Silicon Oasis Spotlight

In this episode of Silicon Oasis Spotlight , Josue Romero sits down with Jessica Cadavid, Founder and Principal of Smart Surface Robotics, to discuss her journey from practicing immigration law to building an Arizona robotics startup tackling one of the built environment's most persistent challenges. Jessica shares how Smart Surface Robotics is developing autonomous technologies for mold detec...

In this episode of Silicon Oasis Spotlight, we sit down with Sam Bertram, founder and CEO of OnePointOne, a Phoenix-based company reimagining how the world grows food. Sam shares the story behind Opollo Farm, the world's first fully robotic cubic vertical farm, and how OnePointOne is combining AI, aeroponics, and warehouse-scale automation to produce organic food using a fraction of the land a...

In this episode of the Silicon Oasis Spotlight, we sit down with Zach Brooks, founder and CEO of Eugenome, to discuss the journey that shaped both his life and his company. From traveling across seven countries and working as a Hollywood actor to building a healthtech startup, Zach shares how resilience, rejection, and purpose became the foundation of his entrepreneurial journey. We explore Eugeno...

In this episode of the Silicon Oasis Spotlight, we sit down with Tejas Gupta to explore the future of AI-native software development and the rise of intelligent developer tooling. Tejas shares the vision behind Clean AI — a platform building an AI-powered coding workspace designed to help developers and engineering teams manage context across increasingly complex codebases. We discuss the evolutio...

Kinjal Chatterjee is the co-founder of Navia, an AI-powered productivity platform designed to support neurodivergent college students. He led the company from concept to a live pilot at Arizona State University’s GATE program, building both the product and the underlying technical architecture from the ground up. Kinjal architected Navia’s full stack using Next.js, React, TypeScript, Node.js, Post...

In this episode of Silicon Oasis Spotlight, Josue Romero sits down with Justin Kuehn, Founder of TryDrobe, to discuss the future of retail, technology, and consumer experience. Justin shares the story behind building TryDrobe, the challenges of launching in a competitive market, and how his team is rethinking how people discover and try products. The conversation dives into entrepreneurship, produ...

We sat down with Raghav Bansal, a 3x founder and CEO of GitHired, to break down what it actually takes to build in today’s startup landscape. From launching AI-driven platforms to helping place top engineering talent, Raghav shares lessons on speed, execution, and validating ideas before you build. We dive into his journey as a repeat founder, his perspective on the future of hiring and AI, and wh...

The Silicon Oasis Spotlight interviews serial entrepreneur Kentarou, who discusses his background, including writing books, doing a TED Talk, and mentoring startups at Harvard. Kentarou also talks about leading the TEDx ASU initiative, which is planned to be the largest TEDx event in history, bringing in 12,500-plus attendees, and focusing on showcasing innovation and providing opportunities for A...

In this episode of the Silicon Oasis Spotlight, Josue sits down with Michael Melichar, co-founder of Triptimize, to talk about his journey as a startup leader and the vision behind his company. Triptimize is an AI-powered travel platform designed to eliminate the overwhelm of trip planning—no endless tabs, no guesswork, just a smarter and more personalized way to plan your travel. Michael shares:W...

In this episode of Silicon Oasis Spotlight, we’re joined by Emini Offutt , CEO of Grangou , an app designed to help people form meaningful connections—starting with a shared meal. Grangou was built on a simple belief: the best conversations don’t happen through endless swiping or awkward small talk, but around the table. Emini shares how Grangou matches people over meals to take the pressure out o...

In this episode of Silicon Oasis Spotlight, we sit down with Corey Powell , Founder and CEO of Hubble. GOLF , to talk about how his company is transforming the way golfers discover, plan, and experience tournaments around the world. Born out of firsthand frustration with fragmented booking systems and endless research, Hubble. GOLF brings tournament discovery, planning, and logistics together into...

In this episode of Silicon Oasis Spotlight, we sit down with Dhanush Vardhan, Founder and President of DevLabs, to talk about the organization’s journey, mission, and growing impact on Arizona’s tech ecosystem. DevLabs began as a student-led initiative and has evolved into a thriving community that supports students, founders, and companies through hands-on competitions, collaboration, and real-wo...

In this episode of Silicon Oasis Spotlight, Josue sits down with Mat Sherman — founder of MAT Capital — to explore his journey in Arizona’s tech and startup ecosystem. Mat shares insights on building community, supporting founders, and creating opportunities for early-stage entrepreneurs through capital, mentorship, and guidance. Together, they discuss the challenges startups face, what strong fou...

In this episode of Silicon Oasis Spotlight, Josue sits down with Don Fotsch for a deep conversation about Arizona’s growing tech sector and the forces shaping its innovation economy. Don shares his perspective on ecosystem development, the evolution of the state’s tech landscape, and what’s driving momentum for founders, technologists, and community builders across Arizona. Together, they discuss...

In this episode of Silicon Oasis Spotlight, we sit down with Zach Hawley and Will Aja , the co-founders and leaders of Steerco AI , to explore how they’re transforming the way teams manage projects through artificial intelligence. They share insights on: The inspiration behind launching Steerco AI How their backgrounds shaped the company’s vision Challenges faced while scaling a tech startupThe fu...

In this inspiring Silicon Oasis Spotlight episode, Shane Martin opens up about his path to launching B Ventures — the wins, the lessons, and the mindset that keeps him moving forward. Tune in as we talk about: Turning bold ideas into actionable ventures Staying grounded while scaling a business The importance of community and innovation in entrepreneurship 💡 Catch more stories like this on the Si...

🎙️ Welcome to our latest podcast episode! In this conversation, we sit down with Heather Tugaoen , CEO of Watergenics , a startup revolutionizing water quality monitoring . Heather shares insights into how her team is tackling global water challenges through innovative sensor technology and data-driven solutions. 💧 What we cover in this episode: The design and impact of Watergenics’ advanced wate...

n this episode, we sit down with Aby Bizuneh, founder of Captavate, to explore her journey from growing up in the Valley to becoming a biomedical engineer and entrepreneur in neurotechnology.🌟 What you’ll hear in this episode:Aby’s Story – Growing up in Arizona, her time at ASU, and how changing her major five times eventually led her to biomedical engineering and neurotech. The Spark for Captava...

In this episode of the Silicon Oasis Spotlight, we speak with Aryana Dubey, founder of Binsir AI, an innovative platform that’s streamlining the home inspection process through artificial intelligence. Aryana shares how Binsir AI reduces time, increases accuracy, and helps homeowners and real estate professionals make informed decisions faster. We explore the technology behind the tool, the challe...

In this episode of the Silicon Oasis Spotlight, we sit down with Jasmine Bhatti, the founder and CEO of Navi Nurses, to talk about her journey from nurse to entreprenuer. Jasmin shares how she's redefining patient care through personalized, on-demand nursing service, the challenges she's faced building a healthcare startup, and her vision for the future of home-based care.

In this episode of Silicon Oasis Spotlight , we meet Mahesh Vinayagam , the founder and CEO of qBotica Inc., whose personal journey and leadership philosophy set the tone for an inspiring conversation. Mahesh’s career spans over 20 years across three continents – from his early beginnings in India, through leadership roles in the UK, to spearheading innovation in the U.S. In 2017, driven by a pass...

In this episode, we talk with Jordan Fourcher , founder and CEO of Cryo X Co , the Arizona-based deep tech startup behind CryoPaint® — a revolutionary radiative cooling paint that keeps surfaces up to 15°F cooler than the surrounding air without using a single watt of electricity. Jordan breaks down: How CryoPaint uses space-age physics to reflect sunlight and radiate heat into space Why passive c...

In this episode, we sit down with Ryan Moorehouse , CTO and co-founder of Ruck , a startup on a mission to streamline and modernize field operations in construction and development. We talk about: How Ruck is changing the game for field teams and project managers The challenges (and wins) of building in the construction tech space Ryan’s founder journey — from boots on the ground to tech leader Wh...

In this episode, we sit down with Tristan Tierce , the co-founder of Allergy Voyage — a tech-driven platform empowering people with food allergies to travel with confidence. Tristan shares how a deeply personal challenge sparked a mission to change the way people navigate allergy-friendly travel, and how his team is building tools that combine safety, community, and innovation. We dive into his st...

In this episode, we sit down with Camden Bean, an early-stage investor at Tandem Ventures, to explore the mindset and mechanics behind backing the next generation of founders. From unexpected career pivots to building at breakout companies, Camden shares hard-won lessons from both sides of the table. We also dive into what Tandem looks for in startups, how they support founders beyond the check, a...