Boulder Tech Podcast

Our guest for Episode #55 is Ef Rodriguez. Among many things, he’s heavily involved with Ignite Boulder, TEDx Boulder and Boulder StartupWeek.

Ef and I enjoy a lively and free-flowing conversation touching on a number of subjects, including:

• what brought him back to Boulder after 7 years living and working in a number of far flung locations
• why brands need to focus on the problem, not the product
• things we don’t see in Boulder but would like to
• why you may be listening to podcasts at the wrong speed

Follow Ef on Twitter @pug.

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The Boulder Tech Podcast is made possible in part by Boulder StartUp Week platinum sponsors Honey, Matter and Zayo. 

We’re also supported by Glider, a Colorado-based Community movement and non-profit that produces Boulder’s Ignite and TedX events, as well as Boulder Startup Week. Learn more and consider a donation at glider.com

Thanks to dojo4 for providing space for our podcast studio, and to KGNU Community Radio for recording gear and studio usage.

Our intro music is by Eccodek. Hear more at eccodek.com.

Our outro music is by EarthRise SoundSystem. You’ll find them at earthrisesoundsystem.com

The Boulder Tech Podcast is produced by me, Joel Davis. Your feedback, criticisms, comments and guest suggestions are welcome. Reach me at [email protected]

Thanks for listening. We’ll see you back here for the next episode of the Boulder Tech Podcast.

Our guest for Episode 54 is Jeremy Frazao, VP of Engineering at Recurly, a subscription management platform specializing in collecting recurring payments.

Jeremy and I discuss:

• why it’s a good thing that most people have no idea that Recurly even exists
• the key difference he’s noticed between the San Francisco and Boulder tech communities
• how Recurly’s values are reflected in its corporate community and by Boulder in general
• and how he became known as the Steve Jobs of Boulder

All of that and more, as the Boulder Tech Podcast speaks with Recurly’s Jeremy Frazao. Follow Recurly on Twitter @Recurly

**

The Boulder Tech Podcast is made possible in part by Boulder StartUp Week platinum sponsors Honey, Matter and Zayo. 

We’re also supported by Glider, a Colorado-based Community movement and non-profit that produces Boulder’s Ignite and TedX events, as well as Boulder Startup Week. Learn more and consider a donation at glider.com

Thanks to dojo4 for providing space for our podcast studio, and to KGNU Community Radio for recording gear and studio usage.

Our intro music is by Eccodek. Hear more at eccodek.com.

Our outro music is by EarthRise SoundSystem. You’ll find them at earthrisesoundsystem.com

The Boulder Tech Podcast is produced by me, Joel Davis. Your feedback, criticisms, comments and guest suggestions are welcome. Reach me at [email protected]

Thanks for listening. We’ll see you back here for the next episode of the Boulder Tech Podcast.

Our guest for Episode 53 is Jack Morrison, Co–Founder & CEO at Scythe Robotics. They build highly-intelligent, autonomous robots to tackle challenges in unstructured outdoor environments.  

Among a number of topics, Jack and I get into:

• the difference between robotics and artificial intelligence
• why we should not be worried about the robots and AI taking over (anytime soon, anyway)
• the state of the Front Range robotics industry
• and why it’s going to be awhile before we all have Jetsons-style robots roaming in our homes — and playing on our soccer fields

Follow Scythe Robotics on Twitter @ScytheRobotics.

***

The Boulder Tech Podcast is made possible in part by Boulder StartUp Week platinum sponsors Honey, Matter and Zayo. 

We’re also supported by Glider, a Colorado-based Community movement and non-profit that produces Boulder’s Ignite and TedX events, as well as Boulder Startup Week. Learn more and consider a donation at glider.com

Thanks to dojo4 for providing space for our podcast studio, and to KGNU Community Radio for recording gear and studio usage.

Our intro music is by Eccodek. Hear more at eccodek.com.

Our outro music is by EarthRise SoundSystem. You’ll find them at earthrisesoundsystem.com

The Boulder Tech Podcast is produced by me, Joel Davis. Your feedback, criticisms, comments and guest suggestions are welcome. Reach me at [email protected]

Thanks for listening. We’ll see you back here for the next episode of the Boulder Tech Podcast.

Our guest for Episode 52 is Rami Sahhar, Founder & CEO at CliqueMJ, a loyalty program platform created specifically for the cannabis retail sector. 

Rami and I talk many things cannabiz, including:

• why consumers should feel secure in sharing their info with platforms such as ClickMJ
• the stiff competition in the marijuana marketing biz and what sets CliqueMJ apart
• differences between the California and Colorado MJ cannabis industries
• and how a construction business development specialist wound up in the pot industry — and what brought him to Boulder 

Follow CliqueMJ on Twitter @Clique_MJ.

***

The Boulder Tech Podcast is made possible in part by Boulder StartUp Week platinum sponsors Honey, Matter and Zayo. 

We’re also supported by Glider, a Colorado-based Community movement and non-profit that produces Boulder’s Ignite and TedX events, as well as Boulder Startup Week. Learn more and consider a donation at glider.com

Thanks to dojo4 for providing space for our podcast studio, and to KGNU Community Radio for recording gear and studio usage.

Our intro music is by Eccodek. Hear more at eccodek.com (that’s E-c-c-o-d-e-k).

Our outro music is by EarthRise SoundSystem. You’ll find them at earthrisesoundsystem.com

The Boulder Tech Podcast is produced by me, Joel Davis. Your feedback, criticisms, comments and guest suggestions are welcome. Reach me at [email protected]

Thanks for listening. We’ll see you back here for the next episode of the Boulder Tech Podcast.

This is one of 20 interviews recorded in a popup backroom studio at dojo4 during the 10th annual Boulder Startup Week. When it started in 2009, Boulder Startup Week was the first event of its kind, anywhere. Now, Startup Weeks are held around the world. It’s a great example of Boulder’s position on the leading edge of tech — and the future.

Our guest for Episode 51 is David McCloskey, Founder & Chief Technical Officer at Authentic Labs. They design and build tools that connect consumers to companies by giving individuals deeper insight into the products and brands they buy.

David and I talk about a lot of things, including:

• how a venture into toys led to David developing consumer protection technology
• the remarkably high percentage of counterfeit goods hidden in plain sight on line and on stores shelves
• how Authentic Labs’ Real tag protects consumers and ensures product authenticity
• and the cool fact that the Real tag’s underlying technology is a human-made molecule

Follow Authentic Labs on Twitter @authentic_labs

***

The Boulder Tech Podcast is made possible in part by Boulder StartUp Week platinum sponsors Honey, Matter and Zayo. 

We’re also supported by Glider, a Colorado-based Community movement and non-profit that produces Boulder’s Ignite and TedX events, as well as Boulder Startup Week. Learn more and consider a donation at glider.com

Thanks to dojo4 for providing space for our podcast studio, and to KGNU Community Radio for recording gear and studio usage.

Our intro music is by Eccodek. Hear more at eccodek.com (that’s E-c-c-o-d-e-k).

Our outro music is by EarthRise SoundSystem. You’ll find them at earthrisesoundsystem.com

The Boulder Tech Podcast is produced by me, Joel Davis. Your feedback, criticisms, comments and guest suggestions are welcome. Reach me at [email protected]

Thanks for listening. We’ll see you back here for the next episode of the Boulder Tech Podcast.

Our guest for Episode 50 is Eric Horner, Assistant Dean of Advancement for the Research and Innovation Office at the University of Colorado at Boulder. With fall classes starting this week, it’s a good time to hear about the programs in place to support CU’s vibrant entrepreneurial eco-system. 

Eric fills us in on those, and also:

• provides a great overview of all that CU has to offer to all players in the startup sector  
• describes how he’ll utilize his expertise with public/private partnerships to expand entrepreneurial activity on campus and beyond,
• talks about CU’s position in the greater Boulder startup community

Follow Eric on Twitter @Eric_Horner

***

The Boulder Tech Podcast is made possible in part by Boulder StartUp Week platinum sponsors Honey, Matter and Zayo. 

We’re also supported by Glider, a Colorado-based Community movement and non-profit that produces Boulder’s Ignite and TedX events, as well as Boulder Startup Week. Learn more and consider a donation at glider.com

Thanks to dojo4 for providing space for our podcast studio, and to KGNU Community Radio for recording gear and studio usage.

Our intro music is by Eccodek. Hear more at eccodek.com (that’s E-c-c-o-d-e-k).

Our outro music is by EarthRise SoundSystem. You’ll find them at earthrisesoundsystem.com

The Boulder Tech Podcast is produced by me, Joel Davis. Your feedback, criticisms, comments and guest suggestions are welcome. Reach me at [email protected]

Thanks for listening. We’ll see you back here for the next episode of the Boulder Tech Podcast.

This is one of 20 interviews recorded in a popup backroom studio at dojo4 during the 10th annual Boulder Startup Week. When it started in 2009, Boulder Startup Week was the first event of its kind, anywhere. Now, Startup Weeks are held around the world. It’s a great example of Boulder’s position on the leading edge of tech — and the future.

Episode 49 is a roundtable discussion moderated by longtime energy consultant and analyst Chuck Ray. His panel of experts features Matt Lehrman, Energy Strategy Coordinator for the City of Boulder, Ben Holland, Senior Associate and Mobility Strategist at the Rocky Mountain Institute, and Alexandra Kaufhold, Electrical Engineer at Sphero and Boulder Startup Week Energy Track Leader. Through their wide-ranging conversation, the panel aims to answer three key questions about the intersection of energy and mobility:

• where’s the opportunity in our rapidly awakening, multi-modal, “living above car” reality?
• what is the overlap between today’s transportation challenges and electric vehicles?
• and how are we going to electrify our entire transportation system — and why should we?

Follow our panelists on Twitter: Chuck Ray (@gNav1), Matt Lehrman (@Matt_Lehrman), Ben Holland (@BenInBoulder), Alexandra Kaufhold (Twitter-free and lovin’ it).

***

The Boulder Tech Podcast is made possible in part by Boulder StartUp Week platinum sponsors Honey, Matter and Zayo. 

We’re also supported by Glider, a Colorado-based Community movement and non-profit that produces Boulder’s Ignite and TedX events, as well as Boulder Startup Week. Learn more and consider a donation at glider.com

Thanks to dojo4 for providing space for our podcast studio, and to KGNU Community Radio for recording gear and studio usage.

Our intro music is by Eccodek. Hear more at eccodek.com (that’s E-c-c-o-d-e-k).

Our outro music is by EarthRise SoundSystem. You’ll find them at earthrisesoundsystem.com

The Boulder Tech Podcast is produced by me, Joel Davis. Your feedback, criticisms, comments and guest suggestions are welcome. Reach me at [email protected]

Thanks for listening. We’ll see you back here for the next episode of the Boulder Tech Podcast.

Episode 48 of the Boulder Tech Podcast is part of a special “WILD” series of interviews recorded during the 10th annual Boulder Startup Week. 

WILD, Women Inspiring Leadership Development, is a new track at Boulder StartUp Week 2019, and features candid conversations celebrating women’s startup success, diversity, power, mentoring muscle and leadership impact. 

For the WILD series, interviewing privileges go to Stephanie Brady, Managing Director at iFG Studios and Board Member of The WILD Council. who chats with Leslie Na, Founder and CEO of Truth Bomb about:

• Why Leslie left corporate America to start her own venture
• Dealing with unexpected startup challenges
• How her personal experiences shape her entrepreneurial spirit

and more, on this WILD episode of the Boulder Tech Podcast.

Follow Leslie on Twitter @truthbomblife.

***

The WILD at Boulder Startup Week podcast series is supported by 1stBank, “banking for good” to help business customers achieve their goals and provide them the resources to succeed. Learn more at efirstbank.com.

The Boulder Tech Podcast is made possible in part by Boulder StartUp Week platinum sponsors Honey, Matter and Zayo. 

We’re also supported by Glider, a Colorado-based Community movement and non-profit that produces Boulder’s Ignite and TedX events, as well as Boulder Startup Week. Learn more and consider a donation at glider.com

Thanks to dojo4 for providing space for our podcast studio, and to KGNU Community Radio for recording gear and studio usage.

Our intro music is by Eccodek. Hear more at eccodek.com (that’s E-c-c-o-d-e-k).

Our outro music is by EarthRise SoundSystem. You’ll find them at earthrisesoundsystem.com

The Boulder Tech Podcast is produced by me, Joel Davis. Your feedback, criticisms, comments and guest suggestions are welcome. Reach me at [email protected]

Thanks for listening. We’ll see you back here for the next episode of the Boulder Tech Podcast.

This is one of 20 interviews recorded in a popup backroom studio at dojo4 during the 10th annual Boulder Startup Week. When it started in 2009, Boulder Startup Week was the first event of its kind, anywhere. Now, Startup Weeks are held around the world. It’s a great example of Boulder’s position on the leading edge of tech — and the future.

Our guest for Episode 47 is Joan Kanner, co-founder and operator of Bottom’s Up Bagels, and creator of the Fugue app. Joan’s based in Baltimore and was in town for Boulder Startup Week to see what we’re up to out here. In our fun and wide-ranging discussion, we get into:

• What sets a good bagel apart from a great one
• The relationship between Food and memory
• Forgetting, and why Joan created the Fugue music app
• The view of Boulder from Baltimore
• A brief history of bagels on the front range according to me

Follow Joan on Twitter at @fuguetheapp

[This episode is marked “explicit for language slightly saltier than a good salt bagel.]

***

The Boulder Tech Podcast is made possible in part by Boulder StartUp Week platinum sponsors Honey, Matter and Zayo. 

We’re also supported by Glider, a Colorado-based Community movement and non-profit that produces Boulder’s Ignite and TedX events, as well as Boulder Startup Week. Learn more and consider a donation at glider.com

Thanks to dojo4 for providing space for our podcast studio, and to KGNU Community Radio for recording gear and studio usage.

Our intro music is by Eccodek. Hear more at eccodek.com (that’s E-c-c-o-d-e-k).

Our outro music is by EarthRise SoundSystem. You’ll find them at earthrisesoundsystem.com

The Boulder Tech Podcast is produced by me, Joel Davis. Your feedback, criticisms, comments and guest suggestions are welcome. Reach me at [email protected]

Thanks for listening. We’ll see you back here for the next episode of the Boulder Tech Podcast.

This is one of 20 interviews recorded in a popup backroom studio at dojo4 during the 10th annual Boulder Startup Week. When it started in 2009, Boulder Startup Week was the first event of its kind, anywhere. Now, Startup Weeks are held around the world. It’s a great example of Boulder’s position on the leading edge of tech — and the future.

Our guest for Episode 46 is Lisa Buffo, Founder and CEO of the Cannabis Marketing Association, a Denver-based organization focused on education and best practices for cannabis industry communications professionals.

We cover a lot of ground, including:

• challenges to cannabis marketing, both legally and image-wise
• the restrictive laws around marketing and how they disrupt basic commerce as well as efforts to destigmatize the substance
• Colorado’s place in the pot pecking order now that legalization is spreading
• the often forgotten point that cannabis is, at its most basic, a source of joy

Follow the Cannabis Marketing Association on Twitter @CannaMarketing and LIsa @LiBuff21.

***

The Boulder Tech Podcast is made possible in part by Boulder StartUp Week platinum sponsors Honey, Matter and Zayo. 

We’re also supported by Glider, a Colorado-based Community movement and non-profit that produces Boulder’s Ignite and TedX events, as well as Boulder Startup Week. Learn more and consider a donation at glider.com

Thanks to dojo4 for providing space for our podcast studio, and to KGNU Community Radio for recording gear and studio usage.

Our intro music is by Eccodek. Hear more at eccodek.com (that’s E-c-c-o-d-e-k).

Our outro music is by EarthRise SoundSystem. You’ll find them at earthrisesoundsystem.com

The Boulder Tech Podcast is produced by me, Joel Davis. Your feedback, criticisms, comments and guest suggestions are welcome. Reach me at [email protected]

Thanks for listening. We’ll see you back here for the next episode of the Boulder Tech Podcast.