Tech Can't Save Us

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/

Photo by @Elisa Sanvito

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/ 

This week on Tech Can’t Save Us, Paul is joined by Michael Kissner, Founder & CEO of Akhetonics, the company developing the world’s first all-optical general-purpose processor.

They discuss how optical computing could transform AI, networking, avionics, and space applications by processing data with light instead of electricity. Michael explains why now is the right time for all-optical processors, how Akhetonics is challenging assumptions about hardware design, and why their fully optical approach stands out from hybrid solutions.

Michael also shares his unconventional journey from the German Armed Forces to leading one of Europe’s most exciting deep-tech startups. He talks about the lessons he’s taken from military operations and cybersecurity research, and how they’ve shaped Akhetonics’ approach to problem-solving, leadership, and scaling.

Find out more about Akhetonics here: https://www.akhetonics.com/ 

Follow Michael Kissner here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-kissner-968855116/?locale=en_US

This week on Tech Can’t Save Us, host Paul David is joined by Dr. Alec Snow and Dr. Rebecca Allam, co-founders of PreActiv, a digital prehabilitation platform helping patients get stronger before surgery.

They discuss how thousands of surgeries are delayed or come with avoidable complications simply because patients aren’t physically prepared. With PreActiv, Alec and Rebecca are making personalised prehab more accessible through tech, helping patients recover faster while reducing costs and strain on healthcare systems like the NHS.

The conversation covers how they built PreActiv from scratch during lockdown, the real-world impact of prehab on patient outcomes, and why investors are backing their mission. They also dive into how AI and data-driven insights could shape the future of surgical care.

Find out more about PreActiv here: https://www.preactiv.co.uk/

Follow Dr. Alec Snow here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alec-snow-b85358157/

Follow Dr. Rebecca Allam here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccapreactiv/

This week on Tech Can’t Save Us, Paul is joined by Mical Jeanlys-White, Founder and CEO at WealthMore, a fintech platform that’s making financial advice more accessible. They discuss why wealth management has historically been out of reach for most people, and how WealthMore is changing that by offering financial planning services and a supportive community to help users build generational wealth.

Mical shares what she’s learned from launching WealthMore in 2021, including talking about its new free community membership, its growing user base, and the role of community in financial empowerment.

Find more about WealthMore here: https://www.wealthmore.net/

Follow Mical Jeanlys-White here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mical-jeanlys-white-9126366/