From the Ground Up

Emily Smith shares how she is tackling the everyday chaos of dead batteries and lost devices with smart charging and asset management solutions. She breaks down how HonestWaves serves schools, hospitals, logistics centers, and major venues by combining hardware, software, and real-world feedback. This conversation explores leadership, partnerships, and what it takes to build a durable company by s...

Software is moving faster than security can keep up, and Abhay Bhargav thinks that’s a dangerous problem. In this episode, the CEO of SecurityReview AI explains why threat modeling is broken, how AI can finally fix it, and what happens when security moves upstream instead of becoming an afterthought. If you care about building technology that scales without falling apart, this is a conversation wo...

In this episode, Ian Amit breaks down why generative AI cannot be trusted to fix cloud infrastructure and why deterministic AI is about to reshape DevOps. He shares the frustrations that led him to build Gomboc AI and explains how teams are reclaiming massive engineering time by using it. If you want a clear, no-nonsense view of the future of cloud security and the role AI will play, you will not...

This episode dives into how ONYX Motors’ Tim Seward turned a personal experiment into one of the most influential electric moped brands in America. His story reveals why designing durable, customizable machines, not disposable tech, can spark an entire mobility movement. If you want to understand the future of city commuting and the culture forming around it, this conversation is essential.

In this episode of From the Ground Up, Plant Cell Technology CEO Yoni Kalin reveals how cell culture is poised to reshape global food production, medicine, and biotech. He breaks down how his team scaled from a single product to an entire ecosystem powering growers, researchers, hobbyists, and emerging food-tech pioneers. Listeners get an inside look at the future of automated labs, organ-on-deman...

When a cyber crisis hits, most companies freeze, but Arvind Parthasarathi built CYGNVS to make sure they don’t have to. In this episode, he shares how his platform helps organizations stay operational when everything from email to infrastructure collapses. It’s a masterclass in resilience, innovation, and leading through chaos in the digital age.

Entrepreneurs build their dreams brick by brick, but few stop to protect what they’ve built. In this episode, WoodmenLife CMO Kyle McMahan shares how founders can turn short-term hustle into long-term security through smart financial planning, risk protection, and community impact. It’s a conversation about what it really takes to build not just a business, but a legacy that lasts.

What happens when artificial intelligence starts stealing human faces? On this episode of From the Ground Up, we sit down with Spotlite co-founder Hannah Choi, whose company is protecting real creators from AI misuse while reshaping the modeling industry for the digital age. Discover how Spotlite is turning ethical tech into opportunity, where creators stay in control, and authenticity fights back...

Motorcycles have always meant freedom, but also risk. Damon Inc., led by CEO Dom Kwong, is changing that. With its HyperSport electric motorcycle and Damon IO digital platform, the company is bringing safety, intelligence, and scalability to two-wheel mobility.

Freight is broken. Cargo spends weeks stuck in bottlenecks between trucks and trains. Glīd, led by SpaceX alum Kevin Damoa, has built a system that cuts the process down to minutes. With autonomous “Gliders” and smart software, the company is reimagining how goods move: faster, cleaner, and seamless.

What does it really take to build a culture of innovation that lasts? In this episode, strategic advisor and author Cris Beswick breaks down the myths, mindsets, and mechanics behind innovation-led growth, plus why most companies get it wrong. If you’re a founder, executive, or manager looking to make innovation more than just a buzzword, this conversation is your playbook.

Join former Entrepreneur magazine Editor-in-Chief Amy Cosper as she shares hard-won lessons from the front lines of startup life. From foundational business strategies to media storytelling that actually works, Amy delivers real, actionable insights for founders at any stage. If you're building something from scratch, this episode is your blueprint for doing it right the first time.

Javier Loya joins From the Ground Up to share how he built GETCHOICE! into a fast-growing software optimization company serving enterprise clients across energy, telecom, and waste. As an entrepreneur, NFL team owner, and advocate for minority representation, Loya reveals the mindset and structure that fuel his leadership style. Tune in for insights on scaling businesses, building team culture, an...

Evan Floersch is betting big on the future of pickleball with the Texas Ranchers, a fast-growing franchise aiming to bring pro-level excitement to America’s fastest-growing sport. In this episode, he shares how his background in tech and community building is shaping a new kind of sports ownership model. From grassroots engagement to global ambitions, Floersch is building more than a team — he’s b...

David Duguan went from flipping headphones and shoes as a kid to building Voxify, an AI-powered platform that helps small businesses never miss a customer call. In this episode, he shares how his upbringing between Ghana and the U.S. shaped his entrepreneurial mindset and why he’s betting big on voice tech for Main Street. If you’ve ever wondered how to turn a scrappy side hustle into a scalable s...

CJ Konstantinos, founder of Peoples Reserve, joins From the Ground Up to discuss how his company is redefining Bitcoin’s role in personal finance. Instead of spending your Bitcoin, Peoples Reserve lets you leverage it as pristine collateral to finance real-world purchases, starting with your home. It’s a bold bet on a decentralized credit future where your balance sheet, not your credit score, is...

On this episode of From the Ground Up, Gaurav Bhattacharya joins to share how a side project meant to save a struggling startup turned into Jeeva AI, one of the most promising new tools in agentic sales automation. He breaks down how his team navigated a risky pivot, what the future of sales looks like with AI, and why the “full-stack rep” is making a comeback. It’s a raw, insightful look at what...

Bobby Gray, founder of Texitcoin, joins From the Ground Up to discuss his mission to restore cryptocurrency’s original purpose as peer-to-peer digital money. Drawing from his decades of experience in alternative currencies, Gray breaks down how Texitcoin is building a decentralized, Texas-based blockchain for real-world use. He also unveils the Downtown Digital Dollars initiative, a local crypto p...

Dr. Marcus Weller joins From the Ground Up to unveil Deepinvent, an AI platform built to revolutionize how intellectual property is created. From generating patents in minutes to innovating on its own architecture, Deepinvent is redefining what it means to invent. Weller breaks down how this “Level Four” AI is helping startups and enterprises alike fast-track their most ambitious ideas.

City Manager Mike Futrell isn’t your average bureaucrat—he’s a former Navy officer, utility exec, and biotech strategist now transforming Riverside, CA into a green tech powerhouse. In this episode, he unpacks how the city is fusing affordability, innovation, and sustainability to attract the next generation of entrepreneurs. From solar greenhouses to hydrogen trains, Futrell is turning Riverside...

Sebastian Pfeiffer of Impossible Cloud Network (ICN) joins the show to talk about why the future of the cloud can't stay centralized. From scaling AI infrastructure to protecting digital sovereignty, he lays out how ICN is building a faster, fairer alternative. It’s a conversation about breaking tech monopolies and why users might not even notice when decentralization finally wins.

Jeff Mahony isn’t following the vodka playbook, he’s rewriting it. From aerospace and AI to sipping spirits in a recyclable black barrel, NEFT Vodka’s CEO shares how bold ideas and better ingredients are shaking up a stale industry. This episode dives into disruption, sustainability, and why the old guard should be nervous.

Michael Brown didn’t come from tech, but he couldn’t ignore the absurdity of people still hanging off skyscrapers to wash windows. Now he’s running Skyline Robotics, a company that replaces that job with robots — and quietly gathers building data no one else has. This isn’t just automation for show, it’s a wedge into something much bigger.

Discover how Daniel Daoura, founder of Pebblebee, turned his aerospace engineering expertise into a game-changing universal tracking solution. In this episode, he shares the challenges of building a global business, innovating cross-platform tracking, and expanding into industries like sports and automotive.

Kobi Frankel, CEO of Beyond Alpha Ventures, joins From the Ground Up to share insights on venture capital, AI, and quantum computing. He discusses how startups can attract funding, scale efficiently, and navigate today’s evolving investment landscape.