Innova802

We spoke with Burlington, VT's Bryn Loftness, Co-Founder and CEO of Biobe. Their startup, currently focused on non-dilutive funding, intends to help one million children by 2030. They provide early detection technology and an emotional regulation toolkit to the children's mental health ecosystem.

Bryn is by her own definition a storyteller, and the Innova802 crew found she is telling a compelling story we should all be listening in on.

Like many startups in Vermont she has participated in LaunchVT. The accelerator has a cohort reveal mixer scheduled for April 2, 2025.

Listen to the 2024 interview between Scott Graves & LaunchVT's Lauren Bass on the 'Are We Here Yet?' Podcast.

The latest form the Innova802 Crew brought Jerry Carter, partner in Burlington, VT's Moody Advisors into the virtual studio this month to talk about the current trends we're experiencing inside and outside of venture-capital for Vermont's rural startups. We spoke about the changing market for venture-backed companies in the Green Mountain State. WHat sectors are getting the most attention from funders? What can founders expect for terms? What can we do to expand or improve the current conditions? Stay tuned for an exciting look at what's possible here in the 802.

Meagan Downey is founder of Vermont-based ShikiWrap.com, a successful and maturing startup providing reusable gift wrap and bags, combining a consumer product with a mission-driven strategy. This experience coupled with Meagan's earlier work in mission-driven fundraising gave her the experience and perspective that drives her newest endeavor the Compound Fund. 'Non-profit is a tax status not a business strategy' resonated tenfold with the Innova802 crew. And Meagan is adept at using existing financial tools in noble ways to generate success. In this episode we discussed Meagan's founder experience and she takes us into her philosophy for stewarding new business and driving the boat on funding a business. If you're searching for perspective and tactical considerations for your own founders journey, please listen in.

We offer you the second part of our interview with founder Darren Mark and COO Mike Walton of Humnet.live

You've heard the Innova802 crew speak to the idea that we give too much credence to the tech around our daily lives, surrendering a lot of our agency over how we control the use of tech for good, rather than engaging with it in truly useful and healthy ways. Often, it may be better if we turned the devices off and speak the truth TO one another, ending the isolation we feel which can lead to any number of negative consequences to society.

But what if someone turned that idea on its head to the benefit of people? What if focused at least in part on a way to make the tech work better for us in keeping people connected.

Our guests for a two part podcast are working this right here, right now. Darren Mark is the founder of humnet.live. We spoke with Darren and COO and mentor Matt Walton about the path to building and funding humnet.live. We spoke to the need for human connection and the consequences we're experiencing due to increased isolation.

It came to no surprise to some of the Innova802 crew Darren's background as an artist, a writer for the screen. For it is the artists that lead us into new territory, that address the most human and essential within us. Asking the tough questions fearlessly.

We hope you enjoy!

You've heard the Innova802 crew speak to the idea that we give too much credence to the tech around our daily lives, surrendering a lot of our agency over how we control the use of tech for good, rather than engaging with it in truly useful and healthy ways. Often, it may be better if we turned the devices off and speak the truth TO one another, ending the isolation we feel which can lead to any number of negative consequences to society.

But what if someone turned that idea on its head to the benefit of people? What if focused at least in part on a way to make the tech work better for us in keeping people connected.

Our guests for a two part podcast are working this right here, right now. Darren Mark is the founder of humnet.live. We spoke with Darren and COO and mentor Matt Walton about the path to building and funding humnet.live. We spoke to the need for human connection and the consequences we're experiencing due to increased isolation.

It came to no surprise to some of the Innova802 crew Darren's background as an artist, a writer for the screen. For it is the artists that lead us into new territory, that address the most human and essential within us. Asking the tough questions fearlessly.

We hope you enjoy!

Hosts Ryan Munn and Scott Graves are joined by Justin Loranger of web3iam in what we're sure you'll find to be an excellent primer on why blockchain is the key to transforming crypto into accepted currency, offering security and stability. Why should you anticipate the value of your name and that of your company in the digital realm? Lots to learn for building our rural economies (you don't need to be in a city to leverage this tech to your benefit). In collaboration with Interchain Live and M the Media Project.

2025: Where Do We Go From Here?

The Innova802 Crew discuss their thoughts on 2024, the year that was and pontificate on 2025, a year already flooding the airwaves with contentious tech policy maneuvers, authoritarianism, crypto making headlines….tech is at the top of virtually every news cycle and the Innova802 crew is there to let you know how it affects our Vermont rural tech environment.

UVM student leader Henrik Van Tassel shares what projects are developing in the University's Open Source Community including the Vermont Complex Systems Institute, the CS Crew student club and VERSO. You may remember the latter organization's Director Kendall Fortney making an appearance in Season II of the Innova802 podcast.

It's a new legislative cycle in the state of Vermont. Co-host Scott Graves participated along with other leaders including Attorney General Charity Clark on Monday January 27 in support of State Rep. Monique Priestley's efforts to pass data privacy legislation for Vermont.

Innova802 shorts are a mid-week look at current events in rural tech. Find our Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@interchainlive

We're diving into Blockchain and Crypto as the new year comes into being. Innova802 co-host Ryan Munn is no stranger to how blockchain could transform the way we think of and transact money. But our society has placed some significant barriers to accepting blockchain. Why is this so? Are we advocating for a bunch of cavalier tech-bros and their ponzi schemes or is there more substance to the idea that blockchain could create a more robust and secure financial environment for all of us.

In Part II co-hosts Ryn Munn and Scott Graves discuss the technical side of blockchain and how it can be a benefit to stabilizing transactions while decentralizing the power behind our money and making investments.

This is an ongoing study of blockchain and crypto currency, a collaborative project of Interchain Live & SMGraves Associates

Click for Youtube Live: Interchain Live PodcastSponsored by Vermont Tech Alliance(VTTA) & Black River Innovation Campus(BRIC)