Team Smartest
Media Industry Executive
Partner, Humble Ventures
Tim is a media executive with more than 20 years of experience leading cross-functional teams and driving revenue growth in the U.S. and internationally at the intersection of content strategy, technology, and partnerships at Paramount Global. Today, he combines executive judgment with hands-on creative execution, producing original content through Smartest's virtual production studio and AI workflows while leading business development and commercialization strategy as a Partner at Humble Ventures. His work helps organizations translate complex ideas into compelling stories, commercial opportunities, and scalable growth.
Entrepreneur
Founder, humble ventures
Ajit Verghese is a Partner at Humble Ventures and a four-time founder with deep experience helping organizations navigate growth, innovation, and commercialization across startups and global enterprises. He advises Fortune 100 companies, universities, and high-growth ventures on business development, partnerships, digital transformation, and go-to-market strategy. Beyond advisory work, Ajit designs AI-native systems that help organizations accelerate commercialization—from translational technologies and innovation platforms such as IP Scaffold to new storytelling frameworks that turn complex ideas into actionable outcomes. His work helps organizations align around complex challenges, build lasting partnerships, and translate innovation into scalable commercial growth.
Executive Producer,
Partner Electric Hot Dog
Jim Juvonen is a 5X Emmy-nominated executive producer and media executive with decades of experience creating hit entertainment formats for broadcast, streaming, and digital audiences. His credits include The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, That's My Jam, Password, Lip Sync Battle, and other productions. At Smartest, Jim brings world-class creative, format storytelling, leadership, and production expertise, helping brands and partners develop premium, audience-first content that blends entertainment, technology, and storytelling.
12-time Jeopardy! champion
Television contributor, Author
C-Suite Digital Innovator
In 2017, Austin changed Jeopardy! forever with an outrageously entertaining 12-game win streak and follow up appearances on Jeopardy!’s then-newly created Tournament of Champions. Austin’s television appearances and features include The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, CBS Morning News, Good Morning America, The Late-Late Show with James Corden, CNN and others. Austin regularly appears on History Channel programs such as, “History's Greatest of All Time with Peyton Manning”, and “The UnBelievable with Dan Aykroyd”. Author (“The Ultimate Book of Pub Trivia by the Smartest Guy in the Bar”).
Ritesh Patel is an innovation strategist and technology leader who helps organizations understand what’s next—and what to do about it. Over the past two decades, he has advised Fortune 100 companies, healthcare leaders, startups, and global brands on emerging technologies, digital transformation, AI, customer experience, and innovation strategy. Recognized as one of healthcare's leading voices on technology and transformation, Ritesh brings a rare ability to connect ideas across industries, translating complex technological shifts into clear business opportunities. At Smartest, he helps organizations turn emerging trends into compelling stories, strategic insight, and actionable innovation.
Founder, SPARKS PR
Sarajane Sparks is the Founder of SPARKS Consulting Group, a strategic communications, marketing, and venture development firm that helps brands, startups, and established organizations accelerate growth through storytelling, partnerships, PR and earned media influence. A former journalist, she has more than 20 years of experience advising consumer, lifestyle, healthcare, and technology organizations on brand strategy, public relations, media, strategic partnerships, and celebrity engagement. Her work helps organizations transform innovative ideas into meaningful visibility, trusted relationships, and lasting commercial impact.