Will Bodewes, CEO and co-founder of Phonely, is transforming call center operations with voice AI technology. From ultra-endurance sports to founding Spokesound and launching Phonely after earning a PhD in applied AI, Will shares the key lessons he's learned along the way.

Episode Highlights
- Will shares his transition from ultra-endurance sports to founding Spokesound, highlighting key lessons learned.

- He explains how his PhD in applied AI shaped Phonely’s mission to enhance customer support with conversational AI.

- The discussion covers AI-to-AI interactions, focusing on security, multilingual support, and minimizing AI hallucinations.

- Will discusses the challenges of using AI in sales and how Phonely is revolutionizing customer engagement and efficiency.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Connect with Will Bodewes and Phonely:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-bodewes/
https://phonely.ai/

Connect with Demetrios:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dpbrinkm/

Connect with Deepgram:
https://deepgram.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/deepgramhttps://twitter.com/deepgramaihttps://www.facebook.com/deepgram/

Join the Deepgram Discord Server!
https://discord.com/invite/xWRaCDBtW4

Tom and Adrian, co-founders of Canonical AI, discuss how their innovative analytics platform is shaping the future of voice AI. They cover the evolution of voice technologies, the challenges developers face, and how Canonical AI helps create smarter, more intuitive voice agents.

Episode Highlights:
- Tom and Adrian share their journey from agricultural tech to voice AI, fueled by their passion for providing developers with actionable insights.

- Adrian explains how their platform offers advanced analytics, including call success rates, engagement metrics, and real-time call flow mapping.

- They address user hesitancy from poor past experiences and showcase how Canonical AI overcomes this with diagnostics and custom alerts.

- Tom envisions voice AI replacing traditional interfaces, with Canonical AI enabling developers to create seamless, human-like interactions.

- The team emphasizes democratizing voice AI analytics, empowering developers to iterate and improve without solely relying on user feedback.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Connect with Tom & Adrian
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-shapland-b4494212/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-cowham-a6027a56/
https://x.com/tom_shapland

Product 
https://voice.canonical.chat

Connect with Demetrios:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dpbrinkm/

Connect with Deepgram:
https://deepgram.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/deepgram
https://x.com/deepgramai
https://www.facebook.com/deepgram/

Join the Deepgram Discord Server!
https://discord.com/invite/xWRaCDBtW4

Mo Asady, CTO of Convirza, brings over 20 years of global IT expertise, with leadership roles at Microsoft Dynamics, FreightOn, and Convirza. Known for his adaptability and tech insight, he has led teams across industries and continents, focusing on driving revenue through call analytics.

Episode Highlights
- Mo shares his journey from coding in the '80s to key roles at Microsoft and innovative blockchain projects in Dubai.

- As CTO, he has driven Convirza’s AI shift, using LLMs to enhance call analytics and optimize customer interactions.

- Mo discusses turning challenges like ChatGPT into opportunities by deploying focused, cost-effective AI tools.

- Mo envisions AI transforming customer interactions and driving growth in real-time business engagement.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Connect with Mo Asady and Convirza:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/moasady/
https://www.convirza.com/

Connect with Demetrios:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dpbrinkm/

Connect with Deepgram:
https://deepgram.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/deepgramhttps://twitter.com/deepgramaihttps://www.facebook.com/deepgram/

Join the Deepgram Discord Server!
https://discord.com/invite/xWRaCDBtW4

Pallavi Gadepalli, Founder & CEO of Enterprise Chai, joins the AI Minds Podcast to discuss her journey from software developer to customer success visionary. With two decades of experience at Microsoft, eBay, ServiceNow, and Cisco, Pallavi has pioneered AI-driven solutions that transform real-time customer engagement.

Episode Highlights:
- Pallavi’s career evolution includes her journey from early software development challenges to leading customer success at major tech companies.

- The vision behind Enterprise Chai is how Pallavi founded the company to revolutionize customer success with AI-powered tools for platforms like Zoom, Teams, and WebEx.

- She addresses challenges in customer success by bridging gaps between sales and customer success with AI to streamline product knowledge and commitments.

- Enterprise Chai empowers teams with real-time insights for proactive, data-driven customer engagement.

- Pallavi’s vision aims to reshape customer success and product strategies, driving smarter, AI-supported interactions across industries.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Connect with Pallavi Gadepalli and Enterprise Chai
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pallavigadepalli/
https://www.enterprisechai.com/

Connect with Demetrios:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dpbrinkm/

Connect with Deepgram:
https://deepgram.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/deepgram
https://x.com/deepgramai

Michael Ocean, a 10-year sales veteran and former leader at Hopin, shares his transition from musician to entrepreneur. As the founder and CEO of SellMeThisPen, he discusses how his early startup experiences and time at Hopin influenced his approach to business. Noticing issues with traditional sales training, he started SellMeThisPen to provide real-time, personalized training aimed at improving sales team performance.

Episode Highlights:
- Michael's transition from musician to entrepreneur through early-stage startups.

- How his corporate experiences at PCM led him to seek more flexible, innovative work environments.

- Lessons from Hopin’s rapid growth and the sales training challenges that inspired SellMeThisPen.

- How AI-driven, real-time sales training is helping teams scale efficiently.

- The future of sales enablement through personalized AI-powered learning.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Connect with Michael Ocean and SellMeThisPen
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelocean
https://www.sellmethispen.ai/

Connect with Demetrios:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dpbrinkm/

Connect with Deepgram:
https://deepgram.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/deepgram
https://x.com/deepgramai

In this episode of AIMinds, Sebastian Mourra, co-founder and CEO of Alphana, takes us through his journey of entrepreneurship, innovation, and content strategy. From spearheading digital marketing at Universal Music Group to founding Alphana, Sebastian shares invaluable lessons in leveraging AI to streamline content creation for creators and entrepreneurs.

Episode Highlights:
- Sebastian discusses his move from leading digital marketing for brands like Enrique Iglesias and Pepsi at Universal Music Group to launching startups fueled by AI and innovation.

- He shares how founding RAS Interactive led to developing SaaS products like Zeki, transforming multifamily real estate marketing.

- Sebastian introduces Alphana, his latest venture, which automates social media content creation, turning videos and podcasts into viral content with the help of AI.

- Reflecting on his company's acquisition, he highlights key lessons in negotiation, team leadership, and balancing entrepreneurial vision with business strategy.

- Sebastian explains Alphana’s goal of fully automating content workflows, helping creators and entrepreneurs scale their impact.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Connect with Sebastian Mourra and Alphana
https://x.com/SebastianMourra
https://www.youtube.com/@SebastianMourra
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastianmourra

https://www.alphana.ai/
https://www.youtube.com/@AlphanaAI
https://x.com/alphanaai

Connect with Demetrios:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dpbrinkm/

Connect with Deepgram:
https://deepgram.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/deepgram
https://x.com/deepgramai

In this episode of AI Minds, host Demetrios talks with Scott Stephenson, CEO and Co-founder of Deepgram, about his journey from dark matter physicist to AI entrepreneur. Scott shares how his experience building underground labs to detect dark matter led to founding Deepgram, a leader in speech-to-text technology.

Episode Highlights:
- Scott discusses his transition from academia to startups, highlighting how Deepgram emerged from his interest in capturing and analyzing personal audio data.

- He explains Deepgram's use of a first-principles approach to innovate speech and audio processing, focusing on long-term scalability and future-proofing the technology.

- Scott touches on the contrasts between academic research and startup culture, emphasizing Deepgram's commitment to rapid innovation and minimal fundraising.

-Insights into Deepgram’s remote-first culture, creative onboarding, and use of machine intelligence to enhance human capabilities.

This episode showcases how Scott and Deepgram are driving advancements in audio AI, blending deep tech with real-world applications.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Connect with Scott Stephenson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-stephenson-/

Connect with Demetrios:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dpbrinkm/

Connect with Deepgram:
https://deepgram.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/deepgram
https://x.com/deepgramai
https://www.facebook.com/deepgram/

Join the Deepgram Discord Server!
https://discord.com/invite/xWRaCDBtW4

In this episode of AI Minds, host Demetrios speaks with Bruce Sharpe, Chief Product Officer at Humach, about his journey through telecommunications, AI, and customer experience innovations. From developing omni-channel platforms at Ticketmaster to pioneering AI-powered voice interactions, Bruce shares his insights into the critical intersection of human and machine interactions in regulated industries like healthcare and insurance.

Episode Highlights:
- Bruce Sharpe details his early experiences in telecommunications, leading large-scale event management for Ticketmaster.

- He discusses his role in advancing AI-driven customer service platforms, including collaborations with Microsoft and IBM for patent development.

- Bruce explores the integration of voice technology with AI, partnering with Deepgram to enhance digital agent capabilities.

- The conversation addresses the challenges of implementing AI in regulated industries like healthcare, where Bruce stresses the importance of rigorous testing and live agent support.

- Insights into blending human and AI interactions in customer experience and Bruce’s practical approach to evaluating technology partnerships.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Connect with Bruce Sharpe and Humach
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruceasharpe/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/humach/

Current product at Humach
https://humach.com/mai-pilot/

Connect with Demetrios:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dpbrinkm/

Connect with Deepgram:
https://deepgram.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/deepgram
https://x.com/deepgramai
https://www.facebook.com/deepgram/

Join the Deepgram Discord Server!
https://discord.com/invite/xWRaCDBtW4

In this AI Minds episode, Derek Wang, co-founder of Taalk, discusses transitioning from academia to entrepreneurship and building Taalk, an AI platform for business communications. He highlights the importance of ethical AI, focusing on consent, compliance, and privacy, and explains how Taalk’s tools enhance customer interactions in industries like insurance and finance.

Episode Highlights:
- Derek shares his transition from academic research to launching Taalk, a company focused on AI-powered business communications.

- He discusses the importance of consent and compliance in AI, ensuring ethical practices in handling customer interactions.

- Taalk’s use of natural language processing and data visualization is explored, showcasing how it enhances customer service in industries like insurance and finance.

- Derek explains the company’s dedication to preventing AI misuse and protecting user privacy in all of its operations.

- He reflects on his entrepreneurial journey and how Taalk is advancing the future of ethical AI in business communications.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Connect with Derek Wang and Taalk
https://www.linkedin.com/in/derekxywang/
www.taalk.ai
https://www.linkedin.com/company/taalkai/

Connect with Demetrios:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dpbrinkm/

Connect with Deepgram:
https://deepgram.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/deepgram
https://x.com/deepgramai

In this episode, Demetrios and Richard Meng, CEO of Roe AI, explore how AI-driven SQL queries are transforming unstructured data analytics. Richard discusses his career from China to LinkedIn and Snowflake, and how Roe AI simplifies data management in the financial sector.

Episode Highlights:
- Richard Meng discusses his journey from an entrepreneurial upbringing in China to becoming a key player in the tech industry, with notable stints at LinkedIn and Snowflake.

- Discover the innovative tool Richard developed during a Snowflake hackathon that enables non-technical users to query data using natural language, significantly simplifying data operations.

- Richard elaborates on the practical and technical challenges of handling unstructured data and how Roe AI addresses these issues to enhance data accessibility for financial services.

- Gain insights into Roe AI’s mission to transform how businesses leverage data through AI technologies, making data interaction more intuitive and efficient.

- Demetrios and Richard reflect on the impact of innovative data tools on the future of data analytics and the potential for future advancements in the field.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Connect with Richard Meng
linkedin.com/in/berkeleymeng

Snowflake Gen AI product I led: https://www.snowflake.com/en/blog/copilot-ai-powered-sql-assistant/

Connect with Demetrios:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dpbrinkm/

Connect with Deepgram:
https://deepgram.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/deepgram
https://x.com/deepgramai