Tech Startup Network Podcast with Ashley DiBiase

Dakota Labine is the Director of Engineering at ThinkOrbital, where he leads multidisciplinary teams building next-generation space infrastructure and advanced X-ray technologies. Starting in a hands-on Assembly, Integration, and Test leadership role before growing into engineering leadership, Dakota has helped scale the company from rapid hardware execution into broader technical and organizational growth. His work spans autonomous in-space welding, drone-based X-ray imaging, spacecraft systems, and rapid development programs supporting both commercial and government customers. Before joining ThinkOrbital, Dakota spent over four years at Blue Canyon Technologies leading spacecraft systems engineering efforts across major microsatellite constellation programs and new spacecraft product lines. Known for blending hands-on execution with big-picture systems thinking, he’s passionate about building teams, scaling ambitious ideas, and turning complex engineering challenges into real-world capabilities.

During this episode, we discuss:

• What Dakota does as the Director of Engineering at ThinkOrbital
• ThinkOrbital’s core products
• Their pivot toward X-ray technology
• The hardest part of scaling a deep tech hardware company
• How ThinkOrbital serves both commercial and government customers
• Why the space economy is booming right now
• What makes Boulder, CO a hub for aerospace startups
• Dakota's advice for anyone looking to work in deep tech

And more. Tune into this episode as we dive into all things space!

Jesus Vidaurri is a community and ecosystem builder, entrepreneur, and talent strategist passionate about creating spaces where people, ideas, and innovation thrive. He is the Founder and CEO of Tampa Bay Tech Week, a community-led initiative designed to bring together founders, technologists, investors, creatives, and builders while elevating the Tampa Bay region as a destination for innovation and opportunity.

Known throughout the region for connecting people and building meaningful partnerships, Jesus has become a driving force in strengthening Tampa Bay’s startup and technology ecosystem. His work centers around creating opportunities, fostering collaboration, and helping communities grow with intention.

Professionally, Jesus is also the Founder and Principal Consultant of Vida Talent Solutions, where he advises startups and growth-stage organizations on talent strategy, AI, and modern recruiting practices. He currently supports Federal Government as a talent consultant and previously served as Director of Talent at the White House, helping build high-impact teams supporting critical government initiatives.

Whether launching tech movements, advising founders, or helping people land life-changing opportunities, Jesus believes the strongest ecosystems are built when community comes first.

During this episode, we discuss:

• What Tampa Bay Tech Week is and how Jesus got the idea by attending Atlanta Tech Week
• How to successfully start and build a Tech Week
• Tips for maintaining momentum after Tech Week ends
• Why partnerships and collaborations are essential to sustaining year-round events
• What makes Tampa Bay an excellent home for tech
• Why more Tampa founders don't get funded locally
• How Jesus balances his many roles and passions

And more. Tune into this episode as we dive into all things Tampa Bay!

Nalina Murthy is the founder of HealthTech Trailblazers. As a Syndicate Lead and angel investor, she focuses on women’s health, longevity, caregiving, and healthtech infrastructure — a sector she believes is long overdue for bold innovation.

Her path to investing is grounded in deep operator experience. As a former engineering and product leader for Global Fortune 500 companies, she brings rare technical depth and operator instincts to early-stage investing and also serves as a mentor and longtime startup advisor.

During this episode, we discuss:

• Nalina’s career as an engineering and product leader at global Fortune 500 companies
• What led her to get into investing
• How she spent over a year building her investment thesis and what it is
• Her top advice for aspiring investors
• The four things she looks at when evaluating a startup
• The biggest lesson she learned the hard way
• What HealthTech Trailblazers will focus on in 2026

And more. Tune into this episode as we dive into all things health tech!

Joe Zhou is Co-Founder and CTO of Monk. Prior to Monk, Joe was an engineer at Snap (top 30 contributor to the codebase), Google, and QuickBooks. Joe graduated from the University of Pennsylvania where he received his B.S. in Computer Science and M.S. in Engineering.

During this episode, we discuss:

• The journey of Joe’s career
• What Monk does and how the idea came about
• Joe's engineering philosophy
• How the key to improving the product over time is a tight feedback loop
• What Monk plans to do in 2026
• Joe's top advice for technical founders

And more. Tune into this episode as we dive into all things accounts receivable and engineering!

Kirsten Co is a New York–based founder, operator, startup advisor, and venture scout. As the founder of K & Company LLC, her firm advises Seed to Series A founders and emerging technology companies. She helps early-stage companies win and keep enterprise customers through commercialization, strategic partnerships, customer growth, and scaling from founder-led execution to institutional adoption. She also actively scouts for VC firms in high-innovation early-stage companies across Physical AI, Infrastructure, cybersecurity and enterprise software.

With over 15 years of global experience across Fortune 500 companies and high-growth startups, Kirsten has led transformation initiatives across HR operations, procurement, fulfillment, logistics, product launches, and go-to-market execution. Her work spans CPG, travel technology, e-commerce, and B2B AI SaaS, with leadership experience across companies including The Coca-Cola Company, Sea Group, and AfterShip. She holds an MBA from Sydney Business School and brings a global perspective shaped by living and working across the Philippines, Singapore, Australia, and now the United States.

Beyond advisory work, Kirsten is deeply embedded in New York’s innovation, media, and cultural ecosystems. She contributes to Insider Monkey, a financial media and intelligence firm, covering private markets, startup intelligence, and emerging founder stories for an investor-focused audience. She co-produced and hosted responsible AI and emerging technology events at Microsoft Garage in NYC alongside NYU's Ethical Tech Co-lab, where she also recently completed her STEM master’s in Global Security, Conflict, and Cybercrime. A supporter of fashion and the arts, Kirsten Co was part of the core team behind FILIPINXT, the first all-Filipino fashion showcase officially featured on the New York Fashion Week calendar and recognized by the Council of Fashion Designers of America, in collaboration with the Philippine Consulate General in New York, helping elevate Filipino and Filipino-American designers, creatives, and cultural storytelling onto a global stage.

During this episode, we discuss:

• Kirsten's 15-year career spanning CPG, operations, e-commerce, AI-based SaaS, and travel technology across Asia, Australia, Singapore, and now New York
• Starting K & Company LLC out of a desire to stop working 9-to-5, build her own brand, and stay embedded in the startup ecosystem on her own terms
• What her specialty is
• The most important first step for landing an enterprise customer
• How to retain enterprise customers
• How Kirsten became a venture scout organically
• Advice for founders seeking capital
• What she recommends for aspiring venture scouts
• Why in-person events remain the most reliable way to build relationships in the startup and VC ecosystem

And more. Tune into this episode as we dive into all things enterprise sales and venture!

Pam Kavalam is a fractional Community Leader at The Pitch Fund as well as Not Another CEO. She is also the NYC Chapter Lead for Angel Squad and a Venture Fellow for Hustle Fund. She previously did product, customer success, and operations at ClassPass, Chief and Lucid Green as well as taught English on the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program. She lives in Astoria, Queens.

During this episode, we discuss:

• How Pam describes herself as a "super connector"
• The journey of her career
• When she decided to pivot into venture and how she did it
• The importance of never burning bridges with people who don't select you for a role
• The various roles she currently holds
• Her advice for anyone looking to break into venture
• Why everyone needs to get hands-on with AI tools now rather than waiting
• Her networking advice for people just getting started

And more. Tune into this episode as we dive into all things venture and networking!

Brandon Florian is the Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Grid Aero. Brandon is a seasoned aerospace and defense leader with experience spanning strategy, innovation, and growth across government and commercial sectors. He has led business development at top firms like Northrop Grumman, Starburst, and Mandala Space Ventures. Brandon combines technical depth with strategic vision and an unmatched network in global A&D and venture.

During this episode, we discuss:

• Brandon’s career in aerospace and defense
• What Grid Aero is building and how it’s solving contested logistics
• The amount of inbound interest Grid has received
• Grid's key differentiator: its clean-sheet aircraft design
• How building trust in defense starts with having the right network already in place
• The biggest mistake defense tech founders make
• Why the team matters as much as product-market fit

And more. Tune into this episode as we dive into all things contested logistics!

Aymbré Paige, MBA ‘25, is an Investor at Mendoza Ventures, where she focuses on early-stage investments across AI, fintech, and cybersecurity. She plays an active role in sourcing, diligence, and portfolio support.

Aymbré earned her MBA from Babson College with concentrations in Finance and Marketing. During her time on campus, she was selected as a Babson Board Fellow and was a recipient of the Dean’s Leadership Award, recognizing her impact and leadership within the community. She was also recognized by Startup Boston as one of the 2026 Black Leaders Shaping the Greater Boston and New England Startup Scene.

In addition to her work in venture, Aymbré is an active angel investor, committed to funding diverse founders across the tech landscape. She is passionate about diversifying the capital stack, ensuring underrepresented founders have access to the capital they need, and increasing the number of diverse capital allocators across the venture capital landscape.

During this episode, we discuss:

• Aymbré’s journey into venture capital and her role as an investor at Mendoza Ventures
• What Mendoza Ventures specializes in
• Aymbré’s unconventional path into VC, starting with studying neuroscience
• Why being open, visible, and vocal about your goals can create unexpected career opportunities
• The common misconception that there’s only one path into venture capital
• What Aymbré and her team look for when investing in a startup
• Why Boston has a powerful tech ecosystem
• Aymbré’s perspective on emerging tech trends
• The value of community, mentorship, and finding your people in tech, venture, and entrepreneurship

And more. Tune into this episode as we dive into all things venture capital!

Geena Greguric is a growth strategist, startup advisor, and founder with a track record of helping companies turn marketing into measurable revenue. With more than a decade of experience across startups and scaling businesses, she specializes in go-to-market strategy, brand positioning, demand generation, and growth marketing for companies navigating rapid growth.

Previously, Geena led marketing at Idelic, a venture-backed B2B SaaS company recognized by Forbes, where she helped scale the company from Seed through Series B and continued advising through its eventual acquisition by Descartes Systems Group. During her tenure, she built integrated campaigns that drove a 60x increase in marketing-qualified leads and consistently generated more than $2.6M in quarterly pipeline value, later continuing to advise through the acquisition transition.

Today, Geena advises startups, founders, and established brands through her consultancy, partnering with teams to refine messaging, accelerate customer acquisition, and build scalable marketing engines that drive long-term growth. Her strategic guidance has supported companies across fundraising, market expansion, and revenue acceleration initiatives.

She is also the host of High-Key Growth, a podcast for founders, solopreneurs, and lean marketing teams focused on practical, tactical conversations around scaling businesses without bloated teams or budgets.

Beyond her work with startups, Geena serves on the Board of Directors for GetWITit Pittsburgh as Co-Director of Marketing Communications, where she supports initiatives focused on empowering women in business and technology. As a mom of two daughters, she is especially passionate about helping women pursue ambitious careers while still prioritizing family, flexibility, and personal fulfillment. Her work and mentorship are rooted in the belief that professional success and meaningful family life should not be mutually exclusive.

Named one of Pittsburgh’s “30 Under 30” honorees and holding an MBA in Entrepreneurship, Geena is known for blending analytical growth strategy with modern brand storytelling, bringing both tactical expertise and an authentic perspective on entrepreneurship, leadership, and growth.

During this episode, we discuss:

• Geena’s marketing background
• Why early-stage founders shouldn't try to do everything at once
• The importance of talking to customers almost daily
• What branding really is
• How thought leadership content is one of the most powerful and accessible tools available to early-stage founders right now
• Why in-person events are hot right now
• The importance of founder-led marketing
• The value in events
• Using the traction framework to scale
• Monitoring industry news with tools like Google Alerts and tie your messaging to emerging headlines quickly when relevant

And more. Tune into this episode as we dive into all things marketing!

Mike Chambers is an entrepreneur and growth marketer who has built and sold ventures across tech and media. He is Founder and CEO of Ridley, a company redefining how people buy and sell homes using AI.

Previously, he co-founded Moonbeam, a podcast discovery platform acquired by Audacy, and founded Bang Bang Media, a creative agency specializing in viral marketing campaigns for brands like Smashd, GoPuff, Athletic Brewing Company, and DoorDash. He also created, produced, and sold Beat Monday, an outdoor adventure series that aired for four seasons on Outside TV.

An accomplished mountain athlete, Mike has led over 30 high-altitude expeditions worldwide, including two on Mount Everest, and regularly competes in ultra-endurance events.

Beyond business, he has been deeply involved in education and social impact. He co-founded Summits Education, Haiti’s second-largest private school network, serving over 10,000 students, and Flying Kites, a school and teacher training center in Kenya. He lives in Boulder, Colorado with his wife, Leila, and their three children.

During this episode, we discuss:

• Mike’s unconventional path from international education and nonprofit work to building software companies
• How his experience selling his home in Boulder exposed major friction in the traditional real estate model
• The viral Instagram journey that sparked the idea for Ridley, an AI-powered platform helping homeowners sell their homes
• How AI can guide sellers through pricing, home prep, vendor coordination, listing creation, negotiation, and transaction management
• The future of real estate agents
• How inefficiencies like brokerage splits, MLS fees, association fees, and lead costs drive up expenses for agents and consumers
• Mike’s advice for founders
• The connection between endurance athletes and entrepreneurship

And more. Tune into this episode as we dive into all things real estate!