Silicon Valley VC Shares Insider Tips for Tech Founders & Other Investors

Silicon Valley VC Shares Insider Tips for Tech Founders & Other Investors

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2538580/fan_mail/new] Special guest Divya Raghavan is a venture capitalist at Hitachi Ventures in Palo Alto, California. She shares details with Trevor & Rob about her route into the profession, and what the key success factors are in today's dramatically different tech investment world.  You will also learn why she thinks Canada's tech startups and scaleups are such attractive investments now.  This episode of High Octane Friends is a must listen for all aspiring VC, ambitious tech founders and everyone else supporting them to grow. The High Octane Friends podcast is where Rob McMullan & Trevor McKee discuss a variety of subjects in an authentic and unvarnished way.  Rob McMullan LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/robmcmullan [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbU5VcTJROFhVYVhXcnF3NnNJdlpUWkNjQTdrUXxBQ3Jtc0ttZEdyTFd1amViNU1OamZOZVB0OThBNG5EVWZSLXZOZ25RVVFRSmRlYjJMVWg4UWJ3T0luSFg0ZGdVQjk5UmtDalBaWTNkQWRUQk5IcGVDXzc4YVJDYjc4OHVzdEVxamE0UUZvUWhVQmlGTGx0QkZyTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Frobmcmullan%2F] Trevor McKee LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/trevordmckee [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbEprMHBMRVc2LWNmSExCSVc1OWloT1VxSDYyUXxBQ3Jtc0ttUFd4bHQtWVlpZEV3U2ppM05XckFDeEtkRmFXX0tVSjQ2d1pqTjZQTkVBNFBLcFduQUdmaFBuX3BXOE1WWUhzTW9YaFJrd2V5ZzBLZVR4NTdBRnVQWW1vdmFLeHc2QXZWN0lJTTByN05JelhmbmFSOA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Ftrevordmckee%2F] High Octane Friends website highoctanefriends.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2NFbTU4TWJ5QzR2bnVKNUZrZTViTnBERnU2Z3xBQ3Jtc0ttZXBIbTFld1d3NzJGeHRzZVVXT3pvYUpYV0hYUlNqTkFhRVBrZGQ3R0dDSVBYenFqZ1VReU1HSVphMWJnYjJ0c3pyTWN2b0hUU3M1aV9DRDViTnE1YXFsTWliVUh4TjlnZWwxSzZZUlo3dmUxLVFjNA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fhighoctanefriends.com%2F]

Do no Evil? A tech investor's view of AI’s impact.

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2538580/fan_mail/new] On High Octane Friends' latest podcast, Caitlin Carter [https://www.linkedin.com/in/me-caitlin/] from VC firm/venture studio Highline Beta [https://www.linkedin.com/company/highlinebeta/about/] discusses where Artificial Intelligence is going and how it is affecting investment, startups/scaleups, and society as a whole. Join co-hosts Rob McMullan [https://www.linkedin.com/in/robmcmullan/] & Trevor McKee [https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevordmckee/] with Caitlin on this insightful and far-ranging conversation. Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple and other podcast platforms. Also on our website. High Octane Friends | Highoctanefriends.com [https://highoctanefriends.com/] The High Octane Friends podcast is where Rob McMullan & Trevor McKee discuss a variety of subjects in an authentic and unvarnished way.  Rob McMullan LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/robmcmullan [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbU5VcTJROFhVYVhXcnF3NnNJdlpUWkNjQTdrUXxBQ3Jtc0ttZEdyTFd1amViNU1OamZOZVB0OThBNG5EVWZSLXZOZ25RVVFRSmRlYjJMVWg4UWJ3T0luSFg0ZGdVQjk5UmtDalBaWTNkQWRUQk5IcGVDXzc4YVJDYjc4OHVzdEVxamE0UUZvUWhVQmlGTGx0QkZyTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Frobmcmullan%2F] Trevor McKee LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/trevordmckee [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbEprMHBMRVc2LWNmSExCSVc1OWloT1VxSDYyUXxBQ3Jtc0ttUFd4bHQtWVlpZEV3U2ppM05XckFDeEtkRmFXX0tVSjQ2d1pqTjZQTkVBNFBLcFduQUdmaFBuX3BXOE1WWUhzTW9YaFJrd2V5ZzBLZVR4NTdBRnVQWW1vdmFLeHc2QXZWN0lJTTByN05JelhmbmFSOA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Ftrevordmckee%2F] High Octane Friends website highoctanefriends.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2NFbTU4TWJ5QzR2bnVKNUZrZTViTnBERnU2Z3xBQ3Jtc0ttZXBIbTFld1d3NzJGeHRzZVVXT3pvYUpYV0hYUlNqTkFhRVBrZGQ3R0dDSVBYenFqZ1VReU1HSVphMWJnYjJ0c3pyTWN2b0hUU3M1aV9DRDViTnE1YXFsTWliVUh4TjlnZWwxSzZZUlo3dmUxLVFjNA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fhighoctanefriends.com%2F]

Queen Nerdine's inspiring entrepreneurial journey

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2538580/fan_mail/new] Our good friend Nadine ("Nerdine") Miller is a true "Renaissance person" with degrees from MIT and Oxford, she has shifted from engineering and mining to board work, which led to self-funding a tech startup. Her career included advanced soil mechanics work to design and close tailings facilities in mining, and now advisory roles on three mining boards. Her new age tech startup "Nightingale" is a good example of "User Entrepreneurship", in which a challenge in monitoring aging family members while traveling, turned into an opportunity to build technology to help others facing similar problems. The technology uses millimeter radar to allow seniors to age or die in place, with the company headquarters moving to Florence, Texas. We also discuss opportunities and challenges facing medical education and the supply of doctors, changes in international STEM graduate visas to favor retention of talent, and a future in-person High Octane Karaoke event.  The High Octane Friends podcast is where Rob McMullan & Trevor McKee discuss a variety of subjects in an authentic and unvarnished way.  Rob McMullan LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/robmcmullan [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbU5VcTJROFhVYVhXcnF3NnNJdlpUWkNjQTdrUXxBQ3Jtc0ttZEdyTFd1amViNU1OamZOZVB0OThBNG5EVWZSLXZOZ25RVVFRSmRlYjJMVWg4UWJ3T0luSFg0ZGdVQjk5UmtDalBaWTNkQWRUQk5IcGVDXzc4YVJDYjc4OHVzdEVxamE0UUZvUWhVQmlGTGx0QkZyTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Frobmcmullan%2F] Trevor McKee LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/trevordmckee [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbEprMHBMRVc2LWNmSExCSVc1OWloT1VxSDYyUXxBQ3Jtc0ttUFd4bHQtWVlpZEV3U2ppM05XckFDeEtkRmFXX0tVSjQ2d1pqTjZQTkVBNFBLcFduQUdmaFBuX3BXOE1WWUhzTW9YaFJrd2V5ZzBLZVR4NTdBRnVQWW1vdmFLeHc2QXZWN0lJTTByN05JelhmbmFSOA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Ftrevordmckee%2F] High Octane Friends website highoctanefriends.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2NFbTU4TWJ5QzR2bnVKNUZrZTViTnBERnU2Z3xBQ3Jtc0ttZXBIbTFld1d3NzJGeHRzZVVXT3pvYUpYV0hYUlNqTkFhRVBrZGQ3R0dDSVBYenFqZ1VReU1HSVphMWJnYjJ0c3pyTWN2b0hUU3M1aV9DRDViTnE1YXFsTWliVUh4TjlnZWwxSzZZUlo3dmUxLVFjNA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fhighoctanefriends.com%2F]

Beyond the Angels: Bryan Watson's Masterclass on Tax Credits and Canadian Capital for the Early-Stage Founder

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2538580/fan_mail/new] Rob McMullan and Trevor McKee are joined by Bryan Watson, who discusses his extensive history in the Canadian angel investment and tech ecosystem, including work in building angel groups and his perspective on the SR&ED tax credit as a due diligence tool. Bryan Watson detailed how the SR&ED process and financing the receivable through services like Easley and Fund Through help companies manage cash flow and emphasized the importance of a broad capital stack beyond just angel or venture capital for early-stage founders. The participants also discussed challenges in Canadian procurement, the "romance" of early US market entry, and upcoming changes to the SR&ED program in Budget 2025, which will introduce capital cost eligibility and refundable SR&ED for Eligible Canadian Public Companies. The High Octane Friends podcast is where Rob McMullan & Trevor McKee discuss a variety of subjects in an authentic and unvarnished way.  Rob McMullan LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/robmcmullan [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbU5VcTJROFhVYVhXcnF3NnNJdlpUWkNjQTdrUXxBQ3Jtc0ttZEdyTFd1amViNU1OamZOZVB0OThBNG5EVWZSLXZOZ25RVVFRSmRlYjJMVWg4UWJ3T0luSFg0ZGdVQjk5UmtDalBaWTNkQWRUQk5IcGVDXzc4YVJDYjc4OHVzdEVxamE0UUZvUWhVQmlGTGx0QkZyTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Frobmcmullan%2F] Trevor McKee LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/trevordmckee [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbEprMHBMRVc2LWNmSExCSVc1OWloT1VxSDYyUXxBQ3Jtc0ttUFd4bHQtWVlpZEV3U2ppM05XckFDeEtkRmFXX0tVSjQ2d1pqTjZQTkVBNFBLcFduQUdmaFBuX3BXOE1WWUhzTW9YaFJrd2V5ZzBLZVR4NTdBRnVQWW1vdmFLeHc2QXZWN0lJTTByN05JelhmbmFSOA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Ftrevordmckee%2F] High Octane Friends website highoctanefriends.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2NFbTU4TWJ5QzR2bnVKNUZrZTViTnBERnU2Z3xBQ3Jtc0ttZXBIbTFld1d3NzJGeHRzZVVXT3pvYUpYV0hYUlNqTkFhRVBrZGQ3R0dDSVBYenFqZ1VReU1HSVphMWJnYjJ0c3pyTWN2b0hUU3M1aV9DRDViTnE1YXFsTWliVUh4TjlnZWwxSzZZUlo3dmUxLVFjNA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fhighoctanefriends.com%2F]

Boost Motivation and Willpower today, and for 2026!

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2538580/fan_mail/new] Returning to productivity after a break—such as the holiday season—requires addressing motivation from biological, psychological, and environmental angles. Foundational habits like consistent sleep, morning sunlight exposure, and stable blood sugar are critical, as poor sleep and ultra-processed foods create cycles of fatigue and demotivation. High-protein, savory breakfasts and meal pre-planning help sustain energy, while removing junk food from the environment reduces reliance on willpower. Motivation is strongly influenced by social pressure. Public goals, accountability systems, and friendly competition can be powerful drivers, as seen in examples ranging from academic deadlines to shared fitness challenges. Cognitive strategies also matter: reframing tasks positively, focusing on areas within one’s control, and reducing exposure to demotivating news help prevent overwhelm and catastrophizing. Small psychological “hacks” can restart momentum. Setting extremely low entry goals (e.g., one minute of work), using rewards through temptation bundling, and pairing dull tasks with personal interests can overcome resistance. Planning backwards from long-term goals into daily actions helps clarify priorities, while filtering down to only a few high-impact tasks reduces cognitive load. Distraction—especially from phones and social media—was identified as a major threat to sustained motivation and attention, particularly for younger generations. Strategies include intentional media consumption, replacing news with educational or skill-building content, and deliberately creating environments that encourage focus and long-form engagement. Biologically, creatine was discussed as a potential cognitive and motivational aid due to its role in ATP production, with evidence supporting benefits to working memory and processing speed; however, effects are dose-dependent and require caution due to possible kidney risks. Overall, rebuilding productivity is less about brute discipline and more about designing systems—habits, environments, incentives, and information diets—that make motivation easier to sustain. The High Octane Friends podcast is where Rob McMullan & Trevor McKee discuss a variety of subjects in an authentic and unvarnished way.  Rob McMullan LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/robmcmullan [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbU5VcTJROFhVYVhXcnF3NnNJdlpUWkNjQTdrUXxBQ3Jtc0ttZEdyTFd1amViNU1OamZOZVB0OThBNG5EVWZSLXZOZ25RVVFRSmRlYjJMVWg4UWJ3T0luSFg0ZGdVQjk5UmtDalBaWTNkQWRUQk5IcGVDXzc4YVJDYjc4OHVzdEVxamE0UUZvUWhVQmlGTGx0QkZyTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Frobmcmullan%2F] Trevor McKee LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/trevordmckee [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbEprMHBMRVc2LWNmSExCSVc1OWloT1VxSDYyUXxBQ3Jtc0ttUFd4bHQtWVlpZEV3U2ppM05XckFDeEtkRmFXX0tVSjQ2d1pqTjZQTkVBNFBLcFduQUdmaFBuX3BXOE1WWUhzTW9YaFJrd2V5ZzBLZVR4NTdBRnVQWW1vdmFLeHc2QXZWN0lJTTByN05JelhmbmFSOA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Ftrevordmckee%2F] High Octane Friends website highoctanefriends.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2NFbTU4TWJ5QzR2bnVKNUZrZTViTnBERnU2Z3xBQ3Jtc0ttZXBIbTFld1d3NzJGeHRzZVVXT3pvYUpYV0hYUlNqTkFhRVBrZGQ3R0dDSVBYenFqZ1VReU1HSVphMWJnYjJ0c3pyTWN2b0hUU3M1aV9DRDViTnE1YXFsTWliVUh4TjlnZWwxSzZZUlo3dmUxLVFjNA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fhighoctanefriends.com%2F]