In this episode of Next Level Humanity, Nev Cap welcomes Karl Alomar, the Managing Partner at M13 and former COO of DigitalOcean. Karl shares his journey from an engineer pushing the envelope in corporate structures to a serial entrepreneur and investor, discussing the critical mindset shifts required to navigate chaos, lead with ethics, and scale companies to billion-dollar exits.

We dive deep into:

• The Nature of Risk: Karl’s take on whether entrepreneurs are born or made, and why the desire to control one’s own destiny often outweighs the safety of a corporate career.
• Ethical Leadership: Why maintaining a strong moral compass and reputation is the most valuable asset a founder can build over a 30-year career.
• Scaling DigitalOcean: How prioritizing customer experience and building a community-focused culture allowed a startup to compete head-to-head with giants like Amazon Web Services.
• Strategic Hiring: The concept of "muscle memory" in recruiting and the critical transition from hiring "athletes" (generalists) in the early stages to "specialists" as a company matures.
• Decision-Making Under Pressure: Karl’s personal formula for handling high-stakes moments: stepping back to remove emotion, gathering information, and acting with conviction rather than reacting to noise.
• The M13 Philosophy: The shift from operator to investor and the importance of "operator-investors" who provide proactive guidance rather than reactive board management.
• Navigating Crises: Lessons learned from surviving the Dotcom bubble and the 2008 financial crisis, emphasizing resilience and the necessity of having the right support network when luck runs out.

Whether you are a startup founder navigating hypergrowth, an investor looking for signals of success, or a leader seeking to build resilience, this episode offers a masterclass in staying calm and making good decisions in a high-risk world.

In this episode of Next Level Humanity Podcast, Masters Unplugged, Nev Cap welcomes Esin Akan, a brand guru and the founder of her eponymous luxury handbag label. Esin shares her evolution from designing for industry giants like Burberry to launching a purpose-driven brand that challenges the traditional luxury market, discussing how she creates versatile, sustainable designs that empower busy women without the exorbitant "logo" markup.

We dive deep into:

• Esin’s realization that women were overpaying for logos and impractical designs, sparking the creation of a "smart luxury" alternative that balances quality with price.
• The groundbreaking 10-year journey to developing "Olive Leather," a biodegradable, durable material created from olive oil industry by-products to replace plastic-heavy vegan alternatives.
• How to bridge the gap between high-end aesthetics and sustainability, including a zero-waste policy, using leather scraps for accessories, and planting trees for every bag sold.
• The transition from corporate life to entrepreneurship: Why leveraging your existing strengths and network is safer than starting from scratch.
• Navigating the challenges of a solo founder, from funding and production to breaking into major US retailers like Nordstrom and Macy's.
• Redefining success and leadership: Moving beyond the "creative" mindset to embrace the commercial realities of scaling a global business.
• Practical advice for aspiring fashion entrepreneurs on finding mentors, avoiding costly early mistakes, and solving problems with a clear "Why".

Whether you are a fashion enthusiast, an aspiring entrepreneur, or someone passionate about sustainable innovation, this episode offers a masterclass in building a soulful brand in a competitive industry.

In this episode of Next Level Humanity Podcast, Nevşah Fidan Karamehmet welcomes Christian Sauer, a seasoned serial entrepreneur with 25 years of experience, former founder of Webtrekk, and co-founder of Tsunami. Christian shares his evolution from managing a 150-person analytics company in Berlin to building a borderless ecosystem for remote founders from his farmhouse in Mallorca.

We dive deep into:

• The "Outlier" Trap in VC: Why traditional venture capitalists often ignore solid, profitable businesses in their hunt for unicorns, and how Tsunami aims to bridge this funding gap.
• The Power of Remote Innovation: How COVID revealed the efficiency of remote work and the massive potential of aligning economic interests across borders to create a "software layer for humanity".
• The Venturethon Model: A unique 10-day sprint designed to help founders find the right team, connect with unicorn advisors, and validate ideas before incorporating.
• Strategic Incorporation: The critical importance of choosing the right jurisdiction (like Delaware vs. Germany) to avoid blocking future investment.
• AI & Tokenomics in Investing: How Tsunami uses AI to calculate investment probability and rewards founders with perks based on their progress.
• Hard Truths on Leadership: Christian’s provocative advice on why founders must sometimes be unpredictable and the dangers of prioritizing loyalty over performance.

Whether you are a remote founder looking for a team, an investor seeking the next big opportunity, or someone interested in the intersection of blockchain and startups, this episode offers a blueprint for building successful global ventures.