10-Minute Tech Talks: Business Insights and Growth Hacks for Time-Crunched Entrepreneurs

Aspirant CEO Mike McClaine steps up to the One Mic Stand to tell us all about Wavestone's acquisition of Aspirant!

This acquisition reinforces the presence of Wavestone in the US, which is a priority market in the firm’s international development strategy. It will help Wavestone to develop a competitive edge and continue to offer its clients best-in-class services.  For Aspirant, the merger with Wavestone offers the opportunity to pursue their solid development journey in the long term while focusing more on higher value consulting services.

“From 2018-2023, Aspirant Consulting has more than doubled in size, driven by our terrific consultants and outstanding commitment to our clients," according to Mike. “Joining forces with Wavestone gives us the opportunity to take advantage of synergies and deliver even more value for our clients on a much larger scale.” 

This is a podcast for tech and manufacturing  entrepreneurs exploring the tech ecosystem, from cyber security and AI to SaaS, robotics, and life sciences, featuring insights to satisfy the tech curious.

The Safety Innovation Summit on February 29 will explore Pittsburgh's long history of safety accomplishments and the current leadership driving safety innovations to prevent injury/harm in industrial manufacturing, transportation, energy and medicine.

Tune in to TechVibe Radio Sunday (2/18) to learn how the one-day conference will examine interventions that have proved successful in multiple industries, while exploring newer safety solutions made possible by AI/ML, robotics and other frontier technologies.

This presents a novel opportunity to share learnings across industries, explore opportunities for new ventures, and shape Pittsburgh’s future. 

Get more details and register here: https://www.prhi.org/safetysummit

This is a podcast for tech and manufacturing  entrepreneurs exploring the tech ecosystem, from cyber security and AI to SaaS, robotics, and life sciences, featuring insights to satisfy the tech curious.

Lt. Gray Chynoweth, Deputy Director for Strategy & Engagement at NavalX stopped by the Pittsburgh Technology Council's offices to address a standing room-only crowd as part of its effort to identify relevant solutions from small business, start-ups and academia to address some of the Navy’s most pressing challenges and operational needs.

Gray stepped up to the One Mic Stand to give us more detail on NavalX and what has him stoked about Pittsburgh.

NavalX is similar to other DOD organizations such as AFWERX, SPACEWERX and the Army Applications Lab.  Established in 2019, Naval X engages the small business community through several key programs and initiatives.

As one example, the team at Naval X manages the Navy’s Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program, which plays a key role in advancing dual-use and other critical technologies. Consisting of nearly $300 million in annual awards, the SBIR program helps to address major challenges facing major Navy commands such as: NAVSEA, NAVAIR and the Marine Corps Systems Command. 

This is a podcast for tech and manufacturing  entrepreneurs exploring the tech ecosystem, from cyber security and AI to SaaS, robotics, and life sciences, featuring insights to satisfy the tech curious.

Get up early and tune in TechVibe Radio this Sunday (2/11) as we welcome Mike Wagner Chief Executive Officer of Edge Case Research.

Edge Case is the trusted risk-management partner for companies building self-driving trucks, autonomous robotaxis, and smarter passenger cars. It helps developers and operators measure, manage, and insure the risks posed by software driving in the real world.

At the forefront of the autonomy industry for over 20 years, Wagner will detail Edge Case's mission to deliver the promise of safe autonomous mobility.

This is a podcast for tech and manufacturing  entrepreneurs exploring the tech ecosystem, from cyber security and AI to SaaS, robotics, and life sciences, featuring insights to satisfy the tech curious.

Founded in 2010 with the mission of providing technical contracting services to the United States government and private sector, Sourceree continues to support programs across multiple offices in the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, intelligence community, and commercial enterprises around the world.

Founder Adam Murphy steps up to the One Mic Stand to talk about his Johnstown-based business' values of embracing innovation and challenging the status quo.

Sourceree builds custom software that impacts the world in meaningful ways. Software includes: Enterprise Applications, Web Applications, Mobile (Responsive Web, Native iOS & Android), Big Data and Artificial Intelligence.

Learn more at https://www.sourceree.com/

This is a podcast for tech and manufacturing  entrepreneurs exploring the tech ecosystem, from cyber security and AI to SaaS, robotics, and life sciences, featuring insights to satisfy the tech curious.

TechVibe Radio welcomes Carlos Carter, President of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh to explore how the Urban League is empowering African Americans with the skills and training needed to connect and succeed in the tech industry.

Appointed President & CEO of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh in November 2021, Carter talks about a group of youth programs at the Urban League that focus on academic improvement, enhancing aspirations and developing career goals through technology.

Plus learn about the 28th Annual Leadership Awards set for February 16! Get details at https://ulpgh.ejoinme.org/rhb2024

This is a podcast for tech and manufacturing  entrepreneurs exploring the tech ecosystem, from cyber security and AI to SaaS, robotics, and life sciences, featuring insights to satisfy the tech curious.

Lannette McWilliams of Cohatch steps up to the One Mic Stand to tell you how coworking is growing in Pittsburgh and beyond.

Cohatch has three locations in Pittsburgh, including Shadyside, Southside and the Waterfront offering creative workspaces, unique amenities and community spaces for people and companies across the business spectrum.

Learn how coworking spaces are gaining popularity post pandemic and can create the ideal environment to get back to the office without the commitment and more flexibility.

This is a podcast for tech and manufacturing  entrepreneurs exploring the tech ecosystem, from cyber security and AI to SaaS, robotics, and life sciences, featuring insights to satisfy the tech curious.

CGI announced the planned investment of $1 billion over the next three years to support the continued expansion of its Artificial Intelligence (AI) services and solutions in partnership with clients seeking to responsibly move from experimentation to implementation while accelerating time-to-value from new AI technologies.

CGI's Manoj Mishra stops by TechVibe Radio to tell us about CGI's plans and current use cases around AI. Plus, we talk about CGI's role in the upcoming Beyond Big Data Conference set for Feb. 2.

Manoj both runs a profitable business unit for CGI and provides innovation leadership primarily in the financial services sector. As a passionate innovator and emerging technology enthusiast, Manoj participates in multiple forums on digital transformation topics (including blockchain, application programming interfaces and the Internet of Things) as well as hackathons. He also leads innovation workshops using CGI’s Spark Innovation Methodology, and is part of CGI’s thought leadership group on open banking.

This is a podcast for tech and manufacturing  entrepreneurs exploring the tech ecosystem, from cyber security and AI to SaaS, robotics, and life sciences, featuring insights to satisfy the tech curious.

In 2017, Congress, in an effort to fund the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, implemented a provision that hinders companies from fully counting R&D costs, including payroll, as legitimate expenses. Instead, they mandated the amortization of these expenses over five years. This change, effective from tax year 2022, resulted in a substantial increase in federal tax liabilities for many businesses.

Because the implementation of this bill wasn't set to go into effect until five years later, many business leaders failed to notice the change and were caught flat-footed with enormous increases in their 2022 tax liabilities. 

More alarmingly, the impact of this change on America's economy has been profound.  According to a National Association of Manufacturers' review of data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, American R&D spending fell from a five-year average growth rate of 6.6 percent to just 1 percent after the new provisions were implemented in 2022. 

Jonathan Forman of Global Tax Management addressed a standing-room-only crowd about the business-crushing implications of not fixing this part of the tax code. Jonathan stepped up to the One Mic Stand to give us a synopsis of the situation and insight to a proposed remedy. 

Get more insight and contact your elected officials here.

This is a podcast for tech and manufacturing  entrepreneurs exploring the tech ecosystem, from cyber security and AI to SaaS, robotics, and life sciences, featuring insights to satisfy the tech curious.

Canadian Consul General Tom Clark was visiting Pittsburgh last week and stepped up to the One Mic Stand to detail the business and technology relationships between Canada and Pittsburgh.

Canada and Pittsburgh have always been very closing trading partners and Clark wants to keep building the relationship even stronger.

Prior to being appointed Consul General in New York by Prime Minister Trudeau, Tom Clark served as Chair of Global Public Affairs, one of the largest public affairs and strategic communications firms in Canada. His private sector clients included senior executives in Canada and internationally who sought public policy and strategic communications advice on key business and investment decisions.

He was a frequent speaker to business groups and associations across the country as well as a sought-after advisor to governments, both in Canada and abroad. Prior to his work in the business community, Consul General Clark was one of Canada’s most respected broadcast journalists.

During his 45-year career, he was posted as Bureau Chief to Washington D.C. and China, in addition to working in more than 30 countries, including tours in eight active war zones. His work earned him numerous awards in both Canada and the United States.

This is a podcast for tech and manufacturing  entrepreneurs exploring the tech ecosystem, from cyber security and AI to SaaS, robotics, and life sciences, featuring insights to satisfy the tech curious.