This week on Tech Can't Save Us, host Paul David is joined by Chloe Coleman, Co-Founder & CEO of Vouchsafe, an inclusive identity verification platform tackling the global challenge of ID poverty through innovative approaches like biometric vouching.

They discuss the staggering reality that 1.1 billion people worldwide lack access to proper identification, including 11 million people in the UK who don't have a passport or driving licence. Chloe explains how this creates barriers to essential services like banking, healthcare, and housing, and why the increasing digitisation of services has made the problem even more acute.

Find more about Vouchsafe here: https://www.vouchsafe.id/ 

Follow Chloe Coleman here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloe-coleman/

This week on Tech Can't Save Us, host Paul David is joined by Amanda Bickerstaff, Founder and CEO of AI for Education. 

They discuss how Amanda is helping bridge the growing divide between schools that are embracing AI and those that are restricting it entirely.

Amanda, a former high school biology teacher, shares her journey from the classroom to founding a company that has partnered with more than 150 academic institutions since April 2023. The conversation explores common misconceptions about AI in education and Amanda's hands-on approach to AI literacy training.

They also cover Amanda's ambitious goal of supporting 1 million educators and the challenges of scaling from a first workshop to training thousands weekly.

Find more about AI for Education here: https://www.aiforeducation.io/

 Follow Amanda Bickerstaff here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-bickerstaff-edu/

This week on Tech Can't Save Us, host Paul David is joined by Matej Svancer, Founder & CEO of Openvibe, a platform that's bringing together the fragmented world of decentralised social media into one unified experience.

They discuss how Openvibe connects platforms like Mastodon, BlueSky, Threads, and Nostr, allowing users to manage all their social networks from a single app. Matej explains why decentralisation is becoming crucial as people wake up to the risks of centralised platforms, from algorithm manipulation to content suppression.

The conversation covers Openvibe's impressive growth to 80,000 downloads, the challenges of making complex decentralised tech accessible to everyday users, and how the company is using its recent $800,000 funding round to expand. 

Find more about Openvibe here: https://openvibe.social/ 

Follow Matej here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/matej-svancer-399b2012b/ 

This week on Tech Can't Save Us, host Paul David is joined by Michael Howard, founder and CEO of Nichefire, an AI-powered cultural intelligence platform that helps major brands like Walmart, Kraft Heinz, and Nestle identify and predict emerging cultural trends before they hit the mainstream. 

They discuss how cultural intelligence has evolved far beyond traditional social listening, allowing businesses to spot micro-trends that start in small online communities and behavioural shifts that companies have historically missed.

The conversation covers Nichefire's recent $2.6 million funding round, how the AI technology actually works to process data from multiple online sources, and Michael's journey from traditional marketing roles to founding a company that predicts cultural movements. 

Find more about Nichefire here: https://nichefire.com/ 

Follow Michael Howard here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahmike7/ 

This week on Tech Can't Save Us, host Paul David is joined by Dawson Chen, co-founder and CEO of Martin AI, a Y Combinator-backed startup building what they claim is a more intuitive and personalised AI assistant that rivals offerings from tech giants like OpenAI and Google.

At just 19 years old, Dawson left Yale University to pursue his vision of creating an AI assistant that feels like having your own personal Jarvis. They discuss how Martin is filling gaps that current AI assistants haven't addressed, the advantages of being a scrappy startup competing with tech giants, and the most surprising ways people are using Martin.

Dawson also reflects on their recent $2 million seed funding round and why he believes the future will be about which company has the most viral AI product.

Find more about Martin AI here: https://www.trymartin.com/

 Follow Dawson here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawson-chen-9b62a8183/ 

This week on Tech Can't Save Us, host Paul David is joined by Dr. Jing Ouyang, Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer of Patchwork Health, an award-winning healthtech company transforming workforce management in the NHS.

Jing shares how Patchwork Health was born from his own frustrations as a locum doctor, creating a platform that works like "an Uber for clinicians" allowing doctors to book shifts flexibly while helping hospitals reduce agency spending. They discuss how their solution has tripled internal bank fill rates at NHS trusts, saving millions in agency costs while giving clinicians better work-life balance.

The conversation also explores Jing's transition from practising medicine to entrepreneurship, the mindset shift required when moving from a risk-averse medical environment to the uncertainty of building a business, and how Patchwork has scaled to support over 100 NHS organisations through strategic acquisitions and a mission-driven approach.

Find more about Patchwork Health here: https://patchwork.health/

Follow Dr. Jing Ouyang here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jingouyang1/

This week on Tech Can't Save Us, host Paul David is joined by Mike Rolih, Founder and CEO of GoRout, a sports technology company transforming coach-to-player communication through innovative wearable technology.

Mike shares how GoRout's technology is changing training efficiency for teams across professional leagues, Division 1 programs, and youth sports. They discuss the traditional challenges of coach-to-player communication in sports and how wearable tech is creating more streamlined, effective practices.

Mike reveals the enormous potential market opportunities across different sports and shares valuable lessons for aspiring sports tech entrepreneurs.

Find more about GoRout here: https://gorout.com/

Follow Mike Rolih here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrolih/ 

This week on Tech Can't Save Us, Paul David chats with Kavitta Ghai, CEO and co-founder of Nectir, about transforming education with FERPA-compliant AI assistants. They explore how Nectir provides 24/7 personalised support for students while relieving overwhelmed teachers across 100+ partner institutions.

Kavitta shares her personal journey from struggling student to EdTech founder, including her content marketing philosophy and vision for AI in education. The conversation reveals how user feedback shapes Nectir's development and why personalised learning is finally becoming accessible to all students, not just those at elite institutions.

Find more about Nectir here: https://nectir.io/ 

Follow Kavitta Ghai here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kavittaghai/

This week on Tech Can't Save Us, host Paul David is joined by Tove Nilstun, co-founder and CEO of Emission Twin, a climate tech startup based in Malmö, Sweden that helps companies tackle their carbon emissions through smart, user-friendly solutions.

Tove shares how Emission Twin's platform simplifies climate reporting for businesses while identifying practical opportunities to cut emissions. They discuss the company's approach to onboarding companies through existing data and helping them work toward science-based targets.

The conversation explores Tove's fascinating almost 30-year journey in tech to founding a startup addressing one of today's most critical challenges.

Find more about Emission Twin here: https://www.emissiontwin.com/

Follow Tove Nilstun here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tove-nilstun/

This week on Tech Can’t Save Us, host Paul David is joined by Ruby Raut, CEO and co-founder of WUKA, the brand leading the charge in sustainable period care with its innovative leak-proof underwear.

They discuss how WUKA is challenging the dominance of disposable pads and tampons, the role of sustainability in product design, and the growing movement toward eco-friendly period solutions. Ruby shares how WUKA is scaling through major retailers like Tesco, and what it means to be a FemTech leader advocating for inclusivity in women’s health.

Find more about WUKA here: https://wuka.co.uk

Follow Ruby Raut here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruby-raut-49987b58/