The Tech Glow Up - Fabulous conversations with innovative minds.

Dr. Muhsinah Morris is the founder of Metaverse United , a professor, advocate, mom, and STEM innovator focused on lowering barriers to entry into the next iteration of the web, including extended reality technologies and AI-powered virtual worlds. Key Takeaways: Metaverse United trains educators on using AI and XR effectively in education and developing metaverse culture. Dr. Morris works with th...

Sandra Johnson is the Senior Vice President of Client Services at CliniComp, an EHR provider with 40 years of experience in the healthcare technology space. CliniComp is launching its first full EHR solution suite for the commercial market, focusing on providing integrated solutions that offer a holistic view of patient care across various healthcare settings. Key Takeaways: CliniComp's EHR s...

Dr. John Showalter is the Chief Strategy Officer at Linus Health, a company focused on early detection of cognitive impairment and dementia. They develop digital cognitive assessments and engagement tools to help people think about their brain health, get diagnosed, and receive lifestyle medicine suggestions. Key Takeaways: Linus Health modernized the Minicog test, making it more accurate and acce...

Special Mini-Series From HLTH 2024 The healthcare industry accounts for nearly one third of the USA's GDP and yet all Americans can agree that the system is ripe for innovation, heck even just plain 'improvements' would be great. So, I took Awesome Future to HLTH 2024, one of the largest yearly gatherings for healthcare technology professionals and innovators. As part of the Like A...

Special Mini-Series From HLTH 2024 The healthcare industry accounts for nearly one third of the USA's GDP and yet all Americans can agree that the system is ripe for innovation, heck even just plain 'improvements' would be great. So, I took Awesome Future to HLTH 2024, one of the largest yearly gatherings for healthcare technology professionals and innovators. As part of the Like A...

Ashley Hamic, a rare disease mom and advocate, is the founder of Wish Ware Accessories, a company dedicated to creating innovative, adaptable, and personalized accessories for families with rare diseases. Here are the key takeaways from her conversation: Personal Origin Story: Ashley's journey began with her son Maddox's diagnosis of CTNNB1 syndrome, a rare condition that affects his phy...

Sarah Ticho and Niki Smit are the creators of SoulPaint, an innovative virtual reality (VR) experience designed to make emotions visible and help people connect with their bodies and feelings. Here are the key takeaways from their conversation: Origin Story : Sarah's personal experience navigating the healthcare system and feeling unheard led her to explore VR as a tool for expressing complex...

Dan Scarfe is the CEO and founder of XRAI , a company that develops augmented reality solutions to break down communication barriers, particularly for those with hearing loss and across language differences. Key Takeaways: Origin Story : XRAI was born from Dan's personal experience with his grandfather who had lost his hearing, inspiring the idea to combine real-time subtitles with augmented...

Richard Zreik is the founder of InnoVationGirls, and Tereze Bogdane is a student and active member of the community. InnoVationGirls is a global community of young Gen Z girls and non-binary individuals working on innovative solutions to global problems, with a current focus on solving fast fashion waste using new technologies. Key Takeaways: Origin Story: InnoVationGirls was born from Richard&apo...

Moody Mattan is the co-founder and CEO of Brand XR, a company that offers a no-code augmented reality platform and professional XR services, focusing on making AR technology accessible to non-technical users and businesses. Key Takeaways: No-Code AR Platform : Brand XR's Studio allows users to create AR experiences without coding, similar to website builders like Squarespace or Wix. AR Murals...

Tristan Elizabeth Gribben is the founder of Flow, an immersive meditation technology platform that aims to make meditation accessible and effective for modern, busy people. Key Takeaways: Innovative Approach : Flow combines technology with a unique meditation method (Breathe, Move, Let Go, Calm, Focus, Restore) to provide immediate access to the benefits of meditation. Multi-Platform Accessibility...

Jennifer Johnson is the founder and CEO of JennJ Health and Fitness, focusing on digital health solutions for breast cancer patients. Her flagship product, FitnessCan, is a health and fitness app designed to support breast cancer patients before, during, and after treatment. Key Takeaways: Personal Experience Driving Innovation : Jennifer's own breast cancer diagnosis led her to create Fitnes...

Caspar Thykier is the CEO and co-founder of Zappar (zappar.com), a company focused on augmented reality (AR) technology. With a background in marketing and advertising, Caspar has been exploring the potential of AR for over 13 years. Key Takeaways: AR Evolution : Zappar has been at the forefront of AR development since mobile devices made the technology more accessible. Problem-Solving Focus : The...

Howard 702 Taylor is a VR digital enthusiast and content creator who hosts "The Howard Hour," a weekly series in Horizon Worlds. Howard's mission is to bring awareness to VR, XR, and AR technologies in the metaverse, highlighting what's cool and what to avoid. Key Takeaways: VR as a Platform for Connection : Howard discovered VR's potential for community building and creat...

Austin Stanbury is the co-founder of Augmented Info Systems, a VR development studio focused on enhancing accessibility in education, particularly for neurodivergent individuals with high support needs. The company aims to create immersive learning experiences that benefit all students by addressing diverse learning styles and needs. Key Takeaways: Accessibility in Education : Augmented Info Syste...

Alicia Navarrette shares the journey of Cheechable, a community of digital creators and ethnobotanists working towards a symbiotic future. Learn how they're leveraging mixed reality to open minds and inspire new possibilities in the emerging cannabis industry. Alicia Navarrette , Creator of Cheechable Cheechable is an immersive independent media collective where digital creators and ethnobota...

Alan Smithson, co-founder of MetaVRse and Unlimited Awesome shares his entrepreneurial journey, which includes extensive work in music technology and virtual, augmented, and mixed reality.  Key Takeaways: Persistence is Key: Staying committed to your vision is essential, even when faced with setbacks. Transforming Education: Alan aims to revolutionize the education system by integrating modern tec...

Elizabeth Bieniek shares her journey from navigating the complexities of Cisco to embracing entrepreneurship, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of fostering innovation within corporate structures. Takeaways: Persistence is Key: Stay committed to innovative ideas, even when they seem ahead of their time. Filter Feedback Wisely: Be cautious about whose advice you take, especially from those w...

Most innovative ideas are ahead of their time, which makes staying on the playing field long enough for your idea to hit one of the most crucial skills for any founder or new business. The Glow Up talks with innovators about their big ideas and how they stay resilient in the face of change; and how they find and build the value that will drive their future success.   A "glow up" signifie...