Austin Tech Connect: The Podcast For The Austin Technology Ecosystem, Business Leaders, and Tech Entrepreneurs!

Tune into the latest episode of the Austin Tech Connect podcast to hear from Omeed Badkoobeh, Co-Founder and CEO at Yotta Energy. About Omeed Badkoobeh: Omeed Badkoobeh is a trailblazer in the energy technology sector, serving as the founder and CEO of Yotta Energy. Under his leadership, Yotta Energy has developed a cutting-edge, distributed, and decentralized solar+storage architecture tailored for commercial and industrial buildings. This innovative approach meets the growing demand for distributed energy generation while transforming these structures into valuable grid assets and virtual power plants. Before establishing Yotta Energy, Badkoobeh gained over 16 years of experience in the energy transition sector. His expertise covers various aspects of the industry, including significant work with Tesla in the electric vehicle field and extensive involvement in the solar industry. Badkoobeh's dedication to advancing sustainable energy solutions has established him as a key influencer in shaping the future of energy. His professional philosophy emphasizes the importance of technology and wealth serving the global community, which has been a driving force behind his passion for the solar PV industry.

About Austin Technology Council

Austin Tech Connect is the official podcast of the Austin Technology Council. ATC was founded in 1992 to help promote the growth of Austin technology companies and to help create more community in the growth tech ecosystem. Today the organization is a leading organization and a major voice for the continued growth of tech in Central Texas.

In this episode we talk to Austin's Joseph Kopser. He is a serial entrepreneur and consultant who played his military career into a successful life in business. He is one of the best networked and best connected people in the Austin tech community, and is always willing to help others. About Joseph Kopser

Joseph Kopser is a lifelong problem solver committed to building the teams needed to take on our toughest challenges. In addition, he is a technology entrepreneur and expert in transportation, smart cities, urban mobility, energy, national security issues as well as an Army combat veteran. His roles include special advisor for military and veteran affairs at the University of Texas as well as leadership development for several companies. Previously, he served as an Executive-in-Residence at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas. In addition, he is President of Grayline where he works with people and companies to grow their business by sharing his 30 years of leadership experience. Prior to co-founding Grayline, Joseph co-founded and served as CEO of RideScout, before it was acquired by Mercedes-Benz in 2014. Joseph served in the U.S. Army for 20 years earning the Combat Action Badge, Army Ranger Tab and Bronze Star. He is a graduate of West Point with a BS in Aerospace Engineering and also received a Masters from the Harvard Kennedy School in 2002. In 2013, he was recognized as a White House Champion of Change for his efforts in Energy and Transportation. In 2014, his company, RideScout, won the U.S. Department of Transportation Data Innovation Award. In 2018, Joseph ran for Congress in a race that attracted more voters than any of the 36 districts in Texas. Losing by less than 3 points in a heavily gerrymandered district, Joseph demonstrated that voters want civility and problem solvers in Congress. In addition to being a former member of the Army Science Board, he works with The Bunker, an organization dedicated to supporting veteran entrepreneurs. In 2018, he co-authored the book, Catalyst, whose themes serve as the foundation of his public speaking. In 2019, Joseph became the inaugural Chair of the Board of Advisors for the CleanTX Foundation, an economic development and professional association for cleantech. Joseph and his wife of 28 years, Amy, live in Austin and they are extremely proud of their three adult daughters.

The Austin Technology Council is happy to announce the creation (or re-creation) of the Austin Tech Hall of Fame.

ATC thinks it is important that our tech community honors the past, is present in the now, and plans for the future.

We are launching the Austin Tech Hall of Fame over the next six years. Each year we will induct six "Legacy" members and one current member of the Hall of Fame. Anyone in the community can nominate (you need not be an ATC member) and you can nominate whomever you feel is "Hall of Fame Worthy). For the first year the ATC Board will choose those inducted, and in following years we will create an independent committee from local civic-minded tech leaders.

In addition to the Hall of Fame, we are lauching the "First Time Founder Award" to honor someone who is doing a great job with the company they founded (and it was their first go at entrepreneurship).

We will celebrate the Hall of Fame and the First Time Founder Award at a cocktail reception on June 4th.

Title Sponsors of the event are KPMG and Wells Fargo. The Sponsor of the First Time Founder Award is VeUp. (We are seeking more sponsors if your company would like to get involved in the ground floor of this multi-year project).

In this episode of Austin Tech Connect we hear from Connor Crawford, the co-founder and CEO at Pike Robotics. This is a growing company that has launched out of the University of Texas and is working to build robots that go places that are "dull, dirty, and dangerous". In his first role as an entrepreneur/founder, Connor is doing a good job of growing the company and is focused on the strategic plan for the next phase of the organization. About Connor Crawford Connor D. Crawford, MSE, has a track record of innovation, leadership, and attainment of business results in mechatronics design & manufacturing for both the aerospace and energy industries. He has over 8 years of technical, operations, and strategic leadership experience related to bringing concepts from the drawing board to realization. His work at Lockheed Martin helped the company execute on foreign and domestic aircraft & spacecraft contracts. Through his work as a graduate student, entrepreneur, and current CEO role at Pike Robotics, he has taken robotic technology from scholarship to practice, enabling a novel path forward for petrochemical storage tank inspections which eliminates the need to send humans into dangerous, confined spaces. About Pike Robotics Pike Robotics is a non-destructive testing (NDT) technology company dedicated to development of a Class 1, Division 1 certified Wall-Crawling Inspection Robot. This product will soon be able to perform in-service inspections of Floating Roof Tank Seals, satisfying API 653 and EPA 40 CFR standards. Pike's patent-pending system eliminates Confined Space Entries (CSE), providing teams with reduced inspection costs, increased safety, and improved accuracy! This robot originated from a sponsored research agreement with Phillips 66 to help them improve operations at their midstream and downstream facilities.

This episode of "Austin Tech Connect" is a look at the upcoming "Midway to the Future" technology conference in Bryan/College Station, and a discussion about how the Brazos Valley is growing in population and innovation. Jermey Osborne, the co-organizer of "Midway to the Future" joins the discussion about how Texas A&M University and the Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation are leading the way to help grow the technology business community and research efforts in the area. This matters to Austin's tech scene, not because the area would be competition, but because of how the whole Texas Technology Triangle (Austin, Dallas and Houston) are more than just those three cities. As Texas continues to grow, when the whole state works together, we become a more attractive place to move a business and grow a business. The Austin Technology Council is trying to facilitate conversations with tech leaders around the state to help us work together. Places like the Bryan/College Station area are important to Austin (and Texas) as we move from a place where "Tech Hubs" compete and more into a collaborative coalition throughout Texas. About Jeremy Osborne

Jeremy Osborne is an attorney and serial entrepreneur based in College Station. He has started multiple award-winning companies with appearances on both the Inc. 5000 and Entrepreneur 360 lists as well as Inc. Magazine's "Best Workplaces in America." He has been interviewed or featured in The New York Times, Inc. Magazine and on CNBC's "Closing Bell."

He is civically active with tenures on the College Station Planning & Zoning Commission, the Arts Council of the Brazos Valley board, and the Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation executive board. He was elected to the Texas Lyceum in 2024.

In 2014, The Association of Former Students named him one of "20 Young Aggies on the Rise." In 2019, Jeremy was named an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award regional finalist. Jeremy is a graduate of Texas A&M University and Georgetown University Law Center.

About Midway to the Future

Midway to the Future will bring entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, academics, and other tech professionals to Bryan/College Station for informative speaker sessions and networking opportunities on April 16 and 17, 2024. Those attendees arriving early can enjoy an evening reception on April 15.

Midway was born out of the belief that innovation and entrepreneurship in secondary and tertiary markets are often overlooked. Although home to several high-profile companies, Bryan/College Station, located at the heart of the Texas Triangle, is no exception.

The organizers are seeking to highlight the creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship of this community to attendees during their inaugural event. For more information, visit m2tfsummit.com or on social media platforms at @m2tfsummit.

Gary Stephens joins the conversation on "Austin Tech Connect" - the official podcast of the Austin Technology Council. He is the co-founder of Vendidit (as well as several other companies). He, along with his co-founder John Paul DeJoria (serial entrepreneur and known to many for his successful haircare line Paul Mitchell) are looking to make returns in retail more efficient and positively impact the environment. You gotta hear this interview!! About Gary Stephens Gary is a visionary technology executive and is an industry thought leader in reverse logisitics. He is the imagineer of both Vendidit, launched in 2024, and Renew Logic, which he started from a single pallet of recyclables in 2016. His previous career includes work on the Windows 95 launch team, being head of Windows NT updates under Steve Ballmer and Bill Gates and building a third electronics recycling company from scratch to $400M. His positive contributions to ethical business practices and industry improvements led to testifying before Congress in 2018 about smart, diverse employment policies. Beyond tech, Gary's diverse passions include race car driving, piloting and philanthropy – particularly helping dog rescues. He's a proven leader, blending business acumen with a profound commitment to societal impact. About Vendidit Vendidit is a proprietary, end-to-end software platform that connects qualified secondary market buyers with retail returns sellers to drive maximum value for returns. The platform puts interested parties together seamlessly and simultaneously when returned products have the highest value. It was co-founded by renowned entrepreneurs John Paul DeJoria and Gary Stephens and other reverse logistics industry veterans who saw a problem to be solved: retailers have returns inventory they can't sell efficiently, and secondary market sellers (who can move inventory for them) don't have enough of it or an efficient way to procure it. In five words, Vendidit converts limited inventory

The Austin Technology Council is committed to supporting all-things that help our tech community. This interview is with the founder of F.I.E.S.T.A., a local organization dedicated to helping the newcomers to Austin find their place in our tech ecosystem. Cherie Werner is a natural community builder, and in this conversation you will hear her story, how she came to found FIESTA, and ways her group is impacting lives. About Cherie Werner Cherie Werner is a native Texan and a proud Austinite of 34 years. She finds great joy in making meaningful connections and helping others pursue their dreams and passions.

In 1985, she embarked on a lifelong journey with her best friend, Jon Werner, the CTO for FIESTA. Together, they've mentored high school students, walked dozens of couples through premarital counseling, and collaborated on exciting startup ventures like Bones in Motion and KOYA Innovations. Her most memorable career accomplishment was raising and launching three daughters. This ultimately prepared her for her current role as "the startup mama," and provided her with many transferable job skills that she utilizes in all aspects of her work today.

She is the Founder and CEO - Chief Empowerment Officer of FIESTA, an inclusive community primarily focused on early-stage founders. She cares deeply about fostering meaningful connections, which she believes can only be accomplished through collaborating with other ecosystem builders. She helps founders be seen and navigate the Austin tech arena as every founder is on a unique journey, so they must find their tribes to succeed. She hosts two monthly events and provides helpful resources such as a community events calendar.About FIESTA

FIESTA is the fastest-growing founder's Meetup in Austin. While FIESTA means party it also stands for Founders, Investors, Entrepreneurs, Startups, Techies, and Austin Newcomers, we're like the Ellis Isle of Austin. You begin here, and we help you navigate this vast ecosystem to find valuable resources and connections and we always welcome you back. At FIESTA, you'll find a welcoming and supportive environment that embraces diversity and fosters collaboration. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned founder, or someone interested in the startup scene, FIESTA offers a dynamic space to learn, grow, and make meaningful connections. You might land here but we know the value of finding your tribe (s) in order to flourish.

FIESTA has hosted over 55 events and welcomed more than 7,500 attendees since July 2021 alone. Notably, the community achieved an impressive 65% growth in the last two years. Averaging close to 300 attendees monthly, FIESTA has grown to include a monthly women's event called GatHERing TogetHER. Given how large FIESTA is, we help folks find their tribes to help them succeed and thus partner with many of the community leaders in the fitness, CPG, AI, hardware space, etc. We also collaborate with other organizations to host one-off events. With so many founders visiting Austin and attending FIESTA, there is a steady request to bring the FIESTA experience to their hometowns. However, our greatest need is investment to hire individuals to help us build our resources and offerings. You can find us at https://www.fiesta.community/ and on LinkedIn and Instagram at fiesta community.

In this episode Thom Singer talks to Eric Sims from Leading Edge Connections - LEC. Eric recently moved his company from Florida to Austin and is working hard to get connected in the Austin tech community. Eric builds customer service and support models for brands all over the world. In this episode they chat about how he and his family wanted a fresh place, and how Austin offers the best for personal and professional opportunities.

About Eric Sims

Meet Eric Sims, affectionately known as "The CX Cowboy." With a quarter century of trailblazing through the wild frontiers of CX design and execution, Eric's not just your average rodeo rider. He's the one you call when you need to wrangle unruly customer experiences into tip-top shape, ensuring every customer's journey is smoother than a sunset.

From the bustling streets of start-up towns to those sprawling corporate ranches, Eric's lassoed wisdom from a myriad of industries like Technology/SaaS, Retail/e-commerce, financial institutions, legal firms, the service industry, and more. There ain't a CX challenge he hasn't faced, nor a business industry frontier he hasn't roamed.

At the heart of Eric's approach are the three T's: Talent, Techniques, and Technology. Like a true cowboy relying on his trusty steed, a well-worn hat, and the guiding stars, Eric knows that the right mix of skilled folks, proven strategies, and cutting-edge tools are what make the difference between a thriving business and a ghost town.

About LEC – Leading Edge Connections

LEC is a cutting-edge virtual outsourced contact center that has established itself as the number one onshore player in the industry. As a fully remote organization and fully US based model, LEC leverages the latest technology and innovative strategies to deliver exceptional customer experiences for its clients. With a team of highly skilled and talented remote team located across the United States, LEC provides unparalleled customer support, sales, and technology services to businesses of all sizes and across various industries.

At LEC, the team is driven by a shared passion for excellence and a commitment to delivering unparalleled results. LEC has earned a reputation for its exceptional customer service, exceptional results, and industry-leading expertise. With a track record of success and a forward-thinking approach, LEC continues to revolutionize the contact center industry and set new standards for excellence.

About Austin Technology Council

Austin Tech Connect is the official podcast of the Austin Technology Council. ATC was founded in 1992 to help promote the growth of Austin technology companies and to help create more community in the growth tech ecosystem. Today the organization is a leading organization and a major voice for the continued growth of tech in Central Texas.

About Luke Fischer: Luke Fischer is the Co-Founder and CEO of SkyFi, an industry-leading Earth Observation marketplace headquartered in Austin, Texas. Luke began his career as a US Army Special Operations aviator where he led teams in the most demanding environments. After the Army, Luke was Head of Flight Operations at Uber and later led Government Operations at Joby Aviation. After Joby, Luke was an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Shield Capital where he focused on investing in Space, Autonomy, AI, and Cyber until he co-founded SkyFi. A decorated combat veteran, Luke received his Bachelor's in Business from Xavier University, his Masters in Strategy and Policy from the U.S. Naval Command and Staff College, and his second Masters in Management from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He is husband to an amazing entrepreneur, Jessica, and a proud father of two brilliant young women, Evalynn and Makenna, and two lazy french bulldogs. About SkyFi: SkyFi is the pioneering geospatial data marketplace that revolutionizes how enterprise and government clients access, analyze, and leverage analytics, imagery, and datasets from around the globe. Our innovative dual-use approach simplifies the acquisition and utilization of Earth Observation data, offering users cutting-edge post-processing and analytics management tools. At the heart of SkyFi's mission is the ambition to construct the world's largest virtual constellation of satellite and aerial imaging assets, achieved through our comprehensive and continuously growing global network of partners. SkyFi serves a diverse range of industries critical to global development and security, including agriculture, urban planning, environmental monitoring, defense and intelligence, energy, and infrastructure. By providing actionable insights into crop health, urban expansion, climate change effects, and resource allocation, we empower sectors to make informed decisions with unprecedented speed and accuracy. For the defense and intelligence community, our real-time data enhances situational awareness and operational readiness. In energy and infrastructure, our analytics support the management of assets and the monitoring of critical projects from inception to completion. As the world's premier geospatial hub, SkyFi is not just about data acquisition; it's about fostering a deeper understanding of our planet. Through their state-of-the-art analytic tools and a customer-centric approach, SkyFi is dedicated to transforming the way the world views and utilizes geospatial data, making it an indispensable resource for industries committed to innovation and sustainability.

About Austin Technology Council

Austin Tech Connect is the official podcast of the Austin Technology Council. ATC was founded in 1992 to help promote the growth of Austin technology companies and to help create more community in the growth tech ecosystem. Today the organization is a leading organization and a major voice for the continued growth of tech in Central Texas.

This episode of "Austin Tech Connect" is a trip down memory lane to the early days of Austin tech. Bjorn Billhardt came to Austin as a 15 year old foreign exchange student at Pflugerville High School. He enjoyed his year here so much that he called his mom in Germany and asked to stay to finish his education. He remained in Pflugerville, then went to the University of Texas at Austin. After finishing his MBA at Harvard the came right back to Austin to launch his first company. This was in 2001 and the tech economy was the beginning of a three year slow down, so he had to bootstrap his new startup. But he looks back as that era as the best times in his career. Today he is the CEO of Abilitie, a fast growing company that is making an impact around the world. About Bjorn BIllhardt

Bjorn Billhardt is co-author of The 12-Week MBA and the CEO of Abilitie, a leadership development company focused on teaching business acumen and management skills with team-based business simulations. Abilitie's leadership programs have educated 100,000 learners in 50 countries, including rising leaders at many Fortune 500 companies such as Coca-Cola, Dell, GE, Marriott, Pfizer, and Southwest.

Prior to founding Abilitie in 2015, Bjorn was the CEO of Enspire Learning, a custom e-learning development company he co-founded in 2001 while studying at Harvard Business School. Before business school, Bjorn worked as a consultant and corporate trainer for a Dutch software company and McKinsey & Company. Bjorn holds a BA from the University of Texas and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Bjorn has served on the boards of The Magellan International School, Spa Partisan (the parent company of the milk + honey spa), and the Advisory Board of the University of Texas at Austin School for Undergraduate Studies and the UT-HDO Program. He lives in Austin, TX with his wife and three boys. A native of Hamburg, Germany, Bjorn came to the United States as an exchange student, attending Pflugerville High School outside of Austin, TX.

About Abilitie Abilitie has reimagined business education by creating hands-on leadership development programs, including The 12-Week MBA, for rising leaders and executives around the world. With 500+ global clients – including Dell, Coca-Cola, Garmin, Marriott, and Southwest Airlines – and 100,000+ learners, Abilitie is a rapidly growing innovator in the leadership development and edtech markets. You can buy his new book (that was just released) anywhere books can be purchased. Order your copy today (or walk into a Barnes & Noble and get a copy the old fashioned way).