The Sparknify Podcast

Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant technology trend. It is already changing how companies operate, how teams make decisions, how leaders think about strategy, and how people imagine the future of work. But as AI becomes more powerful, the most important question is not simply what the technology can do. It is how humans choose to lead with it. In this episode of Silicon Valley Unplugge...

Accelerating ASIC Operations with Agentic AI & Automated WorkflowsIn this talk, Mohamed Kassem, CEO of Native Chips ( http://nativechips.ai ), explores how the next generation of custom silicon is being built—and how AI is fundamentally reshaping the way ASICs move from concept to production. As demand for specialized chips continues to surge across AI, edge computing, and high-performance sys...

What if the next great Silicon Valley moonshot is not software, chips, or AI — but human longevity? In this episode of Silicon Valley Unplugged , we sit down with Sergey Jakimov , Managing Partner of LongeVC , a venture capital fund backing early-stage biotech and longevity-focused founders working to change the future of human health. Sergey is not just an investor. He is a serial entrepreneur, c...

What if the people we love — our parents, mentors, friends, and the creators who shape our world — could stay with us longer? In this episode of Silicon Valley Unplugged (SV Up), Sparknify explores one of humanity’s most powerful questions: can we extend not just lifespan, but healthy human life? Our guest is Dr. Artem Trotsyuk, a longevity researcher, entrepreneur, and investor working at the int...

How do the corporate venture arms of the world’s largest industrial companies decide where the future of technology is heading? In this episode of Silicon Valley Unplugged, Sparknify brings together leaders from three of the most influential corporate venture capital groups shaping the next wave of AI, semiconductors, and deep tech innovation. These investors sit at the intersection of frontier te...

At the  Bridging Silicon Valley and Taiwan: Semiconductor & AI Synergies  event, Sam Fok, Co-Founder & CEO of  femtoAI , shares real-world insights on building ultra-efficient AI inference for embedded and edge devices. Drawing from hands-on experience at the intersection of silicon and software, Sam explains how breakthroughs in co-design are enabling powerful AI to run on constrained har...

At the  Bridging Silicon Valley and Taiwan: Semiconductor & AI Synergies  event,  Laura Swan , General Partner at  Silicon Catalyst Ventures , delivers her talk  “Accelerating the Future: How Semiconductor Startups Scale from Idea to Impact.”  Drawing on decades of hands-on engineering, operating, and venture experience, Laura breaks down what it truly takes for semiconductor and deep-tech sta...

At the Bridging Silicon Valley and Taiwan: Semiconductor & AI Synergies  on January 13, 2026 in Palo Alto, Janis Skriveris , Principal and Deeptech Lead at Plug and Play Ventures , shares his talk “Empowering the Global Semiconductor Ecosystem: From Innovation to Scale.”  Drawing from years of investing and operating at the intersection of deep tech and global platforms, Janis explores how sta...

At Bridging Silicon Valley and Taiwan: Semiconductor & AI Synergies on January 13, 2026 in Palo Alto, Andy Lombard, Founder and Managing Partner of Tesoro Venture Capital, shares hard-earned insights on what it really takes to scale AI and semiconductor startups from early traction to global impact. Drawing from decades of experience as a six-time venture-backed founder, former Motorola execut...

A Strategic Conversation from Silicon Valley at 2025 Taiwan Demo Day As AI dominates headlines and reshapes entire industries, the most forward-looking investors, researchers, and founders are already asking: what comes next? This panel—filmed live at Willow Workplace in Menlo Park on July 24, 2025 — brings together some of the sharpest minds in AI, venture capital, and exponential technologies to...

In this episode of Silicon Valley Unplugged, Scott Parker, founder and CEO of Traverse Aero, takes the stage for a Tech Talk presentation on how autonomous air systems will reshape the future of logistics. Scott introduces Traverse Aero’s groundbreaking approach to autonomous pallet transport, showing how their platform can dramatically improve planning, routing, and operational efficiency across...

In this episode of Silicon Valley Spotlight, we feature David Leikam — a composer-improviser and sonic architect whose soundscapes push the boundaries of modern improvisation. Performing live on the Moog Rogue synthesizer, David brings analog textures to life through instinct, emotion, and deep sonic curiosity. Born with cerebral palsy, David’s experience of the world—through both body and speech—...

In this episode of Silicon Valley Unplugged, we sit down with Nicolas Sauvage, President of TDK Ventures, for a candid, behind-the-scenes conversation on what it really takes to build and back transformative deep-tech companies. Hosted by Jillian Sun, this episode explores how frontier technologies move from lab breakthroughs to global impact. Nicolas shares insights from the investor’s seat—how T...

What if the everyday objects around you — a spring, a pipe, a piece of metal — could sing? In this episode of Silicon Valley Spotlight, we explore the mind of Bryan Day, an experimental sound artist, inventor, and performer who transforms found materials into mesmerizing sound sculptures. From tinkering with discarded electronics to performing with self-built instruments, Bryan challenges how we d...

AI is transforming every corner of society — and education is no exception. From reshaping how students learn to redefining the admissions process, the future of learning is here. But what happens when algorithms, not humans, begin to evaluate what makes a “good student”? In this episode of SV Up (Silicon Valley Unplugged), filmed live in Palo Alto, we bring together experts and innovators to tack...

In this episode of Silicon Valley Unplugged (SV Up), we dive into the thrilling world of drone racing — a tech-infused sport where human reflexes and machine speed converge in a high-stakes spectacle. Moderated by Leah Stamm of Sparknify, this live panel features top drone racing champions including Timofey “Din” Germanov, Colby Curtola, Jon Gaiser, and Bryson Hagerman. Together, they explore how...