Thinkers Table

ANNANAY - s2, ep2 - YC, how to be a quant, and building the future of trading

A founder-level deep dive into perspetual futures for traditional markets: why “market hours” are a legacy constraint, how exchange incentives really work (spreads, fees, rebates, PFOF), and what it takes to ship a venue that’s transparent, fair, and built for 24/7 trading.   * Why perps can be the simplest, lowest-cost wrapper for both retail and pros—and how they map to swaps in tradfi  * Why leverage limits exist (hint: protect the exchange + users, liquidation stack, ADL risk)  * How to break into quant * What YC is actually like and if it is worth it * Founder operating cadence: the Monday ritual that removes “stuckness” and keeps teams moving fast  The cherry on top of all of it.... I’ve got 5 early access codes for QFEX. If you want to be early (and not hear about it after everyone else):Sign up with my link below and fill in the form. Only 5 codes available. No second batch. Thousands will see this When they’re gone, they’re gone. * 00:00 — What’s being built + soft launch update  * 04:00 — Background: quant/HFT path → exchange obsession  * 08:00 — “Tradfi exchange structure is… bad” + why perps in tradfi  * 28:00 — Quickfire begins: perps, leverage, market structure  * 33:00 — Co-location: when it’s fair vs when it gets sketchy  * 35:00 — Maker rebates explained (with the clearest example you’ll hear all week)  * 48:00 — Founder “training montage” + weekly rituals  * 51:00 — Advice from Tom Blomfield: “build it fast, launch now, make it 24/7”  * 54:00 — How to convince the harshest critic in 60 seconds  Links:  https://qfex.com/@vedl1 [https://t.co/K3RlS6F7Xl] https://forms.gle/mS19heDAYAeaGVvDA [https://t.co/zpWvLtf3mf] Not financial advice; markets are risky.

RONAN - s2,ep1 - serendipity, community, and career growth

Exploring Deep Tech and Startup Insights with Ronan Chambers In this episode of Thinkers Table, Thinkers Table welcomes Ronan Chambers, a founding team member of Convergence, which was recently acquired by Salesforce. Ronan shares his journey from working at Pigment to his pivotal role at Convergence, including his experiences with startup culture, go-to-market strategies, and the importance of community. The discussion delves into the nuances of launching products, handling competition, and the future of artificial intelligence agents. Additionally, Ronan touches on the evolving tech media landscape and offers advice for aspiring tech professionals, making this episode a valuable resource for anyone interested in deep tech and startup strategies. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Thinkers Table Podcast 00:42 Exciting Updates from Ronan Chambers 01:33 Meet Ronan Chambers 02:16 Ronan's Professional Journey 08:29 The Convergence Story 10:00 Startup Culture and Hard Work 18:02 The Power of Serendipity and Luck 22:06 Colliding Worlds and Serendipity in Startups 22:51 Advice for Aspiring Go-to-Market Professionals 24:34 The Importance of Networking and Persistence 25:46 Quick Fire Round: This or That 29:17 Favorite AI Tools and Their Impact 33:40 The Role of Content in Go-to-Market Strategies 37:38 The Future of Media and Distribution 37:46 Reflections on Being Acquired by Salesforce 38:41 Excitement for the Future of European Tech and AI 42:19 Final Thoughts and a Question for the Next Guest Sound Bites * "Convergence's acquisition was a milestone." * "Community is key in startup success." * "AI is reshaping media distribution." * "Adaptability is crucial in tech." * "Networking fuels career growth." * "Serendipity plays a role in success." * "The European tech scene is thriving." * "Go-to-market strategies are evolving." * "Media in tech is undergoing a transformation." * "Ronan Chambers shares his tech journey."

SEASON FINALE - season 1

hey everyone, it is super nice to be RECORDING THE SEASON FINALE! who would have thought we would get here? Summary In this episode, I discuss the vision and goals for the Thinker's Table podcast, including the focus on deep tech and the importance of showcasing operators in the industry. I also introduce the Vibe Coder House House aimed at fostering a tech community in London! So much more on this to come. The format for season two will include new features and a focus on AI, with an emphasis on delivering value in each episode. some highlights: "What is Thinker's Table?" "I think one of the purest forms of agency is content." "I'll see you in season two episode one." Chapters 00:00 Season Recap and Future Goals 03:40 The Impact of AI on Tech 04:38 Lessons from Season One 05:07 Introducing Season Two 06:04 Exciting Guests and Topics 07:12 Format Changes and New Questions 09:01 Launching Vibe Coder House 10:37 Community Building in Tech also, I wanted to shamlessly self-plug my social pages; aside from this pod, I make content about tech + crypto and am starting a YouTube channel this month! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠all links are on this link if you want to check it out. ⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://linktr.ee/techbyved] Thinker's Table, podcast, deep tech, crypto, Vibe Coder House, innovation, entrepreneurship, AI, community, operators

ASTI - ep9, building a business from a personal problem + new launch announcement!

hey everyone, it is super nice to be back and speaking with you all from a new location... NYC AKA THE BIG APPLE 🗽- WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ASTI IN THE COMING MONTHS (listen in for the announcement) i come with good news and new episodes! ⁠⁠⁠⁠The podcast is back! and better; with a new name and a broader topic. ⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://linktr.ee/thinkerstable] Asti is a entrepreneur at heart, and now the founder & CEO of Invyted, a app that simplifies the process of inviting content creators to your location! And it has received fundraising from the likes of the Leon founder (Asti touches on how this deal came about in the pod 😁) For all the listeners who are unsure about creating that business which would make their life much easier, Asti's story serves as one of the best examples I have come across of converting a personal problem into a fully-fledged business! Asti first began her journey by being a food blogger, in our uni town of Bath, where she was exposed to the problem statement behind Invyted. The process of visiting a restaurant or any establishment required 10+ emails, which is when Asti realised there was a more delicate solution here. My chat with Asti was super insightful into the world of creating a business from scratch, identifying a key problem in a vertical you are intimate with and growing pains as a 1st time CEO! Please find her links below: https://www.invyted.com/ [https://www.invyted.com/] https://www.instagram.com/eatwithast/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/eatwithast/?hl=en] https://www.instagram.com/astiwagner/?hl=en-gb [https://www.instagram.com/astiwagner/?hl=en] https://www.tiktok.com/@eatwithast?lang=en [https://www.tiktok.com/@eatwithast?lang=en] https://uk.linkedin.com/in/asti-wagner-246249175 [https://uk.linkedin.com/in/asti-wagner-246249175] also, I wanted to shamlessly self-plug my social pages; aside from this pod I make content about tech + crypto and am starting a YouTube channel this month! ⁠⁠⁠⁠all links are on this link if you want to check it out. ⁠⁠⁠ [https://linktr.ee/techbyved]

TIM - ep8, exiting a business & product skills

hey everyone, it is super nice to be back for a valentines day special and speaking with you all. i come with good news and new episodes! ⁠⁠⁠The podcast is back! and better; with a new name and a broader topic. ⁠⁠⁠ [https://linktr.ee/thinkerstable] the last few months I have dived deeper into deep tech; from helping with AI Ops, learning how to code and continuing being a degen! therefore, i have changed the name of the pod and have begun recording some mega episodes with different types of guests. Tim is a product person at heart, but now a executive, most recently the ex-CEO & Founder of ETC Group (exited to Bitwise). Tim helped manage his firm, ETC Group, within 6 years and did this using his deep product skills. He is now on the look out on his next, new build! My chat with Tim was super insightful into the world of early careers, exiting a business, crypto and financial products! Please find his links below: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tibevan/ also, I wanted to shamlessly self-plug my social pages; aside from this pod I make content about tech + crypto and am starting a YouTube channel this month! ⁠⁠⁠all links are on this link if you want to check it out. ⁠⁠ [https://linktr.ee/techbyved]