valuations in Energy Sector
(01:57:05) Embracing Humility: Knowing When to Seek Help
(02:01:57) Science as Art: Celebrating Unsung Scientific Heroes
📣 Seeking tools to manage the entrepreneurial chaos? Dive into the world of innovation with Ash Ravikumar and discover how to optimize your processes for success.
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