In this episode of Before IT Happened, our host Donna Loughlin tells the story of Andy Lowery, a pioneer in the development of wearable technology. Andy’s story begins as a gifted child who joined the Navy, became an engineer, and went out to the world of tech entrepreneurship. Realware, the brand he co-founded, is now the industry leader for powerful, voice-operated headset computers, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Tune in to learn how Andy built this successful brand by observing and iterating on other tech companies’ mistakes.

Before any world-changing innovation, there was a moment, an event, a realization that sparked the idea before it happened. This is a podcast about that moment — about that idea. Before IT Happened takes you on a journey with the innovators who imagined — and are still imagining — our future. Join host Donna Loughlin as her guests tell their stories of how they brought their visions to life.  

JUMP STRAIGHT INTO:

(01:49) - Andy Lowery, a gifted child who joined the US military - “I had all this built up momentum and all this passion. I was super happy about being a Marine and fighting dragons.” 

(07:27) - Becoming an engineer for the Navy in the “.com” boom - “I really was trying to get through college quickly, get my military obligation out of the way so I could go be an entrepreneur.”

(11:56) - Military and corporate life vs. Andy’s entrepreneurial spirit - “Even in a huge socialistic structure like the military, you can still have entrepreneurial feelings and adventures.”

(17:08) - Andy’s avant-garde tech company, DAQRI - “We built some of the craziest, most outlandish platforms and products and things that were way ahead of their time.”

(21:14) - Realware: Jumping the line in the wearable technology space - “If I just fix the problems I saw Google Glass was having, I think I'm onto something. I think there's a real demand for it.”

(26:59) - How to get 50+ paying customers with a beta product? Plus, the unbelievable Alexander Rainsberger - “Our summit was incredible! It was unheard of to have such a well-run and well-attended event.”

(32:30) - How the pandemic boosted Realware - “COVID changed that because travel went to zero. They had to put a computer that you could wear on an airplane so that they could then transmit back what they were seeing to someone who knew how to fix it.”

(35:19) - Mission accomplished?: Why Andy left for Harvest Technology Group - “I wanted to go places with Realware that cellphones don't typically go. But I realized there was a major problem, connectivity.”

EPISODE RESOURCES:

Connect with Andy Lowery through Twitter and LinkedIn

Read GeekWire’s Geek of the Week: After years as Navy nuke officer, RealWear CEO Andy Lowery finds a new connection

Watch Andy speak at the second RealWear Summit

Watch the SNL Google Glass Weekend Update

Learn more about Harvest’s Industrial Grade Connectivity

See RealWear’s Hands-Free Wearable Headset Computers  

Learn more about Apogee Semiconductor

Before IT Happened is produced by Donna Loughlin and