Startups: Digitalization to Realization

Building a home is a process that is expensive in terms of cost and time. You face challenges such as cost overruns, variations from the approved design, and low-quality materials, among others. This is why companies are working to transform the currently expensive and inefficient construction process completely. Today, the host Kevin Blevins talks to Craig Derian, VP of Engineering at Cover Technologies Inc. A US-based startup company designing and manufacturing Custom Homes. It develops homes that are well-integrated, modern, automated, efficient, and developed as a product.  In this episode, you’ll learn how Cover is transforming the home construction industry and the progress they’ve made so far. You’ll also hear about their experience with Siemens' sets of tools. Additionally, Craig will share some of the lessons they’ve learned along the way and what we can expect from Cover in the future. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: How Cover Technologies sells its solution to potential customers (05:55) The difference between tiny homes and Cover’s custom backyard homes (10:53) One of the most difficult installations that Cover has undertaken (18:27) Cover’s experience with Siemens tools (31:14) Cover’s future goals (32:23) Lessons to entrepreneurs who are just getting started (38:37) Connect with Craig: LinkedIn Website Connect with Kevin: LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Robots are here to stay! They are not a hyped trend that will fade away after a few years of excitement. That’s because they improve our quality of life by doing time-consuming and redundant tasks efficiently and reliably. They are tools that enable us to build better lives. Today, the host Kevin Blevins talks to Amir Emacha, Co-Founder and CEO of Earth Robotics Inc. He’ll help us understand what their robot Lu does and its capabilities. He’ll also share with us why they choose the name Earth Robotics. In this episode, you’ll learn about the progress that Earth Robotics has made so far and what its future aspirations are. You’ll also hear about the different levels of autonomy involved within the robotics world. Additionally, Amir shares some of the challenges they’ve faced and what they’ve done to overcome them. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Differences between software startups and software-hardware startups (06:02) The story behind the name Earth Robotics (07:41) How Lu robot is different from other delivery robots (11:18) How Lu robot communicates with the residents (23:25) How the Siemens Startup program has helped Earth Robotics (25:36) Lessons to entrepreneurs who are just getting started (30:51) Connect with Amir: LinkedIn Website Connect with Kevin: LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The space industry has grown tremendously over the last few decades and is expected to keep growing in the coming decades. Analysts are projecting that we’ll have thousands of launches in the year 2030 at an approximate cost of $10 million per launch. While capital seems to be flowing seamlessly into this industry, it has also opened up an important debate about the sustainability of those launches. Today, the host Kevin Blevins talks to Brent Willis, CEO of Vaya Space, and Jack Blood, the Chief Revenue Officer of Vaya Space. Vaya is a US-based venture capital-backed startup company working on hybrid rocket propulsion technology. They’ll share with us how they got started and what inspires them. In this episode, you’ll find out about the innovative technology developed by Vaya Space and the impact it's having on the industry. You’ll also learn about the progress they’ve made so far and the benefits of using recycled plastic. Additionally, you’ll hear about how the company uses Siemens NX to reduce the time to market. Some Questions I Ask: Can you tell us about your background, and what has brought you to where you are today? (01:35) What does hybrid technology in rocket engines entail? (10:31) Are you moving towards mass production of rockets yet? (17:28) Can you tell us about your products? (21:03) What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The determinants of success for startups (03:49) How Vaya Space got started (07:36) The approximate number of satellites that will be launched in 2030 (15:00) Advice to other entrepreneurs (28:59) Connect with Brent: LinkedIn Website Connect with Jack:  LinkedIn Connect with Kevin: LinkedIn Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carbon emission is one of the biggest challenges that we are facing in this century. Governments, as well as the private sector, are all working to create sustainable solutions to replace the existing pollutants. One of the ways to create an impact is to electrify transportation using the existing battery technology. Today, the host Kevin Blevins talks to Porter Harris, founder, and CEO of Power Global – a start-up seeking to improve global access to safe, reliable, and modern clean energy technology through innovative electrification products and services. He’ll share with us the progress that the company has made so far and what we should expect from them in the future. In this episode, you’ll learn about the impact that the company is seeking to create. You’ll also hear about the lessons that Porter has learned along the way on his entrepreneurial journey. Lastly, you’ll hear about how the Siemens Startup program has been helping his company. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: What it takes to get a patent (02:27) The objective of Power Global (03:44) The challenges Porter faced when developing his battery products (20:36) How Siemens Startup Program is helping Power Global (22:28) The biggest lesson he has learned on his entrepreneurial journey (24:30) Connect with Porter: LinkedIn Website Connect with Kevin: LinkedIn See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Carbon emission from transport is a challenge that needs to be tackled from sea, land, and air. While a lot of progress has been made in tackling land-based emissions, boats and airplanes are still lagging behind. However, most of the technology that has made electric vehicles reliable is now being adopted in building electric boats. Today, the host Kevin Blevins talks to Ryan Cook, co-founder, and CTO of Arc Boats – a start-up focused on building electric sports boats that will help avert climate change. He is an experienced engineer who also worked at Space X for many years. In this episode, you’ll learn why the co-founders chose to start an electric sports boat company. You’ll also learn about the challenges that they have faced in building the boat as well as the opportunities they see in that market segment. Additionally, you’ll hear about why the company chose to use Siemens NX and what their experience has been so far. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The difference between a water sports boat and a pleasure boat (03:29) How an Arc Boat compares to a typical gasoline boat (07:11) The different charging options and how long each takes (10:14) The challenges they faced in the development of an Arc Boat (14:25) Why they choose to use Siemens NX (15:59) Connect with Ryan: LinkedIn Website Connect with Kevin: LinkedIn See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Eating healthy was much easier and more affordable just a few decades ago because most people lived on fertile farms where they could grow some of their food. However, all that has changed thanks to climate change, increased demand, high cost of inputs, among others. One of the solutions to this problem is using indoor vertical farms to increase the production of healthy food ingredients. Today, the host Kevin Blevins talks to Vilij co-founders, Terry Carr and Brandon Smith. Terry is an experienced designer and Brandon is a mechanical engineer.  Their company is creating a technology-embedded aeroponic system that allows you to grow food indoors. They’ll share with us the impact that they expect their product to have and the progress they made so far. In this episode, you’ll learn about the innovative strategies that the company employs to monitor the plants’ growth process. You’ll also hear about the challenges that they’ve faced along the way and how they were able to overcome them. Additionally, they’ll share some of the lessons that they have learned on their entrepreneurial journey. Some Questions I Ask: Can you share a little bit more about the product that you're developing? (07:04) Where did the idea for the product and company come from? (10:08) Is the idea of customization and personalization, a part of the longer-term strategy for the company? (13:15) How did you hear about Siemens and our particular startup program? (23:11) What challenges do you anticipate, from a technical and business perspective? (26:20) What You’ll Learn in This Episode: What their company does (05:04) Where the name of their product came from (12:06) The technology embedded in their planters (14:52) The challenges they faced while creating the company as well as the product (20:05) Their experience using Siemens products (24:34) Connect with Terry: LinkedIn Website Connect with Brandon:  LinkedIn Connect with Kevin: LinkedIn See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A few decades back, climate change and carbon emissions were rarely considered when designing buildings. Instead, a lot of focus was put on designing pretty buildings that were comfortable and affordable. This usually resulted in poor performance buildings that consumed too much energy and didn’t last long without requiring major renovations. Evoke Buildings Engineering is seeking to change that by utilizing building science to design buildings that are both energy efficient and durable. Today, I’m talking to two guests, Patrick Roppel, Building Science Specialist at Evoke, and Nicolas Proulx-Jones, Building Science Engineer, also from Evoke. They’ll help us understand the process of designing high-performance buildings and the science behind it. In this episode, you’ll learn what the field of building science involves and what it takes to be designated as a building scientist. You’ll also learn what the term building envelope thermal bridging means. Additionally, you’ll hear why Evoke chose Siemens NX and how their experience with the solution has been so far. Some Questions I Ask: What does it take to be designated as a building science specialist? (04:10) What is the meaning of Building Envelope Thermal Bridging? (07:28) How do you quantify the benefits of Building Envelope Thermal Bridging? (11:26) What’s the mission of Evoke Building (14:32) What You’ll Learn in This Episode: What a building scientist does (01:47) The main focus of building science (03:20) How Evoke Building’s research is contributing towards the development of new building regulations (13:10) What made the company choose a Siemens NX (21:11) Connect with Patrick Roppel: LinkedIn EVOKE Connect with Nicolas Proulx-Jones: LinkedIn Connect with Paul Musto: LinkedIn See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Most innovations in the recent past, within the transport industry, have been focused on carbon emission reduction and improving the users’ experience. These innovations have addressed critical needs and moved the needle further ahead in terms of safety and environmental impact. Now, the industry is about to undergo another disruptive innovation with the introduction of the Hyperloop. Today, I’m talking to Rob Miller, the Chief Marketing Officer at Hyperloop Transportation Technologies. He’ll help us understand the technology behind this disruptive innovation as well as how far along they are in development. He’ll also share some of the entrepreneurial lessons he has learned along the way.   In this episode, you’ll learn about the origin of the Hyperloop concept and the people who played an important role in getting it started. You’ll also learn about the underlying technology and the benefits that come with it. Additionally, you’ll hear about the progress that the company has made so far and the cities that they are partnering with. Some Questions I Ask: Where did the Hyperloop concept originate? (02:12) What are some of the cities that you've been talking to? (14:52) Have there been test tracks put together as, as their proof of concept? (16:35) When can we expect to have the first commercial travel? (19:50) What You’ll Learn in This Episode: An explanation of what Hyperloop entails (04:31) Innovations built from the project so far (08:58) How the company differentiates itself from its competitors (17:04) Advice for entrepreneurs trying to get their companies off the ground (23:56) Connect with Rob: LinkedIn Website Connect with Paul Musto: LinkedIn See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Most innovations in the jet engine industry are focused on major parts such as the combustor and the turbine. However, there are other critical parts that play a major role in managing its performance, efficiency, and cost. One of those critical parts that have been a focus of innovation for a vibrant startup is the engine lubrication system.  Today, I’m talking to the two co-founders of Zulu Pods, Inc - Robert Sladen, the company’s Chairman and CEO, and Daniella Sladen, the company’s CTO. They’ll help us understand how their innovative product works and the progress that they have made so far. In this episode, you’ll learn about Zulu Pods and the impact that they expect to make in the jet engine industry. We’ll discuss how they came up with the idea for their product as well as how Siemens NX has helped them in their project so far. Lastly, you’ll hear more about the company’s future goals and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Some Questions I Ask: How are engines lubricated today? (05:12) How did you come up with the Zulu Pods design concept? (08:36) How did you determine the roles that you were each going to take? (10:05) What You’ll Learn in This Episode: How a Zulu Pod lubricates a jet engine (06:51) Why Zulu Pods chose Siemens NX (11:17) Lessons learned along the way and advice to other startups (18:29) The company’s future goals (22:32) Connect with Daniella Sladen: LinkedIn Website Connect with Robert Sladen: LinkedIn Website Connect with Paul Musto: LinkedIn See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The dream of going to space and experiencing zero gravity has only been realized by a handful of people. Commercial space flights are seeking to change this by creating a space tourism industry that will make it possible for more people to go past the edge of the earth. Currently, companies that are heavily invested in the industry compete on how far you can go, the quality of the experience, and the cost of getting there. Today, I’m talking to Taber MacCallum, co-founder, and co-CEO of Space Perspective, a human spaceflight company planning to take people and payloads to the edge of space by balloon. He was also a founding member of the Biosphere 2 design, development, test, and operations team as well as a crew member in the first two-year mission. In this episode, you’ll hear about the goals of Space Perspective and the achievements that they’ve had so far. You’ll also learn about the spacecraft Neptune and what it’ll take to be on the initial commercial trips to space. We also discuss the role that Siemens plays in helping companies create digital designs and perform well-rounded simulations. Some Questions I Ask: What does Commercial Spaceflight Federation do? (05:57) Why is the sea the preferred landing place for the spaceship? (17:58) Will there be any navigation aids on the capsule itself? (19:51) Do you and your wife still have the aspirations of going to Mars? (25:28) What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The fundamental idea behind Space Perspective (08:20) The price of going to space on Spaceship Neptune and the expected departure year (13:34) What the Stratis project entailed and the record that was set (16:42) How Space Perspective uses Siemens software for digital design and simulation (29:29) Connect with Taber MacCallum: LinkedIn Space Perspective Connect with Paul Musto: LinkedIn See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Being dominant in a market full of alternatives requires entrepreneurs who’ll go above and beyond to meet their customers’ needs. Companies that thrive in such environments leverage their passion to understand and solve problems faced by their products’ end users. Today, I’m speaking to Kelly McGee, the co-founder and current engineering and design VP of Elevate Dynamics, a healthcare product company that builds ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) to help people suffering from foot drop.  In today’s episode, you’ll learn about their AFO product and the problem it solves for its users. We’ll dive into the challenges that are faced by startups and how to overcome some of them. You’ll also hear more about the importance of market research and the role that data plays in product development.   Join us as we discuss how Elevate Dynamics successfully combined hard work and passion to build a successful product. Some Questions I Ask: What is AFO and what’s its history? (5:59) How did Elevate end up working on AFO? (11:07) What led to Elevate’s partnership with SPS? (17:51) How did COVID impact Elevate? (21:44) Why did Elevate choose Siemens CAD software? (22:49) What are Elevate’s future plans? (24:17) What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The purpose of an AFO (5:59) The prevalence and causes of drop foot (7:56) How to conduct meaningful market research (15:24) The importance of trust while building a brand (19:31) The benefits that Siemens CAD offers to startups (22:49) The importance of focus for startups (26:46) Resources: ElevateMovement Siemens Startups Software Connect with Kelly McGee: LinkedIn Connect with Paul Musto: LinkedIn See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Big sweeping changes are hard to come by when it comes to environmental preservation. They also take a long time to settle into place. So, perhaps the real sustainability changes we’re seeking are those that come in smaller packages. It’s the less disruptive and more easily implemented solutions that are filling in the gaps, and those small efforts can add up quickly.  Today, I’m talking to Spencer Maynes, a Kansas City based inventor and data scientist working to reduce energy consumption in the transportation industry. He’s the CEO of Deflect, LLC, a company that’s introduced a system called RoofRider, a unique product that significantly improves the aerodynamics for transportation and passenger trains. We’ll also hear from the company CTO, Adrian Villar.  In this episode, you’ll learn how this deflector technology helps reduce drag in the inter-car gap, and how Deflect, LLC came up with such a unique solution to a long-known fuel efficiency problem in the rail industry. We’ll discuss the importance of testing and simulation, and how Siemens NX is helping throughout the design process. Finally, you’ll hear about the challenges they experienced and the support they benefited from as they launched the company, and the process of bringing their technology closer to market.  Some Questions I Ask: How does the product concept work? (3:38) Are there other companies creating similar products? (6:12) What's happening between the train cars as they're moving down the track? (12:06) What challenges do you anticipate from both a technical and a business perspective? (16:08) What You’ll Learn in This Episode: How the RoofRyder reduces fuel consumption on freight trains (2:36) A unique mission statement (4:46) Differences and similarities between the aerodynamics of race cars and trains (10:13) Risk management in the rail industry (18:08) Resources: RoofRider Connect with Spencer Maynes: LinkedIn Connect with Adrian Villar: LinkedIn Connect with Paul Musto: LinkedIn See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When it comes to getting an aircraft off the ground, it’s no longer a question of “if” it will fly. We’ve moved into the era of “how”- and the emphasis today is on efficiency. This encompasses energy consumption, endurance, speed, and overall performance. Today, we’re looking into the future of turbine engines and exploring what lies just beyond the horizon of existing technology. We’re looking towards what’s next.  Today, I’m talking to Roger Smith and David Laudermilch of Sierra Turbines. Roger started as a software engineer for Apple nearly 20 years ago, and today, he’s the CEO of this innovative California company. David is a Design Engineer with previous experience working with companies like Saab and Rolls Royce. Together, they’ve taken their experience working for industry leaders in software and transportation and turned towards the production of gas microturbines.  In this episode, you’ll hear how each of their rather unique career trajectories eventually led them to this Silicon Valley startup. We’ll talk about the early challenges of getting a microturbine company off the ground, the technologies that merge in order to create their products, and the interesting work they're doing in collaboration with NASA.  Some Questions I Ask: What makes your turbines unique? (4:07) What are the advantages of using additive for your microturbines? (5:16) What challenges did you face in the early stages of developing Sierra Turbines? (8:40) What drew you to Siemens and why do you prefer NX? (15:22) What's the first commercial application that you see? (21:17) What You’ll Learn in This Episode: How Sierra Turbines began (2:59) The link between microturbines and outer space (6:06) Preparing for the validation process (13:45) What’s on the horizon Sierra Turbines (19:21) Preparing for a zero-emissions future (23:50) Resources: Sierra Turbines Connect with Roger Smith: LinkedIn Connect with David Laudermilch: LinkedIn Connect with Paul Musto: LinkedIn See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The satellite business is growing rapidly as space technology and technology here on Earth advances. Whether it’s for navigation purposes or wifi accessibility, more and more satellites of all sizes and purposes are being launched into the great beyond. But, before they can fulfill their purpose, they have to hitch a ride to space.  My guest today is Dean Massey, Director of Research at Apollo Fusion, Inc. This California-based company is developing exciting new forms of propulsion for space satellites. In this rapidly growing industry, Apollo stands out because of their unique focus on the smaller satellite market. Their journey into space began in 2016 with fusion, and soon after transformed into propulsion as the market began to develop and show promise. In this episode, you’ll hear about the early days of this space-age startup, and more about the overall history of space satellites. We’ll talk about how the propulsion system functions as it simultaneously launches hundreds of small satellites, and the simulation aspects of recreating a space-like environment. You’ll also learn about the challenges they’ve faced as a startup in the space industry, and how they’ve surpassed them as they gear up for their first launch.  Some Questions I Ask: What’s the mission that you and your team have embarked on? (1:30) What is a Hall Thruster? (6:47) How does the propulsion system function on the satellite? (11:40) What makes Apollo thrusters unique (17:55) What are the future goals for the company? (22:28) What drew you to Siemens and the products that you use? (26:35) What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why the Apollo focus is on the smaller satellite market (2:28) How the company shifted from fusion to propulsion (5:19) A short history of space satellites (7:53) How long it takes satellites to get to space (14:08) Why manufacturability makes Apollo different (20:01) Resources: Apollo Fusion Connect with Dean Massey: LinkedIn Connect with Paul Musto: LinkedIn See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How many times have you ordered something online, and received a box 4x the size of the product inside? Aside from the confusion as to why, we’re all left with the sentiment of how wasteful it is. Well, there’s one company out there working to change that.  Throughout the pandemic, e-commerce has taken off astronomically. That means the demand for smart and efficient air cargo solutions is on the rise.  My guest today is Aleksey Matyushev from Natilus Corporation, a California based startup working on creating autonomous drone aircraft. Their goal is to reduce the cost of airfreight by 50% through thoughtful design and a smarter use of space.   In this episode, Aleksey talks about how he pivoted from industrial design to entrepreneurship and shares details about the autonomous aircraft being produced by Natilus. He also shares valuable insight about the inner workings of Silicon Valley, and why aspiring entrepreneurs don’t necessarily need to flock there in order to find success.   Some Questions I Ask: How did you come up with the idea for Natilus? (3:28) Do you ever see this evolving into human transportation? (6:50) What was the process that you went through to validate the effectiveness of the designs? (10:39) How do you save money by flying at lower altitudes? (12:56) What can you share with other entrepreneurs about your startup experience? (15:25) What kinds of simulations is Natilus doing? (25:38) What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why the F22 never went into major production (4:55) What makes Natilus stand out from the competition (7:58) Why making an electric aircraft is different from making an electric car (9:18) The creative strategy they used to help build the business (10:58) Why e-commerce was an important consideration in their design process (14:09) Lessons in product development (19:02) A message for aspiring entrepreneurs and engineers (27:26) Resources: Natilus Siemens Startups Program: from idea to market leader with the right tools Connect with Aleksey Matyushev: LinkedIn Connect with Paul Musto: LinkedIn See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to jump off of a mountain and glide uninhibited across the sky, today’s guest is bringing you one step closer to that reality. He believes that the current transportation options available limit our movement by confining us to land. Why drive when we could be flying? My guest today is Ephi Blanshey. He’s the younger half of the father and son duo behind Blanshey Aviation. They’re currently designing an electric propulsion system to improve the experience of lightweight flying for hang gliding machines.  In today’s episode, we’ll learn about the origins of these design ideas that originated with Ephi’s father, Vladimir. We’ll also talk about the reasons they’ve moved away from a combustion engine model, and how the newer electric engines benefit the design.  Ephi tells us about their CAD design and 3D printing tools, and names some of the helpful forums he’s found for anyone out there interested in using Solid Edge. Are you ready to take to the skies and enter the next generation of mobility?  Some Questions I Ask: What’s the origin of Blanshey Aviation? (1:24) When did the trike first appear as a recreational vehicle? (4:02) How was design approached in the early days? (7:47) How did you move into electric aviation? (10:31) What do the next 3-5 years look like for your company? (16:26) What online communities have you found to be the most useful? (20:41) How are you assembling the products you make? (23:42) What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The complex logistics of hang gliding (2:24) The problems associated with using a combustion engine to fly (6:27) How Blanshey uses Solid Edge (13:09) The unique challenges for this type of aviation (18:33) The 3D printer they use and how it’s modified as needed (21:57) How & where testing takes place (25:09) Advice to other entrepreneurs (26:28) Resources: Hacker News Facebook Groups Solid Edge Community Forum Siemens Blog Connect with Ephi Blanshey: Email/ Twitter Instagram See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The difference between starting a company 20+ years ago and starting one today is the accessibility of resources. When resources become more available, the competition grows. Great innovation needs professional nurturing in order to gain the competitive edge needed to survive in today’s startup environment.  Startup incubator spaces have answered this call for countless companies. They provide resources and professional expertise related to scaling a small business to companies at various stages of growth. In today’s episode, we're talking to Osh Momoh and Jesika Briones from the leadership team at MaRS. This Toronto-based incubator provides support and services to over 1,200 startup companies. They provide Canadian science and tech companies with tailored resources through the startup stages, focusing on health, cleantech, FinTech, financial, and enterprise.  MaRS has been helping startups get off the ground for 15 years, and they’re only seeing interest grow. They also offer a dedicated Autonomous program for startups in that realm, so we’ll dive into how that works as well.  Some Questions I Ask: Could you provide us with some background on MaRS and the overall mission that you have there? (1:57) What types of day to day services do you provide for startups? (4:12) How do you see that startup world changing? (8:23) Can you give us an example of a company that you've worked with at MaRS that have gone through that evolution and are now on their path to becoming a commercially successful company? (11:07) What is a level 5 autonomous vehicle, and when might that be commercially available? (21:27) What are some of the challenges autonomous vehicles face? (24:19) How do you see the infrastructure that’s required to support autonomous vehicles progressing? (27:58) What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The types of startups MaRS works with (2:44) How they’ve broadened their industry focus beyond the health sector (6:00) How MaRS has grown with the popularity of startup culture (9:23) The role of the Autonomous Vehicle Innovation Network within MaRS (13:56) What autonomous vehicle really means (7:10) Considerations for an autonomous future (22:13) Resources: MaRS Ecopia AI Automated Vehicle Transparency and Engagement for Safe Testing Initiative Siemens Software for Startups Connect with Osh Momoh: LinkedIn Connect with Jesika Briones: LinkedIn Connect with Paul Musto: LinkedIn See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The difference between starting a company 20+ years ago and starting one today is the accessibility of resources. When resources become more available, the competition grows. Great innovation needs professional nurturing in order to gain the competitive edge needed to survive in today’s startup environment.  Startup incubator spaces have answered this call for countless companies. They provide resources and professional expertise related to scaling a small business to companies at various stages of growth. In today’s episode, we're talking to Osh Momoh and Jesika Briones from the leadership team at MaRS. This Toronto-based incubator provides support and services to over 1,200 startup companies. They provide Canadian science and tech companies with tailored resources through the startup stages, focusing on health, cleantech, FinTech, financial, and enterprise.  MaRS has been helping startups get off the ground for 15 years, and they’re only seeing interest grow. They also offer a dedicated Autonomous program for startups in that realm, so we’ll dive into how that works as well.  Some Questions I Ask: Could you provide us with some background on MaRS and the overall mission that you have there? (1:57) What types of day to day services do you provide for startups? (4:12) How do you see that startup world changing? (8:23) Can you give us an example of a company that you've worked with at MaRS that have gone through that evolution and are now on their path to becoming a commercially successful company? (11:07) What is a level 5 autonomous vehicle, and when might that be commercially available? (21:27) What are some of the challenges autonomous vehicles face? (24:19) How do you see the infrastructure that’s required to support autonomous vehicles progressing? (27:58) What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The types of startups MaRS works with (2:44) How they’ve broadened their industry focus beyond the health sector (6:00) How MaRS has grown with the popularity of startup culture (9:23) The role of the Autonomous Vehicle Innovation Network within MaRS (13:56) What autonomous vehicle really means (7:10) Considerations for an autonomous future (22:13) Resources: MaRS Ecopia AI Automated Vehicle Transparency and Engagement for Safe Testing Initiative Siemens Software for Startups Connect with Osh Momoh: LinkedIn Connect with Jesika Briones: LinkedIn Connect with Paul Musto: LinkedIn See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We’re living in a time when space is becoming more accessible every day. Satellite technology is growing, and savvy entrepreneurs are leading the way forward.  My guest today is Jakub Kapuš, Founder and CTO of Spacemanic. Headquartered in Slovakia, they are a small satellite mission integrator focused on delivering flight proven innovative and reliable nanosatellite solutions, platforms, components and services to customers. Their capabilities span from the design phase, through development, testing, and licensing, and go all the way through to launch.  In this episode, Jakub shares the story of building his first satellite from the confines of a small bathroom, eventually reaching the infinite orbit of space. We’ll discuss how nanosatellites have changed the industry, making the possibilities more affordable. We’ll also talk about the unique challenges of the startup in terms of hardware, software, government regulations, and learn how he ultimately launched this satellite concept into the world.  If you’re an early-stage startup in business for less than three years, you can now apply to get Solid Edge product development software for free, with no application fee. The Solid Edge for Startups program provides eligible startups with free access to a complete product development solution, including CAD, CAM, and CAE software. Go to www.siemens.com/startups Some Questions I Ask: How much of your business consists of nanosatellites? (3:18) What got the media excited about your project? (9:07) What were some of the challenges you faced as a startup? (12:10) What technology challenges did you come up against? (16:37) What are you using in your business to differentiate yourself from your competitors? (18:33) Where do you see the company in the next 5 years? (21:22) What You’ll Learn in This Episode: How customers are using these satellites (3:54) The origins of Spacemanic (5:12) How Jakub built his first satellite (7:25) How the university environment helps fuel their growth (14:19) The software and engineering tools they use (20:10) The particular challenges of being a trailblazer for space technology (23:17) Connect with Jakub Kapuš: LinkedIn Twitter Connect with John Fox:  LinkedIn Twitter Resources: Spacemanic Subscribe to our Podcast: Apple Podcasts Listen Notes Spotify See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Manufacturing processes are a constant area of innovation. Companies are always looking for ways to make production more efficient, more cost-effective, and more quality-driven. But there’s one really important process that is often overlooked when it comes to innovation in manufacturing.  The inspection phase has kind of been stuck in the dark ages. As production methods continue to modernize, isn’t it time we turn our eyes to more cutting-edge methods of inspection? Current approaches involve physically destructive processes that rely heavily on statistics. But inaccuracies due to statistical faults can be costly. There’s also the environmental aspects, like the safe disposal of contaminated magnetized water, for example. My guest today is Ibon Iribarren, Managing Director at LINQcase, a startup based in San Sebastian, Spain. As someone who has always placed a high value on the customer side of the manufacturing industry, he employed his astute listening skills to guide him towards a business venture that ultimately solves problems that, while relatively rare, are nearly always costly.  Today we’ll learn about their unique non-destructive manufacturing inspection process. We’ll explore the path that led Ibon in this direction, and we’ll talk about the current applications of the technology, as well as the potential to reshape the inspection process on a larger scale.  Some Questions I Ask: What types of customers are taking advantage of your inspection process? (3:15) How do you and your customers quantify the cost of avoiding failure? (5:22) How widespread is your technique of inspection? (9:19) What types of physical products do you offer potential customers? (11:12) What makes your company stand out from the competition? (14:20) Once you saw the opportunity, how did you make the leap? (21:31) What software tools are you using? (28:17) What’s your advice for people thinking about going the startup route? (33:25) What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why manufacturing inspection today is destructive and costly (1:18) Why individual part traceability offers a more secure inspection than general process stability (4:10) The residual problems with the current inspection process (7:13) How the company got its start (16:30) How the company is structured (26:04) An example of how predictive maintenance works (31:27) One thing you shouldn’t do when your startup is in its early stages (35:21) Connect with Ibon Iribarren: LinkedIn Resources: LINQcase Website YouTube See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.