On The Hunt Episode #2 - Ivan Denisov

In this episode of On The Hunt, host Elias Can sits down with Ivan Denisov, a venture scout with a background spanning finance, mining, and heavy industry, to explore what it takes to identify promising startups in an increasingly crowded venture landscape. Ivan shares how his experience at Stanford sparked his transition from the corporate world into venture capital, why universities and research communities can be some of the best places to discover hidden startup talent, and what he looks for when evaluating early-stage founders. The conversation also dives into the future of AI, the rise of vertical AI and deep tech, the limitations of today’s AI applications, and why Ivan believes technologies grounded in real-world science could have a major advantage. They also discuss AI’s potential to transform fintech and traditional banking by reducing costs and rebuilding key processes.