Founders In LA

"We specialize in creating experiences that are immersive and spatial."

Jack Gerrard and Jake Sally of Jadu AR take us into the development of their groundbreaking augmented reality game on this episode of Founders In LA. They describe the innovative challenges and creative solutions involved in bringing a mobile AR fighting game to life.

Jack and Jake discuss their philosophy of creating immersive, spatial experiences that push the boundaries of traditional gaming, using augmented reality to enhance player interaction with their environment.

They also delve into the iterative process that shapes their design decisions, from avatar scale to gameplay dynamics, revealing how they balance technical limitations with user engagement.

Throughout our conversation, the duo highlight the potential of AR to transform not just gaming, but how we interact with the digital world. Tune in to discover the future of augmented reality through the eyes of two visionary builders.

"Customer feedback is gold. Whether it's good, bad, ugly- whatever the feedback is- that's gold."

We welcome back Sumeet Rana, the CEO and Founder of Prodhub.ai, in this episode of Founders In LA. Sumeet shares progress on prodhub.ai and how it has continued its mission to serve as a co-pilot for product managers, automating routine tasks to allow for the creation of superior products more efficiently.

Beyond merely speeding up product development processes, Prodhub has significantly broadened its scope to include strategic elements like product discovery and ideation tools, enabling product managers to explore new revenue opportunities and develop comprehensive business strategies.

Sumeet underscores the critical role of customer feedback in shaping the trajectory of Prodhub, detailing how insights gathered from hundreds of interviews have informed the platform’s development and helped pivot towards features that resonate deeply with users’ needs.

The discussion touches on the importance of genuine feedback over niceties, the strategic decision to offer a free plan for individuals, and the ongoing effort to demystify AI and data security concerns among their clientele.

The conversation also highlights the latest developments at Prodhub.ai, including the introduction of an Opportunity Dashboard designed to help Product Managers identify and prioritize the most valuable opportunities based on customer feedback and market data. Sumeet reveals plans for further innovation, with a focus on enterprise maturity and infrastructure improvements powered by Azure to ensure data security and build trust with large enterprise customers.

This episode not only showcases the impressive strides Prodhub has made under Sumeet Rana’s leadership but also offers valuable insights into the importance of customer feedback, the strategic application of AI in product management, and the challenges and opportunities of innovating in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.

"One of the biggest problems we see, at least on the physician side, is that any other kind of disease that you have, you always get a quantitative test. So if you have heart disease or high cholesterol, you get that blood panel back with concrete numbers on it. and if it's diabetes, it might be A1C, it might be glucose, but for musculoskeletal disorders, it's always in either an x-ray or an MRI, which is considered qualitative"

We sit down with Rebecca Zheng, the mind behind Calcu, a groundbreaking company at the forefront of medical device technology for musculoskeletal disorders in this episode of Founders In LA.

We uncover the inspiration behind Calcu's inception, driven by Rebecca's personal battle with a herniated disc and subsequent journey into wearable technology during her time at Georgia Tech.

Calcu’s mission is to transform the diagnosis and treatment of conditions like sciatica and knee pain through smart, sensor-based devices, providing real-time, actionable data outside the clinical setting.

This episode peels back the layers on the challenges of healthcare entrepreneurship, the pivot from a consumer-focused model to a medical-oriented approach, and the future of wearable technology in enhancing patient care.

Join us as Rebecca shares insights on the importance of quantitative data in musculoskeletal disorders, the potential to reduce reliance on surgery and medications, and her vision for integrating Calcu into the healthcare ecosystem.

"So now these humans, these agencies, are stuck with going with these other platforms that are available out there that are catering clearly saying we hate the middleman like you. And I'm like, what's going on here?"

In this episode, we're joined by Julio Chaves, the visionary founder and CEO of XrossWorld, a pioneering platform revolutionizing influencer marketing in this episode of Founders in LA. 

Julio takes us into the fascinating journey of XrossWorld, sharing how they leverage artificial intelligence to empower advertising agencies and streamline influencer campaigns.

With a refreshing perspective on the role of middlemen in the digital era, Julio argues for the value of human connection in marketing, challenging conventional industry wisdom. He sheds light on the challenges facing influencers and creators, including the lack of standardized monetization and the complexities of brand collaborations.

Julio's story is a testament to the power of curiosity, resilience, and a deep passion for creating meaningful connections in a digital world. This episode of Founders In LA offers invaluable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs, content creators, and anyone interested in the evolving landscape of digital marketing and influencer relations.

"In Uruguay, we are used to going against the odds."

In this episode, we welcome Hilario Canessa, the visionary Founder of Studio4D to Los Angeles. Canessa brings us with him into the world of digital twins for urban planning, a concept that merges cutting-edge video game technology with the complexities of city development.

He shares how his company uses immersive environments to simulate future urban landscapes, enabling stakeholders to make informed decisions. By providing unmatched accessibility to the designs, in an intuitive, hyper-realistic video-game-like experience, Studio 4D allows a broad range of personas (inspectors and contractors to city planners and real estate developers) to easily understand complex aspects of urban planning like the resultant shadows throughout the day or even the type of vegetation that will be incorporated into the project.

Canessa's unique journey from an architecture student in Uruguay to pioneering the use of video game technology for urban planning reveals the innovative intersections between gaming, architecture, and urban development. His insights into the challenges and opportunities of virtual reality and the potential future of digital urban planning make this episode of Founders In LA a must-listen for tech enthusiasts and urban planners alike.

"We think it is unethical and broken for tech companies to steal people's copyrighted artwork and train models and derive value from it without permission and without compensation."

In this episode of Founders in LA, Matthew Adell, Co-Founder and COO of SOMMS.AI, we dive into the intersection of generative AI and the music industry, focusing on ethical practices and artist compensation.

Matthew criticizes big tech for exploiting artists' copyrighted work without permission or fair compensation, highlighting the detrimental impact on the music ecosystem. He advocates for a new approach where artists retain control over their work and are adequately compensated.SOMMS.AI offers solutions that emphasize attribution and rights management, allowing artists and rights holders to navigate the digital landscape more effectively.

His insights offer a fresh perspective on the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in the music industry, advocating for a future where technology supports rather than undermines creative professionals.

"Humans are really good at workarounds. We have finite brain capacity and the flood of information that's coming in, especially with Gen AI, can't be processed by humans."

In this episode, Jon Lemelman Founder and CEO of Classify, showcases its role as a beacon in the realm of personal productivity tools. Classify is not just another app—it's a groundbreaking platform designed to address the modern dilemma of information overload through its innovative use of AI-based workflows. 

The workflows are meticulously crafted to automate routine tasks, including the dynamic preparation for meetings, thus ensuring users are always a step ahead.Jon elaborates on the thoughtful integration of features aimed at users with ADHD, making productivity accessible to a broader audience. He shares the startup's journey, emphasizing the importance of a user-centric approach in design and functionality, and Classify's commitment to transforming our digital interactions into a more manageable, efficient, and less overwhelming experience.

This episode of Founders In LA reveals the exciting trajectory of Classify, from its inception to its mission to redefine personal organization through technology, making it a must-listen for anyone intrigued by the future of work and digital well-being.

"We solve the problem of knowledge walking out the door when someone retires or changes jobs, and we elevate everyone to the level of a star performer"

In this Founders in LA podcast episode, Joe Rogers, CEO of Workdone.ai, shares his entrepreneurial journey from consulting to creating an innovative AI platform that captures and automates corporate knowledge.

Joe discusses how Workdone.ai prevents knowledge loss due to employee turnover, ensuring all team members perform at their highest capability. He emphasizes the significance of adaptability in entrepreneurship, the impact of accelerator programs, and strategies for acquiring initial customers.

His insights offer valuable lessons on leveraging AI for business efficiency and navigating the challenges of building a startup.

"How do you make [athletes] reach their best performance without injuring them? That's it. That's the equation we're trying to solve."

In this episode of Founders in LA, Luca Buratto and Ahmed Issaoui introduce Lubu. This innovative startup is redefining the landscape of sports and healthcare with its smart orthotics designed to elevate athletic performance while minimizing the risk of injury.

Embedded with advanced sensors, Lubu's orthotics meticulously analyze foot dynamics and body forces in real-time, offering unprecedented insights into movement patterns and biomechanical data previously available only in high-end research labs.

Luca and Ahmed, both athletes turned entrepreneurs, share their transformative journey from experiencing firsthand the challenges of sports injuries to pioneering a solution that bridges the gap between technology and wellness.A groundbreaking venture transforming athletic performance and injury prevention with smart orthotics. These devices, embedded with sensors, analyze foot movement and body force, providing insights for risk assessment and decision-making.

The duo's journey from athletes to innovators is showcased, highlighting Lubu's mission to make elite lab analysis accessible to all. They discuss their vision for Lubu's impact on sports, healthcare, and beyond, emphasizing the potential for early detection of neurological conditions.

They discuss Lubu's broader mission to democratize access to elite sports science, enhancing not just athlete performance but also offering potential early detection of various neurological conditions through gait analysis.

This episode not only highlights Lubu's technological breakthroughs but also illuminates the founders' dedication to improving health outcomes and the quality of life through innovation. Join us to explore how Lubu is setting new standards in preventive healthcare and performance optimization.