Innovantage Podcast

China tech and innovation | Chinese economy | Silicon valley vs China | AI strategy

In our new episode, Pascal Coppens — sinologist, author, and tech entrepreneur with decades of experience working between China and Silicon Valley  breaks down how the Chinese economy actually works and why Western perceptions of China are outdated.
We cover how Chinese innovation differs from Silicon Valley, the role of competition and survival in Chinese business, the truth about Chinese electric vehicles and monopolies, why Europe struggles with strategic decision-making, and what the so-called AI race really looks like. 

👇 Useful links
Subscribe to our channel for more tech and business insights
Watch next: https://youtu.be/VkwqUmyoABY?si=hCM2dw282zPlRZfZ
 
Connect with Our Guest
Pascal Coppens – https://www.linkedin.com/in/pacovision/ 
Pascal’s website – https://www.pascalcoppens.com/ 
Connect with Max (Host)
Max Golikov –  https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxim-golikov/  

🎧 Listen Now
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19M3HKc1pbeTkYcOeOkJc0?si=aab60a9ec2864ba2 
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/innovantage-podcast/id1749330437 

Follow for More Insightful Episodes
Innovantage Podcast:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovantage-podcast/ 
Sigli:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/sigli/     
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/sigli.gang 
TikTok: @innovantage / @sigliofficial
#china #chinaeconomy #siliconvalley #innovation #ai #techstrategy

Are law firms using AI all wrong? The answer might cost you millions.

Aku Sorainen, Founder & Senior Partner at Sorainen and Chairman at Crespect, reveals why most legal tech investments fail and what actually works after 25 years of building his own systems. In this episode, we explore the dangerous gap between AI hype and real-world legal practice.

• Why Sorainen spent €2M building software after discovering global solutions were "years behind"
• The "chaos in, chaos out" problem: Why 25M documents can be a liability
• Why lawyers are using AI less for drafting in 2025
• The truth about junior lawyers and who survives the AI revolution
• How clients now use AI against their own lawyers

Connect with Our Guest
Aku Sorainen – https://www.linkedin.com/in/aku-sorainen/ 
Sorainen website – https://www.sorainen.com/  
Connect with Max (Host)
Max Golikov –  https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxim-golikov/  

🎧 Listen Now
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19M3HKc1pbeTkYcOeOkJc0?si=aab60a9ec2864ba2 
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/innovantage-podcast/id1749330437 

 

Watch us on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@InnovantagePodcast

 

Follow for More Insightful Episodes

Innovantage Podcast:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovantage-podcast/ 

Sigli:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/sigli/     

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/sigli.gang 

TikTok: @innovantage / @sigliofficial

What does it really take to succeed as a woman in tech leadership today?

In this episode of the Innovantage Podcast, we’re joined by Diana Gold — CTO | Head of Digitalization and Technology at Gijos, Partnership Associate Professor at Vilnius University, and PhD candidate at ISM University of Management and Economics.

In this conversation, Diana shares:
➡️Her journey from IT and consulting roles to becoming a CTO in the energy sector
➡️What women in tech leadership still struggle with — and what actually helps
➡️Why many digital transformations fail without cultural change
➡️How AI can both reduce and reinforce bias in hiring and leadership
➡️What skills matter most for women entering or reskilling into tech
➡️How public sector, private sector, and academia approach innovation differently

Whether you’re a woman working in tech, considering a career in technology, or a leader building digital and inclusive teams, this episode offers practical insights, real‑world experience, and a thoughtful look at the future of tech leadership.

Connect with Our Guest
Diana Gold – https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianagold1/ 
Connect with Max (Host)
Max Golikov –  https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxim-golikov/  

🎧 Listen Now

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19M3HKc1pbeTkYcOeOkJc0?si=aab60a9ec2864ba2 

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/innovantage-podcast/id1749330437 

Watch us on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@InnovantagePodcast

Follow for More Insightful Episodes

Innovantage Podcast:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovantage-podcast/ 

Sigli:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/sigli/     

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/sigli.gang 

TikTok: @innovantage / @sigliofficial

Most founders think grants are about paperwork. In reality, they are about positioning, clarity, and execution.
In this episode, we speak with Jonathan Spruytte, Grants & Incentives Senior Manager at KPMG Belgium, with prior EY Subsidia experience and a Ghent University research/PhD background, helping organizations secure Belgian and EU funding through structured grant strategy and writing.

In this episode we talk about:
 • How the grant process actually works
 • What makes a company truly “grant ready”
 • Why some proposals succeed and others fail
 • How long it realistically takes to secure funding
 • The human factor behind successful applications

Connect with Our Guest
Jonathan Spruytte – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanspruytte/  
Connect with Max (Host)
Max Golikov –  https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxim-golikov/ 

 

🎧 Listen Now

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19M3HKc1pbeTkYcOeOkJc0?si=aab60a9ec2864ba2  

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/innovantage-podcast/id1749330437  

 

Watch us on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@InnovantagePodcast 

 

Follow for More Insightful Episodes

Innovantage Podcast:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovantage-podcast/  

Sigli:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/sigli/      

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/sigli.gang  

TikTok: @innovantage / @sigliofficial

Is AI fixing hiring or breaking human connection?
Why do the best candidates never apply to job ads?
And what really happens inside a startup during its first 9 months?

Juris Zalāns — Co-founder at Talenme, HR Tech strategist, and digital transformation expert shares unfiltered insights from building a referral-driven hiring platform and navigating the fast-changing world of talent acquisition. From startup realities and fundraising to the future of HR tech, this episode explores how technology, trust, and human networks are reshaping recruitment.

What you’ll learn from this episode:
➡️Why passive candidates dominate today’s job market — and how companies actually reach them
➡️The real role of AI in recruitment
➡️How referrals, reputation, and human networks may outperform traditional hiring funnels
➡️The shift toward project work, gig models, and changing career expectations across generations
➡️Practical lessons from scaling an early-stage HR tech startup while balancing product, clients, and fundraising

🎧 Listen Now

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19M3HKc1pbeTkYcOeOkJc0?si=aab60a9ec2864ba2 

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/innovantage-podcast/id1749330437 

 

Watch us on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@InnovantagePodcast

 

Follow for More Insightful Episodes

Innovantage Podcast:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovantage-podcast/ 

Sigli:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/sigli/     

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/sigli.gang 

TikTok: @innovantage / @sigliofficial