Founders Future

In this compelling episode of "Founders, Future," host Laura Skinner sits down with Tanuj Sharma, the founder and CEO of Kana Health. Tanuj shares his inspiring journey from the tech industry to launching a startup focused on mental health, a cause he and his co-founder are passionate about. With over 23 years of experience in technology, Tanuj reveals the pivotal moment that led them to leave their secure jobs to tackle a monumental global issue: mental health among the younger generation.

Tanuj explains the alarming statistics surrounding mental health disorders, noting that 50 to 75% of issues develop between the ages of 14 and 24. With this knowledge, he and his team at Kana Health are dedicated to making a meaningful impact in this critical area. The episode explores how they leverage technology to create solutions that can prevent future crises and support mental well-being in youth.

Listeners will gain insights into the challenges of launching a startup, the importance of having a clear mission, and the innovative strategies Tanuj employs to drive Kana Health's growth. This episode is a heartfelt reminder of the power of entrepreneurship to address pressing societal issues, and it leaves us with a sense of hope for the future of mental health care.

In this enlightening episode of "Founders, Future," host Laura Skinner welcomes Gorish Agarwal, the innovative CEO of Sybil. Gorish shares the inspiring story behind the founding of Sybil, a company dedicated to enhancing communication in the era of remote work. 

Starting from his experience as a lecturer at Stanford, Gorish recounts the challenges he faced when transitioning to online teaching during the pandemic. He realized the difficulty of engaging with students through a screen without the benefit of non-verbal cues. This led to the initial concept of Sybil—a "Mind Reader" for Zoom, designed to interpret body language and facial expressions in real-time, providing valuable feedback to presenters.

As the conversation unfolds, Gorish explains how Sybil evolved from a tool for educators to a comprehensive co-pilot for sales teams. He highlights the significant amount of time sales professionals spend on administrative tasks, which detracts from their core selling activities. Sybil aims to automate these processes, allowing sellers to focus on what really matters: building relationships and closing deals.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into the entrepreneurial journey, the importance of adaptability, and the future of AI in enhancing productivity. This episode serves as a testament to the power of innovation in addressing real-world challenges, offering hope and strategies for entrepreneurs navigating similar paths.

In this episode of *Founders Future* by Closest.io, host Laura Skinner interviews Andre, CEO and founder of Trust Tech, a crypto infrastructure company. Andre shares his entrepreneurial journey and the origins of Trust Tech, a company that provides backend infrastructure through APIs to support businesses in offering crypto services like custody, trading, and payments to their clients. Trust Tech aims to bridge the gap in the market for companies needing seamless, scalable crypto solutions, with a focus on financial institutions.

Andre discusses the challenges of long sales cycles when working with banks and credit unions and describes how his team mitigated this by creating a retail-facing solution on Telegram, called “Ramp Me Daddy,” to facilitate crypto transactions. This project, born from a hackathon, gained popularity and provided valuable insights that accelerated product development. Andre emphasizes the importance of going all-in for startup success, sharing advice for founders on committing fully to their ventures.

In this episode of *Founders, Future*, host Laura Skinner sits down with Olga Topchaya, the CEO and co-founder of Lapis AI Consults, to explore her entrepreneurial journey and the innovative solutions her company provides. As a full-service AI consultancy, Lapis AI Consults specializes in helping businesses ideate and develop custom AI solutions tailored to their unique needs.

Olga shares the inspiration behind her venture, which emerged during a challenging time in the tech industry. After facing job loss during her parental leave, she took the opportunity to delve into the world of artificial intelligence, particularly fascinated by the potential of AI models like GPT-3. Through her exploration, Olga discovered a passion for bridging the gap between AI technology and business outcomes, emphasizing the importance of understanding clients' goals before delivering solutions.

Listeners will gain insight into the challenges Olga encountered while starting her business, her approach to collaboration with clients, and her vision for the future of AI in various industries. This episode highlights the transformative power of AI and the entrepreneurial spirit that drives innovation in today’s marketplace. Join us for an engaging conversation that delves into the intersection of technology, creativity, and problem-solving in the world of startups.

In this episode of "Founders, Future," host Laura Skinner interviews Artem Gladkikh, the founder and CEO of Signum AI. Artem shares his entrepreneurial journey, which includes over a decade of experience in developing digital products across the U.S. and U.K. He recounts his early career, highlighting the sale of one of his startups at just 24 years old and his subsequent investment in creating Signum AI.

Signum AI is a platform designed to automate the monitoring of key events related to current and potential clients, focusing on intent data. Artem explains how the platform helps businesses identify optimal outreach moments, thereby enhancing the efficiency of their marketing campaigns. He emphasizes the value of the service in reducing costs associated with launching outreach efforts.

The conversation delves into Artem's strategic approach to selling in the competitive landscape, particularly through marketplaces like AppSumo, which he believes is an effective channel for SaaS companies. He also discusses the importance of content creation and outreach in maintaining client engagement, especially in challenging market conditions.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into the dynamics of startup growth, the use of technology in client relations, and the importance of adaptability in marketing strategies. Artem's story is one of innovation, resilience, and a forward-looking vision for the future of his company and the industry.

In this episode of "Founders, Future," host Laura Skinner welcomes Doug Newell, the founder and CEO of Swarm Analytics, to share his entrepreneurial journey and insights on the application of artificial intelligence in the real estate sector. The conversation opens with Doug reflecting on his extensive background as a serial entrepreneur, having started seven companies and experienced both successes and failures along the way. 

Doug takes listeners back to his early career, where he began working with big data in the 1980s while developing a sales and marketing information system for Cadbury. With 40 years of experience in the field, he discusses how his current venture leverages vast datasets—over 16,000 data points for each of the approximately 115 million dwellings in the U.S.—to identify patterns and drive innovation in real estate.

The episode emphasizes the expansive potential of artificial intelligence in the $8 trillion real estate market, which remains largely untapped due to its fragmentation. Doug highlights the challenges this presents and shares his vision for integrating AI into this sector to enhance efficiency and decision-making. 

Listeners can expect a blend of personal anecdotes, industry insights, and strategic perspectives that underscore the transformative power of technology in business.

In this episode of *Founders Future*, Laura Skinner interviews Jessi Roesch, co-founder of Downland, a platform dedicated to connecting aspiring farmers with landowners to promote sustainable land stewardship. Jessi shares her journey from a background in commercial lending and marketplace development to co-founding Downland, inspired by her passion for regenerative agriculture. She discusses Downland’s mission to help young farmers access land and support aging landowners in planning for their land’s future. Jessi explains her approach to building trust with clients, utilizing network effects, and partnering with agricultural organizations to expand Downland’s impact. She also reflects on her transition to entrepreneurship and how she aligns personal values with professional goals. This episode offers a fresh look at how technology can support sustainable farming and foster the next generation of land stewards.

In this engaging episode of "Founders, Future," host Laura Skinner welcomes Cindy Lake, co-founder of Blank Page, to share her entrepreneurial journey and insights into the challenges and successes faced along the way. 

Cindy begins by reflecting on her career path, detailing how her experiences at Intuit led her to realize that she was not fulfilling her core purpose. This realization prompted her to leave the corporate world and eventually inspired her to start Blank Page, a venture aimed at helping individuals and teams accelerate their growth and enhance their impact.

Throughout the conversation, Cindy elaborates on the various solutions Blank Page offers, which range from coaching and mentoring at the individual level to fostering high-performance teams and shaping organizational culture. She emphasizes the importance of creating conditions for people to excel in their work, highlighting her passion for adding value in meaningful ways.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into the entrepreneurial mindset, the significance of aligning personal passion with professional endeavors, and the diverse methodologies that can drive growth and performance in organizations. Join Laura and Cindy for an inspiring discussion that sheds light on the entrepreneurial journey and the future of innovative startups.

In this episode of *Founders Future*, Laura Skinner interviews Ernest, CEO of Metro Blocks, a company focused on data center development tailored to meet the needs of enterprise customers in urban areas. Ernest shares his journey from a traditional engineering background to founding Metro Blocks, driven by a passion for innovation and a desire to fill the gap for midsize data centers. He discusses the company’s mission to serve underserved enterprise clients with 15-50 megawatt facilities, distinguishing Metro Blocks from competitors that focus on much larger developments. Ernest delves into his team’s rapid progress, securing seven sites within four months of launching, and the challenges of balancing growth with cash flow management. The episode offers a glimpse into the data center industry, Metro Blocks’ scaling strategy, and Ernest’s insights on resilience and navigating the risks of entrepreneurship.

In this episode of *Founders, Future*, host Laura Skinner welcomes Kathy Minter, the CEO and co-founder of Wisdom, to share her inspiring journey as an entrepreneur. Kathy, with 25 years of experience in software and enterprise tech, reveals the personal motivations that led her to create a transformative smart home system for older adults.

Kathy's story is rooted in a profound family experience: after the sudden passing of her father during the pandemic, she became increasingly concerned about her mother’s well-being while living alone. This concern prompted her to explore the market and address the significant digital divide affecting older generations. Kathy recognized that while technology could greatly benefit these individuals, it often remained inaccessible and complicated for them to use.

Wisdom was born from a desire to empower older adults to stay in their homes comfortably and safely. With a focus on the growing population of seniors—expected to reach 70 million by 2030—Kathy explains how her company's smart home solutions are designed to meet the unique needs of this demographic, enabling them to live independently and with dignity.

Join us as Kathy discusses the challenges she faced in her entrepreneurial journey, her vision for the future of Wisdom, and how she aims to bridge the gap between technology and the aging population. This episode is a testament to the power of innovation driven by personal experience and a commitment to making a difference in people's lives.