GSD Venture Studios Podcasts by Gary Fowler

From Static Prompts to Self-Improving AI: Agents Updating Their Own Tools with Eduards Ruzga

Join Eduards Ruzga, Founder & CEO of Desktop Commander, in an in-depth conversation with Gary Fowler as they explore the next evolution of Agentic AI — systems that can update their own prompts, tools, and knowledge autonomously. Learn how giving AI real computer access unlocks powerful new workflows and what it means for founders, developers, and the future of human–AI collaboration. 🎯 Insights You’ll Learn: ✓ What a self-editing agent really is—and why it changes everything ✓ How AI can autonomously improve its own prompts, tools, and workflows ✓ The difference between scripted automation and true agentic systems ✓ Why real computer access is critical for next-gen AI agents ✓ Lessons from building and shipping AI-native automation products ✓ The risks, safeguards, and design principles behind self-improving AI ✓ How autonomous agents could reshape productivity and software creation 🌍 Why This Matters: As AI moves beyond static instructions, self-editing agents represent a major leap toward truly adaptive systems. By enabling AI to operate directly on computers and continuously refine itself, Desktop Commander is closing the technical gap between humans and machines—unlocking unprecedented productivity and creativity. 👤 Expert Background: • Founder & CEO of Desktop Commander — AI automation with real computer access • Raised €1.1M in pre-seed funding • Former Staff Engineer at Prezi • Builder of rapid MVPs and AI-native products • AI YouTuber and blogger sharing practical insights from the frontier 🎙️ Hosted by Gary Fowler, CEO of GSD Venture Studios — global AI entrepreneur, investor, and innovation leader spotlighting founders pushing the boundaries of Agentic AI. 💡 Perfect For: AI builders, automation engineers, startup founders, product leaders, developers, and anyone interested in autonomous systems and the future of human–AI collaboration. 🚀 Timely Topic: Self-editing agents mark a shift from reactive AI to continuously improving systems — and they’re redefining what’s possible with automation. Subscribe for more global founder conversations from GSD Venture Studios: https://gsdvs.com #AgenticAI #AutonomousAgents #AIInnovation #AIAutomation #SelfImprovingAI #FutureOfWork #StartupFounders #AIBuilders #DesktopCommander #EduardsRuzga #GaryFowler #TopGlobalStartups #GSDVentureStudios

The AI Crisis in Tourism: Why Bureaus are Falling Behind with Frank Belzer

The travel world is evolving at lightning speed, but are the organizations leading it stuck in the past? Despite a massive surge in traveler interest regarding generative AI and hyper-personalized technology, many Tourism Bureaus and Ministries are facing "strategic paralysis." In this episode of the Simplenight Live Series, we sit down with Frank Belzer, Head of Global Partnerships at Simplenight, to discuss why the gap between "tradition" and the "AI future" is widening. With over 17 years of leadership experience at Universal Parks, ICON Park, and Visit Florida, Frank brings an unvarnished perspective on the bureaucratic hurdles holding the industry back. In this episode, we tackle: Institutional Inertia: Why legacy traditions are actively blocking tactical AI implementation. The Talent Crisis: The struggle to find AI-fluent leadership within rigid bureaucratic structures. Political Friction: How biased boards and political influence are stalling necessary innovation. The Survival Mandate: Why DMOs (Destination Marketing Organizations) must pivot immediately or risk total irrelevance. About Our Guest: Frank Belzer Frank Belzer is a recognized industry veteran who has influenced global travel strategy through Travel Weekly, Phocuswire, and WTM. As the Head of Global Partnerships at Simplenight, he focuses on bridging the gap between legacy operations and the next generation of travel technology. :#Simplenight #TravelTech #AI #TourismStrategy #DigitalTransformation #FrankBelzer #DMO #Innovation #TravelIndustry #GenerativeAI

From Experiments to Enterprise: Scaling Agentic AI That Actually Works with Siva Surendira

Join Siva Surendira, CEO & Founder of Lyzr, in a deep-dive conversation with Gary Fowler as they explore how Agentic AI is moving beyond demos and pilots into secure, production-grade enterprise systems. Learn what it really takes to design, govern, and scale AI agents that deliver measurable business outcomes across large organizations. 🎯 Insights You’ll Learn: ✓ What Agentic AI really means—and how it differs from copilots ✓ How enterprises can move AI from experimentation to production ✓ The role of governance, security, and reliability in AI agents ✓ Common mistakes companies make when deploying autonomous AI systems ✓ How cloud-native architecture enables scalable agentic workflows ✓ Why measurable ROI is critical for enterprise AI adoption ✓ The future of intelligent automation inside large organizations 🌍 Why This Matters: As enterprises race to adopt AI, many struggle to bridge the gap between innovation labs and real-world impact. Agentic AI represents the next phase—systems that can reason, act, and deliver outcomes autonomously. Lyzr is focused on making this shift practical, secure, and scalable for enterprises worldwide. 👤 Expert Background: • CEO & Founder of Lyzr — enterprise-grade Agentic AI platform • Leader in cloud-native architecture and AI governance • Trusted partner to global enterprises and AWS-aligned ecosystems • Expert in scaling secure, reliable AI systems in production • Focused on building durable, AI-led enterprise capabilities 🎙️ Hosted by Gary Fowler, CEO of GSD Venture Studios — global AI entrepreneur, investor, and innovation leader spotlighting founders building the next generation of AI infrastructure. 💡 Perfect For: Enterprise leaders, AI architects, CTOs, cloud and platform teams, startup founders, and investors interested in Agentic AI and intelligent automation at scale. 🚀 Timely Topic: As AI shifts from copilots to autonomous agents, enterprises that master secure and scalable Agentic AI will define the next decade of competitive advantage. Subscribe for more global founder conversations from GSD Venture Studios: https://gsdvs.com #AgenticAI #EnterpriseAI #IntelligentAutomation #AIGovernance #CloudNative #AIInfrastructure #AutonomousSystems #StartupLeadership #FutureOfWork #GaryFowler #SivaSurendira #Lyzr #TopGlobalStartups #GSDVentureStudios

Building Hardware Deeptech in the AI Era: Europe’s Next Industrial Frontier with Andi Hektor

Join Andi Hektor, CEO & Co-founder of mu-ray.tech and serial deeptech founder, in a fascinating conversation with Gary Fowler as they explore what it really takes to build hardware deeptech companies—and whether AI is accelerating or complicating that journey. From Europe’s evolving deeptech ecosystem to the impact of defense innovation and shifting US geopolitics, this episode offers a rare look into the future of industrial-scale science startups. 🎯 Insights You’ll Learn: ✓ What it takes to build and scale hardware deeptech companies ✓ Does AI actually speed up deeptech innovation—or raise the bar? ✓ How Europe’s deeptech landscape differs from the US ✓ Why defense, nuclear, and industrial markets are driving new demand ✓ The transition from academic physics to commercial deeptech ✓ How geopolitics and AI investment cycles are reshaping innovation priorities ✓ Lessons from building frontier technology with real-world applications 🌍 Why This Matters: Deeptech is entering a new era where AI, defense innovation, and geopolitical shifts are converging. Europe is emerging as a critical hub for industrial, scientific, and security-focused breakthroughs—and companies like mu-ray.tech are leading the way by transforming decades of fundamental research into scalable, mission-critical solutions. 👤 Expert Background: • CEO & Co-founder of mu-ray.tech — pioneering Muon Beam Imaging (MBI) • Serial deeptech founder with ventures in Germany and Estonia • Former CERN researcher contributing to the discovery of the Higgs Boson • Leader in the shift from passive muon tomography to AI-driven muon sources • Building solutions for non-destructive testing, quality assurance, and 3D imaging • Serving defense, nuclear, chemical, and aerospace industries • Member of the Estonian Government’s Innovation Council advising on R&D policy 🎙️ Hosted by Gary Fowler, CEO of GSD Venture Studios — global AI entrepreneur, investor, and innovation leader spotlighting founders transforming science into scalable industrial impact. 💡 Perfect For: Deeptech founders, hardware entrepreneurs, AI innovators, defense and industrial leaders, policymakers, investors, and anyone interested in the future of European innovation. 🚀 Timely Topic: As AI, defense spending, and global politics reshape technology priorities, deeptech founders must navigate longer cycles, higher stakes, and unprecedented opportunity—and mu-ray.tech is at the center of that shift. Subscribe for more global founder conversations from GSD Venture Studios: https://gsdvs.com #DeepTech #HardwareStartups #EuropeanInnovation #DefenseTech #IndustrialAI #MuonImaging #3DImaging #NonDestructiveTesting #ScienceToStartup #AIinHardware #Geopolitics #GaryFowler #AndiHektor #muRayTech #TopGlobalStartups #GSDVentureStudios

Building a Billion-Dollar Culture: How Employment Law Shapes Unicorns with Andrea R. Milano

Join Andrea R. Milano, Special Counsel at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, for a timely and strategic conversation with Gary Fowler on how employment law directly influences culture, growth, and valuation in high-growth startups and unicorn companies. This episode explores how founders and executives can proactively use labor and employment law to build resilient, scalable organizations—while avoiding costly mistakes that derail momentum. 🎯 Insights You’ll Learn: ✓ How employment law impacts culture, growth, and enterprise value ✓ Common legal pitfalls that fast-scaling startups and unicorns face ✓ Best practices for hiring, terminations, and reductions in force ✓ How executive compensation and incentive plans shape leadership behavior ✓ The role of employment policies and handbooks in scaling globally ✓ Navigating litigation risk, compliance, and workforce strategy at scale 🌍 Why This Matters: Culture is one of the most valuable—and fragile—assets in a billion-dollar company. Employment law isn’t just about compliance; it’s a strategic lever that shapes how companies grow, retain talent, and protect long-term value. Founders who understand this early gain a powerful edge as they scale. 👤 Expert Background: • Special Counsel, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP • Labor & employment law advisor to startups, scale-ups, and global enterprises • Experience across litigation, M&A diligence, and executive employment agreements • Advises on reductions in force, workforce strategy, and risk management • Represents employers before arbitrators and the NLRB across industries 🎙️ Hosted by Gary Fowler, CEO of GSD Venture Studios — Silicon Valley-based entrepreneur, investor, and innovation leader spotlighting the legal, cultural, and operational foundations of world-class companies. 💡 Perfect For: Startup founders, CEOs, HR leaders, general counsel, operators, investors, and executives focused on scaling culture, managing risk, and building durable unicorns. 🚀 Timely Topic: As startups scale faster than ever, employment law decisions can either unlock growth—or create hidden liabilities. Understanding the legal architecture behind great cultures is essential to building billion-dollar companies. Subscribe for more founder and expert conversations from GSD Presents: Silicon Valley AI & Tech: https://gsdvs.com #EmploymentLaw #StartupCulture #UnicornStartups #ScaleWithConfidence #HRLeadership #FounderAdvice #SiliconValleyTech #LegalStrategy #WorkforceManagement #ExecutiveCompensation #GaryFowler #AndreaMilano #Pillsbury #GSDPresents #SiliconValleyAI