In this episode of the In Query, we discuss windsurfing, engineering and autonomous vehicles with David Hayes. David is the CEO and founder of AVO, the autonomous vehicle organization, a Toronto-based startup. AVO is building the world's first fully connected and autonomous construction site. David competed in the world cup in the Olympic windsurfing discipline for 8 years, he placed top 5 at the Miami World Cup and won a world championship in 2005. Additionally, he built an international team of elite athletes, trainers, and coaches who pushed the limits for sports science and performance on the water. Currently based in Toronto, David and his team at AVO are building a truly innovative technology company with a focus on the autonomous vehicle industry, specifically in the vehicle-to-pedestrian segment. AVO intends to increase security and safety within the industry by developing reliable, intuitive, and scalable V2P technology.

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This episode is part of our new #TechFromSquareOne focus series where we interview people from various startups around the country. 

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David's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-k-hayes/

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Timestamps

0:00 - Intro & Background

AVO - Autonomous Vehicle Organization

2:40 - About the company

4:21 - What was the first thing that got you interested in technology?

5:56 - Out of everything you have done, what interests you the most?

University at Queens

7:05 - Experience at Queens University

14:29 - How did windsurfing and being an engineer affect your career?

18:34 - Where did you head after graduation?

Career

24:10 - Where did you head after working for Cisco?

31:30 - What were some initial failures you faced when starting AVO?

35:57 - How did you find others who were interested in autonomous vehicles?

38:17 - Where are you now with AVO?

41:09 - How did the pandemic impact AVO?

45:40 - What is it like in the autonomous vehicle industry?

47:55 - Any other trends in the technology industry?

50:02 - What is one piece of advice you would give to your younger self?

52:59 - Any advice for upcoming entrepreneurs who are looking to start in the tech space?

54:21 - Outro & Ending Remarks