Technori
440 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 months ago - ★★★★★ - 30 ratingsScott Kitun is joined by a rotating cast of tech and internet celebrities to break down the latest in startups and venture capital.
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Episodes
Greenfly opens the door for the future of content collaboration
May 13, 2020 11:00 - 41 minutes - 38.2 MBDaniel Kirschner, President and CEO of Greenfly, joins the show to talk about how their platform excels at content collaboration through organizing your community into groups to distribute and disseminate content from and increase engagement.
Greenfly opens the door for the future of B2B content collaboration
May 13, 2020 11:00 - 41 minutes - 38.3 MBDaniel Kirschner, President and CEO of Greenfly, joins the show to talk about how their platform excels at content collaboration through organizing your community into groups to distribute and disseminate content from and increase engagement.
Ohi brings Amazon speed for small businesses
May 07, 2020 11:00 - 33 minutes - 31.1 MBBen Jones, founder and CEO of Ohi, joins the show to talk about the important role of shipping and deliveries, long dominated by Amazon and others, is squeezing out small businesses from being able to compete with their size and speed. Ohi mitigates this problem by using "dead space" in cities like New York and LA that small businesses and stock with inventory for rapid delivery to nearby customers.
Centro CMO Katie Risch
May 05, 2020 11:00 - 26 minutes - 24.7 MBCentro CMO Katie Risch joins the show to talk about the state of the digital advertising industry and what marketing techniques have risen and fallen due to the impact of the coronavirus.
Theron Technology Solutions talks China and path forward for companies
April 30, 2020 20:43 - 17 minutes - 16.3 MBAlex Rothman, founder and CEO of Theron Technology Solutions, talks about how technology companies push through the current crisis and how China in a post-covid19 world fits for companies and how companies use offshore resources.
OCV's Steph Janson talks investing for the long haul and finding sustainable value
April 29, 2020 11:00 - 45 minutes - 42.1 MBSteph Janson from Los Angeles-based OCV Partners joined the show to talk all things investing pre and post-impact of the coronavirus on businesses, their shared background in the crowdfunding space and Steph's roots in the Israeli startup venture community including OurCrowd.
This fundraising tool stack helps startups raise VC efficiently
April 23, 2020 16:07 - 37 minutes - 34.7 MBNathan Beckord of Foundersuite describes how the platform helps startups streamline corporate housekeeping, finance, hiring, planning and investor tasks.
Fig democratizes gaming by making fans the investors
April 20, 2020 11:00 - 34 minutes - 31.8 MBJustin Bailey, founder and CEO of Fig, joins Scott on the podcast to talk about transforming the evolving landscape of gaming and how to bring investments straight from the consumer to the creator. Justin also announces the news of Fig joining Republic, an equity crowdfunding platform for promising startups.
PartySlate jumps into virtual events
April 16, 2020 18:41 - 33 minutes - 30.2 MBJulie Novack, co-founder and CEO of PartySlate, joins Scott on the show to talk about how her company has shifted from being a digital platform for physical events to virtual events amid the pandemic, talks Chicago tech and more.
Get in the game, says Roundhill Investments: Esports is projected to hit $1.8 billion by 2022
April 09, 2020 11:00 - 53 minutes - 49 MBRoundhill Investments introduces investors to emerging financial opportunities in esports, a booming industry projected to hit $1.8 billion by 2022. Roundhill founder and CEO Will Hershey joins the show with Scott to talk all things gaming.
Stay in but ‘dine out’ while social distancing, thanks to Tock To Go
April 08, 2020 11:00 - 36 minutes - 33.1 MBRestaurant reservation service Tock’s new platform is helping dine-in restaurants pivot to pickup and delivery during the coronavirus crisis. Tock founder and Alinea Group co-owner Nick Kokonas joins Scott to talk about how the restaurant is coping with the pressure and the novel methods his restaurants are using to ramp up business while dine-in is closed.
Sendoso's platform helps salespeople send personalized gifts — and close deals
April 02, 2020 15:38 - 24 minutes - 22.1 MBKris Rudeegraap, co-founder and CEO of Sendoso, describes how the company is making it easier than ever for salespeople to send thoughtful, personalized gifts.
Managing buildings takes a lot of energy: Energy CX helps companies conserve and save
March 31, 2020 11:00 - 36 minutes - 33.9 MBThe brother-duo, Nathan and Miles Rice, leading family-run business Energy CX explains how the company helps property managers become more sustainable, intelligent and profitable through technology.
This is how you innovate the most boring department with the biggest budget
March 27, 2020 11:00 - 44 minutes - 40.4 MBProcurement, the neglected stepchild of business, is having a Cinderella moment — and Mike Anguiano from SupplyHive is its Fairy Godmother. Mike joins Scott for a fantastic conversation on the oft-overlooked procurement industry and how he's making his clients lives easier and having some fun while he's at it.
Technori Update w/ Scott Kitun and the founders of Pour My Beer and Digital Adventure
March 25, 2020 11:00 - 55 minutes - 50.5 MBScott gives an update on Technori happenings amid the coronavirus outbreak and other content musings. Digital Adventures founder Omowale Casselle joins the show to tell how they are moving their coding camps and technology classes fully online (24:26) . Scott also catches up with friend of the program Josh Goodman founder of Pourmybeer, who was due to announce a big raise that's been put on hold and shines a big spotlight on what in-person businesses are dealing with, without the people (32:...
With Draftbit, imagination — not budget — is the limit
March 24, 2020 11:00 - 37 minutes - 34.3 MBApp-building platform Draftbit makes niche app ideas a reality by giving individuals and businesses the power to make apps without a big budget or team of engineers. Listen to founder Brian Luerssen hop on to discuss with Scott at WGN Radio.
Ride bikes and make new friends through Twisted Road, the Airbnb for motorcycles
March 12, 2020 11:00 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MBForget the Hell’s Angels: Twisted Road is heaven for bikers who want to take their dream motorcycle for a ride without having to buy it. Founder Austin Rothbard hops back on the show with Scott to give a special update on the company
In pursuit of ‘purer’ content: How Patreon empowers artists and creators worldwide
March 11, 2020 11:00 - 35 minutes - 32.2 MBSam Yam, co-founder and CTO of Patreon, describes how the company fosters healthier online communities by better connecting artists and fans.
How Arturo is using AI to improve underwriting
March 10, 2020 11:00 - 34 minutes - 31.8 MBLooking at famous people's houses is not the most productive use for the tech in Google Maps. Insurance company Arturo is using it to determine quotes. Founder and CEO John-Isaac Clark joins the podcast with Scott Kitun.
Meet Wonolo, the company connecting local workers with on-demand jobs
March 05, 2020 12:00 - 30 minutes - 27.7 MBYong Kim, the founder of Wonolo (stands for “Work Now Locally”), set out to create a platform to bring power back to today’s workers. After closing a Series C funding round of $32 million in November 2018, his company is set to lead the wave, empowering freelance and project workers. Yong joined the podcast to share his inspiration for Wonolo, his predictions for the future of the employment economy and how to find the intersection of technology, business and human nature.
Skip the concession line: Get your snacks and beer faster at sporting events with FanFood
March 03, 2020 12:00 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MBThe only thing more delicious than watching your team win live is watching them win live while you eat a hot dog. FanFood will bring it right to your seat. Five years since he came up with the idea in a college bar, FanFood has become what founder Carson Goodale describes as “a real business.” It’s so real he’s even fundraising right now. Carson joined the podcast to talk about how bad bar service inspired his app, how military training translated to entrepreneurial life and what it’s like to...
LogicGate: the drag and drop software will make you feel like a governance, risk & compliance wizard
February 27, 2020 12:00 - 35 minutes - 32.2 MBGovernance, risk and compliance (GRC) software is deeply unsexy, extremely important and mostly unexplored — until now, thanks to LogicGate. Matt Kunkel, co-founder and CEO of LogicGate, understands GRC has a dreary reputation — and he’s happy to be part of the team working to make it easy. He and his co-founders designed a platform enabling companies to put together their own GRC program using drag and drop.
CMT Digital believes cryptocurrency can revolutionize how we handle money — if we let it
February 26, 2020 12:00 - 39 minutes - 36.1 MBCryptocurrency is poised to change the way we use money — and CMT Digital CEO Colleen Sullivan says it’s time for U.S. regulators to join the party. CMT Digital One branch of proprietary trading and financial services firm Capital Markets Trading (CMT), it focuses on cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies. At first CMT Digital only worked on the regulatory side. A few years later, in 2016, the firm invested in Bitcoin, and in 2017 it launched a trading desk for crypto assets. These days, ...
Groupon’s new CTO on why his job is more about people than tech
February 24, 2020 12:00 - 47 minutes - 43.3 MBGroupon’s new CTO, John Higginson, explains why his job is less about coding and more about people, plus how to be the kind of leader your team respects. Becoming CTO has meant putting people before machines. “This is more a people role than a technology role,” John says. “Figuring out how to get the right people is hands down the most important thing I need to spend my time on.”
Your vitamin habit might be hurting your health: these doctors from Vous Vitamin created a better option
February 19, 2020 12:00 - 31 minutes - 28.6 MBNot all vitamin products are created equal — and some aren’t vitamins at all. Meet the doctors setting their own high standards in an unregulated industry. If you’re now wondering what the bleep you should be taking or not, Dr. Levitan and Vous Vitamin co-founder Dr. Romy Block get it. They founded Vous Vitamin to help people buy safe, high quality vitamins in levels they actually need.
Slow and steady wins the race: The story behind ActiveCampaign’s success
February 13, 2020 12:00 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MBSome businesses immediately chase investors, looking to monetize as quickly as possible. Others, however, bootstrap for as long as possible, investing all their energy into building the best product. Jason VandeBoom, CEO and Founder of ActiveCampaign, spent 17 years building his product. He and his team created the category of customer experience automation and continue to be industry leaders in the space. After bootstrapping and focusing on building a powerful platform, ActiveCampaign finall...
How golf’s most unpredictable spokesman became the sport’s favorite interviewer
February 12, 2020 18:54 - 24 minutes - 22.8 MBThe laser focus required of a professional athlete doesn’t leave room for a plan B. But when golfer David Feherty retired in 1997, he found success in multiple new careers. After David put down his clubs, he picked up a microphone and returned to the green as an on-course reporter for CBS. His professional experience, sharp humor and Irish charm made him a hit with golf fans. Off camera, he’s written five non-fiction books and a column for Golf magazine called Sidespin. In 2011, David launche...
You can’t force teenagers to become safer drivers — so KarChing pays them to do it instead
February 11, 2020 12:00 - 29 minutes - 27.5 MBTeens, parents and car insurers don’t agree on much. But they do agree that dangerous and expensive car accidents are bad. KarChing CEO Ramsey Gouda figured that insurers and parents would be willing to pay some money upfront to reduce the risk of teen car accidents. The KarChing app uses telematics (or a combination of monitoring technologies) to measure factors like acceleration, hard braking and screen usage. Parents and insurance companies deposit money via the app. When the teenager is d...
This former CFO knows you hate financial planning — and he built Clockwork to help
February 06, 2020 12:00 - 34 minutes - 31.4 MBNo one starts a business because they love grappling with the financial side of it. But understanding your money is key if you want to keep the lights on. Clockwork CEO Fady Hawatmeh understands this better than anyone. He used to run a CFO consultancy firm where he saw firsthand how small companies struggled to plan for the future. Clockwork’s accounting software uses artificial intelligence (AI) to build a financial forecasting model unique to each of their clients. They also help CPAs offe...
Attention parents: MeTime wants to give you a (guilt-free) hour to yourselves
February 05, 2020 12:00 - 36 minutes - 33.4 MBChildcare has been an issue for ages — possibly since caveman days, but we’re still getting it wrong.Daycares tend to offer only multi-hour stretches, so parents are out of luck if you only need supervision for Junior for an hour or two here and there. Nannies and babysitters don’t want to travel for one hour’s pay. And then there are stay-at-home parents who are happy to watch other people's children as well as their own to make extra money. But unless you happen to know them already, you're...
Why crypto exchange Kraken wants everyone in on digital currencies
January 30, 2020 12:00 - 36 minutes - 33 MBCryptocurrency is slowly going mainstream, and what it’s losing in mystique, it’s making up for in influence. Not long ago, cryptocurrency (better known as crypto) was the exclusive domain of internet nerds. Now it’s being held, invested and traded by people who recognize its potential to bring a healthy diversity to their investment portfolios. Kraken is being taken seriously too. In 2019, they raised $13.5 million based on a $4 billion valuation. Kraken CCO Robert Zagotta joined the podcast...
Meet Unispace, the company designing offices around how we work today
January 29, 2020 12:00 - 36 minutes - 33.2 MBMatt Xavier, a senior associate at Unispace, works on the Workplace Strategy Group. His team works with companies to assess their organizational goals and design physical office environments around those objectives. Matt joined the podcast to share his top tips to consider before moving offices, how to create the ultimate space for you and your team and how technology has played a crucial role in designing the modern office.
Bigger isn’t always better: Programmatic Mechanics CEO explains why small and niche works in advertising
January 23, 2020 12:00 - 47 minutes - 43.2 MBUnless you have a marketing degree, the more you read about advertising, the less comprehensible it becomes. And that’s exactly how ad execs like it. This small but mighty company aims to cut through the industry noise. Programmatic Mechanics is a breath of fresh air in the industry in more ways than one. First, they do exactly what their name suggests — help businesses and agencies with programmatic advertising (advertising that is managed by computers). It turns out machines are far better ...
Robert Blackwell shows how risk can make sense for your business
January 22, 2020 12:00 - 34 minutes - 31.8 MBYou can become a billionaire with anything — from collecting garbage to selling Beanie Babies. The point is to figure out what makes you unique and valuable to the customer. “As long as you're solving an emotional or financial problem for somebody, you can make a lot of money,” says Robert Blackwell, Jr., CEO and founder of several companies including Killerspin and Quant16 (formerly EKI-Digital). Robert’s been building companies since he was eight years old, when he was selling gum in school...
Leaf Trade: Meet the Company Moving Cannabis Deals From Street Corners to Online Storefronts
January 15, 2020 12:00 - 36 minutes - 33.7 MBThe cannabis industry is still emerging, dazed and confused, from the black market to the open market, presenting platforms like Leaf Trade the chance to make a big impression. Founder and CEO James Yi joined the podcast to talk about Leaf Trade’s role in shaping the emerging cannabis industry, why wholesale is a challenge of its own and why he welcomes local governments’ say over how cannabis works in their communities.
Airshare takes your office to the skies with accessible private aviation
January 09, 2020 12:00 - 19 minutes - 18.1 MBPrivate jets used to be reserved for tycoons, presidents and rock stars, but ordering a personalized flight today isn’t just a power move — it’s a productivity tool. Expanding your business often requires traveling, and the bigger you grow, the more often you and your team will be on the move. But travel can be stressful — wasting time on inconvenient commercial flights and long car rides isn’t just tedious, it can be a drain on your resources and cost you time. Airshare offers a more afford...
Vouch is the disruptive business insurance company for disruptive startups
January 07, 2020 12:00 - 42 minutes - 38.9 MBInsurance is one of the less sexy parts of running a company — and that’s especially true when working with the legacy companies that are far removed from the startup way. Newer business models often don't neatly fit into traditional insurers’ outdated categories. Sometimes plans need to be patch worked and even then — coverage can still be spotty — which could spell disaster down the road. That’s where Vouch saw an opportunity. The company offers business insurance designed for startups. Co-...
Dante32: Why Podcasts Are the Best Way to Get Into Your Customers’ Heads (and Wallets)
December 19, 2019 12:00 - 48 minutes - 44.6 MBBeyond being a fun distraction at the gym or on your commute, podcasts are gaining recognition as an engaging and accessible business tool. While it’s easy to get started, it’s hard to make a podcast good, which is why professional podcast production agency Dante32 is flourishing. Founded in 2018 by CEO Griffin Caprio and CSO Jenn Dudley, Chicago-based Dante32 helps businesses create podcasts in a style and format that resonates with their specific audience.
Forget WeWork: Knotel's Business Model Works
December 17, 2019 12:00 - 41 minutes - 38.3 MBIn the wake of the remarkable fall of WeWork, you’re forgiven if you feel more than a little skeptical about coworking as a business model. But Knotel is doing things differently. They may not have WeWork’s name recognition — yet — but the company is building a coworking empire based on stringent market analysis. Knotel is led by startup veteran Amol Sarva. He has a track record of growing great companies and was on the founding team of Virgin Mobile USA. Around 2015, Amol and his partner dec...
Forget WeFail: Knotel's Business Model Works
December 17, 2019 12:00 - 41 minutes - 38.3 MBIn the wake of the remarkable fall of WeWork, you’re forgiven if you feel more than a little skeptical about coworking as a business model. But Knotel is doing things differently. They may not have WeWork’s name recognition — yet — but the company is building a coworking empire based on stringent market analysis. Knotel is led by startup veteran Amol Sarva. He has a track record of growing great companies and was on the founding team of Virgin Mobile USA. Around 2015, Amol and his partner dec...
Just in Time for the Holidays — Packed with Purpose is Elevating Corporate Gifting
December 12, 2019 12:00 - 36 minutes - 33.3 MBCopping out on corporate gift-giving means missing a prime relationship-building opportunity.But sending a bland fruit basket or not-so-subtle branded junk is unlikely to be very memorable. Plus, giving gifts that people aren’t too excited about can be downright wasteful. That’s why Packed with Purpose is a gift. The specialty gifting company hand picks high-quality products from businesses that are positively shaping their communities. It’s corporate gifting with a social mission. Founder an...
Chuck Swoboda Grew Cree to Become a $1.6 Billion Market Leader. Now He’s Written a Book on the Anatomy of Innovation
December 05, 2019 14:44 - 36 minutes - 33.2 MBWhen Chuck Swoboda was hired at electronics manufacturer Cree in 1993, household light bulbs came mostly in two flavors: incandescent and fluorescent. The company had just gone public and generated just over $6 million in annual revenue. But the product that would grow the company into a $1.6 billion global market leader –– the LED light bulb –– were virtually light years away from becoming a popular, affordable option. Even when he took on the role of CEO of Durham, North Carolina-based Cree...
Ashling Partners: ‘There's More Than One Shade of Robotics’
December 03, 2019 13:04 - 38 minutes - 35.3 MBThe future of work, says Marshall Sied, co-founder of intelligent automation consulting firm Ashling Partners, will focus on “removing tasks that humans don't want to be doing anyway.” For him, “it's about taking robots out of human work, not having robots replace human work.” In fact, when clients introduce automation technology like Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and machine learning to their organization’s people, processes and current technology land...
Here’s How and Why Uber Set Their Sights on Freight
November 26, 2019 12:00 - 28 minutes - 26 MBFor consumers, Uber is known for changing the simple act of getting a taxi and ordering food. For the past two years, the company has been moving into the B-to-B market with Uber Freight. “We've built an app for independent owner-operators and small fleets, where they can log on and see the freight available to them,” explains Sagar Shah, Uber Freight’s Director of Carrier Operations. “They don't have to call in and negotiate over rates. It's full transparency.” In September, Uber Freight ann...
Solve Helps Companies Hire Overlooked Talent in Underserved Communities
November 21, 2019 12:00 - 39 minutes - 35.9 MBHiring is a major challenge for employers. On the flip side of the coin, socioeconomic and other barriers can prevent certain job seekers from identifying opportunities. The aptly named Solve offers a solution. Led by CEO and founder Matt Strauss, the software platform helps companies find and hire talented people in underserved communities. It also connects prospective employees with nonprofits that can help them tackle the barriers preventing them from getting jobs.
Locus Robotics: How ‘Collaborative Robots’ are Driving the Future of E-Commerce
November 20, 2019 15:48 - 49 minutes - 45.3 MBThe robots are coming. Actually, they’re already here. But they’re not what you think, says Karen Leavitt, Chief Marketing Officer of Locus Robotics. The Wilmington, Massachusetts-based company, founded in 2014, makes robots that enable e-commerce and B2B companies to maximize efficiency in their warehouses enabling them to compete in the dynamic world of e-commerce. The world of robotics has changed so much in the last 20 or so years, spurred on by forward-thinking innovators like Elon Musk...
Cubii Caters to a Market Their Competitors Ignore
November 19, 2019 12:00 - 28 minutes - 25.7 MBThe struggle to get from work to the gym is real. Arnav Dalmia realized that all but the most dedicated gym-goers find it challenging to fit in regular exercise. So he originally founded Cubii to make it easier to be active while at work. The company’s mission has evolved from there. He first pitched the under-desk mini elliptical machines to the Technori Showcase in 2015, when the company was known as Fitness Cubed. After launching with the intent of helping cooped-up office workers, Cubii q...
Can I Eat This? Spokin’s Mission Is to Help People With Allergies Get a Quick Answer
November 14, 2019 16:00 - 46 minutes - 42.4 MBManaging food allergies requires a lot of time and effort — and information isn’t always available when and where you need it. As the mom of a daughter with life-threatening food allergies, Susie Hultquist knew this problem all too well. But it wasn’t until she struggled to identify whether her daughter could safely eat Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies that business inspiration struck. In 2015, Susie founded Spokin. Think Instagram meets Yelp meets WebMD, specifically built for people with allerg...
Can I Eat This? Spoken’s Mission Is to Help People With Allergies Get a Quick Answer
November 14, 2019 16:00 - 46 minutes - 42.4 MBManaging food allergies requires a lot of time and effort — and information isn’t always available when and where you need it. As the mom of a daughter with life-threatening food allergies, Susie Hultquist knew this problem all too well. But it wasn’t until she struggled to identify whether her daughter could safely eat Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies that business inspiration struck. In 2015, Susie founded Spokin. Think Instagram meets Yelp meets WebMD, specifically built for people with allerg...
Caremerge CEO: ‘Leadership by Example is My Go-to’
November 12, 2019 12:00 - 34 minutes - 31.3 MB“In the senior living market, the old image is nursing home: the new image is active communities for older adults who can simplify their lives and spend their free time really enjoying themselves, their family, their friends,” says Nancy Koenig, CEO of Caremerge, which provides technology solutions for the senior living market. Like previous guests Jay Klauminzer and Elizabeth Harz, Nancy’s story is an interesting study in how to lead a company you didn’t start. She became the CEO in October ...