Tech on Tap

Laura Worthington, Tech on Tap co-host and marketing director of WRAL.com, sits down with the CEO and founder of Bee Downtown, Leigh-Kathryn Bonner, who was recently named one of the most inspiring young entrepreneurs by INC.

Bonner takes us through her startup origin story and how her passion project as an intern at American Underground became her career. Even with the layered and nuanced problem of honey bee decline, Bee Downtown is doing their part to educate the public and care for a fragile resource.

Using bio-mimicry as a template, Bee Downtown has leveraged the lifecycle of bees and the hive to build better companies, employees and leaders. Leigh-Kathryn talks to us about how she made the jump into starting Bee Downtown, the hurdles she didn't expect, and the triumphs along the way.

Bonner ends with talking about how being in Durham has helped their success both in NC and as they expand to Atlanta.

Laura Worthington, Tech on Tap co-host and marketing director of WRAL.com, sits down with the CEO and founder of Bee Downtown, Leigh-Kathryn Bonner, who was recently named one of the most inspiring young entrepreneurs by INC.

Bonner takes us through her startup origin story and how her passion project as an intern at American Underground became her career. Even with the layered and nuanced problem of honey bee decline, Bee Downtown is doing their part to educate the public and care for a fragile resource.

Using bio-mimicry as a template, Bee Downtown has leveraged the lifecycle of bees and the hive to build better companies, employees and leaders. Leigh-Kathryn talks to us about how she made the jump into starting Bee Downtown, the hurdles she didn't expect, and the triumphs along the way.

Bonner ends with talking about how being in Durham has helped their success both in NC and as they expand to Atlanta.

Laney, Laura and Michael talk about the top stories on wraltechwire.com, starting with pathology innovations that will help clients get their test results back faster; a Chapel Hill company's innovation in freeze dried food is going national; and the team looks at kids and coding, and the issues that arise with children online.

After talking about where the North Carolina economy ranks against the rest of the country, Laney, Michael and Laura deal with the slow news cycle surrounding Amazon Watch 2018 and the concerns that the local business community has with the potential influx of these major tech companies.

Leigh Kathryn Bonner, the CEO of Bee Downtown, is our Tech on Tap Conversation, and talks with Laura about the origins of her company and what she has learned about leadership from watching bees.

At the end, the team talks about if we are ever really "off" in the age of technology and how they each navigate those pitfalls.

Laney, Laura and Michael talk about the top stories on wraltechwire.com, starting with pathology innovations that will help clients get their test results back faster; a Chapel Hill company's innovation in freeze dried food is going national; and the team looks at kids and coding, and the issues that arise with children online.

After talking about where the North Carolina economy ranks against the rest of the country, Laney, Michael and Laura deal with the slow news cycle surrounding Amazon Watch 2018 and the concerns that the local business community has with the potential influx of these major tech companies.

Leigh Kathryn Bonner, the CEO of Bee Downtown, is our Tech on Tap Conversation, and talks with Laura about the origins of her company and what she has learned about leadership from watching bees.

At the end, the team talks about if we are ever really "off" in the age of technology and how they each navigate those pitfalls.

Innovate Durham is a 12-week, startup-in-residence program that pairs local innovators with the local government. Michael talked to two of the individuals at the helm of Innovate Durham, Ben Kittleson and Caley Patten.

Though Innovate Durham has its roots in programs around the country, its origin is really a story of innovation in the unlikeliest of places. A budget analyst figured out how to make things happen by connecting the local community to problem areas on a municipal level.

The team at the City of Durham is finding creative ways to make government work better for its constituents by putting thought leaders in the driver seat. In its first year, Innovate Durham partnered four local startups with four departments and saw amazing results, and this year they are expanding their reach and impact.

The deadline for startups and individuals looking to apply for the program is July 23. You can see more information on the program, its requirements, and everything else the City of Durham is doing to support innovation at https://durhamnc.gov/3165/Innovate-Durham

Innovate Durham is a 12-week, startup-in-residence program that pairs local innovators with the local government. Michael talked to two of the individuals at the helm of Innovate Durham, Ben Kittleson and Caley Patten.

Though Innovate Durham has its roots in programs around the country, its origin is really a story of innovation in the unlikeliest of places. A budget analyst figured out how to make things happen by connecting the local community to problem areas on a municipal level.

The team at the City of Durham is finding creative ways to make government work better for its constituents by putting thought leaders in the driver seat. In its first year, Innovate Durham partnered four local startups with four departments and saw amazing results, and this year they are expanding their reach and impact.

The deadline for startups and individuals looking to apply for the program is July 23. You can see more information on the program, its requirements, and everything else the City of Durham is doing to support innovation at https://durhamnc.gov/3165/Innovate-Durham

The team kicks off the top news stories on tap with big venture money going to a local startup and an app being developed to help with early detection for children with autism.

The All Things Open conference is quickly approaching and the speaker list and session topics are being released. Register early to secure discounted pricing.

The team talks about the most recent murmurings about Amazon HQ2 and why certain sources believe that the D.C. metro area has high chances because of the potential for federal government contracts.

In our conversation teaser, Michael sits down with City of Durham Senior Budget & Management Analyst Ben Kittelson and Management Analyst Caley Patten to talk about innovation on the municipal level, and year two of the upcoming Innovate Durham. Kittelson and Patten explain what Innovate Durham is, where the idea came from and the merits of innovation in local government. Check out Innovate Durham and apply by July 23 at https://durhamnc.gov/3165/Innovate-Durham.

Jason, Michael and Laura end the show with a discussion on recent mergers in the business landscape and what that means for journalism (Gray & Raycom), Internet service (AT&T & Spectrum) and media (Disney & 21st Century Fox).

The team kicks off the top news stories on tap with big venture money going to a local startup and an app being developed to help with early detection for children with autism.

The All Things Open conference is quickly approaching and the speaker list and session topics are being released. Register early to secure discounted pricing.

The team talks about the most recent murmurings about Amazon HQ2 and why certain sources believe that the D.C. metro area has high chances because of the potential for federal government contracts.

In our conversation teaser, Michael sits down with City of Durham Senior Budget & Management Analyst Ben Kittelson and Management Analyst Caley Patten to talk about innovation on the municipal level, and year two of the upcoming Innovate Durham. Kittelson and Patten explain what Innovate Durham is, where the idea came from and the merits of innovation in local government. Check out Innovate Durham and apply by July 23 at https://durhamnc.gov/3165/Innovate-Durham.

Jason, Michael and Laura end the show with a discussion on recent mergers in the business landscape and what that means for journalism (Gray & Raycom), Internet service (AT&T & Spectrum) and media (Disney & 21st Century Fox).

Jason Eder sits down with the CEO and founder of Infinia ML, Robbie Allen.

As a serial entrepreneur, his latest venture is in the wide-ranging world of artificial intelligence. Eder and Allen delve into the use cases and the ethical hurdles that can arise with this emerging technology, and whether or not we are getting close to the fears realized in sci-fi films with mindful and sentient technology.

Before all of that, however, Allen gives our listeners the details of his own startup journey, the beginnings and current happenings of Infinia ML, and provides some advice on one of the most necessary and intense parts of any startup journey -- fundraising and getting buy-in.

Jason Eder sits down with the CEO and founder of Infinia ML, Robbie Allen.

As a serial entrepreneur, his latest venture is in the wide-ranging world of artificial intelligence. Eder and Allen delve into the use cases and the ethical hurdles that can arise with this emerging technology, and whether or not we are getting close to the fears realized in sci-fi films with mindful and sentient technology.

Before all of that, however, Allen gives our listeners the details of his own startup journey, the beginnings and current happenings of Infinia ML, and provides some advice on one of the most necessary and intense parts of any startup journey -- fundraising and getting buy-in.