#13 Simonas Baksys: The Mindset Behind Closing $50M Deals

#13 Simonas Baksys: The Mindset Behind Closing $50M Deals

Simon & I go back almost 15 years. I am lucky to call him one of my closest friends. I have often heard people in his domain reference him as "one of the most impressive business development leaders". It is no surprise that he was able to step into the role of Chief Business Officer at such a prominent business like Layer Zero earlier this year. Layer Zero is the $3B a16z & Sequoia-backed startup that quietly became the "plumbing" that powers the entire crypto industry. Some of their business relationships include names like PayPal, Tether, Citadel, & New York Stock Exchange. Chances are, you've already used their technology without knowing it. In this conversation, I wanted to go a little more behind the scenes on what that really takes & looks like. He goes into the mindset and the simple, human approach he's taken. We go deep on adaptability, resilience, leveling the playing field, and what it takes to never take no for an answer. If you're building, selling, or trying to understand what separates the people who build relationships at the highest level, there's a lot here worth your time. Follow Simon's journey: https://x.com/Bakxys *** I’m Shaun Sharabi, owner of Interlock Ventures — my personal holdco where I solve problems through critical thinking and strategic connections. I work with: 1. Founders & operators facing constraints in their business 2. Entrepreneurs seeking clarity on how to grow their net worth and align it with fulfillment I built my first business in 2.5 years to 149M in Revenue, and over 500 Employees. I've gone through countless different phases of business including the good, the bad, and the ugly. I started this show to unpack the real inflection points that shaped people & their business: the constraints, tough decisions, and pivotal relationships that unlocked growth, profit, or clarity. I look to uncover what is often overlooked from the outside. My hope is by sharing these conversations, I can positively influence you to lead a life of curiosity, and be as giving first minded as possible. Connect with me on… Request an Advisory Call: https://connect.interlockventures.co/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@shaunsharabi LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/shaunsharabi X: https://x.com/shaunsharabi Instagram: http://instagram.com/shaunsharabi

#12 Paul Erlanger: How He Built to $1.5B in Trading Volume and 250k Users in Under 1 Year

It’s easy to talk about what Paul is building. FOMO has scaled to a level few companies ever reach, and it’s done it in less than a year. As an on-chain mobile trading app, FOMO has already surpassed $1.5B in trading volume, onboarded 250K+ users, and is pacing toward $50M in revenue. But what impressed me the first time we met, and continues to impress me, isn’t just the numbers. It’s who Paul is as a human. We met through a mutual close friend and immediately clicked. Paul has one of the most unique blends of curiosity and emotional intelligence I’ve seen. His self-awareness and perspective on the world are, in my opinion, a driving force behind how he’s been able to build something extraordinary in his 20s. This episode blends simple leadership and culture strategies with a deeper, spiritual conversation about life, mindset, integrity, growth, and the principles that compound over time. If you’re building, scaling, or simply trying to live with more intention, there’s a lot here worth sitting with. Follow Paul’s journey: https://x.com/paulerlanger?s=21 [https://x.com/paulerlanger?s=21] *** I’m Shaun Sharabi, owner of Interlock Ventures — my personal holdco where I solve problems through critical thinking and strategic connections. I work with: 1. Founders & operators facing constraints in their business  2. Entrepreneurs seeking clarity on how to grow their net worth and align it with fulfillment I built my first business in 2.5 years to 149M in Revenue, and over 500 Employees. I've gone through countless different phases of business including the good, the bad, and the ugly. I started this show to unpack the real inflection points that shaped people & their business: the constraints, tough decisions, and pivotal relationships that unlocked growth, profit, or clarity. I look to uncover what is often overlooked from the outside. My hope is by sharing these conversations, I can positively influence you to lead a life of curiosity, and be as giving first minded as possible. Connect with me on… * Request an Advisory Call: https://connect.interlockventures.co/ * Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@shaunsharabi * LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/shaunsharabi * X: https://x.com/shaunsharabi * Instagram: http://instagram.com/shaunsharabi

#11 Sam Mahmood: $0 to $66M in 10 Months: The 1 Proven Mindset That Compresses Time

Sam I had our first conversation over a coffee and I immediately could tell he’d be an amazing guest. Not only is he a podcast host of his own, but his entrepreneurial journey, and how he’s been able to leverage focus to give him an edge was simple, and very impressive. In this episode he breaks down the hurdles he overcame to build a paving roll-up that has hit over 60M in revenue in less than 11 months. We go into his journey of mindset development, self-awareness, discipline, and how he went form a 23-year old selling medical devices to neurosurgeons, to building his portfolio today.  Sam brings a level of confidence & stoicism that is almost immediately apparent from the beginning. His perspective on growth, communication, and staying unapologetically yourself is something I think everyone can learn from. Follow Sam’s Journey: https://www.instagram.com/thesammahmood?igsh=ajhxOHdsd2g2ZGxl [https://www.instagram.com/thesammahmood?igsh=ajhxOHdsd2g2ZGxl] *** I’m Shaun Sharabi, owner of Interlock Ventures — my personal holdco where I solve problems through critical thinking and strategic connections. I work with: 1. Founders & operators facing constraints in their business  2. Entrepreneurs seeking clarity on how to grow their net worth and align it with fulfillment I built my first business in 2.5 years to 149M in Revenue, and over 500 Employees. I've gone through countless different phases of business including the good, the bad, and the ugly. I started this show to unpack the real inflection points that shaped people & their business: the constraints, tough decisions, and pivotal relationships that unlocked growth, profit, or clarity. I look to uncover what is often overlooked from the outside. My hope is by sharing these conversations, I can positively influence you to lead a life of curiosity, and be as giving first minded as possible. Connect with me on… • Request an Advisory Call: https://connect.interlockventures.co/ [https://connect.interlockventures.co/] • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@shaunsharabi [https://www.youtube.com/@shaunsharabi] • LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/shaunsharabi [http://linkedin.com/in/shaunsharabi] • X: https://x.com/shaunsharabi [https://x.com/shaunsharabi] • Instagram: http://instagram.com/shaunsharabi [http://instagram.com/shaunsharabi]

#10 Brett Eaton: You Need to Be Uncomfortable. Here’s Why.

If you’re serious about growth, mindset, and high performance, this conversation will light a fire under you. Brett Eaton joins me to talk about why getting uncomfortable is the secret to building a life of purpose, energy, and fulfillment.   Brett Eaton is an expert keynote speaker, high-performance coach, and as of 9/9/25, following the release of his first book, a bestselling author. After interviewing this guy, I’m not surprised one bit by his latest achievement.   This episode is a masterclass in mindset and personal growth. Brett shares his journey from feeling unfulfilled to building the life he always knew he was destined for. We talk fitness, discipline, mindset, and how leaning into discomfort is the key to unlocking true high performance.   This interview was special. Brett brings this level of presence and fire that you can feel through the screen, the same energy that made his book, “Uncomfortable Either Way,” an instant bestseller. The book dropped on 9/9/25, a few weeks after this interview, and it perfectly captures the themes we dive into here.   📘 Grab Brett’s book: Uncomfortable Either Way (https://www.amazon.com/Uncomfortable-Either-Way-Choosing-Making/dp/B0FBYDG894 [https://www.amazon.com/Uncomfortable-Either-Way-Choosing-Making/dp/B0FBYDG894])   📲 Follow Brett’s journey: @bretteaton_ (https://www.instagram.com/bretteaton_ [https://www.instagram.com/bretteaton_])   ***   I’m Shaun Sharabi, owner of Interlock Ventures — my personal holdco where I solve problems through critical thinking and strategic connections. I work with: 1. Founders & operators facing constraints in their business  2. Entrepreneurs seeking clarity on how to grow their net worth and align it with fulfillment   I built my first business in 2.5 years to 149M in Revenue, and over 500 Employees. I've gone through countless different phases of business including the good, the bad, and the ugly.   I started this show to unpack the real inflection points that shaped people & their business: the constraints, tough decisions, and pivotal relationships that unlocked growth, profit, or clarity. I look to uncover what is often overlooked from the outside.   My hope is by sharing these conversations, I can positively influence you to lead a life of curiosity, and be as giving first minded as possible.   Connect with me on… * Request an Advisory Call: https://connect.interlockventures.co/ [https://connect.interlockventures.co/] * Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@shaunsharabi [https://www.youtube.com/@shaunsharabi] * LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/shaunsharabi [http://linkedin.com/in/shaunsharabi] * X: https://x.com/shaunsharabi [https://x.com/shaunsharabi] * Instagram: http://instagram.com/shaunsharabi [http://instagram.com/shaunsharabi]

#09 John Ghiorso: Co-Founder & CEO of VantaFive

Imagine needing to convince companies to sell on Amazon…? Selling products was a little different in 2010. John Ghiorso is a true OG marketing agency expert having started his first Amazon agency back in 2008. He built it to a 100 person, 8 figure business, before selling it in 2020. After realizing retirement wasn’t for him, he got back in the saddle last year to start Vanta Five: An agency venture studio that launches and scales marketing services companies. John’s insights in this episode covers how he navigated the early stages of selling on Amazon, to now how he is capitalizing on the growth of LinkedIn, AI, TikTok Shop, & more. See more on John on all platforms: @JohnLGhiorso *** I’m Shaun Sharabi, owner of Interlock Ventures — my personal holdco where I solve problems through critical thinking and strategic connections. I work with: 1. Founders & operators facing constraints in their business 2. Entrepreneurs seeking clarity on how to grow their net worth and align it with fulfillment I built my first business in 2.5 years to 149M in Revenue, and over 500 Employees. I've gone through countless different phases of business including the good, the bad, and the ugly. I started this show to unpack the real inflection points that shaped people & their business: the constraints, tough decisions, and pivotal relationships that unlocked growth, profit, or clarity. I look to uncover what is often overlooked from the outside. My hope is by sharing these conversations, I can positively influence you to lead a life of curiosity, and be as giving first minded as possible. Connect with me on… * Request a Call: https://connect.interlockventures.co/ [https://connect.interlockventures.co/] * Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@shaunsharabi [https://www.youtube.com/@shaunsharabi] * LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/shaunsharabi [http://linkedin.com/in/shaunsharabi] * X: https://x.com/shaunsharabi [https://x.com/shaunsharabi] * Instagram: http://instagram.com/shaunsharabi [http://instagram.com/shaunsharabi]