Pioneers

Most innovations in the jet engine industry are focused on major parts such as the combustor and the turbine. However, there are other critical parts that play a major role in managing its performance, efficiency, and cost. One of those critical parts that have been a focus of innovation for a vibrant startup is the engine lubrication system. 

Today, I’m talking to the two co-founders of Zulu Pods, Inc - Robert Sladen, the company’s Chairman and CEO, and Daniella Sladen, the company’s CTO. They’ll help us understand how their innovative product works and the progress that they have made so far.

In this episode, you’ll learn about Zulu Pods and the impact that they expect to make in the jet engine industry. We’ll discuss how they came up with the idea for their product as well as how Siemens NX has helped them in their project so far. Lastly, you’ll hear more about the company’s future goals and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.

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Connect with Daniella Sladen:

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Website

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Website

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The dream of going to space and experiencing zero gravity has only been realized by a handful of people. Commercial space flights are seeking to change this by creating a space tourism industry that will make it possible for more people to go past the edge of the earth. Currently, companies that are heavily invested in the industry compete on how far you can go, the quality of the experience, and the cost of getting there.

Today, I’m talking to Taber MacCallum, co-founder, and co-CEO of Space Perspective, a human spaceflight company planning to take people and payloads to the edge of space by balloon. He was also a founding member of the Biosphere 2 design, development, test, and operations team as well as a crew member in the first two-year mission.

In this episode, you’ll hear about the goals of Space Perspective and the achievements that they’ve had so far. You’ll also learn about the spacecraft Neptune and what it’ll take to be on the initial commercial trips to space. We also discuss the role that Siemens plays in helping companies create digital designs and perform well-rounded simulations.

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What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Connect with Taber MacCallum:

LinkedIn

Space Perspective

Connect with Paul Musto:

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Being dominant in a market full of alternatives requires entrepreneurs who’ll go above and beyond to meet their customers’ needs. Companies that thrive in such environments leverage their passion to understand and solve problems faced by their products’ end users.

Today, I’m speaking to Kelly McGee, the co-founder and current engineering and design VP of Elevate Dynamics, a healthcare product company that builds ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) to help people suffering from foot drop. 

In today’s episode, you’ll learn about their AFO product and the problem it solves for its users. We’ll dive into the challenges that are faced by startups and how to overcome some of them. You’ll also hear more about the importance of market research and the role that data plays in product development.

Join us as we discuss how Elevate Dynamics successfully combined hard work and passion to build a successful product.

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What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Resources:

ElevateMovement

Siemens Startups Software

Connect with Kelly McGee:

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Connect with Paul Musto:

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Big sweeping changes are hard to come by when it comes to environmental preservation. They also take a long time to settle into place. So, perhaps the real sustainability changes we’re seeking are those that come in smaller packages. It’s the less disruptive and more easily implemented solutions that are filling in the gaps, and those small efforts can add up quickly. 

Today, I’m talking to Spencer Maynes, a Kansas City based inventor and data scientist working to reduce energy consumption in the transportation industry. He’s the CEO of Deflect, LLC, a company that’s introduced a system called RoofRider, a unique product that significantly improves the aerodynamics for transportation and passenger trains. We’ll also hear from the company CTO, Adrian Villar. 

In this episode, you’ll learn how this deflector technology helps reduce drag in the inter-car gap, and how Deflect, LLC came up with such a unique solution to a long-known fuel efficiency problem in the rail industry. We’ll discuss the importance of testing and simulation, and how Siemens NX is helping throughout the design process. Finally, you’ll hear about the challenges they experienced and the support they benefited from as they launched the company, and the process of bringing their technology closer to market. 

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Resources:

RoofRider

Connect with Spencer Maynes:

LinkedIn

Connect with Adrian Villar:

LinkedIn

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When it comes to getting an aircraft off the ground, it’s no longer a question of “if” it will fly. We’ve moved into the era of “how”- and the emphasis today is on efficiency. This encompasses energy consumption, endurance, speed, and overall performance. Today, we’re looking into the future of turbine engines and exploring what lies just beyond the horizon of existing technology. We’re looking towards what’s next. 

Today, I’m talking to Roger Smith and David Laudermilch of Sierra Turbines. Roger started as a software engineer for Apple nearly 20 years ago, and today, he’s the CEO of this innovative California company. David is a Design Engineer with previous experience working with companies like Saab and Rolls Royce. Together, they’ve taken their experience working for industry leaders in software and transportation and turned towards the production of gas microturbines. 

In this episode, you’ll hear how each of their rather unique career trajectories eventually led them to this Silicon Valley startup. We’ll talk about the early challenges of getting a microturbine company off the ground, the technologies that merge in order to create their products, and the interesting work they're doing in collaboration with NASA. 

Some Questions I Ask:

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Resources:

Sierra Turbines

Connect with Roger Smith:

LinkedIn

Connect with David Laudermilch:

LinkedIn

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LinkedIn

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The satellite business is growing rapidly as space technology and technology here on Earth advances. Whether it’s for navigation purposes or wifi accessibility, more and more satellites of all sizes and purposes are being launched into the great beyond. But, before they can fulfill their purpose, they have to hitch a ride to space. 

My guest today is Dean Massey, Director of Research at Apollo Fusion, Inc. This California-based company is developing exciting new forms of propulsion for space satellites. In this rapidly growing industry, Apollo stands out because of their unique focus on the smaller satellite market. Their journey into space began in 2016 with fusion, and soon after transformed into propulsion as the market began to develop and show promise.

In this episode, you’ll hear about the early days of this space-age startup, and more about the overall history of space satellites. We’ll talk about how the propulsion system functions as it simultaneously launches hundreds of small satellites, and the simulation aspects of recreating a space-like environment. You’ll also learn about the challenges they’ve faced as a startup in the space industry, and how they’ve surpassed them as they gear up for their first launch. 

Some Questions I Ask:

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Resources:

Apollo Fusion

Connect with Dean Massey:

LinkedIn

Connect with Paul Musto:

LinkedIn

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How many times have you ordered something online, and received a box 4x the size of the product inside? Aside from the confusion as to why, we’re all left with the sentiment of how wasteful it is. Well, there’s one company out there working to change that. 

Throughout the pandemic, e-commerce has taken off astronomically. That means the demand for smart and efficient air cargo solutions is on the rise. 

My guest today is Aleksey Matyushev from Natilus Corporation, a California based startup working on creating autonomous drone aircraft. Their goal is to reduce the cost of airfreight by 50% through thoughtful design and a smarter use of space.  

In this episode, Aleksey talks about how he pivoted from industrial design to entrepreneurship and shares details about the autonomous aircraft being produced by Natilus. He also shares valuable insight about the inner workings of Silicon Valley, and why aspiring entrepreneurs don’t necessarily need to flock there in order to find success.  

Some Questions I Ask:

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Resources:

Natilus

Siemens Startups Program: from idea to market leader with the right tools

Connect with Aleksey Matyushev:

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If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to jump off of a mountain and glide uninhibited across the sky, today’s guest is bringing you one step closer to that reality. He believes that the current transportation options available limit our movement by confining us to land. Why drive when we could be flying?

My guest today is Ephi Blanshey. He’s the younger half of the father and son duo behind Blanshey Aviation. They’re currently designing an electric propulsion system to improve the experience of lightweight flying for hang gliding machines. 

In today’s episode, we’ll learn about the origins of these design ideas that originated with Ephi’s father, Vladimir. We’ll also talk about the reasons they’ve moved away from a combustion engine model, and how the newer electric engines benefit the design. 

Ephi tells us about their CAD design and 3D printing tools, and names some of the helpful forums he’s found for anyone out there interested in using Solid Edge. Are you ready to take to the skies and enter the next generation of mobility? 

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Resources:

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The difference between starting a company 20+ years ago and starting one today is the accessibility of resources. When resources become more available, the competition grows. Great innovation needs professional nurturing in order to gain the competitive edge needed to survive in today’s startup environment. 

Startup incubator spaces have answered this call for countless companies. They provide resources and professional expertise related to scaling a small business to companies at various stages of growth.

In today’s episode, we're talking to Osh Momoh and Jesika Briones from the leadership team at MaRS. This Toronto-based incubator provides support and services to over 1,200 startup companies. They provide Canadian science and tech companies with tailored resources through the startup stages, focusing on health, cleantech, FinTech, financial, and enterprise. 

MaRS has been helping startups get off the ground for 15 years, and they’re only seeing interest grow. They also offer a dedicated Autonomous program for startups in that realm, so we’ll dive into how that works as well. 

Some Questions I Ask:

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Resources:

MaRS

Ecopia AI

Automated Vehicle Transparency and Engagement for Safe Testing Initiative

Siemens Startups Program: from idea to market leader with the right tools

Connect with Osh Momoh:

LinkedIn

Connect with Jesika Briones:

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Connect with Paul Musto:

LinkedIn

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We’re living in a time when space is becoming more accessible every day. Satellite technology is growing, and savvy entrepreneurs are leading the way forward. 

My guest today is Jakub Kapuš, Founder and CTO of Spacemanic. Headquartered in Slovakia, they are a small satellite mission integrator focused on delivering flight proven innovative and reliable nanosatellite solutions, platforms, components and services to customers. Their capabilities span from the design phase, through development, testing, and licensing, and go all the way through to launch. 

In this episode, Jakub shares the story of building his first satellite from the confines of a small bathroom, eventually reaching the infinite orbit of space. We’ll discuss how nanosatellites have changed the industry, making the possibilities more affordable. We’ll also talk about the unique challenges of the startup in terms of hardware, software, government regulations, and learn how he ultimately launched this satellite concept into the world. 

If you’re an early-stage startup in business for less than three years, you can now apply to get Solid Edge product development software for free, with no application fee. The Solid Edge for Startups program provides eligible startups with free access to a complete product development solution, including CAD, CAM, and CAE software. Go to www.siemens.com/startups

Some Questions I Ask:

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Connect with Jakub Kapuš:

Connect with John Fox: 

Resources:

• Spacemanic

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