Founders In LA

Mike Chen of Cohere Commerce offers a deep dive into the intersection of retail and technology. As a former chef turned data scientist, Chen brings a unique perspective to the retail industry, emphasizing the importance of data in making informed buying and selling decisions.

He details the journey of creating a platform that not only facilitates smarter sourcing for retail buyers but also helps vendors showcase their market fit with solid data. Chen also opens up about the hurdles in traditional retail sourcing methods and how Cohere Commerce aims to streamline the process, bringing transparency and efficiency to the forefront.

This episode of Founders In LA paints a picture of a transformed industry where data-driven decisions lead to more robust business strategies and trusted brand relationships. Chen's story from the kitchen to coding captures the essence of innovative problem-solving in the entrepreneurial world.

"We didn't really understand how big the problem was until we really went live with the Fairmont hotel. And then after Techstars, we finished Los Angeles CleanTech Incubator, and they kept pushing us to go bigger and bigger. And it's, can we solve organics at a massive scale for massive businesses? So

In this episode of Founders in LA, Lee Robinson, CEO and founder of Dyrt returns to our podcast studio to provide an update on how he and his company have grown in the last 6 months.

Lee elaborates on how his company has transitioned from a small-scale waste collection to a larger operation focused on organic waste. He highlights Dyrt's groundbreaking methods for reducing waste in the food industry by implementing composting solutions that turn organic refuse into reusable compost.

Hear his challenges and triumphs encountered while scaling up, such as gaining acceptance within established businesses and strategizing the logistics of waste collection.

Finally, Lee outlines Dyrt's vision for creating a closed-loop system that contributes to environmental sustainability, particularly through innovative composting techniques that could revolutionize the management of organic waste in urban settings.

"Education is about inspiration, not memorization. Memorization is part of it but really to inspire students, professors need these insights and they need high-quality, engaging content"

In this episode of Founders in LA, Steven Walters, Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer at Breakout Learning, discusses the innovative approach of his AI-enabled educational publisher.

Breakout Learning focuses on engaging content and AI-powered small group discussions, aiming to revolutionize critical thinking and discussion in education.

Walters shares insights on how the company scales the Harkness method, using AI for moderation and assessment, and enhances the learning process by replacing traditional homework with dynamic, story-driven content.

He also reflects on his journey from a creative entrepreneur to an ed-tech innovator, and the unique challenges of merging storytelling, technology, and education.

"I always offer [prospective clients] to be their intern [for a day]. So if you want me to do work for you, I'm happy to do it. But what we are actually doing is just taking notes."

In this episode of Founders in LA, Dan Botero, CEO and Founder of inlike, shares his journey in revitalizing real estate development through technology. inlike is a groundbreaking project management platform tailored for small to medium real estate developers, blending AI and software engineering to enhance efficiency.

Dan discusses the platform's inception, its focus on a digitally adept new generation of developers, and its unique approach to integrating various project management aspects.

He emphasizes understanding customer needs, product-led growth, and future ambitions to become a comprehensive back-office solution for real estate developers, reflecting on the challenges and successes of innovating in a traditional industry.

"Every [banking] app is different, but they're all different in a similar way. So for us, it's actually to have that meta understanding of what an app is, and what needs to be modified and how, and that's what I think we've cracked in a pretty good way."

In this episode of the Founders in LA podcast, Jorge Garcia, CEO and Co-Founder of Linker Finance, shares his remarkable journey from Honduras to the US and his mission to revolutionize community banking.

Jorge discusses the importance of community banks in the American economy and how Linker's digital banking platform is empowering them to compete with larger institutions. He highlights their white-label solutions, low-code approach, and open ecosystem, enabling banks to provide efficient, modern services.

Join us for an insightful conversation about the future of banking and supporting small businesses with Jorge Garcia.

"Our objective is to add value to each phone call that is being made by a patient to a provider and even from a provider just trying to actually follow up with the patient."

In this episode of Founders In LA, Nyamitse-Calvin Mahinda, the CEO and co-founder of Vital Audio takes us into the world of healthcare technology, unveiling Vital Audio's innovative platform for capturing vital signs during routine patient-doctor phone calls.

He explains how this cutting-edge technology extracts crucial health data, including heart rate and lung capacity, using voice biomarkers. This revolutionary approach empowers physicians to remotely monitor patients, transforming the healthcare landscape.

Calvin discusses the value of data-driven, proactive care, highlighting Vital Audio's dedication to ongoing customer discovery and customized pricing models. Join us for an in-depth look at how Calvin Mahinda is shaping the future of healthcare technology with Vital Audio's pioneering solutions.

"The biggest thing for me, especially as a scientist, is trying to solve problems that have a high impact."

In this episode of Founders in LA, Patricia McNeill, the CEO and Co-Founder of Westwood Aerogel, shares her journey into the world of advanced manufacturing and aerogel production.

Westwood Aerogel specializes in creating the lightest and most insulating material on Earth, with applications ranging from aerospace to electric vehicle battery protection.

Patricia discusses the unique challenges and opportunities in this innovative field, emphasizing the importance of sustainability and green technologies.

She also highlights the serendipitous way she met her co-founder and the company's plans for scaling up production and addressing the evolving needs of various industries. This episode presents our fascinating conversation on her groundbreaking technology and entrepreneurial vision.

"You're meeting them where they are, you're speaking their language"

In this episode of Founders in LA, Noam Katz, Co-founder and CEO of ParentCubby describes ParentCubby as an innovative online service designed to foster connection between parents and children, especially in scenarios like post-divorce where parents live separately.

The platform offers secure, private virtual rooms for one-on-one interactions, utilizing multimedia rather than just text-based communication.

Katz emphasizes the platform’s unique focus on children's communication needs, recognizing that traditional video calls can be unnatural and challenging for kids and meeting them where they are at. ParentCubby addresses this by incorporating play into its design, informed by insights from child psychologists. The service allows asynchronous interaction, enabling parents and children to connect without the need for simultaneous online presence, making communication more flexible and natural.

Further discussing the platform’s potential, Katz shares how ParentCubby can be used in various scenarios, including by parents who travel frequently or even within the same household to engage with children on a different level. He also highlights the platform's potential as a digital time capsule, capturing precious moments and interactions over time.

Katz's journey to founding ParentCubby stemmed from his personal experience post-divorce, driving him to seek a better way to stay connected with his children. His background in startups and big tech, like Amazon, equipped him with the necessary skills and customer-focused approach to develop ParentCubby. The initial response from single parent communities on social media confirmed the demand for such a platform.

"Every time you're pushed against the wall what do you do? How do you get yourself out of it?"

Hamza Farooq's entrepreneurial spirit shines in this episode of Founders in LA. Starting from his passion for machine learning and AI, Hamza took a leap of faith, leaving Google to create Traversaal.ai.

His venture, born out of a personal project to find the best travel accommodations, evolved into a company that assists businesses in building large-scale LLM-powered applications. With no initial product but a clear vision, Hamza transformed challenges into opportunities, even turning potential investors into customers. He emphasizes the importance of founder-led sales, especially in the technical domain of LLMs.

Traversaal.ai, now a growing startup, is a testament to Hamza's resilience and innovative thinking, proving that when your back is against the wall, finding a door is key.

His journey, intertwined with teaching and a love for food, particularly LA's Armenian bakeries, adds a unique flavor to his story, showcasing the diverse inspirations behind entrepreneurial success.