Startups and corporates need each other. But most partnerships fall apart. In this episode, Ian Bergman talks with Noga Tal about what actually makes these relationships work. They break down why thinking big early is not hype, it is planning. How founders can back up a bold vision with data and steps. Why corporate bureaucracy kills momentum. How to align on the real why, set shared metrics, and define an exit plan that protects the relationship. They also dig into emerging markets, what AI changes, why AI creates more noise than ever, and how to keep the human element alive while moving fast.

Topics & Timestamps

🚀 00:00 Welcome and who is Noga Tal

🧭 01:07 The accidental techie path from nonprofits to Microsoft

🌍 04:17 Why founders should think global from day one

🧱 05:33 The hidden product and ops decisions that block scale

🎯 07:02 How to pitch big vision with real data and steps

🤝 11:23 Why corporates and startups need each other but struggle to win together

⚠️ 14:05 The real reasons partnerships fail, misalignment, speed, and unclear problems

🧰 18:06 How to de risk collaboration with goals, checkpoints, and an exit strategy

✅ 19:58 How to “fail with success” and keep the relationship intact

🔁 21:26 The story of pivoting a massive partnership when nobody was happy

🌐 26:26 Emerging markets and why new innovation models will matter more

🤖 31:21 AI is changing partnerships and creating a flood of look alike startups

🏎️ 33:20 Standing out with messaging, trust, and speed

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 35:55 Keeping the human element as AI reshapes teams and work

🩺 39:50 A real example of using AI to advocate for better healthcare outcomes

📺🎧 Enjoying the conversation?

Discover more stories of innovation and transformation at alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts — and explore how today’s leaders are shaping the future.

In this episode, Marcelo Calbucci breaks down the innovation habits that shaped his career at Microsoft, Amazon, and across six startups. He explains why small, fast iterations beat big plans, how narrative driven strategy unlocks clarity, and why today’s founders should embrace niche, hyper specialized solutions. Marcelo also shares how Amazon’s PR FAQ framework can help any innovator inside a startup or a large company make better decisions, avoid wasted cycles, and build products that truly solve customer problems. We also dive into regional and global innovation, community as a catalyst, the future of AI, and the universal truths every builder should adopt.

Topics & Timestamps

🧠 00:00 Marcelo’s background in innovation and why tech pulled him in

🚀 08:00 Why tech enables instant iteration and faster learning

💸 11:20 How the VC model is shifting toward profitable smaller scale companies

🌐 15:05 Why community accelerates innovation and how Marcelo builds founder circles

📘 17:45 Inside Marcelo’s book and the PR FAQ framework

📝 20:00 Universal truths of innovation and why they matter

🏢 25:30 Why innovation is harder in big companies and how to make it work

🧩 28:50 Simple definitions of innovation that actually matter

🛠️ 31:40 How anyone can start using the PR FAQ method today

🏛️ 36:00 How Amazon avoids consensus thinking and mediocrity

✍️ 43:00 Why narrative combined with data is a superpower

🏗️ 47:55 Where startup and corporate innovation should diverge

📞 58:15 Marcelo’s experience at Hiya and lessons on scaling teams

💡 1:15:12 Marcelo’s final advice start small and learn fast

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Discover more stories of innovation and transformation at alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts — and explore how today’s leaders are shaping the future.

You can’t avoid pain, but you can choose which pain is worth it.

In this episode of Innovators Inside, Hong Kong–raised entrepreneur and two-time TEDx speaker Yunsu Tang shares her journey from a stable corporate career in Hong Kong and Shanghai to rebuilding in London’s startup ecosystem.

She unpacks imposter syndrome, why anxiety often comes from a lack of data points, and what she learned from hundreds of user interviews. Then she breaks down how her new company Syncro uses AI to turn information overload into actionable stakeholder intelligence—without losing sight of the deeply human need for real, imperfect connection.

Topics & Timestamps

🎯 00:00:00 Choosing your pain and intro to Yunsu & Syncro

🌏 00:01:22 Growing up in rural Hong Kong and going global

🎓 00:03:00 Leaving a top firm for LSE and entrepreneurship

🧠 00:06:06 Imposter syndrome, emptiness, and mental health

🔍 00:08:21 300+ interviews and what’s broken in career coaching

⚙️ 00:13:44 What Syncro is and why stakeholder intelligence matters

📡 00:17:25 Information overload, AI, and filtering real signal

🧪 00:19:20 Biggest challenge: narrowing features and pivoting

💬 00:25:14 Human needs, raw content, and connection in an AI world

🔥 00:30:08 Resilience, survival mode, and finding joy in hard things

🚀 00:33:56 What’s next for Syncro and upcoming milestones

💡 00:35:19 Founder advice: you can’t avoid pain—so choose yours

📺🎧 Enjoying the conversation?

Discover more stories of innovation and transformation at alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts — and explore how today’s leaders are shaping the future.